I won't back down

A few years ago, Shine Roche McGowan lawyers had a tv ad of a bulldog who was shown in a tug of war with a red rag. The bulldog won. The message of the ad was that Shine lawyers hang on longer and they fight harder than other lawyers. They don't give up.

Like that ad, todays blog is on personal tenacity and determination in our walk with God, and the journey God has mapped out for us. It's a longer blog, but hopefully worth the extra read.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome."

Joshua 1:6 says, "Be strong (confident) and of good courage, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. "

God has a plan for each and everyone of us and there is a 'land' for us to inherit... but sometimes we need every ounce of courage and strength to get there.

Psychologists say that, in life, there are 2 key motivators for anyone to do something - the reason we do anything comes down to 2 things: either 1. We are motivated to move toward gain; or 2. We are motivated to prevent pain.

Most of what we do, we are told, is in the realm of preventing pain... If we don’t do them: there are consequences and pain associated with that - eg not turning up for work causes a world of pain - so we're motivated to turn up!

However, some of the things we do are because we want to move towards gain. For example, we read books that teach us things, we eat responsibly to lose a few kgs, we decorate houses to make them look nicer, we practice an instrument - all moving towards gain.

In moving towards gain, the cliche is true - no pain, no gain.

To make gains towards the plans and purposes that God has for our lives, to inherit our 'land', there are often seasons of pain necessary to see the gains come to fruition. Without working through some pain, we cannot make any gains.

Sadly, we can try to cut-off God's process of advancement to prevent the pain we start to feel. We start taking steps to immediately remove the pain, instead of pushing forward to what God has for us.

Personal tenacity and determination is about pressing on, it's about pushing past the pain towards the 'prize', rather than stopping when the going gets tough. And let’s face it - some days the going gets really really tough.

The bottom line is this - behind every fruitful life is a single focus...day after day after day after day.. that focus is on the 'prize'

Philippians 3:13 and 14 "Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."



In an American university football game was a teenager called John Martinelli (true story). He was tall, thin, gawky and wore glasses under his helmet. The opposing centre (Ozzie) was 6 ft tall, strong, and very muscley.

The game strategy of this opposing team was to take out John Martinelli. They wanted to hurt him so badly that he would be too scared to get back into the play cause he was hurting so much. They had been working on this strategy for weeks.

The game came around and on the very first play of the game… Boom! Ozzie hit John Martinelli so hard that he cracked his face helmet! John Martinelli had blood all over his face, his mask was broken.. The opposing team were applauding themselves, and high-fives everwhere.. They’d taken him out in the first play!

John Martinelli left the field, .. but then grabbed a new helmet and lined up again.

The opposing team couldn’t believe it. They were incensed.

So they jeered Ozzie up, and in the next play.. Booom.. they got him again … and again.. and again!

That entire game, they beat and battered bruised John Martinelli so hard that they broke his helmet 3 times. He was the object of their attacks the entire game.. and yet he never missed a play. Not one play in the game did he even back off.

He would line up and fire every play. He would not give up

John Martinelli received national recognition for his football. The secret of his success is that would keep lining up and he would not back down.

The secret was his tenacity.

When I hear this story – I think of Paul. He was shipwrecked, beaten, imprisoned.. and yet he would not back down. He would not stop until he had ‘run the race’.

And I think Jesus. Even though he was battered and bruised and whipped and scourged.. and knew he was going to be crucified in the most torturous of deaths.. he would not back down. He did not give up. He would not give anything less than his all for the cause.

Be strong, and of good courage - because God has a plan! There is a land waiting to be inherited.. but it requires your unswerving focus and your stubborn determination.

I recently watched 'Barnyard' and they sing a Johnny Cash song that sums it up perfectly:

Well I won't back down, no I won't back down
You can stand me up at the gates of hell
But I won't back down

Gonna stand my ground, won't be turned around
And I'll keep this world from draggin' me down
Gonna stand my ground and I won't back down

Hey baby, there ain't no easy way out
Hey I will stand my ground and I won't back down

Well I know what's right, I got just one life
In a world that keeps on pushin' me around
But I stand my ground and I won't back down

Hey baby, there ain't no easy way out
Hey I will stand my ground and I won't back down
No I won't back down.

Tithing Santa

This clip is pure genius.



A humourous look at a serious problem for churches. Hats off to the creative brilliance of Elevation Church.

Surely we could re-create this :)

Click Here to watch it

Mixed Nuts - Salted

On thursday, Pastor Andrew Staggs said to me, "sometimes you just see God in everything". This is true, and this blog entry is probably the most quirky so far. Today's blog is inspired by my afternoon snack. Mixed Nuts - salted.



Let me explain. About 2 years ago, I read the book by John Ortberg entitled 'Everyone is normal until you get to know them'. It significantly impacted me and challenged my concept of a 'normal' person. The reality is - none of us are normal. Everyone has warts and idiosyncrasies of some kind, it's just that some of us are better at hiding them than others (and some don't worry about hiding them whatsoever!). We are all a little nutty at some point or to someone.

Ortberg's point was that each person we encounter is like clothes on a 'clearance' rack - we accept them on an 'as is' basis. We can't take them back for a refund because they have imperfections that we weren't previously aware of.

I'm sitting here eating some Mixed Nuts - salted. I thought.. that's the Church!

We, like the world, are a collection of unique individuals who bring together our strengths, our weaknesses, our experiences, our shortcomings and our quirkiness. None of us are 'normal'.

We get offended, we get inspired, we have different likes and dislikes..

However, the difference between us and the world is our salt.

Matthew 5:13 says "You are the salt of the earth. "

Colossians 4:6 (NIV) says "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. "

The message says it like this: "Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out. "

Having speech that is seasoned with salt means that we seek to bring out the best in each other, we encourage each other, we refrain from tearing down one another, gossiping about one another, and judging one another.

Luke 6:37 "Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults--unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don't condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you'll find life a lot easier. "

This is more than a good idea. It is very important. In John 17:23, Jesus prayed for the church. He prayed "May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."

Unity is one of the ways we show the world God's love for us and for them. We can't have unity when we place on each other our unrealistic expectations for them to meet our view of 'normal' - which is reflected in our actions and our speech towards others and about others. There is favour and blessing when God's people are unified, and more significantly, there is influence and impact.

Affectionately speaking, the church is an assortment of mixed nuts! By letting our words and actions edify one another, we can make sure these nuts stay salted.

The Mandatory Requirements to be Unleashed

In 2009, we are entering the season of being unleashed. This means that we are entering a season of doing more than we've ever done before, being more effective than ever and reaching a greater number or geographical area than previously known.

Eph 3:20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us... (my emphasis)



Ephesians 3:20 is clear. The extent to which we are unleashed is proportionate to the extent to which the power of God is at work within us.

The Greek word for power is 'Dunamis' and it means:

1) strength power, ability
a) inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth
b) power for performing miracles
c) moral power and excellence of soul
d) the power and influence which belong to riches and wealth
e) power and resources arising from numbers
f) power consisting in or resting upon armies, forces, hosts

God's power is our strength, it is our authority, our equipping, it is our boldness and our confidence.

Colossians 1:10-12 says, " And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. "

The Power of God gives us the strength to endure the opposition - so that we can achieve more than we can imagine according to God's will and purpose. It is God's Power that lets us push through the trials, the attacks, the doubts, the distractions that we encounter on the narrow winding road where the signposts say 'unleashed straight ahead'

In 2009 I want to live a life worthy of the Lord - that bears fruit - because it grows in knowledge AND it is strengthed with the according to His Glorious Might.

If our unleashing is dependent upon and measured by God's power working within us, then I want more of that power!!

I don't want a mere lightening bolt of God's power, I want a continual flow that makes sure I finish the race.

How do I get it?? How do I keep it flowing? How do I make sure I don't have a 'brown-out' or 'black out'?

1. Power comes from the Holy Spirit

Act 1:8 "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;"

The "power" believers receive from the Holy Spirit includes courage, boldness, confidence, insight, ability, and authority.

We mustn't quench the Holy Spirit when it prompts us to do something, to be passionate about something, to address an issue. Walk in step with the spirit and stay in tune with his quiet whisper.

2. Power shows up in our Weakness

2Co 12:9 ....for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me!

Power is perfected in our weaknesses because we stop trying to rely on ourselves, our own strength, and our own works, and we rely wholly on God. It is more of Him and less of us.

3. Power continues from obedience

1Jn 3:24 All who keep His commandments [who obey His orders and follow His plan, live and continue to live, to stay and] abide in Him, and He in them. [They let Christ be a home to them and they are the home of Christ.] And by this we know and understand and have the proof that He [really] lives and makes His home in us: by the [Holy] Spirit Whom He has given us.

God's Spirit continues to abide in us when we keep his commandments and follow His plan for our life. To keep the power flowing, we have to keep our lives submitted to his commands and promptings.


Being unleashed in 2009 is available for everyone! The Holy Spirit is available to and poured out on all, but the extent to which we are unleashed is determined by the extent to which we allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives, the extent to which we hand over our weaknesses and strengths, and the extent to which we are obedient to God's will for us. Let's keep the power at work in our lives to achieve far more than we can hope or imagine!

An interview with an Athiest

Interesting

Risk or Rust

On Sunday 7 December, Westlife announced it's theme for 2009 - "UNLEASHED". As a church, we have built the foundation to be unleashed to a new level of influence, a new level of impact and a new level of connection with the community. I was personally encouraged about my part in this.

I've been pondering this new theme since Sunday. How do we transition from the present season (perhaps a season of consolidation), to this new season of unprecedented release into what God has called us to do? How do we convert the vision into reality?

Today, I am reading "The Practical life of Faith" by Chuck Swindoll. In Hebrews 11:24-28, I read about Moses who, by faith, cranked things up a gear. His life was 'unleashed' to live out God's purposes.

Swindoll notes 3 risky decisions Moses made that unleashed him - 2 of which have challenged me for 2009:

1. Moses had a determination to leave the familiar.

Moses left the familiarity and security of his household. He left the comfort of what he knew well, and entered a challenging place of unfamiliarity.

2. Willingness to do the unusual.

Moses did the unusual step of sprinkling blood over the doorways to protect the first-born. This was an unusual thing to do, ut Moses was wililng to venture into unchartered territory.

"Unusual is the company that faith seems to prefer"

The 7 last words of any organisation are, "we never did it that way before".

W L Bateman says "If you keep on doing what you've always done, you'll keep on getting what you've always got."

We don't want to keep getting what we've always 'got', we want to crank things up a gear. We don't want to merely live in our 'success' so far, we want to be unleashed to make a serious difference.

Swindoll says, we either take risks or we rust. We either venture, or we vegetate.

* To have the determination it takes to leave the familiar, faith must be our security;

* To have the discipline to do the unusual, faith must silence our critics.

Bill Hybel's 'Axiom' is full of examples where they left the familiar, did the unusual and reaped the benefits of change.

For each of us to be personally unleased in 2009, we can't keep doing the same things we did in 2008.

Are there new connections we need to form?
Is there particular type of books we need to start reading?
Do we need to spend more time in the 'thinking chair'?
What new initiatives do we need to introduce?

One final thought - Joyce Meyer regularly says, "the higher the level, the higher the devil". With unleashing comes new and stronger attacks, temptations and opposition. Therefore there is one change that definitely needs to be made - We need to take our personal discipline in meeting with God to a new level.

Word of God Speak

The following video is by a church called New Hope in Hawaii - which shows the power of the daily quiet time with God. The accompanying song is a brilliant song by Mercy Me called, "Word of God Speak"

Check it out

Today

2 Quotes from John Maxwell to ponder:

"Successful people MAKE important decisions early in their lives, then they manage those decisions the rest of their lives"

"Just for today:

I will choose and display the right attitudes.

I will determine and act on important priorities.

I will know and follow healthy guidelines.

I will communicate with and care for my family.

I will practice and develop good thinking.

I will make and keep proper commitments.

I will earn and properly manage finances.

I will deepen and live out my faith.

I will initiate and invest in solid relationships.

I will plan for and model generosity.

I will embrace and practice good values.

I will seek and experience improvements.

I will act on these decisions and practice these disciplines, and then

one day, I will see the compounding results of a day lived well.

--John Maxwell's Daily Dozen from "Today Matters"

Who's your Mammon

Yesterday I listened to a message by Pastor Elwin from New Hope Hawaii on Luke 16:13, "No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."

He recently journaled on the very issue of mammon in his devotions earlier this month. Here is his journal in its entirety.

He says, "Today’s god of choice is Mammon, mammon masquerading as wealth. Mammon is making money the driving force for all our decisions, where we will live, what we will do for a career, what we will give our lives to. We are all susceptible to this if we think that the accumulation of money is the only definition for wealth."



"In many respects, we seem to rely on money to determine our sense of value, to define our level of success, to measure the extent of our happiness. It's money that we turn to in order to find comfort and security, albeit a false sense of security. And as the economy goes, so goes our finances and our degree of contentment. Everything that affects us, our emotions, our happiness, our sense of satisfaction, it seems, rises and falls on the condition of our finances."

The challenge is - How much is enough? One of the greatest lies we buy into is that we will reach a point when we have enough and therefore, feel secure about our financial future. So we keep aspiring for that elusive point.

I was fascinated to read a comment by Gerry Harvey this morning. This retail king, Gerry Harvey, has a personal fortune of $1.6 billion... not millions - but billions! Yet, as in an inrelated interview, here's what he said, "I still have a fear about going broke. I always think about it."

He has $1.6billion in the bank, and he always fears going broke!!!

Truth be told, I fear going broke (in varying degrees). Past financial hardships have meant I fear returning to that place of financial hardship. I want to avoid returning to that place as much as I can.

I think we all fear going broke - especially with the never-ending tide of news reports warning us of difficult financial times ahead.

That's the problem of putting our security in our finances - we fear going broke, and then in response to that fear, behave in certain ways: we become obsessive over any savings or current possessions, our priorities in life become more about cashflow than relationships, We're not as generous as we should be (even in the little things!). We take our eyes off the game then invest the best of our time, energy and worry in in a futile fight that we're never going to win.

Here's where the rubber meets the road - if I serve mammon (making wealth) over God, then I will never move past my fears, and therefore never live a life of abundance.

Serving God results in a life of abundance. Serving mammon results a life of oppression. No one can serve both. The bible also say he who tries to keep his life will lose it, but he who loses his life will surely gain it. This means that the more we try to hold onto the things of this world, the more we will fall away from our relationship with God, but when we seek God first in all aspects of our life, the more abundance God can add to our life!

Don't buy into the lie of the devil that 'if we just had a little more', we could serve God wholeheartedly. Merely accepting that proposition means we've given a little of our heart away to serving mammon.

Does that mean I don't have to be a good steward of finances? Absolutely not! It's a question of heart, not of the balance sheet. What is the greatest priority?

Here are some questions from Pastor Elwin to guage where we're our heart is at:

* How often do I worry about my finances;
* How often is money (rather than God or my family) the determining factor in decisions that I make;
* What is the degree of my grip on my possessions – do I struggle with making contributions of any kind to those in need;
* Do I have a good understanding of just how much is enough;

It's the decision we make every day that show where our priorities lie. What decisions will you make today?

Paying your bill

While most of us wouldn't try this, one man tried to pay his electricity bill with a picture of a spider. Click here to see the article and read the email exchange between him and the power company.

3 of these exchanges are:

From: Jane Gilles
Date: Wednesday 8 Oct 2008 12.19pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Overdue account

Dear David,
Our records indicate that your account is overdue by the amount of $233.95. If you have already made this payment please contact us within the next 7 days to confirm payment has been applied to your account and is no longer outstanding.

Yours sincerely, Jane Gilles


From: David Thorne
Date: Wednesday 8 Oct 2008 12.37pm
To: Jane Gilles
Subject: Re: Overdue account

Dear Jane,
I do not have any money so am sending you this drawing I did of a spider instead. I value the drawing at $233.95 so trust that this settles the matter.



Regards, David.


From: Jane Gilles
Date: Thursday 9 Oct 2008 10.07am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Overdue account

Dear David,
Thankyou for contacting us. Unfortunately we are unable to accept drawings as payment and your account remains in arrears of $233.95. Please contact us within the next 7 days to confirm payment has been applied to your account and is no longer outstanding.

Yours sincerely, Jane Gilles


The problem for David was that the picture wasn't the correct 'currency' to pay the bill. Regardless of how valuable David thought his picture of a spider was, it would never satisfy his debt, because the power company didn't recognise it as a form of payment.

We're no different. We all have a debt to our Maker. We all have to pay one day for the wrongs we commit.

Some people try to pay for this debt in ways that are valuable to them: doing good deeds, being nice to people, walking old ladies across the street. We hear people say, "he'll be in heaven because he was a good person"

However, we have the same problem as David. It doesn't matter how good we are, it's not the correct 'currency' to pay our debt. Good deeds are not a form of payment recognised by God.

The bible tells us that the only way to pay for our wrongs, the only 'currency' that is acceptable is death. Either we die an eternal death, or a sinless man has to die in our place to pay that price for us.

That sinless man was Jesus and he paid our debt when he died on the Cross.

Let Jesus into your life - and let him pay your debt.

A new Australian political party

Scary..Whether we want to be involved in politics or not - these guys having balance of power would be destructive to say the least

Sex industry is launching a new political party
By Laura Nowell
Sunday Mail (SA)
November 16, 2008 12:01am

AUSTRALIA'S sex industry is launching a new political party to counter the increasing influence of religious groups in politics and government.

The Australian Sex Party hopes to be up and running by Friday having secured 500 signatures and registration with the Australian Electoral Commission.

Party spokeswoman and CEO of the Eros Association Fiona Pattensaid the party planned to campaign on issues such as censorship, the federal Government's promised internet filter, health benefits for sex workers, gay marriage and paid maternity leave.

Ms Paten said the party hoped to win seats in state upper houses and the Senate using the slogan "We're SeriousAbout Sex".

"We're hoping for at least one Senate seat in the next federal election," she said. "We're concerned about Steve Fielding's power in the Senate - his conservative morals-based position . . . threatens our industry."

Beware the pirates!

A news item from ninemsn this morning reports of a "hijacked Saudi super-tanker, carrying $US100 million ($A153.95 million) dollars worth of oil, being anchored off a notorious Somali pirate port as sea gangs struck again and seized a Hong Kong cargo ship.



The biggest act of piracy yet by the marauding Somali bandits has stunned the international community.

... The Sirius Star, the size of three soccer fields and three times the weight of a US aircraft carrier, is the largest ship ever seized by pirates and the hijacking was the farthest out to sea that Somali bandits struck.

Its cargo has been estimated to be worth $US100 million ($A153.95 million) at current crude prices.

Maritime security experts said the pirates had approached the tanker from the stern in speedboats and thrown grapnel hooks tied to rope ladders, most likely boarding unopposed as the ship cruised on auto-pilot with nobody keeping watch on the bridge.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal said: "They're very well armed. Tactically, they are very good," he said.

I find it interesting that, through good planning, the pirates were able to take over a gigantic ship because those in charge were 'asleep at the wheel'. The pirates were able to take what was valuable because no one was keeping watch.

There's a lesson in that for us. 1 Peter 5:8 says it best, " 8 Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. 9 Keep your guard up."

Just like the pirates, the devil is cunning. He wants to catch us napping, and then take what is valuable.

Why? Because "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy." (John 10:10)

What is valuable to us? Our marriage? Our Joy? Our contentment?

I once heard it said that the area in which we are most vulnerable is the very area we think we are strongest. Where we know we are weak, we put extra safeguards in place. However the area in which we think we have strength, we run the risk of letting our guard down because we don't think we're vulnerable.

For example, we may know we're not strong in the area of relational temptation - so we put safeguards in place.

However, what about other areas such as jealousy or pride? If I'm not careful, I'm caught napping at the wheel, start comparing myself to others - what they have and what they do - and then the enemy steals my contentment through jealousy. I take my eyes off the real purpose in life, and start aiming for what 'others' have.

How do we keep our guard up? Ephesians 6:11 and 13-17

"Put on God's whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil. "

"13 Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. 14 Truth, righteousness, 15 peace, 16 faith, 17 and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. 18 In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out. "

Another way to keep our guard up is to be quick to forgive:

2 Corinthians 2:10 "So if you forgive him, I forgive him. Don’t think I’m carrying around a list of personal grudges. The fact is that I’m joining in with your forgiveness, as Christ is with us, guiding us. 11 After all, we don’t want to unwittingly give Satan an opening for yet more mischief—we’re not oblivious to his sly ways! An Open Door "

Finally, James 4:6-7 says get serious for God and quit dabbling in sin!

" 7 So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. 8 Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. 9 Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious"

So you want to start a blog

If you want to know what a blog is.. check this out from youtube:

Relevance - in our walk

Continuing on from the relevance theme, my next question is 'How do we preach a message that is relevant for where people are at". This question is not new, but I took some time to think it through further.

I have a passion for 'running the race'. How do we stay in this race longer and how do we run the race stronger. How do I make the answer to that question relevant for other people running the race?

The people watchers (ABC2 at 6.30) are a group of psychologists who show human behaviour through a series of real life experiments. One such experiment was to pretend they were a psychic and then create a 'reading' that could apply to anyone. No surprises - it worked. There are fears we all share, and there are aspirations we all have - all of which were built into the reading.

I believe this also applies to our walk - there must be common challenges we all face, obstacles we need to overcome and common distractions that enemy uses.

To this end, I thought about where I'm at, and posed the following question: What are they key lessons that I am learning at the moment that are helping me stay in this race. Maybe these distractions, obstacles and challenges are not unique to me, but are applicable to many.

So here is my list - so far:

* It's about God, not about Me;

* It's about the relationship, not about the ritual;

* It's about the heart, not about the tasks;

* It's about grace, not about striving;

* It's about trust, not about understanding;

* It's about obedience, not about the appearance of it;

* It's about the purpose, not about the possessions;

* It's about my character, not about my comfort;

* It's about compassion, not about judgment;

* It's about more about the people, less about the principle.

To see how I'm going with this list, I can look at my attitudes, what I'm praying for, how I'm interracting with people, what I'm struggling with day to day.

Are my prayers a list of "Please can I have", or are they "God, help me draw closer to you"?

Do I go through the motions of church, but not spend time developing the relationship with God?

Am I completing tasks for people, doing all the right things - but without the right motivation?

Am I looking like a Christian in public, without integrity behind closed doors?

Will I give up things I own/want to further what God has called me to do? or have I become indifferent to what matters to God?

Am I happy to let friendships go because I'm right!?!?!? Do I stop trying with people when it gets too hard?

Do I judge others too quickly - but expect people to give me some lattitude?

Am I still trying to gain God's favour by 'doing good', when I already have it?

When tough times come, do I look at what I can learn? or do I blame God?

More research is needed. Watch this space.

Relevance - in our word choice

Today's blog, to use cooking terms, is a reduction of many ingredients that I have read /heard over the past few days, mixed and marinated.

I am reading Bill Hybel's book entitled, "Axiom"- who said that careful selection of words matter in order to engage people.

I also listened to "Maximum Impact" podcast, which spoke to the Leader of Giant Impact, a Leadership training organisation in the US. He said the 3 characters of a good leader are: Trustworthiness, Competency and Relevance.

I have been musing the thoughts of relevance for the past 24 hours. How do we become relevant. Are we, as a church, as teachers, relevant? Are the words we choose letting seekers know that we are relevant to them, or are we using concepts/lingo that is common to Christians because it's easier.

Take for example Billboards. I have seen a couple of billboards on the way to Dalby and Stanthorpe that quote scripture. Here's an example from the web (obviously not in Australia)

The challenge with this type of public message is that I'm not sure people would understand what this means to them. Is it relevant? Does it inspire them to check out more of the gospel message.

Could it say something like:

"Do you really want to get what you deserve for all the bad things you've done? You can have forgiveness instead - but you have to ask for it.. Google Romans 6:23"

Or here is another one I've found on the web:

Words matter. Make them relevant

Our daily re-calibration

I was just watching an episode of Catalyst regarding our internal time-clocks... that's right, clocks, not clock.

We are told that inside our body, each of our organs and systems have their own timeclock. The liver, our hormones, our cells. All are on a daily routine based on their own timeclock.

Amazingly, the brain is the master timeclock. Every morning, as soon as our bodies see light, the master timeclock sends a signal to all the other timeclocks in our body - and it recalibrates them. All the clocks are, once more, in sync with the master clock and their own timings.

If this recalibration doesn't take place, our bodies get out of sync and that's when we get mood swings, illnesses, weird temperatures. Our bodies are preparing for different events at different times. For example, people who work night shift - their bodies are keeping them cool for sleep, even though their awake. Similarly at night, their bodies aren't releasing insulin, even though they're eating, and they become insulin resistent (the very thing that is meant to supply their body with nutrition and energy).

This daily need for our bodies to be exposed to light is no different to our souls.

John 1:9 says, "There it was--the true Light [was then] coming into the world [the genuine, perfect, steadfast Light] that illumines every person. "

Jesus is the Light. Everytime we spend time with him, we can re-calibrate the workings of our heart, soul and mind to the master timeclock. We can make sure that we are in sync with His timings and His master plan.

If we don't have our daily does of His light, then our lives get out of sync, we become moody, we don't function as we should and even when we're provided with spiritual food, we start resisting it - and not letting it supply us with energy and strength we need.

Have you had your exposure to the Light today?

The Wild One

I recently heard a podcast entitled, "Your role in the Christmas story" by Dr Tom Mullins of Christ Fellowship (Florida), who said that the Christmas Story starts not with Jesus, but with John the Baptist.

My daily reading is all about John the Baptist - (I think God is making sure I get the point).

Isaiah 40:3 says,

"A voice of one calling in the desert,
'Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for Him"

John's life mission and ministry was to prepare the hearts of the people for Christ's coming.

There had been hundreds of years since God's people had heard from a prophet, and now John was commissioned to get people ready - the messiah was coming. Their hearts had to be ready to receive Christ.

The religious leaders had created a 'religion' of rules, regulations, hypocrisy and an absence of love. John's message cut all that away. John called for "personal purity and individual righteousness, seen as a refreshing change fron the ritualistic and institutional religion which has developed over the centuries" (Commentary from "The Daily Bible")

Of course, the message of John was that of the Messiah, and more specifically, the lamb that will take away the sins of the world. The King that will remove the religious laws, and replace it with a kingdom of love, grace and a gift of righteousness.

The cross was God's design for our salvation since the beginning of time. Revelation 13:8 describes Jesus as "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world"

The point for us is this: Christ is coming again. He is coming back. Our role in the Christmas story is to prepare the hearts of people for Christ's return. Our whole mission is to "go into all the world and make disciples"

Greg Laurie says this, "A number of years ago, I had the privilege of having lunch with Billy Graham. While I had a lot of questions I wanted to ask, there was one thing I was especially curious about.

I said to him, "If you knew then as a younger preacher what you know now after all these years, what would you do differently?"

Without hesitation, he replied, "I would preach more on the cross and on the blood. That is where the power is."

We need to cut through a 'religion' that has developed over the years of self-help, me-first, and 'what feels good - do it'. Humanism seems to be so popular, and it can be likened to Christianity without Christ. Yet, the message of the cross is the only message that will get the hearts of people ready for Christ's return

What if we don't? What if only give our mission a half-hearted effort? I'm still pondering over last week's Westlife message on Hell, and the horror that people will be destined for if they don't know Christ.

Christ is coming back, and we must prepare the way.

Cliches We love to hate (Courier Mail)

I wonder if cliches are a necessary evil. This courier mail article reports on a survey being taken of the cliches we love to hate. A favourite in church circles is "Let's unpack this"

The problem with trying to eradicate annoying cliches is that we all know what they mean, and so we'd probably end up replacing them with another cliche!

At the end of the day - I think cliches are here to stay. :)

See this article from the Courier Mail:

NEXT time you're at the pub and hear a glass smash, try to resist the urge to call out "taxi!"

If you want to catch up with a work contact, suggest something other than "let's do lunch".

And whatever you do, don't phone someone to "touch base".

That's the verdict of fed-up Australians, who have voted on the most overused and hated phrases in a nationwide survey.

Social researcher Mark McCrindle found politicians, workmates and teenagers the worst cliche offenders.

When it came to political speak, the saying, "I'm not ruling anything out" was the most despised.

But overall, the phrase "at the end of the day" was the most irritating in the English language.

TAKE THE SURVEY HERE: http://www.australiaspeaks.com/

Preparation for Serving in the House

It has been said that the most introverted person will influence approximately 10,000 in their lifetime. So, whether we like it or not, we have an influence on others. What we do has an effect on others.

Against this background, when we serve in the House, we have an effect on others, but not just in our friendships, and physical labour.

In Haggai 2:10-14, God spoke to the people who were serving in the House. In fact, the people of Israel were on a project to re-build the temple of God. They were building a place for the presence of God to dwell.

It says this: 10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month (again, this was in the second year of Darius), God’s Message came to Haggai: 11 “God-of-the-Angel-Armies speaks: Consult the priests for a ruling. 12 If someone carries a piece of sacred meat in his pocket, meat that is set apart for sacrifice on the altar, and the pocket touches a loaf of bread, a dish of stew, a bottle of wine or oil, or any other food, will these foods be made holy by such contact?”The priests said, “No.”13 Then Haggai said, “How about someone who is contaminated by touching a corpse—if that person touches one of these foods, will it be contaminated?”The priests said, “Yes, it will be contaminated.” 14 Then Haggai said, “‘So, this people is contaminated. Their nation is contaminated. Everything they do is contaminated. Whatever they do for me is contaminated.’ God says so.

This may seem cryptic, but here is what one commentator says:

"Haggai contends that the temple workers cannot claim to be righteous simply because they are working on the house of the Lord. In fact, if their personal lives are not holy, their involvement in the temple's construction will actually desecrate the holy sanctuary"

People who serve in the House each week are creating a place for God's presence to dwell, just like the people of Israel.

It is our responsibility in that role to keep our personal lives in order. If we don't, it has an effect beyond our own lives. It has a negative effect on what we're building.

Just because we're serving, doesn't make us holy, or cover up disobedience.

We need to take the time each Sunday morning and get our hearts right with God. He can't deal with issues in our life if we don't spend time with him daily and allow Him to speak to us - which God often does through His word.

We also need to take time out, like David, and say, "search my heart, O God. Let me know if there is any uncleanliness" Are there any issues of unforgiveness, pride, jealousy, anger.. I find that I can't think of any until I ask God to show me, and then the list comes out!

Serving in the House doesn't make us holy, but failing to get our hearts right can hinder all that God wants to do in our lives, and others' - especially in the House.

A Sign of the Times

For quite a few years now, I've had an interest in the end time prophecies - not at fanatical levels to spook out the neighbours, but I certainly like to keep this on my 'radar'.

When I first did some research on the subject, there were some aspects that stood out:
a. The 10 nation government in the Europe region;
b. The fact that America was no where to be found in end times prophecies;
c. The dominance of China;
d. The prediction that the Euphrates river will stop flowing;
e. An army of 2 million

There are many more prophecies, but I see these signs taking shape already - as follows:

a. The European Union is most likely the vehicle that will be the 10 nation government. The Euro currency is already in place. At the moment, there are more than 10 nations, but watch this space;

b. This morning, I read this article a fairfax newspaper: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/world/how-did-it-get-to-this-america-shatters/2008/10/06/1223145254099.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap2 Essentially, it predicts the end of the US dominance the global arena within a very short time

c. China is clearly already one of the big players in the world today. There is already a saying that when China sneezes financially, the rest of the world catches a cold. More facts to come.

d. The Euphrates River runs through Turkey, Syria and Iraq. It is the largest river in southwest asia. However, due to significant dam projects (22 dams and 19 power plants) in Turkey and Syria, there are conflicts over water use. In fact, there have already been occasions where the river has stopped flowing temporarily to allow the dams to be constructed. There is constant fear that water will not reach iraq because of the heaving use by Turkey and Syria.

e. In 2005, China released a newspaper report of maintaining an army of 2.3 million people. http://www.china.org.cn/english/government/116577.htm Needless to say that at the time of the prophecy, and certainly for many many years, an army of 2 Million was unthinkable. It is now a reality.

These are just a few, but with the events unfolding in America at the moment, this prompted me to reflect on the signs of the times.

Neglecting to Read your Bible

From a Blog by Bill Muelenberg:

On the Reading of Scripture (Or the Lack Thereof) There is no question that the church of Jesus Christ in Australia (and in much of the Western world) is not exactly in great shape. The church is very far way from where it is supposed to be. And it is certainly not having the impact that it should be having.

There are of course many reasons for this. But one clear reason has to do with our lack of devotion to the word of God. This fact was even picked up in the secular press not long ago. It involved a large study of Australian Christians and their Bible reading habits. It turns out there is not much of a habit at all. Regular reading of God’s word seems to be on the decline. Here is how one press account explains the situation:

“Of those Australians who go to church, 21 per cent read their Bible daily, 14 per cent open it a few times a week and 6 per cent once a week. But 24 per cent said they read their Bibles only occasionally, 18 per cent hardly ever and 17 per cent said they never read the Bible on their own as a private devotional activity, according to the research, which is based on the 2006 National Church Life Survey of 500,000 people who attended church from 22 denominations.”

It continues, “The most diligent Bible readers are Pentecostals, with 72 per cent saying they read the holy book daily or a few times a week, followed by Baptists (62 per cent), Anglicans (46 per cent), Lutherans (41 per cent) and Uniting (43 per cent). Dragging down the other denominations are Catholics, of whom 59 per cent confess they rarely consult their Bibles.”

Well that explains a lot. If we are not reading the word of God on a regular basis, then we will not be functioning the way we are meant to be. Indeed, we will be going backwards, spiritually speaking, if we neglect the Bible. http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2008/10/02/on-the-reading-of-scripture-or-the-lack-thereof/

Abortion Survivor - Confronting Address

The 16 minute talk by abortion survivor Gianna Jessen at the Victorian Parliament on 8 September is now on YouTube. She survive a late-term abortion.  Her address is passionate.  It is confronting.  It is thought provoking.  I recommend you watch it.

The video of her address can be seen here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPF1FhCMPuQ " and here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kb9dFRw_w3o

The greatest heart transplant

Some time ago, I watched a documentary on heart transplants. The documentary was on the human organs having a memory much like the brain.

Pearsall, Schwartz and Russek, conducted a study, published in the Spring 2002 issue of the Journal of Near-Death Studies, entitled, "Changes in Heart Transplant Recipients That Parallel the Personalities of Their Donors." The study consisted of open-ended interviews with 10 heart or heart-lung transplant recipients, their families or friends and the donor's families or friends. The researchers reported striking parallels in each of the cases. The following is a sampling of some these. (http://www.med.unc.edu/wellness/main/links/cellular%20memory.htm)

A 47-year-old Caucasian male received a heart from a 17-year-old African-American male. The recipient was surprised by his new-found love of classical music. What he discovered later was that the donor loved classical music and played the violin.

Another possible incidence of memory transfer occurred when a young man came out of his transplant surgery and said to his mother, "everything is copasetic." His mother said that he had never used that word before, but now used it all the time. It was later discovered that the word had been a signal, used by the donor and his wife, particularly after an argument, so that when they made up they knew everything was okay.

There are stories of meat lovers becoming vegetarians, healthy eaters starting to crave beer and snickers bars.. what they like and what they dislike changes when they get the new heart.

There is some scientific debate on this - there are some sceptics. However the concept of a heart transplant leading to a personality change made me sit up and take notice. This was of particular interest to me because of the following verse:

In Ezekial 36:26, God says to his people, "I will give you a new heart and a put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws"

When God gives us His heart, albeit not a physical transplantation, there has to be a change in personality. This new heart means we love what God loves, we hate what God hates. It's not instant, but as the 'memory' in this new Heart infiltrates our life, our personalities must change.

David Grabbe adds this commentary, "The Old Covenant that God made with Israel was a good agreement as far as it went, because all of God's works are good. The problem was not with its terms, but with the people who made it (Hebrews 8:7-8, 10). They lacked the right heart that would have allowed them to follow God truly and obey His laws. God, though, will give a new heart—a new spirit—to repentant Israelites, along with any others who desire to covenant with Him." (my emphasis added) (http://bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/2993/New-Heart.htm)

In ourselves, we lack the ability to diligently and obediently follow God, to hate sin, and to love others as ourselves. But when give ourselves over to God, He gives us a new heart, and the Holy Spirit lives in us and we have a supernatural ability to do all that God asks of us.

A final point to note. With all heart transplants, the donor has to lose his life to give life to another. This gift of life is impossible without a death. Jesus was the one to die to enable us to have this new life.

The greatest heart transplant.

Saving Grace

I have been listening to this song on the way to a workshop today - by Planetshakers. I love it:

I'm holding on to You
I'm never letting go'
Cause You have saved my soul
And You have made me whole

You took my brokenness
And filled me with Your joy

All I long to do is worship
All I long to do is bring You praise
For nothing compares to you
My Saving Grace

Jesus Saviour
My life belongs to you forever'
Cause you have set my heart on fire
And You have set me free

I especially love the last 2 lines - you have set my heart on fire and have set me free.

My heart is on fire.. and I want it that way. It is the fire that propels, it is the fire that pushes past opposition. It is the fire that fans persistence. It is the fire that won't let go.

I've been set free. Freedom from condemnation. Freedom from prisons that kept me trapped. The most awesome feeling is to be able to say "no" to something I previously felt powerless against. Eg food, temptations in relationships. I am free to say NO because Christ is my power where I am weak. He took my brokenness and replaced it with His joy, His love, His power and a sound mind!

The Holy Spirit is my fire and my freedom!

Quote on Faith

"Faith is a footbridge that you don't know will hold you over the chasm until you're forced to walk out unto it." unknown

Vertical - Devotion from Purpose Driven Life

With Westlife running the Vertical series, I thought this devotion a timely blog:

Never Say Amen by Jon Walker

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. Matthew 26:40 (NIV)

Today’s guest devotional is provided by Jon Walker –

Read this devotional as a prayer:

Help me, Lord, to develop a strong prayer life. I know you desire intimacy with me, and you want me to watch with you and pray (Matthew 26:40).

Yet, I never seem to find the time to pray in a deep, fervent, consistent, persistent way. What draws me to my knees the most is when I have a problem, when I want something from you, when I need your help.

I’m flipping through my calendar, stressing with commitments, and you just want to hang out – with me. Help me turn my prayers into conversations with you that keep flowing throughout the day, an on-going communication where I never say “Amen.”

Keep me close to you, no matter what it takes. I’m not sure I really want to pray that; I have bruises and scars from “whatever it takes” discipleship, but, then again, I confess the crush of these moments have taught me to throw myself on the stone before the stone falls on me.

And that has moved me closer to the love that compels my obedience, closer to becoming one with your heart. So, I’m asking that you change me until my deepest want is to be with you.

With this I pray that you will create me worthy of my calling and that your power will fulfill every good purpose you plan for me and energize everything I do in faith.

My prayer is that your life will emerge in my face and in my hands, in my thoughts and in my words. I know your grace will make it so (paraphrase of 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12, NIV).

What a prayer!

Ways to improve your E-mail Body Language

From Priority Learning Link

The e-mail messages you send may be saying a lot more about you than you realize. They provide a window into your workplace status, work habits, stress levels and even your personality. Here are some pointers to consider:

1. Never use e-mail to 'let off steam'. Save your immediate wrath or criticism for face-to-face meetings or to the phone. Better to take a deep breath, go and get a coffee and wait a day. Delays will help you preserve relationships and demonstrate emotional maturity.
   
   
2. Set a ' 5 or 10 minute don't send rule' for most e-mail. Instead, save them in your 'drafts' folder-you'll be surprised how given a five minute lapse you will be able to retract a poorly written message or reconsider your response to something important.
   
   
3. It's OK to inject some humor into your messages, but frequent ‘emoticons’, 'chain' jokes/pictures and smiley faces say that you are underemployed and not to be taken seriously.
   
   
4. Language matters! Use spell-check and your thesaurus. Mangled sentences and typos make you appear careless or even just plain ignorant.
   
   
5. Be considerate, polite and brief in all messaging: trim dangling threads; eschew unnecessary attachments, signature graphics, run-on disclaimers, device identifiers, html coding, cute quotes and icons - especially dancing icons.
   
   
6. Dnt ovr abbrvt.
   
   
7. Don't cry wolf with alert levels.
   
   
8. Use cc with restraint.
   
   
9. When sending an E-mail to a long recipient list, code as group address for brevity and privacy.
   
   
10. ALL CAPS IS FOR SHOUTING!

In everything give thanks

In a devotional email by Greg Laurie:

“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:18

In her wonderful book, The Hiding Place, Corrie ten Boom relates an amazing story about the importance of being thankful. Corrie and her sister Betsy were held in a concentration camp known as Ravensbruk, where they lived in barracks that were plagued with lice. Lice were everywhere—in their hair and on their bodies.

One day, Betsy said to her, "Corrie, we need to give thanks to God for the lice."

Corrie said, "Betsy, you have gone too far this time. I am not going to thank God for lice."

Betsy said, "Oh, but Corrie, the Bible tells us, 'In everything give thanks.' "

Still, Corrie did not want to thank God for the lice. As it turns out, Corrie and Betsy were trying to reach the other women in their barracks with the message of the gospel, and they had been holding Bible studies. Corrie found out later that because of the lice, the guards would not go into those barracks, and therefore, they were able to have their Bible studies. As a result, they led many of the women to the Lord. So it turns out that God can even use lice.

Galations - a study in contrasts

Having a bit of time last Thursday, I read the 5 chapters in Galatians. It occurred to me that it is a study of contrasts in:

w Life under the Law v Life under grace

w Sinful nature v sprit filled nature

w Acts under the law v acts under love.

Here’s what I saw:

The law or Faith

Life before Christ	Life after Christ
Live the by law	Live by faith
Available only to Jews	Available to all nations
A slave to men	A son and an heir and known by God
Cursed	Redeemed
Prisoner	Justified and free
Use acts to try to be justified	Use acts to show love
Sinful nature controlled life	Spirit led life

Evidence of your Nature

Galations 5:16 “So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”

Fruits of a sinful nature	Fruits of a Spirit filled nature
Sexual immorality	Love
Impurity	Joy
Idolatry	Peace
Hatred	Patience
Discord	Kindness
Jealousy	Goodness
Fits of rage	Faithfulness
Selfishness ambition	Gentleness
Dissensions	Self control
Envy
Drunkenness

To move from one column to the other, see Galations 6:7 “A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life”

How to we sow into the Spirit, and not into our sinful nature? Rick Warren puts it like this:

w Run from anything that gives you the evil thoughts . . . but stay close to anything that makes you want to do right. 2 Timothy 2:22 (LB)

w Have you ever watched a food advertisement on television and suddenly felt you were hungry? Have you ever heard someone cough and immediately felt the need to clear your throat? Ever watched someone release a big yawn and felt the urge to yawn yourself? That is the power of suggestion. We naturally move toward whatever we focus our attention on. The more you think about something, the stronger it takes hold of you.

w That is why repeating “I must stop eating too much . . . or stop smoking . . . or stop lusting” is a self-defeating strategy. It keeps you focused on what you don’t want. It’s like announcing, “I’m never going to do what my mom did.” You are setting yourself up to repeat it.

w Temptation begins by capturing your attention. What gets your attention arouses your emotions. Then your emotions activate your behavior, and you act on what you felt. The more you focus on “I don’t want to do this,” the stronger it draws you into its web.

w Ignoring a temptation is far more effective than fighting it. Once your mind is on something else, the temptation loses its power. So when temptation calls you on the phone, don’t argue with it, just hang up!

w Spiritually, your mind is your most vulnerable organ. To reduce temptation, keep your mind occupied with God’s Word and other good thoughts. You defeat bad thoughts by thinking of something better. This is the principle of replacement. You overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21).

w Satan can’t get your attention when your mind is preoccupied with something else. That’s why the Bible repeatedly tells us to keep our minds focused: “Fix your thoughts on Jesus” (Hebrews 3:1 NIV).

w “Fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable” (Philippians 4:8 TEV).

w If you’re serious about defeating temptation you must manage your mind and monitor your media intake. The wisest man who ever lived warned, “Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts” (Proverbs 4:23 TEV).

Called to be Free

Galations 5:13 “You my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.”

Galatians 5:6b “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love”

Acts under the law	Acts under Love
You do it because you have to	You do it because you want to
You do it for personal gain	You do it to bless others
You focus on yourself	You focus on the receiver
You do for others what you want to do	You do for others what you would want them to do for you.