New Book - A God of Compassion

Over 100 prayers on a theme of healing and wholeness - for the individual and also for many situations and natural disasters which affect us and others in this world.

This has been a labour of love, as I believe that we have a God who heals, not only for individuals and their particular ailments, but in nations, situations of war and conflict, and at times of disaster.

This book is offered as a collection of prayers about healing. For many that means healing from the various ailments and diseases that afflict so many of us. But healing has a much broader meaning when we are thinking about our prayer life.

We might pray for the healing of physical and spiritual relationships that have broken down. In the wider context we can pray for reconciliation between peoples and nations and for healing of the earth and its people after natural or man-made disaster.

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A Word in Time

This week I get to write the Word in Time Bible study for the Methodist Church website - how cool is that!

This one is Tuesdays' posting - catch the rest at http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentogod.bibleStudy

Ezekiel 12:21-28

"Therefore say to them, Thus says the Lord God: None of my words will be delayed any longer, but the world that I speak will be fulfilled, declares the Lord God." (v. 28)

Background

Ezekiel would have grown up expecting to serve in the temple in Jerusalem, as he came from a priestly family. But he was in exile in Babylon along with the Judeans taken there by Nebuchadnezzar in 597BC. Called by God, Ezekiel was a man of vision, who prophesied the eventual destruction of the temple because of the idolatrous worship that had been introduced within its walls. His message was that this period of exile was from the hand of God as judgement against the people's sin, that they might repent and turn back to him.

One of the problems that prophets face is that of opposition. There are always going to be scoffers who make fun of a prophetic word. So it was that God's word comes to Ezekiel against the saying of the day that "every vision comes to nothing" (v. 21)!

But that is a dangerous attitude to take. A long term view of God's dealings with people shows that God's promises and judgements do come to fruition, albeit in God's time not ours.

The problem was rather like that of the people of Jesus' day, who had become indifferent to God. They knew in their hearts that their behaviour was wrong and they were guilty of breaking the laws which Moses had brought to them, but they were still convinced that they had got away with it. "It hasn’t happened yet, therefore it's not going to happen!" they might have said.

But that attitude is as sensible as someone living in California's earthquake zone saying the same. The 'Big One' will happen; it's just a question of time. That's the urgency of the gospel message, of course. The call to repentance is always 'Now!' but so many put it off on the basis that it can wait until they are ready!

"You think I don't act?" says God through Ezekiel. "Watch this space!"


for more go to http://www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentogod.bibleStudy