It was November 17th 2006 when I lost my natural speaking voice to cancer. Then, just when I had graduated to three-monthly checks at the oncology clinic, another cancer was found in my neck. April 6th 2009 this was surgically removed. From May 26th I was treated by radiotherapy over 33 sessions until July 9th. Now I have just been told by my surgeon that I can graduate again, from being seen monthly at the oncology clinic to being seen bimonthly. Last year, 2009, was another roller coaster of a year! It seems to me that as a laryngectomee life largely revolves around being careful for myself and my voice prosthesis. Almost every decision Brenda and I make includes thinking of how we are going to cope with my health needs. Even little things like, “Have you got your spare HME cassettes?” when we are going out. “Are there enough pocket tissues for several coughs?” if we are going to be out, or in someone else’s home, for a while. We have ventured further away from home just once recently. My nephew was getting married right across the country, in Suffolk. We were pleased that I have my driving licence again. I got it back after I had been without a blackout for more than a year. We were able to share the 325 miles driving each way. I do feel nervous when I am behind the wheel in case I have a bad cough with no warning. Thankfully, to date I have always been able to sense a cough coming and stop the car safely. We planned our travel carefully. We stopped overnight at a bed and breakfast west of London. We spent four nights at an Inn midway between the wedding venue and Brenda’s family. (We opted for this central base so I could set up a place and system for the once or twice daily valve cleaning). We enjoyed the magically picturesque wedding. We distributed Christmas presents to all the family. Several friends came to visit us for meals in a nearby pub. I proved to myself that I could be away from home and from our local hospital. I managed eating the food I chose from the menus. My “voice” did become sore with so much talking, but it was worth it. As an added bonus we called in for lunch with our daughter’s family, and visited a recently bereaved friend of ours, and met up again with the groom’s parents, all on the two day journey back home. Brenda and I reckon it took me three or four days to get over the trip, but we were glad to have done it. Valve and stoma cleaning “on the road” are not as easy as at home. Seeing properly is the most difficult. Hotel rooms don’t usually offer angle lamps with well-placed mirrors! Speaking in a lobby with two or three others is comfortable for me, but trying to talk in a wedding marquee with 200 other guests was just about impossible. Chatting with Brenda while driving is a challenge too, since I need one hand to press the cassette. In general, three plus years on, I would make the following observations about laryngectomee life for me: 1. I have had to get used to doing less than I want to in a day. My energy levels definitely are lower. I manage to work at writing for Sudan four mornings most weeks. The highlight for me in 2009 was the publishing in Khartoum of “Issues Facing Christians in Sudan Today”. The book is out there in three languages, English, Arabic and Dinka Padang. I wrote half of the chapters and edited the writings of Sudanese church leaders for the other half. I am now working on discussion questions for my Christian Discipleship book “Raising the Standard”(1987). We hope to republish this, including the discussion guide, in Sudan later this year. 2. When I walk after lunch most days I do notice a lack of breath, especially coming up the hill from the shops to our home. If I wear a normal HME cassette I notice I am breathing hard. If I wear my hands free HME cassette I usually have to stop and open it for more breath. If I wear the Hi-Flow HME cassette it seems better, but it seems a waste for me to change cassettes for just one hour’s walk and shopping! 3. Bending forwards still poses many problems, with phlegm immediately blocking the HME cassette – of whichever type. Setting the log fire, picking up something dropped on the floor, plugging in or unplugging any appliance, gardening, filing in the bottom drawer, looking at books on the bottom shelf, are among the trouble spots. I try to remember and take the cassette out first (using a tissue as a mop) or I sit on the floor which means I can keep my upper body upright. I cannot kneel because I have two artificial knees. I always carry at least two spare HME cassettes with me at all times. 4. After trialling different types of adhesive base plates to hold the HME cassettes, I have settled on Optiderm for general use and Xtra base for use with the Hands free speaking system. I used the Optiderm during and after radiotherapy when my throat skin was exceptionally tender. I found it suited my skin well and remained firmly stuck on, so I have kept using it in preference to the Regular base plate. 5. I still am working at the Hands free because I find it much more stressful to speak using it – due, I think, to breathing difficulties. The white spot “tongue” can close when I’m breathing not speaking! The green spot “tongue” I have to exhale hard to close in order to speak. I am going to order the medium “blue spot” with my next order from Countrywide supplies. I find the Xtra base plate sticks on well for Hands free without the need for any more glue, as long as I clean my skin off properly beforehand. I still wait to see how it works in the warmer summer weather and when there is perspiration around! 6. I am still unable to smell anything at all and my taste is very limited as a result. I have tried the “polite yawn” technique unsuccessfully. Very occasionally I catch a whiff of something, but it is accidental. I do not know how I do it! I certainly cannot smell something on demand. I eat food because I have to, not because I want to. I have recently stopped losing weight much to the glee of my cancer-care team. (How my diabetic-care team will view it remains to be seen!). Finally let me just share with you all one moment of delight at the recent Christmas. Our family were all staying with us. My eldest grandson – who was at one time scared of me and my stoma – actually played with me, pushing in my cassette with his fingers to enable me to speak! It was a delightful change in his response to me. Fortunately he didn’t press the cassette for too long and cause me to pass out through lack of breath. Thank you for letting me share these thoughts with you. I believe that I am learning to live within the limitations my body sets. Finding the right balance of going/not going to places where I cannot comfortably converse is an ongoing challenge. Even our Speak Easy club can be noisy with 12-16 people there. Working when I can and resting when I have to is another matter of balance. Brenda and I enjoy it when friends come to visit and our front door is usually open. We thank God for the new laryngectomee friends we have made (about 35 on our Club’s mailing list). We also thank God that through email and post we can keep up with friends and students in Sudan. Perhaps I can say along with the apostle Paul in the New Testament: “As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you”, Galatians 4:13. Everything that comes my way – and the things that don’t – I believe firmly, is God’s doing. I try to accept everything as from His hand.

The Master's Instructions about the Gospel. Acts 2:1-47. The first sermon ever preached in the history of the Christian church concludes with an invitation for people to respond to what God has done. God has reached out His hand to mankind and said: ‘If you will come to Me this way I can accept you.’ Take a moment to read Acts 2:36-41. The key is verse 38 in which Peter says we should respond to the good news in three ways. Repent This literally means to change your mind, to change your purpose and to change what you do. It involves both a turning away from sin and a turning towards God. God and sin do not go together. He is holy (Isaiah 6:3) and we are sinful (Romans 3:23). When we choose to turn from sin we show we truly know God. This repentance is an act of our free will. When a soccer player is to move from one club to another, the managers will settle the fee and fix terms and dates. However, it is up to the player finally to decide which colour shirt he likes playing in. Likewise, it is up to us to choose to repent and turn to God. The need to repent was preached without apology by the early church (Acts 3:19; 8:22; 17:30-31; 26:20). It is repentance that brings about forgiveness of sins. Repentance itself is obedience to a command of God. True repentance is shown by a complete change of life. Be baptised This word literally means ‘to dip’ or ‘to immerse’. It used to refer to the dyeing of a garment by plunging it into a liquid dye. Jesus Himself commanded His followers to show that they were His followers by observing this simple ceremony (Matthew 28:19-20). Baptism does not save anyone from sin. It is only Jesus Christ Who can do that. But it does show to others that the person being baptised has decided to follow Jesus Christ in his life, leaving the world’s way behind. The early church practised believers’ baptism (Acts 8:36-38, 9:18; 10:47- 48, 16:31-33). Believers’ baptism in water is a public confession of a personal commitment. The truth of the witness of baptism is shown by a complete change of life. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit Frequently people say to me: ‘I can’t become a real Christian because I couldn’t keep it up.’ God knows that’s true – without His help. But He does not expect you to keep it up on your own. He gives His Holy Spirit to all believers and the Holy Spirit gives spiritual life. God wants every Christian to learn to live a Christian life in the fullness of the Holy Spirit’s power. He will not force you to do anything – He respects your free will – but He wants you to know, by faith, His fullness in your life. We trust God that our sins are forgiven. We trust Him to make us sensitive to sin in our lives. We trust Him to make us more like Jesus Christ. We trust Him to give us the Holy Spirit as we ask Him to fill our lives (Luke 11:13). It is one thing to know in your head that Jesus Christ is the Saviour – it is quite another thing to know this in your heart. May I ask where you stand before God? Are you lost or are you saved? Are you spiritually dead towards God or are you alive in Him? Are you ruined by sin or have you been restored in Jesus Christ? Pray this prayer right where you are, in all honesty and sincerity, and you will receive forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit: ‘Father God, I admit my sinfulness before You; I believe You sent Jesus Christ to be my Saviour; I choose to leave my old life of sin and learn the new Christian life. I desire the fullness of God’s Holy Spirit to enable me. Accept me, break me, cleanse me and disciple me, I pray, in the name of Jesus Christ my Saviour and Lord, Amen.’ Discussion guide on ‘the Gospel, how should we respond to it?’ Read Acts 2:36-47. 1. Since God has provided Himself a substitute for us in facing His own judgement on sin, verse 36, how should we respond to God? 2. What does it mean “they were cut to the heart”, verse 37? 3. Discuss the difference between repentance in the Bible and a person merely feeling sorry over something. 4. The importance of repentance is seen in the preaching of the early Christians. See Acts 2:38; 3:19; 8:22; 17:30-31; 26:20. What do you understand by Paul’s testimony, “I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds”, Acts 26:20? Is this still good preaching (and witnessing) today? Why? 5. The importance of believers’ baptism is also seen in the early church, see Acts 2:41; 8:36-39; 9:18; 10:47-48; 16:31-34. What is a person showing and saying to those who witness his or her baptism? 6. “Baptism does not save anyone from sin”. Discuss this statement. What is the purpose of baptism if this statement is true? 7. Peter preached, “Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”, Acts 2:38. Why was the Holy Spirit important to Peter’s listeners? Is the same true for new believers today? Why? 8. In Acts 1:8 Jesus promises the Holy Spirit will give “power for witnessing”. Discuss what this means for you today.

Issues facing Christians in Sudan today. Real Christianity section. by Bishop Anthony Poggo The book of Nehemiah resembles what we are going through. It tells the story of the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. God used a man with vision and determination to do the job. Nehemiah continued his “impossible” task in spite of tremendous opposition. In rebuilding Southern Sudan perhaps the greatest dangers lie inside each one of us. We are the people of the Southern Sudan. Are we ready to do the work? As a church we have a role in encouraging our people to develop responsive hearts to the needs we see all around us. If each one only helps themselves and builds the “wall” right next to their own life, we will soon all see a big change. We have huge challenges before us. Poor health care, lack of pure water, poverty of education, with our natural resources not being used for the benefit of all the people. In my consideration of why we are where we are, I have thought of a number of weaknesses in us, things of a negative nature that are holding us back from taking the lead and changing our own situation. We have to face the reality about ourselves if we really want to see change with a better future for the generations to come. For example, (and we’ll see more on this below), we have to develop what we can call the “doctrine of work”. It is clearly stated for us in the book of Genesis 1:26-28; 2:15. Paul exhorts the Thessalonians and others to work and to earn their own living, 2 Thessalonians 3:7-10. It is not acceptable to depend on others for our food. I cannot understand how many young men stay the day in a relative’s home playing games or just laying on the bed, while their fathers are out working hard to support their families. We should feel ashamed of this! Some people are misusing and taking advantage of the welcoming generosity that characterises our people. This is not the place for a chapter by chapter study from Nehemiah. We will extract what I consider relevant challenges to all Sudanese Christians today. Bible references are from Nehemiah unless stated otherwise. Start from the Place You find Yourself In If you are not in the ideal place to start rebuilding, don’t worry. God knows where you are. When God was about to use one man to lead a project rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem and bring social, economic and spiritual reform, He knew where to find him! Nehemiah was a man of spiritual integrity, human concern and faith in God. That was what counted – not where he physically was. Nehemiah did not just feel sorry for himself! He was a refugee 1:1, but that did not stop God using him. While living and working in Susa, a luxurious royal city in modern day south-west Iran, Nehemiah learned of the deplorable condition of the returned exiles, 1:3. Our Lord Jesus was a refugee early in his life, Matthew 2:13-23. God looks for His people everywhere and He brings them to where He plans to use them. Nehemiah made the best he could of his present life. The king could obviously trust him, 1:11. God uses people He can trust. Jerusalem was a broken city 1:3. Today (2008) we know in Southern Sudan that many places are still in ruins due to the recently ended war. For example, Kajo-Keji is in ruins. Nehemiah could have just ignored the plight of his people. He was a trusted worker. He was secure working in State House. But he was not selfish. He talked, wept and mourned before God about the situation, 1:4-11. He was concerned for God's cause. A pastor needs to have God-given concern for his flock. That is why he is called a “shepherd”, Acts 20:28. God's cause is for the lost to be brought to Him, and that believers should keep on living holy and useful lives. Nehemiah prayed, 1:5-11; 2:4; 4:9. Prayer and Bible reading are two important tools for Christian growth. They are essential for all Christians including leaders. Jesus told us to ask, to seek and to knock the doors in prayer, Luke 11:9-10. Good prayer is a two-way conversation. If I visited you for two hours and I was the only one who spoke, something would be wrong. Pray with your Bible open. As Nehemiah shared with God what he understood, God put His vision into Nehemiah’s heart. Listen to God where you are and learn what He wants from you. Act on Your God-given Concern Our concerns should be put into practice. There is no point in only talking! Because Nehemiah acted, the wall of Jerusalem was rebuilt. God has given us a measure of peace in Sudan. We need to do God’s work. We must return from “exile” and do the work God has called us to do. We must show courage and practicality in dealing with government authority, 2:7-8. Patience, planning and participation are keys to being useful to God. God’s timing is always the right timing, 2:11. People God moves to join a work make a good team, 2:17-18. Use your skills in organising and motivating other people, chapter 3. Prayer and hard work go hand in hand, 4:6,9. Work Hard For Sudan to catch up with the rest of the world in development, we will need to work extra hard. In our country and in church we need to have a change of attitude. We must see work as part of our God-given responsibility and not a curse, Genesis 2:15; Exodus 20:9; Ecclesiastes 5:18-19. Every individual has a role and can usefully contribute to the development of Sudan. We often think the government should do everything for us. The war has ended but we have another battle to fight, against ignorance, poverty and disease. We all have to work hard at this. A major issue we face is laziness. The Bible encourages hard work. Any able person who does not work should not eat, 2 Thessalonians 3:10. Laziness is the mother of poverty. In the old southern Sudan, offices used to work from 7:30 am to 2:00 pm. One change we need to consider in the New Sudan is an increase in hours from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, with one-hour lunch break, like most countries. Others argue that high temperatures in Sudan, mean we need shorter working plus rest during the hottest part of the day. If this is scientifically proven, we could make the working hours from 7:30am to 12:30pm, then a two-hour break, with work again from 2:30 pm to 5:30 pm. This does inconvenience workers who stay far from their places of work. In a big soccer match there are usually spectators as well as team players. In our work, all Christians should be on the field working. Christians should not be spectators. Non-Christians are the ones who watch. They should see the difference Jesus Christ makes to our work ethic. Keep to time Another attitude to purge is the wrong use of “Sudan local time”. The understanding of “local” in many African contexts is “something that is worthless”. The Oxford Dictionary defines local as “belonging to or connected with the particular place or area that you are talking about”. For example, a local farmer is a farmer from a particular area, not a second-class farmer! “Sudan local time” means time that applies to Sudan in contrast to East African Standard time that applies elsewhere. In Yambio I heard people refer to “standard time”. An Across colleague said people in Yambio used it to refer to East African time then one hour different from Sudan. We must use our God-given time, 24 hours in each day, properly. Work at keeping time. The idea that the more senior a person is the more he or she should delay a function to show his importance, will never help us develop our nation. When we are invited for a function that starts at 9:00am, do not leave your house at the time the function should start! Leave to be there at 9.00am. Catch up with the rest of the world in the small things and the bigger things will follow! Play your Role If we want to build our nation, we have to make our individual contributions to the work. God will not send us angels to do it miraculously. He will use you and me as His builders. He has given us talents to use in these roles. Southern Sudan needs more servant leaders and fewer bosses. Most governments refer to their workers as civil “servants”. This is similar to the Biblical view on Christian conduct. Jesus expects people who want to be great in the kingdom to be “servers” or “servants of all”, Matthew 20:25-28, Ephesians 4:15-16. In today’s dictionary “servant” means “one who is employed to work for another”. Avoid Corruption The new government of Southern Sudan along with everyone of us faces a challenge to put into place mechanisms guarding against the abuse and mismanagement of resources. Transparency must be encouraged in all dealings. Individuals, the churches, Non Governmental Organisations and all sectors of society must be 100% honest. During earlier struggles, one leader was vocal in criticising the government of that day. He accused it of abetting corruption. When the Liberation Movement took over, this same person was appointed to a senior position. After his appointment, he became quiet. He did not criticise his colleagues who were involved in corrupt practices. When asked why, he hid behind his tradition. He said that according to his culture it is bad manners to be talking while one is “eating”. Our Christianity must come before our tradition, 1 Peter 2:12. Focus on God not your situation You will face different opposition, challenges and problems. Do not despair, complain or curse! Commit yourself to God and carry on the God-given work. “We continued to work”, 4:21, shows Nehemiah was fully working involved with his team. Leaders are not exempt from hard work! Keep yourself and your people focused on God, 4:14. A leader should expect opposition. This is what I suggest to do. Continue the work. Trust God to protect people and reputations. Do not look back, look to God. Pray continually. Nehemiah’s confidence was in God, 4:20. Ours should be too! Our challenges include lack of funds and lack of human resources. The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (C.P.A.) faces challenges, including deliberate attempts to delay implementation and slow delivery of services. Many Southern Sudanese are expecting to see the benefits of the C.P.A. by now, in services like health and education. Instead, the outbreaks of cholera and meningitis show a lot remains to be done in the health sector. Jesus said, “Everything is possible for him who believes”, Mark 9:23. “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God”, Mark 10:27. God is in charge, Romans 13:1. Care for the poor Nehemiah 5 describes an economic crisis, resulting in landlessness and shortages of food. It could be Southern Sudan today! Landowners were compelled to mortgage their properties to survive. Others were forced to borrow money at exorbitant rates. Some even sold their children into slavery. National and local taxes must be fairly raised and the revenues evenly distributed. Christians must follow Nehemiah’s example and lead from the front, 5:14-19. Live and work in the fear of the Lord. Jesus said we must pay our taxes, Matthew 22:15-22. Our treasure is not our money. Our treasure is in heaven, not on earth, Matthew 6:19-21, 33. What is the role of a Christian in Sudan faced with exploitation, corruption and injustice? We live by biblical principles. We must practise our faith in everything we do. If God calls us to political leadership, positively influence community decision-making. Christian politicians can make tremendously positive contributions to society because of their Christian convictions. We can influence communities – like salt permeates and preserves food, and like light drives away darkness, Matthew 5:13-16. It is important that Christian ministry is physical and spiritual. In Luke 4:18-19, Jesus is saying his ministry is holistic, aimed at physical and spiritual needs. We cannot go and preach the Good News of Jesus then leave a person to die due to lack of food or an unjust prison sentence. Our faith must be shown in our good works, James 2:14-18. This may mean campaigning for those who are wrongly arrested. It may mean pressurising governments that mistreat people. This is not primarily politics but a vital part of Christian mission. Use Spiritual Discernment A false prophet was hired to discredit Nehemiah, 6:10-13. We must learn to discern who each message comes from, God or Satan. We must learn the practical call of our Father from day to day. We must test every option we are offered against the Word of God so that we avoid being deceived, 1 John 2:4-6, Matthew 7:15-23; 2 Peter 2:1-3. Avoid Tribalism and Nepotism Another disease affecting most African countries is nepotism – favouritism shown to relatives or close friends by those in power or influence – also seen in tribalism. A saying often used to justify favouritism is, “blood is thicker than water”. There have been complaints about some appointments made by State governments and the Government of Southern Sudan. Civil service and political appointments must be merited. Even in church it is wrong to bring people on to committees simply because they are related. The right gifted and qualified person must have the right job. Joseph was put in charge of Egypt, Genesis 41:41. Daniel’s godly standards earmarked him to rule the Babylonian and Mede kingdom, Daniel 6:3. Holy Spirit filled wise people administered the early church’s charity donations, Acts 6:3. Nehemiah put his brother Hanani in charge of Jerusalem. Hanani was “a man of integrity and feared God more than most men do”, 7:2. He was also concerned for the affairs of the nation, 1:2. His character – not his family relationship – made this a good appointment. Be Where God Wants You One of the difficult decisions that many Southern Sudanese refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (I.D.P.’s) have to make is when to return to their home of origin. Many refugees and I.D.P.’s are moving already. Others will consider returning only when basic services like schools and healthcare are in existence. It is important that our Government expeditiously restores basic infrastructure including clean drinking water, communications, electricity, roads and bridges. Many people from Kajo-Keji are still living in exile. I want to encourage them back to build houses in our home places. I am making plans now to build my own tukul in our village. God put into Nehemiah’s heart to register the people by families, 7:5. Everyone who returned was on the list, from the first to the latest. This year’s population census (2008) is important for Sudan. The results will govern distribution of future resources and the allocation of Constituencies. Local administrative levels will be determined by population. A County that registers a small population may not qualify to remain as a County. This information will determine the size of constituencies. The Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly in Juba has passed a Constituency Development Fund given to each Constituency for its development. The more Constituencies (population) registered, the more money becomes available for progress within our County. All record keeping must be credible, true and honest. 1 Chronicles 29:29-30; Luke 1:1-4. Our churches should also keep records of their people, baptisms and confirmations, weddings, funerals, etc. It is a good idea to know who preached where and when, and what the subject was, Acts 6:2-4; 2 Corinthians 8:20-21; Colossians 2:5. Read the Bible and Respond to it Many of us look at our watches when Sunday services go for more than two hours! The visible attention and response of the people to the word of God is an indication of the effectiveness of ministry, 8:6,9. The result of Ezra’s personal devotion to Scripture, Ezra 7:10, was that men and women listened carefully and understood his public reading , Nehemiah 8:2-3; 8:8. Always be attentive to the reading of the word. Read it with your family and friends. Explain and apply it understandably, 1 Timothy 4:13; Deuteronomy 11:18-21. Confronted by God’s word we may find promises to celebrate, 8:9-12, 18, and we may find sins to confess, 9:1-2 . Thinking about history helped Nehemiah’s people see their mistakes. God’s character is still the basis for His people today to come before Him in confession, 9:19. As Christians our usefulness to God depends on our obedience to His Word. For us to be those who influence Sudan for good, we must follow God’s plans for our own lives. As I let God change me, He will use me to change Sudan. As some of us have proven in our lives: huge journeys can be made, one step at a time. Discussion guide Using this chapter and Scriptures quoted: 1. “In rebuilding Southern Sudan perhaps the greatest dangers lie inside each one of us”. In your opinion, what are those dangers? Why are they “the greatest dangers”? 2. Explain in your own words the biblical “doctrine of work”. Make Scripture references clear. How do you see it being ignored in today’s Sudan? What can be done about this? 3. “Patience, planning and participation” are generally necessary for a work of God. Share one idea you could be involved with in helping to rebuild the people and the places of your area. Take the time to work out several practical steps to follow in doing this. How will you follow Nehemiah as your model? What lessons can you take from his life and work? 4. If “local” is taken to mean “worthless”, what is the best way to change that understanding? 5. Why must our “Christianity come before tradition”? Give examples from your own life. See 1 Peter 2:11-12 as a guide. 6. Why is our own spiritual discernment so important? Consider Nehemiah 6:10-13 and 2 Peter 2:1-3. How would you realise that God had not sent someone to your area? 7. Give examples – good and bad – of holistic ministries by Christians and churches. Think of constructive ways of making your own ministry more holistic. Luke 4:18-19; John 13:34-35; John 20:21. Share these ideas with one another.

Issues facing Christians in Sudan and South Sudan today. Suffering section. by John A. Kongi The Issues facing Christians in Sudan today are many. The problems are believed to stem from history. Christianity in Sudan predates both the colonial era and the Muslim era. It goes back to the days of Christian kingdoms in northern Sudan. “Every village had a Christian church in the 5th century”. “Nubians had crosses in their town squares”. Archaeological ruins from this time are to be seen in Khartoum’s Sudan National Museum. By 580 A.D. Christianity became the official religion of the three Nubian kingdoms along the river Nile: Nobatia – around Aswan, Makouria – around Faras, and Alwa – around and south of Dongola. This remained so until 638 A.D. when Roman Egypt was conquered by Muslim Arabs. The Arabs came as far south as Dongola. A treaty of non-aggression was signed, with the border put around Aswan. Christianity began to experience halting border clashes between Nubia and Egypt. Occasionally religious differences became part of the strained relationship between these countries. Christians were not excluded from these problems in their daily lives. As in the past so it is today. With a Muslim heading the state there is a tendency to coerce the Islamization of the whole state. This is happening right across Sudan. Of course we accept that during the earlier spread of Christianity, kingdoms that embraced Christianity often did so through their respective heads. Heads coerced the people they ruled to accept Christianity as their own personal faith since it was already considered the faith of the state. Akolde M. Tier, professor of law at the University of Khartoum, stated in one of his presentations: “It is just as Yusuf Fadl Hassan observed. Islamization of the kingly office was probably the gravest blow the Christian faith had yet suffered”. The king was the only person capable of inspiring his subjects to resist foreign invasion. If he did not do it, the kingdom would fall. In Sudan’s recent era of the Government of National Salvation Revolution (G.N.S.R.), many non-Muslims have been attracted to Islam. Also many Muslims have been persuaded to cross the other way, from Islam to Christianity. Many of these people live in fear for their future. Muslims hardly tolerate the existence of crossed persons whose background is Islam. Those persons with origins in northern Sudan suffer rejection in their home areas, if they are not exterminated. Others who live where Christians are in the majority, as in southern Sudan, may also face complications. Their identification as Arabs makes southerners look at them with much suspicion. Christians who cross to Islam live normally among Muslims but are suspected by the southerners of betraying the Southern cause. At the same time they may be suspected of spying on the Arab cause by the Arab Muslims they live among! Whether Sudan remains united or divides during the current peace process and referenda, it cannot resolve this kind of situation easily. Most probably these problems will become sharper than they are now. All of this adds to the issues facing Christians in today’s Sudan. The objective of this writing is to highlight some of the troubling issues, the agents that cause them, and to motivate the readers to suggest solutions. The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (C.P.A.) says in the first paragraph about state and religion that “ Sudan is a multi-cultural, multi-racial, multi-ethnic, multi-religion and multi-lingual country…”. It is worth also remarking that it is a multi-problem state, in which Christians comprise a legitimate part of the society. Christians have faced and still face many political, economic, social and technological issues. Politics Political evidence implies that the position of head of state is the monopoly of Muslim citizens. Christians can only be favoured for the deputy position. The late Al Zubeir Mohamed Salih, deputy chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council, was vice-president to president Omer Hassan Ahmed Al Bashir. Zubeir himself had a Christian deputy named George Kongor. In 21st September 1998 Zubeir died in a plane crash while president Bashir was out of the country. The Sudanese audience, especially Christians and in particular the watching southern Sudanese, were expecting George Kongor to assume the presidency, until president Bashir returned home. But he was not allowed to take the position, even for a short time. The late Zubeir lost his life while acting in the position of the president. George Kongor, by virtue of the established hierarchy, deserved to hold the position even if it was only for minutes. When this was not allowed to happen, multitudes of spectators were finally convinced that the position of president is the monopoly of Muslim citizens. The presidency of Sudan is not available for a Christian. Osman Mohamed Ali Taha was pushed into the position of the late vice-president Zubeir while Christian George Kongor was maintained in the third position, called "Second Vice-President". Throughout Sudanese history Christian southerners have deputised various Muslim presidents. The current situation (2008) allows Salva Kiir Mayardit to deputise for president Bashir. (Salva Kiir replaced the late Dr. John Garang de Mabior in 2005). Southern Sudan tends to maintain a Christian head to balance the centre’s Muslim monopoly. Economics A recent research work entitled “Economic Factors in the Inter-African church of Sudan”, indicated that not much attention had been paid to economics in the church context when compared to secular sectors of Sudan. This led to a deterioration of the socio-economic patterns for the lives of church members. The overall economic environment in Sudan has aggravated the church’s economic situation. Despite vision and mission the church fails to succeed economically. This adversely affects human welfare and development. Serious Christian consideration has not been given to economic factors in life. The church has neglected the call to look into its own economy. It does not often critique and eliminate things that are not life giving, life sustaining or life developing. This demonstrates something is seriously wrong with church management. Under these stresses family and social units live with unhealthier conditions. Definitely no serious societal development can be seen emerging from our economically distressed and pressurised families. Since healthy family life is essential for a society to develop and prosper, this issue must be addressed. This economic factor is among the serious issues facing Christians in Sudan today. Social Socially, the majority of Sudanese Christians are from marginalised geographical areas like southern Sudan, southern Kordofan including Abyei, the eastern Sudan, western Sudan and north to Wadi Halfa. These people are vulnerable to social mobility. Their religious signs show the extent of their vulnerability. For example, the places where they worship their God comprise constructions made from feeble materials. Contrast this with the ancient era, the Nubian kingdom, where outstanding temples were well built. Today’s church buildings in Sudan are poor and often temporary. Church constructions around the capital city Khartoum, particularly those of the inter-African church of Sudan, are evidence of this marginalisation. Technology Technology is still far away from the majority of Christians in Sudan. What is available and accessible requires Christians to struggle a lot in order to make it work positively. Good technology, well maintained and serviced, and used appropriately, can encourage Christian worship and witness. Christians in Sudan need to train and become experts in using radio, T.V., projectors, computers etc. The more expert we are the greater our use of technology can be. And the wider impact our ministry will have. Secularism On top of all these challenges modern day secularisation promotes an ungodly existence even among religious people. Muslims respond by wanting an Islamic state, where religious rules govern daily life. Christians, though aspiring for a secular state, express caution on the way that secular state would operate. For example, how do you find the balance between “personal freedom” and “abusing the values of human life”? This question of what are the acceptable limits is relevant all over Sudan, including the south and in Khartoum. How do Christians respond to the globalised secularism being imported into our country? Oppression and intimidation Christians in Sudan suffer the politicisation of religion for the exclusive gain of Islam. Many of the difficult times Christians have faced in recent days were caused by the G.N.S.R. The government has been led by an Islamic party known as the National Congress Party (N.C.P.). This party is believed to have been designed and structured by Dr. Hassan al Turabi. During the G.N.S.R. Christians have faced the confiscation of Christian properties. His Eminence Gabriel Zubeir Wako has explained in a booklet the circumstances which led to the forcible taking over of the Catholic club in Khartoum by the authorities of Khartoum state. He has also pointed clearly to the cry of Christians about the abusive approach used by government apparatus. G.N.S.R. has also succeeded in making use of internal conflicts among church denominations to help achieve its revolutionary goals. At a time the church of Sudan was expected to speak with one voice for the sake of stopping the war in southern Sudan, the G.N.S.R. had penetrated the churches and attracted some leading church members for its own gain. As the churches of Sudan produced a position paper saying together that we remain united in action for peace, those church members attracted by the G.N.S.R. spoke contrary to the position taken. Those churches that complied with the notions of the G.N.S.R. were called “national churches”. They included the Reformed Episcopal Church of Sudan and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sudan. G.N.S.R. has been accused by Christians of deliberately interfering in the internal affairs of the churches in Sudan, for example the Sudan Church of Christ and the Presbyterian Church of Sudan. The president of the republic, Omer Hassan Ahmed El Bashir, was asked by Christians in a letter to intervene and to help stop such events by the G.N.S.R. authorities, but he was asked in vain. The president’s attention was drawn to the actions of the Ansar Islamic group. They deliberately used (and may yet abuse) Christians and the Christian faith. This is evidenced by their actions. On February 4th 1998 they acted against the Evangelical church. On February 8th 1999, during an exhibition launched by the Christian student association, they burned copies of the Bible and other church materials in the University of Khartoum. On March 19th the same year they staged trouble against the Coptic church in Street Amarat. On August 8th 1999 they assaulted people at prayer in the Catholic centre of Doroshab which led to the closure of the centre by the government. President Bashir was made to note that Christians in Sudan are not feeling the essence of article 14 of the Sudan constitution relating to their religious freedom, given these consecutive conflicts. A short time later Omdurman Islamic University Students Union, the Association of Islamic Thought, circulated a warning statement to all people through a leaflet issued to the public. The leaflet urged G.N.S.R. to cramp the movement of Christians and Christian mission in Sudan, otherwise Muslims would be obliged to stage coercive measures by themselves. The Christian Sahefa cemetery was the subject of confiscation. On 12th December 2000 the churches made a strong response to engineer Samsaa’s letter and to the government authority responsible for the matter. Frustration continued when the Easter celebration for 2001 was obstructed by government authorities at a very late hour, with no time before the planned start of the occasion. The German guest of honour, Dr. Reinhard Bonnke, returned home while Christians in Sudan continued to live with the violent consequences of the cancellation. There were both spiritual and material losses. Legal rights From the preceding it is seen that Christians have faced many issues and still do so today. The question of religious freedom has been monopolised by the G.N.S.R./N.C.P. Although the C.P.A. contains signs for resolving some problems, as yet the success of that cannot be easily evaluated. Professor Akolda M. Tier has indicated that the Sudanese legal framework to evaluate the freedom of religion is fragmented and complex. Its basic resources are the Constitution and subsequent legislation, both primary and subsidiary. Since these two resources have to be interpreted and applied by the courts and other law enforcement agencies, the case law which is growing up around them provides a third resource. Religious laws too, have a dual role to play. Firstly they have a direct role as the law to be applied in family matters and succession. Secondly, they cast a pervasive shadow over the whole legal system. It is obvious that the existence of separate religious groups, each living under the protection of its own law, indicates unresolved problems about the nature of the state. Some aspects of past history still affect present practices. Al Sadig Al Mahdi, writing about religious co-existence in the Sudan 5th December 2005, indicated that both within the religious creeds and between them, there is a legacy of intolerance. This intolerance contributed massively to armed conflicts. It also sustained the view of many a secularist that religion – far from realising human salvation – causes human damnation! When we consider the three Abrahamic religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, we have to admit the existence of texts and interpretations of those texts which make collision inevitable. Such has been the nature of events in Sudan, stemming from aspects of past history and with a blend of newly incoming factors. A similar understanding has been believed by Ibrahim Mirghani Ibrahim, ambassador and permanent representative of Sudan to the United Nations in Geneva, 14th March 2001. Sudan is geographically situated in the midst of the most turbulent area in Africa. Like other countries in the region, Sudan has many problems stemming from aspects of history and the new storm of globalisation. Government at local and federal levels acknowledges the problems. But what can be done? Culture clashes are indicative of responses made to respective community values. The G.N.S.R./N.C.P. have tried hard to fragment the Christians. They have had practical success through unwarranted interference. This has created intolerance throughout the most recent era. Several approaches have been used. Almost all provoke an unhappy situation for Christians. However, they do serve to illustrate the nature of issues Christians face in today’s Sudan. In early 2000/2001 the members of the Sudan Council of Churches (S.C.C.) envisioned a just, peaceful and godly Sudan for the realisation of its mission. Given the demonstration of events above, and the glimpses of issues facing Christians in Sudan today, all Sudanese and particularly Christian Sudanese will have to go the extra mile in the era of the C.P.A. for it to succeed. Problems are being managed, but management does not eradicate the issues. These issues remain an unavoidable part of present life. Negotiating them Christianly is a worthy priority if our aspirations for a just, peaceful and godly Sudan are to be achieved. Discussion guide 1. “Christians comprise a legitimate part of Sudanese society”. Share local examples where you feel this is (or is not) being applied today. Consider from the studies below how legitimate Christian influence – both political and personal – can best be made. Biblical considerations to help Christians respond to some points in this chapter: Islamization 2. What was the early church asked to do towards the government of their day – the Romans who had conquered their lands? See Matthew 22:15-22; Romans 12:1-2; Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-17; Hebrews 12:14. 3. How were Christians to live amongst people from another religion (the Jews)? 1 Corinthians 9:19-23; Galatians 1:6-2:21; 2 Peter 2:11-12; Matthew 5:13-16; Colossians 4:4-6. Marginalisation 4. Are we too concerned with outward appearances? Where does ultimate authority lie? 1 Samuel 16:7; Matthew 11:25-26; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31; Romans 8:28; Isaiah 46:9-10. Victimisation 5. Facing the choice of defending yourself or submitting to others, where should your focus be? Matthew 5:38-42; Colossians 3:22-24 (outworking the principle of 3:1-2); Hebrews 12:1-3. Intimidation 6. How can a church can be both accepting of people and yet carefully discerning about them? Acts 20:27-31; Matthew 7:14-23; 2 Timothy 3:1-17. Persecution 7. Consider what the first believers prayed, and what they did, when the authorities threatened them: Acts 4:18-31; Acts 5:17-42; Acts 8:1-4; Acts 16:22-25. 8. How can persecution be embraced positively by the Christian? 2 Timothy 3:12; 1 Peter 1:3-9; Matthew 5:43-48; Matthew 5:10-12. Poverty 9. How did the early church carefully plan relief distribution and encourage honest giving and receiving? Acts 4:32-37; Acts 5:1-11; Acts 6:1-7; Acts 11:27-30; 2 Corinthians 8:1-15; Matthew 6:1-4. Fear and Suspicion 10. How did God use Ananias and Barnabas to bring the converted Saul into the meeting church? Acts 9:10-19; Acts 9:19-31; Acts 11:22-26 Romans 14:1; Romans 14:13. Also consider the example of Aquila and Priscilla in Acts 18:24-28.

Christian theology in a Sudanese context. God's chosen Saviour - Jesus! The word ‘unique’ means “being the only one of a particular type; single; sole; without equal or like; unparalleled”. It is the uniqueness of Jesus Christ that makes Christianity unique among the religions of the world. Jesus Christ is the definitive way for humankind to come to know peace with God. In trying to compare the value of all religious systems around the world, it is their view of Jesus Christ which will finally show their truth or falseness. In many universities of the western world it is taught or assumed that there is nothing much to chose between religions. Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism etc. are all seen as different ways of approaching the same thing. The secularisation of my country, the United Kingdom, reflects this. Religious pluralism is promoted and yet relegated to the relatively unimportant. There is a tolerance of all religions except any religion that claims to be unique! Once people do not have a positive belief of their own, they seem to think everyone who does have a definite belief is a fanatic or a fundamentalist. This is where real Christians in England discover themselves more and more in conflict with the British and European governments, which are moving step by step further away from their historical Christian heritage. Islam believes Jesus was only a man, a prophet equal to other prophets but below Muhammad in importance. He did not die on the cross. Orthodox Jews mostly believe Jesus was a good human teacher of human ethics, but they do not accept Him as Messiah.They still await a man who will be sent from God to deliver the nation of Israel from oppression. Hindus believe Jesus to be only one of many incarnations, or sons of Brahman, the eternal being. He was a son of god, not the Son of God. He did not die for humankind’s sin. Buddhists believe that Jesus was a good teacher, though less important than Buddha. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe Jesus was not God, but God’s first created creature. Some of them believed Jesus returned to this earth in A.D. 1914, but remained unseen by men. Groups who try to combine all ‘Christian’ groups or even all faiths, like Unitarianism or the Bahai, believe that Jesus was no more than a good man, and certainly He was not God. His life and death were inspirational, but did not bring salvation to humankind. The unique recognition of Christianity is that God Himself has revealed that “Jesus Christ was fully God and fully Man in one Person, and will be so forever”. It is this narrow and singular claim for Jesus Christ that makes Christianity the way of salvation for everyone and anyone. “Every tribe and language and people and nation” will be represented in heaven because of the uniqueness of Jesus (Revelation 5:9-10). Who He was, was unique. And what He did was unique as well. As God He has a unique authority over all people. As the God-Man Jesus has a unique significance among all people. Jesus shows us God. His death on the cross is God’s only appointed way for our salvation. Christians pray to God only through Jesus.And we preach ‘Jesus Christ’ to all who will listen. The person of Jesus Christ is more important than any practice of Christianity. All people of the world should judge Christianity by Jesus Christ, not ultimately by any Christians they may know. It is Jesus, and no one Christian or no one church, Who is unique. The Sudanese Christian Church will be at its strongest and most authoritative when all the members know, love and live like Jesus Christ. This is more powerful than political or economic power. Sudanese Christian culture should not be so much a matter of freedom to worship every Sunday in the church. It should be much more a matter of every Christian’s determination to live like Jesus, in the every day workaday world. Sudanese Christian theology will only ever change society when it is carefully applied by Christians in daily life. It must never be forced upon anyone, but it must be able to be seen as an option for everyone. This is noted in the gospels about Jesus, and in the Acts about His disciples. (Matthew 7:28,29; Acts 4:12,13; Acts 11:25-30). There is a right time for holy boldness. When the early Christians were told not to preach ‘Jesus’ any more, they prayed. As they prayed, they thought about their situation. They put it alongside Scripture. And they prayed, ‘Lord, You look after the opposition, we’ll keep taking our opportunities’ (Acts 4:23-31). They obviously believed in the sovereignty of God and in the uniqueness of Jesus Christ. As they chose to risk their freedom and even their lives, God gave them as much as they could possibly have of His own holy presence, though the Holy Spirit (see chapters 37-41). Thinking it through. (a). Why does ‘their view of Jesus Christ’ ultimately show the truth or falseness of any religion? (b). List all the ways that Jesus was (and is) unique.

(written 25th October 2014) It is four years today, 25 October 2010, since I was diagnosed. That is four years since my career was forced to change direction. As a preacher of nearly forty years’ experience, not to have a natural voice of my own was a body blow, in more ways than one! Aggressive cancer has imprisoned me in a life I did not choose and I do not like. At times I get depressed, especially when I remember what I could have been doing today, if none of this had happened. But there’s no point in denying. It has happened. And not to “someone else”, but to me. Well and truly, to yours truly! I am aware, “we are all dying”. Everyone is born only to die brief years along life’s road. 20, 40, 70 years? Length really doesn’t matter, especially when you are doing “time”. Banged up in a body that isn’t all it should be. Life “outside” seems an awfully long time ago. Yet I have a belief that sharply focuses my view of dying. I am disabled. I may be depressed. I will almost certainly die one day. But, in God’s time, my dying will bring me freedom and give wholeness to me. It is worth a look ahead. When I turn away from my life which ends in death, I can concentrate on my death which ends in life! Then, I will be free from the limitations brought to me by sin, by rebellion against God and His ways. I will become like my Lord Jesus in His death and resurrection. And then, I will be whole. The risen Christ spoke to His followers in a voice they recognised! I want my first “natural” words to my Lord Jesus to be those gasped by Thomas, when the truth of a life hereafter stood facing him across the room. I will say, with ever increasing awe and amazement: “Jesus ……My Lord, and, Jesus …… my God, and Jesus …. my Saviour!” Though now disabled, depressed and dying, I can still choose to focus elsewhere. Look forward to the climax of human history. “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labour for me….”, Philippians 1:21-22. Dying today, we all still live on. Let’s do what we can to make today worthwhile for eternity. Yours, while impatiently waiting, Colin Salter

The Master's Instructions about the Christian life. John 14:15-15:8. When you begin to think about all that is involved in living the Christian life, you may well exclaim: ‘I cannot possibly do it!’ That conclusion is absolutely correct according to God, who foresaw your problem. His answer is for the Holy Spirit to live right inside you. The Holy Spirit is God Himself and He gives you the power to live your life in a way that pleases God. It goes without saying then that all Christians, you included, must receive Him and rely upon Him. This theme is consistent throughout the New Testament and I suggest you carefully examine these five characteristics which ought to be found in every Christian. A Christian must be born of the Holy Spirit (John 3:3-8) Life cannot be lived without a birth. Just as your physical life began with a physical birth, so the Christian life begins with a spiritual birth. An awareness of God, an assurance of Him accepting you as one of His children, and an appetite to know Him and grow to please Him, are evidence of a Christian birth and life. A Christian must be baptised with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-8) Jesus promised His disciples three things in these verses: a gift, baptism with the Holy Spirit, and power. When you receive a present for Christmas or your birthday, you cannot stipulate the paper you wish it to be wrapped in. So it is with God, because He will decide how He gives you the Holy Spirit. Your responsibility is to ask God, to be available to Him and to accept the Holy Spirit from Him by faith. A Christian should show a boldness in the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:14; 3:6; 4:13, 29, 31; 5:41-42) The greatest evidence to support the declaration of a changed life is the demonstration of that change. You will always be you, but you should show that you are now a Christian. This will involve a break with old sinful attitudes and actions. It will lead to the building of a new lifestyle. You will show a boldness in belonging to our Lord Jesus Christ. A Christian should show the beauty of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:1-11; Galatians 5:22-23) The transformation Jesus Christ brings to any Christian’s life will be seen in their character as well as their actions. The Holy Spirit is holy. He will show His presence by gifts and graces. He will confront the areas of your life that displease God, and He will seek your co-operation in conforming to the image of Jesus Christ Himself. The Holy Spirit will also equip you to play some part in the edification of the local church. He intends you to exercise both the boldness and the beauty He produces in your new life. A Christian should continually be being filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18; John 15:5) The New Testament evidence is that this receiving of the Holy Spirit is not a once and for all experience. It needs to be continually repeated, just as it was for Peter and the apostles (Acts 2:4; 4:31), and Paul (Acts 9:17; 13:9). Trace this idea through Acts 13:52; 16:6-7; 19:2-6; 20:22; and 21:11. Jesus gave the example of Himself as the vine with Christians making up the various branches. The Holy Spirit is like the sap that flows through Him to you, bringing you spiritual life, health and fruit. Of course any sin blocks the flow of the Holy Spirit because He is holy. To maintain the flow, to rely on Him moment by moment, you must consistently confess your sin. A true Christian is one who is being built, with others, into a spiritual church with which God is pleased. Other scriptures to read: Luke 11:9-13; John 7:37-39; 1 Thessalonians 5:19; 1 John 1:9. Discussion guide on ‘Receiving and Relying on the Holy Spirit’ Read John 14:15-15:8. 1. What are the two names given to the Holy Spirit by Jesus in John 14:16-17? From their meanings, describe what the Holy Spirit does. 2. Compare your answer with verse 26. Whose words does the Holy Spirit use? Where do we find those words today? 3. The picture of the vine producing fruit (John 15:1-8), teaches the importance of a living relationship with Jesus, every moment of every day. How is the Holy Spirit in a Christian like the sap in a vine? 4. Why does Acts show us the need for being filled and refilled with the Holy Spirit? See Acts 2:4 and 4:31. 5. What different things does the Holy Spirit enable Christians to do? See Acts 13:9; 13:52, 16:6-7; 19:2-6; 20:22; 21:11. 6. Ephesians 5:18 says Christians are to be being filled with the Holy Spirit continuously. Just as a person can avoid drunkenness by moderating his or her drinking, so a steady reliance on the Holy Spirit is the Christian’s goal. Discuss this picture that Paul gives. (And remember that Paul lived in a country that permitted alcoholic drinks, not like Sudan!). 7. From Galatians 5:16-26 what does verse 25 mean, “let us keep in step with the Spirit”?

Christian theology in a Sudanese context. God's chosen Saviour - Jesus! While it is true that Jesus Christ is unique, it is also true that He told His disciples: “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counsellor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth.” John 14:16,7. In English, ‘another’ means ‘one more’. It can also mean ‘a different example of the same sort’. The Greek New Testament uses two words, both of which are translated ‘another’ in English. However, they actually have separate meanings. ‘Allos’ signifies a numerical difference, another one of the same kind. ‘Heteros’ signifies a qualitative difference, another of a different kind. This is an important distinction to make. Think about oranges and grapefruit. You buy three oranges in the suk. You want to get some more later on. The man in the suk does not have any oranges, but he offers you some grapefruit. It is a similar kind of fruit, a citrus fruit, but it is quite a different size, colour and shape. You do not want these. You want three more oranges– not exactly identical to the ones you have eaten, but very similar. Jesus promises the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, is another One like Himself. The Holy Spirit will not be a stranger to those who have known Jesus. They will recognise Him. Just as Jesus had lived with His disciples, so the Holy Spirit will live with them. In fact, the Holy Spirit will be living inside of them as well as with them. We must try to understand this truth, even though we are thinking about God. God is so great and beyond our full understanding. Whatever we can grasp of Him, there will always be so much more that we know is there but we cannot understand. I know that when it rains in places like Fittihab, Omdurman, there are large puddles of water and mud left around for days afterwards. Someone looking at the puddles may say, ‘that’s a lot of water just lying around’. But compared to the flow of water in the river Nile that puddle is nothing at all! The Nile starts in south-central Burundi as a remote stream, called the Luvironza. That flows into Lake Victoria and then leaves as the Victoria Nile, flowing into Lake Albert. The water then flows through the Albert Nile into the WhiteNile on the border between Uganda and Sudan. In Khartoum this is joined by the Blue Nile from near Lake Tana in Ethiopia. From Khartoum the River Nile flows north into Egypt and the Mediterranean sea. Altogether, it is 6741 km (4187 miles), the longest river in the world. Yet even the water in the whole of the rivers and lakes that make up the Nile is nothing at all, compared to the water in the mighty Pacific Ocean. The world’s deepest and largest Ocean is between Asia, Australia, South and North America. It’s area is about 165,760,000 sq.km. (64,000,000 square miles). It is 11,033 metres deep at it’s deepest point, the Marianas Trench. Our understanding and appreciation of God is more like that of a man looking at a puddle and thinking about the river, while the reality of God is that our God created the Pacific Ocean and told it to stay in its place! (Genesis 1:9,10). Before He left the disciples, Jesus told them He would not leave them on their own. He would come to them Himself (John 14:18). And the Holy Spirit would come to them (John 14:15-17; John 14:25-26; John 15:26-27; John 16:7-11; John 16:12-15). What we have learned already will help us here. The doctrines of the Unity of God: God is One complete God; the Holy Trinity: one God in three Persons; and the Omnipresence of God: God is everywhere present at the same time (see chapters 8, 9 and 11), must be brought into our minds to think about how this can all happen. God has disclosed all of these things about Himself. It is up to us to enlarge our minds and hearts by thinking about them. As we do, we have a wonderful promise from God to claim for ourselves. In those verses from John’s gospel we discover that the Holy Spirit will teach us all we need to know. He will remind us of the teachings of Jesus. He will continually bear witness to Jesus and to the truth. He will convict people of sin, of righteousness and of judgement – making us conscious of our accountability to God for falling a long way below His purposes. The Holy Spirit will glorify Jesus by representing Him and His word to us. The focus of everything the Holy Spirit does will be to make Jesus bigger and more important in our lives. He will prompt our minds and our hearts as we learn to love Him in the right way (Matthew 22:37). Some Muslims today claim that Muhammad is the ‘other one’ referred to by Jesus, in John chapters 14 – 16. They argue that the Greek text has been corrupted in John 14:16; 14:26; 15:26; and 16:7. They say the Bible’s word usually translated “Counsellor” or “Comforter” (Greek – parakletos), was originally “the praise-worthy one” or “Muhammad” (Greek – periklytos). This view is helped for them by twelve predictions in the Gospel of Barnabas that Jesus announced the coming of Muhammad after Him. We must remember that there is not one single Bible manuscript in existence that has this word ‘periklytos’ in these texts. None at all! Also remember, the Gospel of Barnabas is not in the Bible, and is not accepted by Christians as the real teaching of Jesus. It makes the false statement that Barnabas was one of Jesus’ twelve apostles. The New Testament tells us that Barnabas was a close friend and fellow-worker with Paul, after Jesus’ death and resurrection (Acts 9:26-28; Acts 11:25-26; and Acts 13:1-4). The only surviving manuscript of the Gospel of Barnabas is written in Italian, a language that was not spoken in the time of Jesus. It is kept in a library in Vienna, Austria, and was probably only written in the sixteenth century. Thinking it through. (a). Why do people who know Jesus in their experience, also know the Holy Spirit? (b). What limits our understanding and appreciation of God? (c). From John chapters 14-16, what can we be sure God the Holy Spirit will do? Give chapter and verse reference for each one.

Issues facing Christians in Sudan and South Sudan today. Real Christianity section. Discerning True and False Christianity During the last ten years various currency changes in Sudan have caused some confusion for people. Which banknotes are valid and which are not? Which pounds? Which dinars? and which SDG? The confusion could offer opportunity for criminals to make a profit. Some might print fake money and put it into circulation in order to increase their own wealth. The false money would be made to look as close as possible like real money. Only a foolish criminal would print their own SDG 6.00 note because there isn’t a genuine SDG 6.00! Everyone would immediately know it was a fake. A clever criminal would print a SDG 5.00 note using the right colours, correct size, exact wording with its thickness of paper as close to the real note as possible. The most dangerous false Christianity will never be very different from true Christianity. The closer it is to the truth, the more difficult it is for Christians to discern it. Our Lord Jesus warned His disciples that even the elect could be deceived by false Christs, false prophets, false great signs and false miracles, Matthew 24:24. We are to “watch out” and to “be on guard” against deceivers, Mark 13:5, 22-23. Like a soldier who keeps a sharp-eyed look out at his guard post, so must we expect false Christianity and then defend ourselves against it. The “elect” in Matthew 24:22-241, Mark 13:20-23, who may be deceived, are those people who are chosen by God’s grace before the foundation of the world. They are chosen to become Christians, Ephesians 1:3-4; Romans 8:28-30. The Greek word is made up of two others – ek from, and lego to pick out and gather up. Jesus’ theme in these two Gospel chapters is to teach His followers we are to anticipate some false Christian workers being among the true ones. Jesus tells us so we will learn ahead of time how to distinguish between the true and the false. One important key from these Bible passages is to examine the place of miracles and signs in a ministry. Jesus Himself would not use signs and miracles merely to win converts or disciples, see Matthew 4:1-11; 12:15-21; 12:39; 16:1-4; 27:39-51. The Bible shows how miracles and signs can be performed by “secret arts” and by “false prophets “, Exodus 7:12; 7:22; 8:7; Deuteronomy 13:1-5; 2 Thessalonians 2:9; 2 Peter 2:1; Revelation 13:3; 19:20. God does do miraculous things, but not all miracles are from God. Spurious “miracles” are often linked with false teaching – teaching that is not far from the truth, teaching that is Christian-sounding, teaching that is Bible-quoting, but teaching that is false. It is nearly, but not quite Christian! There are parts of Sudan which are dangerous for people to walk in because of unexploded mines left from years of conflicts. Hopefully the United Nations and other mine clearing agencies have identified most of these areas and are working at clearing them up. A close Sudanese friend of mine works with the U.N. department. I have seen some of the “danger” signs put up. The warning Jesus gives about false “Christian” teachers is God’s way to protect His chosen followers. God knows if we go that way we will be in trouble. Because we are forewarned we can be forearmed. Only those who foolishly ignore God’s warnings will be deceived. Donald English writes, “A significant difference between false messiahs and the true Messiah in this gospel is the way the others show off their signs and miracles, Mark 13:21-22. They need people to be impressed by that because they have nothing else to offer. By contrast, Jesus is restrained, not from performing signs and wonders as the need of the people reaches Him, but from using these to impose or compel faith. It isn’t fundamentally what His good news is about, though these signs and wonders are signposts to the good news. Jesus embodies the good news, and His death and resurrection are to be the heart of it. That is their gold in the bank, giving meaning to the notes and coins of signs and wonders. The false messiahs have only counterfeit money, impressive, but with nothing to back it up”. We need not doubt that most of these people are sincere in what they are doing and they firmly believe that they are serving God. But we must notice that Jesus Himself warned us about self-deception! In the Sermon on the Mount He warns, “Watch out for false prophets”, Matthew 7:15. Jesus uses fruit trees as an example. It is as if He said, “You only get good mangoes from mango trees, good lemons from lemon trees, and good bananas from banana trees. You don’t get the right fruit from the wrong tree”. From verse 21 Jesus focuses on false teachers who are themselves deceived. He says, “Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven. Many will say to me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?” Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me you evildoers””. Read these next two sentences carefully! Salvation – our entry into heaven – does not depend on us knowing Jesus. The crucial question is, does the Lord Jesus Christ know us? Speaking the name of Jesus is not enough to show genuine Christianity. The life of Jesus must be lived.3 Expressing orthodoxy in words is not enough to reveal genuine Christianity. The works of Jesus must be shown in everyday life. “Whoever claims to live in Him (Jesus) must walk as Jesus walked”, 1 John 2:6. Jesus quietly got on with God the Father’s work, day after day. Calling Jesus “Lord, Lord,” without submitting to His Lordship in daily life, is a sign of impending exclusion from heaven. Orthodox words must be reinforced by obedience in life. Jesus called the false prophets: “evildoers”, not “evil speakers”, Matthew 7:21-23. We can recognise the true prophet by certain qualities in his or her life: being part of a true flock of gentle sheep; producing consistently good, lasting, sweet fruit to sustain others; steadily and largely silently doing God’s will – and doing it well. We can recognise the false prophet by different qualities in his or her life: hurting and damaging the flock even while appearing to be part of it; producing consistently bad fruit which lets down, dissatisfies, poisons or corrupts others; loudly talking about God and His will, but doing very little of long-term value.4 It is a sobering challenge to us all that Jesus does not accept our words of worship unless He sees and knows our works of worship. The entire Sermon on the Mount is Jesus’ standard by which He expects His Christians to live. Matthew chapters 5-7. Notice in Revelation 13:3 “the whole world was astonished and followed” the beast who miraculously recovered from an apparently fatal wound. (The beast and his false prophets were later judged by God, Revelation 19:20). I learn from this that someone who comes to Sudan with an International reputation as a Christian could still be a self-deceived false teacher and spurious miracle worker! It is not what the world thinks about a person that really counts. It is what God thinks that matters. It is worth making enquiries with trusted people who live in the person’s country of origin (but are not in the person’s organisation) before agreeing to arrange things for, or accept help from, any overseas Christian visitor to Sudan. Under British and Sudanese law any suspect for a crime is “innocent until they are proven guilty”. As a Christian, when it comes to discerning false teachers around the Christian church, I have always followed the opposite rule, “Guilty until proven innocent”. As a pastor with responsibility to protect my flock I feel this is the way to be responsible, Acts 20:25-31. The Old Testament warns us about false teachers: Jeremiah 23:1-4, shepherds who destroy, scatter and do not care for the flocks of God’s people. Jeremiah 25:32-38, these same shepherds are judged by God. Ezekiel 34:1-31, shepherds who live in luxury themselves while their people suffer. They do not pastorally care for believers or evangelise the unbelievers. God will hold them accountable, verse 10. Zechariah 11:4-17, God sometimes sends us false teachers as a judgement on our continuing refusal to live by the disciplines of Christian truth. Deuteronomy 13:1-5, false prophets and miracle workers who lead into idolatry. We are told that God sends these false people to test the reality of our love for Him, verse 3. Do we love God for Himself or only for His blessings? Over 38 years of Christian ministry I have observed how many false teachers offer things which appeal to the flesh of the Christian – healing, wealth and prosperity, freedom from bondage and relief from poverty. By contrast, Jesus called His disciples to crucify their flesh, to take up their crosses and to follow their Master, Matthew 16:21-28. We must keep in mind the things of God and not the worldly things of worldly men. Deuteronomy 18:14-22, sorcery and divination are not permitted to the people of God. Some will claim to speak words in God’s name using methods which God has forbidden. They must be discerned and dismissed. The New Testament also warns us about false teachers: Matthew 7:15-23. It may be significant that this warning by Jesus follows the choice every Christian must make, verses 13-14. The difficult path forward is usually the right path to take. We can decide to go the easy way or live the way of the cross. We can discern false Christian workers by the fruit that they offer to us as well as by the fruit they produce. If everything they offer is easy – beware! Matthew 24:4-24. Verse 11 warns of “many” false prophets who will “deceive many” people. Big crowds of people flocking to see and hear someone do not mean that that person is automatically a true Christian Ambassador for Jesus Christ. To deceive is “to trick someone by behaving in a dishonest way” and “to make someone believe something that is not true”. The Greek word means “to deceive by leading into error, to seduce”. (for the rest of the passage see above). Acts 20:28-31, where people arise from within the church. Influenced by outside teachings they “distort the truth” – an interesting phrase – to gain followers they can lead. I discern here a lesson that the emphasis is not on huge error but on little and subtle changes to certain Christian truths. Whenever we look in a mirror we see ourselves. We take for granted what we see is ourselves. But is it really? No it isn’t! What we see is a mirror-image of ourselves, which is ourselves in reverse! It is nearly true, but not quite. A distortion contains everything that it should contain to be true, but it puts the wrong emphasis on certain parts and so presents a false picture. So much false “Christian” teaching is like this. People say to me, “I cannot fault the truth in what so and so is saying”. I reply, “The truth is all there. But the whole thing is out of balance”. Consequently it offers the wrong perspective on the right truth. 2 Corinthians 11:1-15. There is a Jesus Who is not the Jesus Paul preached, verse 4. This false Jesus promises no suffering and all associated ministry is done from a position of strength. This false Jesus has false prophets who live to a respectably wealthy standard and they boast high professional qualifications by the standards of this world. Compare this to Paul’s own letter of recommendation to people who doubted him, which he feels forced into writing although he does not want to, 2 Corinthians 11:16-12:13. Paul’s suffering authenticated his ministry. Of course, the false Jesus does not really exist! But because there are plenty of people who wish he did they are quite willing to follow someone who teaches them to believe deceiving things. 2 Corinthians 11:26 some people can be deceived so much that they threaten to physically harm those who do not go along with their teaching. Using the world’s ways to pressurise Christians into believing something is a sure sign of a false “man of God”. It is interesting that 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 refer back to Genesis 3:1-20 where Satan himself comes to Eve, and slightly misquotes and over-emphasises the Word of God. Satan appeals to Eve’s (and later Adam’s) fleshly desires. “Take what you desire”. By implication, “Do not take up your cross”. Satan does it again in Matthew 4:1-11. He tries to trip up Jesus and to stop Him going to the cross and making atonement for the sins of the world. He challenges the divinity of Jesus. He suggests Jesus dramatically shows divine power in a spectacular way, and Satan quotes Scripture to support his view! He offers what rightly belongs to Jesus – but suggests Jesus gets to obtain it the wrong way. Galatians 2:4 uncovers “false brothers” who tried to add the physical rite of circumcision to the gospel of Jesus Christ, verses 3-5. Some false teachers today preach a true gospel but add on to it something that does not need to be there. Paul describes this well in Galatians 1:6-7: “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel – which is really no gospel at all” (emphasis mine). Legalism and rules surrounding experiences that false “Christians” say must be observed are not the true and free gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. The whole of Galatians chapters 2 and 3 warn us how even well-known church leaders can be deluded, see 2:11 for Peter, and 2:13 for Barnabas. Many people from the churches of Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe and elsewhere in Galatia were gullibly accepting teachers who sounded good, but who Paul says were “false brothers”, see also in 2 Corinthians 11:26. The Greek is pseudadelphos. This second interesting phrase indicates these people were saved (hence they were “brothers”), but by adding extras to the gospel they were no longer preaching and teaching the truth (hence “false brothers”), 2:4.8 The true Christian gospel is this: “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptised into Christ have clothed yourself with Christ”, Galatians 3:26-27. When anyone realises they cannot make themselves right with God and so throws themselves into the arms of Jesus Christ, exercising personal faith that Jesus will transform them to be ready for heaven, at that moment they are born again into a genuine Christian life. They become true Christians, that is, Christians not in words only, but Christlike in life’s values and Christlike in lifestyles. See John 3:3-6; 2 Corinthians 5:17-18; 1 John 5:11-12. 2 Timothy 3:1-17 draws two clear distinctions between false and true teachings and teachers. The false people have “a form of godliness”, verse 5. They appear good living and they use good words. They are however “evil men and impostors” who deceive others and are themselves sincerely deceived, verse 13. An impostor is someone who pretends to be someone else, someone who deceives others by false identity.10 We may say such people are two-faced. The false teachings appeal to the selfish desires of human nature, verses 2-4. Those who do not exercise self-control and personal choice in accordance with the cross of Christ will be easily influenced and made to fall away from following Christ, verses 6-7. A working knowledge of the Scriptures together with a saving relationship to the Christ of Whom the Scriptures speak is the perfect defence against being led astray. A Summary of Ways to Discern the True from the False In Bahri market one day I was trying to buy a saucepan for my wife Brenda to use in cooking at home. There were several cheap makes available from south-east Asian or East European countries, or there was a more expensive one from Germany. I bought the German cook pot. When I got it home Brenda noticed that it wasn’t German at all! The box said, in very small print, “MADE for GERMANY”. In the semi-darkness of the suuk I had seen the word “Germany” and I assumed the pan was made IN Germany – which would be an excellent standard, well worth paying a bit more money for. But I was tricked by some clever, deceitful marketing! It cost me a few Sudanese dinars. Be warned though: being deceived by false “Christian” teaching and teachers will cost anyone much more than money. Personally listen to your Saviour, Jesus Christ. John 10:1-18 teaches that real Christians will recognise the voice of their Saviour, verses 3-5. We must listen to Him speaking. The Bible is His word. Converse with Jesus in regular, daily reading, thinking and praying. Love to be with Him and learn how to love Him. Personally know your Saviour, Jesus Christ. Verses 4 and 14 use the phrases “they know His voice” and “My sheep know Me”. If you know someone you are familiar with them. You understand information about them. You remember what pleases them and what upsets them. Your relationship with the person helps you realise what they approve of. It is a good idea for us to check what is going on in special meetings by what we think Jesus would be doing. Get to know your Lord Jesus Christ through the Scriptures – especially the gospels – and then you can recognise Christlikeness (or otherwise) in what is happening. Personally understand and enjoy the Truth of Jesus Christ. Colossians chapters 1 and 2 focus on the One Who is, “the Image of the invisible God”, 1:15. Jesus is supreme in everything, 1:18. His body and blood alone redeem us and reconcile us to God, 1:21-23. Ongoing faith, outwardly expressed in good works, is the only visible sign of being saved. True servants of Christ may well suffer in their service as Paul did, 1:24-2:1. “In Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, Who is the Head over every power and authority”, 2:9-10. No Christian needs anything more than a living relationship with Jesus Christ – whatever anybody else tells them. Jesus Christ commands the respect of all other worldly powers. Verse 8 points out that there are those who are trying to make free Christians into prisoners, making folk slaves to beliefs and practices which are deceitful – usually promising much but giving very little! Keep Your Eyes on How God is Being Glorified. John 9:1-41 includes Jesus’ comment that disability from birth may happen “so that the work of God may be displayed” in a person’s life, verse 3. In the narrative, Jesus goes on to heal the man born blind. There is no doubt God can be glorified in a miraculous healing. He should also be glorified more often than He is for the ways God made our human bodies with capacities to self-heal and to respond to discovered medicines and treatment, Psalm 139:13-16. My own experience has deepened my personal understanding of how sufferings and hardships can be accepted and lived through for the glory of God. I was a Christian preacher for about 36 years. In November 2006 God took back the voice He entrusted me with since birth. Aggressive cancer in my voice box meant that I had only two months to live unless the voice-box was removed. I believe God is glorified now as I, admittedly falteringly, live to serve Him and the Sudanese with South Sudanese churches, by writing and otherwise encouraging believers. My Lord Jesus is well worth serving even when the way I have to live is not the way I would personally choose. “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain”, Philippians 1:21. This undoubtedly miracle working God is also “the God of all comfort”, 2 Corinthians 1:3. Watch for Gentle Restoration. Galatians 6:1 teaches how Christians should respond to those who are trapped in the sin of false Christianity. Having described the life-products of mere human nature and contrasted them with those the Holy Spirit brings to the fore of every true believer, Galatians 5:16-26, Paul encourages a burden-sharing standing alongside of those who have fallen. There is no harsh dismissiveness, Galatians 6:1-5. Just as God does not want anyone to perish, neither does the true Christian 2 Peter 3:9. There is no given sense of “We are better than you”, nor the condemnation, “You have failed”. Instead there is a quiet growth in beautifully attractive Christian grace. The good spiritual seeds of Scripture are well understood and applied. Gradually over time, crops of true Christian living bear the undeniable witness that God really is (and has been) at work. alongside of those who have fallen. Discussion guide Using this chapter and Scriptures quoted: 1. Share examples of when you have been concerned about “Christian” activities, times when you have wondered if what is said – or what is happening – is really Christian. (Jesus warned three times in Matthew 24:23-27, “Do not believe it”, “Do not follow”). 2. Explain what you think Jesus means by, “Watch out that no one deceives you”, Mark 13:5, and “be on your guard”, Mark 13:22-23. 3. Is it true or is it false to say that a miracle is a work of God? Give reasons for your answer. Use Scripture to validate your argument. 4. Acts 20:25-31 teach a pastor’s duty to discern visiting people and upcoming leaders. The flock must be protected from “false Christian teaching and practice”. What guidelines would you set to help a local church pastor in discerning the helpful from the dangerous “Christian” worker? Justify your answer from Scripture. 5. “God sometimes sends us false teachers as a judgement”. Comment on this statement and the implications it has for Christians today. 6. Noticing how many false blessings are offered to the benefit of a person’s earthly (fleshly) life, explain what Jesus meant by, “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me”. See Matthew 16:21-28. How does this understanding help us to discern true from false? 7. Explain how people can be “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – having a form of godliness but denying its power”, 2 Timothy 3:4-5. Why does Paul say, “Have nothing to do with them”? 8. I have listed five ways to discern the true from the false. Which do you think is the most important? Why? Are there any ways to discern that you would add to this list? In sharing these ways, use Scripture to justify their use.

(Written 4th September 2009) My husband had his cancerous voice box removed in November 2006. In April 2009 he had a related cancer removed under his jaw and the site was then treated with radiotherapy. Between the surgery and the start of radiotherapy we were linked with a Macmillan District Nurse who was a liaison with our GP and had many practical ideas which she had the experience and ability to instigate. She started Colin on Amitriptylene to add to the MST and Oramorph he was already taking.. There are many sensitive structures in the neck and jaw, so the radio therapists come at the problem area from different angles to minimize collateral damage. Either from the surgery or the radio therapy Colin was left with pain - nagging, constant pain inside a circle about 2 inches from his ear, inside the ear, and intermittent pain with heat in the ear that we can see! It was hoped that the pain would settle - but it was not at all willing to do so. Our G.P. prescribed painkillers. The pain was still ascendant. At follow up oncology clinics – various suggestions were made - all to no avail. After several months, the ENT and oncology consultants referred Colin to the hospital’s Pain Clinic in October 2009. These specialists listened. They understood. They explained - quite graphically - about the damaged nerve moving around, trying a find another nerve end to link with, but so far not managing to do so. The longer the situation went on the less likely the nerve was to find a partner, but it was still possible! However to reduce the pain in the interim - add Gabapentin to the mix and continue to reduce the Oramorph. In October 2010 another referral to the Pain Clinic, by which time Tramadol was in the mix and Carbamazepine was added. At the six week evaluation the Carbamazepine was stopped - Tramadol had already disappeared!! - and Oxycontin and Oxynorm introduced. The possibility of a Stellate Ganglion injection was mentioned but put on the back burner because it did not work for everyone, might not be possible with Colin’s amended throat and neck anatomy, and would be very uncomfortable to do because of the existing sensitivity and pain. Somewhere in this time I made something that I probably ought to patent - take one knee high - fill smoothly with two old socks -tie to right size - use to take pressure off the ear when laying down!! Oxycontin reduced the pain level but never took it away. The dose kept having to be increased and, as it was increased, so Colin became less able to concentrate and more needing to sleep, having more sweats and being more confused. Each time it was raised I felt confused - this drug is compounding the problems and here we are taking more!!. God was then (and is) sovereign - I asked Him why this was all happening - I knew His strength and care - that was sufficient answer to me. When Colin was taking 80 mg Oxycontin twice a day plus top up 20ml Oxynorm we had another visit to the Pain Clinic to discuss the Stellate Ganglion injection. No guarantees it would work - works on some people and not on others - because of Colin’s rearranged neck anatomy from the laryngectomy operation there was a possibility the consultant would not be able to complete the injection - would we like to go ahead? Yes! There and then the consultant placed the injection where he wanted it - by a spur of bone on a vertebra next to a nerve junction - Colin’s whole left side was numb for a few hours but after an hour of checks we left - I was so glad a friend had taken us because the bus would have been very difficult to manage! No pain since! BUT bringing the Oxycontin down 10 mg every 4 days, and when we reached 50mg then 5 mg every 4 days, has given more headaches, more sweats, more confusion and more sleeping than ever before. I never knew what shape the next day would have - should I cook lunch - would I have to freeze yet another meal - should I not bother and could we have yet another meal of cereal and fruit? - would Colin be awake to talk with visiting friends? - would he be alert enough to update his website? (I know two ‘yet another’ in two lines is not good English – but it just shows how I felt!!) We have spent 2 years plus of Colin having a ‘half-life’. We are looking forward to two months’ time when he will be 2 weeks clear of the opiate Oxycontin and we can see what level of reality he comes to. Then to reduce more of the drugs cocktail and wait for his body to settle again. I have written as I felt - there is no implied criticism of anyone - everyone mentioned, and the staff at our GP surgery, have been wonderful - thoughtful and kind. I have written to give others in similar positions a ‘someone else has been there’ history. Each journey is different but we probably all deserve a degree in applied caring, with medical terminology! P.S. the pain came back after nine and a half weeks - the second injection has not been as effective yet - 8 days on!!! (But is now – 18 days on!). Brenda Salter

The Master's Instructions about the Christian life. Romans 7:21-8:39. In Romans 8:1 we have assurance of forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ. We also have assurance concerning the future because of His ability to keep hold of us (vv.38-39). However, in verse 8 we must take note of a solemn warning: ‘Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.’ The Christian is in the middle of a battle. His old life will always be wanting him to be his old sinful self. His new life in Christ will be wanting a change. Being a Christian is far from easy! A constant battle faces every Christian and I’m sure you are beginning to know it. You have to make choices almost every moment of every day. Will you please God or will you please your old self? The Apostle Paul knew this battle as well. He writes about it in Romans 7:21-25. If you read carefully you will see three hints on how to please God. The battle is between flesh and faith Paul knew what he should do, but had difficulty proving that he could do it. It was a frequent battle between his brain and his body! It was a continual choice between what he used to do when he pleased himself and what he ought to do now that he lived to please God. The Holy Spirit faces us with the truth but does not force us to obey Romans 8:9 tells us that it is at this point of conflict that the Holy Spirit helps us to choose to obey God. He does not beat us into submission, but He entreats us to submit to God. He does not push us into God’s will, but He pleads with us to walk that way. The Holy Spirit’s control of our lives will please God, but verses 12-14 point out that we can choose to respond to His control or we can reject it. Food should be fed to your new life but forbidden to your old life Most things will not live long unless they are fed. As a Christian you must seek to starve your old life to death if you possibly can. Avoid worldly places, pastimes and pleasures. Attend to Bible reading, good teaching, prayer and personal disciplines. It will be a struggle, but it is a struggle that the Holy Spirit will help you to win if you really mean to do so. So, you learn to please God by listening to His voice in the Bible, by learning what He requires of you in your own life and by looking to the Holy Spirit to help you in making these changes yourself. Jesus said that we should be able to show our love for Him by obeying His teaching. The very fact that He took three-and-a-half years patiently teaching His own disciples shows us that we are not expected to get it all right straight away. He says that the Holy Spirit will remind us of what He wants and then it is up to us to show our love for God by choosing to please Him. This learning will take the rest of your life, but the rest of your life begins now! Other scriptures to read: Galatians 5:16-26; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12. Discussion guide on ‘Learning to Please God’ Read Romans 7:31-8:29. 1. Remember the steps of Christian growth (see chapter 4)? Romans 7:21-25 describe Paul’s own battle to do what was right. What does he mean when he says: “In my mind I am a slave to God’s law”, verse25? 2. The Christian’s renewed mind battles against his or her old nature. How do Christians “renew their minds” in this way? Romans 12:1-2. 3. From Romans 8 what does it mean: to “live according to the Spirit” verse 4? to be “controlled by the Spirit” verse 9? to be “led by the Spirit” verse 14? How does this work day by day? 4. List the ways you can please God from 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12. (There are at least eight). 5. If someone were to say to you, “I cannot live up to this high standard”, what would you say in reply? Use some Bible verses in your answer. 6. In what practical ways can a Christian feed his or her new life – to make it stronger – and starve his or her old life – to make it weaker? 7. In John 15:14 Jesus tells his disciples, “You are my friends if you do what I command”. How does keeping this text in our minds help us to please God?

Christian theology in a Sudanese context. God the Holy Spirit and our Christian experience. What word, beginning with the letter ‘P’, do you know which would describe the Holy Spirit? I expect you think of ‘power’. You may also think of ‘purity’, because He is definitely called ‘holy’. And, in my opinion most important of all, you will have remembered that the Holy Spirit is a ‘Person’. (If you are theologically trained, you may have been very clever and come up with the word, ‘pneumatology’, that branch of theology which studies the Holy Spirit and other spiritual beings. The silent ’p’ is not pronounced when saying this word). Wind and breath are used as illustrations of the Spirit (John 3:8; John 20:21-22). The Bible word groups (Hebrew – ruach, and Greek – pneu) both have the idea of ‘the movement of air’. Wind turbines capture this movement in order to generate electric power. You may have seen their steel towers by factories and homes which are not connected to the national electricity grid. The wind itself cannot be seen, but its presence is known by what it does. The Holy Spirit can likewise powerfully influence the soul of a person for God, without necessarily drawing attention to Himself. Apart from Psalm 51:11 and Isaiah 63:10-11 the term ‘Holy Spirit’ is not used in the Old Testament. On both of those occasions, the context is emphasising that sin in people stops the Holy Spirit from working in and through them as He wants to. There are many references in the Old Testament to ‘Spirit’ or ‘Spirit of God’. It is very important that we realise the Holy Spirit is not simply a power we try to connect up to in our weakness. He is a person Who wants to relate to us, becoming Himself our connection to God. The Holy Spirit is both the Spirit of Christ and the Spirit of God (Romans 8:9; 2 Corinthians 3:3). He helps us think the thoughts of God the Father and the thoughts of God the Son, Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 2:11-12; John 16:13-14). Our experience of God will always reflect our daily relationship with God the Holy Spirit. In a way we do not fully understand, the Holy Spirit is not part of God, but He is the whole of the divine essence, as are the Father and the Son. This is part of the mysterious ‘otherness’ of God. Jesus used personal pronouns when speaking of the Holy Spirit. He did not say to His disciples, ‘I will send it to you’. He did say, ‘I will send Him to you’ (John 16:7). For a study exercise, you could read through John chapters 14-17 and see how many times Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as ‘He’, ‘Him’, or ‘His’. It may vary a little from one translation to another, but there should be around sixteen. The Holy Spirit knows all about God the Son and His teachings (John 14:26). The Holy Spirit has His own mind (Romans 8:27). He looks for things and knows things (1 Corinthians 2:10,11). The Holy Spirit gives gifts to people as He chooses (1 Corinthians 12:11). The Holy Spirit enjoys the Fatherhood of God (Galatians 4:6). The Holy Spirit can be hurt and He can be insulted (Ephesians 4:30; Hebrews 10:29). The Holy Spirit can be lied to (Acts 5:3). He also guided the missionary journeys of Paul, and appointed people as leaders of a congregation (Acts 16:6,7; Acts 20:28). All of these characteristics are those of a Person, not just a power. At various conferences I was invited to teach around Khartoum, I often heard the rhythmic chorus sung: ‘Power, power, super, super power’. It is a good song, so long as we remember all the time that the Holy Spirit is a Person Who is powerful, and not just a power to be used. The Holy Spirit came to be to us all that Jesus was to His disciples during His earthly life. “He is ‘the Paraclete’: Comforter (in the sense of Strengthener), Counsellor, Helper, Supporter, Advisor, Advocate, Ally, Senior Friend – and only a Person could fulfil such roles”. The word ‘Paraclete’ is the Greek word for the Holy Spirit in John 14:16; 14:25; 15:26 and 16:7. There is no single English word that translates its meaning. At the end of many church services, either the minister says the ‘benediction’ prayer, or the congregation together repeat it to one another. This comes from 2 Corinthians 13:14: “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit bemwith all of you”. ‘Fellowship’ means the sharing of mutual activities and experiences together. It involves a friendly relationship of two-way trust around common interests. We may often hear or say those words, but what do we really understand by ‘the fellowship of the Holy Spirit’? He wants to be the personal, pure and powerful presence of Jesus in our everyday lives. Who gives the Holy Spirit to Christians? In A.D. 1084, almost a thousand years ago, the Christian Church split into two over the answer to this question. The Orthodox Churches, those in communion with the Greek patriarch of Constantinople, disagreed with a change put into the Nicene Creed of A.D. 325 and 381 two hundred years later on. The Catholic (meaning ‘universal’) Church, those in communion with the patriarch in Rome, adopted the following additional phrase: “I believe … in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life; Who proceedeth from the Father and the Son; Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified ..” (Toledo, A.D. 589, reaffirmed A.D. 1017). The OrthodoxChurch is sometimes called the ByzantineChurch, or the Eastern Orthodox. In Khartoum it is represented by the Coptic Church of ancient Egypt. The Orthodox Church disagreed with this addition. Did the Holy Spirit proceed from just the Father, or from the Father and the Son? The issue includes apparently different understandings of the eternal relationship between God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, within the Holy Trinity. How can one ‘give’ and not the other, when both are ‘one’ anyway? Scriptures to compare include John 15:26; John 16:7; Acts 2:4; Acts 2: 16-17; Romans 8:9; and Galatians 4:6. It seems that there were other issues involved which hijacked the debate in the church. One was a struggle about authority in the universal church. Should Rome be able to dictate to Constantinople? Could Constantinople go its own way regardless of Rome? The sad result has been a split lasting almost a millennium. God the Holy Spirit emerges from the Trinity, without being in any way less than fully God. He does not leave anything of God behind when He comes! This again, is the mysterious ‘otherness’ of God. Just as the coming of Jesus, the God-Man, advanced God’s plan of salvation, so God the Holy Spirit has had a key role to play especially since Jesus ascended back into heaven. I believe we should all think about and seek after the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. He convicts us of our sin and makes us more like Jesus (John 16:8; Galatians 5: 22-25). Thinking it through. (a). What difference does it make in the way we speak of, and relate to, the Holy Spirit, when we remember He is a Person and not just a power? (b). How many references in John chapters 14-17 can you find where Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as a Person? (c). What does “the fellowship of the Holy Spirit” mean? (2 Corinthians 13:14). (d). Which attributes of God help you to appreciate the Holy Spirit as ‘all of God’ and not just a ‘part of God’?