A MANY-FACETED SUNDAY

Many-faceted - having many different aspects or features

I had forgotten that today in Swindon a Half Marathon was being run - although Mr. HCB said he was woken just after 5.30 a.m. by people putting out cones along the road outside our fence.

I didn’t wake until about 8.20 when many of the hundreds of runners taking part had already passed by, but I did get my camera with the long zoom and took a few photographs.  Lots of brave people, many of them running to raise money for various charities, so I hope they all completed it.  Two of our church members and their daughter were running, and we were glad to see them in church, having completed the course in good time.

We did manage to get to church, although some roads were still partially closed.  Our two speakers this morning, Geoff and Irene Green, are involved with Open Doors, a charity that exists to strengthen the church in some of the most hostile places in the world and they go round to various churches to raise awareness about the persecuted church.  Geoff told us that Open Doors supplies Bibles, trains church leaders, provides practical support and emergency relief, and supports Christians who suffer for their faith.  We were very sad to hear that so many Christians are persecuted for their faith and for many of them, this is from birth until death.  I must confess that I was shocked when I heard how much Christians were persecuted and in many countries still have to meet in secret.  

Open Doors was founded in 1955 by Andrew van der Bijl, a Dutchman more widely known as Brother Andrew, when he decided to smuggle Bibles to discriminated Christians in Communist Poland and his work continues to this day.  After hearing this, it made me realise how fortunate we are to be able to read the Bible in our own language and without fear of persecution either in our own home or at church each week.

The Open Doors World Watch List is an in-depth record of the 50 countries where it is most difficult to live as a Christian. These are the places where followers of Christ must keep their beliefs hidden and where living the gospel means facing beatings, imprisonment, discrimination and abuse.  

Irene had some beautiful crafts that she makes to raise money for Open Doors and if you are interested, you can see some of them here.  I did buy two more Christmas presents, but of course, can’t show you what they are, or someone might guess what their present is!  

After church, we went out for a drive and had a lovely walk along the Ridgeway - it has been such a beautiful day, but sadly, my knees have not been good lately so we didn’t go too far.  However, it was long enough for us to enjoy the Wiltshire countryside;  we did see a couple of red kites, but "fast moving bird photography" is not one of my talents, so you will have to be content with a lovely sheep instead and also a couple of tree trunks that could be counted as derelict, but not really good enough for the challenge.

So, a many-faceted collage of our day today - with plenty of "food for thought" which set me wondering how I would cope if, as a Christian, I were persecuted for my faith?  

“As Christians we are required
     to love our enemies 
          even though it is very difficult 
               to do that when
they make you suffer, 
     or when they harm or 
          kill your loved ones!” 
Esther, Eritrean Believer

P.S.  Chutney Bear thanks you all for your kind comments yesterday - he was worn out after all the excitement of being at the top of the chutney pyramid so had an early night.