Category: CR Experience

“Jesus is ideal and wonderful, but you Christians – you are not like him. I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” So said Mahatma Ghandi, the father of the then new independent India.

Dr. Martin Luther King respected Ghandi for his commitment to peaceful resistance and saw from Ghandi’s life how to mobilise and encourage the civil rights movement in the USA with courageous, yet peaceful, demonstration, often at great cost physically to the demonstrators. In a way, Ghandi’s life modelled the principles of Jesus Christ, and when he went on hunger strike in order to stop the bloodletting of Hindus and Muslims in India, Ghandi demonstrated an example of Christ through his personal sacrifice.

Today, globally, Christians are suffering very real persecution. At a meeting in the House of Lords a few years back, a persecuted pastor from Sudan said to the assembled meeting of national Christian leaders: “Please do not devalue the cost of our faith, truly lived out within our persecuted communities, by the compromise of your faith in the West not lived out correctly according to the teachings of Jesus Christ.”

The Christian faith is a faith that encourages its adherents to become like its founder, Jesus Christ. The foundation of this faith is the mystery of the ‘cross’ which illustrates a life moving from spiritual death to spiritual life, by encouraging us all to pick up our own cross daily and understand that we all have a destiny and purpose in God.

Real love does have the ability to absorb people’s brokenness and abuse, often at a real cost to the person manifesting the grace and love. This isn’t a soft option as some people would believe.

In other words we should not be surprised, as Christians, when life becomes difficult and challenging because it is often through these conflicts that the Kingdom of God is revealed through our lives, both individually and corporately.

At this same meeting in the House of Lords it was agreed that the Christian Church in the West isn’t being persecuted, but it is being marginalised. This is in comparison with those fellow believers, estimated to be 160,000 a year, who surrender their earthly lives around the world for their eternal hope through real martyrdom. In other words ‘faith in Jesus Christ is more important than life itself.’

Christians are often the first ‘bible’ people will read. People need to see how we live as Christians in the good and the bad times. To live life well, we must understand that the eternal perspective of life is more important than the years we live down here. So why is this world view so important to us as Christians? Because without understanding the gift of life from God’s perspective, we won’t understand the ‘spiritual revelation’ that without free will and free choice there is no ability to really understand real love, which is the currency of the eternal Kingdom.

Verses in 1 Corinthians 13 state:

“If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship/martyrdom that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.”

The only real competition that stops us truly loving each other as Christ commanded in life is the darkness in our own personal hearts and minds.

I’m writing this column during the Easter holidays, which for those who don’t know, is the Christian festival linked to the Judea/ Christian understanding of Passover when the Jews celebrate their historical deliverance from slavery. Passover is celebrated by the eating of a meal with lamb which for Christians symbolises the ‘lamb slain before the foundation of the world.’

Many homes across the land will have had roast lamb dinner on Easter Sunday, but why do we eat lamb?

This biblical story is fascinating because it helps us understand the spiritual principle of the death and resurrection of the ‘Lamb of God’ Jesus Christ who essentially has come to free us from personal bondage and fear and experience freedom from slavery and oppression

Please let me encourage you if you have a Bible, or go online, and look up Exodus 12 for the ‘wonder of this story’ and how it links Easter and Passover.

Many Christians throughout the ages have walked in that ‘spiritual freedom’ and since this year is also the 100^th anniversary of the start of Great War of 1914 – 18, I thought  I would share the story of a Devon born man who as an Anglican minister volunteered at the age of 51 to become an Army Chaplain in 1914.

His name is the Reverend Theodore Bayley Hardy VC, DSO MC. Yes besides winning many medals for bravery, he was also awarded the highest military honour in Commonwealth, the Victoria Cross. The citation read

Victoria Cross awarded for the most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty on many occasions. Although over fifty years of age, he has, by his fearlessness, devotion to men of his battalion, and quiet, unobtrusive manner, won the respect and admiration of the whole division. His marvellous energy and endurance would be remarkable even in a very much younger man, and his valour and devotion are exemplified in the following incidents: —

An infantry patrol had gone out to attack a previously located enemy post in the ruins of a village, the Reverend Theodore Bayley Hardy (C.F.) being then at company headquarters. Hearing firing, he followed the patrol, and about four hundred yards beyond our front line of posts found an officer of the patrol dangerously wounded. He remained with the officer until he was able to get assistance to bring him in. During this time there was a great deal of firing, and an enemy patrol actually penetrated between the spot at which the officer was lying and our front line and captured three of our men.

On a second occasion, when an enemy shell exploded in the middle of one of our posts, the Reverend T. B. Hardy at once made his way to the spot, despite the shell and trench mortar fire which was going on at the time, and set to work to extricate the buried men. He succeeded in getting out one man who had been completely buried. He then set to work to extricate a second man, who was found to be dead.

During the whole of the time that he was digging out the men this chaplain was in great danger, not only from shell fire, but also because of the dangerous condition of the wall of the building which had been hit by the shell which buried the men.

On a third occasion he displayed the greatest devotion to duty when our infantry, after a successful attack, were gradually forced back to their starting trench.

After it was believed that all our men had withdrawn from the wood, Chaplain Hardy came out of it, and on reaching an advanced post asked the men to help him to get in a wounded man. Accompanied by a sergeant, he made his way to the spot where the man lay, within ten yards of a pill-box which had been captured in the morning, but was subsequently recaptured and occupied by the enemy. The wounded man was too weak to stand, but between them the chaplain and the sergeant eventually succeeded in getting him to our lines.

Throughout the day the enemy’s artillery, machine-gun, and trench mortar fire was continuous, and caused many casualties.

Notwithstanding, this very gallant chaplain was seen moving quietly amongst the men and tending the wounded, absolutely regardless of his personal safety.

When it gets dark we need men and women who can lead us in the light. It was primarily of Jesus that it is said ‘no greater love has a man than to lay down his life for a brother’ John 15 v13.

It is an amazing privilege for us at Cross Rhythms to broadcast music with a life-affirming message every day, twenty four hours a day, especially into Plymouth where the now international ministry of Cross Rhythms began. It is also an important responsibility for us who broadcast to ensure that we are not just proclaiming spiritual theory, but are endeavouring to work this out in our own ‘walk with Jesus Christ’.

I now understand that there are no such things as perfect people or perfect families, but there is a Perfect God.

One of my favourite tracks of all times is by U2 taken from the 1987 album Joshua Tree called ‘I still haven’t found what I’m looking for.’ The song contains the lyric: “You broke the bonds. And you loosed the chains. Carried the cross of my shame Oh, my shame, you know I believe it”. I appreciate it because, for me personally, it conveys the mystery of the Christian Faith as an ongoing journey of maturing ‘revelation’. If we think we arrive in knowing it all as Christians, then there is always another mountain to climb on this journey of trying to understand what true love and the meaning of life is all about. Such is the process of spiritual revelation and maturity. What you do find on the Christian journey, however, is an increased sense of security in His love for you as a person. Through the experience of doing life with God He builds substance into your faith in Him as you cling to, trust in and rely upon Him. He is not only on the journey with you, but also cares for you even when you go through the ‘dark night of the soul’. Without free will and free choice there can be no such thing as genuine love. The book of Job in the Old Testament is confirmation of this spiritual reality.

In the Christian religion and theology, revelation is the revealing or disclosing of some form of truth or knowledge through communication with the Holy Trinity, through the Holy Spirit and the Inspired Word of God. The Wardrobe in C S Lewis’ ‘The Lion Witch and Wardrobe’ represents an experience with Jesus Christ as the Door into this spiritual reality. Narnia represents the spiritual environment that all Christians should aspire to live in according to Jesus and His teachings.  Unfortunately for many who experience the ‘grace of Jesus Christ’s redemption’, we can go through the wardrobe, but often don’t explore the realm of Narnia where the true authority, peace and ‘battle’ of spiritual life take place.

This revelation is not just information to the head, but also a revealed wisdom imparted to an open heart submitted to His purposes. As inspired scripture says “Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life”. Proverbs 4 v 3. Understanding the natural world is amazing, but it will never answer the ‘meaning of life’ question because this is the realm of authentic spiritual faith. A genuine kiss cannot be defined without an understanding of true love.

So I agree with U2, I still haven’t found what I’m looking for, but I want to find His heart and face. I know that every life matters to God and that we all have purpose and destiny in this intelligently designed universe.

So, excellent spiritual truths from this band of Christians impacting those who ‘dig a little deeper’ into the message behind the music – I recommend you check out the lyrics for yourself (as we’re not allowed to publish them).

In conclusion, ‘Now this is Eternal life, that they may know the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ.’ John 17 v. 3. At Cross Rhythms we believe in life both before and after death.

I often quote the Biblical principle on our radio programmes that ‘now these three remain faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these is love.’ This is taken from the excellent passage in 1 Corinthians 13 on the subject of genuine love. However this spiritual journey starts with genuine faith. Faith is defined as something or someone that we trust in, cling to and rely on.

‘And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.’ This statement from the book of Hebrews in the Bible is for me a foundation principle of the Christian Faith.

So what is faith?

I’m tempted to begin by defining the terms (simple = straightforward, not complex; faith = the assurance of things hoped for; Christ = the Messiah, Jesus the only begotten Son of God).  Therefore by semantic definition, simple faith in Christ is a straightforward certainty that Jesus — who we have never seen — truly exists and can be trusted with our eternal destiny.

But I find that definition unsatisfying on an emotional and spiritual level.  On an emotional level, simple faith in Christ is the kind of trust a child has in a loving parent.  It would never even enter the mind of a child raised in a loving home to ask if he or she will be fed, clothed, cared for, protected, comforted, forgiven… a child simply knows this and lives accordingly.

And yet simple faith in Christ requires a more adult definition in order to satisfy the spirit.  In the words of the old Don Francisco song, ”it’s not your food or drink, it’s not the way you dress… it’s to hear the Lord and to answer ‘yes’”.  Obedience is the key.  Everything in us cringes at the mere word obey and it immediately sparks an attitude of rebellion.  Such is our fallen nature.  But seen through the eyes of simple faith… to obey is the single greatest expression of trust.  And it’s an expression of love towards the only One truly worthy of it, the only One who ever died to show us how much He loves us.

And the amazing thing about obedience is: the more you do it, the more faith grows, because every time, every time, this kind of simple faith is rewarded… directly, unmistakably, from His hand.

My wife and fellow traveller on the amazing journey of life, Kerry Cole, has just finished her novel ‘Exit Darcus’ which is available on Amazon with the sub title ‘faithfulness just got very sexy’. The book is about the incredible love that can be experienced through true faithfulness. A love that doesn’t use people as commodities, but experiences a love that is rock solid and deep and secure.

As the late Larry Norman said ‘our own opinions can make us blind’. Doubt your doubts and listen to your heart. You are here on earth for a purpose and there is only one unique you.

Life can make sense even in the tough times.

It is often said that some people see things half full whilst others see things half empty. My limited experience tells me that many people’s ‘world view’ is often formed by the values that they were, or were not, given when they were growing up, as well as the experiences they have had, whether positive or negative, on the ‘journey of life’.

From my Christian ‘world view’, established by what I understand from the ‘Inspired Book’ the Bible and my spiritual experience, is the ‘revelation’ that life is messy. There is no such thing as a perfect person or perfect family, either in the church community or outside it.

There is, however, the reality of faithful people. Their ‘yes is yes’ and their ‘no is no’ – they can be relied upon to deliver what they say. This is built on integrity and character, born out of a strong conviction of whatsoever or whosoever they ‘trust in, cling too and rely on’ as the faith in their ‘world view’. Once again, these are people who can be found both in and outside the faith community.

These faithful people also live in the same ‘messy’ life that we all do…

The Long Road to Freedom, the film about Nelson Mandela, affirmed a few truths about Mandela’s ‘world view’, one being that his family life was ‘weakened’ by his conviction that he was to ‘father’ the ANC at a great cost to his personal life. He was prepared to become a martyr if necessary to see Apartheid dismantled, but it cost him dearly in terms of his family life. He also embraced the reality of forgiveness which disarmed the tensions between blacks and whites in South Africa in the early 1990’s. This then led to a peaceful transition into democracy and the establishment of the Truth and Reconciliation’ process championed by Bishop Desmond Tutu. Without a doubt, Nelson Mandela’s life was messy, but he was faithful to his convictions.

Leaders are people, too. For a Christian, praying for those who lead us, whether in the church or civic life, is a requirement of our faith. I’m certain that Christians all over the world were praying for South Africa, and that should encourage all of us who have a faith to pray for those who have the unenviable role of leadership and governance – including our own civic leaders who are responsible for Plymouth.

During the Queen’s speech this year, I was struck by Her Majesty’s message, to reflect and meditate on the deeper issues of life. This was obviously focused on the spiritual realities of faith. Pray for the Queen because she is a great ‘influence for good’ in a very messy world. All our leaders are human and have, I’m sure, messy lives.

Bearing in mind that we’re all imperfect and live in a messy world, in the face of all the opportunities and challenges that 2014 will bring, let us encourage each other not to be too cynical. There is just as much to be thankful for as there is to moan about. Once again it comes back to one’s ‘world view’ – none of this process is perfect. Give a thought especially to the men and women who with good heart endeavour to bring spiritual support to those in their care, and who are often themselves misunderstood and overlooked.

When scripture encourages us to “be perfect, therefore, as our Father in heaven is perfect” it is pointing to the ‘spiritual principle’ that our Father in heaven (who is Love Personified) is perfect and that in His Love, through Jesus Christ, we can be perfected in that love which is the purpose of our spiritual life on earth.

“For God so loved the world that he sent His Son, Jesus Christ, so that whosoever believes in Him (Jesus) would not perish, but will have everlasting life.” As we have said before on Cross Rhythms: Jesus came to die, to set us free from the power of evil. When Jesus submitted to the crucifixion and was raised from the dead through the power of His Holy Spirit, He broke the power of evil in the lives of those who put their trust in Him. Slowly, but surely the purposes of God are advancing through the ages to the point when Jesus will return again to the ‘Mount of Olives’ just outside the walls of Jerusalem.

The power of destruction in our lives can be broken and our souls healed by the Love of God. The (right understanding) of ‘the fear (proper respect and submission) of the Lord being the beginning of wisdom‘ is probably what the Queen was alluding to in her speech. She has needed that wisdom for decades. So do we all.

I sincerely hope that something of the ‘Spirit of Christmas’ invaded your family and personal experience this Festive season, and that you can look forwards in 2014 with a sense of renewed hope and refreshed from the holiday.

Last month the world celebrated the passing of a great world leader who personified forgiveness and generosity of spirit. Nelson Mandela, like Ghandi and Martin Luther King, overcame incredible personal injustice and responded with a better expression of what is possible within the human spirit through moral conviction and courage. All three believed in something bigger than themselves. It was summed up by Martin Luther King – ‘If you have nothing worth dying for, you have nothing worth living for’.

Those words can encapsulate the bigger picture of fighting against injustice for the sake of the marginalised and oppressed in the cause of love. Closer to home, you and I can be a force for good within our own families. Often that process requires courage and conviction. Life can be very messy. Thank God He brings order out of chaos.

As we looked forward to Christmas, I wrote in my last article for the December Shopper that Jesus Christ was born to die. What He considered worth dying for was summed up by the prophet Isaiah (taken from ‘the Message’ version of the Bible):The Spirit of God, the Master, is on me because God anointed me.He sent me to preach good news to the poor, heal the heartbroken,Announce freedom to all captives, pardon all prisoners.God sent me to announce the year of his grace – a celebration of God’s destruction of our enemies – and to comfort all who mourn,To care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion, give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes,Messages of joy instead of news of doom, a praising heart instead of a languid spirit.Rename them “Oaks of Righteousness” planted by God to display his glory.They’ll rebuild the old ruins, raise a new city out of the wreckage. (Isaiah 61:1-7) 

I pray for all of us that in 2014, the Grace of God in Jesus Christ will continue to be shown in the lives of His people and people of goodwill everywhere. That our city of Plymouth will experience the ‘goodness of God’ in every sector and that the ‘eyes and ears’ of our collective understanding will be open.

The process of the printed word being published means that communicating through a newspaper can take a lot longer than we’re used to with modern technology, but I feel in this case the timing works well, as I can write about Christmas whilst remembering some key moments in our history.

I’m writing this column during the Remembrance Day service in November to perhaps connect a few of the themes of Christianity. This Remembrance Day commemoration affirms a foundational statement of the Christian faith which states: “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for a friend.” There is a saying in the military that soldiers die for their comrades to the left and right of them in a wartime situation, not just for their country.

So what has this to do with Christmas?

Well from a Christian perspective we are celebrating the birth of the One who came to die to save us and give us hope not just for now, but for the life to come. Jesus Christ didn’t come to solely set up a world religion as much as demonstrate the nature and character of a loving Father and destroy the works of Satan and evil and so set up communities of His children to be a positive influence and bring His kingdom to earth as it is in heaven.

Out of this understanding and revelation, Christians have set up structures for generations, called churches and denominations, in order to fulfil everything else Jesus taught His disciples to do.  Bringing this right up to date – it is amazing to think that in a few decades the largest community of Christian believers may be in China. Christianity is truly global.

Back to the reason for the season. Jesus was born to die and you can’t separate Christmas from Easter. It is difficult to really understand Christmas if we don’t understand Easter and vice versa. Jesus was born to die. His birth was prophesied in the book of Isaiah (chapter 7 v14): “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” And chapter 9 v 6: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”

At Christmas we can celebrate the birth of Jesus.  At Easter we’ll remember that His death on the cross, and His resurrection, brought about the ultimate defeat of Satan’s kingdom in the fullness of God’s timing.  To quote from the Good Book once more, (John 3 v 8): “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”

Christmas and Easter cannot be separated, and it is timely to remember the One who came to lay down His life for all mankind, even as we celebrate His birth. His death and resurrection have given us hope, of new beginnings and eternal life. This Christmas, when you watch A Christmas Carol by Dickens, you are witnessing a ‘born again experience’ as Scrooge sees the light.  When you watch ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ remember also that you have a real purpose in life and you are very, very precious to God.

I recently attended the funeral of an amazing person who had truly made a positive contribution to others throughout her life. This individual was a Christian who, in her latter life, suffered twenty eight years from five different cancers. She died in her early seventies. The tributes at the funeral were not only very beautiful and edifying, but all confirmed that she possessed a tremendous faith in God which despite her personal challenges never stopped her giving to others and being a joy to be around. As far as all were concerned who attended the funeral, she had eagerly passed through ‘a door’ into her ‘eternal rest’ with great joy.

I had the privilege of praying on a very regular basis with this person for her health issues and we always knew that God could heal her at any time. The mystery of the circumstances surrounding her life was the deeper work that was going on within. We used to joke that even if God physically healed her, she would still need to go through the ‘door of death’. Lazarus was raised from the dead, but still died. We discussed that the greatest miracle wasn’t physical healing, but the miracle of salvation which enabled you to pass through the door of death into heavenly peace and eternity with Him.

The Cross of Jesus Christ is the central element of the Christian faith. On the positive side of this historical event is the fulfilment of God coming to earth as a human being; demonstrating the unconditional love of God the Father and defeating the power of Satan within our lives as we depend on Jesus Christ and follow the plan He has for our lives. Jesus died on the cross, descended into hell and took back the keys of death and hell and rose again to sit in heavenly places with His Father.

However, whilst individuals who put their faith in Jesus Christ can appropriate this great security and freedom in God, there is still a suffering element of the Cross of Jesus Christ. Over 160,000 Christians suffer greatly across the globe because of their faith. These are people who will not bow the knee to the pressure of compromising the freedom of their ‘religious conscience’. Some end up in prison, are tortured and lose their earthly life for the better life to come. So while there is the spiritual reality that we will not die eternally as we put our faith in Jesus Christ, we will still taste what is called the first death.

The issue of freedom of religious conscience is what motivated the Pilgrim Fathers to leave these shores for the New World as it was called then.

Fifty or sixty years ago most people in our nation would have understood what I have written. Now, as we move away in our individual hearts from God, this knowledge and experience is being lost and we are becoming spiritually illiterate from a Christian perspective. This is why we work within the ministry of Cross Rhythms – to somehow bring this revelation to people, that they are so precious that God could do no more than give us free will to find true love and the power of Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit to live a life of good news, even in the tough times.

This understanding motivated the civilising process that our liberal democracies in the West were built upon. Let’s not forget the lessons of history for our own sake.

I often quote the Biblical principle on our radio programmes that ‘now these three remain faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these is love.’ This is taken from the excellent passage in 1 Corinthians 13 on the subject of genuine love. However this spiritual journey starts with genuine faith. Faith is defined as something or someone that we trust in, cling to and rely on.

‘And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.’ This statement from the book of Hebrews in the Bible is for me a foundation principle of the Christian Faith.

So what is faith?

I’m tempted to begin by defining the terms (simple = straightforward, not complex; faith = the assurance of things hoped for; Christ = the Messiah, Jesus the only begotten Son of God). Therefore by semantic definition, simple faith in Christ is a straightforward certainty that Jesus — who we have never seen — truly exists and can be trusted with our eternal destiny.

But I find that definition unsatisfying on an emotional and spiritual level. On an emotional level, simple faith in Christ is the kind of trust a child has in a loving parent. It would never even enter the mind of a child raised in a loving home to ask if he or she will be fed, clothed, cared for, protected, comforted, forgiven… a child simply knows this and lives accordingly.

And yet simple faith in Christ requires a more adult definition in order to satisfy the spirit. In the words of the old Don Francisco song, “it’s not your food or drink, it’s not the way you dress… it’s to hear the Lord and to answer ‘yes'”. Obedience is the key. Everything in us cringes at the mere word obey and it immediately sparks an attitude of rebellion. Such is our fallen nature. But seen through the eyes of simple faith… to obey is the single greatest expression of trust. And it’s an expression of love towards the only One truly worthy of it, the only One who ever died to show us how much He loves us.

And the amazing thing about obedience is: the more you do it, the more faith grows, because every time, every time, this kind of simple faith is rewarded… directly, unmistakably, from His hand.

My wife and fellow traveller on the amazing journey of life, Kerry Cole, has just finished her novel ‘Exit Darcus’ which is available on Amazon with the sub title ‘faithfulness just got very sexy’. The book is about the incredible love that can be experienced through true faithfulness. A love that doesn’t use people as commodities, but experiences a love that is rock solid and deep and secure.

As the late Larry Norman said ‘our own opinions can make us blind’. Doubt your doubts and listen to your heart. You are here on earth for a purpose and there is only one unique you.

Life can make sense even in the tough times.

In the 2011 national census only 33 million people declared themselves as Christians in the UK representing just under 60% of the population. However, this decline is nothing compared to the House of Commons statement on the decline of political membership.

According to the House of Commons library, there has been a large decrease in reported membership of UK political parties over the post-war period. Only about one per cent of the electorate is a member of one of the three main parties. Labour has about 193,000 members, the Conservatives between 130,000 and 170,000 and the Liberal Democrats 49,000. However in the early 1950s, the Conservatives claimed nearly three million members while Labour claimed more than one million members. In other words when we’re having a pint at our local pub, talking about politics and religion, it is interesting to note that religion is holding up fairly well compared to politics.

That decline in interest in the political parties has also been seen in recent low turn-outs at the polls. There is a concern for all in an established democracy when people don’t get out and vote. This apparent apathy stands out even more when you witness, on the news, people in countries which have become new democracies putting their lives on the line just to join a queue to vote.

There also seems to be an apathy in the face of the facts that around 160,000 Christians per year lose their lives in intolerant regimes around the world. This is rarely if ever brought to our attention through mainstream media. To my mind this is at best negligent and at worst totally unprofessional, journalistically.

Fortunately, technology has now given us tools to empower us when mainstream media sometimes lets us down. The beauty of the internet is that it is like having an entire global library in your front room. You can research anything online, and as long as you check the sources you can get a good idea of what is going on in our increasingly shrinking global village. The internet is a great resource for all of us to find out the facts ourselves. It is a tool of real empowerment if we want to put the time and effort into finding out what is going on.

The Christian faith represents about 34% of the global population. Diverse religious faiths, including Muslims, Jews, Hindus and others, increase the proportion of the global population who believe in a ‘higher authority’ to just over 92%. As far as Christianity is concerned, it is growing in Latin America, Africa, Asia and increasingly in the Middle East.

There are also some amazing documentaries on the world wide web which demonstrate the vibrancy of Christianity and the reality of signs, wonders and miracles as declared in the Bible.

We will never get the right answers if we’re not asking the right questions. If we don’t engage with the political process in our democracy, we will be ill-informed when we are asked to be part of making the big decisions in our society. It is the same with issues of faith, God, meaning and the purpose of life. The Christian faith historically challenges us all to ask the ‘big questions’, and millions upon millions across the planet have had the joy of having many of those big questions answered by a faithful God.