(edit: As discussed/mentioned on Dave Monk's radio phone-in BBC Essex 25.11.08. Dave Monk referred to my emails to him on this subject and there were clearly many people of the same opinion about this illicit affairs website. On the other side, there were a number of people who claim that using the illicit affairs website to conduct affairs whilst remaining married effectively saved their marriage. My point made was that surely such issues & problems are better discussed within the marriage and also the problem is when/if the offended party find out about the affair. Also by encouraging people in this way, over time feelings can perhaps be transferred and what started perhaps with the intention of having the affair but staying married could still end up with divorce. It is a slippery slope and undermines marriage,
On my drive to work over the last couple of weeks I have been driving past an advertising banner encouraging people to join an illicit affairs website with the comment “Married...but looking for more?” From the website in question “Whatever your reason, we can help. You may be locked in a loveless marriage, starved of attention and affection, partner away or too tired to pay you the attention you deserve, non-existent love life? Or just looking for some excitement in your life? But you don't want to end your marriage either. Here you can meet people just like you, in absolute confidence.”
I am disgusted by this and it really highlights the terrible state our country finds itself in. In 2006, Ed Balls(Children's Secretary) issued something called the Children's Plan, it did not mention marriage once. It seems the Government is intent on destroying marriage whether this is through the benefits system or in some other area of policy.
We all know that the number of people getting married and making that commitment has been going down over the last century. The figures, from the Office for National Statistics in 2006 show that fewer than ten in every 1,000 single adults in England and Wales were married and although recent figures have been influenced because of the work being done to end sham marriages in some ethnic minorities, the numbers committing to getting married continues to fall. The implications are enormous for children and society and we are only now beginning to realise some of the problems it can cause.
Despite being bombarded with all this, it is important as Christians to stand up for the institution of marriage despite the problems many have within marriages. It takes a lot of work and patience to build something well and there is always going to be times of disagreement and conflict. Perhaps we need to make time as Christian couples to sit down and pray together and read the Bible more often, maybe doing this will stop some of the issues we may face as couples and as families. No doubt it is very difficult in the society we live in to find the time, especially with work commitments and getting the kids up, washed, dressed, fed and off to school or nursery. It is hard in this break-neck-speed world we live in, but you know, I think even if it is a case of a quick time of prayer and a bible reading round the breakfast table then I think we would benefit from it. I can distinctly remember my grandfather a very godly man, every breakfast time he would do a reading and a prayer for all the family and grandchildren, mentioning us all by name. Those sort of memories tend to stay with us and it seems to me to have been a good one to remember, I am going to try and do this myself starting from tomorrow – will let you know how I get on.
Monday, 24 November 2008
Thursday, 20 November 2008
A gift that cannot be taken away.
I recently learnt the lesson, not to allow a toddler aged two and half, to pick up a Christmas cuddly toy hand puppet in the supermarket, allow him to play with it for a bit, put it in the trolley and then expect to be able to wrap it up for Christmas. That was the plan. However, a few screams and a good number of cries of ‘doggy dog…I need my dog..’, ‘but its Christmas…’ ‘Where’s my dog gone’ etc later, I decided – let him have it. It was not I stress just a case of giving in, it occurred to me and I actually thought how does a two year old understand the logic. He gets a present given to him and then we take it away. That is going to be confusing for a toddler.
It made me think about the nature of giving and how gifts are given and are not usually taken back. I thought about the gift of salvation and the many gifts of God. How God’s Grace has set us free – it does not depend on us or our efforts or of any works on our part but only by what God has given us and through the death & resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Romans 5v15 “But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!”
God also wants to give us spiritual gifts to help us in our Christian walk and to build up both ourselves and the local church. They are a gift of Grace and cannot be bought or earned but are given by God through the Holy Spirit. It is very nice to be able to share in these gifts, it’s like we open the present and we all get different things, some receive the same, others not but it is all from the same box and all the gifts together make the present what it is.
God’s gift of salvation, his gift of life, once we are saved – we are saved, despite all the sin in our life, despite all the disappointments and failures, the times when we have forgotten to put Him first – cannot be taken away. We are his forever and it is this wonderful truth that really should make us put our hand in his and say you lead, I’ll follow.
It made me think about the nature of giving and how gifts are given and are not usually taken back. I thought about the gift of salvation and the many gifts of God. How God’s Grace has set us free – it does not depend on us or our efforts or of any works on our part but only by what God has given us and through the death & resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Romans 5v15 “But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!”
God also wants to give us spiritual gifts to help us in our Christian walk and to build up both ourselves and the local church. They are a gift of Grace and cannot be bought or earned but are given by God through the Holy Spirit. It is very nice to be able to share in these gifts, it’s like we open the present and we all get different things, some receive the same, others not but it is all from the same box and all the gifts together make the present what it is.
God’s gift of salvation, his gift of life, once we are saved – we are saved, despite all the sin in our life, despite all the disappointments and failures, the times when we have forgotten to put Him first – cannot be taken away. We are his forever and it is this wonderful truth that really should make us put our hand in his and say you lead, I’ll follow.
Tuesday, 11 November 2008
Get Delirious to No.1
The above recent facebook entry has been gaining legs of late in an effort to get enough pre-orders and sales to allow the new single to chart high or even No.1. ("Love Will Find A Way" Single Released: 17th november 2008 Pre Order from http://www.townsend-records.co.uk/)
There seems to be various numbers being mentioned in order for that to happen the most recent being circa 6000 sales (edit: I checked a few sources - this must have been for a chart entry, most no.1's first week sales seem to be around the 30,000 mark!) Now we all know that single sales these days are much lower than years gone by and it does not seem unreasonable when you think about it for a Christian band like this to do that sort of volume.
So go buy it !
It would also seem that Delirious are calling it a day after 15 years.
One of the last times you will catch them on tour in the UK certainly in London is on Dec 15th at:
Shepherds Bush Empire, Shepherds Bush Green, London, W12 8TT
http://www.shepherds-bush-empire.co.uk/ - 0870 771 2000 -
puratickets: 0845 094 4414 - http://www.puratickets.com/
They are due to play some more dates overseas and one date in 2009 at http://www.bigchurchdayout.co.uk/ which will bring the curtain down on a great 15 years for them.
Monday, 10 November 2008
We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards and our homes
The above quote could easily have been made by a farmer and his partners in the south of France whose wine business has been hit by the recent downturn could it not? In fact, it is from an Old Testament prophet.
I recently heard a sermon on the subject of money and how we might view it and handle it as Christians. One of the points made was how the current turmoil could be seen to show the world being shaken by a God who wants us to change direction.
Such an idea might ring true for many of us, both Christians and Non-Christians and I do not think it is an exaggeration to say that many people in the City, the Banks, Pensioners and Governments have indeed been shaken by recent events. It is interesting that such topics and themes have appeared throughout the ages and Christian history is no different.
I came across this account in Nehemiah where usury was mentioned then and the idea of mortgaging, we are reminded, is not a modern phenomenon. Nehemiah, held a position of influence with the King Artaxerxes(I) as royal cupbearer and was given the role of Governor of Judea. He set about the restoration of Jerusalem and the rebuilding of the walls he was also clearly far from impressed with some of the nobles and officials of the time who were making gain from the people. The idea of Jews earning interest from fellow Jews was forbidden under their law so quite rightly Nehemiah was making this point clearly to them. It was a situation where they were putting their own interests first before God’s interests. Indeed much of the book of Nehemiah is about things that distract from God’s will or purpose, in this case the rebuilding of Jerusalem. Does putting our (or the world’s) interest first sound familiar to us? Perhaps the current economic turmoil where rules and regulations are being revisited will force many people to look again at what is important - and to whom and in what they place their trust.
In the recent sermon I mentioned, we were reminded that what we have as Christians is from God and it is his provision and kindness. Also that we should be prepared to give it back to him in support and furtherance of his Kingdom and the local church. We were born with nothing in our wallets and we cannot take it with us when we depart from this earth. Later in Nehemiah we see how the Jews pledge to keep the law in areas of observing the Sabbath, committing to support the temple service financially, to give their firstfruits to God and to pay their tithe tax.
Nehemiah spent a lot of time in prayer for the restoration of Jerusalem and the Jews and spoke of how the Jews had sinned and disobeyed the Mosaic Law but also how God was faithful and how He could and would restore His people. I believe this should be our prayer today – that as nation and a world we have not got our priorities in the correct order and that we need to come back to focusing our attentions on what God wants. In many of our Godless nations that perhaps is going to be difficult for Governments to address but as individuals and a collection of individuals it is something we can do.
As a church and the body of Christ we need to rise up and let people know how God can mend the broken economy, the broken business, the bankrupt and the repossessed. That the real answers to these questions are found in a relationship and friendship with a God who wants to give us good gifts, who wants the best for us and who can give us all the wisdom we need to make the right decisions in life. The financial decisions we all face from time to time. But more importantly to teach us that money is worthless in and of itself, a piece of paper, an IOU if you like and that perhaps what we have been resting our economies on is not in our best interests. Like Nehemiah we need a greater reliance on God and perhaps God is reminding us of this at the current time.
Nehemiah 5
1 Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their Jewish brothers. 2 Some were saying, "We and our sons and daughters are numerous; in order for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain."
3 Others were saying, "We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards and our homes to get grain during the famine."
4 Still others were saying, "We have had to borrow money to pay the king's tax on our fields and vineyards. 5 Although we are of the same flesh and blood as our countrymen and though our sons are as good as theirs, yet we have to subject our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but we are powerless, because our fields and our vineyards belong to others."
6 When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry. 7 I pondered them in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials. I told them, "You are exacting usury from your own countrymen!" So I called together a large meeting to deal with them 8 and said: "As far as possible, we have bought back our Jewish brothers who were sold to the Gentiles. Now you are selling your brothers, only for them to be sold back to us!" They kept quiet, because they could find nothing to say.
9 So I continued, "What you are doing is not right. Shouldn't you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies? 10 I and my brothers and my men are also lending the people money and grain. But let the exacting of usury stop! 11 Give back to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses, and also the usury you are charging them—the hundredth part of the money, grain, new wine and oil."
12 "We will give it back," they said. "And we will not demand anything more from them. We will do as you say." Then I summoned the priests and made the nobles and officials take an oath to do what they had promised. 13 I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, "In this way may God shake out of his house and possessions every man who does not keep this promise. So may such a man be shaken out and emptied!" At this the whole assembly said, "Amen," and praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.
(edit: came across this sermon which nicely covers this passage http://www.centralpc.org/sermons/2002/s020210.htm)
I recently heard a sermon on the subject of money and how we might view it and handle it as Christians. One of the points made was how the current turmoil could be seen to show the world being shaken by a God who wants us to change direction.
Such an idea might ring true for many of us, both Christians and Non-Christians and I do not think it is an exaggeration to say that many people in the City, the Banks, Pensioners and Governments have indeed been shaken by recent events. It is interesting that such topics and themes have appeared throughout the ages and Christian history is no different.
I came across this account in Nehemiah where usury was mentioned then and the idea of mortgaging, we are reminded, is not a modern phenomenon. Nehemiah, held a position of influence with the King Artaxerxes(I) as royal cupbearer and was given the role of Governor of Judea. He set about the restoration of Jerusalem and the rebuilding of the walls he was also clearly far from impressed with some of the nobles and officials of the time who were making gain from the people. The idea of Jews earning interest from fellow Jews was forbidden under their law so quite rightly Nehemiah was making this point clearly to them. It was a situation where they were putting their own interests first before God’s interests. Indeed much of the book of Nehemiah is about things that distract from God’s will or purpose, in this case the rebuilding of Jerusalem. Does putting our (or the world’s) interest first sound familiar to us? Perhaps the current economic turmoil where rules and regulations are being revisited will force many people to look again at what is important - and to whom and in what they place their trust.
In the recent sermon I mentioned, we were reminded that what we have as Christians is from God and it is his provision and kindness. Also that we should be prepared to give it back to him in support and furtherance of his Kingdom and the local church. We were born with nothing in our wallets and we cannot take it with us when we depart from this earth. Later in Nehemiah we see how the Jews pledge to keep the law in areas of observing the Sabbath, committing to support the temple service financially, to give their firstfruits to God and to pay their tithe tax.
Nehemiah spent a lot of time in prayer for the restoration of Jerusalem and the Jews and spoke of how the Jews had sinned and disobeyed the Mosaic Law but also how God was faithful and how He could and would restore His people. I believe this should be our prayer today – that as nation and a world we have not got our priorities in the correct order and that we need to come back to focusing our attentions on what God wants. In many of our Godless nations that perhaps is going to be difficult for Governments to address but as individuals and a collection of individuals it is something we can do.
As a church and the body of Christ we need to rise up and let people know how God can mend the broken economy, the broken business, the bankrupt and the repossessed. That the real answers to these questions are found in a relationship and friendship with a God who wants to give us good gifts, who wants the best for us and who can give us all the wisdom we need to make the right decisions in life. The financial decisions we all face from time to time. But more importantly to teach us that money is worthless in and of itself, a piece of paper, an IOU if you like and that perhaps what we have been resting our economies on is not in our best interests. Like Nehemiah we need a greater reliance on God and perhaps God is reminding us of this at the current time.
Nehemiah 5
1 Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their Jewish brothers. 2 Some were saying, "We and our sons and daughters are numerous; in order for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain."
3 Others were saying, "We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards and our homes to get grain during the famine."
4 Still others were saying, "We have had to borrow money to pay the king's tax on our fields and vineyards. 5 Although we are of the same flesh and blood as our countrymen and though our sons are as good as theirs, yet we have to subject our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but we are powerless, because our fields and our vineyards belong to others."
6 When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry. 7 I pondered them in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials. I told them, "You are exacting usury from your own countrymen!" So I called together a large meeting to deal with them 8 and said: "As far as possible, we have bought back our Jewish brothers who were sold to the Gentiles. Now you are selling your brothers, only for them to be sold back to us!" They kept quiet, because they could find nothing to say.
9 So I continued, "What you are doing is not right. Shouldn't you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies? 10 I and my brothers and my men are also lending the people money and grain. But let the exacting of usury stop! 11 Give back to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses, and also the usury you are charging them—the hundredth part of the money, grain, new wine and oil."
12 "We will give it back," they said. "And we will not demand anything more from them. We will do as you say." Then I summoned the priests and made the nobles and officials take an oath to do what they had promised. 13 I also shook out the folds of my robe and said, "In this way may God shake out of his house and possessions every man who does not keep this promise. So may such a man be shaken out and emptied!" At this the whole assembly said, "Amen," and praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.
(edit: came across this sermon which nicely covers this passage http://www.centralpc.org/sermons/2002/s020210.htm)
Thursday, 6 November 2008
Owains update
Mentioned in earlier blog posting here:
http://my-life-as-a-christian.blogspot.com/2008/10/owains-journey.html
Owain is back from hospital after treatment and surgery. Pray that he will make a good recovery and that both he and his family will get the rest they need and deserve.
http://my-life-as-a-christian.blogspot.com/2008/10/owains-journey.html
Owain is back from hospital after treatment and surgery. Pray that he will make a good recovery and that both he and his family will get the rest they need and deserve.
Wednesday, 5 November 2008
A new President
“Tonight is the answer. The answer that stretches around schools & churches in numbers this nation has never seen. By people who waited 3 hours and 4 hours, many for the first time in their lives”
We have a new US President (well, from January 09) and in many ways it was a momentous result when you consider US history over the last 100 years, I don’t think there is much disagreement on that score.
The only reference to God Obama made in this speech was after 16mins 30 secs when in conclusion he said “God bless you and God bless America”. This for me was a little disappointing but if you look beyond the initial speech he has been more encouraging elsewhere.
Faith “plays every role” in his life… “It’s what keeps me grounded. It’s what keeps my eyes set on the greatest of heights,” Obama told members of the Redemption World Outreach Center in Greenville, S.C., according to The Associated Press.
Faith, he said, is “what propels me to do what I do and when I am down it’s what lifts me up.” Obama, who is a member of the United Church of Christ – considered one of the most liberal mainline Protestant denominations, also said God “is with us and He wants us to do the right thing,” such as breaking down divisions between Democrats and Republicans and among religions, according to AP.
Obama is currently ranked as the Democratic Candidate that invokes religion the most, according to religious Web site Beliefnet.com’s “God-o-Meter” – which measures “God talk” in the presidential campaign.
Obama concluded Sunday’s address from the pulpit by asking the members of Redemption church to pray for him and his family to remain on the right path. “Sometimes you can become fearful, you can become vain, sometimes you can seek power for power’s sake,”
Obama confessed, according to NBC. “Pray that I can be an instrument of God,” he pleaded.
Extracts from http://www.christianpost.com/article/20071009/obama-breaks-god-talk-tradition.htm
I don’t know about you but whenever I see a nation and indeed a world unite in their interest for a leadership figure such as the next US president I often think I wish the same could happen for an inspirational evangelist or a Billy Graham type figure. Somebody who has the gift and the power to get the message of the Gospel over. The opportunity that comes from being President of the one of the world’s super-powers is huge. People listen to you, nations partner with you and as President you can make change for the better.
I guess one of the reasons why it is unlikely that any such evangelist figure will enjoy the same position is because politics for many is the religion of this age. They see it as where the power resides, where decisions are made that affect us in the day-to-day.
That is why the answer for many “stretches around schools and churches in the numbers this nation has never seen before”.
Wouldn’t it be great if this line around churches was for people who were not interested in voting but actually wanting to go inside on a Sunday morning and meeting the risen Lord? Sometimes it is possible to get a glimpse of what it might be like to have such a movement toward God, perhaps at a Christian concert or conference or in some of the larger churches that are vibrant and on fire for God. Maybe you have felt that.
As the body of Christ it really is up to the “church” to rise up and move with one voice, to unite around the things that bind us rather than get bogged down with doctrine that divides, whilst respecting the differences. It is clear that the world is crying out for change, is yearning for something more, a world that is beginning to appreciate that much of what we base our lives on is folly and is so easily brought down. That economies and banks can be crippled with just one profit warning.
So listening to the new Presidents speech and seeing the crowds, some in tears and many hugging each other and waving their flags – I just felt in my heart, I wish that was for God. I wish the world could unite for him and have the same reaction, perhaps we can.
We have a new US President (well, from January 09) and in many ways it was a momentous result when you consider US history over the last 100 years, I don’t think there is much disagreement on that score.The only reference to God Obama made in this speech was after 16mins 30 secs when in conclusion he said “God bless you and God bless America”. This for me was a little disappointing but if you look beyond the initial speech he has been more encouraging elsewhere.
Faith “plays every role” in his life… “It’s what keeps me grounded. It’s what keeps my eyes set on the greatest of heights,” Obama told members of the Redemption World Outreach Center in Greenville, S.C., according to The Associated Press.
Faith, he said, is “what propels me to do what I do and when I am down it’s what lifts me up.” Obama, who is a member of the United Church of Christ – considered one of the most liberal mainline Protestant denominations, also said God “is with us and He wants us to do the right thing,” such as breaking down divisions between Democrats and Republicans and among religions, according to AP.
Obama is currently ranked as the Democratic Candidate that invokes religion the most, according to religious Web site Beliefnet.com’s “God-o-Meter” – which measures “God talk” in the presidential campaign.
Obama concluded Sunday’s address from the pulpit by asking the members of Redemption church to pray for him and his family to remain on the right path. “Sometimes you can become fearful, you can become vain, sometimes you can seek power for power’s sake,”
Obama confessed, according to NBC. “Pray that I can be an instrument of God,” he pleaded.
Extracts from http://www.christianpost.com/article/20071009/obama-breaks-god-talk-tradition.htm
I don’t know about you but whenever I see a nation and indeed a world unite in their interest for a leadership figure such as the next US president I often think I wish the same could happen for an inspirational evangelist or a Billy Graham type figure. Somebody who has the gift and the power to get the message of the Gospel over. The opportunity that comes from being President of the one of the world’s super-powers is huge. People listen to you, nations partner with you and as President you can make change for the better.
I guess one of the reasons why it is unlikely that any such evangelist figure will enjoy the same position is because politics for many is the religion of this age. They see it as where the power resides, where decisions are made that affect us in the day-to-day.
That is why the answer for many “stretches around schools and churches in the numbers this nation has never seen before”.
Wouldn’t it be great if this line around churches was for people who were not interested in voting but actually wanting to go inside on a Sunday morning and meeting the risen Lord? Sometimes it is possible to get a glimpse of what it might be like to have such a movement toward God, perhaps at a Christian concert or conference or in some of the larger churches that are vibrant and on fire for God. Maybe you have felt that.
As the body of Christ it really is up to the “church” to rise up and move with one voice, to unite around the things that bind us rather than get bogged down with doctrine that divides, whilst respecting the differences. It is clear that the world is crying out for change, is yearning for something more, a world that is beginning to appreciate that much of what we base our lives on is folly and is so easily brought down. That economies and banks can be crippled with just one profit warning.
So listening to the new Presidents speech and seeing the crowds, some in tears and many hugging each other and waving their flags – I just felt in my heart, I wish that was for God. I wish the world could unite for him and have the same reaction, perhaps we can.
Tuesday, 4 November 2008
What a finish
What a finish! Lewis Hamilton wins it on the last corner by passing Glock and with it becomes the youngest F1 champion. And he’s British!
For those of us that watched the race or some of the news coverage, it was clearly the most dramatic finish to an F1 season in the history of the sport. It got me thinking how it was the fact that McClaren and their driver persevered and never gave up that enabled them to win the title.
The team knew the data pointed to them catching Glock, who was slowing rapidly on the wrong tyres. They had faith that their calculations were correct and that their driver would finish the race. He didn’t need to win. Only to have a placed finish.
“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.” (Acts 20:24 v24)
It is not always possible to win and sometimes in life we can feel like we are fighting a losing battle but it is important to continue and persevere - to finish the race.
Going back to F1, how about the controversial moments when a driver cuts in on another driver and stops him from turning in on the corner, denies him the racing line or like Massa on Hamilton this season a gentle nudge results in a spin and loss of position.
“You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?” Galatians 5:7v7
I think Paul was asking the Galatian believers what had stopped some of them from being on fire for the Lord like they once were. False teaching or a lack of encouragement from their leaders perhaps, or the believers not focusing on what is important for their faith. Perhaps allowing religious tradition or the view of the world and its ways distract them from their faith and not listening to the direction of the Holy Spirit or not being guided by the truth of the Gospel.
I don’t know about you but there have been times in my life where I have felt I have barely got off the starting line for God, or that I have had engine trouble that is not allowing me to really put my foot down. Could it be the driver not taking the right racing line or missing the apex of the corner? Am I putting enough effort into maintaining the car, or worse still not putting in the fuel?
Then there are other times where the car seems to be running well and the lap times are improving, I feel I am getting up to speed with God and everything is hooked up.
Whatever car we are driving and whatever the lap times it is encouraging to think, for God, whilst wanting the best outcome for us, is happy that we are in the race at all. He so desires all of mankind to be in the same race and on the same course. Without doubt he wants us firing on all cylinders but his patience with us whilst we get there is amazing really, a patience of a Father for his child.
The analogy with F1 continues when we consider some of the things we need as Christians to really make good progress in our lives. We need a team (other Christians and their fellowship), we need fuel (the Bible, Prayer, Holy Spirit) and we need a strategy (help from others, wisdom, guidance from the Bible, a role in the local church or in the community). We need to know when to pit-stop and most importantly we need in this instance a co-pilot or co-driver, somebody who can help us navigate the course. Who would that be?
2 Timothy 4 v 7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
For those of us that watched the race or some of the news coverage, it was clearly the most dramatic finish to an F1 season in the history of the sport. It got me thinking how it was the fact that McClaren and their driver persevered and never gave up that enabled them to win the title.
The team knew the data pointed to them catching Glock, who was slowing rapidly on the wrong tyres. They had faith that their calculations were correct and that their driver would finish the race. He didn’t need to win. Only to have a placed finish.
“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.” (Acts 20:24 v24)
It is not always possible to win and sometimes in life we can feel like we are fighting a losing battle but it is important to continue and persevere - to finish the race.
Going back to F1, how about the controversial moments when a driver cuts in on another driver and stops him from turning in on the corner, denies him the racing line or like Massa on Hamilton this season a gentle nudge results in a spin and loss of position.
“You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?” Galatians 5:7v7
I think Paul was asking the Galatian believers what had stopped some of them from being on fire for the Lord like they once were. False teaching or a lack of encouragement from their leaders perhaps, or the believers not focusing on what is important for their faith. Perhaps allowing religious tradition or the view of the world and its ways distract them from their faith and not listening to the direction of the Holy Spirit or not being guided by the truth of the Gospel.
I don’t know about you but there have been times in my life where I have felt I have barely got off the starting line for God, or that I have had engine trouble that is not allowing me to really put my foot down. Could it be the driver not taking the right racing line or missing the apex of the corner? Am I putting enough effort into maintaining the car, or worse still not putting in the fuel?
Then there are other times where the car seems to be running well and the lap times are improving, I feel I am getting up to speed with God and everything is hooked up.
Whatever car we are driving and whatever the lap times it is encouraging to think, for God, whilst wanting the best outcome for us, is happy that we are in the race at all. He so desires all of mankind to be in the same race and on the same course. Without doubt he wants us firing on all cylinders but his patience with us whilst we get there is amazing really, a patience of a Father for his child.
The analogy with F1 continues when we consider some of the things we need as Christians to really make good progress in our lives. We need a team (other Christians and their fellowship), we need fuel (the Bible, Prayer, Holy Spirit) and we need a strategy (help from others, wisdom, guidance from the Bible, a role in the local church or in the community). We need to know when to pit-stop and most importantly we need in this instance a co-pilot or co-driver, somebody who can help us navigate the course. Who would that be?
2 Timothy 4 v 7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
Saturday, 1 November 2008
Book Review
Incomparable - Andrew Wilson
(Kingsway ISBN 978 184291 281 2)
Exploring the character of God.
This book has been getting plugged pretty regularly on the web, in the Christian press and during conferences recently. I was recently at a conference and it sold out, which was quite handy as I found it with free p&p on the Internet quite a bit cheaper (credit crunch, watching the pennies and all that..) I have only just read the very short introduction and a few of the very brief chapters and so far have been pretty impressed. It is a very accessible theology book which is written in a very easy to read style which you can either dip into or follow the chapters through. Will post back when I have finished it(might be some time!)
Here is a taster from the first chapter:
"...lots of people believe that non-belief in God is the default view, and science has removed the need to add God into the picture. People take it for granted that God doesn't exist, and if you say he does, they will want you to prove it scientifically. If you ask them to prove scientifically what they believe, of course, they are very unlikely to be able to - but, mostly, they will not see this as a problem, because the majority agree with them.
There are two problems with this. One, the majority is often dangerously wrong. The majority of German officers in the 1930's agreed with persecuting Jews; the majority of nineteenth- century Europeans thought black people were second class citizens; the majority of medieval scientists thought the world was flat. But also, lots of beliefs we hold - often, the most important ones! - are just not provable scientifically.
Take the statement.... 'does my daughter love me'? How can that very important statement ever be proved? The fact is, we believe things because they help us make sense of the world as we see it, not because some outside authority(like scientific proof) says that they are true. So the real question is: how does belief or non-belief in God make sense of the world around us?
You can buy it at http://www.kingsway.co.uk/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
