Jesus: Tragedy isn’t judgment (readings for Sunday, March 2)

God’s judgment sure gets blamed for a lot. Which is strange, when you consider how resoundingly Jesus thumps such thinking. Consider these examples:

• [Israeli Member of Parliament] Shlomo Benizri blamed gays Wednesday for the earthquakes that have shaken the region in recent months . . . —Haaretz

• As emergency teams fight to reach survivors of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, a conservative group in the US has claimed that the hurricane was an ‘act of God’ in judgement [sic] on the city. —Ekklesia

• “All hurricanes are acts of God because God controls the heavens. I believe that New Orleans had a level of sin that was offensive to God and they were recipients of the judgment of God for that.” —Rev. John Hagee (right), as quoted in Wikipedia

from John and Margaret Scott in Mozambique

My friends John and Margaret (that’s Margaret with a class of pastors/students at left) write this update:

Prayer and Praise from Scotts: Maputo, June 14, 2007

Just a note to touch base with you before the two of us leave on a long trip, a road trip to Northern Mozambique. Our 4×4 Pajero will be chock full new Jesus Film equipment which we will be delivering along the way. Two dear gentlemen going with us have joined the administration team of the program of theological education by extension, IBNAL, training pastors, deacons and lay leaders around the country. We will enjoy sharing with them the experience of visiting the students and trainers in several of the remote centers.

We will visit Rev. Mazivila at the church site in Vilaculos which was hit by the cyclone in February. If you are interested in pictures of this, please see the first photo album at http://public.fotki.com/jonpaulscott/ which is also linked to another Fotki site http://public.fotki.com/parsonjscott/ with more pictures.

Speaking of websites regarding Africa, you might be interested in:

Celebration in Mozambique

Now here’s a wonderful scene: Students in Mozambique celebrate the completion of their first ministerial certificate. Apparently they ordered the cake, made the gowns, and put on a BIG party!

Way to go, dear ones, we have much to learn from you. How I wish I could meet you and hear your stories!

2nd from right is our friend Margaret Scott, who has designed much of the curriculum in use by extension students in Mozambique.

I love this photo! Thanks, Margaret!

See more by clicking on the photo itself or following the Scott’s link under Nazarene in the sidebar.

Technorati Tags: Jon+Scott, Margaret+Scott, Mozambique, Nazarene, Africa, Africa+ministerial+training

from Jon and Margaret Scott in Mozambique

Here’s a grand update from our friends Jon and Margaret. We met in Bucharest in 1998. They’ve served in Mozambique since (if I recall) 2000. Hope you enjoy it …