Proverbs 18:2

"A fool finds no pleasure in understanding

but delights in airing his own opinions."

Who do you think of when you read that?

What personal moment does it make you look back on and cringe?

Who is the model of the opposite?

How should it shape the way we relate to other people inside and outside of the church?





Will the world still be here this Christmas?

Some friends of ours from Christchurch, NZ, have sent us their seemingly millionth email of the last 18 months entitled "we are ok!". We usually hear this before we are aware of an earthquake in their area...!

Interesting to read their accounts. The liquifaction (where the ground turns to liquid under pressure) sounds particularly terrifying. Fascinating from a gospel perspective to think of something so solid as the ground suddenly not being real for a few moments! So it got me thinking: what is real? And are we aware of eternal realities as we go about our daily business or do we look around us at the world and think it's all so solid that it's going to be there for ever, carrying on as it always has done. Because a mere earthquake can turn the ground to jelly. So imagine what's going to happen when God wraps up this damaged and wicked world and calls all people to account for the lives they have lived.

The school holidays have made my personal Bible reading times a bit sketchy (!) so I sometimes get a bit lazy in my thinking during this time. Life in our society is so comfortable and easy. Christmas is coming. Sure, it's all about Jesus, but actually all my time is going into planning and preparing the meal to end all meals for the day after tomorrow...

But I need to remember the bigger picture. We might not even make it to Christmas day. God might call an end to the world any time.

Our job as believers is to keep each other going until the last day of judgement. And also to call other people to turn from death to life, and to be rescued from God's anger by his wonderful kindness and generosity.

Jesus came to save sinners

"Here is a trustworthy saying worthy of full acceptance:

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am the worst."

(1 Timothy 1:15)

Christians sometimes have the reputation of being self-righteous, looking down at others. Let it never be so with us. At the very heart of all we're about is Jesus coming to earth to rescue us. And Christmas is a good time to think about how much we needed that rescue.

The problem is not just how much we mess up our lives. Whether we're in a total mess, or whether we look quite together outwardly, our sickening attitude towards our loving God casts a huge shadow. Have we loved him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength? Have we cared for him as we ought? The ultimate judge is not pleased. Yet he loves, and sent his Son, Jesus, to save even us, his enemies.

"And when I think that God his Son not sparing

Sent him to die, I scarce can take it in.

That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,

He bled and died to take away my sin."

Can you take it in? People like us ... loved so much. Praise God.

If you are reading this as someone who is not a church member, but a friend of ours, please forgive us if we keep trying to rope you in. But please understand - we're not doing it for our ego; it's because we are so astounded at the fact of Christmas, that Jesus came to save sinners like us, that we want others to know too. As someone has put it, we are merely beggars telling other beggars where to find bread. And what joy can be found in knowing what Jesus Christ has done for us!

Climate change: can it be stopped?

UN climate talks are drawing to a close in Durban. It is feared that India, China and the USA will find that time has conveniently run out before there is time to sign the agreements. Meanwhile, many people in poor countries are facing disaster, almost certainly because of excessive global carbon-emission.

The issues are extremely complex, and it would be silly to comment with so little insight. But closer to home, an interesting observation: fuel prices have rocketed; we are being told that supplies will start running low; and yet there are more 4x4s around than ever!

Here's the universal issue of the human heart: when push comes to shove, sinful people care for no-one but themselves. To illustrate - if there was a food shortage in Leyland, do you think people would hold back and share it evenly? Or do you think Tesco would be carnage until everything's been grabbed? It's the same with natural resources - if it's running out, I'll grab mine.

One of the most telling comments you hear is from older people who say, 'At least I won't be around to see it'. Is that how much people care about their grandchildren?

Sin. 'When things get tight, I'll grab what I can.' We should pray for the world leaders discussing climate change, that by God's grace much suffering would be avoided (1 Timothy 2:1-4). But we can't be optimistic about people's good will; the human heart is selfish (Galatians 5:20). Ultimately, people destroy one another. The best thing we can do in the face of these overwhelming issues is point people to Christ, that sinful hearts would be turned around. As we do that - the work Jesus gave us, Matthew 28:19 - we're doing the most significant work in the world.

Where have all the Mormons gone?

A while ago, we had Mormon missionaries all over us. They were calling at all our doors, and bumping into us in the streets, almost as if they were ... well, targetting us. They even visited Wellfield. But we haven't had any for a few months now. I hope they haven't forgotten us.

It's not that I enjoy the discussions, particularly, or that I like 'taking people on'. I don't. But my heart breaks for these guys. If they're not meeting Christians, what hope have they got of considering that what they're taught by their organisation might not actually be true? They're not allowed to doubt what they're taught - if they do, they might lose their salvation! The devastating irony!: they are not being led to salvation! If only they were allowed to engage with us, instead of being whisked off as soon as they start looking at the bible for themselves.

So, come on Wellfield - let's pray for new opportunities to connect with these young people who are so trapped. And let's be grateful for the "truth which sets us free".

The press - leading the way or following the public?

Thoughts on the Leveson Inquiry

I don't know if anyone else has been following the Leveson Inquiry, currently taking place, inquiring into the practices and ethics of the press. I certainly have been. And I hope some of the foul people involved get what's coming to them. I really do.

The stories have been heart-wrenching: the McCann family with their 2-year-old twins, being set upon by photographers, frightening the children, banging on car windows, hiding in the bushes outside their house. The Dowler family who mistakenly thought that Milly was still alive when they discovered new space on her voicemail, when the messages had actually been deleted by NoW reporters. Also "celebrities", some of them among our most creative and talented people, having every aspect of their private lives out there for the public to chew over on a daily basis.

A mouthy paparrazo was on the radio, defending their intrusive practices in a delightfully obnoxious manner. Noone needed to challenge him. He condemned himself.

Interestingly (providentially?) I gained perspective on this in preparing our weekly ladies' Bible study on James ch.3 using some great notes by Philip Jensen and Kirsten Birkett. See the following:

"The gutter press exists not because of particularly evil publishers, but because the public buys it. We love gossip. We love hearing it, we love spreading it, and we especially love being the first with the news so we can shock others."

Outrageous! Is this really us?

I think it is.

Shame on us, who are so proud and at the same time insecure, that we need to know the details of other people's lives so we can feel superior. Shame on us for our nosiness, and voyeurism. Why do we need to know everything about everyone? It is the mature person who walks away from the opportunity to find out some juicy titbit about someone else.

We hypocrites would like to know about other people, but would rather die than reveal similar intimate details about ourselves.

It is overwhelmingly wonderful to know a God who knows all the intimate and humiliating details about our lives and minds, and yet still gives us the dignity of being worth everything to him. At the heart of the universe is one who sacrificed himself more than we will ever understand to rescue people like us from the depths of our own sin, from condemnation and judgement.

So let's give other people a break. After all, God gave us one. Don't buy gossip mags (doesn't the title tell you something might be wrong there?!). I don't want to be a part of the world which pays the wages of the paparazzi. We've got better things to fill our minds with.

Why bother with church?

'You don't have to go to church to be a Christian.' So goes the saying. Actually, for most people, the first half is enough: 'You don't have to go to church'! No. I suppose not. Most of us have not always been 'church-goers'. (In fact, I can remember throwing my rubbish at a couple of 'church-goers' along with everyone else on the bus home from school. They were the definite losers in my mind.)

Plus, there's plenty of reasons why not to go: - it's boring; it's outdated; there's better things to do (like stay in bed. Or watch TV. Or poke your eyes out with a pencil, for that matter.) But don't let past experience or preconceptions or what you saw of it on TV or what people have said put you off. Here's some reasons why it's well worth paying us a visit one Sunday morning, if you don't already come:

[1] You look at the bible. When else would you ever do that? It's a book that's changed the world, shaped so much of our culture, turned countless lives around. To read it and hear it explained, to question it and talk about it - what an opportunity!

[2] We deal with the biggest questions of life - because that's what the bible deals with. Answers to the meaning of life, life after death, why the world is the way it is, why we are the way we are ... and answers that add up. Why shy away from that?

[3] You meet God. ('...Sorry... What? You don't really mean that...') Yes - when 'God's people' get together, God's with them; he speaks through the bible; he hears prayers; he changes our hearts. The first time I was brought to a 'real' church, I was blown away by this. These people really knew something - they really connected with their God - and not in a spooky way, but a warm and strangely natural way. I'd been in churches, cathedrals and all sorts before. But a church where people really engage with God in the bible is something special.

[4] It's not boring. It's the highlight of my week. Our kids, too, look forward to it. In fact, I don't think anyone at Wellfield would say otherwise. (Correct me, if I'm wrong.)

So why not come along soon?!

Making the most of Christmas

There’s lots of stuff to get ready for Christmas isn’t there? Cards, presents, decorations, food, travel plans. Have you started? Are you panicking?


Christmas has become a big thing in this country. Everyone goes through the motions of preparing all of these things. But what are people celebrating? As Christians we’re fortunate enough to know what we’re celebrating – that God was loving enough to send his son Jesus to become like us, so that he could die for us.

Since we know why Christmas really is good news, and why it’s worth celebrating, we have a real opportunity. It’s a good opportunity because we’re doing the same thing as everyone else, and it’s a good opportunity because we can do things differently to everyone else.

Most people send Christmas Cards, but the majority have cuddly penguins or trees or santa or robins on them. Why not give a gentle reminder that Christmas is about Jesus with the cards that you send? You might like to look here http://www.thegoodbook.co.uk/christian-living/gifts-and-cards-1/christmas-cards

People like to give each other presents. Increasingly, people seem to want to buy more and more presents. Presents aren’t bad, they are one way of showing people you love them. But they’re certainly not the only way. Don’t go over the top, don’t feel you need to compete and buy people bigger and better presents. You might also want to take the opportunity to be direct to family members and say “there are more important things than presents. Please don’t buy lots of expensive things for us, or for our kids” That’s not to say that we can’t spend any money at Christmas – there’s lots to be enjoyed, just think carefully about it.

Christmas is really exciting for children. There’s a lot of hype, and at school they start doing Christmassy things weeks if not months before! Get them excited about the real meaning of Christmas. Think about looking at the Christmas story together through December. Chat about what’s most important about Christmas, because it’s easy to be dazzled by the celebration, and forget what you’re celebrating.

Spend good time with family over Christmas. Extended family can be really easy to spend time with, but some of the hardest people to talk about the gospel with. Invite them to come to church with you on Christmas day, whether you’re here, or staying away – they might just say yes because of festive spirit! And if you’re looking at the Bible story with your kids, invite them to listen in on that too.

Christmas is a great time to show real hospitality. If you can’t have people round at Christmas, when can you? Invite your neighbours round for Mulled Wine and Mince pies – be generous, and get to know them better. Or if big gatherings aren’t your thing, why not have some close friends round for a practice Christmas dinner?

Whatever you choose to do to make the most of Christmas opportunities, make sure you’re prepared. In 2 Timothy 4 v 2, Paul says “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season” and in 1 Peter 3 v 15 Peter says “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” If we want to make the most of Christmas, we’d better be prepared to tell people why we think it’s worth celebrating.

(By Helen)

Machine Gun Preacher - Review

Wow. The most harrowing film I have seen in a long time. It is the gritty true story of Sam Childers, tough bad-boy biker from a trailer park in Pennsylvania. Released from prison, he arrives home to find his wife's 'found Jesus'. What follows is the gripping account of his own conversion, the establishment of a church for trailer park and biker types, and his transformation into a man with an intense passion for the victims, especially children, of the appalling civil war in southern Sudan. So involved and driven is he by his mission, that he gives up all at home, becoming increasingly absorbed by his cause. By the end, he is waging a mini war against the oppressing 'LRA', freeing as many captive children as he can manage.

The final credits show pictures and video of the real Sam Childers, the last of which is him asking the pertinent question:

'If your family member or child was abducted, and I could get them back for you, would it matter how I did it?'

This is the message of the film. In the face of such evil, does not the end justify the means? Can you really sit back and criticise the actions of a man who cares as much as this?

The graphic scenes of the film leave no room for armchair critics (because they are the scenes of real life - and death - in Sudan). There is so much to think through - and neither the images nor issues raised will leave my mind quickly. And yet I think the following are lessons for us to learn straight away:

• We ought to be ashamed about our complacency whilst evil rampages in the world. In one scene, Childers is ranting at his church back home, saying Jesus does not want sheep, but wolves - with teeth! Leaving aside the questionable handling of scripture there, the sentiment is challenging: are we comfortably roaming around, or are we driven and fighting?
• Then, the next big lesson becomes identifying the enemy. Atrocities in Africa are sickening. But they are just a symptom of the fallenness of the human race. It is important to oppose the symptoms, but it's the root causes that must occupy our greatest efforts. How telling that through 30+ years of horrendous civil war, the church in Sudan wasn't asking for guns, freedom or even food so much as bibles, training for pastors in preaching the Word, and prayer. The work of our mission partners in Nairobi is even more significant than relief work for the traumatised children. (I say that soberly.)
• It is vital to support our brothers and sisters in their terrific needs around the world. Yet God has placed us in families and communities where we are. He has commanded us to care for these. Though it is right for some to be sent to where certain needs are greater, we must fight with passion where we are now. You don't need to go to toughest Africa to be a 'wolf'.
• The need for the right people to lead. Childers shames us by his drive. But so many of the frustrations of his story are because he was not grounded in his faith nor stable as a character. People need grounding to do the real work well.
• Accountability. Self-appointed pastors and missionaries are dangerous. Plenty of people in the film pointed out enormous dangers of Childers' approach. They were not all armchair critics. Frustrating as it may be for the more visionary among us, when we move forward, we move together. (Though, let's be sure to move forward.)

Gratitude

"O Lord, I am astonished at the difference
between my receivings and my deservings,
between the state I am now in and my past gracelessness,
between the heaven I am bound for and the hell I merit ...
O that such a crown should fit the head of such a sinner!
such high advancement be for an unfruitful person!
such joys for so vile a rebel!"
(Taken from "The Valley of Vision: a Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions".)

Look how far we've come!

How have things changed at Wellfield in the past 18th months or so?

It's important to ask the question. We don't want to become stale in the way we do things, in our membership, or in our individual lives. Our church was set up by St Andrew's to reach harder-to-reach people with the gospel of Jesus Christ. So how are we doing?

I want to say that I am hugely encouraged. It's been amazing to see a few people with very complex lives come to faith in Christ from the first time (people who wouldn't have heard the good news without Wellfield), and all sorts of people have come into contact with us and the message of Jesus who are further away from being saved at the moment.

This is great!

I remember times when the Wellfield Sunday meeting has felt a bit pointless (even though it is NEVER pointless to meet around God's word to hear from him!)... It never feels pointless now. It feels like a real community and our Sunday meetings are the highlight of the week. Our music may be naff (singing to a CD is a just a tad hilarious...but at least we can all stay in our seats for it...) but it is always great. Our monthly lunch gatherings after church are a high point for our children, certainly. And there are some great cooks at Wellfield!

I think "doing our own thing" on a number of occasions instead of running back to our "parent" church St Andrew's for all the big celebrations (Christmas- see picture-, and holiday club) has really served to make us feel like a family. And that draws people in. It might seem small, but it is hugely significant in eternity.

When I was still involved at St Andrew's, I longed to make spreading the gospel to people outside church a greater priority. But when life is so busy with church activities, it just doesn't happen so easily. The people who are drawn into a big church like that are totally different to the sort of people who are drawn into a little church like ours. Our new people would perhaps have sat on the sidelines of a big church and left after a while without anyone noticing. At our church they are at the heart of things.

So let's keep on changing and growing. Not getting stagnant and boring. Let's be excited about the best news in the world, which is ours to share with Leyland.

Halloween

"The problem with Halloween is that it's become too commercial. We need to get back to the real meaning of it."

Have you ever thought about what's really going on at Halloween? The historical origins are a bit vague and complicated, but the idea of celebrating witchcraft and dressing up in horror costumes? What are you actually doing?

I know for most people it's "just a bit of fun". But here's a couple of reasons you might want to think twice:

[1] Behind the fun, there is a reality. Witchcraft is real; the occult leads many to open the lid on horrible, unseen spiritual powers that they can't control. For most people in the world, this is blindingly obvious - they experience it daily. Even in Leyland, I've come across several people who are scared out of their wits because they've messed with this stuff and found they're in deeper than they wanted to go. Why do we want our kids playing games with this?

[2] Why would you celebrate what's scary and evil? God has made so much that's good in the world for us to enjoy. In fact, it's all made for our enjoyment (1 Timothy 4:4). Why, then, turn to stuff that twists it and screws it up?

So, sure, have a laugh. Enjoy sweets and pumpkins. But there's a wonderful God who wants to give and give. He's proved it in sending his Son, Jesus, to save us. Why would you not want to enjoy him instead?

Boxing films

I've enjoyed working through the Rocky films this last few Sunday evenings for our film nights ... but here's some clips from some quality boxing films! Which is your favourite?

"Why do Christians take everything so personally with Christ?"

Has Larry David got a point? Why should Christians get so up tight about people's attitudes to Jesus? This clip summarises beautifully what people think about Christians getting so passionate about Jesus.

I'm not going to go all serious in response to a comedian. We know there are many reasons why Christians should tell people to follow Jesus. It's not like liking lobster. But here's the problem: - it's not that we have to prove him wrong; it's that we Christians actually agree with him! We know what people think: we know they think we're being too pushy with our personal opinions. So what do we do? We stay quiet. If they don't like lobster: fine. If they don't like Jesus: fine.

They won't understand why we must talk about him and tell people to follow him. But we do understand. We don't want to upset people; but let's remember what we know as we keep 'going on' about him! Who knows how many Larry Davids there are out there who've never heard a reasonable answer to their objection?

I know what's best for me!

As a child, I remember thinking how odd it is that you only see the world through your eyes. Other people have a whole different view of the world. You can never see theirs. Only your own. So at the end of the day, their viewpoint doesn't really matter that much. (Weird child? Probably. Should have just been watching Bagpuss like everyone else.) The truth is, most of us grow up only really caring about our own viewpoint.

The biggest problem is that we even think in those terms in relation to the God who sees all things. Because I think I've been running my life, I think I know what's best for me.

Here's a quote from Stephen Altrogge's book, 'The Greener Grass Conspiracy':
"In Psalm 23:2-3 David says of the Lord, 'He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.' Notice that David doesn't say, 'I plot the best course for my life. I am the captain of my ship. I will go wherever my heart desires.' David realises that God is his shepherd, his captain, his leader. God will lead him to places of rest. God will restore his soul God will lead him in righteousness.

"We're convinced that a particular thing will bring peace, order and restoration to our souls. We look around, and we see the other people who have what we want, and they look so happy. They skip down the street holding the hands of their little children. They gaze into the eyes of their lovers. The smile as they mow the lawn of their new five-bedroom, four-bath, three-car-garage house. Meanwhile, our lives seem so whacked out and dysfunctional.
"But we really don't know what's best for our souls. If God allowed us to follow our own plans, we wouldn't end up on paths of righteousness that leads to still waters. We would end up in empty, barren wastelands of sin and destruction. God is the one who restores our soul. Sometimes he restores us by giving us what we desire, and sometimes he restores us by withholding it..."

My view of the world is not only one among billions. It's minuscule compared to God's. I need to keep remembering, he knows best.

Pray for new churches, believers and missionaries

The AIM prayer diary's entry for yesterday:

"New Churches, new believers and new missionary workers often experience fierce spiritual attacks as Satan seeks to destroy them and their work in their early days, through traumatic events, slow progress, loss of old friendships, difficult new relationships. Pray for strength to persevere, and for awareness of God’s presence with them in the challenges they face."

We know how that feels. Let's be praying for the Harkers and others in similar situations this week.

(By the way, there's some interesting articles on their website at the moment - see under 'sites we like'.)

The encouragement of slow church growth

Don't you love it when you read something in a book that agrees with what you already think?! I've been going on recently about how we've got the worst of both worlds in telling people about Jesus:

• Culturally, people are miles from the gospel. When we read about John Paton preaching to cannibals, we realised society around is quite a lot like them!
• But they don't want to hear the good news of Jesus, because they think they already know what it is.

I've been reading a book by Steve Timmis, called 'Multiplying Churches'. He puts it much better:

"... church planting is a long-term initiative, and that ought to be written into the contract. On a human level, this is particularly so when trying to plant amongst those who have no interest whatsoever in organised religion. In my experience, it can take anything up to three years of building a relationship with such people before there is a willingness to even listen to an explanation of the gospel. From then it can take up to two years before there is a readiness to respond, primarily because they are so ignorant of what the Bible teaches, and therefore of what the gospel actually us.

"While this ignorance may seem to echo to situation the early church found itself in as it expanded into Gentile territory, it is in fact rather different. Today the ignorance is compounded by prejudice. Then Christianity was something new. Today it is 'old hat'. People think they know what it is, and have already decided they want nothing to do with it. It's almost as though having been raised in a country with a Christian heritage they have been inoculated against the 'disease'..." (p.123)

How is this encouraging to us? Well, it's someone else saying it: slowness in normal, and to be expected. Don't panic: out of love for people and trust in God, keep doing what we're doing - with patience.

The ‘Second Generation’ Syndrome

The book of Joshua is a high point in the bible - the people loved God and did what they were told, so God gave them victory. The next book, Judges, spirals into lowest points of depravity - and all by God’s people. It screws up everything.

What makes the change? The opening chapters of Judges explain:

“After that whole [Joshua] generation had been gathered to their fathers [ie died], another generation grew up, who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel.” (Judges 2:10)

In spite of all the victory and wonders, somehow, somehow, that wonderful relationship the people had with God failed to be passed on to the second generation. You wonder what went wrong. Who was at fault? Did the Joshua generation not tell them clearly enough? Were the second generation just so stubborn? Whatever the case, there’s a very sober warning for us as a church: avoid the second generation syndrome.

It could take various forms. Here are three possibilities:

[1] We could be that second generation. Christians who have gone before us, possibly even those who told us about the life-giving message of Jesus, lived wholeheartedly for him. We must avoid the tragedy of being complacent where they were not, being casual about what they took seriously, being lazy where they worked hard, being cold-hearted towards Jesus where their hearts were on fire.
[2] Our children could be that second generation. It’s so easy for those who have grown up in Christian families to not appreciate the wonder of God’s salvation. If our children take it for granted, it would spell disaster. We’re to keep reminding them of how wonderful Jesus is so they would never forget it.
[3] We could create that second generation. Not just with our children, but with all who we pass on the gospel to - or fail to. We would be at fault if we settled for a casual telling people about Jesus. Jesus himself told us to ‘make disciples’ - that is, followers. In other words, we need to teach people to truly love Jesus, and rigorously follow him. Otherwise, we’ve sold them short of the true wonder of knowing God.

How to read Judges

(See 'What's going on' page for larger image and intro to Judges)

Next Sunday we're starting our series on Judges, which will take us through until early December. Some of us might be familiar with some of the stories in the book - perhaps Gideon, or Samson. But what does it all mean?

I recommended yesterday that we start reading it ahead of each Sunday's reading. Some of the stories are quite long, and it will help if we've already got our heads in them. To save us getting completely lost, though, here's a few tips:

[1] Remember where this is in history.
As chapter 1 explains, this is the period immediately following the time of Joshua, when God's people took control of the land. All the talk of battles, war and enemies is in that context - not immediately ours! We have to remember that they were told to be God's instruments of judgement on the thoroughly evil people already living in the land of Canaan. (Bear in mind God's promise to Abraham back in Genesis 15:16: "... your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.") Joshua's job was to clear them out. Therefore, it can be a mistake to be sentimental when reading Judges, and forget the brutal job they had to do, and why.

[2] Be aware of the structure.
Chapters 2-3 introduce us (as we'll see on Sunday) to the repeated pattern of the book. Over and over, it goes like this: the people forsook God; God punished them; they cried out to God; God sent a rescuer (a 'Judge' - not the wig-and-gown type). After a time of peace, the people rebel again and the cycle starts all over. Spotting this helps to identify where we are in a story. The variations each time round make us ask, 'What's specific for us to learn this time?'

There are 12 judges. In spite of amazing high points, the cycle pattern turns out to be a downward spiral. The book ends in sick depravity.

[3] Look to Jesus.
The judges are often the most unlikely heroes. The failures - and death - of each one makes us look forward to the ultimate Saviour. Each week, guaranteed, we'll be saying, 'Thank God for Jesus!'

Holiday club 2011

Riots

www.christian.org.uk/news/comment-london-riots-are-a-moral-breakdown

Agree wholehartedly with this comment from Mike Judge at the Christian Institute.

Obviously the breakdown of the family has played a big part. But how should we deal now with people who are already what Lord Baden-Powell called "poor-spirited wasters"? Well, Baden-Powell's solution in the army was simply to give them hard physical work. And lots of it. Wish it would happen. People are just crying out for strong leadership, iron discipline, and clear boundaries.

This is a part of reaching people with the gospel. If you hate all forms of authority, you're going to have a bit of a problem with God. It's a question of remedial help for people whose consciences have already been hardened, people who are just "takers" and give nothing back. As a church we can help individuals one at a time who we encounter but it is reeeeally hard.

It is my hope that the authorities will be tough in dealing with this mess, and that the policy-makers would start to value the family more. It is not a quick fix. It has taken several generations of family disintegration to produce social conditions such as these, so any good input now will take several generations to show itself in family structures. I wonder if any policy-makers have the patience for long-term investment when our democratic system kicks them out after 4 years if they haven't produced good results.



"My son, if sinners entice you,
do not give in to them.
If they say, "come along with us;
let's lie in wait for someone's blood,
let's swallow some harmless soul;
let's swallow them like the grave,
and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
we will get all sorts of valuable things
and fill our houses with plunder;
throw in your lot with us,
and we will share a common purse" -

my son, do not go along with them,
do not set foot on their paths;
for their feet rush in to sin,
they are swift to shed blood.

How useless to spread a net
in full view of all the birds!
These men lie in wait for their own blood;
they waylay only themselves.
Such is the end of all who go after ill-gotten gain.
It takes away the lives of those who get it."

Proverbs 1v 10-19.

Head over Heels - how to fall in love and land on your feet.

"Why do you suppose the reproductive urge within us is so relevant to cultural survival? It is because the energy that holds societies together is sexual in nature! The physical attraction between men and women causes them to establish families and to invest themselves in their develpoment. It encourages them to work and save and toil to ensure their survival. Their sexual energy provides the impetus for the raising on healthy children and for the transfer of values from one generation to the next....In short, the sexual aspect of our nature- when released exclusively within the family- produces stability and responsibility that would not otherwise occur."


The older that Dr. James Dobson gets, the more valuable, I think, is his wisdom. Here is a man who has been faithful to his wife, and made her a happy lady, for 50 years. This is someone whose advice I take seriously! His newest book "head over Heels - how to fall in love and land on your feet" is pretty short, and at pounds per word comes out as pretty expensive... but you know, maybe he doesn't repeat himself so much these days. Maybe it's pithier, more focussed wisdom. Which, for a guy over 70, is pretty good going in the mental agility stakes.

This is a book that I will be strategically leaving in the kids' bedrooms as they grow older. What great advice for young people embarking upon romantic relationships. He shows our insubstantial characters for what they are, infatuation for what it is, and mature, lasting commitment as the goal we are aiming for. He encourages young people not to sell themselves short when choosing a spouse. And also the consequences for individuals and societies when we don't make the right choices.

He is a Christian, and so knows the power of forgiveness and restoration. He is also a compassionate guy, and unusually for one of his generation, doesn't mind talking about sex, and sexual deviations.

The challenge for us as parents is to have good marriages, and thereby to create stable homes for our children who will invest in the next generation.

A model prayer?

Who's leading in prayer next Sunday?

"Confess your sins to each other"

Those are words from James 5:16. The context is that there is some sin which causes sickness. The antidote is confession and prayer, which leads to healing.

I thought it would be worth a little think about this in response to the Q&A time yesterday morning about openness and honesty. Here's the issue: sin spoils. It robs us of life in one way or another. And the nature of it can often be shameful, which can drive us into isolating, destructive patterns of behaviour. That is quite obvious with some sins - for example, some forms of sexual sin (especially pornography, pain-related eroticism, promiscuity, etc), or compulsive lying, or excessive drinking. But all sin is destructive and isolating, even if less obviously so.

A healthy church has a unity, a one-ness. We are saved not into a vacuum, but into a community - the local expression of God's gathered people. There is always a closeness between Christians, simply because we are members of God's family. And yet because of sin, there can often be a wariness to trust one another even within the local church.

So an openness about our sin is vital - we mustn't live false lives with one another. And yet it would not always be appropriate to confess all of our specific sins to all the gathered church, because not everyone can be trusted with that level of information about us, nor ought everyone to be burdened with our issues. Certain cults force this sort of 'openness', which is then used to hold hostage those who have confessed. That is not the flavour of James 5. However, there ought to be some trusted members to whom sins can be confessed.

It is a scary thing to do! Secrets that have been long held are hard to reveal. But the result is healing. Marriages are strengthened as spouses confess to each other - and forgiveness is given. The church is strengthened as friends trust one another and seek to help one another grow in Christ. Outsiders are drawn in as they observe the depth of trust and relationship between Christians.

So, some practical tips for us as a church:

1. Develop closer friendships. Spend time together.
2. Be vulnerable with each other, as is appropriate. Don't resist conversation about more meaningful things sometimes.
3. Don't be too intense with each other. Intensity is an unhealthy over-seriousness which gets in the way of real relationship.
4. Don't be shocked by sin - our own, or each others. Don't even be shocked by your spouse's confessions. Sin goes deep, and can show itself in very ugly ways. As long as we are in this body, we will all have terrible confessions to make from time to time. Respond with seriousness, grace and prayer.

What does your family need?

"In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat - for he grants sleep to those he loves." Psalm 127v1-3.
I've started a diary (not a daily one!). Instead of writing my thoughts on Facebook or a blog, that is (although a bit of hypocrisy here: this is obviously a blog.. but when Mark asked me today if i had anything to write on here, this was the main thing on my mind). I was thinking that it would be good, in 15 years' time, to look back at my diary, at this time of raising young children, and remember the lessons learned, see how I have grown spiritually and as a person, and, importantly remember-what-not-to-say to young mums...

One of my thoughts was this one: that the good things we want for our children are not financial. We want for them a good relationship with God, a safe and loving family, good health, happy self-disciplined characters, and ability to make good and lasting friendships, good food and sustenance, good rest.

Doesn't this take the pressure away from parenting? And it is really hard work, raising children, we are not deluded about that one! - but the anxiety about financial goals and provision for our children is a huge burden to carry, and isn't it great to know that the things that we really care about can only be given directly from God's hand? Whether we have enough money for a university education, nice holidays, whether they "get ahead" of their peers, whether we can afford the right toys and clothes... these things will do nothing to help their characters, and certainly will not guarantee good health and rest.

What a joy to rely on God daily, and not on man.

This was my thought today, and it gave me a happy heart.

How does the gospel change us?

We finished with Isaiah yesterday for the time being, with chapter 54. But what a chapter! 53 is the well-known one, all about Jesus, his death and resurrection. God's 'Servant', Jesus, came to die to bear the punishment for our sins. But where does that leave us? Chapter 54 in a nutshell: with profound joy.

There are three pictures of people being turned around. The first is of a woman unable to have children. And even if not a direct issue for us personally, we all know the feeling of fruitlessness in life. The older we get, the more we're aware that life doesn't produce what it ought. (Which is one reason we're so grumpy and miserable as we get older!) It's deeply upsetting. But Jesus changes all that: with him, we at last have a life that's truly productive, fruitful. We are united again with the Maker of the universe and our purpose for living. With Jesus, our life is going somewhere; we have something to live for that won't let us down - a great future with God.

The second picture is of a woman who thinks her husband has walked away. The agony of loneliness. Another very painful picture, and one we all know in relation to God. We feel he's walked away. He's put us on this earth, and for what? But again, the picture is turned around as we grasp the truth of the previous chapter: if God sent his Son to die for us, we can know for sure that we are loved, no longer lonely. In fact, the reason God felt so distant was that we had walked away; yet our guilt is no longer even mentioned here. God loves us with a never stopping love. No more emptiness, aloneness, guilt, shame.

The third picture is of people beaten, because their city is sacked and broken. Another picture of great distress - and one we all know the feeling of in this life we live. Everything we have falls apart. All we live for comes to an end. But with Jesus, all that changes at the deepest level: their city is rebuilt with ridiculous extravagance: Sapphire, rubies, precious stones ... The death and resurrection of Jesus totally turns life around: no longer broken, but alive! Secure! Rich for ever!

Now, consider that for life-changing: if we've got life secure as that - which we have, because of Jesus - why would we live for anything else? God has given us fruitfulness, love, life, security, riches forever; why waste our lives on other things? Live all out for him. Enjoy knowing him; work at a life that pleases him; make it our life's work to tell the world about him.

Church is not a hobby. We are the people given the most wonderful turn-around by Jesus. Does he not drive our ambition, our passion in life? Should we not throw all our energy, money, choices, life into him? Because with him, life overflows. Joy drives us. As we grasp what Christ has won for us, we invest in what we can't lose; give ourselves to what can't be taken away.

Loneliness and the Christian

Albert Einstein

Loneliness is a terrible thing. In fact, it's the first thing God said was not good - "It is not good for the man to be alone ..." - so he made Eve for Adam. It's one reason marriage was invented; marriage (as God intended) can be a great antidote to loneliness. But in this fallen world, it's no longer the main answer. For one thing, marriage is not for all, for one reason or another. And besides, there are plenty of married people who are as lonely as anyone.

Genesis chapter 11 tells the story of the Tower of Babel. People tried to make community apart from God - 'If we work together, we won't need him!' sort of attitude - and they tried to build a tower to heaven. (Some would say a sort of ancient United Nations.) What did God do as a suitable punishment, and to stop them? He confused their languages, so they could no longer communicate easily. Isolation, lack of connection with people, is a result of rebellion against God.


In our fast-pace modern world, loneliness has created a pandemic. Esperanto never took off. Facebook doesn't quite fulfil. Soaps aren't really the answer to recreating community in your own living room.

But there is an answer. It's the gospel. As we turn back to Christ, by his grace, the curse of loneliness is lifted. It's one of the things we don't have to wait to death to have - it's for now. How does the gospel make a difference? In some ways, things get worse as a Christian! As if it wasn't hard before, now we stand apart from the crowd. And yet the gospel is still the key answer, in two ways:

[1] We're never alone. I know the idea of God being with us can seem a bit like a child's invisible friend. But it's not so. Just because God is unseen, doesn't mean he's not real. A distant lover gives companionship - it's the knowledge that someone out there loves you. And the time will come when God is seen. All other loves are shadows of his. A person is never truly known if not known by God, who is eternally relational (Father, Son and Spirit), and the source of all knowing. Can you take that in? The central person in the universe relates to us as family. He loves us so much he would give his life for us. He has done.

[2] Because we are now his family, we become part of his new community. The church family is a big deal. The local fellowship is so important; we are not just generally part of 'church' on a big scale, but relate personally. I would say that in the church fellowship, there is a level of belonging unknown elsewhere. Becoming a Christian is a u-turn from the isolationist, me-centred, each-man-for-himself world, to a community of genuine love. In my experience, there is a genuineness of love in church, showing itself in people making big and real sacrifices to serve others, which can only be a result of hearts changed by God.

All wonderful. But doesn't this create a huge challenge for us too? Firstly, it's the challenge of looking at our own hearts when we feel lonely (as we all do sometimes): could it possibly be because I've been backing away from the church fellowship? Have I been serving others? Have I been praying for them, caring for them, meeting regularly with them? If I feel out on a limb, could it be that I've drifted?

Secondly, there's the challenge of keeping on looking out for others. If others are in more lonely situations, are we getting tired of the effort of including them? That's an effort the whole church must share in. If I'm not active, organised and deliberate in spending time together, it's not just me who's affected - it's a cruel carelessness towards others. So, let's ask the question: have we been careless? Have we grown slack? The great thing about grace is that each day is a new start - if we've not been as caring as we should be, then - today - let's make amends.

Law Abiding Citizen vs James Musa Rike



Law Abiding Citizen

The film 'Law Abiding Citizen' has something deeply satisfying about it - and yet deeply disturbing too. Gerard Butler plays a man (Clyde) who is victim to the horrible murder of his wife and daughter, and achieves the most extreme and planned out revenge - not just on the murderers, but also on the whole legal system who 'let him down'.

That's the satisfying side. We all feel it: extreme evil must be dealt with extremely. Evil demands justice. But as the film goes on, it becomes apparent that Clyde is worryingly similar to the original criminals.

Now let us meet James Musa Rike. Following the country's presidential elections, there has been a fresh wave of violence towards Christians from Muslim extremists. James is a Christian living in Northern Nigeria.



James and Dune, with three of their children -
including 13 year old Sum at the back



A few weeks ago, his home was attacked. Midnight - but no prince charming. No glass slipper. Instead, running into the night as men burst into the house with guns and machetes. James was powerless as his one year old and three year old children were shot down. Then he held his 35 year old wife, Dune, after she had been shot and slashed with a machete. She said to him, “Hold on to your faith in Jesus, and we shall meet and never part again.”

James next heard the cries of his 13-year-old daughter a few yards away. “I rushed to my daughter, only to discover that she too was cut with a machete on her stomach, and her intestines were all around her,” he said. “I held her hand and began to pray, knowing she too was about to die. She told me that the Muslim militants told her they would kill her and “see how your Jesus will save you.” The girl told her father that she responded by telling them that Jesus had already saved her, and that by killing her they would only be making it possible for her to be with Him. James prayed for her as she died.

How would you respond to that? James said the incident has simply strengthened his faith in Jesus. “Whatever is the situation, I will never forsake Christ,” he said. “All human beings are created by God, and our attackers must know that they need to abandon anything that will lead them to destroy creations of God.”

There is just one major difference between Clyde and James. It's an understanding of Romans 12:19-21: "Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,', says the Lord... Do not overcome evil with evil, but overcome evil with good." Trust in God is what it boils down to. James knows God is good and fair. He can entrust the matter to God, who will punish fairly and adequately. And he can live on in the grace of God, knowing that all people, even evil murders, need to hear the gospel of Christ.

Beautiful feet

Walking In Shadow from AIM On-Field Media on Vimeo.

You've probably seen this before. But coming up to Isaiah 52:7 this Sunday, I thought we should have it in mind.

Sunday Club at its best

Last week, the little group of kids were learning about the story in Luke 5:1-11, where Jesus blows the minds of Peter and friends by a miracle fishing trip. (In the words of Zoe (age 4) that evening, 'First, they didn't catch no fish. Then they caught loads of fish!' ...with arms outstretched for emphasis.)

So they were acting out the story with pretend fishing; first time they caught nothing. That's the way the story goes. But Zoe said, 'No, I've caught some crabs.' She wouldn't back down - just insisted she'd caught a net full of crabs. Oh, well. Move on.

Then, when they told the story, they started by saying, 'When we tell the story, just put your hand up if there's anything you don't understand.' Zoe puts her hand up straight away. Leaders pause. What do we do here? Reuben (6) helps out: 'I think she doesn't understand the word 'understand'.'

The Last Samurai ... and The Last Christian

We enjoyed the film the other night. (For an ace review, check out Martyn's article on http://thebearspeaketh.blogspot.com/.) It's a sad story of the death of a beautiful culture, a bit like Last of the Mohicans. Annoyingly, Tom Cruise survives.

It is sad to see cultures and peoples destroyed, often so brutally. But it made me wonder, will there ever be a sad film made about The Last Christian? I reckon, for three reasons it could never be.

[1] It would not be a sad film. We are, I think rightly, sentimental and gutted to hear about people's and cultures being destroyed - Aborigines in Australia, 'Indians' in the Amazon, Native North Americans, Bushmen in Southern Africa, and so on. But Christians? It's as Jesus said: "The world will hate you". That's the flavour of our country at the moment, certainly - humanists and homosexual activists are passionate about ridding Britain of the church. In parts of the Arab world (even now Iraq), people have almost done it. People would rejoice to see the last Christian. But what a loss it would actually be.

[2] Christianity is multicultural. There is no such thing as a Christian tribe or a Christian culture that you could tie down and eliminate. The church is made up of "every nation, tribe and tongue". African and American, Chinese and Chilean Christians will be almost as different from each other as the cultures they are from, yet united in the same beliefs and the same trust in Jesus Christ. Eliminating Christians would be like trying to stamp out a giant half-inflated balloon - squash it in one place, and it just bulges up somewhere else.

[3] God won't let it happen. "I will build my church", says Jesus, "and the gates of hell can't stand against it." In many places people have tried (and still do try) to eliminate Christians. But God still builds his church, in spite of severe persecution.

As African Christians are learning well today, it is possible to be a Christian without losing your cultural identity. It may be right to protect minority cultures in the world. But in the new heavens and earth that God will make, there will be people of all flavours; individual cultures will not die there; we won't be all identical. The priority, therefore, is not preserving cultures for now, but in telling all peoples about Jesus, the king over all.

God speaks where you least expect

Isaiah 49:
I love going to Wellfield Church on Sunday mornings, how could I not love hearing God’s word? This Sunday was an all age service which I always enjoy; great fun with the children but noisier than usual and lots of distractions which you would expect. Not always the easiest to take things in and it’s based at child level of understanding anyway, so just sit back and enjoy.
Well, as usual God’s word and Mark’s preaching pointed a finger right at me again! How does this keep happening I ask, does anyone else feel the same?
Isaiah 49:1:
Listen to me, you island; hear this, you distant nations: Before I was born the LORD called me; from my mother’s womb he has spoken my name.
Who is speaking? Well as we foundout during some games at the beginning of our church service, the answer is - JESUS!
And going by this verse, If we live anywhere on this planet that God created we need to listen. The strangest thing is, you hear His voice when and where you would never expect it.
I heard His voice at the cinema! What, I hear you ask? Well, to cut a long testimony very short, it all began with going to see Mel Gibson’s film – The Passion of the Christ. It was released in 2004 and depicted the final hours and crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ.Seeing the film moved me to want to know more and ask, “Who is this man who would die for me?”
Back to the Sunday Service: we were told how God’s people enslaved in Babylon wanted to get back to Israel, when in fact they needed to get back to God; Hope in God/Jesus is what matters in life, not where we live or where we want to live. Hearing this made me think of my life before I became a Christian.
A little more testimony: I moved with my husband Andrew down to Chorley in Lancashire from Edinburgh in December 1987. Our son Ross was due to be born the following March. As a Yorkshire lass, moving from Edinburgh to Lancashire, I knew no one other than my husband’s boss! I never really ever settled, even though I found friends, established a good career, and moved to Leyland, still always felt unsettled. I would have given anything to move to Yorkshire or Edinburgh again.I kept telling myself that I would have my life sorted by the time I turned 40 years old in July 2004; perfect house, perfect relationship, perfect figure etc., etc.! Guess what? I did it; I found what I was looking for!
I just didn’t realise what I had been truly missing in life, the answer was – JESUS! You see, I went to the cinema at the Easter, was moved to want to find out more about Jesus. After shopping in Tesco one Saturday, I was waiting for a lift across from St Andrew’s church. Outside the church I saw a poster mentioning ‘the Passion of the Christ’; the next day I went to St Andrew’s church and would you believe it, one month before turning 40 years old, I became a Christian. I finally realised I couldn’t sort anything out for myself, but Jesus could. I’ve never managed to get the perfect figure, but I’m more than happy to swap that worldly goal for salvation! The Lord sure does work in mysterious ways.
Something else big changed in my life, I now love living in Leyland, Lancashire, and I no longer want to move to Yorkshire, Edinburgh or anywhere else. That is until the Lord takes me home, to my true home to be with Jesus!
Oh and even better, in November 2007 my husband Andrew became a Christian also, so now we are praying for our son Ross.
Getting back to Sunday’s sermon on Isaiah 49: Jesus is the answer to all our problems, Jesus is our only hope. He may be hidden to us, but if we listen hard, you never know what may happen.
Isaiah 49:2
He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me into a polished arrowand concealed me in his quiver.
Jesus is the hidden hope, God uses strength through weakness. We are weak, but if we take strength from our Lord Jesus and keep witnessing through the way we live our lives every day and tell others of Jesus, others may come to the Lord. We may never be there to witness their change of heart, but you never know, I give thanks every day for my husband finding hope in Jesus. But that’s his testimony; maybe he will share it with you one day!
Thank you Jesus.

(By Jen)

Contradictions in the Bible

Question time last week, from Isaiah 46:

"How can it say in v9:

'Remember the former things, those of long ago'

when it said in chapter 43 v18:

'Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past'?"

Great question. The old chestnut, 'The Bible is full of contradictions' is normally made by people who've never read it. (I generally reply to that, 'Can you show me one so we can talk about it?') But here's one staring us in the face!

The question of contradictions in the Bible cuts deep: if it has any contradictions, it is undermined. It cannot be the word of God; it's only the word of man. On the other hand, if the unity of the Bible can be seen, it is a huge testimony to its status as the word of God - and therefore must be taken more seriously than anything else in the world.

What about this example, then? I think the answer is fairly simple, after a little thought, and boils down to context. In chapter 43, God is appealing to people trapped in the past, always looking over their shoulder at the great things God used to do. He's saying, 'Don't get stuck there! I'm still alive and well! You think I'm just history? Well then, watch! - Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past: see what I'm doing now.'

In chapter 46, God's proving that other gods are false. And one point he makes to prove it is the point from history: which other god, through history, has foretold what he will do and done it? Which other god has shown its power throughout all those generations? 'Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am god, and there is none like me.'

All the time, in normal conversation, we say things that would be contradictory taken out of context. That's normal. Though people often do contradict themselves - because we're lying, or exaggerating, or forgetful, or fickle.

One of the things that most encourages me to keep believing the Bible is the word of God is that the more I read it, the more the 'contradictions' go away. But with any work of man, the more you read/watch it, the more contradictions you find. It's good that the Bible is not simple. It makes us think. It raised questions to us that often take years for us to get answers to. But it all adds up. Keep reading, and discussing it together, and you'll see!

Emmerdale and Assisted Suicide...

I was really moved last night by the sterling performances during what I felt was one of the toughest episodes of Emmerdale I've seen in a long time... Yes, even I watch Emmerdale!

It dealt with the final hours of Jackson Walsh's (Marc Silcock) life as he begs his mother Hazel (Pauline Quirke) and boyfriend Aaron (Danny Miller) to help him end his life. After a tragic car accident, Jackson was left tetraplegic, unable to move from the neck down. It came as no surprise that Emmerdale would decide to take the character of Jackson down this road as it's fast becoming a hot topic - the ethical debate over whether or not it should be legal to take or help another person to take his or her own life. The acting of all three was amazing and very touching for a soap cast.

But what do you think? Now in the soap we'll begin to see the consequences play out. At the moment, this is illegal and both Aaron and Hazel will face charges of assisted suicide which can carry a 14 year prison sentence. But people are fighting to have the law changed to allow for someone to have their death hastened. We continue to hear stories of people traveling to foreign countries to have their lives ended and there is a large outcry - perhaps even you feel this way - to allow this to happen.

It's not hard to sympathise with someone like Jackson. A young man, in love, healthy and able bodied suddenly finds his world is now confined to a wheel chair. He can't interact with it other than by talking, can't reach out and touch, feed himself, go to the bathroom. He feels the weight of being a burden to his Mum and his boyfriend. He doesn't have hope, he can't be cured, he will live like this possibly for years before death finally creeps up on him...

No wonder he looks to immediate death as the only release from his suffering. But there is one fatal, tragic flaw in such thinking - what good reason do we have to believe that it will be better for him to die than to live? Think about it - he doesn't know what waits for him on the other side. It's a major gamble to play and the odds aren't in his favour.

Does anyone know what waits on the other side? Yes, there is one person who does: the one who came from the other side and told us what awaits us, Jesus Christ. He gave the proof that he had the power over death by dying and then raising himself to life three days later.

Hebrews 9:27 :"Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment..."

Without the forgiveness Christ won for us by dying in our place on the cross, taking our crimes against God upon himself, people are judged and the punishment - eternal, final, separation from a perfect, loving and holy creator God. A far worse fate than any physical trauma we might ever have to experience.

I know for myself, if I died right now I'd be facing a hefty sentence - guilty of countless crimes from lies to lust to theft and on and on... I agree with one of the writers of the bible when he says:

1 Timothy 1:15 : "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst."

What the fictional character of Jackson needed was hope. Hope that one day he would he would be treated for the worse disease known to all mankind - that of sin. He needed to put his trust in the great Physician Jesus who could heal the crippled and the lame, but came to heal the truly sick sinners like you and me.

Matthew 9:4-8 "Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…” Then he said to the paralytic, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” And the man got up and went home. When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men."

(By Martyn)