Bebo

{Wee exclusive for you - this isn't up on the main All4God.co.uk site til Thursday}
James 5 "Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed" (The Message)

When we sin we seem to have this culture of trying to keep it to ourselves, not letting anyone else know, putting on the mask of perfection. And inevitably this only results in us returning again and again to the same sin, like a dog returning to its vomit (re Proverbs 26:11). Time and time again we end up tripping over the same stupid things.

We know we shouldn't do it. We know it will only lead to regret. But we also know that no-one else will know. And we seem to worry more about being found out by others than by God. After all, God will forgive us. But that shouldn't be an excuse to sin.

Yet with the reassurance of forgiveness, and the safety of privacy we sin, and begin to crumble. A couple of clicks and no-one need ever know. A prayer of remorse and all is ok - until the same temptation occurs a few days later and we cave in again. And again. And then when the temptation gets more serious we suddenly find ourselves giving in, unable to resist.

But it doesn't have to be like that. James offers advice that will help us overcome the vast majority of temptations - be totally open and honest with your Christian brothers and sisters. When asked how you are let's resolve not to fob each other off with the safe option of ‘Fine thanks, you?', but be prepared to put our reputation on the line and admit when we are struggling.

"Confess your sins to each other". Chances are they will be struggling with something too, but are embarrassed to admit it as you seem to have no such struggles. But if we are open about our struggles then others will be more comfortable confessing to weaknesses and there will be less hiding behind a mask of togetherness when inside everything is falling apart.

We are not perfect people - there is nothing wrong with slipping up from time to time. What is wrong is refusing to admit to it. We deceive ourselves, and make it harder for others to be truly open without appearing exceptionally weak for being one of the few who doesn't seem to have it all together.

So let's be more honest with each other. Let's admit to our struggles. Strip away the masks of togetherness and righteousness. Confess our sins to each other, then pray for strength and healing. And when we know that we need to honestly admit our sins to our brothers and sisters, maybe that will cause us to think twice before giving in.

Thought I'd bring you all up to date with what has been happening behind the scenes lately with All4God.
There's been a lack of updates on the site these past couple of weeks, for several reasons - firstly school work, and secondly I was away in France for a few days doing a bit of all4God promo (well, dropping flyers in the hotel room....)
There's been quite a bit of talk with various people about writing articles for the site to try and make sure there is more frequent fresh content. (One of whom, Dashby, already has one article up)
Then there was yesterday afternoon. Possibly one of the biggest days for the All4God podcast, if not the biggest. On Thursday evening I found out my request for an interview with casting crowns (yeah, the casting crowns who have sold 3.5 million CDs, and are just about the biggest Christian band - in the world!). So yesterday afternoon I headed down to the Odyssey Arena, got in the VIP entrance, had my name on the list of people allowed backstage before their concert, and so for probably the only time in my life I was backstage at Northern Ireland's biggest concert venue. Got to watch the end of Casting Crowns soundcheck - saw them play Praise you with the dance and new Christmas song I heard the bells - in an empty auditorium, with reduced lighting and smoke in the air (must have been testing a smoke machine out) that song was something special.
Then the band had a prayer meeting, and as Mark led it with a microphone I got to hear their pre-concert prayer.
After that it was time to interview them. These past few months I've been fortunate enough to interview some of the big names in Christian music (Leeland, 33Miles). But those interviews had been done by email. And those interviews were done with guitarists, not the front man. This time, it was in person - I got to meet the band, and it was with front man Mark Hall, and also Juan(guitar) and Megan (pianist). there was myself and some guys from Shine FM, and between us we had 30 minutes. mark i particular is a great talker, so we didn't get a lot of questions, but we got a lot of depth and insight, and it'll all be up on the November All4god podcast (as well as music from Bluetree).
At the end of the interview they recorded a wee promo video for the podcast which will be up soon, an is worth looking out for (it's rather humorous), plus I gave Juan a folder containing promo flyers, an info sheet about all4God and print outs of all the articles that have been inspired by Casting Crowns songs, so hopefully the guys will have a wee read of those. So look out on All4God for the Casting Crowns interview
And i have a few new devotional article drafted up in my notebook, plus a few more in my head that I should hopefully get typed up soon, as wel as a few more CD reviews. And then we'll be in to Christmas themed articles..... Lots to look forward to! I also need to get around to some massive promo work for the site
And it would be good to get a book published at some stage, but I'd say that will have to wait til 2009....
That's all for now, but if you have any questions, just post them up and I'll try to answer them,
Peter
www.all4God.co.uk

A few years ago it used to be fashionable to wear those ‘What would Jesus do?’ bracelets. But maybe the question we need to ask ourselves more these days is not what He would do, but where He would be doing it.

Because as Christians we have a tendency to form our little ‘holy-huddles’, seeking to avoid contact with all that is ‘unholy’. But as you read through the gospels Jesus seems to do the exact opposite. He went to parties. He hung out with the despised tax collectors. He talked with women in public (customs of the time frowned upon that). He touched the untouchable lepers. He ate with prostitutes.
So if he was here on earth today where would Jesus be?

Out on the street corners offering hope to the beggars and shoppers rather than ‘turn or burn’ condemnation?

In pubs showing love to the drunks, helping them get home safely, caring for them in their need?

Bringing healing to the sick and restoration to the broken. Offering hope to the lost and weary. Feeding the hungry (physically and spiritually). Caring for the outcasts of society.

So if we can hazard a good guess at where Jesus would be, I guess the question is, if we call ourselves His followers, why isn’t the church following His lead and going there?

Why do we wait for the lost to come to us? The apostles didn’t stay in the upper Room after receiving the Holy Spirit. They got out onto the streets of Jerusalem and beyond, living it out.

We have the key to freedom. Freedom from poverty, freedom from HIV, freedom from drugs, freedom from depression, freedom from human trafficking, freedom from conforming to society, freedom from celebrity obsession. We have the key to freedom, Jesus, and a world in chains, waiting for us to share the key with them. Where would Jesus be? Probably not in the mega church singing the latest hit worship song but in the streets living it out, being a ‘living sacrifice’ (re Romans 12:1), showing religion that is ‘pure and blameless’ (re James 1:27) to the world. Is that where we are?


[for more get on to www.all4god.co.uk]