13 July 2019 • WAR CRY • FEATURE 3
An emoji is worth a thousand words T
HEY have their own musical, their own film and their own international day: next Wednesday (17 July) is World Emoji Day – a celebration of the small digital images shared across technology platforms in their millions. The day was created in 2014 by London-based Jeremy Burge, the founder of Emojipedia, a catalogue of emojis and their meanings. The organisers of the day encourage emoji-lovers to mark 17 July – which was chosen because it is the date that appears on the calendar emoji – by tweeting their favourite emoji and they were saying in lengthy letters, writing emails consisting only of emojis. they were struggling to do so in digital In a sign of the times, last year, an communications, where messages were entire convention was dedicated to the shorter. symbols, of which there are now nearly He decided to create small images to 3,000. Emojicon, which took place in help people express themselves within a New York, featured serious talks on limited number of words or characters. language, politics and more, including The images, inspired by elements of his ‘Emoji and Mental Health’ and ‘Let’s childhood including Japanese comics, Talk about the Gun Emoji’. But they quickly became popular and were taken were followed by a more light-hearted up by other Japanese companies, and spelling bee and a party where guests then global ones. had to dress up as an emoji. They are now used by people The development everywhere. of emojis is surely When talking to technology website beyond what the the Verge about how emojis had gone man who is global, Kurita said: ‘I’d really like to credited with know to what degree they’re used in the their creation same way, and to what degree there’s a could have local nuance.’ imagined. There was, however, one emoji he In 1999, could guess was universal. ‘The heart Japanese artist symbol is probably used the same way Shigetaka Kurita, by everyone,’ he said. who worked for According to Facebook, the red a mobile internet love heart is one of the top emojis. company, recognised Emojipedia defines it as ‘a classic love that communication was heart emoji, used for expressions of changing. He saw that whereas people love’. had easily been able to explain what It is used to communicate many
Emojis are used by people everywhere
A day is celebratin g the little imag es that help peop le t communic o ate, writes Sar ah Olowofoye ku
types of love. Plenty of people were including it in their responses to Stevie Wonder and Barbra Streisand’s sets at the British Summer Time festival last weekend. Many use it to show their affection for friends. And people also use it to highlight the love that they have for God. For instance, Twitter user Nicole announced: ‘I love the Lord with all my heart ’. Countless people believe that their love for God is simply a response to his love for them. They recognise that God revealed that love for them through Jesus. One of the top verses in the Bible says: ‘God expressed his love for the world in this way: he gave his only Son so that whoever believes in him will … have everlasting life’ (John 3:16 The Voice). The message has gone global: God cares for us, offers us forgiveness for when we go wrong and invites us to put our trust in him. Will we accept the invitation?
8 INTERVIEW • WAR CRY • 13 July 2019
The woman who wanted to
save the children Since 1919, Save the Children has supported millions of children trapped by war, famine and illness. In its centenary year, ANNE CHAMBERLAIN, who has written a play about the charity’s origins, tells Linda McTurk about the British woman who, with her sister, sought to feed starving children in postwar Europe
A
Playwright and actress Anne Chamberlain who wrote and appeared in a play about Eglantyne Jebb 2001 Snowbound, All Rights Reserved
FTER the First World War ended in 1918, Britain blockaded Germany until the signing of the peace treaty of Versailles in June 1919. It meant that staple foods such as grains, potatoes, meat and dairy products continued to be scarce, and many people in Europe went hungry even though the war was over. Horrified by the consequences of the blockade, one British woman decided to shock the public into action. Eglantyne Jebb went to Trafalgar Square and handed out leaflets which carried photographic imagery highlighting the plight of malnourished children in Europe and which called for compassion. Her provocative actions caught the attention of the police, who arrested her and sent her to court, where she was fined. On Eglantyne’s release, she and her sister, Dorothy Buxton, founded Save the Children. At a time when women were expected to marry and bear children, Eglantyne did neither, yet became an international spokesperson for children. Actress and playwright Anne Chamberlain knows all about Eglantyne’s life. In 2014 Anne wrote a solo play called Eglantyne, where she played various roles to tell the story of the Save the Children co-founder. She has presented the play many times over Eglantyne Jebb the past five years
in the UK and Australia, including at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. ‘Eglantyne is one of the most influential women of the 20th century, yet one of the least known,’ says Anne. ‘There was a lot of social change that happened for women before, during and in the years after the First World War. I was drawn to that time period, and felt compelled to share Eglantyne’s inspirational story – her heroic moments as well as her struggles and disappointments.’ Since the early years of her life, Eglantyne
She felt pulled to do God’s work had wanted to help poor people. ‘She was born into a privileged, uppermiddle-class family in Shropshire, but she recognised the plight of people who were less well off,’ Anne explains. ‘Eglantyne grew up in an Anglican family and had a strong Christian faith. In her twenties, she had a vision where she saw Jesus. She writes about this in one of her journals – it’s a significant moment. She felt pulled to do God’s work. This idea stayed with her and became a thread throughout her life. It kept her going.’ In 1919, as people continued to go hungry in Europe, Eglantyne and Dorothy joined
13 July 2019 • WAR CRY • INTERVIEW 9 Save the Children
Save the Children
Save the Children at work today in Yemen and (below) in earlier years in Greece
the Fight the Famine movement to urge the government to put a stop to the blockade. But, despite their best efforts, the sisters’ political lobbying got nowhere. ‘Nothing was happening,’ Anne explains. ‘Agitated, Eglantyne and Dorothy decided to raise money to get some food into Europe. They called a meeting at the Royal Albert Hall
It was not enough just to respond to emergencies and gave these big, impassioned speeches. There were about 6,000 people there that day. ‘Together they created a spontaneous collection, which later became the Save the Children fund. Ten days later, they began distributing the funds to people in Europe. They bought dairy cows in Switzerland and walked them across to Vienna where people were starving.’ Anne says that, although the situation in Europe was now being addressed, Eglantyne’s work to save children around the world was not finished. ‘Eglantyne once said: “Humanity must take responsibility for its weakest members.” She thought it was not enough just to respond to emergencies. Rights needed to be put in place for children.’
In the 1920s, Eglantyne drafted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, the world’s first declaration of its kind, which was adopted by the League of Nations and has since evolved into the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The UN convention states that all children have a right to good-quality healthcare, access to education and an adequate standard of living. It also safeguards children from exploitation, sexual abuse and violence. Since its adoption by the UN in 1989, almost every country has signed up to it and is bound by international law to ensure that it is implemented. Anne hopes that Eglantyne’s legacy of campaigning for children’s rights will continue to live on as long as there is still need. ‘Many of Eglantyne’s humanitarian concerns are relevant today,’ she asserts. ‘I think she would be appalled that we still have similar conditions in places such as Syria and Yemen. But I hope that she would be proud of her legacy of creating an organisation that is still working in 120 countries to help children in ghastly situations.’
10 INTERVIEW • WAR CRY • 13 July 2019
THE MAKE s Sarah ll e t Y R A C S E M A J Comedy writer funny e b n a c h it a f y h Olowofoyeku w
‘A
PRIEST, a rabbi and an imam walked into a bar’ is not the sort of line that you would find in the Bible. But James Cary argues that there is humour in the Good Book. Having co-written episodes of BBC sitcom Miranda and the three series of Bluestone 42, James knows a thing or two about comedy. He is also a Christian. And in his recently published book The Sacred Art of Joking, he explores how comedy works and why it is sometimes at the root of controversy. ‘Given that life is absurd,’ he says, ‘it would be strange for the Bible not to be funny. We are suspicious of people who don’t laugh or don’t appreciate absurdity. There’s something less than human about a lack of humour. ‘I don’t know whether the purpose of humour in the Bible can be easily isolated and explained, but I just think that it would be odd for God to relate to us in a way that was devoid of humour.’ James suggests that there is comedy
in a number of Jesus’ sayings. He points out Jesus’ use of hyperbole – for instance, when warning about the dangers of a wandering eye, which can lead a marriage partner to ruin their relationship and their lives. Jesus says: ‘If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is
There’s something less than human about a lack of humour better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into Hell’ (Matthew 5:29 New International Version). ‘When Jesus says “If your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out”, he doesn’t mean that you should gouge out your eye, but he does mean that you don’t want to go to Hell. He’s halfjoking. Hyperbole only works if it’s based on truth.’
James Cary
In James’s eyes, laughing does not imply disbelief. Rather, humour works when it reflects a truth. It’s why he sees humour in some of the things that Jesus did. ‘We don’t laugh at it to imply that it is not true; we laugh at it being unexpected,’ he says. Referring to Jesus’ ascension into Heaven after his resurrection, James
13 July 2019 • WAR CRY • INTERVIEW 11
L AU G H says: ‘It has always struck me as a funny scene, because Jesus hovers off the ground, and then he just keeps going up. ‘Jesus was blessing his disciples, so they would have had their heads down. Then they looked up and looked around and were left wondering: “Where’s Jesus?” That’s not how they thought it would end! ‘If I find it humorous, I’m not saying that Christians are silly for believing that Jesus ascended into Heaven. I’m saying: Can you imagine being there when Jesus says, “OK, I’m out of here”? ‘And once you’re open to the humour, you start to see it more.’ Some of the Bible’s funny moments are not so light-hearted, says James. He points to the story of Job, a morally upright man who has had his children and all his possessions taken from him – and, at the same time, is being blamed by his friends for his own suffering. His wife tells him to curse God, but he refuses. ‘Job sticks to his guns,’ James explains. ‘But the moment he slightly steps away from his guns, God shows
up. And God starts being sarcastic, asking, “Where were you at the start of the world? Hands up who was there at the beginning of the universe. Are you able to make it hail, Job? How’s that going for you?” ‘It doesn’t get much darker than that comedically. It’s unrealistic and unbiblical to expect comedy to be the equivalent of good news stories. I’m arguing for a broader view of culture, of what comedy is. The Bible is full of stories, teachings, proverbs and letters that can be funny, surprising and give you plenty to think about.’ The truth, it seems, can be uncomfortable. ‘People tend to be upset by what comedians have said, not because it is false or made up,’ James says. ‘The problem is that comedians are funny about things that are actually true. ‘Jokes have never seemed to have had higher stakes or be more dangerous than they are now. They can get you fired, disgraced, publicly humiliated or killed. So it felt like the right time to write the book.’ For James, truth is key. He finds it integral to comedy. He also continues
Comedians are funny about things that are actually true to pursue it when it comes to matters of faith. ‘I’ve been a Christian since I was about 11 years old,’ he says. ‘Back then, I thought if Christianity isn’t true, I suspect it will come up at some point. My views haven’t changed substantially, but they always need testing. I need to keep on asking: Is it true?’
l The Sacred Art of Joking is published by SPCK
12 INNER LIFE • WAR CRY • 13 July 2019
Prayerlink YOUR prayers are requested for Peter, who has lung cancer; and for Debbie, who is concerned for the people around her. The War Cry invites readers to send in requests for prayer, including the first names of individuals and details of their circumstances. Send your requests to Prayerlink, War Cry, 101 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6BN. Mark your envelope ‘Confidential’.
Becoming a Christian There is no set formula to becoming a Christian, but many people have found saying this prayer to be a helpful first step to a relationship with God Lord Jesus Christ, I am truly sorry for the things I have done wrong in my life. Please forgive me. I now turn from everything that I know is wrong. Thank you that you died on the cross for me so that I could be forgiven and set free. Thank you that you offer me forgiveness and the gift of your Holy Spirit. Please come into my life by your Holy Spirit to be with me for ever. Thank you, Lord Jesus. Amen Extract from Why Jesus? by Nicky Gumbel published by Alpha International, 2011. Used by kind permission of Alpha International
Ezekiel
Nigel Bovey gives chapter and verse on each book in the Scriptures
ZEKIEL was one of the first wave E of people taken into exile in Babylon along with Judah’s King Jehoiachin. Five
years into captivity, God called him to be a prophet. For the next 20 years, Ezekiel uses charades, object lessons, allegories and the recounting of symbolic visions, as he speaks to God’s rebellious people. Despite their downfall, the people of Judah (referred to in the book as ‘Israel’) are still refusing to acknowledge their wrongdoing. With the capital, Jerusalem, still under siege, Ezekiel builds a model of the city and lies beside it for more than a year (see chapter 4). Rather like the prophet Jeremiah back in Judah, Ezekiel says that God’s judgment has come because the city’s inhabitants rejected God’s laws (5:6) and allowed idolatry in the Temple (chapter 8). He adds more details to the charge sheet in chapter 22, where he points out people’s contempt for their parents, their oppression of foreigners and their ill treatment of widows and orphans. After a series of pronouncements against neighbouring nations, Ezekiel hears that Jerusalem has fallen (33:21), and the direction of his message changes from past events to future possibilities. If the first part of the book was forth-telling, much of what follows might be regarded as foretelling. Through a vision of dry bones being connected together and coming to life, God tells Ezekiel that he will resurrect Israel. The divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah will be reunited (chapter 37).
Ezekiel receives a vision of a new Temple to replace the glorious one built by King Solomon, which has now been destroyed (chapters 40 to 44). From this Temple, God’s river of life will flow (chapter 47). Religious
He has a vision of dry bones being connected together observance will be reinstituted (chapters 45 and 46). Jerusalem’s walls will be rebuilt and all 12 tribes of Israel (including the ‘lost tribes’ defeated by Assyria) will repopulate the land (chapter 48). The future, though, is not all sweetness and light. Ezekiel foresees a major conflict for the people. A confederate force from the north, south and east will attack (38:5). A bloodbath will follow, but Israel will win (chapters 38 and 39). As with much prophecy, interpretations vary as to whether the message is to be taken literally or figuratively, whether or not it has been fulfilled and, if not, when it will be. Some commentators see this as the apocalyptic battle of Armageddon that will herald the return of Jesus Christ.
Key verse
u and ‘I will put my Spirit in yo :14 you will live’ (Ezekiel 37 on) rsi New International Ve
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