[The picture is of a wonderfully well restored building on Oldham Street in the centre of Manchester. The rest of the street is fairly run down, with tatty second hand clothes shops, two sex shops etc. Yet suddenly we have this.]
http://www.flickr.com/photos/84195101@N00/3580463623#/photos/frankieroberto/3580463623/lightbox/
In the midst of the tawdry, the flawed, the malevolent, there is hope. For my grace is at work in my world, for I made it 'good' and not all is wholly corrupt. And it is the call of my people to offer that hope - and more - to those for whom life is beyond hope, beyond my grace, beyond the good that I offer so freely, but to which they are deaf. For though the heavens declare my glory, my power, for many their eyes look only downwards as their circumstances crush them little by little and no hope remains. And thus bitterness comes, and they cling to a few pleasures that do dull the pain - do not be surprised that so many are caught in self-destructive behaviour, having no true hope for the future in their lives.
And for such the lies of the enemy can offer illusions to cling to for a time - illusions that are soon found wanting and breed further despair and cynicism. The ignition of such hopes is the objective of political mobilisation, and whilst they may achieve something of value, in truth without my grace all involved will find their best efforts turn to dust in their hands, for all is in truth 'Vanity, vanity'.
And so my church must model a better way to live; Christians whose life experience is similar to those whose hope is now gone, need to come alongside the despairing: they will show a better way - and so bring hope and redemption and true salvation.
Do you not hear the cries of despair? So reach out to the hurting ones that they may find the true hope.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/84195101@N00/3580463623#/photos/frankieroberto/3580463623/lightbox/
In the midst of the tawdry, the flawed, the malevolent, there is hope. For my grace is at work in my world, for I made it 'good' and not all is wholly corrupt. And it is the call of my people to offer that hope - and more - to those for whom life is beyond hope, beyond my grace, beyond the good that I offer so freely, but to which they are deaf. For though the heavens declare my glory, my power, for many their eyes look only downwards as their circumstances crush them little by little and no hope remains. And thus bitterness comes, and they cling to a few pleasures that do dull the pain - do not be surprised that so many are caught in self-destructive behaviour, having no true hope for the future in their lives.
And for such the lies of the enemy can offer illusions to cling to for a time - illusions that are soon found wanting and breed further despair and cynicism. The ignition of such hopes is the objective of political mobilisation, and whilst they may achieve something of value, in truth without my grace all involved will find their best efforts turn to dust in their hands, for all is in truth 'Vanity, vanity'.
And so my church must model a better way to live; Christians whose life experience is similar to those whose hope is now gone, need to come alongside the despairing: they will show a better way - and so bring hope and redemption and true salvation.
Do you not hear the cries of despair? So reach out to the hurting ones that they may find the true hope.
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