Holiday tolerance

Young bracken on dry heath to the northwest of Ferny Crofts, New Forest - geograph.org.uk - 468933 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Summertime is for many an easy time. It is time for taking a longer holiday and to relax and to forget all about work. Holiday time is also time to make use of going places and meeting and connecting with other people.

It might also be the time to put some more water in the wine and to accept some more things which would otherwise upset us. When sitting in the garden we shall have to accept hearing others sitting in their garden as well, making their noise (hopefully not to much).

This Summer started off with being too cold. Later it could become for some too hot. When the weather is too hot in Summer we say we tolerate the heat, the same as we tolerate the cold in Wintertime. Some tolerate it better than others and in a way we all have to find ways to deal with the changing situations.

You may read about 'tolerance' and how to cope with it in the column: Don't just tolerate; Love your neighbour 

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Column: Don’t just tolerate; love your neighbors

When the weather is too hot in the summer we say we tolerate the heat.  When it dips below freezing we tolerate the cold.  Some tolerate it better than others, but what we’re really saying is “I don’t like the heat, but I’m dealing with it,” or, “It’s much too cold for me, but I can live with it.” That is exercising tolerance. - See more at: http://thesheridanpress.com/?p=37867#sthash.ynXf7SMK.dpuf

When the weather is too hot in the summer we say we tolerate the heat.  When it dips below freezing we tolerate the cold.  Some tolerate it better than others, but what we’re really saying is “I don’t like the heat, but I’m dealing with it,” or, “It’s much too cold for me, but I can live with it.” That is exercising tolerance. - See more at: http://thesheridanpress.com/?p=37867#sthash.ynXf7SMK.dpuf

When the weather is too hot in the summer we say we tolerate the heat.  When it dips below freezing we tolerate the cold.  Some tolerate it better than others, but what we’re really saying is “I don’t like the heat, but I’m dealing with it,” or, “It’s much too cold for me, but I can live with it.” That is exercising tolerance. - See more at: http://thesheridanpress.com/?p=37867#sthash.ynXf7SMK.dpuf

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More Muslim children than Christian children growing up in our cities

England has to come to face what can be seen already in many cities at the continent.

• Statistics from 2011 Census show more Muslim children than Christian growing up in Birmingham 
• Of 278,623 youngsters, 97,099 were registered as Muslim compared with 93,828 as Christian  
• A similar trend has emerged in the cities of Bradford and Leicester
• Experts said more must be done to ensure that society does not become polarised along religious lines 

English: More crowds on Brick Lane (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This frightens many Christians. What I do find strange is that of those scared Christians nobody wonders why so many Caucasians coming form a Catholic or protestant family (Anglican, Church of England)  wanted to convert to a religion which was not for a long time originally present in their surroundings.

In England’s second* city of Birmingham, of 278,623 youngsters, 97,099 were registered as Muslim compared with 93,828 as Christian. The rest were of other faiths such as Hindu or Jewish, or none.

A similar trend has emerged in the cities of Bradford and Leicester, the towns of Luton, in Bedfordshire, and Slough in Berkshire, as well as the London boroughs Newham, Redbridge and Tower Hamlets, where nearly two-thirds of children are Islamic.

writes Paul Alexander in his article Children in many UK Towns and Cities now more likely to be Muslim rather than Christian. 

I do agree with Professor Ted Cantle, of the ICoCo Foundation who said:

‘What we are seeing are several trends running together. There is a long-term decline in support for the established religions, notably Christianity; continuing immigration from the Asian sub-continent; and higher fertility among the Muslim population, which has a considerably lower age profile.

But to me it is not only by deepening segregation exacerbated by the loss of white population from cities, which the professor and many white people say. It is not only in the cities where we can find more intensive concentration of black and minority ethnic groups as a result of replacement, that we do find Muslims. In Belgium for example there are a lot of Belgians, with Belgian Caucasian ancestors, who converted to the Islam.

It is far too easy to point the finger to a so called "pace of demographic change" and saying that the Government has no policy to combat segregation 

"because it inevitably reduces understanding and tolerance on both sides of the divide."

We should more come to see that we are going to a secularization because lots of people are not anymore interested in relgion and have no message in the god of others.

Why do not more people come to see that the churches in the West lost their flock? Churches are running, even so much that many churches already became closed and that in many villages there are not any more weekly services. For Sunday Mass people now have to go a few kilometres out of their doorstep, but this is perhaps demanded too much for them. So where is their connection with their faith and what do they want to do for their faith. The same can be said for their clergymen, are they really going out preaching, proclaiming the Word of God? How many Christians are willing to testify for their faith and do go out preaching the Gospel of the Good News?

Do Christians not have to see in their own bosom, to find that not many Christians really have a true faith?

There is still hope for the Christian community to have it back growing or not diminishing any more.

The figures show that Christianity is still the dominant religion in every local authority area in England and Wales, even in the most culturally diverse towns and cities.

Of the 45.5million participants, 27.9million subscribed to Christianity, compared with 1.8million Muslims, the second largest grouping.

However, among dependent children – defined as those aged up to 15, or between 16 and 18 and in education and still living at home – the gap is narrower.

Of 12.1million youngsters, 6.1million were Christian and 1million were Muslim. And in some places, the balance has now tipped towards Islam.

In Bradford, 52,135 children are Muslims (45 per cent) next to 47,144 Christians; in Leicester the figures are 22,693 and 18,190 respectively.

The widest gap is in Tower Hamlets where 62 per cent of children are Islamic, outnumbering Christians by 34,597 to 8,995.

writes Paul Alexander.

Sughra Ahmed, president of the Islamic Society of Britain, said:

‘Britain’s Muslims make up just 5 per cent of the population but have a younger demographic profile than other faiths, as these figures show. It matters to us all that this next generation of young British Muslims develops a clear and confident sense of their British identity alongside their Muslim faith. It’s important that schools teach all of our children the values of respect and tolerance.

For every Western country it is important that all children learn to respect all other cultures and religions.

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Note: *The Daily Mail, Sept. 15, 2014, denotes Birmingham as England’s “second city” but some estimates rank Birmingham as the third largest city by population, below Manchester and London.

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Related articles

• Children Now More Likely to be Muslim than Christian in Some British Cities (seattle.thedailydigest.org)
  There are now more Muslim children than Christian children growing up several British towns and cities. Figures from the 2011 census show that in places such as Birmingham, Bradford and Leicester, a child is more likely to be raised in Islam than Christianity as Britain's demographics radically change.
• Britain: Muslim Kids Outnumber Christian Kids in 2nd Largest City (cnsnews.com)
  A Sept. 15 report in the Daily Mail on the “changing face of Britain,” shows that in Birmingham, the second largest city in England by population, there are 93,828 children registered as Christian and 97,099 registered as Muslim, out of a total child population (age 18 and under) of 278,623.
• 'Trojan Horse 2' in London (schoolsimprovement.net)
  The Sunday Times is reporting that as many as a dozen schools in the east London borough of Tower Hamlets face investigation after claims they have fallen under the influence of Islamic fundamentalists…
  According to government sources, officials at the Department for Education (DfE) are concerned that the situation may be worse than that uncovered in the “Trojan Horse” scandal earlier this year, in which Islamic fundamentalists attempted to infiltrate secular schools in Birmingham. Emergency inspections of 21 schools in the city by the schools regulator Ofsted resulted in five schools being placed in special measures.
  “Tower Hamlets is expected to be the next Birmingham, but even worse, because the problems surrounding Muslim fundamentalists imposing their views on education seem to be more embedded,” said a senior Whitehall source.
  Both secular state schools and private Islamic schools are under suspicion, and there are concerns that non-Muslim teachers are staying silent for fear of losing their jobs.
  “The DfE will rely on whistleblowers to come forward about non-Muslim teachers being sidelined by Muslim fundamentalists in the borough,” the source said. “But potential whistleblowers fear they may be bullied, further sidelined or fired if they raise concerns.”
  
• The changing face of Britain: A child in Birmingham is now more likely to be a Muslim than Christian (dailymail.co.uk)
  
• "Christians flee Muslim-dominated areas for fear of being stoned to death" [Darleen Click] UPDATED (proteinwisdom.com)
  Christians with Middle Eastern backgrounds in Denmark experience harassment, verbal attacks and in some cases direct violence from Muslims. TV2 News has been in contact with a number of Christians here in Denmark who tell of violent experiences.
  
  Christians with Middle Eastern backgrounds in Denmark experience harassment, verbal attacks and in some cases direct violence from Muslims. TV2 News has been in contact with a number of Christians here in Denmark who tell of violent experiences. - See more at: http://proteinwisdom.com/?p=55193#sthash.DiVRmF25.dpuf
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  Christians with Middle Eastern backgrounds in Denmark experience harassment, verbal attacks and in some cases direct violence from Muslims. TV2 News has been in contact with a number of Christians here in Denmark who tell of violent experiences. - See more at: http://proteinwisdom.com/?p=55193#sthash.DiVRmF25.dpuf
• Islamist extremism spreads to London schools? (economictimes.indiatimes.com)
  Allegations about the imposition of extreme views in Tower Hamlets classrooms come as UK schools inspectorate Ofsted prepares to publish the findings of emergency inspections of 40 schools in England in the past fortnight.
  The prospect of a new Trojan Horse-style scandal in Tower Hamlets will alarm ministers.
  The original plot, first revealed by The Sunday Times, resulted in the removal of several head teachers and boards of governors in Birmingham.
  A report into the scandal by Peter Clarke, a former head of counter-terrorism at Scotland Yard, found evidence of a "sustained" attempt to impose hardline Muslim views, with female staff bullied and Christian assemblies scrapped.
  
• Into the blast furnace (voxday.blogspot.com)
  The UK's demographics are illustrating the truth of GK Chesterton's observations concerning the human disinclination to believe in nothing:
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  If he thinks segregation is a problem, just try desegregating those communities. Because communities that can't peacefully segregate will always eventually find another, less palatable means of doing so.
  
  Well done, secular Britain. Out of its desire to weaken Christianity's societal dominance, it imported Islam. That's like leaping out of the frying pan and into the blast furnace.
• Archbishop of the Anglican Church Says It's Acceptable to Have Doubt, and Still Be a Christian (nollywoodmagazine.com)
  Some are coming for his head but I totally agree with the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby who has said he sometimes has doubts in his belief in God.In an interview with BBC, Bristol the leader of the Church of England said he doubted in “lots of different ways”.
  
  Some are coming for his head but I totally agree with the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby who has said he sometimes has doubts in his belief in God.
  In an interview with BBC,  Bristol the leader of the Church of England said he doubted in “lots of different ways”.
  - See more at: http://www.nollywoodmagazine.com/2014/09/archbishop-of-the-anglican-church-says-its-acceptable-to-have-doubt-and-still-be-a-christian.html#sthash.8O3gHcp6.dpuf
  
  
  Some are coming for his head but I totally agree with the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby who has said he sometimes has doubts in his belief in God.
  In an interview with BBC,  Bristol the leader of the Church of England said he doubted in “lots of different ways”.
  - See more at: http://www.nollywoodmagazine.com/2014/09/archbishop-of-the-anglican-church-says-its-acceptable-to-have-doubt-and-still-be-a-christian.html#sthash.8O3gHcp6.dpuf
• Vicars 'Set to Report Confessed Crimes to Police' (ibtimes.co.uk)
• (Telegraph) Some Anglicans in the same-sex marriage debate sign 'love letter' to Bishops (kendallharmon.net)

If you have integrity

In this disrupted world climate people have changed. Honesty and integrity are almost forgotten values. The confidence has disappeared.

Crime and violence are a worldwide phenomenon.
„Probity or integrity have been well defined as „moral uprightness; honesty.” A sound person is reliably and not corruptible by people or able to be tempted by wrong matters. Probity does not mean natural perfection, but it indicates on a fundamental quality in someone. In our world of becoming rich quickly sometimes integrity can be considered as an obstacle instead of as a virtue.

But in this time all ranks and social order become damaged by or loss of integrity.

In spite of the world-wide reverse gear in criteria in the field of honesty certain people attach still value to integrity. To do what we have promised, is one way to show love for god and our people and to commission people who love justice. - Matthew 22:36 - 39; Romans 15:2.

As Christians we hear to be followers of the master Jesus Christ. Of all students it is required that they stick to a code of conduct which corresponds to what is usually expected in a community or family where the emphasis is laid on courtesy, politeness, regard for parents and the elderly, cooperation, tolerance, friendliness, honesty and integrity. We must work at our self, at our own person-like-driven so that nobody must doubt our person and so that we can win also the confidence of others. How more people follow the way of God, how more that sound people of integrity will populate the world.

Wouldn't you like to live gladly in a world in which everyone displayed moral qualities of integrity, love, allegiance, unselfishness and with interest for people? That is decidedly the type of world which you wish! Absolutely no human dominator is ever able to bring that about. Only Jehovah God can make that possible. And he will do it, because His new world is no unreal air castle. - Psalm 85:10, 11.

Marcus Ampe

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"If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity, nothing else matters. Alan Simpson, former U.S. Senator.

This statement makes a very strong case for integrity. What does the Bible have to say on the subject?

When God spoke to King Solomon on the occasion of the dedication of the temple, He said, "As for you, if you walk before me in integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws, I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father when I said, 'You shall never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.' But if you or your sons turn away from me and do not observe the commands and decrees I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them, then I will cut off Israel from the land I have given them and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. Israel will then become a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples."

God makes it clear that the keeping of His commandments is the essence of integrity. The high principles, honesty and good character manifested by a man of integrity come from adherence to divine principles. In Solomon's case, he had committed himself to serving God, and the keeping of God's law was an integral part of that commitment.

We don't have to read very much more to find out that Solomon did not walk in integrity of heart all the days of his life as did his father David, and, as a result, the kingdom was divided. Eventually Israel did become a byword and an object of ridicule. Why? Lack of integrity is the answer. A man of integrity honors his commitments.

David knew the value of integrity. Just before he died he went all-out to help prepare for the temple he wanted to build, but God had refused him permission, saying, "No, your son will build it instead." David, rather than being a poor sport, said to God, "I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you. O LORD, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Israel, keep this desire in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you. And give my son Solomon the wholehearted devotion to keep your commands, requirements and decrees and to do everything to build the palatial structure for which I have provided."

David was correct. God does test our hearts and He is pleased with integrity. Integrity implies willingly doing the right thing no matter what the cost or what we may prefer. David put aside what he would have liked to have done and wholeheartedly supported a plan that was not of his choice and would give the prestige for building the temple to someone else.

Integrity is a quality you cannot fake. There really is no such thing as insincere integrity. If it is insincere then it is not integrity. We need to ask ourselves, Do we have integrity? That is a critical question. We cannot fake it. Solomon who once had it but lost it gives us good advice on the subject: "The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity." "Righteousness guards the man of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner." "The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out."

Let us then walk with integrity. The benefits of integrity are many, both now and in the future. The Psalmist said as he spoke to God, "May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you."

Paul gave good advice to Titus when he said, "In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness" A person of integrity is respected, offering a good example for others to follow.

Let us say with the Psalmist, "But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me." God will respond as David knew he would when David said, "Judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, according to my integrity, O Most High.""

- Brother Robert Lloyd
Integrity - Minute Meditations

Dutch version / Nederlandse versie > Als u integriteit hebt

If you want to go far in life

"If you want to go far in life, be …
Tender with the young,
Compassionate with the aged,
Sympathetic with the striving,
Tolerant of the weak and the strong.
Because someday you will have been all of these."
- George Washington Carver

"Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers,
be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling,
but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing."
1 Peter 3:8-9

God give that I can bring up patience for others
and can approach them with kindness.
Let me radiate the love of Christ.

Dutch version > Als je ver wilt gaan in het leven

People who are always making allowances for themselves soon go bankrupt

"People who are always making allowances for themselves soon go bankrupt."
- Mary Pettibone Poole

"Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
Ephesians 4:1-3

I do not want to tergiversate, but would want to make the right choices between good and evil.
God take care that I can lead a life worthy of you and pleases you in everything.
That I may bring forth fruits of goodness active in many areas and also increase in the true knowledge of God.
I hope in my life to realize the good deeds that you God have prepared for me.

Dutch version / Nederlands> Mensen die altijd toelagen voor zichzelf maken gaan snel failliet

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2015 update:

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Integrity of the fellowship

"The first happy community became distressed by heresies and by men who liked to have the pre-eminence over others. This resulted in schism and fragmentation. The apostles made every effort to rebuke and educate those in error, sometimes with success and sometimes not. We might ask what happened to those who refused to return to their former belief. Such persons had already broken the fellowship based on a common belief and, when the position became intolerable or entrenched, the apostles instructed the congregation in which it occurred to exclude the delinquent person from their company. This would apply particularly to the breaking of bread service which was one of the highest expressions of fellowship. In other words, whilst the brethren strove hard to recover those who had gone astray in a matter of the faith, they also had a responsibility for the integrity of the fellowship itself which they had to preserve when recovery of the wayward proved impossible. This was secured by excluding the heretic from their midst. Often, of course, the heretic would leave of his own accord.

These verses illustrate the action taken:

"He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine; receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: for he that biddeth him God speed is a partaker of his evil deeds." (2 John 9, 10)

"Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that have nothing to do with him." (Titus 3:10, N.I.V.)

However, as will be seen from the many verses quoted in this chapter, fellowship is not only a matter of common tenets of faith, it is also a common way of life. The word "doctrine" means
teaching, and teaching concerns what we believe and what we do.

The apostles' doctrine therefore concerned a common faith and the life in Christ. Godliness is part of fellowship.

Unfortunately, all of us sin from time to time. What happens to the disciple when he sins? Does he leave the fellowship of Christ?
Certainly, if he knowingly persists in his sin and remains unrepentant, his fellowship is deeply affected and severance occurs. In the mercy of God provision is made for the disciple to receive forgiveness by seeking it through the Lord Jesus Christ in prayer:

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." (1 John 1:9, ­10)

There are, nevertheless, sins which, because they are grievous and bring the body of believers into disrepute, need more open treatment by the congregation. The elders should seek to restore the offender whilst also rejecting the sin which he has committed:

"Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ." Galatians 6:1-2)

"Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; let him know that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." (James 5:19-20)

"Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear." (1 Timothy 5:20)

Compassion and renewal in the right way are the twin components of this path of understanding and restoration. Tolerance of deeply offensive unChristian conduct would do neither the offender nor the congregation any good whatsoever; bitter and immediate rejection of the offending disciple would itself be unlike the patient and cleansing restorative work of the Lord himself. Wisdom in the Word of God, a deep desire to uphold the godly standards of the Lord Jesus Christ whilst keeping the fallen from destruction, and an awareness of our common frailty, are essential elements in this work of recovery."

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Brother Harry Tennant
Fellowship
The Christadelphians - What they Believe and Preach

God let my compassionate affection be tolerant and kind

God let my compassionate affection be tolerant and kind. Make that my charity suffers long and would not be jealous. That she is kind and envies not, brags not itself, is not puffed up or not swells with arrogance. That I be a person possessing compassionate affection that reaches out. That I not behave unseemly and shall not continue to seek my own self-interest. That I not seek just self-concern, but seek rather the concerns of others. Let I not be easily provoked. That I think no evil, do not record harm and that I'll do not rejoice over injustice. Let me rejoice not in iniquity, but rejoice in the truth.
Let me bare all things, believe all things, hope all things, and endure all things. Let charity or compassionate affection never fail.

Dutch version > God laat mijn meedogende genegenheid tolerant zijn en vriendelijk

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2013 update:

 

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• "How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these." - George Washington Carver
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