A young woman, recently widowed by the forces of the credit crunch, sought God where she thought she would find Him. In His house. But He was not amongst the handful of people gathered there.
How often is this story repeated when hurt and desperate people are looking for solace in the one place where they thought they would find it. In God’s house, be it a chapel or a cathedral.
Is this indeed true? Maybe.
God is near to those who fear Him and makes Himself unfailingly known to them. Psalm 25
This godly awe and respect is sadly lacking today, even in so-called Christians, so it is not surprising to find it lacking in the Church. Is it a case of the house built on sand which gave way when the storm came? Jesus never left men in doubt about God’s ways, using simple imagery to teach profound facts.
A biblical fear of God is accompanied by humility, a mourning of the deep hurt we have inflicted on God by ignoring Him. What are we mourning? A loss of income or status? Or our effrontery in calling Wall Street 'a holy place’ as its god deals out favours to those who worship there?
Saturday 31 January 2009
Wednesday 14 January 2009
REBELS
Man fails to realise that he deserves the awfulness of life without God. Life is drudgery but man will not have it so. 'We rail at God when He troubles us but think not of how we trouble Him'. We will not let God rule, but are angry when He leaves us to ourselves. We deserve misery but grace gives us a way out – the most glorious characteristic of God.
'Don’t expect God’s protection when you live outside His domain. You thatched your roof – don’t run outside when it rains.'
Romans 1 vs 18 - 32 is a salutory reminder of God's perspective on the world.
'Don’t expect God’s protection when you live outside His domain. You thatched your roof – don’t run outside when it rains.'
Romans 1 vs 18 - 32 is a salutory reminder of God's perspective on the world.
Sunday 11 January 2009
WHO CARES?
COMPASSION – THE FORGOTTEN VIRTUE
We talk now rather of 'Compassion Fatigue'.
‘The world is pitiless, a giant freezer, devoid of humane feelings.’
WHAT IS COMPASSION?
To be so drawn to another’s need that emotion flows over into action to meet that need even at a cost to oneself.
JESUS HAD COMPASSION
Feeding the five thousand.
Jesus had compassion on the people who had come so far to hear Him but had no food. His disciples needed rest, but He taught them that the needs of the people took precedence over theirs. He also taught them that God would provide the resources to meet the need.
THE ENEMY OF COMPASSION IS INDIFFERENCE
One feels as though one is beating the air and getting nowhere, speaking with only an echo in reply.
MAYBE A RETURN TO AN ETHOS OF COMPASSION?
'Time to set the Roman Lion of success, wealth and glory in abeyance and set the compassionate Lamb of Judeo-Christianity centre stage.'
Alain de Botton
We talk now rather of 'Compassion Fatigue'.
‘The world is pitiless, a giant freezer, devoid of humane feelings.’
WHAT IS COMPASSION?
To be so drawn to another’s need that emotion flows over into action to meet that need even at a cost to oneself.
JESUS HAD COMPASSION
Feeding the five thousand.
Jesus had compassion on the people who had come so far to hear Him but had no food. His disciples needed rest, but He taught them that the needs of the people took precedence over theirs. He also taught them that God would provide the resources to meet the need.
THE ENEMY OF COMPASSION IS INDIFFERENCE
One feels as though one is beating the air and getting nowhere, speaking with only an echo in reply.
MAYBE A RETURN TO AN ETHOS OF COMPASSION?
'Time to set the Roman Lion of success, wealth and glory in abeyance and set the compassionate Lamb of Judeo-Christianity centre stage.'
Alain de Botton
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