Eight and a half percent of the year has already disappeared but that means there remains 91.75%, so plenty of time to walk carefully with our Lord and work joyfully with Him in the mission of the Gospel.

However some publicity conscious people are suggesting we have only 17 weeks left for achieving this task. They have billboards proclaiming 21 May as judgement day. While most of us will be sceptical of such predictions nevertheless it reminds us of the urgency of the mission given to us.

This raises a challenge for me: how important and urgent is living and proclaiming the Good News in my priorities for 2011? And how active am I prepared to be, especially in prayer, towards seeing people who are not currently followers of Jesus commence the journey? Do I have any passion for such people?

I recall an experience a couple of years into my first pastorate whereby I was walking home from the church one afternoon and was enveloped with  a strong sense of how much Father God loves the people I was sighting along that short stroll.  This prompted a determination and urgency for me to actively lead our church family to "rescue the perishing" to use words from an old song.  It was one of the factors that directed me to become involved in working with recovering alcoholics and establishing a rehab facility through which we saw some become Christian.

Do I have that same passion now? To be honest I have to confess I do not, but I have committed myself to pray regularly for a particular person, however, I also need to be attentive to how God is working with him and respond when Holy Spirit prompts some word or action on my part.

What about you?

In the next issue of Coffee Break, I will be sending you a resource for your personal use for the Lenten season.

I pray the year will bring many opportunities and challenges to be urgent for the growth of The Kingdom, and may the peace of Christ disturb us.