Be Holy!

King Nebuchadnessar was in awe of the God of Daniel, and placed Daniel in a high position, and lavished many gifts on him. Daniel was now ruler over the entire province of Babylon. (Daniel 2:46-49) In the greatest mood swing of all time, King Nebuchadnessar, was in a fit if rage with Daniel’s assistant’s Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. (Daniel 3:16-19)

Sadly I have witnessed the same mood swings in people who have professed to be Godly people. For me this does not compute! The true reality of the believer’s life is one of stability, as expressed by Daniel, and his assistants. The crowd that stoned Stephen, were supposed to be religious people who served the same God who called Moses to lead his people out of Egypt, yet in fits of rage they stoned one of their own people. (Acts 7:54-60)

I am not surprised that the world is in such a violent state, when believers are willing to turn on each other. The Church has not left a legacy of peace, and alternatives, to the traumatised world that continually lashes out in rage. The media has reported an increase in violent crimes, and I heard the Opposition Leader call for more police to combat the situation. I am of the opinion that would be like putting a bandaid on a festering sore and saying it is healed.

It is time for the truth to come out, until people’s lives are changed through a personal relationship with Jesus, nothing will change! It must begin with believers being holy people and living the alternative that the world requires for true healing.


Matthew 5: 9 (NIV)
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

The Tour

The “Tour de France’ is over for another year. The streets of Paris were filled with cheers from the spectators as the cyclists began the final 50km circuit. The speed began at a moderate pace and then began to increase on each lap of the circuit until the last lap where there was a frantic push for the finish line. The sprinters had been shielded, and paced, by their team during the early stages of the race so that they could be in a position to give their all, in a final burst of energy to cross the finish line in first place. The best teams were those who worked together as a total unit, each person completing their allotted task within the team, to get their man home first.

This year’s ‘Tour’, was not only a great spectacle, it was a great race.



Psalm 63:7,8 (NIV)
Because you (God) are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.
My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

OLD v NEW

I often look at buildings and feel a little cold, not in the temperature sense, but they seem to lack character. Perhaps it is because I feel that new, is not always better. Old has a beauty, and warmth of it’s own that cannot be duplicated.

Grandma’s house was quite unique. The top half of the interior walls and the ceiling, were Hessian covered with wallpaper. As the air currents on the outside of the house moved, so did the walls. On one side the walls would balloon a little, and the opposing side would be sucked tight against the timber framework. You could say that the little cottage had real character.

We commenced our training at The Salvation Army’s Melbourne Training College on Victoria Parade. This was a lovely old building with plenty of character, and some called it ‘the real College’. At the commencement of our second year a ten-storey motel was purchased in Royal Parade, Parkville. Renovations were not completed prior to our Commissioning in the January of 1980. There was a loss of the sense of history of all who had trained in these walls, knelt in these halls, cried, rejoiced, and signed their Covenant in the Lord’s presence. We were charting new waters, and we were the foundation stones that the new character of this structures history was being built on.



Joshua 4:9 (NIV)
Joshua set up the twelve stones that had been in the middle of the Jordan at the spot where the priests who carried the Ark of the Covenant had stood. And they are there to this day.

How Life Has Changed!

We are still having difficulties with our Telephone & Internet connections. Some of the little things that are a part of life in this day and age are not available, until we get to the office. We do live in an electronic and digital era, where communication between people from one side of the world to the other is almost instantaneous. I recall as a young person, watching the Newsreel footage at the Cinema that was months old. How life has changed!

40 to 50 Years ago, people in our community felt safer and securer. The houses were not locked, day or night. If you wanted to drop something off to your friends, you could leave it on their kitchen table if they were not home. Such was the trust. Today that is not the case! Houses are locked like fortified castles. How life has changed!




1 Peter 1:14-16 (NIV)
As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."

Stay Connected!

The influencing spirit that caused the Pastor in the previous blog to walk away from his calling, through a grave moral error had in fact influenced another minister to exit his marriage prior to this situation. It had been creating havoc in the particular Corps (Church) where we were appointed, but found no welcoming committee or room to move when we arrived. The main focus was through women jockeying to be the one closest to the male leader. However, where leaders themselves had issues, and vulnerabilities in this area, the problem was multiplied and tragedies happened. In a bizarre twist, another congregation lost 3 ministers in a 2 Year period.

Young people entering ministry, be aware of the opposition to the Lord’s work. We are on the side of right, truth, and holiness, so hold firm to your calling. Remain connected with the Lord!


1 John 4:1,4 (NIV)
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

Stay Online!

Our Internet connection at home is still off line.

At one of the cities we were sent to, we arrived by a journey that involved plane and car, and within the first week I was amazed at the amount of sickness within the community. The locals did not seem to notice the gravity of their situation, as they had grown into it, and only saw it as the normal way of life. Here the Lord taught me a great many lessons and took me on a discovery tour that was amazing. I learnt and taught about ‘Faith’, in ways that opened my eyes to the whole world around me, and the varied responses of people. Assisting in my own journey, were believers from other fellowships of faith, whom God had orchestrated the merging of our paths. Also the previous few years were of vital importance, as I arrived knowing exactly who I was. It was also during this time that my ‘Prophetic’ ministry was at the most importance. The awareness of actual situations, were acutely heightened to degrees that I had not experienced previously.
A friend from another fellowship, was suffering with breathing difficulties, and was being treated for asthma, until being diagnosed with cancer in his air way. For some of the initial time his Pastor was being changed, and I was looking after him until the new Pastor arrived. There was great progress to full health and also opportunities that the Lord presented to him for ministry in hospital, and out side of hospital. Then the new Pastor arrived, and I stepped back to allow the ministry of the new Pastor to develop. After a year the health of my friend began to deteriorate, and finally he was hospitalised.
It was a Thursday, and I remember the events clearly. I was in the shower, and the Lord called me to visit my friend in Hospital, I then went to visit the Pastor at his manse. It was clear to me that the Pastor was in deep strife with his ministry, and his personal holiness. I read from Psalm 41, and the Pastor said that was interesting. I knew exactly what it meant, the Lord wanted to heal but the life of the Pastor was getting in the way as he was inviting other agents into their fellowship that were contrary to the Lord’s will and plan for that fellowship. My friend was promoted to his glorious reward in eternity, and sadly, the Pastor disgraced himself and his office through inappropriate moral choices.

Please do not go offline, from Jesus!


Exodus 15:26 (NIV)

“If you listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.”

Connected!

We have been experiencing some difficulties with the telephone at the Quarters, with people not able to ring, and we not able to ring out. It has been nice and quiet, without the phone ringing. The Internet connection has not been affected until yesterday when the phone problems were corrected at the exchange, and they forgot to turn the ADSL back on after their other work was completed.


I thank you Lord, for always being available and connected.


Psalm 54:2 (NIV)
Hear my prayer, O God; listen to the words of my mouth.

Records

As we move closer to the Olympics many of the competitors are in the final stages of training before their particular events. Behind the scenes are the many support people who make the events run smooth, and those who are in the telecommunications industry who will bring the events into our lounge rooms.

I do enjoy the mix of the athlete and technology, as the world record lines are produced to show the possibility of a new record being produced in an event.



1 John 5:11 (KJV)
And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

Prayer OK

I have endeavoured to blog each day, however over the last few weeks that has not been happening. It is not because I cannot find anything to blog about, but rather a little tiredness. This tiredness has not affected another more important discipline of prayer. There are some for whom I mention in prayer, daily, and this has not changed or diminished. So if you are reading this and you know that you are on that list, just rejoice in the Lord!


Ephesians 6:18 (NIV)
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Sport!!!

Britain turns on an exceptional day, with two truly amazing sporting features. The greatest F1GP that I have ever seen, was won by Lewis Hamilton at the rain soaked Silverstone Racing Circuit. It was a race that had drama, suspense, strategies, brilliant display of skills, and you felt that anyone on the lead lap could win. Truly amazing! Then there was the Tennis! With the rain delay in the third set, I headed off to bed at 2am. A marathon match with more brilliant skills on display for over five hours, concluding at 9 games to 7 in the fifth set, as Nadal is supreme, and holds the trophy.



Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Hair Today Gone Tomorrow!

Today has been a fine day, and the strong wind are past for a while. So I thought that I would checkout the Hairdresser again. As there were no persons waiting, I jumped to the head of the que. The Hairdresser was amazed at the number of people on the previous days, and had felt sure that it would have been a quiet time with the rain and blustery winds as she arrived at work each day.

Sunday the Scripture for me to preach from is Genesis Chapters 2 & 3, which is always a great subject. The Deceiver, Sin, and Judgement..

E.M. Bounds wrote; ‘The devil is not to be submitted to, but to be renounced as a lawless criminal, dethroned as a usurper, and conquered as a rebel. The Son of God is given this mission, to dethrone and conquer the devil.’



1 John 3:8b (NIV)
The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.

What A Day!

Today has been quite cool, with strong winds and rain. So I thought that it might be a good day for a haircut. My thoughts were dashed when I arrived at the hairdressers, only to see an abundance of mothers with their children. I felt sure that with today’s weather conditions the kid’s on holidays would have stayed indoors. On the other hand it must have been an opportune day to round up the kids and get them clipped. Straight back to the office and ended up putting in a solid 9 hours work.




Daniel 7:9-10 (NIV)
"As I looked, "thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened.