Jaundiced Jonah

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Jonah 4: 9             But God said to Jonah, "Do you have a right to be angry about the vine?"

"I do," he said. "I am angry enough to die."

 

When I was a boy, I was very moody at times, and would go into a huff at the drop of a hat. Usually, it happened on the soccer fields close to my home. Whenever the opposing team, which was frequently skippered by my younger brother, began to beat my soccer team, I would pick up the ball and shout, "Game over! It's my ball, and I'm going home."

 

Of course, when that happened, both teams would try to placate me with flattery, and offer my team a couple of free shots to even the scores. Eventually, after five minutes of cajoling and bantering, we would all get back to the soccer field, choose new teams and begin again. Sometimes, however, my control ploy wouldn't work, for someone would shout out, "Aw, just let him go home. He's a big baby, and anyway, Tony's got another ball."

 

The prophet Jonah was a moody person, too. He didn't want to go to Nineveh to preach in the first place. He wanted his enemies to be punished and destroyed by God. He sat outside the city waiting for God to do what he wanted, and when God destroyed the plant where Jonah was sitting in the shade, well, that was the last straw.

 

"I'm angry about this," Jonah huffed. "Angry enough to die." In other words, he was saying to God, "If you don't do what I want, I'm going to sit here and sulk until I die."

 

God, however, was not buying any of it. The plant was just a plant, but in Nineveh, there were more than 120,00 people who couldn't tell their right hand from their left, which is Old Testament code for Pre-Kindergarten kids. Jonah is more concerned about a stupid plant than he is about all those children. Man, what a moody person he was!

 

Today, we may get ourselves involved in situations that we don't like. We may try to enforce our way upon others, or even withdraw our support to show our contempt. Let's try to not fall into those kind of self-destructive patterns or self-afflicted traps. We only end up hurting ourselves. We only end up isolated and alone.

 

Prayer:  Lord God, when You taught Jonah that lesson all of those years ago, You were also speaking to us today. Guard us against the heinous sin of self-importance and help us to look for mutual peace, unity and support in all of our relationships, and in all the situations we experience today. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

 

UFOs in the Bible

Ezekiel 3: 12,13  Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me a loud rumbling sound-May the glory of the LORD be praised in his dwelling place!- the sound of the wings of the living creatures brushing against each other and the sound of the wheels beside them, a loud rumbling sound.

 

I like looking at the sky. It fascinates me. I love the stars at night, and the colors and  shapes of the clouds during the day. I was once fortunate enough to see a bright green meteorite flash across the sky, like a beautiful firework. I don't know where or if it landed. I just happened to be in the right place, at the right time.

 

I've also seen a UFO, something that was flying that I couldn't identify. It left two orange curved streaks in the early evening sky. I don't know what it was and, to this day, it has remained a mystery to me. It may just have been a jet releasing some fuel, or it could have been some natural phenomena, or even a combination of both. It was reported in the papers the next day, but no one came up with any answers.

 

In today's passage, the prophet Ezekiel describes something that whirrs and rumbles, as if it is some sort of flying machine, like a rocket, a helicopter, or a UFO. Some people get stuck on the imagery and forget all about his message, which is a message of hope for the Jewish people in exile.

 

God is telling the prophet here to preach a message of repentance, in order to give His people another opportunity to be restored to the His favor. The people are isolated and separated from God, but once again, He wants them  to be reconnected to Him. It's the same old story, and one that God repeats time after time, until His Son Jesus comes into the world preaching repentance, teaching God's Word, and dying for our sins. And this time, the message isn't just for a privileged few, or Ezekiel's nation; it's for the entire world.

 

Prayer:  Lord God, Your ways are both mysterious and amazing to us. Throughout history, You have delivered, forgiven, and redeemed Your people generation after generation. Eventually, You sent Your Holy Son Jesus to give us the ultimate opportunity to be eternally restored to Your Kingdom. Today, we thank You for such wonderful grace; we praise You for such amazing  love. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

Healing Services

Acts 4: 30              “Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus."

 

Years ago, in Maybole, Scotland, all the churches in the town began an ecumenical healing ministry on behalf of the townsfolk. It unexpectedly grew out of a Lenten worship service one night, when I asked if anyone in the mixed congregation would like to come forward for the laying on of hands by all the pastors. Surprisingly, about two-thirds of the congregation walked down the aisle and requested it. Afterwards, when the clergy met together – two Presbyterian pastors, a Roman Catholic priest, an Episcopalian doctor, and a Baptist minister – we decided that the Holy Spirit was working in the town, and so we agreed to hold a monthly healing service in Maybole.

 

This monthly service lasted for years, and people from the nearby towns and villages also attended the host church. It was a remarkable event, and  years later, when each of the clergy left to go to other parishes and churches, the services continued amongst the people. Furthermore, the five original pastors took the healing ministries into their new churches and new towns.

 

The tradition is still being carried on, and in our own church at Erin,  there is a special time during every Sunday morning service for prayers of health and healing. It's a very meaningful part of the worship and through it, many people have found peace, hope, and strength to overcome sickness, unease and stress.

 

Today, we will all hear or read in e-mails about other people who need to be healed. Our hearts will be sensitive to their plight, so our prayers will be very important. Whoever we read or hear about today, let's take some precious time to be in prayer for them, for healing begins where our prayers end.

 

Prayer:                  Lord Jesus, healing is one of Your holy ministries and we do not take it for granted. We ask that You will hear our petitions for those who are afraid, for those facing sickness, and for those in trouble who cannot pray for themselves. Through the riches of Your grace, bless them with healing and wholeness. In Your Sacred Name, we pray. Amen.

Christ on the Cross

1 Peter 2: 24         He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

 

I usually passed St. Ambrose's Chapel about twenty times a week. Whether I was walking up to the shops to buy some candy, or catching a bus into town, or even heading up to school, St. Ambrose was always on my route. On the side of its wall, there was beautiful wooden carving of Christ on the Cross. Whenever I remembered, I would say a prayer for my mom as I passed it, for I knew that because she was a Roman Catholic, she would want me to do that.

 

Sometimes my prayers were short, especially when I was running to catch my bus, or if I could hear the school bell ringing in the distance. At other moments, when I had some time on my hands, I would dawdle past the Crucified Christ and ask for healing for my mom.

 

One winter's night, with snow on the ground, I staggered off the last bus home, as drunk as a fish. I was slipping and sliding all over the place, trying to keep my dignity and my balance. As I passed St. Ambrose's wall, I reached out to the railings to steady myself. I saw Christ on the Cross again and it broke my heart. Before I knew it, I had climbed the wall and was kneeling on the snow before the Cross. I can't remember what I prayed, but I know it was a cry for help, for guidance, for an answer to what my life was all about.

 

The cold, wet snow shocked my system and I half-sobered up. I realized where I was and I quickly looked around. I was embarrassed by my moment of weakness and incapacity. And yet, when I scrambled back over the wall, I had a strange feeling of hope in my heart. Somehow I knew that my prayer had been heard and that one day, it would be answered.

 

Peter tells us that Christ bore our sins on the tree, and that by His wounds we are healed. We all need Jesus to do that in our lives. We need Him cleanse our past mistakes. We need Him to fix the brokenness in our lives. We need Him to guide us day by day.

 

Prayer:    Lord Jesus, as we approach the time of Your crucifixion, we remember that You endured it all for us. You proved Your love to us by giving up Your life at Calvary. We will always be eternally grateful for Your sacrifice; we will always be in Your debt forever. In Your Holy name, we humbly pray. Amen.

Faithfully Focused

Hebrews 12: 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

 

At the 428 Gospel Club in Glasgow, where I gave my heart to Jesus in 1977, we used to finish the Wednesday night meetings by singing an old hymn. It was called ‘Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus’ and each time we sang it, all of us at the club pictured that glorious day when we would all be with Jesus.

 

Most of us were young people, who had been hurt by the world, or had a made a mess with our lives. I was in the latter category, but no matter what we each experienced, we all shared a longing to be at one with Jesus. He was the One who gave our lives meaning. He was the One we could absolutely depend upon. He was the One who saved us from despair, depression, and dissipation.

 

The hymn was written by Helen Lemmel, the daughter of a Methodist minister, who lived in England until the age of twelve, when her family immigrated to the United States. Helen was a wonderful singer, a vocal music teacher, as well as being the music critic for the Seattle Post Intelligencer. She wrote the lyrics and the music for the song in 1922 for the British National Sunday School Union, in response to a Gospel tract called “Focused.” Helen lived in Seattle until she was almost 98 and had the great joy of knowing that her song touched the hearts and changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people around the world.

 

Perhaps you're going through some troubles or situations right now that you're worried about. Perhaps you're tired and weary through stress and business. Perhaps you're anxious about the future and need some sort of guiding light to help. Focus on Jesus. He won't let you down, and He won't let you go.

 

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, sometimes the world obscures us from seeing You. Sometimes our worries overwhelm our spirits, and our cares tear us apart. In those fearful and anxious moments, grant us Your peace and cause us to look to You, and at You. Calmly remind us that one day all of these things which appear so important and pressing upon us now, will eventually fade away. Keep us focused upon You today. In Your Holy Name, we faithfully pray. Amen.

Abdul Rahman

1 Peter 5:9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

 

It’s not often that the media focuses on someone who is a Christian, especially if his views are conservative, scriptural, and unyielding. Usually they try to take apart a believer’s character and reveal his flaws, in the hope that any faithful testimony will be made ineffective and obscure. However, in every generation a Christian person appears on the scene, whose firm resolve and dedication to the truth of the Gospel brings suffering, injustice, and persecution upon himself. That's when the media get interested.

 

It happened to Martin Luther in the sixteenth century. Two hundred years later, John Wesley suffered for his beliefs. In the twentieth century, the likes of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Martin Luther King Jr were killed because of their adherence to their faith, which brought them into fatal conflict with the authorities and society.

 

Today, an Afghan called Abdul Rahman is on trial for his life, not because he murdered someone, or planted a terrorist bomb, or caused some sort of evil disaster. Abdul is on trial for his life simply because he is a Christian. Yesterday, in a prison in Kabul, Afghanistan, he told reporters, “I am not an infidel or a fugitive. I am a Christian. If they want to sentence me to death, I accept that.”

 

Peter exhorts us to resist the devil and stand firm in our faith, because our brothers and sisters in Christ are suffering. In his time, that was usually true because Christians were persecuted all over the Roman Empire. Today, however, whilst Abdul Rahman stands up for his faith and puts his life on the line for Christ, we must ask ourselves this question: would we be willing to suffer the same?

 

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, today we pray for a man that we do not know personally, but have heard about through the media. They have become the vessels of Your news about this man, whose courage, dignity, and faith is far and above anything that we have known or experienced. We pray for his release and safety, but more than this, we pray for the effectiveness of his Christian testimony throughout the world. In Your Holy name, we pray. Amen.

Holy Hands

Deuteronomy 33:3              Surely it is you who love the people; all the holy ones are in your hand. At your feet they all bow down, and from you receive instruction.

 

On Sunday mornings at Erin Church, all of our young families come down to the front of the sanctuary to hear a story, sing a song, and say a prayer. During Lent, we're singing the old spiritual, "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands." The kids love it and its always delightful to watch them and their parents sing together and do the actions to the words of the song.

 

It's through those simple moments that the meaning, the unity, and the purpose of the church are experienced. We are a holy people, held in God's hands, worshiping His Son Jesus, and guided by the Holy Spirit. We are made simply to enjoy God and to glorify Him forever. His words are spoken to every generation, and our faith is built up through the singing simple songs, that reach into our hearts and minds, our spirits and souls and which we will enjoy forevermore.

 

In my mind, I have a picture of everyone gathered together in glory, and we're all looking at the earth, which is gently cupped in God's great hands. At that moment in eternity, wouldn't it be wonderful to sing that old spiritual and to truly experience it at the same time?

 

Sometimes, we feel isolated and all alone in this world. Sometimes, we just want the earth to stop spinning, so that we can jump off. But in those moments of loneliness and vulnerability, we can also choose to remember that the God we worship loves His people and He holds them dearly in His hand.

 

Prayer:    Lord God, You are the One who created everything, and we live on such a tiny part of this gigantic universe. With all that is continually going on throughout the cosmos, we marvel that You love us so deeply and keep us in Your Holy Hands. Be with us this day and embrace us with Your everlasting arms. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

 

John Stuart

www.erinpresbyterian.org

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Humbly Helping

Proverbs 16:19    Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.

 

My youngest daughter Lauren left Knoxville this morning, as part of a mission team that's going down to Gulfport & Biloxi, in the Katrina damaged areas of the Gulf coast. She'll be there for four days helping to clean up the mess and fix some of the shattered homes. It's the first time she has done anything like this, and I hope and believe that she will come back a changed person.

 

Lauren applied to be a member of this mission team all on her own. She wasn't coaxed or coached by me; she wasn't pressured or coerced by anyone else either. She just had this desire in her heart to help people in distress and be working amongst others who feel the same way. She's not a material kind of girl; in fact, sometimes I refer to her as my hippie daughter. She has a sensitive heart and a compassionate spirit. She doesn't draw attention to herself, nor will she look for any praise for doing this. She just feels the need to help the lowly in spirit and be among those whom Nature has oppressed.

 

We all have opportunities to help others everyday, but sometimes we're just too busy; other times, we're just too afraid. However, if we allow Christ to humble our hearts, He'll find a way to diminish our fears and overcome our self-afflicted incapacity to lend a helping hand to those in need.

 

So, let's all watch for opportunities today, where we can be of service and support to others around us. And let's do these things as a means of lifting them up to Christ in the midst of crisis, trouble, and depression. That way we will be doing good where it is needed most, and also glorifying God for providing us as the vessels of His help.

 

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You know that we are going to come across people in need today. Enable us to overcome our fear, pride, and insensitivity, so that we may be of assistance to those who are most in need. Grant us the strength to set aside those stressful things that would hinder us from offering help and healing. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

 

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Paths of Peace

Proverbs 3:17 Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.
Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Quite recently, at a conference, a keynote speaker said something like, "If we want peace in our land, we've got to stop making war with the rest of the world." It sounds very sensible and these days, in the midst of a long, protracted and ugly war, it's a message that is beginning to gain voice.

But it's not the complete answer. According to this passage from Proverbs, all paths of wisdom bring peace. All paths. Perhaps if we truly want peace in our land, then we've got to walk another path - the path to finding peace within ourselves, within our own borders, within our own people. Wisdom may be telling us that to get peace, we've firstly got to stop this warring madness and inane rivalry within our own country. Sadly, I see equal hatred, animosity and disrespect on both sides of our political and religious arenas. So long as there is disdain, there will always be disunity. So long as there is party and denominational arrogance, there will always be feuding and enmity.

As Christians, we are meant to take the higher ground. According to Paul's letter to the Galatians, there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for we are all one in Jesus. I think that if we were to rewrite it in today's language, he would be saying, in Christ's Church, there is no Democrat or Republican, no left or right wing, no conservative or liberal. We're supposed to be apolitical, just, and highly moral, but tragically, when it comes to nationalism, we're highly political, judgmental, and sometimes amoral.

The ways of wisdom are pleasant, and all her paths are peace. If we want peace in our land, and subsequently throughout the world, we've got to stop making war...with ourselves.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the Prince of Peace, whereas we are the perpetrators of war. You sacrificed Yourself to reconcile us to God, whereas we won't lay down our divisive politics or denominational squabbles to reconcile our people. Forgive our personal, political, religious and national sins which have no place in Your kingdom. Grant us the ability to see beyond the walls of our staunch opinions, blighted politics and religious fanaticism, so that we can rediscover Your peace within ourselves, and thus offer that peace to the rest of the world. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Applying Grace

Romans 3:23,24 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

There's a beautiful church on University Avenue in my hometown of Glasgow. It sits directly across the road from the university itself. It's called Wellington, and I suspect it was named after the Duke of Wellington, the victorious general who defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo.

The church looks like a Greek temple, which was a popular style that architects used when it was built. It sits almost at the top of the hill and, if it wasn't dwarfed by the University, it would be seen for miles around.

Students go to the church every weekday because the congregation serves a cheap lunch, which most of the students appreciate, especially at the end of each semester when funds are low. The pastor usually eats with the students and mingles with them, listening to their stories, enjoying their conversation, and sometimes he gives them advice.

But what's all this got to do with today's verse? Well, years ago someone spray painted graffiti on the front of the church with a message that read, "No one died for my sins." It upset many people and there was talk of stopping the lunches until the graffiti was removed. But the pastor saw the event as a means to show the grace of God, so the graffiti remained and the lunches continued. As word got around, the number of students using the facilities increased. Eventually, after several years, the wind and the rain diminished the graffiti, but the mission of the church was enhanced. Christ's grace triumphed, and hundreds of young lives were kept connected to God.

Today, we may be given several opportunities to rush to judgment or to reveal Christ's grace. Let's hope that we each choose the latter and extend the witness of our faith to others through Christ's patient love.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, where would we be without Your grace? Our lives would be full of judgments and criticisms, complaints and protests. Help us today to live by Your grace and may our thoughts, words, and actions reveal to others Your love, patience, and acceptance. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

The Flying Scotsman - Eric Liddell

Philippians 3: 7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.

If you've ever seen the movie, "Chariots of Fire," you'll know that it's about Great Britain's highly successful 1924 Olympic sprinting team. The movie focuses on two runners, Harold Abrahams from England, and Eric Liddell from Scotland. Both of them won gold medals and became national heroes, but they both had different reasons for wanting success.

Harold Abrahams was a British Jew and he wanted to be accepted for who he was, in the midst of an elite class system, where he was treated as an outsider. His gold medal opened the doors of opportunity that he was desperately searching for, and enabled him at last to take his place at the table with his elitist peers.

Eric Liddell was different. He was the son of Christian missionaries, who ran for the glory of God and who said that when he was sprinting, he could feel God's pleasure because he was truly using the gifts that God had given him. In the movie, as Liddell sprints down the field in the last lap of the 440 yards at the Olympic Games, you see a great joy in his face, which makes you realize that he is at one with God and that everything else doesn't matter. He wins the gold, but better than that, Eric Liddell wins the prize of eternal life by giving God the glory for his great victory.

Eric didn't capitalize on his success like Abrahams. He put it all behind him, soon after the Olympics were over. He went to China to follow in his parents' footsteps of bringing the Gospel to Asian people. Sadly, during World War 2, he was imprisoned in a Japanese concentration camp, where he became seriously sick with a tropical disease and died. But the Scottish people never forgot his great victory and still claim him as a national hero next to likes of William Wallace and Robert the Bruce, and David Livingstone.

Like Paul, many centuries before him, Eric Liddell set aside his victories and success, and sought to glorify Jesus. He was a true Christian, who believed in running the even greater race, in the lanes that lead to everlasting love, through his allegiance, loyalty, and devotion to Christ.

Today, we may be pursuing power and esteem, victory and success in our lives, our careers, and our homes. But let's not forget that all of these things are of this transitory world, and that there is a higher power and glory, victory and salvation that we should aspire to, which is far above and beyond any success and esteem that we will ever experience here.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we all have goals and dreams; we all want to be praised and appreciated; we all want to be successful and secure in our lives. Sometimes these things get in the way of our devotion to You; sometimes we allow ourselves to be distracted and obsessed by our own power and glory, instead of giving You the honor, the appreciation, and the thanks for the blessings we receive. Help us this day, to praise You for all that we accomplish and to put You at the center of all that we achieve. In Your Holy name, we pray. Amen.

Saintly Superstitions

2 Kings 13: 21 Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man's body into Elisha's tomb. When the body touched Elisha's bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet.

This is one of those strange stories in scripture that encourages superstition amongst the faithful. Centuries after this event, the Christian Church was obsessed with collecting relics, possessions and bones of holy men and women, because the priests and people superstitiously believed that by honoring, worshiping and touching relics, miracles of healing, protection and victory in battle could be assured.

In the Middle Ages, a large town or great city was not complete without its sacred collection of authentic relics. Pieces of the Cross, patches of Christ's robe, and bones from the apostles appeared all over Europe. In fact, someone once estimated that at one time there were enough pieces of the Cross all over the towns of Europe to build a large timber church!

People wanted to believe in such things because they lived in anxious times. Plague, infant mortality, famine and fear of attack were quite commonplace. Because of this, common people wanted to be saved from their fears and sought the protection of the church, its saints, and holy relics. Faith gave way to superstition; worship became a magic ritual; and the church capitalized on its power and popularity by commercializing the relics business. It was only when the Reformation occurred that people were liberated from such nonsense. It was only when justification by faith was rediscovered that our churches began to get rid of this kind of superstition.

But what about us today; are we in danger of reverting back to the same old superstitions? We are also living in anxious times and people are looking for good omens, good signs, and good luck with their choices, life-styles, and careers. Tomorrow, most of us will wear green because it's St. Patrick's Day, but some people will wear green because they believe they will get bad luck if they don't. Perhaps today, we'll receive emails which we will forward and pass on to someone else because we won't dare to break the chain and bring calamity upon ourselves. Or we'll go and buy some lottery tickets, and mutter a prayer to God, telling Him that if He lets us win this time, we'll give at least ten percent of our winnings to the church.

All of these are founded upon superstition, and have no place in the lives of people of faith. As Paul said, " The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." And that is all we need.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help us to focus on Your Way today. Keep us free from superstition and strengthen us to overcome all that we are worried about. Be the source of all that we need and guide us through Your grace and love. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Supreme Sacrifice

Genesis 22:12 "Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son."

It's a pivotal moment for Abraham, Isaac, and God. The old patriarch is willing to sacrifice his innocent son simply because God asked him to do it. There's no questioning about what God wants. There's no discussion, negotiation, or compromise. Even when Abraham is looking into his son Isaac's fearful eyes, there is no going back or denying God what He wants. God has commanded and Abraham blindly follows what God has ordered.

Is it a test of faith for Abraham, or for God? Like his forefather Adam, Abraham has the free will to obey or disobey God. He could turn his back on what God wants and decide not to worship such a cruel deity, or he can do what he does, which is to tie his son to a pile of wood and then seek to slaughter him.

But what about God? When He sees Abraham's absolute loyalty, does it make God change His mind? After all, God could decide that what He wants is what He gets, but something happens here that makes God intervene. Does He want to save Isaac, or is there something deeper going on?

Because Abraham doesn't hesitate to follow through God's command, God realizes that He must also do the same thing with His Son, Jesus. Abraham has shown God that humankind can give up everything for Him. The question now is this: is God willing to give up everything for humanity? If not, then Abraham has more faith than God!

After this event, we are no longer asked to sacrifice our children for our faith. There is no more need to be tested like this. There is no more reason to go through such horrific rituals in order to appease an angry God. God Himself has committed this sacrifice by sending Jesus into the world to be slaughtered for humankind. There is no greater sacrifice in the universe than that of the death of Jesus on the Cross at Calvary, for that's where the Holy and Only True Son of God dies for all of our sins. Nothing else can ever top that. No other sacrifice comes close.

Prayer: Father God, faith is not an easy journey and sometimes the sacrifices that we make are hard to endure. Through Abraham's obedience, we are blessed, but through Christ's sacrifice, we are saved. Thank You for giving Your Son as the Perfect & Supreme Sacrifice for all of our sins. That is why we call Him Savior; that is why we serve Him as Lord.. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

True Hope

Romans 8:24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?

Years ago, there was a terrible storm which unexpectedly hit the West coast of Scotland in the late afternoon. All the fishermen in my parish desperately fought against the wind and waves that threatened to engulf their boats. One by one, the trawlers struggled to get into the safety of the harbor. And then a tragedy occurred. One of the older boats was seen about a mile from the harbor, battling against the boiling black waves. One second the boat was there in plain view and then suddenly it was gone. There was nothing the crew could do. The force of the wind and waves overwhelmed the trawler and sent it rapidly to the bottom of the sea. Four good fishermen lost their lives that day and our whole village plunged into mourning.

Only three of the bodies were recovered and when I visited the widow of the fourth man, she couldn't accept what was happening. Time and time again I visited her on a daily basis. She had two teenage boys and they were all utterly devastated. The funerals for the other three fishermen took place within a week of the tragedy, but the fourth fisherman's widow couldn't bring herself to giving permission for the fourth service to take place.

She explained her reasons to me. "If I let you hold the service, John, I'll have to let go of my hope. So long as they can't find his body, I won't believe that he's gone."

For the next six months, we all searched for the body along the shoreline, but we never found it. I visited the family every day and gently tried to persuade the widow to hold the service. The other fishermen were beginning to get uneasy and blamed some of their bad fishing days on the fact that a funeral had not taken place. Support for the family was giving way to superstition, which is bad news in any fishing community.

Eventually, after a great deal of patience and gentle persuasion, the widow consented to having a funeral. We held the service at the end of the harbor and cast out wreaths on to the surface of the waters. We could see where the boat went down, but it was never recovered, and neither was the fourth body.

Sometimes, in the midst of painful circumstances, people hold on to false hope, which is a very sad form of denial. In our passage today, Paul is writing about a different kind of hope, the hope of being saved for all of eternity by Jesus Christ. Some people, who do not believe in Christ, call it a false hope and that we are in denial of the unavoidable experience of death. But for those of us who have experienced the joy of Jesus in our hearts, we know that it is an everlasting hope that can never be taken away, and on the day of our demise, it will be fulfilled forevermore.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the True Hope of our lives and the Shining Star of our hearts. Without You, we have no hope; but with You, we have the promises of God, the covenants of grace, and the hope of eternal life in Your Kingdom. Help us this day, to pass on this hope to our families, friends, colleagues and neighbors. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Chasing Rainbows

Genesis 9: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.

Many years ago, round about the same time as St. Patrick’s Day, I can remember seeing one of the most beautiful rainbows in my life. The colors were absolutely vibrant and it stretched across the dove colored sky in an awesome way. My Dad saw me with my mouth wide open and, as I watched the rainbow disappear, he told me the old Irish story of leprechauns guarding their gold at each end of the rainbow.

For months afterward, whenever a rainbow appeared, I would try to see where the end of it touched the ground. I reckoned that if I located it, I could then trick the leprechaun and steal all of his gold. But no matter how hard I tried, or how ardently I wished for it, I could never find the end. Eventually, I gave up chasing rainbows and learned just to enjoy them each time they appeared. Even today, whenever I see a rainbow, I stop what I am doing, just to marvel at the beauty and wonder of it all.

When I became a Christian, I re-learned that rainbows are symbols of God’s covenant, and of the blessed assurance that He keeps His promises. He never goes against His word, nor does God try to wangle His way out of a pledge to His people. He is the Almighty Promise Keeper, and that means everything to me. I know that I may fail and disappoint Him at times; I may make mistakes and do sinful things, but God’s covenant of forgiveness, mercy, and grace, through the precious blood of Christ, is always there for the asking, and it never fades away.

Today, we may say, write or do something that we later regret. It may hurt or disappoint other people. It may offend and annoy God. And yet, at the end of the day, we will be given another opportunity to confess, another chance to get it right, another rainbow of redemption to correct our character, cleanse our soul, and be restored to God’s favor through Jesus Christ. And if we don’t take it for granted, we will also marvel at the beauty and wonder of His grace.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your everlasting covenant and the sacred promises that You keep. We praise You for being faithful to Your word and for loving, forgiving and restoring us continually, even when we fail to keep Your commands and break our side of Your promises. Thank You for Jesus, for His obedience to Your ways, for His sacrifice that pays for our sins, for His resurrection that is our doorway to everlasting hope. In Christ’s Name, we praise You and pray. Amen.

Sorrow

2 Corinthians 7:10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

I can remember doing something stupid when I was a kid and when my mother found out, I blamed my youngest brother for it. He got punished for what I did, and only after that, did I confess to my mother. She was absolutely furious with me, and I was really angry at her. I was sent packing to my room and told not to come out until I was sorry for what I did.

I mulled over my mistake and I nursed my wrath. I was angry at myself for being stupid. I was angry at my mother for being angry with me. And I was angry for blaming David. It took me hours to get through my self-inflicted wounds and eventually, when I was allowed out, I had to apologize to my mother, my brother, and the whole family who witnessed the event. It was so hard to do, and I just wanted the ground to open up and swallow me, rather than having me swallow my pride.

I also expected to be forgiven immediately, but I wasn't. No one in the house would speak to me for days. Not only did I feel sorry for what I had done, I began to feel ashamed. My family was teaching me a hard lesson, but it was good for me.

As Christians, we all make mistakes and we are never perfect - not even close. If we belonged to the world, we could simply regret what we have done, and then move on. That's worldly sorrow, and in the end it leads to death - death of our relationships, our spirits, and our consciences. But Godly sorrow is much different, that's when we know that we have offended God and bring our confessions to Him, and then we wait. We wait for God to forgive us; we wait for Him to speak to us; we wait for God to give us permission to move on. This is what leads to life - life restored to God's favor, life learning about grace, life that leads to immortality.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You give us the opportunity to make U-turns in our lives. You allow us to confess our mistakes, face up to our failures, and confront our misdeeds. We need Your forgiveness to turn our lives around. We need to be patient to await Your mercy and grace. Be with us today and guide us by Your Holy Spirit. In Your Name we pray. Amen.

Covenant Keeper

1 Samuel 12:23 As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right.

Samuel is upset at the people for wanting to choose a king. He really wants the people to rely upon God, rather than look for a political answer to their national problems. But democracy has over-ruled his intentions, and despite the warnings that he has given the people, they still want to be ruled by a king.

Samuel's reaction is one of disappointment, but his response is different. Instead of preaching fire and brimstone, or rejecting the people altogether, Samuel reminds himself of his own calling: to pray for the people, and to teach them right from wrong. He could have called down the wrath of God and have asked for the people to be destroyed, but instead he takes the covenant way of dealing with the issue, by saying he will pray for the people and continue to teach them.

Sometimes, in our churches, we make decisions that appear to go against what the Lord wants. Sometimes sessions and pastors, elders and congregations create conflict out of innocent situations. But whatever the issue, what is important is holding on to the covenants that have been made and maintaining them: for pastors, like Samuel, this means praying for the congregation and teaching discernment; for elders, this means seeking to preserve the peace and unity of the church; and for church members, it means maintaining our loyalties and support to the whole community of faith, in order to avoid schism, division, and separation.

So let's all pray for our own churches today and seek to learn what is right and wrong. In doing so, we will keep our covenant with God and also bring glory to His Son, Jesus.

Prayer: Lord God, You have made covenants with our people for generations. Throughout the ages, You have kept Your word and maintained the promises that were given centuries ago. In this day and age, help us to preserve the covenants that we have also made, whether we be pastors or elders, church members or adherents. Let us believe in Your word and Your work, by keeping and applying them in our daily lives. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

Old and Gray

Psalm 71:18 Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come.

When I was in high school, I used to do a paper round, which included visiting a nursing home for the elderly. I went around the wards selling the local evening newspaper, and even stood outside the large cafeteria, waiting for the residents to finish their dinner. As they walked past, some of them would buy a paper, whilst others would look at the headlines and talk about what was going wrong with the country. It was one of those life-teaching moments for me, and as I watched some of them struggle and stumble as they headed back to their rooms, I realized I was looking at my own future.

As a student minister, I spent six months helping in a geriatric ward, dealing with older people who were suffering from dementia. It was heart-breaking at times to see people, who had been hearty and healthy for many years, sitting passively in a wheelchair, unable to communicate or to fully understand what was happening around them. And once again, as I looked at them, I realized I was looking at the future.

We all age at the same rate every day and we never know what is just around the corner. The writer of today's psalm understood this, but instead of wallowing in self-pity or sadness, the psalmist wants to continue working for God and serving His people. He sees his old age as an opportunity to pass on all that he has learned from God, not to his peers, but to the next generation. His ministry is not to keep himself alive, but to keep faith alive, by telling bible stories, handing down sacred traditions, and sharing his beliefs with the younger ones in his community.

Some people say that our churches are getting old and full of gray haired people, but that's a good thing. Why? Because it means that we have people in our midst who have stories of faith to tell, experiences of God to share, and precious ministries to pass on. These people are priceless and when they do their part well, when they grandmother and grandfather the children of our congregations with words of encouragement, loving support, and blessings of faith, they are contributing to the life of the church to the fourth and fifth generations yet to come, when our congregation's own children become the grandparents of faith themselves. Being old and gray is a sacred ministry that all our churches need.

Prayer: Loving God, You are the Ancient of Days and the Keeper of Time. For generations, our people have upheld You, worshiped You, and sought You. In each generation, You give us the ability and opportunity to pass on our knowledge of Your mighty deeds, Your healings words, and Your everlasting grace. Help us to share all that we know of You, so that we may inspire the youngest among us to love, worship, and adore You for all of their lives. In the Name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Sunset at Oban June 2004 

Crash

Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.

There was a challenging Christian T-shirt that came out years ago with the slogan, "If God seems distant in your life, then guess who moved." It was meant to get people to question their relationship to God and to reflect upon their lifestyle choices, which may have separated them from God, and even pushed Him out of their lives altogether.

I can remember when I was about sixteen years old saying to God, "Thanks for being with me up till now. I can take it from here on my own." I let go of God at that moment in time and cast Him aside. I was making my own decisions and I didn't want God to interfere with what I was doing. There was a whole world to explore and I wanted to enjoy every last moment of it. I didn't need God, His commands or His words hanging over me. I didn't want His Son or His Spirit to cloud my enjoyment or rain on my parade. My life was my own and it didn't belong to anyone else.

Within three years, I had ruined all my relationships with my friends. I missed the opportunity of going to college. I overdosed and ended up as an attempted suicide in an emergency room. I was drunk every night and had no money in the bank. I was in a dead-end job and had no prospects. I hated myself and I hated my life. So much for handling everything on my own!

And then the blood of Christ saved me. I, who was once so faraway from God, was brought nearer through His grace, mercy, and love. God was right where I left Him, at the center of my life, just waiting for the day when His Son Jesus would bring me back to Him. He hadn't moved.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, if we feel distant from God today, bring us closer to Him. If we have strayed in the wrong direction, or followed forsaken paths, or drifted away from God, reach into our hearts and restore our souls this day. Let Your blood cleanse all of our sins. Let Your words heal our mistakes. Let Your grace turn our lives around today. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Reese Witherspoon - A Real Class Act

Job 32: 9 It is not only the old who are wise, not only the aged who understand what is right.


I was delighted last night when Reese Witherspoon won the Oscar for Best Actress of the Year, for playing June Carter in the movie "Walk the Line." I saw the movie about a month ago and believed then that Reese would win the award. She gave a stellar performance of June Carter, and the fact that both of them came from Tennessee just added to my joy.

Usually, when movie stars win awards, they give thanks to their directors and supporting cast, which Reese did, and also to their family. Reese gave a great deal of credit to her mum, for bringing her up with integrity and strength to become, in Reese's words, 'a real woman', and that both those things enabled her to encapsulate the essential qualities of June Carter, who was a lovely person and a beautiful Christian.

It was like a breath of fresh air to see such home-spun humility taking center stage to all the arrogant egos and puffed up pride that usually permeates the Oscars. It made you proud to see such an honest, young Tennessean woman display real charm, real class, and real character, in a place not known for any of these qualities.

Reese spoke with a simplicity and a wisdom beyond her years, and I wish her every major success throughout her career. I think she is someone who has credibility in this world, and perhaps her Tennessean upbringing is something that will come to be admired, respected, and even envied in years to come.

Sometimes, we don't give our young people, young adults and young parents enough credit for who they are and what they believe. In our church, we are blessed with many fine, committed and faithful young people, who are already beginning to take up the reins of leadership in our congregation. Some churches worry about the future, but I believe that ours is in safe, strong hands of a generation that is positively responding to its calling, and who will exceed all that we have accomplished for Christ at Erin.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You accomplished great things in Your ministry as a young adult, whose understanding about life and love, faith and God was above and beyond all that of previous generations. We pray that You will bestow such precious blessings upon our young people, young adults, and young parents, so that they will make a major difference in the community that we serve, and joyfully lead more people into Your Kingdom. In Your Holy name, we pray. Amen.

Apple of Your Eye

Psalm 17: 8 Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings

When I was growing up, I often heard the term 'apple of your eye', usually from my grandmother, who used it for all twenty-two of her grandchildren. You don't hear it so much these days, which is a pity, because it's one of those endearing Bible phrases that has been part of our culture since the King James Version was printed four hundred years ago.

Frequently, older people use it to describe how precious younger people are to them, especially sons and daughters and grandchildren. But the funny thing is, in the ancient Hebrew, where this phrase comes from, it doesn't really mean apple at all. The word is actually 'bath' which in Hebrew means 'daughter.' In fact, in Hebrew the whole phrase reads, "Preserve me as the little man of the daughter of your eye" which probably would not have caught on in English, so I guess "apple of your eye" is a lot easier to express and accept.

Whatever its origins, I like the phrase. It conveys the idea that we are precious in God's sight and that we are each held dearly in His heart. And that's really what we want to know, that's really what each of us needs to hear. Sometimes we can feel terribly alone or lost in this world, with no one to care for us. But when we place our faith in God, He tells us in many ways through scripture, and intimately through prayer, that we are cherished, embraced and loved by Him.

Prayer: Father God, there are days when we all feel like children and need to know of Your all-embracing love. Sometimes we struggle with life and feel weighed down by our responsibilities. During those moments, we need to be cradled in Your arms and made precious in Your sight. Today, let us be aware that we are indeed the apple of Your eye and that You care dearly for each of us. In Your Holy name, we thankfully pray. Amen.

Jude

Ephesians 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

My Mum was a Roman Catholic, so praying to the saints came naturally to her. She had her favorites like St. Monica and St. Theresa, but usually when she was praying for me, especially during my drinking sprees, she would pray to St. Jude. When I asked her why she chose St. Jude, she answered, "He's the saint for all lost causes." I used to laugh at that, and so did my Mum, but at times I think she was serious. And I guess when I had my conversion experience and eventually became a Presbyterian pastor, she probably put it down to and chalked it up for St. Jude.

When Paul writes about praying and saints, he talks about praying for them and not to them. He's referring to the ordinary men and women in the church, who devote their lives to God and sincerely serve Christ's Kingdom. 'Saints' is just another name that Paul uses to describe church members; people who give their time, talents and resources for the well-being, mission and ministry of the local church. They are not super-heroes or holy servants; they are just ordinary people who have an extraordinary faith. So when Paul talks about praying for the saints, he's encouraging the Ephesians (and us) to pray for our churches.

Let's take time out of our busy schedules today, so that we can pray for the churches that we belong to. Let's ask God to bless the people who serve Him day by day, week by week, and year after year.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for the churches that we belong to. Thank You for the people who regularly gather together to worship and adore You, to serve and glorify You. Thank You for the faith we share and for the promises of the Gospel that we try to live, express and impart in the community where we abide. Bless all the saints in our midst. In Your Holy name, we pray. Amen.

Miss McKenzie

2 Corinthians 4:5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.

When I was in elementary school, a religious organization called 'Scripture Union' met every Wednesday after school. It's purpose was to reach out to kids who were unchurched, by offering them a mid-week club where they could read the Bible, sing choruses, and watch film strips about missionaries in other lands. Many of the songs that I sing with our own church kids on Sunday mornings, were ones that I learned at Scripture Union, or SU as we called it.

The meetings were led by a Miss McKenzie, who was one of the best teachers in the school. Everybody wanted to be in her class. She was strict , but absolutely fair. She was a great encourager, educator and a true example of what a Christian is meant to be. She adored children and wanted the best for everyone she taught. She knew that we were all living in a deprived area and, that for most of us, it would handicap our potential for the rest of our lives. She tried to make us see that education could liberate us from the lowliness of our environment, but more important than all of that, Miss McKenzie sought to show us that her Savior cared about all of us. Just like Paul says in his letter, she didn't preach herself, but instead talked about Jesus Christ as Lord, and that she was a servant for His sake.

When I look back forty years, I realize that I am indebted to Miss McKenzie and that any good I do now is part of her service to Christ, too. Perhaps if we get the opportunity to import our faith and our commitment to Christ to the younger generations, especially the elementary kids in our lives, then in forty years time, they will be just as thankful for what we have done as servants for Christ's sake.

If you'd like to see what SU is all about, you can visit it online at: http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/

There's even a US branch of SU! Go to http://scriptureunion.gospelcom.net/

Prayer; Lord Jesus, thank You for bringing special servants into our lives, whose commitment to You encourages us to have faith. We praise You for their faith, hope and love which inspires us to become Christians. Help us to do the same in our own lives. Grant us opportunities to reach out to the young kids in our churches, schools and lives. In Your Holy name, we pray. Amen.