Thursday, November 5, 2015

Ah, that Name of Jesus again.

After my last post on the public ban imposed on the evangelical testimony of 'Voices to the Nations' in Toronto, there were many 'likes' and 'shares'. I felt a further post was in order, especially with the rapid approach of Remembrance Day:that solemn occasion when we recall the sacrifice of all who died for the cause of freedom in our world wars.
On Saturday, November 7th, several men (myself included) will descend on Memorial Square in Barrie in order to lift our own voices in the cause of freedom. Freedom to peacefully assemble in our own city; freedom to preach the gospel message and freedom from the tyranny of all who would deny free men that right. Which is, after all, why our fathers marched forth to battle in decades gone by.
Our dearly beloved national anthem declares in a single pungent phrase this liberty that we all hold so dear:

"GOD KEEP OUR LAND GLORIOUS AND FREE, O CANADA WE STAND ON GUARD FOR THEE."

That is what we will be doing in a couple of days when we exercise our right as members of a western democracy to give public testimony in our city.
In short we will be helping God to keep our land glorious and free.
Want to join us?   We will be at Memorial Square at 11:00 am.

Jubilate.

Ian

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

It's that Name of Jesus again.

What's new! This week Toronto City Hall moved to ban public gatherings of Christians who wished to uplift Christianity by way of song, drama and dance.
"Voices of the Nations" had applied for a permit to hold a 'multi-denominational event' on the Yonge-Dundas square. They have held this annual event for a number of years but next year's concert has been squashed.
Ms Natalie Belman (in charge of the city hall permits department) has refused to issue a permit for 2016 on the grounds that Voices of the Nations is proselytizing and 'such actions are contrary to city hall policy.'
The song Ms Belman took aim at was "These are the days of Elijah" and the repeated chorus "There's no God like Jehovah" which, she claims, is an affront to other religions.
And so we have it, YET AGAIN.
No ban against Moslems praying on the street in the name of Allah, or the Sikhs praying at their festival in the name of Krishna, but O those Christians and O THAT NAME OF JESUS.
In a few days time we will have Remembrance Day parades all across this land, and so we ought. 
Let's honor those men who went to war and never came home. Where are they now, those fallen heroes? Sleeping beneath the turf in the cemeteries of Europe, their graves in neat rows all marked by WHITE CROSSES  proclaiming the faith that Ms Belman wants to ban from the brave world of our NEW Toronto.

Jubilate.

Ian