Dec | 05 | A constable a conspiracy an unkindness and a Raven Master

TRUST

A constable, a conspiracy, an unkindness and a Raven Master

Luke 12:24
Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds. NKJV

Old legend or Victorian fancy, the story goes that as long as six Ravens stay in the Tower of London, then England shall never fall. Consequently, there are seven wing clipped beauties (six with one to spare) overseen by the Raven Master which are kept permanently in The Tower grounds. (Though rumor has it that they do occasionally go absent without leave and that ‘Raven Grog’ has even been spotted outside an East end pub!) When all seven are gathered together these supposed dark guardians of the Tower are referred to as a ‘Constable of Ravens.’

Ravens, especially young Ravens, are curious collectors of shiny objects, Indeed, some ornithologists believe this is to show their treasure off to their friends. For sure, when these scavenger carrion also find a large carcass to feed upon, a small selection of their extensive vocalization is also used to call their friends to the bonanza of a buffet currently set before them. Such calling, and such gathering, is referred to as a conspiracy of Ravens. They are up to no good!

Ravens take no thought nor show no kindness to small animals, sick baby prey, or lost little lambs. If alive or dead they will first peck the eyeballs out of the frightened feast set before them, and it also reported that if the prey is too large for either themselves or their friends to feast upon or peck wide open, they will then ‘call’ the wolves, even go get the wolves and the other ripping dogs to come and do their work for them, and then, after that, they shall feast upon the ripped open bowels and bits of brain left scattered on the grass. Ravens, you see, by their keen sense of smell, sniff out death and announce its fore-coming, and by such vicious vocalization they even hasten its onset. Such a crazed gathering, such a union of cunning malignity is called an ‘Unkindness of Ravens.’

In the Bible, God, for whatever reason, calls Ravens unclean birds neither to be used for sacrifice or for food. However, it is one of this midnight colored, gloss black birds which is utilized by Noah to test the extent of the receding flood waters, for such a clever scavenger need not perpetually return to the Ark for food. But more than their new world usefulness and well utilized fame, the Lord Himself tells us today to “consider the Ravens.” Now then, if such a restless scavenger, which is in so constant search for food to satisfy its voracious appetite, yes, if such a hoarder of sustenance, for Ravens conceal their food store and even make dummy stores to throw other robbing Ravens off the scent of where their real food is kept, yes, if such an unclean unkindness can be provided for by God Most High, then how much more will He provide for us, His most valuable and blood bought children?

It was of course the prophet Elijah, waiting by the brook Cherith who daily received his food from these same dark, iridescent, unkind and robbing Ravens. So, I say again, if God can provide for such unclean birds then He can provide for you and even utilize them to provide for you, even in the hardest of times. Maybe it’s time to move closer to the rising sun, for after all, the real Raven Master has got all your needs kept safe in His kind and most generous hand.

Listen:- And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab,"As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word." Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, "Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there." 1 Kings 17:1-4 NKJV

Pray: -  Father, we humbly ask you today to please consider the Raven. Father you provide for them, so then Father, please provide for us. Also Great Father, Your Son our Savior, the commander of the armies of the Lord of Hosts has also sent us on a great commission and so we ask that You provision us by a multitude of Ravens, for Lord, we need more, much more than survival rations to get the job done. Oh Father, in all our present experienced unkindness’s, may we yet see Your great provision for us. Amen and let it be so.

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Feb | 25 | Sorted and therefore settled peace

TRUST

Sorted and therefore settled peace

Habakkuk 2: 20
"But the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him." NKJV

The just shall live by faith in the great fact that the glory of the Lord shall one day cover the earth, and we are now assured of this in this verse and subsequently commanded to quietness before the Lord’s sage and sovereign government. God is in control. God is on the only throne that matters, the holy throne of His temple and it is only a vision of this total sovereignty of God that will turn our watching souls from worry to worship, and from spluttering and stuttering panic to a deep breathing and quiet peace, a hushness of holiness in His steady and ruling presence.

Solomon, the builder of the first earthly temple clearly declared that the heavens and even the heaven of heavens cannot contain the fullness of God (1 Kings 8:27), yet God is everywhere, all at once, at the same time, in whom we live and move and have our being, while manifesting Himself in the Shekinah glory of the mercy seat above the ark and also in the two legged temple of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, also localized in His temple in heaven. In this way, God is never absent from His throne of ruling dominion. He is always at the wheel, at the helm, at the desk, in the only oval office that matter.

Christian, you may think that God is doing a bad job on His governing of the nations, but it is His job nevertheless. Trust Him to bring forth good. Stop your judging of God! Who are you, you mere lump of mouthy clay? Stop whining, stop worrying, stop complaining! Humble yourself, get on your face and worship Him. Be quiet. Hush. Be still. The Lord reigns, yes, even now in your life, in your city, in your nation, the Lord still reigns from the supreme place of government, His holy temple. He has not left there. He has not taken a holiday or gone on a golfing trip. The Lord is reigning still!

Faith in the sovereignty of God, based on the solid declarations of His government will lead to stillness and eventually to singing. As for Habakkuk, a sonata will now follow this humbled silence of the prophet as he himself leads the world in silent and bowing obeisance. Take Psalm 11 right now and making it your singing prayer tonight.


Listen:- In the Lord I put my trust; How can you say to my soul, "Flee as a bird to your mountain" For look! The wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow on the string, that they may shoot secretly at the upright in heart. If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do? The Lord is in His holy temple, the Lord's throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men. The Lord tests the righteous, but the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates. Upon the wicked He will rain coals; Fire and brimstone and a burning wind shall be the portion of their cup. For the Lord is righteous, He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright. Psalms 11 NKJV

Pray:-  Settled are we O Lord on You and Your sovereign will. Gracious Sovereign, come and be ruler of my own heart and mind and mouth. Amen, and may I always praise Your holy name!

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Dec | 27 | Talking Tsunamis

Key Word:-TRUST

Title:- Talking Tsunamis

Matthew 24:7,8  
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Now dear friends, stick close to my words this morning, right to the end and you shall be rightly encouraged. However, before we get there today, we must traverse some terrible terrain. So stick with me right to the end.

As we move towards the end of the year, it has been my observation that in my whole life, whenever I arrive at this point of observing my planet and its peoples, I am amazed at the advances in technology and medical care, in fashion and in fun. Yet when I examine the human condition expressed in community, both local and global, I despairingly come to the same conclusion: nothing changes; nothing gets better. Indeed, things are getting worse. (Stick with me now, stick with me.)

Our text today is part of an answer given by Jesus to a particular question posed by the disciples sat with Him on the Mount of Olives. He has just wept in anger and despair over the coming desolation and destruction of Jerusalem, when they ask, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3) We have no time today to proceed to cover His reply with an eschatalogically fine-tooth comb. Let’s just be a little shaken today when Jesus says in effect, “It’s gonna be bad and it’s gonna get worse!” (Stick with me now, stick with me.)

Tsunamis are viewed by the scientific community as natural disasters. Tsunamis are still currently viewed by the financial community as “acts of God,” that is, actions that are both terrible and out of their control. Tsunamis are viewed by the victims as inexplicable. I met an old lady, a Christian, who after many years was still suffering the after effects of holidaying with her husband on a secluded beach, where a freak wave reached onto the shore and before her face, snatched her loved one away to a watery grave. The sea reluctantly but eventually gave up its dead and she spent the next few weeks battling to get the corpse of her beloved, back to the dry ground of her homeland to be buried. As she recounted her story to me, her face and especially her eyes, were a constant witness to the fact that she had never really recovered from this. There are some things we must never recover from. (Stick with me now, stick with me.)

There are some things we must never recover from and despite government control of battlefield information, there are horrors that must not be hidden from us. Despite the glib mental sickness smiles of made up news presenters, that can through shiny teeth and loud lip gloss, tell of both death and destruction and the drop of a few degrees in temperature in the same smiling sentence, there are things we must be sad and very sorrowful about. Remember, no anaesthetic lasts forever. Jesus replies sadly and honestly about the signs prefixing His return. It would appear that the enemy will try to apply a scorched earth policy to His impending arrival, as well as Jesus Himself “eating up the ground” before Him in righteous indignation. Look. What is to come is not lovely! Look. It is not lovely!

At the end of this year let us talk tsunamis. Let us look at the devastation around us. Let us lay aside our numbing Novocain and see that all these things are indeed but the “beginning of sorrows”. Prophecy shall be fulfilled and friends, before we get to a better chapter, we must read ourselves through this next horrific one.

So how can we possibly be encouraged by what we see around us? Well in truth we cannot. Except that Jesus foretold that this is how it should be. His word is true, and if His word regarding these things is true, then so are His other words. All His words are true. He shall make all things well. Yes, in the end, He shall make all things good.

Listen: “Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money (including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions) and be satisfied with your present (circumstances and with what you have); for He (God) Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. (I will) not,(I will) not, (I will) not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor (let you) down (relax My hold on you)! (Assuredly not!) So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm (I will not fear or dread or be terrified). What can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:5-6 AMP

Pray: My Lord, I will not fear, even though the earth be removed and the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; even though its waters roar and be troubled, even though the mountains shake with its swelling. For I know that there is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God. Amen and amen.

Nov | 24 | A Lizard Like Jesus?

Key Word:- TRUST

Title:- A Lizard Like Jesus?

Matthew 14:25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.


The combination of lasers, video framing and reflective molecules, has led to the discovery of the forces which allow a small Lizard called the ‘Green Basilisk’ or the ‘Jesus Lizard’ to be able to walk on water. Actually it simply runs very, very fast. Lest you think scientists have invested money into this research for some theological purpose, think again! Knowing how to walk upright on various surfaces will be of tremendous application for the production of multi-terrain robots. Sounds quite military doesn’t it? You betcha!

From our text for today, I see that the DNA of the Church of God, was being formed in these fishermen out on the sea of Galilee in the 4th watch of the night, for what they experienced and knew, would become the bedrock of what was birthed and grew. All their life they had dealt with water and had experienced beyond the shadow of a doubt that the water would not allow a man to remain above it. Simple! They had learnt something else as well: Storms were dangerous, storms were where the placid fluid was so antagonized by the raging wind, that in its anger it would reach up into the swaying and swinging dryness and snatch you to itself and while embracing you tightly in its all enfolding arms, would plant upon your lips, its cold wet kiss of death. This they knew. This they experienced.

Jesus has remained behind to watch and pray. From afar off, He sees His disciples struggling hard against the violent waves which might not allow them to reach their destination, and if they did, they would be exhausted. He also knew that their hearts were still not open to the fact that He was the all providing, all commanding, supernatural God. Though five thousand bellies were recently filled with bread and fish from but five loaves and two fishes, their hearts were still dull to the fact of who He truly was. Think about that.

So, another lesson was needed; a lesson so fully immersed in their familiar and dangerous environment, that who Jesus truly was, would become both manifest and irrefutable to them. So Jesus lets the storm grow large, the day grow late, their arms grow tired ,their stomachs grow sick and their hearts grow desperate, until He begins lesson 301 regarding who He really is.

Effortlessly, Jesus steps into the waves. Not trudging up the height of each violently moving crest only to then, like some holy surfer, hands outstretched like a small aero plane, begin sliding down the tumbling trough shouting “Wha-hey-hey! Look at this guys!” and then begin yet another trudge up some other writhing, looming, rising, rough and ready monster of a wave. No. I don’t think it was like that. He was simply there, walking on the water and wherever His foot trod, they carved the calmest of passages that was never intruded upon by the raging sea. This indeed is another miracle. Like the children in the fire who had not even the smell of smoke upon them, so I wonder, if Jesus had amidst the sea, not even one drop of salt water splash against his face or lap the edges of His toenails as they peeked out of the front of His size seven sandals.

Let's not talk about Peter's darling and daring escapade for the moment, but focus on this fact: The disciples needed to have this particular hardness in their hearts, softened. They needed to more fully believe! Jesus sees to this to such an extent that they are reported to have been, “greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled!” Or, “astonished exceedingly, completely amazed beyond measure, whacked in wonder, gob smacked, utterly open mouthed, unable to take it in and totally astounded!”
Now listen friends, don’t think that Jesus is not about walking on water in your life today. What areas, or what facts and truths are you so overly acquainted with; or what unbending familiarity do you have with the mundane of the day, that it has left your little heart hard or dull in believing that Jesus is Lord over all? YES LORD OVER ALL! Has this truth become too much to take in?

May a storm brew in your life. May you struggle and despair even to the point of fearing the loss of all things and then may you find Jesus walking on your water, coming toward you, and climbing into your boat. If a little lizard can be like Jesus, then it’s about time you learnt to be like Him as well. How Jesus toughly trains His beloved disciples sounds quite military doesn’t it? You betcha! Now shape up! Now step out! Now believe!

Listen:- Then those who were in the boat came and worshipped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.” Matthew 14:33

Pray: - O Lord I believe. Help me with my unbelief. Amen.
 

Nov | 09 | Of True Love & Hateful Halitosis

Key Word:- TRUST

Title:- Of True Love & Hateful Halitosis

Luke 6:27-29 “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.”

If there was one verse I was permitted to remove from the Bible then it would be this one. As a man, this verse bothers me greatly. I look at the four ‘hot words’ so providentially, provocatively and purposefully placed here that they move into my heart like a sharp and slow, painfully pushed dagger. ‘Enemy,’ ‘hate,’ ‘curse’ and ‘spiteful.’ Love your enemies! You’ve got to be kidding me? For in my life, when I am so pierced by these four sharp and hot arrows, it makes me want to respond! Surely as a man, I must respond in protection and retaliation for such aggressive actions against my very being. Yes, this is a nasty verse for me and I tell you brethren, out of all four of these horrible words, it is the last one, and purposefully so me thinks, which is the most difficult for me and maybe for you, to deal with, for this word describes a close contact malevolence of the worst kind, which carries with it the bad breath of the devil himself. SPITEFUL! You can’t even say it without sounding like a serpent and spitting out poison! sssssSPITEFUL! Hear it?

Scanning a number of New Testament commentaries I am told that the word ‘spiteful’ and all its implications and applications, can be summed up as follows: ‘to insult and slander; to accuse falsely with implications of threats of abuse, coupled with the insulting disdain of one who considers themselves superior.’ Nasty boys, very nasty.

For me, the very unpacking of that word alone, causes every fibre of my being to rise up in self justifying protection, revenge and destruction; and friends, I don’t believe I am talking about the sinful part of my being either but the sensible part! However, what does Jesus say that our equational response to this fourfold attack of fiery words should be?

Enemy=Love!
Hate=Do Good!
Curse=Bless!
Spite=Prayer!

And all God’s people walking in transparent authenticity say: “You’ve got to be kidding Lord!” Unfortunately, He is not.

Maybe the understanding of the whole tenure of scripture will make this verse a little more palatable? So, if I were to sum up the Bible’s teaching on this matter then I wonder if the Scriptures as a whole tell us that: ‘If a nation or an individual, purposes harm against you, then it is the civil and judicial responsibility of that government to protect you and punish them, for they do not wield the sword in vain. If they fail to do this, then that government is bankrupt before God. If however, you are individually attacked in this way, you must be like your Father in heaven, who seeks to do good to those who hate Him.’ There, that's helpful isn't it? Nope! Not really, it hasn't helped me a bit, for you can't rely on the government to help you nowadays and they certainly wont have an armed body guard available just for me twenty four hours a day. No sir a man nowadays needs some muscle, needs some swift retort, needs to look hard, needs to wear a stony countenance, needs to take no nonsense from anyone, yes sir a man today needs a gun! Lord what are You thinking when dealing in such word equations, for they are not easy, they are not sweet to me O Lord but taste so incredulously bitter, that they are almost unpalatable and that's the truth. Lord! Just what are You thinking?
Friends, I think this is as far as I can go with this verse. Except to say, that it is a command and not an instruction. It’s as far as I can personally go with this verse, except to say that Jesus says such responses to hot blades glorifies the Father. It’s as far as I can personally go with this verse, except to say that there is great reward from heaven that accompanies such selfless and seemingly stupid responses. It’s as far as I can personally go with this verse, except to say that obeying it’s commands, makes us Godlike!

Of course, more than anything, the kind of required response Jesus wants from our obedience in these matters is that which humbles us and maybe changes us, in ways we can never dream of, in ways that could be achieved by no other means than this! “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.” May God help us in this, and give us courage and wisdom.

Listen:- But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: Hebrews 10:32-36

Pray: - Lord, I confess that I cannot live like this. It is beyond me, it is not naturally in me. So grant me insight, wisdom, grace, and humility that I may respond in obedience to those hot dark daggers often thrust into my soul. Only Lord, please be sure to be gentle in Your lessons regarding this great request of mine, in Jesus name I pray, amen.
 

Oct | 20 | Equilibrium

Key Word:- TRUST

Title:- Equilibrium

1 Timothy 6:6-10 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Kurt Wimmer's 2002 film "Equilibrium" starring Christian Bale is a futuristic drama set after WW III where the world government eradicates emotion through the introduction of medication for the masses. With the futuristic drug 'Prozium' shutting down the ability to feel, they then outlaw all emotions and in so doing, world peace is finally secured. It's an interesting proposition.

Equilibrium is defined as a 'state of intellectual or emotional balance.' This of course will lead to 'poise', that is, a calm and unflustered state in the face of opposing or divergent influences. In other words when we have equilibrium, whatever hits us or happens to us, our reaction is zero, or at the very least minimal. We maintain our poise, our inner peace, our equilibrium, we are unshakable and unmoved! Wouldn't we all like to be like that? Ahh 'Grasshopper,' what peace, what power!

The rise of Eastern thought and practice in the wild, wild West, is indicative that people are seeking peace and power over their lives from somewhere, anywhere! However for Hollywood Buddhists, the fast pace of life, the high cost of living, 'keeping up with the Jones's' and the constant persistent powerful pressure to acquire, lead far too many of them into dire and desperate circumstances of anxiety and that includes the rich and famous. The taunting twins of fear of material loss and resultant cultural shame, are in the west, terribly hard taskmasters to avoid. At all costs, we must be materially successful. It would appear that sure serenity is hard to come by even in Hollywood Buddhists!

Even more people have abandoned any hope of seeming cultural success and would settle for some simple material survival. They would just like to pay the credit card bills; they would just like to get out of the plastic trap! However we all know that the West takes no prisoners if you surrender to material failure. So millions of us swim on upstream, in a consistent and desperate attempt to survive these sucking and driving currents of material success. It's all so tiring and the truth of it is that, in less than 100 years from now, the present 6 billion people of the population of planet earth shall all be food for worms. We are walking flesh sacks of good earth fertilizer!

All of this blind chasing and acquiring, takes it's toll on us and any semblance of peace and poise is eaten up by the Anakim of anxiety and the presence of perpetual panic and it's following friend of deep fatigue. This diabolical trio of anxiety, panic and fatigue, are so debilitating, that they are consequently hurried and hidden from, in bottles of various unacceptable and respectable kinds: Whiskey, Wine, Prozac, Lexapro, Cocaine, Smoke, and any dope that's on a rope to hang us out to die. The places we find to hide from the terrible trio are as numerous as they are ultimately, ineffective. The 'Capitalist Christian' response has been to 'Health it and to Wealth' it, to 'Believe it and to Receive it', to 'Name it and then to Claim it'. Just get it while you can, 'cause once you've got it brother, my oh my, you are a blessed and twice blessed man. What a lie friends, what a lie! We are in truth, sacks of fertilizer and food for worms, and don't you dare forget it!

Lack of true peace and serenity in our lives leaves a powerful all consuming black hole at the centre of our being! This is no joke. For I think things have gotten so bad that if there was such a thing as mass medication that did in fact deliver the desired peace and slew the giants of anxiety, panic and deep fatigue, then you would not have to force too many people to take it! Maybe there already exists some mass medication? Maybe the opiate for the masses is no longer false religion, but television? The tantalizing tube that tells us, takes us, tortures us and tempts us with things to be desired and acquired, to foil and fool the fatigue of anxiety and panic into silence and then give us some poisoned relaxation.

What if though, just consider this, what if fatigue, anxiety and panic were in fact our friends? What if rather than suppressing them, we should embrace them? What if rather than quietening them, we should listen to them? What if they were gifts rather than jailers? What if they were eternal electronic alarm bells that were shrieking to us "DANGER" and "WARNING?" What if fatigue was a gift to slow us down and make us think? But no, we don't see them as gifts at all, on the contrary, it seems we would rather remove the batteries from these disturbing devices, rather than question them.

I wonder friend, if you dare today, in your fatigued nightmares of panic and anxiety, turn to the charging tigers and ask them some serious questions? Questions like: Who are you? What do you want? What's wrong with me? What should I do? Why am I so desperately tired? Maybe if we did this, these all devouring beasts we run from would in fact turn into pussy cats and sit upon our thankful laps, purring along with us at our at last, acquired peace, even our heavenly equilibrium? It's worth thinking about don't you think? Well do you? THINK?

Listen:- "I have had a dream, and my spirit is anxious to know the dream." Daniel 2:3b…

"…do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. Luke 12:29-31

Pray: - Help me Oh great tiger tamer of old to turn and face these three devouring beasts. Grant me the grace of space in time, and the courage to look and ask. Oh God, find me a quiet rock in this running stream, that I might bathe myself in the sunshine of Your love. In Jesus name , amen.

 

Sep | 18 | Making Rain With Withered Hands

Key Word:- TRUST

Title:- Making Rain With Withered Hands

Matthew 12:13 Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other

Oliver sacks in his book ‘The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat,’ recounts the clinical tale of Madeleine J, a congenitally blind woman with Cerebral Palsy, who had been looked after by her family at home throughout her life. Sacks recounts that, “Madeleine spoke freely and eloquently, revealing herself to be a high-spirited woman of exceptional intelligence and literacy.” He assumed this blind woman was widely read through the use of Braille. Her reply revealed that she did most of her reading through other people, that is, by listening to audio. Her hands couldn’t hold a book or turn a page, they were as she put it, “Useless godforsaken lumps of dough that don’t even feel part of me.” Sacks apparently was surprised to hear this, as Cerebral Palsy did not usually affect the hands and besides that, tests revealed that her sensory capacity was completely intact. Surprisingly though,  Madeleine J. could not recognize anything with her hands!

Sacks’s theory for this gross incapacity was simple:- she had been babied and protected all her life, so much so, that she had been prevented from developing a normal pair of hands! Madeleine J had perfect elementary sensations in her hands but was unable to integrate these sensations with perception. He wondered if now, aged 60, this normal development could still be encouraged.

His instruction to care assistants was, without being cruel of course, to make Madeleine J, lay hold of her own food. One day, impatient and hungry, she finally reached out and grabbed a bagel and began eating. Within a year, her curious hands had now turned her into the locally famous ‘blind sculptress of St Benedict’s.’ The late learning of the grossly handicapped had revealed an astonishingly artistic sensibility. The dormant and the blighted now flourished.

Now in our text for today, the man whose hand the Lord healed was, instantaneously and thoroughly fixed! In an instant this one desperate man could now fully appreciate and totally utilize his restored appendage! Marvelous. Just Marvelous! In contrast, I want to suggest that millions of us gather on the Sabbath day with withered hands of worse condition than this man's ever were! As a Pastor, one of my chief observations is of our gross incapacity to reach out and lay hold of the goodness of God. This takes but elemental faith, yet the average Christian has such a massive disconnect between knowledge, perception and sensation that the inability to ‘rest and possess’ in believing faith, marks itself on us with withered hands and emptiness of every kind.

To our consternation, God will not treat us like babies. He will have us whole and not handicapped and so in multitudes of difficult and embarrassing circumstances He comes to us, the withered and the wretched, saying “Stretch out your hands!” As we do this, we feel great pain but if God is good to us, if God is good to us friends, He will consistently make things so difficult for us, that we have to keep on reaching out until a holy wholeness manifests itself in our hands. Beloved of God, I am convinced that as we cripples connect perception with sensation then artists, writers, builders, fighters, carers, caressers, healers, helpers and a multitude of wonderfully whole and energetic Christians shall be released into their destiny and into the world. So in the name of Jesus I say to many of you today, “Hey cripple! Keep stretching out your hand!”


Listen:- Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, “There is a cloud, as small as a man's hand, rising out of the sea!” 1 Kings 18:46a

Pray: - Lord, when the effective fervent prayer of righteous Elijah made headway in the skies, it was the seventh time. It was persistent reaching, strong and stretching prayer that formed the cloud the size of a man’s hand, that in turn, unlocked a 3 year drought and flooded the land. So with us O Lord, form our hands as we stretch our reaching hearts, come unload the wet heavens of Your blessing upon us, in Jesus mighty name. Amen!

Aug | 27 | Creating Kissable Feet

Key Word:- TRUST

Title:- Creating Kissable Feet

Romans 10:15 “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!”
 
"Walmington-on-Sea, an imaginary South-Coast town not far from Eastbourne, was the setting for the Second World War adventures of a disparate group of men, who prevented by age or some other disability from enlisting in the fighting services, enrolled as Local Defence Volunteers (LDV), forming part of Britain's 'last line of defence', a force which became known colloquially as 'Dad's Army.” Corporal Jones may have been the platoon leader on the ground, but the commander, par excellence, was one Captain Mainwaring. One of his many and thankfully recorded speeches refers to the awesome responsibility that any soldier of any age has in taking care of his feet. From the church hall of St Aldhelm Walmington on sea, he is recorded addressing his troops on one occasion saying: “And so to sum up. Whatever mode of transport we use, be it bicycles or Jones Van or other forms of vehicular transport, in the end, it all boils down to one thing. Three F’s.

1. Fast feet
2. Functional Feet (and last but not least)
3. Fit feet

A soldier without his feet is useless.”

What incredibly inspiring true and insightful words flow forth from the mouth of this most intrepid and fictitious Captain of men! A soldier without his feet is useless! Note well:- Even a fool and a pompous ass, knows the importance of taking care of feet!

Are you taking care of your feet dear friend? Are they fast feet? Speedily obeying the Master, carrying out what He has told you to do. Are they functional feet? In other words, will they hold you up, keep you steadfast unmovable and always abounding in the work of the Lord? Are they fit feet? Free of disease, sweet smelling, healthy, not being eaten away?

Take care of your feet today. If bad feet exclude you from the good fight, then you are useless for frontline duties.

Listen:- And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. Luke 7:36-39

Pray: -Lord, my feet are in a ‘bit of a state’, please heal them and teach me how to keep them fresh, washed, fragrant, attractive and kissable; that the message they carry may be a sweet smelling savour to those with needy noses! Amen.

Aug | 25 | ‘Planes, Trains & Automobiles’

Key Word:- TRUST

Title:- ‘Planes, Trains & Automobiles’

1 Thessalonians 2:17,18 But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured more eagerly to see your face with great desire. Therefore we wanted to come to you — even I, Paul, time and again — but Satan hindered us.
 
‘What he really wanted was to spend Thanksgiving with his family. What he got was three days with the turkey.’ So goes the tag line of this comedy made in 1987 starring John Candy, an obnoxious slob of a travelling ‘shower ring’ salesman and Steve Martin, a pristine and uptight advertising executive. This story uses the horrors of travel to reveal how circumstances can link two lonely souls. One so uptight that he can't see his loneliness through the narrow controlling slits of his soul and one so hurt and in denial, that it pains him to even acknowledge it.

The two main characters in this film are more alike than they think and providentially are thrust together so they might learn to see more deeply and in so doing, be released, be healed, helped and be eventually, bonded together . I do believe that this is what God is about. You know? Using all things, including planes trains and (in my life especially) automobiles, to accomplish His purpose. For I hate being helped by other people and God both knows it and arranges my circumstances so I have to be helped by other people! Why do I have this preclusion to the help of others? Well, it’s because I feel so vulnerable you see and also so in debt to the helper, and so annoyed at being helpless yet again. However, God always seems to override and dismiss these feelings of mine, not really even taking them into account even! “How does He do this?” You may ask and I would reply: “He does this by allowing me to purchase cars that publicly drop their pants at the most inconvenient of times.” No how’s that for blaming God!

The Greek word for ‘hindered’ in our text today is from the Greek word ‘enkopto’, literally meaning, ‘to cut into’ and was used of ‘impeding’ persons by ‘breaking up the road’ and therefore ‘detaining’ a person unnecessarily. So if the winds are not blowing and the ships are not going; or if the car won't start and it's breaking your heart; or if the planes a pain and the your flight's down the drain and concerning the train, well it's all just the same…then maybe dear friend, just maybe, Satan is breaking up the road before you? He’s cutting into your schedule and your plans. This time it’s not God that’s restricting you, retracting you, oh no, it’s the enemy that is trying to restrain you!

We are in a battle and we do face felt resistance time and time again, yet no matter friend! Yes that's right! When this happens, no matter I say and don't worry! For even if your alternator is demon possessed or your mechanic is mathematically challenged, God is still in control and working out His supreme purposes of love. Love for you and love for others. Satan may seem to be pulling your travelling plans apart, but God is pulling them all together for good! Believe that.

So if the road you are travelling this morning is 'broke up' before you and you can see Satan with a hard hat on and a pick and shovel in his hand, sneering at you as you bang your fists on the wheel, be not dismayed. Look at God as He nonchalantly steps out onto your highway and puts up His very own sign saying, “Walk carefully, for in truth, it is your Sovereign Father who is actually about His business here!”

Listen: - And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

Pray: - Unstoppable, Almighty ever loving Father. Even if there’s only one wheel on my wagon, You O Lord will get me where You want me to be. So calm me, so teach me, and so help me today, in Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Aug | 05 | Dealing With ‘Blue Moons’

Key Word:- TRUST

Title:- Dealing With ‘Blue Moons’

2 Kings 4:23 So he said, “Why are you going to him today? It is neither the New Moon nor the Sabbath.”

Nanci Griffith may have sung it, but it was written by Patrick Alver and Gene Levine. A delightful country music ballad called ‘Once in a Very Blue Moon'. Of course there is no such thing as a 'blue moon'. Originally, it meant something that would hardly ever happen, as in “We will have a blue moon, before such and such....” Moving on from the old saying though, a ‘blue moon’ eventually became the name for the third full moon in a season (three months) of four full moons. Then, in the early to mid 1900's it became the name of the second full moon in a month. Complicated isn’t it?! My point is this friends, in the great scheme of the intergalactic timing of things, blue moons may be reasonably common, but they are not everyday occurrences! Have you got that?

In the same way, concerning or lives, there is nothing that happens to us that is not common to mankind. However, occasionally, we all experience to some degree something that is not an every day occurrence. It's unusual, it's a ‘blue moon’ kind of occurrence and there is something in it's unexpectedness, in it's unusualness, that just might cause us to halt, shudder, fail or fall. Nancy Griffiths sings:

There's a blue moon shinin'
when I am reminded of all we've been through
Such a blue moon ... shinin'
Does it ever shine down on you?
You act as if it never hurt you at all
Like I'm the only one who's gettin' up from a fall
Don't you remember?
Can't you recall?
just once ... in a very blue moon

In our verse today a Shunammite woman has for years been providing lodging for the itinerant ministry of Elisha the prophet. A childless mother, she had for years, for her concern, by the grace of God and through the prayerful intervention of the prophet,  received a 'prophets reward' in the form of a lovely little son, even a son of her husband's old age. This son of their old age, she both loved and hungrily embraced.

Once in a very ‘blue moon day’ this marvellous and unexpected gift of God, early one bright mid-morning, complained of a terrible headache. He was taken indoors and with his head in the lap of his mother and with his eyes squeezed up in pointed pain,  groaned and groaned and quickly died. With pent up fury and the silent determination of a nuclear submarine leaving harbour for deep waters of conflict, she rises from her sobbing seat, quietly closes the door behind her and sets her face towards both the cause and the answer to all her problems. Her countenance betrays her speedy but organised exit, yet when asked about the possibility of trouble, she determinedly replies 'all is well' to those who voice their concern. Saddling the donkey, silently she slips out of her devastated harbour. The Shunamite sets sail in but one direction……. Elisha the prophet!

Ignoring everything and everyone she arrives at her destination and literally launches herself at his feet, tackling the unsuspecting prophet almost to the ground. BOOM! “Did I ask a son of my lord? BOOM! Did I not say, 'Do not deceive me'?” BOOM! These explosive questions are the summary of all the painful pleadings, of all the fearful longings and shattered expectations of her broken heart. What has been hidden from Elisha as he viewed the determined and directed steps of the approaching storm of sadness raging with anger and crashing against the staring eyes of the Shunamite, submerged and dangerous in the periscope depth of her attacking distress, is now fully revealed to him and in that revelation he responds and so departs to attend to the problem.

Friend, when a blue moon rises in your sky, close the door on the problem, saddle up your horses, go to Jesus, launch yourself at His feet, let it all out, hang on to Him and DO NOT LET GO. Insist He comes personally to attend to the matter. Insist on it!

Call this approach to your unusual problems what you will but I call it a solution!

Go and get Jesus! Go and get Him now.

Listen:- He returned and walked back and forth in the house, and again went up and stretched himself out on him; then the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. And he called Gehazi and said, “Call this Shunammite woman.” So he called her. And when she came in to him, he said, “Pick up your son.” So she went in, fell at his feet, and bowed to the ground; then she picked up her son and went out. 2 Kings 4:35-37

Now when He concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum. And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, "for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue." Then Jesus went with them. Luke 7:1-6 NKJV

 Pray:- Lord, help me to run to You and hang on to You when any blue moons rise in my sky. Help me to pray and pray and pray and listen for the solutions in all the sneezing’s of my life! I plead and implore, beg and insist that You come back to my house dear Jesus and fix all my blue moons today. Amen.

May | 25 | Dancing With Diffidence

Key Word:- TRUST

Title:- Dancing With Diffidence

Hebrews 13:5
....for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not,[I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down ( relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!](AMP)

Now friends, she’s often overlooked in the story, however this morning I want to focus on her. Please God, you will have read the Christian Classic, ‘Pilgrim's Progress’ and know of ‘Christian’ and ‘Hopeful’s’ little excursion off the Kings highway, into the grounds of ‘Doubting Castle’ and their terrible encounter with ‘Giant Despair’. Here, in Doubting Castle they are kept locked up in a dungeon and are tortured by the giant. In this darkness the giant ‘Despair’ even suggests suicide as the only way out of the situation. Bunyan brilliantly portrays the felt hopelessness and torture of many Christians who are in such a position. Fortunately, the word of promise, is the key discovered by Christian to be even in his heart, even and already in his very possession. This is the key that gets him, with great difficulty and danger, out of the dungeon, the castle, the giant and his grounds.

Interestingly friends, in the story, giant despair never acts alone. Indeed, he is animated and directed by his unseen wife. Her name is ‘Diffidence’. She is the one who instigates the torture and directs the giant; ‘Diffidence’ is the puppet master of giant ‘Despair.’

Webster defines diffidence as ‘shyness, lack of self confidence, hesitancy’. The hidden-ness of Bunyan’s character is the only action that matches this description. However, the roots of the word through Middle English to Latin, reveal the heart of 'Diffidence' and it’s true meaning which is ‘Distrustful!’ And there we have it. A word when said aloud even now still possesses the serpent’s hiss. Dissssssssstrusssssstful.

Don’t dance with this distrustful dame friends. She is always tapping us on our shoulder, slurring her slippery suggestions into our hearts. “Did God really say?” Or, “Look He’s deserted you again.” Or, “Trust no one, not even God.” Or even, “He takes care of them, but you? Ha! He obviously doesn’t love you as much. Give Him the slip.” And most of all, “You are all alone now.” And so she goes, on and on. Friends do not accept the kind and seemingly reasonable invitations of Miss Distrust! No, do not dance with 'Diffidence'.

Listen:- So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me? Hebrews 13:6 AMP

Pray:- So then Lord, let diffidence die in me. Let Hope revive and reach to the very heavens even to Your great powerful and ever faithful, mighty right hand. In Jesus name I ask it, amen.

May | 09 | Money and Money’s Worth

Key Word:- TRUST

Title:- Money and Money’s Worth

Matthew 2:11 And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

As all royalty would be approached in the East, these Kings, these most marvellous Magi, opened up their treasure boxes and presented to the greatest King, God over all, the most valuable of their country's then commercial products. No doubt, these gifts were emblematic; no doubt, these gifts were prophetic as well in that they spoke of the purpose and destiny of the tiny little Lamb then so sweetly set before them. However, my question today is this: What happened to the gifts?

You would agree with me I am sure, that you don’t travel over vast distances, with the hope of finding someone you have searched and longed to see, without taking with you something of exceptional worth and value. So I assume then that this was pretty expensive stuff! Yet I am not aware of any archaeological searches for the ‘Lost Gold of Jesus’ or the ‘Perfume of the Prince of Life’. No, this treasure is never spoken of again. Why? Well that old and great commentator, Matthew Henry, gives us a very simple statement that the gifts were essentially ‘Money and Money's Worth’ and that’s very helpful. You see in effect, Mary and Joseph were given a universal commodity of exchange. It was the ‘Euro’ or the ‘Dollar’ of the day if you will and they were going to need it!

The verses following in Matthew shows the fearful family, fleeing from Herod and hiding in Egypt until his death, before then returning to Israel, the long way home. Arriving back in Nazareth, they would start afresh in beginning to support themselves. All of this coming and going, stopping and starting, ending and beginning, breaking and building, took money. It was an expensive exercise!

We can take great encouragement in that the long and expensive journey of Jesus, Joseph and Mary were taken care of by the Father in advance of it happening. My goodness! The Father even brought precious provision and finances from afar, to ensure the protection and establishment of the family. So, where are the gifts? Well, I would suggest friends, that they were all, very quickly and very well spent! God gives us treasure for spending, even for the financing of all our journeying. It is never for hoarding. Remember that.

Listen: - “Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matt 6:31-34

Pray: - Living God, help me to put You and Your kingdom first and then see You come up with all my various expenses. Amen!


 

May | 07 | Faithful Failures?

Key Word:- TRUST

Title:- Faithful Failures?

1 Corinthians 4:4,5…..but He who judges me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, ….KJV

Reputed by many to be one of the best theological thinkers of his time; referred to as the 'Bloom of Puritanism' by Dr. M. L. Jones; hero of the faith, ignition point for the 'Great Awakening', missionary to Housatonic Indians and president of Princeton University, Jonathan Edwards was never the less voted out of his church after 23 years of service, and 1200 sermons! The vote was 200 to 23 against him. Astonishing.

On a similar note, I am always encouraged when I read about those Old Testament scallywags, which we sometimes pompously refer to as ‘Heroes of the faith!’ For you see today, we would throw most of them out of our churches and that's the truth. So, you can see how it makes me giggle when I hear them so lovingly referenced! Honestly, I truly believe if God hadn’t mentioned many of them in Hebrews 11, as being heroes in His eyes, then by today’s standards of measuring acceptable Christian giants, we would have written off the vast majority of them as fantastic failures, each one of them possessing tremendous individual shortcomings and seemingly gigantic impediments, that no respectable Christian should ever possess in today’s church. Undoubtedly at some point these ‘Heroes of Faith,’ like Jonathan Edwards, would be voted out of their churches and regarded as failed leaders.

However, understanding seeming failure is really not so simple. I wonder if at the Great Assizes, what we see now as failure may indeed be judged otherwise? Paul seemed to think so when he says, “It is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court” (1 Cor 4:3). You see, 'leadership' is in fact a triple mix of leader, followers and circumstance and failure in any of these variables can make or break the person up front, the person at the point, the sharp end, occupying the main leadership position. In this triple mix, some circumstances and some followers may be outside of your control you see. Edwards found that out and I tell you, Edwards was no failure!
Friends I speak to us all today then (for we all lead in some capacity) when I tell you that I am increasingly convinced of three things:

Firstly, that we all are imperfect human beings, so lighten up on leaders.

Secondly, repentance, growth and change are continual processes for us all, especially leaders. With your prayers and your encouragement, with your grace and with your favour, and especially with your support, your leaders will improve!

Thirdly and most importantly, that we followers can help leaders lead, can make leaders great, can invest and ensure the success of leadership. Yes, followers can make or break leaders. Think about that.

Listen: - Obey your leaders and follow their orders. They watch over your souls without resting, since they must give to God an account of their service. If you obey them, they will do their work gladly; if not, they will do it with sadness, and that would be of no help to you. Hebrews 13:17 TEV

Pray: - Lord help us followers to make great our loving leaders, in Jesus name I pray, amen!


 

Apr | 28 | Touching God

Key Word:- TRUST

Title:- Touching God  

Matthew 9:21 “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.”

Researchers say that in Asia the growing popularity of communications technologies, is providing a way for many people to express their faith? From the daily deliveries of lunar almanacs, to electronic reminders telling you it's time to pray, as well as which direction to face when doing so, it's obvious that religion, social relationships and science, are all fitting together quite nicely in the technology of the 21st Century. Indeed, if you were to go to the website of the Hindu Temple of Kentucky, then you would be able to participate in ‘virtual Poojah.’ Just click on the screen, connect to your chosen deity and up pops its image (even musically animated) and away you go, twisting on that old jar of poo! Just bow down to your screen, burn your incense and offer up that bunch of bananas in your worship of prayer and sacrifice.
Nice and sincere people welcomed me into that same temple, when I was investigating the Hindu religion of some 300 million gods. I assume, that only the top ranking deities were there that particular morning in Kentucky, as over each shrine, in Arial bold type, were some very specific instructions:

DO NOT TOUCH THE DEITIES.

It would appear in most religions that top ranking deities can never be touched! There was no indication about what the temporal or eternal consequences would be if I reached out and clasped the man made image perched on its shelf in Kentucky, but the command was loud and clear, “Hands off!”

I remember as a young Catholic, in innocent fun, reaching into my mouth and pretending to touch the host after my First Communion. Older kids who saw me do it, blackmailed me for quite a few weeks after that, forcing me to give them both candy and money, saying they would 'tell on me' for touching God if I didn't meet their demands. Oh no! Now of course, I wouldn’t dream of touching any of these particular Hindu deities, it’s a dangerous game touching a God! Good grief even the Uzza incident in 1 Chronicles Chapter 13, leaves me shocked and fearful every time I read it. If touching wafers and picking at painted plaster can get you into so much trouble, then who of us can reach out, even in dire desperation, reach out and actually touch God and not be killed with His holy and righteous indignation?
Well the magnificent truth for us all today is, that any of us can now in fact reach out and touch God! After all, God clothed Himself in flesh, and we all know that flesh is for touching. Neither technology nor religion must become a veil of fear between us and the living God. Our God touches and can be touched, and every trembling finger of faith that lays hold of Jesus, is most richly rewarded. God is at your elbow friends, reach out and find Him there! Reach out and touch Him!


Listen: - And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” John 20:26-28

“Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour. Matt 9:22

Pray:-From the dust O God, my reaching hand trembles at Your lovely feet. Forgiving Father, feel my feeble faith and touch me in return, in Jesus name I ask it, amen!

Apr | 22 | Filthy Love

Key Word:- TRUST

Title:- Filthy Love

1 John 2:17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it;

Fagin’s philosophy sounds so very true. “In this life one thing counts, in the bank, large amounts!” After all, if you are unhappy with your face or body? Money will fix it. Do you need a place to live? Money will fix it. Do you need transportation, debt alleviation, a large building for a growing congregation, need to pacify a small roguish nation or buy a nice cut jewel for her celebration? Well money will fix it, ‘cause money fixes most things friends! Oh yes it does!

We all know it’s money that makes this world go around and not love. Prestige, respect, safeties of all sorts in the many forms of medical insurance, life insurance and retirement benefits and well, you name it, are all provided by money. So get money and remember, if you’re overflowing with all that lovely green stuff and don’t know what to do with it, then may I quote Fagin once more? “Robin Hood, what a crook! Gave away, what he took. Charity's fine, subscribe to mine….”

Actually, money is great; it brings a certain freedom with it. Ask any arts group and they shall tell you how money from patrons and sponsors releases them to perform. After all, without philanthropic patrons, the rest of the country would not be able to get to the stock exchange for falling over starving artists dying in droves on all the pavements and sidewalks of our cities! Ahhhh money, don’t you just love it? Such a key to the opening of locked doors, such freedom, such supply, such happiness that comes with having money.  

I like the look of lucre, don’t you? Of course you do. Money does have a strange power doesn’t it? For though I have God living in my heart, yet I know that I am a different man, a better man, more at peace and more assured, when I have a few hundred dollars in my back pocket and you know, that concerns me greatly, for oh, the peace that money brings me and oh the plastic pompousness that comes from having some money in my own back pocket! Even the power of His Golden presence seems to be enhanced when couched in green. Scary stuff! Spiritually speaking, maybe we would be better off without it?

There is however, no godliness in poverty just as there is no evil in riches. However, let's face it, the seeming freedom and safety and open doors and power that money brings with it does give money an exceptionally strong magnetic pull. Who hasn’t felt it? Yet as gravity warps light, so the love of money and the attractive danger of that kind of fiscal freedom, that kind of financial fortressing of our earthly futures, both distorts our view of eternity and bends us away from trust in the Father. On many occasions Jesus saw money’s binding power on those possessed by it, and His loving direction to those imprisoned by their wealth or desire for it was simple, “Give it up, give it away!”

In such demanding proclamation, it seems to me that Jesus showed us not only the giant bastion of unbelief, but the all possessing fortress of great possessions, in both pictures of camels and eyes of needles.Tell me friends, how many green humps are you riding on today?


Listen:- For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 
1 Timothy 6:9-10

Pray:- Oh my Father, I am tempted not to trust in You and in Your goodness. In the building of my wooden barns, the laying down of the hay my future and the storing up of all my stubble, I fear I am but building for myself simply a big and burning bonfire to warm my hands on both now and in my latter days. Please forgive me O Lord, and help me to put my hope in You for Oh my Father, I am tempted not to trust in You and in Your goodness towards me, Your little child. Amen

Mar | 28 | There, We Saw Giants!

Key Word:- TRUST

Title:- There, We Saw Giants!

 Numbers 13:32 “The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, ...."

“Good evening,” said long time CBS Evening News anchor Walter Cronkite on the day of the partial meltdown of the Three Mile Island nuclear reactor today in 1979. He continued, “It was the first step in a nuclear nightmare; as far as we know at this hour, no worse than that. However, a government official said that a breakdown in an atomic-power plant in Pennsylvania today is probably the worst nuclear accident to date. There was no apparent serious contamination of workers but a nuclear safety group said that radiation inside the plant is at eight times the deadly level; so strong that after passing through a three-foot-thick concrete wall, it can be measured a mile away.”

The incident at Three Mile Island could have been another Chernobyl, or worst still, most of the North East part of Pennsylvania and beyond could have been incinerated in a nuclear explosion! Yet, despite accidents and errors, the fail-safe systems did in fact work. Indeed today, though the faulty reactor has remained inoperative, reactor No1, in the same plant, has since 1985 functioned at 100% efficiency, becoming even the most efficient reactor in the USA. There was no nuclear nightmare! Yet as far I am aware, since that incident, not one company or public utility in the USA, has placed an order for a nuclear reactor! Indeed, though the operating permits for half of the more than 100 nuclear reactors in the US are scheduled to expire by 2015, none has been renewed. Fascinating eh? Now, whatever you think about nuclear power, it is evident that consistent media hype against nuclear power has completely crippled the industry, especially in America.

Now mind you, my point is neither for nor against nuclear power; no, my point is that what you think, what you actually believe, especially what you say about what you believe, does indeed effect how you and others will act in years to come, even if your facts are incorrect. Think about that! I say again, the operating permits for half of the more than 100 nuclear reactors in the US are scheduled to expire by 2015, but none have been renewed. Why is that? I mean there was no nuclear meltdown, rather, words have crippled the nuclear industry, scuppered it and sunk it. Therefore, be careful what comes out of your mouth and flows from the tip of your pen then, for truly the Scriptures are correct when they tell us that, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Proverbs 18:21 NKJV Be careful now then and don’t make the giants more bigger and more powerful than they really are. If you do, you will pay for it. Especially in the long run.

Listen: - “rise, let us go up against them. For we have seen the land, and indeed it is very good. Would you do nothing? Do not hesitate to go, and enter to possess the land. Judges 18:9

Pray: - Lord, please give me a ‘CAN DO’ spirit. Lord, please, put a guard on my lips that I might not sabotage my future, nor the future of others with unwise words of unbelief. Amen.


 

Mar | 05 | Messy Around The Mouth

Key Word:- TRUST

Title:- Messy Around The Mouth

Acts 23:6,7 But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!” And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the assembly was divided.


Even then, it was known that Joseph Stalin had instigated political purges in which tens of thousands were killed, and that he was also behind the introduction of farming collectives, which led to a famine and the death of up to 10 million people. Yet in 1953 when the BBC first reported that he was on the brink of death, US President Truman, along with other world leaders, expressed his sympathy for Mr. Stalin saying, “I am sorry just as I would be if such a thing happened to any other acquaintance of mine.” Stunning! Oh President Truman, what insincerity, what lies, what a chilling verbal charade! For although now the whole world knows that Joseph Stalin was responsible for the vicious death of millions, the sad truth is that it was also known then, and most thoroughly by you, our then elected politicians.
Politics however, is a messy affair and especially messy around the mouth. Friends, there is a vast difference between prophets and politicians, the chief one being their life span! Prophets, on the whole, have never had a long shelf life. If you are playing with the truth to preserve your life, then you are playing politics. Careful now, careful now oh prophet of God, you might just be turning into politician!

In our text for today, the apostle Paul, in his shrewdness, had taken advantage of a very tense and life threatening situation. Seizing the moment, with a flash of sharp rhetoric, he had divided the assembly right down the middle. With a swish of political genius, it seemed he had turned them on one another and bought a little time for himself! Unfortunately however, in just a matter of hours, the apostle would be the focus of a mass and joint assassination plot. Politics, you see, is a very dangerous game. Maybe Paul thought he had no other option but to play politics at that point? Who can tell?

Friend if you have gotten a little messy around the mouth recently, then take your napkin and bravely wipe away the political spittle, stop protecting yourself and stand back and see what God will do! In Paul’s case, though again and again, people would desert him, God would not, could not, and did not! Paul testified to that and maybe today, you need to experience the presence of Jesus in your proclomation? Meanwile..... STOP playing politics!

Listen: - But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.” Acts 23:11

Pray: Lord, in joy or in sadness, in peace or in trial, come stand with me today. For I need Your very felt presence and Your most assuring personal word to my heart, else I might employ the flees of Tarshish and the transport of Joppa to worm and wriggle, out of both my duty and my calling, even Your desired destiny for me. So comfort me today O Lord, come stand with me tonight and strengthen me for the morrow, in Your great name I ask it, amen.

Mar | 03 | Snake Handling

Key Word:- TRUST

Title:- Snake Handling

Mark 16:18 they will take up serpents;


Always controversial and in many areas illegal, as of yet it shows no signs of disappearing from its traditional home in Appalachia, the mountainous regions of the South-Eastern United States, stretching from Georgia to Pennsylvania. Present practitioners believe that handling serpents is their way of simply following the Gospel to the letter. They believe other people ‘won't do this because their churches don't believe, or it's just something they're scared of, and that in the end, people just come to this portion of the Bible and want to ignore it or delete it because it's a deadly thing.’ Ya, you betcha!

Ralph Hood, a professor of social psychology and the psychology of religion at the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga, reports that at the beginning of the millenium “There are over 100 documented deaths from serpent bites. In every tradition, people are bitten and maimed by them. They risk their lives all the time by handling them. If you go to any serpent-handling church, you'll see people with atrophied hands, and missing fingers.” Well, like I said, you had better believe it is a deadly thing!

I am a literalist that does not go looking for serpents to prove his faith, or his belief in God, or even to prove to others that I have the Holy Spirit. It is evident however, that serpents do come looking for me! From the Garden of Eden to the shipwreck of Paul, serpents have tried to kill and maim the Christian church. So, allow a literalist a little, but nonetheless evident allegory here, will you? The devil is the great serpent of old, from the beginning, striking at the heels and hands of nations, churches, and individuals, trying to atrophy where we go and what we do; trying to poison Gospel feet and maim lifted up, holy hands of praise. Whenever we are engaged in the proclomation of the Gospel, be assured friends, that we too shall handle serpents and we shall not die if bitten by them. Oh and remember, it’s amazing how many broods of vipers there are that can be lurking in local churches. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

Listen: - But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. Acts 28:5

Pray: Help us O Lord, to shake him into Your prepared flames! Yes Devil! In the name of Jesus, we shake you from our bodies into the everlasting flames. In Jesus mighty name, amen!