The news today from Libya is that some are laying down their lives for the hope of a better tomorrow.
History shows us this scenario is not new. Many have given their lives for others, or for their cause, or for whatever.
Shortly before He died, Jesus said, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13 The amazing thing was that because He loves us, He died on the Cross for us even while we were enemies of God and steeped in sin and rebellion. "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Rom 5:8
(NIV)
I don't know what the future holds for Libya or Muammar Gaddafi. I trust the sacrifice is worth it.
Sunday, 6 March 2011
Friday, 4 March 2011
Today I am mostly having a day off. I will read the news but already I have heard the new Labour MP say the result sends a message to Mr Cameron that his measures are not working and his cuts are wrong etc., etc. You know, all the poorly thought through verbiage we are so used to.
It's tragic that some members of parliament seem so poor in their analysis and somehow conveniently seem to ignore the facts when it suits.
This new chappy has followed the party line I guess. It's a line that denies the incredible crisis created by his party's usual tax and spend excesses.
Ho hum. To borrow from a famous song sung by Marlene Deitrich, "When will they ever learn, when, will they ever learn?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_ptqXqjsZw&feature=related
It's tragic that some members of parliament seem so poor in their analysis and somehow conveniently seem to ignore the facts when it suits.
This new chappy has followed the party line I guess. It's a line that denies the incredible crisis created by his party's usual tax and spend excesses.
Ho hum. To borrow from a famous song sung by Marlene Deitrich, "When will they ever learn, when, will they ever learn?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_ptqXqjsZw&feature=related
Wednesday, 2 March 2011
Yesterday
Yesterday I read of a couple who are no longer allowed to foster children. Their offence it seems was to refuse to deny their Christian faith. Unsuitable foster parents, so the court decided, a decision based of course around a statute, a part of English law.
Now, let me ask, "When is a foster parent suitable?" Do you have the answer? Now ask yourself, when is any parent suitable? How long do you think it will be before parents who refuse to deny their Christian faith are deemed unsuitable and their children taken away?
Think I'm dreaming?
Here's some old news. Jeremiah told the king and the people that they were to be taken into captivity because they had turned their backs on the Sovereign God of Heaven and Earth and worshipped other gods. The people did not believe him and some prophesied that the enemy would not prevail. The people went into captivity, just as God had said through His prophet.
The gods of this nation are numerous. There is a widespread denial of the true God, yet it's not too late for us.
For he says, "In the time of my favour I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favour, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2 (NIV)
After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.
15 "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" Mark 1:14-15 (NIV)
For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile-- the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."Romans 10:12-13 (NIV)
It's time to seek the Lord until He comes and rains righteousness on us.
Now, let me ask, "When is a foster parent suitable?" Do you have the answer? Now ask yourself, when is any parent suitable? How long do you think it will be before parents who refuse to deny their Christian faith are deemed unsuitable and their children taken away?
Think I'm dreaming?
Here's some old news. Jeremiah told the king and the people that they were to be taken into captivity because they had turned their backs on the Sovereign God of Heaven and Earth and worshipped other gods. The people did not believe him and some prophesied that the enemy would not prevail. The people went into captivity, just as God had said through His prophet.
The gods of this nation are numerous. There is a widespread denial of the true God, yet it's not too late for us.
For he says, "In the time of my favour I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favour, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2 (NIV)
After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.
15 "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" Mark 1:14-15 (NIV)
For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile-- the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."Romans 10:12-13 (NIV)
It's time to seek the Lord until He comes and rains righteousness on us.
Tuesday, 1 March 2011
The digital age is upon us
Today I read some old news. Computers were expected one day to weigh less than 1.5 tonnes. Just goes to show.
The trouble with this kind of news is that it leaves so many unanswered questions. Like, "What is a computer?"
The OED says a computer is, "A person who makes calculations; spec. a person employed for this in an observatory etc." Yes, of course, it also mentions, "An apparatus for making calculations; spec. an automatic electronic machine for making rapid calculations or controlling operations that are expressible in numerical or logical terms."
It seems to me that the old news I read never was news, viewed from one locus.
So on with 0010111010100110. I'm using a computer that weighs less than 1.5 tonnes as I write this. An amazing instrument - but limited nevertheless.
You will never get to heaven using a binary code.
I read this news today as well, "He will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other," and Jesus said, "I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." John 14:3 (NIV)
This news is not new either but it's accurate.
Do you know the song with the line, "People get ready there's a ....."
To get ready, believe the gospel and repent.
John 3:16
16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (NIV)
The trouble with this kind of news is that it leaves so many unanswered questions. Like, "What is a computer?"
The OED says a computer is, "A person who makes calculations; spec. a person employed for this in an observatory etc." Yes, of course, it also mentions, "An apparatus for making calculations; spec. an automatic electronic machine for making rapid calculations or controlling operations that are expressible in numerical or logical terms."
It seems to me that the old news I read never was news, viewed from one locus.
So on with 0010111010100110. I'm using a computer that weighs less than 1.5 tonnes as I write this. An amazing instrument - but limited nevertheless.
You will never get to heaven using a binary code.
I read this news today as well, "He will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other," and Jesus said, "I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." John 14:3 (NIV)
This news is not new either but it's accurate.
Do you know the song with the line, "People get ready there's a ....."
To get ready, believe the gospel and repent.
John 3:16
16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (NIV)
Monday, 28 February 2011
Actually, today so far, I have not read the news, well not what you might call news. I read the financial accounts for today on my computer. News is that I'm in credit. Good.
I like to be in credit. It's amazing how many aren't. For whatever reason, people find themselves in debt and it can be very worrying. Sometimes circumstances make it almost impossible for some to cope financially.
Debt can be a misery and a curse.
Money problems are not all we deal with. Guilty consciences can leave us just as drained and worried as cash problems and maybe even more so. What to do?
To solve insolvency needs different approaches depending on the cause of the problem. To solve the guilt problem needs more than cash.
The news today is: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9 New Testament). God forgives because Jesus died and rose again, so we can ask Him to forgive us. Guilt can go.
I like to be in credit. It's amazing how many aren't. For whatever reason, people find themselves in debt and it can be very worrying. Sometimes circumstances make it almost impossible for some to cope financially.
Debt can be a misery and a curse.
Money problems are not all we deal with. Guilty consciences can leave us just as drained and worried as cash problems and maybe even more so. What to do?
To solve insolvency needs different approaches depending on the cause of the problem. To solve the guilt problem needs more than cash.
The news today is: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9 New Testament). God forgives because Jesus died and rose again, so we can ask Him to forgive us. Guilt can go.
Wednesday, 26 January 2011
It's all going on in the middle east. Question is where will it end? Depends on what you mean by end. Do you want to know the end or the short to medium term likely outcome of current events.?
Presently what is happening is understood as part of fulfilment of prophecy. For example:-
Hag 2:7 I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,' says the LORD Almighty. (NIV) and
Hag 2:21-23
21 "Tell Zerubbabel governor of Judah that I will shake the heavens and the earth.
22 I will overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms. I will overthrow chariots and their drivers; horses and their riders will fall, each by the sword of his brother.
23 "'On that day,' declares the LORD Almighty, 'I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,' declares the LORD, 'and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,' declares the LORD Almighty." (NIV) and
Heb 12:26-29
26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens."
27 The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken-- that is, created things-- so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,
29 for our "God is a consuming fire." (NIV)
Looking around we cannot deny there is a lot of shaking going on. We are in the days of the "Once more," shaking.
After the shaking - (from the quote above) "The desired of all nations will come."
Jesus said,
Matt 24:29-31
29 "Immediately after the distress of those days "'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.'
30 "At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.
31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. (NIV)
Let's look up and not be afraid as we watch the world coming to its end.
Presently what is happening is understood as part of fulfilment of prophecy. For example:-
Hag 2:7 I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,' says the LORD Almighty. (NIV) and
Hag 2:21-23
21 "Tell Zerubbabel governor of Judah that I will shake the heavens and the earth.
22 I will overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms. I will overthrow chariots and their drivers; horses and their riders will fall, each by the sword of his brother.
23 "'On that day,' declares the LORD Almighty, 'I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,' declares the LORD, 'and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,' declares the LORD Almighty." (NIV) and
Heb 12:26-29
26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens."
27 The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken-- that is, created things-- so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,
29 for our "God is a consuming fire." (NIV)
Looking around we cannot deny there is a lot of shaking going on. We are in the days of the "Once more," shaking.
After the shaking - (from the quote above) "The desired of all nations will come."
Jesus said,
Matt 24:29-31
29 "Immediately after the distress of those days "'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.'
30 "At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.
31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. (NIV)
Let's look up and not be afraid as we watch the world coming to its end.
Wednesday, 11 August 2010
Old News
I read it today but it was old news. Still valuable. Relevant today.
The news was that seedtime and harvest would not cease as long as the earth remains. This news was given to Noah.
Harvest is just beginning and the farmers will reap what they sowed. Unbreakable rule. Sow wheat, harvest wheat. Sow rice, harvest rice.
We reap what we sow. Kindness brings a harvest of kindness.
If we sow to the Spirit of God we will reap eternal life but if we sow to our human nature we will reap destruction.
Let's sow the right seed.
RW-S
The news was that seedtime and harvest would not cease as long as the earth remains. This news was given to Noah.
Harvest is just beginning and the farmers will reap what they sowed. Unbreakable rule. Sow wheat, harvest wheat. Sow rice, harvest rice.
We reap what we sow. Kindness brings a harvest of kindness.
If we sow to the Spirit of God we will reap eternal life but if we sow to our human nature we will reap destruction.
Let's sow the right seed.
RW-S
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