Brains or Brawn?

...man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”                 1 Samuel 16:7 ESV

Brian always took a lot of teasing and ribbing, even as far back as Primary school, but it had now followed him into the workplace, and he couldn’t shake it off. Names like ‘titch’, ‘tiny’, and ‘shorty’ were all he had known, and although he didn’t like it, what could he do? The growing phase of life was over he thought, so he would stay short, and he didn’t relish the prospect. A girl would be happy to be called petite, but there is no equivalent name for a boy. Brian was well liked at work, and had some friends, but it is no surprise that for no real reason he also felt small inside, and he couldn’t shake that off. He was seen as insignificant, and that is how he saw himself too.

He cast his mind back to those social dancing lessons at school. How he always hoped the ground would open up and swallow him. After all, what girl wanted to be seen dancing with a boy her own height or even smaller? That had left an indellible stain on his heart, and persisted into adulthood. They didn’t want to dance with him years before, so what would be different now? The result was isolation and loneliness.

During a normal work day, the fire alarm rang. It was the first Monday of the month so that was always a drill, but something struck Brian as different. Then a manager shouted at the top of his lungs, “Fire, Fire, get out into the assembly point” and at that, it was every man for himself. As he started to make his way to the nearest exit, he heard a cry but couldn’t see anyone because the smoke was becoming thick, but there it was again. By now, Brian was in the office area alone. Well, alone except for the person crying for help. By following the sound, Brian found a secretary cowered in a corner, injured and frightened. All her pals had made for the door, leaving her behind. Oh, they figured, someone would come looking when the register was called, but the smoke was replaced by flames of fire that licked round about them. Without any hesitation, Brian scooped the girl up in his arms and fought his way through the heat and flames to the outside air, where he let the girl down, and then promptly collapsed. Being smaller than average, Brian’s lungs were not as able to cope in the smoky atmosphere. He knew this, but carried on at the expense of his own safety and health. The girl? Oh she recovered fully, and is now his wife, and a lovely couple they make too.

What made the difference to Brian? It wasn’t his quick thinking brain, and it certainly wasn’t his brawn. Turns out there is another factor in every relationship which is often overlooked, and it is the heart. It was his heart that pushed Brian through the smoke and flames. It was his heart that didn’t allow him to give up. He didn’t know who he was carrying to safety, but the character of his heart meant everything to the young girl he saved. And save her he did, because almost as soon as they were outside in the air, the mostly wooden two storey structure collapsed. Brian didn’t know it but he was saving his future wife’s life and all because he followed his heart.

I don’t know about you, but I am glad that our gracious God doesn’t look on the outside to make his mind up about us. He looks on the heart because that is a better gauge of the man or woman than height, weight, or intelligence. So, if you feel too small, too heavy, too dim witted to matter to anyone else, think of Brian, but mostly think that God loves you just the way you are. After all, He fashioned you and He doesn’t make any mistakes. You are perfect in His sight especially when your heart is right with Him. If you haven’t done so already, pray to God and confess your failings. He will continue to love you just the same, but I guarantee that you will now have the solid assurance that He loves you unconditionally, and that is the biggest heart decision you will make in your life.

Church?

On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money-changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, ‘Is it not written: “My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations”? But you have made it “a den of robbers”. Mark 11:15-17 NIV

What is church to you? What makes it church? You will have to answer those for yourself, but I have found myself asking these very same questions, and I’m not sure I like what I think. Theologians may differ in the fine thoughts of these verses, but everyone will agree that Jesus took the workings of His Temple seriously, both in the courtyard and the sanctuary.

Since Jesus, our example and Saviour, took His church so seriously, how should that make us think and act about our church? Or do we care? Do I care? Does it really matter as long as we make our building a welcoming space for visitors? Or sell tickets to promote special secular attractions in the belief that we are doing it for the Lord? Or hold special nights to bring in the unchurched to make them feel comfortable so that they might come back to the ‘real church’? And there lies the crux of the matter.

Jesus described His temple as ‘a house of prayer for all nations”. Shouldn’t we do the same, or is that considered outdated? I wonder what reasons and excuses the merchants made to salve their consciences to allow them not to feel guilty? After all, they were providing a much needed service. They made the courtyard look busy and some traders might do a special offer to entice customers back? Onlookers might even think the synagogue itself would be every bit as inviting and busy. Is it possible we do the same things today, after all human nature hasn’t changed since the days of Adam. We know that Jesus wasn’t impressed, and He hasn’t changed either, because “He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)

Church attendance in general is falling across every denomination. Some do better than others, so what’s the secret? Is it possible that the ones truest to the Gospel message are trusted to be the ones more Spiritually sound? The heart of any church is Jesus, and if the heart is lost, replaced or overtaken, the church loses out. Sure there are mega churches who play fast and loose with the Gospel, but we can’t seriously compare our growth with those who will preach a prosperity message which is not the true Gospel. My worry is that the church could become a sideshow instead of the main message. Paul warns Timothy very clearly that the Church can be changed from within, by trusted Godly preachers and teachers. I can’t ignore these verses and I admit they catch my attention:

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather round them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 2 Timothy 4:1-3 NIV

Faith or Works?

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Hebrews 11:6 ESV

But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. James 2:18 ESV

Slowly but surely some once thriving churches are moving the faith goalposts, perhaps in an effort to reverse the slow haemorrhage of members and adherents. The outcome, at least in appearance, is that the once dearly held foundation of salvation by faith alone, is being replaced, at least in part, by a gospel of works. It is therefore quite easy to convince folks that they are not doing enough for the Kingdom, and put them on an unnecessary guilt trip to do more.

This comes across in many ways, and always sounds good. But listen for the buzzwords. Words like ‘community’ (that’s a favourite), and ‘social’ which come into almost every sermon and message from the pulpit. I am the first to accept that works are important, and a necessary part of our Christian character, but… should works not be secondary to our salvation based on faith, first and foremost?

The natural end result of a works based church is a ‘social community’ of good people who have not necessarily fully accepted or seen the light of the gospel, and therefore are no different or better than the outsiders who would never darken the church doors. There are a multitude of non believers and atheists who do a lot of good works. Do we aspire to that model? The apostle Paul sums it all up nicely in these words:

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.                      Ephesians 2:8,9 ESV

Great Love

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.             John 15:13 NIV

The first that Dave knew something was very wrong was the double thud heard on the wooden framed outer doorway of the office where he was working on assignment in North Carolina. He was in regular communication via computer with his colleagues in Scotland, and although very unfamiliar with guns, he immediately recognised the sound of heavy gunfire and bullets which embedded themselves into the office doorway just a few feet from where he was sitting. There was a thin internal wall separating him from one of the production lines. Very quickly, Dave and many others were escorted outside to safety by armed security and told to ‘get down’ which they did.

Roll back a few minutes and an ex-employee had entered the production line unofficially through a loading bay, armed with an automatic rifle, handgun, and a large belt of ammunition. He was hunting for his old manageress with the intention of killing her for firing him due to his erratic behaviour. Unknown to him, she was out that day. The other men and women on that production line knew how unpredictable this man could be, but step forward the hero of the piece. A young family man, who was a lay preacher, and a former friend, he stood between the gunman and any possible intended victim. He tried to reason with the unreasonable, and it didn’t have any effect. Instead, at point blank range, this young man paid the price with his life by defending the other folks who could also have been a target, and died immediately. The gunman fled and was captured some miles down the highway after another shootout.

Dave never got to know the name of the hero who paid the ultimate price that day, but every single person on that production line felt they owed their life to him. He died on their behalf, and had done nothing wrong. His motives and actions were pure and clean. Remind you of anyone else? It should.

Another hero many centuries earlier had laid His life down for His friends, and not just a few, but for everyone who asks for His saving grace. Jesus died just as sure as the unnamed hero that Dave never met. He was a Christian who lived and died confessing his faith to a man who possibly didn’t deserve any help or mercy, but was granted it by another friend who decided to put his life on the line, to give his friend a second chance. It failed. How like the Saviour of the world who even now stands between us and a lost eternity, and yet so many still reject His pleading, but yet His word is as true today as it was when it is recorded: Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your heart. Hebrews 3:15 NIV, but we must also always remember the promise of our ever loving Saviour Jesus who declares: And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Acts 2:21 NIV. How can we remain unsure and undecided knowing that we are loved that much? Maybe it’s time to take Him up on His offer of life, and that second chance we so desperately need.

Patience

My times are in your hands. Psalm 31:15a NIV

We’re not good at patience, are we? I know I’m not, and every time I think I am getting better, something else, something bigger, hits me and I get…. Well you know, impatient! If we believe that God is supreme, and everything including our future are in His hands, and nothing is left to chance, and we do, then why do we have to keep on learning the same lesson? I wonder if God gets impatient with our impatience? There must be times when He wonders if we will ever get past the infant stage and grow into adulthood as far as our faith is concerned.

Patience is a strange thing. You can see the lack of it in others so very easily, but we think we have it all together until the rubber hits the road, and we are tested. Let’s face it, we are tested often and that must be because we need it. How else will we ever learn to trust Him fully, and with everything? If it was all up to chance or luck, we could brush our impatience off with the feelings that we will never have to grow in patience. But God, who knows all, is supremely patient with His children.

It occurred to me again recently, just how much I like to be in control. In a personal matter I had it all figured out as if I didn’t need to have God in the picture anyway. Truth is, I didn’t think I needed Him. After all, this was one of those easy things I could figure out and do for myself. So why include, or even bother God? Doesn’t He have enough to be doing with more important people and bigger problems? Aren’t you glad that God thinks we are important enough for Him to care about those irritations which make us impatient? Deep down I am. What a great God we serve who leaves nothing to chance, and whose timing is always right.

Pride and Joy

Jimmy was a well liked man, who had an good job which he did well, a wife and family whom he loved, and they loved him right back. He lived by good principles, like not being in debt and only paying for something he could afford. Jimmy’s two small sons wanted for nothing, but at the same time they didn’t have many of the ‘extras’ their pals had. They didn’t mind because they had something much more valuable. Each other.

Jimmy’s place of work was some 20 miles from home, and he took the train week in and week out because they didn’t have a car. They couldn’t afford one and he wasn’t about to go into debt for one when the train was reliable. One particularly stormy morning his wife Mary started a conversation and sowed a seed in her husband’s mind. She suggested if they saved up slowly, maybe they could afford a small runaround used car, and that way she continued, you wouldn’t get soaked walking to the train station so often. The seed was sown and Jimmy thought about it all day at work. With his wife’s backing, and the excitement of his sons, they decided to pull together, to save money where they could, and in some months or a year down the road, they could be the proud owners of a real family car. Not a new car, but one that was all theirs!

Some months later, the big day arrived, and Jimmy had his prize possession in the form of a bright red mini. Next to his family, it was the apple of his eye, and having taken so long to get one, he took great care of his car. The family lived on the 12th floor of a high rise block of flats, and did not own a garage, so he could look out of his window to see that his car was still there. Of course it always was, but he didn’t like it when it rained and the car got wet. So he would rush down to the car park to dry off his car. After all, it could get rusty he reckoned. To further protect his investment, every week Jimmy was found washing and polishing his car. It was the brightest and shiniest example of automotive engineering you would ever find.

On one of the family’s regular car journeys into the very hilly Scottish countryside, the unthinkable happened. It was a perfect storm. With a loud bang, the car shuddered to a dramatic halt at the side of the road pouring smoke and steam into the air and fortunately everyone was safe. Mary was distressed, and the boys thought it was an adventure, but Jimmy was worried about the safety of his dear wife and sons. After calling the AA, they sat tight on the embankment a safe distance away from the lopsided, still smoking car, at the side of the road. It didn’t take long for roadside assistance to arrive and figure out what was wrong. Then came the embarrassing questions. “When was the last time you put air in your tyres?”, “When did you last check your oil level, and the fluid in the radiator?” Jimmy’s car was lovely to look at, but wasn’t healthy under the bonnet.

Jimmy’s problem, and possibly ours too, is that he never referred to the owner’s handbook. If he did, he would have avoided the perfect storm of a tyre blowout, low oil level, and little coolant in the radiator. I wonder which of life’s essential lessons we miss when we don’t consult the handbook we have to avoid those storms, or if we can’t avoid them, to be prepared for them! We have the freedom to own and read the Bible, but are we like Jimmy who made sure his car looked good, but he didn’t read the very book that would have helped keep him and his precious family eternally safe? Jimmy now reads his car manual, but it took a near disaster before he knew how important it was. How about us, and I include myself in this? Have we neglected the best and only set of instructions for this life on earth? Do we give the Bible the prominence it needs and deserves in our lives? We might not be able to avoid all those near disasters that life throws at us, but we can be better prepared for them. Our owner’s handbook shows how important it is to look after our interior in these words:

What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs—beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with ….all sorts of impurity. Matthew 23:27 NLT

Paying Attention

Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? Luke 15:4 NIV

The parable of the lost sheep is a favourite of mine, and a favourite for many others too. It wraps up the love and patience of Jesus in coming after His sheep if and when he or she strays. That’s clearly us, because we do tend to stray, and that’s why we love the story.

For the first time in many years of reading this story I noticed a part of the action of the Shepherd, which is not said, but is hidden in the text. What stands out to you? The thought of being carried home? The action of the Shepherd ‘going after’ His sheep? The fact that He felt confident enough to leave the other sheep without a Shepherd while He went looking? These are all amazing characteristics of our Shepherd Saviour, and how he loves us. But is something obvious being left unsaid?

Before He did any of the actions that a Shepherd would do for the sheep that were His responsibility, He must have noticed that something was wrong. He made regular counts and this time it brought home the truth that one was not there, so that’s why He went after it and did all He could to bring it back? I suggest it was because He cared for all the sheep, and so knew when one was missing. Think about that. Jesus cares for His sheep who are lost. He notices. The Shepherd pays attention to the one who is not there in His safekeeping.

Fast forward to our day and age. To a degree we are all shepherds with some responsibility to help bring lost sheep home where we can. We are not the Good Shepherd, but we can be good enough to notice, or care enough to act when we discover that someone is not out at church. But first, like Jesus the great Shepherd, we must care enough to notice. Only when we pay attention can we continue to do the other things described in the parable. May God help us all to pay more attention and care when it is needed!

A Certainty

...and be sure your sin will find you out. Numbers 32:23 ESV

Benjamin Franklin, said, “in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes” but let me add another certainty according to the Bible, and that is a source we can trust. Cast your mind back to your Sunday School days, and I am guessing one of the verses used a lot would be this one. Stories aimed at the younger mind would be told to emphasise the fact that we can’t hide from God and whatever sin we committed, that very sin would be our undoing. It was true then, and it stays true today.

We can bring it up to date, and right into our day and age. How about replacing the word ‘sin’ with your own failing? So the verse becomes, “..be sure your (???) will find you out.” All we have to do now is be truthful enough to add the sin that so easily trips us up (Hebrews 12:1) and prepare ourselves for the consequences.

The sins that trip us up aren’t always the big ones. With good living and good judgement we can usually avoid major sins, but what about the little foxes that ‘ruin everything’ (Solomon 2:15)? Pride that becomes an obsession? Opinion that turns into arrogance? Trust that becomes suspicion? A balanced lifestyle that changes into being a single sided, critical one? An all round knowledge that morphs into a know-it-all attitude? The list could go on, and you could add some of your own thoughts too.

The certainty of our sin finding us out, is surely followed by the certainty that others will see, and be affected by some of these little ‘foxes’ more than we know. But we can rise above this as we were taught all those years ago and deal with those ‘little sins’ before they grow into the off-putting big sins, by placing them on the altar and letting God deal with them, and in turn, with us. I fear there are more ‘little sins’ than we can ever know, and no one is exempt. That’s the certainty of the little sin catching every one of us out, and you can be sure it will!

What Chance?

Right on time, the ocean bound cruise ship, choc full of happy passengers, cast off from her moorings in the harbour and headed out to the open sea through the estuary. There were 10 glorious days ahead for the pleasure hungry occupants of every cabin and the merriment started right away, and even before they had entered the shipping lanes.

It was a good start for everyone, except Billy. He got a bit merry too fast, leant on the safety rail just a little too hard, and being a very tall specimen there was nothing to stop his headlong fall overboard into the angry waves below. Fortunately Billy’s pals saw what happened and the cry “man overboard” went ringing through the ship and into the captain’s ears. The captain was a man of much experience, and many successful voyages behind him. This was the last thing he needed, and anyway what were the chances of bringing him out alive? Served him right. He should have known better than to get so drunk so early. They had just left port after all and I have another 2,000 well behaved passengers to think about. So, weighing it all up the Captain decided to just keep on sailing. What? Of course he didn’t. What a crazy idea, after all every life counts, no matter the state they get into.

Happily, the captain turns the mighty liner around and lifeboats deployed. Before too long Billy was found clinging on to nothing but dear life. He thanks the crew of the lifeboat for pulling him to safety, he thanks the staff waiting to get him inside to dry off. He thanks the doctor for making sure he was ok. He even makes his way to the bridge and personally thanks the captain, but although he doesn’t know any of them, he is grateful for life. His life. Then to top it all off, the captain and crew arrange a special feast to celebrate being able to save Billy.

So it is with you and Jesus. When you stray away from the fold, He will do everything in His power to get you back. Once He finds you cold and tired, He lifts you onto His shoulders and carries you to safety inside the sheepfold where you belong. The load becomes His, not yours. It will come as no surprise that there is much rejoicing in heaven on the return of every single sinner who returns. In the words of the old gospel song, “Oh what a Saviour!”

And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbours, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’                Luke 14:6 ESV

No One Saw!

Tom had his 14th birthday the week before, so he was already a young and responsible teen, trusted by his mum and dad, and almost revered by his 12 year old sister Mary. It was only two years, but Mary thought they were massive. Her brother could do no wrong and was good at pretty much anything. Imagine their surprise and delight when mum and dad asked Tom to look after Mary for the evening because they had a special church meeting to go to, and anyway, Tom was responsible and a good boy who could be trusted with the care of Mary for the evening until mum and dad came home just a couple of hours later. Just one thing they asked of them both. Look after each other and stay out of trouble. It’s a nice night, so if you want to go out, stay close to home. Promise? Dutifully, they promised.

The adults had hardly left the house when Mary and Tom had an idea. The same idea. They even thought like each other, that is how close they were. Mary made those big wide eyes and said, “remember the cove that we always go on a picnic with mum and dad? How about we go there for an hour, and come home in plenty of time before mum and dad get back”, she gushed. It was out in one long breath, and Tom liked the plan too. But they had been told to stay close to home. The cove was only a 5 minute walk from their house on the cliff walkway. Mary continued, by assuring Tom that she would behave, and not leave his side, and do everything he said. That sealed it for Tom, so gathering a few treats to eat, they left and had a great time. They loved this cove because it was always quiet, and once again they had the sandy beach all to themselves. And they got home before mum and dad. Result!!

No one was any the wiser, and I mean no one. The days passed into weeks, and about a month later after dinner, while still sat at the table, dad asked Tom, if he remembered looking after his wee sister for the evening? Of course he remembered. How could he forget because it all went so well to plan. Dad continued…. “You stayed in the street, right? Not too far from the house, right? You made a promise, remember?” By this time both Tom and Mary were almost squirming in their seats, but no one was there. No one saw them. It was impossible to be caught out, so they both agreed that they had stayed close to home as they had said. Just about then, mum’s smile faded as she placed a glossy magazine on the table. It was one of those tourist monthly publications. That was all. Panic over. In complete silence mum flicked through some pages and stopped at a lovely full page image of one of the favourite places to visit that tourists liked. She slid the folded open glossy across the table where both of the kids could see it. Blue skies. Small shallow waves lapping on the sandy shore, and there enjoying the sunset were two figures sitting with a picnic. It was a really nice photo, and the photographer must have had one of those expensive, long, telephoto lenses because you could easily make out the faces of Tom and Mary. “Oh no” they gasped in unison. They had been well and truly caught! Right there and then the truth just came tumbling out. Confessions were made, forgiveness was given, and trust was restored. One thing was certain though, they would never try that trick again.

The old Sunday School verse that the kids thought was just a Bible exercise which had no use or meaning, had tripped them up badly and in such a way they could never have imagined. But God sees our every movement and we cannot hide from Him. The Psalmist David knew this truth to his cost when he tried to hide his sin from God. There is no hiding place for us either!

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. Psalm 139:7,8

The Promise Finger

It was little Margie’s 6th birthday, and her mum had bought her a pretty dress, and arranged a party with some of her friends. It was a great evening, but lovely and sunny outside, so the kids asked Margie’s mum, almost as one voice, if they could go out and play hide and seek? They lived in a nice house which backed onto an open field which could be seen easily from the kitchen window, so the excited children raced out and took turns to be the seeker.

Since it was her birthday, the other kids decided to pretend they couldn’t find Margie, so that she could be the winner. As it happened, Margie had found a great spot under a bush where she was sure no one would find her and she was right because no one came looking. It soon came time for the party to finish, so when mum called, the children all went inside, but where was Margie? Mum was frantic. She had watched as best she could from the window, but her little girl was missing now. Everybody rushed out to search, and it was her mum who discovered the little sleeping beauty, still under the bush.

Mum scooped the still asleep Margie up in her arms, gave her a big hug and at that Margie wakened. The truth was it was a nice warm, sunny evening, and after all the cake and party games, Margie was pooped and so fell asleep right where she was. Mum and everyone else were relieved to say the least. When sleeping, Margie had wrapped the fingers of her right hand in a tight grip around the fourth ring finger on her left hand. Mum asked why?

“It’s simple Mum” Margie explained. My Sunday School teacher told us a good way to feel safe by holding the ring finger. Again, Mum asked why? Margie rolled her eyes as only a 6 year old can, and with a sigh explained that they were learning the 23rd Psalm and to remember the first line they were told to point to each finger in turn as they repeated, “The Lord is my Shepherd”. Five words Mum. Five fingers, one for each word and when we need to feel safe and secure we have to hold our ring finger. “Did you know that the ring finger is the promise finger too” as though Margie was telling her Mum something she didn’t know.

The child got it right. When we need the safety and security that only God can give, let’s remember the promise that Margie learned. The Lord is MY Shepherd. If you have to squeeze that finger as a reminder, then do it. Every married couple know that the ring on that finger is a promise of love, safety and security. Margie learned that lesson aged 6, but sadly sometimes it can take ‘older and wiser’ adults a lot longer!

The Bully

God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 ESV

Sam was always a problem through Primary School, and now into 2nd year of High School nothing had changed. Most of his classmates had come through the school system with him so they knew Sam well, and for that reason he was avoided like the plague. For some reason I seemed to be his primary target and I didn’t know why.

It was during a class field trip that it happened. No one wanted to walk with him as we trekked over the Scottish hillside, so Sam was left at the back of the bunch on his own. We were walking along a narrow, but easily passable and safe path with a steep hill on one side, and an equally steep drop on the other. Sam was messing around trying to make his presence heard as usual, but no one was paying attention. Then he slipped and fell, rolling down the steep grassy slope, his fall only stopped by a large boulder some 20 feet below.

The rest of the class quickly formed a human chain, linked by each hand to get Sam on his feet, and so helped him clamber up the slope to safety. The teacher was impressed, and quite honestly, we were too. He was a bully. No one like him. He was his own worst enemy, and got along with no one. That seemed to make the class action more significant in Sam’s mind. “Whose idea was that?” he asked. At first no one owned up, and then one of the class turned and pointed at me. Yes, it was my idea. In spite of all the horrible things he had said and done to me. I couldn’t see him in pain or danger so I hurriedly arranged to form the human chain, and held the ground at the top as an anchor where he couldn’t see me.

As a direct result of that action, Sam and I formed a close bond of friendship which lasts to this day. It turned out that Sam’s home life was not a happy one, and he was a very unhappy boy who took his frustration out in the only way he knew because he saw it at home.

I wonder what God saw in us when He knew how bad and sinful we were? We gave Him no time, and no reason for Him to like us, but He didn’t push back. He loved us enough to do the only thing that would work. He took our messed up lives to the cross where they were sacrificed along with Him, the one who had never sinned. By dying in our place, He showed us the greatest love that He could and we would ever know.

The question left hanging in the air is, “what will we do about this Jesus?” Will we continue to ignore Him, or form a link straight to the one who not only saved us, but died for us? Either way the choice is ours. There is no third way.

Casting and Caring

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 NIV

The apostle Peter knew a thing or two about failing, and yet being forgiven. He denied Jesus, not once, but three times, and in front of a servant girl. How humiliating and embarrassing for the one who was the loud mouthed firebrand of the twelve. Then came the time for proof of his allegiance. Jesus asked Peter, not once, but three times “do you love Me?” Was that once for each denial? We don’t know for sure, but Peter’s confirmation of his love for the Master said it all when he uttered the words, “You KNOW that I love you”. Peter was forgiven, and given work to do when Jesus said, “Feed my sheep”.

I can only imagine that Peter threw himself on the mercy of his Master, because he had seen that same forgiveness shown time and time again to the sinners who also knew that Jesus was their only hope. We tend to emphasise the first part of this verse because that’s our responsibility. We must cast ourselves on Him, or to put it another way, we fall at His feet in the full knowledge of our sin and wrongdoing. In that respect, Peter was no different from the biggest sinner who came to Jesus.

But why would anyone do that? After all, humanly speaking we could be sent packing with a flea in our ear! However, deep down, in the heart of each person who came to Jesus, there must have been a recognition that He would not turn them away. I go back to the question why? The latter part of the verse holds the key to our Saviour’s heart when Peter reminds us that “He cares for you”. Everything that Jesus did, and still does for man/woman, his chief creation, is because He cares. It’s that simple. That’s why we can come to Him with worries, cares, and our sin, in the full assurance that Jesus cares. No ifs, ands, or buts, He cares for us. So, when we come to Him in repentance, He will never turn His back on us. Who better to know this than the apostle Peter. His words ring as true now as they ever did.

We do the care casting, but it’s Jesus who does the caring. I like that.

Lamp and Light

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105 NIV

How much light do we need on our path? Or let me ask that another way. How much light do you WANT on your path? That’s a whole different thing, isn’t it? When we see what is happening on the world stage, do we really want to know for sure how it will all work out? I’m not sure my nerves would hold out if the news is bad, I mean really bad, and let’s face it, that is possible bearing in mind our world leaders.

But we have a gracious God who will allow us to see that part of the path we are on. No more, and certainly not so much that we couldn’t handle it. Knowing the present is enough trouble for most us already. The worries and cares of this life affect us all, and none more so than health. We will know of those who are suffering badly, in fact we may be in that situation ourselves. We usually don’t want to know how it will all end and our God is protecting us by showing only that part of our journey we need to see.

The end of the path could be a few steps away, and yet it might be a long time unfolding. The burden and worry of those possibly tough years ahead is something we don’t need to have on our minds. God knows this and provides the best answer for His children. The old song sums it up as the world sees it:

One day at a time sweet Jesus, That's all I'm asking from you.
Just give me the strength, To do everyday what I have to do.
Yesterday's gone sweet Jesus, And tomorrow may never be mine.
Lord help me today, show me the way, One day at a time.

But I think Jesus puts it best when He shows His love for us in this verse:

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34 NIV

Defend and Protect

Dear friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people.           Jude 3

Jude, the half brother of Jesus changed his mind concerning the subject he wanted to convey. He wanted to write and encourage his readers in their salvation, and that is a noble and wise subject, but now he wants them to defend it because it is under attack. Even in the days of the early church there were those who attacked it.

But who is the small book of Jude written to? Strangely, it is the church of his day and that means only one thing. The people who needed to start defending the faith are the very people who were already in the churches, some of whom were the problem. Ouch. So let me get this right, the biggest problem back then, and even now in our day, are those ‘loosely’ worshipping in the same church as the defenders of that same faith. All we need to do is figure out which is which and where we stand. Not as easy as it looks, and doing anything about it would certainly ruffle a few feathers.

Tell you what. Let’s pretend we didn’t come across this verse, and just ignore it. After all, who would know? Somebody might think we are part of the problem and we can’t be having that! I don’t like it when the Bible talks to me like that. Well, do you?

Famine and Hunger

Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord God, when I will send a famine on the land— not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. Amos 8:11

Living in our prosperous country, it is difficult to imagine hunger, and even worse, a famine. We see the images of starving and dying children in war torn third world countries, but we still can’t relate, because we have never been hungry ourselves. Oh we say the words, “I’m starving” so easily and flippantly, but this does not treat the subject with the importance it needs and deserves.

Amos is considered to be one of the ‘minor prophets’, and we tend to skip past the small book in the Old Testament, and possibly even ignore his warnings. I think we do this at our peril. We often talk and discuss the fact that our churches are slowly becoming empty, merging, and even closing down altogether. According to Amos, the minor prophet, this is not the source of the problem.

In the same way that some poor countries are suffering a famine of food, we in our prosperous western ‘bubble’ are suffering a famine of hearing the words of the Lord as Amos said. How is this possible, I hear you ask? Our undisputed legacy that we call the Bible, is the word of God. Let me say that again. “The Bible is the Word of God”. Do we treat it as that? Do we see it as so important? How else do we hear from God?

How often do we read the Bible? How MUCH of it do we read at a time? I don’t know about you, but sometimes it is enough for me to read a nice cosy little verse which makes me feel good, and then I go into my day, or end it. We are living in the prophetic days of Amos where there is a famine of hearing the words of the Lord, and that is because we don’t care enough about the author. At the root of this symptom, is the reason our churches are dropping in attendance and membership. A point to finish. The verse says that it is God Himself who sends the famine of hearing the Word of the Lord. Israel had been given every chance to listen and feed on the Word, and they had satisfied their hunger elsewhere. This famine involved both leadership and people alike, and so it is today. Since God obviously takes our spiritual condition seriously, should we not do the same?

The Journey - Sheep and Lambs

It is a pleasant sight when you are on a hill, and into plain view comes a small flock of grazing sheep with their playful and carefree lambs gambolling beside their mother with not a care in the world. Sheep are not the wisest animals, and you could say they are stupid. They get lost easily if the fence has a gap. They get into danger when they stray beyond safe limits. They are easy prey to wild dogs, and humans with slaughter on their minds. Left to their own devices, sheep and lambs will wander in complete trust of their safety, and without knowing where they are going or if great danger is lurking nearby. They don’t know who to trust, or who will look after them.

Their safety is provided by the care and welfare of the shepherd. Their shepherd. The relationship is special and unique, so much so that in some eastern countries the shepherd will lead their flock, instead of driving them from behind with a dog. The comparison of the leading Shepherd of the sheep, to the local Pastor in your church is as obvious as it is important, after all it is no coincidence that the root meaning of the word ‘Pastor’ is ‘Shepherd’.

When we read the old favourite Psalm 23 in this light, we find that:

> The sheep and lambs are never in need while their Pastor is leading.

> The Pastor always takes his flock where the feeding is good.

> The Pastor always keeps his lambs on the safe paths, no matter how dark.

> The Pastor will not hesitate to protect his flock against any animal that could do harm.

> The Good Shepherd shows the end of our earthly journey, where we are loved, anointed, given an overflowing cup, seated at a well prepared table where we will be for eternity.

Are all earthly Shepherds good? Sadly no, but we are warned about them so that we, His sheep and lambs, could recognise the ones that would harm us. Jesus forewarned and forearmed his disciples with these words in Matthew 7:15: “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” The message is clear. Bad shepherds are dressed up to look like the good ones, but their hearts are deceptively cruel. The worst thing for my part, is that they know what they are doing. Deep down, they know fully. That’s why Jesus warned the disciples then, and He warns us again today, so that we can tell the difference and only follow the Good Shepherd. We must take care as we choose, after all Jesus tells us that the false shepherd will look and sound convincing. Don’t we love the Psalm beginning, “The Lord is MY Shepherd?” That says it all!

Over Qualified

“Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 18:10-14 NLT

Is it ever possible to be overqualified in the work of the Kingdom of God? This thought was in my mind recently, and wouldn’t go away easily. At first I focussed on the church leadership, not only of my own church but every denomination. But what about the good folks who turn up to praise and worship week after week? Are they qualified? At the end of the day, what makes any of us qualified at all?

In the Bible passage above, the pharisee is undoubtedly the qualified person in the story. The ‘sinner’ has no faith qualification recognised by their society, but Jesus said that it was he who was justified, and not the over-qualified and very educated, pharisee. Who’d have thought? But doesn’t this give you encouragement and pause for thought? It does me. Since Jesus is the true judge of all that’s right, and makes no mistakes, that means the Kingdom is not solely reserved for the university educated. Yes, most churches require their pastors to be educated to a minimum level before they are let loose on a congregation, but it is good to understand that the degree gained is not the entry pass into heaven. You and I can have that assurance too, as long as we behave like the sinner and ask God to be merciful to us!

Since we are all equally qualified, we are all part of the great commission because we are Jesus’ followers and it was Jesus who said: Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Mark 16:15 NLT. But, but… I hear you say, I am no good at talking to others, or reading and remembering things. I was no good in school and I’m no good now. Isn’t it amazing that Jesus thought of this too when He assures us: But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:26 NIV. So, there is no doubt about it, you and I are well qualified and not over-qualified. Let’s face it, who would want to be that pompous overqualified pharisee anyway?

WWJD

Remember the acronym WWJD from your early church and Sunday School days? It came to my mind recently, and my first reaction was a smile as I recalled the simplicity of the basic test of our actions and motives. It became a byword for the young aspiring Christian set, and years later I had cause to apply the test to some other opinions as expressed by some Christians.

When we are tempted to shout loud, shoot from the hip, or speak before putting our brain into gear, it would be advisable to apply the WWJD test. It’s not difficult to do, but the trouble is the answer can be patently obvious. When that’s the case, we already know that we won’t necessarily like the outcome.

The Bible is a book with lots of reading, and we can overthink things and get bogged down in a few of our favourite verses. You know, the chosen ones that tend to agree with our own opinion on any given subject. However, it helps to remember who the Bible is all about. From the prophecies in the Old Testament, to the outworking of the Holy Spirit in the early church, every page is a testimony to the arrival of the son of God on our earthly scene. Jesus is the pure expression of God’s love, and at the core of everything we believe, so shouldn’t we take notice of anything and everything that Jesus would say and do? Maybe the old Sunday School test of our younger days is good even now. I wonder, WWJD when it comes down to the shallow actions and opinionated decisions we make every now and again? We will be in a good place spiritually when others notice in our lives that WWID=WWJD, so let’s strive for that!

Love, Life and Grief

The greatest love people can show is to die for their friends. John 15:13 ERV

He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.                     2 Cor 1:4 NLT

We associate the words of Jesus about dying for our friends to be all about physical pain and death, but I would suggest there is another dimension which is equally important, evident and valid. We can also die inside, piece by piece, through emotional loss until we can become a shell of our former selves. Unless…..

I have the pleasure and honour to watch, first hand, love in action from the unlikeliest of sources, humanly speaking that is, and I am constantly humbled. It is bad enough when a health disaster hits a family, but when death and grieving happens on top of the ‘partial’ loss of a much loved spouse, how do the remainder of this family cope? The ones who remain to grieve and care seem to have an abundance of love in their hearts. So much so that they can give comfort to the one who needs it most, and only because they have already received a supernatural amount of comfort from the only one who can give it at a time like this. God.

Names are not important, and I know both of the men involved would not want that. You may know someone like this, or you may already recognise these good people. They don’t give love and care because they want the recognition, or to be noticed by their friends. No, they provide the comfort for a partly lost wife and mum, as well as the loss of a dear wife, for one reason, and one reason only. Love. They find it as natural as breathing, and it shows the heart of a loving God, living and working through them. How else can you explain it?

What happens behind that closed door may be another thing, but right where love and comfort are needed, they are freely given, without a thought of their own grief and pain. I consider it a privilege to have been counted as a friend down through many years, but most especially now. Have you ever noticed that the ones who hurt the most, also give the most? Ask anyone, but particularly think and pray for this husband and son. They know the answer. I pray that God will continue to grant the level of inner strength and peace necessary for them to continue to love and comfort for as long as they are needed. Will you join me in a loud amen?

Warnings

By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark… Hebrews 11:7a

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ. Philippians 1:9,10

Have you ever been in a situation when some kind of warning bell rings in your head, and at first you are not sure why? It can happen in the car while you are driving, causing you to take a different route, perhaps avoiding an accident? It can happen at a work event, or a family gathering where you are introduced to a new member, but very quickly, for some unknown reason you get the ‘feeling’ of unease? Or in a church setting, you meet up with a new member who claims to be a Christian, but their words and life give them away?

God works in mysterious ways, so the old phrase goes, and it is true. We cannot figure out His ways because they are above our understanding, so it should not come as a surprise to learn that this same God can protect and warn His children when something is not quite right.

Sad to say that this same protective warning can also be caused by the conduct and words of someone in national or local church leadership that we look up to. We can’t always put our finger on why this should be so, but it would be foolhardy to ignore it altogether. The warning is there for good reason, and the converse is also true. Someone could also get the same or similar warning bell from the example of our life, so it’s all the more important that we live openly and with integrity. No Christian wants to be a stumbling-block to anyone at any age!

The Journey - Change of Circumstance

There can come a point in your journey when you are faced with one of the hardest decisions you will have to make. For any of several reasons, you may feel a pressing need to turn back before reaching your intended summit or destination.

Perhaps the track or path got very steep and rocky and you didn’t have the right clothing or footwear. Maybe it would be tiredness, after all it seems you have been on this climb for ages. Or the recommended path isn’t the one you would have chosen, so there have been times to take a wee reroute before getting back on the main track. One of your travelling companions was not good company that day, and full of moans and complaints, but one thing that would always make you turn back is the turn of bad weather and you don’t have the proper clothing, will or stamina to work through it.

Our faith walk, which can also be a steep climb, sometimes may get too much and we feel like quitting and turning back. We find ourselves deliberately taking a detour to avoid the way that our conscience would recommend. No church is perfect, and we know that, but there are times when it gets a bit much keeping on track when your heart's not in it. The air around you, or spiritual atmosphere, has changed, perhaps in your opinion for the worse and it becomes harder and harder to keep going, so turning back would seem to be the better answer at least for the moment. That same summit is still our ultimate goal, but maybe with a different guide and climbing companions. Yes, it’s one of the hardest decisions you will ever have to make on your upward climb.

The Journey - Nearing the End

When the sight of the summit comes into view, perhaps as you climb over a hillock, you find yourself smiling and getting an inner strength to make the final push to the peak. You know it will be worth it, partly because of the effort you have put in already, and partly due to the fact that in spite of the sore feet and legs, the sense of accomplishment is very real. And at this point, any pain is forgotten, and you can only see the summit. You are not quite there yet.

Have you been in the room of someone who is at the final part of their life’s journey, but haven’t quite reached the end? My experience has shown that there are folks who have made up their mind to be the kind of pilgrim who have an assurance that God will say, “Well done good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of heaven”. Being in the presence of a saint going home is an experience never to be forgotten. Sadly, there are some others who do not have that same peace, and the end of the road is clouded, dark, and uncertain.

The kind of journey’s end you and I will face is the result of our own choices down the years we have been given, until we got to this point. I have known many people who never gave their ‘ending’ much thought while they had the time, and when time was running out, they panicked. A few made a good end, but most didn’t. How about you?

I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have served the Lord faithfully. Now, a prize is waiting for me—the crown that will show I am right with God. The Lord, the judge who judges rightly, will give it to me on that Day. Yes, he will give it to me and to everyone else who is eagerly looking forward to his coming. 2 Timothy 4:7,8

The Journey - The Fork

I well remember being on a hill walk with family, and the trek was long, winding, and steep but we were determined to reach the top where an amazing vista awaited us. But we were impatient. Right about then, we came across another small group of walkers and we got talking. Having told them our plans to keep to the path, they suggested strongly that we take the direct route up the very steep gradient. That way we wouldn’t have to walk so far, and we would get there quicker. We listened, and set off in good spirits straight up this climb because it was no longer a time consuming, long walk.

By the time we got to the summit, we were bruised, and very tired. In fact the joy of the journey had gone completely. Even the flask of hot tea didn’t help. The problem was that we took the advice of strangers, and went away from the recommended route on the map. Had we stayed on the narrow path, we would have arrived in better shape, and a lot happier.

When you come to a decision about which path to take in our faith walk, do we sometimes listen to the world’s unsafe advice and leave the recommended way? Or do we have the courage of our convictions to stay the course until the end. Then and only then can we enjoy the full rewards of the efforts made to complete the journey.

This is also true of our choice in accepting the words and example of Jesus, or taking the shortcut which leads away from the source of life. The choice is for each individual to make. No one is exempt. To avoid is the same as rejecting or saying no. So be careful when you come to each fork in the road and choose well.

“But maybe you don’t want to serve the Lord. You must choose for yourselves today. Today you must decide who you will serve. But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15

The Journey - Emergencies

You don’t want them, or even look for them, but emergencies can turn up and they are always unexpected. Let’s imagine you are out on a long walk in an isolated place, where there are very few people to interrupt your thoughts, except a good companion. The kind of person you can depend on in a serious situation. In your backpack, along with your sandwiches and bottle of juice, you had the foresight to tuck in a flashlight, a whistle, mobile phone, and a very basic first aid box with bandages and plasters etc.. And then it happens!

An emergency overtakes your easy conversation and puts itself in first place. Let’s imagine you have a serious fall and can’t get on your feet. Immediately, your friend steps in and calls the air ambulance fearing your leg may have a broken bone. After the expected how and where information, the emergency dispatcher is starting to ask personal questions like, has your friend suffered any broken bones before? Is he/she allergic to any drugs? Who should we contact? In the event of this being a false call out can you give a credit card number to charge the cost of the exercise? Now ask yourself, how well do you know, and trust your friend to have all these answers?

The Bible is clear in the difference between a friend and a close confidant, or brother. Who would you trust the most in a serious faith question or issue when it pops up out of the blue? Yes, there are friends, and good friends at that, but would you feel at ease in spilling your heart out to any of them? Possibly not, and that is not to undermine their friendship. Right then and there, you need someone closer. Our verse calls that person a ‘brother’, but it can also be a ‘sister’ in the Lord. Someone you trust completely, even with the embarrassing parts of your life as you need and ask for help. Friends will love you completely, and sometimes at a distance, but this brother or sister will be with you in adversity, or times of greatest trouble.

In life we need more than a map and compass. Sometimes we need a prayer partner. That is the main difference between a friend and a confidant. Make sure you know that all important difference because you may have to call on one, and you need to get the right person whether brother or sister!

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. Proverbs 17:17

The Journey - Fearful

Not all journeys are carefree. Take those who decide to cross a hot barren desert on foot? Or those who stretch themselves to their limits of endurance by swimming the channel? What about mountaineers who are always looking for the next challenge? Then there are the really crazy folks who go on an adventure headlong from bridge to valley by bungee jumping? In every one of these events there is an element of fear. Some greater than others, but the fear is there and that is what drives them on to greater risks.

Our faith journey is not always straightforward. There are times when we have to step out in a great act of faith the likes of which we have never thought possible before. A new job. Are we up to the challenge of our environment and will our testimony remain? Illness or disease takes hold, and the outlook is not good. Are we able for the unknowns which must lie ahead? Embarking on a marriage to someone you love dearly, but how can I measure up to the job spec of spouse, friend, homemaker, breadwinner, parent? I don’t know any newlywed who not only starts out excited, but also fearful because they have not walked this path before.

I am amazed at the number of times Jesus said to his disciples, “Fear not”. They needed it, and so we too need to hear it today. “Fear not” the illness, the new job, the role of husband or wife, I can hear Him say. Our heads know God is greater than our problems, but it needs to drop that all important and essential 10 inches into our heart.

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10