Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7 : 1
Did you know in the UK 100,000 children a year run away from broken homes? We have the highest teenage pregnancy rate in Europe. Over the last 35 years an average of one abortion every three minutes has been carried out legally, 80% funded by the NHS. 36% of conceptions outside marriage end in abortion. Every year 140,000 people attempt suicide and 4,000 children every day call Childline. One third of all children live in poverty, growing up in families that do not have sufficient income to make sure that their needs are met. 60 million acts of crime happen each year.
Did you know there are 5 million people who regularly use cannabis, 3.4 million ecstasy and 2 million who use amphetamines and cocaine each year? British Telecom blocks 20,000 attempts a day of people trying to watch pornographic acts with children on the internet. Sex scenes on British television have increased 300% in the last five years. There are 27 nationally accessible pornographic TV channels. At peak times eight out of ten admissions to Admissions to Accident and Emergency are a result of drinking, costing £12 billion a year.
Did you know 380,000 people are living on the street? If brought together these people would number more than the population of Cardiff. 24 million anti-depressant prescription items are issued each year. And by the way, our society is a trillion pounds in debt. All the above are verifiable statistics. The better question to ask may be not did you know but do you care? If we do nothing – no social action, no lobbying, no prayer – just imagine where our society will be in 25 years time?
God gave this promise many centuries ago for those times when there is a state of national emergency, ”If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land”
2 Chronicles 7 : 14
Mick Reynolds
Sunday, 17 August 2008
Wednesday, 6 August 2008
LIFE IN THE HEREAFTER?
Scripture: Revelations 1 : 12-18
It is amazing in our materialistic society, how many still hold to a belief in “life in the hereafter”. No one would argue that the body is destined to return to dust and ashes, but is there part of us that lives on? Some would like to believe we are re-incarnated and live again in a different body or as a ‘higher’ or ‘lower’ life form. Others go to great lengths to break through to contact the spirits of the dead to see how everyone is getting along on the ‘other side’.
There have been reports from those pronounced clinically dead, who have later revived, describing an awareness of a spiritual world. In nearly all religions there is an emphasis on ‘the life to come’.
There have been reports from those pronounced clinically dead, who have later revived, describing an awareness of a spiritual world. In nearly all religions there is an emphasis on ‘the life to come’. Equally strong is the idea of some kind of accountability, where we answer for the way we have lived. Is it to be ‘Purgatory’ or ‘Paradise’?
Ancient civilisations went to enormous lengths to prepare for the next life. The pyramids still stand as a testimony to that hope. Is there some form of inner ‘knowing’ in every human being telling us of a future beyond the grave or are we just looking for comfort to make it easier to face death? Where do we go to find an answer? Is there anyone we can trust?
An authority on the subject would need at the very least to have experienced the other side and come to our world in human form to tell us about it. After death and burial they would have to come back to life in a physical form to prove death is not the end. They would then have to be seen to return to the other side without dying a second time. A lot to ask?
Jesus Christ has the monopoly on these qualifications and leaves us in no doubt about the existence of ‘Heaven and Hell’; ‘Judgement and Eternity’. He taught us to pray, “Our Father in Heaven.” Whatever ideas you might have it is always good to consult an expert on the subject.
I Corinthians 15 : 12-20
Mick Reynolds
It is amazing in our materialistic society, how many still hold to a belief in “life in the hereafter”. No one would argue that the body is destined to return to dust and ashes, but is there part of us that lives on? Some would like to believe we are re-incarnated and live again in a different body or as a ‘higher’ or ‘lower’ life form. Others go to great lengths to break through to contact the spirits of the dead to see how everyone is getting along on the ‘other side’.
There have been reports from those pronounced clinically dead, who have later revived, describing an awareness of a spiritual world. In nearly all religions there is an emphasis on ‘the life to come’.
There have been reports from those pronounced clinically dead, who have later revived, describing an awareness of a spiritual world. In nearly all religions there is an emphasis on ‘the life to come’. Equally strong is the idea of some kind of accountability, where we answer for the way we have lived. Is it to be ‘Purgatory’ or ‘Paradise’?
Ancient civilisations went to enormous lengths to prepare for the next life. The pyramids still stand as a testimony to that hope. Is there some form of inner ‘knowing’ in every human being telling us of a future beyond the grave or are we just looking for comfort to make it easier to face death? Where do we go to find an answer? Is there anyone we can trust?
An authority on the subject would need at the very least to have experienced the other side and come to our world in human form to tell us about it. After death and burial they would have to come back to life in a physical form to prove death is not the end. They would then have to be seen to return to the other side without dying a second time. A lot to ask?
Jesus Christ has the monopoly on these qualifications and leaves us in no doubt about the existence of ‘Heaven and Hell’; ‘Judgement and Eternity’. He taught us to pray, “Our Father in Heaven.” Whatever ideas you might have it is always good to consult an expert on the subject.
I Corinthians 15 : 12-20
Mick Reynolds
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