Pride comes before a fall

Only 2% of the population are able to spot the mistake in less than 2 minutes. How did you do?

If you found the mistake in less than 2 minutes - well done.

How are you feeling?

I have no idea how many people can find the mistake in under 2 minutes - I made that up. But we all like the idea that we are better than other people. It makes us feel good about ourselves.

Lots of people struggle with pride. But lots of people struggle with false humility.

Daniel 4 is a warning against pride - Nebuchadnezzar is proud of his achievements - but oversteps the mark in verse 30.

Some of us though have low self esteem - we've grown up being told we're rubbish - and now we believe it. We can't do anything. Everyone is better than us. We're worthless.

When the Bible warns us against pride it is warning against an attitude that refuses to depend on God, is unwilling to be subject to God, and takes the credit for things that are down to God.

So what's the answer to pride and false humility?

We need to get our thinking right - about God, about ourselves and about others.

God is behind history, everything comes from God - that is something that Nebuchadnezzar is struggling to grasp. Nothing is impossible for God. 

But then who are we?

We are created in the image of God and we are loved by God. But we are also sinners - for whom Jesus died on the cross. We can become children of God. We are not worthless - we are worth everything.

The answer for pride is not putting ourselves down all the time. It is about pulling ourselves up to our full height - alongside God - and realising just how small our biggest efforts are. It's about recognising that in our strength we can do nothing but with God we can do anything.

Stand up and be counted

Some people don't mind standing out from the crowd - but for most people I guess that the preferred option is to blend in. A couple of days ago I was doing a workshop with a Year 6 class helping them to prepare for their transition from primary school to secondary school. One of the worries that they had was 'being different'.



Being a follower of Jesus will require us to stand out from the crowd at times. 

In our series in Daniel we've reached chapter 3. This is the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and the Fiery Furnace. King Nebuchadnezzar has built a statue and expects everyone to bow down and worship it. But Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego will only worship their God - whatever the cost.

Many of us might be tempted to fold at the first hurdle - there we are on the plain and the music plays and suddenly everyone else bows down to the ground, and there we are standing up and standing out. 

But Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, along with Daniel, had long ago learnt to say 'no' to things that meant worshipping or serving anything or anyone other than their God. Whenever we start a new school, a new class, a new college, a new job etc we need to make sure that we start the way we mean to continue. Standing out as being different is never going to be easy, but it is easier when we have got into the habit of taking a stand.

That's too difficult

Over the last couple of weeks I've watched most of Star Wars I - VI. I say most of because I've never actually sat down at the beginning of one and watched it through to the end, rather I've popped in and out and over the course of a few weeks I have probably watched most of most episodes. Finding things to do with children with chicken pox has been a challenge - but an introduction to Star Wars has gone down well. All but Episode III probably come into the family viewing category - but they've not seemed to notice that gap in the story!

Star Wars is the classic struggle between good and evil with the balance of power swinging first one way and then the other.

For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about the following video will make it all clear.



There are a number of stories in the Bible that highlight the ultimate power struggle between God and Satan. Daniel 2 is one of those stories where we have Nebuchadnezzar and his magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers on one side and Daniel on the other. It's a bit like the story in Exodus where Moses comes up against Pharaoh and his wise men.

In Daniel 2 Nebuchadnezzar asks his wise men to tell him what he has been dreaming about then interpret the dream for him - of course they aren't able to do this and tell the king that no one has ever made such a request before - it's too difficult (2:10-11).

Eventually Daniel finds out what is going on and gets his friends to pray that God will reveal the mystery - which God does. Daniel confirms to the king that no one could do what he is asking but there is a God who can (2:27-28). Daniel then tells the king his dream and interprets it for him.

In Matthew 19:26 Jesus tells his disciples 'with human beings this is impossible, but with God all things are possible'. When God asks us to do something he will give us all the resources we need to succeed. God may well ask us to do things that no one has ever asked of us - things we can barely imagine ourselves doing. We may want to say to God - what you're asking is too difficult.

And it probably is - if we're relying only on our own strength, resources and abilities. But don't forget that there is a God in heaven - and for God nothing is impossible.

God gave Daniel the ability to interpret dreams - God will equip us for his service too.

A break in radio silence

It's been two weeks since my last post so thought it was about time for an update. Our series in Daniel is going well, and we are up to chapter 4 on Sundays now - so three posts overdue there. My silence could be down to the Tour de France and Ashes Cricket on the tele - or maybe it's to do with chicken pox, governor duties as we approach the end of term, and preparation for Holiday Club. I'll let you decide!

In my survey of popular Bible stories taught in Sunday school Daniel in the Lions' den came in quite high although I was surprised to have no mention of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the Fiery Furnace. But that will be the subject of my next post.

Answers on a post card please

I am conducting some extensive research (by which I mean this blog, facebook and twitter) into what people think are the most popular Bible stories that are taught to children in Sunday School. You might also want to include topics for Holiday Clubs and All Age Services into the mix.

Basically which stories do we teach our children.

Maybe you could list what you think the top 5 or 10 are below.

There are no right answers - your answers are giving me the basis for my research which I will be using on Sunday morning.

And now for a totally unrelated picture that I came across this morning, hopefully it will leave you with a smile on your face...