Thanksgiving Message

Executive Privileges

By Deborah Blackburn

Here are just a couple of news headlines from 2007:

"Bangladesh Floods maroon Thousands."
" Bridge Disaster in Minneapolis...dozens injured, 9 dead."
"American Pastor and Wife Shot Dead in Islamabad."
"Hurricane Dean’s Death Toll Rises to 26."
"UN Reports Cholera Outbreak in Northern Iraq."
" Christian Leaders Detained in Zimbabwe for "Unauthorized" Prayer Meeting."
"Deadly Fires Takes Toll on Greece’s Spirit, 64 Dead."
"Ravaged Gulf Coast Still Struggling 2 Years After Katrina."
" 10 Civilians Killed in Attack on US Base in Afghanistan."

Really...Need I say more about :) What am I thankful for?
Natural Disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and fires continue to plague our world. According to the World Disasters Report, natural disasters have risen about 65 per cent over the last decade. Typically the poor are the worst hit as they do not have the resources to rebuild.

While I feel no matter where we live that we are all vulnerable to disasters; I am very thankful I live in a country where I have never experienced a severe and devastating disaster.

Political and social unrest’s potential for violence exists in all societies to some degree. We never know what is brewing on the horizon even here in Canada. However; I am thankful to live in rich democratic country that ranks 9th overall in the world for health and happiness. Think about the many societies around our Globe that are suffering immensely due to political injustice.

Christian persecution continues to run rampant in our world today. It started with Jesus Himself. In the two thousand years since, about 70 million believers have been killed for their faith. I am thankful I can freely worship my God not only on Sunday mornings but any day of the week without fear.

I understand that tragedy can strike at anytime especially as I read our local news headlines about our city’s crumbling infrastructure . Yet, I cannot deny that we have so much to be thankful for here in Canada. If one were to consider that each year more than eight million people around the world will die because they are too poor to stay alive one would surly thank God for our abundant blessings? Nearly three billion people live on less than two dollars a day!

We really do have "executive privileges" compared to billions of people all around us.

The privilege that I am most thankful for is having the freedom to know Jesus Christ as my personal Savior. I can write about Him, sing about Him, rejoice in Him, worship Him, pray to Him and trust Him every single day of my life...and no one has tried to stop me yet! I realize that my "executive privileges" I enjoy so freely here in Canada should never be taken for granted as things change.

However, Jesus Christ, in what is one of the most documented facts in history, rose victoriously from the grave. In this troubled world, today we can take hope in the risen Christ. In this troubled world, today we can be thankful Jesus loves us.

This Thanksgiving what are you thankful for???