And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21 v 3-4)
Heaven and earth will be united: the original relationship between God and humans which existed in the Garden of Eden will be restored.
There is a fault line that runs right through the middle of Nigeria from East to West.
This is not a geological feature that causes earthquakes, but something that is just as, if not more, deadly. To the North of this wavy line, that runs through the city of Jos, the population is largely Muslim, less well educated, poorer, and less healthy. To the south, it is largely "Christian", better educated, wealthier and more developed.
At the fault-line between the two regions is a place of tension, because of the widely differing ethnic, religious and political differences. There is regular low-level conflict and sporadic outbursts of extreme violence, with gun-men opening fire in churches, and mob violence in the streets. But both sides commit atrocities. Already 2012 has seen several of these attacks, including the killing of three people in a church service in Gombe.
But there is a difference between the two groups that much reporting obscures. There are moderates on both sides. Christian and Muslim leaders who are working for peaceful co-existence. But there are also radicals.
Charismatic Muslim cleric, Mohammed Yusuf, formed Boko Haram in Maiduguri in 2002. He set up a religious complex, which included a mosque and an Islamic school. Boko Haram despises Western education and wants Islamic law imposed. Many poor Muslim families from across Nigeria, as well as neighbouring countries, enrolled their children at the school. But Boko Haram was not only interested in education. Its political goal was to create an Islamic state, and the school became a recruiting ground for jihadis to fight the state. This group is behind some of the recent bomb and gun attacks on Christians, including the murders of dozens of Christians in churches on Christmas day last year. Expect to see more of this in 2012.
Those who retaliate from the other side may be radical politically or culturally. They are certainly not radical as Christians. If they were, they would search the scriptures and find no justification for responding to violence with violence. They would find commands to turn the other cheek, to not seek vengeance. They would commit themselves to God who judges justly, to suffer persecution for Christ's sake, and know that they are truly blessed through it.
Do pray for those wanting to maintain a Christian witness in largely Muslim areas. Pray that they would be truly, radically Christian in a way that brings shame on anyone who wants to use violence. Pray for the country's leaders, including President Goodluck Jonathan, as they work to establish order, and to supress the violent. And pray for those, both Muslim and Christian, who are working towards peace.
You Can ChangeWhen do you get together as a family? For meals… trips out… watching your favourite TV programme? How about to read the Bible together, and to encourage each other in your relationship with God?
Most parents are used to sending their children to school for their general education. So we do the same for their spiritual education by giving them to the children’s and youth leaders at a local church. If you have good children’s and youth groups at your church, that’s something to thank God for. Your children will benefit hugely from them. But if we check out what the Bible says, we’ll see that the responsibility for the spiritual education of children does not lie with the church, or its leaders. It lies with parents!... continue reading
Many people have found that setting aside a regular time each day to read and think about God’s word, and to spend time in prayer, has been the power-house of their spiritual life and growth. Explore is designed to encourage, help and support you in this daily joy and discipline, sometimes referred to as a ‘Quiet Time’.
It's often a struggle to be consistent in finding a daily time to spend with God. Children, the busyness of life, special nights out, holidays, or just sheer exhaustion can all conspire to get in the way. However, there is no substitute for just getting into a good habit.
There are many patterns that suit different people, and yours may change over time. Whatever you choose to do, guard your time with God jealously. If you come to it hungry to learn from the Lord, and to feed on the truth, it will be a place of nurture and growth, and a source of direction and strength for your daily life.... continue reading
I have a confession to make. I’m not very good at having quiet times. I know they are important. I believe the Bible is God’s living and active word that equips me for all I am called to do. And I know that building up my relationship with God in prayer is utterly vital. But I’m still rubbish at doing it. And I feel just awful as a result.
I could give you a list of excuses...
But the trouble is, they are just excuses. Excuses that ooze out of my sinful heart.... continue reading
