It`s March, and here in England`s West Midlands, we are still getting snow, and its very cold. It has been, a long cold winter. We just yearn for warm weather, for the sun to shine brightly, for that spring, feel good factor.
In our churches how do we feel? Not much happening? Discouraged? It all seems so dead? etc etc? In my life time, and my thirty years in ministry, there seems to be a decline in evangelical Christianity. Many churches see poor attendence, struggle financialy, feel the Holy Spirit has deserted them. Not in all cases, but my guess is, many!
Here in Britain the churches seem to have an up-hill struggle, or it often feels that way? It`s like, we have been enduring a long spiritual winter, and yearn for a spiritual spring. Oh, we can be busy, various outreaches, etc. All good, we should be working. But maybe seeing little fruit for our work?
Studying church history can be a comfort, as we see recorded, the ups and downs of the church historical. Times of great spiritual drought are often followed by, new spiritial life suddenly springing up. In the time of the Wesleys and George Whitefeild, and others, great spiritual awakening, revival, spread through this nation, and in north America. God used some very ordinary people, in an extrordinary way.
My favourite time of the year is Easter. First, winter is past and we have the promise of summer. Secondly, I'm reminded that Christ is risen and new hope is born.
Dietrich Bonhoffer in his Doctrinal Thesis "Sanctorum Communio" said this, amongst many other good things, "In order for the church, which already is completed in Christ, to build itself up in time, the will of God must be actualized ever anew, now no longer in a fundamental way for all people, but in the personal appropriation of the individual."
We often feel, "Oh I wish God would do something in the church!" We must remember the church is made up of individual parts, of which we are one! Great movements of God's Holy Spirit, often start in one, or just a few people. So, maybe, the question is not, can God do something in the church?, but can God do something in me, through me? The Bible, and church histories, answer to this is,'Yes He can!'
We often look for, ministers, evangelists, who can walk on water. In the Bible, Jesus did walk on water. He walked towards a boat full of very ordinary people, calmed a storm, and eventualy sent them out, to do His work, to found the church. I can see myself in those men, "Doubting Thomas", "Peter the denier of Christ" and so on. Jesus said to them, "Its your turn now, but don`t worry, I'll be with you." He gave them the Holy Spirit, and set them to work. The result is, that today, in 21st century England, and wherever you might be, there is a church, and you are part of it.
Will there be a spiritual spring? If we are waiting for another John Wesley, etc, the answer is probably, "No!" But, if we see ourselves as His disciples today then there is great hope.
The church is as cold, or as dead, as I am, as you are. God can do great things?, this has never been in doubt. But, we need to realize, it`s through me, through you, that He will work.
Dont pray, "Lord raise up some great Christians", but, "God, use me". From such a beginning great works of God begin.
Monday, 11 March 2013
Monday, 26 November 2012
Reality in the church?
I find it hard, when in church, to beleive the folks are taking things seriously? We, churches in general, seem happy people, lots of rejoicing goes on, praise is upbeat. When was the last time you were in church and people were weaping for this worlds suffering? When last did someone give a testemony of failure? of doubt? of spiritual pain? When was the last time we were real? Or is everything soo truely positive, that all we can do is praise, smile and be happy?
Now I am not suggesting we become miseries, hold pity parties. But feel there is no room given for expressions of pain etc. Am I correct in this?
On British railways the suicides have increased alarmingly, theres a lot of pain out there.
There is a lot of pain in the church, amongst christians, but its very seldome shared. Is this because people feel discouraged to do so?
Yes, yes, God is to be praised for all His goodness to us, and we are to rejoice, be happy. But as we approach Christmas, dont we realise many arent Merry? Many hate Christmas simply because their pain feels magnified by all the prosperity, joviality, that seems to surround them. Actualy, very little of our modern Christmas has anything to do with the birth of Christ. His were a poor family, He was born in a cattle shed.
The truth might be, in our churches, we have produced an atmosphere of false, forced, happiness, that leaves the wounded and hurt feeling rather left out. Lets be totaly honest christian friends, dont we feel we need to hide any pain, worries, behind a positive christian smile?
When were the disciples at their most real? May I suggest, when their world was turned upside down, when their Saviour lay in the tomb, when they hid in fear from the authorities? When their hearts were brocken and filled with fear? Like them, we all go through very dark times, we feel at a loss, fearfull, etc. Is there room in our churches for us when we are in a valley of despair?
The Christian message must be a positive one, and it is. But those listening to it arent always positive due to their experiances. Soo, when do we start openly weeping with those who weep?
My appeal to the church, to Christians, please get real this Christmas, and at all times, help those in pain to express their pain, and do something about it.
Now I am not suggesting we become miseries, hold pity parties. But feel there is no room given for expressions of pain etc. Am I correct in this?
On British railways the suicides have increased alarmingly, theres a lot of pain out there.
There is a lot of pain in the church, amongst christians, but its very seldome shared. Is this because people feel discouraged to do so?
Yes, yes, God is to be praised for all His goodness to us, and we are to rejoice, be happy. But as we approach Christmas, dont we realise many arent Merry? Many hate Christmas simply because their pain feels magnified by all the prosperity, joviality, that seems to surround them. Actualy, very little of our modern Christmas has anything to do with the birth of Christ. His were a poor family, He was born in a cattle shed.
The truth might be, in our churches, we have produced an atmosphere of false, forced, happiness, that leaves the wounded and hurt feeling rather left out. Lets be totaly honest christian friends, dont we feel we need to hide any pain, worries, behind a positive christian smile?
When were the disciples at their most real? May I suggest, when their world was turned upside down, when their Saviour lay in the tomb, when they hid in fear from the authorities? When their hearts were brocken and filled with fear? Like them, we all go through very dark times, we feel at a loss, fearfull, etc. Is there room in our churches for us when we are in a valley of despair?
The Christian message must be a positive one, and it is. But those listening to it arent always positive due to their experiances. Soo, when do we start openly weeping with those who weep?
My appeal to the church, to Christians, please get real this Christmas, and at all times, help those in pain to express their pain, and do something about it.
Wednesday, 31 October 2012
The Danger of Theistic Evolution.
Today we find many christians who beleive in evelution. Oh they beleive God created, but by means of evelution. The Geneses narrative is just a story, to them, given by God to people who couldent understand it all fully.
Now I coulder care less how God created, whether He took six seconds, minets, 600 years, etc. That we are created is what matters. OK thus far Theistic evolutunionists and I agree.
Now as reguards to evolution. I'm quite amazed at how many scientists, not just creationists, see a problem with the whole theory of evolution. So we can say, for many scientists, the jury is still out on this one. It still remains a theory, one thats mathamaticaly immpossible. Just work out the odds for all evolutionists claim!
But many christions dont want to appear dumb in this world, beleiving evolution must be true, after all its taught in universities, so they hold to evolution as God's way of creating. But, "Houston we have a problem." These same christians also beleive that God dosent lie. After all they accept His Word that He loves them.
Why does God say six days? Why pick this time scale? Maybe He actualy did creat in six days, a time scale we could grasp and understand. To presume God had to creat through evolutionary proccess and time scale, is limiting God to our modern scientific preferance. So we might fit in with the world view.
God spoke and creation happened, Being God He could use any time scale He wants.
However, His Word says "six days". He wants us to beleive what He tells us, He is love, Jesus died for our sins, rose from the grave, is comming back again, etc. So, if He wants us to beleive His Word, why start with a lie? Does God lie, mislead us? Was evolution, so-called, just too difficult for God (Who is God) to explain? Holding this view is to limit God.
I study theology a lot, love it, it makes me realise our God is an amazing big God. His being and power is quite beyond our finite minds. But I trust Him (being God) to tell the truth. If He dosent, we are totaly lost my friends, without any solid hope.
So God says "six days", why He did it in this time scale I have no idea? But He says He did! Soo friends, does God lie? Why should He lie? He after all is God!
Now I coulder care less how God created, whether He took six seconds, minets, 600 years, etc. That we are created is what matters. OK thus far Theistic evolutunionists and I agree.
Now as reguards to evolution. I'm quite amazed at how many scientists, not just creationists, see a problem with the whole theory of evolution. So we can say, for many scientists, the jury is still out on this one. It still remains a theory, one thats mathamaticaly immpossible. Just work out the odds for all evolutionists claim!
But many christions dont want to appear dumb in this world, beleiving evolution must be true, after all its taught in universities, so they hold to evolution as God's way of creating. But, "Houston we have a problem." These same christians also beleive that God dosent lie. After all they accept His Word that He loves them.
Why does God say six days? Why pick this time scale? Maybe He actualy did creat in six days, a time scale we could grasp and understand. To presume God had to creat through evolutionary proccess and time scale, is limiting God to our modern scientific preferance. So we might fit in with the world view.
God spoke and creation happened, Being God He could use any time scale He wants.
However, His Word says "six days". He wants us to beleive what He tells us, He is love, Jesus died for our sins, rose from the grave, is comming back again, etc. So, if He wants us to beleive His Word, why start with a lie? Does God lie, mislead us? Was evolution, so-called, just too difficult for God (Who is God) to explain? Holding this view is to limit God.
I study theology a lot, love it, it makes me realise our God is an amazing big God. His being and power is quite beyond our finite minds. But I trust Him (being God) to tell the truth. If He dosent, we are totaly lost my friends, without any solid hope.
So God says "six days", why He did it in this time scale I have no idea? But He says He did! Soo friends, does God lie? Why should He lie? He after all is God!
Friday, 26 October 2012
Christian Love...does it exist today?
I'm not here attacking "Christian Love" or saying its not obtainable, or even truely shown, by some.
But feel, in general, christians preach this doctrine but have real difficulties in living it. I often have to observe that there is as much love in a pub (bar) as is found in the church.
We study the subject and agree we christians should be more loving than others. Sadly we like to show love while holding to the high ground. By this I mean, to be seen as loving, reasonable, christians. We find it hard, to seek to show love, as failures in this love.
Of course 1 Corinthians chapter 13 is the great passage on christian love. Honestly read and digested it shows christianity of today as sadly laking.
We have fellowship, yes, but often not based on true love.
1. Theological Love.
Here we have a love and respect for those in our theological grouping, thinking, preference. But those who dont think as we do are outside this love type. The brother is "sound" or "is in error".
2. Evangelism Love.
This can be towards a group who share a mission. "We are in it together" sort of thing. But away from the commen aim/task we have little in commen.
I have known people not wanting to be in contact when I have, seemingly, moved from a theological position that they prefer. I guess love never really existed there?
I have known people, who love to be around you when you are the flavour of the month. Who stear clear if you fall from favour.
If I do nothing else in this post, I want to challenge us in reguards to true christian love in the evengelical community? What is "True christian love?", "Are we seeing it?" "Are we showing it?"
The love Bible speaks of it, sacrificial, humbling, honest, all consuming. It it the Feet Washing love, the love that exchanges Heaven for the cross. It is a love that lays down its life for a none deserving other.
I think I have said enough for the present, let others comment, add their thinking.
But feel, in general, christians preach this doctrine but have real difficulties in living it. I often have to observe that there is as much love in a pub (bar) as is found in the church.
We study the subject and agree we christians should be more loving than others. Sadly we like to show love while holding to the high ground. By this I mean, to be seen as loving, reasonable, christians. We find it hard, to seek to show love, as failures in this love.
Of course 1 Corinthians chapter 13 is the great passage on christian love. Honestly read and digested it shows christianity of today as sadly laking.
We have fellowship, yes, but often not based on true love.
1. Theological Love.
Here we have a love and respect for those in our theological grouping, thinking, preference. But those who dont think as we do are outside this love type. The brother is "sound" or "is in error".
2. Evangelism Love.
This can be towards a group who share a mission. "We are in it together" sort of thing. But away from the commen aim/task we have little in commen.
I have known people not wanting to be in contact when I have, seemingly, moved from a theological position that they prefer. I guess love never really existed there?
I have known people, who love to be around you when you are the flavour of the month. Who stear clear if you fall from favour.
If I do nothing else in this post, I want to challenge us in reguards to true christian love in the evengelical community? What is "True christian love?", "Are we seeing it?" "Are we showing it?"
The love Bible speaks of it, sacrificial, humbling, honest, all consuming. It it the Feet Washing love, the love that exchanges Heaven for the cross. It is a love that lays down its life for a none deserving other.
I think I have said enough for the present, let others comment, add their thinking.
Thursday, 13 September 2012
Whats happening with us?
Dureing the summer my wife Christine played piano, once, with church worship group. We are truely blessed with many good talented musicions in our church.
I have helped at the Prayer Tent. We set up this tent in town centre. People can ask for prayer, share their problems, ask questions. Its working well, for which we thank God.
We continue to ask folks to pray for the London City Mission, where Ian ministered for thirty years. They do a great work.
On Sunday we had a good, and needed message on tything. Personaly we beleive strongly in giving a tenth of our income, at least, to Gods work.
Personaly have been challenge in my own private devotions to use time wisely. For thirty years was worked off my feet, and loved it, in my ministry with London City Mission. Now I find I have too much time on my hands, and am concerned to use it wisely.
Church house groups are starting the autumn session, we will be studing the book "The purpose driven church" One hears all kinds of reports about this book, will just have to wait and see how it goes?
Our church is healthy increasing in numbers, both in membership, and attending. We rejoice and thank God for this.
Lately been thinking, as we christians say we beleive in God, the Bible, why dont more of us actualy obey Gods Word fully? The world looks for sincerity in christians, and often dosent see it!
Each day, I make a point of thanking and praising God. Many times I can feel soo down praise is last thing on my mind. But I do it, because God deserves, is worthy, of my praise, however I may be feeling.
Well enough for today. God bless, guide, and be with you all.
I have helped at the Prayer Tent. We set up this tent in town centre. People can ask for prayer, share their problems, ask questions. Its working well, for which we thank God.
We continue to ask folks to pray for the London City Mission, where Ian ministered for thirty years. They do a great work.
On Sunday we had a good, and needed message on tything. Personaly we beleive strongly in giving a tenth of our income, at least, to Gods work.
Personaly have been challenge in my own private devotions to use time wisely. For thirty years was worked off my feet, and loved it, in my ministry with London City Mission. Now I find I have too much time on my hands, and am concerned to use it wisely.
Church house groups are starting the autumn session, we will be studing the book "The purpose driven church" One hears all kinds of reports about this book, will just have to wait and see how it goes?
Our church is healthy increasing in numbers, both in membership, and attending. We rejoice and thank God for this.
Lately been thinking, as we christians say we beleive in God, the Bible, why dont more of us actualy obey Gods Word fully? The world looks for sincerity in christians, and often dosent see it!
Each day, I make a point of thanking and praising God. Many times I can feel soo down praise is last thing on my mind. But I do it, because God deserves, is worthy, of my praise, however I may be feeling.
Well enough for today. God bless, guide, and be with you all.
Monday, 3 September 2012
The truth, the whole truth etc.
Seems to me that today many modern christians dont trust God to tell them the truth in ~His Word (The Bible). They see book of Genesis as a myth, in fact anything that cant be explained by humane wisdom as a mere story.
In Genesis the serpent (Saten) says to Adam and Eve, "Did God say?" And since that day he has been saying to mankind, "Did God really say that? Did that really happen?" And mankind, including profesing christians, has sought the worlds wisdom, to explain away much of the Bible.
So, Who is God? Is He the Creater of all things? Is He the Saviour? Is He all powerfull? omnipresent? etc? Now if God is God, and I truely beleive He is, surely He is not limited to our understanding, our science? I mean, why do folks get up-tight about creation being in six days, as God, in the Bible, tells us?
But, and here is the crux of the matter, Can God be trusted to tell us the truth? Surely all those stories in the Bible, some find hard to beleive, are easily possible with God?
I refuse to beleive in a God who is limited,...He wouldent be God if He was!
Maybe your God is too small? limited? Surely science is right?..though it once told us the world was flat! And in future it will tell us other things, often being mistaken.
So who do we beleive? Man, who says miracles are myths? Or God, Who is almighty, and totaly honest? If God isnt honest, then did Lord Jesus really pay price for our sins on Calvery's cross? Ah but friends, thats exactly what Saten wants you to beleive.
For me, well I will trust the Lord, and what He says. Anyone going to join me in doing this?
In Genesis the serpent (Saten) says to Adam and Eve, "Did God say?" And since that day he has been saying to mankind, "Did God really say that? Did that really happen?" And mankind, including profesing christians, has sought the worlds wisdom, to explain away much of the Bible.
So, Who is God? Is He the Creater of all things? Is He the Saviour? Is He all powerfull? omnipresent? etc? Now if God is God, and I truely beleive He is, surely He is not limited to our understanding, our science? I mean, why do folks get up-tight about creation being in six days, as God, in the Bible, tells us?
But, and here is the crux of the matter, Can God be trusted to tell us the truth? Surely all those stories in the Bible, some find hard to beleive, are easily possible with God?
I refuse to beleive in a God who is limited,...He wouldent be God if He was!
Maybe your God is too small? limited? Surely science is right?..though it once told us the world was flat! And in future it will tell us other things, often being mistaken.
So who do we beleive? Man, who says miracles are myths? Or God, Who is almighty, and totaly honest? If God isnt honest, then did Lord Jesus really pay price for our sins on Calvery's cross? Ah but friends, thats exactly what Saten wants you to beleive.
For me, well I will trust the Lord, and what He says. Anyone going to join me in doing this?
Friday, 17 August 2012
American politics And President Obama????
I gather my American friends have an ellection in November. Much of what I get on the internet from over the pond, is American political stuff, mostly anti Obama. Now I sure am not going to give American friends advice on which way to vote, hey I'm British what would I know? ;)
Has President Obama a valid American birth certificate? Is he not very kind to, distant, relatives in Africa? I honestly havent a clue, and actualy dont care over much. Sincere appologies to all American friends.
What I do feel is, Thank God I'm not the American President, everything about a presidents life comes under a micrascope. I really really wouldent want people to know everything about my life, honestly there is too much bad stuff there :(
But here is a thought....Do we realise our lives come under God's scrutiny more than any American Presidents does in the media? I mean, this is awfull, God actualy knows everything about me, us. I mean all the baaaaaad stuff, the embarrasing stuff, etc etc etc.
Would any of us run in an ellection if every detail of our lives would be made known to the voters?
I guess if that could happen no one would take up politics, I sure wouldent.
We judge others in a way we wouldent like to be judged ourselfs. Think about it...God knows everything about us, and He gets to judge us! This my friends is a very sobbering thought.
Has President Obama a valid American birth certificate? Is he not very kind to, distant, relatives in Africa? I honestly havent a clue, and actualy dont care over much. Sincere appologies to all American friends.
What I do feel is, Thank God I'm not the American President, everything about a presidents life comes under a micrascope. I really really wouldent want people to know everything about my life, honestly there is too much bad stuff there :(
But here is a thought....Do we realise our lives come under God's scrutiny more than any American Presidents does in the media? I mean, this is awfull, God actualy knows everything about me, us. I mean all the baaaaaad stuff, the embarrasing stuff, etc etc etc.
Would any of us run in an ellection if every detail of our lives would be made known to the voters?
I guess if that could happen no one would take up politics, I sure wouldent.
We judge others in a way we wouldent like to be judged ourselfs. Think about it...God knows everything about us, and He gets to judge us! This my friends is a very sobbering thought.
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