Publicity!

Someone once said that there is no such thing as "bad publicity"!  I can only comment that yesterday's publicity re my (former!) Police Chaplaincy led to over 200 hits on this blog - a substantial increase on the previous highest daily record.

I have also had a higher than usual number of comments - thankfully, all supportive - and have had a number of folk contact me through my AllExperts page with, again, supportive comments and/or serious questions.  This is over and above those who were able to contact me via e-mail.  I am genuinely appreciative of each, and all.

Since the whole issue of my position within Strathclyde Police was triggered by the views that I had expressed, on this personal blog, on marriage - and my obvious support for that God-ordained institution - some may wish to check out what I published.  There is a little 'box' at the top left-hand-side of the blog, with the Blogspot logo to the right, and a magnifying glass icon to the right.  Typing 'marriage' into that box, and clicking on the magnifying glass, should bring up everything that I have posted on the subject!

However, while I am so very grateful for all of the support given by so many, it was when I went on to the blog, earlier today, that I wept with emotion.  For many months I have had a 'widget' that provides a 'Verse of the Day'.  As I looked at today's randomly (??!!) chosen words, I could scarcely believe my own eyes!  For the sake of any who reads this after midnight (when the verse will change), it was: “But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold. My feet have closely followed His steps; I have kept to His way without turning aside.” -Job 23:10-11

Now, please don't get me wrong.  I am not for one split second classing anything that I have ever gone through in the same league as that dear Old Testament saint of God.  But what a wonderful word of what I am being bold enough to refer to as "Divine encouragement"!

It was on Wednesday evening, at the mid-week fellowship meeting, and before I was even aware that I was going to be a newsworthy item, that we sung those lovely words, written nearly three centuries ago by Joseph Hart :
How good is the God we adore; Our faithful, unchangeable Friend.  
Whose love is as great as His power; and knows neither measure nor end! 
 'Tis Jesus, the First and the Last; Whose Spirit will guide us safe home.  
We'll praise Him for all that is past, and trust Him for all that's to come!

He is, indeed, a good and faithful God - as my brothers and sisters in the truly persecuted church will gladly affirm.  I commend Him to all who are going through troubled times - and who are willing to confess to their own sinfulness, and accept His wonderful offer of salvation, full and free!

To Him be all of the praise, and all of the glory.

A wedding is announced!

I am not a full-blown Republican.  I have too much admiration for HM The Queen.  However, I am not a full-blown monarchist, either; having little time for most of the rest of the Royal Family.

So, while I am as happy for young William and Kate as I would be for any couple who announced their engagement to be married, I am already fed up with the OTT response of the popular media.  Some twenty minutes of the less-than-half-an-hour of the BBC early evening news given over to that one event - even to the extent of showing me how it was announced on television in the United States of America (why not, at least, a country that is a member of the British Commonwealth??).  Then, as we went on to Reporting Scotland, the circus started all over again!

Would that the media gave as much publicity to the plight of disciples of Jesus who are being constantly persecuted for their allegiance to Him!  It has been encouraging to see the situation regarding Asia Bibi, in Pakistan (see Monday, Nov.8th), receiving some coverage in some of the national newspapers in the U.K.  Unfortunately, that is the exception, rather than the rule.  I would love to see much more of that kind of reporting on our television screens, as well.  Perhaps someone would publish, nationally, the details of the case of Pastor Youcef Nardarkhani in Iran.  This dear brother is also under sentence of death - for the heinous crime of requesting that his son not be taught the Qur'an in school!!!!

These cases are but the tiniest tip of a gigantic iceberg.  Those of us who live in the 'free' west have no real idea as to what persecution is.  We may be ignored (some of our brothers and sisters would consider that to be a major blessing!); we may even be mocked; we may miss out on a promotion; we may be pilloried in the press; we may lose our jobs.  However, if the police call at my door, it will be to collect me for something to do with my Force Chaplaincy - certainly not because I have been reported as owning a copy of the Bible, or of having shared my faith in the Lord Jesus with a non-Christian!

Mind you, I am recalling the question that used to be put to some of us in the seventies and eighties - "If being a true disciple of Jesus was a crime, would there be enough evidence to convict you?"  Now there's a thought!