Heavy Hearted?

Laughter can conceal a heavy heart; when the laughter ends, the grief remains. Proverbs14:13NLT

How do you conceal your heavy heart? Solomon suggests that laughter can do it. Others hide their heaviness in different ways, eg immerse yourself in family, study, sport, hobby, and the list could go on. In other words, we hide from the pain of our heavy heart and don’t face up to it. But why would we want to do that?

Before we jump to any conclusions, there will always be good reasons for hiding away from the source of the heaviness. The only reason you might not agree or see it, is because you haven’t had to face that particular heartache. I would also suggest that the root of the heaviness may not be a ‘thing’, but a person. It’s true that the one most likely to hurt, is the one that’s closest. Relationships from friendships to spouse testify to that truth.

Once we recognise the source of our emotional distress, for that is what it is, what then? What do we do? If I use my head, the answer is clear. Face the situation or person directly and have the difficult conversation to try to clear the air. Even then the end result might not be good. But then, if we approach this kind of issue from our heart, that hurts too, after all it is called heartache for good reason. The heart does not want that risky confrontation because you may be the catalyst or instrument to make things worse instead of better. Whatever we decide to do, we can’t win, so it remains a heartache, and we continue to be heavy hearted because the needed source of change can’t see it, or is not interested, because they don’t see the distress they are responsible for. In fact, sometimes their ‘answer’ will be uttered or voiced before the question is asked, or aired.

To answer before listening— that is folly and shame. Proverbs18:13NIV

Stone or Flesh?

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel36:26NIV

“Be careful what you wish for, you might just get it”. Then what? Allow me the liberty of taking my dad’s words and changing them a little to say, “Be careful what you pray for, you might just get it”. Our prayers can be shallow, and all about us, our needs, and wants. Much of the time we pray, and we know fine well it won’t be answered so we start to let doubt creep in.

It is out of our hands and control when we pray for the friend who has cancer. We kind of believe it, or more likely we hope for an answer that agrees with ours. The disease has to go. It must be healed or God isn’t listening to our petition prayed in tears. It’s out of our control and we don’t like that. But what about those prayers for our own spiritual well-being? Those prayers for an extra portion of kindness, patience,love, peace, joy that we need so much. An answer to those would mean a change in our own life. Are we ready for that?

I am on very close terms with a friend of many years who has been a Christian for as long as I can remember. He lost his wife to cancer at a relatively young age, and he changed. His heart became like stone. Lifeless and without feeling. You see he was angry with God, because He didn’t answer his many prayers through tears. Slowly, all too slowly, he started to recognise what was happening. His once soft heart had turned to stone, almost at the instant that God let him down (or so he thought). One day there was a turning point, because he prayed the prayer in this verse. He didn’t like carrying this heavy, stone heart around, so he simply prayed that it be replaced by a heart of flesh. Almost as fast as the words of the prayer had ended, he felt different. The stone was rolled away, and he felt lighter. The joy of his salvation had returned and that was the price. That’s the best way he could describe it.

So, be careful what you pray for. You may just be surprised by the answer.

Plexit

In the UK we have been suffering through two years of Brexit, and the arguments why we should stay or leave the EU, depending on which side of the debate fence you sit on. Whichever way you look at it, at least we are talking about it ad nauseum (literally!).

At the same time, there is another referendum which is more serious, but few talk about it. Let me introduce you to Plexit, the vote we all have but few cast, on what we do to prepare for the sure and certain event called ‘Planet Exit’. I suggest that we don’t have to give it much thought, because we have been convinced that everybody goes to heaven anyway. We will make a few exceptions for some murderers and peopophiles, but other than a few exceptions heaven is a cert! Really?

If you think we are here on this earth as a result of chance, an accident of nature, or a mutation of evolution, then you should have no worry about leaving this earth, because it then stands to reason that there can be no heaven or hell. But most people agree that there is a God, whether they go to church or not. In the same manner, they have convinced themselves that this loving God would never send any of His creation to hell. Ergo, it’s heaven!! How convenient.

On the other side of the debate are the Christians who believe by faith in a glorious heaven, and know it in their heart.They are also very aware of the real existence of the devil and his hell. The Bible talks a great deal about both heaven and hell and leaves the decision to us. This is a choice we make in the here and now. We can’t change our mind when we get to the wrong place in eternity. What are we doing to prepare, because the Bible is clear?

Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 2Corinthians6:2NKJV

Decisions

We make dozens of decisions every day. Some are important, and some are not. Some are known to others, and some are not. Some may be costly, and some are not. Good decisions which affect others will make you look good to your friends. Bad decisions make you look bad in the eyes of just about everybody. Of all these decisions, which will be remembered clearly by everyone? It isn’t fair, but the good decisions are easily forgotten, but the bad decisions are remembered for ever, or so it seems.

There is another problem with decisions. I think we will all agree that we make good and bad ones on a regular basis, but hopefully there will be a balance and not all one sided. However, you will probably know some folks who consistently make good decisions. They are in the minority, but are looked up to because that’s what makes for integrity. However, on the other hand, we all will know those ones who mostly seem to be making bad decisions, but even more importantly there are those who will suffer directly because of these decisions.

One swallow might not make a summer, but a wrong decision can have a serious and lasting impact on those on the receiving end. In a few weeks, I will be having knee surgery, and I hope the surgeon has a day of good decisions. Just one bad decision in an operating theatre can hold the outcome of life in the balance. But then we do trust the professionals, right? Surgeons, doctors, lawyers, professors get there by making good decisions and maintaining their integrity.

What about us? You and me? Have we made bad decisions? Absolutely we have, and some we would not want to be reminded of because they shame us. In among the many bad ones, there could be one that sticks, and the devil reminds us of it now and again, to keep us away from God. We are too bad. We don’t come up to the grade for a Holy God, and you are right if it was all up to what we did and didn’t do. Thanks to Jesus, our salvation is not earned by default, but it’s the free gift of Grace from a forgiving Saviour. The next time the devil reminds you of your past bad decisions, remind him of God’s grace. He has no answer to that because God is not only forgiving, but patient and His desire is for all to see heaven. There is a catch, because we have to accept the gift because it’s not forced on us. That’s all. It’s down to us to accept or reject! Our choice.

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2Peter3:9NIV

Remain

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. John15:5,6

The word ‘if’ is very small, but has an enormous meaning. The dictionary defines ‘if’ as: on condition, provided, providing, presuming, supposing, and you can replace the word ‘if’ with any of these and keep the meaning and context the same. The verses are clear. We must stay close to Jesus in order to be able to bear fruit, or be productive. If we stray from Him, and these verses say that we can, we are in danger of hell fire. That is a loss of salvation, and I can see no other way to interpret or read these words of Jesus.

I don’t want to get into a theological argument, but instead want to emphasise the need for us as Christians to keep short accounts with our Saviour. Stay close. Be like Him. Remain in Him. To do otherwise opens us up to the dangers of a lost eternity, and let’s face it, none of us want that because we have the promise of heaven.

Jesus wasn’t talking to the unconvinced around Him, He was talking to those believers who were already committed to His ways, ie the disciples, and if they had to be counselled to remain in Him, then how much more we need to be careful how we treat our salvation. The prospect of heaven fills us with delight, but the very thought of hell is a serious matter. Jesus said it was serious, and I trust we don’t downplay the thought of hell as a bad joke or in a light and flippant manner.

Wasn't There

"As I was going up the stair
I met a man who wasn't there!
He wasn't there again today,
Oh how I wish he'd go away!"
By William Hughes Mearns (1875–1965)

You must have heard the nonsense poem made famous by Mearns. It makes us smile when we hear it, because we know it makes no sense and we don’t have to think too much about any deeper meaning. But, I ask you, is it really nonsense?

I think we can get so used to something, or someone, being there and yet one day we turn around and it or they are not there anymore. Next day, or next month, or even next year we look again and still nothing. Did we take that special memory for granted? Probably, but that might mean we didn’t do all we could to savour and keep the importance of that memory alive, which was a once treasured possession.

Instead of taking the line “Oh how I wish he’d go away” at face value, is it possible that the writer is haunted by their unexpected loss, and now needs some peace from the haunting memory and that’s what he wants to go away? I suggest what is true of people, can also be true about things. Or to be more accurate, things which are made up of people. A club, a community, and yes, possibly even a church! At one time not so long ago, it was there but when we turn around some time later we notice it isn’t there now. Or at least not in the way we remember it, and the thought of that memory haunts us.

As with people who have died, churches close and die too, in which case the poem might read:

As I was going up to prayer,
I saw a church that wasn't there!
It wasn't there again today,
Oh how I wish it’d go away!
(My apologies to Mearns!)

Alone? But When?

The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Genesis2:18NIV

I was wondering if God had a time scale in mind in this verse. If it is not good for ‘the man’ to be alone because he needs a helper, does the promise or need of that helper run out in his lifetime? This refers to life in general, but does it apply right up to death too? Does it equally apply to a bereaved widower? Or a man whose wife has left him alone? So many questions, and none of them insignificant in their own right.

There is a world wide move to show that woman (I use the word ‘woman’ deliberately, as opposed to ‘women’) is an equal entity to man, but this verse would clearly show this not to be true. I know some men who live on their own, and they obviously need and want the helper that God speaks of. Men may be stronger in the brawn department, but they do lack a lot in the softer, thoughtful, emotional side. God knew right from the start that the combination of a man and woman rightly defined by Him would be an unbeatable combination, and it surely is!

Is it wrong then to believe that a man left on his own, is incomplete? Without the other part which would make him whole? The woman who would be the heart to his head. The sensitive nature to his stubborn outlook? The understanding to his closed mind?

Take a look around your men friends who are living life on their own and ask yourself this. As a general rule, would they be happier and more complete, living as God declared in His Word? I am not saying that every single man should be on the lookout for a wife, but I am thinking from this verse, it would appear to be part of God’s master plan for a balanced life, society, and world, and so some or even many, could be missing out on one of God’s, and life’s, earliest and greatest pleasures and Blessings.

A final thought. If all that applies to men, would it not also apply equally to women? After all, God’s plan from the beginning is for pairs of men and women as a complete union?

Help?

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 2Cor1:3,4NIV

No one goes through this life without needing some help in the form of comfort, and let’s face it we can’t always depend on the ‘usual suspects’ to give that support. Sometimes it comes from the unlikely, or to be more accurate, the likely but from a different group or even good friends from another church.

Isn’t it good that the source of ALL comfort is God Himself, and although we may receive that Blessing from an unexpected or unlikely source, it originated directly from God.

I suppose my concern is this. If or when someone in any church fellowship is ill, or feeling overwhelmed and down, shouldn’t their church folks be the ones to step in first? I believe that our God is omniscient and when He sees one of His children in need, that comfort will be given when it is needed most, and by the best person or group. That may be from our own church, but on the other hand, it may not, and God will use the willing and available.

When you know your friend is absent from their place in church, are we first of all able, and secondly willing to step in to provide that Godly comfort? After all, God will supply that need one way or another. Another thought. What does it say about our own fellowship if we so often are not the ones stepping up to be either willing or able, because you will always hear our call? Lord, help me to be an extension of your comfort. After all…...

Listen! The Lord’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call. Isaiah59:1NLT

Sheer Silence

...and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. 1Kings19:12NRSV

Do you ever crave silence? Perhaps a silence where you can think straight, and avoid the daily distractions? We know the story where Elijah the strong and powerful prophet of God came up against an evil woman called Jezebel who promised to make his life a misery, to the point of death. The great Elijah ran scared for his life. We smile at this sometimes, but which of us has never run from a test or temptation instead of facing it down? So let’s not be too hasty in judgement.

God used the elements of nature to get his attention. An earthquake, but no success. A fire, and still Elijah wasn’t able to hear God. But when it was ‘sheer silence’, and there were no other distractions, Elijah heard the voice of God, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”. Elijah was faced with the same question by God in v9 and v13, almost as though it didn’t get through the first time, or it needed to be emphasised. God certainly wanted his attention, and only then Elijah got the message.

God doesn’t always get through to us in the big things either. The Crusades, or the Campaigns (Revivals to our American cousins), or the Gospel Music Concerts, all with their noisy Biblical content (all good of course!). However, many times God needs us to be quiet before Him, without the distractions that noise can bring. Very recently, a close friend suffered a particularly bad couple of days in his health, but in that time there wasn’t much conversation or prayer going on between him and God. He was too busy trying to find a way to feel better as each passing hour seemed more painful than the last. When the ‘noise’ of the pain reduced and eased, that was when God spoke. But not only that, it was when my friend was in a place to listen.

Where and when would be the best place and time for God to speak clearly to you, and more importantly, for you to be able to listen?

Small Talk

I wasn’t feeling too well at all, and I was worried that the pain in my abdomen could have been something serious, so I went to A&E, gave my details and waited. And waited. And waited. Eventually the nurse showed me into a cubicle and told me to wait for the doctor on duty, who would be with me shortly. In all this time the pain was getting more acute, and my mind was turning somersaults. I was even more convinced something serious was wrong, but at least I was in the right place for treatment. They might even admit me to an acute ward.

Sure enough, this nice young doctor breezed in, sat down, and looked at me but was silent for what felt like ages. He asked me what my hobbies were, and what kind of family I came from. Then he asked my favourite colour, and football team. All the while he was smiling a big broad, friendly smile. Right, he said let’s get down to it, and I thought my problem was in the caring hands of the right person. Did you see the TV last night? What about the game? Did you see the second goal? That should never have been allowed, but these referees don’t always see everything, do they? They can’t possibly have eyes in the back of their heads.

Now I was getting panic stricken and the pain was unbearable. Fearing the worst, I blurted out, but what about my pain doctor? Can you help me? The young doctor looked puzzled and answered slowly, so that I could get the full import of his words. I am not long out of medical school, and the most important thing they taught us was to make the patient feel at ease. Strike up a conversation. Find a common subject to discuss. Ask about their family. Do you not see? That’s what I have been doing. It is essential that we make the patient feel comfortable in our company, and be able to think they can trust us.

But, but, what about my stomach pain I asked in irritation? Oh, he said, you’ll have to come back another time because we haven’t really got to know each other well enough just yet. Maybe then, we will be at a point where you can feel easier with me, and I can feel able to help you. Goodbye, please make another appointment on the way out. NEXT! (Ok, it’s a story, but you get my drift!)

The point? Don’t we want the doctor to do his job? And the Lawyer? And the Policeman or Policewoman? Right to the Plumber and Electrician in your home to fix a problem. You don’t want the small, friendly chit chat when your sink is backed up. You don’t want the tradesman to come back another time when he gets to know us better, do we? Stupid question. Why then is it wrong for us to expect our Pastors and church leaders to get down to their calling and point out our Spiritual areas of weakness as soon as they can? It isn’t really necessary to get alongside us with long small talk when we grieve and mourn. Or when we are facing a lost eternity. Doctor, Lawyer, or Minister, especially Pastors, please focus on the job at hand, or to be more exact, your vocation and calling. We respect you for that alone.

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew10:28NIV

Music

Music is a universal language, and a tool which needs no translation of words sometimes. “If music be the food of love, play on”, is the first line of the play “Twelfth Night”, by William Shakespeare, and he was a man who knew a bit about drama and the human need to be calm.

We have music all around us 24 hours a day, every day. It’s playing in the supermarkets, shopping malls, radio stations dedicated to various genre, clubs, elevators, and you can’t have missed the masses of people walking around with headphones or earbuds in place listening to their favourite singers and bands. These people, whatever their taste in music, and whether you like their taste or not, are good at expressing their thoughts and inner feelings through the medium of music. Yes, it is universal.

Churches make the most of the gifts of music too, and the singing voices of the congregation, lifting their hearts and voices in praise to the Creator is a good example. We know that He is the creator of all things, and that includes music. The uniting fellowship of singing together is special and unique to the family of God. It can lift your spirits, or move you to tears, and we have to thank our musicians for using their talents in this way to foster a spirit of worship.

Good musicians don’t just happen. They didn’t decide one day to pick up an instrument and hey presto, they turned out a melody. A player of any musical instrument will tell you it is hard work, especially at the beginning, because they have to keep at it. Our faith is a bit like that. We don’t reach the fullness of our faith quickly, and in fact we have to practice it daily. There may be times when we don’t feel that God is close, or that he is listening to our prayers, but we have the assurance that He is near, and He knows our frame that we are frail. Don’t give up or lose hope. God is faithful and He will never let us down. I like the way the Good News Bible translates 1 Thessalonians 1:3 when it says…..

For we remember before our God and Father how you put your faith into practice, how your love made you work so hard, and how your hope in our Lord Jesus Christ is firm.

Needs or Wants?

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Philippians4:19NLT

Like you, I have many things on my list of wants. Our culture is driven by the marketing industry who convince us that we can’t live at our best without their products. It can be anything from a sultry perfume to a high performance car, and everything in between. They throw the line and we bite, hook, line and sinker. We are a fickle people.

The best part is when they convince us that these are not luxuries, they are needs to keep pace with everyone around you who probably have these things already. There’s nothing worse they suggest than being left behind. There are so many Jones’s to keep up with, we can’t possibly catch up unless you start now, they say.

We only really know what we need when hit with some kind of serious problem. It could be a health issue, or a financial debt, or a wayward child, or the decision to ask a Nursing Home what they could do for an ailing parent. At the head of all, there is the death of a loved one. At any of these points we are able to tell the difference between the things we need, and the things we want. We can live without the luxuries and we don’t need a marketing guru to tell us otherwise.

The Bible is so true when it tells us clearly, so why is it the last place we look for help?

Caution

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews4:12NIV

When that word ‘Caution’ is posted on a sign, and placed at any location, we ignore it at peril of our lives. There is always good reason for the sign being there because danger is close by and we don’t want to become a statistic. Sadly, it can become like an attraction to the few who want to see and know what all the fuss is about, so they throw caution to the winds (literally) and barge in unprotected and vulnerable.

Sometimes I think it would be a good thing to have a ‘Caution - Read at Your Own Risk’ sticker placed on every Bible in the land because then we might take more notice of the personal dangers within its pages. Sure, the Bible is a story of God’s love, and our redemption story runs through it like a gold thread, but the Scriptures also come with warnings.

You will find out who you are as you read. You will see the things you did in a new light, and this will make you uneasy. You will become aware of just how serious a repeat offender of God’s laws you are, and most of all it will become evident how much your salvation cost the Son of God, to make you and me free. It will convict of sin through the work of the Holy Spirit so beware.

A personal story will illustrate this clearly. My late wife had one Bible as a teenager which she was presented with for perfect attendance at Sunday School. Not long after we started to go out together, she proudly showed me her Bible. It was her treasure she said. But I noticed water marks on one of the pages, and foolishly suggested that she had let it drop in a rain puddle. With a smile and a tear, she told me that the chapter she had been reading opened her eyes to her sin, and her Saviour. The water marks were her tears, falling onto the pages of her little Bible as she read and couldn’t stop. For her, it was the power of John chapter 14. Did you have a turnaround Bible passage or life experience?

The message is simple. Read the Bible and prepare to be changed!

Vitamin Deficiency

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. Luke18:1NIV

I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. Psalm34:1NIV

Are you a good patient? Or do you do your own thing when it comes to your health? Let me guess. You go to the health shop and after a lot of thought you buy some vitamins because your body needs some help. You could have an underlying condition, or you are maybe just getting older and you need these vitamins to balance your body’s needs.

More than that, you go to the doctor and she gives you a wee pill on prescription for an ongoing condition, and when you ask how long you will need to take them, she says you will always need to control your cholesterol or blood pressure.

Let me guess, when you get the vitamins and the prescription, as soon as you get home, you take them. But then you stop. Well, you think, I took the pills but now you are surprised to be feeling as bad as ever during the days and weeks ahead. I am joking. Of course you are not that stupid because you wouldn’t be so short sighted. To get the benefit, you need to keep taking the medicine, right?

So, what makes us think we should have a part-time relationship with talking to God, praising Him, or reading His Word? We wouldn’t be so silly with our bodily health, so it makes sense that we need to look after our spiritual health, and we do that in the best way possible. There are no shortcuts in dealing with temptation or those sinful desires. We must keep on taking the spiritual medicine! During my Sunday School days we would sing “Read your Bible, Pray every day, and you’ll grow, grow, grow”. In case you still haven’t got the message, let me leave you with this verse which says it best.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1Thessalonians5:16-18NKJV

Renewal

Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:30,31NLT

You wearied yourself by such going about, but you would not say, “It is hopeless.” You found renewal of your strength, and so you did not faint. Isaiah57:10

We are all subject to the troubles and worries of the day as we work our way through this life.

The words of an old Gospel song come to mind:
Living below in this old sinful world
Hardly a comfort can afford
Striving alone to face temptation so
Now won't you tell me
Where could I go but to the Lord
Where could I go oh where could I go
Seeking the refuge for my soul
Needing a friend to save me in the end
Won't you tell me
Where could I go but to the Lord

As we get that little bit older, these verses become more pointed, and important. Energy and stamina are the bywords of youth when you can take on the world. But now, you are left with little energy and lots of memories. What was once a dreaded time of life, has now become welcome to say the least.

The renewal the prophet speaks about is not to take us back to the strength of our youth, although that would be good, it talks about having a renewal of energy to take us through each and every day without flagging or falling. Whether you are a younger person, or an older, more mature believer, we will all have enough strength for the needs of the day. When you are having a hard time and your faith is being tested, whether young or old, Philippians 4:19 assures us that our “God will supply all your need according to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus.” His strength can never be exhausted! Amen to that thought.

Easy Grace?

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians2:8,9NIV

...if you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. Romans10:9,10NIV

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. 1John1:8-10NIV

We know that grace is the free and unmerited gift from God which secures our salvation. We equally know that there is nothing we can do to earn that salvation. Our “good works are as filthy rags” it says in Isaiah 64:6. So, our salvation is both free and we can’t earn it. In fact we can’t even put a deposit on it to help out. Yet that same free gift to us, cost the Son of God dear. The cost was His life on the cross, but then we also know that He rose from the grave, defeating death forever, and for us His followers. What great Grace!

Ok, I hear you say, you are saying things we already know. True, but I fear we are falling into a trap which is so easy to do as regular church goers. I fear we may become guilty of accepting this amazing free gift of God’s grace, and then….that’s it. Nothing. No change. No difference in our life or lifestyle. We certainly don’t try to earn our salvation, but neither do we expect, or even allow, God to do a work of change in our lives. So we are effectively no different after salvation than we were before. Is that what our Saviour wants from us? Nothing? I think not.

Our verses talk about confessing our sins, and professing our salvation. You can’t confess or profess if you are still unchanged and holding on to the old ways. Our salvation is then on a ‘shoogly peg’ to use an old Scottish phrase. In fact, our salvation is really in doubt. Make certain you confess and profess, and only then is salvation sure and the heart pure. Any and all good works from this point on are given from a heart of love. Not trying to earn salvation, but because of the certainty of our salvation. Amen and Amen.

The Mighty Fallen

How the mighty have fallen! ‘Tell it not in Gath, proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines be glad, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised rejoice. 2Samuel1:19,20NIV

All state schools in Scotland will be supported to teach LGBTI equality and inclusion across different age groups and subjects, according to the Scottish government. This includes an understanding of LGBTI terminology and identities and recognising and understanding homophobia, biphobia and transphobia. BBC News 10 Nov 2018

At one time, not so very long ago, Scotland was known as a country of the Bible. A Bible believing nation built and sustained by the precepts as laid down in the Holy Scriptures. Of course there were exceptions, but in general, the church held the people to a high standard as understood by the Bible. Now, some decades later the words of 2nd Samuel ring so true. “How the mighty have fallen” says it so well, and I believe we are in the death throes to extinction and oblivion. Strong words you think? Tell me how.

Just as it was in the Old Testament, so it is today. The prophet didn’t want the neighbouring districts of Gath and Ashkelon to know how far Israel had fallen, why? Because they were embarrassed at the depth of the fall. It was true then, and it is true again today. Read the BBC report and quietly weep.

Scotland has pulled off a first, because no other country in the world does this, or has gone so far to appease the Stonewall gay community. Your children and grandchildren in Primary School will be introduced in word and graphic image of the LGBTI life and lifestyle. This is to make it easier for your 6 to 11 year olds to decide if they really are a boy or a girl, or indeed anything else in between. Instead of playing games in the park or street, or running around with your pals, these young minds and bodies will instead be grappling with the insane and unnatural world of homosexuality, and whether or not their birth certificate has the correct gender recorded.

This once proud Scot is now ashamed of the nation of his birth, and just like the days of old, instead of Gath and Ashkelon, I don’t want my neighbouring nations to know what our own government has done. Sadly, it may be more true to say that we, the people, are responsible for not standing up against it when we saw it coming. Our grandchildren will not thank us, and they will rightly wonder why we did nothing. I don’t know about you, but I don’t have a good answer for that question. Lord, help me, and my nation!

Fake News

Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John14:6

“Fake news” is sometimes also referred to as “alternative truth” although any similarity between them is non existent. President Trump brought the phrases to the fore as he tries to generate his own version of news and truth. It boils down to this: If President Trump says something, you can trust it as the pure truth. This alarms me because of the verse above.

No one likes bad things to be said about them, even if they are true, and the most powerful man in the free world is no exception. So when the media runs any article that he doesn’t like or agree with, he calls it fake or untrue. It then boils down to this: Who do you believe? If you say something long enough and loud enough, it will be trusted as truth. Donald J Trump knows this, and let’s be honest, this is a man who doesn’t like to be wrong. He made his empire by hard business negotiations with similarly hard businessmen. Can the same rules be used when governing a nation?

Here’s what my problem boils down to. If someone claims to be a ‘born again’ Christian, but links truth to things like the media, instead of a person like Jesus, there is something far wrong. Truth is found in the person of the Son of God, and this most basic of all truths has been missed. So my ability to trust that same someone with anything else is reduced to say the least, and it doesn’t matter who that someone is. Jesus knows all about fake news because He suffered from His own fake news and trial before His unjust crucifixion. So, I think He is well placed to judge what truth and justice are, and it will never come under the fake category. Another thought. If you profess to be a Christian, and use or peddle fake and misleading news to your own ends and benefit, God’s perfect justice will take care of it ultimately and eternally. That’s a lot longer than any 4 or 8 year term of office, and worth a long hard look in the mirror.

Our Own Good

Sometimes we do things for no other reason than for our own good. We don’t have to justify it to anyone because we think it’s the right and best thing to do. We don’t expect someone else to know better, and in a sense we don’t really care what they think.

Have you ever gone on a diet? Not because you were advised by a doctor, but because you thought you needed to shed a few pounds? What about giving up some sweet things, or bread, or starch, or fat? Something that you would benefit from and could see the difference in your waistline? What about cigarettes? We now know that nicotine is highly addictive, so what if we decide to do ourselves some good and cut down or even take all the help available to quit? It even has a spin off to our children and grandchildren who now don’t have to inhale our second hand smoke. Then there’s alcohol. Do you know, or have you ever been close to an alcoholic? One who will spend his or her last penny in the pub, while the kids at home go hungry? Do you think it’s a good thing for that person to do something for their own good? Ask anyone who has lived in a home alongside an alcoholic husband, wife, son or even daughter.

There are fifty two weeks in the year, but some would suggest that you can only do these good things within forty six of those weeks. The other six are out of bounds. Why? Because they are the Lenten weeks in the run up to Resurrection Sunday. If we do anything for our own good and those near to us in these six weeks, and you are a Protestant Christian who believes in the Reformation, somehow we are seen as having sold out to Catholicism by taking part in one of their rituals of giving something up.

I would suggest any of these actions taken for our own good, even during Lent, should be seen as a benefit, and certainly would not affect our standing before God, who after all is the only one who knows our heart, and when and why we are doing this small piece of personal good to and for our own body, and that of others around us whether it is Lent or not!

You want to do some good for yourself, or your family? Then don’t check the calendar first!

Abundant Life

I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John10:9,10

I think we need to ‘KISS’ these verses. Let’s Keep It So Simple! And look at the content and context. Jesus came to this earth, and into the Christian’s heart to give him/her life, but not just any life, it’s abundant life. Some translations describe it as overflowing life, and that’s extraordinary living. Who would not want that? Or to put it another way, why would anyone want to pour cold water on this promise?

The phrase “The thief comes only to steal” is a clue to who would want to spoil the Christian’s full and abundant life, and it is a thief. Someone who would steal your joy. The trouble is that our abundant life can be most in jeopardy and stolen by other christians who will decide (for you) that you are not living your life correctly. Perhaps you are watching the wrong Christian TV programs and movies, or reading the wrong inspirational books, enjoying the wrong Christian music, or even listening to the wrong Christian pastors and leaders. This is being done on an industrial internet scale by those who would want to mould you into their image of who God is to them, and by extension, should be to you too. However, I hope you can hold on to the fact that as Christians we have abundant life, and as the following verses confirm it is full of joy and gladness. I for one need to hold on to my future reward which is great in heaven. Amen, and thank you Lord for the positive message of the Gospel which grows in joy, rejoicing, and abundant life.

And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah8:10

Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew5:11,12

Joy

These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. John15:11NIV

And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah8:10NIV

A thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I came to give life—life that is full and good. John10:10NIV

The type of joy that comes from the peace that only God can give is ours as faithful servants. The Bible is full of references to the uplifting joy of the Lord, and we do well to remember this. The theme runs through the old and new testaments, so it is an important word for us to hear and obey.

There are those outside the family of God who want to rob you of this happiness, and we must not allow them to get a foothold. It would be a thief who would want to rob us of our positive outlook on life, and sadly there are thieves in the church too. Instead of emphasising and concentrating on the joy that salvation brings, they would want to point to the ‘prophets of doom’ which they see as more important than the joy itself.

You know the type. So and so is a false prophet, and a teacher from the devil, parading as a christian. Beware of him or her, they will lead you astray. They are dangerous and to be avoided at all costs. Disguised as a wolf in sheep’s clothing, they appear in such a way that you wouldn’t know you are being taken in. But it’s ok they say, I am here to keep you right, because I know who the good guys are and the bad ones too. Listen to me and I will keep you right because I have seen the evidence on the internet, based on the truth of the Scripture of course. If anything will rob your joy, it is this kind of thief.

When the authorities are training to spot a counterfeit, they check the genuine article over and over again until they know it completely. They do not round up every false copy and scrutinise them one by one. There are too many, so they concentrate their attention on the original, only and always. What a lesson. Maybe we should take less time to look for the fakes, and only and always scrutinise Jesus Christ the original. That way, our joy will never be in danger of being diminished or even stolen!

Asia Bibi

**Alert: Some may be upset with the following post**

In the highly majority Muslim, Islamic country of Pakistan, a young Christian woman has been sentenced to death, held in death row for eight years, and her alleged crime was one of blasphemy against Islam. Happily her sentence has been overturned by Pakistan’s top court, but sadly her life is probably in more danger than ever before, and to top it off she has been barred from leaving the country where there are riots boiling over, demanding her death.

We are often told not to judge one bad incidence on all members of a faith group like the Islamic/Muslim believers. But when there are tens of thousands of people taking to the streets insisting that the death penalty is enforced on one woman, if not by the courts, then by their own hands, then that’s the same thing. Let me get this right. One slight Christian woman in jail for 8 years, and under the order of capital punishment, versus several thousands of marauding Muslims baying for her blood. Now tell me again why I shouldn’t judge the false religion of Islam when the odds against her are 50,000+ to 1, and believe they are all basically and fundamentally the same?

Asia’s husband is asking for asylum, and since they are not allowed to leave the country what do you think will happen? Yes, trial by mob rule when they get their hands on this innocent woman. They are already protesting carrying placards, showing her head in a noose. All the government needs to do now…. is nothing, and their little problem woman conveniently will ‘go away’. To Asia Bibi’s credit, in spite of all that has been happening to her, and around her, she has not renounced her faith. Doesn’t that strong, unwavering faith put you and me to shame? It should!

I am left wondering what the so called Christian countries are doing to help this woman and her husband. Probably not very much, and almost certainly the same as the Pakistani government. Not very much. It goes to confirm that we’re not much of a Christian country any more.

Good Way First

This is what the Lord says: ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. Jeremiah6:16NIV

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness… Matthew6:33NIV

There are many ways out there, and when you are young there is the tendency to try a few of them without thinking of the consequences, or where they will end up. Everyone who is older, has been young once, but sometimes our younger folks don’t realise that, or they seem to think it was different way back then in the dark ages! Spoiler alert. It wasn’t any different!

The saying ‘older and wiser’ is there for a reason, and should not be discounted. Wiser doesn’t mean educated with a diploma, but experienced by virtue of the school of hard knocks graduated with a first class honours degree. I don’t say every older person has tried every road or path in life, but between us we have walked a good few. Bad destinations that you don’t recognise while you are having fun. Rough terrain but you know you can handle it. Peaks and hills that tire you out, but don’t worry there’s always tomorrow morning to sleep it off. And you will always find ‘friends’ who will help you try out as many of these paths as you can, after all you are only young once, right? Yes, I have heard it before.

You don’t really need to know it from the Bible although it is very clear there, but that piece of common sense we all have tells us that it is better to find the good way, and not to waste our life searching for the best of a bad bunch of misleading paths. Can I let you into a secret? Taking the good way really doesn’t rob you of fun, or a worthwhile experience. It’s true. The Bible puts it as ‘rest for your souls’ but that can’t be a bad thing, can it? Who, in this life, doesn’t want some peace at any age?

The key question is how do we find that good way, and know it for sure? Spoiler alert number 2. It’s using more common sense, but it might help to know the rest of the text at the top of the post. You don’t need to be educated to understand the meaning, so here it is…..

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness… and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew6:33NIV. Now tell me, how good is that? I’ll tell you, it’s unbeatable!

Just Talk?

These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Deuteronomy6:6-7NIV

Our biggest, best, and most important mission field is our family. Not the world, or the nation, or even the community, all of which are important, but not as significant as our children. The biggest influence on any child is their mum and dad, especially in their younger formative years, so what are we doing about it?

I don’t know about your church fellowship, but I was used to missionary meetings which always featured brave men and women who left home and family to take the gospel to the poor tribes in the third world. What amazing stories they told, but every convert was a tough challenge, and certainly not easy. Going into a culture which is contrary to the Christian Gospel, and going against the grain for every convert is not easy and every one should be commended.

We are not all called to be missionaries, preachers, or teachers, but every parent has the ability to tell their children about the love of God, and better still, they can show that love first hand. The impact is clear and unmistakeable, and our verse shows the importance. But why do it at all? Taking the following verses in context shows God’s heart and intention for using the family unit as the mission field that most adults can identify with, and He gives us good reason to talk so that we don’t forget the Lord. Just talk with your family, and walk the talk!

When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you – a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant – then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. Deuteronomy6:10-12NIV

Effort or Works?

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8,9NIV

We are so used to quoting these verses while thinking about those good works of charity outside the doors of our church. Things like, running a food bank, visiting the sick, working with the homeless, and there are other good works which a Christian will be involved with. Our good works in the community come from a heart of faith and we know they do not give us salvation. But what about ‘good works’ inside the doors of the church itself?

I would suggest that there could be an expectation or requirement of some good works inside the church too. There are some well known denominations and sects which openly operate on the principle of good works being necessary for salvation, but in a Bible believing evangelical church? Surely not?

Recently I became aware of the expected effort being placed on a congregation to behave in a certain prescribed way during the worship time. More effort should be placed on things like hand clapping, raising hands, swaying, bouncing on the spot, and generally singing with more expression, whether you were comfortable with it or not. All this while the leader is encouraging the folks with words like, “C’mon church” during the song. Granted, this mainly comes from some online mega-churches, but are we slowly in danger of becoming more like this model ourselves? Is the worship time starting to take over from the preaching of the Word? Is this not like the tail wagging the dog??

The Emperor

You know the story. The Emperor desperately wants and needs to be seen as superior and special in the eyes of his subjects, so he gathers his advisers together to come up with a plan which will do just that. Ideas come thick and fast, but nothing suits the Emperor. Until, that is, one of the courtiers brings in a new wardrobe of clothes, and this leader loves new threads above everything else. As he peers at the adviser’s arms, over which these new clothes are draped, he utters the words, “I don’t see any new clothes, there are no new clothes”.

The rest of the story is legend. The courtier convinces the Emperor that these are the finest clothing lines that have ever been produced, and his staff and subjects will be beside themselves when he goes out in public. The Emperor is convinced, and not only that, everyone else is told that they cannot see them because they are so fine. Word gets around that their leader is going on a procession through his Empire to the adulation of his subjects. To a man and woman everyone convinces themselves that these clothes are so fine, they are magical. The crowds ooh and aah as he passes by because no one wants to admit to being so backward that they cannot see these fine clothes. In the end it takes a small boy, who shouts in innocence, “the Emperor has no clothes!” The game was up, and it took a little lad who hadn’t been told and convinced that the clothing was special.

Oh how we are like the crowds gasping at the finely dressed Emperor, convinced that he is wearing the best suit that money can buy. To say anything else would tell everyone that we were the stupid ones. So we stay silent as the new fad, phase, program, or advance is rolled out to the adoring crowds. Now put yourself in the church seat or pew, when a newbie comes in to sweep clean, and introduces a new way to do your church. You are the ‘simple faithful Christian’ and they are the enthusiastic graduate who has convinced everyone that their way is best and will work a treat (and they have the diploma to prove it).

Do we, like the crowds around the Emperor in his underwear, accept the patently obvious confusion, or wait for a young believer to shout the thing that we all know to be the truth, that the new program or system is without the warmth of decent covering and has left us hanging out cold and dry? What?? This isn’t the first time??? It has happened before????