Greg Laurie said in the message that I’ve just listened to that we should be as quick to thank God as we are to plead to Him when we are in a dire situation. Unfortunately, we tend to attribute the ‘good’ things to ‘luck’ or ‘chance’... or just completely forget about giving thanks for them at all... And this includes thanking Him for the ‘bad’ things as well.

One reason is because it is not so clear on this side of heaven to know what the ‘good’ and ‘bad’ things are in life. We also have no idea how all the situations we find ourselves in are going to play themselves out. I always say that there’s no point worrying about things which we have no control over (of course it follows that we have no reason to worrying about the things which are under our control – bottom-line: don’t worry...).

This is particularly relevant to me this weekend because I just made a major mistake on Saturday that would qualify as one of those dire situations. Good time to practice what I preach I suppose. I must say that I was a little anxious... more upset with myself actually...

Settling down, I know that it is completely out of my hands... They are in His hands...

All I can do... what I should do... Is to pray and wait for the outcome... He knows what my desire outcome is... I just hope that He will choose to bless me with it!

Christian group demands prosecution of BBC over Jerry Springer – The Opera

In an article in the online edition of The Times (UK), Christian evangelical group, Christian Voice, is challenging a refusal by the City of Magistrates’ Court in January to issue a summons for the start of a private prosecution (for blasphemous libel) against the Director-General of the BBC Mark Thompson, who allowed the controversial show to be screened on the BBC2 TV channel.

Michael Green QC, who is representing the group, said that it was being argued that ‘God cannot be criticised... the offence is not to stifle debate on the existence of God or any other aspect of the Christian religion but to set a legal limit on the way in which such debate can be conducted’.

Although, I’m personally very wary when it comes to Christians seeking legal redress for any offence to their ‘conscience’ or attempting to use the law to impose their beliefs on others, in this instance I believe that there may be a valid objection. It is undeniably true that, despite other religions being the target of occasional criticism, Christianity is the one which receives the most blatant and constant abuse. When Islam is criticised, its always done with the disclaimer ‘according to their interpretation of Islam’ – that this brand of Islam that is the subject of the criticism is not widely regarded (by Muslims) to be an expression of ‘true Islam’. No such care is given when it comes to Christianity.

Perhaps the amount of disdain towards Christianity is because of the perceived abuse and damage that Christianity has caused through the centuries, and to a certain extent, continues to cause, especially through the antics of ‘over-zealous’ Christians. However, just because there is a segment of ‘troublesome’ Christians does not give anyone the right to rubbish Christianity as a whole (and at every opportunity).

Perhaps it is the fact that Christians do not generally react to such abuse with their own threats of violence. This could result from feelings of guilt from (or a tacit agreement/acknowledgement of) the perceived historical wrongs and failings of the Christians that had gone before them. The alternative rationale is that, while threats of violence do seem to work, as evidenced in the examples cited in the article of (1) the play named Behzti (Dishonour) which depicted murder and rape in a Sikh temple being pulled from a Birmingham theatre after only one performance; and (2) the caricatures of Mohammad in the Netherlands (as well as the fatwah being issued against author Salmon Rushdie for references in his book, The Satanic Verses), threats of violence and actual violence is not the Christian way.

This reluctance to retaliate may be the reason why many people feel that they can act and utter such abuse at Christianity with impunity. This should not be allowed to persist. Perhaps legal action like the one we see in this case is what is required to wake people up to this need.

Others will argue, as many have, that to place limits on the manner of such criticism is an affront to the idea of freedom of expression (freedom of speech). However, the protection of human rights is a balancing act, and one of the basic tenets of which is that one should not be allowed to use one’s ‘right’ in order to deprive someone else of their rights (in effect its meant more as a shield than a sword). One clear example of this tenet is seen in defamation laws.

The protection that we seek, which I believe is a very reasonable one, is the same respect and sensitivity that should be accorded to all people and all faiths – religious or otherwise.

Saudi Court sentences rape victim to jail and lashing...

I was shocked and appalled to read an article in the online papers this morning of a 19 year old Saudi gang rape victim being sentenced to jail and lashing. The girl was in a car with a male schoolmate when two men entered the car, ordered them to drive to a secluded location, where she was attacked by seven men. Saudi Arabia applies Islamic Shariah law and her act of being in a car (or a public place) with a man who was not her male relative had violated the rigid laws of segregation. For this, she will receive a six month sentence and 200 lashes. This was increased from the 90 lashes originally handed down because of what the court viewed as “her attempt to aggravate and influence the judiciary through the media”.

The rapists each received sentences ranging from two to nine years. The lawyer, who represented the girl and who challenged her initial sentence as being unfair, was banned from defending her at the appeal, had his licence to practice law confiscated, and has been summoned for a disciplinary hearing scheduled for later this month.

Ridiculous!!!

I’ve been finding it extremely difficult to get myself motivated with regards to my exam preparations.

Sigh..

Perhaps its the knowledge that I will never be required to use any of the subjects I’ve been required to undertake this semester to use in my working life. It was much easier to accept this when I was in the UK, since, at the time, I had no idea what I would be doing in terms of practice area (besides, i had a goal then.. getting a 2:1.. I suppose the goal now could be getting called.. but yet it doesn't seem to work). Now that I do know which area I'll be in, its so much harder. Add to that the fact that one of the subjects is land law!

I also have fears that, having left university so many years ago, I have forgotten what is expected of me in law examinations. Of course, I can remember the formula – principle > cases/authority. But as with all formulas or textbook answers, they do not offer much practical aid nor do they remove the anxiety. In addition, I find it so difficult to remember the principles and cases themselves! (maybe its all that handphone usage making me more stupid…) No doubt its an open book examination (What are those again? Now that’s another problem – never had those before, don’t know what’s expected!) but we’ve been told to prepare as though it was a closed book examination. Like WTF??!

Today’s the 8th (so I’ve got abt 2wks left to go).. I’ve only sorta completed one topic from one subject.. boy am I fuct!