Diamond Jubilee

Her Majesty the Queen

Today is the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the 60th Anniversary of her accession to the throne. The United Kingdom has prospered under her reign, emerging from post-war austerity to a country where, although there are still many needy, there are also very many who have fitted carpets, central heating, colour televisions and even iPhones. Such items were luxuries or even non-existent in 1950’s Britain. The quality of a nation cannot just be measured in material terms however. Safety, security, peace, unity and goodwill are even more important. Sadly these have not grown at the same rate as our material prosperity, which itself is looking more shaky.

The world was at its most unstable during the reign of the Queen’s late father, His Majesty King George VI. World War II was a terrible time for many nations, but now sixty-seven years later people are still afraid of what is happening to the world. Even today a 6.8 magnitude earthquake shook the Philippines. What is the answer? Her Majesty’s recent Christmas broadcast gives a clue to the solution. Not one that will necessarily take our problems away, but instead she points to someone whose love and strength will see us through.

EXCERPT FROM THE QUEEN’S CHRISTMAS BROADCAST 2011

“Finding hope in adversity is one of the themes of Christmas. Jesus was born into a world full of fear. The angels came to frightened shepherds with hope in their voices: ‘Fear not’, they urged, ‘we bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour who is Christ the Lord.’

Although we are capable of great acts of kindness, history teaches us that we sometimes need saving from ourselves – from our recklessness or our greed. God sent into the world a unique person – neither a philosopher nor a general (important though they are) – but a Saviour, with the power to forgive.

Forgiveness lies at the heart of the Christian faith. It can heal broken families, it can restore friendships and it can reconcile divided communities. It is in forgiveness that we feel the power of God’s love.

In the last verse of this beautiful carol, O Little Town of Bethlehem, there’s a prayer:

O Holy Child of Bethlehem

Descend to us we pray

Cast out our sin

And enter in

Be born in us today

It is my prayer that on this Christmas day we might all find room in our lives for the message of the angels and for the love of God through Christ our Lord.”

Perhaps if our nation followed the Queen’s advice and stuck more closely to Him, it would be in a better state than it is now? May God continue to “save our gracious Queen.”

Me, me, me!

Last night saw the final of the new TV quiz programme, The Bank Job. The competition had lasted all week, and the winners from each of the five previous programmes gathered to see who could win the grand prize of over £140,000. Soon the three tense preliminary rounds gave way to the final’s final round. Only two young men were left; but the final round had a twist!

No longer were there any questions. Each young man was given half the prize money stored in a small metal suitcase. They were also given an identical suitcase each, filled with newspapers, and were allowed to secretly check the contents of their own two cases. They then had to choose one of their cases to give to their opponent. If they both decided to give away their case filled with newspaper, they would not be allowed to keep anything, but if they both gave away their case of money, they would be allowed to keep what was given, just over £70,000 each. However, if one gave newspaper and the other gave money, the one receiving the money would be allowed to keep it plus the case of money he had kept for himself, a prize totalling over £140,000.

What would each man do? One of them begged the other one to share, saying how much the money would mean to him and his family. The two suitcases were exchanged and placed in front of the cameras. What was in each suitcase? The cases were opened. Both contained … newspaper! Both had hung on to their money hoping to have the whole prize fund for themselves, but being unwilling to share, they had both lost. Their greed had brought them nothing; instead the prize fund was shared out between the three losing finalists, who each received almost £50,000.

As Jesus once said, “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full —pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give to others will determine the amount you get back.” (Luke 6:37-38)

Happy New Year!

Time passes

A very Happy New Year to you all!

What a year 2011 turned out to be; earthquakes in Christchurch, NZ; an earthquake and tsunami in Japan; political earthquakes spreading across the Arab world; financial earthquakes in Europe; the death of Osama Bin laden; a tragic shooting incident in Norway; disastrous storms in the USA; a new nation in Africa, South Sudan, and two royal weddings in the UK! Will 2012 be more of the same?

On a more personal level, today is the first working day of a new year for many of us. What sort of year are you hoping for? A happier one? A more successful one? Are you hoping to weigh less, drink less or spend less? And what are you bringing with you into 2012?

Were you hurt last year? Were you cheated? Did you fail last year? I know I did. Some of us begin a new year by bringing with us the disappointments, the failures and the regrets of the past twelve months. These sorts of things weigh us down. Forgiveness and letting go of the past can work wonders. Now is an opportunity for a new start; last year has gone. Look ahead, not back to the past. You can’t undo the past, but you can improve on it.

Our Creator is continually working to make things new, and He wants to do the same in your life, if you’ll let Him. As God once said through the prophet Isaiah:

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” (Isaiah 43:18-19)

Time passes, and as it does we can be reassured that His love for us never falters. Another prophet, Jeremiah, also spoke for God, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” (Jeremiah 31:3)

The Secret Millionaire 2

He gave everything

A divine secret millionaire (see previous post), who offers us at his own expense a loving relationship with our Creator, may sound too good to be true, but think again about the key points.

• The television secret millionaires used their money to the greatest advantage, not by spending it on themselves, but by giving it away.

• Yeshua (Jesus) came willingly to this Earth to take on a very basic life, and a very brutal death, but by taking my place, and yours, He has secured an eternal future for all who receive His offer of forgiveness and new life.

• Compared to the Creator of the universe who am I? I do not have the matchless beauty, the supreme intelligence, the awesome power, and yet if He thinks I am worth coming to this Earth for and suffering so much, I must be someone very special and of infinite worth.

Realising that you’re special, realising that you’re loved, and knowing that peace with your Creator is offered to you as a free gift may sound very comfortable and easy. We really can trust Him for our future, but following Yeshua is challenging. What else do you expect from someone who gave His life in the service of others, and calls you to follow Him? It takes more than clicking ‘Like’ on the Jesus Christ Facebook page. Yeshua calls us all to turn from our old ways, forget about ourselves and put Him first.

Jesus said, “If anyone wants to be My follower, he must forget about himself. He must take up his cross and follow Me. If anyone wants to keep his life safe, he will lose it. If anyone gives up his life because of Me, he will save it.” (Matthew 16:24-25)

The Secret Millionaire

How many of you have watched the TV programme Secret Millionaire? Each programme focuses on a real millionaire, who leaves his or her luxury home and family for ten days, and moves to a rundown urban area. While living alone and incognito in a very basic house, they spend their time volunteering with three local charities. Often they find themselves caring for the sick or feeding the hungry, supporting needy children or comforting the bereaved. At the end of ten days, they reveal their true identity to the charities and to needy individuals, and give away thousands of pounds (or dollars) of their own money. Many of the charities they help are struggling financially, and the millionaire’s gift is often the lifeline they need to survive.

It struck me recently that this is the very essence of Christmas. Approximately two thousand years ago – but not in December – the Creator of the universe left behind the riches of His spiritual home, to live a basic life incognito, while he healed the sick and fed the hungry, welcomed the children and comforted the bereaved (by bringing their dead back to life). At the end of His time here, He gave the most expensive gift anyone could give. He gave His own life to pay the debt we all owe to our Creator. None of us has lived a perfect life; no one has a totally clear conscience – except Yeshua. So out of His immense love for us, He took our place to buy our forgiveness and secure our future. As Rabbi Sha’ul of Tarsus (the apostle Paul) wrote, “You know the generous grace of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. Though He was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty could become rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9)

Following the filming of the TV programmes, rather than abandon their charities, many of the millionaires return to provide help and support on an ongoing basis. In the same way Yeshua calls us into an ongoing, loving relationship with Himself. He promises “I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)

Missing the point?

From beyond starry skies

“Surely there’s more to life than this?” Many people have a sense that this is not all there is, that outside of this material world, that beyond the blogosphere, the shopping malls and the celebrities – and indeed beyond the poverty, injustice and suffering of this world –there is an intelligence, a presence that we cannot see. Some scour the skies for evidence of alien activity, some avidly research psychic phenomena, some are in continual contact with their spirit guides. Many spend their lives searching for what works, others for what is true.

Two thousand years ago, approximately 4 BCE, someone came to this earth, was born, grew up and lived for over thirty years as one of us, but his supernatural signs and miracles showed that he was someone very special. His wisdom, teaching and authority were far beyond that of human reason. His claims about himself were either ludicrous or true. He claimed to have lived in eternity before the world began (John 17:5); he claimed not only to be the way to God (John 14:6), but that anyone who had seen him had seen God (John 14:9). He not only predicted his own death (Matt 12:40; 17:9), but also his future return in power (Matt 16:27; 24:30).

Surely someone who came with so much love, so much wisdom, so much mystery, must warrant a closer look. If not, we may miss the evidence we’ve been searching for, and spend our lives always looking but never finding the spiritual satisfaction we’ve been seeking. As a Jewish rabbi once wrote:

“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:15-17)

May you discover the real meaning of Christmas, and in so doing find LIFE itself!

Eternity’s treasure

The most valuable pearl

A suitcase containing nearly one million Australian dollars was left in a Sydney restaurant last week by a “really nervous” man, who was later arrested by police. He was then taken to hospital for unspecified treatment, while being kept under police guard. The legal owner of the money is as yet unknown.

Two thousand years ago, Yeshua (Jesus) told a story about a merchant who didn’t lose everything, but who sold everything to gain just one very valuable pearl. We, who seek spiritual meaning and fulfilment in our lives, are likened to that merchant, who gave his all to possess this most beautiful treasure. The pearl, of course, represents Yeshua himself.

“The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” (Matt. 13:45-46)

A personal relationship with Yeshua is the world’s most valuable possession. Beyond cost, it cannot be bought; it cannot be earned. It is a free gift given by Yeshua to all who are prepared to humble themselves and put their trust in Him. His love, acceptance and forgiveness are the only possible things we can take with us into eternity. The jazz singer, Helen Shapiro, who herself came to trust Yeshua as Messiah and Saviour, sang of Him as “Eternity’s Treasure – the Pearl!”