Follow Me.

When I was a young boy, long before modern technology with mobile phones and other such gadgets, a popular game was named "Follow the leader". One person was chosen, and the rest of the group would follow. Then, whatever the leader did, however ridiculous, the rest of the group had to do the same. Depending on who the leader was, the ensuing activity could be interesting, boring, or downright dangerous!

In the Israel of Jesus' day it was not unusual for a man with a political cause or message to develop a following. For example, we read in Acts 5:36-37 : "For before these days Theudas arose, giving himself out to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him; but he was slain and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. After him Judas the Galilean arose in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him; he also perished, and all who followed him were scattered." It was even common for a Jew to follow a religious "master," calling him Rabbi and becoming his disciple. So it was not a unique situation when Jesus spoke to two fishermen brothers, Simon and Andrew: "And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed Him." (Matthew 4:19-20).

But what made the disciples leave the lives they knew and follow the Christ? Perhaps they hoped He would lead a successful rebellion against Rome, but He had done nothing to have led them to such a conclusion. Nor had He promised them a life of luxury and ease, but rather hardship and hard work in their new occupation as "fishers of men."

 

However, John the Baptist had prepared the way for the Lord. He had trained some of the men who would eventually become Jesus' disciples. "The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples; and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus." (John 1:35-37). it has even been suggested that training by John was a requirement for a potential replacement for Judas (see Acts 1:20-22).

 

Of course, even a credible witness from John was not their only reason to follow, for they had a great body of compelling evidence. For example, Luke records that, in Peter's case, the Lord Jesus had already gained local recognition. "And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee, and a report concerning Him went out through all the surrounding country. And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all." (Luke 4:14-15). Jesus had been to Peter's house for dinner where his mother-in-law had been healed: "And He arose and left the synagogue, and entered Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was ill with a high fever, and they besought Him for her. And He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her; and immediately she rose and served them." (Lk. 4:38-39). The Christ had used Peter's boat for teaching: "Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, He asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the people from the boat." (5:3) and had miraculously directed them to an overwhelming catch of fish: "And when He had ceased speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at Your word I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a great shoal of fish; and ... their nets were breaking," (5:4-6). In response, Peter and his partners "... left everything and followed Him." (5:11).

 

We have a much surer testimony and much more evidence. Should we not do likewise? 

Are screens affecting our children’s brains?

Each day, Monday to Friday, I receive an e-mail from Dr Jim Denison, a trusted author and subject matter expert in areas where faith and current events intersect. His Daily Article provides leading insight for discerning today’s news from a biblical perspective.  Today's article deserves as wide an audience as possible, and only takes about four minutes to read. It is published here with permission.

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"The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has been studying the effect of screen time for children. The preliminary results are in and they’re not good.

The NIH report shows that nine- and ten-year-old children who spend more than two hours in front of a screen each day score lower on thinking and language tests. This is troubling since the average “tweenager” spends up to six hours a day on their tablet or phone.

In addition, scientists have found that children with daily screen usage of more than seven hours show premature thinning of the brain cortex. This is the outermost layer that processes information from the physical world. While it’s too soon to know with certainty that screen time usage caused the changes to the children’s brains, scientists will be monitoring this relationship carefully.

Are your children addicted to technology?

The NIH report is just one example of the growing effect of technology on our children. Another study related smartphone use by children to sleep deprivation and other problems associated with poor attention spans. This is alarming since two-thirds of children take their smartphones to bed with them.

One group of scientists found that the more time four-year-olds spent interacting with media, the shorter their sleep was at ages four and six. A study published by Harvard Medical School has shown that blue-tinged light emitted by devices such as smartphones and tablets suppresses the production of melatonin, a sleep-inducing hormone vital to good sleep.

Counselors warn that digital addiction is a growing problem. The compulsion to continue playing video games or using technology is escalating. China has identified internet addiction as one of its main public health risks. In some parts of Asia, digital addiction rates may be as high as 26 percent.

Among American children between the ages of eight and eighteen, around 8 percent could already be classified as addicted. A 2010 study found that children in this age group spend more than seven hours a day consuming media.

Experts warn that victims of digital addiction can experience “destructive dependence, extreme change of personality, isolation, and physical signs during withdrawal.” It’s not surprising that researchers encourage parents to limit and monitor their children’s screen time.

Practical ways to manage technology

In The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place, Andy Crouch offers practical commitments parents can make to help their children and family manage technology. Among them:

• Turn off technology one hour a day, one day a week, and one week a year.
• Use screens for a purpose and together rather than aimlessly and alone.
• Dedicate car time to conversation with no technology.
• Be sure spouses have each other’s passwords and parents have complete access to their children’s devices.

I would add this: community is vital to our souls. We were made to do life together. Every image of the church in the New Testament is collective–a vine with many branches, a body with many parts.

By contrast, technology isolates us. For every family that plays a video game together, there are multitudes of children (and parents) who play them alone. A computer or handheld device is intentionally isolating. It’s hard for two people to use one keyboard or focus on the same screen.

Such isolation can be devastating.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that loneliness undermines health and is linked to early mortality. It is worse for longevity than being obese or physically inactive.

While technology can foster a sense of community through social media, it’s no substitute for in-depth personal relationships. Nothing replaces spending time with those we love. A screen is not a parent.

“We are familiar with his evil schemes”

Here’s the bottom line: God intends parents to be the pastors of their families. We cannot delegate their souls to their teachers at school, ministers at church, or friends online.

Fathers are told to “bring [children] up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). We are to value our children as “a heritage from the Lord” (Psalm 127:3).

One of the many reasons I admire the Jewish culture is its commitment to the home and family. The father is responsible for teaching the Torah to his children. The parents are responsible for modeling Jewish faith and culture. The survival and prosperity of the Jewish people across forty centuries are largely due to this passionate commitment of each generation to the next.

The family is God’s invention and design for us (Genesis 1:28). But the devil hates all that God loves. If he can use technology to isolate children from their parents and infect them with pornography, violence, and digital addiction, he will.

Paul said of Satan, “We are familiar with his evil schemes” (2 Corinthians 2:11 NLT). Can you say the same?"

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Good, or Evil?!

As I sit typing this post, I am amazed that it can be - and is! - read by people from all over the world; people whom I have never met, and am unlikely ever to meet. Of course, this same technology permits what is known as cyber-bullying, that has led to the suicidal deaths of many. It permits the ready availability of pornographic images of the most despicable kind, that lead to broken relationships, and to sexual activity of the most depraved types. It permits violence to be freely displayed, leading to acts of violence of all kinds.

When radio was first introduced, many disciples of Jesus said "It's evil! The satan is the prince of the power of the air." Some were so against this new invention (discovery?!) that they would not even countenance its use in the proclamation of the Gospel! What would some of them have thought about television - and the internet?!

Johannes Gutenberg, the "father of printing" was working one day, in his cell in the Monastery of St. Aborsgot when he seemed to hear a voice warning him that the power of his invention - the printing press - would enable bad men to propagate their wickedness, and that posterity would curse its inventor! He took a hammer, and broke the type into pieces. It then seemed that another voice spoke. It urged him to persist in perfecting his invention, and declared that although it might be used for evil, the Lord would also make it the fountain of infinite good, and that right would ultimately triumph.

The printing press, in itself, was neither good nor evil - and the same thing is true of radio, television, cinema, the internet, and almost any other invention/discovery that you may care to name. It is their usage that determines if they turn out to be a benefit, or a curse! [If you haven't already done so, you might consider signing the petition at

http://citizengo.org/en/fm/71503-hollywood-elite-dont-want-you-have-clean-versions-movies-stand-family?tc=fb&tcid=36393396 ]

We are living at a time of unprecedented advances and developments. The question is; "What are we going to do with the fruits of all of this progress?" The same nuclear power that provides electricity, can also be used to destroy whole cities. The choice is ours! So, rather than condemn something because it is new, let us determine, with God's help, to use whatever He places in our hands - for good rather than for evil.

God sent a Saviour.

Many may already be aware of the following.  I have just come across my copy while doing some further 'organising' in my study!  I share it, with some slight amendments, for those who are unaware of it.

If our greatest need had been information,
God would have sent us an educator.

If our greatest need had been technology,
God would have sent us a scientist.

If our greatest need had been money,
God would have sent us an economist.

If our greatest need had been pleasure,
God would have sent us an entertainer.

However, our greatest need was, and is, forgiveness;
So God sent us a Saviour.

Have you submitted your life to Him?

Accident, or design?

This evening, I travelled down from Aberdeen, where I had spent an overnight with my good friend, April.  I am very grateful to her for her generous hospitality; to sister, Hayley, for her chat; and to brother-in-law, Carl, for his computer expertise!    I travelled by coach - and was able to plug my laptop (on which Carl had performed major surgery!) into a mains supply, and take advantage of free Wi-Fi access!  The wonders of modern technology never cease to amaze me!

Of course, these innovations don't just happen.  They are the result of certain, very clever, people applying their creative skills to provide a solution to a perceived problem.  No-one expects a coach to produce a 240v electricity supply just by travelling up and down the A9 often enough!  A Wi-Fi connection doesn't appear just because the coach has passed Dundee a sufficient number of times!

Yet even these technological marvels fade into total insignificance when compared with the intricate complexity of just one human cell; the cosmological order that enables us to accurately forecast the time of the next solar eclipse; the trillion, trillion (and more) aspects of the known universe that have been discovered by mankind.  Yet there are those, including some highly intelligent people, who happily believe that all of that is the result of nothing more than random chance over a long enough period of time!  The apostle Paul rightly said that "... the god of this world (aka the devil) has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, ..." (II Cor.4:4) - and I would claim that he has blinded them, also, to the truth of creation!

That truth is that all that exists was created, from nothing, by Almighty God.  That's the only intellectually satisfying conclusion to which I can come.  And this God is not some abstract, impersonal, force; but a loving and sentient Being Who cares deeply about every part of His creation.  He even cares for, and loves, the humanity that has, to such a large extent, turned its back on Him in this technological, materialistic, consumerist society in which so many of us live.  The proof of that love is seen in history when, in the Persona of the Son, He hung on a cross and died for each one of us.

Of course, the gift of full and free salvation that He gained for us must be accepted before it becomes effective.  That involves the confession of my sinfulness; the acceptance of His sacrice on my behalf; and the submission of my life to His control.

Have you made that move?  You'll never regret it if you do!

Personal Update!

And the saga continues!!! We thought, yesterday, that things might be moving a wee bit more quickly, as the garage in Audincourt closes on Friday until the end of Aug., but they were willing to send the car to Mulhouse (a further 40 miles/65km away). However, today we were informed that the Audincourt garage had been in touch again to say that the only (!!) man in Mulhouse who could have dealt with the car is off work, unwell - and doesn't expect to be back until Sept.! So, whichever way we looked at it, and whatever we decided, it looked as if nothing was going to happen this month!

As a dear friend put it in a message received earlier today, "The Lord must have a really good reason for keeping you there all that time."!!!

It is tempting (and I confess to having yielded to the temptation!) to speculate as to what that reason might be but, at the end of the day, it is unlikely that I would manage to get it right. This, of course, in the 'non-persecution environment' in which we live, is when one's professed belief in the sovereign power of a loving heavenly Father is shown up for what it is. I trust that our response to the current situation is showing that our belief and faith are strong.

Whether, or not, these are the reasons, there are certainly a couple of 'by-products' of which we are already fairly certain. If I am going to be here for another 5/6 weeks - and, from Sunday, without my dear wife - then there is no doubt that my use of the French language will improve, and do so (I hope) quite considerably. We have also made real friends in the family who operate the camp-site, and in one of their friends - one of the local pharmacists - who speaks good English. And, of course, although Joyce and I are going to be physically separated for that long time, the wonders of modern technology mean that we will be able to speak with each other, every day, using Skype. After almost 40 years of marriage (come Sept.4th) we reckon that our enforced separation will be a case of "absence makes the heart grow [even] fonder", rather than "out of sight, out of mind"!!!!

We also appreciate, greatly, the messages of encouragement that have been coming via e-mail and Facebook. It's always good to know that there are friends upon whom one may count in times of difficulty.

Do keep returning to the blog for further updates, as and when there is anything to report!

Yesterday's methods don't work as well today!

I've been watching some athletics on the T.V. I was particularly interested in the pole vault. Attention was being given to the special pit into which the vaulter could place the end of the pole. He was using a flexible, probably carbon-fibre, pole with an amazing 'springiness'. He was wearing tight-fitting clothing that would have cut down air resistance. He had a very deep foam base on which to land - presumably providing increased confidence in the knowledge that no bones were likely to be broken.

I thought of some other sports, and the ways in which equipment has improved, dramatically, over recent years. A team of Dutch cyclists had spent the night camped beside us. Their cycles had very narrow tyres, and very light frames. They were each wearing skintight-fitting clothing, and a helmet that would provide greater confidence of limited injury in the case of a fall. I recalled reading that champion cyclists ride machines that have carbon-fibre frames, and spokeless wheels that are so narrow one could almost shave using the edges!

It made me wonder if the constant breaking of records has, in some sports at least, as much to do with improvements in equipment design and technology as with the actual physical fitness, and prowess, of the athlete involved! And I realised that no modern athlete would continue to compete in, e.g., knee-length flapping shorts, and with a fairly rigid pole for the pole vault. Anyone who did would certainy be unlikely to break any records!

My thoughts turned to the Body of Christ - the Church on earth. I thought of the exploits of people like Paul - travelling around so much of the Mediterranean world of his day, on foot, or by small wooden-hulled ship, in a long flowing robe. I thought of the writing that he accomplished - by hand (or, at least, by the hand of his amanuensis/secretary), on parchment, with home-made ink. I thought of later disciples of Jesus - of Hudson Taylor in China; of Clive of India; of Mary Slessor in Africa; of David Brainard in North America; of countless others who risked life and limb in the most diffcult circumstances - who carried the Good News of the salvation that is available in Jesus, the Christ, to the uttermost parts of the earth.

They achieved much, with limited resources, low technology, poor transport. And what of today?! Even where the church is seeking to continue to fulfil the Great Commission (Matt.28:18-20 - and never leave out v.18!), is it not true that so many do so using last century's technology? "Let's have a mission! We'll invite a well-known (to Christians!) Christian speaker, and we'll hold meetings every night from Monday to Friday, at 7.30p.m. We'll put out 5,000 invitation leaflets in a massive door-to-door exercise, and we'll place an advert in the local newspaper."

Sixty, fifty, even forty, years ago that would probably have been a wonderful way in which to propagate the Gospel. People didn't live in centrally-heated, fully-insulated, homes with 24/7 television displayed on 54" plasma screens; broadband internet connections; DVD players; electronic games - and with a car outside to transport them to visit friends, or just down to the local pub, in relative comfort, even in the foulest of weather conditions.

Today, that's the sort of competition that the church faces! Not in every case. I know. There are many families in which the picture that I have just painted is only a dream. But for a vast number, the thought of going to a church building, to listen to even the most gifted of speakers talk for forty minutes in between the singing of songs that are meaningless to them - yes, even the majority of the best of modern songs that I love to sing! - among people who, if my experience of visiting some congregations/fellowships is any guide, totally ignore them anyway, is about attractive as the thought of using the clothing, equipment, and technology of the 1950s would be to a modern athlete.

That is one reason why I maintain this blog site. I actually reach more people in an average week here, than do many clergymen in a church setting! And, of course, although I have my regular, and faithful, visitors (for whom I am very grateful); and although a fair number of people have set up an RSS feed so that each post goes directly to their e-mail Inbox (and they, also, are very much appreciated), I also have a considerable number of visitors who simply find the blog through a search-engine when they are seeking information on a particular topic that I have placed as a key-word for a post. And some of them become regular, and valued, visitors - and even 'followers'!

I find it interesting to speculate on what the top athletes of a former age might have achieved if they had had access to today's sporting technology. I find it even more interesting to speculate as to what Paul, or any of the other great missionaries and church leaders of the past, might have achieved if they had had access to today's communications technology!

May the church as a whole - and not just the few honourable exceptions - use the technology that the Lord has provided, to effectively spread the Gospel message in a technological age, that many might hear, and believe; and that the Day of His return might be hastened. When the Lord Jesus told His disciples that they would be "fishers of men", I'm certain that He expected them to use appropriate bait!