Too little, and too late.

One of the useful pieces of information that is provided by Blogger is a note of the number of 'visits' to individual posts on a blog. It makes for interesting reading. I am saddened to discover that numbers viewing the series on Books of the Bible are the lowest that I can recall in nearly 1500 posts.

Accordingly, I shall stop, and perhaps just bring a book (or books) in occasionally. However, this doesn't affect my personal Bible reading! At the moment, in my personal devotions, I am reading the Letters of Peter. Yesterday, and this morning, I was reading in what we know as chapter 3, verses 1-7 - a passage that deals with the relationship between a husband and a wife. To help me, I consult a number of commentaries and, in his commentary, Warren Wiersbe shared this information: "One survey revealed that the average husband and wife (I suspect that this was in the USA, but also that the figure would not be vastly different in any of our "civilised" countries!) had thirty-seven minutes a week together in actual communication!" He continues: "Is it any wonder that marriages fall apart after the children grow up and leave home? The husband and wife are left alone - to live with a stranger!" 

Regretfully, the so-called "busy-ness" of life doesn't only affect husbands and wives, but also parents and children. As I read those words of Pastor Wiersbe, I was reminded of another story that I read recently. It concerned a young boy who was failing in one of his school subjects and had to remain, after school, to complete his work (this obviously wasn't in the very recent past!!). Feeling very discouraged, and dreading to tell his parents why he was late, he walked so far into a nearby wooded area that he lost his way. When he did not return home, his parents organised a search. Sadly, it was not until the following morning that his body was found - frozen in the snow. 

Filled with remorse, the heartbroken father admitted that whenever his son had been in trouble, or had come to him for help, he had usually been too busy. All that he could now say was: "If I had spent more time with him, this would not have happened."

The psalmist-king, David, experienced even more regret when he learned of the death of his son, Absalom (II Samuel 18:33). Ignoring Amnon's evil deed with his half-sister, Tamar (Absalom's sister - this is all shared in the video in the previous post!!), the king wasn't close enough to his own family to detect that Absalom was planning to get revenge (II Sam.13). After Absalom had his half-brother murdered (v.28), he lived in a self-imposed exile for three years. When he returned, his father refused to allow his son the privilege of coming into his presence. Finally, when Absalom rebelled, and was killed by one of David's generals, Joab (in spite of David's command that Absalom was not to be harmed! - II Sam.18:5), the sad results of his neglect finally dawned upon the king.

We live at a time when the home, and the family, are being threatened on every side. Those of us who are parents - and even grandparents - must meet the emotional and spiritual needs of our children by giving them our personal love and guidance. I think of one situation, known to me, in which a young person is suffering simply because, in my opinion, there has been a lack of parental responsibility. It is only by taking a genuine interest in the lives of our children that we will avoid the tragedy of giving too little, too late!

Sadly (and we see this particularly at Christmas, and when a birthday is being celebrated) too many parents are willing to give their children everything - except themselves!

Real prayer!

In Luke's account of the Gospel record, he tells us that, in the Garden of Gethsemane, just prior to His crucifixion, the Lord Jesus "... being in an agony ... prayed more earnestly; and His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down upon the ground." (22:44).

Real prayer is not the mere repititon of words that we have learned. It is not the recitation of a shopping-list. It is not an attempt to influence the will of Almighty God. It is not always easy! If our praying is painless, we may not be communicating what is really in our hearts. Jesus' great struggle in Gethsemane was His cry to the Father out of the most urgent matter of the moment. It was His battle with the enemy over His impending death on the cross for the sins of the world. Prayer can be hard work!

Of course, we must also remember that prayer is not one-way communication! Jesus not only spoke; He also listened! Sometimes it is in prayer that we receive the answer to what God has said to us through His Word, by His Spirit. But we cannot know His voice; we cannot recognise His leading; unless we quieten our hearts and listen - in reflection and meditation. Prayer is active listening!

Prayer is not a magic ritual. I was checking YouTube for a particular video-clip that I recalled as I started to prepare ths post. Regretfully, I did not find it. However, I was astonished at the titles of some of the clips that I looked through: "Prayer For Immediate Financial Help - Here's What To Do."; "Prayer For Success In Business - Business Abundance Success Prayer."; "Prayer For a Job - Powerful Miracle Prayer For a New Job." So many "Miracle prayers" - pray this prayer, and watch the miracle take place! What I did not notice were any prayers for holy living; prayers to help me be more generous in my giving - of time, money, and abilities; prayers to draw me closer to God! How sad! Effective prayer directs our attention to the living God. It is God-focused communication.

Prayer, as already mentioned, is not mindless, parrot-like, repetition. I stopped using what is generally referred to as "The Lord's Prayer" in a service of public worship, a long tme ago. Why? Because so many merely repeat words that they have learned, with no thought to what it is they are saying! Of course, it was never given for such a purpose! It is a "model prayer", a "blueprint for praying". It is not a set of words to be repeated ad nauseum! Indeed, just before giving those words to the disciples, Jesus warned against doing so: "And when you pray, do not heap up phrases (multiply words, repeating the same ones over and over) as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard for their much speaking." (Matt.6:7; Amplified Bible - emphasis added).

Prayer is not always easy! It involves talking, and listening, and it is God-centred. If those elements are missing, then we may be deceiving ourselves - thinking that we are praying, when we are not! 

Knowing God.

A good morning with the friends in Coatbridge Baptist Church.  I always enjoy my visits there, as they are such an encouraging group of people and, over the years during which I have been privileged to assist, so many have become personal friends.

This morning, we looked at the difference between knowing about God, and knowing God!  And it's a big difference!  There are many who know a great deal about God, but who have no personal relationship with Him.  And even among those who do have that relationship, many have not worked at deepening, and improving it.

I used, as my illustration this morning, my own marriage, and showed four ways in which I know my wife, and by which we may know God better.  The first of these is that my wife and I entered into a covenant relationship.  Almost 44 years ago, we stood in front of the Rev George B. Duncan and made that special commitment, for life, to one another.  We didn't know each other particularly well at that stage, but we knew enough about one another to be prepared to take that step.  If we wish to know God, we must do the same thing.  Based on what we do know about His love, and grace, and mercy; about His desire that all people be saved; about His wisdom and power; we take the step of commitment that leads us into a covenant relationship with Him.

However, I pointed out that my wife and I also spend time together.  And not just time, but 'quality time'!  If we wish to know God, then we need to do the same.  Not just a rushed 'Quiet Time', with one eye on our Bible, and the other on the clock!  We need to fit our schedules around His, not vice/versa!

We also need to communicate - and to realise that true communication is a two-way affair!  It's not enough or me to do all of the talking, I need to learn to listen to my wife as well and, when I fail to do so, it is usually to my own detriment.  So with God.  If I wish to know Him, I must communicate with Him - reading my Bible; coming before Him in prayer; listening to what He would say to me.  That's something that I can't achieve in a five-minute slot!

Finally, I pointed out that I have borne fruit with my wife.  We have two (now adult) daughters, both of whom we love dearly.  They are the result of the most intimate knowledge of one another that a couple may enjoy.  In my relationship with Father God, I may also bear fruit.  Not the fruit of physical children, of course, but what Paul refers to as "... the fruit of the Spirit [which] is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;" (Gal 5:22-23).

So, the question is - do you know God; or do you merely know a great deal about Him?  Early in the message, I quoted from J.L.Packer: "A little knowledge of God is worth more than a great deal of knowledge about Him".   It's a thought worth holding.

Do you know Him?!

Helping one another.

Well, here I am, back on the ferry on the return journey to the UK.  A planned overnight stop with yet more friends of long standing, David and Gwen Staveley, and then it will be "up the road", tomorrow, and back to Scotland, and home.  We are both grateful to them, and to a new friend, Marie-Esther Rouffet, who looked after us so well for a couple of nights, on our way up to Dunkerque.

Regretfully, our Sat-nav is not as dependable as our friends!  It keeps wanting to take us by the "scenic route" when all we want is a straightforward journey to our destination.  We are even taken off the main road, from time to time, on a detour - that brings us back to the same main road a few miles on from where we left it!  I will be sending a strongly-worded letter to the manufacturers when I return home - and those who know me are aware that I am capable of writing a strongly-worded letter!

Still I don't want to fill a post with ranting.  Suffice it to say that, on my experience, I would not be able to recommend a Garmin to anyone!

There are, of course, lessons to be learned from any situation.  As we drove through parts of the French countryside that no-one outside a 20 mile radius even knows exists, we saw many fields with crops at various stages of growth.  One field would have no more than what appeared to be green lines marked on the soil - in reality,, the first little shoots of whatever crop had been planted therein.  Adjacent to that field there might be a field in which the crop was already some 12" to 15" in height.  The next field might have the familiar oil-seed rape apparently flourishing, and at an advanced stage of growth.

I recalled reading, earlier in the week, about the apparent fact that plants "talk" to one another!  Not in a vocal, and audible manner, of course.  However, scientists have discovered that, for example, when  under attack - perhaps from caterpillars - they use a symbiotic fungus, networks of which cover the roots of most plants, to convey a warning to their neighbours.

I thought of the Body of Christ, the Church.  I thought of the number of young people who, for whatever reason, turn their backs on it - and Him!  I thought of the wealth of knowledge that is held by those of more mature years.  And I wondered if we need to learn from the plants!  Do we actually communicate across the age groups?  Do we share what we know?  Are we willing to ask an older person for advice, or information?   Are we who are older prepared to listen to what the young folk have to say?  Do we have activities that are specifically designed to bring all age groups together - or must we continue to have a meeting for children; one for teens; one for young woman; one for older women; one for men?  Not that there is anything inherently wrong with such gatherings - indeed, there is much to be gained when people of the same age-group and/or gender meet with one another.  But is it enough?

Surely if plants are able to communicate across 'barriers' - effectively looking out for one another - we should be able to do the same!  The inspired writer of the Letter to Hebrew disciples of Jesus wrote: "Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." (Heb 13:16).   Did he mean only material goods, or might knowledge, wisdom, and experience also be included?

When it comes to loving one another, the references are overwhelming!  Jesus, Himself, said: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another ; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:34-35).  Paul, too, makes reference to this love: "... love one another with brotherly affection;" (Rom 12:10).  Peter encourages his readers to "... love one another earnestly from the heart." (I Peter 1:22); while John assures us that "... if we love one another, God abides in us and His love is perfected in us." (I John 4:12).

One of the ways in which my wife, and children, and I express our love for one another is by sharing.  Ought not the Body of Christ do the same - in every way?

I'll not be purchasing another Garmin Sat-nav.  However, I will be endeavouring to share more of what I have, in all areas of life, with others who may even be helped by my input.  Perhaps all of us, old and young alike, should try to do the same!

What's in a flag?

Flags are very powerful symbols.  The evidence is overwhelming.  Look at the pride with which an Army Regiment regards its Colours; look at today's television pictures of the flag waving in Gaza at the rally for Khaled Mashaal, leader of the terrorist group, Hamas; look at the pictures that are regularly shown of Islamist extremists burning the flag of the USoA; think of the flags that are flown at international sporting events.

It is then, little wonder that the Loyalist/Unionist population of Northern Ireland are "up in arms" at the decision by Belfast City Council to end the long-standing tradition  of daily flying the Union Flag over Belfast City Hall, and doing so only on a number of specified dates.

It does seem strange that any public building within the UK should be, in any way, prohibited from flying the Union Flag at any time!  However, this is just another result of Blair's so-called "Peace Plan".  Of course, he is now well out of that, and concentrating on his efforts to become the first President of the "new" EU!

Flags are also used to communicate a message.  It may be the use of a variety of flags on a naval vessel, that spell out a clear message to the initiated; it may be the use of semaphore flags achieving the same result; it may be the white flag that communicates the willingness to surrender.

The disciple of Jesus has some important flags to fly!  I can't recall the name of the minister who first used the words as a brief comment.  However, they were taken up and became the chorus that many would have sung forty or fifty years ago:

Love is the flag flying high
on the castle of my heart,
on the castle of my heart,
on the castle of my heart.
Love is the flag flying high
on the castle of my heart,
For the King is in residence there.

Joy is the flag flying high
on the castle of my heart,
on the castle of my heart,
on the castle of my heart.
Joy is the flag flying high
on the castle of my heart,
For the King is in residence there.

Peace is the flag flying high
on the castle of my heart,
on the castle of my heart,
on the castle of my heart.
Peace is the flag flying high
on the castle of my heart,
For the King is in residence there.

If every disciple of Jesus was to have those three flags flying, what a potent symbol that would be - and what a message it would communicate to a strife-torn world!