A Second Advent Message as Christmas draws near

" I read my Bible to know what people ought to, and my newspaper to know what they are doing". John Henry Newman

So we are now into  the second week of Advent. And the Christmas story in its many manifestation, religious and irreligious, continue to dominate the news. Notwithstanding the fact that we mourn with the people of The Philippines where over two hundred died during a dreaded typhoon. And we cringe every time we hear about a powerful earthquake near to Japan,as we wonder if another dreaded Tsunami is going to wreak havoc there again. Nearer home, the issue of the " fiscal cliff " is still hot news in the USA, and once again the people of Venezuela are left pondering the fate of their president Hugo Chavez who is back in Cuba battling  cancer. Here in Jamaica, one of our icons whose stewardship over the running our  national elections has won rare reviews and commendations from International bodies, is under the " gun" from the press, after an audit by government body reportedly uncovered areas of weakness in  the IT department of  the Electoral Office of Jamaica. Sadly, the murder rate in my country continues to be the number one social problem facing the nation. But even in the midst of all of those happenings, Christmas is still coming, and that is what is exercising the minds of most people, even as the Jamaican dollar slides against the US currency. Or the American economy threatens to go " over the cliff". That's the report of what men are doing. What was it that i heard this week about what men ought to do. Three things primarily, among others. A  message from a  Week of Teaching, dubbed " Mission 2012"  under the Theme: Christ is coming. Are you ready?. A great message from a man of God, the Anglican Lord Bishop of Jamaica and the Cayman islands during a sermon delivered on the occasion of the celebration of the 1st Anniversary of an important National Institution," The National Integrity Action" , during a service held at my church, the St. Andrew Parish Church today. And the ongoing conversation with a group of journalists about the " correct faith". Saturday December 8th 2012 - a message to the journalists By now you would have discerned that this conversation, or any other as the Spirit directs, is not meant for you alone, but serves a wider audience in due course.  Nonetheless it comes to you first. This morning during my devotions I,  "happened",  upon a declaration from  St. Paul, which, in my mind,  captures the essence of his mandate from God, and by extension, the mandate given to the church in this present time. This same Paul who believed in God, but definitely not in Christ, and in fact was an abuser of the faith. But  God in His infinite wisdom, and in ways that we cannot understand, used  this " unbeliever" to spread the gospel to us the Gentiles - the whole world apart from the Jews - and  to the Jews also, but whose life was first dramatically changed from darkness to light. Literally. " I have declared to both the Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus". Acts 20:21 NIV. Before that however, I was arrested by a meditation from one of the fathers of the early church. HILARY OF POITIERS ( 315-368, born into a pagan family, but eventually became a Bishop in France. He played a key  role in " defending the correct faith"  of the worldwide church at a time when evil ( Arianism)  tried to undermine the divinity of Christ. Arguing that the Son was not eternal, but created by the Father.  There were two parts to the meditation. Hoisting my sails, and saturated in his love. The latter caught my attention. SATURATED IN HIS LOVE Although I am dust and ashes, Lord, I am tied to you by bonds of love. Therefore I feel I can speak freely to you. Before I came to know you, I was nothing. I did not know the meaning of life, and I had no understanding of myself. I have no doubt that you had a purpose in causing me to be born; yet you had no need of me, and on my own I was of no use to you. But then you decided that i should hear the words of your Son, Jesus Christ. And that as I hear his words, you enabled his love to penetrate my heart. Now I am completely saturated in his  love and faith, and there is no remedy. Now, Lord, I cannot change my attitude to my faith; I can only die for it. As I close, I am struck by the almost identical thoughts expressed by Paul, in the verses following his great declaration about his mandate from God - and by extension that of the church also. Acts 22 -24   " And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace. Comment: For those who have eyes to see, there many messages in this reflection. Overt and subliminal. Specific and general. I choose to highlight two. One, is that the correct understanding of the faith mandates all of us who believe,  to actively, in all circumstances " defend the gospel".  As we ought to be " saturated in his love, and there is no remedy".  Two, is that those who don't understand, or are in opposition to the gospel of Christ, need our constant prayers,  and the persistent exposure to " the words of your Son Jesus Christ", as who knows how and when the Lord will " incline their hearts to Him".  And with what effect!  Personally, locally or even worldwide. On the front page, beyond the headlines, or even by " revolution in media". As " before I came to know you, I was nothing and I had no understanding of myself" - a perfect description of Saul, before He became Paul.  I pray God that this " beyond the headlines  " discussion on the  "correct faith" may result in the conversion of someone, thus leading to repentance and  faith in Christ, who is God incarnate. Peace. LWJ In the context of what is happening across the world and the focus on the Coming of Christ, at this time, one of the things which our Bishop underscored during his sermon, was that the only  place where lasting hope resides in this world, is in trusting God. The same God  who has been speaking to this world ever since the days of His prophets as recorded in the Scriptures, from Amos, Joel, Isaiah to John the Baptist who heralded the first coming of Christ, and  has always  expected a response  from mankind. So whether the problem  is  natural disasters, or disaster occasioned by humankind our only and lasting hope is in the God who died for the sins of all mankind and the " deliverance " of the earth also . It is for that reason and that reason alone why we should be " saturated in His Love", from which affliction there is no remedy. This is really the essence of the message of Christmas, and not the focus on the giving and receiving, and partying and having a good time which has " overtaken" the Christmas message of hope and mercy.. The second message is a message for he church primarily, but those who are struggling with their faith, or who don't quite understand the faith or who have departed from the faith but are still interested in discussions about Jesus may find it useful. The message which was sent to my church is sufficiently contextualized.  WEDNESDAY MORNING - after attending Mission 2012 the night before where Canon Georgia  ( grace) Jervis  gave the message He is Coming Christ our Savior".  That's the topic that  Rev. Grace addressed last night to a packed audience at St. Luke's church in Cross Roads where the St Andrew Deanery, of which we are a part, is having it's Mission 2012 under the Theme " He is coming - Are you ready". Based on the verse from Rev. 22:12 ( NIV)  " Behold I am coming soon!" HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PRESENTATION 1 John 4: 7-21 entitled in the NIV " God's Love and Ours". From my perspective, the verse that captured very succinctly all of what Sister Grace said last night is " If anyone says , " I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God who he has not seen". vs. 20. Sister Grace set up the night's message by saying that she was unworthy to deliver the message that God had laid on her heart and then prayed that He might speak in and through her, His unworthy servant. Then she took us through almost verse by verse, expounding on the fact that God is Love, His whole being is an expression of Love. And that this love was shown fully in the self giving sacrifice of His Son Jesus. Love therefore is not a feeling but the very essence of the Agape Love - being prepared to deny self for the sake of, for the good of someone else. She then made the point that she was addressing church people, many of whom, and she included herself, have great difficulty loving each other - especially those who have wronged us, or whose ways have turned us off. Further, who have great difficulty loving those at home or at the work place. But if we are to be transformational in a culture that is in dire need of change then we have to begin to love each other in a sacrificial way. So that people on the outside can point and say, as they did to the early church members, " See how they love each other". Rather than " watch de hypocrite dem", as is the case all too often in today's world. And the foundation on which we have to build that love, is to be prepared to be vulnerable and not only accept God's unconditional love, but be prepared to love others unconditionally - without dissolution. That is we cannot pick and choose who we are to love. We cannot " like full taxi", waltz pass, leave out,  some people during the peace at church because we do not like them, and head for others who we " love".....to much applause from the packed audience. God's Love demands that we forgive, and forgive and forgive, in the same way that the great hymn (  which she sang) says that " he giveth, and giveth and giveth". At the end she made it very clear by going over the essential points of the " Four Word" message. If we  claim to be ready for Christ's Coming, if we claim Christ as Savior, if we claim that we Love as God Loves then the Word of God tonight is saying to you and to me: 1. Clear the Clutter - get rid of all the bad feelings, all the hurt, all the criticisms, all the unkind and ungracious thoughts about fellow Christians, about our family members, about our colleagues at work. Get rid of  the attitude which makes us withhold our favors, and resources because " the Priest offends us". or because Sister this or Brother that  offends us, and so we even stop going to church. Get rid of it as Christ the essence of the Agape Love is coming. Are you ready. 2. Contact  the Offender.  Not to tell what they have done or not done, but to offer the love of God to them, as we learn , and are determined to, forgive and to love them unconditionally. Otherwise we cannot with a pure heart, accept Holy Communion on a Sunday morning.  Or whenever. 3.Commit to the long haul - this is a life time experience. Loving our neighbors. That's the only way we are going to have an impact on the culture around us, as we first learn to love each other unconditionally and then we can so love the wicked and the ungrateful  as God does.  4. Count it all Joy.   In the same way that St Paul had to learn that : My grace is sufficient for thee", so too we must find great Joy in serving God in our weak, unworthy except for Him,  and in the midst of challenges and trials. Finally she invited all those who wee still hurting, still " had someone up in their hearts" still had not let go of some wrong" to come to the front and receive healing and prayer. You  missed a lot more. The Word. The Passion. The Singing. The response from the audience. The Joy of being with others who just " let go" and praise God. The fellowship. The Love. It's not too late, as it goes on until Friday night. I pray God that many more of us will attend tonight, not only because we are responsible for tonight's arrangements, but more so because " Christ is  Coming Again", and this kind of sharing and receiving helps to make us " Ready". Peace. LWJ Sent from my iPad A clear message that the God who we serve,  and who is coming soon again, " One Christmas",   is a God of Love and mercy and expects, nay demands of us, that we too be forgiving, as this is the way that people will come to understand that He sent us. And  Bishop Gregory  gave an example of a priest who was most unforgiving and contentious and which behavior drew the following wry and prophetic observation from a member of the church. " Some went but are never sent". In the sense that we cannot claim to be sent by God, to be God's messengers, if we do not love one another. And not just love, but love, sacrificially. In that context then, the headlines in one of our daily Newspapers " The Jamaican Observer" ( www.jamaicanobserver.com)  concerning " battered church wives" is a scandal on the church, and ought to be rooted out if true. As that is a prime example of how not to spread the gospel in this troubled world. Finally the Bishop's sermon today at my church. I got the full text which cannot be included here. So I tried to summarize it in  a note to my church today as noted below. Great service with a wonderful sermon from our Lord Bishop of Jamaica Howard Gregory. I have requested the notes on-line and will send them around as my feeble attempt to summarize it might do the sermon an injustice. What did I get from the sermon?  Taking his cue from the Luke passage,3:1-6,  Bishop Howard  contextualized it our present day affairs  and sent a message to our modern  power brokers in Civil Society, including the members of the National Integrity Forum who were celebrating their 1st Anniversary, and indeed  to the Religious and Political leaders of the day. But more importantly to us the church and our role in society as Messengers of God. "Therefore, the Principal  figure, John the Baptist, was sending an eternal message from God, and  expected a response from those who heard it - Repentance and a trust in the God who would soon become Incarnate in the person of Jesus Christ. And who, ultimately, will Judge the world, regardless of how the world views the message from the messenger of God. For the messenger, the church, or indeed the NIA, and whoever fights for justice and rails against corruption,  on behalf of the poor and hurting in the society, though he of she may be vilified, ignored, worn out, persecuted, belittled, does not consider himself, but  ultimately the God who sends him and defends the message. It was also a message for false prophets in our society who were busy " speaking on behalf of God", yet had no such mandate and may very well like those who Ezekiel prophesied against, "come to nothing". It was a message for us in the church to rid ourselves of the notion of the priority of worship and tradition, when people are hurting and broken and in need of those who would speak a word to the power-brokers who have no regard for the poor, saying " Thus says the Lord". It was a message for those who are led on a moral crusade to be careful lest they themselves fall prey to the notion that they alone have the answer to the hopelessness which pervades the land. No, such a hope comes only God and a belief in His Risen, ascended and soon coming Son, Christ the Lord. Powerful stuff and worthy of serious study."  The essential message here is that the God of all Creation has been revealing Himself to mankind from time immemorial, in various ways and through His prophets and Priests. And He expects a response. That was the message of John the Baptist, as recorded in Luke gospel, 3:1-6, which was the text from which the Bishop preached. That is the message of Christmas. That is the message from the book of Hebrews.  " In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us through his his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things and through whom he made the universe." The question is how do we respond? Not just to the messenger of God at this time but to God incarnate, and who will come again with glory to Judge the living and the dead. Amen.

The First Christmas message at the beginning of Advent

The fact that Christmas is coming trumps every other news item between now and the end of the year. So yes, we will pay attention to the bizarre and very public  suicide following the murder of his girlfriend by the NFL player in America.  In Jamaica, the election of the new head of the body that runs Track and Field in our country almost rivaled National Elections, on account of the passion that we have for the sport. And of course the kind of talent that so easily finds its way on to a top CNN show like Bolt did last night on the Pierce Morgan show. Yes, the issue of corporal punishment will always attract attention as it most certainly did in my country this past week, along with the  age old issue of “ buying athletes” by some coaches and schools. Of equal importance also is the very vexed and recurrent issue of money spent on buying vehicles for government ministers, especially  in trying economic times.  And of course many persons across the world are paying as much attention to the “ fiscal cliff “ in the USA,  as they are watching the situation unfolding in Egypt, what with the new President trying to subvert the constitution and make his rulings absolute law. Yes, all of the above, and more,  are “ trending” in the minds and hearts of people and in the minds of journalist all over the world. But make no mistake about it, whether you believe in Christ or not, Christmas always, always, at least in the western world, makes news. So what did the Lord God of Hosts, the birth of whose One and Only Son triggered the Christmas celebrations, say to His people through His servant this week.? MESSAGE FROM TODAY I heard it twice today. First from a Bishop in  my church who presided at our 8:00 am service and preached a sermon of hope. And then tonight at a Crusade, from where I just returned. The great message of Christmas is that, “ when you are going through hard times, when nations are at war with each other, when the Cosmos is in trouble, when hurricanes and earthquakes make us tremble, when we read  of the terrible events in the book of Revelations, don’t’ turn back, because your Salvation is nigh”. Because God is still in charge.  As at the first Christmas, Jesus came on God’ s great rescue  mission to save our souls and give us the Victory over Satan and death. Bishop Leon Golding even quoted Bob   Marley’s , “ Get up stand up don’t give up the fight”. And later tonight Canon Basil Tynes  from The Bahamas  told us the story with the great punch line.  “If you fall in freezing water, and begin to feel warm, struggle even more, as the warm feeling means you are dying”. So Christians are never to feel comfortable in this world, as Jesus never came for those who “ have arrived” and do not need to struggle. So, again the great story about Christmas is that, we all need Jesus, and “ He come for one, He come for all”. MESSAGE ON THURSDAY –  THE CONTINUATION OF AN ONLINE DISCUSSION ON “ THE CORRECT FAITH” WITH  SOME LOCAL JOURNALISTS   if you listen to the Lord carefully, it's quite amazing the things  that you hear.  On Thursday night I sent out this tweet - Jean can vouch for it.    I believe it to be a grave mistake to present Christianity as something charming and popular with no offense in it - Dorothy. L. Sayers   Then the following morning, with no intent on my part, I was led to read again the story of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah as revealed in Genesis 18: 16-33 - the prelude when Abraham pleads for cities, asking God, " will you really sweep it away and not spare that place for the sake of  fifty righteous men". And then with great boldness he goes to  say, " Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right? And then Genesis 19-1-29 - the actual story.   The following things struck me, very forcibly. 1. That this story, although very instructive in the matter at hand, " the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know", the more profound point is that this story is a metaphor of man's general condition. Hence the need for the Salvation wrought by  one man, Jesus on the Cross, as the Sin of mankind, ever since the Fall in the Garden of Eden, wrought by , one man, Adam's disobedience, is grievous and the outcry has gone up to the heavens. If you have the time, and I would urge you to do so,  read Genesis 6, where the narrative reveals that,  " The Lord saw how great man's wickedness on earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts  his heart was only evil all the time. The Lord was grieved (that word again) that he had made man on the earth , and his heart was filled with pain. So the Lord said, I will wipe mankind, whom I have created from the face of the earth......but Noah found favor with God. In the same way the Blood of the Lamb atones for man's sin and protects us from  wrath of the " Judge of all the earth".  So Jesus and Him crucified then, is the ultimate answer to the eternal question posed by Abraham. " Will not the Judge of all the earth do right".   2. Lot's sons-in-law thought Lot was joking when he urged them to leave the city which under imminent judgement. Another metaphor for the reaction of many throughout history who have scoffed at the Word which says that " For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son .........so that they may not perish". The reality as Dorothy. L. Sayers put it, is that Christianity really has very serious words about judgement,  and is not only about a compassionate and loving God who is slow to anger and rich in mercy. So we are not joking when,  like John the Baptist's father,  we declare that like His son, we too are sent to warn those who " sit in darkness and are in the shadow of death. As " He who hath the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life".  1 John 5:12.    And as Bob Marley intoned poetically, for those who think they have a good life here on earth without being obedient to the One true Almighty God, " you think you are in heaven but you living in hell."   3. I am not sure what to make of this, but even Lot himself, when he hesitated, had to be " grasped by the hand of the angels" and led to safety. And we all  know what happened to his wife who " looked back".  The fact is that the inclination of man's heart is always towards disobedience to a holy  God, and we literally had to be , " grasped by the hand of God" and pulled to safety by the Blood of the Lamb. And even now many of us like Lot's wife, and the children of Israel in the desert, look back, yearn for the " good times" in Egypt, and in Sodom,  even though they were in bondage, even though they faced imminent disaster, when confronted with the  trials and challenges associated with living a holy life. And so a loving God, even though He has finished His work on the Cross, continues to send a Moses, angels, and others to " bring us to our senses", even we are  " the baptized "  lest we  too, look back, and  perish.   I pray God that all of us, and me first, in this discussion on the correct faith, will heed this warning, not just from Dorothy L Sayers, but from God Almighty Himself in and through His Word, written in the Bible, and Living in Christ. Peace. LWJ   TONIGHT’S COMMENT - When stripped of the excitement and lore surrounding the Christmas story, two essential messages are left. One of hope, and of the goodness of God. Every time! The other a warning, as manifested in the story of Lot and Sodom and Gomorrah.  And this is only possible if we keep in mind that Christ came to die on a Cross, and not live on as Santa Claus. A message which was reinforced by a meditation I read from Oswald Chambers, who popular book, “My utmost for His Highest”, I read every night before retiring. THE BOUNTY OF THE DESTITUTE.                              NOVEMBER 28TH.   Verse: “Being justified freely by His grace…..” Romans 3:24   The gospel of the grace of God awakens an intense longing in human souls and an equal intense resentment, because the revelations is brings is not palatable. There is a certain pride in man that will give and give, but to come and accept is another thing. I will give myself in consecration; I will do anything, but do not humiliate me to the level of the most hell-deserving sinner and tell me that all that I have to do is to accept the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. We have to realize that we cannot earn anything or win anything from God; we must either receive it as a gift or do without. The greatest blessing spiritually is the knowledge that we are destitute; until we get there our Lord is powerless. He can do nothing for us if we think we are sufficient of ourselves; we have to enter into His Kingdom through the door of destitution. As long as we are rich, possessed of anything in the way of pride or independence, God cannot do anything for us. It is only when we get hungry spiritually, that we can receive the Holy Spirit. The gift of the essential nature of God is made effectual in us by the Holy Spirit; He imparts to us the quickening life of Jesus, which puts “ the beyond” within, and immediately “ the beyond” has come within, it rises up to “ the above” and we are lifted up into the domain where Jesus lives ( John 3: 5). I pray God that this Christmas, all of us will come to the point where we are spiritually destitute. Where we can sing the third verse of that great Communion Hymn, “Here O my Lord I see thee face to face” with conviction I have no other help but thine; nor do I need  another arm save thine to lean upon: it is enough, my Lord, enough indeed, my strength is in thy might, thy might alone.   That would indeed be the best gift we could get this Christmas. Better than the latest Samsung smart phone. Better than a new Blackberry. Better than a new iPad 3. Better than a new iPhone 6. Better than a new Benz. Better than a new grandchild. Better than getting married over the season or celebrating an anniversary. So let us heed the warning this Christmas, and once again recommit our lives to the Kingship of Christ, and bring this Good news to all with whom we come in contact. Online or in real time.  As Jesus,   who came at the first Christmas,  is coming again soon. Will we be ready? Amen.

War in the Middle-East: Mercy from God in Christ Jesus

“I read my Bible to see what people ought to do, and read my newspapers to see what men are doing" - John Henry Newman.

website www.danielgodsurelywilldeliver.blogspot.com/ 

Twitter  lucienforJesus

 

Two stories grabbed my attention this week. The big story that came at us so suddenly without any warning, was once again, hostilities between the Palestinian group Hamas operating in the Gaza Strip and the Israelis. This recurrent war between  the Jewish nation and one of the many Muslim groups and countries that are opposed to its very existence, has implications for conflict far beyond the narrow confines of the borders they share in the Middle East. As the “Christian” West, including the only super power left in the world, the USA gives tremendous moral and material support, including very sophisticated weaponry, to the Jews. Thus provoking very strong Anti-American and Anti-Christian reactions from fanatics in the Muslim world, which, in part, along with events which took place in Mecca and Iraq, may have contributed to the atrocities which occurred on 9/11 and other such events across the western world.

Already newly elected President of the USA, Barack Obama has been confronted with a challenge, especially given the fact that “ the Brotherhood” which now rules Egypt, is the “ father” of the splinter group Hamas. And one wonders if Romney had been elected, and who reportedly said during the campaign that, “ no daylight should exist between America and Israel”, what might have been the reaction of the Israelis to overtures of peace from the Egyptian leader. And so now the entire world, once again, is being subjected to horror stories brought to us on live television. Just tonight we saw reports of eleven Palestinian civilians perishing in an attack from the Israelis who thought they were targeting Hamas terrorists. No doubt the bloodletting on both sides will continue, and we pray that there will be no escalation of the war. A final thought! How did we ever get here? War between two groups of people, two great Religions, who both claim Abraham as their spiritual father!

 

So what did I read in the Word of God this week as I was forced to contemplate “war in the East….war in the west …everywhere there is war”, according to Bob Marley?

 As I sought God’s mercy for a friend who is ill, I was led to the Chapter 9 in the book of Romans in which is found this verse:

“ It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but  on God’s mercy. Romans 9:16.

But the interesting thing is that this statement from St. Paul emerges during a very heart wrenching reflection on the fact that  his fellow Jews, to whom God revealed Himself in a very special way, had rejected Jesus Christ, the only Son of the very same God. As so St. Paul writes:

“I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and all the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen”.    ( I wish someone would point that out to the Jehovah’s witnesses who claim that Jesus is not equal to God, but only a Son).  Romans 9:3-5

Then Paul makes this  further statement which arrested my thoughts:

“ It is not as though God’s word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “ it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned”. In other words, it is not the natural children who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham's’ offspring. For this was how the promise was stated: “ At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.

Not only that, but Rebekah’s children had one and the same father, our father Isaac. Yet before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad – in order that God’ purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls – she was told, “ The older will serve the younger. Just as it is written: “ Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.

What then should we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses,

 “ I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy,

And I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion”.

Romans 9: 6-15.

And then comes the verse about God’s mercy.

Comment – I am no expert in Biblical studies, but in this context of war once again in the Middle-East, the kind of never ending war, which has spawned conflict across the globe, I am forced to wonder how, what are essentially “two tribes of Abraham”, could come to this bitter end?  As the God of Abraham, the Isaac and the God of Jacob, and the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, is a God of compassion and peace. This is the same God, who in Christ Jesus, calls us to “bless those who persecute you”, and to “forgive those who trespass against you”. Further, this is the very same God, who in Christ died on the Cross of Calvary, just outside Jerusalem, for all mankind. The very same city against which, we are told, Hamas successfully launched missiles this week, but which fell short of their target. The answer to the dilemma is very clear. “Not all descendants of Abraham are his children”.

Therein lies the problem of the entire human race. As not all who are created in the image and likeness of God are His children. As like St. Paul’s fellow Jews, we have all fallen short of God’s glory. And Word of God reveals that Jesus “ came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – children not born of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God”. John 1:11-13.

So therefore, until either Israel or the Arab world, or any other “ tribe” in the world comes under the Lordship of Christ, we will continue to have “ wars and rumours of wars”. For the reality is that even though the West supports  the state of Israel, ostensibly because it is “ Christian”, or perhaps more accurately because it has been an ally in a very dangerous part of the world, Jews are not automatically Christian, because they are Abraham’s children. Nor is the West to be considered under God’s special favor because many Christians live there. That’s why many non-Christians and I would imagine Christians too, in the USA, wondered where God was during 9/11.

God’s mercy and compassion are beyond working out, but we know that His love and mercy and favor rest in a special way on those who submit to the Lordship of His Son and our Redeemer Jesus Christ. This is the only message that the Jews and Hamas need to consider. This is the only message that the entire world needs to consider. This is the message that I sent to one journalist in particular, and many in general this week, as the Lord continued to guide me in an ongoing discussion on the “ correct faith”.

 

Saturday November 17^th.

After reading Isaiah 53, which is  essentially a prophetic word about the crucifixion of Jesus for the sins of "all who have fallen short of the glory of God", this word in Isaiah 55:6-11 NIV  is both very instructive and encouraging.

Seek the Lord while he may be found;
call on him while he is near ( shades of Psalm 32..vs 6 a repentance Psalm...therefore let everybody pray to you while you may be found, surely when the mighty waters rise they will not reach him)
Let the wicked forsake his way
and he evil man his thoughts.
Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him,
and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are my ways your ways, declares the Lord.

As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
it will not return to me empty
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Comment...the single greatest impediment to faith in this modern world is a lack of understanding that " God's thoughts, and God's ways are higher than our ways".
A reality discussed again  thousands of years later  in a "conversation" St. Paul had with the Roman church to which he wrote his now famous letter. And in which he wrote, in a different context...which has resonance with the current Israeli Hamas " war".... and  also  very relevant to  a discussion on " the correct faith", these famous words:

"It does not, therefore , depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy". Romans 9:16.

I pray God that all of us will seek that mercy, which is offered freely in the life, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. That is the "gospel" Truth.
LWJ

The other related  story which I heard during a service which I attended today, was shared  by a Baptist preacher at Tarrant Baptist church, and which was carried live on TBC FM radio, featured two " women" in the Bible, also arrested my attention. One a " woman of wisdom". The other "a woman of folly". Based on Proverbs 9. Both represent two competing worldviews according to the Pastor. One draws its wisdom from having a fear - being in awe, being in dread of offending - of the Lord. And therefore always wishes to please this Almighty God,regardless of laws and customs which encourage us to do right. And at the end, opting for God's wisdom and Truth results in an invitation to a heavenly banquet. The other is loud and undisciplined, determined to follow its own truth. Seemingly very inviting and rewarding but in the end results in an invitation to death. The Pastor classified them as " Two competing claims", and invited us to chose wisely. 

The world outside the narrow confines of the church walls needs to hear that kind of sermon from inspired men of God. The readings for today in my church all point to the  'end times", the second coming of Christ and judgment. And one of the them,  from the letter to the Hebrews declares " that it is terrible thing to a fall into the hands of the living God". That's where the " woman of folly" will lead the unsuspecting and the arrogant and those who continue to reject the shed Blood of Christ. All of us, therefore, who have decided to follow Jesus, are mandated to bring the " good news" to others and to pray for peace, and to be like Paul " in anguish for his/our brothers and sisters" across the world. Whether they be Jews or Muslims, Palestinians or Americans, Romney or Obama. Because there are only two competing worldviews. One that leads to eternal life in Christ. The other leading to destruction. So let us not take sides in this terrible war, but pray that God's mercy may rest on those who opt for, and promote peace. And pray that all of  humanity may someday come to know Christ and of His love or the entire world. 

The election of Obama as President and our worship of Jesus as Redeemer

The re-election of Barack Hussein Obama as President of the United States of America was by far the biggest news story this week. In Jamaica, where very few people had a vote, many stayed up late to watch the final results.


I know of responsible professionals like teachers, who had to go to work the following day, staying up until 2-3 o'clock Wednesday morning. My own wife who has never voted in her entire life stayed up until after 1:00 am. And of course the faithful in that now famous park in Chicago, stayed right to the very end to hear his acceptance speech and to see his wonderful family on stage again - as they did four years ago. Me? I went to bed early - partly because I was confident that the Lord would not allow a warmonger like Romney to win and partly because I had to function well at work the next day - and watched the entire speech at my convenience on YouTube on Wednesday night.



So what provoked this love for and devotion to this man? A man who would under normal circumstances would be voted least likely to become president of the USA, much less to be re-elected at a time when the economy was in bad shape. A man with no power base, no money to speak of, and a man starting off with a huge disadvantage as a black man in, what is in large part, although changing rapidly, a white man's country. I believe, as I said in a sermon today that I was privileged to share with my congregation, that in part the answer to that question lies with Obama's emotional and political maturity, and the fact that, as the exit polls revealed, people believed that he cared more about their problems.



In fact the same exit polls revealed data that pose(s) a real challenge to the Christian community both in the USA and in Jamaica. As while most Jamaican Christians were rooting for Obama, even though we had some challenges with his stance on abortions and same sex marriages, the data showed that most people in the USA who claimed to be regular church goers voted for Romney. Do they know something that we don't"? Do we know something that they don't? Could we be so unaware of, or acted in defiance to the Holy Spirit's guidance, because we were blinded by our love for someone of African descent? Or is it that we just do not wish to have Romney and his aggressive Bush-like behaviour get anywhere near to the White House - the seat of power for the only super power in the world? Could they have been so blinded to the movement of the Holy Spirit by their revulsion of having a black man retain power in their country, or are their more concerned about the direction which the country under his leadership is heading?



Whatever the answer is, the reality is that this Obama is no ordinary man. " The best that the black community has to offer - well educated, clean living and possessed of an absolutely wonderful family - and yet not good enough for them, amazing ", according to my daughter who lives in the USA. We can all recall his fortuitous victory in Chicago in the early days of his political life, when the his more powerful opponent self-destructed; the amazing fortune of being in the right place at the right time to deliver his now famous speech endorsing while endorsing a losing Presidential candidate John Kerry; and to cap it all beating the formidable Hillary Clinton in the primaries. As they say “the rest is history". Clearly a power greater than we can comprehend has catapulted him into this most influential position in the history of mankind. What awaits him only God he knows?



So what then did the Lord reveal to His servant this week as the world went “mad “about Obama? Some Republicans, from their uttering, quite literally so, whilst the rest of us were either simply ecstatic or just plain relieved.





Monday Nov, 5...the day before the election



This matter of “falling asleep" in the presence of Jesus is no ordinary one. I was led to include the e-mail...part 1.... below in last night's Internet message. Then this morning, on going to one section of the Bible, I "found", this very thought provoking passage from Martin Luther. A bit truncated, as it is too long to send this morning, but I will send the entire thing later.



THE TERRIFYING OF THE CONSCIENCE AND THE PREACHING OF THE LAW



Martin Luther

Vs: 2 Chronicles 34:21....the story of Josiah, the finding of Book of the Law from Moses and obedience because they feared the Lord.



We must preach the law for the sake of the evil and wicked, but for the most part it lights upon the good and godly who although they need it not, except so far as may concern the old Adam, yet accept it.............The ungodly suck only a fleshly liberty out of the gospel, and become worse thereby; therefore not the gospel but the law belongs to them............



The gospel is like a fresh, mild, and cool air in the extreme heat of summer, a solace and comfort in the anguish of the conscience. But as this heat proceeds from the rays of the sun, so likewise the terrifying of the conscience must proceed from the preaching of the law, to the end that we may know we have offended against the laws of God.



Now when the mind is refreshed and quickened again by the cool air of the gospel, we must not then be idle, or " LIE DOWN AND SLEEP" ( my emphasis). That is, when our consciences are settled in peace, quieted and comforted through God's Spirit, we must prove our faith by such good works as God has commanded us. But so far as we live in this vale of misery, we shall be plagued and vexed with flies, with beetles, and with vermin, that is, with the devil, the world, and our own flesh. Yet we must press through, and not suffer ourselves to recoil.



Sent from my iPad





Comment - The reflection above is a continuation of a discussion which began in the last message about the need to the children of God to be eternally. And the additional point here, as argued by Martin Luther…one of the most famous fathers of the early church …is that the law is to be preached to the unbelievers, so that they may fear God. And then when the gospel is preached and our anguish relieved, then we are encouraged not to “fall asleep”, not to become distracted, but again be vigilant.





The theme which undergirded my sermon today was the need for Christian maturity. And one of the passages to which the Holy Spirit led me was the story of “The Parable of the Sower (of Seeds), as recoded in Luke. The focus was on the seed that fell among thorns and got choked. The explanation which Jesus gave to his disciples ended with the warning….and they did not mature.

So clearly this issue of maturity was, and continues to be an important issue on God’s agenda for His church. So why did the “seed not mature”? Because they are “choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures”. The problem then is twofold. Many unbelievers have heard the gospel, but either because they do not fear God or have, according to Luther “sucked a fleshly liberty out of it”, have not benefited from it. In the sense that their interpretation of God’s mercy, God’s grace which cost His Son Jesus His life, is to forget about the cost of this grace, make it cheap, and accept the Christian faith on their “ liberal terms”. Hence we have the phenomenon of persons re-interpreting the gospel or re-writing it in such a way that there is no “fear of God’s wrath”, in order to justify or validate their lifestyle.

The other problem, of equal concern, is the many Christians who have failed to mature and help to be Light in this dark world, because their faith has been wrecked by anxiety, fear, an unwillingness to sacrifice which has spawned an unhealthy love of pleasures, and the unbridled love of riches.





Thursday Nov 7… two days post election

After I read and reflected on the words of the hymn below this morning, during my devotions (which was the hymn send by a friend to me when I was in Singapore and witnessed men crying spontaneously during a early morning worship service out of a deep love for Jesus, and which experience affected me in a most profound way......and which correspondence gave birth to the weekly Internet Ministry) one passage of Scripture came to my mind. And which one led to a reflection on another. Both of which were in shared in an earlier response to a discussion we had on “the correct faith”.

For Christ's love compels us - 2. Corinthians 5:14: Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men - vs 11.

The point is that the purpose of the entire Bible is to teach us both to fear God and to love Him and to be reconciled to Him in and through Christ Jesus - Eternal Life. And the point of the words of the hymn below is to teach us that He first loved us....revelation coming from both the Old Testament and the New. And so when we come to love God in Christ for " the correct reason", then Christ's love compels us....to be obedient....to try to persuade others....to love our neighbour....to love justice...to love righteousness....to have a special love for the poor and the needy....to be humble.........to persevere in the face of opposition, trials and persecution.

So where does Barack Obama, for whose victory I cried out to the Lord....primarily because Romney is a " warmonger".....and yes the African-American factor was huge...... despite my opposition to some of his policies, fit into all of this? Interesting question. As in all things a love for Christ first, will help to understand all else.

My God, I love thee; not because I hope for heaven thereby,

nor yet because who love thee not are lost eternally.

Thou, O my Jesus, thou didst me upon the cross embrace;

for me didst bear the nails and spear,

and manifold disgrace,

and griefs and torments numberless

and sweat of agony;

yea death itself - and all for me

who was thine enemy.



Then why, O blessed Jesus Christ,

should I not love thee well

Not for the sake of winning heaven

nor of escaping hell;

not from the hope of gaining aught,

nor seeking reward ;

but as thyself hast loved me,

O ever-loving Lord



So would I love thee, dearest Lord,

and in thy praise will sing;

solely because thou art my God

and my most loving King.

Now, who with a “correct understanding of the faith “could fail to love and be obedient to such a God. So then, the love for same Christ Jesus compels me to write to you and others and to continue to pray for Barack Obama as I continue to pray for my own soul. And yours.

Peace LWJ

Sent from my iPad



Comment - The issue of having “a fear of God” as taught by the preaching of the law continues in this reflection above, which was sent to some senior journalists in my country as part of an ongoing discussion about the “correct faith”. An issue, the correct faith, which we all hope President Obama will come to terms with one day soon. An issue which demands our constant prayers for the American Christians who voted for Romney. An issue which requires our eternal vigilance for those of us who “voted “for Obama despite our misgivings about some of his policies. As at the end of the day our allegiance must lie only with the One who died on the Cross of Calvary for all mankind



Saturday Nov 10…the final bit of communication as I prepared the sermon for today

Finally recalling the story of the Good Samaritan and the question Jesus posed at the end, which one of these three men was a neigbour to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers. The expert in the law replied, The one who had mercy on him. Jesus told him, Go and do likewise. So too the greatest manifestation of mature Christianity is for us to have mercy on our neighours. For this is precisely what Jesus did on the Cross of Calvary. In the same way that 1 Corinthians 13, reminds us that if we can speak in tongues of men and angels and have not love we have nothing, so too if we are not merciful to those around us we have not matured. We have to be prepared to show love and mercy to those who are different from us, to those who oppose our faith, and even to those who persecute us, as God is merciful to the wicked and the ungrateful. No doubt this is the reason why early Saturday morning the Lord woke me up with the words of the hymn on my mind:



Nothing in my hand I bring

Simply to your Cross I cling

Naked come to you for dress

Helpless, look to you for grace

Foul I to the fountain fly,

Wash me Saviour, lest I die.



My friends we all need to come to the point, and reflect deeply on it, that were it not for God's grace and mercy we would all be still subject to His wrath, and be without hope, and without God in the world according to the Scriptures.

So this call for a maturing of our faith and a revelation that God ultimately is a God of love, compassion and mercy comes at critical time in the history of our country.

How this understanding of the Christian faith plays out as we grapple with the hot button issues of homosexuality and gay marriage will determine what kind of society we bequeath to our children. How this understanding of the faith plays out in how we elect our political leaders and support them will in large measure determine how relevant the church will be to the young, the irreverent, and the cynical. How this understanding of the faith plays out will determine how we deal with the burning social challenges of crime and violence, the gross immorality, the rampant greed and grinding poverty in our country.



At all times we must preserve the fundamentals of our faith; no forgiveness without an acknowledgement of the shedding of the Blood of Christ, and that all of sinned and fallen short of God's glory. But at all times we must seek to have Christ live within us and through us, so that steams of living waters, the promised Holy Spirit will bring times of refreshing to our country. As in the final analysis the hope of all mankind does not depend on the fortunes of Barack Hussein Obama, but rather as the Psalmist says in the word appointed for today:



Do not put your trust in princes,

in mortal men who cannot save.

When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;

on that very day their plans come to nothing.

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,

whose hope is in the Lord his God.

The Maker of heaven and earth

the sea and everything in them -

the Lord remains who remains faithful forever. Psalm 146:3-6 NIV



So let us support President Obama, as he is a good man

a man of peace, but reserve all glory and honor for the God-man

even Jesus Christ who died for our sins on Calvary and lives in our hearts

by the power of the Holy Spirit and by grace and faith.



Comment – So we have come full circle. At the core of His being, this God who is Spirit, and took the form of Man in Jesus Christ, became incarnate, and suffered and died on the Cross of Calvary, in order that our sins may be forgiven, and His wrath removed, is therefore a God of mercy and compassion. Could it be then, like the rest of us, despite his many faults and sins, Obama sought to show the kind of mercy to all his constituents, despite being “theologically incorrect”. Could it be the reason why the divine hand has been with him, protecting him from wild living in his youth, keeping him focused in his studies, shielding him from the love of riches and directing him to work with the poor and needy in Chicago. Do we then, either in the USA or in Jamaica or anywhere else in the world, who claim to love the Lord and correctly interpret the Scriptures and yet are lacking in mercy “closer to the Kingdom” than he is? And what does mercy entail? To deny the reality of sin? No! But rather, to remember that we too are “naked and helpless” and so be kind to the “wicked and the ungrateful”, as God in Christ continues to be. And to put our trust, not in “ princes”, like Obama, or any other leader, but to trust only in the God of Jacob and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

More on Hurricane Sandy, local events, Obama or Ronmey: Christ and authority

It was almost unbelievable. The rows and rows of destroyed homes on New Jersey's waterfront, looked like something more like Hiroshima after the explosion of the first Atomic Bomb and which brought Japan to these knees in World War 11. Then the stories broke of the long lines of persons waiting on gas to " tank up" their generators. Some waiting from the night before. The flooding of the train-lines in Manhattan, the mass evacuation of hospitals, "the bucket brigade" of soldiers carrying gas up many flights of stairs to feed the voracious appetite of the standby generators for the hospital - 900 gallons per hour. The numbing cold, the flooded basements, the army of people walking to and from work, the unfortunate deaths from falling tress. All of this taking place in the United States of America, the world's only superpower. Amazing what the forces of nature can do. So sad that so many suffered, and continue to suffer. We here in Jamaica, a small poor underdeveloped country despite our problems, have much for which to give thanks. Some in the capital city Kingston are still without light. many in the eastern end of the country are trying to put the pieces of their lives together. But we did not suffer the same kind of devastation that hit the New York/ New Jersey area of America.




And yet we continue with the madness, as just tonight, the local television station reported that two women had been murdered. Before that, yet another pregnant woman was killed - allegedly by her boyfriend. Who was then set up on by an angry mob, and had to be rescued by the police. In the midst of all of that, news broke of two security guards beating a young male student who was allegedly caught in an " uncompromising position in the bathroom with another male"! The two guards were fired immediately and have since been arrested by the police. Their actions were also condemned by members of civil society locally, and no doubt internationally, as the video of the beatings were reportedly posted , at least for a while on you-tube. Of course most Jamaicans along with the rest of the International community, have a great interest in the elections to be held in the USA on November 6, to see whether or not Barack Obama will be given a second term.



As I considered these things happening around me, and no doubt my own personal struggles, the word from the Lord this week was as follows:





Thursday Nov 1,...sent to some people who have authority in my church



Last night while reading the story of the transfiguration of Jesus in the Luke account, I was very struck by the fact that the narrative recorded the fact that Peter and his companions were " very sleepy", at the time when Jesus' full glory was being revealed. Immediately I recalled also the same sleepiness, this time on account of their great sorrow, on the part of the disciples when Jesus faced His greatest trial in Gethsemane. And Jesus' warning them to pray without ceasing less they fall into temptation.

Clearly the Spirit of God was saying something important. For my part, I made sure not to allow any sleepiness to overcome me, as happens sometimes during my bedtime devotions and even while praying before falling asleep and the Lord protected me from much suffering on account of it.

Then tonight as I thought about writing, I recalled the five wise and five foolish virgins and how they all fell asleep waiting on the bridegroom.

All of this preceding a revelation during my early morning devotions that the Kingdom of God is not a place but rather a person. And wherever Christ reigns there the kingdom of God is......and which revelation came after reading the gospel for this week when Jesus told the man that he was " not far from the Kingdom", for having answered so wisely. Then the Lord led me through several passages in John including......, " you diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life".



Our role then is make sure that we submit to to the authority of Jesus in our lives...then the kingdom of God will spread more and more in this country. But first we have to learn to "wait upon the Lord", and not fall asleep....cease to be vigilant. So my lesson this week on submitting to authority was for a specific purpose and very timely indeed.

Praise God

LWJ



One of the things we have to learn as a discipline in life, as people of God, is to be vigilant. Personal trials may just a heartbeat away, or they may come another day, or week. But come they will. Problems for a church, for a community, and for a nation quite often do not announce themselves long in advance, so that one can prepare. In my country there is a wise old saying which captures it perfectly, " trouble don't set like rain". And the one thing the enemy, the devil, wishes to achieve, is for us to lose focus, to be so overwhelmed by our circumstances, to be distracted, so that when the Lord speaks to us in a special way, or reveals Himself in a special manner, or warns us of impending trouble, we

"are sleepy, tired and act foolishly". No wonder then that the Scriptures advise us to " keep our eyes fixed on the author and perfecter of our faith" - the Lord Jesus Christ. I was watching a program on local television TVJ entitled " Profile" hosted by Ian Boyne, locally and Internationally acclaimed journalist for some of his interviews. His guest was Shelly-Ann Frazer-Pryce, the famous Jamaican female sprinter who won the 100m gold medal at the recently concluded Olympic Games in London. As good interviewers are wont to do, he pressed Shelly -Ann to reveal what were some of her motivating factors that had made her so successful. And what kept her going during her ( inevitable) " down times". One of the things she revealed which brought joy to my heart, coming from, not just a young woman, but a young and now rich and famous one, who could easily have attributed, as others have done, her success to hard work only. Yes she did that too, but made special note that she spoke to God a lot. This story, in my mind cements the need for all of us to get into the discipline of speaking to God " a lot". As according to the Word, He is a God who can do " abundantly more than what we can ask or imagine". And not just because of what He can do, but as our pastor reminded us in a " teaching sermon" this morning at church, because of Who God is. A God who loved us long before we loved Him. A God who delights in our company. A God who demonstrated the full extent of His " Agape" ...self-sacrificing...love for us, on the Cross of Calvary, even " while we were still sinners". So then, this is a God who according to the young people we need to " get next to". To be vigilant in speaking to, and listening to, and most importantly in being obedient to Him. Yes the storms of life will come, but we have a God who is " a very present help in times of trouble".





Friday November 2.......send to a journalist who hosted a discussion on the beating of the male ( homosexual) student by the security guards.





Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it may go well with them and their children forever. Deut. 5:29. Heard you this evening. This cry from the Lord offers a better solution to social decay than what you discussed. Indeed the only permanent solution.

LWJ

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device from LIME.





One of the things that an influential member of civil society who appeared on the program on Nationwide FM 90 ( A revolution in media) bemoaned, was the fact of the rise in intolerance in the society at large, to people who were " the other". And she cited terrible atrocities which she had personally witnessed being meted out to " persons of unsound mind", to " street people", and to the " physically challenged, as examples of this kind of mindset in our nation. And which action against the male student was to be seen in that larger context. Others have pointed to the rise in mob behaviour in general in our country, as also part of the social decay in our land. One of the ironies in this particular situation, is that some, not all, of the critics are blaming the church for essentially for " fanning the flames of intolerance" by preaching that homosexuality is a Sin. Which in my understanding of the Scriptures it certainly is. But what they fail to point out is that, certainly in the Jamaican context, the mores and values which shaped our society and made it once peaceful and stable, the breakdown of which many are now lamenting without : of love for God and neighbour, compassion for the helpless and needy, forgiveness for those who sin against you and even persecute you; were the direct products of the kind of teaching and preaching as found in Deuteronomy 5:29. And in large measure if truth be told, within the limits of an imperfect world, " things did go very well for them and their children for a while". As that was the kind of society in which I was privileged have my upbringing. one that " feared God". Now people fear neither God nor man, and do whatever they are " big and bad enough" to do. With impunity!



And the point I was, therefore, making to one of Jamaica's most respected journalists, who to be fair, in recent times, is being more nuanced in his approach to this "vexed", issue, is that, what we once had, can be regained, but only if we are once again prepared as a society, to submit to the authority of God in Christ Jesus. Otherwise we will be forever lamenting the many and varied ills of our nation. As persons who submit to Christ, do not submit to mob rule, on the one hand, but rather act in love an compassion. Nor do they, on the other hand, rebel openly and publicly, or for that matter in privacy of their homes as if God does not see them there too, against their Creator, who made them to be holy, as He God is holy. As a people of God then we have to be vigilant, and not " fall asleep" in our sharing of the love of God to all persons, regardless of colour, creed, sexual orientation, status in society, perceived antagonism to the things of God, or even openly disrespectful and dismissive, as we continue to " lift up the name of Christ". And He will then " draw all men unto himself". What then applies to Jamaica, is also equally important for the USA, in respect of the need for the leaders of that country, and its people, if they wish that " it may go well with them and their children forever", is to submit to the authority of the written Word of God, the Holy Bible, and the living Word, Christ Jesus. How this will play out on Tuesday night , as we say here in Jamaica "only God He knows."





Saturday November 3,...sent to the same journalist and to others in the profession





Then he said to Thomas, Put you finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.

Thomas said to him, My Lord and my God. John 20:28 NIV



Christianity, if false, is of no importance. And, if true, of infinite importance. The one thing it cannot be is moderately important. - C.S. Lewis ( who before he became one of the best known Christian writers and apologetic was an atheist).



New every morning is the love,

Our wakening and uprising prove,

Through sleep and darkness safely brought,

Restored to life and power and thought.......



Thank God for Jesus. Thank God for life. Thank God for a new day.

Peace

LWJ

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device from LIME.





This message does not need much comment from me. The critical issue here is captured by C. S. Lewis, a favourite of many who do not even profess Christ, but who appreciate his candor and clarity. So then, is Christianity of moderate importance to you? And if that option is not available, do you go against the whole grain of history of the Jamaican and American and indeed world history, and " throw it out the window". Or do you like Thomas declare, to Jesus...and then submit to His authority....as not everyone who says Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of God...... " My Lord and my God.

That's an even more profound choice that than between Obama and Romney. As one will determine the future of America for another four years, or even perhaps a few more, but the other will determine your future, not just for life here on earth, but for infinity.





Saturday November 3....sent to my church leaders





Hark my soul! It is the Lord; 'tis thy Saviour, hear his word; Jesus speaks, and speaks to thee, 'say poor sinner, lovest thou me? " When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon son of John do you truly love me more than these. Yes Lord, he sad, you know that I love you. Jesus said, Feed my lambs. Again Jesus said, Simon son of John, do you truly love me? He answered, Yes, Lord you know that I love you. Jesus said, Take care of my sheep............... John 21:15-16 NIV " It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be build up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. The we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching................" Ephesians 4:11-14 NIV " As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with each other in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to one hope when you were called - one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all. who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: When he ascended on high he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men. Ephesians 4:1-8 NIV This Word came at a time when I was taught, and accepted, a lesson about submission to authority, and the diversity of the body of Christ. And so I repented. PeaceLWJ Sent from my iPad



The final word for this week was a reminder about unity in the light of the findings of the recent Census in Jamaica which revealed that the mainline churches were losing ground to the more charismatic churches in terms of the number of persons who claimed an affiliation with a particular denomination. Much has been written about this phenomenon, and much equally, has been spoken about it on radio and television. In the context of this discussion about being vigilant as people of God, this final word from the Lord this week, tells us that what is of importance as church, is our commitment to preserving the unity of the church, and respect for the diverse gifts within the body of Christ. Those who do otherwise, and " ridicule the efforts and witness of other churches", are not acting in love and with an understanding of who is the giver of all gifts and for what purpose. A careful reading of the Ephesian passage, and to which I was led to read in the middle of the night, will reveal that our main purpose as church is to become " mature in Christ". And which maturity will ensure than we will not be " blown here and there by every wind of teaching". If truth be told maturity is not a common feature of today's church, so heavily influenced by the world around us; so easily led astray by the temptations of our time; so easily falling asleep when the challenges of life threaten our faith. No wonder the Luke passage about the Sower of the Seed says that " and we do not mature".

Mature Christians do not become less vigilant in defending the faith even in the face of " mighty powers" Mature Christians do not " run with the crowd" and cause the name of Christ to be dishonored. Mature Christians depend on the Rock that is Christ when the storms of life come blowing. Mature Christians seek to maintain the unity of the body of Christ. Mature Christians talk and listen to God a lot, and obey Him always, that it " may go well with them and their children and their neighbours and their country forever. Amen