“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.If you ask anything in My name, I will do it." John 14:12-14
The promise sounds too good to be true. He who believes in Jesus will do the same works, and even greater works than Jesus Himself did.
Anything.
Just ponder for a moment the magnitude of the promise here. Greater works than Jesus did.
Greater works.
I've been a Christian since I was 13 years old, and I must have read this passage hundreds of times and heard a great many people teach about it, but it quickened in me only about 5 or 6 years ago. Greater works than Christ Himself asked for in His name.
Now I'd love to see someone raised from the dead, open blind eyes and lame limbs grow strong. Heck, I'd turn cartwheels if I see a hangnail healed at this point. I've not seen it.
Yet.
My brain gets in the way. So I start small. Peter needed cash to pay for the Temple Tax so he went to Jesus. Jesus tells him the first fish he pulls out that day will have a coin in it of sufficient value to pay their taxes. So I jumped on this. Start small and grow. It's like training to run a marathon. You don't do your first practice session the day before. Your muscles need to strengthen and adapt to that kind of pressure. You need to see yourself run a mile, 5 miles, 10 miles and so on to reach the goal of a marathon distance.
Finances are hard, but healing is harder. So I start small. We hit a rough patch with our finances and I asked God to help us in Jesus name. A small amount, the equivalent of just a few hundred dollars. It came in. I asked for work to increase our income and God opened a door which in turn led me to meet an amazing person who has become my closest friend other than my wife. Talking to her and swapping testimonies I saw my faith grow from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand a month. Then the time came for me to leave the job last month. I still trust God to provide the finances as the need is still there.
It only hit me a few days ago that a few thousand a month for 2 years now is greater than 1 coin in the mouth of a fish.
What seemed impossible when I set out was a possibility now.
I'm dedicating myself to spending more time writing and doing what God sends me out to do now. In addition, my wife and I have a business that I may end up managing full-time at some point. My name is on the ownership papers, but I don't really do much there. My passion is for my writing and teaching.
Greater works. The impossible possibility of seeing healing, financial freedom, the dead raised back to life. It all seems closer now.
I keep pondering and chewing over the passage from John's Gospel. Anything in Jesus' name.
Anything.
Why not? Water into wine, calming a storm with a word. These should be a part of our daily life as Christians. The works Jesus did seem impossible, but when we see ourselves as He sees us, the impossible becomes a possibility. Miracles follow the believer.
The miracles follow the believer.
Peter didn't get out of the boat then call to Jesus. He called to Jesus, then he walked on the water. He put his faith in a single word from Jesus. He believed. And then the miracle flowed.
The impossible is only so because we believe it to be. Our focus is such that as we look out we see through either our old self or our born-again self, and the focus determines the reality.
Now I'm not spouting some new-age theory like some nut-job guru. It's what Jesus said. First believe in Him - give our hearts and minds over to Him - then signs and wonders follow. But only to the extent we allow them to.
Read what Jesus did. See yourself there with Him. Imagine the response when he sends out the disciples to the towns and they come back having seen healings, demons cast out - and yes, I do believe that demons are real - all at the name of Jesus. See yourself standing with Jesus at Jairus's home and watching the girl rise from the dead at a simple command. See yourself giving the command! Jesus said we will do the works He did, so visualise yourself doing what He did. See yourself laying hands on the sick in your imagination to start with. Practice with the eyes of Faith, then move out with that faith and declare with Boldness like Peter and the others did that strength come into the lame, the outcast be restored and the brokenhearted be comforted.
But remember, it's only possible when we remember it's not impossible. When our focus is on the problem we will doubtless fail, but by the same token, when we focus on the solution, Jesus and the Holy Spirit in us, we can't help but see the impossible become possible.
Monday, 12 August 2013
Saturday, 10 August 2013
God the Comedian
OK, so it's a little irreverent to say God is a comedian, but look at the scripture from Genesis to, well not so much in Revelation, and you see God's sense of humour coming through.
There's so much I can only touch on a few scriptural examples, but let's start in Genesis. God makes a Covenant agreement with a man named Abram who has no children and says his children will inherit the land of Canaan. Then He promises Abram a child born of the Covenant through his wife, Sarai. Abram meets God again at the age of 99 with no children and God tells him his name will now be Abraham - meaning Father of a multitude - but still no child. God tells Abraham that Sarai is now Sarah - and she's 90. Then the punchline "Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her.” Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?"" (Genesis 17:15-17)
God's sense of humour makes a mockery of our knowledge. Isaac is born, and named "Laughter".
Then in Numbers 22 there's Balaam. Balaam had a donkey who spoke. It's ridiculous to think about. More than that, Balaam enters into a debate with the donkey! Imagine you go downstairs first thing on a winter morning to let your dog out and the dog looks up and says "In this weather? You're kidding!" Now we're not talking about a cartoon donkey voiced by Eddie Murphy or the family pet. This is a real donkey that this man has been riding for years. This man, Balaam, is a prophet himself, and God opens the donkey's mouth to prophesy to the prophet!
If we look forward to 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 we see Jabez. His mother named him, and the name means sorrow-maker. Jabez cries out to God and despite his name, God answers his request. All we know of the man is his name, his petition, and God's sense of humour dancing over his faith!
The Gospels are full of the humour of God. Jesus Himself is a walking joke - until the power flows. From the worldly perspective, Jesus is the illegitimate child of a carpenter. Not a king, descended from David's line, definitely, but so far removed from Israel's throne that it's almost impossible to count how many other heirs would need to die before he got that crown.
But Jesus's humour was a message with meaning that the "learned" people couldn't understand. They were so far removed from Godliness that when God Himself walked with them they couldn't recognise Him.
His birth was announced by shepherds, and news reached Herod because three men stopped to ask for directions. Then there's His miracles. Cana, just after He's baptized by John and He's at a wedding. The host runs out of wine, and Jesus's mother asks Him to help. So He does - Each amphora used to hold water was probably between 4 and 5 feet tall, and probably held gallons of liquid. Imagine the twinkle in His eye as He tells them to fill the jars to the brim, then take the contents to the taster. I can see the "Wait for it" look in His eyes as the bemused servers take the contents across and the purest red wine of the highest quality pours into the cup and the startled taster declares it to be the best wine of the night.
Peter says he needs cash to pay the Temple Tax. Jesus tells him to go fish - literally - and there in the fish's mouth is enough for both of their taxes!
The disciples are drowning on a sinking ship, Jesus casually strolls over to them on top of the sea and as if that's not enough, Peter calls to Him and His response "Come!" and Peter walks on top of the waves as well.
God's Truth makes mockery of Man's facts. The crowning punchline of the Gospel is the Resurrection itself. The Pharisees crucified Him and walked away, Jesus got up again with the sun three days later. Peter had denied Him three times, and after the resurrection he goes back to the life he knows - fishing. He's dragging the nets all night with nothing - just like 3 years before. Then Jesus stands there on the shore and calls out - like before - let down the nets again. And the nets are filled with a mammoth catch. They go to the shore and Jesus is already cooking fish for them. There must have been a twinkle in His eye as He sat with the disciples just like old times. They must have enjoyed the joke together as they went out into the World to tell everyone about Jesus.
The Truth of God makes men's thinking sheer folly. His wisdom is so far removed from ours that we are totally baffled by His ways. The only logical thing to do sometimes when a miracle hits your life is laugh. If we try to understand it we'll just end up with a headache, so just enjoy the ride.
We'll have Eternity to ponder the humour of God together!
There's so much I can only touch on a few scriptural examples, but let's start in Genesis. God makes a Covenant agreement with a man named Abram who has no children and says his children will inherit the land of Canaan. Then He promises Abram a child born of the Covenant through his wife, Sarai. Abram meets God again at the age of 99 with no children and God tells him his name will now be Abraham - meaning Father of a multitude - but still no child. God tells Abraham that Sarai is now Sarah - and she's 90. Then the punchline "Then God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her.” Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?"" (Genesis 17:15-17)
God's sense of humour makes a mockery of our knowledge. Isaac is born, and named "Laughter".
Then in Numbers 22 there's Balaam. Balaam had a donkey who spoke. It's ridiculous to think about. More than that, Balaam enters into a debate with the donkey! Imagine you go downstairs first thing on a winter morning to let your dog out and the dog looks up and says "In this weather? You're kidding!" Now we're not talking about a cartoon donkey voiced by Eddie Murphy or the family pet. This is a real donkey that this man has been riding for years. This man, Balaam, is a prophet himself, and God opens the donkey's mouth to prophesy to the prophet!
If we look forward to 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 we see Jabez. His mother named him, and the name means sorrow-maker. Jabez cries out to God and despite his name, God answers his request. All we know of the man is his name, his petition, and God's sense of humour dancing over his faith!
The Gospels are full of the humour of God. Jesus Himself is a walking joke - until the power flows. From the worldly perspective, Jesus is the illegitimate child of a carpenter. Not a king, descended from David's line, definitely, but so far removed from Israel's throne that it's almost impossible to count how many other heirs would need to die before he got that crown.
But Jesus's humour was a message with meaning that the "learned" people couldn't understand. They were so far removed from Godliness that when God Himself walked with them they couldn't recognise Him.
His birth was announced by shepherds, and news reached Herod because three men stopped to ask for directions. Then there's His miracles. Cana, just after He's baptized by John and He's at a wedding. The host runs out of wine, and Jesus's mother asks Him to help. So He does - Each amphora used to hold water was probably between 4 and 5 feet tall, and probably held gallons of liquid. Imagine the twinkle in His eye as He tells them to fill the jars to the brim, then take the contents to the taster. I can see the "Wait for it" look in His eyes as the bemused servers take the contents across and the purest red wine of the highest quality pours into the cup and the startled taster declares it to be the best wine of the night.
Peter says he needs cash to pay the Temple Tax. Jesus tells him to go fish - literally - and there in the fish's mouth is enough for both of their taxes!
The disciples are drowning on a sinking ship, Jesus casually strolls over to them on top of the sea and as if that's not enough, Peter calls to Him and His response "Come!" and Peter walks on top of the waves as well.
God's Truth makes mockery of Man's facts. The crowning punchline of the Gospel is the Resurrection itself. The Pharisees crucified Him and walked away, Jesus got up again with the sun three days later. Peter had denied Him three times, and after the resurrection he goes back to the life he knows - fishing. He's dragging the nets all night with nothing - just like 3 years before. Then Jesus stands there on the shore and calls out - like before - let down the nets again. And the nets are filled with a mammoth catch. They go to the shore and Jesus is already cooking fish for them. There must have been a twinkle in His eye as He sat with the disciples just like old times. They must have enjoyed the joke together as they went out into the World to tell everyone about Jesus.
The Truth of God makes men's thinking sheer folly. His wisdom is so far removed from ours that we are totally baffled by His ways. The only logical thing to do sometimes when a miracle hits your life is laugh. If we try to understand it we'll just end up with a headache, so just enjoy the ride.
We'll have Eternity to ponder the humour of God together!
Monday, 29 July 2013
Believing the Unbelievable
There's a lot of things in Christianity that are confounding to the World system. Miracles, speaking in Tongues, Word of Knowledge and Prophecy for starters.
Christianity has developed it's own language and culture, resulting in people not a part of the church feeling excluded and left out. Jesus never did that - it was what the Pharisees did. When He spoke to shepherds, he talked about sheep, fish to fishermen, lost coins, lampstands, everyday simple analogies that would open people's eyes and hearts to His message.
He spoke of unclean spirits because the understanding that this world is held by a force other than God was understood then better than now. Nietzsche is purported to have coined the phrase "God is dead", and the philosopher Charles Baudelaire - "The greatest trick the devil ever played was convincing the world that he did not exist." These two statements go hand in hand into 21st century culture, resulting in a society across cultures as Western society permeates all areas from one side, and Communism from the other seek to convince us that Self is the most important thing - particularly in Western culture - and to sacrifice anything that gets in the way of promoting Self above all else.
Anything that cannot be "proven" by science is disregarded as fantasy in it's most negative & damaging form. Even irrefutable miracles like healing from paralysis or raising from the dead are disputed by our "civilised" and "educated" culture.
They are simply a flight of fancy, or unbelievable. Stories for children to give them comfort.
We have lost the plot in a big way.
Jesus calls on us to believe the impossible. Move mountains, walk on water, heal the sick, raise the dead. Freely receive from God & freely give what we have received.
I have a friend who used to often say to me "The impossible we can do immediately. Miracles may require a little more time" We worked together for a year or so, and I miss the close friendship I had with him during that time, but our God-focussed conversations stay with me, and despite being on opposite ends of the planet now I am able to stay in touch - something I value deeply.
God challenges us, almost dares us to ask things of Him. We see it through the Gospels. High quality wine created from water, 5000 men and their families fed by a packed lunch of a small boy, Peter walking on water, lives changed in unimaginable ways by a simple touch - blind eyes open, deaf ears hearing, lame walking. Even just a word from the creator is enough to heal the sick.
Impossible - scientifically.
"Believe the impossible" is the message Jesus shouts with every action. Whatever you ask for in My name, God will give you He tells us.
I watched a man of God named Dave Duell praying for some people back in the 1990's at some conferences in the UK. Something stood out in this man. It wasn't his holiness, or his (large) personality that grabbed you, it was how ordinary he is. Everything about him said "You can do what I do, you just don't know you can yet". One child had a growth issue in his legs, one was shorter than the other by over an inch. Dave didn't shout and scream, he simply touched the boy's short leg and said "Thank you Jesus", nothing more or less. The boy's leg immediately started to grow until they were the same length. Then, with a twinkle in his eye he leaned in to ask the youngster "Wanna be taller?" The boy nodded, and then the other leg lengthened by about an inch, followed by the second to the same length. His trousers suddenly much shorter than they had been, and the boy stood up, taller and straight.
Unbelievable, but true. I know people will disregard the story and make up their own mind. They will say I'm nuts or a storyteller spinning a tale to make myself look good.
But God says the wise things of this world are foolishness to Him, and we will be fools for Christ.
I've never raised anyone from death. I've never seen cancer healed by my prayers. But I've experienced small victories. A dear friend had bad toothache so I prayed for complete healing. She had a dentist's appointment that would be charged for if cancelled so she went anyway. He couldn't find anything wrong, and she had no symptoms any more. Neither of us was surprised, but he was! I've prayed for bad backs and strained muscles and seen healing manifest on the spot. I've prayed for healings and seen partial recovery and nothing more - it's not just my prayer that matters. It's also on the part of the receiver to gain what God has for them. We have a choice. In His home town, Jesus was only able to do a few minor healings because of the people's lack of faith. Most of the people I've prayed for where I've seen healing manifest don't know me, so they believe it will work because they don't know I'm only as human as they are. Most of the people who know me can't separate the part of me that is tuned in to God from the man they know, so the prayer is less effective. But the source is the same.
Believe what the World system declares impossible and you begin to see God work to produce it. What God can do in our lives is limited only by what we will allow Him to do.
So believe the unbelievable. Let God's Power flow through us like a rushing wind or a mighty flood and see the blind see, the deaf hear, the destitue fed and housed, the sick healed and the dead raised.
One step at a time. Hope to see it gives Faith to see it and Faith manifests it. The unbelievable becomes what it should be for us.
Normal.
Christianity has developed it's own language and culture, resulting in people not a part of the church feeling excluded and left out. Jesus never did that - it was what the Pharisees did. When He spoke to shepherds, he talked about sheep, fish to fishermen, lost coins, lampstands, everyday simple analogies that would open people's eyes and hearts to His message.
He spoke of unclean spirits because the understanding that this world is held by a force other than God was understood then better than now. Nietzsche is purported to have coined the phrase "God is dead", and the philosopher Charles Baudelaire - "The greatest trick the devil ever played was convincing the world that he did not exist." These two statements go hand in hand into 21st century culture, resulting in a society across cultures as Western society permeates all areas from one side, and Communism from the other seek to convince us that Self is the most important thing - particularly in Western culture - and to sacrifice anything that gets in the way of promoting Self above all else.
Anything that cannot be "proven" by science is disregarded as fantasy in it's most negative & damaging form. Even irrefutable miracles like healing from paralysis or raising from the dead are disputed by our "civilised" and "educated" culture.
They are simply a flight of fancy, or unbelievable. Stories for children to give them comfort.
We have lost the plot in a big way.
Jesus calls on us to believe the impossible. Move mountains, walk on water, heal the sick, raise the dead. Freely receive from God & freely give what we have received.
I have a friend who used to often say to me "The impossible we can do immediately. Miracles may require a little more time" We worked together for a year or so, and I miss the close friendship I had with him during that time, but our God-focussed conversations stay with me, and despite being on opposite ends of the planet now I am able to stay in touch - something I value deeply.
God challenges us, almost dares us to ask things of Him. We see it through the Gospels. High quality wine created from water, 5000 men and their families fed by a packed lunch of a small boy, Peter walking on water, lives changed in unimaginable ways by a simple touch - blind eyes open, deaf ears hearing, lame walking. Even just a word from the creator is enough to heal the sick.
Impossible - scientifically.
"Believe the impossible" is the message Jesus shouts with every action. Whatever you ask for in My name, God will give you He tells us.
I watched a man of God named Dave Duell praying for some people back in the 1990's at some conferences in the UK. Something stood out in this man. It wasn't his holiness, or his (large) personality that grabbed you, it was how ordinary he is. Everything about him said "You can do what I do, you just don't know you can yet". One child had a growth issue in his legs, one was shorter than the other by over an inch. Dave didn't shout and scream, he simply touched the boy's short leg and said "Thank you Jesus", nothing more or less. The boy's leg immediately started to grow until they were the same length. Then, with a twinkle in his eye he leaned in to ask the youngster "Wanna be taller?" The boy nodded, and then the other leg lengthened by about an inch, followed by the second to the same length. His trousers suddenly much shorter than they had been, and the boy stood up, taller and straight.
Unbelievable, but true. I know people will disregard the story and make up their own mind. They will say I'm nuts or a storyteller spinning a tale to make myself look good.
But God says the wise things of this world are foolishness to Him, and we will be fools for Christ.
I've never raised anyone from death. I've never seen cancer healed by my prayers. But I've experienced small victories. A dear friend had bad toothache so I prayed for complete healing. She had a dentist's appointment that would be charged for if cancelled so she went anyway. He couldn't find anything wrong, and she had no symptoms any more. Neither of us was surprised, but he was! I've prayed for bad backs and strained muscles and seen healing manifest on the spot. I've prayed for healings and seen partial recovery and nothing more - it's not just my prayer that matters. It's also on the part of the receiver to gain what God has for them. We have a choice. In His home town, Jesus was only able to do a few minor healings because of the people's lack of faith. Most of the people I've prayed for where I've seen healing manifest don't know me, so they believe it will work because they don't know I'm only as human as they are. Most of the people who know me can't separate the part of me that is tuned in to God from the man they know, so the prayer is less effective. But the source is the same.
Believe what the World system declares impossible and you begin to see God work to produce it. What God can do in our lives is limited only by what we will allow Him to do.
So believe the unbelievable. Let God's Power flow through us like a rushing wind or a mighty flood and see the blind see, the deaf hear, the destitue fed and housed, the sick healed and the dead raised.
One step at a time. Hope to see it gives Faith to see it and Faith manifests it. The unbelievable becomes what it should be for us.
Normal.
Sunday, 14 July 2013
All Our Needs
Needs.
The word jumped out at me today as I was meditating the Phillipians 4:19 promise.
It made me look at my life in a different way.
I grew up in the UK, lived there until I was 31 and then moved to Cape Town. Here I'm a married man of 41 now, 3 dogs, car on the drive and fire in the hearth. My wife is a medical doctor. We're planning a family.
Needs.
What are my needs?
God will provide all my needs according to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus.
I'm learning about my needs.
Some of what I thought were my needs, actually aren't.
We don't need many of the things we take for granted in a Western society.
I live in sight of a less affluent area. We regularly have gunfire within 200 meters of our front gate, and 2 years ago a child was killed by a drunk driver hitting her after crashing through our wall. My wife and I were home and tried to help, but all we could do was cradle the broken body until the paramedics arrived. She died on the way to the hospital, as did the passenger of the car.
Needs.
My needs are simple. Maslow had it right. His pyramid, famous in psychology, holds true in Christianity as well. From basic physiological like food & sleep at the base to self-actualisation at the top, we live according to our progression through the needs we have.
In a Christian pyramid, the needs may be slightly different, but they are essentially the same core. We still need food and sleep. We need safety & security. Friendship, family at level 3. Esteem at level 4 and self actualisation at the top. God puts things in a different way though. In Genesis, He provides all Adams basic needs, food, shelter and the security of employment are all provided by God. Then God says we need companionship - and creates Eve. God's pyramid starts to change a little for the top 2 layers though.
Esteem for us as Christians should come from God. That part of us should be met through our relationship with Him through Christ, rather than acclaim and respect from other people. In fact, acclaim from people could be detrimental to our growth as Christians.
Self-actualisation could be interpreted as finding and fulfilling God's Will for our lives. Actualisation would be more accurate than self-actualisation, but moving in that direction should also be done with the guidance and support of a mature fellowship. God's gifts to us are uniquely suited to us as individuals, coded as perfectly as DNA to form our spiritual selves.
Needs.
Our needs are essentials, not minutia of wants or desires. We have a car, but I have a motorbike as well. Before I emigrated I owned a car, a VW Camper-van and a Harley-Davidson. I had the trappings of my wants but was missing much of my need.
I have a new perspective on need since my first visit here before I moved. As I came out of Cape Town airport for the first time I came face-to-face with the other side of the society. An "informal settlement" was just outside the airport. These houses, cobbled together from wooden pallets and corrugated metal sheets, provided shelter for around half of Cape Town's population. In the 11 years since then, these townships have more than doubled in size as people move to the city from the smaller towns and villages.
Need became a relative term. I realised how little I asked God to meet my needs, and how much I focussed on wants.
Need.
Now my concept of need has narrowed even further. Three years ago when my wife was mis-diagnosed following surgery and almost died I had to learn a new way to pray. I had to look at scripture again and see what to pray for, and how to pray. What was promised and what was not.
Daily bread - level 1 & 2
Forgiveness as we forgive others - level 3
My focus to be on God supplying my needs - level 4
Walking in His way - level 5
Needs. Met.
According to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus. According to His power at work in us.
God is faithful to provide what we can trust Him for.
Our needs
The word jumped out at me today as I was meditating the Phillipians 4:19 promise.
It made me look at my life in a different way.
I grew up in the UK, lived there until I was 31 and then moved to Cape Town. Here I'm a married man of 41 now, 3 dogs, car on the drive and fire in the hearth. My wife is a medical doctor. We're planning a family.
Needs.
What are my needs?
God will provide all my needs according to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus.
I'm learning about my needs.
Some of what I thought were my needs, actually aren't.
We don't need many of the things we take for granted in a Western society.
I live in sight of a less affluent area. We regularly have gunfire within 200 meters of our front gate, and 2 years ago a child was killed by a drunk driver hitting her after crashing through our wall. My wife and I were home and tried to help, but all we could do was cradle the broken body until the paramedics arrived. She died on the way to the hospital, as did the passenger of the car.
Needs.
My needs are simple. Maslow had it right. His pyramid, famous in psychology, holds true in Christianity as well. From basic physiological like food & sleep at the base to self-actualisation at the top, we live according to our progression through the needs we have.
In a Christian pyramid, the needs may be slightly different, but they are essentially the same core. We still need food and sleep. We need safety & security. Friendship, family at level 3. Esteem at level 4 and self actualisation at the top. God puts things in a different way though. In Genesis, He provides all Adams basic needs, food, shelter and the security of employment are all provided by God. Then God says we need companionship - and creates Eve. God's pyramid starts to change a little for the top 2 layers though.
Esteem for us as Christians should come from God. That part of us should be met through our relationship with Him through Christ, rather than acclaim and respect from other people. In fact, acclaim from people could be detrimental to our growth as Christians.
Self-actualisation could be interpreted as finding and fulfilling God's Will for our lives. Actualisation would be more accurate than self-actualisation, but moving in that direction should also be done with the guidance and support of a mature fellowship. God's gifts to us are uniquely suited to us as individuals, coded as perfectly as DNA to form our spiritual selves.
Needs.
Our needs are essentials, not minutia of wants or desires. We have a car, but I have a motorbike as well. Before I emigrated I owned a car, a VW Camper-van and a Harley-Davidson. I had the trappings of my wants but was missing much of my need.
I have a new perspective on need since my first visit here before I moved. As I came out of Cape Town airport for the first time I came face-to-face with the other side of the society. An "informal settlement" was just outside the airport. These houses, cobbled together from wooden pallets and corrugated metal sheets, provided shelter for around half of Cape Town's population. In the 11 years since then, these townships have more than doubled in size as people move to the city from the smaller towns and villages.
Need became a relative term. I realised how little I asked God to meet my needs, and how much I focussed on wants.
Need.
Now my concept of need has narrowed even further. Three years ago when my wife was mis-diagnosed following surgery and almost died I had to learn a new way to pray. I had to look at scripture again and see what to pray for, and how to pray. What was promised and what was not.
Daily bread - level 1 & 2
Forgiveness as we forgive others - level 3
My focus to be on God supplying my needs - level 4
Walking in His way - level 5
Needs. Met.
According to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus. According to His power at work in us.
God is faithful to provide what we can trust Him for.
Our needs
Monday, 1 July 2013
It Ain't no Sin to get the Blues
There's a Don Francisco song I've rediscovered just recently which has spoken to me in a very timeous manner - I love how God does that.
In it, he reminds us through music that obedience can mean suffering, and we can forget that when everything is going our way. But as a great speaker said in a teaching I heard many years ago, the only time you don't run into the Devil is when you're headed in the same direction.
I'm about to go to my worldly employer, who - lest we forget - is not the source of my financial income, merely the vessel God uses to get it to me, in order to discuss my future with the company.
Since I believe in the product, although my personal experience has been poor as an employee, and I would recommend the product to anyone in the market as the best available - and I've done a LOT of research on the matter - I will not mention the company name here.
I expect that by the end of today I will no longer be employed by this bastion of commercialism, probably with a black mark against my name for daring to put the wellbeing of my health and that of my family before my job. An irony for those who know me personally.
This means I will have more time to devote to not, in the eyes of the world, falling apart.
I prefer to think of it as a new beginning.
My wife's health has recovered to the point that by the end of this week we will have a fully functional business running and servicing the local community - although I will not be playing an active part in it. I will spend some time recovering and drawing close to God in order to allow Him to refresh me, and then moving into His service full time.
Timing is everything, and although I've taken a beating in the last six months, I'm ready to recover and move on. I've been down almost as low as I ever have been (but not quite), and I'm ready to fight back in His strength, always remembering Jesus knows my suffering, the Disciples went through even worse than I did and came out with Glorious Victory.
So hold on to God's Promise, even when things are falling apart. He will never put us through more than we can endure, and we can do all things through His mighty strength according to His Power at work in us.
In it, he reminds us through music that obedience can mean suffering, and we can forget that when everything is going our way. But as a great speaker said in a teaching I heard many years ago, the only time you don't run into the Devil is when you're headed in the same direction.
I'm about to go to my worldly employer, who - lest we forget - is not the source of my financial income, merely the vessel God uses to get it to me, in order to discuss my future with the company.
Since I believe in the product, although my personal experience has been poor as an employee, and I would recommend the product to anyone in the market as the best available - and I've done a LOT of research on the matter - I will not mention the company name here.
I expect that by the end of today I will no longer be employed by this bastion of commercialism, probably with a black mark against my name for daring to put the wellbeing of my health and that of my family before my job. An irony for those who know me personally.
This means I will have more time to devote to not, in the eyes of the world, falling apart.
I prefer to think of it as a new beginning.
My wife's health has recovered to the point that by the end of this week we will have a fully functional business running and servicing the local community - although I will not be playing an active part in it. I will spend some time recovering and drawing close to God in order to allow Him to refresh me, and then moving into His service full time.
Timing is everything, and although I've taken a beating in the last six months, I'm ready to recover and move on. I've been down almost as low as I ever have been (but not quite), and I'm ready to fight back in His strength, always remembering Jesus knows my suffering, the Disciples went through even worse than I did and came out with Glorious Victory.
So hold on to God's Promise, even when things are falling apart. He will never put us through more than we can endure, and we can do all things through His mighty strength according to His Power at work in us.
Friday, 28 June 2013
It's Not Me, Peter. Stay in the Boat...
When we start down the walk of Faith we get a lot of "advice" from our friends. Our families will "support" us by telling us what we "need" to hear.
It can throw us off.
Several years ago I was in a strong church community. I had left a job to start my own business and my youth and inexperience had left it drained and failed as a venture, so after much prayer and soul-searching I found the answer. I spent the next few months waking up in the morning and the first thing through my head was "Lord, what do you need me to do today?"
For that time, to start with, I had support from my friends. I had no formal income, I just trusted the Bible where it said "my God will supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Phillipians 4:19)
I did my listening on a daily basis and began to do exactly what God told me to do each day. I visited people I wouldn't normally visit, met strangers and spoke into their lives as He led me. And through all this my needs were met. Completely. A tax rebate, gifts of finance and food. The only person I discussed what I was doing with was God. He met me where I was and I kept walking on the surface He gave me to walk on.
Then I talked to a few people about it. That's when the "helpful" advice started.
Despite the fact that I'd been living this way for several months, maintaining a positive bank balance and not missing a payment of utilities dates of any other bill for that matter, petrol seemed to multiply in my car, in fact I got almost double the average milage I was used to getting from a tank of fuel, I was advised that what I was doing was wrong. 2 Thessalonians 3:10 was thrown at me repeatedly by these helpful advisors "If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat." I got knocked off my vision and what God had placed in my life by this thought.
In short, I was out walking on water and my friends started unwittingly throwing wind and waves at me.
Peter called out to Jesus and said "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.". Jesus replies "Come" and Peter climbs out of the boat and walks to Jesus. It's not in the Gospel, but what do you think the other 11 disciples thought of Peter getting out of the boat? Crazy perhaps? It's possible they thought it. It would be natural to think it. Peter climbed out of the boat and walked on the water towards Jesus. When he noticed the wind and the waves he panicked and began to sink. Did he notice the wind and the waves because of the wind and waves, or did the other 11 call to him telling him about them inspire the fear? We'll never know in this life, but I'll be asking when I meet him!
The point is Peter backed Jesus into a corner. His question forced God's hand. Jesus could hardly call back "it's not me Peter, stay in the boat" the question forced the response, the response produced the miracle.
I was distracted by the wind and waves that were pointed out to me. I saw the shortfalls, the unpredictability of the income, the risk involved in the lifestyle. So I asked God to give me a job to keep these "helpers" off my back. The answer was a resounding "no" initially, but I pressed and eventually God gave me a job - one day a week working with a very good friend from the church who had never questioned how I was behaving.
I took the job, the questioning stopped, but so did the divine supply. I began looking at the job as my source instead of the Divine supply I'd been receiving up to that point. I realised too late that I had become the widow with the oil. The miraculous supply stopped, and I had been the one to cut it off. I a week I went from abundance and continuous supply to the point that people would chase me down the road because God had inspired them to give me finances - every time the exact amount I needed for a bill that had come in during the preceding 24 hours and every single time, the amount was to the penny what I needed, and instead I looked to the job to meet my financial needs.
My first thought each day became "how am I going to pay bill x" instead of "what is Your will for me today". I lost the ability to receive from God, a gift which had been growing for 6 months, in place of a certainty that God would supply my need.
The moral of my story here is simply this: If God leads you into something, do it with all your heart. Surrender your own will to God's and do what He calls you to.
I'm very blessed now, almost 20 years later to have a new friend in my life. I've known Thuli a year now, and God has blessed us with a friendship tempered through fire. Her call on her life has rekindled God's call on me and restored His promise to me. I'm moving back towards the man God called me to be all those years ago
I'm scared - and I don't scare easily. Back then I was alone with limited responsibilities, now I have a responsibility to my wife. We want children in the next few months, that carries more responsibilities with it, and not only financial ones.
I want to trust, so I'm stepping out onto the water. It scares me, but it's just one step. I'm fixing my eyes on Christ and trying to ignore the wind and the waves.
The alternative is to stay in the boat. And never know what God has planned for me.
That scares me more.
So my heart's cry is Lord bid me come to you over the water. I believe He rejoices at this, and I will do whatever He calls me to do, and I know if He is with me, No-one can be against me.
I pray this will touch people. I want your comments, your feedback. Your Testimony. Let the World see we have a Mighty God. Let our Faith move mountains.
It can throw us off.
Several years ago I was in a strong church community. I had left a job to start my own business and my youth and inexperience had left it drained and failed as a venture, so after much prayer and soul-searching I found the answer. I spent the next few months waking up in the morning and the first thing through my head was "Lord, what do you need me to do today?"
For that time, to start with, I had support from my friends. I had no formal income, I just trusted the Bible where it said "my God will supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Phillipians 4:19)
I did my listening on a daily basis and began to do exactly what God told me to do each day. I visited people I wouldn't normally visit, met strangers and spoke into their lives as He led me. And through all this my needs were met. Completely. A tax rebate, gifts of finance and food. The only person I discussed what I was doing with was God. He met me where I was and I kept walking on the surface He gave me to walk on.
Then I talked to a few people about it. That's when the "helpful" advice started.
Despite the fact that I'd been living this way for several months, maintaining a positive bank balance and not missing a payment of utilities dates of any other bill for that matter, petrol seemed to multiply in my car, in fact I got almost double the average milage I was used to getting from a tank of fuel, I was advised that what I was doing was wrong. 2 Thessalonians 3:10 was thrown at me repeatedly by these helpful advisors "If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat." I got knocked off my vision and what God had placed in my life by this thought.
In short, I was out walking on water and my friends started unwittingly throwing wind and waves at me.
Peter called out to Jesus and said "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.". Jesus replies "Come" and Peter climbs out of the boat and walks to Jesus. It's not in the Gospel, but what do you think the other 11 disciples thought of Peter getting out of the boat? Crazy perhaps? It's possible they thought it. It would be natural to think it. Peter climbed out of the boat and walked on the water towards Jesus. When he noticed the wind and the waves he panicked and began to sink. Did he notice the wind and the waves because of the wind and waves, or did the other 11 call to him telling him about them inspire the fear? We'll never know in this life, but I'll be asking when I meet him!
The point is Peter backed Jesus into a corner. His question forced God's hand. Jesus could hardly call back "it's not me Peter, stay in the boat" the question forced the response, the response produced the miracle.
I was distracted by the wind and waves that were pointed out to me. I saw the shortfalls, the unpredictability of the income, the risk involved in the lifestyle. So I asked God to give me a job to keep these "helpers" off my back. The answer was a resounding "no" initially, but I pressed and eventually God gave me a job - one day a week working with a very good friend from the church who had never questioned how I was behaving.
I took the job, the questioning stopped, but so did the divine supply. I began looking at the job as my source instead of the Divine supply I'd been receiving up to that point. I realised too late that I had become the widow with the oil. The miraculous supply stopped, and I had been the one to cut it off. I a week I went from abundance and continuous supply to the point that people would chase me down the road because God had inspired them to give me finances - every time the exact amount I needed for a bill that had come in during the preceding 24 hours and every single time, the amount was to the penny what I needed, and instead I looked to the job to meet my financial needs.
My first thought each day became "how am I going to pay bill x" instead of "what is Your will for me today". I lost the ability to receive from God, a gift which had been growing for 6 months, in place of a certainty that God would supply my need.
The moral of my story here is simply this: If God leads you into something, do it with all your heart. Surrender your own will to God's and do what He calls you to.
I'm very blessed now, almost 20 years later to have a new friend in my life. I've known Thuli a year now, and God has blessed us with a friendship tempered through fire. Her call on her life has rekindled God's call on me and restored His promise to me. I'm moving back towards the man God called me to be all those years ago
I'm scared - and I don't scare easily. Back then I was alone with limited responsibilities, now I have a responsibility to my wife. We want children in the next few months, that carries more responsibilities with it, and not only financial ones.
I want to trust, so I'm stepping out onto the water. It scares me, but it's just one step. I'm fixing my eyes on Christ and trying to ignore the wind and the waves.
The alternative is to stay in the boat. And never know what God has planned for me.
That scares me more.
So my heart's cry is Lord bid me come to you over the water. I believe He rejoices at this, and I will do whatever He calls me to do, and I know if He is with me, No-one can be against me.
I pray this will touch people. I want your comments, your feedback. Your Testimony. Let the World see we have a Mighty God. Let our Faith move mountains.
Monday, 17 June 2013
Faith is Not Enough
It's written by James that Faith without Works is dead (James 2:17).
But to truly grasp what Faith will do for us we have to understand what drives Faith, and in turn what Faith drives.
God inspires, teaches and warns us with dreams. We too often dismiss our dreams as fantasy in sleep or a daydream, but a true Dream inspired by God brings Hope into our lives. The problem is that we are conditioned by this world to ignore dreams as irrelevant. We have lost our ability to distinguish between the dreams God inspires and the nonsense "dreams" from our sleeping hours. Joseph's dreams gave him Hope, Pharoah's dreams were a warning from God. Nebuchadnezzar's dreams were interpreted by Daniel. Joel prophesied "And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions." (Joel 2:28 NKJV)
Dreams from God give Hope. Hope is a powerful force that God gives us. In1 Corinthians 13 Paul tells us it is one of 3 things that last forever. Hope drives us forward towards our God-inspired dreams. Hope fuels us towards the path God sets before us that He reveals to us by dreams. Without Hope we cannot move towards the Visions God gives us.
Faith manifests the Hope God places in us. Don't misunderstand this, Faith is itself a gift from God, but it is, as Hebrews 11:1 states, the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of what has not yet been seen with our physical eyes.
I could list all the standard Bible examples of faith here, Abraham, Isaac, Daniel, and so on. But I'd rather use something personal, just for the sake of a routine Testimony of God working today, just as He did over 3000 years ago.
Three years ago my wife went into hospital for major but routine surgery. There should have been no problems, however she developed a series of infections and complications following the procedure which ultimately led to us being forced to close our business - a medical practice - and for me to become the sole income in the home. During the time she was sickest I began to dream that she would recover. That quickly became Hope that she would, which developed into Faith, which is manifesting on a daily basis as she continues to regain strength.
Now again, don't misunderstand. Faith requires perseverance to see a manifestation sometimes. My wife is still not 100% recovered, but as she has recovered we've been given a new dream together - a new business in a new area. Now new dreams are tricky. We have to learn to find God's dream for us. In the process of setting up there were other offers that looked like answers but on closer examination and prayer proved to be fools-gold. After much prayer and support from the fellowship of believers around us we found the right door and after that everything has fallen into place perfectly, but we still need to persevere and hold fast to the Hope set ahead of us and to the Faith placed in us.
But Faith alone is not enough. Our actions demonstrate our Faith. We prove our Faith by moving through the obstacles the enemy puts before us.
And one more thing, As we are faithful to each vision God gives us, He will give us more to work with. We grow incrementally, but it doesn't have to be microscopic increments!
But to truly grasp what Faith will do for us we have to understand what drives Faith, and in turn what Faith drives.
God inspires, teaches and warns us with dreams. We too often dismiss our dreams as fantasy in sleep or a daydream, but a true Dream inspired by God brings Hope into our lives. The problem is that we are conditioned by this world to ignore dreams as irrelevant. We have lost our ability to distinguish between the dreams God inspires and the nonsense "dreams" from our sleeping hours. Joseph's dreams gave him Hope, Pharoah's dreams were a warning from God. Nebuchadnezzar's dreams were interpreted by Daniel. Joel prophesied "And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions." (Joel 2:28 NKJV)
Dreams from God give Hope. Hope is a powerful force that God gives us. In1 Corinthians 13 Paul tells us it is one of 3 things that last forever. Hope drives us forward towards our God-inspired dreams. Hope fuels us towards the path God sets before us that He reveals to us by dreams. Without Hope we cannot move towards the Visions God gives us.
Faith manifests the Hope God places in us. Don't misunderstand this, Faith is itself a gift from God, but it is, as Hebrews 11:1 states, the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of what has not yet been seen with our physical eyes.
I could list all the standard Bible examples of faith here, Abraham, Isaac, Daniel, and so on. But I'd rather use something personal, just for the sake of a routine Testimony of God working today, just as He did over 3000 years ago.
Three years ago my wife went into hospital for major but routine surgery. There should have been no problems, however she developed a series of infections and complications following the procedure which ultimately led to us being forced to close our business - a medical practice - and for me to become the sole income in the home. During the time she was sickest I began to dream that she would recover. That quickly became Hope that she would, which developed into Faith, which is manifesting on a daily basis as she continues to regain strength.
Now again, don't misunderstand. Faith requires perseverance to see a manifestation sometimes. My wife is still not 100% recovered, but as she has recovered we've been given a new dream together - a new business in a new area. Now new dreams are tricky. We have to learn to find God's dream for us. In the process of setting up there were other offers that looked like answers but on closer examination and prayer proved to be fools-gold. After much prayer and support from the fellowship of believers around us we found the right door and after that everything has fallen into place perfectly, but we still need to persevere and hold fast to the Hope set ahead of us and to the Faith placed in us.
But Faith alone is not enough. Our actions demonstrate our Faith. We prove our Faith by moving through the obstacles the enemy puts before us.
And one more thing, As we are faithful to each vision God gives us, He will give us more to work with. We grow incrementally, but it doesn't have to be microscopic increments!
Wednesday, 22 May 2013
Expecting the Unexpected
My last post concentrated a lot on this World we live in. The concepts and precepts in this World are vastly different from the way of God. The world's paradigms tell us to do the opposite of God's Word at almost every turn.
A few weeks ago I was chatting to a colleague at work who was truly horrified to hear I have never had a one-night stand or casual sex.
I laughed at the time, but her horror at the thought was tangible and became the subject of conversation for some time.
Her response was typical of worldly people. But we need to expect that.
Our expectations must be different to the World if we are to be a light in the darkness. We are conditioned by society, especially in Western society, to expect nothing. Claw our way to the top and fight tooth and nail to stay there. We fool ourselves that we can change the world from the inside out, that by living as the world lives we can influence them, but we are, in fact, being digested by the very beast we are wanting to change. We must be mindful of anything that can take our eyes off our ultimate goal.
A few years ago a church a family member was involved in leading Worship was advised by the senior leader to stop singing the worship song "I believe in Jesus" because it contained the phrase "Here with the power to heal now". The rationale was that this line might create an expectation in the congregation that God heals today. The leader had never seen a healing, and didn't expect to.
I've been a member of churches like that in the past. Frankly the religious nature sickens me. It becomes a modern day hive of pharisees all trying to earn brownie points. Exactly what Jesus came to do away with.
Jesus did what they didn't expect. He forgave sins, healed on the Sabbath, threw out the money-changers from the Temple, ate with sinners, befriended tax collectors and hookers and raised the dead. Then he told his disciples (including us) we could do all those things and more because of His sacrifice.
He told us to expect what the World tells us not to.
So many people in congregations sit in their pew once a week for an hour or two and think it makes them a Christian. Or the devoted ones go to home groups or bible-study meetings as well. Try convincing them you're a car because you spend every Tuesday evening sitting in your garage. The principle is the same, but they can't see it. It's a ludicrous notion.
Be what the World doesn't expect. Do what it doesn't expect. Expect what it doesn't expect.
Jesus didn't tell us to pray for the sick. He told us to heal them. No instruction to study medicine, just heal the sick. Freely receive and freely give.
The World says store it for a rainy day. God says give away your umbrella and I'll provide.
Right now my wife and I are starting up a new venture. The economy says it's a bad time to start a business. The exchange rate says it's a bad time to start a business. The World system says it's a bad time to be starting a business. Global recession. God inspired us. We're starting a business. God gave us Hope, we looked at that Hope and it grew into Faith, and Faith is transforming the vision into a reality. We expect the unexpected according to the World.
We forget God's Wisdom is folly to the World and those in it. I'll readily admit I've had moments where the thought of what we're doing scares me, but then I remember God inspired this. We were offered a business in exactly the same field for a fraction of the expected price, but in a different location. We wrestled with the choice, but eventually we reached a place of unity about it being the wrong thing to do and we're moving ahead where God told us to move. The doors have opened with a little push, not had to be forced. If you've read the posts before this, you'll know I have referred to myself as a "wrecking-ball" for God. I just bluster ahead and blast anything that tries to get in the way aside. My wife, thankfully, whilst just as strong as I am is a weapon of more finesse. We complement one another's shortfalls and bolster each other's strengths. It's a good team.
Expect the unexpected. Always.
A few weeks ago I was chatting to a colleague at work who was truly horrified to hear I have never had a one-night stand or casual sex.
I laughed at the time, but her horror at the thought was tangible and became the subject of conversation for some time.
Her response was typical of worldly people. But we need to expect that.
Our expectations must be different to the World if we are to be a light in the darkness. We are conditioned by society, especially in Western society, to expect nothing. Claw our way to the top and fight tooth and nail to stay there. We fool ourselves that we can change the world from the inside out, that by living as the world lives we can influence them, but we are, in fact, being digested by the very beast we are wanting to change. We must be mindful of anything that can take our eyes off our ultimate goal.
A few years ago a church a family member was involved in leading Worship was advised by the senior leader to stop singing the worship song "I believe in Jesus" because it contained the phrase "Here with the power to heal now". The rationale was that this line might create an expectation in the congregation that God heals today. The leader had never seen a healing, and didn't expect to.
I've been a member of churches like that in the past. Frankly the religious nature sickens me. It becomes a modern day hive of pharisees all trying to earn brownie points. Exactly what Jesus came to do away with.
Jesus did what they didn't expect. He forgave sins, healed on the Sabbath, threw out the money-changers from the Temple, ate with sinners, befriended tax collectors and hookers and raised the dead. Then he told his disciples (including us) we could do all those things and more because of His sacrifice.
He told us to expect what the World tells us not to.
So many people in congregations sit in their pew once a week for an hour or two and think it makes them a Christian. Or the devoted ones go to home groups or bible-study meetings as well. Try convincing them you're a car because you spend every Tuesday evening sitting in your garage. The principle is the same, but they can't see it. It's a ludicrous notion.
Be what the World doesn't expect. Do what it doesn't expect. Expect what it doesn't expect.
Jesus didn't tell us to pray for the sick. He told us to heal them. No instruction to study medicine, just heal the sick. Freely receive and freely give.
The World says store it for a rainy day. God says give away your umbrella and I'll provide.
Right now my wife and I are starting up a new venture. The economy says it's a bad time to start a business. The exchange rate says it's a bad time to start a business. The World system says it's a bad time to be starting a business. Global recession. God inspired us. We're starting a business. God gave us Hope, we looked at that Hope and it grew into Faith, and Faith is transforming the vision into a reality. We expect the unexpected according to the World.
We forget God's Wisdom is folly to the World and those in it. I'll readily admit I've had moments where the thought of what we're doing scares me, but then I remember God inspired this. We were offered a business in exactly the same field for a fraction of the expected price, but in a different location. We wrestled with the choice, but eventually we reached a place of unity about it being the wrong thing to do and we're moving ahead where God told us to move. The doors have opened with a little push, not had to be forced. If you've read the posts before this, you'll know I have referred to myself as a "wrecking-ball" for God. I just bluster ahead and blast anything that tries to get in the way aside. My wife, thankfully, whilst just as strong as I am is a weapon of more finesse. We complement one another's shortfalls and bolster each other's strengths. It's a good team.
Expect the unexpected. Always.
Friday, 17 May 2013
Upside Down or Right side Up?
It's been a couple of weeks since I posted here. I tried to write a few times, but nothing really came up to write about.
Until I looked back on the time.
Without going into the long and boring details, I realised something about this World.
It's upside down.
Completely.
I currently am employed in a call center environment. The call center is "Customer Service" technically. In that I interact with customers I guess you could describe it as such.
We are assessed in our performance through a sample of our calls being evaluated over the course of the month, and on feedback from client satisfaction surveys. It all makes sense until you look under the surface.
We are encouraged to keep interactions short. Long calls are discouraged as being a lesser form of customer service. Keep it short, avoid small talk and get to the next call quickly.
I worked for a different organisation a few years ago. Their attitude was the opposite. It was an easier environment to function in. In fact I've worked in the general industry for over 20 years in one way or another. The place I miss most was a Church in South Devon. As part of my "work" there I met people, chatted to them about issues they had with the way things were in the church itself, and issues affecting their lives. Sometimes I'd spend an entire morning talking to just one person. Sometimes it would be several. But time was never an issue.
Don't misunderstand me. I understand the needs and differences between a local church and a national organisation, and that the service needs are different. I'd be very worried if the clients I deal with daily were just calling to say "hi" and chat about their day. But there needs to be recognition of humanity as well as efficiency.
There was an audit recently of our company. The Head Office wanted to make sure standards were being met by our managers. These standards included how forms are filled out, how many calls agents are handling efficiently (read "quickly" there). The thrust on the managers is first contact solutions for issues. The thrust on agents is speed. in my experience, these can often be antithetical concepts.
For over 20 years I've focussed on solving issues first time. And I was good at it. Taking my time is something that enables me to give the highest level of service. And I put myself into the contact, empathy not sympathy has to drive me.
But that's me. What about God?
God takes His time. He created seasons for a purpose. There needs to be a time for all things as recorded in Ecclesiastes.
Jesus took His time teaching the disciples and the people of the day what God's way was. He was never hurried. In fact, He often was deliberately cryptic to prolong an interaction with people. He was God incarnate and yet He empathised with the prostitute at Simon the Pharisee's home. He made sure 5000 men plus the women and children with them had enough food rather than sending them away. Mary sat at Jesus' feet and Martha bustled around, and Mary was praised.
Through the entire scripture we witness God chastising His people for majoring in the minor things of life. Provision of manna in the desert, a scrawny shepherd defeating a giant of a man because he knew His God and the Covenant he had. Then grumblings when Moses was too long up the mountain led to the golden calf, David staying home in his palace at the time Kings go to war resulting in the murder of Bathsheba's husband. Majoring in the minor, even by the great men of the old and new testament, resulted in God chastising them out of Love.
The World system today emphasises things that are ultimately of no consequence and minimises the things that matter. Magazine headline articles glorifying why it was the right thing to do for the celebrity couple to divorce because he saw a younger woman and decided he'd look "better" with her. There's no emphasis on commitment. Marriages fail. It doesn't work, the "proof" in the statistics says that 40% of marriages end in divorce. Whilst shocking, doesn't that mean 60% don't? And how many of the 40% that fail are consisting of people in their 2nd, 3rd or 4th try? Perhaps the people divorcing just don't know Love, real Love is a choice, not an emotion. Emotional Love didn't take Jesus to the Cross for us. Emotional love cannot sustain a marriage when the storms hit.
Jesus was the first Customer Relationship Manager. He dismissed the managers who focussed on the little stuff - the Pharisees. He focussed on the major things. He did it Right Side Up.
This world is upside-down. We've allowed ourselves to glorify the minor and ignore the major issues. Most people will never reach their full potential because it isn't valued by them. They are taught to kill their own desires for the sake of trimming time, not just in a call-center, but in everything. We are bombarded with "time-saving" devices. Jesus showed that we can't actually "save" time. We can live or not. It's up to us.
"All men die Angus, but not all truly Live" says William Wallace in "Braveheart"
Living involves making our priorities right. I would die for my family, friends or my Faith. There isn't anything any employer could do to persuade me to die for the company, but most companies expect us to surrender our off-time to them instead of spending quality time with family, friends. They call it "team building" or some other term to make it sound important. It isn't. I like most of the people I work with, but there's only a handful I would describe as friends the way Jesus used the word. I'll do anything to help them because they are real relationships based on shared hopes, dreams and Faith (mostly). My Best friend works in my office. I'd go almost as far for her as I would for my wife to help her. God guides me and gives me the strength to be a support to her, and vice-versa. The friendship has a solid foundation based on the truly important things.
It's time for the Church to wake up and turn this world right side up again. 2000 years ago Jesus did it with 12 close friends and around 120 followers. Why not do it again now?
Ultimately it's our choice. Change is painful, but if the caterpiller doesn't spin the cocoon it never becomes a butterfly.
Upside down or right way up? Live life to the full or live as an oxygen thief?
You choose.
Until I looked back on the time.
Without going into the long and boring details, I realised something about this World.
It's upside down.
Completely.
I currently am employed in a call center environment. The call center is "Customer Service" technically. In that I interact with customers I guess you could describe it as such.
We are assessed in our performance through a sample of our calls being evaluated over the course of the month, and on feedback from client satisfaction surveys. It all makes sense until you look under the surface.
We are encouraged to keep interactions short. Long calls are discouraged as being a lesser form of customer service. Keep it short, avoid small talk and get to the next call quickly.
I worked for a different organisation a few years ago. Their attitude was the opposite. It was an easier environment to function in. In fact I've worked in the general industry for over 20 years in one way or another. The place I miss most was a Church in South Devon. As part of my "work" there I met people, chatted to them about issues they had with the way things were in the church itself, and issues affecting their lives. Sometimes I'd spend an entire morning talking to just one person. Sometimes it would be several. But time was never an issue.
Don't misunderstand me. I understand the needs and differences between a local church and a national organisation, and that the service needs are different. I'd be very worried if the clients I deal with daily were just calling to say "hi" and chat about their day. But there needs to be recognition of humanity as well as efficiency.
There was an audit recently of our company. The Head Office wanted to make sure standards were being met by our managers. These standards included how forms are filled out, how many calls agents are handling efficiently (read "quickly" there). The thrust on the managers is first contact solutions for issues. The thrust on agents is speed. in my experience, these can often be antithetical concepts.
For over 20 years I've focussed on solving issues first time. And I was good at it. Taking my time is something that enables me to give the highest level of service. And I put myself into the contact, empathy not sympathy has to drive me.
But that's me. What about God?
God takes His time. He created seasons for a purpose. There needs to be a time for all things as recorded in Ecclesiastes.
Jesus took His time teaching the disciples and the people of the day what God's way was. He was never hurried. In fact, He often was deliberately cryptic to prolong an interaction with people. He was God incarnate and yet He empathised with the prostitute at Simon the Pharisee's home. He made sure 5000 men plus the women and children with them had enough food rather than sending them away. Mary sat at Jesus' feet and Martha bustled around, and Mary was praised.
Through the entire scripture we witness God chastising His people for majoring in the minor things of life. Provision of manna in the desert, a scrawny shepherd defeating a giant of a man because he knew His God and the Covenant he had. Then grumblings when Moses was too long up the mountain led to the golden calf, David staying home in his palace at the time Kings go to war resulting in the murder of Bathsheba's husband. Majoring in the minor, even by the great men of the old and new testament, resulted in God chastising them out of Love.
The World system today emphasises things that are ultimately of no consequence and minimises the things that matter. Magazine headline articles glorifying why it was the right thing to do for the celebrity couple to divorce because he saw a younger woman and decided he'd look "better" with her. There's no emphasis on commitment. Marriages fail. It doesn't work, the "proof" in the statistics says that 40% of marriages end in divorce. Whilst shocking, doesn't that mean 60% don't? And how many of the 40% that fail are consisting of people in their 2nd, 3rd or 4th try? Perhaps the people divorcing just don't know Love, real Love is a choice, not an emotion. Emotional Love didn't take Jesus to the Cross for us. Emotional love cannot sustain a marriage when the storms hit.
Jesus was the first Customer Relationship Manager. He dismissed the managers who focussed on the little stuff - the Pharisees. He focussed on the major things. He did it Right Side Up.
This world is upside-down. We've allowed ourselves to glorify the minor and ignore the major issues. Most people will never reach their full potential because it isn't valued by them. They are taught to kill their own desires for the sake of trimming time, not just in a call-center, but in everything. We are bombarded with "time-saving" devices. Jesus showed that we can't actually "save" time. We can live or not. It's up to us.
"All men die Angus, but not all truly Live" says William Wallace in "Braveheart"
Living involves making our priorities right. I would die for my family, friends or my Faith. There isn't anything any employer could do to persuade me to die for the company, but most companies expect us to surrender our off-time to them instead of spending quality time with family, friends. They call it "team building" or some other term to make it sound important. It isn't. I like most of the people I work with, but there's only a handful I would describe as friends the way Jesus used the word. I'll do anything to help them because they are real relationships based on shared hopes, dreams and Faith (mostly). My Best friend works in my office. I'd go almost as far for her as I would for my wife to help her. God guides me and gives me the strength to be a support to her, and vice-versa. The friendship has a solid foundation based on the truly important things.
It's time for the Church to wake up and turn this world right side up again. 2000 years ago Jesus did it with 12 close friends and around 120 followers. Why not do it again now?
Ultimately it's our choice. Change is painful, but if the caterpiller doesn't spin the cocoon it never becomes a butterfly.
Upside down or right way up? Live life to the full or live as an oxygen thief?
You choose.
Sunday, 5 May 2013
A Longing Fulfilled
Proverbs 13:12 has been on my heart a lot the last few weeks. Initially I was focused on the first part of the verse. I've lived in a state of deferred hope for a long time. I suffered depression so dark that I couldn't see a way out and even tried suicide more than once - I don't recommend it as a plan!
My life story has been filled with loss and brokenness. But there's also been times of hope that have kept me going. It's easy to forget the good when the bad hits in such waves.
"A tree of life" is how the passage describes what it is to have the hope fulfilled. Life.
Hope deferred is a way of life today. Depression, suicide, drug abuse, alcoholism are just symptoms of the desperation the World has filled our hearts with. Insidious promises we can never hope to achieve dog us daily in this world.
The Enemy of our Souls has found a way to trap us. We live mndane existances that only the most cynical would call life. We stopped asking the deep questions long ago. Why are we here? What is God's plan for us?
These questions drove the first Christians in the Bible. St Paul spent his whole life after meeting Christ on the road to Damascus seeking the answers. He phrased is simply with 2 questions:
Major questions today are "what's for dinner" or "when does the game start?" We have been fooled into thinking these are the meaningful questions. Answers like "get a degree", "get a promotion" or "stay in your cubicle" catrate us from living the life God has intended. We need to use our imagination to give us Hope, our Hope to feed our Faith, and our Faith to proceed into living the dream.
Then we need to ask God to expand it. Our Longing will be fulfilled.
We will have Life.
My life story has been filled with loss and brokenness. But there's also been times of hope that have kept me going. It's easy to forget the good when the bad hits in such waves.
"A tree of life" is how the passage describes what it is to have the hope fulfilled. Life.
Hope deferred is a way of life today. Depression, suicide, drug abuse, alcoholism are just symptoms of the desperation the World has filled our hearts with. Insidious promises we can never hope to achieve dog us daily in this world.
The Enemy of our Souls has found a way to trap us. We live mndane existances that only the most cynical would call life. We stopped asking the deep questions long ago. Why are we here? What is God's plan for us?
These questions drove the first Christians in the Bible. St Paul spent his whole life after meeting Christ on the road to Damascus seeking the answers. He phrased is simply with 2 questions:
- Who Are You?
- What do you want me to do?
Major questions today are "what's for dinner" or "when does the game start?" We have been fooled into thinking these are the meaningful questions. Answers like "get a degree", "get a promotion" or "stay in your cubicle" catrate us from living the life God has intended. We need to use our imagination to give us Hope, our Hope to feed our Faith, and our Faith to proceed into living the dream.
Then we need to ask God to expand it. Our Longing will be fulfilled.
We will have Life.
Sunday, 28 April 2013
Hope Deferred
In the world we live in we need hope. It has been said that there are two methods only to control a society: fear and hope.
The Bible tells us in Proverbs 13:12 "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life"
Many more people are suffering depression and mental illness today than at any time in human history. Entire hospitals dedicated to the depressed and suicidal are increasing in size and position in society. Psychology and Psychiatry are boom industries in the medical world.
Hope is key to survival. Jesus came to give hope to the poorest of the poor, the most broken. He reads from Isaiah in Luke's Gospel:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,[j]
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,[j]
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”
(Luke 4:18-19 NKJV)
In it's simplest form, He was anointed to give Hope. Restoration to all who needed it.
We are tasked with continuing His work, giving Hope to those who have none. Restoring it to both those who had it taken against their will, and those who have given up hope.
Hope deferred can cripple us emotionally and physically. Medicine calls the psychological effect a psychosomatic illness - a physical manifestation of the emotional wound. It can be anything from headaches to full blown paralysis. There's an illness called Takotsubo Syndrome or Broken-heart Syndrome which mimics a heart-attack, but is brought on purely be stress - hope deferred being a major cause of stress.
Jesus's teachings were revolutionary 2000 years ago. He was mocked and ridiculed by the "learned" men of the time because His teaching halted their religious prattle in it's tracks. They had a salvation of works, earning your spot in heaven, where Jesus taught faith in Him alone was enough. Healings followed Jesus as He walked the earth, then His followers after the resurrection. Hope was restored to thousands on a daily basis. The Power of God flowed through them, and despair was replaced with Hope.
Today we have lost sight of that. We seek help from medics rather than primarily through Faith. We read that Faith is the substance of things Hoped for, yet we have forgotten how to hope.
My personal history is riddled with this. I suffered depression and a lack of hope for years, culminating in several suicide attempts just to make the pain go away. Even today I have times when the doubts and fears of my youth come in to try to overwhelm me. I'm Blessed in that I have learned to overcome these attacks, for the most part, and I can fight in Christ's power to overcome the issues.
The key was deceptively simple. I was in a good Bible-based Church at the time, and despite everything in my mind telling me not to, even at my darkest times I kept going to fellowship. Please note, Fellowship is not necessarily Sunday Morning activities. In fact, true Fellowship seldom happens on a Sunday. The meetings can be superficial and no matter how emotive the talk and worship are, there is a sense of loneliness that can leave a person feeling more isolated than ever. True fellowship comes from letting other people speak into your life and be involved. Don't misunderstand me, Church is important, but Fellowship is vital. Sitting in a service on a Sunday morning doesn't make you a stronger Christian on it's own any more than sitting in a garage makes you a car, but fellowship meeting where you talk and laugh and cry and pray together will strengthen anyone.
It did for me.
I've written before that I have trials in my life. Over a decade ago I went through something similar and walked away because I didn't know the Power and Authority I had. Through teachers like Andrew Wommack, Dave Duell, Martin Ruskin and a list so long I could take all night to list them, I was able to see hope begin to be restored. As that happened I had the strength to tell my psychiatrist I didn't need him any more. Prayer and fellowship became my treatment, and eventually I was able to wean off the medication.
Today I take pills to help me sleep again. My hope remains, but it has been knocked back - deferred - so many times that it gets harder to hold on to.
My heart is in danger of becoming sick again. Hope deferred truly does make the heart sick.
So what's my point?
Keep hope alive. As Paul write, take all my thoughts captive and compare them with the Gospel. Those that don't match up I throw out. Those that do I hold onto.
It sounds simple. CS Lewis is quoted as saying "experience is a brutal teacher, but you learn. My God do you learn."
I chose experience as my teacher, something I regret immensely. Everything we need for survival in this world, no matter the level of despair we have can be found in John's Gospel, chapters 14 to 16. Jesus used them the night He was arrested to remind the disciples of what He had given them. They are a "survival Kit" for all Christians. I would urge anyone going through a hard time reading this to check out this link: Christian Survival Kit Audio Teaching - Andrew Wommack or Christian First Aid Kit - Andrew Wommack for audio teachings on a crisis situation. If you prefer reading, then use Christian Survival Kit - wirtten The downloads are free. Andrew Wommack Ministries inspired me in my work to not withold any message from the Gospel due to financial constraints.
I have a very dear friend with a similar call on her life that I had on mine when I was her age, longer ago than I choose to remember. I delight in watching her moving towards her dream, the Hope God has set before her, and seeing her move each day towards the fulfilling of the dream. It has restored my dream, dusty and cobweb covered that it may be, with a wash and brush up it still shines after almost 20 years of neglect. This blog is part of it, but it will grow. The first step is taken, and the next is coming
My hope was deferred, but now I see it again.
You can too. Over the next few days I'll be working on the second part of the verse, "when the desire comes, it is a tree of life"
Watch this space
Monday, 22 April 2013
The Nature of Hope and Trust
We use the words every day. Hope. Trust. Faith.
They're so glibly thrown around that we forget the real power of these words.
I "hope" it doesn't rain. I "trust" we'll be ok. It's not the way God looks at the words.
Rick Warren, a teacher I admire a great deal, recently endured an unimaginable tragedy in their family. Earlier today he went onto Twitter and wrote "The real tragedy is that most people never trust God until they have to, and then they have no experience to fall back on". Later he wrote "It's not enough to have hope. We must persue hope, practice hope, and preach hope" and "Real hope doesn't deny tragedy. It faces it head-on. Hope says 'yes it's really bad, but I still trust God.'"
Tragedy hits us in life. We can't always avoid it. The enemy of our souls strikes out at us at every opportunity. He exploits our weaknesses to seek to drive us away from God and into his trap. He minimises the power of words until we become unaware of how much power we wield.
Proverbs 18:21 in the Amplified Bible says "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life]." We live oblivious to the Truth. Hebrews 11:1 in the same translation says "Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]."
Jesus faced tragedy head-on. Fully human, he endured the full range of human emotions. He laughed with His friends, wept for loss, and experienced anxiety so intense He sweated blood! He also faced death, and defeated it.
Jesus did this by practicing Trusting God for everything, from the smallest morsel for His own needs to feeding a crowd that was maybe over 15000 people, since only the men were counted.
He stated that the things He did, we would do also, and still greater than that. Personally I'd be praising if half the issues I face would heed my prayers and depart. For 41 years I have been hounded by sicknesses in my body, cancer in my family, and death of some of the people I cared most about. I even reached a point after my commitment to Jesus that I fell so low leaning on my own strength and pride that I attempted suicide.
More than once.
Then one day it hit me. God brought some scripture back to my memory. He reminded me that I was more than a conqueror, but that my declarations over myself were killing me - literally. I spoke nothing but death over myself for almost 2 years. It wasn't an easy pattern to break, but through His strength in me I broke it by learning to trust Him, and to hope for a future that seemed out of reach, then to learn to have faith inspired by God for that future.
Is my life perfect? No. There are many things God is working on in me, but I've learned that it's ok to be a leaky vessel, because God will just keep topping me up when I ask Him to - which is usually several times a day.
My heart goes out to Pastor Warren and his family. I have Biblical Hope that from the aftermath will come pure Gold, refined by God's fire, and I pray constantly that we will all Trust a little more today than yesterday.
They're so glibly thrown around that we forget the real power of these words.
I "hope" it doesn't rain. I "trust" we'll be ok. It's not the way God looks at the words.
Rick Warren, a teacher I admire a great deal, recently endured an unimaginable tragedy in their family. Earlier today he went onto Twitter and wrote "The real tragedy is that most people never trust God until they have to, and then they have no experience to fall back on". Later he wrote "It's not enough to have hope. We must persue hope, practice hope, and preach hope" and "Real hope doesn't deny tragedy. It faces it head-on. Hope says 'yes it's really bad, but I still trust God.'"
Tragedy hits us in life. We can't always avoid it. The enemy of our souls strikes out at us at every opportunity. He exploits our weaknesses to seek to drive us away from God and into his trap. He minimises the power of words until we become unaware of how much power we wield.
Proverbs 18:21 in the Amplified Bible says "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life]." We live oblivious to the Truth. Hebrews 11:1 in the same translation says "Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]."
Jesus faced tragedy head-on. Fully human, he endured the full range of human emotions. He laughed with His friends, wept for loss, and experienced anxiety so intense He sweated blood! He also faced death, and defeated it.
Jesus did this by practicing Trusting God for everything, from the smallest morsel for His own needs to feeding a crowd that was maybe over 15000 people, since only the men were counted.
He stated that the things He did, we would do also, and still greater than that. Personally I'd be praising if half the issues I face would heed my prayers and depart. For 41 years I have been hounded by sicknesses in my body, cancer in my family, and death of some of the people I cared most about. I even reached a point after my commitment to Jesus that I fell so low leaning on my own strength and pride that I attempted suicide.
More than once.
Then one day it hit me. God brought some scripture back to my memory. He reminded me that I was more than a conqueror, but that my declarations over myself were killing me - literally. I spoke nothing but death over myself for almost 2 years. It wasn't an easy pattern to break, but through His strength in me I broke it by learning to trust Him, and to hope for a future that seemed out of reach, then to learn to have faith inspired by God for that future.
Is my life perfect? No. There are many things God is working on in me, but I've learned that it's ok to be a leaky vessel, because God will just keep topping me up when I ask Him to - which is usually several times a day.
My heart goes out to Pastor Warren and his family. I have Biblical Hope that from the aftermath will come pure Gold, refined by God's fire, and I pray constantly that we will all Trust a little more today than yesterday.
Saturday, 6 April 2013
Dreaded Days...
There is a day coming up in the next couple of weeks I'm dreading. Every year for the last few I've dreaded this particular day. It reminds me of something I'd rather not be reminded of.
I'm getting older.
Last year I turned 40. In ten days I will be 41.
I have only realised the dread it fills me with since I hit 35 and I realised that the 3 score and ten years noted by Moses were half up.
And I swear they get shorter as I get older.
My best friend is several years younger than me, as are most of my colleagues, which sometimes helps me feel younger than my yeaars - a good thing. Then something comes up in conversation which reminds me I'm not in my 20's any more.
I've developed an addiction to the TV series Bones, and find I would like to liken myself to the male lead, Booth, played by David Boreanaz. Booth is a senior FBI agent and trained army ranger who specialised as a sniper. Aside from being roughly the same age I actually have nothing in common with Booth, but I identify anyway. I was a reasonable marksman at my school with a rifle, and have learned to fire pistols since leaving, but not to the character's level of expertise.
Where I identify is in the areas not work related.
Booth is in his early 40's, and because of combat his body has taken it's share of punishment. I ride a motorcycle, and have picked a fight with the planet a few times, so I have some aches and pains. I never managed to serve in the RAF as I hoped to growing up because my introductory medical revealed that, whilst at that point I was physically resilient enough to fly, not being able to see the eye examination chart made it impossible for me to continue in my preferred role as pilot, or any of my back-up roles as they all required 20/20 eyesight.
This still didn't stop me identifying with Booth, especially in one episode he asks how it was he went to bed as Han Solo and woke up as Obi-Wan Kenobi...
Now don't misunderstand me here. I actually don't mind getting older mostly. My hair is slowly being replaced with a solar panel, and my 52 inch chest and shoulders have slipped down and become a 40 inch waist, but I'm working on that now. I was told I had diabetes a few years ago, which I'm controlling and (with a LOT of Spiritual help) fully expect to be able to see reversed in the next 2 years.
What I dread about my birthday is not the day itself. It's the value this world places on youth. Every year it gets harder for me to find a new employer because there's someone ten years younger who'll do the job for half the price because they don't realise how much power they can control in an interview.
The Bible says to revere our elders. Today's Western and pseudo-Western philosophy reviles them. I am regularly told I'm too old to apply for certain jobs, not because I'm physically incapable, but because they need someone who speaks modern technobabble, which I'm not even certain I can spell.
I re-watched one of my favourite movies yesterday, Space Cowboys. Clint Eastwood, Donald Sutherland, Tommy-Lee Jones and James Garner sent into space to fix a satellite that has a programming language none of the youngsters at NASA can understand. Age is no barrier to them as they essentially use the wisdom of age to con their way into the shuttle program by managing to fool medical staff, fitness assessors and the managers of the program. I love the movie because their age is what makes them valuable. It's simply impossible for a younger person to fix the problem.
The world loves it in a movie - old and wily guys putting one over on the boss - but in real life it doesn't happen. It was fun to see Stallone, Schwazenegger, Willis, Norris, Van Damme, et al poking fun at themselves in Expendables 2, but who in real life these days would hire a bunch of guys over 50 when they can get guys of 30?
The issue is that the story appeals to us because it's in our hearts. We want to be revered for our wisdom gained through blood, sweat and years of work. It's hardwired into the God-given soul of every human on the planet. But the enemy is subtle, or actually not so much.
A wounded animal is dangerous, far more so than an uninjured one. And an animal that can feel the end is close becomes ferocious. My wife was badly bitten by a dog she tried to save after it was hit by a car outside our home. It went on to chew up her cellphone (and hand again) and then finally the basket the local SPCA inspector tried to put it in to take it for emergency treatment. Sadly the dog died before it got to the vet.
In these days, Satan has robbed us of 2 consecutive generations of fathers. World War 1 and 2 eliminated many of the men who would have gone on to be sages in their communities, and scarred many of the others who survived so badly they simply were unable to fill this vital role.
As a result there was a generation born in the 1940's and 50's who were fatherless and had to work it out themselves because fathers and grandfathers were either emotionally or physically not there. The result was the "free love" generation of the 60's and the following downhill slide of Western society through the 70's up to today. Society demands men be men, but does not teach us how.
I was Blessed in than both my grandfathers came through WW2 intact, mum's dad in the army and dad's in the Salvation Army as part of the Home Front. They played a major role in my life as a child and into adolescence before mum's dad died and then into my mid 20's when Grandad died. As a result, I was able to learn from them and see how not only my own father treated his family, friends and even adversaries, but also how they did. I have a quick temper, but I have learned through their example to curb it.
Grandad was 80 when he died. He was Deputy Bandmaster at his local Salvation Army Corps in Wimborne, Dorset - he refused to accept the post of bandmaster, despite there not being anyone to take the role as he had no formal musical education. We spoke 2 weeks before he died, and I am still trying to assimilate everything he told me in that one conversation. He "retired" technically, but for almost 20 years afterwards until the day he died - literally - he went out on a daily basis selling copies of The War Cry, and talking to anyone who would ask about Jesus and Salvation. Children loved him. Older folk - over 35 - loved him as well, but there was an age range he told me where they had known him as children, then after they hit about 18 he would lose touch until they looked him up again between the age of 30-35.
Our dreaded days are the years we lose because this world tries to cheat us out of them. We are not old enough to be considered elders, and too old to be "useful" in the modern workplace. When I was talking to a friend recently about a project God is building, the comment was made that it was nice to have someone more mature giving their experience and input into the venture. I agreed, then realised it was me being referred to. We both laughed about it, but I still feel like Booth. I woke up one morning to find my youth has gone - and now I'm Obi-Wan!
Perhaps I shouldn't dread the times coming now though. Whether Christ returns now or in a thousand years, this is the last generation I can reach personally.
In retrospect, God has guided me through storms and tempests for over 40 years. I trust Him to do so in the future as well. So I'll rest.
No fear. No dread. Just the peace in the midst of the turmoil that I'm being held by the One who can make a difference to any life at any age.
I'm getting older.
Last year I turned 40. In ten days I will be 41.
I have only realised the dread it fills me with since I hit 35 and I realised that the 3 score and ten years noted by Moses were half up.
And I swear they get shorter as I get older.
My best friend is several years younger than me, as are most of my colleagues, which sometimes helps me feel younger than my yeaars - a good thing. Then something comes up in conversation which reminds me I'm not in my 20's any more.
I've developed an addiction to the TV series Bones, and find I would like to liken myself to the male lead, Booth, played by David Boreanaz. Booth is a senior FBI agent and trained army ranger who specialised as a sniper. Aside from being roughly the same age I actually have nothing in common with Booth, but I identify anyway. I was a reasonable marksman at my school with a rifle, and have learned to fire pistols since leaving, but not to the character's level of expertise.
Where I identify is in the areas not work related.
Booth is in his early 40's, and because of combat his body has taken it's share of punishment. I ride a motorcycle, and have picked a fight with the planet a few times, so I have some aches and pains. I never managed to serve in the RAF as I hoped to growing up because my introductory medical revealed that, whilst at that point I was physically resilient enough to fly, not being able to see the eye examination chart made it impossible for me to continue in my preferred role as pilot, or any of my back-up roles as they all required 20/20 eyesight.
This still didn't stop me identifying with Booth, especially in one episode he asks how it was he went to bed as Han Solo and woke up as Obi-Wan Kenobi...
Now don't misunderstand me here. I actually don't mind getting older mostly. My hair is slowly being replaced with a solar panel, and my 52 inch chest and shoulders have slipped down and become a 40 inch waist, but I'm working on that now. I was told I had diabetes a few years ago, which I'm controlling and (with a LOT of Spiritual help) fully expect to be able to see reversed in the next 2 years.
What I dread about my birthday is not the day itself. It's the value this world places on youth. Every year it gets harder for me to find a new employer because there's someone ten years younger who'll do the job for half the price because they don't realise how much power they can control in an interview.
The Bible says to revere our elders. Today's Western and pseudo-Western philosophy reviles them. I am regularly told I'm too old to apply for certain jobs, not because I'm physically incapable, but because they need someone who speaks modern technobabble, which I'm not even certain I can spell.
I re-watched one of my favourite movies yesterday, Space Cowboys. Clint Eastwood, Donald Sutherland, Tommy-Lee Jones and James Garner sent into space to fix a satellite that has a programming language none of the youngsters at NASA can understand. Age is no barrier to them as they essentially use the wisdom of age to con their way into the shuttle program by managing to fool medical staff, fitness assessors and the managers of the program. I love the movie because their age is what makes them valuable. It's simply impossible for a younger person to fix the problem.
The world loves it in a movie - old and wily guys putting one over on the boss - but in real life it doesn't happen. It was fun to see Stallone, Schwazenegger, Willis, Norris, Van Damme, et al poking fun at themselves in Expendables 2, but who in real life these days would hire a bunch of guys over 50 when they can get guys of 30?
The issue is that the story appeals to us because it's in our hearts. We want to be revered for our wisdom gained through blood, sweat and years of work. It's hardwired into the God-given soul of every human on the planet. But the enemy is subtle, or actually not so much.
A wounded animal is dangerous, far more so than an uninjured one. And an animal that can feel the end is close becomes ferocious. My wife was badly bitten by a dog she tried to save after it was hit by a car outside our home. It went on to chew up her cellphone (and hand again) and then finally the basket the local SPCA inspector tried to put it in to take it for emergency treatment. Sadly the dog died before it got to the vet.
In these days, Satan has robbed us of 2 consecutive generations of fathers. World War 1 and 2 eliminated many of the men who would have gone on to be sages in their communities, and scarred many of the others who survived so badly they simply were unable to fill this vital role.
As a result there was a generation born in the 1940's and 50's who were fatherless and had to work it out themselves because fathers and grandfathers were either emotionally or physically not there. The result was the "free love" generation of the 60's and the following downhill slide of Western society through the 70's up to today. Society demands men be men, but does not teach us how.
I was Blessed in than both my grandfathers came through WW2 intact, mum's dad in the army and dad's in the Salvation Army as part of the Home Front. They played a major role in my life as a child and into adolescence before mum's dad died and then into my mid 20's when Grandad died. As a result, I was able to learn from them and see how not only my own father treated his family, friends and even adversaries, but also how they did. I have a quick temper, but I have learned through their example to curb it.
Grandad was 80 when he died. He was Deputy Bandmaster at his local Salvation Army Corps in Wimborne, Dorset - he refused to accept the post of bandmaster, despite there not being anyone to take the role as he had no formal musical education. We spoke 2 weeks before he died, and I am still trying to assimilate everything he told me in that one conversation. He "retired" technically, but for almost 20 years afterwards until the day he died - literally - he went out on a daily basis selling copies of The War Cry, and talking to anyone who would ask about Jesus and Salvation. Children loved him. Older folk - over 35 - loved him as well, but there was an age range he told me where they had known him as children, then after they hit about 18 he would lose touch until they looked him up again between the age of 30-35.
Our dreaded days are the years we lose because this world tries to cheat us out of them. We are not old enough to be considered elders, and too old to be "useful" in the modern workplace. When I was talking to a friend recently about a project God is building, the comment was made that it was nice to have someone more mature giving their experience and input into the venture. I agreed, then realised it was me being referred to. We both laughed about it, but I still feel like Booth. I woke up one morning to find my youth has gone - and now I'm Obi-Wan!
Perhaps I shouldn't dread the times coming now though. Whether Christ returns now or in a thousand years, this is the last generation I can reach personally.
In retrospect, God has guided me through storms and tempests for over 40 years. I trust Him to do so in the future as well. So I'll rest.
No fear. No dread. Just the peace in the midst of the turmoil that I'm being held by the One who can make a difference to any life at any age.
Monday, 1 April 2013
Easter Tales
When I was at school we were taught about Easter & Christ from an intellectual perspective. Intellectual knowledge often prevents Spiritual Truths from taking root. I was thankful then that I already had deep roots in my faith. The intellectual part of my mind tried to drive my faith out.
The recounting of the events of Easter week are, from a "scientific" view impossible. Yet every argument I have ever heard against the resurrection is more implausible than the Resurrection itself.
The description of Christ's execution is precise. Lashed and nailed to a beam and left to die by men who did this for a living. The Jewish leaders, desperate to prove Jesus wasn't the promised Messiah, ordered the legs of the crucified to be broken. The soldiers, to prove that Jesus was already dead, stabbed Him in His side, causing blood and water to flow. In trying to prevent one prophecy about the Messiah from being proved - "These things that happened confirmed the Scripture, “Not a bone in his body was broken,” and the other Scripture that reads, “They will stare at the one they pierced.”"John 19:35-37 (The Message)
The scripture predicts the Crucifixion in psalm 22, and the prophet Zechariah predicts the piercing in chapter 12:10.
Scientific arguments of the falsification of the accounts include the concept of Jesus was only in a coma and revived in the tomb, simply wandering out when he woke up. The physical beatings he had taken before the Crucifixion itself, followed by the cross would have rendered Him physically incapable of moving the stone from the entrance of the tomb. If he had moved the stone himself, the guards would simply have killed him where he stood and put the stone back.
Accounts of the appearances of the Risen Christ are recounted from sources outside the accepted scripture. Josephus, Pliny and other historians of the day record the message of the Christians being spread after the crucifixion. Evidence of the speed their message and influence spread is demonstrated by the merciless persecution and martyring during the remaining years of the Roman Empire until Constantine converted.
And yet today people doubt Jesus' very existence, despite more primary source evidence for his life than there is for Julius Ceasar or any of the ancient Pharoahs,
Charles Baudelaire stated the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was to convince the world he didn't exist. - And no, Kevin Spacey in 'The Usual Suspects' was not the original source of that quote.
If that is so, then he's working on the second greatest now. If there is no Devil, why do we need a Saviour? If we don't need a saviour, what's the point in Jesus, and did he ever actually exist?
I am in touch with some people I went to school with. We differ in our respective beliefs. They, at best, describe themselves as agnostic. I don't argue with them any longer. I pray that someone will be put in their lives who can show them the folly of their beliefs. I know that person is not me. Jesus himself said that a prophet is without honour in his home country. I accept this, although enough of my friends of my own generation have died now without, to my knowledge, accepting Christ's sacrifice. It saddens me greatly as these were (mostly) people I respected at school - and there weren't many of them of my peers -and I wish I could have done more to reach them.
Easter is the time of miracles, New life and power through Christ's Victory over Death on the Cross, building up to Pentecost and the gift of living fire in the Holy Spirit to the believers as was prophesised by Joel.
I have in my home a cross on a shelf. It is the focal point as you enter our home.
It was Rene's idea. A simple expression of our faith, more poignant now for us than other times of the year. She chose the cross because of the nails, and we placed a candle in front in order to remind us of the Light of the World.
You can believe what you wish about the Scripture. I will not try to force my beliefs on anyone. Read CS Lewis's "Mere Christianity" or Tony Campolo's book "A Reasonable Faith" for insight int a "logical" argument for Christianity, or get around people who live this life, spend time with them and see Christ in Action in our lives. I am not afraid to live my life as a Christian. I have flaws and I fail in more areas than I often care to admit, but my closest friends have seen me wrestle with fear, depression so deep it has almost consumed me, anger, apathy and all the enemy's tools to the point where I have stood on a precipice and considered letting myself fall. Each time there has been a good friend to speak Truth to me (in fairness, usually the same good friend) and set me back onto the Rock of my Salvation.
I am truly Blessed to be involved with friends who can share my walk as a part of a fellowship borne through fire and battle in the Heavenly realms.
Any arguments you may have about the authenticity of the Easter story I'm happy to answer, asked in earnest. Leave a comment and I'll reply. If all you want to do is to attack me personally, don't waste your time.
The recounting of the events of Easter week are, from a "scientific" view impossible. Yet every argument I have ever heard against the resurrection is more implausible than the Resurrection itself.
The description of Christ's execution is precise. Lashed and nailed to a beam and left to die by men who did this for a living. The Jewish leaders, desperate to prove Jesus wasn't the promised Messiah, ordered the legs of the crucified to be broken. The soldiers, to prove that Jesus was already dead, stabbed Him in His side, causing blood and water to flow. In trying to prevent one prophecy about the Messiah from being proved - "These things that happened confirmed the Scripture, “Not a bone in his body was broken,” and the other Scripture that reads, “They will stare at the one they pierced.”"John 19:35-37 (The Message)
The scripture predicts the Crucifixion in psalm 22, and the prophet Zechariah predicts the piercing in chapter 12:10.
Scientific arguments of the falsification of the accounts include the concept of Jesus was only in a coma and revived in the tomb, simply wandering out when he woke up. The physical beatings he had taken before the Crucifixion itself, followed by the cross would have rendered Him physically incapable of moving the stone from the entrance of the tomb. If he had moved the stone himself, the guards would simply have killed him where he stood and put the stone back.
Accounts of the appearances of the Risen Christ are recounted from sources outside the accepted scripture. Josephus, Pliny and other historians of the day record the message of the Christians being spread after the crucifixion. Evidence of the speed their message and influence spread is demonstrated by the merciless persecution and martyring during the remaining years of the Roman Empire until Constantine converted.
And yet today people doubt Jesus' very existence, despite more primary source evidence for his life than there is for Julius Ceasar or any of the ancient Pharoahs,
Charles Baudelaire stated the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was to convince the world he didn't exist. - And no, Kevin Spacey in 'The Usual Suspects' was not the original source of that quote.
If that is so, then he's working on the second greatest now. If there is no Devil, why do we need a Saviour? If we don't need a saviour, what's the point in Jesus, and did he ever actually exist?
I am in touch with some people I went to school with. We differ in our respective beliefs. They, at best, describe themselves as agnostic. I don't argue with them any longer. I pray that someone will be put in their lives who can show them the folly of their beliefs. I know that person is not me. Jesus himself said that a prophet is without honour in his home country. I accept this, although enough of my friends of my own generation have died now without, to my knowledge, accepting Christ's sacrifice. It saddens me greatly as these were (mostly) people I respected at school - and there weren't many of them of my peers -and I wish I could have done more to reach them.
Easter is the time of miracles, New life and power through Christ's Victory over Death on the Cross, building up to Pentecost and the gift of living fire in the Holy Spirit to the believers as was prophesised by Joel.
I have in my home a cross on a shelf. It is the focal point as you enter our home.
It was Rene's idea. A simple expression of our faith, more poignant now for us than other times of the year. She chose the cross because of the nails, and we placed a candle in front in order to remind us of the Light of the World.
You can believe what you wish about the Scripture. I will not try to force my beliefs on anyone. Read CS Lewis's "Mere Christianity" or Tony Campolo's book "A Reasonable Faith" for insight int a "logical" argument for Christianity, or get around people who live this life, spend time with them and see Christ in Action in our lives. I am not afraid to live my life as a Christian. I have flaws and I fail in more areas than I often care to admit, but my closest friends have seen me wrestle with fear, depression so deep it has almost consumed me, anger, apathy and all the enemy's tools to the point where I have stood on a precipice and considered letting myself fall. Each time there has been a good friend to speak Truth to me (in fairness, usually the same good friend) and set me back onto the Rock of my Salvation.
I am truly Blessed to be involved with friends who can share my walk as a part of a fellowship borne through fire and battle in the Heavenly realms.
Any arguments you may have about the authenticity of the Easter story I'm happy to answer, asked in earnest. Leave a comment and I'll reply. If all you want to do is to attack me personally, don't waste your time.
Saturday, 30 March 2013
Good Friday - Sunday's Coming
Good Friday is normally a day of great significance to me on a personal level. I normally spend it with family or friends. This year has been a bit different.
The battles my family and friends have been fighting are massive, and can appear insurmountable. There has been death, financial loss on a massive scale, severe illness and in-fighting within the family that has left division and wounds on both sides.
Hardly a way to begin Easter weekend.
I have spen the day asleep, sleeping from around midnight Thursday into Friday until after 6pm today. Now I find myself thinking about the year so far.
I am not happy in my job. It's showing in my behaviour there. I feel it's tie to leave in my heart but I see no clear path to move in. I hear no voice saying this is the way to walk in. Ironically, God seaks to me to give messages for my friends and family in encouragement. Confirmation of their visions and dreams being from Him who made our paths, but not for myself. I can't understand it. I habe no option but to concede that my own selfish desires are getting in the way. I look to my own understanding too much of the time.
A few years ago I had a near miss while I was swimming off a beach in South Devon. I love the ocean, and this particular beach is a great beach to swim at, no currents to pull you out to sea, just a gentle beach slope into the water. We swam out to a row of buoys and back then lay in the sun enjoying good company. It never occurred to me that the tide was coming in when we set out for a final swim before going home. We swam out to the buoys again, but the distance was much further. By the time we reached them I barely had the strength to hold onto the ropes holding it in place. As we set off for the shore again, I knew I wouldn't make it. My breathing was laboured, my muscles screaming, and I couldn't reach land. I didn't have the strength for one stroke. Then a voice from behind me offered me help. A lifeguard had been watching over me and seen my struggle. Before I reached the buoy he launched a small powered dinghy and took a circuit round to approach me safely. I didn't have the strength to hold the ropes on the side of the boat. I was heavy and exhausted. Easily the heaviest in the group (by over 25kg/50lbs). The rescue guard hauled me out of the water into the boat and took us back to land.
I feel a little like that now. Out of my depth, unable to pull myself onto the rescue boat that has come to drag me to safety. But it's Friday.
Good Friday.
A friend posted a slightly fascetious comment on facebook which I take very seriously. Thank Christ for dying.
I agree. But not with the sentiment he made.
I see a truth in his statement.
Thank Christ for Good Friday, Thank Him for surrendering to death on a cross to save us. Our life-boat. For pulling us out of the the ocean of this world and setting us up with life.
Jesus died on Friday. But Sunday's coming.
The battles my family and friends have been fighting are massive, and can appear insurmountable. There has been death, financial loss on a massive scale, severe illness and in-fighting within the family that has left division and wounds on both sides.
Hardly a way to begin Easter weekend.
I have spen the day asleep, sleeping from around midnight Thursday into Friday until after 6pm today. Now I find myself thinking about the year so far.
I am not happy in my job. It's showing in my behaviour there. I feel it's tie to leave in my heart but I see no clear path to move in. I hear no voice saying this is the way to walk in. Ironically, God seaks to me to give messages for my friends and family in encouragement. Confirmation of their visions and dreams being from Him who made our paths, but not for myself. I can't understand it. I habe no option but to concede that my own selfish desires are getting in the way. I look to my own understanding too much of the time.
A few years ago I had a near miss while I was swimming off a beach in South Devon. I love the ocean, and this particular beach is a great beach to swim at, no currents to pull you out to sea, just a gentle beach slope into the water. We swam out to a row of buoys and back then lay in the sun enjoying good company. It never occurred to me that the tide was coming in when we set out for a final swim before going home. We swam out to the buoys again, but the distance was much further. By the time we reached them I barely had the strength to hold onto the ropes holding it in place. As we set off for the shore again, I knew I wouldn't make it. My breathing was laboured, my muscles screaming, and I couldn't reach land. I didn't have the strength for one stroke. Then a voice from behind me offered me help. A lifeguard had been watching over me and seen my struggle. Before I reached the buoy he launched a small powered dinghy and took a circuit round to approach me safely. I didn't have the strength to hold the ropes on the side of the boat. I was heavy and exhausted. Easily the heaviest in the group (by over 25kg/50lbs). The rescue guard hauled me out of the water into the boat and took us back to land.
I feel a little like that now. Out of my depth, unable to pull myself onto the rescue boat that has come to drag me to safety. But it's Friday.
Good Friday.
A friend posted a slightly fascetious comment on facebook which I take very seriously. Thank Christ for dying.
I agree. But not with the sentiment he made.
I see a truth in his statement.
Thank Christ for Good Friday, Thank Him for surrendering to death on a cross to save us. Our life-boat. For pulling us out of the the ocean of this world and setting us up with life.
Jesus died on Friday. But Sunday's coming.
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