2 Corinthians 'wordle'

This is a 'wordle' I've created of 2 Corinthians. If you haven't come across a wordle, the size of the font represents the number of times a word is used in a piece of text. So this is a simple way of giving you an idea of some of the recurring themes in Paul's writing. It would be interesting to do a comparison one with 1 Corinthians - perhaps I will try that some time.

Speaking out

First they came for the Communists

And I did not speak out

Because I was not a Communist

Then they came for the Socialists

And I did not speak out

Because I was not a Socialist

Then they came for the trade unionists

And I did not speak out

Because I was not a trade unionist

Then they came for the Jews

And I did not speak out

Because I was not a Jew

Then they came for me

And there was

no one left

To speak out for me.

Poem by Pastor Martin Niemoller

How long O Lord?

Do you need a reason to pray for the world around you? Here three news stories from recent weeks should make you weep for God to have mercy on our nation.

This week it was confirmed that the majority of children would be born out of marriage by 2016. Now the majority of children will grow up with the anxiety and uncertainty of knowing whether Mum and Dad will stay together. Even more children will go through the trauma of relationship breakdown and have to cope with the conflicts of relating to 'step' parents and siblings from other relationships. Children of unmarried parents are at 10 times the risk of suffering sexual abuse and their mothers are significantly more likely to be subject to domestic violence. They will be exposed to greater economic insecurity as marriage also provides a level of economic security to women and children not matched by co-habiting relationships. The demise of marriage is also linked to the absence of fathers from the home and the BBC recently reported on 'A million children growing up without fathers'. Surely all of this is going to have tragic consequences for the psychological and social development of the next generation.

When I read Romans 1 it almost seems that Paul must have lived in the 21st century as he describes a catalogue of things which will result when people increasingly turn their backs on God. And not being satisfied to indulge in all the forms of evil around them, Paul says that they will 'invent ways of doing evil'. In the news recently it was reported that live streaming of child sex abuse was becoming a growing threat showing that men have done just that. What depths mankind will plunge to when God withdraws his restraining hand.

How long, O LORD, how long?