Off the top of my head quiz:
The longst river in England? The Severn (10 miles longer than the Thames)
The highest mountain in North America? Mount Mckinley in Alaska, 20,320 ft (6,194 m) high,
The highest waterfall in the world? The Angel Falls, Venezuela. 3,212 ft (979 m) high
Capital of New York State? Albany.
What country had the first femal President? Sri Lanka
Where is the world's first iron ship? Bristol
Our first National Park? Peake District nNational Park in 1951
The average age (aprox) of the Israelites
who entered the Promised Land? 40 (they were all born in 40 years in the wilderness)
The tallest man in modern times? Robert Waldo. (8 ft 11 ins from Illinois USA)
Saturday 8 August 2009
Friday 7 August 2009
GENERATION 'ME'
Generation ‘ME’
It has become a sort of Christian thinker’s pastime to label and analyse the younger generation. So I thought I might as well join in! I have some thoughts about what I have identified as ‘Generation ME’ (Gems for short). It generally includes most people under forty (I will definitely be in trouble for this!).
The trend that I will describe, I have noticed mainly in two areas. The first is my own specialisation, which is Missions, and the other is in church ministry – both full-time work and lay members’ ministry. The Gems are self-centred in a rather innocent way. It is something that they are totally unaware of. It has become ingrained into their cultural DNA. It is a way of thinking that seems so natural to them, that is it not even recognised, let alone challenged.
What are the symptoms?
For many years now, my work have been to research mission projects in Africa, publicise them at home and recruit hundreds of people – mostly young people - to step out and join a team to work in Africa for a summer or a year or, in a few cases, longer. It involves challenging young people to go – at least that is what I tell everyone. In reality, it is persuading, enticing and showing them that it is just the right thing for them to do this summer or this coming year. That they will benefit greatly from the experience and personal development. I even point out that it will look great on their C.V.!
This brings me to the core of the issue (have you noticed that we now have ‘issues’ or ‘challenges’ instead of problems?) For many Gems, the guiding principle and main motivation for doing anything, is how it suits their personal well being, medium-term plans and personal development. It has to be of benefit to them and fit into what they see as their personal progress in life.
Many Gems might ask me now “What’s wrong with that?’ My answer is ‘Just about everything.’ Thinking things through within this personal agenda is even thought of as ‘Seeking God’s will.’ When, in fact, it is just an extension of a mindset that has been inculcated into them from their earliest years. Me first, my agenda, my entertainment, my development and my personal satisfaction.
The concepts of service, sacrifice, meeting other’s needs, doing the needful, answering a call for help, often do not often come into their personal equation. The call from God to Paul to go to the Galatians was immediately obeyed. Paul did not stop to contemplate how it fitted into his personal life-plan. One of the symptoms is, not being prepared to commit themselves to anything until the last possible moment – no matter how it inconveniences anyone else. This is just in case a better offer or opportunity comes up at the last minute. I gave up trying to organise reunion conferences for young mission workers because the lovely Gems, that I dearly love, simply wouldn’t commit to coming. When asked repeatedly if they were coming, the answer from 90% of them was always ‘Maybe’ or ‘Probably.’ The weekend away has become so prevalent, that many churches can only expect 50% of their members to attend on any given Sunday. Gems have sleep-walked, with an innocent smile on their faces, into a culture that demands constant personal stimulation and entertainment.
My own generation had the opposite problem when I was in my twenties. We were too eager to rush off and meet any needs we saw, without praying and seeking God’s will. Our elders developed the admonition ‘The need is not the call.’ At least we were willing to serve and to commit ourselves.
What are the causes?
We have largely lost the sense of majesty for God. God now serves us, not us Him! A.W. Tozer put it like this:
‘Our God has now become our servant, to wait on our will. “The Lord is my Shepherd” we
say, instead of “The Lord is my Shepherd,” and the difference is as wide as the world.
The sense of awe and privilege in serving the great God of all the universe has largely gone. So many people now speak about Jesus Christ as if He were someone they met down at the pub – and Gems generally feel right at home in a pub.
I think the main fault lies with my generation and how we have raised the present one. Because we have had more money and leisure time, we have deluged our kids with toys, activities, interests, holidays, parties, TV, video games, expensive ‘Strawberry’ phones (my own name for them) etc. We gave in to worldliness and have made this the norm of our kids. The result is that our kids have been surrounded from their earliest thoughts, with an over-wide choice of things that are there for their constant personal entertainment. They become, not just the centre of their parents’ world, but the centre of their own. They see this as normal life and have become incapable of another mindset. On Christmas day they tear open a room full of presents in a frenzy of ‘What-have-I- got’ without any interest, or often, knowledge of who has kindly bought them the presents.
What is the solution?
I think the Gems are mostly too far gone to change. Perhaps if they can begin to see the mistakes their parents made in the way they have been raised, they might raise the next generation more wisely and with more Godly values. We were never too conscious of worldliness as such, because we rarely had the means to indulge it. Increasing wealth and leisure opportunities were a new phenomenon. Hence it crept furtively into our lives. We even rejoiced in the opportunity to totally spoil our kids as something all good Christian parents should do.
If the Gems do not see this as an ‘issue’ it will only be perpetuated in their own kids. The need is for Biblical teaching on this and related topics. The Gems need to see that they have been duped by innocent loving parents into a weak, everything-for-me, cost-me-nothing, ‘no discomfort thanks,’ pale shadow of Christianity that lacks any sense of sacrifice or service to God or man. Gone is the radical, militant, no-compromise aspirations of our evangelical forefathers. We are no longer God’s army, we have become His holiday camp! It is no longer ‘Onward Christian soldiers’ but ‘Onward Christian marshmallows,’ preferably toasted please, on some Mediterranean holiday beach.
John Miles 2009
It has become a sort of Christian thinker’s pastime to label and analyse the younger generation. So I thought I might as well join in! I have some thoughts about what I have identified as ‘Generation ME’ (Gems for short). It generally includes most people under forty (I will definitely be in trouble for this!).
The trend that I will describe, I have noticed mainly in two areas. The first is my own specialisation, which is Missions, and the other is in church ministry – both full-time work and lay members’ ministry. The Gems are self-centred in a rather innocent way. It is something that they are totally unaware of. It has become ingrained into their cultural DNA. It is a way of thinking that seems so natural to them, that is it not even recognised, let alone challenged.
What are the symptoms?
For many years now, my work have been to research mission projects in Africa, publicise them at home and recruit hundreds of people – mostly young people - to step out and join a team to work in Africa for a summer or a year or, in a few cases, longer. It involves challenging young people to go – at least that is what I tell everyone. In reality, it is persuading, enticing and showing them that it is just the right thing for them to do this summer or this coming year. That they will benefit greatly from the experience and personal development. I even point out that it will look great on their C.V.!
This brings me to the core of the issue (have you noticed that we now have ‘issues’ or ‘challenges’ instead of problems?) For many Gems, the guiding principle and main motivation for doing anything, is how it suits their personal well being, medium-term plans and personal development. It has to be of benefit to them and fit into what they see as their personal progress in life.
Many Gems might ask me now “What’s wrong with that?’ My answer is ‘Just about everything.’ Thinking things through within this personal agenda is even thought of as ‘Seeking God’s will.’ When, in fact, it is just an extension of a mindset that has been inculcated into them from their earliest years. Me first, my agenda, my entertainment, my development and my personal satisfaction.
The concepts of service, sacrifice, meeting other’s needs, doing the needful, answering a call for help, often do not often come into their personal equation. The call from God to Paul to go to the Galatians was immediately obeyed. Paul did not stop to contemplate how it fitted into his personal life-plan. One of the symptoms is, not being prepared to commit themselves to anything until the last possible moment – no matter how it inconveniences anyone else. This is just in case a better offer or opportunity comes up at the last minute. I gave up trying to organise reunion conferences for young mission workers because the lovely Gems, that I dearly love, simply wouldn’t commit to coming. When asked repeatedly if they were coming, the answer from 90% of them was always ‘Maybe’ or ‘Probably.’ The weekend away has become so prevalent, that many churches can only expect 50% of their members to attend on any given Sunday. Gems have sleep-walked, with an innocent smile on their faces, into a culture that demands constant personal stimulation and entertainment.
My own generation had the opposite problem when I was in my twenties. We were too eager to rush off and meet any needs we saw, without praying and seeking God’s will. Our elders developed the admonition ‘The need is not the call.’ At least we were willing to serve and to commit ourselves.
What are the causes?
We have largely lost the sense of majesty for God. God now serves us, not us Him! A.W. Tozer put it like this:
‘Our God has now become our servant, to wait on our will. “The Lord is my Shepherd” we
say, instead of “The Lord is my Shepherd,” and the difference is as wide as the world.
The sense of awe and privilege in serving the great God of all the universe has largely gone. So many people now speak about Jesus Christ as if He were someone they met down at the pub – and Gems generally feel right at home in a pub.
I think the main fault lies with my generation and how we have raised the present one. Because we have had more money and leisure time, we have deluged our kids with toys, activities, interests, holidays, parties, TV, video games, expensive ‘Strawberry’ phones (my own name for them) etc. We gave in to worldliness and have made this the norm of our kids. The result is that our kids have been surrounded from their earliest thoughts, with an over-wide choice of things that are there for their constant personal entertainment. They become, not just the centre of their parents’ world, but the centre of their own. They see this as normal life and have become incapable of another mindset. On Christmas day they tear open a room full of presents in a frenzy of ‘What-have-I- got’ without any interest, or often, knowledge of who has kindly bought them the presents.
What is the solution?
I think the Gems are mostly too far gone to change. Perhaps if they can begin to see the mistakes their parents made in the way they have been raised, they might raise the next generation more wisely and with more Godly values. We were never too conscious of worldliness as such, because we rarely had the means to indulge it. Increasing wealth and leisure opportunities were a new phenomenon. Hence it crept furtively into our lives. We even rejoiced in the opportunity to totally spoil our kids as something all good Christian parents should do.
If the Gems do not see this as an ‘issue’ it will only be perpetuated in their own kids. The need is for Biblical teaching on this and related topics. The Gems need to see that they have been duped by innocent loving parents into a weak, everything-for-me, cost-me-nothing, ‘no discomfort thanks,’ pale shadow of Christianity that lacks any sense of sacrifice or service to God or man. Gone is the radical, militant, no-compromise aspirations of our evangelical forefathers. We are no longer God’s army, we have become His holiday camp! It is no longer ‘Onward Christian soldiers’ but ‘Onward Christian marshmallows,’ preferably toasted please, on some Mediterranean holiday beach.
John Miles 2009
Thursday 6 August 2009
Victoria St. Gospel Hall - a prophetic warning.
Victoria Street Gospel Hall – a Warning
Note: I’m sure that there will be one or more Victoria Streets somewhere with a Gospel Hall in it. However, I do not know any of them and this poem is not about any particular church. It was an attempt at a prophetic warning, written circa 1975.
1
Victoria Street of sad inner city,
Few houses left and they’re so old.
Development plan dropped, such a pity,
Baptist Church closed and the building sold.
Sold they say to a wealthy Sikh;
There’s just the Chapel now where God can speak.
2
The Gospel Hall in Victoria Street,
Painted green with bitumen roof.
Thrice weekly here the faithful meet.
Few and older now they’re living proof
That here – years ago - in a better time
God once moved in wonder and sign.
3
Soldiers with the cross we’d go;
We preached the Gospel without fear.
Militant witness to high and low,
Cared not for fools who’d mock and leer.
Fellowship and songs, ‘O happy day,’
‘What happened to us,’ I often say.
4
No longer do the members live near,
Long gone to their suburbs – not far to go.
There’s grills at the windows because of fear
Of vandals whose names we do not know,
There’s decay, with its awful accusing finger,
And fond memories that hesitate to linger.
5
Faded vision and forgotten dream,
Where once the fire burned bright.
Shut out thoughts of what might have been,
When once brightly shone our light.
Too old, too tired, now to move
And stubbornness still has a point to prove.
6
The tired old organ still plays Sankey
At Miss Gulliver’s funeral pace.
Hymnals passed out by old Fred Smithy
Handshake and genuine smile on his face.
And all is the same as it was before,
As its been since just before the war.
7
Last month some girls and a local lout
Sauntered in and sat at the back.
And for giggling and noise were soon sent out
With tut tuts for the manners they lack.
In Victoria Street Hall I’m afraid you’ll find
No Gospel here for them and their kind
8
Surrounded now by pagan host,
Competing now with temple and mosque.
Behind each door the honestly lost;
O Lord, from their eyes remove the mist.
You love them all, even know their name
To you it matters not from whence they came.
9
Always faithful, though not triumphant
Yesterday’s keen young song,
Looks back in vain to find the point,
When we changed and it all went wrong.
Too deadly and subtle was the decline,
It just crept in without notice or sign.
10
With interest we hear of the Spirit’s move
But somewhere else, this is no surprise.
In each generation God pours His love,
Through those who reject all compromise.
His march goes on from age to age,
But our story is written on yesterday’s page.
Note: I’m sure that there will be one or more Victoria Streets somewhere with a Gospel Hall in it. However, I do not know any of them and this poem is not about any particular church. It was an attempt at a prophetic warning, written circa 1975.
1
Victoria Street of sad inner city,
Few houses left and they’re so old.
Development plan dropped, such a pity,
Baptist Church closed and the building sold.
Sold they say to a wealthy Sikh;
There’s just the Chapel now where God can speak.
2
The Gospel Hall in Victoria Street,
Painted green with bitumen roof.
Thrice weekly here the faithful meet.
Few and older now they’re living proof
That here – years ago - in a better time
God once moved in wonder and sign.
3
Soldiers with the cross we’d go;
We preached the Gospel without fear.
Militant witness to high and low,
Cared not for fools who’d mock and leer.
Fellowship and songs, ‘O happy day,’
‘What happened to us,’ I often say.
4
No longer do the members live near,
Long gone to their suburbs – not far to go.
There’s grills at the windows because of fear
Of vandals whose names we do not know,
There’s decay, with its awful accusing finger,
And fond memories that hesitate to linger.
5
Faded vision and forgotten dream,
Where once the fire burned bright.
Shut out thoughts of what might have been,
When once brightly shone our light.
Too old, too tired, now to move
And stubbornness still has a point to prove.
6
The tired old organ still plays Sankey
At Miss Gulliver’s funeral pace.
Hymnals passed out by old Fred Smithy
Handshake and genuine smile on his face.
And all is the same as it was before,
As its been since just before the war.
7
Last month some girls and a local lout
Sauntered in and sat at the back.
And for giggling and noise were soon sent out
With tut tuts for the manners they lack.
In Victoria Street Hall I’m afraid you’ll find
No Gospel here for them and their kind
8
Surrounded now by pagan host,
Competing now with temple and mosque.
Behind each door the honestly lost;
O Lord, from their eyes remove the mist.
You love them all, even know their name
To you it matters not from whence they came.
9
Always faithful, though not triumphant
Yesterday’s keen young song,
Looks back in vain to find the point,
When we changed and it all went wrong.
Too deadly and subtle was the decline,
It just crept in without notice or sign.
10
With interest we hear of the Spirit’s move
But somewhere else, this is no surprise.
In each generation God pours His love,
Through those who reject all compromise.
His march goes on from age to age,
But our story is written on yesterday’s page.
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