Our Response to Haiti

I’m sure that all of us have seen the disturbing, life-shattering pictures and reports coming out of Haiti since the earthquake last week.

For all the power man believes they have, there is nothing that the human race can do to prevent events such as these, we are completely at the mercy of God. In light of this we need to be praying for the nation of Haiti and its leaders and the many thousands of destroyed lives.

It is very easy sat from my comfortable room at home typing out this blog to think that actually what has happened in Haiti doesnt really bear any significance on my life.

After the Tsunami 5 years ago, John Piper posted an article and I think these words from it are as true for this tragedy as they were then.

Every deadly calamity is a merciful call from God for the living to repent. That was Jesus’ stunning statement to those who brought him news of calamity. The tower of Siloam had fallen, and 18 people were crushed. What about this, Jesus? they asked. He answered, “Do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13: 4-5).

The point of every deadly calamity is this: Repent. Let our hearts be broken that God means so little to us. Grieve that he is a whipping boy to be blamed for pain, but not praised for pleasure. Lament that he makes headlines only when man mocks his power, but no headlines for ten thousand days of wrath withheld. Let us rend our hearts that we love life more than we love Jesus Christ. Let us cast ourselves on the mercy of our Maker. He offers it through the death and resurrection of his Son.

The tragedy in Haiti, far from being all about us or me, still calls for us to repent of our rejection of God. We could use those same words of Jesus to apply to this situation today, that unless we repent, we too will perish.

The Gap of Eternity

Below is a video from Matt Chandler called ‘The Gap of Eternity’ where he talks of how the empty promises of many things in life can’t fill the ‘gap of eternity’.

I think C.S Lewis sums up so brilliantly why not:

‘Most people, if they have really learned to look into the own hearts, would know that they do want, and want acutely, something that cannot be had in this world. There are all sorts of things in this world that offer to give it to you, but they never quite keep their promise. The longings which arise in us when we first fall in love, or first think of some foreign country, or first take up some subject that excites us, are longings which no marriage, no travel, no learning, can really satisfy. I am not now speaking of what would be ordinarily called unsuccessful marriages, or holidays, or learned careers. I am speaking of the best possible ones. There was something we have grasped at, in the first moment of longing, which just fades away in the reality. I think everyone knows what I mean. The wife may be a good wife, and the hotels and scenery may have been excellent, and chemistry may be a very interesting job: but something has evaded us.’

Taken from Mere Christianity by C.S Lewis

The gap of eternity cant be filled by anything in this world. It is filled by the eternal God.

Counterfeit gods

I think Tim Keller is brilliant especially when it comes to idolatry and what that looks like. He has certainly helped me see more clearly areas where I have been worshipping idols and not the living God.

Wholly reccomend his newest book – Counterfeit god’s.

It’s beggining to look alot like Christmas!

It’s Chhhrrriiissstttmmmaaasss! These are the classic words from Noddy Holder that I have heard screamed everyday since December 1st as the same Christmas CD goes through all the classics at work! Not that I’m complaining though, I love Christmas! I love everything about the time of year and everything from the songs to the dinner to the festivities to the presents!

The one thing that I find so hard, though, is to fall into the ‘Christmas Culture’ which is pretty much nothing less, but certainly nothing more, than what I have just described as being what I love about this time of year.  In Britain the message simply seems to be: stock up on alcohol, get lots of presents and food and enjoy yourself! Now although I am really looking forward to Christmas and hope to have a really great time, it is so much more important to really try to remember what Christmas is all about:

In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

Luke 1: 26-33

As the word ‘Christmas’ seems to imply, Christmas is all about the Christ. What Christmas is really all about is remembering the amazing story of how God became man. When I actually stop and think about this, that God became human, it is an awesome and mind blowing thought!  It is also a great time to remember why he did – so to deal with our rebellion against God and restore us to a relationship with Him through His blood, shed on the cross. This is the real meaning of why we celebrate and why, as a Christian, I should love Christmas all the more as I recall these things.

It is very easy just to enjoy myself, so much harder and less disturbing to think of all those who have nothing, those who have no family, no friends, no money, no home. I hope that I will remember them this Christmas and you too if you are a Christian. Remember that it was the rejects like these that Jesus proclaimed His message of salvation to, the Gospel is good news for the poor (Luke 4:18)! I hope that the message of hope in Jesus Christ will again stir our hearts to reach out with the great message of salvation that was announced by the Angel to Joseph in a dream:

“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”                                            Matthew 1:21

This is, indeed, what Christmas is all about!

The Lost Symbol

Ever since The Da Vinci Code was released all of Dan Brown’s new releases seem to have been met with good anticipation and lots of high expectation! I have to say that his newest book, The Lost Symbol, did not disappoint!

I just finished reading it yesterday and thought it was brilliant. Dan Brown is a very skilled writer and he manages to keep you in suspense the whole way through the book with so many different twists constantly happening. I love watching films and when I read this book, similarly with his others, I found it is almost as though I am watching them in my head as I picture everything that is going on.

Naturally, the books always create a bit of a stir because of what they say mainly about religion. In this book Brown actually tries to reconcile the two and show how science actually points towards religion, but of course there are some controversial statements and misinterpretations of the bible that are made but I wont post about them, rather about a great statement made about the reality of death.

When one of the characters, I wont mention who, feels that they soon may die, they say the following:

‘[The Character] strained to comprehend that these would be [their] final moments of life. Soon [they] would cease to exist… everything [they] were… or had been… or would ever be… was ending… In this moment, [The Character] realized [their] true insignificance in the universe. It was as lonely and humbling a feeling as [they] had ever experienced.’

Doesnt this seem to capture brilliantly some of the reality that we are not the be-all-and-end all in the universe. Actually there is One who is far above us, who is awesomely Holy and the only eternal God. I guess near death experiences or things of a similar nature really can give a harsh awakening to the reality of death, and the eternal things that await.

Copyright Dan Brown 2009 – extract taken from The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

Lewes, Fireworks and All That

Last Thursday it was amazing to be able to go the Lewes Bonfire night!

These pictures I am displaying arent actually mine – I didnt get any myself – but I think it shows just a little bit of what an outrageous, and always controversial, night this is!

There was, as is custom now, an effigy of the Pope that was blown into millions of pieces in Commercial Square as the night reached its climax, it has to be said though it was followed by an incredible display of fireworks, the greatest I have ever seen!

It seems, on the surface of it, to be quite a pagan celebration generally depicting religion, especially Catholicism and Christianity, as the greatest evil, hence all the burning crosses and the exploding Pope! However it seems this is actually all dating back in history, there is one cross for every martyr and the exploding Pope is supposed to be quite a protestant thing!It never fails to be a night where people needlessly lose their temper though, we saw two fights nearly start over the most menial issues!

But anyway it was an incredible night and as the final fireworks went up, about 20- 30 rockets all at once, and filled the sky with colour, it made me wonder if the fireworks celebration will be like that when we get to Heaven? I imagine it will be a similarly massive party, but so much better!

No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

Revelation 22: 3-5