Cletus, Take the Reel

Tragedy and Uncertainty

This morning my eyes were drawn to reports on www.canada.com/where the death toll for the quake near Chengdu, China could reach 50,000 people. Add these tragic deaths to the rising death toll in Myanmar and our world has experienced horrendous tragedy in mere days.

Last night I came across the cover story in World (www.worldmag.com/articles/13975) regarding the rising cost of feeding the world's population. "According to the World Bank, global food prices have increased by 83 percent in the last three years." For us, in North America, it means less spending money on the luxuries in life. For those in the Third World it could mean their daily ration cup of grain is now only 2/3 full.

As I observe the devastation through the lens of our media, my heart and mind are drawn to several Scriptures: First, our hearts should ache and our lives should reach out to feed and clothe those less fortunate. In doing so to the "least of these" we do so as unto Christ (Matthew 25:34-40). Second, my anxieties of uncertain days are eased when I recall Christ's words to "look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap . . . yet (our) heavenly Father feeds them (Matthew 6:25-34). Third, I am reminded of Christ's words to his disciples in Luke 13. Were those who suffered or died in Myanmar or China worse sinners than those of us who have been spared such tragedy? According to Christ, the answer is an emphatic NO! And may we not neglect His warning which follows, "unless (we) repent, (we) will all likewise perish."

May the Lord open doors for us to share food and water and speak about a God who is a gracious and sovereign provider and who has lovingly sent his Son to save us from our sins.

The God Who Is

"There is a god we want and the God who is, and the two are not the same."

- Pat Morley

God's Wrath Turned Away!

This morning my soul jumped for joy as I read again the wondrous text from Isaiah 12.

"I will give thanks to you, O Lord,
for though you were angry with me,
your anger turned away,
that you might comfort me.
Behold, God is my salvation;
I will trust, and will not be afraid;
for the Lord God is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation."

These words of promise to the Jewish nation remind me of Paul's words to the Church -

"Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More that that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation" (Romans 5:9-11)

Oh may I never grow weary of this wonderful news - may my lips not cease in giving God thanks for such a wonderful salvation!

Prince Caspian

Christianity Today does interview with director of Prince Caspian. You can read it here: http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/interviews/andrewadamson.html

I understand May 16th is the release date!

Stott and Tozer on Acts 4:32-37

This past weekend I preached from Acts 4:32-5:11. Both a sobering and inspiring text. I liked what John Stott said of the first part of this passage:

"Their economic sharing was but one expression of the union of their hearts and minds". . . "no one claimed" his possessions, 'in fact and in law they continued to own their goods, yet in heart and mind they cultivated an attitude so radical they thought of their possessions as being available to help (others)"

I also liked what Tozer said about this text:

“Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshippers met together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be were they to become ‘unity’ conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship."

May the Lord help us turn our eyes to Him, be tuned & transformed by Christ becoming one in heart and soul, a oneness that will reflect in the way we view even our earthly possessions.