Grains of Sand

Pixabay It was inevitable I suppose. A recent article in Christianity Today ( http://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2018/january/bolivia-makes-evangelism-crime.html ) reported that the government of Bolivia has fortified its penal code with provisions to persecute any person or group that, “ …recruits, transports, deprives of freedom, or hosts people with the aim of recruiting them to take part in armed conflicts or religious or worship organizations will be penalized 5 to 12 years of imprisonment. ” President Evo Morales, an admirer of the late Hugo Chavez, former president of Venezuela, has beaten the Venezuelan government to the punch by this latest endeavour to still any voices in opposition to the abuses and oppression of the regime. Interesting that, “ armed conflicts ” and “ religious or worship ” would be mentioned in the same statement as if they were related in some way. Just a couple of weeks ago a friend traveled to Bolivia to do some ministry in an orphanage in that c...

Providence, Rhode Island, (Photo: Pixabay) Canadian Thanksgiving has past, but even on this side of the border we Canadians are well aware that our cousins to the south will soon be celebrating their Thanksgiving. Today, though thankfulness is not always the emphasis during these particular celebrations, the original date marked a time to remember the providence of God, particularly among those looking for freedom to practice their beliefs without persecution. Providence. I like that word. Of all things, the City of Providence, Rhode Island, came to my mind. Wikipedia says this about that city: "The area which is now Providence was first settled in June 1636 by prominent Baptist Roger Williams and other religious exiles. It was one of the original Thirteen Colonies of the United States. Williams had been exiled from the Massachusetts Bay Colony for his outspoken beliefs concerning distinction of state government and religion. Williams secured a title from the Narraganse...