The View From Here

In ‘Acts’ we read of Jesus talking to his people and rising up into heaven.  The crowd stand there staring into space and I would love to know the thoughts going through their heads.  They soon realise that they are left standing in the sun being spoken to by two unknown men.  They are told,”This Jesus will return the same way, go home and wait”  They do, not that there was much choice, and just sit there and pray.

I imagine none of them had a clue what to do and the speculation of what was to come would be interesting to hear.  Eventually the Holy Spirit, God himself, comes upon them and they speak in the languages of their hearers.  Great stuff.  The church is born and the ongoing work ensues.

I was sitting in the sun in the park cogitating on this and wondered, just wondered.  I mean if he rose up into the sky and if he will come back that way, what am I to do about this, and if the ‘church,’ however you define it, has been around for two thousand years what changes have we really made?  What benefits have we brought to Gods earth?  ‘Christendom’ has many facets. We hear of Crusades, and Spanish inquisitions, Reformations and a wide variety of denominations, all to often squabbling among themselves let alone with each other!  Is this really representing Christ on the earth?  No of course not.

Now there is not really much we can do about the mess ‘Christendom’ has left us.  Indeed not much we can do about most things.  However, each of the early disciples did what they had to do, not what others had to do.  Peter asked concerning Johns future and was told to concentrate on what the Lord had for him!  We are not called to change the world.  We see so many wrongs but fixing them is not our aim.  We can only be useful in this world when we are where Jesus himself wants us.  My intellect, stop giggling at the back there, my intellect is no good, I said stop it!  My talents are no use unless they are aimed in the right direction.  Only being in the will of God, whether cleaning shoes in a stall, or reaching to the heights of government, will I be effective.

The problem lies in hearing his will, and then obeying it.  But if I can hear where I should be, If I can be courageous enough to obey it, then I will change the world around me, transform society, produce a fantastic response when I meet Jesus, and be totally satisfied.  The oppressions and opposition I face is of course to be ignored at this point as it might put me off, but if each of us can hear and obey we can change our world.

Now being humble and rather shy I am not one for awards, but on this occasion I will accept because it comes froma nice young lass. Obviously had I received an award from an ugly old man, (yes I mean you), I would have had no option but to refuse. It appears this award has been started by these chaps who wish to enlarge their collection of ‘Christian’ blogs and in this manner enhance their site. Some might say a bit of a cheek really but having had a wee look I think this one is OK. These lads are found at http://www.hwy777.com/

Their blurb is as follows.

Congratulations!

Your site has been selected to receive the “Awesome Site” award from Hwy777.com.

Please link it to:

http://www.hwy777.com/

When you have placed the award on your site, please let us know the URL of the

page it’s on and we will add your site to the winners list.

Thanks and God bless!

Nothing wrong with someone admiring your ‘work’ and wishing it to be acknowledged in my view, especially when they are right! There are many, too many, ‘Christian’ blogs on the web these days and not all of them are what I feel they ought to be. However I must pass this on to my friend ‘Mulled Vine.’ One aspect of such blogs is ‘honesty’ and this blog has it. Always worth a read, always in danger of touching a nerve, and always with a twinkle in his eye. Read it if you have missed it before.

I claim there are ‘too many Christian blogs,’ and I am right. The trouble with the web is that it allows anybody to set up a blog and spout of their ideas, good and bad. Yes I realise this means you and me, and for that reason we ought to be more thoughtful when we post. I will start that tomorrow! There are indeed too many Christian blogs and in my view far too many are poor. Most of these it must be said turn out to be American and give the impression that to be a Christian one has to be a Republican gun loving, anti abortion, Muslim hating, supporter of the troops in Iraq! This is a lie!

Now I am all in favour of being concerned for ‘our boys’ out there, but in no way can the armies in Iraq or Afghanistan be regarded as fighting a ‘Christian’ war. In fact the opposite. This is an American war for oil and to break up Iraq for Israel’s sake. There is no Christian side to it. This must be stated clearly as in some USA posts politics comes before God. It is notable that for many of these a particular view of the ‘End Times’ is being pushed forward, and we all know that while the signs tend to indicate that the end is indeed near we should not be looking for that but looking to the Lord where we are now. Tomorrow will take care of itself. Fear of the end time is not an incentive to Christian living, that comes from Love for Jesus, nothing else!

Another bone of contention lies between what I will call ‘Reformed’ and Charismatic folks. There are too many divisions to mention all the variety of names found here so we will keep it simple. On the one hand there are those who stick to the ‘Word of God’ and are not willing to allow ‘Gifts’ to operate in their churches. The word alone, discerning and preaching it are the only gifts allowed. While this is great it also fails to satisfy. For one thing this limits God to our understanding, and we know how bad that is, and even refuses to allow him by his Holy Spirit to touch his people either individually or together. We must not limit God. Fear often limits God in reformed churches. The fear that the gifts are not from God, and we have all got reason to fear this, and the fear that they are from him! The Holy Spirit exposes sin, pride is revealed and those comfortable with things as they are can be scared of the challenge that arises. Who is not afraid of such a movement of God?

The fear of the enemy is understandable and proper study must be made to recognise the difference. However, for me it is hard to accept that the devil can work miracles and wonders, which he can, while Jesus has not got this power! The Jesus Christ is Lord, not the enemy, therefore he has given gifts and we must use them.

One objection to Charismatics is the enthusiasm often seen at such meetings. Feelings and emotions can run riot and often laughter or tears flow loudly. Many object to this forgetting that the hymns written by Wesley brought the same objections. Although if I had to sing all twenty verses of ‘And Can it Be’ three times or more, as they frequently did, I would object also! We must not regard emotion as false, it is created by God then it ought to be used. For many we have hidden our emotions under a ’stiff upper lip’ for too long. God has emotion, look them up, and ask why you cannot be emotional when the God who loves you sends his Son to die for you? If you have no emotion are you walking with God? James and John, Paul and Peter all showed emotion, why is it not allowed in church? If football fans can cry over a goal being scored why can the reformed not respond when aware of their sin or noting their forgiveness? David danced before the Lord, why don’t you? To be honest we are in danger in the UK of becoming too falsely emotional, and this does annoy me. However it is right that we should be more open about such things. God made them, lets use them!

What do we do with those blogs or churches that we disagree with? We need to check their basis of faith. Do they hold to the basic biblical doctrines? Are they seeing him and looking to follow his teaching, however badly they do this? Is it your business to deal with them? God is in charge and we need to be careful how we approach those who differ. I mean is it a cultural difference or a biblical one? If these people are ‘biblical’ in their approach then they can be regarded as brothers even if they have differences from you and I. I find most folk have differences from me by the way. If they teach non biblical doctrines we can ask ourselves if it is right to mention this. We of course may be rebutted but that’s fine.

From the beginning there have been divisions, between Jewish and Hellenic Christians, a wide variety of disputes arose in the early church and many false churches and dogmas arose. This is not new. The only answer is to search the scriptures for ourselves, much prayer, and discussion with others, and looking for the Holy Spirits leading. Sometimes I get very confused by the things I read on the web. Good people putting forward good biblical truths which on examination have a political, social, or other slant which is not truly biblical. Or maybe not to me! Some things are obviously wrong, others well worth a read, but the point of this ramble is to encourage folks to accept those who differ, yet seek biblical truth, and study the book for yourselves. Let’s face it, in the end it is your understanding that Jesus will be judging, not mine or his, but our own. Read the book, study the book, do what the book says and Love one Another, even if they are wrong.

Jesus does.

1 Praise Yahweh, my soul! All that is within me, praise his holy name! ² Praise Yahweh, my soul, And don’t forget all his benefits; ³ Who forgives all your sins; Who heals all your diseases; ⁴ Who redeems your life from destruction; Who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies; ⁵ Who satisfies your desire with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

⁶ Yahweh executes righteous acts, And justice for all who are oppressed. ⁷ He made known his ways to Moses, His deeds to the children of Israel. ⁸ Yahweh is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness. ⁹ He will not always accuse; Neither will he stay angry forever. ¹⁰ He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor repaid us for our iniquities. ¹¹ For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is his loving kindness toward those who fear him. ¹² As far as the east is from the west, So far has he removed our transgressions from us.

¹³ Like a father has compassion on his children, So Yahweh has compassion on those who fear him. ¹⁴ For he knows how we are made. He remembers that we are dust. ¹⁵ As for man, his days are like grass. As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. ¹⁶ For the wind passes over it, and it is gone. Its place remembers it no more. ¹⁷ But Yahweh’s loving kindness is from everlasting to everlasting with those who fear him, His righteousness to children’s children; ¹⁸ To those who keep his covenant, To those who remember to obey his precepts.

¹⁹ Yahweh has established his throne in the heavens. His kingdom rules over all. ²⁰ Praise Yahweh, you angels of his, Who are mighty in strength, who fulfill his word, Obeying the voice of his word. ²¹ Praise Yahweh, all you hosts of his, You servants of his, who do his pleasure. ²² Praise Yahweh, all you works of his, In all places of his dominion. Praise Yahweh, my soul.

So here we are again, once more in the land of the living - I think!

I will spare you the awful details of my stupidity and all that, I will however thank you all for your kind words and constant prayers.  They do have an effect, although the request for a proper functioning brain still has not been answered.

I truly thought I had lost everything and was left will an awful emptiness.  Maybe I was right, maybe not.  However folks prayers, care and  a word from my former spiritual mentor helped greatly.

(His word was ‘pillock!’)

I have renounced the wrong actions and attempted to move closer to the right place.  naturally I am still looking for that clear word from him that will ease all my fears and I am ruminating on him anyway, I would like to be closer to him than I am that’s for sure.

I have read and taken on board all your kind words.  Advice, rebukes, prayers etc are all acceptable, and I assure you I am grateful to know such lovely people.

I intend to return to a more normal state of stupidity from now on, so I will apologise for my recent state and move onwards looking to him to support me - and you lot also.

Thank you all!

All my life has been a striving with God.

Recently he brought me to a crisis point. I could choose, I found myself saying ‘No!’                 Now Jesus has gone from my mind.  I do not see him calling me to his cross, to himself, to put myself into his hand any more.  I have lost it. There has been a clear change within me.  There is nothing to live for now.  Nothing has meaning.
I see myself now as one of those who spent 40 years in the wilderness. Like Eli or Saul.

Lord there is nothing without you!
If there any hope let it show.

Earlier today I was annoyed at myself for falling into one of my bad habits.  It just seemed like it was a waste of time attempting to go on.  There was a wall of failure there before me. I sat down and prayed those feeble, useless, waste of time prayers that you know  will bring no answer. Looking at the book lying there I thought of one or two Psalms and decided it there was no point going over them.  I would just put my own thoughts into them and get my own answers back, and that was a waste also!

However, I am not sure where it came from, but I found myself musing not on me, but on how God had taken the initiative to love me!   I had not loved him, nor bothered about him, but he had chosen to love me!   What a thought!   In spite of the person I am, in spite of the things that have passed through my disgusting mind, he has always ‘loved me!’ It was his decision and I suppose he must have known what I was like even then!  This is a relief, and a great encouragement.

Several times I have noticed my failing s since that moment.  No doubt I will notice them again soon.  However, Jesus knows and wants to make me new!  In spite of me he is not discouraged, hurt maybe, but not discouraged.

I got up again this morning, and carried on, with fresh love for this great God, and a deeper desire to know him and love him.  This is good!

Something frightened me today. Nothing unusual in that I hear you say, but it got at me.  It upset what passed for routine, left a black mark in my mind, and wore me down.  This led on to bad attitudes with other, unrelated, happenings and brought out the worst in me.

Later, when praying from the pit of despair, a place I know all too well, Psalm 27 came to mind.  I could not recall the words, and wondered if this was just me.  I read :-

 2 When evil men advance against me
to devour my flesh,
when my enemies and my foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.

 3 Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then will I be confident.

I was glad of this!

Once again the protective love of God hung around.  Once again he looked at this spoiled brat and wept at the unbelief and stupidity.  Once again he offered a wise word, possibly while sighing deeply.  God is said to have ‘patience’ at one place, when looking up the word we discovered it is actually,’Long suffering.’  How I make him suffer!

Thank you Jesus……..again.

Should we condemn them or help them? How much ought we to sympathise and how do we discipline?

Some always put an arm around the one troubled by a sin, others take the ‘macho’ attitude and just tell them to ‘Stop it and get on with it!’ Others have their own way of dealing. The attitude can vary depending on whether you actually like the person or not and of course your own attitude to the sin involved. Some folks are surprised or revolted by the things that bother a Christian, but Jesus knows the depth of our corruption and is never surprised by anything we do. He knows our heart. More sympathy and help is given to a friend as opposed one who bugs you and this is understandable.

It is written somewhere, ‘A friend loves at all times,’ and Jesus certainly does this. Jesus however always spoke the truth to people, and if something is wrong it must be pointed out. Help may be required, but it is the decision to fight whatever brings sin that brings success, eventually. The fellow traveller attempts to ‘Love at all times’ and to be honest this is not easy, even with a friend!

Avoiding the cause helps, taking appropriate action helps, prayer helps, but personal decision is the major step. On occasion the Holy Spirit will bring relief, but not always quickly. It is imperative therefore that if sin bothers an individual they must choose to make every effort to stop it. An honest friend can help them by counsel and prayer, but an admission of what is wrong and choice to cease it is required. Reading and studying the book is the first step to know what is sin and what is not. This is the way to understand the mind of God.

Understanding Gods view of the sin is important, we often get things out of context. Remembering his love and perseverance is vital, otherwise we would just give up. And there is the most important thing - his love!

If we spent more time understanding his tough love, and less time wallowing in our physical, mental or emotional ‘needs’ we would be happier and more obedient people! It is the love of God, him choosing to love us, that is the beginning of hope for us all. Our nature is corrupt, we fight the world, the flesh and the devil, and he is aware of this. He has promised to be with us but we must choose to accept and believe this and the desire to hurt him will help defeat the sin.

Jesus understands and loves us. He always tells us the truth, even if we don’t like it, we also must speak the truth to one another.