Musings of a seasoned traveller on The Way

Submitted by mustardseed on Thu, 07/01/2010 - 09:59

‘ KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE BALL ! ‘

A little over forty years ago, when going through a very traumatic period in my life and not at all sure about what to do, I heard those words clearly in my ears - so clearly in fact that I can to this day remember looking round to see who had come into the room to say them - there was nobody there! I can remember shaking somewhat - for it was what I needed - even though there was inevitably going to be a long and hard haul ahead and I thought I was going out of my mind. Fanciful - some sceptics might say - no, it was utterly real, and it was a phrase that came into my mind this morning, suggesting I should set down a blog, having watched the England v Germany football match yesterday - for it is a phrase that this country of mine needs very much today.

I have never been much interested in ‘the beautiful game’, not sufficiently that is, to understand the rules, but what I saw on my TV screen yesterday, was a group of talented footballers, playing at times some very clever footwork, but it was a collection of individuals not thinking as a team. It seemed to my inexperienced eye that England had possession of the ball far more than the German team, but when the Germans got it, they knew to a man where they were meant to be going.. I think the ridiculous amount of money paid and all the adulation in the press, to say nothing of the disturbed domestic lives of some of the players, may have all played a part in spoiling the real value of the game and the focus was not there from the first match played in this series Praise God we are going to see competitive sports in our schools again, our children are going to learn that it is all about playing the game and learning to win without getting big headed, understanding that what talents we may have, whilst we must make the most of them and use them, are really no thanks to ourselves, and to loose is no shame if we have done our best and must learn to see that there is always someone better than ourselves.

I wonder, were our team united in prayer before the match began ? Did they take a quiet time together to pray that they work to the best of their ability to bring honour to this country through their game, whilst acknowledging that the best team would win? I rather doubt it - because the unbelieving voices in the UK as a whole have been whittling away and scoffing the idea of prayer, very largely since the end of WW2, and firmly resist acknowledging a greater authority than ’self’, at the same time eager to destroy the Christian faith in this country - which is still, thank God, alive and well , even if more than a little confused in its understanding. ! I go further, and say that the established church itself has imploded. For so long it has been arguing within itself about what to do about women in its midst - and while it has been so busy with its arguments, and women, just like Eve, are not content - (for which men must take much responsibility for spiritual laziness) it too has forgotten who really is the boss ! His Will shall be done, and the established church needs to grow up. Until we grow up in this world, we cannot hope to become children of God . Our Lord said of Peter‘s faith ‘on this rock I will build my church’ - and through Him, God’s faithful people are keeping their eye on the ball in a church without walls, without barriers, without princely clothes, and which is totally inclusive to all - the only cost of entry is an ability to see beyond ‘self’ - a greater vision which begins like a tiny pebble of Divine Love in a pond and whose ripples can be so gloriously far reaching to encompass all. Come on England, my beloved country, get your eye back on the ball !!!

SHALOM!

Mustard seed.

Keeping our eyes on the Gospels

Submitted by guest on Wed, 07/07/2010 - 16:37.

Praise the Lord for helpful and encouraging resources available on the Internet as we seek to hear what God is telling us today. Each week SermonAudio.com put out a "Listen of the week" recommendation, and this week is a sermon by Clarence Sexton from the Temple Baptist Church, Knoxville-Temple, Tennessee. Available as video from
the church website : www.templebaptistchurch.com, broadcast on 13th June 2010, title : "A new beginning". It is powerful, timely and well worth hearing, particularly for those of us who have a problem with the church at this time.
Shalom!
Mustard seed

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