Aug | 30 | Lord of all waters

PEACE

Lord of all waters

Jonah 2:5-7
The waters surrounded me, even to my soul; the deep closed around me; Weeds were wrapped around my head. I went down to the moorings of the mountains; the earth with its bars closed behind me forever; yet You have brought up my life from the pit, O Lord, my God. "When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord; And my prayer went up to You, Into Your holy temple.” NKJV

My present window looks along the Kirkcaldy esplanade with a wide view of the open mouth of the ever ship swallowing Firth of Forth. In the distance, Arthurs seat waits for the King, whilst the white dry Ski slopes of Midlothian, the largest in Europe, all lying in the shadow of the Pentland hills, from this side of the water, especially in the fading light of this late summer evening, looks like the gooey running of dropped guano from an awkward Guillemot with diarrhea, who didn’t quite make it to the bathroom of the sea on time.

The late balmy evening drew me out and as I walked home back along the esplanade a police van seemed to be waiting for me on the promenade, its double eyed headlights all a blaring. As I walked past it, one of the officers nonchalantly got out of the van and then, slowly followed by the door slamming other, both descended down the sea wall steps toward the tide out waters. I looked and saw a woman already walking, wading quadriceps high into the darkness of the cold, cold waters. The police started to run.



Leaning over the sea wall, I expected to see a semi-naked bay watch foot pounding of the sand, as one of the officers ripped off his stab vest, threw his walkie-talkie and all the other batman utility belted accoutrements of his profession onto the floor and dived into the black waves toward the women who had obviously been up to her neck in it, for a long time before tonight. But no. As she now started swimming away from them into the foot high water surface fog, all they did was stay inches from the toe touching waters and shout her name. I prayed. I wanted to plunge head long down the beach myself and try and reach her, and shout ‘You coward Wallies’ to the policemen as I sped past them and attempted to pull her back to the shore but I thought better of it as I suspected they might have rugby tackled me to the ground before I made it to the waves. Maybe one lunatic a night was enough for them to cope with?

Another police car arrived, its blue flashing lights signaling the human catastrophe unfolding in the blackness below. Minutes went by. Five. Ten. The shouting on the sea shore continued and I could no longer see the bobbing head of the weeping woman in the water. Fifteen minutes, and another police car and then, like a shining water knight, the Kinghorn lifeboat came speeding into view, its firing flares lighting up the sky and illuminating the waters below. The searchlight eventually found the body. I could hear the radio chatter. Calm; matter of fact; tired. Apparently, she was conscious. Cold but breathing.

Soon the lifeboat brought her ashore, with now eighth men carrying her on a stretcher up the beach toward the waiting ambulance. The flares had drawn a watching crowd who were by now all peering into the deepening darkness to see what they could see, whilst high in the distant skies, planes from Edinburgh airport winged their way to the moonlit clouds and below them, the largest of Ocean liners slid slowly across the horizon, its steaming lights lost in the array of another multitude of party deck illumination, as thousands of older people prepared to put on another 7lbs of personal cargo around their already button bursting waists. Meanwhile, the pubs at my back poured more drinks for the already drunk and the curry houses heaved with poppodom curried madness. Tonight, a relieved family would be informed of a depressed daughter plucked from the waves, whilst a Chinese woman would pluck the eyes out of her nephew before throwing herself down a well as Syria was bathing its children in flaming napalm once more and closing down the nervous systems of other mothers with unseen, unsmelt malevolence whilst America prepared to throw its tomahawks at the wall. And the world creaked out another turn on its well worn out and increasingly wobbly axis.

Even so, the King reigns over the seas! The seas lift themselves up and roar. The seas rage and consume, but the Lord of the seas holds them in check. Even the moon, God’s luminescent hound handler, holds daily the ever straining dog tides on the tight leash of pulling gravity; regularly letting them out and pulling them back in again, just as the Sovereign Lord decrees. Yes, the King reigns over the seas! Over all seas political, over all seas social, over all seas psychological, over all seas financial, over all seas cultural, over all the seas of terror, dark and black, over all seas full of skulking monsters all scurrying about the depths with tube filled death. Over all seas everywhere, at all times, in the heights above and the mountains below, the King of ages rules over all.

Tonight then, lay you down in peace and sleep for God, your Sovereign Lord reigns and rules and works out His glorious plan. Your prayers are heard, and according to His sovereign goodness, His servants are already on with wing to do their Masters bidding for you. The lifeboat from the Kings strength is on its way. The flares of God all searching light are seeking the lost in the darkness of the waters, the beam of His redemption spotlighting the heart, and from the edges of His ways, He still calls out His sheep by name.

The King reigns over the seas.

Listen:- By awesome deeds in righteousness You will answer us, O God of our salvation, You who are the confidence of all the ends of the earth, And of the far-off seas; Who established the mountains by His strength, Being clothed with power; You who still the noise of the seas, The noise of their waves, And the tumult of the peoples. Psalms 65:5-7 NKJV

Pray: - the noise of the seas, The noise of their waves, And the tumult of the peoples. Psalms 65:5-7 NKJV Pray: Blessed are You O Lord our God, King over all creation, who daily does us good despite all our continuing madness. Go out O Lord on the waters, go out on my waters. Find me, rescue me, save me, deliver me and bring me home at last to the safe shores of Your goodness, even into the great hall of Your fire hearted warmth of Your burning love for me. Amen and amen.

If this Everyday Bible Insight has helped you - then do please share it! 
Also, why not go to your devices iTunes store (or other) and write us a great review - 5 Stars of course!

Did you know that we are preaching from each of the 66 Books of the Holy Bible in the 66 Most Influential Cities of the 250 Nations of the World? That's 16,500 cities which will hear a solid prophetic message from each book of the Bible over the next 25 years! Do you want to be part of this? Then please go to www.66Cities.TV to find out how.







  

Dec | 21 | Rhythmic Fluidity

Key Word:- PEACE

Title:- Rhythmic Fluidity

Psalm 55:22 
Cast your burden on the LORD, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.
 
Chopin’s, “Funeral March” in B flat minor, is embedded in our psyche as a sombre plodding tone that clothes our very inner self with grey and dreariness as we trudge towards the open grave. It's not the nicest piece of music to greet the day with. Thank God it wasn't the only piece of music he wrote!

Some days are like a death march though. No matter how hard you rebuke and bind the mail box in the name of Jesus, the bills keep coming in. Even if you're getting sick from eating too much humble pie, your spouse is still angry with you. You don't want to go to school because none of the kids like you, and neither do the teachers, but you're the Principal, so you've to get up and go anyway! Life and certain days seem to sometimes possess within them the B flat trudging rhythm of the death march, don’t they? And so with deep sighs and heads down, we eventually cave in to the inevitable, depressive death of ourselves! “Da Dt….D Da.. Da Da Dah D Dt… Da Dah…”

However friends, it doesn't have to be that way. Even in the most difficult of circumstances, instead of marching to the rhythm of death, we can march to the sound of the rhythm of life. It can be as simple as making sure we gaze outwards to Jesus and then handle all things we are involved in with the lightest of touches. This too shall pass you see? Let the Lord take care of a few issues eh? Shall we give them over to Him?

‘Chopin, Polish composer and pianist, made his debut at the age of eight. As a performer, Chopin revolutionized the technique of pianoforte-playing, turning the hands outward and favouring a light, responsive touch. His compositions for piano, which include two concertos and other works with orchestra, are characterized by great volatility of mood, and rhythmic fluidity.’ Yes indeed, Chopin favored a Light responsive touch! Do you get it?

Today, hand some stuff over to Jesus, say to him “here you are Lord, this is killing me! Please take care of it for me.” Don’t get too serious about things even the most important of things! Have a light responsive touch. Look to Jesus, and then let go of a few things, listen to the Holy Spirit, let Him tell you when to pick it up, make that phone call, nudge that person, address that issue. Let God's rhythm of life flow through you today, adopt the lightest of touches, breathe deeply, relax and live! When we do this dear friends, when we have the lightest of touches, both today's destinations and tomorrow's departures, will all be life itself to us!

Listen:- Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left. Isaiah 30:21

Pray:- Lord God , let me have a lightest of touch on the silliest and most serious of things that present themselves in my life today. In Jesus name, amen.

 

Nov | 16 | Three Answers To Envy

Key Word:- PEACE

Title:- Three Answers To Envy

Mark 15:9,10 But Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.

Envy has been described as a 'painful or resentful awareness of another's traits, status, abilities, or situation, joined with the desire to possess those things, or dispossess the owners of them.' Nasty eh? Very NASTY!
Over the centuries 'envy' has been described as one of the 'Seven BIG deadly sins', simply because of the seen and felt devastation it brings with it, seemingly both here and some may say, in the hereafter. I introduce these two little words, 'here and hereafter', to give us some Biblical and necessary grounds of context. Remember, there is this life and there is the after life; there is the temporal and there is the eternal; there is a now and there is the later; there is mortality and there is immortality. Need I go on?

So the Bible presents us with a distinct contextual contrast for us to understand both this world and the battle against envy. In effect, God says we must, “experience the now, in the context of that which is to come,” and that will help us in the battle against envy. Now don't get me wrong, this is not some spin on Eastern Karmic perceptions, where you either glibly and painfully accept all social station as either your Karmic destiny or some false reality to be simply ignored! No, it’s not that. Neither is it some religious 'opiate for the masses', to try and sedate their suffering and deprive them of their true happiness in this world. No, it’s neither Karmic shackles nor religious Opium induced coma, no sir, this is a very clear and very wonderful Biblical context, for the Bible says “there is a more permanent life to come; so live in light of that and it will help you to become more than a conqueror with respect to this most destructive disease called envy.”

However, the current western coaching guru says, “If you see someone better off than yourself and you wish to be like them, then improve yourself. Emulate the good and profitable things they do, so that you too may attain to what they have. Whatever that may be. After all, this is what God wants for you: Material Blessing!” Now of course, that statement by the western coaching Guru started well, but ended in the last phrase with the foundation of every Western self help tool and health, wealth and prosperity message you will ever hear, and frankly, I don't buy it friends. I just don't buy it! Our goal you see, is not material blessing.

Sure, it’s OK for us to improve ourselves and others, even though social equality is not the Christian goal either! Also I mean, c'mon, the truth is that with material improvement, social equality is rarely the true goal; self-improvement always takes precedence over social equality and the main problem we have with self improvement is that it is often to the detriment of others, which in turn, produces envy in those who do not have, and envy then grows ever bigger and like a growling mastiff, is ever and always found crouching at their door.

As a side note, I do wonder if whenever the sins of greed and repression have led to the robbery of the poor, that it is then imperative for us, the Kings of the Kingdom, to take social action for justice for the poor? For surely this Kingdom of God must be a reign of righteousness and justice? Ah maybe in this side issue, now we’re getting there! Our context must always be the Kingdom, the Kingdom which is eternal and even now touches our temporal footsteps in envy killing justice. For you see, in the Kingdom of God the poor are always catered for.

Amidst all the envy that will undoubtedly arise in our hearts at some time, from my meanderings of today, may I leave you with just three key words, three weapons, if you will, to help you in the battle:

First of all, CALLING. What has God called you to do? This calling may involve the sacrifice of those things that others find common place and necessary to happiness in this life. However, this calling may also mean the acquiring of those things which some people might find excessive and unnecessary to the enjoyment of this life. Who knows? It's between you and the Lord. The point is this: What is your calling? What does God want you to do? It is that calling within you, which you are accountable for. Follow this calling to the full and it will help to keep you from envy. Do not compare yourself with others, for you are fulfilling your own destiny with the Divine when you are following your own personal calling!

Secondly, CONTEXT. We live in a world that is passing away; a world of fleeting shadows. We sojourn through it in a body which is daily wearing out and pushing ever slowly on along the plains of pain, where we most certainly find ourselves 'nightly pitching our moving tent a days march nearer home.' It's all dust and air friends, everything. Bear this in mind. So give both your hearts desire and your current but passing situation, the right context to express itself which is in fact, this passing context of dust and air! This CONTEXT of rust and rot will always help keep you from envy.

Lastly, KINGDOM. Jesus was very clear on this, that whatever we do it should be done in the pursuance and in the eternal and permanent context of His Kingdom. When we live in the context of the Kingdom, we can be fully assured that on the testimony and stated word of Jesus, yes indeed, "all that we need shall be freely given to us." We have therefore no need of envy, for what has been needed has been given, and indeed, will be given!

Finally, in addition to these three words, in a very real sense we need to know this last terrible truth: Envy, will always at last give up Christ to be crucified, envy will always sacrifice others. So then I leave you with this terrible thought and three answers to envy today; 'Calling, Context and Kingdom.' He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

Listen:- Do not let your heart envy sinners, But be zealous for the fear of the LORD all the day; For surely there is a hereafter, And your hope will not be cut off. Proverbs 23:17-18 .

Pray:- Dear Jesus, let me emulate You. Help me to be content in the pursuance of my calling, within the furtherance of Your kingdom, to the eternal betterment of myself and all whom I touch in this context of dust and air, in Your great name I pray, Amen.
 

Sep | 07 | R & R & R

Key Word:- PEACE

Title:- R & R & R

1 Corinthians 15:9,10 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Rest and relaxation are two of the most basic requirements of physical and spiritual health. Indeed, growth is dependent upon it. Ask any body builder and they shall tell you that one of the chief components of building muscle mass is, believe it or not, rest! Pump iron, rip those muscles, eat the right fuel and rest.

One look at the life of the apostle Paul, who it seems is often a far more attractive role model for the driven evangelical than Jesus, presents us with what us ‘people of the pew’ would often regard as a superhuman saint, suffering ferociously for the cause of Christ, who like some incessant and pounding wave, is constantly throwing himself with holy abandon, again and again, against the gates of hell. It’s a hard act to follow. Believe me!

Now without question, lest I offend some of you, I do regard my brother Paul, the least of all the apostles, to be the greatest of them all, both in word and deed. I wonder if a part of Paul also felt the same? Anyhow, I would not even consider measuring myself against his stature in any way. Paul is one of life’s awesome individuals, totally dedicated and driven mostly and magnificently by the grace of God in the face of Christ Jesus. I do not say this in any secret cynicism or hidden criticism, on the contrary, the measure of anointing and grace upon Paul was awesome! He knew his calling, his destiny and with confidence could say “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7-8. Friends, that is incredible. I hope to have that knowledge one day.

Yet I tell you, I refuse to listen to Pastors with pension plans, plump pastoriums and packed wallets, who whilst dripping with gold and stylish suits, exhort the faithful to follow the example of Paul. When they start to follow the great pull of Paul, and bear his scars and wear his torn clothes and stinky sandals, then in one of my most insane moments, I might just consider doing likewise. Maybe. Until then fine Pastor, please, just keep it shut.

Now to you my dedicated and tired brethren. Do you know your calling and your destiny? Do you know the measure of your gifting and of your anointing? Do you know where you stand in the battle line of Jesus? Do you know your orders? I suspect the answer for many of you is, probably “no, not really.” I ask these questions, for it has been my observation that the majority of the saints do not have a clue about these vital things, not a clue! Sadly, one of the reasons why they don’t, is that their local church has robbed them of the three R’s; that is, Rest, Relaxation and Reflection. To find out these things for yourself, to get off that guilty treadmill, to forego the weekly whip of words that bleeds your tired back once more to walk in ways you are not called, takes prayerful quiet and reflective listening and I tell you the truth; you will not reflect without rest and relaxation. Indeed, without ALL of these three R’s in your life, whilst working on the Master's vine or slaving in the vineyard of some Pastor’s own making, you shall wither and waste away.

On the other hand my esteemed brethren, if Paul’s mantle has become yours, then God help you, anoint you and enable you like He did the great apostle himself. If however, Paul’s mantle has not fallen from heaven upon your quaking shoulders, then don’t you dare try and take it up and don’t let any leader intent on his own glory, try and lay it on you. You can’t do it! Instead, today, tomorrow and for the REST of your days, get with God and find out your own duty, destiny and place in the battle line of Jesus. Today be Holy. REST, RELAX, REFLECT!

Listen:- Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves. Mark 6:30-32

Pray:- Lord, I want to be like Paul in knowing that I have completed the orders You have for me and have been found both faithful and fruitful. Help me to make time to find this out and so be refreshed for the work You have for me in the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

Aug | 09 | Avoiding Elephantine Excreta

Key Word:- PEACE

Title:- Avoiding Elephantine Excreta
 
Isaiah 43:5-7 Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, And gather you from the west; I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' And to the south, 'Do not keep them back!' Bring My sons from afar, And My daughters from the ends of the earth — Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.”
 
Imagine you were born into a family of elephant keepers in India, yet in your heart you wanted to be a doctor. So each day, after shovelling out the elephant’s compound, when the stars came out each night, you would sit down under a bright moon, open your books and study, study, study, until one day, you take an exam, get a scholarship and get into medical college and persevere until eventually you graduate and become an M.D. In Western terms you would have aspired and achieved, overcome and conquered even, against incredible odds. In Western terms you would be a hero!

However, believe it or not, in Indian culture you would not have bettered yourself, oh no! On the contrary, you would be creating terrible karma! “After all,” they might explain, “you were created to be an elephant keeper. Be a great elephant keeper in this life and maybe in the next life you could be a doctor, but to change the course of your destiny in this life is just plain wrong and will have terrible karmic consequences for you in your next re-incarnation! Be vary careful because next time around my Indian friend you may be re-birthed into something the elephant steps on!” Now, to our Western thinking this is absurd bondage, but to millions of Indians however, this is a way of living, looking and being. DO NOT aspire beyond your present situation!

In the West most of us have occupations. Something we do which occupies our time. If we are very fortunate, we may enjoy what we do. However, we mostly do the thing because it brings home the bacon, pays the bills and keeps us out of mischief! In the West, rarely do people now claim to have a vocation, you know, literally something they are called to do. Oh, you do hear about people ‘called’ to the ministry, and I believe that, indeed, God help the poor congregation and the poor person who engages in ministry without such a calling! The rest of us regard this kind of calling however, this kind of vocation as obviously something set apart, spiritual and holy. Of course it is! However, let me tell you this: “if God has called you to be a car mechanic, if that is your vocation, your calling, your pursued destiny, then that too is equally as spiritual and holy. EQUALLY! There is no difference for in either case, you must glorify God and experience His fellowship and enjoy Him in it! Be happy! Enjoy your calling!

Now, if you are unhappy at work, then rather than settling for that hateful little existence and your increasing fantasies of escape and vacation, start thinking about your VOCATION! Maybe there is more peace and glory in fulfilling a vocation rather than doing an occupation? Think about it! Maybe it’s better to seek out and occupy your earthly destiny rather than simply occupy your allotted timeslot until it’s time to begin ‘pushing up the daisies?”

Now having said that, though I do acknowledge that there is a peace to be found in doing what we are called to do, gifted to do, delighted to do, I also believe there is even more peace to possess in just, well in just being! Archibald Macleish in his poem about what a poem should be (Ars Poetica), sums it up nicely by saying “A poem should not mean, But be.” The most peace we could have, the most glory we could possibly give to God is by simply being who we are! I am not saying we should stop ‘becoming’, oh no, we need to keep aspiring, possessing and becoming’ however, we need to become primarily more of who we are, not who they want us to be, or what our parents wanted us to be, oh no! We should at all costs, for our peace and God’s glory, be who we are and do what we are called to do. I have observed that these two conduits of peace flow together side by side.

So today, if you are tired of shovelling out elephantine excreta, then maybe you should begin to seek out your vocation rather than be frustrated in your occupation and maybe, you should also start being who you truly are? So let me ask you right now. “Who are you? What is your name? What are you doing here? Why?” There is an aroma of change in the air. Can you smell it?

Listen:- Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.” John 21:20-22

Pray:- Lord. Speak to me my own true name. Reveal it to me Lord and show me who I am in You and who You created ME to be, help me to BE and then help me to DO. In Jesus name, Amen.

Jul | 27 | His Way of Walking

Key Word:- PEACE

Title:- His Way of Walking

Genesis 3:8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day

So this is interesting. God is heard before He is seen, when He walks in the garden of His making. So we need to ask the question, what sound does God make when He walks in our garden? What are the audible indicators of His approach? Adam and Eve new the sound of every creature that walked the woods of their abode and God’s arrival was distinct among His creation. How can we learn to mark the sound of His appearing in the garden of our hearts, hear Him walking in the grounds of our spirit, smell Him in Freesia’d fragrance of the wet rains of our troubled souls? Indeed, what does His knock at the door of our soul sound like? We should know. Shouldn’t we?

This is more important than we realize. You see I am a man of words. I love them. I expect to hear God speak in words. I even believe in the primacy and power of the proclaimed Word! Yet God speaks in other ways as well and I miss them. He speaks in quiet looks, in careful colours, old friends, muses in movies, in knowing sounds, and in oh so many other ways. Oh, me thinks we all might miss so much, so very much indeed concerning the voice of the Lord.

Be sure friends this particular arrival in our text for tonight was not a voice, but a sound. The voice came later in searching pleas for the shamed and hidden Adam and Eve. Before the voice though there came simply the sound of His arrival and it was that time of day, amidst all the other sounds that this one sound was known and expected. I say again, do you know the sound of your Saviour walking in your garden?

I suspect it was the best of walking, you know, barefoot walking, His spirit, soul and flesh touching the naked earth. It was a knowing touch, a communicating contact of holy footprints, it was evidence of His being there; it was choice walking, it was weighty walking that only true uprightness brings and yet light walking, you know, enough to tread the storm tossed waves of water and not sink, for this walking is Divine my friend, this walking is distinct! This walk I wonder, was not to the accompanying rumble of thunder and lightning crack, no trumpet proclamation here of approaching judgment and doom, but maybe a walking accompanied with such a gentle singing, that it trembled open the revealing leaves before it. Maybe it was the sound of tinkling water, a flute or singing harp that paints in our hearts a water's brook, caressing smooth pebbles backed by the sound of a distant deepness and the faint murmur of a giant powerful gushing waterfall. Ah yes, He leads me beside still waters. Ah yes, deep calls to deep at the noise of Your waterfalls……

Maybe this kind of walking is a walking that carries something with it. For God is no unpleasant guest, He always arrives with something good. The best of bread, the sweetest of wine and the choicest of dainties on which we might dine. Maybe the swish of His picnic basket is also heard amongst the trees? Yes, He prepares a table for us even in the middle of our enemies.

Surely then, the approaching sound of God in the good garden of the regenerate soul, is the sound of such a walking? The sound that brings with it the singing favour of fresh food and rest, comfort, comfort and of joy, the best. The best, the best, the very best indeed.Tell me, have you heard Him walking in the gardens of your spirit just lately?

Listen:- The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah3:17 

 

Pray: I did not expect you to arrive this way, but Lord I look and wait today, for the sound of goodness  arriving in my poor garden. Amen.

 

Jul | 26 | Sensible Selfishness

Key Word:- PEACE


Title:- Sensible Selfishness

Song of Songs 1:5,6 I am dark, but lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, Like the tents of Kedar, Like the curtains of Solomon. Do not look upon me, because I am dark, Because the sun has tanned me. My mother's sons were angry with me; They made me the keeper of the vineyards, But my own vineyard I have not kept.

Even the pre-flight presentations are now mostly presented on video. The fun of the small pantomime at the front of the air craft is almost gone, so let us share some memories of those happy times! For me it was always the shock of making sure that, should the oxygen masks fall, even if you are sat next to a small child, even the darling of your life, you must put your mask on first. Even if you are sat next to your wife, your very heart and soul, you must put your mask on first. In fire, flood, crumpling metal and tightest of lungs, you must take care of yourself first, so you can then take better care of others.

Evangelical Christianity does a lot of travelling on guilt trips. The pressure from the pulpit to be involved in this or that ministry can be immense. The pastor's local heroes are of course those dedicated souls who run themselves ragged and still smile for Jesus. Until one day, they wake up, look in the mirror and see panda eyes and cheeks draped like heavy curtains weighing down their now meager smiles. The pastor often does not fair much better; you know? Bitter, fatter, balder. You know it's the truth! In this respect, in the end we are responsible for our own vineyards, yet the church and especially the ‘go-getting’ Pastor, in all his busyness, must beware not to destroy the vineyards of its members. Think about that.

Spanish poet Antonio Machado says in his poem 'The Wind One Brilliant Day':-

The wind, one brilliant day, called
To my soul with an odour of jasmine.

‘In return for the odour of my jasmine,
I’d like all the odour of your roses.’

‘I have no roses; all the flowers
in my garden are dead

‘Well then, I’ll take the withered petals
and the yellow leaves and the waters of the fountain.’

The wind left. And I wept. And I said to myself;
‘What have you done with the garden that was entrusted to you?’

Listen:- Jesus said to him, “'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbour as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40

Pray:- Lord, walk with me in my garden in the cool of my day, hold me in my desolation and let us together, begin again to make something beautiful, amen.

Jul | 09 | Secret Ways & Hidden Paths

Key Word:- PEACE

Title:- Secret Ways & Hidden Paths

Psalm 77:19 Your way was in the sea, Your path in the great waters, And Your footsteps were not known.

I don’t know if you noticed, but in the trilogy production of Tolkien’s Books, ‘The Lord of the Rings’ there is an awful lot of imagery around doorways. It begins with the door to a hobbit house and ends with a shot of that very same door. In addition to this, the story is full of secret passageways traversing up and over mountains and even through them. I particularly remember the hidden door of ‘Durin’ which led to ‘Khazad-dum,’ the domain of the dwarves, the doorway of which could only been seen in moon light. The second film portrayed most fearfully, both the mystique and danger of approaching these particular doors, for they had monsters outside and death inside!

Yet, I remember Browning’s children’s poem, ‘The Pied Piper of Hamblin’ and find the abduction of the children of Brunswick to be far more malevolent than many things in Tolkien’s Trilogy.

And to Koppelberg Hill his steps addressed,
And after him the children pressed;
Great was the joy in every breast.
“He never can cross that mighty top!
He's forced to let the piping drop,
And we shall see our children stop!”'
When, lo, as they reached the mountain-side,
A wondrous portal opened wide,
As if a cavern was suddenly hollowed;
And the Piper advanced and the children followed,
And when all were in to the very last,
The door in the mountain-side shut fast.

NOW THAT’S SCARY!
Friends it’s not only the nasty that have their secret pathways. You will be pleased to know that God also has His hidden ways, His secret paths, His ways of escape, His places of refuge. Ask Noah about the door being shut on the Ark, ask Obadiah how he hid and protected the hundred prophets, ask David, ask Moses, ask Paul, ask a thousand others, even the millions of Israel who in a desert place came to the waters edge and worried and wept to find themselves boxed in by water and mountains and an angry oncoming Pharaoh. Worried that was, until God opened up a prepared way, a secret and hidden path, a way not previously known, beneath the foaming waters where they all crossed over on dry land!

Today friends, as you face your violent seas and your enormous mountains, know this, and know this for sure; though you might not see it, before you yet, lays a prepared path, a hidden way of escape, a secret place of refuge. At the right time it shall be revealed to you. Look for it. Ask God for clarity of sight. Look for God’s secret paths, look for God’s hidden ways.

Listen:- No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

Pray:- Lord, mighty Master, reveal to me your secret ways, your dry path through the raging seas and the firmness on which to place my following and fearful feet.


 

© 2012 Victor Robert Farrell

Jun | 01 | Of Root & Fruit & Rejoicing in The Midst of Rabies

Dream Word – PEACE

Philippians 1:15-18 Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice. NKJV

Of Root & Fruit & Rejoicing in The Midst of Rabies

One of my favourite authors and one of my favourite books is Larry Crabb’s, ‘The Safest Place On Earth.’ The title is a prayerful and practical desire for what the church community should be, instead of the disappointing caricature which it currently is. The more I read the New Testament, the more I witness the stupidity of smelly lost sheep, the more I get butted up my own rear end when bending down to help others, then the more I believe, at least this side of heaven, that the church is more often than not one of the most dangerous places on the planet! How on earth can we rejoice amidst such a dishevelled community, so full of sharp knives and biting and devouring teeth?

Even if it is the pretentious proclamation of the Gospel which is rooted in envy, grown in selfish ambition and flowering in strife, for the sole purpose of adding further suffering to a lonely, chained and beat up old apostle, our text for tonight gives us an astonishing example of rejoicing in the midst of rabies. So, for those of you out there who are perplexed with the madness of the mob at church, here are three rabies shots for you tonight.

The first rabies shot is an open-eyed acknowledgement that from our text for tonight, we see that Christians were the practitioners of this particularly foul Gospel proclamation! Paul does not say that this foul practice is from the mouths and hearts of unbelievers, therefore,‘that’s understandable’ therefore, ‘it makes it more easy to bear!’ No! He acknowledges that these are believers. Envious, selfish, ambitious believers who are out to do him harm, and my friend, if you think they aren’t still about today, well just drop me a line and I’ll put you in touch with a whole bunch of ‘em! I wonder if the highly lauded, much sought after, Chief Executive Office of Senior Pastor has done more to exemplify and proliferate this self-protecting, self-providing, self-aggrandising, career-minded and envious attitude, than any other Protestant practice in history. The problem has always been with us, but our present church structures greatly aid this abominable practice of envious Gospel preaching. Change the structure, salve the practice and you just might help solve the problem. Somewhat. Maybe.

The second rabies shot from this text is that though Paul was hurt, yes even though Paul was harmed, he still rejoiced in the Gospels proliferation despite the rotten root reasons of its then proclamation! Now that's remarkable! His heart was for the seeding of faith in the ears of unbelievers. His heart was for the preaching of the Gospel to anyone and to everyone, and for him, even though it was being delivered from the vicious tongues of braying donkeys, it was never the less, being delivered. This made him rejoice! What a focus! What a remarkable attitude to have!

Which brings us to our final rabies shot from this text, and that is, an acknowledgement of the goodness of God in the amazing power of the proclaimed Gospel. Yes, even if the root of the proclamation is bad, the fruit of the proclamation can be good. Not only is that amazing, but it accounts for so much seeming blessing from the most unlikeliest of sources. It seems that God will have His way and have His church gathered in to Himself, no matter what, no matter why, no matter who!

It is worthy of note that from our text we can see that the fruit of proclamation does not necessarily reflect the root of delivery, either in person or in practice. Take note of that tonight dear Chrstian, and if you can, rejoice!

Listen: - Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7 NKJV

Pray:- So Lord, grant to me this focus of living, this clarity of uncluttered thought, this practical ability of prayer and supplication and then please, lay on me, in rivers of gold Oh my God, even the all surpassing peace of Your promises in Jesus Christ our Lord, in His great name I ask it, amen.

                                                                                                           

May | 14 | Eretz-Yisrael

Dream Word – PEACE

Deuteronomy 1:6-8 "The Lord our God spoke to us in Horeb, saying: “You have dwelt long enough at this mountain. Turn and take your journey, and go to the mountains of the Amorites, to all the neighbouring places in the plain, in the mountains and in the lowland, in the South and on the seacoast, to the land of the Canaanites and to Lebanon, as far as the great river, the River Euphrates. See, I have set the land before you; go in and possess the land which the Lord swore to your fathers — to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob — to give to them and their descendants after them.” NKJV

Eretz-Yisrael

It was at midnight, tonight in 1948, that The Land of Israel officially became a nation. Happy Birthday Israel and may the Almighty, protect and prosper you and may also the Palestinian Diaspora, be provided for by the rest of the world and their near Arab neighbours in particular. This is an easy blessing and this is an easy prayer, ah but the working out of this, from old and broken buildings, from open wounds and broken hearts, from bitter brows and clenched fists, will amidst the fierce contentions, around the cup of trembling take continued miracles, all magnificent in magnitude.

The city centre of this continued cup of trembling is of course Jerusalem, the most contended for city on the face of the planet and of course we all pray for the peace of Jerusalem, even while others continue to fight for a piece of Jerusalem. Lest I be misunderstood, may I say right now dear friends, that as a Christian, tonight I stand with Israel.

We Christians are people of the eternal, book of books. From this we learn that our homeland is above and that our capital city, the New Jerusalem is the free mother of us all. We also learn however, that God gave this earthly real estate, this 'Eretz-Yisrael', to the Jewish people. If we Christians deny this, then we must also deny the rest of the great eternal book of books. Of course we cannot. So, reading the eternal book of books, it seems to me then, that the Almighty still has business to do with the Jews. So then, as a Christian, tonight I stand with Israel. Yes, as I write tonight, the not so subtle rise of Anti-Semitism continues to manifest itself in the political correctness of the popular media, and shuns all who stand with the nation State of Israel. So let me be very clear, that as a Christian, tonight I stand with Israel.

Now, standing with anyone does not mean blind support of their actions that might be both hurtful to themselves or to others but rather, and in particular with Israel, it means a reminding them, even a remembering to them, of the purpose of possessing that good and blessed, that meaningful and merciful place into which the Almighty has brought them into once more. For example, the 1948 Israeli declaration of Independence says many wonderful things and especially that, ‘THE STATE OF ISRAEL will be open for Jewish immigration and for the Ingathering of the Exiles; it will foster the development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants; it will be based on freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel; it will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex; it will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, language, education and culture; it will safeguard the Holy Places of all religions; and it will be faithful to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.’ As a Christian, tonight I stand with the nation state of Israel regarding this declaration and remind them of both the power and attractiveness of it.

It is my prayer, that Israel turns to their Messiah, my Saviour Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Prince of Peace. HE is Israel's only hope, HE is OUR only hope. In this prayer and in this hope, as a Christian, tonight I stand with Israel.

Aside of our national and personal declarations, be they ever so lovely, the eternal book of books, also tells us of the declarations of God and of the great enemy of our souls. Unfortunately, from this dreadful story, it would appear that hard times, even the hardest of times, are yet to come upon us all and especially upon Israel. As a Christian, tonight I stand with Israel, in all their coming troubles, believing that they will turn to Jesus.

Lastly, may I say that the New Israel of Old, geographically and in every other way, can do nothing but build upon the past.  However, many of you tonight reading this have been born again by the Spirit of God, your sins have been forgiven and you have been set free from your past! In this way, you have a better land and a far, far better future than Israel of old, even that Israel of more recent birth. Indeed, the future is that blessed Beulah land which you can move into and begin to build upon right now! Black or white, male or female, Jew or Gentile, former Hindu, Scotsman or Muslim, you are my brother, you are my sister, and we belong to the Jerusalem above which is free and the mother of us all. As a Christian, tonight I stand with you in Jesus, and in Jesus, let us build upon our future for unlike Eretz-Yisrael, we have no command and no need to build upon our past!

Listen: - I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go into the house of the Lord." Our feet have been standingWithin your gates, O Jerusalem! Jerusalem is built as a city that is compact together, where the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, to the Testimony of Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord. For thrones are set there for judgment,The thrones of the house of David. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls,Prosperity within your palaces." For the sake of my brethren and companions,I will now say, "Peace be within you." Because of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good. Psalms 122 NKJV.

Pray:-O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to Thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height,
In ancient times didst give the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to Thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them vict’ry o'er the grave.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to Thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Dayspring from on high
And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death's dark shadows put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to Thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come
And open wide our heav'nly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to Thee, O Israel


                                                                                                         

May | 07 | Noisy,Nasty Neighbours

Dream Word – PEACE

Psalms 120:5-6 Woe is me, that I dwell in Meshech, that I dwell among the tents of Kedar! My soul has dwelt too long with one who hates peace. NKJV

Noisy, Nasty Neighbours

There is probably nothing more soul destroying, nothing more profoundly disconcerting to peace at home or peace in the home, than noisy, nasty neighbours. My wife is always telling me off for having the audacity to look people in the eye when I walk along the street and saying, “Hello.” Her reason for this is the almost consistent lack of reciprocation, “They just don’t care,” says she, “Well I do!” says I, and so the very next stranger I will say “Good morning and God bless you!” My wife does however have a point, after all, I was reading just today under the headline of “Silence or Civility,” that a growing problem in the United Kingdom is that of “neighbours who never speak,” which in turn is producing a “serious decline in every day interaction leading to unnecessary disputes.” In other words, this lack of basic social interaction is leading to even more noisy and nasty neighbours.

Remembering of course the violence that was King David, it is very interesting to note from our text tonight that he had two things going on in his life common to many of us and that was, having some nasty neighbours which he longed to be free of! Now David, being a king in the most antagonistic of times could have turned to conquest as a means of solving his difficulty, after all, there is nothing like a bit of neighbourly annihilation to get rid of the problem. However, at 1am in the morning when next door’s sub woofer is still barking in your body and making you feel like Genghis Kahn in a very, very bad mood, even so, the infliction of death and annihilation is not the most neighbourly of options, never mind a Christian one. I know, it’s a shame, but there you go!

If your reading this with your earplugs in your lugholes, let me quickly say that there are seven things that must be done in the face of noisy and nasty neighbours, those being Communication, Accommodation, Negotiation, Annihilation, Retaliation, Litigation and Relocation.

First then, ‘Communication.’ Talk to your neighbours! Tell them over a coffee, over the hedge, or in a nice note through their door maybe, just exactly what they are doing and why, when and where you would like them to stop doing it,. Remember, be nice!

Secondly, ‘Accommodation.’ Yup, you may need to bend as well. Make arrangements to ‘be out’ when the event is taking place. Turn your own T.V. up louder, turn up at the party yourself. Yes, bend when you can. Be as flexible as you can.

Thirdly, ‘Negotiation.’ Of course you can only do this if you are talking. If however, the other person sees you at least trying to accommodate, then you can almost guarantee there will be the opportunity of negotiation.

Fourthly, ‘Annihilation.’ I just put this one in here to remind you that this is not an option! Sorry. Don’t even think about it. Don’t contemplate it. Don’t fantasize about it because I assure you, it really won’t help.

Fifthly, ‘Retaliation.’ Ah there is nothing better than waking up the late sleeping, whacked out, party neighbours at 6am in the morning with “Praise My Soul The King of Heaven” played at full blast. You might even consider inviting the Sally Bash to come and witness to them early, with bugles, tambourines and a very big base drum. Now this might feel like retaliation, even vengeance and that might feel so good, but it isn’t really, no, it’s merely an attempt to re-open negotiations! If they have kept you awake. Then be sure to wake them when thy are sleeping.

Sixthy, ‘Litigation.’ Yes, this is not nice, but you will notice this is the 6th option and not the first. Sometimes, you just have to get higher authorities involved. End of story. Call the Police. Call the noise abatement society. Call the local council. Get the authorities involved. Why should your life be made a misery?

Lastly, ‘Relocation.’ Yes, pray fervently that God will move your noisy and nasty neighbour along. If needs be, share your faith and hope in the answer to this very specific prayer with the local authorities including the Police! Of course, if in the end you still have no peace in your neighbourhood and your household, then maybe you need to seriously consider your very own personal relocation.

Noisy and nasty neighbours are one big problem dear friends that you will increasingly experience in this our increasingly selfish world. It needs addressing.

Oh, and you might be interested to know that it is apparently the Scots who are now considered to be the most friendliest of neighbours. Unless of course, you’re English! Only joking. No, not really! Tell me tonight though, how good a neighbour are you?

Listen: - These are the things you shall do: Speak each man the truth to his neighbor; Give judgment in your gates for truth, justice, and peace; Let none of you think evil in your heart against your neighbor; And do not love a false oath. For all these are things that I hate,' Says the Lord." Zechariah 8:16-17 NKJV.

Pray:- Lord grant us all most silent nights and give to us Your beloved, sleep! Amen.

                                                                                                           

May | 03 | Simple Yet Sumptuous!

Key Word:- PEACE

Title:- Simple Yet Sumptuous!

Matthew 11:29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Everyone knows that when Henry Ford first mass-produced his Model T Ford, you could have it any colour you wanted, provided it was black! Today of course, Mr. 'Monotone' Ford would not have been able to compete in this vast market place of colour choice.

Whenever I go down to the local supermarket it is not long before I become overwhelmed with the array of choice that is set before me. For me to be found perplexed in the aisle of most any shop nowadays is not unusual, as on average, each store has some 50,000 separate items to choose from! From the vast array of competing service providers and all their sumptuous socks in sizzling and saucy colours, that the marketing mantra of the century is indeed found to be , ‘Competition afforded by choice.’

Churches both large and small have spotted this seeming need to provide ‘choice’ to seekers of spiritual truth and have unwittingly engaged themselves in that self same competition afforded by the lust for choice! So, on most weekends you will find churches offering services on Saturday and Sunday, Monday morning, various afternoons and most evenings, contemporary and traditional, long and short, dressed up, dressed down, smells bells and hope on a rope. I’m not knocking it, after all it is getting in the punters! After all, people expect choice and are coming to worship and to participate in the style of their choice, on the day of their choice, at the time of their choice. Indeed, it’s so needful now in Christendom to present such ‘spiritual’ choice, such ‘spiritual’ options, that today, this ‘service choice’ has been re-presented to us as the ‘Christian Norm,’ even the cutting edge of postmodern evangelism! After all, look at all the choice in the availability of the multitude of protestant denominations, and hey, didn’t Paul say that he would become all things to all men if by any means he could win some? And by the way, haven’t we got four different gospels with one message, you know, four different flavours with a different emphasis, for at least four different sets of audiences? Good grief isn’t it obvious, God is into choice?!

Laying aside the honourable and dutiful question of which day of the week to gather as a body to adore God together and to minister to one another; laying aside the exceptionally cheap ‘mile wide and inch deep’ quality of such a present day presentation of spiritual ‘choice’; laying aside the market place competition set by postmodern day consumer Christianity; laying aside the subsequent ‘Wal-Marting’ of Christendom, we still come to another massive problem for the sheep of His pasture and that is, that although the postmodern spiritual punter may easily quench his natural curiosity, may easily sign up for his shopping reward card and get the nice little spiritual discount his truly unrepentant soul requires, the real sheep are left rotting on the hills and wasting away for lack of good nutrition. Such choosing, such foul presentation of 'choice', such pandering to the flesh, for that is what it is, has left in it’s wake an emaciated Christianity that now teeters and totters pathetically through the land. The spiritual punters have touched and tasted and some are even satisfied with the tasteless drivel, as after all, it would appear that being a Christian is not as demanding as they thought it might be. However, the people of His pasture, are left both hungry and even starving.


Sheep you see, don’t want choice; they just want feeding the food that is fitted for their needs! True sheep just want to eat! Crispy or grilled, they just don’t care! They don’t want fries and they don’t want coke with it and no, they apparently don’t want honey mustard either! Good grief they just want a burger in a bun! They just want food from a shepherd who is sprinkled with the anointing from on high and glows with the manifest presence of the Saviour. I tell you what, sheep will travel a thousand miles for such simple and sumptuous fare and you know what, they may even do it on a Sunday mate. Imagine that!


Listen:- “Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. Jeremiah 6:16

Pray:- Grant me O good Shepherd, a simplicity of life, a focus on the fundamentals and then, O my God, come quench my thirsty soul and feed me with the food allotted to me. Amen!

 

Apr | 03 | These are Hard Ribs

Key Word:- PEACE

Title:- These are Hard Ribs

Psalm 46:10a Be still, and know that I am God;

Welsh poet R.S. Thomas in his poem ‘In a Church’ sums up our often shared, Twentieth Century experience of silence.

“Often I try
To analyze the quality of its silences.
Is this where God hides
From my searching? I have stopped to listen,
After the few people have gone
To the air recomposing itself
For vigil. It has waited like this
Since the stones grouped themselves about it.
These are hard ribs
Of a body that our prayers have failed
To animate. Shadows advance
From their corners to take possession
Of places that light held
For an hour. The bats resume
Their business. The uneasiness of the pews
Ceases.
There is no other sound
In the darkness but the sound of a man
Breathing, testing his faith
On emptiness, nailing his questions
One by one to an untenanted cross.”

Friends, we are rarely ever alone in our silences are we? Bills, forgotten words, jobs, haste, hurry, desire, appetite, fidgets, fears, and fatigue, all sit noisily with us in our attempts at quietude. The only thing to do then, is to listen to their shouts until they die away in the distance of our thoughts. After their noisy and reluctant departure we often hear that which we fear nearly most of all; our own true voice. Maybe still a child, weeping, chiding us with neglect, longing to be listened to at last and pleading for release. Maybe a man ashamed of who he is, maybe a woman full of hate and bad words toward herself, maybe a warrior who calls himself a coward, maybe…….well you get my picture. It takes both time and silence to acquaint ourselves with ourselves doesn’t it?When we allow the louder noises to depart and the real voice of our self to speak, then maybe it will be then, in the eventual gentled and loving stillness (for it is amazing how quiet it becomes once our voices actually get a chance to finally be listened to) that then He whom our soul loves and longs for, finally is also heard speaking to us! Maybe then at last, we shall truly begin to listen. So please, come and “ Speak Lord in the stillness, while we wait on Thee, hushed our hearts to listen, in expectancy.”

Listen: - …..and after the fire a still small voice. 1 Kings 19:12-13

Pray: - Lord, help me not fear the silence, and the eternal voices it contains. Amen and amen!

Jan | 09 | Finding Felt Forgiveness

Key Word:- PEACE

Title:- Finding Felt Forgiveness

Jeremiah 17:14 Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed;
 
Blaise Pascal wrote “All men's miseries derive from not being able to sit in a quiet room alone.” Now follow me on this will you?

I wonder if an inability to be truly at peace with one's self is directly related to not being able to experience the fact of our being at peace with the Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord? Consequently, I wonder if our being at peace with the Father, in a living experiential sense that is, is directly related to our experiencing “that felt forgiveness” which we have through Jesus Christ our Lord? If this combination then of “fact and felt wonder” is a necessary truism of our experience of peace, then experiential peace is directly related to the right kind of knowing feeling?

We conservative evangelicals don’t like feelings very much, so much so that we almost despise them, yet I tell you friends, felt forgiveness is a cup we would all really like to drink from on a daily basis, no more than that, it is a cup we must gulp on first thing each and every morning and the very last thing at night.

Unfortunately, once I begin to thoroughly taste that which we I often so quickly swallow, then be assured that it is not only my favourite hot, black-leaved sweet tea which I will now begin to thoroughly taste, but iced water, maybe dosed with angostura bitters. Maybe I shall now also begin to feel the real destruction of the dancing tingle of gut rotting carbonated soda, indeed, funny flavoured theological concoctions of every kind might now be tasted. Are you with me? For you see once our inner mouth is drinking in feelings, then the felt taste of both the pleasant and the not so pleasant, may now be sensed to pass our feeling lips. Yup, to be able to drink, we need to gulp from an open mouth and an open mouth can take in many things. In this same way friends, to be able to feel the facts of our so great salvation we need to open our emotions and so I suppose it is the fear of opening our emotions to such possible emotional pain and the often uncontrolled incongruity which often comes with gulping a cup of feeling, which lies the at roots of our conservative evangelical reluctance to fully emotionally engage with the Gospel and with Jesus!

You see the taste of “feeling” from emotions that have been steeped in the deep wounds of the heart, or boiled in badly bruised souls, or of emotions soured by sorrowful spirits, reflecting even our own broken lives and betrayed hopes, well this kind of emotional tasting, is always experiencially so very painful. So painful in fact that we have often with one eye closed and stuck out tongue, ran gagging into that safe and manly cave of emotional protection called “head knowledge” and in so doing, have found ourselves in the darkness of denial regarding our true emotional selves. I wonder if the pain of tasting our own bitter cup has forced many of us to become immensely doctrinal and fervently evangelical but at the terrible cost of becoming “less than human”? And surely, if we have become less than human, then we have in fact become less than Christ? If that is the case, you will agree no doubt, that this is not The Way.

Spiritual maturity cannot occur without emotional connectivity. For lots of people, and especially for many emotionally disconnected men, such a difficult path has become the hidden path, the hard way, the road less travelled and consequently, all that is left is the faint pale and shadowy figure of Marlboro man, who for years has roamed the planes alone, seated high on his horse of disconnected self whilst slowly dying of lung cancer, the disconnectedness finally closing down all possibilities to suck in life. Yes, though pretending to be aloof, alone and above mere emotion, Marlboro man has been sucking up the pain and sucking in the foul stench of an un-kept and unkempt disconnected heart whilst rotting away his insides. To be doctrinally correct but dying is a terrible sight to see.

Some people would suggest that emotional connectivity is the interface between the material and spiritual worlds. Think about that. If it’s true, then emotions are not the lying and untrustworthy biting snakes we have come to regard them to be, but rather they are the absolutely vital link that allows us to feel, or experience, or validate, or truly know, just what is going on in our spirits and consequently in the spiritual world; and if this is the case, then surely we need to feel! So, some people would go so far as to say that unless we travel this path of deep emotional connectivity, we shall never truly experience all we can of God, neither shall we experience any true depth of inner healing and despite our apparent theological soundness, we shall in truth be disconnected from the spiritual world. Now that is worth thinking about!

I acknowledge that the navel gazing of expensive psycho-babble and new age philosophy can be a very pleasurable attraction for the post-modern community and in turn might become so very, very distracting and misleading for the true seeker! So no, I’m not talking about naval gazing today, but I am encouraging us all and even imploring you in particular dear friend, to engage with God with your whole being, for it is imperative for both our wholeness and for our holiness, that we experience in full that good news of which we talk so lovingly, so longingly and so deeply about.

If you cannot sit in a quiet room alone with yourself and God, being at peace with both yourself and with God, then maybe your felt forgiveness through Jesus Christ our Lord is sadly and most terribly lacking. Peter Scazzero in his book, The Emotionally Healthy Church, points out that “the Gospel says that you are more sinful and flawed than you ever dared believed, yet you are more accepted and loved than you ever dared hope.” This side of heaven then, the disturbing and fantastic incongruity remains. Accept it. Never the less, my I encourage you today, to dare to feel and dare to experience the felt forgiveness that comes from the gospel of Jesus Christ. For this precious cup of felt forgiveness is one we should all drink very deeply from most every single day.

Listen: -The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with loving kindness I have drawn you. Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt, O virgin of Israel! You shall again be adorned with your tambourines and shall go forth in the dances of those who rejoice. Jeremiah 31:3-4

Pray: - Lord, help me to allow myself to feel and to be fearless in doing so. Above all things O Jesus let me feel You and Your great love for me. Fill my life with dancing O dearest Jesus mine! In Your great name I pray, Amen and Amen.