MUTUAL RESPECT & APPRECIATON ?

LAST WEEK WHEN CONSIDERING MY OWN COMMENDATION MEDAL BESTOWED BY KENYA'S PRESIDENT, I came upon an article on the net in which I was advised that the Queen's Trinity Cross had been withdrawn, due to its offensiveness to non Christians! How can a Hindu or a Muslim put up with the Christian Cross? Mahatma Gandhi accepted Jesus Christ as a Man of God, and Muslims worldwide accept Him as a Prophet and Teacher. What's with the Cross bit? I don't mean or intend in any way to be offensive here!

The little I have seen of the form and design of my own Award suggests that part at least of the National Insignia of Kenya might appear on it - a tribal shield and two spears. As a peaceful, non violent, person I might feel that such a representation could refer in part to the violence involved in obtaining Independence from British Colonial Rule - I suppose I might feel a little offended - but would I / should I give up the Award? Every Nation's past is part of its heritage to some extent. What made it what it is today is important. The fact that Kenya may remember its past does not mean it hates, despises or under-rates the British! I may not agree with every part of Kenya's Nationalism, but I do appreciate, and feel happy to have been seen worthy of the Nation's Notice, and in particular of the President's Commendation. BUT, in any case, if I did feel strongly about it, I have the ability to choose not to receive the Award - and in doing so insult the President and Government of the Country where I live and work.......... THEN there is the whole question of WHY it matters what is on my Medal since it was bestowed in Appreciation of efforts seen to be useful to the State. To me it is not what the medal looks like or has inscribed on it, but the reason and spirit in which it was given. I say Thank You, Mr. President, Thank You KENYA! Why not say Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank You England, for noticing me, and appreciating me - even though we do not agree on everything, believe in everything together...!

But what is behind this offence about the Cross? Isn't because it is more than just a Christian Emblem. After all suppose we removed the Cross and put instead the sign of a Fish - also a Christian Emblem - would that be easier to accept? But the Cross represents Resurrection and a NEW LIFE and a NEW WAY offered to all people worldwide, purchased for all by the blood of the One that hung on the Cross. It is Jesus that is the problem; Jesus and Who He claims to be. It seems uncomfortable for some to be in any way beholden to HIM, or those that might 'believe' in HIM. Thus because of a few unbelievers on both sides of the matter the Queen has had to dismantle an Honour invented and bestowed out of an honest and grateful heart - and just because she approved of the Christian Faith that she herself adheres to. For the sake if what? To please the sensibilities of those that say they want to be British or part of her Commonwealth - but only on their own terms. Could I be Indian on my own terms - religiously ? Could I be Iranian ? And insist that anything offensive to my Christian belief be suppressed, removed, apologised for - or even abolished in order not to offend me? Can it happen? I do not believe so. Why should it happen in the United Kingdom? Why cannot we accept from one another unconditionally what is offered and given in good faith. To receive a medallion with a Christian Symbol does not mean I have become or am a Christian. It has no spiritual influence upon me, more than the Crescent Moon or other religious sign. I would be honoured to be recognised by any one of my fellow men if the honour was bestowed for a truly humanitarian reason, unbiased, and without any kind of racial discrimination. BUT of course I do believe God - the True and ONLY ONE God - loves all men equally, and reaches out to all with the same passionate desire to see His Love flow through them for one another. We may not only love our family, tribe, nation, but ALL men everywhere. Can you accept my love unconditionally without question, with appreciation? It is what God wants.

ABOVE , on the right, is a GOLD Sovereign and on the left both sides of a COPPER penny piece.

Both of the Edwardian Era - how monetary values have changed! Have other values also changed? Have our National and Christian values changed. I suspect that 'Britannia' is no longer 'politically' correct as she sits so confidentially strong, her hand upon the shield of faith - so many 'crosses' on that shield, upon our FLAG! Perhaps they will also need to be removed to pave the way for a quiet and peaceful death of the Kingdom of Alfred, founded as it is upon the Judeo/Christian faiths. Why is it that there is so much determination to obliterate ourselves, almost apologise for ourselves in front of the rest of the world? Have we ceased to believe in our roots, our history, our moral fibre - our own GOD! Are we who 'never will be slaves' now slavishly licking the feet of all and sundry in a desire to please and ingratiate ourselves, having no national pride or confidence. ARE we then at an end? SURELY NOT. Let us all arise and put on Christ! Yes, put on Christ as our national dress, and having done so to STAND against all comers in the MIGHT of His Righteousness, an irremovable memorial to everlasting TRUTH.

Hindus, Muslims, CAN live together and be a NATION together PROVIDED they do not make demands that prescribe the freedom of any one of them to be themselves without shame, humiliation or fear. Surely it ought to be possible to be British without without insisting all things Christian have to be covered up or relinquished within the British culture, or way of life.

TO THE RIGHT IS A PHOTO of 'Tweety Pie" or Helen as she is more properly known. Helen is our adopted daughter, and has lived with Esther and me since she was about ten months old. She is now 21 and has just begun her first job, after having completed initial training as a Pre School Teacher. She will continue her training as she works and earns. She is working in Nairobi, and seems to be quite happy and satisfied with her first appointment.

SO, yet another, not quite the last, of our children has fled the nest. MANU is scheduled to be the last one to do so. His Probationary period of a year comes to an end in May in his current employment with the huge Moi Referral Hospital here in Eldoret. He seems very popular with the patients, and appears to enjoy being there. We shall see.

On the WIDER FRONT we have started the year with a total of 137 children and young people in care. Quite a number of them will be leaving us before June to start out in life, having concluded their education, and now seeking employment. Possibly as many as 15 might leave us, thus giving us hope of offering more help to others waiting to come in. A never ending stream.

We wish you all a wonderful month ahead. Don't forget to pray for us all, and the many that are still needy and needful of love and shelter all around us. More than 80,000 children and young people in this Trilogy of Three Districts that we are in the midst of. God bless and Keep you Awake and Standing for Jesus.

John and Esther