Seventh-day Adventist® Church

As the Olympic Torch heads to northerly islands off Scotland, I want to consider some things in a westerly and then a further northerly direction.

As we consider 70 days of praying for and experiencing the presence of God in our lives, the Catholic Church is holding the 50th International Eucharist Congress in the Republic of Ireland. Today, with 20,000 attendees, they held an open air service, with 80,000 expected next Sunday. The congress has as its theme "Communion with Christ and with One Another".

The congregation was not limit to Catholics. The Church of Ireland Archbishop Dr Michael Jackson participated. This interaction between Christian denominations is cordially welcomed by some, but to others it is seen as a prophetic fulfilment of a false Church drawing people away from true Christianity.

I can't help but wonder at how many jokes have been made about the Archbishop's name! But it was this that reminded me of a story I read in "The Unquenchable Worshipper" by Matt Redman. It's a book I would include in my "If-I-only-had-one-bookshelf-to fill-what-would-I-put-on-it" list.

Matt Redman, a Christian songwriter and recording artist, travelled to Norway for an appointment. He accompanied the speaker, but as the speaker had a fear about flying, they went on a ferry. Matt loathed the long journey, and when they arrived and did the sound check he was not in a good mood. Even during the set of songs he did, he felt restless and not in a worshipful mood. Then he found himself interrupting the sequence of songs to sing a Michael Jackson song, "You are not alone."

Unhappy about the whole experience, he sat through the rest of the programme. At the end, people came to speak to him, and he was aware of one lady loitering. When everyone else had gone, she came forward. She expressed to Matt how her life was a mess and she wanted out. She came to the meeting saying to God that if you are here, express yourself to me. Then she referenced his Michael Jackson rendition. She considered it was a message from God to reassure her, she was not alone, God was there with her.

God speaks through men to crowds. And God speaks to individuals in a crowd. I am grateful that when I seek communion with Christ, I can go directly to God and not through a priest, and that when I ask God if He is near, He will answer me.

Psalm 138:3 (New International Version)

"When I called, you answered me;
you made me bold and stouthearted."

-Pr Nathan Stickland