Mosque Shootings and The Uyghurs
Good Morning and Welcome to this week’s Gospel and Culture update, by Alan Vink
Mosque Shootings and The Uyghurs
Monday 15th March, 2021
Well it’s been quite a week. A ‘tell all’ interview by Queen Oprah with the Sussex’s, flying yachts on the Hauraki Gulf and the vaccine roll out is announced.
POV. I admire The Queen but the royal institution not so much. I thought Harry and Megan did a great job in the way they spoke about ‘The Firm’ in their tell all interview with Oprah Winfrey last week. Personally I am convinced this is no money grab especially in the light of what happened to Harry’s much loved mother, Princess Diana.
I’m not so sure anymore whether what we are witnessing on the Hauraki Gulf can be called ‘sailing (and racing) yachts’? Maybe we should come up with another name for boats on hydro foils or flying yachts? That said, it makes for very exciting viewing.
And good on the Government for giving all New Zealanders a time line when we will be able to get the vaccine if we so choose. All New Zealanders aged 16 and over will be able to be vaccinated from July this year after more ‘at risk’ groups have been completed. It may take the rest of this year to complete the vaccination task.
Mosque Shootings
It exactly 2 years ago today that 51 people lost their lives in New Zealand’s worst massacre. Watching and reading some of the stories over the last few days is heart breaking to say the least. Yet, the grace and kindness shown by so many people affected by the shooting is staggering.
POV. Most Muslim people living in our neighbourhoods are lovely people, peace loving to the nth degree. However, not all the doctrines of Islam are the same not by any stretch of the imagination. That makes Muslim – Christian Relationships very challenging at times. As Christian leaders we do well to have a basic understanding of Islam. Why not start with Dr. Mark Durie’s book, ‘The Third Choice : Islam, Dhimmitude and Freedom’
The Uyghurs
Perhaps the worst humanitarian disaster in the world right now.
Did you know that the Uyghur people don’t see themselves as Chinese yet Uyghur New Zealanders are terrified for missing loved ones in Xinjiang, China.
Here is a write up by Amnesty International and a new report called ‘The Disappeared’ by Stuff Interactives.
POV. How can we as Christians respond? Perhaps support the effort of Amnesty International including prayer and a financial donation?
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