What on earth is happening, for heaven's sake?!

In the early part of the year, I was preaching in a Lanarkshire Fellowship.  The turmoil that was to spread across northern Africa, and through parts of the Middle east, was not long underway.  During the course of the message, I asked if, three months earlier, anyone would have predicted such momentous events.  The unspoken answer was that, of course, no-one would. Three months ago, if anyone had asked me if I could foresee similar events taking place in the UK, I would have laughed, and said "No, of course not!"

Even longer ago, I wrote a piece (probably a post on this blog!) in which I suggested that, although I personally am totally opposed to it, the E.U. could be a part of God's judgement on a people who have, largely, turned their backs to Him.  As I sit in the sunshine in Picardie, in Northern France, preparing to return to the U.K. tomorrow, I am wondering if that judgement is now being directed particularly towards the U.K.

A site to which I subscribe has also made that suggestion.  The facts are clear.  The traditional churches are in disarray - torn over issues of sexuality in one form or another; in dispute over the proper content of praise and worship; "holding the form of religion but denying the power of it." (II Tim 3:5; RSV).  There is no prophetic voice to the nation, and the occasional "voice crying in the wilderness" (John 1:23, et al) is drowned out by the clamour of consumerism and the might of materialism.

Since the end of the Great War (1914-18) there has been an increasingly-rapid breakdown of society: sexual perversion and marital infidelity have become increasingly acceptable - even approved; there is a lack of respect for any authority-figure - from parents to police-officers; so-called single mothers are no longer shamed, but provided with state (i.e.taxpayer!) support; people find their relief in drugs - whether legal or illegal; the family unit - that bedrock of society - is marginalised; atheistic humanism is becoming increasingly aggressive.

Paul, writing to his young "son in the faith", close to 2,000 years ago, foresaw such a situation.  Prior to those words that I quoted above, he writes: "But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of stress. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, inhuman, implacable, slanderers, profligates, fierce, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God," (II Tim 3:1-4; RSV).

Could it be that we are indeed seeing, if not the end at least the beginning of the end?  Of one thing I am absolutely certain - that however unexpected both current and recent events have been to our political and economic 'leaders', they have not caught Almighty God by surprise!  He is the One Who sees the end from the beginning; all of time is spread out before Him, and he sees all of history simultaneously.  He is also, as I shared at the Christian Police Association Annual Conference, the only One who can be our Certainty in such uncertain times. 

As the songwriter put it: "I may not know what lies ahead; the way I may not see.  But One stands near to be my Guide; He'll show the way to me.  I know Who holds the future, and He guides me with His hand. With God, things don't just happen - everything by Him is planned.  So as I face tomorrow with its problems large and small; I'll trust the God of miracles; give to Him my all."  In such a tumultuous time, I commend Him to you - and you to Him.

After the Conference.

The CPA Annual Conference, 2011, is ended and, by now, even the furthest-travelled delegates should be safely back home.  Indeed, many of them will probably have already completed a shift on duty!

It was, by any standard of measurement, a successful conference.  More than a hundred delegates gathered from every part of the UK - the south-west of England; the City of London; the Midlands; Wales; N.Ireland; Scotland (of course!); and many other Forces.  All united in a common love for, and allegiance to, the Lord Jesus.

My own parts, as stated in the previous post, were preaching at the Saturday evening Praise Service - which was open to the local inhabitants of Kincardine and Tulliallan (and a number were in attendance); and being involved in the brief Act of Remembrance at the Scottish Police War Memorial.

The theme of the Conference was "Certainty in uncertain times", and my message on Saturday was based on Psalm 46.  It's a psalm that speaks of God in three different ways: as our Refuge, in the midst of chaos - the One in Whom we may find shelter; as our Help in the midst of the culture and society in which we live - the One Who acts on our behalf; and as our Confidence, in the midst of the nations - the One in Whom we may have implicit trust.  He is, indeed, for His people, our Certainty in uncertain times.  We also listened to the personal testimonies of two officers - a reminder that we all come to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus in different ways, because salvation is a deeply personal experience.  I hope to be able to add a recording of my message to my audio blog at revcbross.blogspot.com so do check from time to time!!

At the brief service on Sunday, we remembered not only those who had died on military service in the two World Wars but also, by name, those serving officers who had died since the beginning of last year - including PC Ronan Kerr of the Police Service of Northern Ireland murdered, just over a week ago, when a bomb exploded underneath his car as he set off to report for duty.  Although simple, that service - the first of its kind at a CPA Conference - seemed to be appreciated by all of those who were in attendance.

Regretfully, I was unable to attend the other sessions, but the reports that I have heard were all very good, and there was certainly a great sense of fellowship.  Please continue to support your own local officers in what is a demanding, difficult and, sometimes, demoralising job.  Believe me, they deserve that support!