Author: David Fortune

Last week was the beginning of the Lent season. Most protestants (depending on their tradition) don’t know much about Lent. The Christian calendar was designed to help Christians remember and celebrate joyful occasions. But it was also designed to help Christians practice a variety of spiritual disciplines and think about their faith in everyday circumstances. The practice of ‘giving something up for Lent’ is to remind us of ‘mortification’ – not something we hear a lot about these days. It’s intended to help us identify or think about the sufferings of Christ. As Christians, we are committed to a lifelong fight against the world, the flesh and the devil. Mortification is the way we combat the flesh. Paul talks about it as an essential part of Christian living.  “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth.” (Col. 3:5) Most of the newer translations replace the word ‘mortify’ with ‘put to death.’ In Romans 8:13 he writes, “If by the Spirit you put to death (mortify) the deeds of the body, you will live.” We must constantly be watching, praying and examining our hearts or we can enter into temptation without realizing what we are doing. Our daily battle against temptations, temptations of the flesh as the Bible calls it, will always be with us in this world. To believe that we have moved beyond a need for regular examination and confession is foolish. We begin to think of sinful habits as harmless and comforting when in fact they deaden our heart and relationship with God. Thinking about the sacrifice of Christ during the season of Lent is a good thing. But we shouldn’t just practice it just for forty days. We need spiritual disciplines that stick with us and develop our soul. Daily we are called to take up our cross and follow Him.

If you have a ‘read the Bible in a year’ plan, you’re probably hitting the book of Leviticus about now. That’s tough reading and seems so far removed from today. Yet, God has preserved his Word for us. A thousand years before Christ, David sought refuge from Saul among the rocks and caves along the Dead Sea in a spot called Ein Gedi. There, he was safe from attack and supplied by a freshwater spring.  Five hundred years after Christ, a little Jewish town had sprung up in that very same spot. Not long after that, a fire destroyed it and the inhabitants moved away. In 1970, the town was re-discovered by archaeologists. Among the discoveries was the local synagogue. Inside the burned-out ruins, they found ancient parchment scrolls of Scripture which had been badly damaged. Among the find was a small, carbonized scroll that was too fragile to read or even attempt to open. The scroll, which looked more like a little briquette, was left to sit in a storage box for another 45 years. New technology developed by the University of Kentucky was used to determine the contents. Using new digital imaging software they developed, scientists were able to see the different layers of the scroll and recreate it in a two-dimensional format. The text is from Leviticus chapters 1 and 2. The clearest verses are the first eight from chapter one. Ironically, Leviticus begins with a section on burnt offerings. Archaeologists have good reason to appreciate this discovery, but it’s even more encouraging for Christians. Our modern Bible was translated into English not from original copies (which have never been found), but from the oldest available copies dating back to the 10th century A.D. This has led some critics of the Bible to claim that the Bible we have today has been changed or altered along the way. However, this little fragment found in Ein Gedi (written before the 4th century) conforms in every respect to the Masoretic Text from which we translate our Bible. This means that for over several hundred years, the text was copied with careful accuracy – nothing changed or altered. This gives further proof that God has preserved his Word and we can have confidence in the Scriptures we read today. The words of the Lord are pure words,    like silver refined in a furnace on the ground,    purified seven times.You, O Lord, will keep them (Psalm 12:6-7a) It might seem like a little thing, but I find it’s the little things along the way that help strengthen our faith.

Why is it so hard to get things done? We all have a to-do list that never seems to end. On top of that, we have goals and dreams that we want to accomplish. At times it seems like we make little progress. For many of us, life is just too busy. We are working hard at our careers, raising a family, and trying to find balance. Maybe you started the year with some new goals or resolutions. You promised yourself that you’d work harder to make some things happen. You would change some of your routines and pursue some goals. We are now six weeks into the new year and for many people, those goals seem to be slipping away. There are times when we have to offer ourselves a little grace in the same way we would extend it to others. We can be our own worst enemies and often judge ourselves too harshly. I’m not saying we should be lazy or give up pursuing our goals. It’s just that when we live without grace, we can grow blind to the things that are really important. Much of the disappointment and anxiety we feel is self-inflicted. It’s important to make sure we have perspective and stay refreshed. Proverbs 12:25,Worry weighs us down;    a cheerful word picks us up. It might be time to take a pause and revise some of those new year’s resolutions. What’s realistic? What is important in this season of life? What relationships are you nurturing and paying attention to? We can keep moving forward if we are intentional but don’t despair if everything doesn’t get finished in a day. Feed yourself with some cheerful words. The Lord has grace for you and sometimes you just need to rest in that.

A few years ago, Marie Kondo had a hit TV show called Tidying Up. In each show, she would visit a family and help them tidy their home. Often the biggest job was helping them get rid of things they really didn’t need. Keeping everything tidy and organized was a virtue. Recently, she made the news again. Since having her third child, she admits that it’s a lot of work to keep everything tidy. She says, “I realise what is important to me is enjoying spending time with my children at home.” Marie Kondo and some other YouTube stars have been at the forefront of the recent ‘minimalism’ movement. In a world that is so consumer-driven, many people are finally seeing the dangers of having too much stuff. The more stuff you have, the more work it is to look after everything. It can be expensive and sometimes bad for the planet. Long before the current wave of minimalism, there were Christian believers urging us to live simply. That is, to live with what we need and to hold our possession lightly. Simplicity is actually a spiritual practice, along with prayer and Bible reading. Jesus spoke to this issue in Matthew 6:28-30, “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?” Richard Foster in his chapter on The Discipline of Simplicity lists ten outward expressions of simplicity. I think they are helpful to consider: Each of those points deserves more thought and explanation but it’s a good list. Keeping our life simple, free from the pressure of caring for material goods means we can spend more time and energy on the people around us and pay attention to what the Lord is doing in our lives.

What does a generous life look like? Generous in what way? For some people, it means giving money to worthy causes. For others, it might be using their time with someone who needs comfort or help with chores.  We can use our social connections to help others find employment or support for a difficult situation. Our world often points to those who make grand gestures, but giving is more about a lifestyle than a one-time donation. It’s a spiritual discipline that all Christians need to practice.   Proverbs 11:24-25:  “One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.  A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”   How can we practice generosity?  Remember that’s it not the amount that counts, but the spirit in which we give to and serve others. I came across this little story on the internet about a wealthy man who complained to the pastor about giving.  “Do you have any idea how much money I make? How could I possibly give 10 percent away?” To which the pastor, replied, “Let’s pray together that God will reduce your income to a level where you feel comfortable giving 10 percent away.”   Giving is hard, no matter how much you have. Generosity fits a disciple and it’s all about the posture of the heart. You can’t out-give God!

I’m worried I may be replaced. At least in some measure. I have been trying out a new Artificial Intelligence Content Writer. You can ask it to write an essay, or create an article or advertisement. It will even write a sermon based on a bible passage and it does. It’s pretty good too.This month I am writing about our spiritual practices or disciplines. I asked it to write an article on why going to church is important. Here’s part of what it wrote for me:Attending church is an important aspect of many people’s lives, and there are many reasons why it is worth making the effort to go. Here are a few reasons why going to church is important: In conclusion, attending church is an important aspect of many people’s lives for various reasons.I think the AI Writer did a good job. All excellent points. So, I may not be needed to write these articles in the future. Time will tell.  But as a member of the church, you are still needed. You can’t be replaced. We need each other in order to grow in our faith. Technology can’t replace that. We weren’t meant to be alone. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. Romans 12:4-5 As we commit to new habits in the coming year, let’s not forget about regularly being with the church. For your sake and for others, show up and be counted.

The fight was over something silly. She told him that they needed milk for the morning. He said he had checked and there was lots of milk. He didn’t need to go out and get more. But the next morning there was no milk. Now he blames her, and she’s frustrated because he just can’t admit he lied. The boss wanted the documents so he could close the file. She said they had been left at home and she’d bring them tomorrow. In truth, she had lost the paperwork and was scrambling to figure out where they had gone. She didn’t want to have to tell her boss the truth. Why is it so difficult to admit when we are wrong or make a mistake? There seem to be a lot of people in the public eye these days who have a hard time admitting they ever did anything wrong. When presented with evidence and eyewitness accounts, they spin a story about how everyone else is to blame. It’s just not popular to own our errors or blunders. Confession is an important part of our Christian faith. Richard Foster starts his chapter on the Discipline of Confession with these words, “At the heart of God is the desire to forgive and to give.” Yet to receive the forgiveness of God and live in right relationship with him it is necessary that we confess our wrongdoings. Worse, we must confess that we have sinned.  The very thing most people hate to do. It’s not just an initial confession that is needed. Part of a Christian’s spiritual life includes regular confession. It is another one of our spiritual practices or disciplines. We need to regularly examine our hearts and see if there is anything that is displeasing to him. Anything we need to confess as sinful or not of Christ. While we have been saved, it doesn’t mean we never sin again. Acknowledging our sins is what keeps us close in our walk with God.  This calls for some time in our day when we give careful reflection on how we used our words, what our motives were, or what was in our thought life. The Psalmist reminds us of the power of confession.Blessed is the one    whose transgressions are forgiven,    whose sins are covered.Blessed is the one    whose sin the Lord does not count against them    and in whose spirit is no deceit.When I kept silent,    my bones wasted away    through my groaning all day long.For day and night    your hand was heavy on me;my strength was sapped    as in the heat of summer.Then I acknowledged my sin to you    and did not cover up my iniquity.I said, “I will confess    my transgressions to the Lord.”And you forgave    the guilt of my sin. (Psalm 32:1-5) How good it is to be forgiven. Don’t miss the opportunity to experience that today.

If you live in Switzerland, you are familiar with the official ‘quiet hours’. Every day from noon to 1 pm, 10 pm to 7 am and all-day Sunday, we are to refrain from ‘excessive’ noise. Times may vary between cantons, but we are to respect our neighbors by keeping it down. What exactly counts as a noise violation is a little vague. The good news, however, is that if you do violate the noise ordinance you will be notified. When was the last time you really had silence? We live in a noisy world that seeks to grab our attention for every waking moment. If it’s not music playing in the background, it’s our phone notifications making sure we don’t miss anything. Our world is designed to keep us busy, so we don’t pay attention to the important things. Over the centuries, one key spiritual discipline for Christians is practicing silence. Simply being quiet before the Lord. If the monks, centuries ago, needed this discipline, how much more are we needing it today? How can God speak to us when we are so distracted by everything around us? How can we formulate our prayers and think about our souls? When do we have time to hear the voice of the Lord? Silence is a spiritual practice. It is necessary to renew and restore us.  When Jesus was travelling and teaching, he had a regular habit of withdrawing in order to be with the Father. “The news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses.  But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” (Luke 5:15-16) It wasn’t just that Jesus took time to pray but he would find a quiet place to do so. When was the last time you really had silence? For some, quietness is uncomfortable. But it is essential. Start small. Schedule some time when the phone and computer are off. No checking notifications. No one else around. Can you sit quietly for 10 minutes? Can you invite God to fill those moments with his presence? If our desire is to grow in Christ-like character, then we need silence to hear.

We have apps now that will measure most of our activities during the day. Our steps are counted and calories calculated. I get a weekly report on how many hours of screen time I’ve wasted. I get a morning reminder from our office suite about my tasks and what projects are left undone. However, I haven’t yet found an app that tracks my time spent in prayer. That might be a good thing. I’m not sure I am always as faithful in prayer as I think I am or want to be. For a Christian, prayer is one of those keystone habits we hear so much about. Keystone habits are those routines and practices that we use to operate our lives. There are certain routines we do so often that they become regular habits. Most of the time those habits make life better. At the beginning of a New Year, we often think about resolutions or goals that we have for the year ahead. It’s the 4th of January and you may already be behind. But don’t give up. Making prayer a regular part of our lives doesn’t need to be hard. We do need to be intentional, but we don’t have to make it difficult. No one starts off by praying for an hour each day. Many times, our prayer takes place over the course of the day in little bits here and there. The main thing is to start a practice, find a time and keep the routine. We are counselled to devote ourselves “to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” (Colossians 4:2) Some of the best advice on prayer comes from the Alpha course. In the session on prayer, a priest offers these three pointers: Keep it simple – no need for formal or fancy words Keep it honest – be yourself and share from the heart Keep it going – make it regular, even when it’s tough Starting with that routine should be easy enough for all of us. Building spiritual practices into our lives isn’t meant to burden us, but rather place us before God where he can speak into our lives and do the work that only he can.

What do you call this period of time between Christmas and New Year’s? The Norwegians have a name for these six days: Romjul. In the UK it might be referred to as Boxing Week while some in the United States are calling it Twixtmas.  It can be an odd period of time when we aren’t quite sure what to do with ourselves. Some people have to work for a few days. Others are off for the week and finding ways to spend the downtime. Not many of us feel like starting any big projects in the middle of this lull. No matter what you call it, it leaves us in limbo before we start the New Year and get down to working on our resolutions.   As we prepare to say goodbye to 2022, I want to leave you with a simple verse of scripture: “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)  This week we might find ourselves with more time to think and contemplate. Each year brings its own joys and sorrows. It’s important to acknowledge the good times and the bad times. But whatever you have been through, whatever you are hoping for or expecting in the days ahead, know this – God is faithful. Remembering this truth will help carry you through the days to come.   My prayer for you in 2023 is that you would grow in your knowledge and depth of God’s faithfulness and love.