Extreme Measures

Some people are thick and stubborn.... like a brick wall...

When all else fails... dynamite is necessary :)

The question is.. what is the 'dynamite' ?

Mission 1 Complete

Thanks God and everyone who has helped and encouraged me on the way... feeling so good today!

Now to address other issues that gotta be dealt with, and continue striving towards bigger and greater goals God has put in front of me! There's still greater things to be done.

Motions of Life

Most of us are familiar with Newton's laws of Motion - or at least heard about it before....

i) Every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it.

iii) For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

I believe these 'scientific' ideas can be applied into all areas of life....

For example, whatever you do or decide, there will be some kind of reaction or consequence. You push someone, they will fall down. You speed and you will get a letter from the cops with a nice fine. You do good things and people will appreciate you... etc. etc. Its like the analogy that if you go back in time, even if you step on a little ant, it could change the whole course of the future. Or the analogy of your life being a glass jug... and the rocks and pebbles inside are all the different parts of you and your life. If you take a bit out, add a bit in, or disturb it in any way, it will cause reactions to the rest of your life, and other people's lives too. Life isn't compartmentalised, its a conglomeration of everything you are.

Recently I've been thinking and I've listened to a couple of good talks on Romans. A good preacher, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, in one of his sermons, stated that if he could summarise Christianity in two words, he would pick 'But Now'. Why? Jesus has intervened in the course of history. He has impacted the 'uniform motion' perceived by the world and the consequence is that we have to respond to Him. Tomorrow's sermon at church is "Jesus' impact on the world". How did Jesus impact the world? Was he just another man, a good man, a prophet, or is He the King, the Messiah, the saviour of the world?

No Time To Procrastinate!

We as Christians should be living in a sense of urgency - there are lives to be saved, a gospel to proclaim, and time is running out!

For greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this City

God has greater things in store for us all! Let's not get bogged down with the stumbling blocks life throws... Lets get on with it!

Jesus' Last Words

Been pondering over a passage in the last week.. here's a quick overview...

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Jesus makes 4 points - two actions sandwiched by two statements about Jesus:

1. Jesus has been given all authority in heaven and earth (statement) - Jesus is the King who is in control

2. Go and make disciples of all nations (action) - Why? Because Jesus is the King! We have to spread the news to all nations.

3. Teach them to obey His commands (action) - If Jesus is King and we are telling others that He is King, we need to tell them how to submit to Him or how to live a life for this King.

4. Jesus will be with us to the end of the age (statement) - Jesus promises us something no other prophet, king or ruler can. Jesus' kingship is eternal - He will be our King forever, to the ends of the ages, and His kingship will never perish.

Jesus is the everlasting King, He has authority over heaven and earth. We must spread the news, and tell others that He is King, and that we have to submit to Him and live our lives for Him.

Blessing God

Just reflecting on a couple of things I have noticed recently at church and in people I know... This is a familiar tune and a familiar idea...

Blessed be Your name

In the land that is plentiful

Where Your streams of abundance flow

Blessed be Your name

Then we come to the fourth verse. Will we sing this truthfully? Or will we be singing a tune that we don't even model in our lives?

Blessed be Your name

On the road marked with suffering

Where there's pain in the offering

Blessed be Your name

Jesus describes what it means to follow Him: "...he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me". Following Christ is during the good times and the bad times. Its not when we feel like it we follow Him, but rather we choose to follow Him with all of our lives. It is a path of self denial and putting Jesus first at all times.

Will we be a people who choose to bless God's name through all our lives?

Words and Actions

Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

Lets not be Christ followers only by title or by word of mouth, but by demonstration through our entire lives. No rock is left unturned - Jesus demands all of our lives, and 99% is not sufficient. He wants us to deny ourselves, take up our cross - die to our selfish nature, and to live a life which wholeheartedly follows Him.

We need to listen to what the Bible says AND to do what it says; to have our faith in Jesus AND show it outworking in all of our lives. One without the other just doesn't work.

Are you following Christ 100%? Can you humble yourself to handing all your 'crowns' to God and living a Christ-centred life? Our lives are a testimony to the world which, in all aspects of our lives, should point to the impact of the cross of Christ in our lives.

Your Easter Song

I hope and pray that this will be your song this Easter

I’m forgiven because You were forsaken

I’m accepted, You were condemned

I’m alive and well, Your Spirit lives within me

Because You died and rose again

Be Kind...

"Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality."

How awesome is it to be able to show love and kindness to others... Gives you this warm and fuzzy feeling inside...