On the table side by side,

the Holy Bible and the T.V. Guide*.

One is well worn but cherished with pride,

not the Bible, the T.V. Guide.

One is used daily to help them decide;

no, it isn’t the Bible, it’s the T.V. Guide.

As pages are turned, what shall we see?

It doesn’t matter, turn on the T.V.

So they open the book in which they confide;

no, not the Bible, the T.V. Guide.

The Word of God is seldom read,

maybe a verse as they fall into bed.

Exhausted and sleepy, and as tired as can be,

not from reading the Bible, but from watching T.V.

So then back to the table, side by side,

the Holy Bible and the T.V. Guide.

No time for prayer, no time for the Word;

the plan of salvation is seldom heard.

Yet, forgiveneness of sins, so full and so free,

is found in the Bible, not on T.V.

(Author unknown)

 

To be continued…

* Today T.V. Guide might be replaced by the remote controls.

The years of our lives pass quickly, like a sigh. 

The days of our lives add up to seventy years, 

or eighty, if one is especially strong.

But even one’s best years are marred

by trouble and oppression.

Yes, they pass quickly and we fly away…

So teach us to consider our mortality,

so that we might live wisely...

Turn back toward us, O Lord!

How long must this suffering last?

Have pity on your servants! (Psalm 90:10-12).

The Vatican announced Tuesday it was making it easier for Anglicans to convert to Roman Catholicism – a surprise move designed to entice traditionalists opposed to women priests, openly gay clergy and the blessing of same-sex unions according to Toronto Star (Vatican welcomes disaffected Anglicans, October 21^st 2009). According to the Star, the decision, reached in secret by a small cadre of Vatican officials, was sure to add to the problems of the 77-million-strong Anglican Communion as it seeks to deal with deep doctrinal divisions that threaten a permanent schism among its faithful. The change means conservative Anglicans from around the world will be able to join the Catholic Church while retaining aspects of their Anglican liturgy and identity, including married priests. Until now, disaffected Anglicans had joined the church primarily on a case by case basis.

“The unity of the church does not require a uniformity that ignores cultural diversity, as the history of Christianity shows,” said Cardinal William Levada, head of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in announcing the decision. “This is a moment of grace, perhaps even a moment of history, not because the past is undone but because the past is transformed,” the group’s leader, Archbishop John Hepworth said in a statement welcoming the Vatican decision.

What to make of this article? What do you think?

October 31 is coming and it celebrates the Reformation in Europe when Martin Luther posted his 95 theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany in 1517.  This act triggered the movement in world history known as the Reformation.

What the Church of Christ need today is a true reformation, a true and “New Great Awakening”, a revival. The church is struggling because she is walking away from the fundamentals of Christian faith namely, the reality of sin, death, hell and heaven. We have worked hard to reduce Christianity to activism against issues like abortion and homosexuality as if these are the only sins that are worth mentioning. I am not suggesting that we must close our eyes on these devastating issues in our society. It is time to go back to the exposition of scripture and to the preaching of the whole counsel of God.

Let’s pray for another Great Awakening. May the Lord teach us to pray because “The devil is not terribly frightened of our human efforts and credentials. But he knows his kingdom will be damaged when we begin to lift up our hearts to God” (Jim Cymbala, Fresh Wind Fresh Fire).

If our churches don’t pray, and if our people don’t have an appetite for God, what does it matter how many are attending the services? The angels rejoice in heaven not when the pews are filled but when a single sinner repents. Only the true preaching of the Gospel will spark moral, social and why not political change.

Both Anglicans and Roman Catholics will do better to go back to scriptures, to leave superstitious traditions behind and to re-examine the Truth. Likewise, Reformed Evangelicals will do better to think of October 31 as a day of self examination, to refocus our priorities on what Luther, Calvin and many others have fought for. The Lord I believe will bless a church however small it is if these priorities are set aright.

Despite all the political discourses and rhetoric, the conferences held here and there for peace and eradication of poverty, our world is going from bad to worst. Of course we need to work together to promote peace, justice and equality. To do nothing is unthinkable.  However, humanity needs to learn that there is no such thing as peace or justice outside of God. The true peace the world is dying for is the one that comes through the reconciliation with God.

Why reconciliation? Simply because we have rejected the authority and the supremacy of God over our lives. This is called rebellion. We have decided to ignore God and take the matter, “our destiny?” in our own hands so to say. We stop the fire here and suddenly a new one is starting somewhere else. It is taking us a long time to realize that we are finite beings despite what the scientists will say about our achievement. Without God we can do nothing. A Lasting peace, a lasting justice is only found in God.

The Apostle Paul gives us a hint:

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised...Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice… ( Rom 18-30).

Let us pray today for the people in Asia – Pacific Region where severe natural disasters has left millions of people in distress across Asia and the Pacific. Since September, a total of six countries have been hit by flooding, a typhoon, a tsunami and a number of earthquakes. There are more severe tropical storms targeting countries from Philippines to Viet Nam. Meanwhile the rest of our world is not exempt from other forms of struggles.

“These disasters are larger than what the country can respond to,” says UNICEF Director of Emergency Programmes Louis-Georges Arsenault, who called the triple punch in the Asia-Pacific region an “extraordinary” event. Well there is nothing extraordinary in these events, it is previsible. The world is in agony and yield for peace and freedom.The end is nearer than ever. Let us apply our hearts to wisdom. Come Lord Jesus Come!

As many of you know I have been away for couple weeks due to the accident I had ( Broken leg) while I was playing soccer(football) with other students at our annual TBS retreat. I really appreciate all your prayers and support in this time. The Lord has blessed me a lot with the support of my wife, my church and many friends like you who sustained me in prayer and words of encouragement.

Today I am feeling quiet well with less pain and you could tell by the fact that I am able to seat and write!

I am looking forward joining my church body and the folks at school. Please continue to pray for I still have a long way to go for a complete healing. Knowing that all things happen for reason I thank God for what he has done and is continuing to do in this time through me. I will give a testimony of my experience when I could write much longer. Right now I cannot seat or read for too long probably because of the painkillers I am taking.

enjoy this wonderful song below