In the Steps of St Paul by H.V.Morton

H.V.Morton came from a journalist background and became famous for his travel books. He discovered the knack of travel writing after the Great War and wrote about London, England and Scotland before travelling around the Middle East in the nineteen thirties. His two books from those adventures, ‘In the Steps of the Master’ and ‘In the Steps of St Paul,’ not only became best sellers at that time but are still published today.

Morton plays the part of the middle class Englishman touring the world well. He can chat to diplomats and governors as well as Turkish drivers and Arabs living in poor conditions. His easy air, his knowledge, learned or pretence, takes us into both the world of the thirties and that of the first century. His advantage was the ease he could travel through so many countries and visit empty sites which could give an understanding of life two thousand years ago. The traveller today has far too many travel difficulties and those same sights are often hidden by tourist traps, shops and hotels a plenty!

Morton writing is easy on the eye and he gives a clear impression of the world that confronts him and then describes the same place when Paul the apostle and his companions passed this way. His descriptions are enticing and made me want to follow him to these far off places after I first
read this book.

The tour start in Israel, passes through Antioch, Cyprus, and travels across Turkey, although not always with ease. The struggles with his cars in the roads of the time give an insight with Paul’s difficulties on the roads under Roman rule. Greece is covered and then Rome. Here however the Roman Catholic in Morton leaves me queasy. His near adulation when he watches the Pope pass by is unsettling for those who understand the bible. The constant use of ‘St’ in front of Paul’s name is also irritating.

I like this book, and the manner of the writing. Paul’s troubles are made clearer as we get an insight into his daily struggles, whether through work, painful beatings, imprisonment, travel or the church itself. Instead of heavy theology, which he is unable to contemplate, this book is a light relaxing read that in spite of the time difference from our own gives an insight into Paul’s work and the world in which he operated. It is well worth a read.

Before the throne of God above

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong, a perfect plea:
a great High Priest, whose name is Love,
who ever lives and pleads for me.

My name is graven on his hands,
my name is written on his heart;
I know that while in heaven he stands
no tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair,
and tells me of the guilt within,
upward I look, and see him there
who made an end of all my sin.

Because the sinless Savior died,
my sinful soul is counted free;
for God, the Just, is satisfied
to look on him and pardon me.

Behold him there! the risen Lamb!
My perfect, spotless Righteousness,
the great unchangeable I AM,
the King of glory and of grace!

One with himself, I cannot die;
my soul is purchased by his blood;
my life is hid with Christ on high,
with Christ, my Savior and my God.

Islam

I was watching a video tonight concerning the growth of Islam around the world. The implication was that as Muslims move into the West they will out breed the indigenous population and take over the world. Figures were given regarding the massive growth of the Muslim population and forecasts of the likelihood of how things will turn out in the next thirty years or so.

Now I do not know who was behind this video. I do not know if their figures were correct. I am aware that Islam would like to ‘take over the world,’ what religion or belief system would not?  Such videos may be a warning to some, they may be a call to Christians to evangelise, they may just be racists hiding behind a front, however one thing is clear it was made by Americans! You will be aware that I am always wary of American Christians websites and videos. While there are many excellent Christians in the US many put an ‘All American image’ before Jesus. Some of course are more Republican than Christian, and this is very sad.  So with wariness I watch such videos.

However when praying about Islam later I was reminded that Jesus Christ is Lord! Islam may grow, Hinduism may grow apace, secular humanism may spread over the face of the earth but Jesus knows all about this and he remains in charge. It is not for Christians to fear such movements, ‘fore thought’ not ‘fear thought’ is required, it is for Christians to preach ‘Christ Crucified’ and nothing else! It does not matter whether there are wars and famines, earthquakes and false gods, what matters is proclaiming Christ Jesus and nothing else.

Christians need to be aware of facts, objectively stated, and in context of the world around them. Extremist claims must resisted, and at all times Christs Jesus must be seen as Lord in our lives and proclaimed, whatever the situation.

Gracious God

I was irked today. I often am. Normally I am only irked during waking hours but sometimes I get irked when dreaming also. No point in wasting any hours I say! Anyway I was sitting in the park, enjoying the sunshine, the blackbirds proclaiming their territory and watching beasties fly and crawl by. I was supposed to be reading ‘The Early Church’ but I kept getting distracted by my irked mind.
I had said something, which I happened to agree with. This had upset another and his reply irked me somewhat. Now by somewhat I found myself planning the drop of an ‘H’ bomb or two in his general direction, you know the idea. You have been there just like me. Tiredness and what not makes it worse, but added to this I was considering the church in the fourth century.
In the middle years of that century the church went through many troubles, as indeed it has done since the beginning. I was also irked by their inability to work together through their theological differences by the power of the Holy Spirit, thus showing who was right and loving all, whatever their opinions. As I thought this I remembered I was borrowing a spare B52 to drop my ‘H’ bombs. Hmmmm Being quick on the uptake I reckoned something was not right, and being a miserable sinner I was not willing to back down.
Later I discovered the other had in fact withdrawn his comment. Problem solved.
I decided to take this further and looked up his website which was pretty much as I suspected it to be. However when I read his testimony I was thrilled by a feeling of love towards him. The grace of God, the reality of Jesus and I sensed his hand at work as I was greatly encouraged by his words. Instead of anger there was brotherly love, agape, just as it should be. I felt the joy of a reconciliation, I was aware of the hand of our God at work.

Sometimes I wonder at what a fool I am.
Yet Jesus is still with me. Wow.

George Herbert 1593-1633

Welsh born George Herbert was an intelligent young man. He went to Trinity College Cambridge and his abilities caught the attention of King James VI & I. He was destined for a career as an ambassador and spent two years as a member of parliament, an activity very different from that we see today! However when the king died and other influential friends also departed this life George returned to his first choice, that of a parish priest. While capable of climbing high he became ordained into the ministry of the day and started as Vicar, later Rector, of  St Andrew Bemerton, nr Salisbury.

He became a popular faithful priest, caring for the poor and visiting the sick and taking the sacraments to them. His attitude best summed up in making himself late when helping a carter load his cart after an accident, he did not ‘pass by on the other side!’ What his theology was I am as yet unsure, but he was infuenced to some extent by the monastic life and although he appeared to have some disputes with puritans, quite easy I imagine, Richard Baxter is quoting as saying,

“Herbert speaks to God like one that really believeth a God, and whose business in the world is most with God. Heart-work and heaven-work make up his books.”

He had clearly read the poems of the man who died from TB after only three years hard work in his parish. The poems were published after his death.

Read more here : George Herbert

Or here : Prayers and reflections of George Herbert

He must have written his poetry all through his life, and some speak so well to the daily life of a believer. I found this one the other day, and useful when all is falling down around you and your temper is failing.

The Collar

I struck the board, and cried, “No more!
I will abroad.
What! shall I ever sigh and pine?
My lines and life are free; free as the road,
Loose as the wind, as large as store.
Shall I be still in suit?
Have I no harvest but a thorn
To let me blood, and not restore
What I have lost with cordial fruit?
Sure there was wine
Before my sighs did dry it; there was corn
Before my tears did drown it.
Is the year only lost to me?
Have I no bays to crown it?
No flowers, no garlands gay? all blasted?
All wasted?
Not so, my heart; but there is fruit,
And thou hast hands.
Recover all thy sigh-blown age
On double pleasures; leave thy cold dispute
Of what is fit and not; forsake thy cage,
Thy rope of sands,
Which petty thoughts have made, and made to thee
Good cable, to enforce and draw,
And be thy law,
While thou didst wink and wouldst not see.
Away! take heed;
I will abroad.
Call in thy death’s-head there; tie up thy fears;
He that forbears
To suit and serve his need
Deserves his load.”
But as I rav’d, and grew more fierce and wild
At every word,
Me thoughts I heard one calling, “Child”;
And I replied, “My Lord.”

One Person

I read this morning of one lucky man who just happened to be in Hiroshima on the day the Americans dropped the first atomic bomb. Surviving this occurrence he made his way back to his home town. Unfortunately this was Nagasaki!

Shortly afterwards the Americans dropped the second atomic bomb there! He i now recognised as the one man known to survive both atomic bombs. Now that’s luck!

Often people ask “Why does God allow this?” and my cynical reply is “If you don’t believe in God why ask where is he?” But why does he allow such terrible happenings? I have no idea! There are many answers put forward but in my mind the fact remains that he is in control and working his purposes out – even in such events!

One thought arose. One person led to the war. One person took  a nation and led it into war. Adolf Hitler took the Germans into a war, The Emperor took Japan. Now both were used as much as using the political situation around them. The desire for a better life in Germany was matched with a desire for revenge after losing the Great War. The Japanese, desperate for secure oil and other imports, developed a nationalistic military machine. In both nations one man could have changed this for good – he never appeared!

Jesus you see changed the world on a one to one basis. He picked a dozen men, they spread the word after he rose from the dead, others joined them, and today one by one the story of Jesus continues to spread. One man could have stood up in Germany and used the situation for good. he never arrived. One could have been strong enough to resist military power in Japan, he kept quiet.

What I am attempting through my early morning mind to say is – you can change this world! You, whether believer or not, can make this world better! You can prevent wars, or encourage them, in small or large situations. You can choose to allow Jesus to be Lord in everything and bring about life to many, including yourself.

So don’t ask ‘Why?’” ask instead, “What can I do Lord?”

Thank You

Thank you for prayers. There has been some benefit. Sometimes we face a brick wall, although I find that better than looking in the mirror! You have been a great help! Thanks!

Self Pitying Whine

So here it is. With the words of Habbakuk in my ears I still find myself ‘taking the talk’ but not ‘walking the walk!’ Now I know the Lord will never fail, but things are tight here and I wonder if someone might offer a prayer that will open my ears to what I ought to do?

The story so far (You may yawn now) forced to leave work because of arthritic knee, the need being for work of a more sedentary (that means sitting down) nature, I have been unemployed for longer than some of the Dole office staff have worked there!  Knowing nothing relevant, having ‘Postman’s knees,’ and an arthritic knee also, being untrained in anything bar lifting goods or people I have struggled to find work. Being 57 years of age is also a crime in some folks eyes and on top of this work of suitable type has been rare.

I have spent lots on driving lessons, the only suitable training open to me I could find, and am close to passing the test (so I say anyway!). However this means the cash has run away and now I am wondering what to do?  Being gormless at the best of times I am totally lacking in any ideas now. What ideas have arrived have been unreachable or a product of a deluded and twisted mind!

The good book says ‘work,’ and work I would like. (However after forty years of ‘work’ I don’t want ‘work’ again, I want something ‘enjoyable’ as ‘work.’ I no longer have the energy for some jobs.) I am guilty taking the dole, I feel bad I do nothing, even though it has its advantages! But not being able to pay my way, or indeed pay towards others way is a real hang up! So, I ask prayer, for the right opening, the right work, and the right attitude from me!

I also have no church at present. I found the churches here rather difficult when I arrived some time ago. Either they were moving too fast or thought it was still 1964!  While some appear good places I cannot find a ‘home’ among them. (The red cross made from goats blood on my front door, with a note saying ‘Keep away!’ and signed by the local ‘League of churches,’ may also indicate something) This is a loss, but I truly need more ‘fellowship.’ What I have is at a distance, although the Lord has changed me over recent years through this. (But not enough a voice calls out!)

So my self pitying whine is for prayer that I may believe what I know, and find suitable employment and fellowship in the area. Unless the Good Lord wants something else, like to give me a good kick up the posterior! This may be more likely!

Whining noise is stopping now as I am off to grumble elsewhere……

Recession

Recession has hit the UK. It sits on top of the worlds economy, everyone is troubled by this. Well, maybe not Oil Millionaires of course, as yet!

Some years ago I knew a man who had gone to China in 1935. he and his wife found themselves where the Good Lord wanted them, deep in the middle of China. A change from their middle class suburb! Later they were found in Shanghai where they produced Christian literature in Chinese. During their time the Japanese war broke out, and later Japan attacked British protectorates. This led to a time in camp. After the war things improved in some ways but eventually the Communists under Mao took over and by 1951 the mission was removed from that great land. The missionaries worry was how would the church survive without them to lead it. Under duress it grew! Isn’t it always the way!
One of his few stories, he rarely spoke of their troubles, concerned the recession that struck at one point. Paper money became worthless, and bundles of notes would be tied together into long bundles, just enough to pay for a rickshaw ride! However by strictly keeping the account books during this time and trusting in Jesus their friend he discovered that after the financial downturn had ended the mission had become better off than at the beginning!

A while ago thinking on things this came to me, from deep in my mind or from Jesus,

‘I have been young and now I am old,and I have never seen the righteous forsaken.’

Whatever your situation, trust in him and he will never forsake you!

Idle Thoughts

Watching the next US president make his way to the White House brought to mind the number of people yelling, almost manically, about the ‘end times,’ and Jesus return. US websites are full of this, UK ones appear to never mention it! This alone tells us something! The difference between Biblical Christianity and the US version which is more Republican politics than biblical truth is striking! Too many side with Israel, not from the viewpoint of God, but as if it was John Wayne fighting the indians! They appear to enjoy the death of Palestinians while God, through Ezekiel, says he ‘Does not rejoice at the death of the wicked.’ Indeed, he hates it so much his Son died to save them!

I read in Matthew a few words of Jesus regarding the ‘end times.’ It left me at peace. Why? Because it assured me he was in charge, God is in control and what will be is in his hands. There is no need for the somewhat panic stricken outcry of US websites, instead there is a need for personal trust in the saviour. This appears to be forgotten while folks search for the outworking of Gods will.

These I am sure, are honest people for the most part, but in my mind I ought to be looking to Jesus for what I am to do where I am, not wasting my time, looking into the sky for his return. There is much to do here, and my job is to find out what that is where I am.

Jesus is more than capable of controlling the Israel situation,and they cannot be defeated if God is with them, I can only help him by being open to him here where I am.