Mark Geppert's book - "The Attack Lambs" is one of the most awesome books I have ever read. Here is my favourite excerpt from chapter 4 which is aptly called "Neutralize the enemy".
Mark had been a missionary to Guatemala in the early days of his ministry. At this time - in 1976 - God used an earthquake to open the doors for evangelical outreach into the country.
God had given Mark a burden for small villages in "marginal" areas. He would walk between villages distributing Spanish Bibles. He found huge success in reaching the villagers with the Word of God, until the enemy threw up a challenge. He visited with a co-worker - Gilbert Dilley - in the town of San Jose del Golfo, where they were met by a local elder, Lazuro Ochoa Catalan, and two policemen. One of the policemen was a new brother in the church, and he delivered the news that Mark and Gilbert would not be travelling out to the villages as there was a very important meeting they had to attend. Here is the rest of the story in Mark's words ...
San Jose is the municipal centre of goverment for about thirty small villages extending from the Atlantic Coast Highway to the Motagua River just fifteen miles east of Guatemala City. The Lord had given us small groups in each of the villages and a church in San Jose. Our influence was building in the area and had caught the attention of the government.
As we entered the large meeting room of the town hall, I recognized most of the men. The mayor of San Jose was there as well as the sub-mayors who presided over each community where I had been distributing Bibles. They were easily distinguished by their hats and official sticks.
The mayor greeted me and thanked me for being there. He wanted to know who Gilbert was and said that Lazuro did not have to stay but could if he wanted to. Two of the closest friends I will ever know, both men said they would be glad to stay.
The mayor explained that this was a special and very important meeting because these men wanted me to declare my intention in their communities. When I asked him exactly how important, he said it would be the most important meeting I would probably ever attend.
Calling the meeting to order, the mayor had each man stand in front of a chair all of which formed a circle. He explained to the men who I was, although most of them knew me. He took great pains to formally introduce Gilbert and Lazuro and expressed their desire to remain. He explained my Spanish was fine so there was no need for translation. I would understand their questions and could answer quite well.
While all this was going on I was in the Spirit quietly asking God to neutralize the power of the enemy arrayed against us so His work could go on to bear fruit. When the mayor suggested we start with questions, I immediately jumped in with what the Lord had given me, not knowing where it would lead or even what the next step would be.
"I realize that this is a very important meeting and I want to express my appreciation for your coming all the way to be here. May I suggest, since this is such an important meeting, we follow a custom which we have in my country for such occassions."
They thought that was a good idea and so I explained to them, "In meetings of this importance in my country, we always start with prayer."
They looked at each other and again at me. They were not men of prayer.
"Since this is such an important meeting," I continued to cover their hesitation, "it is important the prayer be done properly. Just custom you understand."
They were getting a little upset with the length of time this was taking, but they were going along with it, just to be customarily correct.
"Now in prayers like this it is customary for us as men to pray with our hats off."
They looked to the mayor who, with a condescending shrug, removed his hat. They too removed their hats and looked around at each other. I cannot recall another meeting in Latin America in which all men had their hats off.
Now I was nervous, but I continued as the Lord gave me instructions.
"Since this is such an important meeting, and we surely want it to go well, perhaps we should follow custom another step."
The mayor was not smiling when his eye caught mine. I had pushed this about as far as I was going to be able.
" Perhaps," I suggested, "we should join hands to pray."
Latin men do not stand around with their hats off holding hands. They looked to the mayor and then to me; you could see the fire in their eyes. I took the hands of Gilbert and Lazuro and they in turn reached out for the others. The men placed their hats and sticks on the chairs behind them and took hands. A nervous laughter went through the place.
Now, feeling very hung out there by the Lord, I said, "I know that many of you are not used to praying and since this has to be right, may I suggest I lead you in prayer and you all repeat the prayer after me."
Somewhat relieved, they were quick to agree.
"Lord Jesus," I began, and they followed. "Forgive me of my sins. Come into my life as my personal Saviour and Lord. Give me the power to be a good man and a good leader for my people, in Jesus name."
When they said "in Jesus name," the earth literally shook! There was an earthquake. The place shook violently from side to side as well as up and down. I was scared to death. Holding Gilbert and Lazuro's hands tightly, I did not open my eyes.
The quake measured 6.5 we found out later. The mayors ran from the building as they were afraid the terra cotta tiles would come crashing down through the wooden rafters and crush our skulls. Taking no thought for important hats or sticks, they dashed from the building.
Now, when a tremor stops, there is complete silence. Dogs do not bark, birds do not chirp, all creation stands still waiting to see if it is going to happen again. As the dust cleared around us, we three stood petrified by the impact of what had happened!
One by one the men re-entered the room, found their hats and sticks, nodded to us and went off to find out the condition of their village. Finally, the head mayor came back in. He put on his hat and, drawing himself to full stature, he said, " I do not know how you did that; but I am authorized to tell you that whatever you need in any of these villages, you have only to ask the man who was in this room and he will get it for you. You are to come tomorrow with your passport and those of your family and friends and you will receive courtesy visas. From this day forward you are the invited guests of the government of Guatemala, you have no need to stop for immigration or customs and, should the national police stop you for any reason, just show them this seal and you will be conducted safely and speedily to your destination."
Satan had not only been neutralized, his attack had been turned against him.
(Note: "The Attack Lambs" is written by Mark Geppert, and is published by Genesis Books and ARMOUR Publishing Pte Ltd - Singapore.)
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Random thoughts ...
I'm currently reading "Beyond Jabez - Expanding your borders" by Bruce Wilkinson.
I read the first book and the study/prayer guides about three or four years ago. I remember being so excited by all of the things that I learnt from reading that original book, that I bought three copies to give to my brothers and sister for Christmas presents. I guess I figured that if God could change my life so much with that llittle book, then maybe my family would want to read it too. We had all been bought up in the same "poverty doctrine" church after all.
I remember going to a music practice at a church we were attending about that time in our lives, and somehow getting into the middle of a discussion on the Prayer of Jabez. The keyboards player was quite strongly opinionated about the whole prosperity doctrine / Prayer of Jabez thingy, and I recall him asking/stating the question - "who other than Bruce Wilkinson has benefited from the Prayer of Jabez booklet" to which I promptly replied "just about everyone who has read it!" Turns out (as is usually the case) that he had never read the book, and he had already formed his opinions on why the book was written. (This was in a charismatic church by the way.)
Several years down the track and I still see God answering that prayer every time I pray it. And by the way, I am anti "prosperity doctrine" as the world knows it. So where does the misunderstanding creep into the church.
I have heard countless sermons stating that when God says He is going to prosper us, it DOESN"T mean financially. Give me a break !!! Read about Job, Abraham, and Joseph just to name a few people who God prospered financially because they did what was right in His sight, and obeyed Him.
Weigh this up against the blatant tele-evangelism fund raising that goes on in the USA. You don't have to read many blogs to work out that many Australians include Hillsong and Riverview in the same bunch. This is - I believe - the reason why so many people have chosen to live under an ungodly "poverty doctrine" - out of protest because it is so repulsive to cheapen the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a mathematical equation. ** Give x GOD = more **
The refreshing thing about praying the prayer of Jabez, is that when we ask God to bless us, we don't ask for a specific blessing - God gets to choose what He wants to pour into our lives each day. In other words - we actually let God be God - what a scary thought!
When we ask Him to expand our borders - well watch out - because you've just become a missionary with no limitations. Be assured - God WILL take you at your word.
"Let your hand (favour) be with me" - why wouldn't God answer this prayer? Did God not promise to give favour to those who honour and obey Him?
Asking Him to deliver us from evil (harm) - hmmm - seem to remember Jesus saying something about this.
Asking Him to keep us from causing ourselves pain - not a bad idea however you look at it.
As disgusted as I am with the ungodly "prosperity doctrine", I refuse to live anymore under the ungodly "poverty doctrine". A balanced perspective is what God wants for every aspect of our lives. God has proven to me over and over again that He is the God of multiplication. Whatever it is that we give back to God, He takes it and multiplies it for His Glory, His Kingdom and His fame. Our lives become a testimony to His greatness.
Garth over at "Emerging Blurb" has some interesting thoughts on the same subject - well worth the read.
Here is the link ...
http://emergingblurb.blogspot.com/2005/08/emergent-church-video.html
Let's not throw the baby out with the bath water. Stay focussed on God - the person - not the benefit.
Statistics show that if every Christian tithed as commanded by God's word, the "Church" would have an abundance of funds to wipe out poverty, provide clean drinking water, and evangelise the whole world as we know it today. Food for thought isn't it?
In His abundance for every good work,
Steve
"The Lord's blessing is our greatest treasure - all our work adds nothing to it." Proverbs 10:22
I read the first book and the study/prayer guides about three or four years ago. I remember being so excited by all of the things that I learnt from reading that original book, that I bought three copies to give to my brothers and sister for Christmas presents. I guess I figured that if God could change my life so much with that llittle book, then maybe my family would want to read it too. We had all been bought up in the same "poverty doctrine" church after all.
I remember going to a music practice at a church we were attending about that time in our lives, and somehow getting into the middle of a discussion on the Prayer of Jabez. The keyboards player was quite strongly opinionated about the whole prosperity doctrine / Prayer of Jabez thingy, and I recall him asking/stating the question - "who other than Bruce Wilkinson has benefited from the Prayer of Jabez booklet" to which I promptly replied "just about everyone who has read it!" Turns out (as is usually the case) that he had never read the book, and he had already formed his opinions on why the book was written. (This was in a charismatic church by the way.)
Several years down the track and I still see God answering that prayer every time I pray it. And by the way, I am anti "prosperity doctrine" as the world knows it. So where does the misunderstanding creep into the church.
I have heard countless sermons stating that when God says He is going to prosper us, it DOESN"T mean financially. Give me a break !!! Read about Job, Abraham, and Joseph just to name a few people who God prospered financially because they did what was right in His sight, and obeyed Him.
Weigh this up against the blatant tele-evangelism fund raising that goes on in the USA. You don't have to read many blogs to work out that many Australians include Hillsong and Riverview in the same bunch. This is - I believe - the reason why so many people have chosen to live under an ungodly "poverty doctrine" - out of protest because it is so repulsive to cheapen the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a mathematical equation. ** Give x GOD = more **
The refreshing thing about praying the prayer of Jabez, is that when we ask God to bless us, we don't ask for a specific blessing - God gets to choose what He wants to pour into our lives each day. In other words - we actually let God be God - what a scary thought!
When we ask Him to expand our borders - well watch out - because you've just become a missionary with no limitations. Be assured - God WILL take you at your word.
"Let your hand (favour) be with me" - why wouldn't God answer this prayer? Did God not promise to give favour to those who honour and obey Him?
Asking Him to deliver us from evil (harm) - hmmm - seem to remember Jesus saying something about this.
Asking Him to keep us from causing ourselves pain - not a bad idea however you look at it.
As disgusted as I am with the ungodly "prosperity doctrine", I refuse to live anymore under the ungodly "poverty doctrine". A balanced perspective is what God wants for every aspect of our lives. God has proven to me over and over again that He is the God of multiplication. Whatever it is that we give back to God, He takes it and multiplies it for His Glory, His Kingdom and His fame. Our lives become a testimony to His greatness.
Garth over at "Emerging Blurb" has some interesting thoughts on the same subject - well worth the read.
Here is the link ...
http://emergingblurb.blogspot.com/2005/08/emergent-church-video.html
Let's not throw the baby out with the bath water. Stay focussed on God - the person - not the benefit.
Statistics show that if every Christian tithed as commanded by God's word, the "Church" would have an abundance of funds to wipe out poverty, provide clean drinking water, and evangelise the whole world as we know it today. Food for thought isn't it?
In His abundance for every good work,
Steve
"The Lord's blessing is our greatest treasure - all our work adds nothing to it." Proverbs 10:22
Monday, August 01, 2005
A change is as good as a holiday ...
Silly me ... made mention of wanting to change my tagboard. Next thing I know, my super creative blogger afficcionado son has me changing templates, colours, and every other thing that can possibly be modified ... hehehe :)
Thanks Shane!~!!
Anyway, the new tagboard doesn't take half an hour (small exageration) to load - without text at the end of it all. Frustrating to say the least. Call me a copycat, but Thomas and Shane both changed theirs, and it loads super fast.
Next thing was to find a photo of me that doesn't make me look like a middle aged, married, self employed, well fed man ... IYKWIM (if you know what I mean). Nah, anyway it's probably one of the better photo's of me. I wanted one that was taken 15 years ago, but was out-voted. Seem to remember being out-voted by the same two people when we bought KAREN'S car - I wanted yellow - we got dark blue (a secret ploy no doubt to make it less obvious how dirty it is).
On a more serious note - was wondering how many people out there suffer from OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder). For anyone who has experienced it, or knows or lives with someone who suffers from it, it can be a very misunderstood condition.
Being a Jennifer Garner fan, we hired Elektra last weekend. I also enjoy a serious action movie. It was interesting to note that the character of Elektra (played by Jennifer no less) suffered from OCD. It shocked me to find that there was an aspect of OCD that she experienced exactly like I did when I was younger (before God healed me of it).
I never knew what was wrong with me until after God had healed me from it. I didn't know or understand why I acted the way I did. I kept it secret because I was afraid to let anyone find out about me - in fact the only person I ever shared it with in my whole life (until just recently when I started to talk to my wife Karen about it) was a young friend called Gary whom I led to the Lord when I was in high school (I was about 14 at the time).
I believe the Lord gave me a revelation about OCD just recently when He showed me that OCD and fear are closely linked. I know for me that fear, loneliness, rejection by peers and an abject lack of self esteem all played a central part in my living with OCD for over thirty years. And this was all compounded by a speech difficulty - I stuttered and stammered until well into my twenties. This was largely overcome by the selfless love and support given to me by my precious wife Karen.
Dealing with OCD was different - only God can set you free from that which controls you without you ever really understanding what it is, and how it controls you. I've never told anyone in my family, and my children and wife were left wondering one day recently why I reacted so strongly to someone making fun of a friend who is OCD. It was actually at that point when my spirit identified with this young OCD sufferer, that God dropped into my spirit that this was what I had suffered from for most of my life - I just never knew what it was. Finally it had a name. I was able to mask it by controlling it - instead of letting it control me. I know I have shared in a previous post how singing helped me to overcome my speech problems. Worship really is the key to experiencing healing.
Anyway, praise God that OCD is all in the past. I would welcome anyone reading this blog to leave comments about OCD here if they have something to say that may add to the discussion. Maybe someone can be helped out of it all.
Funny how life is all about putting the past behind us so that we can move into the destiny that God has for us.
By His grace ...
Steve
Thanks Shane!~!!
Anyway, the new tagboard doesn't take half an hour (small exageration) to load - without text at the end of it all. Frustrating to say the least. Call me a copycat, but Thomas and Shane both changed theirs, and it loads super fast.
Next thing was to find a photo of me that doesn't make me look like a middle aged, married, self employed, well fed man ... IYKWIM (if you know what I mean). Nah, anyway it's probably one of the better photo's of me. I wanted one that was taken 15 years ago, but was out-voted. Seem to remember being out-voted by the same two people when we bought KAREN'S car - I wanted yellow - we got dark blue (a secret ploy no doubt to make it less obvious how dirty it is).
On a more serious note - was wondering how many people out there suffer from OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder). For anyone who has experienced it, or knows or lives with someone who suffers from it, it can be a very misunderstood condition.
Being a Jennifer Garner fan, we hired Elektra last weekend. I also enjoy a serious action movie. It was interesting to note that the character of Elektra (played by Jennifer no less) suffered from OCD. It shocked me to find that there was an aspect of OCD that she experienced exactly like I did when I was younger (before God healed me of it).
I never knew what was wrong with me until after God had healed me from it. I didn't know or understand why I acted the way I did. I kept it secret because I was afraid to let anyone find out about me - in fact the only person I ever shared it with in my whole life (until just recently when I started to talk to my wife Karen about it) was a young friend called Gary whom I led to the Lord when I was in high school (I was about 14 at the time).
I believe the Lord gave me a revelation about OCD just recently when He showed me that OCD and fear are closely linked. I know for me that fear, loneliness, rejection by peers and an abject lack of self esteem all played a central part in my living with OCD for over thirty years. And this was all compounded by a speech difficulty - I stuttered and stammered until well into my twenties. This was largely overcome by the selfless love and support given to me by my precious wife Karen.
Dealing with OCD was different - only God can set you free from that which controls you without you ever really understanding what it is, and how it controls you. I've never told anyone in my family, and my children and wife were left wondering one day recently why I reacted so strongly to someone making fun of a friend who is OCD. It was actually at that point when my spirit identified with this young OCD sufferer, that God dropped into my spirit that this was what I had suffered from for most of my life - I just never knew what it was. Finally it had a name. I was able to mask it by controlling it - instead of letting it control me. I know I have shared in a previous post how singing helped me to overcome my speech problems. Worship really is the key to experiencing healing.
Anyway, praise God that OCD is all in the past. I would welcome anyone reading this blog to leave comments about OCD here if they have something to say that may add to the discussion. Maybe someone can be helped out of it all.
Funny how life is all about putting the past behind us so that we can move into the destiny that God has for us.
By His grace ...
Steve
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Snippet # 1
In his book - "The Attack Lambs - prayer that changes the world" - Mark Geppert shares this story. Following are some excerpts from his book (in italics).
The story is set in Nepal in 1983 when Mark was trekking from village to village - distributing Christian literature and praying for the sick. Pretty gutsy stuff to do considering that jail terms were one year for converting, three years for leading someone to the Lord, and six years per person for water baptism.
They had just been handing out about two hundred tracts, with great response. They came into a village of Panchat - town of Gaighat, Sagamatha province. They entered the place in the heat of the day, and stopped to rest on a stone wall near the local school ...
"The children were attracted to the two very different looking Westerners. They ran over to see us and were very curious about what might be in our rattan baskets. Our porters, also weary from the journey, were looking forward to spending the night in this town and had left us there on the wall to fend for ourselves , while they went to make arrangements. The crowd of children grew and two of the braver boys, perhaps ten years of age, began to open the baskets. We let them.
Across the way from us was a man in legal garb. Attorneys in Nepal have a very distinctive haircut and robe. This was obviously a man of some legal influence. As the children began to open the baskets and shout with joy at the books they found, this man turned and hastily headed toward the police station.
Calling to the porters, I expressed my concern, but they were not inclined to move quickly. So we Westerners took off as fast as we could go and left them behind. We were certain there was going to be a problem. We were right."
... cutting to the chase - Mark was caught, arrested and bought before the Chief District Officer (CDO) ...
"As I walked back down the trail to face certain difficulty, the Lord spoke to me, "If you deny Me before man, I will deny you before the Father."
The voice was as clear as day. The certainty of its tenor gripped my heart so that minutes later when the CDO asked, "Are you a Christian?" it was very easy to say, "Yes." When he further asked, "Are you a baptised Christian?" It was even easier to say, "Yes sir, I have been baptised three times," (once as a child, once as an adult believer, and once in the Holy Spirit).
As I said that, the same voice spoke to me saying, "I live to make intercession for you." It was so real. No one else in the room heard it. The CDO never heard it. But there was Jesus telling me He had the situation under control. He was standing in a major gap in my life that day. He was drawing together these events and the perfect plan of the Father.
After lengthy dialogue in which I shared the message of the Gospel with the CDO, he decided to let me go, along with our team. His exact words were, "I have decided to show you grace." Where did a Hindu official come up with the word "grace?" God was speaking through him. Instead of six hundred years in jail, I was going on with the rest of our scheduled trek.
Six months later, that same man walked out of his office and from a clear blue sky was struck dead by lightning. It was reported in the Kathmandu paper and the Christian brothers in Nepal saved the clipping for me. For years I thought about that lightning strike as retribution; you know, "Touch not mine annointed, and do my prophets no harm" (Chronicles 16:22). But one morning the Lord corrected me. "Rather," he suggested, "see how much it took for Me to get a pampered, self-centred, Christian preacher over to Nepal to share the faith with that man, knowing he had just six months to live."
(Note: "The Attack Lambs" is written by Mark Geppert, and is published by Genesis Books and ARMOUR Publishing Pte Ltd - Singapore.)
The story is set in Nepal in 1983 when Mark was trekking from village to village - distributing Christian literature and praying for the sick. Pretty gutsy stuff to do considering that jail terms were one year for converting, three years for leading someone to the Lord, and six years per person for water baptism.
They had just been handing out about two hundred tracts, with great response. They came into a village of Panchat - town of Gaighat, Sagamatha province. They entered the place in the heat of the day, and stopped to rest on a stone wall near the local school ...
"The children were attracted to the two very different looking Westerners. They ran over to see us and were very curious about what might be in our rattan baskets. Our porters, also weary from the journey, were looking forward to spending the night in this town and had left us there on the wall to fend for ourselves , while they went to make arrangements. The crowd of children grew and two of the braver boys, perhaps ten years of age, began to open the baskets. We let them.
Across the way from us was a man in legal garb. Attorneys in Nepal have a very distinctive haircut and robe. This was obviously a man of some legal influence. As the children began to open the baskets and shout with joy at the books they found, this man turned and hastily headed toward the police station.
Calling to the porters, I expressed my concern, but they were not inclined to move quickly. So we Westerners took off as fast as we could go and left them behind. We were certain there was going to be a problem. We were right."
... cutting to the chase - Mark was caught, arrested and bought before the Chief District Officer (CDO) ...
"As I walked back down the trail to face certain difficulty, the Lord spoke to me, "If you deny Me before man, I will deny you before the Father."
The voice was as clear as day. The certainty of its tenor gripped my heart so that minutes later when the CDO asked, "Are you a Christian?" it was very easy to say, "Yes." When he further asked, "Are you a baptised Christian?" It was even easier to say, "Yes sir, I have been baptised three times," (once as a child, once as an adult believer, and once in the Holy Spirit).
As I said that, the same voice spoke to me saying, "I live to make intercession for you." It was so real. No one else in the room heard it. The CDO never heard it. But there was Jesus telling me He had the situation under control. He was standing in a major gap in my life that day. He was drawing together these events and the perfect plan of the Father.
After lengthy dialogue in which I shared the message of the Gospel with the CDO, he decided to let me go, along with our team. His exact words were, "I have decided to show you grace." Where did a Hindu official come up with the word "grace?" God was speaking through him. Instead of six hundred years in jail, I was going on with the rest of our scheduled trek.
Six months later, that same man walked out of his office and from a clear blue sky was struck dead by lightning. It was reported in the Kathmandu paper and the Christian brothers in Nepal saved the clipping for me. For years I thought about that lightning strike as retribution; you know, "Touch not mine annointed, and do my prophets no harm" (Chronicles 16:22). But one morning the Lord corrected me. "Rather," he suggested, "see how much it took for Me to get a pampered, self-centred, Christian preacher over to Nepal to share the faith with that man, knowing he had just six months to live."
(Note: "The Attack Lambs" is written by Mark Geppert, and is published by Genesis Books and ARMOUR Publishing Pte Ltd - Singapore.)
Monday, July 18, 2005
It can't be ...
Yes it is! One month since I last posted. And so much has happened!
My oldest son - Thomas - is home from Thailand. It's been fun having him home. We used his birthday as a good excuse to go and run rampant at Zone 3 (laser games for the uninitiated) with a heap of his mates and family. Even had people drive down from Muka (Mukinbudin for those not in the know) to help celebrate. Unfortunately his departure to go back for a second term of staffing DTS in Chiang Mai will be here before we realise it. Good news is Karen and I have already booked to go up to Thailand in October to visit him. Yee-ha! Now that #2 son has his drivers license, Karen has found this new fangled thing called FREEDOM.
Next few months will be oh so busy. My oldest brother is moving from Muka to Perth (retiring from farm life) next month, and things are kinda busy at work and with family stuff. One more trip to Tanzania soon (possibly August) to collect some stuff that we left over there, and a hectic work schedule back here in Perth.
Preached last weekend at Bethel - expounded the "keys of the kingdom" using the book "Shattering your Strongholds" by Liberty Savard as a reference. Awesome truths contained in those passages from Matthew. Message really impacted some people - even considering the length of the sermon. I know that when a speaker has my attention, it doesn't matter how long it goes for - just so long as the information keeps flowing. Some people do switch off after 20 minutes though - 5 seconds is all it takes me if the message is boring or uninspiring. I seem to have this hunger for annointed teaching that is not being met. I should start downloading Joseph Prince messages, or something like that. I'm sick of "motivational" messages week after week. Or dry teaching loaded with facts, but no passion or annointing.
I'm reading my way (again) through "The Attack Lambs" by Mark Geppert. I have been thinking of sharing snippets of the stories he tells in my blog. There are some absolutely awesome accounts of amazing miracles that God did for him. Most people reading this blog will find it hard to get a copy of this amazing book because it is only sold in Singapore. Last visit to Singapore, I bought about 5 copies of this book to give away to friends, etc. He has also written a challenging book called "Bridges - getting from A to B" which turns the traditional concept of church government and leadership structure upside down. I don't imagine that most current church leaders would take kindly to it because he challenges the traditional pyramid sturcture for leadership, and suggests that the Biblical model is actually a horizontal model with everyone being accountable to everyone else - instead of the normal situation where often the pastor or leader is not really accountable to anyone else.
I've been really challenged lately about the need for a church where politics is outlawed (church politics that is) and where the word is preached powerfully every week, and where awesome worship takes place regularly. I believe that such a church would be flooded with people who want to experience a life giving church from week to week. People could stay and worship as long as they liked, and there would be no "booting out" of people just because the person on lockup wanted to go home. Some people might think I'm crazy, but I reckon a church like that would be a runaway success. Might have something to do with the fact that I believe that's the kind of church God wants - a church that is passionate about Him, and hungry for Him. A church where people fit their lives around God, and not vice versa. A church where the worship team is more interested in engaging God than the "audience".
One can only dream ... and hope ...
Steve
My oldest son - Thomas - is home from Thailand. It's been fun having him home. We used his birthday as a good excuse to go and run rampant at Zone 3 (laser games for the uninitiated) with a heap of his mates and family. Even had people drive down from Muka (Mukinbudin for those not in the know) to help celebrate. Unfortunately his departure to go back for a second term of staffing DTS in Chiang Mai will be here before we realise it. Good news is Karen and I have already booked to go up to Thailand in October to visit him. Yee-ha! Now that #2 son has his drivers license, Karen has found this new fangled thing called FREEDOM.
Next few months will be oh so busy. My oldest brother is moving from Muka to Perth (retiring from farm life) next month, and things are kinda busy at work and with family stuff. One more trip to Tanzania soon (possibly August) to collect some stuff that we left over there, and a hectic work schedule back here in Perth.
Preached last weekend at Bethel - expounded the "keys of the kingdom" using the book "Shattering your Strongholds" by Liberty Savard as a reference. Awesome truths contained in those passages from Matthew. Message really impacted some people - even considering the length of the sermon. I know that when a speaker has my attention, it doesn't matter how long it goes for - just so long as the information keeps flowing. Some people do switch off after 20 minutes though - 5 seconds is all it takes me if the message is boring or uninspiring. I seem to have this hunger for annointed teaching that is not being met. I should start downloading Joseph Prince messages, or something like that. I'm sick of "motivational" messages week after week. Or dry teaching loaded with facts, but no passion or annointing.
I'm reading my way (again) through "The Attack Lambs" by Mark Geppert. I have been thinking of sharing snippets of the stories he tells in my blog. There are some absolutely awesome accounts of amazing miracles that God did for him. Most people reading this blog will find it hard to get a copy of this amazing book because it is only sold in Singapore. Last visit to Singapore, I bought about 5 copies of this book to give away to friends, etc. He has also written a challenging book called "Bridges - getting from A to B" which turns the traditional concept of church government and leadership structure upside down. I don't imagine that most current church leaders would take kindly to it because he challenges the traditional pyramid sturcture for leadership, and suggests that the Biblical model is actually a horizontal model with everyone being accountable to everyone else - instead of the normal situation where often the pastor or leader is not really accountable to anyone else.
I've been really challenged lately about the need for a church where politics is outlawed (church politics that is) and where the word is preached powerfully every week, and where awesome worship takes place regularly. I believe that such a church would be flooded with people who want to experience a life giving church from week to week. People could stay and worship as long as they liked, and there would be no "booting out" of people just because the person on lockup wanted to go home. Some people might think I'm crazy, but I reckon a church like that would be a runaway success. Might have something to do with the fact that I believe that's the kind of church God wants - a church that is passionate about Him, and hungry for Him. A church where people fit their lives around God, and not vice versa. A church where the worship team is more interested in engaging God than the "audience".
One can only dream ... and hope ...
Steve
Saturday, June 18, 2005
The sun is shining ...
Well, it's Saturday morning again, and the rain has stopped - for now anyway. I love the sunshine. I'm a summer person. Cold, wet, rainy days do nothing for me. I'm a fair weather person - beach sand and surf is the way to spend your relaxing hours. God, why didn't you miraculously give us a house near the beach? :D)
I've spent the last two weeks (since SYG) reading lot's of blogs of people who are all seemingly linked to each other . There seems to be a common theme running through all of them - many of them are youth pastors or workers who are embracing a movement known as the emerging church. As best as I can comprehend the ethos of this movement - it seeks to make church and Christianity relevant to young people - which is a noble concept. I can't help but feel when I read the blog posts and some of the resulting comments that we have somehow adopted the notion that we have to make the Gospel relevant for it to be accepted. We see a move away from traditional worship, and a general trend away from traditional church buildings and processes.
I am literally torn in two directions with my feelings about this situation. Whilst I can agree with the need for change in the way we "do" church, I know that many of these churches are unlikely to attract older people who have grown up in the more traditional church vein of life. Is this their intention? I am the first person to stand up and say that legalism, and tradition for the sake of tradition, needs to be dealt with. I have suffered severely at the hands of church leaders who must keep a grip on power and control at all costs. The result for me by opening up my heart to God in my pain and rejection - was that He took me and my wife Karen through an incredible journey of visiting three charismatic churches over two years - none of which were perfect - but all of which sowed things of the Spirit into our lives, and stretched us in our faith and walk with God.
The reality is that most young people are looking for something of worth and value in their lives, and the lives of others. These things are only to be found in the person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ. I guess the reason why older people and older traditions have trouble relating (so we are told) to the youth of today is because they have changed so much in there lifestyles, social definitions, expectations of life and family, and the general breakdown of families and our social/moral structure. I also believe that much of the generational void in the church has been created by the church itself, and the leaderships that insist that we must have a separate youth ministry at all costs. It could be percieved that our youth don't want to have anything to do with older people and older traditions (such as hymns, etc) and that older people don't want to have anything to do with youth and youth emerging traditions (such as Shaker's worship music, mosh pits, etc). I honestly believe that the division between the two "generations" is people created, and hellishly inspired.
The Bible (God's divine and inspired Word to us) clearly does not speak about us having two types of churches - one for youth and one for old. It calls us to meet in the middle ground. It calls us to lay aside our prejudices and divisive thoughts and behaviour. The youth need the older generation - the experience and counsel that can be drawn upon is valuable for the spiritual growth of a younger and newer Christian life. The older generation need the youth so that we don't forget how to enjoy life and have fun, and to not take things too seriously all of the time.
I am so blessed to have an awesome relationship with my three children. I count them as true friends, and always have since they were born. They are a precious gift from God, and Karen and I have poured our lives into them - determined to make a difference in their lives and to see them grow up as healthy, balanced, Spirit filled, world changing followers and disciples of Jesus Christ. And now they are all impacting in a positive and life changing way into other young peoples lives.
I want to make it clear that I am not anti emergent church movement. If it enables the youth of today to meet with Jesus and be transformed, then I am all for it. I just wonder how it looks to the world - who are always looking to the church for direction, whether we acknowledge it or not - when they see a church that appears to be divided against itself. I have studied church planting in depth, and am actively involved in missions (reaching the lost - both here and overseas). Most church plants are emergent in nature (well, at least some of the concepts are there) in that they often start in a home, or a borrowed or rented place. They are usually informal and don't have a paid pastor. They may meet infrequently, or more than once a week (not just on, or not even Sunday).
It saddens me that the enemy is allowed to use the same tactics over and over again. He's used the gifts of the Spirit to divide churches into fundamental and charismatic, and now he is using worship and music to divide the churches into young and old.
My point in all of this rambling is that it is all about our attitudes. We have to learn to reach out to each other, and to embrace each other, and to encourage each other. We can worship alongside each other if we are prepared to love each other. This love demands that we accept each other even if deep down inside we struggle with each other. Only God can bridge that gap! We shouldn't have to change church to make it acceptable and relevant to others - WE SHOULD CHANGE OURSELVES! And yes, then there is by default an expectation that others will change and accept us.
If this personal revival is allowed to take place, the hymns versus youth worship music debate/division/dilema will be stripped of it's power, and we will all learn to worship alongside each other. Informal chats about spirituality and life will go hand in hand with powerful, convicting, preaching of the Word of God. Lifestyle evangelism will complement congregational worship and church life.
Let's not divide the Bride of Christ - let's unit it with one voice, one purpose, and one spirit. This can be done because we listen to one Voice, have one Purpose, and are led and indwelt by one Spirit!
If Jesus was to plant a church here today, what kind would it be?
"Lord God, we pray for the youth of our nation. Would you loose from them the spirit of darkness and lawlessness that is causing them to destroy their lives, and would you bind them - each and every one of them Lord Jesus- to Your will, Your purpose, and Your destiny for their lives."
"Oh, and ditto for us older generation."
I've spent the last two weeks (since SYG) reading lot's of blogs of people who are all seemingly linked to each other . There seems to be a common theme running through all of them - many of them are youth pastors or workers who are embracing a movement known as the emerging church. As best as I can comprehend the ethos of this movement - it seeks to make church and Christianity relevant to young people - which is a noble concept. I can't help but feel when I read the blog posts and some of the resulting comments that we have somehow adopted the notion that we have to make the Gospel relevant for it to be accepted. We see a move away from traditional worship, and a general trend away from traditional church buildings and processes.
I am literally torn in two directions with my feelings about this situation. Whilst I can agree with the need for change in the way we "do" church, I know that many of these churches are unlikely to attract older people who have grown up in the more traditional church vein of life. Is this their intention? I am the first person to stand up and say that legalism, and tradition for the sake of tradition, needs to be dealt with. I have suffered severely at the hands of church leaders who must keep a grip on power and control at all costs. The result for me by opening up my heart to God in my pain and rejection - was that He took me and my wife Karen through an incredible journey of visiting three charismatic churches over two years - none of which were perfect - but all of which sowed things of the Spirit into our lives, and stretched us in our faith and walk with God.
The reality is that most young people are looking for something of worth and value in their lives, and the lives of others. These things are only to be found in the person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ. I guess the reason why older people and older traditions have trouble relating (so we are told) to the youth of today is because they have changed so much in there lifestyles, social definitions, expectations of life and family, and the general breakdown of families and our social/moral structure. I also believe that much of the generational void in the church has been created by the church itself, and the leaderships that insist that we must have a separate youth ministry at all costs. It could be percieved that our youth don't want to have anything to do with older people and older traditions (such as hymns, etc) and that older people don't want to have anything to do with youth and youth emerging traditions (such as Shaker's worship music, mosh pits, etc). I honestly believe that the division between the two "generations" is people created, and hellishly inspired.
The Bible (God's divine and inspired Word to us) clearly does not speak about us having two types of churches - one for youth and one for old. It calls us to meet in the middle ground. It calls us to lay aside our prejudices and divisive thoughts and behaviour. The youth need the older generation - the experience and counsel that can be drawn upon is valuable for the spiritual growth of a younger and newer Christian life. The older generation need the youth so that we don't forget how to enjoy life and have fun, and to not take things too seriously all of the time.
I am so blessed to have an awesome relationship with my three children. I count them as true friends, and always have since they were born. They are a precious gift from God, and Karen and I have poured our lives into them - determined to make a difference in their lives and to see them grow up as healthy, balanced, Spirit filled, world changing followers and disciples of Jesus Christ. And now they are all impacting in a positive and life changing way into other young peoples lives.
I want to make it clear that I am not anti emergent church movement. If it enables the youth of today to meet with Jesus and be transformed, then I am all for it. I just wonder how it looks to the world - who are always looking to the church for direction, whether we acknowledge it or not - when they see a church that appears to be divided against itself. I have studied church planting in depth, and am actively involved in missions (reaching the lost - both here and overseas). Most church plants are emergent in nature (well, at least some of the concepts are there) in that they often start in a home, or a borrowed or rented place. They are usually informal and don't have a paid pastor. They may meet infrequently, or more than once a week (not just on, or not even Sunday).
It saddens me that the enemy is allowed to use the same tactics over and over again. He's used the gifts of the Spirit to divide churches into fundamental and charismatic, and now he is using worship and music to divide the churches into young and old.
My point in all of this rambling is that it is all about our attitudes. We have to learn to reach out to each other, and to embrace each other, and to encourage each other. We can worship alongside each other if we are prepared to love each other. This love demands that we accept each other even if deep down inside we struggle with each other. Only God can bridge that gap! We shouldn't have to change church to make it acceptable and relevant to others - WE SHOULD CHANGE OURSELVES! And yes, then there is by default an expectation that others will change and accept us.
If this personal revival is allowed to take place, the hymns versus youth worship music debate/division/dilema will be stripped of it's power, and we will all learn to worship alongside each other. Informal chats about spirituality and life will go hand in hand with powerful, convicting, preaching of the Word of God. Lifestyle evangelism will complement congregational worship and church life.
Let's not divide the Bride of Christ - let's unit it with one voice, one purpose, and one spirit. This can be done because we listen to one Voice, have one Purpose, and are led and indwelt by one Spirit!
If Jesus was to plant a church here today, what kind would it be?
"Lord God, we pray for the youth of our nation. Would you loose from them the spirit of darkness and lawlessness that is causing them to destroy their lives, and would you bind them - each and every one of them Lord Jesus- to Your will, Your purpose, and Your destiny for their lives."
"Oh, and ditto for us older generation."
Saturday, June 11, 2005
Saturday arvo - looking out my window ...
Well, I've just gotten down from the roof where the gutters needed a small clean out. Nowhere near as much as they used to collect before all the gum trees got chopped down around our house.
Our house is about 20 years old, and was on a semi-rural property before the developers came through and bought up everything around us. We weren't exactly overjoyed at the prospect of having neighbours again because that was the reason why we moved to Southern River in the first place - to get some space between us and people.
The fact is that I didn't want to leave suburbia originally - even though I was born and bred on a farm at Wialki - north of Mukinbudin. But circumstances caused us to move, and God led my precious wife Karen to this house on 1 acre of land just down the road from Thornlie Christian College where our children were attending school. When she first convinced me to come and look at it one Sunday afternoon after we had been for a drive with the kids, there just happened to be a home open!! We walked through the house, and I was quite impressed (I am very critical of things, and quite hard to please sometimes - just ask Karen). Two things - it was way out of our price range, and it was a long way from any shops, etc. Strange how a country boy can become kinda used to suburbia and all of it's comforts - whilst still not really enjoying living in the city.
We needed to move from where we were living though, so we started to pray about the situation. To cut a long story short, there were about 7 other offers on this property, and so we just committed it to God. He did some awesome miracles - one by one all of the offers fell through for one reason or another (divine intervention actually) and eventually - when we had actually handed it back to God and said "Lord if you don't want us to have that house, then please give us the grace to accept it and get on with our lives" - our offer ( for substantially less than what the vendors were asking) was put on the table. And God gave us our beautiful home on 1 acre of land in the bush with horses alongside us, and peace and quiet like you would never believe was possible. Just like being on a farm! This was about 12 years ago.
About 5 years ago - when things were not going too well in our business - the bank tried to take this house and our business away from us. We owed them a lot of money, and they made a demand on us that was impossible to meet. At one PCLC friday night service, I was crying out to God, full of fear and totally devastated by the prospect of my family losing everything and being thrown out on the street. I asked God what was going to happen to us, and our house. I heard God's voice saying "Steve, it was by a miracle that I gave you that house, and it will be by a miracle that I will save it". And He did - and it was an awesome miracle.
Several weeks after that prayer, during another friday night service at PCLC, I cried out to God about our business. His voice spoke back to me and said " Steve, I will build a business that will be beyond your imagination - but I will build it". And He did, and continues to do so. Reminds me a bit of that passage that says "that unless God builds the house, he that labours does so in vain".
So how does that relate to gutters and trees? Simply that there are times when we lament the loss of things in our lives - like all of the beautiful shady gum trees that used to fill our gutters with lots and lots and lots of leaves - but we lose sight of the fact that He always replaces them with something better. We now have lots and lots of neighbours - something that I was never really keen on - but the fact is that most of them have never heard of Jesus and what He did for them upon the Cross. He has not only traded our ashes for beauty - but He has traded our rural sanctuary for neighbours - lost and dying neighbours - a mission field right her on our doorstep, next door, behind us.
"God, I am so sorry for all the times that I've wanted my old life back, or wanted something different than what you want for me. Help me to see past all of the things that I miss, or regret, and show me the true calling of a disciple of Christ - to speak the Word of truth and life into the lives of those around me. Give me a love for my mission field next door."
Wouldn't you want to have a Christian neighbour if you desperately needed to hear about Jesus?
Our house is about 20 years old, and was on a semi-rural property before the developers came through and bought up everything around us. We weren't exactly overjoyed at the prospect of having neighbours again because that was the reason why we moved to Southern River in the first place - to get some space between us and people.
The fact is that I didn't want to leave suburbia originally - even though I was born and bred on a farm at Wialki - north of Mukinbudin. But circumstances caused us to move, and God led my precious wife Karen to this house on 1 acre of land just down the road from Thornlie Christian College where our children were attending school. When she first convinced me to come and look at it one Sunday afternoon after we had been for a drive with the kids, there just happened to be a home open!! We walked through the house, and I was quite impressed (I am very critical of things, and quite hard to please sometimes - just ask Karen). Two things - it was way out of our price range, and it was a long way from any shops, etc. Strange how a country boy can become kinda used to suburbia and all of it's comforts - whilst still not really enjoying living in the city.
We needed to move from where we were living though, so we started to pray about the situation. To cut a long story short, there were about 7 other offers on this property, and so we just committed it to God. He did some awesome miracles - one by one all of the offers fell through for one reason or another (divine intervention actually) and eventually - when we had actually handed it back to God and said "Lord if you don't want us to have that house, then please give us the grace to accept it and get on with our lives" - our offer ( for substantially less than what the vendors were asking) was put on the table. And God gave us our beautiful home on 1 acre of land in the bush with horses alongside us, and peace and quiet like you would never believe was possible. Just like being on a farm! This was about 12 years ago.
About 5 years ago - when things were not going too well in our business - the bank tried to take this house and our business away from us. We owed them a lot of money, and they made a demand on us that was impossible to meet. At one PCLC friday night service, I was crying out to God, full of fear and totally devastated by the prospect of my family losing everything and being thrown out on the street. I asked God what was going to happen to us, and our house. I heard God's voice saying "Steve, it was by a miracle that I gave you that house, and it will be by a miracle that I will save it". And He did - and it was an awesome miracle.
Several weeks after that prayer, during another friday night service at PCLC, I cried out to God about our business. His voice spoke back to me and said " Steve, I will build a business that will be beyond your imagination - but I will build it". And He did, and continues to do so. Reminds me a bit of that passage that says "that unless God builds the house, he that labours does so in vain".
So how does that relate to gutters and trees? Simply that there are times when we lament the loss of things in our lives - like all of the beautiful shady gum trees that used to fill our gutters with lots and lots and lots of leaves - but we lose sight of the fact that He always replaces them with something better. We now have lots and lots of neighbours - something that I was never really keen on - but the fact is that most of them have never heard of Jesus and what He did for them upon the Cross. He has not only traded our ashes for beauty - but He has traded our rural sanctuary for neighbours - lost and dying neighbours - a mission field right her on our doorstep, next door, behind us.
"God, I am so sorry for all the times that I've wanted my old life back, or wanted something different than what you want for me. Help me to see past all of the things that I miss, or regret, and show me the true calling of a disciple of Christ - to speak the Word of truth and life into the lives of those around me. Give me a love for my mission field next door."
Wouldn't you want to have a Christian neighbour if you desperately needed to hear about Jesus?
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
C-day is here ... and almost gone.
Well, it's Tuesday night and I am updating my blog as promised so that the results of my visit to the hospital are made known.
The Dr did end up cutting part of my shoulder out to remove the BCC. How do I feel about that? Well, it aches for starters, and I know that over the next few days it will probably give me a hard time, but I know that nothing has changed as far as I am concerned. I still believe in miracles of healing, and I am still wondering in my heart why God did not heal me miraculously, but I know that nothing changes the truth of the scripture that says "by His stripes I am healed". I know that Jesus didn't only die to give me eternal life, but that this earthly life would be full of blessing and fulfillment. That includes good health. The prophet Isaiah states it plain and clear. He was wounded for our sicknesses and diseases.
So how do I rationalise away all of the sicknesses in Christians? Joseph Prince from the "New Creation Church" in Singapore tells the story of how Kenneth Hagan said that he gave thanks to God for doctors, because they kept him alive long enough for him to learn about God's miraculous healing. There is a lot of truth in that. My own knee got trashed in a skiing accident, but then God healed me right before (literally a half hour) I was to climb several hundred steps at a temple in Laos whilst doing a prayer and warfare walk on a missions trip. But this was one year after the accident. Why not be healed straight away, or why did the accident happen in the first place? I know several people (personally) who have been miraculously healed of cancer, and not just a BCC, but serious life threatening stuff. Why them and not me, or others I know who are struggling with sickness.
I believe the answer lies in my determination to know more of God, and to know Him more. I have experienced miracles in my life, so I know from experience that He does them ... even today ... but in this case I suspect that He has a higher purpose for this event. Even now, I am believing for a complete recovery from the operation, and I know that God has me in the palm of His hands ... safe ... secure ... I am a child of the King.
I remember when my wife Karen was talking with me about the vision God gave her of me being healed in Laos (provided I was obedient and went on the missions trip) - I asked her why did God allow it in the first place - and she said she felt that God had told her it is was so that I could identify with the sick and suffering people who were in need of healing. And so I am believing for a ministry of teaching the truth about healing, and being able to identify with those who desperately need a touch from God.
Yes, God does still heal today. No, He didn't miraculously remove the tumour from my shoulder. That doesn't change the truth of His word, and I will continue to believe Him for the impossible, because if I don't, then I may never see another miracle. Every day I believe Him for the impossible in some area of my life.
So I will lift my hands and my eyes to the heavens, for that is where my help comes from. God is still ruling and reigning over creation, and as long as I let Him rule and reign in my life, I know there are exciting times ahead.
I guess I will be preaching on Sunday that His grace is sufficient for me in every situation. I would love to see someone get miraculously healed during the service. Let's see some shackles broken, some captives set free, some lives restored! Who knows what will happen. One thing I know for sure - I will be worshipping and praising God with all of my heart, for He is good, and His mercies endure forever.
Hallelujah - for the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad, and give the glory unto Him!
Steve
The Dr did end up cutting part of my shoulder out to remove the BCC. How do I feel about that? Well, it aches for starters, and I know that over the next few days it will probably give me a hard time, but I know that nothing has changed as far as I am concerned. I still believe in miracles of healing, and I am still wondering in my heart why God did not heal me miraculously, but I know that nothing changes the truth of the scripture that says "by His stripes I am healed". I know that Jesus didn't only die to give me eternal life, but that this earthly life would be full of blessing and fulfillment. That includes good health. The prophet Isaiah states it plain and clear. He was wounded for our sicknesses and diseases.
So how do I rationalise away all of the sicknesses in Christians? Joseph Prince from the "New Creation Church" in Singapore tells the story of how Kenneth Hagan said that he gave thanks to God for doctors, because they kept him alive long enough for him to learn about God's miraculous healing. There is a lot of truth in that. My own knee got trashed in a skiing accident, but then God healed me right before (literally a half hour) I was to climb several hundred steps at a temple in Laos whilst doing a prayer and warfare walk on a missions trip. But this was one year after the accident. Why not be healed straight away, or why did the accident happen in the first place? I know several people (personally) who have been miraculously healed of cancer, and not just a BCC, but serious life threatening stuff. Why them and not me, or others I know who are struggling with sickness.
I believe the answer lies in my determination to know more of God, and to know Him more. I have experienced miracles in my life, so I know from experience that He does them ... even today ... but in this case I suspect that He has a higher purpose for this event. Even now, I am believing for a complete recovery from the operation, and I know that God has me in the palm of His hands ... safe ... secure ... I am a child of the King.
I remember when my wife Karen was talking with me about the vision God gave her of me being healed in Laos (provided I was obedient and went on the missions trip) - I asked her why did God allow it in the first place - and she said she felt that God had told her it is was so that I could identify with the sick and suffering people who were in need of healing. And so I am believing for a ministry of teaching the truth about healing, and being able to identify with those who desperately need a touch from God.
Yes, God does still heal today. No, He didn't miraculously remove the tumour from my shoulder. That doesn't change the truth of His word, and I will continue to believe Him for the impossible, because if I don't, then I may never see another miracle. Every day I believe Him for the impossible in some area of my life.
So I will lift my hands and my eyes to the heavens, for that is where my help comes from. God is still ruling and reigning over creation, and as long as I let Him rule and reign in my life, I know there are exciting times ahead.
I guess I will be preaching on Sunday that His grace is sufficient for me in every situation. I would love to see someone get miraculously healed during the service. Let's see some shackles broken, some captives set free, some lives restored! Who knows what will happen. One thing I know for sure - I will be worshipping and praising God with all of my heart, for He is good, and His mercies endure forever.
Hallelujah - for the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad, and give the glory unto Him!
Steve
Friday, May 06, 2005
Thank God it's Friday ...
Well, it's the end of a hard working week!
It's been a tough one, with long hours, and lot's of frustration. People seem to have an uncanny propensity to make life hard for you when you least need it. Like the people who undid a whole days work by deleting some crucial files off of a compact flash memory card. The problem was that we had to work all day through till 4.30am the next morning to rectify the problem. It didn't have to be that way, but someone's thoughtlessness caused it. It's been a week of fighting to make schedules, and to keep promises and commitments to clients and other people.
I managed to shoehorn in a visit to my skin cancer clinic today to find out what the verdict is. They want to operate next Tuesday. I'm still working through how I feel about it. I used the Aldara cream treatment and it seemed to work well, with lots of improvement on the outside of the skin, but my Dr says that the BCC is still under the skin, and must be cut out to remove it completely. I guess I'm wondering why God hasn't answered my prayers for healing YET!. I know that it's only Friday evening, and so God still has 3.5 days left to do a miracle, but there is always that thought that maybe He won't. Or maybe it's an exercise of faith. What would be awesome would be if on Tuesday I rockup for surgery and the Dr looks and sees that the BCC is completely gone. Then, what an awesome opportunity to share Christ with him, and to avoid the pain of going under the scalpel.
My experience has been that in every hard test of faith that we enter into, there is always a desire on our part to see a quick and painless solution. This is not always what God has in mind. He wants what is best for us, but He wants us to grow in faith and intimacy with Him first and foremost. Does this mean I give up on praying for and believing for a miracle of healing. Definately NOT! It makes me more determined to seek the miracle that I believe Jesus died on the cross to secure for me.
The hecticness of this past week ( and quite a few before it) has helped me to realize that our enemy wants to squeeze the life out of us. And he does this by making us so busy that we become inwardly focussed - in survival mode sometimes. He attacks us on every front - financially, time with our family, health, and material possessions that break or are taken away from us.
Sometimes we become convinced that we have to fight - and this is true - we do have to fight, because the scriptures state that we are in a war against the enemy and his minions. But the truth is that we don't have to fight the enemy - Jesus has already done this and won. The person who we have to contend with is ourselves. The biggest battle or fight is waged within - to maintain relationship with God such that the will and purposes of God take place in our lives every moment of every day. His will is that I should be healed. How do I know for sure? Because the scriptures say that Jesus died not just to give me eternal life, but to heal me of my sickness and diseases. By His stripes I AM healed. Sickness will come and try to attack us, but we don't have to let it conquer us or rule us. We have the victory because Jesus won it on the Cross of Calvary.
Well, next Tuesday is C-Day. I guess my theology will be tested, but the funny thing is, it doesn't worry me. Whatever happens, God is still AWESOME. He still healed my knee in Laos on the missions trip. He still saved our home and our business. He still has done countless awesome miracles in every area of my life.
Whether I stand in the pulpit to preach on Sunday 15th May nursing a sore shoulder - proclaiming that God's grace is sufficient to see me through every challenge that I face - or whether I stand in that puplit to preach and declare the miracle working power of God is still at work in my life - nothing changes the fact that I owe my life to God and it is His to deal with as He pleases, because He loves me, and He would never harm me. He has promised to remember the thoughts that He has towards me. And they are thoughts to give me a hope and a future - to prosper me and not to harm me.
God does not change His thoughts towards us. Can we afford to change our thoughts towards Him? My post next Tuesday night on this blog will reflect what my attitude towards God is at that time, and I declare now that I will still be praising and worshipping Him no matter what happens. It may just affect the way YOU see God though. I pray that the end result will not cause you to lose faith in God's ability and desire to still perform miracles of healing today. I pray that whatever happens you will be challenged to seek His face, and to cry out "Glory to the King"!
Safe in the arms of Jesus.
Steve
It's been a tough one, with long hours, and lot's of frustration. People seem to have an uncanny propensity to make life hard for you when you least need it. Like the people who undid a whole days work by deleting some crucial files off of a compact flash memory card. The problem was that we had to work all day through till 4.30am the next morning to rectify the problem. It didn't have to be that way, but someone's thoughtlessness caused it. It's been a week of fighting to make schedules, and to keep promises and commitments to clients and other people.
I managed to shoehorn in a visit to my skin cancer clinic today to find out what the verdict is. They want to operate next Tuesday. I'm still working through how I feel about it. I used the Aldara cream treatment and it seemed to work well, with lots of improvement on the outside of the skin, but my Dr says that the BCC is still under the skin, and must be cut out to remove it completely. I guess I'm wondering why God hasn't answered my prayers for healing YET!. I know that it's only Friday evening, and so God still has 3.5 days left to do a miracle, but there is always that thought that maybe He won't. Or maybe it's an exercise of faith. What would be awesome would be if on Tuesday I rockup for surgery and the Dr looks and sees that the BCC is completely gone. Then, what an awesome opportunity to share Christ with him, and to avoid the pain of going under the scalpel.
My experience has been that in every hard test of faith that we enter into, there is always a desire on our part to see a quick and painless solution. This is not always what God has in mind. He wants what is best for us, but He wants us to grow in faith and intimacy with Him first and foremost. Does this mean I give up on praying for and believing for a miracle of healing. Definately NOT! It makes me more determined to seek the miracle that I believe Jesus died on the cross to secure for me.
The hecticness of this past week ( and quite a few before it) has helped me to realize that our enemy wants to squeeze the life out of us. And he does this by making us so busy that we become inwardly focussed - in survival mode sometimes. He attacks us on every front - financially, time with our family, health, and material possessions that break or are taken away from us.
Sometimes we become convinced that we have to fight - and this is true - we do have to fight, because the scriptures state that we are in a war against the enemy and his minions. But the truth is that we don't have to fight the enemy - Jesus has already done this and won. The person who we have to contend with is ourselves. The biggest battle or fight is waged within - to maintain relationship with God such that the will and purposes of God take place in our lives every moment of every day. His will is that I should be healed. How do I know for sure? Because the scriptures say that Jesus died not just to give me eternal life, but to heal me of my sickness and diseases. By His stripes I AM healed. Sickness will come and try to attack us, but we don't have to let it conquer us or rule us. We have the victory because Jesus won it on the Cross of Calvary.
Well, next Tuesday is C-Day. I guess my theology will be tested, but the funny thing is, it doesn't worry me. Whatever happens, God is still AWESOME. He still healed my knee in Laos on the missions trip. He still saved our home and our business. He still has done countless awesome miracles in every area of my life.
Whether I stand in the pulpit to preach on Sunday 15th May nursing a sore shoulder - proclaiming that God's grace is sufficient to see me through every challenge that I face - or whether I stand in that puplit to preach and declare the miracle working power of God is still at work in my life - nothing changes the fact that I owe my life to God and it is His to deal with as He pleases, because He loves me, and He would never harm me. He has promised to remember the thoughts that He has towards me. And they are thoughts to give me a hope and a future - to prosper me and not to harm me.
God does not change His thoughts towards us. Can we afford to change our thoughts towards Him? My post next Tuesday night on this blog will reflect what my attitude towards God is at that time, and I declare now that I will still be praising and worshipping Him no matter what happens. It may just affect the way YOU see God though. I pray that the end result will not cause you to lose faith in God's ability and desire to still perform miracles of healing today. I pray that whatever happens you will be challenged to seek His face, and to cry out "Glory to the King"!
Safe in the arms of Jesus.
Steve
Saturday, February 19, 2005
We're back ...
Wow, it's Saturday afternoon, and we're back home from Thailand (well Karen, Camille and myself anyway). We got in about 8-00 this morning, and got picked up from the airport by our precious niece Phillipa (thanks Pip) and when we got home we quickly freshened up, got dressed up, and headed off to the Art Gallery of WA to see Camille's two selected paintings being exhibited in the Year 12 Perspectives show. Bumped into my old English teacher from Merredin High School whom I haven't seen in yonks. He even sort of remembered me ... scary.
As we were driving into Perth to the exhibition, we were playing a new Hillsongs CD that Karen just bought. Track 5 really got to me. I kept hitting the replay button so that I could hear it over and over. You know how sometimes a song just grabs you and won't let go - this was one of them. As I listened to it speaking about how the Lord is my Shepherd, and how the enemy cannot touch me because I am a child of the Most High God, my spirit started to well up inside of me. I started feeling all hot, and thought at any moment I would burst into tears - not a pretty sight for a 40 something year old man with his wife and daughter sitting in the car - doing 100Kmh down the freeway. Sometimes a song just connects - Spirit to spirit - and before I know it I am overwhelmed! It's interesting that one of my favourite songs is Hillsongs' "Overwhelmed" - and every time I listen to it I get truly overwhelmed by the message it brings, and the emotions that it releases in me. I can't listen to it without tears welling up in my eyes, and a deep sense of His Holy Spirit's presence. I believe that these songs are "truly annointed" songs, and they carry an annointing that is released upon the listener. When I listen to songs like them, words of knowledge and understanding start to flow, and God speaks deeply into my heart about things that matter a lot to me (just typing this blog, I can feel the Holy Spirit rising up inside of me).
I'd only just looked over at Karen minutes before the song started, and noticed that she was crying. I didn't have to ask her what was wrong ... I sensed it in my spirit that she was grieving about being back, and leaving Thomas behind in Thailand for another 4.5 months. Immediately I felt that same grief, and was thinking about how hard it is to leave someone behind whom you deeply love and miss. And then that song started playing (God's timing is ALWAYS perfect) and He started speaking to my spirit the verse from Matthew 16: 24-25 which goes like this ... "if anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.
For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it."
I knew immediately it was a word of comfort for Karen and me, and later realised that it was a word for Thomas too. When I got home I checked my emails, and there was a prophetic bulletin update from Rick Joyner - and there on page 5 was that passage from Matthew 16: 24-25. I realised then that God was sealing that word into my heart. And strange as it may seem, that word of comfort convinced me once again that it is all worth it. I know that God has Thomas exactly where he wants him to be for now.
To worship at his new home church in Chiang Mai, to meet his "adopted mum", and to meet his church family, and to be honoured guests at a dinner held for all of us was overwhelming. I know it will be months until we see him again, but I would rather release my son into God's puropse for his life and to see our life of nurturing him "in the way that he should go" come to fulfillment in his destiny, than to be selfish and try to hold onto him.
I am so blessed to have three wonderful children who all want to "seek, serve, and follow Christ". The only thing the Boy's Brigade motto should have added to the end of it is ... "to the ends of the earth". We were destined to be a missionary family.
I am so happy that Shane was able to stay on with his bro' in Thailand for another three weeks ... just to hang out and do the things that brothers do!
The enemy cannot touch him because he is a child of the MOST HIGH GOD. The Lord is my Shepherd, and I will lack nothing. He is my rod and my staff, and He comforts me. He leads me beside still and peaceful waters. He prepares a place for me at His table.
Hallelujah! Prajow san dee (Thai for "God is good")!
Abiding in Him, hiding in Him, abandoned to Him,
Steve
As we were driving into Perth to the exhibition, we were playing a new Hillsongs CD that Karen just bought. Track 5 really got to me. I kept hitting the replay button so that I could hear it over and over. You know how sometimes a song just grabs you and won't let go - this was one of them. As I listened to it speaking about how the Lord is my Shepherd, and how the enemy cannot touch me because I am a child of the Most High God, my spirit started to well up inside of me. I started feeling all hot, and thought at any moment I would burst into tears - not a pretty sight for a 40 something year old man with his wife and daughter sitting in the car - doing 100Kmh down the freeway. Sometimes a song just connects - Spirit to spirit - and before I know it I am overwhelmed! It's interesting that one of my favourite songs is Hillsongs' "Overwhelmed" - and every time I listen to it I get truly overwhelmed by the message it brings, and the emotions that it releases in me. I can't listen to it without tears welling up in my eyes, and a deep sense of His Holy Spirit's presence. I believe that these songs are "truly annointed" songs, and they carry an annointing that is released upon the listener. When I listen to songs like them, words of knowledge and understanding start to flow, and God speaks deeply into my heart about things that matter a lot to me (just typing this blog, I can feel the Holy Spirit rising up inside of me).
I'd only just looked over at Karen minutes before the song started, and noticed that she was crying. I didn't have to ask her what was wrong ... I sensed it in my spirit that she was grieving about being back, and leaving Thomas behind in Thailand for another 4.5 months. Immediately I felt that same grief, and was thinking about how hard it is to leave someone behind whom you deeply love and miss. And then that song started playing (God's timing is ALWAYS perfect) and He started speaking to my spirit the verse from Matthew 16: 24-25 which goes like this ... "if anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.
For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it."
I knew immediately it was a word of comfort for Karen and me, and later realised that it was a word for Thomas too. When I got home I checked my emails, and there was a prophetic bulletin update from Rick Joyner - and there on page 5 was that passage from Matthew 16: 24-25. I realised then that God was sealing that word into my heart. And strange as it may seem, that word of comfort convinced me once again that it is all worth it. I know that God has Thomas exactly where he wants him to be for now.
To worship at his new home church in Chiang Mai, to meet his "adopted mum", and to meet his church family, and to be honoured guests at a dinner held for all of us was overwhelming. I know it will be months until we see him again, but I would rather release my son into God's puropse for his life and to see our life of nurturing him "in the way that he should go" come to fulfillment in his destiny, than to be selfish and try to hold onto him.
I am so blessed to have three wonderful children who all want to "seek, serve, and follow Christ". The only thing the Boy's Brigade motto should have added to the end of it is ... "to the ends of the earth". We were destined to be a missionary family.
I am so happy that Shane was able to stay on with his bro' in Thailand for another three weeks ... just to hang out and do the things that brothers do!
The enemy cannot touch him because he is a child of the MOST HIGH GOD. The Lord is my Shepherd, and I will lack nothing. He is my rod and my staff, and He comforts me. He leads me beside still and peaceful waters. He prepares a place for me at His table.
Hallelujah! Prajow san dee (Thai for "God is good")!
Abiding in Him, hiding in Him, abandoned to Him,
Steve
Friday, February 04, 2005
Proverbs 3:5
I'm sitting here at my computer at work, and my eyes just caught the little verse of scripture that I keep propped up against the monitor. Its from Proverbs 3: 5 and reads like this ...
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart.
Lean not on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths."
I often stop during the day to ponder that verse.
On the back of the card in faded biro is a message that says ...
"To Stephen
Love Mum & Dad
Happy 32nd!!!
Birthday"
I am so blessed to have the most wonderful Mother-in-law, and even though my Father-in-law has gone to eternity, my memories of him are precious too. After all, with God's help, they created the most beautiful girl to walk the face of this earth ... my wife Karen.
And I suspect that Mum didn't know, but a piece of her sits in front of me every day at work in the form of this amazing little scripture card that serves to remind me of the truth ... that my Heavenly Father loves me.
Hallelujah! That card has inspired me for the past 15 years.
I'm going to have a great day. God has truly blessed me! I think I'll put some worship music on and let His goodness overwhelm me while I work.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart.
Lean not on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths."
I often stop during the day to ponder that verse.
On the back of the card in faded biro is a message that says ...
"To Stephen
Love Mum & Dad
Happy 32nd!!!
Birthday"
I am so blessed to have the most wonderful Mother-in-law, and even though my Father-in-law has gone to eternity, my memories of him are precious too. After all, with God's help, they created the most beautiful girl to walk the face of this earth ... my wife Karen.
And I suspect that Mum didn't know, but a piece of her sits in front of me every day at work in the form of this amazing little scripture card that serves to remind me of the truth ... that my Heavenly Father loves me.
Hallelujah! That card has inspired me for the past 15 years.
I'm going to have a great day. God has truly blessed me! I think I'll put some worship music on and let His goodness overwhelm me while I work.
Thursday, February 03, 2005
This is the day that the Lord has made ...
Well, today has been an interesting kind of day. Thursdays are always kinda different.
My son Shane got his logs today - only a short jump from here to actually having his drivers license. Now comes the car, fuel, rego, insurance, tyres, etc ... yahoo ... look what you've got to look forward to Shane. A moped is beginning to sound good :D)
Some good things have happened today ... not all of it has been good news ... but being told the truth is better than not knowing at all. To finally be told why someone has been holding up progress on an important project means at least I am now equipped to deal with the matter. Sometimes people do not realise the effects of their actions, but it can seriously affect a small business when people are pedantic and sit on important paperwork. If there is any good outcome from this revelation today it would be that I am more determined to cross my I's and dot my T's when dealing with the unknown. Give ol Nick (Satan to the uninitiated) an inch and he will take a mile. Have to constantly remind myself that he is under my feet, and that I am the Head and not the tail.
I'm reminded of the Robin Mark song where the lyrics go ...
"This is the day that the Lord has made,
We were meant to rejoice and be glad in it ..."
I don't necessarily have to rejoice in the day itself (or the situation), but in it's Creator ... the awesome living God ... the God who has declared that He knows the thoughts that He has towards me, and that they are good thoughts. Like all other battles where we may feel powerless, this one will almost certainly be won on my knees!
Well I've shared whats on my mind today. I know that I can do all things through Christ, whose power, whose love, whose wisdom, whose Spirit ... strengthens me.
Can't wait for next week. Off to Thailand to see Thomas. Holidays here I come!!! I can taste the Tom Yum already ...
My son Shane got his logs today - only a short jump from here to actually having his drivers license. Now comes the car, fuel, rego, insurance, tyres, etc ... yahoo ... look what you've got to look forward to Shane. A moped is beginning to sound good :D)
Some good things have happened today ... not all of it has been good news ... but being told the truth is better than not knowing at all. To finally be told why someone has been holding up progress on an important project means at least I am now equipped to deal with the matter. Sometimes people do not realise the effects of their actions, but it can seriously affect a small business when people are pedantic and sit on important paperwork. If there is any good outcome from this revelation today it would be that I am more determined to cross my I's and dot my T's when dealing with the unknown. Give ol Nick (Satan to the uninitiated) an inch and he will take a mile. Have to constantly remind myself that he is under my feet, and that I am the Head and not the tail.
I'm reminded of the Robin Mark song where the lyrics go ...
"This is the day that the Lord has made,
We were meant to rejoice and be glad in it ..."
I don't necessarily have to rejoice in the day itself (or the situation), but in it's Creator ... the awesome living God ... the God who has declared that He knows the thoughts that He has towards me, and that they are good thoughts. Like all other battles where we may feel powerless, this one will almost certainly be won on my knees!
Well I've shared whats on my mind today. I know that I can do all things through Christ, whose power, whose love, whose wisdom, whose Spirit ... strengthens me.
Can't wait for next week. Off to Thailand to see Thomas. Holidays here I come!!! I can taste the Tom Yum already ...
Sunday, September 26, 2004
Thank God it's Sunday ...
I love reading the Psalms! I was reading Psalms today during the message - you know how sometimes when the speaker is not saying anything that speaks directly to you how your mind can wander - I prefer to read my Bible and let God speak to me from His word.
The verses that jumped out and grabbed me this morning was Psalm 78:15-16 which says "He split the rocks in the wilderness, And gave them drink in abundance like the depths. He also brought streams out of the rock, And caused waters to run down like rivers".
The Psalmist is writing about the nation of Israel wandering around in the desert after God had used Moses to set them free from bondage in Egypt. IN SPITE OF ALL THAT HE HAD DONE FOR THEM, they still grumbled and complained. It says in Psalm 78 that they ate the "food of angels" - manna. But they wanted meat and bread. How sad that they hadn't learnt the secret of being thankful for all that God had done for them. It cost them dearly - God's anger was fuelled against them, and they paid for their sin. Some of us "pay" for our sins of disbelief and unthankfulness in this life also.
As John Piper said, "God is most glorified in me when I am most satisfied by Him".
Whats the big deal? He has proven to Karen and me many times over that when we are satisfied and thankful for all He has done for us, and for all that He has given us, He will open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing such as can't be contained. And it causes us to cry out in shouts of praise to our wonderful King.
Have you thanked Him for today yet? If not, why not do it now. There's no better time! This day may have started out as the crappiest day in history for you, but it can (and should - if you believe what you read in God's word) end the way God planned it and purposed it for you. I had to remind myself of that fact three years ago when a split second water skiing accident changed my life forever. From perfectly healthy to invalid in a matter of seconds. I know for a fact that I swore at the excruciating pain, and my life was gripped with fear. Floating there in the ocean with my leg feeling as though it had been ripped off - it was hard to believe Jeremiah 29:11 applied to me right there and then. But the reality was - and still is - that nothing can separate us from the love and perfect purposes of our Lord and King. Nothing re-writes scriptures that were divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit, and nothing can rob God of His power - not even all the hordes of hell. He is sovereign, and always will be sovereign. Nothing will ever change that. Hallelujah!!!
"He split the rocks in the wilderness, And gave them drink in abundance like the depths. He also brought streams out of the rock, And caused waters to run down like rivers". Wow ... what can I say, except that we serve an awesome and mighty God - if he can cause rivers to run in dry deserts! And this is exactly what He did in my life. He caused a river of life to start flowing in my dry desert like life. There is not a single day that has passed when he has not provided for me, and protected me. Maybe in another post I can share how He healed my shattered knee on a missions trip to Laos.
"Know that the Lord is good, and His mercies endure forever". BE ENCOURAGED.
The verses that jumped out and grabbed me this morning was Psalm 78:15-16 which says "He split the rocks in the wilderness, And gave them drink in abundance like the depths. He also brought streams out of the rock, And caused waters to run down like rivers".
The Psalmist is writing about the nation of Israel wandering around in the desert after God had used Moses to set them free from bondage in Egypt. IN SPITE OF ALL THAT HE HAD DONE FOR THEM, they still grumbled and complained. It says in Psalm 78 that they ate the "food of angels" - manna. But they wanted meat and bread. How sad that they hadn't learnt the secret of being thankful for all that God had done for them. It cost them dearly - God's anger was fuelled against them, and they paid for their sin. Some of us "pay" for our sins of disbelief and unthankfulness in this life also.
As John Piper said, "God is most glorified in me when I am most satisfied by Him".
Whats the big deal? He has proven to Karen and me many times over that when we are satisfied and thankful for all He has done for us, and for all that He has given us, He will open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing such as can't be contained. And it causes us to cry out in shouts of praise to our wonderful King.
Have you thanked Him for today yet? If not, why not do it now. There's no better time! This day may have started out as the crappiest day in history for you, but it can (and should - if you believe what you read in God's word) end the way God planned it and purposed it for you. I had to remind myself of that fact three years ago when a split second water skiing accident changed my life forever. From perfectly healthy to invalid in a matter of seconds. I know for a fact that I swore at the excruciating pain, and my life was gripped with fear. Floating there in the ocean with my leg feeling as though it had been ripped off - it was hard to believe Jeremiah 29:11 applied to me right there and then. But the reality was - and still is - that nothing can separate us from the love and perfect purposes of our Lord and King. Nothing re-writes scriptures that were divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit, and nothing can rob God of His power - not even all the hordes of hell. He is sovereign, and always will be sovereign. Nothing will ever change that. Hallelujah!!!
"He split the rocks in the wilderness, And gave them drink in abundance like the depths. He also brought streams out of the rock, And caused waters to run down like rivers". Wow ... what can I say, except that we serve an awesome and mighty God - if he can cause rivers to run in dry deserts! And this is exactly what He did in my life. He caused a river of life to start flowing in my dry desert like life. There is not a single day that has passed when he has not provided for me, and protected me. Maybe in another post I can share how He healed my shattered knee on a missions trip to Laos.
"Know that the Lord is good, and His mercies endure forever". BE ENCOURAGED.
Saturday, September 25, 2004
Thank God it's Saturday ...
Actually I thank God everyday - for everyday - for everything. I have learnt that a thankful heart finds favour with God. Psalm 92:1-2 says,"It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Your name, Oh Most High. To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night".
Thankfulness is the beginning of Holiness. When we can truly thank God for everything - every situation - that we encounter in our lives, we will start to become more holy, because we will become more like Jesus Christ. Jesus was continually THANKING God (the Father) for everything because He knew the secret of giving thanks to His Heavenly Father. As we learn this lesson, heaven's doors will open over our lives, and we will be so blessed in everything we do that our hearts will want to praise Him even more.
This may seem like a different kind of post, but I have become so aware just lately that very few Christians are thankful for what God has done for them. Most Christians I have heard talking lately seem to have a very ungrateful heart. They are always striving for something, and have missed the truth that it is when we accept what God has done for us, and what He has given us, that He will open heavens doors to pour out a blessing so great that we cannot contain it!
I am overwhelmed lately at what God is doing in our business, and our personal lives! A day does not go past when we don't see His marvellous supernatural intervention and provision in our lives. I remember a particular Friday night about 3 years ago at Perth Christian Life Centre. We were only days away from losing everything we had (the bank had issued us with a notice of intent to take possession of our house and business premises), and I was crying out to God in anguish (I seem to recall spending a reasonable amount of time face down on the carpet crying out to God) about what was going to happen to our business. He answered me with an audible voice (I was always taught that he didn't do that anymore), and His words were simply ... "Stephen, I will build a business for you that will be beyond your imagination. But I will build it!"
Three years on He has kept His promise - in fact He started keeping it the next day after He gave it to me. He wiped out hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt, and has grown our business way beyond our wildest imagination or dreams. There has been no special business plan (accountants eat your hearts out), or slick business style, or advertising - simply hours of prayer, thanksgiving, honesty in dealings, and an unshakeable faith in a God who CAN and DOES keep His promises. Hours worked have halved, my quality of life has returned (He promises to restore everything that the locust has eaten), and I now love my job. Our business turnover has quadrupled in the past year, and we are debt free!!! Only God can do this kind of miracle - I just had to learn to co-operate with God, and to seek His face at every step.
The words of this beautiful old hymn says so eloquently what my heart feels ...
"My hope is built on nothing less,
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.
Refrain
On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.
Refrain
His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.
Refrain
When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne."
I decided to share this personal account of how God intervened in my life because I am sure that there are people who may read this blog that need to be encouraged to trust in "His unfailing and unchanging grace".
"If My people who are called by My Name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek My face ..."
Blessed be the Name of the Lord God Almighty!
Thankfulness is the beginning of Holiness. When we can truly thank God for everything - every situation - that we encounter in our lives, we will start to become more holy, because we will become more like Jesus Christ. Jesus was continually THANKING God (the Father) for everything because He knew the secret of giving thanks to His Heavenly Father. As we learn this lesson, heaven's doors will open over our lives, and we will be so blessed in everything we do that our hearts will want to praise Him even more.
This may seem like a different kind of post, but I have become so aware just lately that very few Christians are thankful for what God has done for them. Most Christians I have heard talking lately seem to have a very ungrateful heart. They are always striving for something, and have missed the truth that it is when we accept what God has done for us, and what He has given us, that He will open heavens doors to pour out a blessing so great that we cannot contain it!
I am overwhelmed lately at what God is doing in our business, and our personal lives! A day does not go past when we don't see His marvellous supernatural intervention and provision in our lives. I remember a particular Friday night about 3 years ago at Perth Christian Life Centre. We were only days away from losing everything we had (the bank had issued us with a notice of intent to take possession of our house and business premises), and I was crying out to God in anguish (I seem to recall spending a reasonable amount of time face down on the carpet crying out to God) about what was going to happen to our business. He answered me with an audible voice (I was always taught that he didn't do that anymore), and His words were simply ... "Stephen, I will build a business for you that will be beyond your imagination. But I will build it!"
Three years on He has kept His promise - in fact He started keeping it the next day after He gave it to me. He wiped out hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt, and has grown our business way beyond our wildest imagination or dreams. There has been no special business plan (accountants eat your hearts out), or slick business style, or advertising - simply hours of prayer, thanksgiving, honesty in dealings, and an unshakeable faith in a God who CAN and DOES keep His promises. Hours worked have halved, my quality of life has returned (He promises to restore everything that the locust has eaten), and I now love my job. Our business turnover has quadrupled in the past year, and we are debt free!!! Only God can do this kind of miracle - I just had to learn to co-operate with God, and to seek His face at every step.
The words of this beautiful old hymn says so eloquently what my heart feels ...
"My hope is built on nothing less,
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.
Refrain
On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.
Refrain
His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.
Refrain
When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne."
I decided to share this personal account of how God intervened in my life because I am sure that there are people who may read this blog that need to be encouraged to trust in "His unfailing and unchanging grace".
"If My people who are called by My Name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek My face ..."
Blessed be the Name of the Lord God Almighty!
Sunday, September 12, 2004
Jeremiah ... what a guy!
In one of my earlier posts, I mentioned my favourite verse - Jeremiah 29:11 ... "for I know the plans I have for you says the Lord ... plans to give you a hope and a future ... plans to prosper you and not to harm you".
The truth is that if I had read this verse about 4 years ago, I would have laughed at the prospect that God was talking to me through it. Isn't it funny how God can change our outlook on life in such a short time ... and in the most unlikely way.
I said in that earlier post that the reasons behind this verse becoming my favourite was another story, and I would like to share it with you now.
I was involved in singing and worship leading at the church that Karen and I had been members of for 17 years. Karen and I had both been brought up in the Church of Christ, and so were fundamental evangelicals. I resisted going to any of the worship summits because my opinion was that nothing good could come out of a worship summit, as the charismatics seemed to run these shows. I remember about 4 years ago being encouraged to visit Riverview Church here in Perth for the Friday night youth rally at the worship summit. I also remember standing there with Karen thinking that this was crazy, and I didn't feel in the slightest bit comfortable with the style of worship. This was the first time in my entire life that I had ever set foot inside a charismatic church. Then the time came for the speaker ... and it was a women (a young women in fact). Wow ... this was really stretching it! Her name was Christine Caine, from Sydney. That night my life changed as God used her to speak into our lives. And you guessed it ... she spoke from Jeremiah 29:11. She shared how God had used that verse to minister to her when she was sexually abused as a child. And she kept on repeating the verse throughout the message - over and over - until I guess that God knew that it had sunk into our minds.
To cut a long story short, over the next 12 months, that verse just kept popping up everywhere. The Sonshine Radio verse ( after the news) would be Jeremiah 29:11, the daily verse in the newspaper would be Jeremiah 29:11, the speakers at different churches that we were visiting (due to me standing down from my worship ministry, and us leaving our church of 17 years) would speak from Jeremiah 29:11. It seemed that wherever Karen and I went to church, or whatever meeting we visited, or whatever we listened to, or whatever we read -was about Jeremiah 29:11.
So why the big deal? The big deal was that through this period of approx 1 year of our lives, it seemed that our world was falling apart. Our business was failing, we were on the verge of losing all that we had, my ministry had been cut-off, we were churchless (looking for the perfect church), I had suffered a serious knee injury, my main employee had left, and things weren't looking too bright. Through all of this, God kept speaking Jeremiah 29:11 into our lives ... and then we started to believe it! And then He started to make the reality of it become true in our lives. He saved our house and our business. He restored our finances (way beyond our wildest dreams), wiped out our debts, gave us a new church and worship ministry, and He has used this verse to speak into many of our family and friends lives.
And for those that would say that God was only speaking to the Israelites, and that the word "prosper" does not mean to bless us in material things - I have heard sermons preached on this angle. All I can say is what God has done for us. God gives us a testimony so that we can share it and encourage others who may be going through the same trials and troubles.
Now Karen and I go to a charismatic church. Wow!!! It's amazing how God can change our attitudes and our beliefs. It's not hard for Him. We just need to be desperate enough for more of God to allow Him to breakdown our mindsets and wrong beliefs.
Every amazing thing that God has done in our lives over these past three years has been as a result of our charismatic friends praying for us, or through visiting charismatic churches and receiving teaching that once upon a time I would have turned my back on. I am so thankful to God for the 40 odd years of Bible teaching that I received in fundamental evangelical churches. I am so sorry though that it took 40 years to learn of the awesome power and freedom that comes from a passionate affair with my Creator and King - Jesus Christ. And the Holy Spirit has become a very good friend of mine. Hallejujah!!! I finally allowed God out of the box that I had imprisoned Him in for most of my life.
My prayer is that you will trust God for your miracle ... the miracle that perhaps you have been too afraid to ask or believe Him for. Remember that He knows the plans that He has for you ... and they are all good.
"I know that my Redeemer lives!"
Does your Redeemer live?
The truth is that if I had read this verse about 4 years ago, I would have laughed at the prospect that God was talking to me through it. Isn't it funny how God can change our outlook on life in such a short time ... and in the most unlikely way.
I said in that earlier post that the reasons behind this verse becoming my favourite was another story, and I would like to share it with you now.
I was involved in singing and worship leading at the church that Karen and I had been members of for 17 years. Karen and I had both been brought up in the Church of Christ, and so were fundamental evangelicals. I resisted going to any of the worship summits because my opinion was that nothing good could come out of a worship summit, as the charismatics seemed to run these shows. I remember about 4 years ago being encouraged to visit Riverview Church here in Perth for the Friday night youth rally at the worship summit. I also remember standing there with Karen thinking that this was crazy, and I didn't feel in the slightest bit comfortable with the style of worship. This was the first time in my entire life that I had ever set foot inside a charismatic church. Then the time came for the speaker ... and it was a women (a young women in fact). Wow ... this was really stretching it! Her name was Christine Caine, from Sydney. That night my life changed as God used her to speak into our lives. And you guessed it ... she spoke from Jeremiah 29:11. She shared how God had used that verse to minister to her when she was sexually abused as a child. And she kept on repeating the verse throughout the message - over and over - until I guess that God knew that it had sunk into our minds.
To cut a long story short, over the next 12 months, that verse just kept popping up everywhere. The Sonshine Radio verse ( after the news) would be Jeremiah 29:11, the daily verse in the newspaper would be Jeremiah 29:11, the speakers at different churches that we were visiting (due to me standing down from my worship ministry, and us leaving our church of 17 years) would speak from Jeremiah 29:11. It seemed that wherever Karen and I went to church, or whatever meeting we visited, or whatever we listened to, or whatever we read -was about Jeremiah 29:11.
So why the big deal? The big deal was that through this period of approx 1 year of our lives, it seemed that our world was falling apart. Our business was failing, we were on the verge of losing all that we had, my ministry had been cut-off, we were churchless (looking for the perfect church), I had suffered a serious knee injury, my main employee had left, and things weren't looking too bright. Through all of this, God kept speaking Jeremiah 29:11 into our lives ... and then we started to believe it! And then He started to make the reality of it become true in our lives. He saved our house and our business. He restored our finances (way beyond our wildest dreams), wiped out our debts, gave us a new church and worship ministry, and He has used this verse to speak into many of our family and friends lives.
And for those that would say that God was only speaking to the Israelites, and that the word "prosper" does not mean to bless us in material things - I have heard sermons preached on this angle. All I can say is what God has done for us. God gives us a testimony so that we can share it and encourage others who may be going through the same trials and troubles.
Now Karen and I go to a charismatic church. Wow!!! It's amazing how God can change our attitudes and our beliefs. It's not hard for Him. We just need to be desperate enough for more of God to allow Him to breakdown our mindsets and wrong beliefs.
Every amazing thing that God has done in our lives over these past three years has been as a result of our charismatic friends praying for us, or through visiting charismatic churches and receiving teaching that once upon a time I would have turned my back on. I am so thankful to God for the 40 odd years of Bible teaching that I received in fundamental evangelical churches. I am so sorry though that it took 40 years to learn of the awesome power and freedom that comes from a passionate affair with my Creator and King - Jesus Christ. And the Holy Spirit has become a very good friend of mine. Hallejujah!!! I finally allowed God out of the box that I had imprisoned Him in for most of my life.
My prayer is that you will trust God for your miracle ... the miracle that perhaps you have been too afraid to ask or believe Him for. Remember that He knows the plans that He has for you ... and they are all good.
"I know that my Redeemer lives!"
Does your Redeemer live?
Cool runnings ...
What a weekend it's been.
Today is my 23rd wedding anniversary. Tomorrow I turn another year older. Karen just walked in from the shop with a Vienetta - my most favorite food in the whole world. Well, alongside Tom Yum, Steamed fish with ginger and shallots, Yong Tau Foo noodle soup, Oysters Kilpatrick, Prawn Noodle soup and Peppered Mud Crabs. (just to name a few)
Last night we went out for tea to celebrate 23 wonderful years of marriage. On Wednesday night we went out to the movies to use up some La Premiere tickets we were given as a present ... saw "The Bourne Supremacy" ... which was a really good yarn.
Life is good because God is good, and He's good all the time. What can I say other than that God has caused His face to shine upon me and my family. We did nothing to deserve or earn it ... we simply asked Him to do what He did for Jabez ... that He would bless us and bless us INDEED. And the thing that I have learned in all of this is that it is His delight to do far beyond what we can even hope or imagine He would do.
Thank you Jesus for all that you have done for me. Thank you for dying for me. Thank you for setting me free from the curse of the law. Thank you for healing and restoring me. Thank you for prospering me in all that I do. Thank you for keeping every promise that you have made to me and my family.
"In this one thing shall I boast ... that Jesus died and rose again"
Today is my 23rd wedding anniversary. Tomorrow I turn another year older. Karen just walked in from the shop with a Vienetta - my most favorite food in the whole world. Well, alongside Tom Yum, Steamed fish with ginger and shallots, Yong Tau Foo noodle soup, Oysters Kilpatrick, Prawn Noodle soup and Peppered Mud Crabs. (just to name a few)
Last night we went out for tea to celebrate 23 wonderful years of marriage. On Wednesday night we went out to the movies to use up some La Premiere tickets we were given as a present ... saw "The Bourne Supremacy" ... which was a really good yarn.
Life is good because God is good, and He's good all the time. What can I say other than that God has caused His face to shine upon me and my family. We did nothing to deserve or earn it ... we simply asked Him to do what He did for Jabez ... that He would bless us and bless us INDEED. And the thing that I have learned in all of this is that it is His delight to do far beyond what we can even hope or imagine He would do.
Thank you Jesus for all that you have done for me. Thank you for dying for me. Thank you for setting me free from the curse of the law. Thank you for healing and restoring me. Thank you for prospering me in all that I do. Thank you for keeping every promise that you have made to me and my family.
"In this one thing shall I boast ... that Jesus died and rose again"
Wednesday, August 04, 2004
What the ...
Wow, it's been two weeks since I updated. On no, I'm turning into the very thing that I dislike - people who don't update their blogs for weeks on end.
This past week has been full on. Work has been busy, and last weekend I went (with Karen) to the Rick Joyner/Jack Deere conference at Churchlands. What a blast - Rick was average, but Jack Deere packs a wallop. Jack preached one of the best messages I have ever heard on tithing and giving on Sunday night. I actually got to meet him in person, and was very impressed with his gift of teaching. He's joined the likes of Joseph Prince and Chuck Swindoll as one of my favorite speakers. Guaranteed to be challenged, encouraged and educated all in one hit!!!
The other awesome thing about Churchlands was the worship. There was this young lady leading the worship on Friday night, and it was just the most amazing and uplifting worship experience I have had in a long while. I could get used to having quality worship leading like that all of the time. The amazing thing was that when I spoke to this young lady after the session about how much we were touched by her leading and the resulting worship, she was just so blown away and blessed. The genuine humility she displays is hard to find these days, and she is destined for greatness if she continues to seek God the way she does. There was also a new song (never heard it before) which was written by a guitarist from Churchlands. It was amazing, and I can't wait until it is released on their forthcoming CD.
God has been showing me that there are many people who want quality worship in churches today. It is surprising though how many people still think that worship is about us!!! My goal is to lead people in worship that doesn't conform to any formula, but that will simply glorify God and please Him. That will only ever happen when my spirit is subject to His Holy Spirit. It is usually when I think I have screwed up that I actually discover that God has mightily used me to impact into someones life through singing a song or something I have said. We may impress with a performance, but we can only communicate spirit to spirit when we lay our own lives and agendas down and "go out on a limb" for Him. Our most unimpressive attempt at "performing" is usually the one that brings people to their knees before the Throne of Grace. As one young lady said to me after my rather choked up attempt at singing the first verse of a beautiful old hymn last Sunday morning, it gave her and her husband goosebumps.
I must confess that I have never particularly liked the sound of my own voice, and have never considered that anyone would like it either. However, I am learning that when God gives us a gift we must use it, and we must recognise it!! This is hard to do when you have always been taught that we must be humble and modest. The two aspects are not mutually exclusive though, and it is a hard thing to learn that God sees us rather differently to how we see ourselves. The Bible exhorts us to have a realistic opinion of ourselves - and this most often results in us putting ourselves down. We are not good at accepting compliments or praise because we feel that it is wrong to have a high opinion of ourselves. I am learning however that God has a high opinion of me because the word says that when He looks at me, He doesn't see "me", but He sees my life wrapped up in Christ. He sees the ME that He created ME to be! He only sees my potential, not my weaknesses, and He always has a word of encouragement - not discouragement.
Praise God - when I am least able - He is most able! When my voice is failing or all choked up because of my brokeness inside, His annointing comes to the rescue. When my "impressiveness" goes out the window, His annointing descends from above, and power is released from on high.
People may (and do) say that God has blessed me with a gift of singing, but my belief is that God has blessed me with the gift of exhortation, and that manifests itself in many ways.
It only takes one heavenly minded person to make a lasting impact on us, and I thank God for that young lady at Churchlands last Friday - she has inspired me to pursue the avenue of true worship - the kind that impresses God and causes us to cry out Glory to our Lord and King.
This past week has been full on. Work has been busy, and last weekend I went (with Karen) to the Rick Joyner/Jack Deere conference at Churchlands. What a blast - Rick was average, but Jack Deere packs a wallop. Jack preached one of the best messages I have ever heard on tithing and giving on Sunday night. I actually got to meet him in person, and was very impressed with his gift of teaching. He's joined the likes of Joseph Prince and Chuck Swindoll as one of my favorite speakers. Guaranteed to be challenged, encouraged and educated all in one hit!!!
The other awesome thing about Churchlands was the worship. There was this young lady leading the worship on Friday night, and it was just the most amazing and uplifting worship experience I have had in a long while. I could get used to having quality worship leading like that all of the time. The amazing thing was that when I spoke to this young lady after the session about how much we were touched by her leading and the resulting worship, she was just so blown away and blessed. The genuine humility she displays is hard to find these days, and she is destined for greatness if she continues to seek God the way she does. There was also a new song (never heard it before) which was written by a guitarist from Churchlands. It was amazing, and I can't wait until it is released on their forthcoming CD.
God has been showing me that there are many people who want quality worship in churches today. It is surprising though how many people still think that worship is about us!!! My goal is to lead people in worship that doesn't conform to any formula, but that will simply glorify God and please Him. That will only ever happen when my spirit is subject to His Holy Spirit. It is usually when I think I have screwed up that I actually discover that God has mightily used me to impact into someones life through singing a song or something I have said. We may impress with a performance, but we can only communicate spirit to spirit when we lay our own lives and agendas down and "go out on a limb" for Him. Our most unimpressive attempt at "performing" is usually the one that brings people to their knees before the Throne of Grace. As one young lady said to me after my rather choked up attempt at singing the first verse of a beautiful old hymn last Sunday morning, it gave her and her husband goosebumps.
I must confess that I have never particularly liked the sound of my own voice, and have never considered that anyone would like it either. However, I am learning that when God gives us a gift we must use it, and we must recognise it!! This is hard to do when you have always been taught that we must be humble and modest. The two aspects are not mutually exclusive though, and it is a hard thing to learn that God sees us rather differently to how we see ourselves. The Bible exhorts us to have a realistic opinion of ourselves - and this most often results in us putting ourselves down. We are not good at accepting compliments or praise because we feel that it is wrong to have a high opinion of ourselves. I am learning however that God has a high opinion of me because the word says that when He looks at me, He doesn't see "me", but He sees my life wrapped up in Christ. He sees the ME that He created ME to be! He only sees my potential, not my weaknesses, and He always has a word of encouragement - not discouragement.
Praise God - when I am least able - He is most able! When my voice is failing or all choked up because of my brokeness inside, His annointing comes to the rescue. When my "impressiveness" goes out the window, His annointing descends from above, and power is released from on high.
People may (and do) say that God has blessed me with a gift of singing, but my belief is that God has blessed me with the gift of exhortation, and that manifests itself in many ways.
It only takes one heavenly minded person to make a lasting impact on us, and I thank God for that young lady at Churchlands last Friday - she has inspired me to pursue the avenue of true worship - the kind that impresses God and causes us to cry out Glory to our Lord and King.
Wednesday, July 21, 2004
Let's turn it around ...
I am on the mailing list for the Left Behind newsletter, and everyday they email me "God's Daily Promise" which is kind of a daily devotional. I am constantly amazed at how relevant the subject matters are to my own life.
The scripture verse for yesterdays email went like this ...
"Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth."
Colossians 3:2 NLT
It reminded me that some years ago at my previous church there was a pastor whose favorite saying was ... "some people are so heavenly minded that they are of no earthly use".
I've always considered that he had it back to front, and just lately I've become more convinced that ... "some people are so earthly minded that they are of no heavenly use". The writer of Colossians seems to agree.
Let's not let the earthly things cloud our minds so much that we fail to see into the heavenly realm which is where the battles are actually fought. For proof of the fact that our earthly battles are fought in the heavenly realm, read 2 Kings 6:14-17.
The scripture verse for yesterdays email went like this ...
"Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth."
Colossians 3:2 NLT
It reminded me that some years ago at my previous church there was a pastor whose favorite saying was ... "some people are so heavenly minded that they are of no earthly use".
I've always considered that he had it back to front, and just lately I've become more convinced that ... "some people are so earthly minded that they are of no heavenly use". The writer of Colossians seems to agree.
Let's not let the earthly things cloud our minds so much that we fail to see into the heavenly realm which is where the battles are actually fought. For proof of the fact that our earthly battles are fought in the heavenly realm, read 2 Kings 6:14-17.
Tuesday, July 20, 2004
Tuesday arvo at work ...
Good news ... Brett's brother was brought out of his coma on Sunday, and is progressing slowly. Keep praying for his salvation and healing.
God has blessed me in so many ways. It is something that I have always been concious of, but I have experienced a real spirit of thankfulness lately. Reminds me of the words of that Kathryn Scott song ... "every blessing You pour out I turn back to praise, Blessed be the name of the Lord" ... because that typifies what God wants us to do every moment of every day. God has been honing me and releasing several gifts in my life lately, and I know that He is melting my heart and reshaping it!
Just the other week at work around the lunchroom table, we were talking about our childhood experiences, and how they shaped our lives. My childhood was not an easy one - even though I was blessed to be born into a Christian family - as my recollections of primary and high schools bring back memories that I would rather forget. As I recounted the emotional pain that I endured, and verbal abuse that I copped when I was younger, Brett remarked that it was not surprising then that I stuttered when I was a child. The truth was that I had actually forgotten that I used to stutter badly, and I know that God has done a marvelous work of healing in my life. At this same time, I felt challenged that I should contact one of my old primary school teachers to tell him that I forgive him for the emotional torment that he put me through. Hmmm - I know that I can't do that one in my one strength, so I guess it's time to ask God for a miracle.
You might be wondering why I need to tell him that I've forgiven him, if I haven't spoken to or seen him for nearly 30 years. The answer is found in the content of a sermon I heard in Chiang Mai this year - preached by an american guy called Steve ( must be a good guy with a name like that) . The greatest gift Jesus passed on to us (sorry all of you prophets, teachers, tongues speakers, healers, etc) is the gift of the power to forgive, and to do it, he had to lay hands on his disciples so that they had the power within them to do this impossible task. If I am ever asked to preach a sermon at church, it will most certainly be on the subject of forgiveness. Jesus said in that passage that he was giving to us (his church) the power to forgive, or not to forgive - the choice is ours, and history will be shaped by the decisions that we make in this regard. Have you ever wondered what would have become of Paul if Stephen (in Acts) had not prayed that prayer of intercession and forgiveness for Paul and his cronies? Your choice (and mine) whether to forgive or not to forgive may change the future course of history - and maybe someone else's life - scary isn't it!
My childhood memories are not all bad news though ... when I was in 3rd year at Merredin High School, God brought a friend across my path who would prove to be a lifeline. I was boarding at Merredin from Monday to Friday with a lady who I will call Mrs K (not her real name). I hated being in Merredin, having no real friends, and life sucked to put it bluntly. For lunch EVERY day, I would be given MOULDY cheese and pickles sandwiches. That is why even until this day, I cannot stomach the sight or smell of pickles. When my new friend - Noel - invited me home to eat my lunch with him and his mother one day, his mum just about freaked out when I opened my lunchbox, and she saw what I had to eat. I used to open the mouldy sandwiches, wipe the pickles off the cheese, eat the cheese for lunch, and then throw the rest into the bin. From that day onwards, I had an open invitation to go home with him at lunchtime and share fresh bread and all sorts of different toppings. Noel became my closest friend, and would often come home with me to our farm on weekends. Then we grew up ... and apart. Well just last week, Alan (the keyboard player from Bethel) told me that Noel, his wife Deb, and their kids were coming over to his place for dinner last Wednesday. I hadn't seen Noel in over 12 years as they now live in Mt Barker, so I jumped at the chance to gatecrash the party and to catch up with him again.
I can still clearly remember the day when my eldest brother - whose name is also Noel - became a hero in my 11 year old eyes. It was morning, and THE schoolteacher (who boarded with us on the farm) was harassing me about getting ready for school, on his insistence that I had to ride to school with him, rather than make my Mum drive me the 2 Kms to school. My brother Noel walked into the kitchen at that time, and upon hearing the proceedings, promptly told my teacher to leave me alone and to get off my back. He became a hero to me that day (and continues to be a hero in my eyes even until this day, but that is another long story).
Bitterness is not just something that will screw up your face - it can screw up your life as well! Remember that one of the conditions of us being forgiven by God is that we must forgive others that have wronged us. Look for the lifelines that He has brought across your life, and then thank Him for them.
"For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
This verse became a lifeline to me and Karen the first time we heard it ... but more about that later!
God has blessed me in so many ways. It is something that I have always been concious of, but I have experienced a real spirit of thankfulness lately. Reminds me of the words of that Kathryn Scott song ... "every blessing You pour out I turn back to praise, Blessed be the name of the Lord" ... because that typifies what God wants us to do every moment of every day. God has been honing me and releasing several gifts in my life lately, and I know that He is melting my heart and reshaping it!
Just the other week at work around the lunchroom table, we were talking about our childhood experiences, and how they shaped our lives. My childhood was not an easy one - even though I was blessed to be born into a Christian family - as my recollections of primary and high schools bring back memories that I would rather forget. As I recounted the emotional pain that I endured, and verbal abuse that I copped when I was younger, Brett remarked that it was not surprising then that I stuttered when I was a child. The truth was that I had actually forgotten that I used to stutter badly, and I know that God has done a marvelous work of healing in my life. At this same time, I felt challenged that I should contact one of my old primary school teachers to tell him that I forgive him for the emotional torment that he put me through. Hmmm - I know that I can't do that one in my one strength, so I guess it's time to ask God for a miracle.
You might be wondering why I need to tell him that I've forgiven him, if I haven't spoken to or seen him for nearly 30 years. The answer is found in the content of a sermon I heard in Chiang Mai this year - preached by an american guy called Steve ( must be a good guy with a name like that) . The greatest gift Jesus passed on to us (sorry all of you prophets, teachers, tongues speakers, healers, etc) is the gift of the power to forgive, and to do it, he had to lay hands on his disciples so that they had the power within them to do this impossible task. If I am ever asked to preach a sermon at church, it will most certainly be on the subject of forgiveness. Jesus said in that passage that he was giving to us (his church) the power to forgive, or not to forgive - the choice is ours, and history will be shaped by the decisions that we make in this regard. Have you ever wondered what would have become of Paul if Stephen (in Acts) had not prayed that prayer of intercession and forgiveness for Paul and his cronies? Your choice (and mine) whether to forgive or not to forgive may change the future course of history - and maybe someone else's life - scary isn't it!
My childhood memories are not all bad news though ... when I was in 3rd year at Merredin High School, God brought a friend across my path who would prove to be a lifeline. I was boarding at Merredin from Monday to Friday with a lady who I will call Mrs K (not her real name). I hated being in Merredin, having no real friends, and life sucked to put it bluntly. For lunch EVERY day, I would be given MOULDY cheese and pickles sandwiches. That is why even until this day, I cannot stomach the sight or smell of pickles. When my new friend - Noel - invited me home to eat my lunch with him and his mother one day, his mum just about freaked out when I opened my lunchbox, and she saw what I had to eat. I used to open the mouldy sandwiches, wipe the pickles off the cheese, eat the cheese for lunch, and then throw the rest into the bin. From that day onwards, I had an open invitation to go home with him at lunchtime and share fresh bread and all sorts of different toppings. Noel became my closest friend, and would often come home with me to our farm on weekends. Then we grew up ... and apart. Well just last week, Alan (the keyboard player from Bethel) told me that Noel, his wife Deb, and their kids were coming over to his place for dinner last Wednesday. I hadn't seen Noel in over 12 years as they now live in Mt Barker, so I jumped at the chance to gatecrash the party and to catch up with him again.
I can still clearly remember the day when my eldest brother - whose name is also Noel - became a hero in my 11 year old eyes. It was morning, and THE schoolteacher (who boarded with us on the farm) was harassing me about getting ready for school, on his insistence that I had to ride to school with him, rather than make my Mum drive me the 2 Kms to school. My brother Noel walked into the kitchen at that time, and upon hearing the proceedings, promptly told my teacher to leave me alone and to get off my back. He became a hero to me that day (and continues to be a hero in my eyes even until this day, but that is another long story).
Bitterness is not just something that will screw up your face - it can screw up your life as well! Remember that one of the conditions of us being forgiven by God is that we must forgive others that have wronged us. Look for the lifelines that He has brought across your life, and then thank Him for them.
"For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
This verse became a lifeline to me and Karen the first time we heard it ... but more about that later!
Tuesday, July 13, 2004
The world keeps spinning ...
Well, it's Tuesday night, and it feels like it should be Friday already. Sunday night at Bethel Life Centre was full on ... worship was great ... and work has been flat out these past two days. And tomorrow, the day after, and the day after that will be no different at this rate.
The guy that works for me (Brett) had some sad news first thing Monday morning. His younger brother was involved in a very serious car accident on Friday night, and is still in a coma in RPH. I am praying that God will use this situation to impact him with the gospel of truth and life. I trust that he will soon realise that there is absolutely no hope without Christ.
My oldest son Thomas (www.tomdts.blogspot.com)is currently in Chiang Mai in northern Thailand with YWAM. He will be staffing DTS for the next two years, and is at the moment busily learning more Thai with a tutor.
My other son Shane (4myking.blogspot.com) has just started a new job in graphics for a printing company here in Perth, and is also involved in schools and youth ministries at Thornlie Church of Christ.
My daughter (youngest) Camille is in year 12 at Thornlie Christian College, where she is the School Capain (Head Girl). I've just read her mid year report - wow - I'm impressed. God has truly blessed me with three wonderful children who are a huge blessing to me.
The person who keeps me sane is my beautiful wife Karen, who is truly a gift from God. She is delightful to know, and is my best friend (on this earth at least). In a few months we will celebrate 23 years of memorable marriage - full of blessings and a fair smattering of tough times - but the grace of God helps you to finish the race. Every difficulty overcome is another stone added to the foundations to make us stronger. ("On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand ...")
Quote for today: "The Lord's blessing is our greatest treasure - all our work adds nothing to it." Proverbs 10:22
The guy that works for me (Brett) had some sad news first thing Monday morning. His younger brother was involved in a very serious car accident on Friday night, and is still in a coma in RPH. I am praying that God will use this situation to impact him with the gospel of truth and life. I trust that he will soon realise that there is absolutely no hope without Christ.
My oldest son Thomas (www.tomdts.blogspot.com)is currently in Chiang Mai in northern Thailand with YWAM. He will be staffing DTS for the next two years, and is at the moment busily learning more Thai with a tutor.
My other son Shane (4myking.blogspot.com) has just started a new job in graphics for a printing company here in Perth, and is also involved in schools and youth ministries at Thornlie Church of Christ.
My daughter (youngest) Camille is in year 12 at Thornlie Christian College, where she is the School Capain (Head Girl). I've just read her mid year report - wow - I'm impressed. God has truly blessed me with three wonderful children who are a huge blessing to me.
The person who keeps me sane is my beautiful wife Karen, who is truly a gift from God. She is delightful to know, and is my best friend (on this earth at least). In a few months we will celebrate 23 years of memorable marriage - full of blessings and a fair smattering of tough times - but the grace of God helps you to finish the race. Every difficulty overcome is another stone added to the foundations to make us stronger. ("On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand ...")
Quote for today: "The Lord's blessing is our greatest treasure - all our work adds nothing to it." Proverbs 10:22
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