This week we have a Beatles theme – we look at what’s happened in Scotland; floods in Australia; the Israeli election; Covid in Europe; Russia and China; the return of vinyl; Facebook; North Korea; North Face; London Pride; The Green Party and Women; Colorado; REO; Brora Rangers; Derrick Jaxn; New York homeless exploitation; Prince Harry; Jordan Peterson and more Beatles! All links below…
You can listen on Spotify, iTunes, YouTube or here on Podbean…
Israel – JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s party held a lead in Israel’s fourth electionin two years, exit polls projected Wednesday, but neither his right-wing alliance nor a diverse bloc of opposition parties had a clear path to a majority coalition, creating a stalemate that could extend Israel’s political deadlock for weeks if not months.
Europe – Covid -.
Record sales – In the UK, pandemic music buying habits have accelerated the revival of the classic LP, The Guardian reports. And record labels are “on track” to make more money in 2021 from the sale of vinyl than the “once-mighty” CD for the first time since 1987.
Madworld – Facebook policy explicitly allows for “public figures” to be targeted in ways otherwise banned on the site, including “calls for [their] death”, according to leaked internal moderator guidelines. The social network defines public figures as those whose claim to fame may be simply a large social media following or occasional coverage in local newspapers. The Center for Countering Digital Hate described the revelations as “flabbergasting”.
NorthFace hypocrisy –
Church hypocrisy – https://www.facebook.com/derrickjaxn1/videos/3806804436033361
The arrest of the executive, Victor Rivera, the former president and founder of the Bronx Parent Housing Network, came less than two months after a New York Times investigation found that he had engaged in a long pattern of sexual abuse and financial impropriety that stretched back almost a decade. Mr. Rivera was fired by the nonprofit last month, following The Times report.
Prince Harry gets two new ‘jobs’….
Quantum 138 – The Woke, the Weird, the Wealthy and the Wonderful
Support Quantum here –
That’s an interesting comment about the narrative and the objective touching with there being no dichotomy between the two and not being able to fully believe with Jordan Peterson saying he believes in Christ.
Well, to fully believe would be to be certain. And with certainty there is no need for faith. Therefore doubt is not the opposite of faith, certainty is. And it was interesting to see Jordan Peterson wrestling with this and saying he doesn’t understand what is going on. Hopefully for him, he can come to a place of peace.
Of course it’s not about understanding form a human perspective.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Prov 3:5,6).
NO – certainty is not the opposite of faith. Unbelief is.
Tis, indeed a Blessed Assurance, based on the Person of our faith, by revelation, a gift, not our worked-out faith.
CS Lewis wrote much on narrative, myth (as he defined, set it out) and that myth becomes fact ( “true myth”) in the life death resurrection and ascension of Jesus
“And yet belief then eclipses the actual seeing by the end of the narrative in John 20:29; those who believe having not seen actually see more truly than those who have seen and not believed. (John 9:41)” Ian Paul.
Adam, Hebrews 11:1 (NIV): Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Real faith is the most certain thing in the world.
Re the’ Scotland’ section of Q139 , a politically correct Chief Constable apologises :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBGOryiqZZI
In the matter of Faith and Unbelief, the Anglican novelist , Barbara Pym , has one leading character discuss the various denominations in an English village .
” I don’t know if they are High or Low Church , RCs or Baptists”, says one woman.
“Or perhaps they are Nothings ” , says her friend.
Ultimately, evidence is not a requirement for such religious belief – only faith, and when push comes to shove faith does not stack up against reality/evidence.
Considering Peterson’s mental health background/histpory I am not that surprised to hear him discuss Jesus in this manner – or breakdown either.
There’s a prime candidate for your prayers, David, if ever there was. Maybe you could organise a Prayer Groupathon for Jordan Peterson!
Imagine if he converted? Now that would be a feather in your cap wouldn’t you say?
Ark
It is “Salvation of mankind”. Heard today on BBC news said of the AstraZeneca plant in Wrexham by Boris Johnson.
I’m about halfway through the Peterson interview. There is something heroic about him. His search for honesty, authenticity and meaning appears to be destroying him yet he can’t deny it. In this he is a tragic hero. The interviewer I think says many good things and tries hard to relate to Peterson on a more metaphysical level while trying to ground it in Christ.
So far I find myself wanting to go down two roads with Jordan Peterson neither fits well with a Catholic theology. I believe that ultimately what stops someone coming to Christ is sin. Peterson seems to exhibit the sinful hindrances of a good and clever man; he believes in his goodness (his strivings and indeed human strivings in general have a good intent) and he trusts his intellect (he clearly values his ability to analyse and synthesise). Catholic theology is not as equipped as it ought to be to deal with these… it can pander to both.
He needs, or so it seems to me, to come to an end of himself in both these areas. He needs to see he is a Nicodemus who needs a new birth which must be received as a child. He considers himself an honest humble man…. and by our reckoning he is. Like Jesus loved the rich ruler’s integrity to a point I’m sure he sees integrity in Peterson… to a point. The question is will Peterson recognise his integrity is flawed, his goodness is filthy rags, and his wisdom is foolishness and bow to Christ. He sees Christ, clearly I think, but he has ‘riches’ that he is not yet prepared to leave. He wants a narrative but not an objective Lord.
I recognise this analysis may judgemental and far too self-assured. People are complex and my impressions may be naive . I have listened to a few of his interviews. Peterson seems a better human being than I am. He is a courageous man and his courage has taken an enormous toll (as it has with Joanne Cherry). I pray that God saves him and his family.
How hard it is for the good and clever to enter the kingdom… but with God all things are possible.
Re the China part of Q139 , America has forced Taiwan’s supine Govt to legalise same sex marriage despite the Taiwanese people having voted against this nonsense in 5 ( yes five ) referenda.
https://taiwaninsight.org/2020/02/05/the-publics-view-on-same-sex-marriage-legalisation/
Re Israel ( and its overseas citizenry ), George Galloway provides some surprising information about the role played by Christian organizations in the anti – Apartheid movement :
https://christiansfortruth.com/former-mp-george-galloway-confirms-anti-apartheid-movement-in-south-africa-was-led-entirely-by-jews/