Holy Cows and all that

As a minister, one of the things that I ponder upon and pray about, is the problem that faces so many churches, especially here in the UK, that of falling numbers. The situation is so desperate in many churches that there is a real danger of the church closing down.

It's a strange situation to be in, isn't it? We live in an Age where there is so much conflict in the world, where real world-threatening situations are occurring all the time, and yet it's also an Age where so many people reject the church, reject Christ and reject God. I think one of the prime causes of this is the problem created by wealth, and believe me, it is a very real problem. The world that so many of us live in has become so materialistic, nurtured by politicians who pander to the whims of people and their own selfish ambition rather than any genuine interest in their country. We read of footballers being paid millions of pounds for their skill at kicking a ball about; of city high-flyers who are paid millions of pounds in bonuses; of Chief Executives who are given millions of pounds in severance when they have run their company down and the Shareholders vote them out of office. In the UK certainly, the Government has created a Them & Us policy when it comes to matters like pensions, so that whilst the majority will look forward to struggling on their state pensions, this will not be the case if you are an MP, for their pensions are gilt-edged!

All these problems and yet, it seems, no answers. Yet if only we could live according to God's design, under His laws, we would live a much more Utopian ideal. As a Christian, I'm reliant on God every day of my life. Each day I give myself to Him anew, knowing that He will watch over me and guide me through everything that lies ahead in it. In the Bible we are taught that there is a time for everything (Ecclesiastes, Chapter 3). Without doubt, it's beyond question that NOW is the time for us all to be turning to God. NOW is the time to banish the Holy Cows that distract us from our worship. NOW is the time for us all to seek the Lord in repentance for all that is wrong in our nations, our towns, our homes and our lives.

The Value of Time...
To realize the value of one year:

Ask a student who has failed a final exam.

To realize the value of one month:

Ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby.

To realize the value of one week:

Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.

To realize the value of one hour:

Ask the lovers who are waiting to meet.

To realize the value of one minute:

Ask the person who has missed the train, bus or plane.

To realize the value of one second:

Ask a person who has survived an accident.

To realize the value of one millisecond:

Ask the person who has won a silver medal in the Olympics.

Time waits for no one.

Treasure every moment you have.

You will treasure it even more when you share it with someone special.

(author unknown)

I recently was sent a copy of the 'politically incorrect' prayer which Minister Joe Wright of Central Christian Church opened the recent session of the Kansas Senate with. Apart from applauding him for his courage to speak boldly for the Lord, there is nothing meaningful that I can add, save that it is a prayer that we could each pray, relating it to our own countries and situations.

Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask Your forgiveness and to seek Your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, "Woe to those who call evil good,,"

but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.
We confess:
We have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it Pluralism.

We have worshipped other gods and called it multiculturalism.

We have endorsed perversion and called it alternative lifestyle.

We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.

We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.

We have killed our unborn and called it choice.

We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.

We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem.

We have abused power and called it politics.

We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition.

We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography

and called it freedom of expression.

We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers

and called it enlightenment.
Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today;

cleanse us from every sin and set us free.
Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent to direct us

to the center of your will.

I ask it in the Name of Your Son, the living Savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen.