It's not about money!

Some weeks ago, during a Facebook "discussion" with a female former pupil, I suggested that she check out some material that I had already published on this blog. Her response surprised me! She informed me that she was not going to access my blog and make me money!

It had been my understanding that money-making blogs ran advertisements in order to accrue an income. Perhaps she thought that I did that! However, this blog was never intended to be any kind of cash cow. It is, for me, a ministry blog, that enables me to share the Gospel of Jesus, the Christ, with a wider audience than I might otherwise be able to do. I know that I also publish posts on a variety of other topics, but never with an eye to making money!

However, it may be that there is some way by which I could be making money out the blog, as it stands. If that is the case, it may have hindered some folk from sharing the link so that as many people as possible view it. Permit me to reiterate: I do not make a penny from this blog! However, I would love for it to be more widely read and so, I ask as I have asked before that, if you believe that the content is worthy, you share the link with others. I believe that, the higher the number of people who access it, the higher it climbs on some Google list. That means that if anyone does a search on any of the 'key words' (labels) that are published, Google is more likely to direct them to my blog.

As I am on the subject, I would add that although when I published my first two books, I made clear on the front cover that 30% of the profits from sales would be used to support the persecuted church. That has now changed. The covers now read "ALL royalties go to support the persecuted church". This is true for the third book that is in the process of being published.

So, please spread the word about the blog, and about the books. You will not be doing anything specifically for me - but you will be helping, in some small way, those who suffer - many in ways that are beyond the comprehension of most of us - for the privilege of being disciples of Jesus.

What's in the glass?

Most of us, I suspect, are familiar with the comparison between the optimist and the pessimist that involves referring to a glass tumbler as being either half-full (in the case of the optimist), or half-empty (in the case of the pessimist).  Same glass; same amount of liquid; totally different perception.

However, a glass full of liquid may be used to make an additional point.  As we remembered, yesterday, the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings, I was reminded of the story (which I believe to be true) of a nurse in a service-men's hospital who complained to a doctor that she had been treated rudely by some of the patients.  "Thank God for that!", he exclaimed.  "What do you mean?" Chaplain inquired the nurse, in astonishment.   "Well," explained the Chaplain, "if you are holding a glass, and someone knocks against you, all that can spill out is what is already inside.  When people misjudge us, and persecute us, we soon reveal what is in our hearts.  If we are Christ-filled, and governed by God the Holy Spirit, we will manifest the gentleness and meekness of our Saviour.  In fact, father God may even allow us to be pushed around, and mistreated, in order that unsaved people may be astonished at His grace, as we overflow with love and forbearance."

Sometimes. we too meet various trials and difficulties, but James, writing under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit, tell us to count them "... all joy ..." (1:2).  Knowing that God perfectly directs our lives, we should praise Him, rather than complain.  Seeming difficulties then become opportunities; the testing of our faith produces Godly patience; and, as Godly patience has its full effect, we will "... be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1:3-4).  Paul writes that "... we have blessed those who cursed us.  We have been patient with those who injured us.  We have replied quietly when evil things have been said about us." (I Cor.4:12-13).

It is said of John Bunyan - who knew his share of suffering for the Gospel of Jesus the Christ - that he actually revelled in cruel mockings, and severe trials, because they gave him opportunity to show his love for Jesus, and to display God's grace.

In the church that is persecuted in some fifty countries today - persecuted in ways that we who are privileged to live in places that know a relative freedom of belief, cannot even begin to comprehend - the request that comes to us is not that we pray for release from persecution, but that we pray that these dear brothers and sisters in Christ will bear a good witness to their persecutors!

Are you irritated, grumpy, and full of complaints when the going gets rough?  Or do you welcome these experiences as a challenge, and count them "... all joy ..."?   Of course, if we have Jesus on the inside, we can stand any kind of trouble on the outside, because He has promised, "I will never fail you nor forsake you." (Heb 13:5).

So, what's in your glass, as you read this post?