Now Then, Now Then, 'Ows About That Then........

"Why now? Why wait till he's dead?" That seems to be what most people are questioning over the JS revelations. (I can't bring myself to say his name). 

Perhaps because when he was alive the few who did come forward and tell of what had happened to them weren't believed, and let's face it, who would believe a young girl in the 70's against a family favourite tv presenter and multi million pound charity campaigner? Very clever.

But now as the belief rises that these girls/boys/ladies were abused, that gives hope and freedom to the others that they can also now release this burden that has been weighing them down for so long. It may not matter to them whether or not they can get justice, it is just important that they know when they speak out they will be believed and the blame can be removed from them.

When a young person is sexually approached by an adult, it leaves them in a state of confusion.        They are convinced they are to blame, somehow it is there fault and leaves them with such embarrassment and shame it makes it almost impossible to tell anyone. Such is the power an abuser has over their victim. And if there is the slightest hint they will not be believed they will not risk that embarrassment and shame of speaking out, and they will carry that intense feeling of guilt inside them until such time as they can speak out. For JS' victims it seems like that time is now

You may be thinking there's no point talking now because he can't be prosecuted, but there is every point. As soon as they are believed they can start to heal and be released from the guilt and shame that has lived with them.

Often abused people are unable to conceive 'love', unable to give it and feel unworthy to receive it; but God loves us, no matter what we may think of ourselves. Whatever we have been through in our past, whatever we may face in our future, nothing can separate us from God's perfect love for us.

Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)

³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Some People Are Gay. God Loves Them

Oh dear, silly Christians, who think the best form of defence is attack.

This is the proposed slogan The Core Issues Trust want to put on London buses in response to gay rights group Stonewall who's advert said "Some people are gay. Get over it".

I'm a Christian, not sure if that's clear enough on this blog, but there you have it. I do believe homosexuality is a sin, as is sex before marriage, as is nicking paperclips from work, and there is suitable counselling out there for Christians who are struggling with these issues.  Although you may have to disassemble your paperclip model of Stone Henge and return the paperclips.

For as much as I do not want to know if you are Gay and 'get over it', what you do in your private life is up to you and what I do in mine is up to me; I believe we will both have to answer to God for it eventually. I do not think it is in any way correct for a counselling group to advertise their services via an obvious attack back!  It just confirms what a lot of people already think, that Christians are homophobic, intolerant and above all stupid!

I'm pretty sure The Core Issues Trust aren't homophobic, it'd be pretty difficult to counsel someone you're scared of.

I hope that they're actually, albeit a little misguidedly, trying to show God's love which covers mankind no matter what their gender or sexuality or stationary fetish. 

God loves you and if you're Gay and that's a problem for YOU, then God wants you to seek help with that.  If that is a problem for someone else, carry on as you are but don't tell us about it on buses.

Nothing Else Matters.....

In Church last Sunday, the worship and prayer was really powerful in it's thanksgiving and praise to God.  During that time I felt the words of God say to me "Nothing else matters".

What did He mean, "nothing else matters?" Everything matters!

I struggle with the whole balance of world and faith scenarios, I do want a better car, I do want to buy nice things for my kids, I do want to go on an exciting holiday, I do want to have a reasonable income........but, I have a God who loves me, no matter what, and trust me, there's been a lot of 'what'!

I've realised God had to tell me directly, 'nothing' except my love for Him matters, 'nothing' except knowing He will be there with me for eternity matters.

If anyone had come up to me and said I think I've got a word from God for you "nothing else matters", I know I would have probably exploded and gone on for days about how they couldn't possibly understand what does or doesn't matter.  Not so easy when God Himself gives you the word, you try arguing that one out with Him, you won't win, I tried.

But I need help with this, I know the theory, but as always the practise is hard.

1 Timothy 6:6-8 ESV
Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.

Does anything else except God's love matter to you?

Love. It's Not Just For Feb 14th

I won't get a Valentine's card nor do I want one.  Love should not be dictated by Seasons, Love should be constant, given freely regardless of what the return is.

Unfortunately Human love is not always like this, it changes with the seasons of our lives, it comes and goes with the people we meet, it is given conditionally. 



But, if we know only one thing about being Christians it is that we must love.

Matthew 22:37-39 ESV
And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself.

So if you want to show your love to someone special on Valentines Day or any other day of the year for that matter, don't do it to conform to the commercialism of yet another card manufacturer, do it because God commanded it, and you truly mean it.

1 John 4:8 ESV
Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

This verse challenges me sooo much, because I know God and I know He is love, but somewhere in me my stubbornness disobeys Him and I don't show the love I know I should. So if I neglect to show love to the people closest to me, how can I expect God's love in it's fullness?

John 14:15 ESV
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments".

There's no getting away from it, He really wants us to love! You love me, you keep my commandments and the greatest and first of these is love.  You can almost hear God saying "I've got all the time in eternity to keep going over this until you get it!"

1 Corinthians 13:4-13 ESV
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. ...

Well you didn't think there could be a Valentinesesque post without these verses did you?

Now, if you really want to, go ahead and purchase your M&S 'Dine in for Two' ready meals!