Blind Sighted

A reminder that spiritual warfare is real... it can even make the news.

Reading the news before the Word is not a pattern I would suggest as a morning routine.

Beginning work today at 7 am meant rushing what has turned into a relaxed routine for waking up every morning.

And so, as i check the BBC for the day the first article that caught my attention was "The white priestess of black magic."

It's focus is an Austrian woman who left her home and divorced her husband to restore the ancient spirits beliefs in Osogbo, Nigeria. The claims are that Christian and Muslim missionaries destroyed the cultural practices. 

 "Followers say she has channelled the river-god Osun into her body, learning the knowledge of pre-Christian deities like no other European has ever done."

Her near death of TB before she received this "possession" was described as part of this ideal of their culture:

"The Yoruba beliefs all depend on sacrifice, that you must give something of value to get something of value, you must suffer pain to gain knowledge."

(I don't want to stretch the connections here, but there seems to be an eerie connection to the tree of the knowledge of good and evil)

There are photos of the statues she has had erected towards the nature spirits alongside of a river, to which people offer sacrifices. 

"Mrs. Wenger believes that the spirit world has long been neglected by Western culture, and spirits can appear to anyone as long as they are willing to accept them. "You need special eyes to see them," she says."

As I am reading in Matthew I can't help but find a contrasting yet parallel truth in scripture.

1 Not to us, O LORD, not to us 
       but to your name be the glory, 
       because of your love and faithfulness.

 2 Why do the nations say, 
       "Where is their God?"

 3 Our God is in heaven; 
       he does whatever pleases him.

 4 But their idols are silver and gold, 
       made by the hands of men.

 5 They have mouths, but cannot speak, 
       eyes, but they cannot see;

 6 they have ears, but cannot hear, 
       noses, but they cannot smell;

 7 they have hands, but cannot feel, 
       feet, but they cannot walk; 
       nor can they utter a sound with their throats.

 8 Those who make them will be like them, 
       and so will all who trust in them.

In "When I don't desire God" By John Piper he discusses the different between the eyes of our heart and the eyes of our head, and how only God can open the eyes within our hearts to see truth. The means of doing this is through the message of Jesus Christ. It is only in hearing this that men's eyes can be truly opened. 

The Spiritual World is all too real. I don't understand most of it, but am reminded through this article that evil will continue to grab hold wherever it can - and disguise itself as truth. How are these people to know that what she claims is "an opening of eyes" to this world, is not the side that will win in the end? 

Courage and Concern

To any girl who has ever had long hair, and experienced the loss after the short cut... I commend you.

After going with Rachel, one of my amazing residents :), to get 15 inches cut off her hair today, I was reminded of the rush of courage it takes to simply get it done, and the weird feeling afterwards... when you realize it doesn't go back on!

I was honored to be a part of this event (and the encouragement sessions which followed).

Partially because it seriously is a CHANGE.

Something that the average person is afraid of. Perhaps not on the surface. But deep down... when something familiar is suddenly whisked away, or a decision is made which large impact, there is a sense of fear of the unknown. From traveling to another country, to transitions in life, to funerals or graduations... change is hard. 

As a believer in Christ, we have faith that the Lord truly will work all things for the good of those who love and fear Him - because we (are beginning to) understand that things are truly "good" when God is most glorified (which is when we are most satisfied in Him!)

So this is my tribute to Rachel and my mini thoughts on change.

I will try and keep my thoughts shorter than the last post from now on.

Three more updates for the night.

1. My blog will (for the next four months) be serving the purposes for a class as well. Interesting, not sure how I feel about this yet.

2. Here is an article about changes that President Bush is making involving Iraq...

8,000 troops are finally leaving. But where are they going? Afghanistan.

3. An update on what is going on in Uganda, involving the search for justice in northern Uganda with the lord's Resistance Army. It is more complicated than a simple war crime punishment...

Slippin and a Slidin

So did you know...

I was just sitting here in the box... and i stumbled upon this headlining news on the BBC. "UN says wealthy failing the poor"

Immediately i thought of a few things.

1. Who are the wealthy? The wealthy of the United States or Europe as an International power? Or the wealthy within the specific countries themselves?

2. Wow that's a depressing headline... but why is it not shocking... 

3. It sort of seemed like the bad news that no one wants to hear but everyone is expecting. OR (to the average human rights aspiring activist currently enrolled in a number of Universities across the world...) simply discouraging. 

What exactly can be done, if the UN, the gathering of multiple nations, has not had success in making a grand dent in the issue of poverty?

The article ends with this quotation:

"Against a backdrop of gloomy economic news, food shortages and high fuel prices, the UN's argument that more should be done to help the world's poorest could be difficult to sell."

Many have heard about The One Campaign and the way that it has affected the effort to end world poverty. But when one has seen the deep rooted causations for poverty... the corruption of government, the misallocation of resources, the boundaries of the world of the wealthy, and the spiritual darkness and bondage... this article comes as no surprise.

Reading this article led to a link entitled "Can aid bring an end to poverty" which has a pretty good summary for people who would like a brief introduction to the main current problems in the world poverty and aid efforts.

It talks a little bit about two specific books which I have not attempted yet... but definitely recommend reading if you are interesting at all in economics, business, international politics etc.

"White mans burden" by William Easterly, and "The end of poverty" by Jeffrey Sachs. (He also has a new book new book out entitled "Rich Christians in an age of hunger: moving from affluence to generosity")

If any of you have read any of these books, I would love to hear your thoughts on these articles... even if you haven't, this is a discussion that needs to happen.

Interesting how these are not new problems. "Life has never been normal." CS Lewis uses this phrase in his discussion on war in "The Weight of Glory." I can't say that I have read the entire book, but in this section his message is that war simply brings to the surface the unrest that is continually going on within humanity.

In the article I first mentioned, one of the reasons attributed to the lack of effort and aid to the poverty crises was the growing economic struggles.

But I guess, that's the way it goes, right? 

We are all about humanitarian efforts - when we are in the green zone of safety...

Fortunately (or unfortunately - whatever you take is) as followers of Christ, there is a different way of life we are called to.

Where the "caring for our neighbor" and "suffering with those who suffer" will not always come at a convenient time. In fact, it may come at a time when we are weak, hurting, confused, or feel inadequate. The God of Creation knew it would be so. 1 Corinthians 1:20-31...

The thought that has been on my mind for the past few months, is that every gift of peace, every encouraging relationship, even every "lightbulb moment" or "realization" that "I" come to, is because of the grace of Jesus Christ to reveal it.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (Paul tells about the response of the Lord to the thorn in his flesh)

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

What a contrast to everything that is said to us by everyone around. Tired? Stressed? Overwhelmed with people (Amen)? Discouraged? Unmotivated? Waiting? I have found myself at pretty much all of these places over the past few weeks...

It is not for us to be strong but the Lord. In articles like these, it is easy to lose hope. Hope in man's efforts. Our purpose in social justice, and in caring for the poor is for the sake of the Glory of the Most High God. It is his compassion and his guidance that will bring progress, hope, and change to the developing world.

THERE IS A TANGIBLE WAY TO LIVE THIS TRUTH!!!

Nope, I have not even nearly figured it all out yet. But friends, we are in this together :)

SO, will the UN solve world poverty in the next decade or so? I cannot say I have a prediction that is even somewhat educated in its guess. 

So let's get educated. Lets meet the rising leaders studying in our country that are from those nations. Let's lift up our passion, dreams, and desires to be a part of something greater up to the Father who gifted us with them. He WILL accomplish his purposes. We won't always see how we are supposed to get to where we or going, or even where that will take us. What an adventure....

Kind of like the rush of a slip n slide, when you let yourself fall and slide. Which, I was unsuccessful in today. I couldn't seem to keep my knees from landing first. It was like a safety mechanism - my body would not let me fall. Oh that we may learn to keep our knees back, and let go of control!

Much Love my friends <3