Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. (Eph 6:10 KJV)
This life is a struggle. Nobody can deny that. Or is somebody exempt of this struggle? If somebody is not struggling with this world, then he’s in conflict with the heavens. Even the godly angels are warriors and fight as men of war. Our Lord Jesus Christ was in this world like we are and he was involved in the most severe battles until he could finally proclaim victoriously: “It is fulfilled!” Then his hardship was ended, but even now his a warrior of note – the top general and almighty Lord of all battles and wars. It is his future – and he will prove it in the final destruction of the antichrist, all evil enemies and godless foes. This is not just a battle for the Son, but also for the Father and the Holy Spirit. The most holy Trinity is at war against all evil and for his own kingdom and people. This conflict will last till the last day. It is still growing in ferocity, violence and terror. Oh – it is very serious and not to be taken lightly even if we don’t see much of it too clearly. Blow the trumpets! Wake up the lazy sleepers. Do everything to alert everybody to recognize the grim truth of this dire situation. Whoever has ears, let him hear what the apostle writes!
Oh Lord of Hosts, receive our prayers this evening and pour out over us the bounty of your mercy and victories. Guard us with your holy angels, gird us with your powerful weapons, defend us with your power, save us from all calamity and danger, from the persecution and destruction by the evil foe and grant us your most precious grace, that we can peacefully, free from sin, fear and terror pass this night and every day of our life. With you we find mercy and forgiveness. Lord, triune God we praise and magnify your holy name now and forever. Amen. (Wilhelm Löhe)
This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for the twentyfirst Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 362 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu! (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.
Political comment: F.W. de Klerk speaking at the 30 Club in London
It is a great pleasure for me to be able to address you on “Africa today and Africa Tomorrow”.
It is an important topic – because whichever way we look at it the future of Africa it will, for better or for worse, have a significant impact on people in the United Kingdom and Europe. Africa could become an increasingly important trading partner and supplier of essential minerals and foods. It could also become a favourite tourist destination and a lucrative market for British and European exports.
However, if the continent fails, it could present Europe with almost insurmountable moral, financial and strategic challenges. The world is still shocked by the deaths of hundreds of Africans – mostly Eritreans – who were drowned when their hopelessly inadequate vessel sank on its way to Italy. But what would happen to Europe’s porous southern borders if there were persistent man-made crises or famines in Africa?
In 2000, at the beginning of the new millennium, South Africa’s President Thabo Mbeki claimed that the 21st century would belong to Africa:
After five hundred years of exploitation and domination by Europe, Africa would finally emerge from the shadows of global affairs and take its rightful place on the world stage.
The World Bank’s response was “Yes, Africa can claim the new century … but this is a qualified yes”. It was “conditional on Africa’s ability – aided by its development partners – to overcome the development traps that kept it confined to a vicious cycle of underdevelopment, conflict, and untold human suffering for most of the 20th century”.
In its lecture to African leaders, the World Bank proposed development strategies that would be focused on:
How has Africa fared since then – and is it still on track to claim the 21st century as the African century?
Read full text of speech HERE.
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