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?

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

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

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

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.”

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.

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!

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.

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

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.”