Hallowe'en Excuse

The argument of hallowe’en being a bit of innocent fun for children, or an evil, satanic, devilish adult festival goes on in the Christian mind, and always will. There are good reasons for both protecting childish innocence, and exposing the work of satan in our society.

Let me broaden the thought to include a part right in the centre of these two extremes. As a user of social media I have seen many images which would verge on the immoral and immodest, and if you use these platform you will have seen them too. This is an occasion used and abused usually by teenage girls to dress in such a way to appear a bit of hallowe’en fun, but also a way to dress provocatively for their own selfies.

Necklines are way down, hemlines way up to the point you wonder if the aim is for them to meet in the middle. Am I exaggerating? I don’t think so. As a Christian parent and grandparent, I confess to being particularly worried at this time of year. While young girls are literally ‘dressing down’, there is an element of equally aged boys who will see these girls and (right or wrong) take them to be promiscuous and easy prey. Oh I know the arguments from both sides. Girls have a right to dress how they like, and boys have a right to behave how they like too. In a few years time these same young people will grow up, and have a family of their own. My prayer is that there will be no regrets carried into that new life, and that applies to the boys as well as the girls.

For these reasons I cannot wish you a Happy Hallowe’en, but that common sense and God will protect vulnerable girls during this hunting season. It may sound boring right now, but these words are truth at any age:

Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing. I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety. 1 Timothy 2:8-10

Tru-lary. The Solution?

I admit it. It’s my own fault. I watched the debates, all three. Since they were aired in the middle of my night, I recorded them and watched the next day. You would have thought one would have been enough, but no, I had to watch all three. It was like seeing a car crash or a train wreck. I didn’t want to see any more, but I watched anyway. I couldn’t help myself, and I am asking why, now that we are down to a few days before the USA Presidential Election. Mind you ‘Presidential’ is one thing neither of these candidates are, but one of them will become President, but neither has behaved in a ‘Presidential’ manner, and as an outsider with no vested interest, that worries me.

I have, and still do, enjoy a good relationship with our American cousins. As a family we had the pleasure to live and work in various parts of the great nation, staying a year or more at a time, over five separate visits and three different States. I found the country, and its people equally kind hearted, friendly, and sincere. Imagine my shock to have followed this election and see the nasty side, not just of politicians, but of ordinary people, some whom claim to be Christian.

Are these two candidates the best this great nation can muster? Let me be clear, we can’t blame the candidates for being where they are. That is down to the voting that took place person by person, State by State to whittle down many starters to the two now left to finish the race. I think that is what surprised me most. The bad blood, rancour, lies, half truths, arrogance, bullying, infantile tantrums, closed mind tactics by the leaders and their followers who will support them in just about anything they say is what got to me most. I am reminded of the truth of these verses by David in Psalm 36:2-4 (NIV):

“In their own eyes they flatter themselves too much to detect or hate their sin. The words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful; they fail to act wisely or do good. Even on their beds they plot evil; they commit themselves to a sinful course and do not reject what is wrong.”

The Journey - Walking Group

A good way to walk or climb is to do it as a group. That way you get physical, emotional, and moral support from others who may be just like you, fit and healthy, and with a good positive outlook that you will make it to the destination safely. In a strange way when groups walk together, it has been shown that everybody feels less tired than if they had made the same climb alone! That is even more significant and true for those who are not seasoned walkers.

In a group walk there is always a leader. Someone who has been this way before you and is prepared to take a pace that suits even the slowest walker. This leader will know each person, their strengths and weaknesses, both physically and emotionally. Are they all up to the task?

In our faith walk, it is not difficult to see the parallels of the church and its pastor. I am also reminded of the shepherd in the parable of the lost sheep. The shepherd’s voice is known to the sheep, and more importantly, the shepherd KNOWS his sheep, even by name. I get the image of some sheep gathered in small groups, and even in a certain part of the sheepfold. The shepherd knows where each sheep is. It is important to understand that he also knew there were 100, and one was lost. How else would he know that one had strayed except he knew the total number in his care?

If we accept the role of the pastor as a shepherd (after all, that is the meaning of the word) he will know each and every person in his care. He will know their names, who they associate with, and where they live, or am I taking the analogy too far? However, there can be no doubt that the role of the leader/shepherd/pastor is crucial to group success in reaching their goal.

For where two or three are gathered in My name [meeting together as My followers], I am there among them. Matthew 18:20

We must not quit meeting together, as some are doing. No, we need to keep on encouraging each other. Hebrews 10:25

Discernment With Love

We can always do the ‘discernment’ bit and sometimes all too easily, but what about the ‘love’ part? In the world we are encouraged to ‘give the benefit of the doubt’ and I agree with that sentiment. Our laws even bear this out because we are ‘innocent until proven guilty’. Why then do we as Christians have a problem when we deal with others in the church?

The more we read the Bible as the Word of God, the more we realise how little we know or understand. The truth is, at the start of our faith journey, sometimes we have it all together, and know all the answers. Oh we don’t say that, but we act like it. I suppose it is easier to stand on top of the moral high ground and point down, than it is to get down with the same folks we criticise and be the Godly example they might need and want to see.

Discernment is a God given gift of the Spirit, not given to all, and should not be used lightly or abused. Worse still it should not be practiced by someone who has not been granted that gift directly from God. On the other side of the coin we have love, and let’s face it, we are all encouraged and able to show love. Love to other Christians and those we like to be around, but also to those we don’t like, and wouldn’t have as a friend normally. So, which is better? To show a misplaced knowledge of discernment, or to show love to all of God’s creation? The moral of this is that it isn’t always right or good to take the easy option.

….for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 5:13,14

….bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Colossians 3:13-15

The Journey - Starting Out

We all have to start our journey somewhere, and at a time of our choosing if we want to make the best of it. Don’t misunderstand me, we are all on a journey, but sometimes there comes a point when we make a conscious and deliberate effort to change course for the better, or at least recognise the course you have set until now has to be put right, and now you have started out on your true journey.

There was a time when I loved to go hill walking. Nothing severe, just a Corbett, or maybe a slow Munro, but preparation was made before we got to the foot of the hill. What was the weather going to be like? Were the boots still fit for the job? Did I have the map and compass in the backpack, and while I was at it, were the batteries in the torch still ok? What about the whistle should we need to attract attention in the unplanned event of an emergency. Could we complete the walk or climb in daylight? There are so many things to consider.

How much more then should we pay attention to the Spiritual journey we are all on. Oh, you may not claim to be religious, but I have been to so many funerals recently to realise that some journeys do not end well. We must prepare, and prepare like it matters. What then do we check into our heavenly backpack? How about some Bible memory verses? A lot of prayer. A warm smile and a positive disposition, after all who would want to journey with a grouch? Some good advice would be great, especially from someone who had been ‘on the way’ a lot longer, and could tell you the pitfalls, and the places to avoid. The greatest thing you can pack is a great big dollop of love. Love for fellow travellers, and even those who will be watching as you set off. It also helps if you pack a healthy respect or fear of the unknowns which you will undoubtedly face. In short, you need understanding and wisdom.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. Proverbs 9:10  

The Journey - Mystery Tour

Have you ever wondered where your life is heading, or why a particularly unfair thing has happened to you, or someone close? If not, you are unique. Everyone I know at some point has found their journey impossible to figure out, and right then, at that time, we sink in despair with our head in our hands. It can look different when we look back. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but as you know, hindsight can only be valuable afterwards.

When I was younger, coach companies would organise ‘Mystery Tours’. These were great, because you didn’t know where you were going, but you did know you would be back home for tea time! It was safe, and exciting because everybody on the coach was in the same situation. Many a youth group would arrange a mystery tour, because it could be exciting and you might even get to sit close to, or beside your favourite girl.

We are in a slightly different place as a people of faith. This time we do know our destination, but we don’t know how we will get there. What route will life take us? In fact what happy and sad things will take place along the way? Will these things change us in a way that we become a different person? Maybe so. In fact, I would suggest, almost certainly so. A wise man once said, “It’s not what happens to us that makes us change for the better. It is how we react to them”. Wise words. This mystery tour can make us bitter, or better and it all depends on how we handle the unknowns.

When we are on our own mystery tour, it is important that we don’t judge the journey until we near our destination. You might not know where you are going, but keep in mind that God the Divine Driver does!

Thomas said, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me. John 14:5,6

Life IS a Journey!

Time passes surely and steadily with every birthday and anniversary, so in keeping with the title of this blog, I thought it would be a good thing to remind ourselves of the journey ahead that we all face. Our hopes, dreams, and chosen paths are different, but we are all on a journey whether we like it or not. In the months to come, let’s have a look at some of the highs and lows of this trip which we all face, and if you want to comment about your own experiences, you can do this on the parent blog page.

There is not a day goes by that you will not be faced with a decision which will affect the remainder of that day, perhaps the week, or indeed even longer. We must be careful then as we travel and interact with others who are on their own personal journey because there is an element of choice in the travelling we do. For some, it is a casual but healthy, non risk, walking exercise, but for others it will be like scaling a mountain. There are many types of journey in between these extremes, and I hope we can look at some of these through a spiritual lens.

If you read the Gospels you will soon realise that Jesus was on a journey for all of His 33 years while He was in an earthly body. He suffered many things, physical and emotional, and came out on top with the greatest miracle of all time. He defeated satan and death, and that is our total encouragement as we travel this life. So, let’s see what we can discover. Stay with me, and follow along as we explore that fact that “Life IS a Journey”!

He [Jesus] said to them, “When you travel, don’t take a walking stick. Also, don’t carry a bag, food, or money. Take for your trip only the clothes you are wearing. Luke 9:3

The Fallen Mighty

The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen! Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. 2 Samuel 1:19,20

Perhaps like me, you watched the bitter and acrimonious exchanges between the best candidates for the highest post in the world, the presidency of the United States of America. As I watched, I couldn’t help but think of the Scripture verse quoted because the situation is just the same. The Bible also warns us that “The heart is deceitful above all things” Jeremiah 17:9, and this is another fine example of deceit at its best (or maybe that should be ‘worst’).

I have witnessed playground disagreements carried out in a better way, and not by trading insult upon insult, which reduces a 90 minute debate to a 20 minute display of questionable factual information. For my part, I can only hope and pray that the ‘Commander in Chief’ of the USA is not Donald Trump. I have never seen anyone at such a high level behave so badly, where everything he has done and said is denied, even in the face of clear evidence.

Please do not misunderstand me, all political candidates will avoid the whole truth, and only give you the part that shows them up in a good light, but I was struck by the petty, repetitive, childish, inconsiderate, misleading rhetoric pushed on an audience who deserve better. I will go one step further, if the electorate vote for Trump as President, they deserve each other and the world will watch with fear. In our verse, David was embarrassed and lamented over Saul and Jonathan. He didn’t want his nation’s enemies to gloat over this great fall and failing. How much more should America mourn the passing of their greatness in the eyes of God and their friends!

Tough Love?

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8

The word ‘love’ crops up time and again in the New Testament, and like every other Christian, I am drawn the word because it speaks directly about God’s love as the prime example we should follow. The world would be a better place, with a lot less strife, if we took this message to heart.

The apostle suggests that loving each other ‘deeply’ covers over many sins. What a gracious God we have that He loves us deeply enough to forgive our sins by covering them over. I think we should love our God, but we need to love our neighbour deeply too. We are not able to cover their sins because only our Saviour can do that, but we are able to point the way!

You will be hard pressed to find the concept of ‘tough love’ in Scripture, but you will find many references to deep, unconditional love as exemplified by Jesus, His apostles and disciples. Nowhere is love stressed more than in the family home, whether between parent and child, or spouse to spouse. We are warned by Paul that we cannot abuse, or take love for granted and he singles out the family home as a very needy area of conflict. My question is, “are we up to it?”

Children, always obey your parents, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart. Colossians 3:20,21