Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians6:7-9ESV
What is your idea of church? If you are older, and have been going to church for a number of years, you must have seen changes. I am guessing you accepted some, but held your nose with others mostly because church attendance was important to you, and it is Scriptural after all.
There are many denominations within the Reformed tradition, so if you were unhappy with the changing direction of your own doctrine and fellowship, what would you do?
What if church was viewed as a morning or evening out with friends? Or a way to have a nice time? Or to be entertained? Or a social event? Any kind of gradually reducing Spiritual content would then be taken as part of the territory and would be accepted as normal going forward.
A friend from a different denomination made a refreshing comment which warmed my heart. It wasn’t about the programs in his church, or the outreach, or the growth figures. No, he said simply, “all I know is that Jesus is my Saviour, my sins are forgiven, and I am bound for heaven.” I mean, who talks like that anymore? (said with my tongue firmly in my cheek). Seriously, shouldn’t our conversation with Christian friends be more like that, and not our football team, or our latest baking experience, a photo of our dinner plate, or even our latest diet? Just sayin’.
The aim is to provide a stimulating mix of personal opinions (from a mainstream Christian worldview), and associated comments, which will be accepted and published if they comply with the usual courtesy and decency.
Wednesday 31 October 2018
Tuesday 30 October 2018
Expectations
Whether we like it or not, we place our expectations on others whose life impacts us. We think they have a mark to reach to be true to the person we think they are. Let me expand that to the people they lead you to think they are! That’s a very different thing, isn’t it? There are jobs and professions that we instinctively know what to expect, and we are seldom, if ever, wrong. Doctors, nurses, police officers, and I’m sure you could add others. But these are professions. Trained professionals in fact. But what about a work or vocation that is spread across all kinds of people, young and old, experienced or not, man or woman?
The Christian is such a person, and we have our expectations in each of them, whether in the community, or other churches, or dare I say even our own church. While in mixed company, have you ever heard the words, “I never thought you….(fill the action yourself)”. It’s akin to suggesting that you are a hypocrite, and that is a word I dislike intensely.
You see, the truth is: As much as we place our expectations on others, those same ‘others’ are placing their own expectations on us. I suppose that’s a fair balance, but I still don’t like it. The bottom line is that I think we should be very careful about the measuring stick we use on our Christian brothers and sisters, because they could use that same stick to beat us up if we fall short of their expectations! How then do we ALL live up to the expectations placed on us? The short answer is that we don’t, because we can’t in our own strength. The apostle Paul gives us the answer when he wrote to the Christians at the growing church in Colossae.
We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord. Colossians1:9,10NIV
The Christian is such a person, and we have our expectations in each of them, whether in the community, or other churches, or dare I say even our own church. While in mixed company, have you ever heard the words, “I never thought you….(fill the action yourself)”. It’s akin to suggesting that you are a hypocrite, and that is a word I dislike intensely.
You see, the truth is: As much as we place our expectations on others, those same ‘others’ are placing their own expectations on us. I suppose that’s a fair balance, but I still don’t like it. The bottom line is that I think we should be very careful about the measuring stick we use on our Christian brothers and sisters, because they could use that same stick to beat us up if we fall short of their expectations! How then do we ALL live up to the expectations placed on us? The short answer is that we don’t, because we can’t in our own strength. The apostle Paul gives us the answer when he wrote to the Christians at the growing church in Colossae.
We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord. Colossians1:9,10NIV
Monday 29 October 2018
Royalty
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1Peter2:9NIV
It doesn’t get much better than this, does it? We are chosen, royal, a holy nation, special possession, declaring praises, into His light!! To get the full weight of this verse you have to read it more than once, and slowly to let it sink in.
When you wonder what God thinks of you, and the failings you have, consider this verse. When you have struggled and tripped up on the way, read this verse. When you doubt your salvation let that verse drip feed into your soul.
I have heard it said that if God had a fridge, He would have our photo on it. Certainly not scriptural, but it carries the sentiment well. God loves us completely, and the list of ways He loves us runs through this verse and the whole of Scripture like the lettering on a stick of Blackpool rock. All we have to do is believe, and trust in the same God who says them in His Word.
It doesn’t get much better than this, does it? We are chosen, royal, a holy nation, special possession, declaring praises, into His light!! To get the full weight of this verse you have to read it more than once, and slowly to let it sink in.
When you wonder what God thinks of you, and the failings you have, consider this verse. When you have struggled and tripped up on the way, read this verse. When you doubt your salvation let that verse drip feed into your soul.
I have heard it said that if God had a fridge, He would have our photo on it. Certainly not scriptural, but it carries the sentiment well. God loves us completely, and the list of ways He loves us runs through this verse and the whole of Scripture like the lettering on a stick of Blackpool rock. All we have to do is believe, and trust in the same God who says them in His Word.
Sunday 28 October 2018
One Hundred Years
‘The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.’ Numbers14:18NIV
Older folks, we have a great responsibility on our shoulders. There are a few verses which record the same thing, that our Great-Great Grandchildren’s society will pay the price for the sins of our generation, and since the average age of a generation is around 25 years, we will be well gone from this scene of time but our family will still be affected, and it will be our fault.
We cannot claim that this is an old testament ‘curse’ only. Take a look around the great nations who once were Christian in word and deed, and look at those same countries now. You will see that in the space of 100 years, so much has changed. For two examples, think of the UK and the USA, and look back those 4 generations. What a change in morality, and there can be no doubt that while they sowed the wind, we are reaping the whirlwind. So it will be four generations hence.
This is more a warning for each and every present generation, and less a punishment on our succeeding generations. They are solely and directly inheriting the mistakes (sins) of their ancestors. The children in 100 years time are not at fault, we are. They are innocent, and we are guilty of neglecting God and His Word. The Children of Israel did it time and again, but God was patient and kept taking them back when they repented. But the cycle repeated.
Although each individual at every generation has the freedom to repent and put God first, this truth still works. The general state of society will reflect the rejection of God at every generation until there is a revival and the ordinary man and woman comes to their senses and turns our god-less nations around. Lord, let is begin in our generation. With us. With me!
I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations.I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin.But I do not excuse the guilty.I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren;the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations.” Exodus34:7NLT
Older folks, we have a great responsibility on our shoulders. There are a few verses which record the same thing, that our Great-Great Grandchildren’s society will pay the price for the sins of our generation, and since the average age of a generation is around 25 years, we will be well gone from this scene of time but our family will still be affected, and it will be our fault.
We cannot claim that this is an old testament ‘curse’ only. Take a look around the great nations who once were Christian in word and deed, and look at those same countries now. You will see that in the space of 100 years, so much has changed. For two examples, think of the UK and the USA, and look back those 4 generations. What a change in morality, and there can be no doubt that while they sowed the wind, we are reaping the whirlwind. So it will be four generations hence.
This is more a warning for each and every present generation, and less a punishment on our succeeding generations. They are solely and directly inheriting the mistakes (sins) of their ancestors. The children in 100 years time are not at fault, we are. They are innocent, and we are guilty of neglecting God and His Word. The Children of Israel did it time and again, but God was patient and kept taking them back when they repented. But the cycle repeated.
Although each individual at every generation has the freedom to repent and put God first, this truth still works. The general state of society will reflect the rejection of God at every generation until there is a revival and the ordinary man and woman comes to their senses and turns our god-less nations around. Lord, let is begin in our generation. With us. With me!
I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations.I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin.But I do not excuse the guilty.I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren;the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations.” Exodus34:7NLT
Saturday 27 October 2018
Natural?
News outlets like to carry stories that a same sex ‘couple’ have had a baby. Both are quoted as being ‘naturally excited’ after successful IVF treatment. The ‘couple’ may be excited, but no one can say the process is natural. They are not the first to go through this process, and certainly will not be the last. This usually only becomes newsworthy because of the celebrity status of the people involved making some ‘newsy’ contribution on a slow day.
Was intimacy or physical love involved? No. Instead the process will have been intrusive, very unnatural, and certainly not born out of any physical union. Will the ‘father’ or ‘mother’ (if known) be involved in the child’s life? No. Certainly not a desirable outcome.
I understand that this kind of ‘operation’ is becoming more frequent, but by no stretch of the imagination can it be called, natural. We have become so PC that we cannot express an opinion contrary to their decision. After all, they have every right in the law of the land to use this procedure to allow a baby to be born. We do it with normal couples, so why not everyone and anyone? Does our society condone this just because the process is possible, although abnormal? Probably. But does that make it right, or moral, or ethical? No.
The baby, and growing child, will lack either a mum or a dad in their young formative life, and we have been deceived into thinking that children are equally secure and stable in any loving relationship, whether heterosexual, lesbian, or homosexual. We, as a society and community, are on the cusp of finding out the truth of this theory. I for one am glad that I will not be around to see the consequences, but my heart aches for my children and grandchildren. What has my generation done in haste that must be repented at leisure??
Was intimacy or physical love involved? No. Instead the process will have been intrusive, very unnatural, and certainly not born out of any physical union. Will the ‘father’ or ‘mother’ (if known) be involved in the child’s life? No. Certainly not a desirable outcome.
I understand that this kind of ‘operation’ is becoming more frequent, but by no stretch of the imagination can it be called, natural. We have become so PC that we cannot express an opinion contrary to their decision. After all, they have every right in the law of the land to use this procedure to allow a baby to be born. We do it with normal couples, so why not everyone and anyone? Does our society condone this just because the process is possible, although abnormal? Probably. But does that make it right, or moral, or ethical? No.
The baby, and growing child, will lack either a mum or a dad in their young formative life, and we have been deceived into thinking that children are equally secure and stable in any loving relationship, whether heterosexual, lesbian, or homosexual. We, as a society and community, are on the cusp of finding out the truth of this theory. I for one am glad that I will not be around to see the consequences, but my heart aches for my children and grandchildren. What has my generation done in haste that must be repented at leisure??
Tuesday 23 October 2018
Words
A person finds joy in giving an apt reply— and how good is a timely word! Proverbs15:23NIV
The words we use are very important in all aspects of our lives, and that includes the church. In fact, it matters even more in the church because it is by our words and actions that we are judged by those inside AND outside the church. We usually talk about the conversations we choose to undertake or join because they may not be suitable. But what about those answers we give to the words used by others? They are important too.
The verse above is very clear that we gain joy as we give our ‘apt reply’ when our friends talk to us. I suggest this is more than a ‘smart’ or ‘cleverly crafted’ or even ‘academic’ response. If someone is hurting, they don’t need a smart answer. If they are struggling with their faith, they can’t use a cleverly crafted reply. When a child in the faith needs advice or direction, the last thing they want is an academic treatise.
Giving an apt reply can be a gift from the Holy Spirit from you to that friend, for that time. But I found myself asking, how do I gain that insight to the much needed ‘apt reply’ because there are many hurting and needy people who need that ‘word in season’? I believe the true and good response we should give is governed by our ‘hearts being fully committed to the LORD our God’. May our Lord help us to be the carrier of that ‘apt reply’.
And may your hearts be fully committed to the LORD our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time.” 1Kings8:61NIV
The words we use are very important in all aspects of our lives, and that includes the church. In fact, it matters even more in the church because it is by our words and actions that we are judged by those inside AND outside the church. We usually talk about the conversations we choose to undertake or join because they may not be suitable. But what about those answers we give to the words used by others? They are important too.
The verse above is very clear that we gain joy as we give our ‘apt reply’ when our friends talk to us. I suggest this is more than a ‘smart’ or ‘cleverly crafted’ or even ‘academic’ response. If someone is hurting, they don’t need a smart answer. If they are struggling with their faith, they can’t use a cleverly crafted reply. When a child in the faith needs advice or direction, the last thing they want is an academic treatise.
Giving an apt reply can be a gift from the Holy Spirit from you to that friend, for that time. But I found myself asking, how do I gain that insight to the much needed ‘apt reply’ because there are many hurting and needy people who need that ‘word in season’? I believe the true and good response we should give is governed by our ‘hearts being fully committed to the LORD our God’. May our Lord help us to be the carrier of that ‘apt reply’.
And may your hearts be fully committed to the LORD our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time.” 1Kings8:61NIV
Friday 19 October 2018
Sarcy
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians4:6NIV
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians4:29NIV
I need to nail something down. Right now. My Scottish culture almost demands that you are sarcastic, and the more sarcastic you can be, the better. To soften the barbs, we find it goes by other names like, ‘a bit of fun’, ‘banter’, ‘harmless chatter’, ‘inoffensive laughs’ and the favourite, ‘everybody does it’. It doesn’t sound so bad like that, does it? However, sometimes it feels like a competition and I’m getting tired of it.
The little brother of sarcasm is irony, and there is a better place in our language for that, than for being sarcastic. Let me throw a lifeline. Done well, sarcasm can be very funny and more so when no one is affected personally. Scottish menfolk are not good at light sarcasm. It has to be full bore or not at all. In fact, the more personal you can make your sarcastic comments, that would seem to work for many. Because this is a cultural failure, the ailment has seeped into the church, and good Christians have become quite adept at the ‘art’. Social media is a favourite gallery to display your prowess’.
I wonder how Jesus views our conversations? We do have good evidence that God would prefer we didn’t sink to that level as seen in the two verses above. There are many more taken in context which would support this.
The ground has been pierced by my sword from here on. I cannot do anything to stop my friends being who they are, or holding to this kind of so called humour, but I can exert some pressure to change myself, from the inside. So, when addressed in sarcasm, whether personally or aimed at another, I will not react or respond. For my own part, it dies right there. I feel I have been here before, but each time I backslide, the worse the error of my sarcasm becomes. Is my target too high, and perhaps unattainable? I hope not because I don’t like myself when I slide back, even a little.
Sarcasm defined by the Cambridge English Dictionary: “The use of remarks that clearly mean the opposite of what they say, made in order to hurt someone's feelings or to criticize something in a humorous way.” Or how about this definition?: “the use of irony to mock or convey contempt.” ...and still the answer comes back, “..it’s only a bit of banter, a bit of fun!” Somehow I don’t see my culture changing anytime soon!
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians4:29NIV
I need to nail something down. Right now. My Scottish culture almost demands that you are sarcastic, and the more sarcastic you can be, the better. To soften the barbs, we find it goes by other names like, ‘a bit of fun’, ‘banter’, ‘harmless chatter’, ‘inoffensive laughs’ and the favourite, ‘everybody does it’. It doesn’t sound so bad like that, does it? However, sometimes it feels like a competition and I’m getting tired of it.
The little brother of sarcasm is irony, and there is a better place in our language for that, than for being sarcastic. Let me throw a lifeline. Done well, sarcasm can be very funny and more so when no one is affected personally. Scottish menfolk are not good at light sarcasm. It has to be full bore or not at all. In fact, the more personal you can make your sarcastic comments, that would seem to work for many. Because this is a cultural failure, the ailment has seeped into the church, and good Christians have become quite adept at the ‘art’. Social media is a favourite gallery to display your prowess’.
I wonder how Jesus views our conversations? We do have good evidence that God would prefer we didn’t sink to that level as seen in the two verses above. There are many more taken in context which would support this.
The ground has been pierced by my sword from here on. I cannot do anything to stop my friends being who they are, or holding to this kind of so called humour, but I can exert some pressure to change myself, from the inside. So, when addressed in sarcasm, whether personally or aimed at another, I will not react or respond. For my own part, it dies right there. I feel I have been here before, but each time I backslide, the worse the error of my sarcasm becomes. Is my target too high, and perhaps unattainable? I hope not because I don’t like myself when I slide back, even a little.
Sarcasm defined by the Cambridge English Dictionary: “The use of remarks that clearly mean the opposite of what they say, made in order to hurt someone's feelings or to criticize something in a humorous way.” Or how about this definition?: “the use of irony to mock or convey contempt.” ...and still the answer comes back, “..it’s only a bit of banter, a bit of fun!” Somehow I don’t see my culture changing anytime soon!
Thursday 18 October 2018
Boiling Water
In the old example, the frog jumps clear from the container when it discovers the water is too hot for it to survive. So, it either boils to death or jumps to live. On the other hand, a frog will sit, stay and die in the same container of water if the temperature is slowly increased to the same boiling point as before.
Why am I saying this? What’s the parallel with the frog? Let me explain, and please stay with me because I might ruffle a few feathers and upset some friends, but neither of these is my aim or purpose. Let’s make the analogy to our church, its beliefs, and the individual members. Let’s say one of the members goes to church year after year, checks out the beliefs and fully accepts the theology. The water in the tank is just right, and that’s ok. Then someone in leadership adds, removes, or alters, one of the basic beliefs you had accepted. This doesn’t feel right, and the water slowly gets warmer still. Then another person you respect and trust accepts and adopts yet another change fully and the water continues to boiling point. What to do now?
If this ‘old’ member stays against their better judgement, they will spiritually die in the slow change of temperature as it rises. However, if that same old member senses the sudden temperature change and acts quickly to leap from the tank, he or she is saved and can find another tank where the spiritual atmosphere and temperature is just right, and that ‘frog’ will survive.
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” Matthew 7:24-27
In this parable Jesus says that the storm came in increasing intensity. The rain, then the floods, and finally the winds. At each point the house owner had the chance to react, but the foolish man built on a soft foundation and chose not to move. He had the same circumstances as the wise man. The difference was in the sure, unchangeing foundation of his belief. Which storms would you or I survive? Based on the ‘frog and the boiling water’ example, who do you see as the wise frog? It comes down to this, would you jump or die?
Why am I saying this? What’s the parallel with the frog? Let me explain, and please stay with me because I might ruffle a few feathers and upset some friends, but neither of these is my aim or purpose. Let’s make the analogy to our church, its beliefs, and the individual members. Let’s say one of the members goes to church year after year, checks out the beliefs and fully accepts the theology. The water in the tank is just right, and that’s ok. Then someone in leadership adds, removes, or alters, one of the basic beliefs you had accepted. This doesn’t feel right, and the water slowly gets warmer still. Then another person you respect and trust accepts and adopts yet another change fully and the water continues to boiling point. What to do now?
If this ‘old’ member stays against their better judgement, they will spiritually die in the slow change of temperature as it rises. However, if that same old member senses the sudden temperature change and acts quickly to leap from the tank, he or she is saved and can find another tank where the spiritual atmosphere and temperature is just right, and that ‘frog’ will survive.
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” Matthew 7:24-27
In this parable Jesus says that the storm came in increasing intensity. The rain, then the floods, and finally the winds. At each point the house owner had the chance to react, but the foolish man built on a soft foundation and chose not to move. He had the same circumstances as the wise man. The difference was in the sure, unchangeing foundation of his belief. Which storms would you or I survive? Based on the ‘frog and the boiling water’ example, who do you see as the wise frog? It comes down to this, would you jump or die?
Wednesday 17 October 2018
Get Up!
‘Sir,’ the invalid replied, ‘I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.’ At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. John5:7-9NIV
When you are going through a hard time of a debilitating and disabling illness, or trying to handle the grief of losing a spouse or loved one, the last thing you need is someone to say, “get on with it”, or “life goes on”.
This has been called the ‘entitlement generation’ mainly because our younger folks want things done for them, and not necessarily to earn it themselves. It has also been called a ‘benefits culture’. These titles may not be accurate in all cases, but there is a vast difference in the generation who emerged from a World War, and waged another war against unemployment and irrelevance. They were not used to things being done for them, and certainly didn’t go looking for it.
It struck me anew that Jesus didn’t get down on his hunkers or sit beside the invalid to get to eye level contact. He didn’t use the softly softly approach by saying something like, “Now there, you are having a hard time and I sympathise. Let me help by getting social services to come around and see you. They might be able to get you welfare or some kind of benefit. Jesus is a loving, tender hearted part of the trinity, so why didn’t He show more empathy?
The effort had to be made by the invalid. It was up to him to make the choice. Maybe he was used to being handicapped and getting some handouts from sympathetic passers by. Jesus cuts right to the chase when He says simply, but with authority, “Get up!” He is God the Son, and so knew exactly what the invalid needed to hear. No soft soap. No molly coddle. No pleasantries. So, let’s go back to the entitlement generation and our own preferences. I suggest we prefer it when our friends sympathise, get down with us, tell us how bad things are for us and they don’t know how we can handle it. However, there are times we do need a direct approach in spite of the fact that we don’t like to hear it, certainly at first.
Get going. Get moving. Life goes on. These and many other words can be used by the insensitive as they speak to the bereaved and hurting, but in the right hands it is different. Unfortunately, these hard words are true and we only recognise their worth someway down the road when we have put some distance between ourselves and our heartache. I must make Jesus my example, and if I hear Him whisper the words “get up” in my heart, I won’t stop and ask for pity or some piety, or indeed an explanation. Jesus knew full well what the invalid needed, and fortunately this truth is for us too: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”Hebrews13:8NIV
When you are going through a hard time of a debilitating and disabling illness, or trying to handle the grief of losing a spouse or loved one, the last thing you need is someone to say, “get on with it”, or “life goes on”.
This has been called the ‘entitlement generation’ mainly because our younger folks want things done for them, and not necessarily to earn it themselves. It has also been called a ‘benefits culture’. These titles may not be accurate in all cases, but there is a vast difference in the generation who emerged from a World War, and waged another war against unemployment and irrelevance. They were not used to things being done for them, and certainly didn’t go looking for it.
It struck me anew that Jesus didn’t get down on his hunkers or sit beside the invalid to get to eye level contact. He didn’t use the softly softly approach by saying something like, “Now there, you are having a hard time and I sympathise. Let me help by getting social services to come around and see you. They might be able to get you welfare or some kind of benefit. Jesus is a loving, tender hearted part of the trinity, so why didn’t He show more empathy?
The effort had to be made by the invalid. It was up to him to make the choice. Maybe he was used to being handicapped and getting some handouts from sympathetic passers by. Jesus cuts right to the chase when He says simply, but with authority, “Get up!” He is God the Son, and so knew exactly what the invalid needed to hear. No soft soap. No molly coddle. No pleasantries. So, let’s go back to the entitlement generation and our own preferences. I suggest we prefer it when our friends sympathise, get down with us, tell us how bad things are for us and they don’t know how we can handle it. However, there are times we do need a direct approach in spite of the fact that we don’t like to hear it, certainly at first.
Get going. Get moving. Life goes on. These and many other words can be used by the insensitive as they speak to the bereaved and hurting, but in the right hands it is different. Unfortunately, these hard words are true and we only recognise their worth someway down the road when we have put some distance between ourselves and our heartache. I must make Jesus my example, and if I hear Him whisper the words “get up” in my heart, I won’t stop and ask for pity or some piety, or indeed an explanation. Jesus knew full well what the invalid needed, and fortunately this truth is for us too: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”Hebrews13:8NIV
Tuesday 16 October 2018
A Guid Scots Tongue
Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew7:7,8NLT
Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” Luke6:38NLT
When I was young, and wasn’t sure about something, my wise mum would tell me, “You’ve got a guid Scots tongue in that heid o’ yours, so use it!” These wise words have held true over many years, but also through many of life’s problems, issues, and dilemmas both inside and outside the church.
When out walking the rolling hills of Scotland, and if I needed confirmation of where I was, and where I was going, I would ask. When I bought a new piece of equipment for the house, and didn’t know how to use it, I would ask. When I want to see a movie on DVD or read a good book, I would ask. More than once, I have been looking for an address in a city and there was always a point when I had to stop someone in the street and ask.
Given that we are so ready to ask for help and advice in the secular world, why is it a last resort for us as Christians to ask the One who has the answers to all of our eternal life’s problems? The tool of prayer is a powerful weapon in the arsenal of every Christian, whether a new or older believer. We are in the privileged position of serving an omnipotent (all powerful) God. So, in the words of my mum, “You’ve got a guid Scots tongue in that heid o’ yours, so use it!” This much is certain, our great, loving God will be delighted to hear from us.
The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. James5:16NLT
Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” Luke6:38NLT
When I was young, and wasn’t sure about something, my wise mum would tell me, “You’ve got a guid Scots tongue in that heid o’ yours, so use it!” These wise words have held true over many years, but also through many of life’s problems, issues, and dilemmas both inside and outside the church.
When out walking the rolling hills of Scotland, and if I needed confirmation of where I was, and where I was going, I would ask. When I bought a new piece of equipment for the house, and didn’t know how to use it, I would ask. When I want to see a movie on DVD or read a good book, I would ask. More than once, I have been looking for an address in a city and there was always a point when I had to stop someone in the street and ask.
Given that we are so ready to ask for help and advice in the secular world, why is it a last resort for us as Christians to ask the One who has the answers to all of our eternal life’s problems? The tool of prayer is a powerful weapon in the arsenal of every Christian, whether a new or older believer. We are in the privileged position of serving an omnipotent (all powerful) God. So, in the words of my mum, “You’ve got a guid Scots tongue in that heid o’ yours, so use it!” This much is certain, our great, loving God will be delighted to hear from us.
The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. James5:16NLT
Monday 15 October 2018
The Tattoo
When I was younger, the Tattoo was a precision military marching spectacle involving the massed pipes and drums of the Scottish Regiments set in Edinburgh Castle, and the sound would be guaranteed to find any hint of Scottish blood in your veins.
How things have changed. Now the tattoo is an image or words indelibly inked into the skin. This was once the domain of the old soldier or sailor returning from a foreign port. However for the ordinary man or woman either in the pew or the street, their view was that no self respecting person would do such a thing to their body. It wasn’t necessarily a religious thing, it was purely common sense and decency.
The celebrity community now proudly show off their many tattoos, and the more the better. Like sheep, the unthinking society follow and go astray. It starts with an innocent, small butterfly and progresses to more words and images, each one telling a meaningful story, or so we are told, until there is hardly any natural skin to be seen.
My question is simple. Why? In a strange kind of way, I can almost understand the faithless unchurched not responding to the whisper of a higher power, but I find it more difficult when a professing Christian is happily showing little or much body art, unless it was all done prior to their Damascus Road faith experience and couldn’t be avoided. I know what you might be thinking. There’s one of those old wrinklies having a go at something they know nothing about. On the other hand we keep hearing that the older, mature generation has something to give by way of wisdom and experience, but not on this subject? Maybe it doesn’t suit. Just giving my tuppence worth of experience based thought.
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 1Corinthians6:19NKJV
Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. 1Timothy4:12NLT
Do not cut your bodies for the dead, and do not mark your skin with tattoos. I am the Lord. Leviticus19:28NLT
I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. 1Timothy2:8-10
How things have changed. Now the tattoo is an image or words indelibly inked into the skin. This was once the domain of the old soldier or sailor returning from a foreign port. However for the ordinary man or woman either in the pew or the street, their view was that no self respecting person would do such a thing to their body. It wasn’t necessarily a religious thing, it was purely common sense and decency.
The celebrity community now proudly show off their many tattoos, and the more the better. Like sheep, the unthinking society follow and go astray. It starts with an innocent, small butterfly and progresses to more words and images, each one telling a meaningful story, or so we are told, until there is hardly any natural skin to be seen.
My question is simple. Why? In a strange kind of way, I can almost understand the faithless unchurched not responding to the whisper of a higher power, but I find it more difficult when a professing Christian is happily showing little or much body art, unless it was all done prior to their Damascus Road faith experience and couldn’t be avoided. I know what you might be thinking. There’s one of those old wrinklies having a go at something they know nothing about. On the other hand we keep hearing that the older, mature generation has something to give by way of wisdom and experience, but not on this subject? Maybe it doesn’t suit. Just giving my tuppence worth of experience based thought.
Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 1Corinthians6:19NKJV
Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. 1Timothy4:12NLT
Do not cut your bodies for the dead, and do not mark your skin with tattoos. I am the Lord. Leviticus19:28NLT
I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. 1Timothy2:8-10
Sunday 14 October 2018
Fake Smiles
Even in laughter the heart may ache, and rejoicing may end in grief. Proverbs 14:13
Who says the Bible is irrelevant? The fact is, it is filled with truth, from Genesis to Revelation, showing birth, life and death in a real context. The above verse is one of those uneasy truths, and somehow I know you will relate, but it is equally good to hold onto the verse: “He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3”. It’s not only in the Bible, the secular world knows this truth too, and is mirrored in the words of the old song:
Smile, though your heart is aching
Smile, even though it’s breaking
When there are clouds in the sky
you’ll get by If you smile through your fear and sorrow.
How do you know the smile of the heartbroken or sorrowful? You don’t. It’s as simple as that. I was reminded again today that the folks who can smile convincingly, are the very ones who carry the heaviest load. You might think they are just good actors, but I happen to believe they have a very keen sense of their own humanity and mortality. Not in a morbid sense, but in such a way that they see life more clearly, and that includes being thankful for all that God has given them in the here and now.
I would be the last person to wish ill health or heartache on anyone, but when you are close to Jesus, you believe that everything will work out in His plan. On a personal level I had a lot of difficulty with Romans 8:28, but that was because I was looking on as my loved one went through the growing stages of cancer, and yet I saw that same trusting spirit in another fine Christian lady today. Neither would think negatively because they trusted the verse completely, but mostly because they have full confidence in their Saviour. And that’s exactly what Jesus would do in whatever form it takes. Jesus would ‘save’, and He does, because He was and is a ‘Saviour’. So, when you are having a really hard time, and as difficult as it sounds, take this verse to heart. Romans 8:28 is still true and it works today: “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”
Who says the Bible is irrelevant? The fact is, it is filled with truth, from Genesis to Revelation, showing birth, life and death in a real context. The above verse is one of those uneasy truths, and somehow I know you will relate, but it is equally good to hold onto the verse: “He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3”. It’s not only in the Bible, the secular world knows this truth too, and is mirrored in the words of the old song:
Smile, though your heart is aching
Smile, even though it’s breaking
When there are clouds in the sky
you’ll get by If you smile through your fear and sorrow.
How do you know the smile of the heartbroken or sorrowful? You don’t. It’s as simple as that. I was reminded again today that the folks who can smile convincingly, are the very ones who carry the heaviest load. You might think they are just good actors, but I happen to believe they have a very keen sense of their own humanity and mortality. Not in a morbid sense, but in such a way that they see life more clearly, and that includes being thankful for all that God has given them in the here and now.
I would be the last person to wish ill health or heartache on anyone, but when you are close to Jesus, you believe that everything will work out in His plan. On a personal level I had a lot of difficulty with Romans 8:28, but that was because I was looking on as my loved one went through the growing stages of cancer, and yet I saw that same trusting spirit in another fine Christian lady today. Neither would think negatively because they trusted the verse completely, but mostly because they have full confidence in their Saviour. And that’s exactly what Jesus would do in whatever form it takes. Jesus would ‘save’, and He does, because He was and is a ‘Saviour’. So, when you are having a really hard time, and as difficult as it sounds, take this verse to heart. Romans 8:28 is still true and it works today: “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”
Saturday 13 October 2018
Time and Age
Seventy years are given to us! Some even live to eighty. But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble; soon they disappear, and we fly away. Psalm90:10NLT
O Lord, what are human beings that you should notice them, mere mortals that you should think about them? For they are like a breath of air; their days are like a passing shadow. Psalm144:3,4NLT
Do you ever spend time thinking about your age? There are a few birthdays in my family during the year, ranging from age 15 to ‘senior’, and this month sees three! I am becoming more and more conscious that birthdays are passing faster, the older I get. I am reliably told this is normal! That’s age, but what about time?
The good news is that the Christian does not live by his or her age count. Even better is the fact that we are not bound by time either. It has been said that we live in an eternal ‘now’. I like that thought. I came across the following insight to the Christian’s eternal hope in Jesus Christ. It is not a morbid thought, but an eternal promise and comfort for us to cling to, no matter our earthly age. Senior Pastor Colin Smith was asked if we would recognise each other in heaven, and this is his response:
The reunion of believing loved ones - by Colin Smith
When Paul writes to believers who grieve the loss of a loved one, he offers them this comfort: “We who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air” 1Thessalonians4:17.
“Them” refers to believing loved ones who are now in the presence of the Lord. A wife who grieves the loss of her believing husband has the comfort of knowing that when the Lord comes, she will meet her husband again. Sons and daughters who grieve the loss of a believing father or mother can find comfort in the prospect of this happy reunion when we will be reunited with those who have gone before us into the presence of the Lord.
Christians who know and love each other on earth will know and love each other in heaven.
**Colin Smith is senior pastor of The Orchard Evangelical Free Church and a Council member with The Gospel Coalition.
O Lord, what are human beings that you should notice them, mere mortals that you should think about them? For they are like a breath of air; their days are like a passing shadow. Psalm144:3,4NLT
Do you ever spend time thinking about your age? There are a few birthdays in my family during the year, ranging from age 15 to ‘senior’, and this month sees three! I am becoming more and more conscious that birthdays are passing faster, the older I get. I am reliably told this is normal! That’s age, but what about time?
The good news is that the Christian does not live by his or her age count. Even better is the fact that we are not bound by time either. It has been said that we live in an eternal ‘now’. I like that thought. I came across the following insight to the Christian’s eternal hope in Jesus Christ. It is not a morbid thought, but an eternal promise and comfort for us to cling to, no matter our earthly age. Senior Pastor Colin Smith was asked if we would recognise each other in heaven, and this is his response:
The reunion of believing loved ones - by Colin Smith
When Paul writes to believers who grieve the loss of a loved one, he offers them this comfort: “We who are still alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air” 1Thessalonians4:17.
“Them” refers to believing loved ones who are now in the presence of the Lord. A wife who grieves the loss of her believing husband has the comfort of knowing that when the Lord comes, she will meet her husband again. Sons and daughters who grieve the loss of a believing father or mother can find comfort in the prospect of this happy reunion when we will be reunited with those who have gone before us into the presence of the Lord.
Christians who know and love each other on earth will know and love each other in heaven.
**Colin Smith is senior pastor of The Orchard Evangelical Free Church and a Council member with The Gospel Coalition.
Thursday 11 October 2018
Pride
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18
There was a grand Pride parade in London, and other cities across the UK recently, and all those who took part were proud of who they are and what they represent. It has been 50 years since homosexuality began to be legally recognised in the UK as ‘normal’ and walls began to fall year after year, until now when we have a hijacked rainbow and a lot of over-proud pride demonstrators. What started as a small movement has grown into a very large, hostile group of people who are still not satisfied. It’s not enough that the LGBTQ community can get married in law, and in many, if not most churches. It’s not enough that primary school children as young as 7 can be taught that it is fully normal to be ‘gay’, or even ‘non-binary’. Yes, that applies to the masses of children who don’t know if they are a boy or a girl, and our NHS is starting to consider providing surgery for teens who don’t like their body, and want to be the opposite gender. You couldn’t make this up.
We certainly have come a long way in 50 years, and for my part it makes me nervous for the generations to come. There is clear evidence within the group that they want to extend the LGBTQ to include ‘P’ for Polyamory which as the name suggests is the acceptance of several sexual partners and ‘N’ for ‘N’on Binary Gender for those who do not know what they are. Right now I am left with the question: Where will it end? LGBTQPN etc etc..
We go through a week of celebration of all things homosexual, gay, and all other deviant sexual acts. The LGBTQ community have never had it so good with free advertising, and even the ad-free BBC have got in on the act. Ordinary folks are only known by one letter, and that is ‘N’ for Normal. There is no acceptable deviation from the ‘Straight’ line, and the natural relationship between one man and one woman for life.
This movement has even set about dividing the church into those who accept and believe the Bible as The Word of God, and those who see it as a book of recommendations with no accountability. This attitude goes right to the top of many denominations, and why? Why would a God fearing, Bible believing community of believers bow to the celebration of any act that is unBiblical, unnatural, and abnormal? Good question, and one I have grappled with recently. Have you seen the TV images of gay pride marches? Do the people taking part look normal to you? No matter what you or I think, they are taking centre stage while ‘N’ormal people stand by, and are making the most of their freedom to be sexually deviant. In a strange way, speaking your mind against this is seen as opinionated, intolerant, unChristian, and downright uneducated. And they say we have freedom of speech? Maybe we should celebrate that freedom, and use it more!
Quoting Bible verses and passages do not help because they can be used and twisted against the obvious truth no matter which version you use. Having said that, one thing is clear from Scripture and that is I must love the one who engages in these sexual acts, and perhaps especially those who celebrate them, and each other. But not ever the sin. Never!
There was a grand Pride parade in London, and other cities across the UK recently, and all those who took part were proud of who they are and what they represent. It has been 50 years since homosexuality began to be legally recognised in the UK as ‘normal’ and walls began to fall year after year, until now when we have a hijacked rainbow and a lot of over-proud pride demonstrators. What started as a small movement has grown into a very large, hostile group of people who are still not satisfied. It’s not enough that the LGBTQ community can get married in law, and in many, if not most churches. It’s not enough that primary school children as young as 7 can be taught that it is fully normal to be ‘gay’, or even ‘non-binary’. Yes, that applies to the masses of children who don’t know if they are a boy or a girl, and our NHS is starting to consider providing surgery for teens who don’t like their body, and want to be the opposite gender. You couldn’t make this up.
We certainly have come a long way in 50 years, and for my part it makes me nervous for the generations to come. There is clear evidence within the group that they want to extend the LGBTQ to include ‘P’ for Polyamory which as the name suggests is the acceptance of several sexual partners and ‘N’ for ‘N’on Binary Gender for those who do not know what they are. Right now I am left with the question: Where will it end? LGBTQPN etc etc..
We go through a week of celebration of all things homosexual, gay, and all other deviant sexual acts. The LGBTQ community have never had it so good with free advertising, and even the ad-free BBC have got in on the act. Ordinary folks are only known by one letter, and that is ‘N’ for Normal. There is no acceptable deviation from the ‘Straight’ line, and the natural relationship between one man and one woman for life.
This movement has even set about dividing the church into those who accept and believe the Bible as The Word of God, and those who see it as a book of recommendations with no accountability. This attitude goes right to the top of many denominations, and why? Why would a God fearing, Bible believing community of believers bow to the celebration of any act that is unBiblical, unnatural, and abnormal? Good question, and one I have grappled with recently. Have you seen the TV images of gay pride marches? Do the people taking part look normal to you? No matter what you or I think, they are taking centre stage while ‘N’ormal people stand by, and are making the most of their freedom to be sexually deviant. In a strange way, speaking your mind against this is seen as opinionated, intolerant, unChristian, and downright uneducated. And they say we have freedom of speech? Maybe we should celebrate that freedom, and use it more!
Quoting Bible verses and passages do not help because they can be used and twisted against the obvious truth no matter which version you use. Having said that, one thing is clear from Scripture and that is I must love the one who engages in these sexual acts, and perhaps especially those who celebrate them, and each other. But not ever the sin. Never!
Wednesday 10 October 2018
Worry
I tell you not to worry about everyday life. Matthew6:25
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. John14:27
I worry. I wasn’t always like this, but as time passes I find more in this world to worry about. To be more accurate, it’s the effect this world has on my family, and as a Grandparent I have family at various stages of life from my oldest child, to my youngest grandchild. I have heard it preached that worry means a distrust in God’s ability to handle your problem. I know God can handle anything and everything in His own time and in His own way and by His own choice. Basically, that’s my worry. God’s timing, and what if He decides not to step in? Or God does step in, but the offer of help to change is rejected through free will?
I am very Blessed in that most of my family are Bible believing, Jesus accepting Christians. I said most, and although that’s good, it’s also my biggest worry. I tend to do the ‘what if’ routine in my mind and that’s not a good thing on any level. Oh, I am not on my own in worrying, because today’s world is a very different place from what it was in my youth. I believe teenagers today have much more to deal with, and there are so many pitfalls and temptations that were not so apparent just a few decades ago. It’s a matter of scale.
There are more readily available drugs of choice from the ‘party/soft’ to the hard stuff. And talking about the hard stuff, alcohol in copious amounts is a right of passage for the student. It is so easy to get lost in the devil’s maze of fun, and the lie is swallowed so well and so easily by any unsuspecting young person who just wants to have some fun and enjoy themselves. At the centre of this maze is a broken life of shattered hopes and dreams. It is so much harder to find your way out of that maze, than it was to get in.
If you recognise any of this lifestyle in your loved ones, whether family or dear friends, perhaps you can understand why the only safe place is in the Saviour’s hands and arms.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. John14:27
I worry. I wasn’t always like this, but as time passes I find more in this world to worry about. To be more accurate, it’s the effect this world has on my family, and as a Grandparent I have family at various stages of life from my oldest child, to my youngest grandchild. I have heard it preached that worry means a distrust in God’s ability to handle your problem. I know God can handle anything and everything in His own time and in His own way and by His own choice. Basically, that’s my worry. God’s timing, and what if He decides not to step in? Or God does step in, but the offer of help to change is rejected through free will?
I am very Blessed in that most of my family are Bible believing, Jesus accepting Christians. I said most, and although that’s good, it’s also my biggest worry. I tend to do the ‘what if’ routine in my mind and that’s not a good thing on any level. Oh, I am not on my own in worrying, because today’s world is a very different place from what it was in my youth. I believe teenagers today have much more to deal with, and there are so many pitfalls and temptations that were not so apparent just a few decades ago. It’s a matter of scale.
There are more readily available drugs of choice from the ‘party/soft’ to the hard stuff. And talking about the hard stuff, alcohol in copious amounts is a right of passage for the student. It is so easy to get lost in the devil’s maze of fun, and the lie is swallowed so well and so easily by any unsuspecting young person who just wants to have some fun and enjoy themselves. At the centre of this maze is a broken life of shattered hopes and dreams. It is so much harder to find your way out of that maze, than it was to get in.
If you recognise any of this lifestyle in your loved ones, whether family or dear friends, perhaps you can understand why the only safe place is in the Saviour’s hands and arms.
Tuesday 9 October 2018
Friend or Friendly?
A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need. Proverbs17:17NLT
I can look back to a time when I didn’t want, or need any friends around me. I had brothers in Christ that I counted as friendly and would have responded or helped if I had asked them. But I didn’t need them. Then my wife died and everything changed.
It’s easy to gather friends and followers if you are on any of the social media sites. Some in the younger generation put great store on their friend count because it is important to have someone you can call a friend, and the more the merrier it seems. Sadly these bonds are shallow and do not reflect real or true friendships. But how do you test if someone is a true friend because there will come a time when you need to know as I did.
The tests are obvious, but are only confirmed and found in times of stress, trouble, or need. In my case being left alone, but I had an advantage because around me was a body of believers, some of whom had been where I stood now. In fact, the bigger truth is that the family of God is greater than your local church, and that is what I found. I confess to being surprised at the open willingness to help and support in any way possible, and I should not have been surprised at all. All those sermons about brotherly love, and the love of Jesus were good to hear and welcome at head level, but now the heart was involved.
Real friends are always loyal, and come what may, will be there when you need them. The truth is they were always there in the shadows just like the Saviour, I just didn’t know it then, but I know it now and I am thankful for my friends. To my real friends, true friends, loyal friends who stepped up in my time of need, I say simply Thank You!
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 1John4:7NIV
I can look back to a time when I didn’t want, or need any friends around me. I had brothers in Christ that I counted as friendly and would have responded or helped if I had asked them. But I didn’t need them. Then my wife died and everything changed.
It’s easy to gather friends and followers if you are on any of the social media sites. Some in the younger generation put great store on their friend count because it is important to have someone you can call a friend, and the more the merrier it seems. Sadly these bonds are shallow and do not reflect real or true friendships. But how do you test if someone is a true friend because there will come a time when you need to know as I did.
The tests are obvious, but are only confirmed and found in times of stress, trouble, or need. In my case being left alone, but I had an advantage because around me was a body of believers, some of whom had been where I stood now. In fact, the bigger truth is that the family of God is greater than your local church, and that is what I found. I confess to being surprised at the open willingness to help and support in any way possible, and I should not have been surprised at all. All those sermons about brotherly love, and the love of Jesus were good to hear and welcome at head level, but now the heart was involved.
Real friends are always loyal, and come what may, will be there when you need them. The truth is they were always there in the shadows just like the Saviour, I just didn’t know it then, but I know it now and I am thankful for my friends. To my real friends, true friends, loyal friends who stepped up in my time of need, I say simply Thank You!
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 1John4:7NIV
Monday 8 October 2018
Too Late?
I think a confession is needed, and I must come clean. If I don’t do it now, I might never be able to muster the courage again. As an explanation, this ‘thing’ didn’t happen to me overnight. It took ages for me to be aware of my failing, and even then only slowly. I called it a failing, but is it? Really??
The human body grows quite slowly compared to other species on our planet. As each phase comes and is replaced by the next one, we accept the changes as necessary. We dare not go into our teen years looking and thinking like a toddler. And similarly, our ageing bodies are not as strong and cannot react the way we did in mid life. By the time we are in the ‘end of life’ phase, we do not even remotely resemble our baby self. This is progress. It’s life, and we embrace it.
Why do I not embrace the changing faith years in the same way? The baby and toddler years when proper teaching was made in simple forms, followed by the teen years when the meat of the word was essential, and outreach performed with ease. The mid life years brought a crisis of the questioning heart, not to doubt but to learn because we never want to stop growing. By the time we reach the ‘end of faith’ years, we try to grasp at the younger times when everything was simpler and easier. Salvation was contagious and churches were full with people being reborn into the Kingdom almost without effort. Simply put, I want to go back.
Here’s the problem with my analogy. Everyone born starts at the same place in growth and progress, right through to our end of life phase. Then the cycle always restarts without change and growth is guaranteed. However, the faith years are not treated in the same way. Our ‘progressive’ church leaders seem to want our successive years of growth to be constant and without repeat. Or to put it another way, each generation at their faith birth, should start where the previous generation’s end of faith years left off. Using this as a model of church growth is it any wonder that we fall short? That kind of growth cannot be sustained in either the human being, or the faith model.
My confession about being too late is this: Do I keep running on the treadmill of artificial church growth, or should I let my faith journey be what it is supposed to be at each stage? If I stay on the treadmill, the progressives will applaud, but will it grow my faith or that of my church? On the other hand if I get off the spinning wheel I will be branded as a dinosaur and no one wants that. What do you think? Is it too late to stop the treadmill and get off? At least that would be good for my blood pressure. Perhaps it might not be a bad thing to be a dinosaur after all! Another, and better question is: Can, or should we even try, to reinvent the gospel or is it fine the way it was originally given for all ages and for all time in the Bible?
One of the dictionary definitions of ‘dinosaur’ is “a person or thing that is outdated or has become obsolete because of failure to adapt to changing circumstances.”
The human body grows quite slowly compared to other species on our planet. As each phase comes and is replaced by the next one, we accept the changes as necessary. We dare not go into our teen years looking and thinking like a toddler. And similarly, our ageing bodies are not as strong and cannot react the way we did in mid life. By the time we are in the ‘end of life’ phase, we do not even remotely resemble our baby self. This is progress. It’s life, and we embrace it.
Why do I not embrace the changing faith years in the same way? The baby and toddler years when proper teaching was made in simple forms, followed by the teen years when the meat of the word was essential, and outreach performed with ease. The mid life years brought a crisis of the questioning heart, not to doubt but to learn because we never want to stop growing. By the time we reach the ‘end of faith’ years, we try to grasp at the younger times when everything was simpler and easier. Salvation was contagious and churches were full with people being reborn into the Kingdom almost without effort. Simply put, I want to go back.
Here’s the problem with my analogy. Everyone born starts at the same place in growth and progress, right through to our end of life phase. Then the cycle always restarts without change and growth is guaranteed. However, the faith years are not treated in the same way. Our ‘progressive’ church leaders seem to want our successive years of growth to be constant and without repeat. Or to put it another way, each generation at their faith birth, should start where the previous generation’s end of faith years left off. Using this as a model of church growth is it any wonder that we fall short? That kind of growth cannot be sustained in either the human being, or the faith model.
My confession about being too late is this: Do I keep running on the treadmill of artificial church growth, or should I let my faith journey be what it is supposed to be at each stage? If I stay on the treadmill, the progressives will applaud, but will it grow my faith or that of my church? On the other hand if I get off the spinning wheel I will be branded as a dinosaur and no one wants that. What do you think? Is it too late to stop the treadmill and get off? At least that would be good for my blood pressure. Perhaps it might not be a bad thing to be a dinosaur after all! Another, and better question is: Can, or should we even try, to reinvent the gospel or is it fine the way it was originally given for all ages and for all time in the Bible?
One of the dictionary definitions of ‘dinosaur’ is “a person or thing that is outdated or has become obsolete because of failure to adapt to changing circumstances.”
Sunday 7 October 2018
Now What?
It’s not the way I would have wanted it, but my friend of many years was in the hospital Intensive Care Unit having suffered a serious and very unexpected heart attack. I visited when I could, but wanted to make sure his wife and family were not crowded out during visiting hours. I had known Brian since Primary School and Sunday School, and in those early years we were inseparable. As sometimes happens, life steps in and although we stayed friends, we didn’t see each other as much outside of the very occasional church service at weddings and funerals etc..
We were regular church goers, but nowadays only just. Unlike the old days when we were a fixture in serious faith and attendance. Now we were what is called ‘nominal Christians’, but the seed had been sown and we both knew “the way” to the Father’s heart. Brian was in a small room of four patients, each one in ICU and getting the best treatment, but it was evident in all the beds lay a man, suspended between life and death. Unfortunately for the other patients, and even the staff, one of the needy was an ‘aggressive atheist’ and he was very vocal about there being no God, and if He existed, He was never any good to him. He blamed everything on God from his occasional cold, to the serious circumstances which brought him to this hospital ward, and everything in between.
Brian never could suffer fools gladly, but anytime I was there, he remained very composed and quiet, and only responded quietly when a barb was directed straight at him. One night I was putting some fruit into his little bedside cabinet when I noticed a small Bible. That took me right back to the times we would talk endlessly about our faith in Jesus Christ and how much He meant to us. As I left the visit to allow Brian’s wife to spend the last part of the time with him, I could still hear the other man shouting at God, and swearing at anyone who looked like they would listen. The noise followed me down the corridor and only stopped when I got into the lift.
Maria called me early next morning with the news that her husband had passed away, quietly, peacefully, and surrounded by his wife, family and the old, now retired Pastor whom we respected and who had helped to lead us to the salvation that only God can give. Maria confided in me the last words of her husband. He had been talking and praying with the old, saintly Pastor, and Brian told him with a broad smile that he prayed for the first time in years. “I just said I’m sorry God, would you please forgive me”? While this was happening, the aggressive atheist’s life was ebbing away too. He died cursing God with his last breath. Now my question remains: “Now What?” Is the sinner’s prayer ever too late? Does this remind you of anything in another place and time?
One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!” But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke23:39-43
We were regular church goers, but nowadays only just. Unlike the old days when we were a fixture in serious faith and attendance. Now we were what is called ‘nominal Christians’, but the seed had been sown and we both knew “the way” to the Father’s heart. Brian was in a small room of four patients, each one in ICU and getting the best treatment, but it was evident in all the beds lay a man, suspended between life and death. Unfortunately for the other patients, and even the staff, one of the needy was an ‘aggressive atheist’ and he was very vocal about there being no God, and if He existed, He was never any good to him. He blamed everything on God from his occasional cold, to the serious circumstances which brought him to this hospital ward, and everything in between.
Brian never could suffer fools gladly, but anytime I was there, he remained very composed and quiet, and only responded quietly when a barb was directed straight at him. One night I was putting some fruit into his little bedside cabinet when I noticed a small Bible. That took me right back to the times we would talk endlessly about our faith in Jesus Christ and how much He meant to us. As I left the visit to allow Brian’s wife to spend the last part of the time with him, I could still hear the other man shouting at God, and swearing at anyone who looked like they would listen. The noise followed me down the corridor and only stopped when I got into the lift.
Maria called me early next morning with the news that her husband had passed away, quietly, peacefully, and surrounded by his wife, family and the old, now retired Pastor whom we respected and who had helped to lead us to the salvation that only God can give. Maria confided in me the last words of her husband. He had been talking and praying with the old, saintly Pastor, and Brian told him with a broad smile that he prayed for the first time in years. “I just said I’m sorry God, would you please forgive me”? While this was happening, the aggressive atheist’s life was ebbing away too. He died cursing God with his last breath. Now my question remains: “Now What?” Is the sinner’s prayer ever too late? Does this remind you of anything in another place and time?
One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!” But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke23:39-43
Saturday 6 October 2018
Memory
God is able to do much more than we ask or think through His power working in us. Ephesians 3:20 NLV
It was heartbreaking to hear a widow friend say of her husband who had died some years before, “I’m so afraid I will forget what he looks like”. She said this because there were tell tale signs that her memory was fading slowly yes, but surely, and it worried her heart. She recognised that her mind was failing. Her fear was real!
God is not like that because He will never forget us or our love for Him. But it goes deeper and better for me anyway. No matter how we see God now, in all His glory and power, it doesn’t come anywhere close to what He can, and will, do in us. That’s whether our mind is alert or frail and failing.
No matter what we think about God’s love, His love is greater. Whatever we think about His power, He is more powerful still. If we think we know His forgiveness, God’s forgiving Spirit is far greater and for everyone. The phrase is worth repeating: God is able to do much more than we ask or think. When our weakened mind starts to fail us, and sadly we don’t recognise our loved ones, take comfort in the sure and certain fact that God remembers His own. Always, and forever, time without end. Amen and Amen to that simple truth!
God remembers those who suffer; he does not forget their cry. Psalm 9:12
It was heartbreaking to hear a widow friend say of her husband who had died some years before, “I’m so afraid I will forget what he looks like”. She said this because there were tell tale signs that her memory was fading slowly yes, but surely, and it worried her heart. She recognised that her mind was failing. Her fear was real!
God is not like that because He will never forget us or our love for Him. But it goes deeper and better for me anyway. No matter how we see God now, in all His glory and power, it doesn’t come anywhere close to what He can, and will, do in us. That’s whether our mind is alert or frail and failing.
No matter what we think about God’s love, His love is greater. Whatever we think about His power, He is more powerful still. If we think we know His forgiveness, God’s forgiving Spirit is far greater and for everyone. The phrase is worth repeating: God is able to do much more than we ask or think. When our weakened mind starts to fail us, and sadly we don’t recognise our loved ones, take comfort in the sure and certain fact that God remembers His own. Always, and forever, time without end. Amen and Amen to that simple truth!
God remembers those who suffer; he does not forget their cry. Psalm 9:12
Friday 5 October 2018
TV Freedom
They say that freedom comes with responsibility, but I don’t see much, if any responsibility shown on TV in the UK, and that horrifies me. As a nation we are buying bigger and bigger TV sets, LED, LCD, OLED Curved screen, 4K, Widescreen, and Cinema with surround sound, so please don’t try to tell me we are watching less media now beamed into our homes and lives.
I constantly hear the words, TV content is rubbish, and the truth is I have said it too. Do you think TV programs reflect our society, or promote life as we (would like to) see it around us? After a hard day, and our evening meal, we like to plop ourselves into our favourite chair and be entertained, filling our heads with anything and everything that is shown for our viewing pleasure. And there are many channels to choose from, so we are drawn into the bright, coloured, strobing lights of the small but getting ever bigger screen.
Think about it for a moment if you can pull yourself away from your program. We are being openly fed just about everything that’s wrong with society, and we accept it as escapism entertainment. So we end up tacitly condoning dramatic and graphic displays of rage, shouting, swearing, partner swapping, sex scenes, adultery, homosexuality etc, and many of these before the so called 9 O’Clock watershed. Do you really believe that censorship (if applied at all) is working to our advantage?
We are feeding our children a diet of TV programming which promotes as acceptable, every lifestyle which is contrary to normal moral decency, and that is without mentioning any Biblical or religious overtone. Is it enough to turn the channel when the scene has already been shown? Is it enough to switch it off, only to turn it back on later when the kids are in bed? Some people might go as far as to call that hypocrisy. Ouch. The rule is simple. If you can’t watch the TV program or movie with the kids, then don’t watch it at all.
I constantly hear the words, TV content is rubbish, and the truth is I have said it too. Do you think TV programs reflect our society, or promote life as we (would like to) see it around us? After a hard day, and our evening meal, we like to plop ourselves into our favourite chair and be entertained, filling our heads with anything and everything that is shown for our viewing pleasure. And there are many channels to choose from, so we are drawn into the bright, coloured, strobing lights of the small but getting ever bigger screen.
Think about it for a moment if you can pull yourself away from your program. We are being openly fed just about everything that’s wrong with society, and we accept it as escapism entertainment. So we end up tacitly condoning dramatic and graphic displays of rage, shouting, swearing, partner swapping, sex scenes, adultery, homosexuality etc, and many of these before the so called 9 O’Clock watershed. Do you really believe that censorship (if applied at all) is working to our advantage?
We are feeding our children a diet of TV programming which promotes as acceptable, every lifestyle which is contrary to normal moral decency, and that is without mentioning any Biblical or religious overtone. Is it enough to turn the channel when the scene has already been shown? Is it enough to switch it off, only to turn it back on later when the kids are in bed? Some people might go as far as to call that hypocrisy. Ouch. The rule is simple. If you can’t watch the TV program or movie with the kids, then don’t watch it at all.
Thursday 4 October 2018
Extremism
We hear a lot about extremism in the news media, and it always refers to a form of hard Islam. It is called extremism for good reason, and rightly so. That kind of religious mindset has resulted in the loss of many innocent lives, and their only ‘sin’ was to hold differing views from the man holding the sword, who is all too ready to use it to end life. In fact life itself is not seen as precious and is used as a bargaining chip as they pursue their own ends. This is their faith, and no one will move them from it being right. In fact, theirs is the ONLY right way to interpret and use their so called holy book, they say.
Can I be controversial? If not, stop reading now and go no further. I notice that there are some within the Christian Church who see themselves as the keepers of the true gospel, and who will discuss, debate and argue with anyone who might see things differently. Oh deaths do not happen, at least not physically. However, what do you call it when a young tender life is deterred from ever thinking about taking Christianity seriously? That could be considered as a worse death, because it is eternal.
We know about those who promote ‘aggressive atheism’ and we don’t like them or their attitude. In a similar way, the ‘aggressive christian’ would never see themselves as doing the wrong thing, and would not hold themselves responsible for souls being lost. But they are misguided, and souls are being lost. There may be a way to counter this kind of approach, and that is to stand between them and the souls they put at risk. The thing is, the true message is as simple as it is effective. Show love. Real love. Unconditional love. After all, wasn’t it love that took Jesus all the way to Golgotha to die for us on the cross? We may not have to die to prove our faith, but we can show love. We ALL must, and should show love.
All people will know that you are my followers if you love each other. John 13:35
Can I be controversial? If not, stop reading now and go no further. I notice that there are some within the Christian Church who see themselves as the keepers of the true gospel, and who will discuss, debate and argue with anyone who might see things differently. Oh deaths do not happen, at least not physically. However, what do you call it when a young tender life is deterred from ever thinking about taking Christianity seriously? That could be considered as a worse death, because it is eternal.
We know about those who promote ‘aggressive atheism’ and we don’t like them or their attitude. In a similar way, the ‘aggressive christian’ would never see themselves as doing the wrong thing, and would not hold themselves responsible for souls being lost. But they are misguided, and souls are being lost. There may be a way to counter this kind of approach, and that is to stand between them and the souls they put at risk. The thing is, the true message is as simple as it is effective. Show love. Real love. Unconditional love. After all, wasn’t it love that took Jesus all the way to Golgotha to die for us on the cross? We may not have to die to prove our faith, but we can show love. We ALL must, and should show love.
All people will know that you are my followers if you love each other. John 13:35
Wednesday 3 October 2018
Protest
“The lady doth protest too much” is a line from the play Hamlet, by William Shakespeare. So what is it doing in a Christian blog?
This phrase is typically quoted to suggest that someone is strongly denying something or hiding the whole truth,or to imply doubt in another person's sincerity. It can become obvious when a Christian deliberately becomes very vocal against something or someone, and you can easily see that there is some insincerity being expressed. A simple example are those adolescent expressions that you really don’t like that girl because she annoys you, when it is evident to all around that you really, really like her a lot! The speaker thinks they are covering their feelings, but no one is convinced.
When we repeatedly go on and on against the same people or things, we risk being seen as insincere. We also come across as shallow, not being able to see that there may be some value to someone, to that “false teacher’s” life and work. We become good at picking out the faults in other people, but not noticing our own, or worse still thinking that our sins are less significant to a Holy God which gives the green light to being ‘the judge of all’. That title is already reserved by God as recorded in Genesis 18:25 where it says: Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?
Shakespeare highlighted this flawed character trait in his play around 400 years ago, and the issue is as important today. He was showing a very human flaw, but we can see the direct parallel to the life of some very vocal Christians around us. Maybe the solution is to be less outspoken about the faults of others, lest we ourselves are seen as protesting too much. Put simply, Jesus said, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, Let me take the speck out of your eye, when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
It is worth noting the one that Jesus said had the sawdust in his eye, and the one who had the plank. Remember it this way, ‘the Pointing Person has the Plank’. Our Saviour calls it right!
This phrase is typically quoted to suggest that someone is strongly denying something or hiding the whole truth,or to imply doubt in another person's sincerity. It can become obvious when a Christian deliberately becomes very vocal against something or someone, and you can easily see that there is some insincerity being expressed. A simple example are those adolescent expressions that you really don’t like that girl because she annoys you, when it is evident to all around that you really, really like her a lot! The speaker thinks they are covering their feelings, but no one is convinced.
When we repeatedly go on and on against the same people or things, we risk being seen as insincere. We also come across as shallow, not being able to see that there may be some value to someone, to that “false teacher’s” life and work. We become good at picking out the faults in other people, but not noticing our own, or worse still thinking that our sins are less significant to a Holy God which gives the green light to being ‘the judge of all’. That title is already reserved by God as recorded in Genesis 18:25 where it says: Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?
Shakespeare highlighted this flawed character trait in his play around 400 years ago, and the issue is as important today. He was showing a very human flaw, but we can see the direct parallel to the life of some very vocal Christians around us. Maybe the solution is to be less outspoken about the faults of others, lest we ourselves are seen as protesting too much. Put simply, Jesus said, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, Let me take the speck out of your eye, when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
It is worth noting the one that Jesus said had the sawdust in his eye, and the one who had the plank. Remember it this way, ‘the Pointing Person has the Plank’. Our Saviour calls it right!
Tuesday 2 October 2018
Anxious?
When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. Psalm 94:18,19
Thankfully, anxiety isn’t the end game for us. We have the assurance in God that our sorrow can turn to joy as it is recorded for us in John 16:20 when Jesus says “Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.” Isn’t that a wonderful promise, and from the lips of Jesus no less!
It’s a short step from anxiety to worry or even depression, but I think that other short step to joy is preferable. Joy is that deep, inner, settled peace and not a happy clappy cheery fixed smile condition when our life is in turmoil. Yes, we all get anxious about so many things, but with the Lord as our helper, it doesn’t need to slip backwards into worry. No, we can have joy instead when we place our faith and trust where we know it needs to be, with our Saviour who faced the cross to give us abundant life, as He told us in John chapter 10 and verse 10 where He assures us: I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Thankfully, anxiety isn’t the end game for us. We have the assurance in God that our sorrow can turn to joy as it is recorded for us in John 16:20 when Jesus says “Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.” Isn’t that a wonderful promise, and from the lips of Jesus no less!
It’s a short step from anxiety to worry or even depression, but I think that other short step to joy is preferable. Joy is that deep, inner, settled peace and not a happy clappy cheery fixed smile condition when our life is in turmoil. Yes, we all get anxious about so many things, but with the Lord as our helper, it doesn’t need to slip backwards into worry. No, we can have joy instead when we place our faith and trust where we know it needs to be, with our Saviour who faced the cross to give us abundant life, as He told us in John chapter 10 and verse 10 where He assures us: I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Monday 1 October 2018
Confidence
So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. Hebrews 10:35,36 NIV
In our youth, we feel that we can take on the world, and nothing will be able to get in our way. But as we get older, we start to realise that our confidence ebbs as we find out that there are some things, no make that many things we just can’t do anymore. It’s a stark truth and reality, and something we can’t change.
This verse gives me some comfort because the rich reward is not limited only to those who have boundless confidence. For me, the key word is not ‘confidence’, but to ‘persevere’ doing the will of God. Then, and only then it becomes certain, that we will receive God’s promise.
However, there is a serious note of caution. I started out to say that our confidence can ebb, and that is true as life affects us, but we are warned ‘do not throw away your confidence’. As with many things in the Christian life, we have choices, and here we have a choice to make too. If our God given free will allows us to throw our confidence away, thus losing the promise, we must also have that same free will to retain our confidence! With the strength given by God, we have the certainty of receiving the promise of God. What could be better than to be in the will of God, and in His favour?
In our youth, we feel that we can take on the world, and nothing will be able to get in our way. But as we get older, we start to realise that our confidence ebbs as we find out that there are some things, no make that many things we just can’t do anymore. It’s a stark truth and reality, and something we can’t change.
This verse gives me some comfort because the rich reward is not limited only to those who have boundless confidence. For me, the key word is not ‘confidence’, but to ‘persevere’ doing the will of God. Then, and only then it becomes certain, that we will receive God’s promise.
However, there is a serious note of caution. I started out to say that our confidence can ebb, and that is true as life affects us, but we are warned ‘do not throw away your confidence’. As with many things in the Christian life, we have choices, and here we have a choice to make too. If our God given free will allows us to throw our confidence away, thus losing the promise, we must also have that same free will to retain our confidence! With the strength given by God, we have the certainty of receiving the promise of God. What could be better than to be in the will of God, and in His favour?
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