The waiting continues!

So, Mr Brown has finally 'got the message', and has given a public assurance that he will resign as soon as a new government is formed. And there, as Shakespeare's Hamlet would say, is the rub! Because, as I type, there seems to be no sign of any firm agreement coming out of the lengthy, cross-party, discussions that are going on. Indeed, the water might be said to have been muddied by the news that, after however many hours of talking with the Conservatives, Mr Clegg's LibDems are also holding conversations with the Labour Party. There are those who are suggesting that Mr Brown's announced departure from the leadership of the Labour Party is a calculated move to enable the LibDems - whose leader was so public about not propping up Mr Brown, in government - to cosy up to the Labour Party.

It is all a bit of a mess! Yet, what can we expect from those who appear to be so determined, in spite of all of the evidence of past failures, to depend on their own perceived wisdom, and ability.

The Bible has a great deal to say about wisdom - which, by the way, is not totally synonymous with knowledge and understanding! Almost every chapter of the Old Testament book of Proverbs has a number of references to it. It is seen as something that: comes from the Lord (2:6 inter al); is of great importance (4:7); is a characteristic of those who do have understanding (10:13); and is of more value than even gold (16:16).

It is seen as just as important in the New Testament writings. It was to be one of the attributes of the earliest deacons (Acts 6:3); it is linked with 'spiritual understanding' (Col.1:9); it is differentiated from worldy 'wisdom', being "... first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy." (James 3:17, NKJV).

It must surely be our prayer that those most directly involved in this ongoing situation be filled with that wisdom - the wisdom that comes from God alone.

Thank you!

I've just checked and, with only 14 votes (at time of typing!) I have reached the Top 18 list for my blog/interview! A big "Thank you" to all who have taken the trouble to go to

http://bloginterviewer.com/politics/the-crazyrev-page-c-brian-ross

and support me!

However, it's early in the month and, already, there are those with far more votes. I suspect that they have got lots of folk who, having bookmarked the voting site, keep returning every 24 hours or so! Even 3/4 votes per week, from each of 30 people would give me between 450 and 500 votes over a period of a month (the counter is reset to Zero at the beginning of each month!). That might not be enough to get me to the No.1 position, but should keep me in the Top 5!

If you think that it would be good to have a specifically, and unashamedly, Christian blog receiving that kind of recognition - and having the number of hits increased, as a result - then please become one of those 30 people who will vote for me 3/4 times per week.

Thank you! :-)

Continuing confusion!

The country (well, some 66% of the electorate!) has spoken, and no political party has been given an absolute majority. The 'horse-trading' has commenced - behind closed doors, if not in public - and it may be some days before we know who has the responsibility of governing the United Kingdom.

So what is happening? Not being one of the political pundits, I really don't know. Mind you, I doubt if any of them are particularly sure either. They just have to keep spouting theories, and opinions - it's their job!

There is only one thing of which I am absolutely certain. That is that the sovereign God Whom I seek, however ineffectively, to serve knew the outcome of this particular General Election from before the world began! That's quite a claim, but it rests on the assurance that He sees the end from the beginning; that He is the Alpha and the Omega - the beginning and the end!

This is not to say that He looks into the future. It's much, much more than that. He is not in time at all, but outwith it! From the vantage-point of eternity, He sees all of time spread out before Him. He sees, simultaneously, Adam in the Garden of Eden; Abraham prepared to sacrifice Isaac; Moses facing up to the Egyptian pharaoh; David in Jerusalem; Jeremiah in Egypt; Jesus on the cross; Paul in Rome; John on Patmos - to say nothing of the history of mankind in the succeeding 2000 years.

This means that, unlike us, He already knows who will be the Prime Minister by this time next week. So, although I do not understand the current situation, I am content that "God is still on the throne."

Let those of us who believe in the efficacy of prayer seek God's face that He might graciously move in this unusual situation, that His will and purposes might be worked out. Last night, at the monthly prayer-meeting in Liberty Community Church, we were repeatedly reminded that "God is at work". Let us rejoice in that, and seek to make ourselves available to Him.

The campaigning is over!

Well, as I start to type, there are only eight minutes left for the U.K. electorate to record their votes. The early evening news seemed to indicate that the turnout has been higher than in recent years but, understandably, we will not know for certain until all (or at least a fair percentage) of the counting has been done.

My personal problem was that the party with whose policies I was most in agreement did not have a candidate standing for election in my constituency. This, too, is understandable, as it is what is referred to as a "safe" seat (for the Labour Party). The one candidate for whom I might have voted as, for example, an Independent, was standing for a Party, most of whose policies I abhor.

However, I am all too aware that in many countries I would not even have the opportunity to vote; or that it would be a one-party election; so I am grateful for the element of democracy that assures me enfranchisement - although I do hope that there will be a change to proportional representation as soon as possible!

It has been my fervent hope, and prayer, that this General Election will see a vast army of men and women of faith and integrity returned to Westminster. Alan Storkey has written an interesting book entitled Jesus and Politics (a combination from which many would recoil!). In it, he states that "In order to be liked or supported, many politicians have traded their principles for acceptance by public, party, or peers." (pps 149-150). He goes on to state that "Amazingly, Jesus turns away, on principle, from every popular move." (p.150) "This is not a Man Who sets out to win friends and influence people. He does not need to be liked" ... "Jesus insists, 'Always integrity; never popularity'." (p.151)

By this time tomorrow, all will have been settled. God grant that integrity will have won the day, and that men and women, of whatever political hue, will work together to redirect this nation to walk in the paths of righteousness - for His Name's sake.

The importance of persepective!

It was Saturday morning - after very heavy rainfall through the night. I looked out of the caravan window on a now dry, but very dull, day. The clouds were dark, and menacing; the prospects were not good.

Sitting after breakfast (while my wee wife made up our packed lunches - we were on holiday, and rain wasn't going to keep us in!) I looked out ot the opposite window. I saw breaks in the clouds, revealing patches of blue sky and even some sunshine forcing its way through! The situation had changed, and I was much more confident about the day ahead. And all because I had looked in a different direction!

Life can be like that! We may look to the popular media - newspapers; radio; television. And, when we do, all seems to be gloom and doom - an environmental disaster in the Gulf of Mexico; ongoing conflict, and death, in Afghanistan; the continuing economic depression; political confusion, and the possibility of a hung parliament, in the U.K.

But then I turn my gaze to Jesus and, suddenly, everything is seen from a different perspective. I see, in Him, the Sovereign God Who loves, and cares; Who understands every pain I suffer; Who comes into every situation, and says, "Peace; be still."

Some of the hymnwriters knew about this difference:

"Turn your eyes upon Jesus; look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace."

"Heaven above is softer blue; earth around is sweeter green. Something lives in every hue, Christless eyes have never seen."

Finding life dull, difficult, depressing? Look in a different direction!

Look to Jesus!