What is wrong with the world?

Another day, another question.
Sunderland CU were out earlier today asking people what they thought is wrong with the world we live in. Again there were a mixture of answers ranging from the sublime (lack of love) to the deadly serious (war) to the utterly comical (JLS and One Direction). (see below)

I wanted to, very briefly, pick up on the answer "lack of love".
I recently gave a talk at Huddersfield CU events week titled "Is love all you need?" the short answer being yes, but only when defined the way God defines love.
So this post-it note answer to the question of "what is wrong with the world?" is very much on the button.

Jesus said that the law and the prophets is summed up in loving God first and loving neighbour.
It's not that God has made a mess, but we have. It's not that God is lacking in love, for "God is love" we are told in 1 John, we lack love.
But....we know love because Jesus Christ has laid down His life for us. He has perfectly revealed God to us.
In relationship with Him we can truly love God and love neighbour.
In Jesus is true love, and in Him we can truly love.
Lack of love is what is wrong with the world, but the love that is needed is defined by God and only found and spread abroad in Jesus.

What questions would you Tweet to Jesus?

Today Sunderland CU asked the question: What question would you Tweet to Jesus?
This was the second in a series of question boards for their events week.
There were a wide range of answers given and many for whom the question just left them thinking. A few just said they had no idea what they'd ask Jesus either because they'd never thought about it or because they didn't believe in Him.

Here's a picture of the board and some of the answers.

1. Are you real?
2. Why do bad things happen to good people?
3. Why am I who I am?
4. When will you return?
5. Why is life so hard?
6. Do you believe in me?
7. How is everyone up there in heaven?

It would be great if some of these short encounters raise longer lasting discussions about Jesus and make people really serious question the big issues in life.
It once again showed me that however little people seem to be interested, everyone has something they want to know, or has issues they want to talk about.
We do live in a messed up world and Jesus is the answer!

Durham Main Event – FREE (Part 3) – Salvation requires a miracle.

While listening to Daf speak on Monday evening (16th Feb) I was sitting and absorbing what he had to say and thinking to myself “this is great, how cool is the gospel, it is amazing, it really does make total sense, how can anyone listen to this and not be convinced?!” And then, it struck home to me in a fresh way, something I already knew, it takes a miracle of mercy from God for anyone to see the truth. How thankful to God I should be that He opened my eyes to see, believe and put my trust in Jesus! I am praying for many miracles as a result of this week of talks and the Free Thinking follow up course which will be running.

Durham Main Event – FREE (Part 2)

The week has been very encouraging so far. Yesterday simultaneous lunch time talks were run, one on "Science vs God: Must we choose?" And the other titled, "Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha: half right or all wrong?" I went to the science talk and heard Andrew Sach give an excellent talk dealing with Naturalism and the Christian worldview. He looked at design, human existence and Jesus as his 3 main points. He also answered some potentially sensitive and heated questions very graciously and with great wisdom. You can here it and all the other talks from the week at www.freedurham.org.uk under the “talks” tab.

FREE - Durham Main Event

I am currently back at my old University to help out with their main event week.
The CU in Durham is a real encouragement to me. This week there are 6 lunchbars (a double bill on wednesday, 2 options) and 5 evening talks running monday to friday.
Monday morning began with a University-wide prayer meeting. There were around 100 students there I think plus the CU guests and speakers. A great way to start the week, knowing we have a job to do, but knowing that were are dependent on God working in advance to prepare the soil for us to sow seeds in.
Please pray for all the CU members and CU guests. Pray for boldness, wisdom and clarity. Thank God for those who have been to events so far and for all of the College level events that have taken place over last weekend.
Pray for the speakers, that as they present God's Word, that the Spirit of God will take those words and bring new life!

I hope to update regularly about this main event week. There are many other missions going on across the country, be praying for students all over Britain to be confident in the gospel, bold with the truth and passionate about Jesus!