Washing by the River - Redeeming the Time

Every night at tea time I set my dinner plate on a place mat that has been speaking to me for years - only now am I getting the picture. The place mat has an old image printed on it of my home town. The interesting thing is that the main street and other well known landmarks are all evident even though the image is from over 100 years ago. What really has been catching my eye is the women in the image - all down by the river washing their baskets full of clothes. No automatic washing machines then, not even a scrubbing board - just hour after hour scrubbing by the riverside talking to the other women folk.
Flash forward a century or more and what of all the women folk now - what do they do with all that extra time on their hands now that there is no going down to the river. How will all the free time be filled - watch another sordid episode of Loose Women, the brain numbing Trisha or Property in the Sun?
Don't get me wrong - I am not having a go at women folk. Just the lesson - what are we doing with the free time that all the modern conveniences brings to us - another episode of East Enders, another game on the play station, another game on the Wii.
At least the women at the river side were learning the art of conversation.
What of you and me in 2008 - will we redeem the time? Use those moments to read another chapter, have more time for prayer, have more time to share the joys of our family, talk to the neighbours and tell them the Good news of Christ crucified and risen.

No Little People Francis A. Schaeffer

Bought this book published by Crossway some months ago for a tenner and only now getting round to finishing it off. The book is a collection of Schaeffer's sermons -sixteen in all, which he preached at L'Abri in Switzerland. Some are better than others and most have those definite Schaeffer touches that open up unseen truths. The book is worth buying and reading for the last chapter, Ash Heap Lives. In this he challenges the reader to take a walk through a city dump - it is all the riches that people have wasted their lives gathering - don't waste yours.
This outing with Schaeffer has reminded me of student days at QUB back in the early 1980s when I first discovered Schaeffer and found his writings a lifeline amidst godless philosophy. I could hardly put down the small paperbacks: The God who is there, He is there and is not Silent, True Spirituality and The Church Before the Watching World. If you haven't read them yet - why not cash in a few selection boxes to some younger family member, return a few unwanted gifts to Next - gather the money and happy reading.

The Big Issue

Saturday 29th December’s Telegraph referred to the recent trouble between two Presbyterian ministers in Portadown as a “Presbyterian Pickle” and a “sad saga.” Many no doubt would agree that the whole saga is indeed a sad and sorry one and hope and pray that “good might come of it yet.” It is however a pickle that is easily resolved. Resolution of the matter and indeed good coming from it will only happen when the real issue is seen. To date the whole episode is being portrayed as an issue about gender, or conscience, or discrimination, or accommodation or church law.
While these may be issues that no doubt sell papers and grab the headlines, none of them come anywhere near the real issue. The big issue here is none of these blood pressure raising topics but something much more important. The real issue, the big issue is the authority of Scripture. The real issue is listening to what God says and not what we think might be best.
All of us have a natural and sinful bent that makes us imagine that we know better than God. The sooner we wise up to that fatal flaw in all our hearts the better. The God of the Bible is our loving, caring Creator. There is nothing to know that He does not know. In His love and kindness He has given to us the Scripture of the Old and New Testaments. The self declaring statement of the Bible is that it is the breathed out Word of God. Every sentence, every word, every jot and tittle given by God. “All Scripture is breathed out by God.” (II Timothy 3v16) That means that it is without error, thoroughly dependable and trustworthy for it is His Word. Since it is God’s Word it will not bring any harm, only good to those who will listen in humility.
In His remarkable book God has told us who He is, who we are, what has gone wrong with the world and most of all about the only answer, His Son the Lord Jesus Christ coming to earth to live, die and rise again. The Bible also gives clear instructions as to how the church is to function. God tells us who belongs to the church, how the church is to worship, how the church is to be governed.
In I Timothy chapter 2& 3 God makes it very clear that the leadership of the church is to be in the hands of suitable, Biblically qualified men. God has said that clearly. It is not that He is down on women or that somehow God is a little backward and behind the times. It has nothing to do with culture or the developments of society. God makes it crystal clear that He has set the order on the basis of how He created things and what happened at the Fall.
If only we would listen to what God says and not imagine that we know better. None of us can afford to sit on the fence when it comes to the authority of the Word of God. If the Bible is what it says it is – the breathed out Word of God, then we should to a man, and a woman, close our mouths, open our ears, humble our hearts.
Then there will be peace in the church and blessing for all.

Ebay Values - People are Basically Good

You can only imagine the excitement when I opened an email from ebay to be told that I had achieved five positive feedbacks. Only five more and I will receive my first feedback star (yippy do da!)Apparently all this positive feedback reinforces the ebay values. I was dying to know what that entailed so a followed the link:

We believe people are basically good.
We believe everyone has something to contribute.
We believe that an honest, open environment can bring out the best in people.
We recognise and respect everyone as a unique individual.
We encourage you to treat others the way you want to be treated.

Some interesting stuff! The theology of modern man is the ebay values system. Do they not read the papers or listen to the news. A perverted man murders five women whose lives have broken down - basically good? Do they never ponder their own thoughts - basically good?
According to ebay all we need is an honest and open environment to bring out the best in people - only one problem there - where does one find an honest and open environment when human beings are by nature dishonest.
Wouldn't it be wonderful to have an environment where people were accepted for who they were, where the best in them was drawn out, where all were treated as unique individuals who treated one another as they wished to be treated.
The Lord Jesus told a parable about all this - the Good Samaritan. The person asking the Lord the question that prompted the parable lived by ebay values - he was a works man - do your best and all will be well.
The whole purpose of the Lord's parable is to show that we can't live by ebay like values. The ideals are great but of ourselves we just can't do it. The message of the parable and indeed the Bible is that we are sinnners through and through - we are not good, we don't care what others can contribute, environment doesn't make us bad that is what we are, we don't respect others. We are in big trouble.
So is there any hope? Yes. The Lord Jesus came into the world to save men and women from the guilt and power of sin. In Jesus Christ there is new life. There is forgiveness from all our sin, a wonderful new standing before God, a way to please God and truly serve our fellow human beings in a manner that honours God.
So where will you find an environment where the best in people is brought out? According to the Bible that is what your local church is to be like.
The following verses will give you a true understanding who you are and what the Lord Jesus Christ does for sinners: Mark 7:20-23; Luke 10:25-37, Romans 3:9-31

Just in Case you Missed it

An American TV show just recently gave air time to report on a man who claims to be Jesus Christ. His name is Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda. His growing cult following lavish the former heroin and addictconvict with money and luxury goods. According to the cult leader there is no devil, sin has been destroyed and there is no hell. His followers say that all other religions must be destroyed.
What sadness that men and women, no matter how few, would get sucked in by such nonsense. How deseperately wicked and deceitful is the human heart.

It's All Your Fault Knoxy!

Dr. Harry Burns Scotland's chief medical officer has named and shamed one John Knox as the root cause of Scotland's negativity and cringe culture, "I think John Knox has a heavy burden to bear ... 'Oh doom and gloom'." The same article in the Scotsman (7.10.06) gave the top ten things for making people happy: marriage, sex, exercise, time with pets, gratitude, affirmation, chocolate, material wealth, friends and attainable goals.
No doubt Dr. Burns will be ordering in a load of exercise bikes and a containter or two of Dairy Milk to bring a smile to the face of the Scots.
It is not hard to imagine what sort of "Trumpet Blast" John Knox would make at the state of the land of Scotland and those in positions of authority. He would certainly not be silent - he "never feared the face of any man." What Scotland needs is not the top ten ways to feel a little happier - but be to brought to its knees, confess the horror of its iniquity and cry unto Knox's Saviour for grace and mercy. Only then will the happiness that brings peace to a man's soul come sweeping in over the heather.
Who knows - may in His infinite mercy God will give again to Scotland a Knox or a Wishart - let us pray so.

Amish Murder - God saw it all

"A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning. Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted because they are no more." Matthew 2:18
"In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises....He lies in wait near the villages; from ambush he murders the innocent...His victims are crushed; they collapse, they fall under his strength." Psalm 10 various verses.
The world weeps today at the aftermath of the crazed, murderous shooting spree of Charles Carl Roberts IV. Four little girls swept off into eternity by the wicked actions of a man bent on mayhem. Four sets of parents weeping for their precious daughters because they are no more. A community ravaged by the wickedness of man. A world watching in stunned silence, unable to grasp all of the horror. A world asking, Why, O LORD do you stand far off? (Psalm 10:1)
Psalm 10 is such a help in the face of such wickedness. God does see such trouble. He considers it to take it in hand. (Psalm 10:14) Charles Carl Roberts may have avoided the force of the American law system by his self murder, but he will not have avoided the judgement seat of God. He saw all that happened in that school room and justice will be done.
This same God is doing something about all the wickedness of our world. He has struck that fatal blow at sin 2000 years ago when Jesus Christ died on the cross. And this same Lord Jesus Christ will come again ushering any a new heaven and earth - and man who is of the earth will terrify no more.

This is as good as it Gets!

Yesterday Darren Clarke helped Europe win another Ryder Cup victory. Throughout the days of the competition he was understandably clapped and cheered at every hole. We can only admire the man for his fortitude in the face of the loss of his wife Heather. All of us feel great sorrow for this humble giant of a man. We can't even begin to imagine the heartache that he is going through. My ache this morning is even greater for him. Speaking after the victory he said, This is as good as it gets.
Oh what emptiness. Winning a trophy, playing well, having the help of a few golfing cronies and the adulation of the crowds - it is not the best it gets. Knowing Jesus Christ is the best it gets, standing before God robed with the righteousnes of Christ, freely pardoned from all my sin, adopted into the family of God, the Lord of heaven and earth as my Father, the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour, Lord and Friend, being set in the midst of the family of God in my local church, being ready for heaven - this is AS GOOD AS IT GETS.
But even all this will be surpassed with the wonder of seeing Him and being captivated with the glimpse of His glory.
Oh that Darren Clarke would come to know that there is much better to get - and it is all free in the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Justification

Biblical teaching on Justification is virtually non existent today in many churches. It is blurred by many claiming to be evangelical and attacked head on by Wright and his mates.
More and more I meet people who all their lives have attended evangelical churches and they haven't the foggiest notion of what justification means. Shame on those of us who preach that this hasn't been embedded in the minds of our listeners.
There is no better definition than the one put together by Westminster divines for the weak minded in the Shorter Catechism (Answer 33), Justification is an act of God's free grace, wherein He pardoneth all our sins and accepteth us as righteous in His sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us and received by faith alone.
If you are a serious minded Christian you will want to read and read all that you can on this subject. It will transform your life and warm your heart.
Some books that will be helpful:
Justification by Faith Alone, Philip Eveson, DayOne Publisher
Counted Righteous in Christ, John Piper, IVP
Not Guilty, James Buchanan, Grace Publications.
You will read these books in a few evenings.
For any students out there - (Steelo etc) - with loads of time on their hands.
Justification - James Buchanan - Banner of Truth
John Owen - Volume 5
If you have an mp3 player - download Edward Donnelly's four addresses on Justification and listen to until you know them off by heart.
These books and sermons will put theological steel in your mind and a glow of praise in your heart.

Door to Door - Some thinking please!

On Monday evenings from mid April to mid September we go out for an hour or so to make contact with the people of our town seeking to present the gospel. We have tried all sorts of approaches to stir up conversation. No doubt there are many who are more gifted at this than we are and we could learn a great deal in improving the way that we do this. It is tough work - not because we are no good at it but because men and women are dead in trespasses and sins.
Each evening we face the wearying, conversation stopping reply, "Naw I never think about those things."
They are being truly honest - they don't think. Thinking for sinful man is a superficial thing - how do I get, and to coin an American phrase, How do I can what I get.
So why do people not think? It is not that they can't. (Though the Fall has left teh old thinking box very befuddled.) Ultimately the devil has blinded the minds of unbelievers. The devil has various means for doing this brain robbery. Entertainment - that is what people think about - how can I be entertained, how can I feel good for a little while. The proverbial "goggle box" is the devil's most effective weapon in this war for people's brains. It sucks the thinking juice out and replaces it with sound bite opinions that amount to the hollow wisdom of man.
Yes we need to keep going door to door, didn't Paul. Yes we need to learn how to draw people out in conversation. But above all we need to pray that the Lord Himself will send out His Spirit to awaken the living dead that by grace they might become right thinkers.

Lack of Goats Made me do it

A Swiss man speeding on a Canadian highway has made use of a age old ploy for being caught red hand - "passing the buck" - or in this case "passing the goat!" The traffic officer on the scene of the offence could hardly believe what he had to write in his notes. The Swiss driver said that he was taking advantage of the lack of goats compared to back home.
Behind this amusing incident is Adam's fallen response to guilt - The woman you put here with me - she gave me some fruit from the tree and I ate it. Eve also used the goat trick - the serpent deceived me and I ate.
Every evening on national news we hear the same goat trick - the circumstances made him do it...if they had more jobs there would be peace and harmony in the community.
And if truth be told it is something that comes so naturally to all of us.
Peace is not found in this age old strategy but coming clean with God - I did it. I broke your law and deserve your holy and righteous wrath. Having come clean with God we are then to go to Him for what we don't deserve - pardon. That is what God graciously gives to all who trust His Son - for He has paid the price, freely taken the punishment for law breakers like you and I.
So no more goating about. Plead mercy in Christ and it will be graciously given.

Book Review Your God is too Safe Mark Buchanan

Well answer the man's title - is your God too safe? If you want a book to blow some of the dust and cobwebs from your Christian life then this is it. If you are happy with mediocrity in the Christian life, lurching along in the shadows then don't even read the title of this book. I read this book over the summer and was rivetted by the challenging messages. Buchanan writes with vivid expression and mind capturing illustrations. Though I can't say that I would always have agreed with his exegesis of passages he does provide in nearly every chapter a most refreshing way of looking at familar Bible accounts. His basic theme for this book is that many Christians are living a borderland existence, stuck in the rut of lack of passion, power and freedom. So if you are ready for a good shake up, spend a tenner and hold on tight.

Stinging Reminder

Many of us listened with shock and sorrow to hear of the sudden death of the "Crocodile Hunter," Steve Irwin. His TV documentaries entertained and informed a whole generation of wild life lovers. The world will miss his daring and dazzling performances in the face of the most dangerous animals on the planet.
Mr. Irwin's work, that he obviuously loved, and his tragic death are a reminder of the words of Psalm 8. In that psalm the song writer speaks of how the world was when God created all things. The song refers to man as "ruler over the works of your (God's ) hands." As ruler over creation everything was under his control, "all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas." The idyllic picture of the psalm is far from what we have seen on Mr. Irwin's TV shows and far from his shocking death by one of God's creation. Why this change in God's created order with man now in fear and animals striking out at God's viceregents? The message of the Bible is that man has messed up. Adam's sin and ours has ruined creation itself. But thank God that Psalm 8 also speaks of an answer. Psalm 8 is ultimately about the Lord Jesus Christ, "made a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned with glory and honour." His entrance into this world was the answer to man's sin and a creation out of kilter with man. In Christ there is cleansing from all our sin. So great was His work on the cross that when He returns He will bring such an amazing change to the created order that the Bible speaks of it as the lamb and lion lying down together. When He comes there will be no dangerous animals, no poisonous barbed stingrays. He wants all who read this to be ready for His coming and to enjoy His new creation. There is one way to be ready - by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Book Review Marriage Divorce & Remarriage in the Bible by Jay E. Adams

Perhaps the most difficult pastoral issues of the Christian ministry arise over the subject of Jay Adams' book. Unless we grapple Biblically and prayerfully with these complex matters we will be ineffective in reaching a messy world and unsupportive of Christians who are facing these issues. Jay Adams book helps the church not to bury its head in the sand but to face up to the matters in a thoroughly Biblical way. While this book does not cover every possible situation there are sound principles that we can take and apply to situations that we face. This book would be a good read for elders seeking to handle such sensitive matters within their own sphere of oversight. It is also essential reading for any Christian who is seeking to bring Biblical light and Christ centred love to those who are hurting and longing for real answers and not the craft of empty humanistic counselling.

Creationism Rattles Teachers

A recent posting on the BBC news page on Education noted that some NUT delegates want the teaching of creationism or intelligent design as a valid alternative to evolution to be outlawed. The BBC news item reported that the "NUT leader says
There is "enormous concern" among teachers and parents at the influence of some religious "fundamentalists" on education, a union leader says." It is difficult to ascertain who exactly the NUT are having a go at - but it seems suspiciously like their sights are set on the likes of Christian millionaire Sir Peter Vardy academies.
Mr. Sinnott went on to voice his concerns about the school sponsors, "because they have millions of pounds they wish to spend on education" - could "present to youngsters in the classroom their prejudice and their narrow views on religion".
How wonderful of Mr. Sinnott that he has everything sussed. Can he not see how narrow his own views are in expressing such concerns?
The BBC article reports the activities of Mr. Vardy's academy in the following way,"It has been claimed that schools in the North East backed by Christian millionaire Sir Peter Vardy have been teaching Creationism alongside evolutionary scientific theory." Imagine - teaching creationism - tut, tut,horror of horrors, how terrible, whatever next! Equally it could be claimed that for decades the education system of the UK has been filling the minds of little children with the godless speculation philosophy called Darwinianism.
Delegates at another teachers' conference says the government's policy of having more faith schools "will hinder integration, foster religious divisions and provide fertile ground for religious and ethnic conflicts."
Surely some of these delegates can do a little thinking - for decades the young people of our land have had their heads filled with the nonsense of man coming swinging from the trees. Pardon me, pity my simplicity if you like but such education doesn't seem to have fostered integration of the ethnic variety that we are privileged to have throughout our nation.
Only the teaching of the Word of God will educate our children as to who they are as human beings - so very very special, no matter what their colour our ethnic origin - all with the image of God still stamped on their lives. It is the Bible faithfully taught that will teach a rising generation that the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ makes true unity amongst diversity.

The Voice of the Unborn Cries Out

A leading medical research team from University College London has proven that premature babies as young as 25 weeks feel and experience pain. This research will be of obvious help to those involved in care of the premature.
But what about the other little children in the womb. In the UK abortion is legal up to 24 weeks. Is this not a reminder once again that it is a real little human life that is being scraped and sucked from the one place in the world that it should be secure. Is it any wonder that our nation is in such a mess - it is guilty as proven of the daily murder of the unborn. The God who creates life will not stand by and take no notice of such murderous atrocity. A human being no matter how small is unique, the image of God still stamped on each one. To take a human life in such barbarity is a crime against God. The voice of the unborn cries out to Him who sees in the secret place. Oh that our nation would repent of its wickedness of sanctioning murder in the womb. With the Lord Jesus Christ there is forgiveness for all who will call on Him.

Cosmic Ordering

The come back kid of TV, 56 year old Noel Edmonds has to the astonishment of many in the industry hit the ground running with his latest TV show. On Saturday evening his comeback was sealed with an interview with the silver haired Parky. Noel Edmonds new show has the catchy title "Deal or no Deal." It seems however that Mr. Edmonds is into another sort of dealing which he informed Parky was called Cosmic Ordering. He apparently got the idea from a book passed on to him by a reflexologist. The idea behind cosmic ordering is quite simple - you write down your wish list on a piece of paper and the cosmos kindly delivers them. Mr. Edmonds stated to a reporter that he had put in 6 orders so far and you've guessed it "Deal or no Deal" was on the list.
Once again we see the foolishness of humanity without God. Men and women will do absolutely anything and believe such utter nonsense rather than the truth as it is found in the Lord Jesus Christ. Cosmic ordering is simply another new age way of trying to do away with the personal God who rules all things. Cosmic ordering is lucky charm, rabbits foot, Mr. Blobby nonsense.
How far from the wonderful message of the Bible - that as men and women humble themselves before God, repent of their sins and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ that they have an invitation from the Triune God to come humbly before His throne of grace to find find mercy and grace to help in time of need. What a joy to be a Christian - every day I can talk to my Father in heaven knowing that His Son rules all things and is working out all things for my good. What joy to be able to come to that personal God in prayer, knowing that He hears me, delights to receive my stumbling prayers and in the mystery of His sovereign ways weaves them into the outworking of His good pleasing and perfect will.

Bending Your Neck

I can still remember it as if it were yesterday though it is now over twenty years ago. I was three months into a university course that I was beginning to think was such a waste of time. A desire to reach the lost for Christ was beginning to rise over my soul. In my immaturity I thought that the best solution was to drop out and do whatever came to hand and go wherever with the gospel. I shared my dream with a new friend, who was later to become my wife. Thankfully her counsel was so wise(and still is) - to stay the course, finish what I had started and learn what the Lord was wanting me to learn.
As I look back on that time I am thankful for a lesson learnt - there are no quick roads to being equipped to perform the work of the ministry. Often we must bend our necks to those tutors and governors that the Lord has appointed in his providence to bring us to some state of usefulness. For four years a degree in Geography had to be completed where the discipline of study was learnt for days ahead. Then a year of post graduate teacher training where some gifts for teaching were honed. Then five years of teaching, interacting with a a range of ages and learning what life was like in the work place. Then three years of hard grind at theological college, sweat and tears over Hebrew, Greek, and a list of other subjects.
And every day I am still trying to learn this lesson that there are no quick roads to being prepared for ministry. Every day learning to bend the neck to God's appointed tutors - to be busy in the books, reading and being equipped, submitting to His providences that by His great grace I might be of some use to Christ the King and of some benefit to His people for the little while that breath rises and falls in my body.
If you are a young man reading this remember to bend your neck. Bending the neck voluntarily is much easier than having it bent for you. He has had to do that for me too - but that is another story. There are no short cuts. Don't be a half baked preacher or whatever. Whatever is critical to you being the best that you can possibly be for Christ - just do it - NOW! Only one life it will soon be gone.

Church Finds What IT'S looking for

One online news broadcast has stated that episcopal parishes from California to Maine are introducing "U2 Eucharist services." The scheme organisers state that the service is designed to make contact with the youth of society and help those interested in social activism. As well as the traditional bread and wine worshippers are also supplied with ear plugs and fluorescent glow sticks. At one service plasma TV screen illuminated the worship area while multicoloured streamers soared through the air.One particular church leader hinted that it was only a matter of time before U2 songs made it into the hymnal, after all "there's a gift they have for speaking to the human soul."
What a tragic picture of the plight of the church. Has anyone asked, Is this what God is looking for? God has made it very clear in His word that He is to be worshipped as He has prescribed and not as we might think He wants to be worshipped. Surely this awful scenario is just another reminder of the terrible mess that happens when the Word of God is abandoned.
Aping the world is one of the greatest mistakes that the church can make. Christ has made the church to be different from the world, to be a light in the darkness so that men and women will hear the good news of Jesus Christ and by grace make their way to where "the streets have no name."
Oh that the Lord would bring the church to her senses that with one accord men and women would be seeking what God is looking for - true reverence, adoration and worshipped in spirit and in truth. Only then will men and women be truly blessed.