The Power Of Love And Forgiveness

St. Patrick of Ireland serves as a great example to God's people everywhere. As a boy, working in the fields by his father's home near present day Glasgow, Patrick was seized by a marauding band of Irish looters. They took him back to Ireland to be their slave.

For several years, he served his cruel Irish masters as a teenager, longing for his freedom. At last, one day the opportunity arose for him to escape and make his way back to Scotland. Due to the hardships and tests, Patrick gave his life to Jesus Christ and became a devout follower of Jesus.

When the Lord directed him to go back to Ireland, the land of his oppression and reach his former captors with the Gospel Of Christ, he must have at first cringed inwardly. Thank God he entrusted himself to Christ's safe-keeping and went back to Ireland as a missionary for the Lord.

To go back, he not only had to have faith, but also forgiveness. After all, Jesus on the cross uttered the prayer regarding His enemies, "Father. forgive them for they do not know what they are doing!" In this same spirit, St. Patrick returned to Ireland.

God gave wonderful results. Throughout Ireland, he preached and established churches and monasteries. By the time he died, Ireland, for all intents and purposes, had become a Christian country. May we, like Patrick, do the will of God regardless of what the challenge may be. May the Lord fill us with love and compassion for the lost regardless of how cruel they may have been.

When we lived in Mississauga some years ago, we had a next door neighbour who was an atheist. He was the scourge of the whole neighbourhood. Only when we moved to Vancouver did we have relief from his harsh treatment. Since then, I've found it hard to pray for him. If I were honest, I would have to say that I wanted him to end up in Hell not Heaven. God has convicted me of this unChristlike spirit. I've asked the Lord to help me to forgive and it is working. It reminds me of Corrie Ten Boom and an especially terrible concentration guard who was a terror to the whole death camp. After the war, Corrie was speaking at a large gathering and urging forgiveness as the only way to peace and reconciliation in Europe. After the meeting, this former guard came up and with a smile said that the Lord Jesus had come into his life and forgiven him. He then asked Corrie to forgive him. How the battle raged in her soul! She said, "Lord, I wanted him to go to Hell!" Her hand seemed to be frozen at he side. Finally, with a gigantic effort, she whispered inwardly, "Lord, help me!" and raised her hand to meet the guard's. As they shook hands, Corried records in her memoirs that an unbelievable warmth permeated her whole being as the Lord of Christ and His forgiveness flooded her soul.

May we know this same Christian love and forgiveness as we relate to co-workers, other drivers on the road, family members, marriage partners, neighbours, etc. What else can win the battle in Afghanistan, Iraq, the Middle East, parts of Africa, etc.? Let's give Christ's love and forgiveness a chance as Partick Of Ireland did so long ago.

Bold, Decisive Leadersip

So far, I've been impressed with Prime Minister Harper's leadership in Ottawa. While I'm able to see some unwise choices (eg.notably, the way David Emerson's defection to the Tory Cabinet was handled and the ensuing dissatisfaction in Emerson's riding of Vancouver/Kinsgway), on the whole I take my hat off to our new Prime Minister. He has acted decisively in many situations and has earned the respect of Canadians from coast to coast. Whether he will be able to continue leading as decisively as he has when Parliament sits again, I am not sure. The opposition parties would do well to note that Canadians will not soon stomach another election without disastrous results for those who cause it. I say, "Carry on, Mr. Prime Minister!"

While the way in which David Emerson 's defection was handled might have been unwise (perhaps he should have come into the cabinet as a Liberal rather than switching to a Conservative), it was a brilliant move. No one is better able to handle the Trade and Pacific Rim portfolio that David Emerson. As Canada moves toward the 2010 Winter Olympics, David Emerson will show his worth over and over again. I think there's a good chance that he might win Vancouver/Kingsway in another election if he does a good job as our Trade Minister.

The appointment of Michael Wilson as ambassador to the U.S.A., is excellent. Wilson was one of the moving forces behind NAFTA. If anyone can negotiate with the Americans in our trade battles, Michael Wilson is our man.

We continue to pray for the new Prime Minister and cabinet. A much reduced and streamlined cabinet is a rare accomplishment. God bless you as you lead our nation!