RELIGION

Flinging wide the heavy doors

smooth and cold the marble floors.

Precious relics glisten,

frozen angels listen,

statues view the empty pews.

In finery and rank they move to their appointed place,

somewhere in the mace.

Bloody history whispers in the dark,

on this place it leaves it mark.

Outside in the dank and drizzle,

a small flame starts to fade and fizzle,

hidden by the pageantry.

In weather foul and fair,

seeking the broken, bruised and lonely,

their church the street, their faces unnoticed,

precious sons and daughters scatter seeds of love and hope,

reaching lost and hurting souls.

T. Hills

2003

Yet another bank holiday and the masses migrate to the sea/countryside choking the motor ways with metal maggots expecting the sunshine, receiving rain, lots of rain.

Many years ago with the sound of "are we there yet" ringing in my ears (long before the invention of an impatient donkey in the Shrek movie)  we decided not to venture abroad on Bank Holidays to merely sit in a traffic jam or press through a crowd of lemmings.  Multiply that with the volume of cars on the road today, the present population and the peace of my garden is more than desirable.

The skies were heavy laden, the rain continued well into the evening, so chores out of the way it was time to relax with a D.V.D. and I had decided to watch SHADOWLANDS that short excerpt from the life of Dr. C.S. Lewis.

Although I have quite a few of his books and with the exception of the Great Divorce find them a really hard read, the film shone a spotlight on some of his more easily understood teaching for the less academic amongst the population - and that includes myself.

An excellent site:  Shadowlands by William Nicholson.  www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/3154690-shadowlands for those of us who can't actually get to grips with his books - keeps it just that - simple.

Self sufficiency is the enemy of salvation.

If you are self-sufficient, you have no need of God.

If you have no need of God, you do not seek Him.

If you do not seek Him, you will not find Him.

C.S.Lewis

Shadowlands.

How true is that?   When you watch that car hit your child even the hardened atheist shouts "Oh my God"  Many years ago my own child ambled in front of an oncoming car focused only on reaching the other side of the road to collect more shells off the beach.    The woman driver was quite shocked "Oh I am sorry is he hurt, he just stepped in front of my car"   "He is fine" I replied "just a few broken shells in his pocket" More irritated than hurt my son wailed "she broke my shells".

In one section of the film Harry Harrington (who appears to be a cleric) cheerfully announces "and God hears your prayer, doesn't He.   We hear Joy's (his wife suffering from terminal cancer) getting better.

C.S. Lewis replies:

That's not why I pray Harry.

I pray because I'm helpless.

I pray because the need flows out of me all the time-waking and sleeping.

It doesn't change God, it changes me.

This very sad film reminded me that life is far from "a piece of cake" for those of us who follow Yeshua.    Sacrifice is required.   John Bunyan's Pilgrims Progress (another hard read) shows the pitfalls that we have to confront in the weakness of our humanity.

When you shout out "God help me" and He answers, you realise how truly unworthy you are of His help but seeking Him you surrender your will.    That means NO to this world and whatever obstacles you will surely face as He refines you FIT FOR PURPOSE FOR HIS KINGDOM TO COME.  It will be painful.   He will remove idols.   (Any one or any thing you covert)  He will bring you down on your knees.   The dross must be burnt away.   OBEDIENCE is the key word.   This has nothing to do with church attendance.   There is absolutely nothing in the commandments that says you should go to a church of any denomination, on their set day.   The Lord did say you were to REST from your work.   He was obviously advising work twenty four seven and you will burn yourself out.   Time to rest body and soul and reflect on His blessings gratefully received.

The world has created its own Kings and religious leaders.   Mere men, mere mortals, a privileged elite

who covert and cover their needs,  but death comes to every single human, if you have been selfish in this life who knows your final destiny.    But one thing is certain you will not escape the grim reaper.

We should all learn from our mistakes but a Christian who shows no change in his/her agenda and actions needs to repent and get back on track.    Our attitude towards others should reflect his love for the blind and deaf.   We all understand this means those who reject the Word of God, the scriptures and His very existence.   We shouldn't have any difficulty loving our neighbour regardless of class, colour, creed.    What a very different world it could be. 

Early in my Christian walk I read a comment "they are not going to believe in God until he turns up" sadly that is true for many.

The world is in an unholy mess.   It's time to shout "God help me"  and He will.   He will not remove your messy financial affairs, debt, failed business, sickness, these are all part of man's greed and his rape and abuse of this planet.   But He will give you peace, the strength to endure and hope in His Kingdom to come.

SHALOM