Ps139 – Dynamic rest.

You're invited to Fusion.

"You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment you know where I am." Ps 139:3

Tomorrow is a mystery to us. We may have our plans, but plans change, fall apart or are forgotten. It is once again a strengthening thought to realise [and know] that we walk hand in hand with God who knows our path.

“We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.” Prov 16:9

Depending on our attitude we either do nothing with our lives or head towards a burnout, but God not only directs us he says, 'Here, stop a while. Let’s just enjoy each some time together. You and me. Do you want to hear the song that I wrote for you this morning? It will strengthen and delight you.'
We are no longer a ‘lost people’, even when we haven't a clue what is going on (or where we are). Every moment God knows where we are. Often our biggest fear is being separated from those we love, not being able to find them (perhaps it is a fear left over from childhood) but we never need to fear this when holding God's hand. When we walk with God we say good bye to crazy, unorganised and exhausting lifestyles. When God is with us He not only directs us but reminds us to rest because He knows that we are not yet in our heavenly bodies that will never tire or wear out.

Ps139 - Getting to know you, getting to know all about you.

Your invitation to Fusion.

What I love about this Psalm is that it's a very personal song of God's complete involvement in our lives. It isn't like some of the other Psalms that are so beautifully poetic that you admire them from a distance rather than engaging with them intimately. Here you feel involved in the song, it is your song.

When you hang out with someone for too long you can begin to feel relationally claustrophobic (or at least I do). You need space every now and again. However, when I read this Psalm it feels the opposite - it‘s liberating, completely liberating!

"O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me." Ps 139:1

It's so hard to be totally honest with people even when you are not trying to hide anything from them. This is because we can't read each others minds I guess. For example, you may say something, but the words you use somehow don't convey exactly what you want them to (it's like comparing a pencil drawing with a poor sense of perspective with a photograph). Then, if that wasn't frustrating enough, who you are talking to listens to what you are saying but they can only understand you through their own experience. Their interpretation is not always the same as yours. In the end while you are not truthfully/completely understood.

It is different [less frustrating] with God, He knows us more than we do ourselves. We can be confident in His presence because there is nothing to hide or reveal. No other relationship we have has this sort of liberation. It feels great!

Ps 139 – Little pip.

You are invited to Fusion

In her MySpace blog the other day Helen was asking for people’s ‘reflections’ on Psalm 139. I love this Psalm and it is also Ruth's favourite (although she particularly likes Susie Poole's children’s book based on the Psalm). So over the next few days I will be reflecting on a few verses from this deep and lyrical Psalm and look at how it breathes life into our lives.

“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvellous - and how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” Ps 139:13-16

Before we really get into this Psalm I wanted to announce that Ruth and I are expecting a baby! It is only the size of an apple pip and so, for the time being, we have named it ‘Pip’. Seemed like a suitable name :o) The draw back is that Pip is due to be born on Christmas Eve…. what are the chances!

Ruth and I are trying to get used to the idea that we are going to be parents, it seems so unreal and strange. But while we are getting our heads around this God already knows all about little Pip. He has laid out every moment of their lives, We have to wait to discover if they are a boy or girl, whether they will look like Ruth or me, but amazingly God does not need to wait for such introductions because he is already intimately involved in Pip’s life. This week Pip’s heart (which is only the size of poppy seed) will start beating! God will be there to watch it happen… mind you He probably has a key role to play!

Any way, that’s our news. It’s quite exciting. Praise God from who all blessings flow!!!!

An invitation to FUSION.

We are just about to mail out an invitation to every church in Newport and so I thought I would give you a sneak preview of the art work Gareth has produced for the poster. I think it is awesome.
Here also is the invitation that every Christian in Newport should receive through their church leader.

Dear church leader

This letter is to invite both you and your fellowship to the next 'Prayer for the City' which has now been re-branded as Fusion to capture the new direction in which God is taking us all.
This prayer event for Newport will start at 8pm on Friday 19th May and the doors will remain open until 8pm Saturday 20th May. This means that you can drop in when you like for as long as you like…. 5 minutes or 5 hours, it’s up to you. This event is all about spending time with God, praying for Newport and allowing Him to send us out as an answer to our prayers.
There will be some new features to the event this time:

• 2hrs of contemporary worship on Friday night, starting at 8pm and leading into a time of prayer.
  
• On Saturday 11am – 12pm there will be a time of hymn based worship and prayer.
  
• The whole event will conclude with an hour of worship commencing at 7pm.
  
• Fusion2 will be open [in the community centre directly opposite Bethel Community Church] throughout most of Saturday providing refreshments (coffee etc) as well as a place to chat.
  

WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT?
In a nutshell Fusion is a prayer event, a 24hr prayer event. It is when every Christian in Newport is invited to come together to intercede and pray the city (not of course for the whole 24hrs, but for as much time as you want to devote).

This has a long history in church tradition (since much of the Catholic and Anglican liturgy is based upon cycles of continual monastic prayer) as well as the Bible:
1 Thes 5:16-18 “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Ps 134:1 “Oh, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, you who serve as night watchmen in the house of the LORD.”
Luke 2:36-37 “Anna, a prophet … was a widow, for her husband had died when they had been married only seven years. She was now eighty-four years old. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer.”

WHAT HAPPENS?
Each Fusion event will have its own specific focus although each event will begin and end with a time of worship. We take over the whole of Bethel Community Church transforming it into a massive prayer room (perhaps Newport’s largest!) setting up a variety of ‘prayer zones’. These are stations which will encourage you to think about a certain aspect of City life and energize you to pray for them.
Aside from this there is no structure to the day so you can feel free to come and go as you wish depending on how much time you can spare. No matter how long you have you can be sure of one thing, you will have an awesome time in God’s presence. David Kemp (Gaer Christian Fellowship) sent us this email after the last event:
“Hi! Just a note to encourage you. The experience, though only short for me, was truly amazing. Personally, I am profoundly inspired by this form of prayer, meditation and worship. I rarely come away having not been challenged and inspired. Please be encouraged to be stretched.”

WHO CAN COME ALONG?
Everyone! You don't have to pray out loud either. All are made welcome because it is Christ's face we are seeking together.
The church doors are open through out the event and so anyone can pop in. No matter what church background you have you will hopefully feel at home in the presence of your Heavenly Father, in His ‘House of Prayer.’

WHEN DID ALL THIS START?
It all began in March 2002.
As a church we [at Bethel] felt the need to meet regularly to focus ourselves in prayer for the city we dearly wanted to impact. So, one Saturday, we arranged a day of prayer, 8am to 8pm. It had such an impact that the leaders quickly realised that this needed to continue.
We began to plan it as a quarterly event sending out invitations to every church in Newport. This quickly grew into a 24 hour prayer vigil with more than 10% of the churches in Newport coming together with a sincere heart for unity and a passion for personal, and city wide transformation. All the time God has been shaping and reshaping Fusion, bending it to His purposes.

To get involved simply come along, or for more info on Fusion call 01633 212327 or e-mail fusionevent@fsmail.net.

Glorify His name?

Here’s something that Helen, my sister-in-law [and faith], wrote in her myspace blog the other day. It got me thinking because it all ties in with living out a fusion lifestyle. She is an awesome woman of God and just hearing people talk about her inspires me in my faith.

OK so this was a thought that I had in church a couple of weeks ago. We sang a song in worship (can't remember which one now) but one line really stood out to me 'I glorify his name'. It made me really think about whether I do!
Many of us realise that we have an awesome purpose in God and for God, but in our day to day lives do we really Glorify his name as it should be? I'm not saying that we should all be holier than thou, sort of thing, but more, do we really represent Jesus the person? Do we love our neighbour as ourselves? Do we turn the other cheek? It all sound so simple in theory but in practice it's not always so clear cut. But the point that I'm trying to make, is that these seemingly so simple things are what society lacks and what Christ through us represents. So the question I suppose is how do we want to see Jesus represented?

This all sounds a bit heavy and I don't mean it to be its just a thought that I was having as to how we actually Glorify Him!!

But any way just a thought don't let it trouble you!!! :o) Have a blessed Day!!!!! xx

Image conscious.

I read this in my daily devotional the other day. It got me thinking about whether I live like I have a purpose. When I get up in the morning I turn on the kettle for a cup a tea. I don’t sit there looking at the kettle thinking, ‘I wonder what it is there for? What does it do? It looks nice but does it actually do anything? What was it made for?’

Because we were created in God's image, our lives do have meaning for both time and eternity. God made us for His glory and placed us on earth to honour Him. We have the remarkable ability to reflect on Him and on eternity.
Believing that Jesus died for our sins and rose from the grave meets our need for meaning. Salvation brings assurance that we're forgiven. We have an eternal purpose and the hope of heaven. This is enough to bring deep peace and joy to our lives.

My kettle is there to boil water for my cup of tea in the morning. It was made in the image of a kettle for that purpose. We are made in God’s image with one purpose; to honour Him. Sure we may be occupied by raising children, or manning the phones in a call centre, or cleaning the streets, or running a business but this is just the detail our lives. Our purpose in each of these is to honour our Lord and Saviour.
I hope that the [not-yet-saved] people around me are aware of this.

Get with the plot – be happy :o)

It’s incredible that we have to be told to be happy isn’t it. Sure, I can understand having to be told to behave ourselves or do as we are told (because we are not naturally obedient are we), but to enjoy ourselves?!
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Phil 4:4)

As Christians [those saved by Christ, redeemed to reign with him] we should really be the happiest people in the world (no exaggeration!). Being this happy is not reliant on us being trouble free you understand. Our excitement, joy and general delight with life is based on a sure understanding of who we are and what we have in store for us.

Late that day [Jesus] said to [the disciples], "Let's go across to the other side." They took him in the boat as he was. Other boats came along. A huge storm came up. Waves poured into the boat, threatening to sink it. And Jesus was in the stern, head on a pillow, sleeping! They roused him, saying, "Teacher, is it nothing to you that we're going down?"
Awake now, he told the wind to pipe down and said to the sea, "Quiet! Settle down!" The wind ran out of breath; the sea became smooth as glass. Jesus reprimanded the disciples: "Why are you such cowards? Don't you have any faith at all?"
They were in absolute awe, staggered. "Who is this, anyway?" they asked. "Wind and sea at his beck and call!" (Mark 4:35-41)

Who do you associate with most in this incident? This back over this last week. Would your responses embody Jesus’ attitude or the disciples?
Of course you will be drawn to Jesus but if you are more like me you will have to admit that you are a ‘disciple’ rather than a ‘Jesus’.
Everyone found themselves in the same sticky situation. The disciples exhausted all of their resources to fight against something that they had no control over. Naturally they became stressed and began to bark at Jesus as though it was his fault for not pitching in and lending a [futile] hand.
Jesus, though, was amazingly confident in his Heavenly Father. He knew what God’s will was and knew that this storm had no authority over them. Their survival was in God’s hands and that filled him with confidence. Even though he was in the middle of this ‘life threatening’ storm he knew he had had a busy day and that another one awaited him and so his confidence in god allowed him to fall and stay asleep. He was enjoying the ride.

“But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won your fight… because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.” 1 John 4:4 (NLT)

I know that at times my enjoyment of things is diminished because I use all of my energy fighting against things that have no authority over me. If we listen to God’s call on our lives (his direction concerning career, finances, family planning, property selling, time management etc) we can be joyfully confident in every situation.

It doesn’t matter what sort of day it is I want people to look at me and now that… to quote the fast food retailer… I’m loving it [because God is with me and I have won]!

Any way the wind blows…

During one of my quiet times during the week I read this in my daily devotional.

A farmer had a weather vane on his barn, on which was written "God is love." When friends asked why, the farmer said, "This is to remind me that no matter which way the wind blows, God is love."

When the warm south wind with its soothing and balmy breezes brings showers of blessing, God is love. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above" (James 1:17).
When the cold north wind of trial and testing sweeps down upon you, God is love. "All things work together for good to those who love God" (Romans 8:28).
When the west wind blows hard upon you with its punishing intent, God is love. "It's the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects." (Hebrews 12:6).
When the east wind threatens to sweep away all that you have, God is love. "God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory" (Philippians 4:19).

Perhaps you are discouraged and downhearted. If so, remember, God still cares for you. What you are experiencing has either been sent or it has been allowed by Him for your good.
Yes, no matter which way the wind is blowing, God is love.

Routine intimacy.

Do you sometimes look at your life and wonder what would Jesus do [what would he really do because you want to do the same]?

The answer to this question is always revealed through intimacy with Him. The more time you spend with God, the more time you hang out with Him [in word, though and deed] the more that you understand how He thinks. An intimate relationship only happens the more time you spend with that person, time alone with them. We know that they same is true in our relationship with God, closeness and intimacy come only with a regularity in our relationship.

I was off during the week with a bad stomach so I watched ‘Mr & Mrs Smith’ on DVD. It is a hilariously modern screwball comedy (you can almost imagine Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn replacing Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie). Any way, in the movie, Mr & Mrs Smith’s marriage broke down silently over time. When they met it was passionate, they could survive anything and do anything but this faded as their intimacy drifted into routine. Routine leads to death.
Routine is devoid of emotion but regularity is still consumed by love, passion and devotion.

Moses would often be found asking the same question that I began with; where does God want to lead us. He knew that the answer lay in intimacy and that this could only be nurtured through regularity. Read this…

“It was Moses' custom to set up the tent known as the Tent of Meeting far outside the camp. Everyone who wanted to consult with the LORD would go there.
Whenever Moses went out to the Tent of Meeting, all the people would get up and stand in their tent entrances. They would all watch Moses until he disappeared inside. As he went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and hover at the entrance while the LORD spoke with Moses. Then all the people would stand and bow low at their tent entrances. Inside the Tent of Meeting, the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Afterward Moses would return to the camp, but the young man who assisted him, Joshua son of Nun, stayed behind in the Tent of Meeting.” Ex 33:7-11 (NLT)

This was Moses’ custom, to meet with God ‘face to face’. Because of the cross we can now do the same, but we have to make it our custom. Wherever we find ourselves (on the bus, in town, in work, at home) we must learn to set up a tabernacle of meeting in our lives. Intimacy flows from this.

A Servant’s reward.

“Well done, good and faithful servant!” Matt 25:21

I wonder who is the ‘faithful servant’ who was obedient to God in leading you to Christ?
For the Apostle Paul it was Ananias who was obedient to God. If he hadn’t [reluctantly] been obedient to god then Paul would still be a blind convert rather than a Gentile evangelist.

In my story God’s faithful servants were Steve and Julia Roberts (not the Julia Roberts of course, she only became a Roberts when she later married Steve). It was their first time leading a small group on a youth camp. I was in their small group. While we did loads of outdoor activities together there was a youth service every evening. Afterwards Steve and Julia would spend time with our small group and discuss what had been talked about in the meeting. Doing this with a bunch of disinterested kids could not have been easy, but they were obedient. I doubt that they came away from any of these meetings thinking to themselves, ‘well, I reckon that went all right.’ I can only imagine that they were counting the minutes until it was all over.
Then one day towards the end of the camp I woke up with such a stomach ache that I didn’t go out all day. I was really uncomfortable. I tried to distract myself from this discomfort by thinking about everything that had been said during the week. After a day of this I realised that I had to ask Jesus into my life, and so I prayed.
I am in Christ today only because Julia and Steve were obedient to God’s call. They may not have been the most polished of youth leaders at the time (operating under a mix of adrenalin, faith and failure) but because of them and their witness [in what they said and how they behaved] God came near to me, and I to Him.

I thank God for them and I know that one day they will rejoice in hearing their Master’s voice welcoming them, “Well done, my good and faithful servants.”

M&S – miracles and signs.

"I've loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you'll remain intimately at home in my love. That's what I've done--kept my Father's commands and made myself at home in his love.
I've told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I'm no longer calling you servants because servants don't understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I've named you friends because I've let you in on everything I've heard from the Father.
You didn't choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won't spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you.” John 15:9-16 (Msg)

Yesterday I was telling you about how God had healed me over Easter.
Any way as I thought about this I realised [again] that we are also called to be obedient to Christ at all times, whether it is welcome or not. This includes [although I doubt it will be a regular thing] performing miracles. This is not just something that we leave up to our pastors or vicars at Sunday service, signs and wonders should follow the preaching of God’s Word and to many people in Newport the way we live our lives will be the only evidence of God’s Word that they will ever see. Let us also not forget that most of the miracles performed by Jesus and members of the early church were not done in church services, indeed most of them took place on the street corner, in people’s homes or in the market place.

As you think about this you may well be saying that you do not have the faith to heal someone. I am totally with you on that one, and would ‘amen’ that heartily! But the faith needed to perform miracles of healing is not something that we build up [like the fruits of the Spirit] it is a gift of the Spirit and therefore God gives us [for a time, through the Holy Spirit] the faith to perform miracles when he wants to perform them. All it requires of us is obedience.

Now you may relate to the story that I am about to tell you, if so please re-assure me by telling me that I am not the only one.

I can’t remember when exactly this occurred but Ruth and I had popped into M&S to buy just a couple of food items (an occasional luxury). It was a busy Saturday afternoon and so we ‘patiently’ waited in our queue. As we got nearer the checkout I felt my spirit stirring, you know the kind of way it does on the best church services you have ever been to (this is not something that usually happens while I am queuing you understand). I began to wonder what it was all about and then I felt God clearly say that he wanted to heal the girl on the checkout!
Oh dear!
I then looked and I noticed that the girl had a lame hand, it was curled up and unresponsive. What was I to do?! Could I really just go up to her and tell her that I believed that God wanted to heal her and then tell her to stretch out her hand in Jesus name?! What if nothing happened?!
The more this all spun around inside me the more I realised that God could do this and that Ruth and I would be left having to tell people about Jesus who was responsible for this miracle. The closer I got to her the more faith I felt God pour into me. But I did nothing, I squandered this gift of faith. I was not obedient, my fear had overwhelmed the faith that God had placed in me. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.

You could reassure me by saying that God would have given me more faith if He really intended to do it, but I have never experienced anything like the faith that I knew God had placed in me right then. He was serious. We have to be obedient though. Having been through this once I know that I never want to fail God or another person in need of a touch from God.

Lord, use me again. Lord, cause us to be eagerly obedient when you call us and equip us to testify to your Gospel. Amen.

Miracles, warts and all.

Our God totally rules!
I hope you’re OK with me saying that :o) but He does, He’s awesome!

Easter Sunday I was healed!
Now you might be wondering if I was blind or deaf or lamb or something like that. No I wasn’t, sorry if this disappoints you. It was a rather uninteresting healing if I am honest, but it caused me to rejoice when I realised what God had done for me!

A while ago I did some plumbing for a colleague of my wife’s. Somehow I pulled something in my shoulder because ever since then it has not only been incredibly painful it has also been very weak (you should have seen me trying to open jars – I had to ask Ruth to help me!). Well, on Easter Sunday we prayed for the sick, not by having them come out the front but by each of us praying for ourselves – God’s authority was so present it was incredible. We prayed and I was healed… although not being all that courageous in my faith I didn’t notice until Tuesday morning as I realised that my shoulder had not been hurting.
It may not have been a headline grabbing miracle but it reminds me of one thing …
Great is our God!!!

Well, it actually reminds me of two things really; the other one is that God has the ultimate authority in my life.

This is not the first time God has healed me. But I’m afraid the previous time was no more exciting; He also healed me of a wart once [and for all]. I honestly wish I had a better story to share with you I really do!
It wasn’t a big wart it was just a small one on my index finger, but the trouble was that I kept knocking it when I wrote and so it was often quite painful. I did start to treat it by putting on this liquid that would burn it. This worked great but by the time it had nearly gone I would start forgetting to apply the liquid and it would grow back :o(
In the end I prayed for it during a church service. In my heart I felt God’s spirit convince me that I had been healed. I was so certain of this I was naturally disappointed when I looked down to still see the wart on my finger. I couldn’t believe it! But as my disappointment began to grow God gave me a picture; it was of the time that the priests [carrying the Ark] had to step out into the fast flowing Jordan. The water did not stop immediately although God had blocked its flow further up river, they had to just stand there waiting for the answer/miracle to reach them.
I therefore waited and each day rejoicing that God had healed me even though I was often accompanied by the wart which I was praising God for healing me from!
After about a week or even longer, because I easily forget these things, I realised that my finger didn’t hurt any longer. It was then that I realised that I no longer had a wart. I have no idea when it went or how God did it, but He did it.

God does not always do ‘impressive’ miracles but he still requires our obedience in these matters. Jesus’ first miracle, turning water into wine, went almost entirely unnoticed. Sure people thought that it was good wine but no-one suddenly thought that he was the Son of God because of it. Despite this he still required the obedience of the servants to fill the jars with water and then serve it up as wine.

Here’s the exciting news; you and I have a role to play in God performing miracles in Newport today! How awesome [and terrifying] is that! But we’ll discuss this more tomorrow…

Humility is victory.

How can we change Newport?
What is the secret to city-wide transformation and salvation?

Here’s the secret: Humility. It couldn’t be more simple/difficult.

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Phil 2:5-11

When I recall these words from Paul’s [love] letter to the church in Philippi I always find myself focusing on the victorious ending. It is exciting stuff, more so than any song bellowed from the terraces as their team is winning.
But in doing this what I overlook is the key, the core of what Paul is saying. He is not just reminding us of our victory in Christ, he lays down a life altering challenge, that our ‘attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.’
No wonder I try to overlook this!

So what was attitude Jesus had that we are called to emulate? It is to live a life of unswervingly victorious, history changing, life transforming, praise giving, enemy defeating humility!
I can’t live up to that surely! Can I?!

Humility, I was once told, is not thinking less of ourselves but thinking of ourselves less. Now that is all well and good, but if we think of ourselves less with out filling the empty space with thoughts of others or God, then our humility is devoid of substance. Instead we should fill ourselves with Christ, focussing on his attitude. In doing this God’s grace in and through our lives could be seriously unstoppable! Jesus calls us to fix our heart and mind on things above and to love [as he loved] those around us.

It’s worth a shot, surely :o)

Whatever happened to joy?

I was reading my Word for Today Bible notes this morning and it made such an impression on me that I thought I would share it with you guys on this occasion :o)

'CELEBRATE GOD ALL DAY...' Phil 4:4

Erma Bombeck tells about observing a little boy in church who kept turning around and smiling at people. He wasn't spitting, kicking or destroying church property. He was smiling. Finally his mother jerked him around, slapped him and said, 'Stop that grinning! You're in church!' Then, as tears rolled down his cheeks she added, 'That's better,' and returned to worship.

Bombeck continued: 'It occurred to me that the entire world is in tears and...I wanted to hold this child with the tear-stained face and tell him about my God. The smiling God; the God who had to have a sense of humour to create the likes of us! [After all] if you can't smile in church, where's left to go?'

HL Mencken once described a Puritan as someone with a haunting fear that somebody somewhere was happy. Unfortunately, the same can be said of us; we are afraid to 'Celebrate God...' in case we come across as unspiritual or frivolous. No wonder the little girl prayed, 'Dear God, please make the bad people good - and the good people nice!'

Whatever happened to '...the joy of the Lord...', mentioned in Nehemiah 8:10? Or scriptures like:

'Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing' (Psalm 100:2 KJV);

'...let Thy saints shout for joy' (Psalm 132:9 KJV);

'Rejoice in the Lord always...' (Phil 4:4 KJV);

'A merry heart doeth good like a medicine...' (Prov 17:22 KJV);

'...in Thy presence is fullness of joy...' (Psalm 16:11 KJV)?

Remember, as a Christian you represent Jesus. So if you are happy, do God and the world a favour, and show it! Okay?

Rocks have a hard time of it - HAPPY EASTER!

This is just a crazy Easter thought. Don’t take it too seriously otherwise my pastor will go nuts with me :o)

I was singing Easter songs to myself the other day, at least ones that I could remember from Sunday School [which weren’t that many]. As one of the choruses drifted in and out of my memory I began to think about the angel rolling the stone away from the tomb entrance, putting the resurrection victory out on display.

Then I thought to myself. How does anyone know that the angel actually rolled the stone to one side? No-one saw it. Yes Matthew said that it had been rolled and that angels were present, but that it not to say that one did the other.
But what if the stone moved itself when the angel arrived!?

It’s just a playful thought. Entertain me just this once :o) It’s nonsense but enjoy the thought.

Rocks get such a bad press, I thought to myself. More often than not they are mentioned in connection with stonings etc. or various sayings that utilise their unfavourable qualities (coldness, hardness etc). But surely there is more to them than this.

Stones can be tasty
Right at the beginning of his ministry Jesus was tempted to turn the rocks around him into bread so that he could eat after his 40 day fast. This was only a temptation to him because he could have done it (if Jesus knew that he couldn’t do it he wouldn’t have been tempted to try). Therefore, now in resurrection glory, Jesus could have easily turned the stone covering the tomb entrance into bread and eaten his way out. After all he would have probably been hungry after 3 days in the grave!

Stones don’t get in the way
More than that Jesus didn’t actually need to move the stone.
Later on the Gospels we read that Jesus just appeared in rooms with his disciples even though they where meeting behind locked doors. So did he really need to move the stone at all? Couldn’t he have just appeared somewhere else?!

Stones can sing
We also read elsewhere in the Gospel story that Jesus himself said that if the Pharisees had tried to hold back the praises of the people then the stones would cry out God’s praise! If God had not been given His worth then these rocks would have gladly stepped in to start singing!
So rocks are quite excitable things really, longing for hope to be revealed. So why couldn’t it have just rolled itself to one side unable to keeps its delightful surprise a secret any longer?! Perhaps at the sight of the angel coming down it couldn’t contain its excitement any longer and the earth shook.

Hope on show
When the stone moved [whoever had a hand in moving it] God was revealing His hope; salvations victory.

‘The Passion’ movie ends with the resurrection morning. The camera pans along a body wrapped in grave clothes [Jesus’ obviously]. The body suddenly vanishes and the grave clothes gentle deflate. The camera continues to move until it settles on Jesus in resurrection glory getting up as the stone is rolled away; light floods into the tomb.
The fact is the opposite actually happened. At Christ’s resurrection light flooded out of the tomb illuminating hearts, lives and history with hope; a new and eternal hope.

I hope you weren’t offended by my crazy ideas (they mean nothing) but one thing is true and worth remembering and celebrating…

HE HAS RISEN – JESUS IS ALIVE!

Nothing but the Blood

Yesterday at our Good Friday service we sang a wonderful song by Matt Redman called ‘Nothing but the Blood’ (from his Facedown CD). It just spoke volumes to me, just the opening verse alone causes every part of me to want to worship my God more.
I love you Jesus!

Nothing but the Blood
Your blood speaks a better word
Than all the empty claims I've heard upon this earth
Speaks righteousness for me
And stands in my defense
Jesus it's Your blood

What can wash away our sins?
What can make us whole again?
Nothing but the blood
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
What can wash us pure as snow?
Welcomed as the friends of God
Nothing but Your blood
Nothing but Your blood King Jesus

Your cross testifies in grace
Tells of the Father's heart to make a way for us
Now boldly we approach
Not by earthly confidence
It's only Your blood

Easter rules!

Where would we be without Easter? I can’t [would prefer not to] imagine.
Easter totally rules!!!!

I’ve been humming this hymn [by Isaac Watts] to myself – it’s awesome. I want to make the last verse my prayer today.

When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of Glory died;
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
save in the death of Christ, my God;
all the vain things that charm me most,
sacrifice them to his blood.

See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were an offering far too small;
love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.

Red carpet treatment.

“Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice! Let all men know and perceive and recognize your unselfishness (your considerateness, your forbearing spirit). The Lord is near [He is coming soon]… And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil 4:4-5, 7 (Amp)

I’m sure you have seen at least one celebrity awards ceremony on TV. So you’re familiar with the drill; limousines pull up, out steps someone (initially well-known faces but they become increasing obscure as time goes on) onto the red carpet and the camera flashes go crazy. They smile, they turn and people shout out their names.
Days after people are still looking at pictures of what they wore. It happens every time.

Praise and worship is the spiritual equivalent to red carpet treatment, but who is the red carpet for?
‘God’ would have been my immediate response but as I was worshipping in church the other day I realised something amazing; the red carpet is for us!

While our worship may be for Him, through it God welcomes us into His presence. How awesome is that; I’m a no-one [unheard of and not famous] but God chose to hand write me an invitation. He welcomes us beyond the veil and into His home, the Holy of holies, but the invitation came at a cost. We are cleansed by Christ blood shed on the cross. He wove the red carpet for us, for you and I, to welcome us into His presence. He calls out our names, all heaven roars in victory. Their cameras begin flashing, your picture is the image of salvation. A victory trophy clothed in righteousness.

“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:10

God lives here.

The Bible says that God inhabits the praise of his people. I was thinking about this during our worship on Sunday morning. While I sang I prayed this over our offering of praise. As I did I began to realise that worship is not us welcoming God into our churches, but Him letting us into His house. That is part of the mystery of worship.

Thanksgiving is always our way of swinging open the door.

“On your feet now - applaud GOD! Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into his presence. Know this: GOD is God, and God, GOD. He made us; we didn't make him. We're his people, his well-tended sheep.
Enter with the password: "Thank you!" Make yourselves at home, talking praise. Thank him. Worship him.” Ps 100:1-4 (Msg)

One of the mysteries of worship is that discover that in God’s house His rules reign. That is why we occasionally see miracles happening during times of worship. I recall a time in my own church when, without anyone praying for him, a gentleman (the father of our worship leader) was healed of the serious effects of diabetes. This miracle (God’s rules exerting their authority over the natural) was then noticed by the nurse treating him. She was amazed! All this happened because we let ourselves into God’s house as we worship.

This isn’t just a Sunday thing, where we make ourselves at home for the day but we are back in the world by Monday morning, ready for work. We can draw every day, every encounter we have into God’s house through an attitude of worship. Talking praise gives God’s rules authority in our lives.

Talk of the town.

Here’s a thought that struck me as I read my daily devotional the other day; who talks about you?
Do you find people turning up saying that they heard you were about and had to come by?

“After a few days, Jesus returned to Capernaum, and word got around that he was back home. A crowd gathered, jamming the entrance so no one could get in or out. He was teaching the Word.” Mark 2:1-2 (Msg)

Sometimes I am all too quick to dismiss things that I read in the Bible by saying, ‘Well that was then and now is now. Besides it’s Jesus too, he is the Son of God.’ I’ll convince myself that all these people were attracted to Jesus because he did loads of miracles etc. But then didn’t Jesus tell us that we’d do greater things than what he was doing?

As Christians we should be the talk of the town. People should hear about us and get excited. It doesn’t matter whether we are preachers or simply helpers we should attract people’s attention because we remind them of Christ… or if they don’t know Jesus then they will see something in us that makes them thirsty for more.

A colleague of mine, Julie, told me this sweet little story the other day. She was outside her house washing her car as her dog watched with its head pocking through the garden gate. As she was rinsing off the foam a very young girl, only 5 years old, strolled up to her and stood at the end of the car watching her for a while.
“Do you live here?” asked the little girl in a very casual and carefree manner.
“Yes.” Smiled Julie in reply.
“Is that your dog?”
“Yes she is.” The dog still had its head pocked through the gate.
“Oh. Is this your car?”
“It certainly is.” Julie replied as she began to wonder why such a young girl was strolling around alone. “Are you out here on your own?”
“Yes. I just came over because you reminded me of my friend. She’s 4.”

We should remind people of Christ.

The healthy eating option.

Part of fusion in our lives is all about our diet.
No, this isn’t to do with McDonalds (although I did win a free fruit bag and serving of porridge the other day) this is to do with what we consume in other ways; through our minds and filling our hearts.

While our pastor was preaching on Sunday he happened to encourage us to digest God’s Word (not actually eat it, you understand, paper isn’t that pleasing a taste) by allowing it to become part of our lives; a living part of our lives. A part that actively instructs and guides and inspires us and others. The thought of this reminded me of something that Paul wrote to Christians in Colossi.

“Let the Word of Christ--the Message--have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God!” Col 3:16 (Msg)

Friends of ours, Claire & Lawrence, have an [awe] inspiring appetite. They once took his parents out for a 5 or 6 course meal (I never realised that a meal could have that many courses!!!). When they got back home, even though it was late, we stayed up listening to them enthusiastically telling us about the delights of each course. By the time they had finished Ruth and I were hungry and they could have probably gone for another couple of courses now that their appetite had been tantalised again.
This should be the effect of our conversations with each other. When we chat we should both come away with our mouths watering for the taste of God’s Word.

The amazing thing is that the more of God’s Word that you eat the more of it you can share! Now, I am not a great food sharer, if it is one my plate it is mine and I will defend it. I really struggle when Ruth asks to try a little of my food to see what it tastes like; I don’t want to give any away, but she asked so nicely… argh! And then the whole, “No I won’t order a drink, I’ll have some of Andrew’s!” That strikes fear into my heart because now I have to remember that I can’t just drink the whole thing, but I know that I will! Absolute torture!!!!!!!!
Any way, God’s Word is not like that. In fact the more you share it the more pleasurable its taste becomes to you. It’s like paying for a meal once but enjoying it fresh every day!

“Let the word [spoken by] Christ (the Messiah) have its home [in your hearts and minds] and dwell in you in [all its] richness, as you teach and admonish and train one another in all insight and intelligence and wisdom [in spiritual things, and as you sing] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to God with [His] grace in your hearts.” Col 3:16 (Amp)

Eat more – Share more!

Who’s got their hand on the sword?!

At our prayer meeting last week I was reading Paul’s description (in my Amplified Bible) of our spiritual armour. As I did so I was struck by a particular verse:

“And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God.” Eph 6:17 (Amp)

In my usual Bible (NIV) it encourages us to take up the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. It is as though we take up this mighty weapon in our own strength. But in this translation it goes into detail which gives it an entirely fresh edge to our armour.

While we still take up the Word of God as a sword, it is not something that we hurl around in some ungainly fashion as you would expect of an inexperienced swordsman. Instead the [Holy] Spirit is described as wielding this weapon in our life. We do not wield it as a novice but with the prowess of God’s Spirit who provides us with the right word at the right time.

How awesome is that?!



PS Wandering what the difference is with Fusion? Then read the 'All Change' entry.

Purpose and perseverance.

I was deeply challenged and stirred by something I read from my mother’s Amplified Bible the other day. This is what I read:

“Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people).” Eph 6:18 (Amp)

This was the conclusion on Paul’s passage describing our spiritual armour. What struck me was as Paul described the qualities and power of our armour concluded by reminding us that it is not designed to equip us to become mercenaries, out to look after ‘number one’. It’s purpose is to allow us to fight for and protect one another.

Paul really challenged me on two levels. The first challenge was for me to stay alert and to persevere in praying for my brother & sisters. Becoming determined for breakthrough. To pray as though my life depended on it.
Even on my best days I must admit to falling short of this. Sorry guys. But I am back on my feet; I’m watching your backs – let’s move forward!

The second challenge was deeper still. To pray in every season.
Paul’s encouragement here is for us to keep praying for each other through good times and bad. I guess Job characterised this most clearly. Despite having lost his family, home, health and dignity (and yet God’s hand was upon him – how does that work?!) he was still obedient to God in praying for his friends without his situation changing at all.

Lord, help me take hold of this in my life.


PS Wandering what the difference is with Fusion? Then read the 'All Change' entry.

Cubicles or Tabernacles?!

To see fusion flourishing in our lives we need to build familiarity with God into our lives. Not the kind that breeds contempt but the kind that develops a passion for Him.

The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, "The LORD is upright; he is my Rock…” Psalm 92:12-15

Smith Wigglesworth was once quoted as saying, “I never pray for more than half an hour, but I never go for more than half an hour without praying.” This of course reminds us of the importance of maintaining a prayerful attitude throughout our working day, but to develop our friendship with God we need time when it is just Him and us; no distractions. These don’t have to be long, just frequent.

Every Easter, when promoting their Crème Eggs, Cadbury are always interested in finding out how we eat ours. Well, how do you create this familiarity and therefore fusion in your life? How do you create little ‘Tabernacle’ times with God during the day?

I visit the toilet.
It may not be the most pleasant Tabernacle (indeed it certainly has its own fragrance which is definitely not incense!) but I can be guaranteed privacy and an absence of any distractions. As I take a break from my work I lock myself away for just a few minutes, otherwise engaged, waiting upon God. I read my Bible notes and pray. You may still be shocked by the whole toilet thing, but this is a precious time in my day which has allowed my relationship with God to grow.

“Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people).” Eph 6:18 (Amp)

Where do you find your Tabernacle?

PS Wandering what the difference is with Fusion? Then read the 'All Change' entry.

All change!

As you may have noticed the design of this blog has changed [all of a sudden, in the twinkling of an eye]. Hopefully you’ll still like it :o).
We will continue to post a ‘thought for each day’ (well, as much as you can call them ‘thoughts’) as usual, so there’s no need to panic.

Something else has also changed - the date.
That’s right, the next 24hr FUSION prayer event was scheduled for the end of May but this corresponded with the bank holiday weekend when a lot of people tend to be away. We have therefore brought it forward by a week to Fri 19th and Sat 20th May.

Our vision for the event has not changed; we still aim to create an environment in which people can encounter God for themselves in prayer, worship and the meditation of His Word. This event is still relational, it is about you and God.
What is the point of putting on an event like this to do it?
Because through times of continual prayer and worship God transforms His people, He breathes fresh life into us. And when He does this then Newport can be transformed by God through us! Our aim is for this event to become a spiritual fuel for churches in this city, where God’s people come in [and Tabernacle with Him] and then go out, into the world with a transformational power in their hearts – God’s Gospel of salvation!

This is nothing new :o)

“Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the ‘tent of meeting.’ Anyone inquiring of the LORD would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent. As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the LORD spoke with Moses. Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to his tent. The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.” Ex 33:7-11

We have also come up with a logo for the event which we hope captures the heart and aim of it:

FUSION is our ‘tent of meeting’ where we meet with God and all Him free reign in our lives. We are His after all, the sheep of His pasture.

There will also be a few new features to the event.
The first is that we will begin on the Friday night with a time worship leading into prayer. Then on the Saturday at 11am there will be an hour of hymn based worship and prayer. It's going to be awesome.
We will also draw this time of prayer to a close on the Saturday night with another time of worship.
One more new thing is that we will also have Fusion2. This will take place in the coffee shop in the building opposite the Bethel Community Church. Coffee will be for sale there but it will be an environment (filled with the sound of worship) in which you can go chat with friends about what you have experienced in Fusion1 [the main prayer event]. This will also be an evangelistic tool in which people can be told about our Gospel if they have wondered upon this event with no idea what it is about (this has happened time and time again).

We’ll be back to the thinking tomorrow :o)

God bless.

Living for the moment, or living for the Master?

Has God ever asked to borrow something from you?

God?! Borrow something from me! Are you mad?! God owns everything, He doesn’t need anything from me. I need stuff from Him! That’s how it works. You really don’t make any sense sometimes!

But isn’t it interesting that when Jesus taught his disciples to pray he suggested that they focus on what God wants before even beginning to ask for the things that they want.

So what are you saying? That God who ‘owns a cattle on a thousand hills’ wants to borrow from me, a guy with just a bit of loose change in my pocket? That doesn’t make any sense. Why would he do that?

Well He never takes from us for the sake of it. God always promises a return payment, He’s not tight. His reward is always far greater than what we give him. He asks of us so that He can give us more. Unless we have a free hand how can we receive anything?

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'” Matt 25:34-40

Unbeknown many of us have encountered times in which God has asked to borrow from us in the form of time to visit someone in need of company, or money or resources. Sometimes it would have felt like more of a sacrifice than at others, but it was all for God. We may not even see an immediate return on this but think of it as a long term investment with a high yield return.

But there are other times in which God makes it clear to us that He is asking and what He is asking for.
I recollect listening to a show on Radio 4 a little while back which interviewed members of a church in a small town in America. One couple in the church, who had seen their young family grow up, found God asking them not to hang up their parenting hat but instead to open up their home to ‘His’ children.
They knew for certain that God was asking them to adopt troubled young people, the ones that no-one else was ever going to consider for adoption. God was asking for their home, all of their time, their heart and their family.
It took a while but they were eventually obedient. What is more, when they asked for the church to pray for them it suddenly released the church and a whole number of families in similar situation who realised that God was indeed calling them to the same. God had created a community of families with a heart to home the outcast and ignored. The impact this small inconsequential church has had on generations to come is almost unimaginable but it is all because they were willing to give when God asked to borrow.

We never loose out when we give in response to God asking to borrow from us. He is only borrowing from us because He will pay us back in abundance, now or eternally. What is more nothing we do or give to God is wasted.

“With all this going for us, my dear, dear friends, stand your ground. And don't hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort.” 1 Cor 15:58

Breakthrough! – Or rather keep PUSHing.

Over the last few days I have been thinking about some of the ‘mad’ things that Paul has written about and how they are actually a necessary part of our living. Here’s another:

”Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thes 5:16-18

Overlooking the whole ‘be joyful always’ thing (which I guess ties in a previous blog) I was challenged by Paul’s recommendation to ‘pray continually’. The thought that struck me as I read these words was this: What would drive us to pray continually?
Or, to put it another way, what stops us from praying continually?

Now I realise that ‘praying continually’ is not about being in a prayer meeting 24hrs a day, it is about living and breathing in God’s presence. But what stops me from praying? I guess it is because we doubt, I wander if anything will actually happen. I am unsure whether my prayers are accurate of indeed imbued with authority. If we prayed with an air of expectation then we would not stop until we saw breakthrough.
Or, to put it another way [yet again], we’d Pray Until Something Happened.

When my parents came to visit the other week my father spotted our game of solitaire (you know the game where you have to move marbles around until you are left with only one in the centre).
Any way, my dad was convinced that he could do it even though for the first hour of trying he found a variety of ways to fail. You’d be forgiven for thinking that he’d never succeed, but my dad was convinced otherwise; he was certain that he was on the brink of being able to do it. He continued to be on ‘the brink’ for a further half an hour and then all of a sudden there was only one marble left on the board before him. He looked at it disbelievingly for a moment. He knew this would happen, he was expecting it, but he wasn’t expecting it just then, but there it was; the solution. He just kept playing until something happened!

I know that I am often guilty of thrill seeking praying; prayer meetings that are exciting and leave you on a high without really stretch your faith. They seem dynamic but they don’t go anywhere, if we don’t want them to. We need to start praying because we believe something will happen, because we need something to happen.
This won’t come easy, it doesn’t just happen because we have a change of heart or focus. Breakthrough comes at a cost, and the cost is ours. How much time will we devote for breakthrough? How much do we care for breakthrough?

The early church once stayed up all night praying for Peter because they were seriously concerned that his imprisonment may lead to his death. They prayed desperately believing for breakthrough and yet were still surprised, just like my dad, when it came. Perhaps if the breakthrough had not come when it did they would still be praying in the morning. Perhaps they would have been too desperate for God to stop.

Will we wake up crying out ‘Lord, give us what we need.’ Will we live the day with a heart breaking for breakthrough? The persistent widow needs to be our role model.

Continual prayer is fuelled by a genuine need. If we do not want God we will not seek Him. If we are absolutely convinced that we need Him, nothing will hold back our prayers. Breakthrough will come.