18 yo - 1970

1970 Biafra capitulated ending the Nigerian War. I just remember a picture of Biafrans starving. I’d later cut it out of a magazine and put it up on my refrigerator because food was being wasted and I thought others should think about Biafra. It didn’t make me popular.

Meanwhile Mick Jagger was fined for possession of marijuana. Black Sabbath released the first Heavy Metal album. I didn’t like heavy metal until decades later when it was no longer loud, not just because I was becoming deaf but because everything was being pushed to the max. 

 March 17 the complete New English Bible was published. My mother bought this for me when I told her I’d signed up for Dr. Carl Ridd’s « Literature of the Bible’ course at University Winnipeg.  

Richard Nixon banned cigarette smoking advertisements on television.  Apollo 13 moon shot was aborted, but splashed down safely after the explosion on board. 

The Kent State shootings occurred May 4. I would remember it most because of Buffalo Springfield’s iconic song,

« Something happening here, what it is ain’t exactly clear, man with a gun over there,....people carrying signs, mostly say hurrah for our side....you’ve got to stop, hey, what’s that sound, everybody look what’s going down. ». 

The Beatles released their final album « Let It Be ». The Who performed Tommy at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York. Edward Heath of the Conservatives won. the British election. 

Thor Heyerdahl’s Papyrus boat Ra II arrived in Barbados. I remember following Thor Heyerdahl’s adventures at sea. 

The Isle of Wright music festival occurred. I ‘d read about it years later when I read a biography of Leonard Cohen who played there. 

Salvador Allende won in Chile. The Vietnam War was raging with anti war demonstrations in America. 

The Front de Liberation du Quebec (FLQ) kidnapped James Cross leading to the Quebec October Crisis when PM Pierre Trudeau in an unprecedented over reaction  brought out the army and turned the tanks on the citizens. It was extraordinary at the times because I was in the Peace Movement and here was this man who had mocked the military over reacting in this cowardly way and turning to the very force he loathed to protect him.  La Porte was killed then James Cross wasreleased after the FLQ were granted safe passage to Cuba.

The Khmer Rouge began the civil war in Cambodia. This aetheist communist group would go on to kill half the population of Cambodia, millions upon millions. 

Garry Trudeau’s comic strip Doonesbury debuted. 

Havez al-Assad came to power in Syria following a military coup. The trial for the My Lai Massacre took place.  

The USSR Vénéra 7 spacecraft landed on Venus. The F14 Tomcat came into being. . The north tower of the World Trade Centre was completed. 

Alvin Toffler published Future Shock which I loved.  

Mariah Carey, the Diva, was born this year as was actor Vince Vaughn and actress Uma Thurman.   Melania Trump  was born April 26, 1970.  Sadiq Khan who looks older but acts younger was born this year. Matt Damon who acts older and looks younger was also born this year. 

Meanwhile, Canadian artist Lawren Harris died. I loved his paintings.  Bertrand Russel the great aetheist philosopher and logician whose book I studied in University of Winnipeg philosophy died. His ‘why I am not a Christian’ coupled with C.S.Lewis ‘why I am a Chrsitian’ letters were two of my favourite reads in the years to come. Muscicians Jimmy Hendrix  and Janis Joplin died separately of a drug overdoses.. 

The Great Commission

The Great Commission
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:16
This is the essence of evangelism. I saw television advertisements already on about Christmas. Christmas is the time chosen to remember the birth of Christ. If a person were not a Christian and didn’t know about Christ December would be a good time to read one of the gospel stories that depicted the life of Jesus. The Bible, sometimes called the Holy Bible, is the main text of the Christian and Catholic peoples. Mathew, Mark, Luke and John wrote the story of Jesus in the first hundred years about after his death. Usually I read at least one of the gospels each Christmas to remind me of why Canada and the United States and most of Europe and much of the other parts of the world have a holiday at this time.

Thousands of years ago Pagans celebrated the mid winter season so it wasn’t always just a Christmas celebration. Probably back then businessmen saw it as a good time to hawk their wares too. Probably they didn’t sell Jesus dolls and imitation Mother Mary’s but no doubt they’d have simiiliar merchandise for whatever God was de rigeur that day. Christians however are encouraged not to party with drugs and alcohol and orgies as some have used the holiday season but rather consider it a time for reflection.

I usually get out my Anne Murray Christmas Carol album. Sarah McLaughlins was a joy to listen to last year and I hope I find that as well. Many of the greatest writers of all time have written their most meaningful and touching songs at this time. I still love John Lennon’s “So this is Christmas” and wish he had lived so we might have heard the wisdom only age can bring to artists of all kinds. What message would Janice Joplin be carrying today. I really doubt that they’d be singing of drugs given how many of their friends died from overdose.

Christmas is not a time of war. I loved learning that all over Europe Germans and Allied forces put down their weapons, crossed no man’s land, exchanged gifts and kind wishes. If only the leadership of the nations could be so peaceful. So many soldiers would rather be home with their family.

So with December it’s a time for me also to make sure I get to church if only to be gathering with others and hearing the stories. It’s the one time of the year I really do like the children’s pageants. Maybe because I fondly remember the plays I was in them as a child, even the one I interrupted to wave at my parents and say “Hi Mom. Hi Dad”. My older brother who was in the same play had to hush me and point me at the director.

Amazing all the volunteerism that happens in churches all over the world. I’m sure the Christian children’s choirmaster who had me and my friends in his choir was sainted in heaven. His patience and kindness were as memorable as the youth leaders who tried to guide us through adolescence with kindness and open doors.

So if you haven’t read the Bible or a Gospel or been to a Christian church December is a really good time to check it out. Christians are really welcoming at this time of the year, not that they aren't at any time.

Christmas day is usually packed at church because of all the “C&E” Christians . They’re the Christian folk who only go to church on Christmas and Easter. Kind of like hockey fans who only buy tickets for the play offs. The rest of us like it as much when they’re not in the church because they’re a pretty boisterous lot.

Guests are always welcome and you don’t really need an invitation ever but December is a great time to go. Just walk into a church and you’ll be greeted and directed to a seat. People will say hello but you don’t have to do anything but listen. There are cheat sheets in most churches. These are notes that are given out to tell you what everyone is doing. No one is paying negative attention to you. It’s like a play and the people in the church are focused on the altar (that’s the church word for stage) and what’s going on up there. The minister or priest is leading the ceremony and everyone in the church is an audience of sorts. The audience may be asked to join in like they would be at a Blue Man Concert but no one has to and Christians and non Christians may decline. People are shy. Most of the people other than the minister are ‘amateurs’. They’re volunteers. This is what they do for others. They join the choir, arrange flowers, ensure that the “set” is ready each Sunday. Some print up the program. At my church over half the congregation (people who belong to the church) take part in the services sometime in the year as volunteers. I was a reader for a number of years while my friend Colin was a greeter. There’s lots of little things that need to be done and when you volunteer in a church you become more a part of. Just like the actors in the play are more apart of the theatre. It’s a way of having a richer Christian experience. It’s a way of being closer with other Christians and having some more time with the clergy (priests, ministers and deacons) and otherwise the ‘staff’ or full time leadership of the church, usually elected by the body of the church from a pool of church school (theological university) graduates.

Anyway Dec. 25 is the day we celebrate the Birth of Jesus Christ. We believe Jesus was God become Man who experienced the suffering of this world, was crucified, died on the cross, rose again and lives with the Father Creator and the Holy Spirit in heaven. Heaven is where the soul of creation is. Jesus is our friend and advocate. He is the helpful intermediary with the vastness of the mysterious God. The gospels tell his story. His message was Love God, Love your Neighbour as Yourself and Do Not Be Afraid.

Hope to see you in church sometime, whenever, wherever. Christ be with you. Good day. God’s day. Today.