If you can't march...

...get on your knees and pray.

We must pray with the same passion and boldness with which the people of Burma are marching and blogging!

Walk this way

I was amazed to read today that, in an attempt to get people back to church, a Bishop is going to fly a plane towing a banner advertising a campaign called 'Back to Church Sunday'. The aim of this campaign is to bring a total 20,000 extra people into 2,000 different churches. The campaign might have a good aim but this method is way off target.

Yesterday in church the preacher was talking about mission. He related two stories of how he had spoken with work colleagues recently who were going through tough times and had offered them prayer. At no point did he say that he had tied a big sheet, with John 3:16 painted on it, to the back of his car and driven round and round the company car park.

The example of Jesus is that we should walk alongside people and share their pain and sorrow as well their smiles and laughter. John 1:14 clearly demonstrates that God knew that incarnation was the only way to bring about salvation. I'm not suggesting that we shouldn't make use of technology in our evangelism but it should never be a substitute for relationships.

Last week I was looking at a few books in my local Christian bookshop, and one in particular caught my eye. I didn't buy anything that day but Just Walk Across the Room by Bill Hybels will soon be added to my reading list.

Burnt offering

My daughter, Abby, and I went to see some friends for dinner yesterday evening. Abby requested fish fingers, potatoes and raw carrots...pretty straight forward. However, when the food was put on the table Abby took one look at it and said, "I don't really eat burnt food". Fortunately everyone saw the funny side and the fish fingers did eventually get eaten.

It reminded me of something that I had read earlier in the week.

Psalm 51:16-17
You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.

It's certainly food for thought!