Mobile Phone or Bible?

Here's something I came across the other day...

Ever wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our mobile phone?

What if we carried it around in our bags or pockets?

What if we flipped through it several times a day?

What if we turned back to go get it if we left it at home?

What if we used it to receive messages from the text?

What if we treated it like we couldn’t live without it?

What if we gave it to our children as a gift?

What if we used it when we travelled?

What if we used it in case of emergency?

This is something to make you go…..hmm……. where is my Bible?

Oh, and one more thing. Unlike our mobile phone, we don’t have to worry about our Bible being disconnected, out of battery, or somewhere where there is no signal because Jesus already paid the bill, and the power and the signal come from the Holy Spirit.

Makes you stop and think ‘where are my priorities?

Trust in the Lord and *ASAP (Always Say A Prayer)

Shaken faith?

As Christians we often talk of hope, peace, joy and thankfulness in the midst of crisis. This evening there was a report on Channel 4 news from Haiti revealing how Christians are still praising God, even in temporary camps, and how this disaster has actually deepened the faith of many, and caused others to turn from alternative religions to Christianity.

Just do it

Given the number of times Christians fall out over all manner of things, and churches end up divided it's a wonder that Jesus never taught anything about the value of relationships. Surely Jesus should have realised how detrimental to the spread of the good news bickering Christians would be. Didn't he see how unattractive it would be to have churches arguing between themselves and amongst themselves. You would have thought that he'd have predicted just how confusing it would be to people to have all kinds of denominations all teaching something slightly different.

This Sunday, in our journey through the Sermon on the Mount, we covered Matthew 5:13-32, which includes, among other things, sections on murder, adultery and divorce. Relationships are key, and anything that damages our relationships with each other needs to be seen for what it is - as serious as murder. And when we are a part of a broken relationship there is little that is more important than putting it right. Even if we are in the middle of church, and a person's name springs to mind - someone we have offended or upset or wronged - what does Jesus say? Sort it out and then come back. Get up, go and make the call, visit them, do whatever it takes on your part to put things right.

There is little that is more important than right relationships. And don't put it off until later - do it now...yes you - do it now - stop reading this blog and make the call. Sort it out. You can come back and listen to the message later!

To listen to this message click here

Don't slip up - walk on a Christian

In Matthew 5:13-16 Jesus describes his disciples as salt and light.

Salt provides flavour to food; it was used as a preservative in the days before fridges; it can be used to clean wounds; it melts ice to keep pavements safe. Therefore disciples are those who add flavour to society making it 'taste' better. They stop the rot. They bring healing. They will stop you slipping over if you walk on them in the snow.

It is possible that Jesus had the first three of these images in mind in Matthew 5 - it is unlikely that the final image occurred to any of his listeners, but I might be wrong.

Light allows us to see, so that when we walk we don't bump into things or fall over. It allows us to find things that may otherwise be hidden. It is attractive - when you are lost in the mountains you will walk towards a light. So disciples are those who show the way and are attractive to others.

We can't know for sure whether Jesus had one or more of these images in his mind as he spoke about salt and light. But taken as a whole these are positive images. A disciple should have a positive impact on the society in which she or he lives. A disciple will make a difference.

What difference will we make today?