Downton Abbey: Obstinancy and Recovery

It's fun to remember they are real people--heading into the Olympic Opening Ceremony!

The most recent episode of Downton Abbey was not as riveting as the last.  I was anticipating something awful happening.  But, it was more of a recovery episode after last week's shocker.

A few points of irritation:
-Lord Grantham needs to stop acting like an ostrich.
-Carson needs to understand that ostracizing someone based on their decisions does not promote harmony.
-Thomas needs to be kicked off the show or fired from the house.  I'm fine with either.

A few moments of joy:
-Bates is coming home!  I'm so glad they showed us on the preview for next week that he does in fact return.  I was worried they would kill him in prison.
-Mrs. Patmore kindly assisted Ethel.  Way to be the bigger person and extend kindness to promote success for a fellow human being.
-Lord and Lady Grantham hugging and crying at the end.  Painful as it was to watch, they need each other.
-Matthew and Lady Mary declaring their love...and that they must WORK at their marriage.  So touching.

Was anyone else peeved by the jabs at Catholicism and the lauding of Anglicanism?  That man has a VERY narrow view of Christianity.  God likes England.  The rest of the world is off to Hell in a hand basket.  What a sad perspective.

P.S. The Craig County coach, at the basketball game on Tuesday night, resembles Matthew.

What Is This Grace?

"The fact that even some Christians fail to grasp the radical nature of God's unconditional love suggests just how deeply we humans are embedded in a world ruled by law, expectations, duty, control and obedience."~Mark Galli, Focus on Grace, Not Control

I saw an article on Facebook about parenting with the focus on grace rather than control.  For several reasons, it immediately caught my attention.

The title of the article by Mark Galli, editor of Christianity Today, is Focus on Grace, Not Control.  When I read the title, my mind immediately thought (in summary), grace and not control?  How will a child learn right and wrong if all they know is grace when they disobey.  That is just parents giving in to their children and not keeping control.  I knew I had to read it.  I wanted to know the author's perspective on grace in parenting.  Granted, my intent was not initially pure, but before I reached the end, I was thinking to myself, ah, yes, I am relating to what he is saying.  Grace is so important.  Why, then, is it so difficult for me?

Mark Galli contrasts the legalism that appears in many conservative, Christian homes to the grace displayed all through the Gospels by Jesus and throughout the New Testament as instruction for how we, the body of Christ, should treat others.  Galli mentions the inclination humanity has to rules and regulations, which, if you think about it, is an odd attraction considering the affect rebellion has on humanity, as a result of the fall.  However, the point is, grace is everywhere, from Genesis to Revelation, yet so often Christians fail to grasp it.

I am one of those Christians.  I like rules, except when I don't.  I usually follow rules, except when I speed.  Of course, I want grace extended to me.  Why, then, do I fight showing grace to others?  I want justification, retribution, people should pay for the wrong they have done, especially when they have wronged me.  But, if Jesus took that approach, I would have no hope of salvation.  I would be damned to Hell for all eternity.  How thankful I am that Jesus shows me grace every day, even when I struggle (or fail) to recognize it or accept it.

Letter from Youcef Nadarkhani

Do you remember when I wrote about Iranian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani being released from prison?  If not, please read about it.  It is truly an incredible story of God's grace and faithfulness.

Today my mom sent me the link to a letter he wrote to thank all the people around the globe who prayed for him and fought for him to be free.  I am copying his letter below.  But, to read the article and the letter, go to this link.

After reading his letter, I felt like I have been a part of something bigger, like the Christians in the New Testament.  I joined with the body of believers around the globe praying for a fellow Christian to either be released or to stand strong and not recant his belief in Jesus Christ.  I am thankful for his freedom.  I am thankful for his testimony that has been seen around the world.  It makes me realize how easy it is to be a Christian in the USA.  Yes, there is persecution, and it can be difficult.  But, we can't be imprisoned for what we believe.

After you have read this letter, I would love to hear your thoughts.  What do you think and feel about the story of Pastor Nadarkhani?

Salaam! (Peace be upon you!)

I glorify and give grace to the Lord with all my heart. I am grateful for all the blessings that He gave me during my whole life. I am especially grateful for His goodness and divine protection that characterized the time of my detention.

I also want to express my gratitude towards those who, all around the world, have worked for my cause, or should I say the cause that I defend. I want to express my gratitude to all of those who have supported me, openly or in complete secrecy. You are all very dear to my heart. May the Lord bless you and give you His perfect and sovereign Grace.

Indeed I have been put to the test, the test of faith which is, according to the Scriptures “more precious than perishable gold.” But I have never felt loneliness, I was all the time aware of the fact that it wasn’t a solitary battle, for I have felt all the energy and support of those who obeyed their conscience and fought for the promotion of the justice and the rights of all human beings. Thanks to these efforts, I have now the enormous joy to be by my wonderful wife and my children. I am grateful for these people through whom God has been working. All of this is very encouraging.

During that period, I had the opportunity to experience in a marvelous way the Scripture that says: “Indeed, as the sufferings of Christ abound for us, our encouragement abound through Christ.” He has comforted my family and has given them the means to face that difficult situation. In His Grace, He provided for their spiritual and material needs, taking away from me a heavy weight.

The Lord has wonderfully provided through the trial, allowing me to face the challenges that were in front of me. As the Scriptures says, “He will not allow us to be tested beyond our strength….”

Despite the fact that I have been found guilty of apostasy according to a certain reading of the Shar’ia, I am grateful that He gave the leaders of the country, the wisdom to break that judgment taking into account other facts of that same Shar’ia. It is obvious that the defenders of the Iranian right and the legal experts have made an important effort to enforce the law and the right. I want to thank those who have defended the right until the end.

I am happy to live in a time where we can take a critical and constructive look to the past. This has allowed the writing of universal texts aiming at the promotion of the rights of man. Today, we are debtors of these efforts provided by dear people who have worked for the respect of human dignity and have passed on to us these universal significant texts.

I am also debtor of those who have faithfully passed on the Word of God, that very Word who makes us heirs of God.

Before ending, I want to express a prayer for the establishment of an unending and universal peace, so that the will of the Father be done on earth as it is in heaven. Indeed, everything passes, but the Word of God, source of all peace, will last eternally.

May the grace and mercy of God be multiplied to you. Amen!

Youcef Nadarkhani
8 September 2012 

Freedom in Christ; Freedom from Imprisonment

Almost a year ago I wrote about an Iranian pastor, Youcef Nadarkhani, held captive for refusal to recant his Christian beliefs.  I began praying for his release and ability to stand strong.  I asked you all to pray for him.  Nadarkhani's case became known throughout the world as organizations and countries entreated Iran to free him.

Nadarkhani has a family; a wife and two sons.  His wife was imprisoned for a time and then released.  No one knew whether Nadarkhani would see freedom again.  Last October (I think) rumors began to circulate that he had been executed, martyred for his faith in Jesus Christ.  Thankfully it was not true.

Today I saw an article posted on Facebook saying Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani is a free man.  His sentence was changed, thus causing his sentence to be set at three years.  The three years have been fulfilled, and he is home.

I rejoice at prayers answered, the Gospel being shared because of this man's imprisonment, and the glory that God has received.  I am thankful Pastor Youcef did not recant.  He stood strong and honored God.  I believe God gave him the strength to withstand the persecution, strength that Christians who live in hostile nations ask people to pray they will have.  They do not ask for persecution to cease, only that they will be true to Christ and not bow to the governmental powers' demands that they deny Jesus Christ.

We may never know the extent of the impact this man's testimony will have on the world.  But, God does, and He is using it for His glory.

To God Be the Glory!

Failed Suicide

Defying all odds, this Irish young man has survived three attempts of suicide.

Read to find out the details!

Check out his website, too!

Feel free to leave your thoughts on his story!

Goodbye

God: "What do you have left?"
Mr. P: "I have You."
God: "Am I enough?"
Mr. P: "Yes."

Is he?  In this time of Lent, and in all times of life, God should be enough.
Yet, how often...

I began writing this post about a year and a half ago.
The conversation took place between a man I knew and God.

Lent has passed by twice.
Yet, tonight I am still thinking about Mr. P and the impact he had on so many.
He once shared a song in church that has stayed with me ever since.
I don't know if I have ever told anyone the connection between him and that song.
Tonight I decided to share it with a friend.  That friend is his son.

Mr. P died a little more than a year and a half ago.
I pray for the family.  For their grief.
The pain they must experience daily is more than I am able to comprehend.

I hope you will listen to the song and be touched, awed, and blessed.


Jesus Culture Consumed - Oh Lord You´re Beautiful from Christopher J Hardwick on Vimeo.

Thoughts on Martyrdom

Martyrdom has been on my mind a great deal as of late.  I am in Acts this semester, a class devoted to studying the book of Acts.  In chapter 7, at the end, Stephen is martyred.  The first known Christian martyr.  Then, a few days ago I heard of the pastor in Iran who is being held prisoner for not recanting his Christian faith.  This has been really weighing on me since yesterday.  I think relatively often about what it would be like to be persecuted for my faith.  Would I be able to withstand harsh persecution or would I crumble beneath the pressure? 

I feel so weak when I think of Christians in parts of the world that are breaking the laws of their countries by being Christians and meeting together with other believers.  What if it suddenly became illegal to be a Christian in the United States?  How would the church react?  What would Christians do and how many would be faithful?

Anyway, please be in prayer for Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, his family, and the Iranian Christians that they would find rest in God during this very difficult time...that will become all the harder if he is executed.  He is someone's son, someone's husband, and someone's father.