The G.E.M.

Just a Thought! - 11 August 2008

2008-08-11T11:20:00.000+02:00

I am hearing so many stories these days of God working in the lives of people in Africa. Stories in the ruined country of Zimbabwe where people have been turning to Christ and being saved, despite the political and violent struggles that they may be having. Stories of men and women's lives being changed in so many cities and towns in South Africa as a result of revivals happening in churches. Stories of missionaries bringing whole villages to Christ in the deep dark jungles of central Africa.

Another such story is one that I was part of this weekend – Louie Giglio's Passion Conference here in Johannesburg. 6,000 people gathered together for 12 hours in one place (at least 5,000 of which were students) bringing praise and glory to God. I am not one to be moved by experiences or feelings, we cannot trust or rely on them, but I must admit that in this case, I had a moving experience and often had feelings of awe at how God is working in the lives of the younger generation of South Africans.

During the event I was reminded of a number of verses relevant to the event – not based on anything that was "preached" about from the stage, but rather gentle reminders by the Holy Spirit about the event and the current move of God in South Africa.

Peter in his great sermon on the day of Pentecost said, in quoting Joel 2:28, "'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.'" Take note of a few key words in this verse: sons, daughters, young. The hall was jam packed of these types of people. God's Word was being excellently shared with these guys and a passion was being fired up to take it back to their friends, families and campuses. God is using these young people to stir up this nation, and indeed many others like it. We are living in the last days and it is through this new generation that God is going to work.

The next verse that came to mind as Louie was reporting back on the cities already visited in his tour, is Matthew 18:20 - "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." Jesus is only referring to two or three people being gathered in His name, but in terms of the tour as a whole, over 100,000 people are expected to come together in His name. God is present and active within these gatherings. I am not saying that the more people, the more of Him, but I am saying that He is there. He is present. Even if only ten percent of those people are truly there in His name, He is still there. And where God is, salvation happens. Where God is, lives are changed. Just imagine what God is doing in the lives of those young people coming together at these events.

The third verse that came to mind, especially as Louie was sharing about the event in Uganda earlier in the tour (where 19,000 students attended), and also the fact that South Africa is the only country in the tour where the Passion conference is taking place in two cites, is Zephaniah 3:10 - "From beyond the rivers of Cush my worshipers, my scattered people, will bring me offerings." In Old Testament times the land of Cush was south of Egypt, and is not limited to the country of Ethiopia as is often understood today. Also remember that this prophecy was to the people in Israel north of Egypt, so to say beyond Cush meant far south of their location at the time. Therefore God is telling us here that beyond the rivers of the area below Egypt, God's people who are scattered amongst the nations of Africa, will bring Him offerings.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, this is happening as we speak. From all sorts of unexpected places in Africa, pockets of people are coming together and bringing offerings to God. Offerings of praise. Offerings of giving to the Kingdom. Offerings of lives changed for the glory of God. For Uganda to have 19,000 students and Johannesburg and Cape Town over 5,000 each, all united together to bring glory to God, there are certainly things happening in our continent.

Finally, I look forward to the glory that is going to be given to God in Heaven, "After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: 'Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.' All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: 'Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!'"

Let us give God all the glory. Let us praise Him for who He is and for what He is doing in the lives of people in this country, and indeed in the continent of Africa.

Just a thought!

Just a Thought! - 4 August 2008

2008-08-04T09:18:00.000+02:00

One of the ancient wonders of the world, the Great Pyramid of Giza produces awe and wonder! Because of its immense size, chambered design and perfect dimensions, many scholars have developed remarkable theories about its true origin and purpose.

The most popular theory is that the Great Pyramid served as a huge tomb for an ancient Pharaoh of Egypt. In fact, most pyramids throughout Egypt were constructed for that purpose. However, there is now plenty of evidence to show that the Great Pyramid was a unique structure, not intended to be a traditional tomb.

The dimensions of the Great Pyramid also reveal incredible mathematical insights! The architect possessed knowledge way ahead of his time! In fact, we now know that the Great Pyramid solves one of humanity's most difficult mathematical challenges – the squaring of the circle. When the radius of a circle equals the height of a pyramid, then the circumference of that circle equals the perimeter of the pyramid's base. In fact, twice the height of the Great Pyramid, divided into the distance around its base, equals nearly perfect pi. Mankind has only recently been able to calculate pi to this level of mathematical accuracy!

The length of each side of the Great Pyramid's base is 365.2422 Royal Egyptian cubits ("pyramid cubits"). Amazingly, our astronomical year has a mean length of 365.2422454 solar days. Also, the perimeter of the base of the Great Pyramid is 36524.22 "pyramid inches," the length of 100 years expressed in days. Calculations of such accuracy were not known in mainstream mathematics until the 20th century! Many additional proportional phenomena and mathematical mysteries related to the Great Pyramid have been identified, proposed and/or studied. Clearly, this is a remarkable ancient structure!

Just as instructions were given to Moses for assembling the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant, is it possible that God delivered perfect instructions for erecting the Great Pyramid? The biblical texts reveal perfect dimensions delivered to Noah for the ark and ideal proportions delivered to David for the Jewish Temple. Like other symbols throughout the ancient scriptures, is it possible that the Great Pyramid might serve some testimonial purpose for God?

In the 8th century BC, the prophet Isaiah was speaking of the end times when he declared: "In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the heart of Egypt, and a monument to the LORD at its border." (Isaiah 19:19).

Indeed, two Egypts are mentioned in the Bible – Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt. When the text is focused on the one unified Egypt, the Hebrew word Mazor is used. However, when Upper and Lower Egypt are referenced, as in Isaiah’s scripture, the text uses the Hebrew word Mizraim – "two Egypts."

Remarkably, geographic studies have been done, including hydrographs and satellite imagery, confirming that the Great Pyramid of Giza is located in the direct middle of Egypt, on the boundary between the two ancient Egypts. In fact, Giza is Arabic for "border." Amazingly, the Great Pyramid is a pillar on the border between these two Egypts, while also "in the heart" (the Hebrew word is betoch, meaning "between" or "within").

The prophecy of Isaiah continues: "It will be a sign and witness to the LORD Almighty in the land of Egypt. When they cry out to the LORD because of their oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and he will rescue them." (Isaiah 19:20).

Throughout the ancient scriptures, Christ Jesus is compared to the chief cornerstone of a structure. Usually, the cornerstone is at the foundation of a building; however, with a pyramid, the cornerstone is at the top – the capstone.

Isaiah 28:16 refers to Christ as the "precious cornerstone." Zechariah 4:7 refers to God’s future placement of a stone at the top of his completed structure – "Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’"

David also refers to the Lord in connection with a future "capstone" - "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes." (Psalms 118:22-23).

Remarkably, Jesus Christ applied this same prophecy to himself, showing that he was the rejected capstone. Israel rejected him as Messiah under the leadership of the Pharisees and religious teachers, so Jesus used David’s Psalm to make his dramatic point before the crowds (Matthew 21:42-44).

Later, in one of Peter's great sermons to the Jewish people, he returns to this same prophecy when speaking about the truth of Jesus Christ: "He is 'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.' Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:11-12).

Today, it is very interesting to note that the Great Pyramid of Giza has no capstone. In fact, there is no historical record of any capstone ever being seen on the Great Pyramid. Something to think about as we enter the last days.

Just a thought!

Just a Thought! - 28 July 2008

2008-07-28T10:00:00.000+02:00

How can we fathom the immensity of the universe? Let us try to put it into perspective...

Light travels at approximately 300,000 km per second.

A Light Year is measured at approximately 9.33 trillion km (measurement of distance, not time).

The circumference of the Earth is a little over 38,622 km.

The circumference of the sun is a little over 4.35 million km (1.3 million earths could fit inside the sun).

The sun is about 150 million km from the earth (8.5 minutes for light to reach the earth).

Our solar system is about 8.85 billion km across (If the solar system was a large room, the earth would be a speck of dust, and the sun would be a large, bright grain of sand).

Alpha Centauri (the next closest star to earth) is approximately 40.6 trillion km away (it takes 4.2 years for its light to reach the earth).

Now for the perspective

Draw two circles, one small and one large, with their centers about 15cm apart.

If you imagine that each cm represents 10,000,000 km, your picture represents the distance from the earth to the sun.

Now, let us say you want to draw Alpha Centauri, the next nearest star, you would need to walk 64 km from the picture you just drew to draw your next circle!

Our own Milky Way Galaxy is 100,000 light years across (That is 100,000 x 9.33 trillion km!)

The Andromeda Galaxy (the next closest galaxy to our own Milky Way) is 2 million light years from earth (That is 2,000,000 x 9,330,000,000,000 km away…and that is the closest one!)

OQ172 is a quasar emitting huge quantities of radio waves that was discovered in the 1970’s. It is currently considered the farthest object from earth – about 17,000 million light years away! That is 17,000,000,000 x 9,330,000,000,000… Get your mind around that! Yeah right…

And the Bible tells us that God measures out the universe with the span of his hand (Isaiah 40:12)!

Just a thought!

Just a Thought! - 21 July 2008

2008-07-21T09:15:00.000+02:00

"He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end." - Ecclesiastes 3:11

How many grains of sand are there in a cup of sand? One million? Two trillion? You could make a guess, or use some tricky formula to work it out, but it is almost impossible to calculate.

Now suppose you had to take just one grain of sand from the cup and then walk from Johannesburg to Cape Town. It would obviously take you a long time to get there. When you arrive, you go to the beach and leave the grain of sand. Then you pick up another grain and take it back to the starting point. Put that grain of sand into another cup, and then you take another grain from the original cup and start the process all over again. I think that you can easily understand that this process will take you a long time to complete.

Do you know what I am trying to illustrate here? I am trying to show you how long eternity is, for the length of time it would take you to empty the one cup and to fill the other is merely a snap of the fingers in eternity. Do you not think then that it is important to know where you will be spending eternity? The Bible tells us that we will either be spending it in heaven or in hell, and it also tells us of how we can be sure it is in heaven. The Lord Jesus Christ told us that he would give eternal life to anyone who would believe in Him.

Just a thought!

I Owe, I Owe

2007-10-01T12:50:00.000+02:00

"Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men." - Proverbs 22:29 (NIV)

The word "work" conjures up many different pictures in people's minds. From the mundane and boring, to the exciting and challenging. But what kind of mental image does the word “work” conjure up for you?

If we think of work in a negative sense, we will find that more often than not, we will never work any harder than we need to in order to meet the minimum requirements. Our focus will be on the pay check at the end of the month, and we will work just hard enough to earn the money we need in order to buy something or go somewhere. We will see work as a necessary evil merely to be endured until we reach retirement age, and we will always try to get the most return for the least amount of effort.

If that is our opinion of work, we still have much growing to do.

The Bible presents work as a positive thing. Regardless of the pay, or whether there is any form of compensation at all, work is a good

thing all by itself. When we do our best at a job, whatever the job is, it does something good for us. But if we put in just enough effort to get by, we will never become the person God wants us to be.

But what about workaholics? They work too much, often neglecting their health and their families. Is this a good thing? No. One must remember there is a fine balance. It is not the amount of work that is important, it is the quality of work.

No matter what God calls us to do, we are to give it our best effort. We must never settle for mediocrity, and should establish excellence as our standard. We do not have to work all the time, but never settle for anything less than our absolute best. The Lord has called each of us to be excellent in what we do.

May we strive for excellence in all that we do for the Master of the universe.

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." - Colossians 3:23-24.

Brazil

2007-10-01T12:40:00.000+02:00

A couple of months prior to my trip to Brazil I had come across two books written by Matt Roper detailing his time as a missionary whilst is Brazil. Matt Roper’s ministry dealt with the rehabilitation and reintegration of street children into the community. My heart was moved and began praying that God willing, whilst in Brazil I would be able to join an organisation who were being the hands and feet to children in need.

When I arrived in Brazil the Lord had opened the doors for me to work alongside a ministry called Crianca Feliz, directly translated as Happy Child. This ministry was founded approximately one year ago by a missionary from the United Kingdom who also had been called to work with the street children within Brazil, particularly in the city of Belo Horizonte who has a notorious problem and concern in regards to the growing number of street children.

Crianca Feliz operates from eight houses and one farm which are either owned by the ministry or rented from the state. The mission of the ministry is to either reintegrate the children back into the family environment if possible, alternatively, should the children not be able to return home due to abuse of any sort, foster care and if necessary adoption would be sourced for the children.

When I was in Brazil during June 2007 Crianca Feliz had over 120 children being taken care of within the ministry. Each house is manned by social parents and volunteers who take care of the children’s needs including feeding, assistance with school work, care and concern and spiritual care.

The ministry works very closely with the municipality and this partnership has led to great success in reducing the number of street children within the area. When a child is found on the street they enter the first assessment house named Emmaus where their current situation is assessed by qualified social workers and psychologists. If reintegration to their families is possible then this process is conducted in conjunction with the social workers.

Should a child not be able to be reintegrated, then their stay at Emmaus house would be for approximately 3-4 months to allow for the child to become used to being off the streets and in a loving environment. It was whilst assisting at Emmaus that I met young Jonathan and his older sister Creasy. Both were living on the street after their mother’s boyfriend (a trafficker) had killed her and started using the children as drug runners. Another young boy of nine who was addicted to drugs, Hugo, will always remain in my heart as he battles his lifelong addiction acquired before he has even become an adolescent.

The ministry has been blessed with a farm which hosts boys between the ages of twelve to eighteen and in some situations younger boys who require specialised care. It is here that I met David who has been on the street since the age of six, and now at the age of fourteen has only started his education in the second grade.

The youngest child I met within the ministry was a three year old girl names Duda (short for Mary Edwardo) who has been in the ministry for eighteen months after being removed from her alcoholic parents. Each child brings their own story, sadly mostly tainted with abuse and neglect.

The ministry has also been very effective in facilitating a holiday Bible club which is run in the Favella’s (extremely poor housing) which allows the children to be off the streets and to be exposed to the good news of Jesus Christ who died for their sins. Reports are heard where families have come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ through the testimonies of the young children who have been changed as a result of their relationship with Jesus Christ.

The ministry is run by Pastor Amoree and his team of permanent employees and several volunteers. Whilst I was hosted at the ministry I met Rogerio, a Mozambican missionary who is serving as a volunteer for a year.

The vision for the ministry is to be expanded to all cities within Brazil, and a further vision to take Crianca Feliz into Africa. Pray that the Lord raises the person to join with the team in Brazil to partner and launch the Africa leg of this critical ministry.

Hillsong United Song: The Solution sums up the experience:
“We will be your hands, we will be your feet, we will run this race for the least of these.”
If Christians were not prepared to be the hands and feet of Jesus to these children, hundreds each year would be left to the streets to survive by resorting to prostitution, trafficking and ultimately resulting in the continued cycle of abuse. Pray for the strength of each individual involved in this ministry that is building a Christ centred future.

Should you wish to obtain any further information regarding the ministry at Crianca Feliz visit: www.criancafeliz.net or contact me via Grace Media.

Spreading the Truth

2007-09-01T12:47:00.000+02:00

"JJesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."" (John 14:6)

Jesus spoke often about truth. He wants us to love the truth and said it would even “set us free” (cf. John 8:32). To spread the Gospel is to spread the truth: the truth about salvation through Christ, the truth of man's sinfulness and our need for salvation.

The truth is not always comfortable for us to hear. Sometimes we would rather run away from it because it challenges us to change our thoughts, words and behaviour. Today there are so many false teachers, false prophets, false visionaries, etc. in the world and in the church that, more than ever, we need to be grounded in the truth of God's word and not depart from it, even for a moment. We must daily study God's Word if we are to resist the snares of the enemy planted all around us.

Jesus called Satan the "father of lies" (cf. John 8:44), and he is a master-mind at deceiving people who are not watching and praying. We must defend the truth, and even lay down our lives for it. This is what the martyrs of the early church did and, indeed, many others throughout the centuries.

""What is truth?" Pilate asked" (John 18:38)

The world does not understand the truth that comes from God, because the world does not have the Spirit of God. We can only come to know, love and live in the truth of God by the gracious gift of God's revelation through the Holy Spirit. Faith comes through hearing the Word of God (cf. Romans 10:17). This then is our task: to hear, love and live the Word of God and to share it with as many people as possible while we live on this earth. Why? Because the message of the Gospel brings eternal life to those who repent and believe the Good News and walk in the love of Christ.

One practical way we can grow in living in the truth of God is to daily examine our lives: where did we stray from God's word? In thought? In word? In action? What we have failed to do? The mirror of truth is the Word of God and Jesus himself is the Truth whom we are called to fully accept and follow, for he leads us to the Father of truth. Liars and those who walk in darkness will not enter Heaven, but will suffer an eternity with the father of lies (cf. Revelation 21:8). The Spirit of Truth will lead us into all truth if we are humble and obedient to the commands of Jesus, especially the commandment of love: for God, others and ourselves.

Cuba

2007-09-01T12:38:00.000+02:00

Walking through customs at Le Habana Cuba Airport made me realise that years of preparing for this trip had now been completed, but walking through the swivel doors after customs could not have prepared me for the culture shock I would see and experience whilst being in Cuba. Many have asked me, “Why Cuba,” and I need to emphasise that this was the Lord’s decision and not mine. The first time I heard the Lord speak to me about Cuba was whilst watching the Denzel Washington movie, “Man on Fire”, which depicts the extent of kidnapping in Mexico. The clear call to go to Cuba was heard.

As Cuba is still run as a socialist state, going to Cuba is not as easy as one may think, however with the growing tourist trade in the country I planned a historical tour to understand the needs and opportunities that may exist in the land.

Cuba is a paradoxical land in that the socialist regime has allowed all Cubans to enjoy free education until tertiary level, free medical support, and food rations ensuring that no Cuban will starve. However, the highly controlled environment, enhanced by the abolition of Communism in the 90’s has resulted in most Cubans barely living above the breadline. The need is so great. The reality hits you when people on the street beg for soap!

Living in a country like South Africa, where human rights are of the highest regard, you are left somewhat surprised at the level of control within Cuba. Examples such as needing to notify the state if you are travelling from one city to the other, having to request permission from the state to change jobs, death penalty by firing squad, etc, leave you questioning why Cubans have not revolted. However in understanding the history it is clear that whilst Cubans may not have much now, the historical need of Cubans prior to the revolution was even greater.

Historical significance is great for Cubans and every discussion will have three components, namely before the revolution, after the revolution, and now after communism. Each town you enter sports posters, monuments, billboards and emblems of the revolution, depicting mainly Che’ Guevara. Children at school declare each morning that they wish to be like Che’, prior to school opening!

Home of the Salsa aptly describes the dance culture within the country with live Salsa bands being heard at every restaurant, or Salsa house. Everybody in Cuba Salsas... from little children to the aged... and Cuban men are delighted to show you how. Coupled with fantastic Caribbean weather, the country holds a special cultural flair.

No cars older than 1974 are driven by Cubans, so for those that love classic cars, Cuba will make your senses go crazy.

The use of cellular phones is minimal as most people cannot afford this luxury and the use of the internet for Cubans is prohibited. It feels like you are in a whole other time dimension.

Religion within Cuba is not prohibited, however as a result of the communist regime since the 1960’s people have no or very little knowledge of Christianity. The historical Spanish decent of Cubans brought in a strong catholic stance and architecture depicting Christian values, the crucifixion, etc. are still to be seen, however the meaning behind the symbols are not known. When slaves were brought to Cuba for the Spaniards, the natives were forced to “convert” to Catholicism, however mostly continued worshipping their ancestral spirits, which they then merged with the Catholic Saints. The practice of this religion, known as Santeria is very common amongst Cubans. Santeria temples are common, usually run from the “priest’s” homes. The scary reality of this religion however is the blatant use of evil spirits to execute the “desires” of the priests.

It was saddening to hear how most churches have been converted into museums, and the Christo de Cuba (Christ of Cuba), a smaller version of Brazil’s Corcavado, has until recently been used as a disco. The emerging of Christian house churches is on the increase, however talk of indirect persecution of those becoming born again believers is still rampant.

As the Cubans have no affinity towards America, which is depicted as a Christian country, huge damage to the gospel has historically been done in this area. Cubans are by nature very guarded when talking to outsiders, due to their conduct being monitored, and results in limited evangelical interaction. Therefore the ability to financially sponsor a Cuban believer to become a full time missionary in their own land is a very effective way of spreading the gospel within Cuba.

Due to most countries not supporting Fidel Castro’s regime, most Western Countries do not send missionaries into the land, however there is an increase in missionaries visiting the land from within South America.

A huge part of me has been left in Cuba with a growing desire to understand and be an instrument in the spreading of the gospel within Cuba. My prayer is that the land will no longer be known as Fidel’s Cuba, but rather as Christ’s Cuba. If you would like to know how you can join in the quest to win Cuba for Christ, please contact me, via Grace Media, for more information.

Article provided by Tracey Doyle.

God's Faithfulness

2007-08-01T12:46:00.000+02:00

"Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.." Psalm 27:10

Normally, our parents are among the people who can be counted on to help, love and support us – no matter what.

Yet, sometimes parents do forsake their children, with devastating results. Those who come from stable homes cannot imagine how any parent can abandon or abuse their children. But God's love for us is more dependable than the love of a parent for their offspring.

"Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!" - Isaiah 49:15

Concerning earthly love, none is greater than that of a mother for her baby. Yet even that can sometimes fail. Some of you reading this may have experienced it for yourself, or at least know of someone who has. But we can rest in the knowledge that God's love for us is deeper, stronger, and more sure.

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, `Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'" - Hebrews 13:5

People will undoubtedly fail us. We may even fail ourselves. But God can be trusted. He will never fail us. He will never give up on us, nor will he ever turn his back on us. This he has promised throughout Scripture!

But does this mean God will keep us from all things that are unpleasant? No. Not any more than a good earthly parent can keep their child from every unpleasant experience.

We all reach a point in our lives when we have to grow up, both as earthly children and as children of God. We must learn to walk in faith and love, and to overcome.

But God will be there to help you, and no matter what the experience, we can be sure that in all things God will work through them for our good (Romans 8:28).

Trust in God the Father. He is more dependable than friends or family, and he loves you more than anyone else ever will!

Focus on the Family

2007-08-01T12:35:00.000+02:00

QUESTION: What is the most common error made by parents in disciplining their children?

DR. DOBSON: I would have to say it is the inappropriate use of anger in attempting to manage boys and girls. It is one of the most ineffective methods of attempting to influence human beings (of all ages). Unfortunately, most adults rely primarily on their own emotional response to secure the cooperation of children. One teacher said on a national television program, "I like being a professional educator, but I hate the daily task of teaching. My children are so unruly that I have to stay mad at them all the time just to control the classroom." How utterly frustrating to be required to be mean and angry to do a job year after year. Yet many teachers (and parents) know of no other way to manage children. Believe me, it is exhausting and it doesn't work!

Consider your own motivational system and your own response to the anger of others. Suppose you are driving your automobile home from work this evening and you exceed the speed limit by forty miles per hour. Standing on the street corner is a lone police officer who has not been given the means to arrest you. He has no squad car or motorcycle; he wears no badge, carries no gun, and can write no tickets. All he is commissioned to do is stand on the curb and scream insults as you speed past. Would you slow down just because he turns red in the face and shakes his fist in protest? Of course not! You might wave to him as you streak by. But his anger would achieve little except to make him appear comical and foolish.

On the other hand, nothing influences the way you drive quite like seeing a black and white vehicle in hot pursuit with nineteen red and blue lights flashing in the rear view mirror. When you pull your car over to the curb, a dignified, courteous officer approaches the window. He is six foot nine, has a voice like the Lone Ranger, and carries a gun on his right hip.

"Sir," he says firmly but politely, "our radar unit indicates you were travelling sixty-five miles per hour in a twenty-five mile per hour zone. May I see your driver's license please?" He opens his leather-bound book of citations and leans toward you. He has revealed no hostility and offers no criticism, yet you immediately go to pieces. You fumble nervously to locate the license with that ugly picture on it. Why are your hands moist and your mouth dry? Why is your heart thumping in your throat? Because the course of action that John Law is about to take is notoriously unpleasant. It is that action which dramatically affects your future driving habits. Alas, children think and respond in much the same way you do.

Disciplinary action influences behaviour; anger does not. When it comes to boys and girls, in fact, I am convinced that adult anger incites a malignant kind of disrespect in their minds. They perceive that our frustration is caused by our inability to control the situation. We represent justice to them, yet we're on the verge of tears as we flail the air with our hands and shout empty threats and warnings. Let me ask: Would you respect a superior court judge who behaved that way in administering legal justice? Certainly not. This is why the judicial system is carefully designed to appear objective, rational, and dignified.

I am not recommending that parents and teachers conceal their legitimate emotions from their children. I am not suggesting that we be like bland and unresponsive robots who hold everything inside. There are times when our kids become insulting or disobedient and our irritation is entirely appropriate. In fact, it should be revealed, or else we appear artificial and insincere. My point is merely that anger often becomes a tool used for the purpose of influencing behaviour. It is ineffective and can be damaging to the relationship between generations. Instead, try taking action that your children will care about. Then administer it with "cool."?

This article has been supplied by and reproduced with permission from:
Focus on the Family Africa

Do not Wory

2007-07-01T12:42:00.000+02:00

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6 (NIV)

Anxiety is a thief. It robs us of our joy, our peace of mind, and even our health. So why do we worry? Simply because there are so many things to worry about!

We all have our own worries: we worry about becoming sick or being caught for something we did. We worry about dying (and even about living), about what has happened, what will happen, what might happen, what is not happening, what will never happen ... or that nothing will ever happen!

We might as well face it - there will always be things to worry about. So rather than wishing for a problem-free life, we should take Paul's advice: instead of worrying and fretting about everything, we should take our concerns to God.

Paul made a promise attached to this: if you pray about your problems instead of worrying about them, God will give you peace.

Paul could not even describe the peace God gives, because it is beyond human description. But he did say God's peace would set up guard duty around your heart and your mind, so that no troublesome worry could disturb them. You will be free to experience joy because you no longer carry the burden of worrying. When God's peace guards you, you do not have anything left to brood about.

God's peace frees you to live as God wants you to. You will experience supernatural calmness, no matter what your circumstances. Why not pull out your "favourite" worry today and turn it over to God?

Protecting God's Temple

2007-07-01T12:18:00.000+02:00

In your garage sits the car of your dreams. You climb in, start the engine, pull out onto the road, scrape a tree, hit the curb, grind gears and leave the hand brake on all the time. Worst of all, you fill your car with diesel instead of the petrol that it was designed to use.

Sound crazy? If you were willing to spend a great deal of money on a car, you would certainly protect your investment by treating it with the greatest care. But what about your body? Do you treat it with as much care as you would a new car?

More often than not, we neglect the needs of our physical bodies by fuelling, exercising and treating them inappropriately.

Our daily habits have a huge impact on our overall health. They can determine how much weight we gain or lose, how well our muscles are developed, the state of our digestive system, our mental function, and more importantly, our spiritual condition.

Regular Sleeping Pattern
"I have laboured and toiled and have often gone without sleep" (2 Cor 11:27)

An often overlooked but critical habit is sleep. Sleep is so essential that without it we would go crazy. It is the time when our bodies reconstruct and clean up to allow for growth and healing. By sleeping eight hours a day, we are giving our bodies the necessary amount of rest it needs to heal itself after the stresses and strains of daily life.

Plan Your Diet
"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." (1Cor. 10:31)

Believe it or not, food can become an idol if we put it before obeying God's commands to be moderate in all things and to treat the bodies he has given us, with respect (1 Corinthians 9:25). This leads to the second habit; watch what you eat.

But how can we make food our friend and not the enemy? We all know we should eat more vegetables and fruit and less fried or "junk" foods. Fruit and vegetables are low in calories and helps to fight the bulge. They are also full of the vitamins and minerals that make our bodies healthy, not just slimmer.

Do you treat your body
with as much care as you would a new car?

It sounds so easy but how do we fit fruit and vegetables into our lives? After all, chips and Coke are much more convenient to grab than a nice big salad and a glass of water. It helps to have a plan:

Plan your meals so that you do not "impulse eat." If buying meals at work or in the canteen, decide before you join the queue to make the healthiest choice possible. Try the grilled chicken sandwich, side salad and water instead of the double cheeseburger combo. If you are living on your own, buy the ingredients to make simple, healthy meals such as fruit smoothies, salads and baked fish. Many grocery stores have salad bars that can make a convenient, fresh alternative to fast food.

Surround yourself with healthy choices to make the odds better that you will choose them over the "junk" food. Buy healthy foods such as fruit instead of sweets, leave them in plain sight and eat them before they go bad.

Eat a fruit or vegetable with every meal, and eat it first. How often are you full with all the other foods on your plate before you even start your veggies? Simple solution: eat your vegetables first. You will never be “too full” again, and you will have filled up on the lower-calorie, healthy foods first. You can do the same with an orange at breakfast, celery sticks at lunch or steamed broccoli at dinner.

Eat your calories instead of drinking them. Fizzy drinks, juice and coffee are a hidden source of calories for many people. It is so easy to down a 340ml can of Cola to get 150 calories, or 300 calories from a latte, but these liquids do not stay in our stomachs to keep us full. Instead they stay on our waist! So save the calories for food and drink some water!

Eat at least three meals a day. Many people think they eat less if they skip a meal, but the reality is that most will binge later and more than make up for the calories. Besides, skipping meals also lowers your metabolism and can affect your performance at work or play. Many studies have shown a correlation between eating breakfast and better performance.

Exercise Regularly
"Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever." (1 Cor 9:25)

The final crucial habit is physical activity. Exercise conditions our muscles to work efficiently. It also keeps our internal organs fit and helps stabilise moods! There are many types of exercise; from a daily walk to participating in team sports.

The most critical element of exercise is doing it on a regular basis. Compel yourself to be physically active by making an appointment with a family member or friend to join you in your activity. You will be motivating each other so you will not be wasting your time.

Above all, pick an activity you enjoy. If sumo wrestling is not your thing, you will not be doing it too often. Set reasonable goals, and by achieving them you will build your confidence along with increasing your fitness.

If sumo wrestling is not your thing, you will not be doing it too aften!

Protect God's Temple
We all know that our bodies are the temple of the living God (1 Cor 3:16,17). He has entrusted us with them and it is up to us to look after them. God has invested time and love in creating us, so it is up to us to look after what he has given us. Surely we would want the same thing if we were in his position.

The Reality of the Spirit World

2007-06-01T17:43:00.001+02:00

Somewhere in every one of us there is a deep longing to make contact with the spiritual world. This is true at all levels, from the pensioner reading her horoscope, to the witchdoctor in some remote tribe, to the scientist probing outer space and seeking to discover the secrets of the universe.

It was God who placed this longing within us, but his enemy, the devil, has devised ways to divert the seekers into deceptive evil systems that bring them into bondage to himself. What do we need to know about it, and where can we find accurate information?

True Source of Information
Can we go to science to find the answer? The spirit world, by its very nature, would not be composed of matter or atoms. A basic dictionary definition of spirit is “a supernatural being or essence”. The scientific world has very little to say about things that it cannot study in a laboratory. Have you ever tried putting a spirit under a microscope? So clearly science does not have an accurate answer.

What about religion? Most religions do have something to say about the spirit world, especially many of the Eastern religions and the New Age movement, but are they reliable? If you look closely at what they say, many of their teachings contradict themselves. So too, religion cannot give an accurate answer.

This then brings us to the Bible. Of all the books that deal with the spirit world, the Bible is the only one that has been shown throughout the centuries to be a reliable source of information, separating the good from the bad of the spirit world – for certainly there are two opposite sides to it. The Bible is also the only “religious” book that does not contradict itself when dealing with the issue.

The Bible is the only “religious” book that does not contradict itself!

Two Sides
On the good side of the spirit world, we find many references in scripture of angels and the Holy Spirit. Both with the purpose of protecting and comforting people, and more importantly, working in the lives of people in fulfilling God's plan of salvation (Heb. 1:14).

But what about the other side of the spirit world – the “dark world” (Eph. 6:12). We could enter a long theological discussion as to the origins of the dark world and how God allowed it to happen, etc. so I will not go into that here. What we do know is that the Bible does say that it exists, describes it and also tells of the dangers of delving into it.

How then do we recognise the evil side of the spirit world?

Even though we have never directly seen the devil or any of his demons (also described in the Bible as fallen angels), we as Christians who are familiar with the teachings of the Bible, are more than able to recognise their influence in this rapidly degenerating world. The influence itself is nothing new, but its prevalence in society certainly is. Those dark arts that have been banned for centuries are now more widely accepted, and in some cases, even recognised as official religions, as is the case with Wicca in America and Great Britain.

There are many practices in the modern world that fall into the dark side of the spirit world, and they are being thrust into our faces on a regular basis. One only needs to turn on the TV and see the influences of Satanism, Wicca, Voodoo, mediums and the Ouija board. Not to mention all the other forms of divination that are so prevalent, like astrology, fortune tellers, palm reading and Tarot cards. And again, we could go on for hours looking at what the Bible says about each one of these.

Simply say “No!”
What then are we to do about it?

In this day and age it is becoming even more difficult to stop these dark influences being a part of the world, but we can protect ourselves and our families. When enticed, we must simply say “No!”. We must not fold under the pressure from friends and loved ones, no matter how innocent it may seem. We need to put God and his Word first.

God, who knows exactly how the devil and his demons work, emphatically warns us to have nothing to do with them. God's Word is clear “Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them.” (Lev. 19:31)

Instead, we need to focus on God and his Holy Spirit, trusting him only, with our past, present and future. By drawing closer to God, we will move further away from the evil forces. Through prayer, Bible study, meditation and occasional fasting, we will be greatly strengthened and will successfully resist the devils temptations and schemes.

When faced with things that we may seem unsure about, we need to ask ourselves the question, “Would Christ approve of this?” If there is the slightest hint that he would not, and with all of the dark things I have mentioned here it would be an emphatic “No!”, then we need to steer clear of it. We must not allow the devil to gain a foothold – our spiritual life depends on it – not to mention our mental welfare and physical life too.

We need to focus on God and his Holy Spirit, trusting him only, with our past, present and future!

As James so eloquently puts it, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.” (4:7-8a).

Bearing Fruit

2007-06-01T17:43:00.000+02:00

From the many parables and metaphors in Scripture we know that God expects us to be productive. In some parables we see spiritual accomplishment being compared to investing and earning a profit for the master (Mt. 25:14-30 and Lk. 19:11-27), and in others it is compared to the construction of a building or temple (1 Cor. 3:9-17 & Eph. 2:19-22)..”

However, the most commonly used metaphor for accomplishment is that of bearing fruit. God compares his people with the fruit trees that must bear much fruit (Jn 15:5,8), and must do so until the end of our lives.

Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’

“‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’ (Lk. 13:6-9 NIV)

In this parable we see the emphasis that, spiritually speaking, a fruitless tree is worthless. We see that God is expecting us to bear fruit, and if we do not, we will be plucked out and thrown away. But it does provide some hope in that it shows that God will not give up on us as long as there is still hope that we will bear fruit.

But what kind of fruit does God expect of us?

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Gal. 5:22-23 NIV). Along with these fruits, God also desires the fruit of good works and service to others (Tit. 3:14; Mt. 5:14-16; 25:31-46). All beautiful and desirable fruit indeed!

Stay healthy and strong spiritually, keep growing and bear much fruit.

Share Jesus, Share Love

2007-05-01T09:43:00.001+02:00

As Christians we recognise that we should be actively reaching out with the Good News. But in practice we find it hard; hard because of fear that we will make a fool of ourselves or offend people in some way, and hard because we lack support and encouragement.

Perhaps part of the problem is due to us not fully understanding how to be a witness. Hearing people like Billy Graham giving an invitation and leading people to Christ causes many to conclude that one needs to be an effective preacher with great verbal skills in order to witness.

A witness is simply a person who can give a first-hand account of something or someone!

But in fact, a witness is simply a person who can give a first-hand account of something (Webster's Dictionary). So how do we give this account of something, or rather in our case; someone? In three ways – through our involvement, life and words.

Be involved
Not everyone is able or comfortable enough to go out and witness to people on the streets. There are many who have that gift and are doing great things for the Kingdom. But we can serve as witnesses by simply becoming involved in one way or another in any evangelistic activities undertaken by the church.

For example; by being involved in a teen's or children's holiday club, or even a soup kitchen. It does not matter whether one is in the spotlight and actively sharing the Gospel in one of the activities, or just being there to lend a helping hand to those who are. You are still being a witness.

One thing to bear in mind if we are the ones in the spotlight and are involved in the actual sharing, we must not look down on those who are just washing up or making the posters, and think that they are afraid to share their faith. It may be true, but just by being involved in the background activities allows people to put off their shyness and later on they may be ready and willing to stand with you in the front-lines.

If our evangelism programmes are to succeed, we need the people in the background for all the mechanical tasks that are not done by themselves. Sound and video equipment does not just magically arrive and set itself up. They require people. Just by being part of the sound team, one is being part of the whole witness of the church.

Live it
We are witnesses also in the way that we live. In this sense, every single person who is a Christian, is a witness for Christ. It is through our actions and attitudes that we say the most about our faith. As we dealt with in the previous edition, the lost are watching us and our actions will speak greater volumes to them than our words ever will.

We are called to be true and active witnesses for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

We must not pretend to be what we think a Christian should be, when in reality we are nothing like that. To put on a mask and act like someone we are not is not only dishonest but it will push more people away from the church than draw people to it. The world does not care whether we sin or not, it cares that we act like we do not.

So what sort of life should we strive for then? A good and perfect life? No. In Scripture are we not told to be good, but rather to be devoted to Christ. And there is a difference between the two.

If we are devoted to Christ, goodness will follow naturally. On the other hand, if we make goodness our aim instead of Christ, we are doomed to fail, and we will fall victim to an attitude of self-righteousness.

Peter put it quite simply: “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15 – NIV, emphasis mine).

This then leads on to the third way in which we witness:

Speak it
Read the verse from 1 Peter again. Notice how he states that if we live a life devoted to Christ, we will automatically be questioned about our faith and witness.

When we are questioned, we must not run away, but rather be ready to give an answer. To do that does not mean that we are to be brilliant in apologetics or Bible 101, but instead we must be prepared to give an answer of “the hope” that we have in Christ Jesus. We must not be afraid that we do not know how to answer people, but rather express in words the nature of our faith.

We are called to be witnesses for Christ through our involvement, actions and words. We must aim to be involved in all three ways, and as we do so, we will become what Christ has called us to be – true and active witnesses for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Obey God Rather Than Man

2007-05-01T09:43:00.000+02:00

“We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!” (Acts 5:28-29).

Before Jesus ascended into heaven he commanded the disciples not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father: the Holy Spirit.

Ten days later while in the Upper Room, the promised Holy Spirit arrived and five hundred followers of Christ were baptised in the Holy Spirit and with fire. From that moment on, the apostles were changed men. They filled the streets of Jerusalem with teaching about the risen Lord. As Peter said, they obeyed God rather than men.

As with the apostles, we too are called to fill the streets, towns and cities, and, indeed, the whole world, with teaching about Jesus.

But for the most part, the world does not want to hear the Gospel. That is why, for example, you will find, that schools will welcome Harry Potter, evolution, Atheism, Buddhism, and all sorts of other “isms”, but not Christianity. You are more than welcome to go into a school and talk about horoscopes, yoga, and all the other weird New Age practices, but not Jesus. Are we not observing some form of double standard here?

But there are people in the world that you can easily reach. They are within your circle of influence and only you are in that perfect spot, or have that perfect relationship where you are able to reach them. We need to ask ourselves; “Am I really reaching out to others with the Gospel of Jesus?” We have the power of the risen Lord working in and through us. With God's help, there is nothing we cannot do. Let us be bold, and with the power of God's Holy Spirit, begin to tear down the strongholds of Satan that exist in our world, and proclaim the saving message of the gospel to the nations!

The Lost are Watching Us

2007-04-02T08:43:00.001+02:00

”We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.” 2 Corinthians 5:20 (NIV).

Notice how many questions concerning Jesus' death and resurrection seem to surface just before Easter? People are trying to find some sort of evidence to disprove Christianity and the truths of the Bible, and all the non-Christians interrogate us, expecting us to have an answer for them.

But to really be an ambassador for Christ, our witness does not start or end there. In fact, everything that we do and say as Christians is under constant scrutiny by the non-Christians. How often do we as Christians really stop to think about how we are representing God? Do we ever spare a thought about how the things we do and say affect the non-Christians around us? How often do we really think about how non-believers view us?

In fact, what we do and say affects non-Christians far more than we realise. The non-believers are constantly watching us to see when we will fail in order to justify their non-belief. We need to understand that we can be either good or bad ambassadors for Christ simply by what we say or the way we live our lives.

Unlike Christians, the lost really do not know why they believe what they believe. There are some exceptions, but in most cases non-believers just believe what they believe because that is what they believe. As Christians we have a foundation for our beliefs, but our non-believing friends have nowhere to go to support their belief system. With nowhere else to go, they look to us to give them the reasons to deny God. They will grab at anything they can because they need it.

What we do and say affects non-Christians more than we realise.

Have you noticed that every time someone claims to have found some incredible new evidence that the Bible is wrong; every media outlet in the world jumps on the bandwagon and automatically portrays it as proven truth? When that happens, non-believers hang onto every word and believe it without evidence because they need to. However, when those kinds of things do not happen, where are non-believers looking for something to hold on to? They are looking at us!

We need to remember that we are walking, talking representatives for Jesus. What do you think a non-believer thinks about that one off-colour joke we tell at work? What about when we criticise another Christian or another church? What about that one crude word we still use because we have decided it is acceptable even though it is questionable? What about that one time we rip someone to shreds because we could not control our anger? Or simply, the person we discriminate against just because they look different or rough? We have all been guilty of these things, but we need to think about how these things affect the non-believers who hear or see them. We need to try to represent God as best we can, so as not to give the non-believers more reasons than already exist to criticise Christianity. Non-believers should be able to look at us and wonder what it is we have, and how they too can have it.

We can say whatever we want to, but we live what we believe.

One of the greatest sins we could ever engage in, is doing something that could give our non-believing family and friends fuel for their choice to not believe in God. We all have people in our lives that we love, respect and admire immensely, but who do not believe in God. Nothing in our lives is more important than seeing them begin a search for the truth. Will that ever happen? I do not know but what I do know is this, we must not be the stumbling blocks that keep them from spending eternity in heaven. We must try to make sure that the words that come out of our mouths, the acts that represent the way we live our lives, and the love that flows from our relationship with Jesus are the things that they will look at and hopefully someday begin to wonder about. We can not make their choices for them, but what we can do is make sure that our choices represent our God in a positive and loving way. Always bear in mind that we can say whatever we want to, but we live what we believe.

Our most important role on this earth is to find ways to bring those who do not believe, into a relationship with Jesus. If we cannot control our actions or the words that come out of our mouths, then we will not ever be able to represent God the way he deserves to be represented.

Jesus spoke directly about our responsibility to represent him in Matthew 5:16 when he said, "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (NIV).

We need to let our good deeds shine out for all to see, but we need to recognise that our bad deeds are also out there shining for the world to see. The non-believers around us are watching our bad deeds far more closely than our good deeds. We owe it to Jesus to do the best we can to honour his sacrifice on the cross, and we need to recognise that the lost of the world are watching to see how we are doing.

Love/Hate Relationship

2007-04-02T08:43:00.000+02:00

”Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” Romans 12:9 (NIV)

The Christian life is not nearly as complicated as we sometimes make it out to be. It really boils down to two things:

Hate what is evil, and
Love what is good.

Everybody knows the difference between good and evil. You do not even need to be a Christian to realise that there is evil in the world and how to recognise it. Just by glancing at the news, reading a book or watching a movie, we can see the world's separation of good from evil. In the Bible, evil is pictured as being darkness, and righteousness as being light.

Throughout the centuries, since Adam and Eve at the beginning of time, evil has been systematically destroying people and the world. It has caused humanity to lie, cheat, steal, abuse, and even kill one another. Only God knows all the suffering that evil has inflicted on people throughout history. And why does God hate the evil in our lives? Not only because it separates mankind from him, but simply because it brings us pain and heartache. He loves us so much that it hurts him when he sees what evil does to us.

However, the more we become like Christ, the more we begin to see evil for what it is. Our response should not be to simply avoid it, but we should despise it, as Christ does. We should hate sin for what it does to us and to others. We should have no tolerance for it in our own lives. Rather, as Paul said, we should cling to what is good.

Have you become comfortable around evil? Are you tolerating sin in your life? This Easter focus on what Christ did for mankind on the cross. Look at your own life and thank him for what has personally done for you. Confess your sins to him, no matter how small or insignificant they may seem, and repent of them. Ask God to give you the strength to resist temptation and sin. Finally ask God to give you a holy hate of sin, and a holy heartburn for the righteous things of God.

How God Answers Prayer

2007-03-01T10:32:00.001+02:00

Jesus assures us in Matthew 7:7,8 that our prayers will be answered: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” (NIV)

Yet sometimes we can't help but wonder, because as we pray for things in our lives (e.g. that a broken relationship be healed, that a loved one recover from serious illness, that a friend succeed in some new venture), things do not always turn out in the way that we had hoped. We sometimes believe that our prayers are not answered; or even heard. Doubts start to creep in, and we ask ourselves whether we can believe Jesus’ promise.

The Good News of God’s Love: Throughout the ages, Christians have affirmed, out of their own triumphant experiences, that God does indeed respond to faithful prayer. God hears, understands, cares, and acts.

Christians have discovered the Gospel, the good news of God’s love, that the creator and redeemer loves each of us more than we do ourselves, that he wants what is best for us, and is actively at work for our good.

“Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matt. 7:9-11 - NIV).

God hears our prayers, and, far beyond anything that we can imagine, he responds.

How our Prayers are Answered: God’s response to prayer is not always what we expect. Sometimes the answer is hard to discover. Sometimes it is hard to accept. But if we listen with care, we will discern the answer. God will answer our prayers in one of the following ways:

God may say “Yes". When our prayer for others, or for ourselves, coincides with the good that God wills for their/our lives, we may find that what we were seeking actually comes to pass. We rejoice in God’s goodness and give thanks for gifts received.

God may answer our prayer with “No”. What we request may by opposite to God's divine will for human life. Or, even though good in itself, there may be a still greater good that God is preparing for our lives. God’s “no” is often hard to accept. We may be confused, even angry, and our trust in God may begin to waver. However, if we continue to listen, we will find the meaning in God’s denial and find the “yes” beyond the “no”.

God may say “Wait”. God is not in as big a hurry as we are. We may not yet be ready for what we think we need. We may need to do some more growing first, to prepare the way for God’s gift. We may need to change some circumstance in our lives before we could even begin to use what God has to offer. In waiting, we may learn to pray a different prayer, to seek and find what is more in line with God’s will for our lives.

God may respond with something better than what we asked for. It is often the case that God answers with something we might never have thought of on our own. With our limited view of human needs, we pray for one thing, only to discover the answer is quite another. We may not even see this answer at first, or if we see it, we may be disappointed. However, as we accept and live with this new answer, we often find it is far richer, deeper, more lasting than anything we had in mind.

The Mystery of Prayer: Prayer is not like magic. Many cultures believe in magic. A rain dance, for example, if performed properly, would automatically bring the rain. If it did not, the dancers must have made a mistake.

But prayer is different. It is a mysterious conversation with the living God. In the course of the conversation we clarify, and perhaps change, our own hopes. For example, we may begin praying that a dying loved one be spared. But as our dialogue with God and our prayer matures, and we may find that what we are truly seeking is a deeper relationship with our suffering loved one, insights on how to share God’s love with them, or firmer personal resources for coping with our loss.

This means that prayer is more listening than asking. In our conversation with God we need to spend more time listening. What is God’s will for this situation? Where is God moving? In what direction is God leading? What changes are already occurring to me? What new attitudes and behaviours are expected of me?

Yes, behaviours. For the answer to prayer is not fully received and accepted until it is outwardly expressed. Our prayer is inevitably linked with our actions.

Ours is an active and sovereign God, who is moving us and all creation toward the day of Jubilee – God’s reign of righteousness, wholeness, peace, and justice. Every prayer, for whatever purpose, and every answer of the loving God, is an opportunity to take new steps into the coming kingdom.

Prayer is a mystery. We do not fully understand how it works, but we do know that when, in faith, we come into conversation with the living God, our deepest hopes are heard, refined, and, yes, answered.

Amen!

Life can be Tough

2007-03-01T10:32:00.000+02:00

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I will overcome the world!" (John 16:33 - NIV)

Jesus never promised us that everything would be perfect here on earth. He recognised that we would encounter trouble, but his instructions were to be of good cheer - not to let it get us down.
As we encounter difficulties in life, it will help us to remember the big picture. First, God is our Father and has a wonderful eternal plan for us. We are his children and he loves us. Second, our time here on earth is but a training period for our future life with God. We are supposed to be learning to trust God and to obey him.

So, every problem we ever face is an opportunity to walk in faith and please God. Every problem is an opportunity to overcome with God's help. How can we expect to receive the blessings promised to the overcomer if we never have anything to overcome?

What is the answer when we seem overwhelmed with trouble? Look to Jesus. He has already won the victory. He has overcome and defeated the world. In him is victory.

You may ask how you can look to Jesus. It is mostly a matter of focus - what you choose to think on. What God says in his Word will set you free and give you peace. What the circumstances say is not the final word.

So, go to God's Word. Cling to the promises. Speak them. Sing them. Shout them. Rejoice over them, and thank God for them.

Also, you need to develop a closer relationship with the Lord. That is his desire and it should be yours too. All relationships are based on communication, so you must talk to the Lord to deepen your relationship with him. Develop the habit of talking with him about everything. You can speak freely to him - after all he knows what you are thinking anyway.

Build a Marriage that Lasts

2007-02-01T17:24:00.001+02:00

After the husband and wife say, “I do,” they go off into the sunset assuming that their marriage will remain as it feels at the moment. But when the honeymoon wears off, they may begin thinking, “Maybe I don't.”

It is a rare marriage that does not have some rough spots that could use a little work. Here are some practical tips that can help you to strengthen your bonds of love, no matter what stage you are at in your relationship.

Remember: There are a number of things in the history of your relationship that are special to you. Think about the first time you were drawn to your partner. What was it that first attracted you to them and made you want to make the relationship work? Life has probably become more stressful since then. Issues like children, work, social life and other family matters involved in your marriage, make the days when it was just the two of you seem like a century ago. Think about the times when it was just the two of you with no other worries. Remember the special times you had together and what they meant to you. Remember also the birth of your children and the joy that they brought into your life when they were born. If your children have already moved out of home, think about all the good times you as a family had with them.

And throughout this remembering process, thank God for each aspect and miracle along the way.

Communicate: Communication is a two-way street. It does not mean that only the one talks and the other listens, and it certainly does not mean that you are to impose your perspectives onto your partner. The key word is sharing. Listen to each other in all that they say and seek to understand their viewpoint, even if you do not agree with it. Both husband and wife should realise the great potential of good communication – there are great blessings in both speaking and listening.

This is especially important when there are major disagreements between the two of you. No marriage can benefit from fighting, especially when the fighting focuses on each other's personality and character. Nagging, belittling and bullying do not belong in a good marriage. If you disagree on an issue, be sure to focus on the issue and not your perception of your partner's personality or character. How many times have you felt that your partner did not perceive you correctly? Think about that the next time you disagree on an issue of importance.

After any fight; say “I'm sorry.” No disagreement or miscommunication can be settled or forgiven if there is not a sincere apology. It does not matter who was right or wrong, say sorry anyway and mean it. And accept your partner's apology in a sincere manner too. Do not just brush it off and in your mind think something else about you being right. Forgive them.

The final aspect of communication is to show appreciation for the things your partner does for you or your family. Anything that they do, whether in or out of the home, that is seen to improve the family situation, is a reason to say “Thank you.” Sincere appreciation towards your partner will do wonders in strengthening your relationship, especially when times are hard and the relationship is strained.

Sacrifice and service: Many a relationship is ruined by one partner's need for instant or selfish gratification. A truly happy marriage is based on giving, not receiving. When both of you sacrifice for and serve each other, the relationship can improve so much quicker than with any other aspect. If you or your partner have gifts or strengths that can help build up the marriage, use them, and again, show appreciation to your partner for them.

You can also find a need within your relationship that you can help to fill. No matter how small, all marriages have some or other need that needs to be filled. By you taking the initiative to fulfill that need, and not expecting anything in return, you are strengthening your marriage a hundred-fold. More often than not, it is the little things that we do for each other that count the most in our lives.

Communication also fits in here. If you are needing your partner to do things for you (or not to do like walk muddy footprints onto you just cleaned carpet) tell them. On the other hand, if they do not come to you, go to them and ask them what they would like you to do. Every little thing you do helps to strengthen your relationship.

Devotion: One of the key aspects to a healthy marriage is having devotions together. Dedicate time together to study the many passages found in scripture dealing with marriage and family life, and to pray. By dedicating your marriage and time to God in this manner, you will not only grow closer together as a couple, but more importantly, closer to God. You will also improve as people and in your love towards each other.

We trust that these few tips about marriage will help you to strengthen your relationships.

Be Loving ... (Matt. 22:34-40)

2007-02-01T17:24:00.000+02:00

Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:36-40 NIV)

In His response to the question, Jesus supplies another summary of the message of the law of God: be loving. “Love the Lord your God...love your neighbor.” Jesus then revealed that “All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Every command in the law of God is related to one of these two commandments.

“Love the Lord your God.” The primary demand of the law is an all-out love relationship with the Lord God Almighty Himself. God is to be loved “with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” From the depths of our being, love is to be flowing out towards the Lord. In every expression of our personality, love is to be poured out towards God. In every thought that occurs in our minds, love for God is to be the motivation and the content. Any aspect of life that does not indicate a comprehensive, unrestricted love towards God is in violation of His law.

“Love your neighbor.” The secondary demand of God's law is an unselfish love towards every other person. We are to love others as ourselves. Some have wrongly used this phrase to urge people to obey an imaginary third commandment: “We need to learn to love ourselves”?! No, Jesus said there are only two commandments here. This second one is a call to give others the consideration and care that we all have given to ourselves all of our lives. Jesus later intensified this second command by saying, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34).

The message of God's law is: be loving. Love God fully. Love others sacrificially.

Small Group Ministry

2007-01-01T17:24:00.001+02:00

So, you have taken on the leadership of a small group. Congratulations and welcome to a great adventure! The following notes are to help you as you facilitate excellent spiritual discussions. You do not need to be an expert or know lots about the Bible, you only need to be willing to learn and grow yourself, and to serve others in their spiritual journey.

Share the leadership. When leading a small group, always bear in mind that your role is to guide the discussion and help draw people into the group process. Do not try to be the expert and do everything yourself. If there are other people in the group who are gifted or more experienced in certain areas than what you are, then involve them in the leadership process and other activities of the group. Let them host the meetings, lead in prayer, provide food and drinks, lead parts of the discussion and so on.

Preparation. The work you do between meetings will determine group effectiveness during meetings. Faithful preparation does not mean that you will control the meeting or that it will progress exactly as you planned. Rather, it provides you with a guiding sense of the desired outcomes of the time together. This allows you to gauge the pace of the meeting and make adjustments along the way. Above all, make sure you are clear about the overall goal of the meeting. Then, even if you are appropriately sidetracked, you can easily help the group to refocus. Whatever material you are using, you should complete the study before the meeting. This way you will know exactly where the discussion should lead, and if any questions or concerns raised early in the discussion will be covered later in the meeting or in subsequent meetings.

Curriculum. The content of your study should never take precedence over the process of transformation within your small group. There will be appropriate times when you can set aside the curriculum and pray, attend another event together as a group, or even to just spend an evening having fun together. Jesus did not command us to complete the curriculum, but rather to focus on the whole persona and make disciples. The curriculum is the tool we use, and not the master. Use it with consistency and discernment, and your group will be well served. However, be clear about the primary focus of the group when you meet, and remind them every couple of weeks about the core purpose so that the group does not drift. Even if you decide to use a curriculum that is designed for a set number of meetings, do not worry if you take longer. Growth of the members and the group as a whole is far more important the strict adherence to a programme.

Length. There is no set length of time that your meeting should last for, but seventy to ninety minutes should be ample, including prayer and some social time. If you have more or less time, adjust your curriculum accordingly.

Balancing care-giving and study. One of the most difficult things to do in any small group is to balance the tension between providing care to members, and completing the material. A group would fail miserably if someone came to a meeting and said, “My husband is having an affair,” and the group said a two-minute prayer and then started the curriculum. Always bear in mind that people are the reason you are together as a group, and they all have needs, real needs. You need to ensure that you communicate your love and concern for them, even if you are sidetracked and do not complete the programme.

When people share their hurts or problems, address each one with empathy and prayer. If you think that more time should be devoted to someone, why not set aside some time at the end of the meeting and invite members to stay for additional prayer or to console the person. Cut the meeting short by a few minutes if you have to. Alternatively, deal with it immediately for ten to fifteen minutes, take a short break, then start the study.

Even if you are not able to devote large portions of the meeting time to care-giving, you and others from the group can provide this between meetings over the phone or in other settings. Learn to leverage your time. If your meeting begins at 7:00pm, ask the member in need and perhaps one or two others from the group to come at 6:30pm for sharing and prayer. A person will feel loved and your group will share in the care-giving.

Assign prayer partners or groups of three to be little communities within the group. Over the phone or in occasional meetings outside the group they could connect and check in on how life is going.

When in doubt, shout! Do not be afraid to ask for help from others, including pastors or other staff at the church. Whether it be for material, training, advice or care needs for your group. You are in this together with them and they will be more than willing to help.

We trust that this advice will help on your great adventure as a small group leader.

Fight the good fight of faith ... (1Tim. 6:12)

2007-01-01T17:24:00.000+02:00

Christians are supposed to fight - just not with each other. Our struggle is about our faith. God wants our faith to grow stronger, but the devil wants our faith in God to wither and die.

The battlefield is our mind. The devil tries to keep his “evidence” foremost in our thoughts: what our senses tell us and negative circumstances. God's evidence is contained in his unchanging Word: the Bible.

We must choose to feed the truths of the Bible into our thinking in order to keep our faith strong.

The devil still tells mankind his old lie, "Has God really said?" which we could modernise as, "Did God really mean that?" Yes, God meant what he said and said what he meant.

Then why does it not seem that way when we look around at our circumstances? Because we are supposed to fight the good fight of faith and actively receive the promised blessings. God will bring his Word to pass in our lives when we actively believe it. God's program is set up to reward those who trust Him. Maybe not here on earth, but definitely when we reach heaven.
Meanwhile, we should resist thoughts of doubt, knowing they originate with the evil one. We have authority over what we think. The Bible even tells us what to think about in Philippians 4:8, but we must exercise our authority through our words and actions.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Heb. 11:1)
Faith involves things not seen, or not discerned by our physical senses. If we can see it or feel it then we do not need to have faith for it. Faith is our evidence until it manifests to our physical senses.

God does not lie. His written Word is our faith evidence until the blessing is evident even to our physical senses. Resist the devil by continuing to believe God's Word.

A good fight is a fight we can win.