Pressure!

This morning, at the worship service with Wishaw Baptist Church, the young people of the Bible Class presented us with a News Bulletin!  It was, basically, sharing some of what they have been up to in recent times.  However, the script was excellent (better than much of what is delivered as "entertainment" on most TV and Radio broadcasts!), and the gathered congregation was, at times, "in stitches"!

The main part of the presentation concerned the strength of the humble egg.  The pastor was invited to attempt to crush one between his hands.  He could not do so.  We watched a video of the Bible Class themselves attempting to do the same thing.  They could not do so, either.  We saw some of them literally walking on eggs - and not one egg even cracked.  We even saw eggs bear the weight of two crushed cars, without them breaking!

The lesson from all of this fun was, and is, very serious.  It was, surely, no accident that the pastor's message was on the suffering church - and, No, there had not been any previous collusion!  Because of its unique, double-curved, shape an egg is extraordinarily strong.  Yet, it is, simultaneously, extremely fragile!  Disciples of Jesus are like that.  As we put our faith/trust in the Lord Jesus, we have a strength that the world cannot really understand.  How does one explain, in merely human terminology, how 21 young men could kneel on a Libyan beach and, knowing the fate that was about to befall them, die with the Name of Jesus on their lips?  One cannot!  It is not 'natural'!  It was, however, a wonderful testimony to the grace of God at such a time.    Tremendous strength.

However, most of us, including disciples of Jesus, are not immune from the lesser suffering that is common to mankind.  We live in a world that has been tainted, and corrupted, by sin.  We experience illness and disease; financial, and relational, problems; unemployment, and bereavement.  We are fragile beings, with bodies that are subject to decay as we grow older.  Each of us will, until the Rapture, experience physical, mortal, death.  The wonder is that, in Jesus, His strength can overcome our difficulties - not remove them, but see us through them.

One further point was made, this morning.  It was that, in the 'experiments', all of the eggs were facing the same way. There is great strength in unity.  That may be why the anonymous writer of the Letter to Hebrew believers wrote: "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,  not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."  (Heb.10:23-25; emphasis added).

That "Day" refers to the glorious coming again of the Lord Jesus, the Christ - not as a helpless Babe in a Bethlehem manger, but as King of kings, and Lord of lords.  Are you ready for that Day?  Will you be among those who will have loved His appearing (see II Tim.4:8)?  I trust that you will and, if I may be of any assistance at a personal level, please feel free to use the e-mail address at the top of the page, to contact me.

The failure of 'multiculturalism'.

Having commenced the mini-series on the Ten Commandments, I had hoped to not have more than one post in between any two of the series.  However, the ongoing situation in France has persuaded me to abandon that idea.

In just two days, about seventeen people have been murdered in Paris, in just three separate, but apparently related, incidents.  These murders, of both civilians and police officers, have all been carried out by Muslims.  The media, of course, insist that these are "extremists", and that real Muslims do not condone such actions. Most of our political leadership in the UK has been quick to criticise the point of view given by Nigel Farage during a brief interview, by confirmed 'leftie', Jon Snow (not 'leftie' enough, of course, to have passed up the chance to get his son into lucrative TV work!) on the Channel 4 News programme, on the evening of the Charlie Hebdo terrorist murders.  However, Mr Farage was only, as he appears frequently to do, telling is "as it is".   So-called 'multiculturalism' has failed.  With Islam, it is almost bound to fail.  Muslims are much less likely to integrate than are other ethnic minorities.   For example:

"It is he (Allah) who has sent his Messenger (Muhammad) with guidance and the religion of truth (Islam), in order for it to be dominant over ALL other religions, even though the Mushrikoon (disbelievers) hate it."  (Qur'an, chap.61, surah 1).  Not much encouragement to integration there!

Or, again, "So if you (mushrikoon) repent it is better for you, but if you turn away, then know that you can not escape Allah. And give tidings of a painful torment for those who disbelieve." (chap.9, surah 3).  Not much that is 'peaceful' there!

If people do not embrace Islam and implement the Shari’a (Islamic law) on their own accord, it becomes an obligation upon the Muslims to fight and implement Islam. In countries such as Britain and the USoA, their people have clearly rejected to embrace Islam and will never choose to live by the Shari’a. Therefore, the only two ways in which these countries can become under the domain of Islam is by a group of Muslims rising and overthrowing the government, or an 'Islamic state' (sound familiar?) being established elsewhere and coming to conquer these nations.  

There are, of course, 'moderate' Muslims.  However, as the video clip below demonstrates, they might as well not be there!  The ultimate aim of Islam is the world-wide Caliphate (where Islam dominates all), and there are those who will do whatever it takes to achieve that end.  Thankfully, there will only ever be one world-wide rule - that of the King of kings, and Lord of lords; the Son of God Who loved us, and gave Himself for us. (see Gal.2:20, etc).  Of His Kingdom and rule there will be no end.  Let those of us who look forward, with great anticipation, to that day pray for Muslims - even the most misguided - that their eyes,and hearts, may be open to Him.

Nelson Mandela

The major news item, all day today, has been the death of Nelson Mandela.  Mr Mandela has been a very significant figure on the world stage since his release from prison in 1990.  He was instrumental in bringing apartheid to an end, and was the first indigenous President of South Africa.

Tributes have been flowing in from all over the world, as well as from within South Africa, and one would not deny that many of them are well-deserved.  However ... ... ...!!

As news of Mr Mandela's death broke, hundreds of South Africans filled the streets around his home in the upmarket Johannesburg suburb of Houghton, many singing songs of tribute, and dancing.  One, reportedly, carried a sign saying: "He will rule the universe with God." .    Others have spoken of him as having been "the saviour of South Africa", and many have commented on his capacity to forgive.

In just a couple of weeks' time, much of the world will celebrate Christmas.  For many, that celebration will be more of a 'winterfest' than anything else.  However, there will be those who will remember that, over 2,000 years ago, Almighty God, the Creator and Sustainer of all that exists, entered our time-space continuum as a human child, in an obscure little country on the edge of the Roman empire.  "Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail! the incarnate Deity."   And that was not the end of the story.  Because that Child grew to manhood and, after a public ministry of about three years, was crucified by the Roman authorities, at the instigation of the Jewish hierarchy.

This was, of course, the Man known as Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, the Messiah.  It is He, and He alone, Who will rule the universe with the Father (see Rev.5:13, inter al); He, and He alone, is the Saviour of South Africa - and of the whole world (John 3:16-17); He was able to say - as He hung on that cross, aware that He had only to say the word, and the Father would send more than twelve legions of angels to rescue Him (Matt.26:53) - "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34).

Some, who have not been caught up in the adulation of the late Mr Mandela, have pointed out that he had been a terrorist (remembering that one man's terrorist is another man's 'freedom fighter'!), and that we should be remembering those for whose deaths he was, directly or indirectly, responsible.  However, when it comes to Jesus, He alone was able to ask even His enemies: "Which of you convicts me of sin?" (John 8:46).  Even one of those crucified alongside Him recognised this: "One of the criminals who were hanged railed at Him, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!"  But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?  And we indeed justly; for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong."  And he said, "Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom."  And He said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." (Luke 23:39-43; emphasis added).

Two other things need to be emphasised.  The first is that death could not hold Jesus.  He rose from the dead, victorious over it, and hell, and the grave.  The second is that He is coming again.  There will be a second advent - perhaps much sooner than many expect - when He will come, not as a human infant, but as King of kings, and Lord of lords.

May all who access this blog "... abide in Him, so that when He appears we may have confidence and not shrink from Him in shame at His coming." (I John 2:28).

Take me to your leader!

Leadership is of great importance within any group, or organisation.  The question often is: "From which position does the leader lead?"!

This occurred to me, last week when, on a TV  News programme, I saw a number of young men in a swimming pool.  On the pool-side, speaking to camera, was a bearded gentleman of obviously Asian extraction (how's my political correctness, so far?!), who looked as if we was in his late forties.  According to the person who was translating, this person was informing us that these young men were having their last swim before fulfilling their destinies as 'suicide bombers'.  My first thought was: "If you, sir, are so keen that these young men detonate a vest, packed with explosive, and worn by them, why don't you show how important such an action is by leading from the front, and setting an example?  Why don't you don one of those vests, and blow up innocent bystanders - and, of course, yourself?!"

Of course, I suspect that I know the answer.  It's a bit like former British Prime Minister, Tony B Liar, sending British troops into Iraq, and Afghanistan - from the peace and comfort of Downing Street, or Chequers, and with a 24/7 protection unit provided by the Metropolitan Police!  In other words, these people - and I could name many more - are content to 'lead from behind' (and there's an oxymoronic phrase for you!).  Yesterday, as I heard the news from Pakistan, I wondered if the two 'suicide bombers', responsible for the worst ever attack on Christians, might even have been in that swimming pool!

I also thought to myself about the Lord Jesus.  Like kings and emperors of old, He leads His people from the front.  "... thanks be to God," writes Paul, "Who in Christ always leads us in triumph, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Him everywhere." (II Cor.2:14).  Jesus likened Himself to a shepherd, and reminded us that a good shepherd "... calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice." (John 10:3-4).  Again, He assured His disciples that "In My Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also." (John 14:2-3).

In the old children's game Follow the leader, that is exactly what one did - the leader went first, and the others followed the example given.  Perhaps if more of these Islamist terrorists were to set the example, there would be fewer 'suicide bombers' causing destruction and death.  Perhaps if political leaders were still required to lead the troops into battle, as did those kings of old, there would be fewer wars - civil, or otherwise.

Take me to your leader - but assure me that he is a leader, and not a pusher!  Jesus said, and still says, "Follow Me!".  Those who do, discover that He is a Leader beyond any other leader; indeed, He is King of kings, and Lord of lords, and worthy of all that we can offer to Him.