Dave’s Snippets

March 10, 2009 at 4:11 pm (Dave's Snippets)

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                                          Dr. David Allen

ENDANGERED SPECIES -HYMNS

 

There is a lot of anxiety that a number of rare animals are endangered and soon to disappear forever. The so-called White Rhino, The Great Panda and the Mountain Gorilla are all threatened with extinction. And, as far as many of our churches are concerned, I am very worried that hymns are rapidly disappearing also.

 

There is a great deal of music and singing, but hymns are becoming a rarity in places. It’s sad because, since the time of the Reformation, hymns have been significant and important second only to the Bible itself. The hymns of Isaac Watts, Charles Wesley, William Cowper, and more recent gifted writers like Graham Kendrick, Keith Getty and Stuart Townend have offered us tunes that are easily grasped, set within a compass  that  most  voices can manage, and in memorable words that underline biblical truths. John Rutter deserves a special mention here. His “tuneful, tasteful and enjoyable compositions” are a cut above the most of the rest.   Such hymns and songs deserve to be sung in congregations as long as the Church exists. And let’s have many more of them by people who have a feel for melody, arrangements and the text.

 

At the moment such are in very short supply. Too often we are deafened by a so-called band  whose repetitive words, often spelt incorrectly and unpoetically, assail us for up to forty minutes and is audaciously called “worship”. Just as bad, adoration of the Lord Jesus is addressed in sentimental and sugary terms more appropriate to a girlfriend or a boyfriend than the Saviour and Head of the Church. 

 

Surely we can do better than to ape the styles and the mannerisms of the world! And what worries me more than the marginalisation of the hymn is, taking current fashion as an indicator, at what level is our spirituality? The Reformation produced those magnificent   German chorales; The Methodist Revival produced the unrivalled hymns of Charles Wesley. But what are we producing?  And will much of it last the test of time?

 

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Facing Up to Bereavement

March 10, 2009 at 4:08 pm (Bereavement)

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                                 Rev. David Womersley

FACING UP TO BEREAVEMENT

David Womersley

 

No. 4 Times of loneliness

 

There are times when you are overwhelmed by loneliness.  We had both led very active lives, both on the Mission field and in England.  We both had our own activities; we were used to being separated.  On a number of occasions I had returned to Congo for three months at a time. In this country we did not always go together to speak at churches.  My wife Bronwen as an excellent speaker and used to receive her own invitations too.  I was away more frequently, however.  I used to look forward to coming home, sitting down with a cup of tea and telling her everything that had happened. I wonder now whether I bored her at times but she never showed it!

 

I still find myself thinking: “I must tell Bronwen that!”  But now, of course, I come home to an empty house.  I must now make myself a cup of tea and later a meal.  That is when I feel very alone. I’ve never yet had anyone say to me: “When you get back, come round to our place for something to eat.”  It isn’t that they don’t care, but they are back in their normal routines.  I am determined to help anyone in the same situation.

 

Some also thought they ought to give me time to grieve.  Just recently I met up with a couple I have known well over the years, in fact they were colleagues.  They only live about 25 miles away.  I remarked that I hadn’t seen them since the funeral.  “We haven’t been to see you” was the reply “because we thought you would prefer to be alone.” Amazing!  Some said to me: “Let us know if you need anything”, but I never felt like taking the initiative.  Perhaps that is my fault.

 

Some days, for no apparent reason, you really feel miserable. Generally, it is after a busy weekend or when you have had some visitors.  Loneliness can overwhelm you and you may even find yourself weeping. When this happens, I am comforted by the fact that Jesus wept when Lazarus died – and He knew what He was going to do!  When someone close dies, “the broken emotional ties leave a deep sense of sorrow and emptiness”.  Releasing pent up emotions can help the healing process.

 

Time does heal.  Grief is not something you grow through but rather it is something you have to live with.  I find the Lord often reassures me, comforts me and encourages me during my morning devotions.  We always read and prayed at the breakfast table but we then separated for our own individual time. This habit is serving me well.  Thank you Lord!

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Armour of God

March 10, 2009 at 4:04 pm (Armour of God)

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                                        Valerie Balzan

This is a new series being presented by Valerie Balzan who is on the Leadership Team at Liveseed International Church, Qormi, Malta.  The Christian believer is called upon to wear the divine armour that the Lord has provided and know what each piece is for in the contest with Satan and the evil agencies under his control. There is a spiritual war on and every Christian soldier must be fully armed and trained for battle and experience supreme conquest

 

THE ARMOUR OF GOD – Part 9

 

The Shield of Faith (Section B) “Get a Big Revelation of God”

 

Text:  Ephesians 6:10-18

 

Have you ever wondered how David had the courage to fight Goliath? David was not part of Israel’s army at the time but he was an observant young man. He had probably seen how confidence in their Commanding Officers steadied the Israeli soldiers and encouraged a fearless attitude. David was only a shepherd boy yet this very occupation had caused him to draw close to the Lord and in His presence he was able to have a wonderful intimate relationship with Him.

 

When you meditate on the Lord and on His Word often, it builds up a picture on the inside of you. In meditating on His greatness and grandeur causes us to get a bigger revelation of His power and might. It was because David had that revelation that he could put his whole confidence in the Lord. God enabled David to see what others could not see. Others looked at Goliath and said “How can I shoot at such a huge man?” David said “He is so huge, how can I miss!” So if you are going through some hard battles of life today, get into the secret place of His presence and begin to meditate on His power revealed through nature.

 

Read the great stories of how He delivered His people Israel and you will find that you will get such a revelation of His Omnipotence that you will be able to fight the good fight of faith with full confidence in your Commanding Officer in Heaven.

 

ow sometimes the fiery darts come in the form of oppression from evil spirits. Sometimes satan’s people pray against you through satanic power. Sometimes they are able to put curses upon you. The way to fight this is by first checking to see if you have in any way opened a door to the enemy. This can come about by having a bad disagreement with someone and failing to deal with it correctly. Sometimes it is caused by failing to walk in love. Sometimes you may be tempted to become selfish, critical, self-righteous or even hypocritical in you walk with the Lord. All these open a way by which the enemy, if you don’t shut that door as soon as you realise its open, can attack you. If this happens to you, then be quick to repent and make things right in the sight of God and with those you may have wronged or to whom you are holding an unforgiving attitude. Sometimes people, even Christian  people can pray soulish, controlling prayers and these can affect us.

 

However these oppressions come, we must rise up and lift up our shield of faith. The Bible says in Psalm 149:6, 7, “Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hands to execute vengeance.” Let God hear your faith-filled praises and He will arise to your defence. Declare what Gods Word says about your situation, declare that He has promised never to fail you or forsake you. The Word of God has the power built into it to bring itself to pass and so as the Word goes out of your mouth there is a release of Holy Ghost power in the spirit world against your enemies.

 

Maybe you are a new believer and concerned that you don’t know enough of Gods Word to be able to declare it effectively over your situation. Take heart! Psalm 8:2 says “Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants, You have ordained strength, because of Your enemies, that You may silence the enemy and the avenger.” Now I know that verse says “strength” but Jesus actually helps us in the New Testament by interpreting those verses for us in Matthew 21:16 as “Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise.” So, if you are a babe in Christ, rise up and praise God for His great power to save and deliver you – and for you that will be enough till you know the Word better.

 

There are other types of fiery darts such as sin, temptation, wasting time, burn-out, stress, focusing on differences in the church, feeling sorry for yourself etc. How do cope with these? By being a person of “vision”. If you don’t have a vision/understanding of God’s calling on your life, ask Him to make it clear to you. Once you know what it is then hold of it and keep focused. That will stop you from becoming inward looking. If people in a church lack a clear vision then they will become inward looking and that will result in fighting and arguing and broken relationships.

 

Look up and out and become so passionate about your call that you have no time for petty attitudes. Make sure you walk in righteousness too. Avoid people who will cause you to get into sin and avoid going where sin is found. If the enemy comes near, be like Nehemiah who had his workers hold their work tool in one hand and a weapon in the other. When the enemies came by one time and asked him to come down and meet with them, Nehemiah said “I am doing a great work and I will not come down!” – Nehemiah 6:3.

 

Further study

Isaiah 43:5   Luke 12:7   Matthew 4:4   Acts 16:25   Romans 8:31   1 Samuel 17:45-47   Proverbs 29:18

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