Celebrating the feast of the sacrafice

On November 17, Muslims worldwide will celebrate Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of Sacrafice, by sacraficial killing of sheep, goats, cows or camels. The slaughter commemorates the story of Abraham who was ready to obey God by sacraficing his only son Isaac but God intervened by substituting a ram in his place. The number of animals slaughtered during this feast is enormous. In Bangladesh alone more than 15 million animals are slaughtered!

As this is the season of the Advent  we are reminded again of a different sacrifice, one so totally different, one that was made Once for All!  I am, of course, referring to the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross. Jesus, who came to this earth to die.
When John saw Jesus coming toward him he said, " Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! " ( John 1:29 ) Isaiah prophesied about Him when he said, " He was led  like a lamb to the slaughter " ( Isaiah 53:7 ) In the Old Testament we see a constant pattern of animal sacrifice, the blood that had to sprinkled on everyone and everything for the forgiveness of sins!

In Hebrews we find a glorious answer to the forgiveness of sins,  namely Jesus' perfect sacrifice on the cross! Listen what Hebrews says;
" He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once and for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption " Hebrews 9:12 )
" Only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself " ( Hebrews 9:7 )
" Because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being 
made holy " And it is because of this blood, shed once and for all, that the author to the Hebrews can quote from Jerimiah 31:34, " Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.".....And where these ( sins ) have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin! ..........Hallelujah what  a Saviour! Let us during this season of  Lent be filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy ( 1 Peter 1:8) .......for we are redeemed ( bought back ) with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect." ( 1 Peter 1:19)

TWO HOURS VS 46 DAYS!

Last Sunday I was scheduled to preach in the Victoria Christian Reformed Church which means a 1 1/2 hr ferry trip one way.  Impatient man that I am, after one hour ' at sea ' the voyage should have been over.  By way of comparison, the ship I visited last week, the 'MV Ocean Creation',   on her way to Rotterdam with 150.000 tonnes of coal as cargo, will be enroute  for forty-six ( long )  days!  I can't imagine what that must be like; forty six days of water, wind and waves, same faces, same talk, loneliness and boredom. I  tried to make their voyage more comfortable by providing them with plenty of vegetables and......they were the first crew to receive Christmas presents this year. Having left Roberts Bank on Nov. 19, the 'MV Ocean Creation', most certainly celebrated their Christmas at Sea!  

M/V FRONTIER EXPLORER

Last week the M/V Frontier Explorer arrived at Roberts Bank. It was her maiden voyage. Everything looked and smelled brand new, just like a brand new car! Her destination was the United Kingdom, a sailing of more than 45 days. The Philippine crew requested a Mass on board. Father John of the Stella Maris ( RCC ) came on board while I attended the Mass also. ( see picture ) The next day I delivered large bags of bread and boxes with vegetables. I deliver this to most ships which make this very long voyage. It's also a great opportunity to do some ' preaching '! Re; bread! Jesus says; " I am the Bread of Life ".

 Yesterday I received an e-mail from the cook to say thanks. This doesn't happen too often so I will copy it in this blog. An encouragement for me to know that seafarers appreciate the work we do! 


" Sir, I am Orlando C. Betiong, Chief Cook of the MV Frontier Explorer. We were at Roberts Bank last January 25 and sailed January 29. I would just like to thank you for the bread and vegetables you have given to us. Surely this will augment our provision but most importantly for the hospitality you have shown to us in our stay here, your telephone and internet facilities truly lessen our homesickness, since we haven't seen our families for many months. I hope that many people will support the seamen's center and God bless them, Again, on behalf of the officers and crew members thanking you and your staff so much hoping we could come again to Roberts Bank in the future. God bless. " 

The Globalization of God in the 21st Century

Globalization is the buzz word nowadays. Modern communications, but also shipping, has much to do with this. Last year more than 400 million containers were shipped across the oceans of the world. That's a huge number involving many ships. Add to that all the other commodities shipped across the globe and we get a picture of how vast this industry is involving millions of people from all corners of the world.

Recently an article was published in the Globe and Mail by Neil Reynolds called, " The Globalization of God in the 21st Century ".
Here are some noteworthy quotes from the article [ Globe and Mail, Monday, January 10, 2011. ]

" Christianity is now ' on it's biggest roll ' in ts 2000-year history. Many Christians, though, are only dimly aware of the faith's phenomenal advance. You could call it the greatest story never told; the epilogue ".

" Christianity is on the rise in virtually every country of the world except the EU and the Islamic countries that forbid proselytization
( He should have included Canada too/author's note ) "

" The global rise of Pentecostalism produced the fastest growth of any religious movement in history "  [Walter Russell Mead, U.S. political scientist ]

" The most dynamic religious explosion in the world is not an Islamic phenomenon. It is an evangelical Protestant phenomenon.
Evangelical Christians now number as many as 688 million people. Evangelical Christians will be a major religious, social and political force for the next 100 years! "

" By 2050 the number of Christians in China could reach 218 million - perhaps 16 percent of its population! " [ Scott M. Thomas, British foreign - relations scholar ]

I meet seafarers from many nations on board ships and in the sea-
farer's center. Most are from third world countries and Eastern Europe. With all the bibles that are ' disappearing ' from our display tables, I am convinced that we are part of of that great 'phenomenal advance ' of proclaiming Jesus Christ to all nations. We give all the glory to our Triune God!