Alexander Solzhenitsyn

" The defense of individual rights has reached such extremes as to make society as a whole defenseless against certain individuals. It is time, in the West, to defend not so much human rights as human obligations. " Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Harvard Address, 1978

I couldn't let the death of this great man pass without saying something.

Solzhenitsyn was a champion for freedom in the old Soviet Union and an outspoken opponent of communist oppression. He was, however, alert to the weaknesses of Western civilization as well. His 1978 Harvard address summed up his reflections on the weakness and decadence that had laid hold of the Western world. You can read the full text at the link below. You might feel that thirty years on his words have an even greater resonance:

http://www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/arch/solzhenitsyn/harvard1978.html

You can also find out more on the BBC website at the link below:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7540038.stm

And Elim's Neil Hudson mentions his significance on his LICC blog, along with some insightful comments on Orange's I am who I am because of everyone advertising campaign:

http://www.licc.org.uk/culture/who-are-you

What's out there

Rick Warren hosted a debate between the two American presidential candidates, John Mc Cain and Barack Obama.

The Washington Post followed up with an interesting interview of Warren. You can read more at the links below:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121944811327665223.html?mod=The-Saturday-Interview

Monday Fun

You never really know who's in charge.

Lennox / Hitchens

The interest here is a little personal as well as professional. John Lennox grew up in my home town. His family are well known there.


The debate between John Lennox (Christian apologist) and Christopher Hitchens (well-known athiest) was held during the Edinburgh Festival in the Usher Hall. The motion was : "The New Europe Should Prefer The New Atheism"


The links below have extensive coverage of the encounter.


I think it is amazing that 1400 people in a supposedly post Christian society would turn out for such a debate. And that opinion should swing in Lennox's direction. Or perhaps I - we - should see it as evidence that God is still after people's hearts and minds, even in secular Europe.


http://thinkingmatters.org.nz/2008/08/should-europe-embrace-the-new-atheism-john-lennox-v-christopher-hitchens/


http://wetlenses.blogspot.com/2008/08/new-europe-new-atheism.html


http://theologica.blogspot.com/2008/08/hitchens-vs-lennox-and-winner-was.html

What's out there

Holidays put an end to blogging for a couple of weeks.

I've still managed to keep up - to some extent - with what's being posted on blogs and websites elsewhere.

I guess the Lakeland / Todd Bentley saga is the big news in the Pentecostal / Charismatic world. Whatever you thought of Lakeland, I hope you would agree that for it to end in this way is tragic and impacts us all.

You can read the statement from Fresh Fire Ministries at http://www.freshfire.ca/?Id=1065&pid=8

J. Lee Grady also comments at http://fireinmybones.com/index.php?col=081308~Life%20After%20Lakeland:%20Sorting%20Out%20the%20Confusion

For something more encouraging check out Steve Addisons two part interview with Andrew Evans on the remarkable growth of Australian Assemblies of God (now Australian Christian Churches):

http://www.steveaddison.net/2008/08/19/andrew-evans-on-the-rise-and-rise-of-the-australian-assemblies-of-god.html

http://www.steveaddison.net/2008/08/21/andrew-evans-part-2.html

Enough for now.

I'll post later on a debate held at the Edinburgh Festival between Christopher Hitchens (leading atheist) and John Lennox, Christian apologist. I know you can't wait.

Christian Audio.com

If you are into classic Christian literature and like audio books, Christian Audio.com is worth a visit.


This months free download is St. Augustine's Confessions.


http://christianaudio.com/free_download.php

What's out there

A couple of interesting posts on Worldchangers blog.

Making the case for medium sized churches:

http://www.steveaddison.net/2008/08/01/planting-mid-sized-churches-in-europe.html


Tim Keller on the gospel:

http://www.steveaddison.net/2008/08/04/a-new-kind-of-gospel.html - there's a link to the full article.


J. Lee Grady's blog has some sobering coverage of what is really happening in China:

http://fireinmybones.com/index.php?col=073108~In%20China,%20They%20Beat%20Christians%20With%20Crowbars


Hoping to listen to Frank Damazio's latest sermons on faith as I drive to Holyhead and then from Dublin to Northern Ireland. You can find them here:

http://www.citybiblechurch.org/p/8834/Default.aspx

The Vision Thing

Vision is a word /concept that gets a lot of coverage these days both in the Christian world and in the secular world. And it is pretty important. After all without it, people cast off restraint.


It's not always easy to define vision in a visionary way. Which is why I like this quote from Antoine de Sainte-Exupery. It seems to me to capture the essence of vision:


"If you want to build a ship, don't drum up people to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea."

Monday Fun

You need to get quite close to the screen for maximum impact.

What the Doctor orders

There's an interesting post at http://theresurgence.com/node/1091. It's a summary of a conversation between Mark Driscoll and J.I. Packer.

Packer outlines four theological priority areas for younger leaders:

• A deeper understanding of regeneration - being born again gives you a new heart and a new identity

• God-centred theology

• Godliness begins in the family


• Trinity - emphasising and appreciating Father, Son and Holy Spirit, not just Jesus and the Holy Spirit

When someone with the experience and wisdom of J.I. Packer speaks, it is worth considering what he has to say.

Revival Meetings at KT

There has been a lot of talk recently about what is happening in Lakeland with Todd Bentley. Many are speaking about it in terms of revival, and the stories I have heard from those who've been there are certainly impressive.

However you might not have heard of a move of God that is taking place currently on our own door step. Gypsy William Lee has been preaching every night at Kensington Temple (except for Mondays) since 2nd March and 1226 commitments to Christ have so far been recorded. In addition many have testified to healing.

I have known William for a number of years. He is a good and godly man. If you can make it up to KT for some of his meetings, do so.

You can find out more news of William's ministry at http://www.kt.org/ and read an interview with William at http://www.revivaltimes.org/index.php?aid=1276