Christian Commentary Encouraging Devotions

The Vatican has condemned The Golden Compass, saying it promotes a cold and hopeless world without God.

"In author Philip Pullman's world, hope simply does not exist, because there is no salvation but only personal, individualistic capacity to control the situation and dominate events."

In the fantasy world created by Pullman, the church and its governing body - the Magisterium - are linked to cruel experiments on children, aimed at discovering the nature of sin, and attempts to suppress facts that would undermine the church's legitimacy and power.

In the film version all references to the church have been stripped out, with the director keen to avoid offending religious cinemagoers.

Still, some Catholic groups in the United States have called for a boycott, fearing even a diluted version of the book might draw people to read the best-selling book.

The Vatican says the film and Pullman's writings show that "when man tries to eliminate God from his horizon, everything is reduced, made sad, cold and inhumane."

The US-based Catholic League has urged Christians not to see the movie, saying that its objective is "to bash Christianity and promote atheism" to children.

- Reuters

A compass is a navigational instrument for finding directions on the Earth.

From where do you get your direction? From whom?

"I know not what the future holds, but I know Who holds the future," is a saying that came to me in prayer last night.

Also this part of a song, "If I never had a problem, I'd never knew He could solve them."

I've had many tears and sorrows

I've had questions for tomorrow

There've been times I didn't know right from wrong

But in every situation

God gave blessed consolation

That my trials only come to make me strong

I've been a lot of places

And I've seen so many faces

But there've been times I've felt so all alone

But in that lonely hour

In that precious, lonely hour

Jesus let me know I was His own

Through it all

Through it all

I've learned to trust in Jesus

I've learned to trust in God

Through it all

Through it all

I've learned to depend upon His Word

So I thank God for the mountains

And I thank Him for the valleys

I thank Him for the storms He's brought me through

Cause if I never had a problem

I wouldn't know that He could solve them

I wouldn't know what faith in His Word could do

Through it all

Through it all

I've learned to trust in Jesus

I've learned to trust in God

Through it all

Through it all

I've learned to depend upon His Word

Yes, I've learned to depend upon His Word

I've learned to depend upon His Word

-Andrae Crouch

The valley experiences of life can be rich times.

Even if we'd prefer to avoid them!

The upcoming new year is, I believe, going to be a year of revelation.

Hidden things are going to be exposed.

God's will will prevail.

I encourage you to seek Him both in prayer and in His Word for direction for your life.