I find it very disturbing when people try to dictate how and when you can talk to God. I had one person try to tell me that one can't plead with God. Many would like to dictate how you pray To be fair, there are lots of things I don't like when people pray. I don't like it when people preach at me when they pray. You know exactly what I'm talking about even if you don't want to admit it. I … [Read more...]
Do We Need To Be Taught How To Reconcile
It's all very well for the Lord to say in Matthew 5:22-24 that we should be reconciled to each other but I'm reasonably certain that his expectation was that we would therefore learn how to reconcile. Being reconciled with your brother and sisters is hard But let's face it, Christians don't, at least not nowadays. I don't mean to suggest that Christians don't try to be reconciled to each other, … [Read more...]
What Can I Pray About
What Can I Pray About? FIVE AREAS OF PRAISE 1…PRAISE GOD FOR HOW AWESOME HE IS Spend time meditating on praise themes in scripture relating to the greatness of God. Reflect on Psalm 103. Praise God for all that is wonderful about Him. Singing is a great way to bless the Lord. 2…PRAISE GOD FOR HIS DAILY BLESSINGS Spend time thinking about God’s blessings. Praise Him for as many everyday things … [Read more...]
Speaking in Tongues: Humbug?
Speaking in tongues Has to be one of the most controversial Gifts of the Holy Spirit throughout just about every century since Christianity began. I speak in tongues. I don't use the gift all that often. Though I do find it of great use in times of stress or when the passion for a situation just overtakes me. I don't use it in the church however and never around none believers. Including around … [Read more...]
Atheists Church – Are They Jealous ?
I used to think that Atheists were one of the worst threats to the church there could be. After all, an atheist has no moral absolutes. They can do what they want. The risk to society and the church is enormous. But over the years I have come to realize that human nature regardless of what doctrine you subscribe to is one of the hardest things to overcome. It's hard enough to get Christians, … [Read more...]
Holding Little Grudges and Forgiving Big Ones
The psychology of forgiveness Let's face it, forgiveness is harder than we as Christians like to admit. The more pious you are the less you are likely to admit to that but unwillingness to admit to it doesn't make it any less true. It turns out that there is a good reason for it physiologically The study was done by UCLA and posed the question, "Why do we furiously resent the minor insults … [Read more...]
Sugar Cubes and Prayer
I heard this illustration many years ago and found it to be a helpful prayer aid. Imagine a set of scales with a half kilo weight on one side and a pile of sugar cubes being added to the other. The first cubes added seem to make no difference at all in shifting the weight. Neither do the next ten cubes…or the next ten. However, by the time one hundred cubes have been added, a point is reached … [Read more...]
What If God Was One Of Us…But He Was Wasn’t He?
Why was there no outrage about this song, "What if God was one of us?" Don't get me wrong. I'm pleased that there wasn't. I always live in the hope that the church started to look at things as opportunities to engage with the non-Christian world rather than rail against it. At least we didn't embarrass ourselves this time. After all that is the usual response to anything that is even … [Read more...]
Are You Waiting To Pray
Making My Prayer List I remember the last time I was waiting to pray. I was walking along making a mental list of all the things I had to talk to God about when I had my nightly prayer time. Feeling a sense of urgency because I thought, I have to get home and write these down before I forget. I said a quick prayer: "Lord help me to remember all the things that I have to tell you … [Read more...]
The Growing Church – Days of Great Harvest
“After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.” (Rev 7:9 NIV). These are the days of great harvest. The Growing Church. There are times when, as Christians, we feel like an insignificant minority in the world. This seems especially true in the face of a … [Read more...]