Good ideas? More likely God ideas!
NEVER ON A SUNDAY
God idea 2 - Braille GOOD IDEAS come from God, so ask Him for one. The world’s been blessed by those who did. One God-given idea can change so much. Braille surely did! In 1824, Louis Braille, a Christian, invented a system of raised dots on paper so that blind people could read. He invented 63 symbols representing every language, hence God’s Word was placed into the hands of the visually impaired for the first time. And communications? In part, you owe your mobile phone and your computer to a Christian named Samuel Morse. How differ• Louis Braille ent the world was before him! First-class news took two weeks to reach the USA. And reports of a major victory could take six weeks to reach Britain. One day a friend said, ‘Morse, when you were • Samuel Morse experimenting did you ever come to an absolute deadlock, not knowing what to do?’ Morse replied, ‘More than once.’ His friend asked, ‘What did you do then?’ Morse shared a secret, ‘I got down on my knees and prayed for light, and light came, and when my inventions were acknowledged by flattering honours from America and Europe, I said, ‘Not unto me, O Lord, not unto me, but unto Thy name give the glory.’” That’s why the first message sent by transatlantic cable read, ‘What God has wrought.’ Now add another Christian named Louis Pasteur, the French scientist who • Louis Pasteur showed us that infection is the result of things we cannot see, namely germs and viruses. He introduced sterilisation methods that eventually saved the lives of multitudes. Think God has run out of good ideas? Not a chance! Ask Him for one for your life, your ministry or your business!
‘...All peoples on earth will be blessed through you...’ Page 6
THE SON
Spring 2010
ONE of the new faces of the BBC’s football coverage refuses to work on a Sunday because he is a devout Christian. Dan Walker insists on observing the Lord’s Day even though there are top-flight matches almost every Sunday this season. Dan, 32, presents the popular Football Focus programme on BBC1 - but he won’t be covering Sunday games. Dan said: “When I first told the producers on a major radio station I wouldn’t work on a Sunday they told me I’d never get anywhere in broadcasting. “They thought the fact that I said on my CV that I wouldn’t work on a Sunday was some kind of joke. “When I explained I was a Christian, and why I felt the way I did, one of them just sat with his mouth open for about ten seconds. “It was a great job and they fully expected me to give up everything to work for them, but I wouldn’t - I didn’t get the job.
CHURCH ON SUNDAY “I take my faith quite seriously and not working on a Sunday is part of that. I don’t even watch football on a Sunday. Obviously as a professional I keep abreast of the scores but I spend Sunday at church and with my family. “An old boss of mine, John Pickford, told me if I wanted to stick to those principles I wasn’t just going to have to be good, I was going to have to be the best. “For anyone I’ve ever worked for as a sports presenter I’ve always said I’d do as good a job if not better than anyone they’d ever employ. “But I did always think the Football Focus job was one I’d never get because of my insistence, because it’s so high-profile.
DREAM COME TRUE “To be given it means even more for me because I’ve made my stand but still been handed this opportunity. I’ve grown up watching Football Focus, so now to be presenting the show really is a dream come true. “Sport has always been a big part of my life. When I was 12, and about 2ft taller than all the other kids, I was asked to play for quite a few teams. “The problem was all their games were on a Sunday. “I had only recently become a Christian and this was the first time I was confronted with the
Football Focus presenter sticks to his principles – and lands top TV sports job issue of how I should be spending my Sundays. I firmly believe God was using that experience, even at an early age, to prepare me for situations in the future when I would need much stronger convictions. “People often say it must be really hard to be a Christian and to do the work I do - I disagree. “I think my job puts me in the same situations everyone else faces. “The only difference is that people who work in the media are usually paid to have opinions so you can get involved in some heated debates. “Because of my stance I have been shouted at, insulted, stabbed in the back, laughed at and
ignored. But I have also worked with and met some great characters and been given plenty of opportunities to talk to people about the Lord Jesus Christ. “Many people - even Christians - have asked me why I feel so strongly about the Lord’s Day. “For me it seems quite obvious. God, our creator, has given it to us for our own good. Some will argue that Jesus Christ’s coming means we are no longer obligated to keep it special but I fundamentally disagree. “There are still ten commandments and it is more important than ever to guard the fourth one - remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.”
Why Sunday is so special for Dan DAN WALKER gives some of the reasons why Sunday is important to him and why he won’t work on a Sunday. • Because I believe that the principle of setting aside one day in the week to worship and honour the God who made me and saved me goes right back to creation. It was a gift to all of us before sin even entered the world (Genesis 2.1-3). • Because I am persuaded that the principle of the Sabbath was laid down in God’s moral law and is still relevant (Exodus 20.8-11; Deuteronomy 5.14-15). The law of God has been written on our hearts (Jeremiah 31.33). • Because the Lord Jesus Christ Himself knew it was important. He went to the regular Sabbath meetings in the Jewish synagogue. In his teaching, he never undermined the principle but put it back where it belonged (Matthew 12.1-12; Mark 2.28). • Because it was observed by the New
Testament church and should be observed by all of God’s people. • Because I am persuaded it’s a blessing that will be forever enjoyed in heaven. (Hebrews 4.1-13). Revelation 7.9 is a picture of a perpetual Sabbath, given to those who rest from their labours (Rev 14.13), and whose eternity is spent in adoration of God in Christ (Rev 21.1-7, 22-3). • Because observing the Lord’s Day is a great privilege and brings with it loads of blessings. Some of the greatest of God’s promises, for example, about knowing the glory of God, enjoying Him and receiving blessing from Him go hand in hand with the idea of the Sabbath (e.g. Isaiah 58.13-14; Psalm 92). Over the years – and I’m talking centuries – keeping the Lord’s day has generally been one of the marks of God’s powerful working among his people. • Because it makes clear that my Saviour, Jesus Christ, deserves the very best of my time and energy.