Thursday, November 2, 2017

Dear Friends, It is November 2, the day Roman Catholics especially remember in prayer the deceased members of our families and friends. It is a tradition taken from many centuries, more than a millenium, to intercede with God for those who have passed on but, we believe, may still have issues and ways of relating that indicate their not being in complete union with God and their neighbor. In other words, there is still need for some purification of their past, something that needs "correcting" and realigning with God's Spirit before they are ready to be with God face to face. When we appreciate what is needed in the human soul before it is ready to be with God, it becomes immediately obvious how many of us upon death probably do not meet the minimum state of interior freedom and purity of heart necessary to be with God. How God does this purification and completing his work of transforming us in Christ so that we are in complete harmony with Him, God alone knows. In any case today is special just for this reason and for caring for those who have gone on in the Lord. ................................................................................................................................ In an hour I leave for the Nairobi airport to meet three American friends who are coming for a two-week visit. The four of us are planning to go to the famous game park, Masai Mara, next Monday through Thursday. I am really looking forward to this--to drive in a truck next to a group (pride) of lions or near the giraffes, etc. It is such a special place in the world. Right now it is raining and leaving everything very green. Spring is in the air, the flowers and trees in bloom add abundant color, a feast for the eyes. The jacaranda trees with their light purple bells in clusters are for me the most spectacular display of nature's colors at this time of the year................................................................................................................................. The repeated election, held on October 26, is over, the incumbent declared the winner, and the political jousting continues. The loser in this second election is a big source of pain to most in the nation. Most just want the economy to get going again. It has been stagnant for so long. Many want to go back to work. At the same time some major structural changes are needed in the way government is run and the elections are conducted. This is a young nation with many growing pains. Some observers are of the opinion that the next generation is needed to come into power before the old crony system modeled by the British dies; the Brits ran this place for more than a century as one of its colonies. So much favoritism toward the few families who own most of the land. this makes bribery and embezzelment easy for the way of operating, and staying out of prison while you can continue committing money related crimes and an occasional assassination or elimination of a political foe. There is a small middle class, too much unemployment still, which make for the seeds of violence and thievery. Thank God for the Christian churches, especially for the many nuns who run so many of the institutions that show care for the ordinary citizen and then the very poor, not-so-ordinary citizens. There are so many orphans and abandoned children, idle men and alcoholism. I sense many parallels with where the USA was after the American Civil War and into the 20th century. ...................................................................... I feel good about having predicted from the beginning of the baseball playoffs who would be the two teams in the World Series and that Houston would win it all. I am also glad that Justin Verlander finally got his World Series ring after two failed attempts with the Tigers (in 2006 and 2012). The trade that sent Verlander to Houston last July 31 made a huge difference for Houston getting to the WS. As a Tiger fan I must admit I have great hopes for the Tigers picking some great talent during the next couple of years and being back in competition in the not too distant future. ................................................................................................................. Will the government of the USA ever calm down? Will our populace ever calm down and show respect and be ready to listen to the other perspective for what truth is in it, if any? It seems we have so many who have adopted a "me-first" attitude and ready to accuse the other. Our culture is experiencing the ferment of men and women using each other through lots of sexual misbehavior so that those involved can become very rich and live the wild life. If anyone is exposed, they have an excuse and then point the accusing finger as if they have nothing from which to repent. Is it possible that a truly competent, inspiring leader emerge and get elected? Will Christian voices that are not fundamentalistic and capable of speaking knowledgeably to the injustices in the USA political, economic, racial, and cultural realms get a platform so that they are heard as widely as the standard media are able to be heard?...... .....................................................................................................................I continue to make good progress on my new book. I am presently toward the end of chapter 7 and hope to have the entire first draft done by June. God bless. I need to go to the airport now! In Christ, Bernie Owens