Hope

It is easy to get depressed with the state of the world.  The impression given is one of confusion and danger, unstable governments, unstable individuals, and threatening forces that appear 'on the up' while common decency, care for others, and quiet stability are not seen.

It was ever thus.

Today people look back to the days of the 1950s as for them it was a period of peace and prosperity.  There is some truth in this, the Attlee government gave us the NHS, the best product of the UK ever, schools, houses and the basis of a strong economy with what was left after two world wars.  However, war still erupted around the world, criminals in government and in the locale were abounding then as now, while jobs were available money was still short.  The 'good old days' were no better than today.  Indeed, those who look back will never exchange their washing machines, hoover, flash TVs or cars and return to 1955 will they?  The problem is life never changes, what was, still is and will be again.  That's life.

Today the UK is spending much time on the Epstein files, the only major leader who is in danger of losing his job is Keir Starmer, and I doubt he would ever have taken a trip to Epstein Island, and if taken there would soon find a way out.  Trump, and all his gang remain, no matter what he does the US does not appear to care.  Was Trump involved with young women, aged under 16?  A 9 year old was mentioned, did he know?  So many questions, yet the millions of pages of files remain hidden or redacted, why?  

Mandelson has gone, again.  So many who knew him appeared shocked at what they heard, though the magazine 'Private Eye,' was writing about him many, many years ago, after the first of his three sackings.  Yet MPs are 'shocked?'

The connection between Trump, Steve Bannon and Boris in removing Theresa May from the PM job must be investigated by the correct authorities.  It will not be of course.  This is a criminal act, involving outside sources, hence 'treasonable.'  Nothing will happen.  The 'Labour Together' Israeli supported MPs will continue to fight to replace Keir, and promise to do nothing re Bannon and Boris or any Russian influence, because they may well be involved there also.  Billionaires leading coups in the UK and the US, supported by that nice Mr Putin, has been going on for years.  Many have known, yes Farage I mean you, where the money comes from and this includes the press.  It is such a shame we have np MSM willing to publish the truth about these things, even the Guardia, once a decent read, has joined the other side, if only there was a daily paper able to speak for the free world?

However, there is hope.

We see the fall of both Mandelson and Morgan McSweeney and can rejoice.  Two of the 'untouchables' have been touched.  Others can also be touched and brought to justice, no matter how corrupt a society happens to be.  Hitler's boys were untouchable once, Stalin died, Putin is running out of people to throw from the 10th floor, and all will be brought before almighty God one day.   

Is.19: 22. Who is it you have ridiculed and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes in pride? Against the Holy One of Israel!

23. By your messengers you have ridiculed the Lord. And you have said, “With my many chariots I have ascended the heights of the mountains, the utmost heights of Lebanon. I have cut down its tallest cedars, the choicest of its junipers. I have reached its remotest parts, the finest of its forest

24. I have dug wells in foreign lands and drunk the water there. With the soles of my feet I have dried up all the streams of Egypt.”

25. “ ‘Have you not heard? Long ago I ordained it. In days of old I planned it; now I have brought it to pass, that you have turned fortified cities into piles of stone.

The Trumps, Xi Jinping's, the Putin's and Bannon's of this world think they are in charge.  They are not.  The world is controlled by Jesus of Nazareth, now Lord of all.  Whatever plans they make will be limited by his grace and his grace alone.  Why they are allowed their moment in the sun I cannot say, but we share the same sinful nature and we too could easily follow them if we let ourselves.  Be grateful you have not been swept up in their plans.  Hitler and Stalin are long gone, many other fearful men, and a few women, have risen and fallen, gods for a while and now experiencing their eternity.  We have a better eternity, Jesus provides it, and the short term worries brought but such people need not lead us to despair.  There is hope.

Ordained Life

We tend to forget that Jesus spoke of 'wars and rumours of wars,' and 'nation shall rise against nation.'  A lack of Old Testament knowledge, especially the Book of Kings and Chronicles, is revealed.  Both inform us of God ruling this world, as well as the lives of those who choose to allow him to grant them abundant life.'  

When Sennacherib was at the door the king ran to Isaiah the prophet for Gods word.  He was informed the Assyrian would leave and he would be cut down by his own sons.  Which followed.  

Isaiah in his book, chapter 37:26 speaks:-  

26.  ‘Have you not heard?

Long ago I ordained it.

in days of old I planned it;

now I have brought it to pass,

that you have turned fortified cities

into piles of stone.

27. Their people, drained of power,

are dismayed and put to shame.

They are like plants in the field,

like tender green shoots,

like grass sprouting on the roof,

scorched before it grows up. 

God is in control at all times.  

He raises up nations and he brings them down.  The leading men of this world are not as powerful as they appear.  Spiritual war is occurring all around while God works out his purposes.  Those who give themselves to him will suffer greatly, many already do, but they will know God.

Jesus Christ is Lord. 

Sunday Meditations

Still stuck indoors, this time because my arm aches from that fall and I resist the joy of walking in the rain to meet people.  So, I read the sheet for today and fine three interesting, possibly connected readings.  I say possibly because the reading follow the Anglican liturgy and these do not always make sense to me, they do not always fit together, so why use them I say?

Anyway, in Ezekiel 2:1-5 we see the young man respond to coming face to face with God.  Not unnaturally he falls on his face.  The supernatural reality of God is often ignored by many.  Their God is one cut down to a size that fits their understanding.  Sadly, our God is way beyond us and we, the created creatures, have to face that reality and bow down to his supernatural being.  How marvellous that that being is 'Love,' otherwise we would all have been destroyed long ago.  

The meeting with God is not accidental, Ezekiel did not 'just happen to be in the area at the time.'  No, this was God calling on a man he knew thoroughly and to whom he would give a task.  God knows all about those he calls.  Nothing about us can surprise him now.

Ezekiel's job was simple.  Here he was in Babylon, miles from Jerusalem where the people had been sent after God called the Babylonians to destroy the city in 586 BC.  Yet the strange thing was the Israelites did not consider they had done anything wrong!  Sin was not recognised and the move to Babylon was not understood as punishment, in spite of what the prophets had told them.  

Now Gods call was to Ezekiel to speak to an 'obstinate and stubborn people' as Gods prophet, and he would know what had happened to previous prophets!  Abuse and even death for some.  He is being sent to a rebellious people who will not listen.  How is that for a job description?  'See those people, they will not listen, but go speak to them and be rejected anyway,' says God.  Of course you might get hurt...

The thing is Ezekiel obeyed.

Mark 6:1-6.  The thing about leadership is a good leader goes first into any battle.  He does not ask his men to do what he has not done or is unwilling to do, he leads from the front.  Having sent prophets to the people at the right time God takes human flesh and walks among us himself.

He now takes on the responsibility of confronting sinful rebellious people face to face, and even worse, he does this among those he grew up with in Nazareth.  

The Mark passage is very short and does not contain the passage read by Jesus in the synagogue.  Isaiah 61.

'The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.  He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.' 

Jesus then stated this passage has been fulfilled today, something which astonished them, but then his words indicated he would also bring in the Gentiles.  This led to a reaction, mentioning his background as a mere carpenter and now telling them he was something great!  The gentile bit was the end for them.  They attempt to kill him but he walks through them and leaves.  A prophet is without honour is his own house indeed.  His family did not support him at the time.   

The supernatural God appearing as a man, not quite the messiah they expected, and talking about the gentiles was not a good way to make friends in such a village.  Jesus of course would have expected a reaction, did he not know them, but he was surprised just the same at their lack of faith.  I wonder if this indicates their faithfulness to the Jewish faith up to that time?

Note how Jesus obeyed the call to preach. 

Mark 6:7-13.  Jesus moves on but sends out his 12 disciples two by two, with clear instructions.  He gave them power over demons, power to heal the sick, and permission to preach repentance.  This was their chance to learn how to depend on the supernatural power of God rather than their own abilities.

They took nothing with them but God himself, and their needs would be met on the way.  What a lesson in apostleship!  Some would reject, some listen, some healed, some demons removed.  That is the world Jesus wishes all of us to participate in, not a s such preachers but in daily life.

Note how the disciples obeyed and went out.

Do I believe him?  Would I go out?

Do I trust him daily when in Tesco or on the bus?  Is this supernatural God not around when I need healing?  Or have I just not listened to him again?  And am I willing to be rejected by family, friends, and neighbours for following Jesus when the world is against him?