The End of the World?

2012 is a new film coming out in November from the makers of Independence Day and The Day After Tomorrow. 2012 also tells of global catastrophe and the end of the world. It also has a modern day ark to save some humans and some animal and plant species. Add this to some TV series with a distinctive prophetic edge (Flash Forward, House ...) and a picture forms from the film studios of our interest in what might be and how would we live our lives knowing what might be.
The prophet Daniel in the Old Testament is probably best known for the lion's den or the fiery furnace. He was also a prophet. He saw things. He saw with incredible accuracy historical events unfolding - the rise and fall of Kings, the Greco Persians empires, the ascendancy of Alexander the Great and subsequent division of his vast kingdom amongst other events. Towards the end of the book of Daniel he makes comments of an altogether closer-to-home picture: "In the last days there will be much toing and froing and an increase in knowledge"!
Jesus also expressed clear prophetic warnings and statements (Mat 24), often giving us hints about what is to come -impending judgement amidst cataclysmic and cosmic events.
Our great advantage and privilege as Christians is knowing much of what is to come. My question however is this:
in the light of Biblical prophecy and revelation regarding judgement and the end times what difference is that knowledge making as to how we live our lives now?

Fasting

Fasting does us good. There are different types of fasting in The Bible - abstaining from food altogether; a Daniel fast - abstaining from rich foods; Isaiah 58 fasting ... Jesus' example of fasting and his expectation for his followers to fast and pray.
Last week I went away to Prayer & Fasting for 2 days with 700 other leaders. It was great. This week I wanted to pray and fast myself about something specific. As a result I feel closer to God, refreshed, spiritually sharper, hungry for more of God, seeing some things more clearly.
When I visited Yonggi Cho's huge church in South Korea it was common for members of the church to visit Prayer Mountain for 3 days prayer & fasting. No wonder it is the largest church in the world with a staggering 700,000 members!
All this makes me wonder - why don't we fast more?

Abortion

I have recently finished a week of lessons in a local comprehensive school on the subject of abortion. Challenging indeed. It is a good reminder for me to speak up for the unborn child and for the many post-abortion trauma women. With 1 in 5 babies aborted in the UK; 500 abortions per day in England and Wales it is no wonder that some commentators say that "the most dangerous place for a child to be is in its mother's womb".
Some organisations are doing a great job educating, lobbying, supporting, caring:
www.spuc.org.uk
www.lifecharity.org.uk
Let's not be silent, let's keep praying and let's keep loving and supporting mothers - those who have had abortions and those who have not.

Prayer and Fasting

I have just got back from Prayer and Fasting. This is an event I attend 3 times a year with 700 other Newfrontiers leaders from the UK. We met in Kings Gate church in Peterborough for 2 days. The times goes quite quickly as the sessions are broken down into 2 hour chunks with worship, information, testimonies and some prophetic input. It is tiring, exhilarating, informative and challenging in equal measure. Amongst the highlights this time around were Terry Virgo sharing about his travels visiting Mark Driscoll's church in Seattle, news from brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe and South Africa - including the very impressive Scott Markes; hearing of the current famine in Kenya, catching up on those prepared to uproot and relocate to plant churches in the UK and overseas. It is hard to keep up with all that God is doing.

Other churches

I have had a very rewarding week working together with other churches in the town. On Wednesday we joined with other Christians in the town to pray for Camberley and specifically the Street Angels project. On Thursday I spent the morning with the other church leaders of the town eating together, sharing together and praying together. We decided to go on a 2 day retreat together next month. The depth of friendship, genuine care and honour amongst the church leaders is terrific. Then of course there is the generosity of the RC Church in giving us accommodation for a year.
"How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity ... for there the Lord bestows his blessing".Ps 133:1

Flash Forward

Now and again a new TV series gets me hooked. It happened with Spooks then with Heroes and now Flash Forward on Five. It is made by the same team that made Lost. The premise is unlikely - one morning the entire population of the planet all blackout at 11.00am. They also all have a Flash Forward to what their lives look like on 29th April 2010. How they deal with the vision of their future makes for compelling viewing. "Now we are all prophets", says one of the main chatracters. Will they live their lives in the light of revelation or choose to ignore, deny or change their destiny?
The spiritual parallels for us are challenging - how far do we as Christians, in the light of Biblical revelation and knowing how things end, live our lives radically for Christ ?

Alpha Course

I enjoyed taking a friend to the start of the Alpha Course this week. The Alpha Course is an introduction the Christian faith (www.uk.alpha.org). We play tennis at the same club and have been friends for some years. There is nothing quite like seeing a person beginning their journey in God, getting to know Jesus and watching as the light begins to dawn on them. He asks me good questions like: "Are God and Jesus the same? Will God forgive me?". He has started reading the Bible on his own, has started to pray and enjoyed Alpha so much that next week he wants to bring his girlfriend. Watching God at work is the best.
Let's be good friends with unbleievers, let's keep praying for our freinds, being open with them about our faith and inviting them on Alpha.