Jesus Is The Way
John (14:6)
No matter how much you enjoy where you are living at present, there's always a longing in your heart for the place you call 'home.' And how much more so for those who have been born again into God's redeemed family!
The world has its beautiful shorelines and landscapes, but deep down we yearn, like Paul, for our heavenly Father, heavenly family and home. 'For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better I'm torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. Philippians (1:21-23).
Leaving this life to be with Christ, in Paul's judgment, 'is far better.' Far better than what? Anything else! Nothing here can compare with what awaits you there! No one's ever seen or heard anything like this, never so much as imagined anything quite like it-what God has arranged for those who love him. 1 Corinthians (2:9).
You ask, 'How will this transition happen to us?' At death, 'The dust our body' returns to the ground it came from, and 'our' spirit returns to God who gave it. Ecclesiastes (12:7). Our bodies will 'fall asleep in Christ. 1 Corinthians (15:18). Our God-indwelled spirits return to His presence, delighting in 'the fullness of joy' and reveling in the 'pleasures forevermore' that are found in abundance at His right hand. Psalms (16:11). While we wait, anticipating our best days, heaven's hosts rehearse for the drama of the ages, the awesome return of Christ and our accompanying Him in our glorified bodies! We say, '. Come, Lord Jesus. Revelation (22:20).
Apart from the way there is no going. Apart from the truth there is no knowing. Apart from the Life there is no living. God says, "Remain in Christ, and rest yourself. He is the way the truth and the life." Our salvation rests solely on God's strength, not our own. Our safety is in Jesus Christ's power, 'not ours.
Our protection depends on the Father's firm grip, not ours. No one, including the devil, can see the vital union that connects us with the Lord Jesus Christ. Because it was Christ's death and resurrection that perfected us because of His finished work, not our own. 'All roads lead to Heaven.' But how can they? Judaism sees salvation as a judgment day decision based on morality. Buddhism guides your life according to the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eight-fold Path. Hindus anticipate multiple reincarnations in the soul's journey through the cosmos. Many philosophers deem life after death as hidden and unknown, 'a great leap in the dark. Some people package Christ with Moses, Mohammad, Confucius, and other spiritual leaders. Christians believe in one life, one death, and an eternity of enjoying God.
Humanist don't acknowledge a creator of life. Jesus claims to be the source of life. Spiritualists read your palms. Christians consult the Bible. Hindus perceive a plural and impersonal God. Christ-followers believe' there is only one God. 1 Corinthians (8:4). Every non-Christian religion says, 'You can save you.' Jesus says: My death on the cross saves you.' All ships don't sail to Australia, and all flights don't lead to America, and all roads don't lead to Rome. Every path does not lead to God. Jesus blazed a stand-alone trail void of self-salvation. He cleared a one-of-a-kind passageway uncluttered by human effort. He offers us a unique invitation in which He works and we trust, He dies and we live, He invites and we believe. 'The work God wants you to do is this: Believe the One he sent. Go about your Fathers business.
Reverend William Bowers
Thursday, 9 January 2014
Billy Graham A False Prophet!
The whispers about Reverend Billy Graham being a "False Prophet", or being a Freemason, have circulated throughout Christian circles for years. But, in March, 1997, Cutting Edge discovered that the official state Masonic website for Louisiana and Michigan both listed Reverend Graham as a "Famous Mason". Billy Graham says he believes people can be saved without knowing Jesus Christ as Savior.
Graham is "Hailed as the world's preacher" and "one of the world's most beloved and respected leaders". If Billy Graham was" a man of God, the world would not love" him so.
The Bible teaches that those who are Christ's will be hated by the world, 1 John (3:13) 2 Timothy (3:12) John (17:14). But Graham is of the world,1 John (4:5) (5:19), and therefore "beloved and respected."
If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you, John (15:19).
Billy Graham is not hated by the world, but rather, by the admission of his own book, he is "beloved and respected" by the world, and "Hailed as the world's preacher." This alone is a mark of a false teacher. As Luke (6:26) says,
Woe to you when men speak well of you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
Mr. Graham is not a false prophet (because he is not a prophet), but he is a false teacher. He is not a real Christian, but a false one, and is an enemy of God James (4:4).
Billy Graham writes: "We should accept abortion in these cases: rape or incest or if the delivery of the child is a threat to a mother's life."
Even sincere Christians may differ on whether or not abortion is ever justified, especially in difficult situations such as rape or incest, or when tests reveal that the unborn child has severe abnormalities.
You shall not murder" Exodus (20:13). Killing an unborn child is murder no matter how the child was conceived (rape or incest) or what abnormalities he or she may have, Exodus (21:22-23) life for life. The Lord makes the mute, the deaf, and the blind (Exodus 4:11), and it is cruel hatred and murder to kill them.
Reverend William Bowers
The whispers about Reverend Billy Graham being a "False Prophet", or being a Freemason, have circulated throughout Christian circles for years. But, in March, 1997, Cutting Edge discovered that the official state Masonic website for Louisiana and Michigan both listed Reverend Graham as a "Famous Mason". Billy Graham says he believes people can be saved without knowing Jesus Christ as Savior.
Graham is "Hailed as the world's preacher" and "one of the world's most beloved and respected leaders". If Billy Graham was" a man of God, the world would not love" him so.
The Bible teaches that those who are Christ's will be hated by the world, 1 John (3:13) 2 Timothy (3:12) John (17:14). But Graham is of the world,1 John (4:5) (5:19), and therefore "beloved and respected."
If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you, John (15:19).
Billy Graham is not hated by the world, but rather, by the admission of his own book, he is "beloved and respected" by the world, and "Hailed as the world's preacher." This alone is a mark of a false teacher. As Luke (6:26) says,
Woe to you when men speak well of you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
Mr. Graham is not a false prophet (because he is not a prophet), but he is a false teacher. He is not a real Christian, but a false one, and is an enemy of God James (4:4).
Billy Graham writes: "We should accept abortion in these cases: rape or incest or if the delivery of the child is a threat to a mother's life."
Even sincere Christians may differ on whether or not abortion is ever justified, especially in difficult situations such as rape or incest, or when tests reveal that the unborn child has severe abnormalities.
You shall not murder" Exodus (20:13). Killing an unborn child is murder no matter how the child was conceived (rape or incest) or what abnormalities he or she may have, Exodus (21:22-23) life for life. The Lord makes the mute, the deaf, and the blind (Exodus 4:11), and it is cruel hatred and murder to kill them.
Reverend William Bowers
Sunday, 5 January 2014
Our Partnership With God
1 Corinthians (12:4-11)
I don't know how some in today's church got the false idea that the preacher is a servant and the folks in the pews are just members. No one is a bystander in God's kingdom! All believers are in partnership with the Lord, 2 Corinthians (6:1). He chose to work through mankind to accomplish the gospel mission on earth. To borrow a biblical metaphor, we are the workers cultivating and harvesting His fields, Matthew (9:37-38).
God gave one or more spiritual gifts to every single believer to aid in the work for His kingdom. We each need this special "wiring" to carry out our unique role in His plan. He knits that spiritual gift into our personality and inborn talents to create a useful and effective servant. And just to be clear, there is no such thing as a non-gifted believer.
Believers are the Lord's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for the purpose of good works, Ephesians (2:10). Spiritual gifts are not our own abilities. The Holy Spirit manifests them through us. Remember, it is the sap running from the vine into the branches that produces fruit, John (15:5). In the same way, the Spirit lives and works through God's followers to bring forth acts of service. The Lord's power is behind it all. Think of that when you are tempted to shy away from God-given opportunities.
God's awesome power is present in and available to every believer. The Holy Spirit equips us to obey the Lord in whatever He calls us to do. Don't waste your life sitting in a pew! Get busy using that spiritual gift. The fields of this world are ripe for harvest John (4:35).
1 Corinthians (12:4-11)
I don't know how some in today's church got the false idea that the preacher is a servant and the folks in the pews are just members. No one is a bystander in God's kingdom! All believers are in partnership with the Lord, 2 Corinthians (6:1). He chose to work through mankind to accomplish the gospel mission on earth. To borrow a biblical metaphor, we are the workers cultivating and harvesting His fields, Matthew (9:37-38).
God gave one or more spiritual gifts to every single believer to aid in the work for His kingdom. We each need this special "wiring" to carry out our unique role in His plan. He knits that spiritual gift into our personality and inborn talents to create a useful and effective servant. And just to be clear, there is no such thing as a non-gifted believer.
Believers are the Lord's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for the purpose of good works, Ephesians (2:10). Spiritual gifts are not our own abilities. The Holy Spirit manifests them through us. Remember, it is the sap running from the vine into the branches that produces fruit, John (15:5). In the same way, the Spirit lives and works through God's followers to bring forth acts of service. The Lord's power is behind it all. Think of that when you are tempted to shy away from God-given opportunities.
God's awesome power is present in and available to every believer. The Holy Spirit equips us to obey the Lord in whatever He calls us to do. Don't waste your life sitting in a pew! Get busy using that spiritual gift. The fields of this world are ripe for harvest John (4:35).
There are hurting people everywhere, but at times we just don't know what to say or do to ease their pain. Here are six practical ways to bear someone else's burden.
Be there. At times the best "method" of helping is simply to be present. During our darkest hours, we don't need someone who tries in vain to fix everything; we just need a friend.
Listen. Don't attempt to give answers or tell people what to do next. Injured souls frequently want simply a listening ear so they can express what's on their mind.
Share. Never parade yourself as someone who has all the answers. Instead, allow your own pain and failures to help others.
Pray. There is power in speaking people's names before the Lord. When they hear someone talk to Jesus on their behalf, healing often starts taking place.
Give. Sometimes helping others involves more than a handshake or warm hug. Maybe they need something financial or material. One of the best measures of sincerity is how much we're willing to give to others.
Substitute. You may know an individual who bears the burden of caring for someone else. If you step in and take his or her place for a while, you are emulating your Savior--He, too, was a substitute.
Because we were unable to do it ourselves, Jesus bore all of our sin and sorrow, even unto death. As a result, we can live happily and eternally in communion with our Father. If Christ did that for us, how can we ever say, "I'm too busy to bear someone else's burden"?
Be there. At times the best "method" of helping is simply to be present. During our darkest hours, we don't need someone who tries in vain to fix everything; we just need a friend.
Listen. Don't attempt to give answers or tell people what to do next. Injured souls frequently want simply a listening ear so they can express what's on their mind.
Share. Never parade yourself as someone who has all the answers. Instead, allow your own pain and failures to help others.
Pray. There is power in speaking people's names before the Lord. When they hear someone talk to Jesus on their behalf, healing often starts taking place.
Give. Sometimes helping others involves more than a handshake or warm hug. Maybe they need something financial or material. One of the best measures of sincerity is how much we're willing to give to others.
Substitute. You may know an individual who bears the burden of caring for someone else. If you step in and take his or her place for a while, you are emulating your Savior--He, too, was a substitute.
Because we were unable to do it ourselves, Jesus bore all of our sin and sorrow, even unto death. As a result, we can live happily and eternally in communion with our Father. If Christ did that for us, how can we ever say, "I'm too busy to bear someone else's burden"?
We all experience hardship, and trials can shake us unless we cling to truth. Let me share three assurances to remember when troublesome circumstances arise.
First, God will always meet our needs. This doesn't mean He provides everything we want. Instead, the Lord will bless us with all that is necessary to fulfill His purpose for our lives. His goal is to sanctify us, not simply to satisfy each immediate desire.
Second, we're never alone. God promised to be with us always, Hebrews (13:5). Loneliness often accompanies hardship, so we may feel deserted or opposed by family and friends. But our Father has sent His Spirit to be with us and in us, until the day He brings us to heaven, John (14:16-17). He is all we need--our advocate, guide, helper, and comforter. Recognizing His intimate presence gives us confidence in the midst of trials.
Third, God's love is eternal. Regardless of our circumstances or poor decisions, His care is unconditional--even when He reprimands us. Loving parents allow disobedient children to experience the consequences of wrong choices; they recognize the benefit of learning from mistakes. Of course, there are also times when we are negatively affected by others' wrong actions. Even then, God is sovereign and allows only what will bring good in His followers' lives.
In difficult times, we can remember that God will meet all of our needs, is always with us, and loves us forever. Though Jesus said we would face troubles in this life, He offered encouragement: The ultimate victory is His. So keep in mind that trials are fleeting, whereas our Father's love is forever.
First, God will always meet our needs. This doesn't mean He provides everything we want. Instead, the Lord will bless us with all that is necessary to fulfill His purpose for our lives. His goal is to sanctify us, not simply to satisfy each immediate desire.
Second, we're never alone. God promised to be with us always, Hebrews (13:5). Loneliness often accompanies hardship, so we may feel deserted or opposed by family and friends. But our Father has sent His Spirit to be with us and in us, until the day He brings us to heaven, John (14:16-17). He is all we need--our advocate, guide, helper, and comforter. Recognizing His intimate presence gives us confidence in the midst of trials.
Third, God's love is eternal. Regardless of our circumstances or poor decisions, His care is unconditional--even when He reprimands us. Loving parents allow disobedient children to experience the consequences of wrong choices; they recognize the benefit of learning from mistakes. Of course, there are also times when we are negatively affected by others' wrong actions. Even then, God is sovereign and allows only what will bring good in His followers' lives.
In difficult times, we can remember that God will meet all of our needs, is always with us, and loves us forever. Though Jesus said we would face troubles in this life, He offered encouragement: The ultimate victory is His. So keep in mind that trials are fleeting, whereas our Father's love is forever.
Saturday, 4 January 2014
Religious Gatekeepers
Luke (18:35-40)
What if I told you there are people, even well-meaning people, out there preventing you from receiving God’s best. These folks are not hidden, unscrupulous, vicious individuals skulking around dark corners. They are some of your closest friends traveling the road with you. The problem is the noise they make. It is the rabble from their wake. They never shut-up long enough for you to hear or be heard. God has a word for you today and everyday. Some of His messages are more important than others. There is a high likelihood you cannot hear God’s revelation for the confluence of voices surrounding you. This was exactly blind Bart’s problem. Yes, he was blind. But his biggest problem was the crowd.
As Jesus was approaching Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging. Now hearing a crowd going by, he began to inquire what this was. They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. And he called out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Those who led the way were sternly telling him to be quiet; but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to Him;
This company of onlookers following Jesus was like all the other crowds surrounding the Lord. Except this bunch was preventing this man from connecting to his destiny! His new eyes were passing by on the road right in front of him. Bartimaeus was just five minutes from being able to see. In the middle of this crowd were some nay Sayers attempting to keep old Bart from seeking the Lord. Jesus’ disciples attempted the same thing with children just a few verses earlier. What do disciples know? The Kingdom belongs to children and blind men.
Here is the point about crowds they have no concern about others. They really don’t care about what is happening around them until someone has the audacity to halt their parade. When they get the news that their parade is about to be stopped for someone other than them personally this is when they get louder.
Every person in the crowd could have called out to Jesus on this occasion. Only one audacious person was heard blind Bartimaeus. What did the crowd do? They were audacious too, but not for Jesus. They sought to shut-up the one man crying out with all his heart for the Lord. They rebuked the seeker for being loud and boisterous. Bartimaeus’ courage was met with a ferocious rebuke. These “gatekeepers” believe they know what is best for you and for Jesus.
Why is it that most religious folks and even non-religious folks don’t want other people healed, restored, or redeemed? Everybody says they want the “good” from heaven to be passed around to all people. But, in reality, the exact opposite is true.
The truth is we don’t want others to get blessed until we are blessed. We want the Lord to notice us first. It is like we feel the cupboard of heaven has limited supplies. God isn't acting fairly unless we are served first. It is sad, but true. I think this is one of the reasons we feel uncomfortable in churches where some believers express emotions and worship passionately. Since we don’t worship in this fashion no one else should either. Since we personally do not feel the urge to get passionate, neither should others. Since the blessings of God haven’t touch us personally, then no one else should be passionate either.
Someone wrote an article a while back on “why the other line at the grocery store always moves faster than the one you are personally standing.” It really doesn't but when you are in the line moving quickly, you really don’t think about all the poor stiffs sitting still. But, when you are stuck waiting, all you can do is think about why you are stuck and others are moving forward. In other words, it is easy to fill victimized and never give serious consideration when others are stalled. We all have a tendency to over-exaggerate our own importance and rarely consider what others are going through. Hey, if it is not happening to me, then it should not be happening to anybody. Right?
Not one person encouraged Bartimaeus to get louder. They all told him to shut-up. We have all been yelled at or shouted down. This is why we too react like the crowd. Religion even has the gall to say things like, “It is a sin to question God. It is wrong to plead, seek, and go after God like the blind man. It is wrong to be passionate!”
Wrong!!! The blind man proves it. It is not wrong to call out, to question and seek God like a mad man. It might be socially and religiously unacceptable but it is never wrong in the eyes of Jesus. Blind Bart knew better on the road that day. He got louder.
We don’t like those who speak up, who leave the status quo, who refuse to keep quiet, who reject compliance as a way of life. We would rather have people shut up than say disturbing things from a genuine faith. So we tell people to be quiet because in reality genuine faith scares us to death. Since God has yet to answer us personally He is not going to answer some unknown, blind man!
Have you gotten quiet? Have some of your friends discouraged you from seeking the Lord more passionately. Have they said something like “It didn't work for me, so it is not going to work for you. I tried praying like that but it didn't work. God didn't hear me, so He is not going to hear you. You should just settle down and get quiet.“
If blind Bartimaeus could speak to us again today it would be “Seek the Lord with all your heart. Don’t listen to the crowd get louder until the Lord hears you.“
Luke (18:35-40)
What if I told you there are people, even well-meaning people, out there preventing you from receiving God’s best. These folks are not hidden, unscrupulous, vicious individuals skulking around dark corners. They are some of your closest friends traveling the road with you. The problem is the noise they make. It is the rabble from their wake. They never shut-up long enough for you to hear or be heard. God has a word for you today and everyday. Some of His messages are more important than others. There is a high likelihood you cannot hear God’s revelation for the confluence of voices surrounding you. This was exactly blind Bart’s problem. Yes, he was blind. But his biggest problem was the crowd.
As Jesus was approaching Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging. Now hearing a crowd going by, he began to inquire what this was. They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. And he called out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Those who led the way were sternly telling him to be quiet; but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to Him;
This company of onlookers following Jesus was like all the other crowds surrounding the Lord. Except this bunch was preventing this man from connecting to his destiny! His new eyes were passing by on the road right in front of him. Bartimaeus was just five minutes from being able to see. In the middle of this crowd were some nay Sayers attempting to keep old Bart from seeking the Lord. Jesus’ disciples attempted the same thing with children just a few verses earlier. What do disciples know? The Kingdom belongs to children and blind men.
Here is the point about crowds they have no concern about others. They really don’t care about what is happening around them until someone has the audacity to halt their parade. When they get the news that their parade is about to be stopped for someone other than them personally this is when they get louder.
Every person in the crowd could have called out to Jesus on this occasion. Only one audacious person was heard blind Bartimaeus. What did the crowd do? They were audacious too, but not for Jesus. They sought to shut-up the one man crying out with all his heart for the Lord. They rebuked the seeker for being loud and boisterous. Bartimaeus’ courage was met with a ferocious rebuke. These “gatekeepers” believe they know what is best for you and for Jesus.
Why is it that most religious folks and even non-religious folks don’t want other people healed, restored, or redeemed? Everybody says they want the “good” from heaven to be passed around to all people. But, in reality, the exact opposite is true.
The truth is we don’t want others to get blessed until we are blessed. We want the Lord to notice us first. It is like we feel the cupboard of heaven has limited supplies. God isn't acting fairly unless we are served first. It is sad, but true. I think this is one of the reasons we feel uncomfortable in churches where some believers express emotions and worship passionately. Since we don’t worship in this fashion no one else should either. Since we personally do not feel the urge to get passionate, neither should others. Since the blessings of God haven’t touch us personally, then no one else should be passionate either.
Someone wrote an article a while back on “why the other line at the grocery store always moves faster than the one you are personally standing.” It really doesn't but when you are in the line moving quickly, you really don’t think about all the poor stiffs sitting still. But, when you are stuck waiting, all you can do is think about why you are stuck and others are moving forward. In other words, it is easy to fill victimized and never give serious consideration when others are stalled. We all have a tendency to over-exaggerate our own importance and rarely consider what others are going through. Hey, if it is not happening to me, then it should not be happening to anybody. Right?
Not one person encouraged Bartimaeus to get louder. They all told him to shut-up. We have all been yelled at or shouted down. This is why we too react like the crowd. Religion even has the gall to say things like, “It is a sin to question God. It is wrong to plead, seek, and go after God like the blind man. It is wrong to be passionate!”
Wrong!!! The blind man proves it. It is not wrong to call out, to question and seek God like a mad man. It might be socially and religiously unacceptable but it is never wrong in the eyes of Jesus. Blind Bart knew better on the road that day. He got louder.
We don’t like those who speak up, who leave the status quo, who refuse to keep quiet, who reject compliance as a way of life. We would rather have people shut up than say disturbing things from a genuine faith. So we tell people to be quiet because in reality genuine faith scares us to death. Since God has yet to answer us personally He is not going to answer some unknown, blind man!
Have you gotten quiet? Have some of your friends discouraged you from seeking the Lord more passionately. Have they said something like “It didn't work for me, so it is not going to work for you. I tried praying like that but it didn't work. God didn't hear me, so He is not going to hear you. You should just settle down and get quiet.“
If blind Bartimaeus could speak to us again today it would be “Seek the Lord with all your heart. Don’t listen to the crowd get louder until the Lord hears you.“
Thursday, 2 January 2014
Creating A Way Of Life You Love
The King of Kings and Lord Of Lords doesn't just want an hour or two of your time during the week.
God wants to be the one to permeate the atmosphere of your entire life'.
If we want to find the best for our lives we won't find it through a "Sunday go to the meeting faith" where the sports, work, shopping or anything else sets the priorities and rhythm for our daily life.
We need to be able to reinvent our timestyle and lifestyle to create a liturgy of life you can love, and free up more time and resources to invest
in the advance of God's Kingdom. In fact most people find it isn't really possible to seriously implement either their mission statements or their goals without making some major changes in how they steward their time and their resources.
For to many of us life has become little more than a living blur. If we have any kind of liturgy of life it is to be shaped more by the Today programme, the "fly on the wall" television and or our e-mail routines than anything that comes from our Christian faith.
But we find people everywhere who want to take back their lives. They not only want to overcome their "hurry sickness", their stress and their 24/7 lifestyle but they want to rediscover an easier rhythm that is more in touch with both the creation and their Creator. They also want to be more responsible stewards of both time and their money.
A new pattern of time is emerging, one that moves to a digital beat that has no regard for night nor day. Fueled by a global marketplace that leaps across time zones in a single bound. The internet is both it's emblem and it's foundation, and e-mailers and web surfers have been among the first to learn it's paces." We are paying high costs in our lives and churches for our blurred existence.
Many of us find we are out of sync with the created order, our own natural rhythms and even spiritual core. We can pay a very high price in our health, our relationships and personal values for this epidemic of "hurry sickness". It can cost us the vitality of our faith and the viability of the church as we race ahead into this 21st century living. We find that as Christians that our Bible reading among other Christians has declined rapidly in recent years in spite of an explosion of print and on-line Biblical resources.
There is an alarming number of Christian leaders in local churches that tell us they are so pressed for time that their only prayer is with the pastor before the Sunday morning service. Believers tell us that the only rituals of faith they celebrate are Sunday morning worship and Christmas plus Easter. And what is tragic, they have largely succeeded to transform those "Christian holidays into celebrations of consumption!
As the global consumer culture increasingly gobbles up our time and resources it is not only undermining the vitality of the church but also undercutting our support for missions around the world. We are witnessing the slow but serious hemorrhaging of time and money invested in the work of the church.
I am sure most of us are deeply concerned by this serious decline in the amount of time and money we are investing in our faith,
the church the mission. We should be concerned. But what are the causes? Why has our per capita giving declined over the past decades while our incomes have increased? Why does our faith seem to have so little impact on the rhythm of our lives?
Reverend William Bowers
The King of Kings and Lord Of Lords doesn't just want an hour or two of your time during the week.
God wants to be the one to permeate the atmosphere of your entire life'.
If we want to find the best for our lives we won't find it through a "Sunday go to the meeting faith" where the sports, work, shopping or anything else sets the priorities and rhythm for our daily life.
We need to be able to reinvent our timestyle and lifestyle to create a liturgy of life you can love, and free up more time and resources to invest
in the advance of God's Kingdom. In fact most people find it isn't really possible to seriously implement either their mission statements or their goals without making some major changes in how they steward their time and their resources.
For to many of us life has become little more than a living blur. If we have any kind of liturgy of life it is to be shaped more by the Today programme, the "fly on the wall" television and or our e-mail routines than anything that comes from our Christian faith.
But we find people everywhere who want to take back their lives. They not only want to overcome their "hurry sickness", their stress and their 24/7 lifestyle but they want to rediscover an easier rhythm that is more in touch with both the creation and their Creator. They also want to be more responsible stewards of both time and their money.
A new pattern of time is emerging, one that moves to a digital beat that has no regard for night nor day. Fueled by a global marketplace that leaps across time zones in a single bound. The internet is both it's emblem and it's foundation, and e-mailers and web surfers have been among the first to learn it's paces." We are paying high costs in our lives and churches for our blurred existence.
Many of us find we are out of sync with the created order, our own natural rhythms and even spiritual core. We can pay a very high price in our health, our relationships and personal values for this epidemic of "hurry sickness". It can cost us the vitality of our faith and the viability of the church as we race ahead into this 21st century living. We find that as Christians that our Bible reading among other Christians has declined rapidly in recent years in spite of an explosion of print and on-line Biblical resources.
There is an alarming number of Christian leaders in local churches that tell us they are so pressed for time that their only prayer is with the pastor before the Sunday morning service. Believers tell us that the only rituals of faith they celebrate are Sunday morning worship and Christmas plus Easter. And what is tragic, they have largely succeeded to transform those "Christian holidays into celebrations of consumption!
As the global consumer culture increasingly gobbles up our time and resources it is not only undermining the vitality of the church but also undercutting our support for missions around the world. We are witnessing the slow but serious hemorrhaging of time and money invested in the work of the church.
I am sure most of us are deeply concerned by this serious decline in the amount of time and money we are investing in our faith,
the church the mission. We should be concerned. But what are the causes? Why has our per capita giving declined over the past decades while our incomes have increased? Why does our faith seem to have so little impact on the rhythm of our lives?
Reverend William Bowers
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