Interview with Delme Linscott

This week’s book review is ‘Now: Refuse to let the moment pass‘ which was authored by local writer Delme Linscott. Delme is a minister in the Methodist Church and leads a church called Wesley in Pietermartizburg. We at ‘So What’ thought this would be a good opportunity for you to get to know some of our local writers a little better so we asked Delme a few questions about himself and his book.

SW: Delme, please give us a little background about yourself and your latest book.

Delme: I am married to Kim and we have 3 sons, Declan, Nathan and Joshua. I am currently a Methodist Minister and I am serving a community in Pietermaritzburg.

This book was born out of two decisive moments in my life. Firstly, we tragically lost a good friend of ours and I felt I wanted to respond to his death in a positive way. Secondly, every time I lead a memorial service I wonder whether people have taken the opportunity to ‘say the important things’ to their loved ones before it’s too late.

SW: If people were to remember one thing from your book, what would you want it to be?

Delme: I would want people to remember these thoughts – “SAY IT. DREAM IT. OVERCOME IT.” We need to say the important things to the special people in our lives, while we have time (Seize the Day), we need to live the Dreams God gives us and we need to overcome the fears that stop us from fulfilling our God-given potential.

SW: What role does writing play in your busy life? Has it always been an essential part of your calling, or is just something that developed out of the blue?

Delme: I have made a commitment to blog everyday – even if that means I write one or two lines. Knowing that people are reading my thoughts and devotions everyday keeps me accountable to this practise.

Writing developed out of the blue really. Years ago, through ministry, a few people had encouraged me to think about writing, but I didn’t have the time, energy or focus for it then. When I felt God prompting me to write my first book, “Living Oceans Apart” I sensed a new urgency and desire to write. The journey has been amazing so far, but I feel that I am only starting out.

SW: Since the book was published, what has the general response from the public been? Has it achieved all you hoped it would?

Delme: The response from people has been awesome. People have enjoyed reading this book and these are some of their reasons. It’s motivational and inspiring. It’s challenging and thought-provoking. It’s God centred and practical. It’s also short!!

I would like to get this little book into the hands of as many as possible, to get people to see that life is short and we need to embrace it 100%. We can’t let defining moments pass us by.

SW: Do you have any writing projects you are currently working on? Without giving too much away, can you give us a general idea what to look forward to?

Yes I do have a few thoughts going around my head. Look out for something that will be relevant to our faith in this generation, as well as leaning on the wisdom of the past. That should keep you guessing

[‘Now’ is Delme’s second book. His first was called 'Living Oceans Apart’ and dealt with the topic of how to deal with living far apart from loved ones. You can find out more and also sign up to follow Delme’s daily blog on www.livingingrace.co.za].

The Bible still needs to be translated into 2 000 languages

The Bible is the most popular book in the world, but still has to be translated into more than 2,000 languages that are spoken by more than 350 million people.

This is why Bible translators are doing their utmost to close this gap with another wave of translations. Biblica has already translated the Bible into more than 100 languages, and have just released another translation this time in Tagalog. Tagalog is a language spoken by about 85 million in the Phillipines. This particular translation took about 20 years to complete.

In other related news, Wycliffe Bible Translators have announced that they have managed to raise nearly $250,000 million of the $1 billion they need to complete their Last Languages Campaign.

This campaign will see the Bible translated in every language by the year 2025.

The faith of George W. Bush

George W. Bush has been a divisive figure for many during his time as President of the United States - not only in his home country but throughout the globe. His avowed Christian faith was an enigma to those who saw his government as far too easily resorting to aggression and violence, and found some of his language layered with a little too much Christian triumphalism.

Bush was recently interviewed about his faith as part of a promotion of his recently published memoir ‘Decision Points’. In this interview Bush says that it was a meeting with Billy Graham that turned his life around, but that the first time he met Graham he was drunk.

"I was listening to Billy through the haze of alcohol," he said.

Bush’s father, former president George H. W. Bush invited the entire family to meet Graham. The evangelist was answering questions, the younger Bush said, recalling that he had drunk possibly four beers and five wines before the meeting.

"The next day, Billy and I are walking in mother and dad's beautiful yard there in Maine and we start talking about religion," Bush said in the interview. "And I was obviously looking, yearning for something different with my life. Billy sent me a Bible and I started reading the Bible.

"But it took me a while to understand that religion is not a course in self-improvement. Religion is a surrender – that you allow a living God into your life by surrendering to that living God. And then you improve to please God, not please yourself."

Bush said that he has not touched alcohol since 1986 and credits Graham for "plant[ing] the seed" of faith in his life.

Bush has kept out of the public glare since he left the Oval Office, also gave some advice to politicians when it comes to religion.

The best Bible verse for someone in a political office, he said, is Matthew 7:3 (ESV) – "Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?"

"I think it's very important for politicians to understand the true nature of religion," he said. "I worry about people who basically say 'I'm better than you because I'm religious.'

"Christianity says “I'm not better than anybody. I'm a sinner and I accept that and therefore accept Christ to help me grow.'"

Bush also said that he had worried about the potential trauma of bringing up teenage girls in the White House but his family found it to be an expectedly joyous place.

"The West Wing was a joyous place," he said. "In spite of the trauma and all the pressure, we were joyous. And I can only ascribe that to prayer. It's a remarkable gift the American people give to the president and his family – and that is prayer."

As for how he would be remembered, Bush readily acknowledged that history would judge him on the decisions he made during his eight-year term, but did say, "I would hope people would say he's a good father, good husband, he honored the Lord, and he's an honest guy."

"I am content with telling your listener and the reader of my book that I gave it my all and I didn't sacrifice principle in order to be a popular guy."

Bush’s memoir Decision Points is currently No. 1 on The New York Times Best Sellers list.

Christmas in Iraq: Church behind walls

Christians in Iraq continue to live in fear after months and months of killings and intimidatory tactics by extremists. Reports say that almost 2,000 Christians have fled from major centres like Baghdad and Mosul in fear for their lives.

One of the measures taken by the Iraqi government to protect its Christian citizens is to build concrete walls of up to 10 feet high around churches in to protect Christmas worshippers from being targeted.

The police will control various access points for Mass-goers with scanning equipment as a further measure to ensure protection. Normal Christmas celebrations such as parties in church halls or parks have also been scaled back on the advice of Church leaders.

It is hoped that these security measures will prevent a repeat of the October 31st massacre at Baghdad’s Syrian Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady of Salvation, where 58 people were killed and more than 70 others were injured.

Speaking from northern Iraq in an interview with Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Archbishop Bashar Warda of Erbil said, “The sadness of the people is everywhere. Uncertainty is everywhere. The question on everyone’s lips is ‘What’s next?’”

“There is a kind of desperation. But whatever happens, the people are determined to celebrate the Christmas liturgy by any means possible.”

Describing the concrete barriers and associated security measures as “making you feel you are entering a military camp,” Archbishop Warda nonetheless praised the government for taking steps to improve security.

The archbishop said that government officials had spoken to Church leaders asking if they wanted the security walls around their churches. While most of these leaders approved the plans, others refused saying that they felt the measures would only further intimidate an already fearful Christian community.

Aid to the Church in Need last week announced a series of emergency aid packages for displaced Christians fleeing to the north and east of the country, with ongoing support for refugees in neighbouring Syria, Jordan and Turkey.

The charity agreed to send $33,300 to provide Christmas food packages for displaced Christians in Zakho, which borders Turkey and Syria.

Other ACN help includes $20,000 for the victims of the October 31st massacre and their families plus a further $13,300 for displaced Christians arriving in the northern and eastern Iraqi cities of Kirkuk and Sulaymaniyah.

Archbishop Warda said, “ACN’s help is being welcomed with joy by the people. They feel very grateful and they are encouraged by the fact that they are being remembered by others more fortunate than themselves.”

Britain might ban Koran burning pastor

The UK home secretary Theresa May has informed Sky News that she is “actively” considering preventing US pastor Terry Jones from entering the country.

Jones became globally infamous a few months earlier when he announced plans for his small church to hold a ‘Burn a Koran’ day to commemorate the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Jones came under such severe worldwide pressure that he eventually backed down from these plans.

Jones intends to enter Britain to speak at a rally "against the evils and destructiveness of Islam". The rally will be hosted by the far right group the English Defence League (EDL) in Luton, southeastern England, on Feb. 5.

May told Sky News that, "Of course the home secretary has the right to exclude people who are not conducive to public good or on national security grounds. It wasn't clear that he [Jones] was definitely coming to the UK but if it is now clear that he's definitely coming to the UK, then of course this is a case that I will be actively looking at."

Jones had earlier informed Sky, "As we have tried to relay many times, we are by no means against Muslims. What we are against is Sharia law and Muslims not willing to submit to the constitution."

According to the EDL, Jones personally requested to be invited to attend one of the group's gatherings.

"Pastor Terry Jones contacted me personally to ask if he could attend our demonstration," EDL leader Tommy Robinson said. "He wants to speak about the evils of Islam at the protest. It is a medieval religion."

Jones was at pains to insist that he would not be part of any trouble during his visit.

"I would by no means advocate something that would cause a riot or disturbance," he said.

The Vatican reacts to latest WikiLeaks drama

The Catholic Church has endured a torrid year with the priest abuse scandals and cover ups causing massive public backlash. Every time it seemed that the furore had calmed down, something else came to light causing further consternation. This time it was the turn of the latest Wikileaks drama that last week released information gained from cables from the American embassy at the Vatican, which describe an increasingly out of touch and irrelevant Vatican leadership and its refusal to assist an Irish inquiry into priestly abuse.

One particular cable mentions that only one senior papal advisor uses a Blackberry, and then states that the "technophobia" in the hierarchy has prompted numerous gaffes and PR mishaps, followed by attempts to protect the pope from bad news.

The British ambassador to the Vatican was also reported as warning that the pope's welcoming into the Catholic church of disaffected Anglicans risked inciting a violent backlash against British Catholics.

The Vatican reacted to the Wikileak cable release in a short yet rather terse statement. It described the content of the cables describing its inner workings in an unflattering light as a matter of "extreme seriousness" and also potentially unreliable.

"Naturally these reports reflect the perceptions and opinions of the people who wrote them and cannot be considered as expressions of the Holy See itself, nor as exact quotations of the words of its officials," the Vatican said in a statement released over the weekend.

"Their reliability must, then, be evaluated carefully and with great prudence, bearing this circumstance in mind."

Before the publication of the cables, the US embassy to the Vatican underwent a preemptive damage control exercise by condemning "in the strongest terms" any leaking of documents, and promising that cooperation with the Holy See would not suffer.

Francis Chan is frustrated with the church and NOOMA are going to let you know why

Flannel are the non-profit film company behind NOOMA which is famous for making Rob Bell famous. Over 2.5 million copies have been sold of Bell’s DVD’s around the world and a majority of viewers say they have shown it to a nonbeliever.

Steve Carr, the executive director of Flannel, has been searching for new and unique speakers for their next project, and several people mentioned to him that it was worth looking up Francis Chan.

“One of the things on our criteria list was authenticity," Carr said in an interview with The Christian Post. "Is the person real? Do they live the lives they're telling us? And I can tell you without question, Francis is the real deal."

Chan is a popular speaker and author who has been struggling with frustrations around the church and its authenticity and true purpose in this world. Carr was attracted to his message and so decided to partner with Chan in a new series of talks where Chan lays bare his soul - and what is on his soul is the disconnect between what he sees in Scripture and the church today.

Millions of people call themselves followers of Jesus. Yet their lives look nothing like his and they're not obeying the things he called them to do, laments Chan.

The series is entitled “BASIC” and will be set over seven parts. Chan’s story has become well known because he was the founder of an extremely successful megachurch which he resigned from because of these very frustrations.

Carr recalled, "The more [Chan] looked at it and thought about it, he got together with his elders and really asked the question 'Why are we expanding again? It's great that people want to come here but ...'"

"It kind of bothered him that people would drive 60 or 70 miles to hear him speak," Carr said. "He looked at it and thought, 'that’s nice, I hope it’s worthwhile that they come, but that’s not church.'"

"Church is not we’re going to get together once a week and sit and sing some songs and hear a great speaker and then go home. That’s not church," the executive director remembered discussing with Chan.

The "BASIC" series essentially is Chan's personal reflection on what church is and what is on his heart. Since leaving the pastorate, Chan has spoken about his restlessness with comfortable Christianity and his desire to live by the Scriptures and surrender himself fully to God.

"What bothers Francis, I believe, is the fact that in our culture, in particular, there’s millions and millions of people who consider themselves Christian and yet they don’t look really any different than anybody else," said Carr. "That’s a concern."

Some of those frustrations are laid out in the second "BASIC" film, titled "Follow Jesus."

"See, these words that we give without action behind it, that was never acceptable to Jesus," Chan says in the film. "He says 'it's pretty simple; when I say follow me, you follow me. You do what I do. And when I ask you to do something you just obey.'"

And Jesus didn't hide the fact that following him would be difficult. He was completely honest, the preacher highlights.

Though a difficult and narrow path, Chan stresses the promise Jesus gave to his followers. "If you would surrender to me, if you would just trust me, trust that I have something better and let go of everything else ... then you're really going to find life."

"Follow Jesus," Carr said, "is a really hard-hitting film. Francis has a way of delivering a really hard message, maybe a message you don't want to hear, and when he's done, for some reason you're left saying 'thanks, man. I really needed that.'"

The first three short films in the series were released this year. They address the Trinity and set the stage for who God is, Carr explained. The other four films, set for release over the next year, then explain the purpose of the church. The four building blocks of the church, Carr said, are fellowship, teaching, prayer and communion.

"Our hope with the series is to inspire people to really be the church that’s explained in Scripture," said the Flannel director.