Saint Patrick’s Day. I’m not Irish, but I have happy memories of frequenting some of the great Irish pubs in downtown Toronto during my teaching days. Ian Clary (of Irish descent) and I would frequent McVeigh’s which at the time had the look of a front for the IRA. Looks like some fresh paint today, though the murals remain. We would also go to the flashier PJ O’Brien‘s regularly. Although it is said to have “the best pub food in the country” according to the National Post, it is the place where my wife had the worst food poisoning in her life. I still loved O’Brien’s and the bad food experience was a one time anomaly. I was usually irritated by the Sunday Saint Patrick’s Parade because it meant that getting across downtown after church was a task of nearly unending futility.

Such are some of my memories on Saint Patrick’s Day.

If you are looking for a Patrick biography, read Michael Haykin‘s. Great stuff on Patrick as a missionary and a model of Christian piety.

On the history of the celebration of St Patrick’s Day, read Meagan Fitzpatrick’s piece for CBC here: http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/st-patrick-s-day-tradition-made-in-u-s-not-ireland-1.2997187

Finally, this is my article at the National Post from a few years ago:

http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/03/17/st-patrick-knew-all-about-human-trafficking/

A friend who ministers in Central Asia told about the Gypsies in his community. They are despised by all people groups, but are feared due to their perceived ability to put curses upon people who refuse to give money, food or other help to them.

The Gypsies, like many people are viewed as non-people. They are viewed as being of so little consequence that that they are not to be cared for, conversed with or even noticed. The value of these lives is viewed as minuscule, or even a negative draw upon the value and vigour of the lives surrounding the Gypsy. Their lives have a human market valuation of zero, or even worse.

But this human ‘market valuation’ is not restricted to the Gypsies. It is evident today in Syria and Iraq under the tyranny of the so-called ‘Islamic State’, where women — Christian or Muslim— are treated as mere disposables. This ‘State’ values women as un-human and useful only for sexual exploitation, commercial trade, or as objects of torture and terror to broadcast to the world.

Consider situations where people are unnoticed or despised. Consider situations where people are no longer people.

This video illustrated to me a tragic situation where a young man was no longer treated as a person, but as some unruly animal–as wild game.

We must be vigilant or else we will cheapen our lives and the lives around us. There can be no cheapening when every person has a soul. Every person is created in the image of God.

Cowtown Jihadis

Calgary has sent approximately 30+ into the ranks of ISIS in Syria and Iraq in order to wage jihad. A recent Muslim conference in Calgary discussed the radicalization of Muslim youth, with a list of media reports.

In answer to the question posed by the Toronto Star, ‘What do we do about Canadians joining ISIS? I say this: Canada needs a thoughtful re-assessment and re-engagement with Jesus of Nazareth, whom even Muslims esteem as a prophet. But what is required is the message that the apostles described as the gospel of Jesus Christ. This message is one of repentant faith in Jesus as God, the Son who atoned for sin at the historic cross of Calvary, and who evidentially rose from the dead on the third day after. This gospel has a regenerative power to transform hearts and instil counter-intuitive love for God and love for neighbour.