Christian Martyrdom goes on.

Reports from the Daily Sun newspaper in Nigeria indicate that last week 3 Christian pastors were beheaded for refusing to convert to Islam by an Islamist sect. I've reproduced the article below:

Boko Haram: How 3 pastors were beheaded eyewitness
From TIMOTHY OLA, Maiduguri
Thursday, August 6, 2009

•Photo: The Sun Publishing

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One of the victims of last week’s attack by the Yusufiya sect in Borno State has given a shocking account of how the Islamic extremists killed three pastors who were captured along with other victims on the second day of the insurgence. The victim was among those held hostage in Yusuf’s enclave.

Speaking exclusively to Daily Sun in Maiduguri, the eye witness who preferred anonymity disclosed that the three pastors were beheaded on the instruction of the sect leader, Mohammed Yusuf shortly after bringing them out of his inner chamber.

“The pastors alongside one Ibo man were asked to change their faith to Islam like they did to other people taken as hostages. I think there was an argument by one of the pastors which gave the others some level of confidence to also resist accepting Islam.

“The Yusufiya men who were armed on that Tuesday afternoon were not comfortable with the pastors and they took one of them to the sect leader in his inner chamber. They came out later to the courtyard within the compound and cut their heads one after the other and thereafter, shouted allah akbar in wild celebration accompanied with several gun shots,” the eye witness disclosed.

He said the hostages numbering about 50 within the area of the execution of the pastors and another fair complexioned man which he could not identify, were gripped with fear as non could foretell the outcome of their stay at the enclave of the fundamentalists. He was however lucky to escape as he was freed in the night with others with a warning not to mix with kafrici (infidels).

Corroborating the account of the killing, a Senior pastor with Good News Church, Wulari Maiduguri Rev. Baba Gata Ibrahim told Daily Sun in an interview that a pastor in his church, Pastor George Orjih was beheaded on the instruction of the Boko Haram leader because the clergy man refused to accept Islam.
“An eye witness who was also captured by the Islamic militants gave us details of how the pastor was killed. He told us they were persuading him to accept Islam and he said over his dead body. He was even said to have preached Christ to Mohammed Yusuf and that reportedly angered the sect leader who then as he ordered that the pastor and others be killed immediately,” he disclosed.

The late Pastor George Orjih was said to have arrived Maiduguri last week from Jos where he was doing his Masters programme in Theology. Described as a fearless, hardworking, and intellectually sound, his care for the welfare and well being of his family allegedly contributed to his capture and eventual death.
“He was mindful of his family and their welfare. He was really out of the house but thought to go back again. That was how he was captured by the Boko Haram before he was killed. It was the very week, in fact the following day he returned from school where he was doing his Masters in Theology that he was arrested,” the senior pastor added.

He urged the government to provide adequate security for Christian in the state.
Also delivering a sermon during the funeral rites for late Rev. Sabo Yakubu, slain COCIN Church pastor, the speaker, Rev Bulus Azi urged Christians to emulate the pastors who were killed because of their refusal to betray their faith. Quoting from the bible in Revelation 7: 9-15, the regional chairman of the church told Christians to prepare to die anytime as their calling demand.

I love these little guys!

Back in the 90s, I loved the computer game "Lemmings". Many procrastinatory hours were spent trying to get those little guys to escape without imploding or falling off a very high cliff to their collective doom. Now someone very crafty has created them in all their crocheted glory.

See the story behind the craft at Planet June.

Let there be Light in Jerusalem

In Israel, they've held a festival called Light in Jerusalem. The picture above comes from an installation called "Night Garden". You can see more of their beautiful pictures here.

This netbook is for people who like chihuahuas in teensy pink bags

... or just like to spend HUGE amounts of money for a PC that will fit in their handbag.

Sony Vaio P Review



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The Don't Song

This video provides some important relationship advice, and quite a few laughs, too.

Handicrafts - Paper craft

I've been cutting and sticking paper with my kids for a while now, enjoying their creativity as they make collages and other creations. But that is nothing compared to this castle, recorded by Tokyo Bling:

Photo from Tokyo Bling

According to the blog, this papercraft creation took four years for Wataru Itou to make, and includes a working train and lights. You have to go and see the pictures over at Tokyo Bling. They are incredible. The whole structure is made from painstakingly cut and folded paper (apart from the mechanical bits).

Creating a legacy

In the midst of the avalanche of parenting theories, how-to manuals, educational helps and self-help books, there is something more important to remember.

As I look back at my grandmothers' lives, and the lives of my grandfathers, one thing remains with me - an example I want to pass on (though I fail too often at this, in the business of life). Their example can also be seen in John Piper's tribute to his father. Well worth a read.

My Nan, who passed away last week, was cruelly struck down by dementia. But in my early years, her joy in her saviour was evident to everyone. Likewise, my other Grandmother demonstrated her love for Christ in many ways, and she was blessed with a clear mind and strong voice right to the end. Like John Piper's father, they created a legacy by their infectious joy and faith.

I don't know how well I am doing in terms of teaching my children about the world. I am not particularly good at sitting them down to teach them literacy or numeracy. It's been quite some time since I got out the easel to let them paint or draw. But one thing I pray that I do pass on. I pray that my children will see how much I love the Lord Jesus Christ, and I pray that they will grow to love him just as much, if not more.

That's the legacy I want to pass on.

In Memoriam

My grandmother loved to sing. This was one of her all-time favourites:


To God be the glory, great things He has done,
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life, an atonement for sin,
And opened the life-gates that all may go in.

Refrain
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!
Let the earth hear His voice,
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!
Let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father through Jesus the son
And give Him the glory great things He has done

O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,
To every believer the promise of God;
The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.

Refrain

Great things he has taught us, great things he has done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the son
But purer, and higher, and greater will be
Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see.

Refrain

Words: Fanny Crosby
Music: W. Howard Doane

Social commentary

The Sims has long been a fixture in the world of computer games. For years now, real humans have been able to play house, grow, employ or destroy pretend humans in a virtual world. Recently, the third incarnation of the Sims was released. Unsurprisingly, it's called The Sims 3.

There's a fascinating blog called "Alice and Kev", where a games student from the UK has experimented with creating a homeless family, and seeing what happens to them over time. It's an interesting look.

Passing...

I've been absent from the blog for some time now. Last Wednesday, at about 9:10am, my last remaining grandparent passed away.

Pearl had a troubled last few decades, suffering from dementia for 20 years; far longer than most.
Her fighting spirit was a feature of her life. She fought against becoming a Christian (though she gave in on that one, and became a member of the choir at one of the last Billy Graham crusades in Sydney). She fought against losing her memory. She fought against the strokes and fits that robbed her of her speech and ability to walk. But in the end she did not lose her smile, the twinkle in her eye, nor her love for her Lord Jesus. Thankfully, she has no need to fight anymore.

She leaves behind her a small family who misses her, and many others who remember her cheerful and active service in years gone by. However, for the past 15 years, my mother has been doing laundry, visiting hostels and nursing homes and organising care for her own mother. Her absence will be keenly felt.

Her funeral is this week.