Wednesday 31 October 2007

Entertaining Angels... and demons

Hebrews 13:1-6
Let love of the brethren continue.
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body.
Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge. Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said,
"I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,"
so that we confidently say,
"THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?"

Verse 2 says that we may be entertaining angels unaware when we entertain strangers. Then we are told not to love money but to be content with what we have.
I often find it difficult to stomach much of what appears on 'Christian' TV. I guess I always knew that there was a lot of 'prosperity gospel' nonsense out there.
I'd like to think (however accurate that may be) that the angels I'd be entertaining would be the odd-balls & freaks – but I guess that I can understand to a degree how so many people find the greedy man's gospel so appealing. One man who I've observed recently seems to appeal directly to peoples' wallets. You want to be rich – send me money (covenant / faith seed) and you'll be holy-rich!
Some of these people amuse me, others are surprisingly sound. But this man wasn't one of those amusingly giving away holy hankies (sorry , miracle prayer cloths) or tiny bottles of (miracle) spring water which can lead to your financial security or healing. With this man I find myself staring at the screen and with his near-perfect hair, good suit & perfectly groomed beard, I can't help but look for his horns.
It all makes me wonder... If by entertaining strangers we might actually be entertaining angels – if we entertain those that promise riches and flatter our egos – are we entertaining demons?
One day I'll find those horns!!

Monday 1 October 2007

A most special day

Today has been a great day & a day of celebration for me & my lovely wife Christine!

I am totally convinced that Christine should have some sort of award or something because she has managed to put up with me as her husband for the last 13 years. Boy does time fly.

God is good - and although I'm far from a perfect husband, I really pleased that he let me have my wife.

One of my all time favourite musicians, blues guitarist & man of God, Glenn Kaiser ( www.glennkaiser.com) puts it like this...

I'm telling you something
I'm telling you now
I've got a love like this world won't allow
It came wrapped in woman, made for me & me alone
God sent her to me, sure as he is on the throne
Her & me - following the Lord from the start
He is the King of my life and she is the Queen of my heart