Just been listening to the news this morning where Christianity for all the wrong reasons is back in the spotlight. This time it is the Christian pastor in Florida who plans to burn copies of the Koran.  Over the last few months leading up to next weeks visit by the pope,the stories concerning child abuse and its cover up in the Catholic church have been heartbreaking, it is easy to see why those who are not Christian hold such negative prejudices against it.

 

But the examples above are flawed humans not Christ, and I would encourage anyone who wants the truth to read the gospel,  to go back to basics and read  what Christ said. No-where does he advocate book burning, in Matthew's gospel he speaks of how terrible it will be for those who lead children into sin, at all times he speaks of shining the light on dark places, not covering up the dark deeds of man.

 

Jesus' whole teaching is of love and care for others and it is as revolutionary today as it was 2000 years ago, filled with hope and the promise of a better world. That is what Christianity should strive for, that is Christ.

 

"This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." John 15 vs 12

I have just been round at the garden centre where they were selling off herbacious plants cheaply much to my delight, they had been shoved at the back because they look pretty rough and their places taken by the autumn flowering range.

 

I didn't care how they looked because, as any gardener knows , what counted was what was in the pot, that the roots were healthy, not how pretty they looked on the outside. This of course sounds very familiar, that although our world will often push aside the "not so pretty" people and worship the beautiful, to God it only matters what is inside. Those of us like myself who are perhaps not quite in" full blossom" anymore can take comfort.

 

"But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

1 Samuel 16 vs 7

Why do we find it so hard to believe that God will answer our prayers? I ask this as one who does find it hard.

Recently with the start of school, the girls have been asking for some things that they need and I jump to attend to it, a new calculator? Absolutely! , new shoes, no problem and of course making sure there is something nice for tea when they get back, now I am sure this will wear off in a couple of weeks but its all about wanting to help them with starting school, its all about loving them. If I jump to meet these requests, and I am only me with limited funds, and baking abilities because I love them, how much more will God meet our requests , he who loves us and can do more than we can imagine?

 

"Would any of you who are fathers give your son a stone when he asks for bread? Or would you give him a snake when he asks for a fish? Bad as you are, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more then will your father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!" Matthew 6 vs 9-11

As I write this the wind has been getting stronger and stronger. A few minutes ago I watched the girl's huge and heavy basketball net slide along the deck and off the end as if it weighed no more than a leaf. Yet in the corner of the garden stands what looks like a very young , new and skinny sapling which is bending and blowing but staying firm. 

 

The sapling is attached, it has roots while the net is rootless. Jesus speaks of us being rooted in him like a branch on the vine, that it will bear much fruit if it remains rooted. Likewise if we base our lives on God's teaching however hard the winds blow however much we may be bent we too will remain firm.

 

"I am the vine and you are the branches.Those who remain in me, and I in them, will bear much fruit; for you can do nothing without me." John 15 vs 5

So It seems we have a theory now which rules out God completely from creation, there was no divine influence behind the big bang, there is no God. Whenever I hear such allegations I feel a great sense of sadness, that mankind can be so dismissive of its creator.

 

I am no scientist and I can't begin to prove or probably even argue in technical terms for the existence of God, any more that can be definitively argued that he does not exist. So I can only work with what I consider the evidence of my own eyes. This morning in the early dew I walked the fields with the sun shining, throughout the grass hung the most delicate spiders webs lit by the sun and outlined by the dewdrops. I look at there fragility, I am overwhelmed by their beauty and I think, how can we possibly think there is no God?

 

Last week I visited the my neighbours to see their new daughter. Less than a week old, with tiny feet and hands, small and utterly dependent , yet an individual who will  think and hope and love in her years ahead. How can we say there is no God?

 

"Our Father , who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name." Matthew 6 vs 9

Last night I read again the story of the lame man who lay at the pool near the gates of Jerusalem. He had been ill for many years and like others believed if he could only get into the pool he would be cured. Jesus however came across him and healed him ,asking him to pick up his mat and walk.

 

I was trying to imagine the feelings of those watching, dismay, amazement perhaps some fear, but what made me really stop was the reaction of the Jewish authorities, who told the man it was against the law for him to carry his mat on the Sabbath. It is almost funny , a miracle has happened, the man is rejoicing over walking for the first time in 38 years, and the authorities forbid him to carry his mat, as if that mattered. Their reaction of course is to focus on the  legalities given their much deeper fear of the threat Jesus brings.

 

Can we not be a bit like that sometimes ourselves, whenever someone does something we don't like or if we feel slightly threatened we pick on the small issues to bring them down. It is something to be wary of in ourselves ,for it simply leaves us out there while change happens anyway.

 

Earlier on in summer I took the family camping for a few days, and as we sat in our tent in the middle of a field I tried to think about what was so enjoyable about camping. After all  we had to walk some distance to the toilet, to wait in line for a shower, we had to fetch water and carry it back to the tent every day. Cooking was a bit more complicated, there was no internet or even phone signal, so why leave "civilisation " for such an existence.

 

The answer I think is the simplicity, the day is spent on simple things, like preparing the meal (and how much better does it always taste outside),  and talking to each other rather than our technology, playing games again and joy of joys the evening campfire.

 

Don't get me wrong after a few days I am always glad to come back but there is something to be said for such simplicity and quiet in this noisy, busy world.

"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you" 1 Thessalonians 4 vs 11

Several times on holiday we found ourselves climbing the steep slopes to visit towns and cities well protected by fortress walls. Often the only parking was at the bottom of the hill which although murder on the legs meant that once we were inside the walls all was peaceful and still, basking in the heat of the afternoon. I found myself imagining what it must have been like in times gone by when those who risked invasion were able to shelter behind these walls , the sense of protection they offered when t he gates were closed and the people inside.

 

Not surprisingly the psalmists used the same imagery when talking about God's protection over us, walking in that landscape it became much clearer what they meant and how strong that protection is. I will enjoy that imagine over the coming year whenever I feel overwhelmed, that there is a fortress wall I can enter and be kept safe.

"God has shown that there is safety with him inside the fortresses of the city." Psalm 48 vs 3

Returning from summer break there are so many thoughts that it is hard to know where to begin. However one of the stupider things I managed while away was an encounter with the fruit counter at an Italian supermarket. I watched the person in front of me weigh his fruit and noticed that he put the fruit on the scales, keyed in a number and the machine printed out a label. Following his lead I did the same , put my peaches on the scales, keyed in how many were in the bag and took my label. As I smugly described this to my family they asked the key question, How does the scale  know what kind of fruit is on it, how does it know to charge for say peaches and not potatoes?

 

As I had learned the hard and, I expect, expensive way, the number keyed in was a code to identify the fruit not the number in the bag, from then on after they had finished laughing, the scales were referred to as the "all knowing scales."

 

Thankfully God is all knowing, he can identify each of us without coding,  he values our differences  and loves us equally

"Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."   Luke 12 vs 7

I discovered with a bit of a smile that  the Gnomes of Zurich is a disparaging term for Swiss bankers , as Swiss bankers are  popularly associated with secret deals, in the same way gnomes in fairytales live underground, in secret counting their riches.

Transparency is perhaps an overused word these days when it comes to politics and finances, but it cannot claim to be a new idea. Jesus warned that what was done in the dark would be brought into the open and that God would see it all, whatever we do must be right in the eyes of God ,for he sees us and knows us and nothing is hidden.

Now I don't have any deep dark secrets, but there are times when I know I could have behaved better, the parking tickets where I chanced my arm, the borrowed stationery from work, the gossip I happily indulged in.... I am sure I am not alone, but God expects better.

"For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothingconcealed that will not be known or brought out into the open".
Luke 8 vs 17

So for all us potential gnomes, think again and do the right thing, even when no-one is watching. Have a great Summer!

 

Thought for the day will return  at the beginning of September