Praying for Madeleine McCann

Who, over the past three weeks has not offered up a quiet prayer for Madeleine McCann? And today, her parents have been granted an audience with the Pope as they seek solace and ministry over the abduction of their daughter. They have flown out on the private jet of billionaire Philip Green and their meeting will have both spiritual and media significance. Not only will they be spiritually enriched by their visit – both Kate and Gerry are devout Roman Catholics, but their encounter will also ensure that Madeleine’s face stays in the public domain, creating that chance that someone, somewhere will recognise her and offer key information that will lead to her being found. 

Its 25 days now since Mr and Mrs McCann left the three children in their holiday apartment whilst they enjoyed a meal in the complex where they were staying. The horror they must have felt when they arrived home to see her gone is beyond description as is the guilt they carry over their actions. Some things in life are beyond comfort. The McCann family needs our support and prayers and if the press reports are anything to go by they really are getting it; which all goes to show that the power of goodness still exists when evil seeks to prevail. So at least that’s one measure of hope in a very difficult situation. 

In fact we ought to campaign for an outburst of such goodness to be unleashed in the world at large – to use this awful situation to remind us to fight on behalf of the other countless thousands of children who are abducted, raped and exploited in our world everyday but don’t get the same coverage in the media. Or the 875,000 children who have died of preventable diseases in the 25 days since Madeline went missing. As Edmund Burke wrote, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” So let us good men and women unite and rise together aagainst the evil and injustice of the world and may our lives be counted amongst those who gave what they could to make our world a safer and better place.

Sex God

Journalist and author Malcolm Muggeridge was once asked the question, ‘Why is sex so funny?’ He replied, ‘Sex is funny because of the huge difference between aspiration and achievement!’ Well, let Malcolm speak for himself, I say!

Sex is funny, but not for the reason Muggeridge suggests. Sex is funny because we don’t understand it. We have failed to see its purpose outside of orgasm and procreation. Yet there is one, and Rob Bell in his latest book ‘Sex God’ has done a brilliant job in reminding us about it.

Bell’s main brief for his latest offering is to take us on a tour of the place of sexuality in creation by putting it in the context of spirituality. His argument is that the two things are eternally linked and one speaks of the other, resulting in a union that can never be grasped if they remain separated.

For Rob Bell, sex is a window through which creation should be seen and understood. His appeal is to help us understand the way we arrive into our world – disconnected from the Creator, the creation and each other. “This is where you and I come in.” he writes, “We were born into a world, into a condition, of disconnection.  Things were created to be a certain way, and they are not that way, and we feel it in every fibre of our being.” He goes on through an able and concise series of thoughts to show the reader how sex not simply defines our humanity, but also, through the act of intercourse, connects two people in the most profound and intimate way. This connection then mirrors God’s intention for each of us – to be profoundly and intimately connected with him. Yet, as he argues, even the act of sex can betray the mystery it holds. “It’s possible to be married to somebody and sharing the same bed and be very disconnected.  It’s possible to be married to somebody and sharing the same bed and even having sex regularly and still be profoundly disconnected.” And this is his point; although sex can say so much, its often cheapened and therefore conveys so little. A guy makes his conquests; a girl sleeps round, both of them looking for something. In their search they enjoy the physical connection and sexual climax yet so easily stumble over the mystery it holds: an action which can leave them both feeling numb and used. Something has gone seriously wrong.

In truth, Sex God would be worth the money if only to get the chapter called ‘Under the Chuppah’ a fascinating description of the imagery and symbolism tied in with the Jewish Wedding ceremony. The fact that you get far more than that is the reason you should be logging onto Amazon right now and ordering your copy.

We need to say a big thank you to Rob Bell for helping to get sex back into bed with her true partner, spirituality and trust that both will live happily ever after. Oh, and when you’ve read it, pop back and tell me what you thought about it

If I Were A Rich Man

 Richard Foster, a great spiritual author once wrote a book called, ‘Money, Sex and Power’ and through it described the three temptations common to men. This week, I have been thinking about the first of those temptations – money.

Writing a letter to his good friend Timothy, the apostle Paul advised him that “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” So at least that’s clear. Money is not all its cracked up to be.

I was listening recently to someone talking about accumulating money for the purpose of getting the work of the kingdom done. I understand  what they are saying, but again we must be careful. Jesus did not talk about the accumulation of wealth, but of faith. I mean, Jesus didn’t say you need money to move mountains, but faith. “If you have faith”, he said, “you can speak to the mountain and cast it into the sea”. Money is not the currency of the kingdom of God and the accumulation of wealth is not necessarily a demonstration of faith.

Of course, that said, we all need money. It was just that Paul said to handle it with care. He concluded that “Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” He wanted them to avoid the trap that others had been caught in. I guess he’d been reading from Ecclesiastes where Solomon wrote “Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income.” And he should know!

The danger with money is the power of distraction and dilution. If we are not careful, we can get ourselves into a position where faith is not required because money has filled the gap. In this way, we are distracted from the essence of what faith is: trust and therefore dilute the very gift that God wishes to build in us which is trust in Him and Him alone.

Anyhow, this week I have been thinking on Jesus’ approach to not only money, but also ‘things’. In speaking to the crowd he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Well that’s great news if you are poor – as indeed the majority of the world are. But what about you and me? Are we building on the right foundation, concentrating in the proper area: just what do our lives consist of if not wealth and possessions? It’s a challenge. So let me offer a few of my own money tips.

• The principle of giving is not to measure your generosity by what you give but by what you hold back.
• Don’t allow money to define your life and actions, live to a higher principle
• Recognise that you will never have enough money. We all desire just that bit more!
• Live from the place of contentment and not greed – allow gratitude for what you have to be your place in life and not greed for what you don’t have.
• Always look to give more away than you feel you can afford – it’s a liberating way to live.
• Next time you long for something new, remember how quickly the feeling of newness wears off
• If you either inherit or make significant wealth, remember to give more money to the poor, since the Bible reminds us that in giving to the poor, you are lending to God. Imagine that – you and me lending to God. Makes you want to do it all the more, eh?

 Or as Wesley taught his students. “Go and earn as much as you can, live as simply as you can and give away as much as you can.” Good advice that still rings true for me and you today.