Where The Tax Pounds Go

Where The Tax Pounds Go

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2012/jan/15/free-schools-creationism-intelligent-design

It was disappointing to watch the glee with which Richard Dawkins greeted the announcement of by Michal Gove who stated he will not fund any school with tax money that teaches anything about creation in a science lesson.  (Guardian Jan 2012)

Disappointing too was the level of comment by most guardian readers to the article; the content  was somewhat juvenile and ill informed, for example, “I don’t want my tax pounds to go towards teaching that rubbish!” 

I, too, am a tax payer, and 53% of UK citizens think creation should be taught in school.  Setting aside the rights and wrongs of the subject, there did seem to be the sound of the jackboot, which in fairness, some guardian readers did say that they could also hear.

I think I could also hear the Taliban style fervour coming from the atheistic religious lobby. Having been in discussion with some of these people not too long ago, on a news programme talking about evolution and creation, one kind man emailed me and said, “I should not worry, we are not anti God just anti creationism in Science.”  You sir, were very kind, but in general that has not been my experience.  In fact quite the opposite; not only would this lobby like to remove creation from being taught anywhere in any shape or form, but please, (although they almost never say please) you shall not mention God at all anywhere.  We have seen this kind of thing before, in Albania, in Romania, in Russia and for decades in North Korea, and what accepting and balanced societies that attitude produces. 

At least Richard Dawkins was honest when questioned about the morals of Hitler he replied "What’s to prevent us from saying Hitler wasn’t right? I mean, that is a genuinely difficult question. But whatever [defines morality], it’s not the Bible. If it was, we’d be stoning people for breaking the Sabbath."^[1]

It’s the arrogance that I find so difficult to swallow: either you agree with me or you should be silent. And yes, I have been at the receiving end of such statements; I have been told by certain people that if they had the power they would do all they could to silence me.  What are they so afraid of?  Richard Dawkins seems to spend more time attacking a God in whom he does not believe than anything else. 

A world view is bound to colour our expectations and the way we look at things, mine has been coloured and I freely confess to that.  The problem is that the atheistic lobby admits no such colour; they are speaking truth, as they see it.  They have been everywhere, understand all things and clearly there is no God.  Should those who have met the God who is there, say anything that opposes this view they are ridiculed mercilessly, and told how stupid they are.

I recently listened to a radio four science programme in which two eminent scientists discussed a recent science exhibition.  Towards the end of the programme the interviewer said in a friendly manner, “It’s quite interesting isn’t it that one of you is a Christian and one of you is an Atheist yet you are both equally qualified and in the same discipline.”  He asked the Christian what he thought about that, the Christian replied, (and I paraphrase) “Well I am a follower of Jesus and that of course affects my world view.” He asked the same question to the Atheists who responded, “no person who says there is a God or calls themselves a Christian can be a genuine scientist.”

I wonder about these people, they are so sure there is no God and yet are afraid when we so-called idiots believe that God is there, and very involved in His world. Why do they get so hot under the collar when we believe God is behind the whole idea of Earth and human history.  If it is all so terribly stupid why are there draconian attempts to regulate and silence us? Are we that fearsome?

I am finally reminded of the song writer in Psalms 14:1 and 53:1 Amp Ver.  “The empty-headed fool has said in his heart, there is no God.” 

Adrian’s Blog

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Cheese, Wine, Coincidence, Hallucination, or God ?

Cheese, Wine, Coincidence,  Hallucination, or God ?

PRAYER 10 for UCB

3 Min script

Well I think this will be my last time with you, at least on the subject of prayer.  Today I want to tell you about my book on prayer, it’s called ‘Hello is that you God?’  and if you buy it through UCB I’ll throw in ‘Jacob’ free, that’s another of my books; but this is not an advert, I want to tell you about the book if you don’t mind.

I wrote it because I believe, as I have been saying throughout these talks, that God wants to both listen to us and talk to us, but many people seem to get stuck at the first stage.  I also think that many people don’t understand when God is talking to them.

I also realise that some people don’t even believe that there is a God to talk to or listen to.  I feel very sad about that but I wanted the book to reflect the idea that some people do not think that God would really talk to them. So at the end of each chapter I pose questions, for example; what do you think is going on?  Was that God talking, and if not what was it?  In many of the situations that I describe I am hard pressed to think of anything other than it was God speaking to me. I really cannot put it down to cheese, wine, coincidence or hallucination, I believe God spoke.

There is a lady I know in my church community, let’s call her Mary, who had purchased a copy of my ‘Hello’ book and she was reading it on the way home, this is what she told me, ‘I was sitting on the bus enjoying reading your book and I thought to myself, it’s alright for Adrian to hear from God, but he never speaks to me. Then, do you know what, I heard a voice in my head that said, ‘That is because you never listen.’

Mary was more than a little shocked, and she prayed a quick prayer, ‘if that was you God, I’m listening now, is there anything you want to say to me?’   ‘Yes,’ said the voice, ‘There is a lady two seats in front of you, go and give her the book, she needs to read it.’  Mary told me that she just sat there somewhat embarrassed and a little unnerved. When the bus stopped, the lady got off.  ‘It was not my stop’ Mary continued, ‘but I jumped up and got off as well, and very timidly I went up to the lady who was walking in front of me,  and said, excuse me, but God just told me to give you this book.  I felt very self-conscious, but she didn’t seem at all phased by a stranger appearing at her side and offering her a book. She simply asked me what the book was about, I said it’s about hearing from God, and to my surprise she said she had been thinking about that for ages, and wondering if it was possible,  she said she would very much like to read it, thanked me and went on her way.’

 Another lady I know, I’ll call her Sue, received the book from a friend as a gift.  Sue said much the same as Mary, it’s alright for the author, but God doesn’t listen to me. Sue also heard a voice in her head which said, ‘Well, talk to me.’  Sue is a widow and to make extra income she lets out rooms in her house.  She had been trying for many, many months to get a new tenant but to no avail, the agency who had the room listed had not found her a suitable tenant.  She lay in bed one Friday evening  thinking about the book and then she spoke to God, ‘Dear God, if you can hear me like the book says, please, please I urgently need a new tenant for my room, can you please help me because this room has not been let for months.’  Sue then snuggled down in bed and went to sleep.   Saturday morning at 9am her phone rang, it was the agency and they said, ‘We think we have the perfect tenant for you.’  He was and still is.

Was it coincidence or was it God hearing and answering prayer?  I know what I think, what about you?

Thank you for listening to me talk about prayer I have enjoyed being with you.

Adrian Hawkes

Prayer talks for UCB

Editor A. Brookes

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