A PLAN FOR ADVERSITY

Joseph, her fiance, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly. - Matthew 1:19 -

At some point, the conversation got awkward. Mary informed Joseph of the stunning news that she was pregnant. At that moment, the only thing he knew for sure was that the baby wasn’t his. Abstinence nullifies the need for a paternity test. Mary’s explanation made sense in an impossible way. She could be pregnant if God wanted her in that state, but Joseph had never heard of a woman becoming pregnant without a man being involved. He knew that some of the most remarkable women in Jewish history had gotten unexpectedly pregnant, but all of them had had some assistance from their husbands. We don’t know his original conclusions. At worst, he decided Mary was lying. At best, he assumed that God had other plans for her since he hadn’t been included in the process. In either case (or somewhere between), he planned to distance himself from her.

Joseph might have acted out his decision in a number of ways. He could have publicly shamed Mary by rejecting her. He could have demanded that she be stoned as an adulteress. He could have simply left town.

Instead, Joseph planned to act in a way that didn’t violate his integrity or expose Mary to public ridicule. Apparently the feelings and commitment on his side that led to their betrothal were still intact. He didn’t respond to perceived rejection with rejection. Instead, he responded as a godly person in the face of baffling circumstances.

In the midst of a severe personal crisis, Joseph’s primary thoughts were (1) What does God want me to do? and (2) How can I best show mercy and kindness to Mary? He was proceeding truthfully and lovingly when God intervened with a resolution. Joseph’s crisis offers us some insight into how we can maintain joy and direction in the crises we face.

Do we give those who disappoint us the benefit of the doubt? Do we reject retaliation as a primary reason for any action we take? Do we seek to act with compassion even when making painful decisions? Do we seek to honor God with the choices we make? These questions can provide room and time for God to intervene and show us his way. Ask God to shape you into a person who responds righteously to life’s tough situations.

Love,
Yr Chair

Of Bangkok & Mumbai

In just two days, two major incidents occurred one night after the other as if competing for attention.

Two nights ago, we have the vociferous PAD (Peoples' Alliance for Democracy) desperate seizure of the twin Suvarnabhumi & Don Muang airports. Not forgetting that they are now in current control of Parliament and the Prime Minister's office. The government was sent into the emergency ICU ward when its PM Somchai Wongsawat was forced board a military plane home from Peru after the Apec Summit. When he tried to call for an urgent Cabinet meeting, some members were left stranded in Bangkok after a military plane failed to charter them over. The capital is a political vacuum with the government 'exiled' in Chiang Mai. We do not only have only the police protecting the government, now we have pro-government PAAD vigilante (Peoples' Alliance Against Dictatorship) standing alongside. So who is in charge- Civilian police or uncivil mobs? To compound matters, the Thai Army Chief is suggesting Mr Somchai dissolve parliament and call for snap poll.

Will anything change thereafter? I don think we need a military coup when an uncivil coup has already been stage.

Last night, militants from the supposed Deccan Mujahideen, unlike its counterparts whose modus operandi was to resort to car bomb attacks, this time they staged a daring assault on India's financial hub Mumbai. The militants practically dashed into the railway, a cafe and two 5 star hotels with automatic rifles and went on a shooting spree. I think the Indian commandos have flushed out the militaEnough said. Time to study and worry about tomorrow's paper. Wish me luck.nts in the Taj Mahal Hotel. The other hotel is still under siege with several tourists including one Singaporean held hostage. Details are still fuzzy but it is said that 100 people have died and 300 injured.

Pause. We can assume the mess to be so 'typical' of backward countries and dismiss each of these cases a mess not worth our time since it really seems to not affect us at all, at least directly.

Partially true. But unfortunately, even our exams and frequent study should not distract Christians who have a heart for those in pain, hurt and need not ignore what happens in the real world. How do we claim to share Christ and the Gospel in meaningful and culturally sensitive way if we cannot even relate to something that is tangibly happening around us? Not to say we can’t speak but am sure if you're genuine, then concern for events around us must matter.

If in political science, in the words of Giovanni Sartori, is the search for an applied science beyond our theoretical bounds, in Christian parlance we must expand out of our insular holy huddle and embrace what is on hand either with clasped hands or bended knees.

As concerned people around, let us pray. I suggest those who are aware and are concern to sit down and make a short prayer. Pray for the peace, reconciliation and stability. At the end of the day, it is not the rich and powerful that are severely affected. It is the average shop-keeper, road-side stall auntie and uncle traveling to-and-fro from home to work that suffers. Our parents need to make a living. So do families in Bangkok and Mumbai.

Enough said. Time to study and wish me luck.

Loves,
Yr Chair