War & Peace

Is it true, that in the First World War, the opposing sides got out of their trenches and sang Christmas Carols together?

Is it true, that comrade Soldiers were ordered to execute their brothers, who stopped warring?






Luke 2:14 (NIV)

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests."

Weapons

In 1978, I was privileged to hear a man speaking about the correlation between industrialisation and military arms. All that he said on that occasion, which related to directions in history, and the years in the future, have been fulfilled as described. There are still aspects that are not yet fulfilled, as he described.

Throughout history mankind has not learnt to live with his neighbour in peace.



2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NIV)
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Faith

There is an old saying that says, ‘seeing is believing’. On the other hand, I have heard it said, ‘I’ve seen it, but I don’t believe it’.
There are times when we want to see as an aid to faith, only to find that it is an obstacle to that same faith desire. Faith is really an important aspect of a believer’s life. Rather than a passiveness, faith is active in perusing and grasping God’s will for our lives.

Romans 4:20-21 (NIV)

Yet he (Abraham) did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.

The Church

The Church is made up of some interesting people who are able to do amazing things where God has appointed, and equipped them. This is pattern and plan that is set in place by God himself. Each person doing there appointed tasks, which are supporting each other, and being supported by others. This is not just a denominational process, but as Jesus wrote to the seven churches in Revelation, the Church in a City is also meant to reflect this common support through the display of God’s gifting.

Sadly there are those who see themselves as “the religious police” rather than ambassadors of grace.


1 Corinthians 12:27-31 (NIV)
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way.

1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV)
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Perspective

As we are living in a world of constant change we have to be adaptable to each scenario that presents. Over the past few weeks the world has changed in many ways, none more critically than in the world’s financial fragility. Just a few people, and institutions have created a financial climate that has the Governments of most Countries trying to support the average citizen from a major financial calamity.




Revelation 3:17 (NIV)
You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

WARRIOR

‘Fighting is hard work, whatever sort of fighting it is. You cannot fight without wounds of body, heart, or soul.’ ~ Mrs. Booth

‘Lastly,’ said The General in a beautiful tribute to our Army Mother, ‘she was a warrior. She liked the fight. She was not one who said to others, “Go,” but “Here, let me go;” and when there was the necessity she said, “I will go!” I never knew her to flinch until her poor body compelled her to lay aside.’

Our Army Mother was, indeed, before all things a warrior; she fought bravely and unceasingly her whole life through.


In thought and purpose she was independent, and dared to stand out for what she felt right. Cowardice, in her opinion, was one of the commonest and most subtle sins of the day, and she had no patience with those who dared not say ‘No,’ and feared to stand alone.

(Catherine Booth, A Sketch ~ Brigadier Duff)




Isaiah 42:13 (NIV)
The LORD will march out like a mighty man, like a warrior he will stir up his zeal; with a shout he will raise the battle cry and will triumph over his enemies.

New Thing

We have been encouraged by our leaders to do new things to reach people for Christ. The emphasis is that it is the new ventures that are proving to be areas of growth as connections are made with people we previously had no contact with.

There are many aspects to new things. I do wonder if we are available for God to do a new thing in our lives. The influences of our Communities have been ruling God’s people, instead of the other way around. We have newspapers and magazine in our homes that are crammed with articles and processes that are in opposition to clear Biblical standards. We talk about peace, but many of our people are willing to use violence to obtain what they think is peace. It would be easy to continue in this vain, however that is only partially helpful.

Changing our focus onto what God wants and requires of us as His servants, will be a more productive way to fulfil our mission to transform society. The ability to be quiet, listen, and observe our world, may be a good place to begin.



Isaiah 43:18-19 (MSG)
"Forget about what's happened; don't keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I'm about to do something brand-new. It's bursting out! Don't you see it? There it is! I'm making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands.

Walk!

The call for all believers today is to walk this world, worthy of the call of God on your lives. The main objective is to live a life of holiness, in a world whose operating manual is not, the Holy Bible.



Psalms 116:8-9 (NIV)
For you, O LORD, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before the LORD in the land of the living.

Open Book

Gracious Father, through the ministry of your Holy Spirit help my life to be an open book, before you and the world. That others my read and observe your love and compassion through my life. Amen


Romans 2:12-16 (NIV)
All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.) This will take place on the day when God will judge men's secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

Trust in the Lord

The Word of God is powerfully accurate!

As I observe the destructiveness displayed in the lives of people today, it seems to be a tightening spiral of a world almost ready to implode.

Psalms 36:2 (NIV)
For in his own eyes he flatters himself too much to detect or hate his sin.

The remedy is expressed!

Psalms 37:3-7 (NIV)
Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.

Prophets

Jeremiah 23:18 (NIV)
But which of them has stood in the council of the LORD to see or to hear his word? Who has listened and heard his word?

Jeremiah 23:22 (NIV)
But if they had stood in my council, they would have proclaimed my words to my people and would have turned them from their evil ways and from their evil deeds.


It is time for the Prophets to be accountable to God.

Psalm 2 ~ Meditation

Psalms 2:1-12 (NIV)
1 Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One. 3 "Let us break their chains," they say, "and throw off their fetters."

Why indeed? Not only Israel with it’s rich history of deliverance by God’s direct intervention, but all other nations to today, continue to abandon the Divine Plan.

4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. 5 Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, 6 "I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill."

Who is the King? Saul, David, or Jesus?
God’s anointed is the King!

7 I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father. 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. 9 You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery."

A response from the King, “Ask of me.”
Are the Nations to be ruled by His subjects, when the earth is restored?

10 Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Blessed are His people!
Are these the people whose names are in the Lamb’s Book of life? Revelation 20:15 (NIV)
If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Evaluate

How do you see your fellow humans?
What are the criteria you use for evaluating people?

We can see people as those who have more than us financially. Or possibly having more acceptable looks, or stature than us. Perhaps even a better quality of employment. This would have us following the ideas of perfection that the media industry, perpetrate on an unsuspecting public each day. So it is easy to fall into the trap of believing that the information packed ideas are the truth.

Psalm 1:5 (KJV)
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

The criteria the God uses, is simply those who have a personal relationship with Him, and those who do not. This is truly a case of the haves and the have nots, but on a spiritual scale.

The Battle is ON!

I want to use this Blog, as a more select group of people read it.

This afternoon, a man came to the office. He had been to our night meeting last Sunday, and arrived in an agitated state, and left with a calmness that was very evident. It was my privilege to sit in the meeting with this man. At times a breath of fresh air would have been appreciated also. I have seen glimpses of a beautiful person inside this man, who has put up many and varied barriers to the spiritual things of life. I believe that God is beginning to do some amazing things, and today I was able to pray over him, for the protection of this special man. There is a real battle going on, and he has a physical part to play, in this spiritual battle.
The battle has been going on for many years, but the signs at present are indicating a crisis, or culmination.

Holy Spirit, come, with more power!



Ephes. 6:12 (KJV)
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.


Rev. 3:20 (KJV)
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Alone

There may be times as a Leader, where you are left feeling all alone. In particular when you are given a vision or revelation to do with your current ministry. There are some things that you know deep down within your spirit, that the people around you are not ready to hear. One of the elements of ministry that requires great patience is to interpret visions and revelations in a way that will be understood by the hearer.



Daniel 10:7 (KJV)
And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.

Ahead of Time

Matthew 24:25 (NIV) See, I have told you ahead of time.
One of the fascinating aspects of the Word of God is its historical accuracy. Written over thousands of years, the central theme, and contents have not diminished, or wavered. The evidence of life events being written ahead of time have only confirmed that the Bible is truly the Word of God.
Examining the words of Jesus, they were relevant for the people of his earthly ministry time, and they are also relevant for the world of today, 2008. Jesus said, I have told you ahead of time, so what did He say about today?

Leaders

The use or misuse of position is an important aspect of leadership.
I have known leaders who have been supportive and encouraging, and others who have been bullies. There are also leaders who . . . !!!

Let me say at the outset that I am an introvert with a big “I”. It does take time to loosen up, it does take time to cope with a room full of strangers, it does take time to process questions and formulate the answers. If you are my leader, please wait with me, and do not run off. I know that I’m not the life of the party, but be courteous, do not walk away when I’m halfway through a sentence.


Micah 6:8 (Msg)
But he's already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women.
It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbour, be compassionate and loyal in your love, and don't take yourself too seriously—take God seriously.

What the World Needs Now

I thought that I would share one of my favourite, challenging passages of Scripture, Paul’s prayer for the Ephesian Christians. In a world where violence, hatred, maiming, murder, and suicide, are all too frequent occurrences. Where does our influence take root and sprout?

Ephesians 3:16-19. (NIV)
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Ephesians. 3:16-19 (Msg)
I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength— that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all Christians the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.

Has Burt Bacharach got it right?

What the world needs now is love, sweet love
It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of
What the world needs now is love, sweet love,
No not just for some but for everyone.

It s not a new song, but one that people need to hear!!!

Adar

The Hebrew Calendar is quite complex, being lunisolar, and complying with the Hebrew religious traditions. The Calendar has a nineteen-year cycle, which includes leap years in the 3rd, 6th, 8th, 11th, 14th, 17th, and 19th years.
Today is the 7th day of Adar, 5768. As this is a leap year, an extra month Adar II is added between Adar and Nisan.

Adar is mentioned in Ezra 6:15, where work of restoration of the house of God was completed.

I am reminded that as humans, that we are a temple of the Holy Spirit. From brokenness, and exile, restoration puts us at the time and place of great celebration.


Ezra 6:15,16 (Tanakh Translation)
The house was finished on the third of the month of Adar in the sixth year of the reign King Darius. The Israelites, the priests, and the Levites, and all the other exiles celebrated the dedication of the house of God with joy.

IS MAN RIGHT?

Reading the news of each day, I am continually amazed at the destruction, of people’s lives. It isn’t a new thing happening in our country or around the world. The Scriptures give plenty of good advise for us humans, however, we are free to exercise our own will.

For many who are thrust into public positions, which have a high profile, their lives are all too evident of wrong decision-making. It could be in the areas of leadership, finances, relationships, emotional outbursts, substance use or any other aspect of the life they live.

O man, how reliable are your thoughts?


Proverbs 16:25 (Tanakh Translation)
A road may seem right to a man, but in the end it is a road to death.

REVIVAL

For many years now hundreds of prayerful Christians have been using the intercessions of the “Jerusalem Chamber Fellowship of Prayer,” among which are the following:
That the Church may see the whole world’s need of Christ, and may be ready for any sacrifice in order to make Him known to all mankind;
That the Church may be willing at whatever cost to follow and bear witness to the way of Christ as she learns it;
That the Church may learn to preach the eternal gospel by word of life in terms that the men and women of this age may understand;
That a great number of men and women may offer themselves unreservedly to do Christ’s work at home and abroad in our generation;
For the removal of all hindrances in our lives to the manifestation of God’s redeeming love and power.

I believe that the Oxford Group Movement is God’s outstanding answer to these petitions, and all that longing for revival and renaissance which lay behind them. I believe this with increasing conviction the more I see of the movement.

THE CHURCH IN ACTION ~ Jack C. Winslow
Hodder & Stoughton (1st Printed, 1936)
Introduction ~ Page 12, 13.


Some within the body of Christ have maintained a fervent desire to have meaningful connections with their communities in ways that will not only bring men and women to a relationship with Christ, but also that the communities themselves will be transformed under the rule and authority of Christ.

Lord, fulfil the prayer points in this age. Amen.


Luke 13:28-30 (Message)
"That's when you'll find yourselves out in the cold, strangers to grace. You'll watch Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets march into God's kingdom. You'll watch outsiders stream in from east, west, north, and south and sit down at the table of God's kingdom. And all the time you'll be outside looking in—and wondering what happened. This is the Great Reversal: the last in line put at the head of the line, and the so-called first ending up last.