WWJDed.

WWJD it's a very useful slogan for reminding yourself who you are living for, but sometimes it doesn't really help at all.
I mean, think for a moment what did Jesus spend most of his time doing?
Healing? Preaching? Socializing? Walking?

Well it would seem [from reading the Gospels] that Jesus' most regular activity was praying. He would regularly head off (often before anyone else was up, and in those days that was real early!) and spend time with his Heavenly Father. It was this that characterised him; every action and word poured out of these times.

So WWJD? He'd spend time with his Heavenly Father (and this would cost him because sleep is a precious commodity) and allow this to direct his entire life. This is also what he encourages us to do:
"Here's what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace." Matt 6:6 (Msg)

Here [just before he laid out a 'model prayer'] Jesus helpfully prescribes a condition for our [prayer] lives. The condition was for us not to use the model prayer as a block on having an intimate and vibrant relationship [or prayer life] with God. Our Heavenly Father is not looking for a tick list or a recital but simply openness.

The 'Lord's Prayer' can be a powerful and God revealing prayer to pray together corporately at times, but if that is all we can recite when we are alone with God our relationship will quickly loose its vibrancy and life. Our eagerness to spend time alone with God will wane because we receive nothing from it.
Can you imagine Jesus doing that?!

So many of our relationships are based upon role-playing (i.e. we behave like a father with our children but as a son with our dad). But this sort of thing will never work with God. Religious sounding words may sound impressive in a prayer meeting, but they mean nothing when meeting with God alone in prayer. Often we try to hide in words but God knows us completely [deep inside and out... and loves us completely] and so what is there to hide [from]?
When we are not trying to hide, we find ourselves in God's presence. More than this though, we find ourselves as God sees us, as dearly beloved children.

How big is your God?

Your quick response to this question is no doubt MASSIVE!
And you'd be right, but is this actually reflected in our lives.

This thought has been running through my mind for the past few days. I believe in the God of all Creation but my life [in a million little ways] tries to box in this vast God. If someone was to take an audit of my life they could be forgiven for thinking that my God is a convenient God, one who makes demands on my terms and in my time.

How mad is that?!

I claim to submit to God's will and yet secretly [although occasionally not so secretly] I expect God to submit to my will. As a manager if my staff behaved like this I would consider them to be insubordinate and poor performers. If this behaviour persisted I would have no option but to terminate their contract, but God is amazingly patient [which is not to be mistaken for tolerant]. He is a loving Father and is too passionate about us to let grow up [spiritually] with out ever growing up until we have a spiritual A.S.B.O. slapped on us!

"My thoughts are completely different from yours," says the LORD. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." Is 55: 8-9

If this is true I want to live as if it is true. I want my life to reflect the liberty of this truth.

I read this prayer in a book by the late pastor Kyle Lake and it really struck a chord:
"God, I hold fast to You right now for who You are, knowing full well that at this very moment You are not like me and I am not like You. Right now, my thoughts are not Your thoughts, my ways are not entirely Your ways, my values not entirely Your values. But, God, I still cling to You, and I approach my future amid this inevitable conflict of interests between Your ways and Your thoughts and my ways and my thoughts. And when Your ways and thoughts conflict with mine, I will strive to be the one who changes."

Amen.

Brand new?

Are you branded?
What are you wearing? What do you drive? What mobile do you have? What coffee do you drink and where? Brands infiltrate every aspect of our lives even how we judge [with a small j] each other in a split second. We identify brands and are identified with brands.

Even as Christians we embrace this branding.
Just check out your WWJD wristband or cross around your neck.

Branding can restrict us (which is why Neil Boorman is now trying to find himself outside commercial brands) but there is a 'branding' in which we do find ourselves...

"It's in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free—signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This signet from God is the first installment on what's coming, a reminder that we'll get everything God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life." Eph 1:13-14 (Msg)

We are defined, valued and secured not by Nike, Nokia, Apple, Starbucks, River Island, BMW or anything else because our security and identity are found in Christ alone. Nothing can shake this brand name. We are his!

Long long ago...

Every story has a beginning.
After all it wouldn't be [hi]story if it didn't. What is surprising though is when some stories begin. They sometimes start when you least expect it or in unusual places.

As children we would often listen to bedtime stories that began 'long long ago...' but they weren't real. They were make believe.
Then as adolescents we may find our selves being enthrawled by movies that begin 'long ago, in a galaxy far far away...' but this wasn't real either. It is just science fiction.

However, there is another story.
It is about you.
"Long, long ago [God] decided to adopt us into His family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure He took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of His beloved Son..." Eph 1:5

Let this sink in; as fantastic as it may sound this story [your history] is not fantasy.

As with every story, over our slice of reality there hangs a question; why?
Why would God do this?
Why would he go to this length for me?

"Long before [our Heavenly Father] laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love." Eph 1:4

It's love.
This is often the driving force in any story, and your story is no different because God is love.

Just remember this as you live out a new chapter in your story today. Recall how it all really began (before birth, before conception, before parents, before time) and remember how it will end [in God's presence - forever].
Have an awesome day with the author and perfector of your faith :o)

God's canvas #7

Here we are at the conclusion of this month of redecoration in our church. We are also at the end of a week meditating on what our lives reveal of Christ.

Why do we have life? We have it for a purpose. God has breathed the life of Christ into us for a reason, and that is so that this life will be breathed into the lives of those around us who need it. This is what God asked of the ancient prophet Ezekiel:
"The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. He asked me, 'Son of man, can these bones live?'" Ez 37:1-3

Here God is asking Ezekiel, 'why do you think you are here?'
Ezekiel, it turns out, was there to prophesy life. To speak and live life so that God's breath [of life] would enter those who were dead in their lives.

Today we find ourselves [as a church] on a hill in Newport. We see the dry bones of so many lives lying around us and God is asking us why we think he has placed us here. In fact He asks us the same question as he spoke to Ezekiel: 'Will these bones live again?'

When we live our life full of Christ something happens that we could barely expect or explain. God's breath brings life into those who were dead. Life is victorious!

"So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet - a vast army." Ez 37:10

Amen - let it be, Lord. Breathe life into a vast army.
Use me. Use us.

Have a good bank holiday :o) see you on Tuesday.

God's canvas #6

When I was still relatively new to Bethel I remember us celebrating an elderly gentleman's 100th birthday.
Despite then living in a nursing home he faithfully came to as many meetings as he could. He was full of life, the life of Christ; you could see it in his actions and his eyes.
On his birthday he sang a hymn that was dear to him and despite his age he sang it in tune. The same seemed true of his life; despite his age he was still in tune with God. It seemed as if his life, limited as it was in his last few years, still echoed Paul's words:
"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labour for me." Phil 1:21-22

When I look at my life I occasionally see a selfish alternative truth; for me to live is me. My life often reveals more about me than it does about the love of God.
Our youth have recently come back from the Audacious conference where they were radically changed through God's presence in their lives. It is evident on their faces. When Dino spoke on the Sunday after their return, he said that he used to be a Christian without a real relationship with God. But now he had something real which he wanted to transform his life. He wants to live for Christ and to be part of a church which isn't mediocre. That only happens when we harmonize in our desire to live for Christ!

God's canvas #5

Living by faith is not an event; it's a walk.

"Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." Gal 5:25

In my early teens I was part of the local Boys Brigade. I suspect that habit more than interest kept me going. Every year we would have a regional parade and for this we had to practice marching as a squad. I never found this easy since I would regularly find myself out of step, and as soon as I was out of step I was no longer travelling at the same speed as everyone else. The whole squad would end up looking messy and inconsistent as a result.
We would spend weeks practicing our marching until it was perfectly timed. Of course there is always the possibility of a mistake and so we'd learn how to pick up on this quickly so that we could take a 'skip step' to get back in step with the rest of the squad.

We are part of a regiment following Christ. We all make mistakes but we need to pick up on these and get back in step again quickly.

"Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original." Gal 5:25-26 (Msg)

God's canvas #4

This God-coloured life we live is fundamentally different to the old life. Here's how:

"For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by faith.'" Rom 1:17
"We live by faith, not by sight." 2 Cor 5:7

Faith brings out God-colours in our lives, but the challenge is how much does this verse describe our lives? Be honest with yourself.
I struggle with this because I know it does not describe my life as completely as the world needs it to be.
Do I have the faith to live by faith?

My parents taught me well as I grew up. They taught me how to save for what I wanted. They taught me to earn my keep; tithing first, giving second and spending last. But this is all 'sight living'! Have I been trained to live by faith?

What about you?
Have a look in your wallet or purse. You will probably find evidence of faith in action; the humble credit card.
If you use it regularly you are living by faith. Perhaps not faith in God, but you spend money having faith that somehow you'll be able to pay for something that you can't afford at that moment. It could be viewed by some as financially reckless but the banks and credit companies have made an industry of encouraging you to 'live by faith'.

With this training let's trust in God. We know how to live by faith without a second thought (thanks to credit card companies) and so let our faith and lives rest 'recklessly' in the security God gives us (which is not a reckless thing to do at all).

God's canvas #3

Every Christian should know when Jesus became part of their lives and rescued them. It may have been a moment, or it may have been over a longer period but there is always a defining moment.

Every time I drive to my parents I have to cross the Severn Bridge. When I do I can tell you the exact moment when I enter England because it is sign posted; it couldn't be clearer. For some of us that is how we remember the moment Christ entered our lives; it was a clear and defining moment.
For others it is more like flying. As you fly from one country to another you have no idea at what point you cross the border but once you arrive in the airport it is clear that you have crossed over.

How ever you remember the moment when you called upon Jesus as your Saviour, it is what defines you. People will ask you about this moment time and time again.

"For in him we live and move and have our being." Acts 17:28

The reason God-colours are revealed in our lives are because you now have an alternative power supply.

I appreciate that it may not be everyone's cup of tea but I think highly of the movie 'Terminator 2'. Since Paul had no problem in quoting pagan material in today's Scripture verse then I feel liberated to use this movie as an illustration.
The movie features two 'terminator' robots from the future; one sent to protect a young boy, the other to kill him. In the climactic battle the boy's defender is fatally wounded by the other terminator. Just to make sure of this, the evil terminator puts a steel pole through him severing his power supply. As he does we see the power drain from the boy's defender. But then life flickers back into the robots eyes; an alternative power source has been identified and connected to. Suddenly he is back and rescues the boy.

When we discover Jesus as our saviour, our old life dies and we discover an alternative power to live by in Jesus Christ. We live because Christ is everything!

God's canvas #2

I am not a natural artist.

I remember when I was young I would enjoy the process of mixing paint, although I would more often than not end up with brown. Not a delightful rich brown, but a turgid and revolting one. Many a picture was never even begun because of this problem.
Every time I began with such vibrant and lively colours; red, yellow, blue, green. Oh they were beautiful. I would squirt a healthy amount of yellow and then a bit of red; orange, great! I'd keep adding and the colours would change until all vibrancy was gone.
Initially the yellow and red were working in harmony but somewhere along the line that harmony stopped. The colours were no longer complimenting each other.

This sort of thing can also affect our lives. We are called to bring out God colours in the world, this requires harmony in our lives. To reveal God to the world our church needs a whole spectrum of colours; from one end to the other. Some people will be next to us in the spectrum, others will be the opposite end, but if we do not harmonize and compliment [encourage, bless, strengthen, support, care for] each other we become 'turgid' rather than vibrant.

"Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble." 1 Peter 3:8

Pray this week that you will see '[God] colours' in your Christian brothers and sisters. Find people at the opposite end of the 'spectrum' from you and encourage them. What you will discover is that your God-colours will seem all the more vibrant and by doing this God can be seen.

God's canvas #1

Why are you here?
This is a big question. Perhaps the biggest.
Even the artist Paul Gauguin once asked this question in his paintings, but he seemed to die never knowing the answer for sure.
The question is big. So big in fact that people go their whole lives avoiding it [not even giving it a thought] because they don’t think they have a hope of answering it.

But we have hope and an answer, but it is dangerously life challenging.

On a Gallilean hillside two thousand years ago a revolutionary spoke up. He dared to ask the question that so many hearts had asked before and since. But this was no ordinary man, he was Jesus Christ. As he spoke the answers of heaven poured out in his words and our lives began to change.

"Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavours of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.
"Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colours in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand - shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven." Matt 5:13-16 (Msg)

This week as we meditate on how to live out our purpose as a canvas' displaying God-colours to the world, let these words of Jesus become our daily anthem; a song that resounds with our purpose, our desire, our life.

The centre of it all #7

"So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life - not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." 2 Tim 1:8-10

Read it again; it's OK, go ahead.
Let it just wash over you [and through you].

Good isn't it. This grace that we have was given to us in Christ before any of us were born!
Can you imagine, years ago, a Christmas tree being set up each year and a present placed under it with your name on it. But all of this before you were born and so no-one yet knows this mysterious person who the present is addressed to, so they leave it. Years go by and it soon becomes tradition until one year, the year when you were born and there it is waiting for you! God's grace!!! His undeserved love and mercy. Merry Christmas :o)

The centre of it all #6

I often look around me (with no small amount of frustration) and realise how ill equipped I am. I don't have the skills or confidence of so-and-so, or the time what's-his-name has, or the creativity of thingy or the compassion of whomever. It then takes only a nanosecond for these thoughts to disable me. Worse still these thoughts tend to follow hot on the heels of genuine appreciation of someone's achievement.
Why these thoughts are disabling is because they make me think I should be doing something that I am not equipped for. That is ungodly nonsense and once again it nudges Christ from the centre of our lives.

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Eph 2:10

Now, we may be asked by God (perhaps not directly but through others, and it is therefore to discern when this happens) to do something we've never done before but that is not to say that we aren't equipped or prepared for it [without us realising it]. I had never done any commercial cleaning before one summer at university. My new boss watched me and thought that I wasn't up to the job on my first day's performance, but he asked me back for one more day. The next day I amazed him by demonstrating the routine and confidence which wasn't there the day before because it was all new.

God has prepared good works for each of us and because we don't all need to be doing the same thing He won't be giving us all the same thing to do. It just stands to reason. But if you read this and think "I don't seem to be called to do any good works." Then speak to a close friend and ask them what they think. You may not even realise that you are doing the very thing that you are called to do! If you realise that you are genuinely not doing anything then there is something up because you are a not a purposeless Christian. Speak to someone urgently, try to figure out [with God] what it is you should be doing. You have purpose and importance.

There is an old man in my parent's church who gets frustrated because he misses so many of the church services because he is not fit enough to attend. Indeed he seems to spend more time in hospital with his heart complaints than he does at home! Despite this he decides to write letters to students away from home. They are often hard to read, not eloquently written and feature his many hospital visits but they always conclude with a piece of encouragement which comes straight from God. Over the years I have benefited from these letters and I dare say that his 'least active' days have been his most 'productive' ones.

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

The centre of it all #5

"So we, numerous as we are, are one body in Christ and individually we are parts one of another [mutually dependent on one another]." Rom 12:5 Amp

Isn't it strange how we seem to struggle with God's view of the church. Since our lives are so full of hierarchical structures (and we always seem to be bottom of the pile) we think that the same rules are in operation in the church; Pastor Andrew, he's the boss etc. This idea eventually disables us because rather than Christ being the in the centre of the church he becomes something like it's company director way off in the corporation's heavenly boardroom!

When Paul described the church as being like a body he meant it functionally not just metaphorically. Every part is mutually dependent (not better) than the next. We are reliant on each other; the eye may see where we are going but we need feet to get there. And the foot isn't going anywhere without the brain sending electric pulses to the leg muscles, and the muscles themselves won't be doing anything unless the heart is pumping blood to them. But that wouldn't be any good unless one of the other organs [I forget which] cleans the blood first and the lungs add oxygen.
So, reading the above, put it in a hierarchy!
You can't can you, because each one is needed no matter how small [or unseen] their role is. If one part is not doing it's task the body stands still, disabled.

We each have different roles to play, and this should be celebrated. Some are 'front line' like Pastor Andrew, others may often be forgotten about but without them we come to a halt. Therefore cleaning the toilets is as important as preaching the Word of God. How?! Well, if no-one ends up cleaning the toilets then eventually Pastor Andrew will pick up a cloth and spray and start wiping the urinals and this will inevitably be time which he would have spent studying God's Word [prayerfully]. As a result his preaching will be limited by the toilets. Therefore someone offering to spend half an hour cleaning the toilets each week is actively releasing Pastor Andrew into his ministry that fantastically impacts our lives each week. No-one may notice this but the effectiveness of God's word is in your glove covered, cloth filled hands. As a result you will radiate Christ (just check out Stephen in the beginning of Acts!)

When we realise this Christ becomes the centre, we all start to serve him (rather than working to the pastor) and we begin to support one another in a fresh and liberated manner. We are equals with different roles, and it is important that we fulfil these roles because whether we realise it or not we are all dependent upon you [and me, and whoever else is reading this, and perhaps those who aren't].

"There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Gal 3:28

The centre of it all # 4

Most people will define their lives by their longings, the things that they desire the most; football, money, pampering, a quiet life, respect, power, a family etc.
That was once true for us as well.
"Once true?!" You are probably thinking. "I am still defined by my longing, it is just that I now long for Jesus more each day."
You are right, of course, this longing is part of us, but read this:
"For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority." Col 2:9-10

We now have fullness. It is that which now defines our lives.
It is natural that [as Christians] we long for more of Christ in our lives, but [as full-on Christians] we do have Christ at the centre of our lives. We therefore have his fullness living in our lives. However, living [each day] just in our own strength results in us living with emptiness rather than fullness. The challenge is for us to rely on Christ, to live obediently to his calling, courageously trusting him beyond our own strength and ability because then we will be living in fullness. Our longing then becomes focused, not on ourselves, but sharing this with others.

The centre of it all #3

When I was little I'd love going to the Horsham Carnival, watching all of the floats drifting through the town until they reached the park. Sometimes my dad would put me on his shoulders (occasionally alternating me with my other siblings) as we stood on the roadside. First the Carnival queens float would pass by, leading the way, and then a long line of other floats would follow. In my [limited and occasionally inaccurate] memory it seemed to be a never-ending procession!

Do you want to know something exciting?!
You and I are now in a wonderful procession too! We are the proof of Christ's victory on the cross!
No matter how amazing some films are it will never be like actually seeing the crucifixion for real, and therefore no-one will ever see that again. No-one will see the sky darken as it did on that day. No-one will see the temple veil tear in two as it did. And no-one will see Jesus ascend into heaven again.
But on that very day when all those things took place so many years ago a victory procession began and it still hasn't stopped because people are being added to it all the time. Some of the procession has reached heaven and some of it is still here on earth, but the parade continues.

"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him." 2 Cor 2:14

You and I have placed Christ at the centre of our lives and each day we are part of this procession. Just as with the carnival I recall from childhood, some people will come to watch, others will come desperate to join in, while others will be frustrated because the procession is blocking the road they wanted to get down. They don't care about it's purpose, all they know is that it is hindering them getting to where they were going.

Whatever the case you are the pride of heaven and you are the evidence of the cross. You continue the story of the cross in your family, your work, and your school. The Apostles didn't finish the job, you will.

The centre of it all #2

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" Rom 8:1

This verse of Scripture speaks about the freedom we have when Christ is at the centre of our lives. But there is another element of 'condemnation' that we are also freed from; an overly self-critical spirit.

Now, it is OK to notice when you can do something better but if this ends up being so critical that it prevents/disables you from trying again this is ultimately damaging. When this happens condemnation quickly becomes the centre of our lives again elbowing Christ out of the way (not that we loose our salvation, but our peace begins to drift).

Ruth and I recently bought a [children's] book called 'The Dot'. It is about this little girl who couldn't do art and so hated art class. The teacher tried to encourage her by suggesting that she simply puts a mark on the page and sees where it leads. Out of frustration the girl picks up a pens and slams it down on the page creating a dot. The teacher looks at it for a while and then asks her to sign it.
The next week the girl was shocked to see her dot in a gold frame above the teacher's desk. "I can do a better dot than that!" She said to herself still frustrated with being in the art class. She opened up her paints and began doing loads of dot pictures in various colours and sizes. In the end she had masses of dot pictures to display at the end of term and everyone was very impressed with them.
She noticed one young boy. He told her that he thought she was a great artist but he couldn't even draw a straight line with a ruler! She got him to show her. The girl looked at the squiggly line and then asked the boy to sign it...

When condemnation is at our centre it limits us; Christ, however, liberates us! We are no longer who we were, with Jesus we start to become who we could be.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" 2 Cor 5:17

The centre of it all #1

When I was in school studying for my GCSEs I had a wonderfully odd English teacher. He had a turn in his eye, loved to play rugby and most of the time he sat with his feet on the desk. The walls of his classroom were awash with newspaper cuttings and you would spend ages trying to surreptitiously read them, seeing if you could guess why they were there.

One term I recall a large lump of stone appearing on his desk. It was a smashed piece of stone with one smooth side covered in graffiti. It wasn’t complete and so you couldn't read what was written on it. Eventually, someone was curious enough to ask him about his piece of rubble. This lump of stone had been part of the Berlin Wall that had only just been dismantled (we remembered seeing all the crowds on the news). As soon as he had heard what was happening he got in his car and drove there!

The Berlin Wall was established after the end of WWII to separate the parts of the city governed by the Allied forces (West Germany) and the other half controlled by the Soviet block (East Germany). Streets, neighbourhoods and families were suddenly divided. Even though they had not moved and were still living in the same city a gulf was now between them because of this heavily defended wall.

We once had a "wall" in our lives which separated us from God. He may have been near us but we were still separated.
Even though we may not have realised it [at the time] this "wall" was at the centre of our lives; it defined [and divided] us. But as soon as Christ stepped into our lives, and we made him our centre, the wall was destroyed; we were made whole!

"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ." Eph 2:13

Close enough? #7

Intimacy with God is something for the weekend, or just for when we are at a conference. Intimacy is something that we need to maintain, it is something that needs to become a characteristic of our lives.

On Friday it was my wife's birthday.
Usually this day is anticipated with great excitement. I try to come up with a gift idea that she'll love without asking her so that she can't guess what it might be. Despite my secrecy on the matter she can't help herself attempting to guess what it is (and she is usually right). Then there is the excitement of the day itself, because we won't be in work and we get to do something together. In the evening we enjoy a meal together.

This year though the day has nearly crept up on us unnoticed (even though I had it all sorted).
Ruth said that she hadn't actually given it much thought (even though it is her big 3-0 which she had been dreading for so long). The reason for this is because we are looking to Christmas Eve which is when our little girl is due to arrive into the world. Our attention is on that date, we are preparing for it all the time; Ruth is reading loads, keeping herself healthy, I am busy getting things done in the house so that it is fit for 'the big day' when she sees her home for the first time.
We enjoyed Ruth's birthday but our eyes were on a more exciting day and everything we do is geared towards it; the birth of our daughter.

Intimacy with God prepares us for 'the big day' when we see our Lord and Saviour face to face. This intimate preparation saves us from any embarrassments when he appears:
"And now, children, stay with Christ. Live deeply in Christ. Then we'll be ready for him when [Jesus] appears, ready to receive him with open arms, with no cause for red-faced guilt or lame excuses when he arrives." 1 John 2:28 (Msg)

Close enough? #6

Intimacy with God is not something 'private' which can be hidden away from public gaze. It will not go unnoticed.
When Moses had spent some time with God (it was a mind blowing encounter) his face shone, it was radiant and people could see it even if he wore a veil!!! (Ex 34:28-30)

Pregnancy is a clear indication of intimacy. What is more, you cannot fail to notice it either. Intimacy has an impact on the way we live, what we talk about and even what we eat (just ask my wife!).

Our intimacy with God will cause us to walk and live like Jesus.
Wearing a wristband that reads "WWJD" does not transform us. It may be a reminder but it does not change us. Living like Jesus did is something that explodes from within us, it is the whisper of the Holy Spirit that ignites us deep within. Living like Jesus, allowing the Holy Spirit to mould us, is [on the whole] is a radical counterpoint to the norms of society that we see around us.
People are going to notice, and that is the point; people need to see Jesus!

"Here's how we can be sure that we know God in the right way: Keep his commandments. If someone claims, 'I know him well!' but doesn't keep his commandments, he's obviously a liar. His life doesn't match his words. But the one who keeps God's word is the person in whom we see God's mature love. This is the only way to be sure we're in God. Anyone who claims to be intimate with God ought to live the same kind of life Jesus lived." 1 John 2:2-6 (Msg)

Close enough? #5

Do you own a cheese plant?
You must do, everyone has one!

My mum has several of them and they are gigantic specimens (everything seems to become oversized in her care), it is almost jungle like in the corner of her lounge!

When a friend of mine left Newport I 'inherited' one from him. I didn't realise this at the time, he just left it and never returned to pick it up. I'm not great with house plants and so it was regularly neglected but despite this it never perished. God made these plants tough!
Despite this I could never see the point of these plants, which I guess didn't enamour them to me very much. However, they do have a purpose; they are fruit bearers!

I bet that surprised you didn't it! It did me. They actually have a purpose!!!!
Their fruit is apparently unusually tasty but it takes about 12 months to ripen. I learnt this when I bought Ruth a book about growing fruit and vegetables indoors for her birthday (oh yeah, I treat her good :o) The reason that you and I have never seen our cheese plants bear fruit is because we keep them in the wrong climate; they require very humid conditions.
So, if you want to see some fruit you could always put the plant in your bathroom, get the water piping hot and then leave the shower on [with all the doors and windows closed] for about a year and then you'll be able to try one!
Not very cost efficient I know, but it's the only way.

Jesus said that the same is true for us. We may be 'saved' but unless we remain in the right environment/climate (i.e. intimately close to God, fully surrendered) then we will not bear fruit [we may even wither!] and become a strange and puzzling oddity to those around us.
Where are you? Are you in the right environment? Do you acclimatise your office, home, or car so that you remain close to God?

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." John 15:1-8

Close enough? #4

"But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds." Ps 73:28

I do not belong to Wales, even though I love my home here.
This is not because I am English; it is because I am God's!

I was born and raised [by a Scottish mother] in Sussex, but when I left home to go to university I [casually] made a small but significant acknowledgement which transformed me far more than I anticipated; I decided to make God my home. I naively declared this over my life so that I wouldn't feel homesick or lonely when away from my family and friends. I reasoned that if God was my home, and He is everywhere and is always near me, then I cannot ever be 'away from home'. Brilliant!

What I got instead was far more [and better] than I bargained for!

Making God our home requires us to maintain an intimacy with our Heavenly Father. Without intimacy we only become lodgers rather than residents. Armed with this attitude means that we can always be at home among God's people, wherever that may be; every church has a flavour of home!
I remember one our first holidays together, my wife and I found ourselves camping [uncomfortably] near a small Scottish village. On Sunday we thought we'd just head into town and see where people went and then follow them. This led us to a grand looking church. It was a Church of Scotland, which is 'high' church and so our hearts sank a little because we read the order of service and didn't really understand what it was on about. But no sooner had the vicar stood to open in prayer we could feel God's presence. It was amazing, we didn't grasp a lot of the service but it was incredibly uplifting to be surrounded by God and by people who loved and served Him! We were at home in God's presence.

Being at home everywhere [intimately close to God] also gives you an openness to speak about the owner of your home; your saviour :o)

Close enough? #3

"The LORD is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Ps 34:18

Not one of us will be fully prepared [beforehand] for hard times. But the moment that the storm hits the boughs of our life God's presence [full of strength and comfort and reassurance] is with us. This is the closeness that intimacy brings. Times of intimacy are great and uplifting but somewhere deep in those moments they prepare us for those moments when we may tell ourselves that God feels distant.

When I fell in love with the woman who became my lovely wife, she was not a Christian. The only assurance that I had was that God's hand was upon her but this did not make it any easier. When you fall in love with someone who does not know Jesus Christ as their saviour it is painful; you know that this all consuming love you have for them cannot draw them into heaven and it hurts [it tears your heart apart].

Throughout this time I would pray for her but see no sign of God answering my prayers. This was hard; I would be in church worshipping with every ounce of strength I had left in me and yet God felt distant. Tears would roll down my cheeks every service. The strange this is that, looking back, I would say I felt closer to God at that time than at any other time in my life! How mad is that, but it is true; God is close to the broken hearted.

Little did I realise that while I was agonising over God's silence, Ruth was hearing and responding to the voice of God calling her name.

Close enough? #2

Sorry folks, I have been away for the weekend and my parent's Dial-Up connection failed me :o(

"I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken." Ps 16:8

Big things happen in our lives; not all the time but the one guarantee that we have in life is that sometimes things hit us hard. It could be massive disaster, a personal tragedy or individual battle. Whatever they are seem to approach our lives without us noticing and with the resolute gaze the Martians were described as having in the opening pages of HG Wells 'War Of The Worlds'.

Our only hope for survival is not in our strength of character or our resourcefulness, it is a decision. Our survival is reliant upon a choice we make before, during and after these events [continually in fact, throughout our lives]. It is our decision to remain close to God. This is evident in the words that David once penned in this Psalm.

When I was growing up [in my parent's church] I had to friends; Tim and Martyn. Neither of them were like me and in fact they probably weren't much like each other either, but despite this we became good friends. We were examples to each other and we also encouraged each other; not always directly but just by the way in which we each lived our lives.
Then something happened which continues to baffle me to this day; they died.

Martyn was a charismatic character and after spending much time resisting God he completely surrendered to Him. In fact more so than anyone else I have known. In no time at all he had forgotten his university degree that he had planned upon and began to do various compassionate mission work among African orphanages. This work consumed him.
Tim was the eldest of an impressive family which always seemed to overshadow him, but as he left university he began to find himself and God's purpose for him; he was now engaged to his childhood sweetheart and had begun to make a name for himself in business, where he would no doubt shine for Christ in doing so.
One summer they decided to take a holiday of a lifetime in Australia. They drove around the county seeing all the sights they could. But it was here, on the other side of the world from their home, that they were involved in a fatal car accident.
You never expect peers to suddenly vanish; you can never be prepared for this sort of departure, especially when you see God's plans for their lives beginning to flourish. I still don't understand why any of this happened. All I can do is set the Lord before me because when my eyes are upon him, rather than the elusive answers to all my questions, I find myself unshakable.

This, however, is not a default setting that we have as Christians.
We must choose to involve this type of intimacy in our lives, we must seek it and maintain it. My mum recently visited some childhood friends and was distraught to find them saying that they had lost their faith because of circumstances over the previous years that they could not understand. They could not understand why God had allowed certain things. Their vision had been consumed by a cloud of unanswered questions rather than with God Himself. In 'The Horse and His Boy’' CS Lewis reminds us that we may not always understand why things happen but does not absolve us of the need for an intimacy with God in our lives.

Intimacy is costly but it comforts us; not always with the answers we desire but with the strength of knowing the One who knows the beginning from the end.

Close enough? #1

When Paul was in Athens he began to share to tell people about Jesus, he did so through the words of their poets and philosophers. He explained that all of this was to draw people to God:
"God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us." Acts 17:27

This week we are going to consider [meditate upon, if you like] our own intimacy with God. Hopefully these short notes of mine will be a springboard for your own experiences.

As you sit reading these words [wherever that may be] you might find yourself pausing, for just a moment, and thinking to yourself, "I don’t feel God around me." That's OK; don’t panic. This probably doesn't mean that you are somehow under attack from the enemy [of your soul]. It also doesn't mean that you are evil because you have thought such a thing. It is just natural. Generally speaking we cannot see God around us, which is why our faith is brought into play. These thoughts come in all the time, all we do is measure them against our faith. We do not hold onto the thought that questions if God is with us because by faith we know that He is! This is His steadfast promise (Matt 28:18-19).

So, even though we cannot see God we must also realise that this does not mean that He hides from us either.

Paul was saying to the Athenians that the reason that their poets said such beautiful and profound things was so that when they read such words they would be inspired to reach out for God himself, the source of such beauty and wisdom. The same is true today; as we listen to the radio the words we hear sung sometimes cause our thoughts to reach out for God himself.

Most mornings I will tend to wake up before my wife. This means that I have to get up, go to the bathroom and then get dressed all without turning the light on (so that she is not disturbed). During the summer this is OK but in the winter it means that I have to navigate my way around in complete darkness. In fact, during these winter months, when I return to the bedroom to get dressed, I can see absolutely nothing. It is a strange feeling because for all I know the room may not exist at all. So I stand in the doorway and decide [because I have no sensory information to base this on, just memory of a previous experience] that there is a room there. I try to remember where things are (like the bed, wardrobe etc) and suddenly my mind is filled with the geography of the room. I walk forward and more often than not find the corner of the bed where I expect to find it even though I still cannot see it; my fingertips can feel it but that is all.

Sometimes this is like our lives. Often we do not know what each moment will bring [despite our best laid plans] but our faith reminds us of God's presence and then occasionally our 'fingertips' touch Him and we know the geography we see in our mind through faith is true.

"Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts." James 4:8

Nearness to God does not occur when He wants to be close to us (because He always wants to be close to us). Closeness to God, intimacy with Him, only occurs when we move closer. God invites us but the intimacy we experience is in our hands; will we choose to come near [surrender completely] to God?

All washed up? #7

Have you seen the episode of [the popular American sitcom] Friends where Monica discovers that her mother has no faith in her and always expects her to fail. In fact her mother had even developed a saying; when you fail at something you are “doing a Monica.” When Monica realises this it nearly crushes her until her friend Phoebe makes her believe in herself again; she can succeed. In the end Phoebe re-invents the saying so that “doing a Monica” means that you succeed against the odds.

There is a saying “all washed up” which means that something is useless, worn out and of no further value. How about (without telling the Oxford English Dictionary people) we re-invent that saying; let’s transform it, so that it focuses on Christ alone. When we are “all washed up” it means we have nothing more to give, and we start operating only in the strength and wisdom Christ gives us; it’s all him. To be “all washed up” is to see God at work in us.

The Apostle Paul’s career as a Jewish religious teacher was all washed up the second that he met Christ on the road to Damascus, as a result the news of Jesus left the Middle East and the world got to hear about salvation!
That’s what I’m talking about.
When we are all washed up our friends, our families, our city gets to hear about Christ and souls are saved!
“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Phil 1:21

All washed up? #6

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless." Eph 5:25-27

Yeah, sure this is a handy reminder for us men to love our wives [men, if you are reading this, do something unusually nice for your wives today... not the little things I'm sure you always do, but something unexpectedly loving]. Anyway, that is not what caught my attention here. It was what is described as cleansing the church; it is God's Word!

How do words cleanse?
I know that words rub off on us. I mean, the other day I was reading a newspaper [a broardsheet no less… well, when I say 'reading' I mean 'looking'] and after a while I noticed that the print had begun to rub off onto my hands. As a result I kept leaving little shadowy fingerprints everywhere!
By how do they cleanse us?
I don't know, but I know that God's Word does!

I have struggled this past week. I have found sin ambushing my mind more than ever. It was frustrating and annoying and disheartening. But then I realised that I had been too busy to include God's Word into my daily routine. I had not been washing myself in God's Word and the dirt had quickly built up. You can smell when someone hasn't washed [especially in this heat] and sin can smell the same on us! The dirt soon built up on me and in dirt disease [of sin] has all the space it needs to grow and infect until we end up thinking, saying and doing what we don't mean to.

Stay clean, stay washed up, stay in God's Word.
A sentence a day keeps the devil at bay!

This weeks prayer points:

1. Rejoice because we are cleansed and redeemed, washed clean through the blood of Jesus.
2. Remember that Jesus washed his disciples feet and that we are also called to service. Pray that that you will remain humble in your service for your family, your church and your community.
3. Just as light shines brighter in darkness, pray that those in need of Christ we notice what He has done in your life; how he has cleaned your act up.

All washed up? #5

Have you ever sat an exam or handed in some course work where you felt that your score did not reflect the effort you put in?

When my [much] older sister was young, my mum once did her sewing homework for her because time had run out [and she pleaded with her]. Later she returned home with the news that her homework had only achieved a C grade. Mum was outraged because the quality of her sewing was exemplary! Inappropriately she brought this up at a parent/teacher meeting.
My younger sister too had a difference of creative vision with one of her teachers. For Home Economics she thought she would add a bit of festive flair to her mince pies by dying the pastry that formed the lid of each little pie a vibrant green. In the end it was more psychedelic than festive and the teacher marked her accordingly; they never saw eye-to-eye on this issue. Since I had to eat them later I can appreciate where the teacher was coming from.

When we consider how Christ has washed us clean, we realise what he has done for us was not deserving of our actions. Despite this he purified us! How amazing is that!!!!
“But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:4-7

This weeks prayer points:

1. Rejoice because we are cleansed and redeemed, washed clean through the blood of Jesus.
2. Remember that Jesus washed his disciples feet and that we are also called to service. Pray that that you will remain humble in your service for your family, your church and your community.
3. Just as light shines brighter in darkness, pray that those in need of Christ we notice what He has done in your life; how he has cleaned your act up.

All washed up? #4

Habits are hard to break.
Our minds are full of good intentions but they last only until our habit forming bodies take charge again returning us to our old ways. “The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” Matt 26:41

“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” Heb 10:22

Our intentions maybe enough of a sprinkling to transform our minds but it is soon defeated by our bodies habits. I wonder if this is why Paul suggests that our bodies require a more vigorous ‘washing’ rather than the ‘sprinkling’ that our hearts needs?

Habits replace habits.
We can actual use habits as our strength rather than just our weakness.
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Heb 10:23-25

We can be washed clean with a new creative habit.

Go on. Figure out how to spur another person an. Maybe spend time with them, or share a CD with them, perhaps play tennis together, or write to them, or even do their shopping, or chat about what God is doing; something that they will be encouraged by.
Make this your new victory forming habit; your going to encourage someone.

If you are not washed up for this purpose, then what are you washed up for?!

This weeks prayer points:

1. Rejoice because we are cleansed and redeemed, washed clean through the blood of Jesus.
2. Remember that Jesus washed his disciples feet and that we are also called to service. Pray that that you will remain humble in your service for your family, your church and your community.

3. Just as light shines brighter in darkness, pray that those in need of Christ we notice what He has done in your life; how he has cleaned your act up.

All washed up? #3

What you are about to read is a little blunt but thank God [literally] that it is His Word and not mine :o)
“Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Cor 6:9-11

Sometimes we are guilty of limiting our lives because we continue to force ourselves into the worlds mould even after we are released.
If the world has said something limiting over us we keep with it. You know; ‘I’m not confident in front of people and so I’m never going to be able to share the gospel’, or ‘I’m not very caring really and so I don’t have the skills to be a pastor’, or ‘I can’t run my own company, no-one in my family or in my neighbourhood has. We’re employees born and bred.’ Or ‘I can’t help decorate the church because I’ve never picked up a brush in my life.’
That is us limiting the effectiveness of our lives by living in moulds in which we don’t belong; through Jesus we are washed free from limitations like these. Limitations keep us from God’s goal for us! His goal is for us to inherit the Kingdom of God! You – a kingdom inheritor!!!
The other day Ruth and I were looking through the toy section of Woolworths trying to pick up some very late birthday presents and I was amused to discover a toy called “My First Kingdom” (it was like a medieval version of my first farm or garage or something). I thought the idea of this being some kids first kingdom was hilariously above the station of any kid whose parents or relatives shop in Woolworths! But it doesn’t seem so funny now. I am going to be a Kingdom inheritor along with you!

When writing to the Corinthian church he was dealing with people who are sometimes like us [if we care to admit it]. They were letting the world [which in all fairness they had just been saved from] convince them how clean God was able to get them. This was evident in the way they lived their lives.
Without even thinking it our lives sometimes say the same thing.
Sunday is cool but Friday is for going to the pub with mates and drinking too much. It’s not a problem, I’m just keeping it [life] real. It’s just what you do; it’s life.
I know I’m saved, thank God, and so even though I started a relationship adulterously [in God’s eyes] it’s OK now. There’s nothing for me to sort out with God because were square; He’ll bless me and make it right in the end.
I know that I belong to Christ, and that he can do all things [he saved me after all] but I’m still gay, it’s just the way I am. It’s not like a choice that I’ve made. I will ask God to heal cancer in a friend but I can’t be healed. I’ll just struggle on, hang in there until heaven.

This is what Jesus says: You are…
Washed – all our past has been cleansed, completely. It no longer lays claim to us or our tomorrow.
Sanctified – we have been claimed by God, He will delight in using me in His Kingdom.
Justified – I measure my life against Christ not the world! I may be gay but Christ is my strength and he will heal me. Pubs are good but closeness to Christ is my reason to stay sober on a Friday night when I am out, my mates need it!

We are washed, sanctified and justified for a reason; because we are in God’s Kingdom, we are His salvation alive in the world. Our lives are where the sacred meets the secular. Through us, the washed, others can experience a cleansing release that Christ alone offers.

This weeks prayer points:
1. Rejoice because we are cleansed and redeemed, washed clean through the blood of Jesus.
2. Remember that Jesus washed his disciples feet and that we are also called to service. Pray that that you will remain humble in your service for your family, your church and your community.
3. Just as light shines brighter in darkness, pray that those in need of Christ we notice what He has done in your life; how he has cleaned your act up.