Not Forgotten

When it's no longer making the news' headlines, what do we do? We forget.

This picture shows a Japanese national flag at a devastated area in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan. This picture was taken less than 2 weeks ago.

It is estimated that the 11 March earthquake and tsunami which turned entire coastal cities into rubble created an estimate amount of 100 million tons of waste... Think again... 100 million tons of rubbish lying all over the place. I'm trying to imagine the smell of rotting things and people among the things. Pretty gruesome, and yet so real.

Let us not forget those communities whose lives were completely devastated and who are still struggling to recover. People say Japan is strong. I think Japan needs help, and our prayers more than ever. People have lost loved ones, jobs, access to basic healthcare and food and power supplies, for some children it's access to school, people have lost their homes, their savings... And the media and us have forgotten them, but God hasn't.

It is not luck, shrine offerings, money, better nuclear plants or Japan's "3 million gods" that can save this nation. The only God of comfort and peace can.

Oh, would you pray with me for the church of God's people in Japan to stand firm, and to reach out to all in love and with a generous and compassionate heart? Who will clean up the mess? Who will give a blanket to a shivering 70 year-old man?Pray that through acts of practical love the love of Jesus would be seen; pray for the gospel to be heard and seen and felt, and for hearts to be healed and eternally comforted.

Crumbs & Prayers

I don't often read or quote The Book of Common Prayer, unless like tonight Tim Keller compels me to do so. :)

I am still enjoying reading Kings Cross, which I started just after Easter. I have now got to chapter 9 called "The Approach", which looks at Mark's gospel and what it says about how we can approach God. His main illustration for this chapter is Jesus' encounter with the Gentile woman in Tyre, the "dogs eat the crumbs vs children eat at the table" one.

It's very interesting. The woman understood she had no right to deserve Jesus' blessing but still she asked, willing to accept whatever he had to give on the basis of his goodness, not hers. Is this the way I approach Jesus? Do I "step into this woman's shoes and approach Jesus boldly, with rightless assertiveness, to take up both the offer and challenge of God's infinite mercy"?

Here is a prayer which is based on this story. It was written by Thomas Cranmer, in the first book of Common Prayer:

"We do not presume to come to this your table, merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in your manifold and great mercies.

We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under your table, but you are the same Lord whose property is always to have mercy."

This is known as the prayer of approach to the Lord's Supper, but I have never heard it being prayed in church. Perhaps we should use it more often. What do you think? I am also thinking of getting my own copy of The Book of Common Prayer. Seems to be a lot of inspiring stuff in there...

Til the next post.
Sando