simple thought

Surprise

2012-01-25T15:05:00.000+13:00

Yesterday morning I heard a vehicle come down our driveway and then back out quickly again…
Sounded like a courier van.
But it wasn’t…

Next minute my mate Chris from Auckland walks in through the door! Surprise! And it certainly was...
I never guessed he would just turn up to spend a day with me. That was a good surprise!
We got to spend some time hanging out.
Many hours were spent at Prawn Park catching as many little prawns as we could for a feed later in the day.

We all understand there are two types of surprise:
Good Surprises.
Bad Surprises.

Bad for me are things like surprise bills in the mail or some unexpected news of someone’s ill health, that sort of thing.
Good surprises will still leave you feeling a little caught off guard, but will make you feel good eventually.
They help make life that little bit more interesting…

God from what I have seen, seems to enjoy a good surprise every now and then.
He surprised a lot of people when the salvation He had planned for centuries appeared as a baby to begin with.
He surprised Pharaoh by displaying His power and glory by all the miraculous events that happened through Moses and Aaron.
He surprised me one day by introducing Himself to me when I was definitely least expecting it.
He will surprise the world in the future when He sends Jesus to come for His people.

One scripture we encourage ourselves with in our house is this one…
I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you. Leviticus 26:9 niv

God has promised to bless us with many good things in our lives, including being fruitful! One day it will come to us like a good surprise...and I can’t wait to be honest.
God has great things in store for you as well.
Good surprises...God surprises are being prepared for you this year

Something to think about…

Clean Up

2012-01-18T10:56:00.000+13:00

Maybe it was because of having some spare time?
Maybe it was because we had run out of space?
Whatever the reason, we decided the other day to start doing a big clean up.
That means a trip to the tip with junk from the garage.
That means rearranging the house a little and getting rid of things we don’t really need.
To be honest we should have done this ages ago!

While a clean up is messy and not that much fun, the end result of what our home could be like is the motivating factor.
I can imagine all the extra room in the garage.
I can picture less clutter.
That actually feels quite good.

Our lives can be like that can’t they?
Over time we can pick up things we didn’t really need.
We can pick up baggage that can start to slow us down.
One day you can wake up and realize things are just a little too messy for your liking?

As people, sometimes we need a clean up as well?
Time out to clear our some baggage.
Time to reset our priorities.
Time to get life a little tidier…

1 Timothy 4:16 says
Watch your life and doctrine closely...

Simply means it is a good idea to review your life sometimes and to make sure you are doing the right things, believing the right things.

Maybe this week you could take a few moments to pray and ask God is there is anything you need to clean up in your life.
Have the courage to follow through with what He might show you...it will make you feel a whole lot better.

Something to think about…

Note To Self...

2012-01-13T12:04:00.000+13:00

Note to self...you are not always the best judge of your energy levels or your capacity.
You need to have something else at work in your life to make sure you don’t overdo things.
You need great advice.
You need people around you who will tell you to take a break. And they need to be people you will listen to!

When I first started training for sports events, I used to think you just had to work really hard. That you just needed to work harder and harder and then at the end of it all you would automatically succeed.
A friend I listened to was Lynette.
She told me that you need break weeks in your training to refresh yourself.
I listened. Found out she was right.
And things went well.

While I get the sports thing, I have to admit I am not so good at other areas. I love working hard and take pride in the fact I am not lazy.
But the flip side to that is that you can be blind to how tired you can be getting or where you need to schedule a break. This last week has reinforced that for me.

This year I want to be different in many ways…
I want to work real hard.
I want to play real hard.
And I want to rest real hard.

A great plan for me...and maybe a great plan for you?

Something to think about...

Topping

2012-01-04T10:36:00.000+13:00

You would never know by looking at me that I grew up on a farm...
Farming and I were never destined to be a lifelong match so I decided as a teenager to be a Rockstar instead. Funny how now I am a Pastor of a cool Church here in Taupo.

When I was growing up on a farm, as soon as I could reach the pedals on a tractor I was put on one for hours a day.
I did every type of field tractor work there was including ‘topping’.
Topping is when you drive around cutting all the heads of the grass seed with a mowing type attachment.

One of these times I had just about completed a whole paddock after several hours, and briefly looked behind me to admire my handiwork. I loved seeing the mowing patterns made and took pride in how tidy I could make them.
Unfortunately I misjudged the gateway being so distracted and managed to mow right through a concrete fence post.

There is an old proverb that goes... ‘Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you’.
Great advice for ‘topping’ and for life!
As you enter a new year it is best I think to leave the old one behind.
In fact it is best to leave your past in the past.
You could even take it a step further and fix your gaze on Jesus in 2012...I bet you would never regret it!

Something to think about…

Last Time

2011-12-28T11:50:00.000+13:00

The last one….yes that’s right…
It is the last Simple Thought for 2011!
I guess it needs to be a good one then?

When I think of the ‘last time’ it kind of adds some emphasis to it without even trying.
It creates something special out of something that may have happened many times before now.

While this is the last Simple Thought, it is also the last week of another year.
It is the last Wednesday of 2011.
In fact it is a day I will never get to have again...ever!
I am reminded that all I have right now is what I have, and that to waste that seems pretty silly!

You only get to live each year once...and then it is gone.
As you get older, time does seem to go by so much quicker. I sometimes wish that wasn’t the case!

When Jesus shared a final meal with his disciples he made a big deal about the last time part.
It was the last time he would eat and drink with them.
It was the last time things would be as they were.
It reminds me how important each little moment of our lives are. How to never take them for granted.
I bet those disciples remembered that night all the days of their lives.
The ‘last time’ made it a hugely important time.

As you finish this year, may you find yourself making the most of the moment.
Celebrate the best of the year.
Reconcile the rest of it...
Love, forgive, sort out, leave behind...whatever you need to do to make the most of this ‘last time’
To make it your very special time!

Something to think about…

Sophisticated

2011-12-22T10:38:00.001+13:00

If you want proof that we are not as sophisticated as we think we are...check out some guys public toilets.

I mentions guys only, not because I am picking on the guys but because I have no experience of the feminine version for obvious reasons.

And a wee note to readers, I am not asking the ladies to go hunting through the men’s loos.

I went to one the other day while Christmas shopping.
It is in a brand new building with all the latest in toilet technology. But that hasn’t helped people with their aim in regards to anything unfortunately…

I better leave the toilet thing behind before you freak out and stop reading!

In the 21st Century we generally think of ourselves as more sophisticated than in ages past.
We have mobile phones, computers, cars, running water from a tap and toilets that flush...and therefore that makes us better in some way.

Those things are awesome to be sure.
But as human beings we are the same I think to many years a go...even 2000 years a go when a baby was born in a manger in a very unsophisticated manner.

An obvious question to ask is why a manger?
Why a feed trough for a bed?
Why a place which is arguably the least hygienic in all of Israel to be born?
Was God not thinking straight and neglecting the birthing hygiene rules?
No. God had a bigger idea at play for this special occasion.

Because we are not that sophisticated He wanted to make sure this baby, this Jesus, was accessible to anyone and everyone. That no matter a persons background, this Jesus could be related to by all. Whether you were a smelly farmer or a clean cut wiseman...this Jesus was for them.

And nothing has changed...
When you strip back all the stuff we have in life, we are all the same as those people living back then.
We all have this Jesus, this Christ Child who was unsophisticated, to make sure the ‘God with us’ thing that God wanted to introduce, would really work.
No barriers.
No class system.
Just Jesus, here for you…

Nothing too sophisticated about that then, is there?

Something to think about…

Really Know

2011-12-15T22:34:00.000+13:00

A couple of days a go I stood in a queue waiting to board a flight. To my right as we shuffled slowing forward was the leader of our country, John Key, our Prime Minister.

I found myself wondering what he is really like?
I wondered what he is like to talk to?
Is he interesting in real life?
Would we get along or would we clash?

For the majority of us we will never really know.
All we will get to see is our Prime Minister on the TV with little sound bites.
We will never get to sit with him and his family.
It is pretty much impossible to know him really well and be able to say “this is what John Key is like…”

How many of us can say we know God?
Is it even truly possible?
The difference is that God has set things up so that you can know Him and what He is like.
He doesn’t have a security detail protecting Him from the world. He isn’t too busy to fit you into His day.

I think it is actually pretty simple to get to know God.
And it seems to be very similar to how you get to know other people…
Spend some time checking out what He is like.
Reading the Bible, listening to great teaching, hang out with others who know something of Him.
Spend some time talking with him.
Checking in with Him in prayer, hanging in His presence.

He is actually very approachable I have found.
You never need an appointment or to wait in line.

How Jesus came into the world paints this picture so powerfully for us.
He arrives as a baby.
Babies are approachable and unpretentious.
God wants you to see Him that way as well because that is who He is.

This Christmas time my heart and prayer for you is that you get to know some of Him and not just about Him.
That you would see Him as someone you can approach and get to know.
When you think of that baby called Jesus...think about how that is kind of how God would like you to approach Him. Come and look. Come and adore.
And eventually come and worship our King...

I think this is an opportunity too good to miss out on!

Something to think about…

The Gift

2011-12-07T15:45:00.000+13:00

So the Christmas countdown is officially on...

Advertisers will soon start to try and stir panic inside us that we have only x number of days left to buys gifts for people.
Numerous friends on facebook are posting comments about this countdown and how ready or not they feel.
Jack even came up to me this morning with some random countdown based around that 12 Days of Christmas song.

If you are really looking forward to Christmas, no doubt you are counting down the days also.
The excitement will be building…
You are probably making plans for that one special day?
Maybe you have got a tree and decorations up as an ever present reminder of what you are looking forward to?

Expectant parents, especially first timers, act very similar.
They have an idea when the big day is coming.
There is excitement and trepidation.
And most like we were...run around preparing for the new arrival.

This all makes me wonder how God felt leading up to that very first Christmas?
Was He excited? Or even nervous?
Was He planning on it being a very special day?
Well I think He was excited...and probably not nervous.
He knew very well what this monumental day would mean to the Kingdom of Heaven. He knew what was going to unfold over the ensuing years.
If it was just some random day like any other He would have never organized a huge choir of angels to perform.
If it was just another day He would have never told some wise men about it weeks before it would come to pass.

I think Christmas is special to God!
It should also be so special to us as well, not because of our gifts or maybe even lack of them...but because it was the day of days when God gave ‘The gift’ to mankind.
That gift? God with Us...
You can’t top that one no matter how hard you try!

Something to think about…

Sick

2011-11-30T13:51:00.000+13:00

My youngest boy Alex was concerned about me on Monday. He asked whether the fact I had not been well that day was because I had just turned 40?
While I don’t think that number had anything to do with my health, he was right to notice I wasn’t so well.
In fact I still feel pretty nasty.

Because of my lack of energy and inability to move around it has given me plenty of time to consider what being sick reminds me of.

Being sick reminds me of what it is like to be someone who is sick.
I find it is easy to forget what some people face each day. Being this way reminds of others struggles with their health, and it stirs some compassion inside of me.

Being sick reminds me that I need others in my life.
Having an inability to totally look after myself reminds me that life was not meant to be ‘self done’.
It works better with others around me.

Being sick reminds me that I can’t do this life thing with God.
He is my help. My sustainer. Without Him I would be lost!

The Bible says that we don’t serve a saviour who does not know what we go through as human beings.
He was tempted. He was saddened by things.
He understands sick and He understands pain.

I know that we have someone we can turn to and rely on when things are hard.
He is here for you!
I hope you don’t need some sickness to remind you.

Something to think about…

Circumstances

2011-11-23T11:32:00.000+13:00

Why is it that we can easily say sometimes that God is in the blessing we receive, while not sure whether God is in the trickier things of life?
Is it that we find it easier to think of God as only bringing good stuff to us?
Do we normally struggle to see God at work in all our circumstances?
For most of us the answer is Yes!

I have lost track of the times that I have heard people say how blessed they feel by God, when things seem to be going well. And there is nothing wrong with that.
I have also heard people blame the devil a lot when things don’t go as well as they had planned.

Not all circumstances are ultimately bad...
I have learnt and are still continuing to learn, that not everything that seems bad is there to ultimately do me harm. Sometimes God needs to let some things happen to us to help grow us. To help grow our character.
To help us be who He dreams we can be...

When Suze got severe post natal depression years a go my first comment was...WHY GOD?
Now I have a better understanding of why.
We now have genuine empathy for people struggling with issues affecting their mind.
Suze has ministered to plenty of mums and their struggles effectively, all because of some tough circumstances in her past.

Trying to avoid or ‘praying away’ our circumstances would have ultimately made us less than what we are now. When you decide to follow Jesus it is not a free ride ticket. It is an supernatural opportunity to grow here and now for something better in the future.

Maybe that is why faith and trust as so critical to our living our lives for Jesus.
Without faith and trust we can easily be tossed around by life and what it appears to bring. We can easily misinterpret what is really happening and why?

God promises us to guide our steps...even the steps through the difficult circumstances in life.
Whatever you are facing this week, don’t forget to press into the one who is wanting to lead you through them.

Something to think about…

Decisions

2011-11-16T10:35:00.001+13:00

We are fast approaching that time of year…
Or maybe you are already in it?
No I am not talking about getting the Christmas ‘spirit’.
I am talking about making decisions.

Around this time of year many people make big choices regarding their futures, the direction they are going to take in the new year.
I think that is great!
It is a good thing to be purposeful about the direction of your life.
With that natural desire though, you need to do your best to make sure the decisions you make are good ones.

Personally I don’t think making a major life altering decision on your own without contact with anyone else, is very wise at all.
If you are afraid to ask others about it before you do it...that is a big red flag as far as I am concerned.
If you only ask people who are guaranteed to agree with your proposed decision, maybe you are restricting good counsel on purpose...just a thought…

Proverbs 24:6 NKJV says this...
For by wise counsel you will wage your own war,
And in a multitude of counselors there is safety.

The writer recognises that our own life journey or even ‘battle’ is our own. That it only goes well with good advice. That good advice needs to come from many around us...

Counsel helps cut down on the paralyzing effects having to make life changing decisions can have on us.
Counsel helps give you some security, even some sort of a faith boast.
And counsel is there to help keep you on track in life, not there to hold you back and limit your opportunities.

Whatever big decision or decisions you maybe facing, make sure you get some good counsel.
Use the best of what God has placed around you…

Something challenging to think about…

Angry

2011-11-09T13:46:00.000+13:00

How angry is too angry?
Because most people get angry at some stage, and so many seem to get in trouble with it…
From the person who has over disciplined their child.
The person who has lashed out over some grievance.
To the person who thinks that things have to change.
There is anger in a lot of places these days.
Maybe even in your life somehow?

Most Christians are taught these days that anger is ok.
They read stories about Jesus getting angry at the money lenders in the temple, whipping them out with his home made disciplinary device.
They read stories about how God got angry with His people at different times for the silly things they did.
Anger is part of our existence.
It is naïve to think it won’t be.

So again, how angry is too angry?
Because it seems to be where all the pain kicks in...

Maybe too angry is when it takes you beyond what you would in hindsight think it should have gone?
Maybe too angry is when it inflicts pain disproportionate to the original offence?
Maybe too angry is when it makes someone else around uncomfortable with the level it got too...not why you are angry?
Maybe too angry is when you can’t sort it out quickly?

Ephesians 4:26 simply says...
“In your anger do not sin”:
Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.

If you have been struggling with this recently, it is the day to start sorting it out.
Check in with God.
Check in with others you can trust to talk it through with.
Please don’t let anger get the better you.

Something to think about…

Compare...maybe it could be a good idea?

2011-11-02T10:40:00.002+13:00

When I read about people like Elizabeth Gaunt, I can’t help but compare their life, their choices to me and my life.
Many say comparison is a bad thing.
I agree most of the time.
But when it comes to looking at others, their choices and their relationship with God...then comparison can be a nice challenge to our senses.

So who was Elizabeth Gaunt I hear you ask?
She was someone who lived during the ‘wonderful’ 1600’s in England. The word wonderful is something I am using sarcastically if you hadn’t already guessed...
This was a time in history when people were regularly punished or even killed if they were seen to even remotely challenge the authority of those times.

Elizabeth Gaunt unwittingly became the scapegoat from a failed coup attempt.
A guy called James Burton begged for her help when he was on the run after his plans failed. He begged Elizabeth to help him because he had a family.
As someone who loved God she felt that charity was how she should respond, and even gave him her savings.
In the course of time James turned himself in to take advantage of a plea bargain type arrangement that had been publicised. He handed over Elizabeth, the woman who had taken pity on him, to save his own skin.

She became known as the last ever woman burned alive in England for treason. Apparently she arranged the straw herself to help speed the burning to death process.
Beyond that little history lesson, how does that make you feel?
Beyond feeling maybe some anger that she was unjustly punished...do you feel a little challenged?

I know I do!

I want to make sure that I am that serious about my relationship with God, that I would hopefully make the right choices, not matter the consequences.
Anything else just seems lame compared to what people like Elizabeth considered ’normal’.

Something challenging to think about…

ALL

2011-10-26T13:25:00.000+13:00

I don’t think I can share something today without referring to the Rugby World Cup Final in some way.
It was such an intense night watching it with some friends! That final half was so stressful to watch. It must have been pretty tough to play let alone for us watching from the comfort of a lounge…

Everyone now has an opinion on the game itself.
Why they won?
Who played the best?
What team deserved the prize?
Who played using the most dirty tactics?

But beyond all the drama, one inescapable fact stares me in the face…
Those boys really wanted to win and they were willing to give everything of themselves to win. Even if it meant they could feel pain or shed some blood.
In my opinion they won not because they were necessarily the best on the day but because they really, really, really, wanted to win!

When it comes to life in general and your relationship with God, maybe you could take a leaf out that teams playbook?
Things go better when you put all of yourself into it.
The Kingdom of God is all about ALL.
All your heart.
All your soul.
All your mind.
All your strength.
It is never about trying or giving it a go.
It is never about seeing what might happen.
It is most definitely about giving your all.
There is no other way…

It worked for the All Blacks...so what about you?

Something to think about…

reaction | response

2011-10-19T11:39:00.000+13:00

When I went to school some physics teacher tried to instill in me this idea…
‘That every action has an equal or opposite reaction’
Sounds a bit like hedging your bets both ways to me…
I guess the point is that with every action there are some options when it comes to reaction.

Watching some drag racing drivers on TV the other day I realized that a lot of what they do, and the potential success of each run...comes down to their reactions.
If they react quicker, they have a better chance of actually winning.

When it comes to our lives I am not sure that a quicker reaction speed serves us that well.
I mean, what if your reaction ends up being wrong?
You have then just got to a bad result quicker…

One leader I respect, some time ago called together a meeting of all his heads of departments.
They sat around the table and listened to his plans on how to increase their capacity.
Essentially his plan was to add 33% to the capacity they had with the same staff and resources. He acknowledged that this would potentially be a big ask, but asked each leader to support it and at least give it a try.

Now at that point I was a little apprehensive.
Human nature seems to so easily kick in sometimes and you then start thinking about yourself.
What about me? How much more work will I have to do?
Obviously I wasn’t the only one in the group.
Most of the leaders there were quite negative towards the proposal. They had plenty of reasons why it wouldn’t work. They reacted!

Now I am the last to say I handle this reaction thing well.
But in this case I decided to keep my mouth shut.
I wanted to respond better and not let my issues get in the way.
In the course of time this leaders decision was a great idea. Things grew beyond expectation and every negative comment was proven to be unfounded.

So here is my idea…
We need to be people who respond more than we react.
Responding speaks of a considered and planned response.
It gives you a chance to make sure you handle things well.
Whatever you are facing this week, don’t just react to it.
Take a deep breath, think, pray, consider and then respond.
It will serve you well.

Something to think about...

Cramp

2011-10-12T21:14:00.000+13:00

Another confession time.

Today I made a mistake.

As I drove to a certain place today a little thought crossed my mind. That thought was to not go there. That if I do that it might not be the best thing for me.
To be honest I just ignored it.
I really wanted to go where I was going and do what I had planned.

So I followed through on my intentions...
And ended up stranded on a large flight of stairs at Eastern Beach, wracked with the worst cramp I have ever experienced.
When I eventually hobbled to the bottom I had cold sweats from the pain and nearly fainted.

Maybe, just maybe God was gently telling me not to go there today? Maybe that thought was actually the Holy Spirit doing his ‘still small voice’ thing?

I am recovering now typing this email late because I haven’t been able to move for a long time.

Maybe hearing from God needs two levels of trust?
One, trusting God can speak can you.
Two, trusting yourself to be able to hear.
Where you trust yourself enough to go with the ‘still small voice’ in your head.
I wish I had done the 2nd one today!

Instead of completely beating myself up over this, I am encouraged that God can and will speak to me about even non ministry things. He cares about every area in life, even trying to help me avoid cramp.

Something to think about…

Gotta have...

2011-10-05T14:22:00.002+13:00

Well what do you gotta have?

Check this passage out with me…
18Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 19Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. 20Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21being fully
persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.
Romans 4:18-21 NIV

The original story goes that Abraham was told by God that he would be a father of many people...so many that they would look like stars in the sky or sand on the shore to him.
That is a lot of people!
That is a pretty ridiculously looking promise coming from God!

I think God hasn’t changed.
He still makes BIG promises to us because He has a fantastic plan for your life. That plan is supposed be beyond your own imaginational level.

On a side note...If you think God’s plan is simple and achievable without something miraculous, then I suspect it’s not His plan for you.
Check in with Him and get an upgrade…

Anyway, Abraham did some things as he waited for God’s promise to come to pass. But all of them related back to something you gotta have...Faith!
Whatever big promise you are waiting for you gotta have faith as well. It is non negotiable.

It doesn’t matter if it looks hopeless.
It doesn’t matter what the circumstances say.
If God said it, then faith is what you need to get you to that promise.
And didn’t God say that faith is a gift? So if you find yourself lacking in the faith department, get asking for some of that gift!

Do what you can today to strengthen your faith, not weaken it.
Do what you can to be fully persuaded that this God you serve, can do as He has promised.

Something to think about…

Fairweather

2011-09-28T14:07:00.001+13:00

When I was a kid we used to carpool to get to sports events.
Someone’s mum would be chosen by who knows what system, and an allocated load of kids would be squished in the car.
Seatbelts were optional.
Being car sick was discouraged.

Anyway, on one of these road trips the Mum in charge was struggling to navigate her way to the desired location where our interschool cross country was to be held. She did what women seem more comfortable to do than us guys, and stopped to ask for directions.
The only problem with this cunning plan is that you need to approach someone who can actually help. What we got was a very old farmer guy, teeth missing, and an inability to communicate clearly.
He explained to us that the quickest way to get there was by ‘fairweather’ road.
Taking him at his mumbled incoherent words, the mum in charge and us kids headed off looking for a road called fairweather road. Little did we know at the time that this was not what he meant. He meant a road you could only use when the weather is fine...

That term was as foreign to us then as it is probably to you now.
Fairweather is actually something you could use to describe people sometimes.
They are sadly the types of people who do things when things are going well, and generally quit when it looks like things are hard.
Or they press into God and others when things are tough, and then walk away when everything is going seemingly well again.

For me, my faith in God, my relationship with Him, and being a leader, can never be a fairweather thing!
I don’t choose to follow Him because things are good or bad...I just choose to follow Him.
It doesn’t matter what season of life I am in...I just choose to follow Him.
Living your life for God and His Kingdom is about navigating your way through all the seasons of life and getting to the end.
Looking for a shortcut called fairweather will only leave you disappointed.

So can I encourage you to press into God this week?
Spend some time with Him, His Words, His Presence.
It is so worth it!

If you were still wondering, we did eventually make it...just in time for the race to start!

Something to think about…

stumble | wolves

2011-09-21T15:39:00.000+12:00

A group of us got together last week to talk about this thing that Jesus said a bit more...

Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come…” Luke 17:1

We managed to come with over 30 things that could cause us to stumble if we were not careful.
Interesting isn’t it?
I have to say though that this is the point really...
Thinking about it before it could happen gets you more prepared for what could happen.
It doesn’t mean you freak out. It does mean you make sure you do what you need to do to not stumble, and
simply trust God with His part in the equation.

I have been reading through the New Testament a lot in the last few weeks. One of the stumbling blocks to us as Christians that Paul and Peter seemed to keep coming back to was what sometimes were referred to as wolves.

Check out these scriptures...pretty ‘full-on’ kind of statements to make!

2 Peter 2:1
But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies...

Acts 20:29
I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.

Paul the Apostle seemed to also have an ongoing battle with some people who he called the ‘circumcision group’. They would turn up where ever God had done something amazing with people and teach all sorts of rubbish.
The people would get confused and it used to make Paul mad. At one stage he said he wished they would go away and cut bits off their bodies!

Jesus even said this one day…

Matthew 7:15
Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.

So if you don’t want to stumble in your faith, do as Paul advised Timothy, to watch his life and doctrine carefully. Make sure the food you get is good not just to look at but also to consume.
If someone is trying to teach something that doesn’t match up the whole Word of God, don’t accept it.

God is way bigger than weird teaching.
Focus on Him and what He says. That is all you need!

Something pretty challenging to think about…

stumble | attitude

2011-09-14T11:23:00.001+12:00

Obviously spurred on by this series we have started called Bait & Tackle, I have been thinking about all the things that can cause us to stumble.

Jesus said this…“Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come…” Luke 17:1

I have managed to come up with a bit of a list!
There are many things I have found that have caused me to stumble around at times, and obviously I have been witness to what others have stumbled over as well.

One that stands out is attitude.
Unfortunately even just mentioning that word will cause some people to stop reading (but please keep reading). We have heard so many truthful but yet tacky catch phrases relating to it over the years.
Things like…

“Your attitude determines your altitude” Author Unknown
“Happiness is an attitude” Francesca Reigler
“We cannot direct the wind but we can adjust the sails” Author Unknown

Whatever catch phrase speaks to you or even annoys you...the truth will still remain.
Your attitude towards the life God has given you will determine whether your attitude will cause you to stumble or not.

If you are tired and cynical in general, then that will always translate over to your spiritual life. You will probably be tired and cynical about the things of God.
If you generally aren’t passionate about anything, that may well mean you are not passionate about God’s Kingdom and you potential in it?
But if you have faith. If you have your eyes fixed on the prize in front of you...you will speak a whole different language.

If you now realise that maybe your attitude is a stumbling block for you, you don’t have to stay tripped up.
Couple of things for you to do. And they work!
Get around others who have the attitude you want. It will wear off onto you and give you a ‘new normal’.
Get into reading more of God’s Word and mediate on it. It will help change your thinking.

I knew that sounds simple...but it works!
Simple + Works, you know then that you can’t lose...

Something to think about…and do...

Subsitute

2011-09-07T11:47:00.001+12:00

My wife Suze read something to me that caught my attention the other day.
It went something like this:

“Better than the real thing...Egg Substitute”

Have you had egg substitute? I have!
When I was in Japan a few years back I was excited to see a buffet breakfast at the hotel I was staying at.
My excitement turned to horror as I tried to swallow what I thought was scrambled eggs.
The taste wasn’t right.
The consistency wasn’t right.
It was kind of like eggs, but in reality it didn’t even come close. I guess that if you had never had eggs before it might pass as close enough? Then again, this muck could quite possibly put someone off real eggs for life!

That statement got me thinking…
How much do we settle for a substitute over the real thing? It is possible to do this with spiritual things as well as edible things (actually those ‘eggs’ were not edible!).
There is no better substitute for the real thing...even if the substitute thinks it is better!

Jesus said those famous words...that his desire for us is to have “life and all it’s fullness”. John 10:10
I don’t think that Jesus would rather you have a substitute over the real thing.
So don’t settle for the substitute!

Don’t settle for other things over a relationship directly with Him.
Don’t settle for average and normal over supernatural.
Don’t settle for a podcast if you can get the real thing with a Church.
Don’t settle for facebook over hanging out with some people.
Don’t settle for someone else’s interpretation over reading the Word for yourself.
Don’t settle for struggles over freedom.
Don’t settle for sickness over health.
Don’t…well you probably get my point?

Substitute is there only to help or to fill a gap.
It never replaces or supersedes the real thing.
Don’t settle for anything less in your life!
Go after God yourself and have the ‘fullness factor’.

Something to think about…

First

2011-08-31T17:34:00.001+12:00

Matthew 5:23-25
23“...if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
25“Settle matters quickly with your adversary…”

Why is it sooooo easy to offend one another?
Why do believers seem to get sooooo offended so often.
I hate it when I do!
I hate hurting people! Offending them.
As much as I try not to, I fail every now and then.
It makes me feel stink inside.
Kind of like butterflies that are so angry that they plotted to torment my stomach until they get bored...

So this is what I try and do…
I try and sort it out as fast as I can.
The last thing you or I need is to have things like this hanging over us.

The Bible encourages us to keep short accounts!
That just simply means to deal with it asap.
If someone has hurt you...deal with them directly.
If you have hurt someone else...apologise asap.
If you know me at all, you will know that I am not the sort of person who wakes up thinking...“who can I hurt today”!

I have also learnt the hard way that pressing into God and hoping the issue will just go away by magic doesn’t work and will ultimately frustrate you to pieces.
It will never go away...because time has no healing effect on hurts and offence. It may dull down, but something will eventually bring it back to the surface.

Pretty challenging thought for the week I know, but we all need to practice Jesus advice.
Please forgive me if I have ever offended you!
Please forgive others who have done the same…

Something challenging to think about…

Switch

2011-08-24T18:10:00.000+12:00

So I see this guy I know again…
I ask myself... “why do I have to keep bumping into him?”
To be really honest I don’t really like him that much.
And I am pretty sure he doesn’t like me either.

At this point you might be asking yourself what is wrong with me?
To which I would reply...you are probably more like me than you might want to admit.

You would think that Christians would never have any enemies because we are all about love.
You would think we would all like each other no matter what because of Jesus doing whatever it took to save us. But the reality is that we are still human. We still have a human nature, a sinful nature that we are trying to crucify every day.
It is normal then, that during this process in life, that some relationships won’t always go to plan.

I actually think Jesus is not as concerned that you have a few enemies, but rather how you handle your enemies.

Check out what he says here...

Matthew 5:43-44 NIV
43“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”

As I was looking across to him, something happened...
I prayed for him. I really did. I prayed like I meant it.
I prayed that God would bless him and help to work through all that he is struggling with.
I prayed that God would heal him completely.

And guess what?
I walked away somehow changed.
It was like a switch was flicked inside me that meant I could look at him with some affection. And none of it was manufactured!
If I bumped into him again in the next few days it wouldn’t bother me that much at all!

Taking God at His word...doing it His way works!

Something to think about…

Unexpected

2011-08-17T15:39:00.000+12:00

Most of you will know that we had some snow around New Zealand this week.

It has been pretty exciting.
It was also pretty unexpected.
I mean unexpected in the sense that it is not normal for our country to get nationwide snowfall.

Unexpected can be pretty cool.
It certainly can make life a lot more interesting.
For us as believers I think you need some unexpected.
You need some pretty cool God unexpected moments!

Here are some thoughts on that:

It is exciting
God does not save you for ‘normal’ or average.
It is supposed to be an adventure.
Adventure always has exciting as part of its mix.
If your life doesn’t have some of this, some of the time...ask God for some unexpected.

It is scary
When the adventure gets exciting another feeling normally comes along with it...the fear factor.
It really tells you that you are alive.
But what it should do is drive you closer to God and your trust in His ability to bring you through the unexpected.

It is stressful
I read today that Wellington in particular had problems with their electricity supply. It was stressed to near breaking point during the snow storm.
When the unexpected does happen, you can’t rely on your own strength and power. That is when the power that God can supply comes into its own.
God’s strength is perfected in our weakness.

So here is the deal my friend.
Go after some unexpected this week.
Milk this adventure God has for you for all that it is worth!

Something to think about…

Song

2011-08-10T14:08:00.000+12:00

We quote something a lot when we are wanting to help people to worship God...we say that the Bible says to sing a new song.
This last Sunday was no different.
We sung a new song and I mentioned that passage as we introduced it.

This morning I am still thinking over what that means.
It is very easy to hear something like that verse and take it on face value.
“Sing a new song...ok I will sing a new thing” vibe.
But you have to ask yourself why so that you know why.

Does God get bored with the songs we sing?
Well I am not sure God can get bored in the first place?
Can we get bored with the songs we sing?
Well of course we can if we do the same thing too many times without thinking about it.

Like I mentioned on Sunday, it is all about heart!
When you are bored with a song, you simply can’t put your heart into it. Then that song just becomes like any other song. Not really what God is looking for from His people when we get together...

Take this a step further now.
What about life away from Church on a Sunday morning?
Does ‘new’ need to fit into that equation as well?
Or do we just need to find something that works and keep doing just that?

I have learnt that God likes new and old.
But I think he ultimately likes lots of new.
He is described as a creator first and foremost.
That is all about new.

If you want life to have its ultimate meaning for you, then I think you need ‘new’ in there on a regular basis.
That’s what helps make it exciting and ‘good scary’ at times. That’s what will stretch your faith and help you to grow more.

Do something new.
Meet some new people.
Study something new.
Cook something new.

Whatever it is...I am sure it will challenge you and grow you!

Something to think about…

Deserve?

2011-08-03T11:09:00.000+12:00

By the time you read this, it will have already happened.
What I did was write a little note to each of my boys about how I feel about them. I included a little treat and left it on their pillows for them to find when they came home from school.

Why?
Do they deserve it?
Well not really!
They haven’t been that great at getting ready for school, in fact they have been a little challenging with their behaviour lately.

I did it for one inescapable reason...I LOVE them!
That’s what love does.
It does things that people don’t expect.
It goes beyond what you deserve or they deserve.
It goes beyond ‘normal’.

For me, a big part of how I see God and how He does things is all about opposites…
I believe that God chooses to love us even when we don’t love Him.
I believe that God forgives us, reaches out to us and blesses us beyond what we deserve or what would be considered normal.

And God takes it all a step further, if that was even possible...and invites us to get in on the game.
To love others. To bless others.
And all unconditionally.

Maybe today you could do something random and loving for someone else in your life?
Or maybe today you would like to find out what this God is like and experience His love?

Please don’t settle for normal!

That’s something to think about…

honour

2011-07-27T14:01:00.000+12:00

This simple thought is unashamedly going to carry on from what we shared on Sunday.
Like I always try to do, I try to share something from God that you can implement in your life beyond the moment you hear it.
I never just want to give people information.
I think helping someone’s life to be impacted is a way better outcome!

One of my favourite scriptures from Sunday…

Romans 12:10 ESV
Love one another with brotherly affection.
Outdo one another in showing honour.

Outdo one another...awesome stuff.
God getting us to be a little competitive over honour.

So is this something you do? Am I doing enough myself?
The reality is that we probably have a lot more room in our lives to honour others.
Even this morning I was thinking of how I could honour some of the most influential people who have been part of my life. Then it hit me. Publish it via this format.
This is not meant to embarrass anyone.
My heart is to express some thanks and honour to some of those who have truly impacted my life in some way.
So here goes…wish I could honour more!

Mum & Dad
It goes without saying that you are why I am here!
Thanks for being my parents. For blessing me so much in my childhood with so many opportunities and fantastic holidays!

Gran
Even though Gran you will never read this since you are 96...I still want to honour you for being awesome!Living not far from you as a kid was fantastic. All those afternoon teas have not been forgotten. The Whipped Cream and Honey Puffs for breakfast are an enduring memory.

Chris Chilton
Thanks for the support of my band when I was a teenager, when no one else seemed to believe in us. That newspaper article in the Southland Times is still a firm favourite in our house.

Sharon Winning (different last name now)
Thanks Sharon for letting me stay with you when I moved to Auckland in 91. Your support has more to do with my life now that what we probably both realize.

Dave Foote
You may not remember it, but without your invitation to eat some pizza and watch a video...I would not be doing what I do now. Your invitation changed everything for me! Thanks Major D...from Angus MC

John Houston
You will always be remembered by me as the guy who saw something in me that no one else saw. You took me under your wing as they say and helped me get started on my journey.

Mark Bilton
You and Helen were such a support. Letting me stay with you some weekends. Helens breakfast in bed was awesome! So honoured to know to you both. Never forgotten what you shared over my life the day I got baptised!

Don Newitt & Mandy Haynes
Thank you for believing in me and supporting me beyond what is normal. The opportunity to serve in your Church, to minister when we went away, and the ultimate of living with your family!
Wow, you deserve to be honoured!

Dave & Jean Fraser
It is still staggering to think you would ask me to live with you while I went to Bible College. You didn’t know me, but chose to sacrifice to enable me to grow in God. Thank you!

Chris Bethwaite
Good friends are sooo important. You have been there through most of my adult life. Good and Bad times. Thanks for being my mate!

Russell Ballantyne
You took me on as a staff member when it seemed not many others thought I could be of value. What you did for me set me on the course we are now on. Your belief in me made a huge difference!

Luke Brough
Another amazing Man of God who has supported me, believed in me and set me up for a fantastic future. You have done more for me than most would ever know. You are a fantastic leader and I count it an honour to be part of your team.

Rachel & Hayden Briscoe
Thank you for honoring us a little while ago with your connect group. You taught us a lot about honour!

Lynette & Treacle Warn
I never thought I would love sport like I do now. You Lynette are my super coach! Thanks for helping me get started and pushing me. Hope I can make you proud by achieving some other sporting goals.

Steven Furtick
Your messages and what you have done as a leader really inspires me. The world needs plenty more Church leaders like you!

Craig Groeschel
What an amazing example you are!
Your generosity is something that stands out in our world and amongst the Church. You deserve to be honoured for the impact you are having around the world!

So that is me just getting started…
Who can you think of to honour today?
What are you to do to about it?
How are you going to express it?

Something to think about…and do something about…
Can you outdo me?

Rules

2011-07-20T12:31:00.000+12:00

We love to break the rules don’t we?
By ‘we’ I mean people in general…
If a sign says to not do something...there always seems to be someone who thinks it doesn’t apply to them.
If it is illegal to do something before a certain age...there are always many of us wanting to do it.

Some have said that “rules are meant to be broken”.
But is that something you can live by or just a catch phrase to throw out there when it suits us?

I have to admit that I always like to go above the speed limit. Not by much I must say.
It is easy for me to justify because I can say things like:
“Everyone is doing it.”
“I am a good driver.”
“The Police have a tolerance factor before giving you a ticket.”

In thinking about this today I realized that rules are not just meant for me.
When a sign says “do not enter”, it is not there just for me, it is there for the person who put it there.
When I break some rules thinking I am above that rule, I am actually saying that I am above the rule creator. That I am more important. And when you step back and look at it, that seems pretty arrogant doesn't it

Then let me throw in another component to this.
Especially when it comes to personal things.
When I don’t abide by someone else’s rules or wishes, is that really love? I mean, as people who say they love God, aren’t we meant to show love all the time.

Maybe that means others rules are something we can respect and show love for them through?
Kind of challenging isn’t it?
God hasn’t given us rules and guidelines in life just to control us. They are there to protect us as well.
On a deeper level, they are there to help us show respect for the one who gave them in the first place.

Something to think about…

beginning

2011-07-13T13:44:00.000+12:00

We all have seasons of things in life that demand by themselves that you think about their meaning to you.
For me these last few weeks have got me thinking about life after you finish living on this marble floating in space.

It also seems that many others around the world are thinking about this key part of ‘life’.
Much is being written in newly published books.
Debated.
Even argued about…
For me I even purchased some books to study again about it, as I want to understand it as best I can.

Don’t get me wrong.
I think I know enough to give me comfort.
But there are plenty of ideas are floating around...

Some people think life stops after death, while others believe it lasts forever in another form.
Some people think your life is transferred into another generation, while others believe it is a once only assignment inside a casing we call a body.

My encouragement to you is to look at it.
Death is not the end of life. It is just the end of this life.
I firmly believe there is an eternity to be looked forward to. In fact you are already at the beginning of your eternity! This is the beginning stages for you and me. No matter how old you are, you are still only at the beginning in the light of how long eternity lasts.

Jesus said that He is going to prepare a place for us.
The ultimate lover of your life is working away preparing somewhere else for you to be. He is getting prepared for all of our arrivals. It is ultimately our choice whether to take him up on His generous offer.

God has also promised us that this place will be different. And by different I am not talking just about the scenery and the food. I am talking about that it will be better than you can truly imagine. He says there will be no more pain, suffering, injustice...nothing to ever make you unhappy!

While I wait for that day (I am in no hurry), I have determined in my heart to make the most of this life, this intro to eternity now. I am not waiting for eternity.
I am living it now in the form God has blessed me with now.

Something to think about…

Full

2011-07-06T13:05:00.000+12:00

God wants you to have the whole picture.
Not just some idea of who He is, what He is about or even what He is looking for.
While this for most of us takes a lifetime to get close to, it is still at the heart I believe of Gods plan for you and me.
That is why I get ‘concerned’ about what many other Christians believe, promote and live by sometimes.
It seems they have learnt, been taught or just decided God is a certain way only, and then have lined up their life accordingly.

I have been reading a book by an author I used to really enjoy. But lately his messages have made me more and more uncomfortable. It is like something is missing…
His latest offering has tipped me over the edge.
I am struggling to read it because there is a lot missing from the story. It is like he has decided God is just one thing and that one thing to him overrides everything else about God.
It concerns me greatly what others now believe after reading his ideas, and the consequences that may follow?

Other leaders have lately wandered into debates over sexuality.
This is so dangerous when you don’t give the full story.
Basing an answer purely on scientific thought while ignoring the Bible completely can never be seriously considered ‘God’s will’ in my opinion.

An older friend of mine told me that the Bible said he could leave his wife because the Greek original text said he could. The major problem there is that he got the translation wrong!
That didn’t stop others around agreeing with him.

People like you and me make life changing decisions based on what we think we know.

Check out this scripture…

Acts 20:27 NKJV
For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.

Why did Paul say this?
Because he wanted his listeners to be prepared.
He wanted them to finish their race.
He even warns them that... 29For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.

My encouragement to you is pretty simple really...
Don’t be afraid to read God’s word.
Don’t be afraid to wrestle with concepts and check them out with people who you know you can trust.
Don’t be afraid to cry “God, help me to understand!”

Please don’t settle for less than the whole!
Go after the FULL GOSPEL!
The FULL COUNSEL of GOD!
You are worth it...

Something to think about…

Cold

2011-06-29T14:31:00.000+12:00

So it is winter in our little corner of the globe, and the other day I felt cold.
You might be saying at this point...“well duh, Locky it is winter!”
And you would be right...but it also got me thinking.

Cold doesn’t feel very good.
It affects your motivation.
It can affect how you feel about life.
It can even cause your judgment to be impaired.
For me it just makes me want to eat lots of really hot and fatty foods.

It is around this time of year that I hear of more people talking about a desired journey to some tropical paradise somewhere. All because they recognize cold is not so good, being warm is a whole lot better.

Jesus mentioned one day that it was possible for you to be cold towards God.
For me that means we all have the potential of feeling unmotivated, not feeling good about life, having impaired judgment...all from a cold relationship with Him.

So what do you do if you feel that way?
The point I guess is that you need to do something if you want it be different. Just as hoping to get warm while sitting in the cold is pretty ineffective.

Here are my suggestions on things to do…

number one
Draw near to God. Pretty simple but very effective.
Just as you seek out heat in the natural to warm up, seeking God out always will heat you up spiritually.

number two
Exercise your faith. Do something that stretches your faith. Maybe something you haven’t done for ages or have never done at all. If it challenges you and scares you, then maybe you will need some faith to do it.

number three
A very wise man once suggested to someone “fan into flame the gift of God”. Finding and using the gift or gifts you have in your life will heat you up. They are like a flame inside you.

Even though it is winter please don’t get cold.
Seek out some warmth.
That’s the best place to be!

Something to think about…

Shopping

2011-06-24T17:42:00.001+12:00

A guy I really respect and enjoy listening to coined a phrase that better fits a problem in the 'western Church' than one I had been using.
You might have heard the phrase...Church Hopping?
He added one letter to make it...Church Shopping

That sums it up even better doesn't it?

The scourge of the western Church in the time we live!

Christians shopping like God has the ulitmate Mall of options of them.
Window shopping. Trying things on. Constantly waiting for the latest fashions.

No I will not be quiet about it...

And no I am not saying this because people have left the Church I lead and now I am angry and bitter...

I am just even more aware of it now and it scares me how much God's people seem to think it is ok!

It is NOT ok in my opinion.
God has not called you to be a Kindgom of Priests, a Royal Household...visiting every other household...judging it, critiquing it...and as this guy puts it...being Simon Cowell to the Church.

I think Gods plan is pretty simple.
He calls us living stones that are needing to be built together to form His Church, His Bride.
As in any building project, you can not expect to remove bricks randomly and expect something to flourish or maybe even survive.
Bricks are bricks. Their stability means others have stability.
Being a travelling brick as it were, means those bricks really do show they don't care about it any other bricks that God is working on.

If you are shopping or being part of the travelling brick brigade. Stop It!
Please, I beg you.
Pick a Church. I don't care which one. Just pick one!
Get covered in mortar and find your place and ulitmately your value there.
The Church is better if you do.
You will be better for it.
I personally guarantee you will flourish if you give yourself completely to Him and His plan for His Church. It is His by the way. And if you say you believe, then you belong to Him as well!
You are not your own. You were bought for a price...

Just something else to think about...

Ponder

2011-06-22T11:19:00.002+12:00

There is a phrase I have seen quite a few times in the last few days.
It got me thinking. In fact I have thought about it before, but not how it might relate to me and therefore maybe to you today…

Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart Luke 2:19
…his mother treasured all these things in her heart Luke 2:50

This Mary, this mother, was the Mary who gave birth to Jesus.
She heard things and saw things during her life that didn’t always make total sense to her when she was first introduced to them.
The interesting thing for me is that even though she may not have understood them completely, she took it to another level instead of writing them off.

Isn’t that what many of us do?
When God does something or something happens that we didn’t see coming, we react to it and freak out, maybe run away? Sometimes we even fight it.
I think Mary decided to let it percolate in her heart a bit instead of making a snap judgment.
She sat on it. Mulled it over for a longer period of time.
She didn’t just think about it in her head.
She thought about in her heart.
She didn’t ask the whole world for advice at that time, she took her time with it instead.
Again that is a whole different level of living.

Jesus even said that there is a whole other level of thinking in us. He asked some people one day “why do you entertain evil thoughts in your heart?”
He understood that the heart is more deep than the head. It is there that we find out who we really are and what we really believe. Somewhere deep in us that is more personal and central to us that just our head space.

Maybe this week or recently some things have happened that you didn’t expect?
Maybe something went wrong in your opinion?

My hint for you is to stop and definitely not react.
Step back for a time.
Don’t respond as quick as you may think you have to.
Do the Mary thing and ponder it in your heart...
Wrestle with it a bit.
Pray over it, around it, through it a bit.
You will then do a far better job of handling whatever it is...

Something to think about…

'my stuff'

2011-06-15T11:34:00.001+12:00

I have been thinking about my life on the most basic level recently. How I seem to wrestle still at times with some basic issues (I don’t mind admitting that to you).
On one hand I have a huge amount of faith to see God move in amazing ways in your life and through our Church.
At the same time I am like most people and have my own issues that I working through in my journey with God.

After a while it is easy to have one of a few reactions:
Give up and say “hey that is just the way I am”.
The other is to pretend. Put the Christian mask on, and soldier on as if we are in some sort of victory.
But there is another way.
I was reminded of it this week praying through some of ‘my stuff’.

Jesus was one day telling a story about how we approach God.
One guy was a religious leader who outwardly did all the right things. He studied the Word of God, gave money, did ‘churchy’ kinds of things.
The other was a government employee who collected taxes for a living. Not exactly endearing work to the people he lived with. People probably talked about him in terms I can’t repeat here.
Both guys approach God.
Only one went away, in Jesus words “justified with God”.

The Tax Collector.

Why?...because of his approach.

The Tax dude wouldn’t look up to heaven, instead he beat his chest and asked God for mercy. He recognized he was a sinner and needed some help with his personal issues.
The religious guy just raved on about his own efforts and self importance.

Didn’t Jesus also say that He came not for the healthy, but for the sick?

He is my point.
I am the Tax Collector. I don’t mind admitting it.
I know I am not perfect. And that is not an excuse.
It is just that being honest about ‘my stuff’ works best when it comes to approaching God.
I have done that this week.
And I will probably do it again.
As the old saying goes...Honesty is the Best Policy

Acts 3:19 says this…
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord

Be honest please with God. Beat your chest if you have too. Share your heart and your struggles. Confess sin if you have some. And get some refreshing…

Something to think about…

Another Part

2011-06-09T16:47:00.001+12:00

I am not finished yet with the thoughts I shared yesterday...

What partly inspired me to say what I said was a story coming out of my old hometown of Invercargill.
Some people caused offence to some other people because of what was written or displayed on their clothing. Things referring to Jesus and what they thought of him (not nice if you hadn't guessed).

Now I am not going to get into whether that sort of thing is good, bad or ugly.
And I don't want to get into whether it should be banned or not.
What I do want to say is this...actually two things the more I think about it.

Number One
"God doesn't need people to defend him, but rather people to represent him"

Many people think God needs defending.
Like we are the police of His honour.
If someone says something bad about Him that we should scream and yell and tell them they will "go to hell".
I think God is so much bigger than any offence you can throw His way.
He knows the silly things 'man' can come up with, simply because He knows us all by name, He knows our hearts.

Take me for example...
I used to wear stuff similar to what is in the picture.
I used to proudly sing "I am an anarchist and I am an antichrist" at gigs with my band.
And guess what?
God loved me enough to see past all my bluster and love me into His family.
Then of all crazy ideas...he gets me to be a Church leader.
Not your 'normal' expectation of a God you have tried to offend.

I actually think the more we as humans fight against His love the more He just pours it out.
The more we fight against His grace and mercy...again the more He gives.

Why?

See my 2nd thought...

Number Two
"God is more interested in saving those who are lost than worrying about their clothing"

The Bible simply says that "God desires that all men might be saved"
I think that God is more interested in us loving those who struggle with God, then panicing about their clothing styles. Let's love them. Let's shock them with accepting them...you don't have to accept the clothing.

Remember that Jesus came especially for these people.
Be inspired by my thoughts from yesterday and pray from them, not fight against them.

That's what I think anyway...

Part

2011-06-08T10:19:00.000+12:00

Here is part of my story…

I used to have a job.
Not a very glamorous one, but it was a job none the less.
This temp job was working for a pharmaceutical company in their warehouse. The days were long and tedious sometimes but I loved the fact I could work and earn some dollars while waiting on my other dream to come to pass.

One day all the guys working in this warehouse were in the packing bay at the same time. We were having a huge argument about God.
There was one guy there who said he believed in God, while the rest of us definitely fell into a different camp.
We (myself included) were saying with all the passion we could muster that God was rubbish. And that if he existed then he must be a monkey, simply because evolution is real. That if God created us in his image and we came from monkeys, then he must be a monkey!

This is where the story got weird for me…
I was arguing away this case when all of a sudden I started to feel guilty.
I couldn’t understand why at all.
It was not like I believed any of this ‘God stuff’ anyway.
The guilty feeling kept growing to the point I couldn’t take it anymore. I grabbed a product trolley from that packing bay and raced away to pick product from the shelves. I had to get away and that seemed like my only option.

What I didn’t know was this…
That young guy trying to defend his beliefs was actually up to ‘no good’. The Church he was going to had decided they needed a new guitar player. His bright idea was to tell them about a guy he worked with who was in a band. And they began to pray…

What I hope you are picking up from this story is something simple that anyone who says they believe in God can do. That when you come across someone who doesn’t believe what you believe, why not just pray for them?
I am an example of someone not judging me by my appearance and what I said at the time I believed.
They looked past that and prayed to God on my behalf.
Now many of you know I not only play a guitar for God, I lead a Church for Him as well.
They had no idea what praying for some heathen wannabe rockstar would ultimately achieve?...but they did it anyway.

So who can you pray for this week?
Exciting opportunity isn’t it?

Something to think about…

Taste

2011-06-01T15:24:00.000+12:00

You don’t always know what something is truly like until you have tried it. Here is what I mean...

Take Ice Cream.
Until you try it, you have no idea what it really is like.
You don’t know the sweetness.
You don’t know the softness.
Take the Double Down as another example.
Some people had written it off as the most evil thing since Osama Bin Laden, and then been pleasantly surprised about how it tastes.

People say that God is good.
You have probably have heard that before.
It is one thing to hear that something or someone is good. How do you really know?

Psalm 34:8 puts it this way…
Taste and see that the LORD is good

Now obviously you can’t go up to God and actually eat Him. I am sure he is not looking for that type of interaction! The meaning is deeper. Unless you fully try something, you can’t find out what it is really like.

Young kids get this concept instinctively.
Whenever they find something new, what is the first thing they do to learn more about it?
Do they ‘google it’? No, they put it in their mouths.
It is the most personal and close thing you can get to something.

So if you want to find out what God is like…
What living a Christ filled life is like…
What living in freedom and truly living is like…
You have to get into it all the way to truly know.

It is not try before you buy. It is try because you buy.
You by into everything that God has for you.
You can’t sit on the sidelines and be passive.
The life that God has for you is meant to be tasted and experienced to the full.
Maybe that is why we remember what Jesus did for us with bread and wine...because it goes into our mouths. It is something to enter into via tasting.

If there is something about God and His Kingdom you haven’t experienced...taste it, try it, experience it and see for yourself!

Something to think about…

New

2011-05-25T12:37:00.003+12:00

I think if we are all honest...we would say that new is best.

If someone offered you a new car vs a old car you will probably choose the new one. If someone offers you a new house...same thing.

If you read up on some of God’s thoughts on this, He seems to be into it as well...

God considers giving someone new wine special.
Genesis 27:28
God likes the offerings we give to be new, not old.
Leviticus 23:15-17
God likes us to make room for the new as he blesses us with more new.
Leviticus 26:10
God is into new songs being sung to Him.
Psalm 96:1
God likes to do new things.
Isaiah 43:19
He created a new covenant for us.
1 Corinthians 11:25
God offers us new life
Romans 6:4
We are made into a new creation.
2 Corinthians 5:17
God encourages us to put on a new self.
Ephesians 4:24
God is creating a new Heaven and Earth for us.
2 Peter 3:13

Pretty cool!
At this point some people get uneasy.
Am I saying old or familiar is bad?
I guess the balancing act is that we don’t become obsessed either way. We are encouraged to be content. But while you are being all spiritual by being content, don’t forget to look to the God who makes all things new!

Let’s pray that new comes into our lives and keeps us truly living and fresh.
Let’s pray our world gets to experience the newness that only God can offer.
Bring on the new I say!....

Something to think about…

Pie

2011-05-17T08:16:00.000+12:00

I am one of those people who really loves bacon and egg pie...like I really, really, really, love it!
I am also really fussy about what goes into my b&e happiness.
The crust is just a yummy wrapper for the hearty goodness that awaits me inside. If it doesn’t have bacon, eggs, peas and seasoning it just doesn’t do it for me.
If you add something else not on my wish list then it is simply not as good as it could be.
Add something gross and then the whole thing is ruined.

Here is my point.
The filling is really, really, really important.
At the end of the day you can have whatever wrapper around your life that you like.
Dress nice.
Upgrade your look.
Copy someone else to try and fit in.
Your filling is what eventually decides your fate.

So what is your filling?
What are you stuffing inside of you?
Is it hearty goodness or something less?

You know I am not talking about food right?
I am talking about what you put into your life. The relationships you keep and the style of them. The things you watch and entertain yourself with. What you listen to... They are fillings that you have inside you.

What I know about God is that he wants to fill me with good things. Refreshing things. Peace things. Hope things.

I think you are worth more than pie...so why not treat yourself to a great filling?
Get some of his Word into you (maybe by the Essential Jesus programme we have started?).
Get some time with great people who you can encourage and they in turn can encourage you.
Get yourself to Church and Connect Groups as much as you can.
Give away something of yourself so more freshness can be added.

By the way...did you know that I love bacon and egg pie?

Something to think about…

Lies

2011-05-11T11:07:00.000+12:00

A very young boy in a movie a few years back simply leaned over his birthday cake...blew out the candles...and made a wish.
That wish?
That his dad couldn’t lie for just one day!

That movie was a huge hit. Yes because it was funny, but it was also very relatable for everybody watching it. It was because if we were all honest, we have all been or are right now liars.
I haven’t met anyone yet who has never done it.
Our kids have tried to lie many times and as a parent you try and correct and teach from that point.

The world can be confusing for us...
An old boss of mine regularly asked me to lie in order to win a deal. He would say things like “it’s just business”, and I would go away praying asking God to help me find another way.
We regularly watch politicians lie or try to distort the truth for their own means. Sometimes to avoid getting into trouble and sometimes to get what they want.
We see people on consumer shows lie and deceive to avoid doing what is ‘right’.
Some people even watch different forms of entertainment where lies are just part of the plot.

So what about you and me?
Is it ok for a Christian to lie?
At what point does an exaggeration turn into a lie?
There are lots of a questions to this challenging little area.

Well here is the deal…
Don’t do it!
Simple I know, but as someone who is a disciple we are called to a higher standard of behaviour and living in general...so we can indeed be salt to our world.

Colossians 3:9 simply says...Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices

Don’t stone me for bringing this up…
Maybe it is an issue for you or of course ‘someone else you know….’
Let us have our yes be yes and our no be no.
That’s the way Jesus would like us to do things.

Something to think about…

2011-05-10T17:30:00.001+12:00

seat

2011-05-04T12:09:00.000+12:00

Around a year a go I found a really cool chair.
It looks like something directly out of Star Trek.
Your know that chair that Captain Kirk sat in?
That is a very cool seat.
I regret not buying it when I had the chance…

Someone told me about a chair for sale today.
A chair in that same style.
I went to go have a look, but found I was too late.
Someone else managed to get it before me.

Where you sit.
What you sit on.
Seems to be really important to us.

When you go to the movies, most people want to sit near the back...maybe in the middle a bit?
I notice people who go to church like to sit in the same seat each week as well. Even when people visit us at home, there seems to be a seat they go for more than others.

Now to get all spiritual on you…
The Bible talks about chairs and seats as well.
It says that God sits down and is so big he can use the earth as a footstall.
In heaven God sits on a chair called a throne, with Jesus seated on one side.

Check this out…
19and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
Ephesians 1:19-21
...And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:6

God is interested in where you are sitting more than you think.
To the point where he wants the basis of your life to be seated in heaven, because that is where he ultimately wants you to be.
That is the foundation of your life.
Now if you start from heaven itself in a spiritual sense that means you have everything already. It means we can live out of that place and all the privilege and position it gives us.
Where you are sitting...is really important!

Something to think about…

power

2011-04-27T14:12:00.001+12:00

I am not one of those people who think it is fun without power. It is not like for me a way of getting ‘back to nature’ or a simpler life.
It reminds me of how much more difficult life can be.
It reminds me of how much I have got used to having it.
And all I want is to have it back when it is gone.

Power seems to make all the difference to our lives.
It is supposed I think.
God also knows what your life is life with it and without it, and that is why he actually offers plenty of it to you.
One of the cool things with this power is that it never runs out. It is not subject to the weather or mechanical failure!

Jesus told his disciples to wait in a place called Jerusalem for something special to happen. He said this just before he went back to heaven after rising from the dead.
He told them that they would be getting ‘power’.
Not just a good idea or even a tickle...but real power! That this power would make all the difference to their faith in him and their lives.
We are told as well that this power is the same ‘stuff’ that rose Jesus from the dead in the first place.
It is the same power that circled the earth while God was creating everything.
This is powerful power!
Another scripture tells us that when you have this power it acts as a ‘seal’ guaranteeing your salvation and eternity with God.
Pretty cool aye

So what is next?
Well, if you are reading this and already have this power please don’t take it for granted.
Use it as much as you can. Make the most of it.

If you used to have this power but have been disconnected in some way. Get connected again.

And if you have never experienced it then I invite you to find out what it is like. All you need to do is open your heart to God and ask him to give you the gift of Holy Spirit. And I mean really ask. Cry out to him and he will fill you.

It will change you life completely.
Trust me, you want this power!

Something to think about…

PS If you have questions or want to find out more I am here for you...you simply just need to ask.

2011-04-20T14:03:00.001+12:00

Looking for some inspiration I sat down with my Bible and an Easter egg.
What a fantastic combination!
It was fantastic until my caramel cream egg filling dropped on the page I was reading!
Don’t worry.
I managed to clean it up…

I figured that something I should read was some of the stories leading up the accounts where Jesus was crucified. Figured it kind of fits really.
I mean, here we are a few days out from Easter…

You read that in the days leading up to Jesus death, there was a lot going on!
This was the time when Lazarus was raised from the dead. It was also when the famous story of Mary pouring perfume over Jesus and drying him with her hair happened.

And then you have a group of people really unhappy!
They don’t like Jesus.
They don’t like the fact he performs miracles that improve peoples lives. They ignore the fact that everything he seems to do benefits everyone else and not himself.

They said things like:
“Here is this man performing many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.” John 11:47-48
...the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him. John 12:10-11

So what was the deal here?
One word...Jealousy!
They were Jealous. And it clouded their judgment so much that were willing to kill people over it.
It didn’t matter what good had happened.
If the ‘good’ wasn’t benefiting them directly then they didn’t want it.

Jealousy is so powerful that it will take you and I places we will regret.
No one is immune from it, but we can all control it.
For me this has reminded me to watch myself, my motivations and my reactions. I don’t want to respond to things out of some jealous motive.

These stories remind that it doesn’t matter how much I think I know about God...jealousy will derail me.

Something to think about...

2011-04-15T13:11:00.001+12:00

think

2011-04-13T14:07:00.007+12:00

Where the mind goes, the man follows - Joyce Meyer
Which is a very simple yet profound truth!

I am reminded all the time about this in some way or another.
People tell me what they think about things. People tell me what the think of others sometimes. And people definitely tell me what they think about themselves.

It is an amazing thing this whole thinking thing…
The brain with its composition of mostly fat, water and electrical impulses, is extremely powerful.
Get the right combination of the above and you can split an atom or invent human flight. Get the wrong combination and you can seemingly ship wreck your life very quickly.

So what do we do?
Can you control fat, water and electricity?

One thing you can try is to take some hints from the ultimate thinking changer...the Bible. It gives me hope that I can change my thinking.

It says things like…
...train yourself to be godly. 1 Timothy 4:7
...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8

Peter said in one of his letters published as part of the Bible ...I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. 2 Peter 3:1

The point really here is this:
If you want your thinking to change you need to train or stimulate your thinking with something better.
For me that is very simply training my thinking with someone else’s thinking that is way better than what I can come up on my own. For me that is with God!
What God thinks about me, says about me, and speaks all around me has got to be my first port of call. I am training my thinking with God’s thoughts through His Word. Little by little I am letting His thoughts become my thoughts. I am trying to do it each day.
I take it that seriously. I think you should too...
It is worth it I think…

irony

2011-04-06T12:21:00.002+12:00

For me there is a huge sense of irony to some of life right now…

Just in the last 24 hours we have a new video clip for the whole world to watch of a celebrity losing the plot over some missing paint and sponges.
On one hand it is a visual record of someone losing all self control and making a complete fool of themselves.
On the other hand, the producers of the show he is part of are now rubbing their hands together with glee, knowing that ratings will go up and they will get a big fat financial bonus.

It is like there is reward for something wrong…
It certainly got me thinking about me. As I watched part of the clip (and turned it off) I felt really uncomfortable about it. I don’t want to be the sort of person who gets some pleasure from others peoples misfortune or entertained by others character issues.

Maybe that is the point?
When you spend all your time looking at others and not yourself it can be easy to forget about you. You notice everyone else’s issues and not your own. You focus on what they can or can’t do. You can even become cynical and critical.

Jesus said one day to some people to ignore the speck in someone else’s eye and sort out the plank in our own eye. Simply meaning that we all have issues and things we are dealing with. But the most important thing is you focus on your own. Deal with your own stuff and get help if you need it.
The cool thing there is that is exactly what God loves to help us with!
Being entertained by someone’s speck will never help you! Going to God and asking for help and the grace to deal with our stuff...now that is a way better idea.

Something to think about…

2011-04-05T09:46:00.001+12:00

advice

2011-03-30T08:55:00.002+13:00

I sat in a café recently working away on some ideas for our Church...and as much as I tried to ignore it, I couldn’t help but overhear another conversation. I was trying to pretend I couldn’t hear them. I don’t think I was pretending that well… It was between what looked like 3 generations of ladies from one family. A grandmother, a mother and a daughter. It seemed to be all about the daughters relationship issues. The older two were trying to help the younger with advice. To which the younger one answered everything with “but”. We are all like that though aren’t we? We all want to give advice and not so easily and readily do we accept. Moses father in law came to visit him one day and saw from an outsiders point of view how Moses could actually do some things better. So he gave some advice. Why, not because he was a know it all, but because he cared. Moses took the advice and things went better. Hence proving it was indeed some good advice. In fact good advice is only good advice if you do something with it. Someone else I know went to give another cyclist some good advice...and the other person got a little agitated back at them. Sometimes good advice and good intentions are not always accepted. My encouragement to you is to accept good advice when it comes your way. Yes check it out...but do so from a heart that wants to grow, not some arrogance that everyone else is wrong. The Bible even tells us that to be wise you need advisors. People who want the best for you and are willing to tell you straight seasoned with some love of course. Take a chance and let others into your world to grow and expand your world... Something to think about…

Jealous

2011-03-23T17:22:00.001+13:00

I have lost count of the times in my life when I have been jealous…

Jealous of the kid at school whose parents had a video player when we didn’t.
Jealous of the kid whose parents bought them a Rubik's cube while they were overseas.
Jealous of the kid who could play a sport better than me or get a higher score on calculator spacies.
Jealous of the guy who was going out with the girl I liked.
Jealous of someone else’s guitar.
Jealous of the opportunities someone seemed to be getting over me.
Jealous of the friend who was leading a bigger church than me...

It doesn’t matter who you are or how long you have wondered this earth, we all have the ability to get jealous.

So what is the cure to this thing?
What should we do when the ‘green eyed monster’ is coming up from inside of us?

It is not just a matter of telling yourself to stop it or even pretending to not be jealous and lie to yourself.
I believe we have 2 cool options.
I try to use them whenever I can.

Opposite.
I have found reacting in the opposite way to how my jealousy wants to take me has an amazing effect.
For example, if someone is doing apparently better than me...I pray and thank God that He has blessed them, even asking Him to do so even more.
It changes my heart and it will change your heart!

Motivate.
I have found other jealousy can motivate me in some way. My example here is really simple…
If someone is able to do something you can’t do, don’t get bitter about it. Let it motivate you to work harder or do something so you can grow and improve.
Maybe you are jealous of someone having a great
relationship with God? Or maybe you are jealous of what they can do in God?
Well let it help motivate you to press into Him yourself.
Do someone with it.
Don’t let the jealousy do something to you...

Something to think about…

wow

2011-03-16T09:44:00.000+13:00

WOW...is one word you could use, but it still doesn’t convey what we feel.
Once a upon a time each generation would be able to point to half a dozen natural disasters over a lifetime as something they heard of. This generation seems to be able to surpass that now with ease.
When the boxing day tsunami hit and over 100,000 died, that was a huge deal.
Then there was Haiti.
Recently there was Christchurch.
And now we have Japan!

People are asking questions.
I overheard staff at a cafe I was visiting asking if it was the end of the world?
To which the logical question would be “is it the end of the world?”
And if it is really the end of the world “what can I do?” “What should I do?”

It seems the option of burying you head in the ground hoping it will stop will not work.
The ground keeps on moving anyway.
Am I scared? Of course I am a little.
I wonder what is going to happen to me, my little family, and all the people I care a lot about.
That is why a question to ask is “what happens next?”

So here is the deal.
It is my opinion so you don’t have to agree.
I share it in the hope that it might give you an option and give you some hope.
The Bible talks about this earth not lasting forever.
It was never designed to anyway.
It also says that one day there will be a new heaven and a new earth. A place where there will be no more weeping, no more pain. I like the sound of that!
So I have placed my hope ultimately in the one who promised us that.
Would you like to do the same?

Something to think about…

pain

2011-03-09T13:59:00.001+13:00

If you have been at one of our Sunday services recently you would have heard us talking for a few weeks on how to grow.
Growing is the most natural thing to do. But many forget that growth is only by intent, not by accident…

There is an aspect of growth that many don’t want.
Realising you have grown through something, or learnt something pivotal to your life is a fantastic feeling.
But I guarantee that on the way to that moment of satisfaction there may have been another feeling…

Pain.

Unfortunately pain seems to accompany growth.
No shortcuts from Pastor Locky for you here today!
Keep reading though...I will make it worth your while...

When I was young I used to get what my mum called ‘growing pains’. It was this dull ache in my legs on many nights. She encouraged me and said it is a sign that I am growing, that something inside of me is changing. That I am further along in my journey to become the man I will one day be.

Sports people have even used a mantra for many years…‘No Pain—No Gain’
That one is true as well unfortunately.
I wish I could get fitter without any discomfort.
The reality is that fitness comes from effort not just a good idea. The pain is a good sign you might be doing something right to achieve your goal.

In fact, without any pain or discomfort you should be nervous. It might indicate you have stopped growing?
Now I am not being all fatalistic or masochistic.
It is just that as a disciple, pain is not something to run away from. I am not telling you to enjoy it, but pain is an indicator on your journey of growth.
I have watched too many run from the challenges of life, which were the very things that they would grow through. All because they wanted to avoid pain.

The Bible says we are people who do not shrink back.
That we should endure hardship.
That we should be known for our perseverance.

Why, so you grow into the person God dreams you can be…
Come on. Lets get some pain...and achieve the goal!

Something to think about…

family

2011-03-02T13:26:00.001+13:00

I was thinking this week about ‘Church people’...and in particular those of that group who are really happy to attend every Church they possible can.
In the last couple of weeks we have had many tell us they attend this Church and that Church, and now ask “can we come and join your Church” kind of thing.

To be honest I have changed.

I used to say things like…
“that is great”
“happy you can be part of the body like that”
“great to get some variety I guess”

Now I certainly don’t think like that.
And before you stone for me being biased or having an agenda let me share a simple thought on this…

The Bible refers to us as a family. Jesus family that will one get to spend eternity with God doing whatever he has planned for us to do in eternity.
Until then we have Churches all around the world.
Small ones, big ones...every different combination and style you could ever dream up.
Some are loud, others quiet...and some even cuddle snakes (don’t get me started on that one!).

I belong to a family as well.
The McNeill family.
My immediate family is myself, Suze, Jack & Alex.
That’s the family that God has blessed me with.

I also have an extended family.
My Mum, Dad, Sister, Aunts, Uncles...you get the idea…
I don’t see them as much as my immediate family but they are still part of the ‘family’.

If I spent all my time with the extended family, going from place to place, event to event...I would still have an immediate family, but the relationship I could have had would be less than it could be.

I have learnt that the immediate family that God has given me is the one that takes priority.
They are there to be my biggest support.
They are there for me to give my best to as well.

Church is the same my friend.
Yes, hang out with other Churches, with the extended family sometimes. It is good.
But I think we all need an immediate family to commit to called your local Church.
If you haven’t done it yet...pick one.
Commit to the family God has for you.
You won’t regret it!

Something to think about…

mirror

2011-02-23T18:51:00.000+13:00

My wife recently got this really pen that you can use to write on glass and mirrors…those sorts of places. It is liquid chalk so wipes off really easy compared to paint I guess.

On one of our mirrors she wrote this…

Look at the nations and watch—
and be utterly amazed.
For I am going to do something in your days
that you would not believe,
even if you were told.
Habakkuk 1:5 (New International Version, ©2010)

She wrote that a few weeks a go now.
Boy does that have some new meaning for us in the time we live in!
My generation has seen the middle east essentially in the same way it has been for a long time.
Apart from a few Gulf Wars, the nations of that area have stayed pretty much the same. But not anymore!
One after another they seem to be changing.
They are changing dramatically!
Leaders who have been in that role all our generation have gone or are in the process of going.

My encouragement to you is to not take the time we live in for granted. Things are happening.
I firmly believe that God is up to a whole lot in our earth.
Some would definitely say these are the end times…

Let’s not waste a moment, but make the most of every moment.
Let’s look to our God who can change a nation and amaze us...because if He can do that to a nation, He certainly can do it for a person within a nation.

We serve an amazing God.
He is on our side.
And He moving.
Let’s watch together and see what He does…

Something to think about…

cars

2011-02-16T15:44:00.000+13:00

This is what I think…
“That a good host wants to bless their guests with the best they can.”

I watched today a little disappointed in the extreme reaction to some news in our country.
It is reported that the government recently upgraded the ‘official’ cars that are used for state business.
Cars used for carrying officials and dignitaries from other countries.
Some cite our current economic climate for not upgrading. Others go as far to say that a basic family car is sufficient to transport heads of state…
In my opinion I think we should always be as generous as we can (without being silly) to guests.

In my house we live by that…
I want to look after and even sacrifice for whatever guest I have.
I want to always be generous.
To go beyond their expectations.
To be a blessing.
It actually gives me a huge amount of pleasure to do it…

When I think about God and His character He is the same and obviously better than me!
Think of the planet we live on. It is the best planet in the ‘known’ universe.
God was generous with creation.
God was generous with His Son.
...all just for us!
We are ultimately guests in this world and God goes all the way he can for us. He doesn’t just give us the minimum He can get away with.
Here is a scripture to think about with these thoughts of mine…

2 Corinthians 9:6 (New International Version, ©2010)
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

Something to think about…

v-day

2011-02-14T10:30:00.002+13:00

Today is Valentines day...and the craziness has just begun.
So far (I am just getting started) I have left Suze some notes on Facebook.
Which is actually not to far from the original meaning as it turns out...

During the early church times Valentine seemed to be quite a common name. The name became more popular it seems because many were martyred for their faith who had that special name.
One man in particular who lived in Rome stood for his faith against growing opposition and persecution, again his name was Valentine.
Claudius passed a law banning marriage so that the young men would join his army and not be distracted by fiancées or wives. But Valentine believed marriage was in fact a gift from God and something to embraced and celebrated, not run away from. So he would hold secret wedding ceremonies. Couples would meet with him and he would whisper the vows.

Unfortunately one day he was caught and thrown in prison for his activities.
Apparently the jailers daughter would visit him many times. She supported his stand and wanted to learn more from him.
The story goes that on the day Valentine was to die he left this girl a note thanking her for her friendship and loyalty. He signed it, “Love from your Valentine”. That note, written on the day Valentine died – February 14th, 269 AD – started the custom of exchanging love notes on St Valentine’s Day.

As you can see, Valentines day is for people in love, but also for people to thank others for their love.
So today, how about showing some love?
Maybe a simple email or text to a loved one or friend?
Thank someone for caring about you...
That is the real Valentines Day!

gap

2011-02-09T10:35:00.000+13:00

I have found that there always seems to be a gap when someone has an idea or makes a decision...and then follows through with it.
Now some people make a decision and follow through it seems in seconds. And sometimes that back fires. More on that another day.
What I am talking about is the majority of us.
People who have a window of waiting in between idea and action.

Last year I bought a road bike.
It actually sat in my office for over a month before I ever rode it for the first time.
People came and admired my ‘good idea’, even though I had never done anything with it.
It wasn’t until I started to ride that the idea really did become anything good.

So why do we have a gap in the first place?
Fear, apprehension...all sorts of reasons.
But my reason for writing this thought is this…
There is a danger I have found in letting the gap become bigger than the idea in the first place.
If the gap gets too big it covers over the idea and we give up.

Maybe you have been sitting on an idea for a while?
Maybe it is even something you felt God wanted you to do?
My encouragement to you this week is to not let the gap grow and the idea die.
If it was a great idea, then do the great idea.
Don’t wait for life. Create your life.

Something to think about…

Phenomenon

2011-02-02T16:59:00.002+13:00

There is something I have noticed about riding my bike again...a strange phenomenon.
Isn’t that such a cool word? Phenomenon...
Reminds me off an old Muppets tune…
Anyway back to my simple thought.

I have noticed how different I am depending on the circumstances of my rides.
When I am on my own I ride one way.
When I ride with someone else I ride another way.
What I mean is that I seem to be able to go further and a lot faster when I am with someone else.
It is kind of strange really.
While I am putting in heaps of effort when I am on my own, there is a different dynamic at play when I am with a friend. I can do more than when I am on my own.

The other day I was on my own, but saw someone else on the horizon of the road. Something kicked inside of me and I was determined to catch up and try and pass them. I did it, and again found that someone else had made all the difference to my life.

Maybe that is the point?
Maybe the point is that life with a friend is way more effective than without a friend.
A true friend will ultimately encourage you to do more, try more, hang in there more…
A true friend is your greatest encourager.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says it like this...
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.

It is pretty obvious what I am recommending here!

Something to think about…

imagination

2011-01-26T11:21:00.000+13:00

Human beings have a thing called an imagination.
It is this ability to see into a future and pretend what it could be like.
Sometimes people are described as having a ‘vivid’ imagination, where it describes them as having one just that little bit more extravagant than others around them.

Most kids have a vivid imagination. I know that I certainly did growing up.
I dreamed of being an astronaut.
I dreamed and played out being a soldier in World War II.
It wasn’t that hard to dream really.
John Lennon even wrote a famous song with the simple title ’imagine’. He challenged people through it to picture what the world could be like. He actually understood that imagination was the first step to things changing in peoples lives.

The history of achievement is all based on this imagination thing.
People imagined flying and set about to make it happen.
Someone else dreamed of splitting an atom and made it happen.

For us now, should anything be any different?
Should someone who believes in a God who created everything have an imagination?

Ephesians 3:20 says these words...
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us

It is saying that no matter what we can imagine or dream up...God wants to do even more!
It is not saying to not imagine.
It is saying that God is even bigger than it.

Obviously there is imagination that is not cool.
The Bible also talks about selfish or vain imagination.
I guess for me, what I take from this word is that if I use it for God’s glory, if I desire to have Him lead me in it...something truly amazing can come from mine and your lives.
Imagination should take us somewhere very special.
It should be a trigger point for where this year can take us.

Something to think about…

Lists

2011-01-19T12:02:00.000+13:00

I have been thinking this week about life…
And I have decided that a person can only be one of 3 things when it comes the Kingdom of God.
- Growing
- Stagnant
- Shrinking

The Bible also describes it as being:
- Hot
- Luke Warm
- Cold

I am in no way wanting to beat you up or do the same to myself for that matter.
But I have decided in my heart that I want to be the first one on both of those lists.
I want to be Hot. I want to be Growing.
And I want it be obvious not to others, but to myself.

You see, if you are really honest like I have been, you will know which one you are already as you read this.
And as it is with me, the ball is in our court.
I want to experience everything I can in God this year.
I want to see everything he wants me to see.
I want to spend myself completely on building His Kingdom personally (in my life) and corporately (in His Church).
I am changing stuff about my life to make this happen.
Not just sitting there hoping that it will happen.

The Bible tells us to encourage one another…
Well I want to encourage you to go hard.
Don’t be afraid to be passionate for God and His Kingdom growing on this earth.
Fight for it!
Fight for what could be and in fact should be.
Please don’t settle for average.

If there is anything I have seen over thousands of years of history between God and Man is this…
That God responds to us and our passion for Him.
Let’s go after Him together and with everything we have. And let’s see Him do some amazing things this year!

Something to think about…

four

2011-01-12T09:33:00.001+13:00

While my family and I are away on holiday, I thought I would unashamedly rehash an older simple thought for today. I am supposed to be on holiday anyway...

Whatever challenge you may be facing this week, check out these 4 very simple thoughts:

thought one
Jeremiah 8:18
O my Comforter in sorrow, my heart is faint within me.
The Bible calls God our comforter. In fact one of the original Greek words for the Holy Spirit means the same thing. He is the one called to come along side us when we need help.
I always ask the Holy Spirit to help me, to comfort me...to lead and guide me...

thought two
1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
God doesn’t expect you to be superhuman and carry all your burdens and even everyone else’s on your own.
Simply hand them over to him.
Talk to him along those lines…Hand it over...don’t hang on to them.

thought three
1 Corinthians 10:13
And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
I believe the principle here is the same for when are struggling. God will not let the present trial you are under ever be beyond what you can survive through.
He even will provide a way out.

thought four
James 4:8
Come near to God and he will come near to you.
This is cool. I know that when I feel under pressure, the best pressure release I have is to simply come before God.
To get in his presence. To get away with him.
To let the peace of God rule over my heart.
It helps get things back into perspective. To know God has get things under control even if I don’t understand them.
I mean, he is the creator if everything.
Nothing is beyond his reach or influence.

Something to think about…

bubbles

2011-01-05T10:28:00.000+13:00

I bet when you were a kid you liked bubbles!
In fact, I bet you probably still like them even if you don’t want to admit it…
Every time a bubble flies past me or one of my kids we can’t help but be fascinated by them.
We even have some ‘special’ mixture at home that makes them harder to pop.
You can catch them. Stack them.
And have all sorts of ‘bubbly’ fun.

As adults we can sometimes take something as innocent and simple as bubbles and turn them into something completely different. Bubbles that are lot more sophisticated.
They can be invisible.
They can be as large as a person.
So large you can actually fit inside one…
In fact I have seen them so big they can surround an entire group of people.
Bubbles to keep others out or keep others in.

I think bubbles were never supposed to last.
A bubble that lasts too long is dangerous!

Now I am not going to give you some woolly woofter speech about letting people in to make the world a richer more vibrant place. I think that cheapens the point really...
But I believe a life really lived is not about having bubbles around you. While it may protect you for a while, eventually that bubble will mean more to you than living itself.

I want to encourage you to look at your life.
Take a sharp object. Pop the bubble that may exist.
Maybe this year you could let someone new into your life?
Maybe that bubble has stopped you believing for something amazing to happen in your life? Well pop it!
Maybe it has stopped you from trying something new? Pop that one as well!

POP.

You might just be pleasantly surprised by what lies out there for you in 2011?

Something to think about…

Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T00:37:00.000+13:00

Hello 2011...and all you cool people in it!
Can't wait to live this year with you!

two words

2010-12-29T11:32:00.000+13:00

Hi there...
With the end of 2010 upon us, it always makes for an ‘interesting time’ for many.
Many of us are excited about a new year, with many new opportunities?
While others have maybe not enjoyed what 2010 brought to them, and have some apprehension about yet another year?
Whatever place you find yourself, can I please encourage you with a couple of words?

eyes
What I read about how God wants me to live seems to revolve around using my eyes. The scriptures say to turn your eyes to Jesus...indicating that maybe they have been somewhere else?
Peter could do amazing things when he saw Jesus.
His life sank when he didn’t see him!
He sunk in the water and sunk when he denied him.
I have learnt that if I keep looking to him, and can keep on going...then that going seems to exceed my expectations! Which leads nicely to my next word…

expectation
If you are like me, your nature is to think a bit negatively sometimes...and guess what I get when I do?
That’s right, nothing much good!
I tell you that I am determined to expect great things for yours and my new year!
To expect that God hasn’t changed at all from the days when he provided miraculously for people in a desert.
Hey, they saw Him! He did stuff. They were left without any doubt that He was their God!

That is my heart for yours and my 2011.
That we are left with no doubt!

But here is the kicker…
You can’t be passive.
Using your eyes and expectation are not passive things at all!
Grab 2011 by the throat and make the most of it and your relationship with God!

Locky :-]

song title

2010-12-22T11:01:00.001+13:00

“All I want for Christmas is you”
...well that is how the song goes…

One year as a kid, people taught me a song called “All I want for Christmas is my 2 front teeth”. Obviously that was something I probably needed at the time.

I bet that first Christmas, before it was even called Christmas, Mary would have had an interesting title for what she wanted. Probably related to the fact she was about pop out a baby!

Kids in our western culture get an opportunity to say what they want for Christmas too.
You can send a letter to someone called Santa Claus who apparently lives at the north pole. And no matter how little or inaccurate the address you place on the envelope...it seems to always get there???
Plus you can add to your ‘chances’ of getting what you want for Christmas by visiting him at a Santa’s Grotto, get your picture taken, and tell him again what you really really want.
(note to readers : a spice girls song just popped into my head….aaagghhh!)

So what do you really want for Christmas?
If you could have anything, what would it be?
And if there was someone who was really listening and that someone had the power to grant the request...what would it be?

Check this passage out from the Bible...

Philippians 4:5-7
5...The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Santa can be fun...but he really lacks the power to change your life. To meet the needs you really have.
I am so thankful I have my God to talk to, to ask stuff of.
I am so grateful he is listening.
I am so grateful he can answer my requests…
I pick him over a red suit guy any day!

Something to think about…

frisbee

2010-12-15T11:27:00.001+13:00

When I was a kid, one of the favourite Christmas songs we would listen to was Snoopy’s Christmas by the Royal Guardsmen.
That song came out all the way back in 1967 and was a huge hit then. My mum had a 45 Single (at which some of you reading this are saying...what?). Before the days of iTunes single downloads, CD’s or even cassette tapes...singles came out on these small vinyl albums called 45’s.
I remember the day that sentimental song and item came to a very sad end!
My sister, wound up by me I have to admit, out of
frustration decided to try and decapitate me with the closest object she could find.
Unfortunately that object ended up being this little 45.
She quickly took aim and fired it at me like a frisbee.
I also remember ducking with my superhero reaction skills and watched as it sailed over my head into the lounge wall...shattering into many pieces!

While that song is fun to many and way too corny to others...it does illustrate something very powerful about Christmas time.

The story is fictional about the Red Baron and a guy called Snoopy in a dogfight during World War 1. They decided not to kill each other that day because it was Christmas!
There is some fact about that time in history.
During that same war, at many places along the front, Germans and English soldiers stopped fighting. They cleared the no mans land of bodies, shared gifts of beer, cigarettes and tinned meat. Even some played soccer!

I guess the point for me is that Christmas is a time to do what no one expects!
God did what many didn’t expect and sent His son to earth in the form of a baby.

Maybe this Christmas time you can be like the Red Baron?
Maybe be like a solider during the ‘great war’?
Maybe be like Jesus?
Just maybe you can use this season to not be what
everyone expects you to be?
Maybe you can bless someone who has tried to destroy you at some time this year.
Go on, shock the world with your love and forgiveness…
Find someone to bless whether they deserve it or not.
I dare ya!

Something to think about…

gob

2010-12-08T14:09:00.000+13:00

I was reminded again this week what power each of us has to influence someone’s life.
Either to do good...or completely the opposite.

Now I am not talking about your abilities or gifts.
It is not just restricted to people in high places!
Everyone can influence by that soft fleshy muscle thingy flapping around in their face...their tongue!

According to the Bible your tongue even though it is moist, can set a forest on fire.
Maybe not literally, but definitely figuratively.
With it you can destroy someone pretty quickly.
For me, I can think of several moments in my life where what someone has said to me or about me has caused damage. They sad thing is, most of those people don’t seem to care.

The Bible also says there is the power of life and death in the tongue.
Whether you believe it or not...it is a weapon of mass destruction and only you have the launch codes.

I have seen what sharing kinds words over someone and towards someone can do. How change happens in their life.
I have seen someone get a word of encouragement in a Church and it totally change their day for the better.

Please think about this and not pass on it…
This is not someone else’s word for today.
It is your word for right this second.

Please, please, please think about what you say.
Choose to be a person who speaks ‘life’.
That you will be non-negotiable about it.

If you are struggling to do this simple thing, get help!
Other peoples lives are at stake.
If you have hurt others ask for their forgiveness.

Let’s be mature not immature…
Let’s be a huge blessing this Christmas not just with gifts but because of what comes out our gob...

Something to think about…

tradition

2010-12-01T13:12:00.000+13:00

I have never kept my love of this time of year secret.
Many people who don’t believe what I believe about it get into it in some way. Either by exchanging gifts or cards, singing some carols somewhere, listening to music inspired by the season..or even going to a church of some kind.

Since the original Christmas was over 2,000 years a go, you can imagine that a lot has changed since then. And with all that time and change there have been a lot of weird and wonderful ideas come up about it.

Here are a few...

In Greek legend, malicious creatures called Kallikantzaroi sometimes play troublesome pranks at Christmas time. In order to get rid of them, salt or an old shoe is burnt. The pungent burning stench drives off, or at least helps discourage, the Kallikantzaroi.
Other techniques include hanging a pig’s jawbone by the door and keeping a large fire so they can’t sneak down the chimney.

In the Ukraine, if you find a spider web in the house on Christmas morning, it is believed to be a harbinger of good luck! There once lived a woman so poor, says a Ukrainian folk tale, that she could not afford Christmas decorations for her family. One Christmas morning, she awoke to find that spiders had trimmed her children’s tree with their webs. When the morning sun shone on them, the webs turned to silver and gold.
An artificial spider and web are now often included in the decorations on Ukrainian Christmas trees.

While that is interesting, I am more interested in now.
What makes Christmas special to you?
Do you have any traditions that have special meaning?
Are they so special as to really influence how you feel about this time?

One of mine is simple but not so cheap.
We love turkey. That is our tradition.
We have it every Christmas and without it I wouldn’t think it really was a normal Christmas.
One year we had Christmas with Suze’s parents and the turkey got overcooked. So to make sure Christmas felt right, we got another one and cooked it a few days later.
Another one we have is to do something different to show people what Christmas really means. Things like making something edible as gift for all our neighbours.

My hope and prayer for you is that this season is great!
If you don’t have a tradition to help add to the special-ness of this time...I hope that you can find one.
Share what you love about this time with someone else.
I think that is in part what Christmas is all about.

Something to think about…

day

2010-11-25T17:09:00.003+13:00

I posted something 3 years a go that keeps coming up in my stats for this blog.
So thought I would post it fresh for you...

In America this weekend they celebrate a holiday around being thankful called thanksgiving day.

It was started many years ago by some immigrants who were very thankful for what God had done for them. They had been through many hardships and were even still going through many. But they took the time out to focus on what he had done for them so far.

Martin Rinkert lived in the town of Eilenburg in Germany 350 years ago.
The son of a poor coppersmith, he became a minister of his local parish in 1617.
Just one year later, in 1618, the Thirty-Year War broke out and Eilenburg was caught right in the middle of it. In 1637, the plague that swept across the continent hit Eilenburg and it is recorded that over 50 people died each day. The man called upon to bury most of the corpses was Martin Rinkert.
In all, over 8,000 people died, including Martin’s own wife, but his job was to keep on digging graves. His ministry spanned 32 years and all but the first and the last were overwhelmed by the great conflict that engulfed his town.

It must have been tough for Martin Rinkert to be thankful.
But somehow he was…he even managed to write this hymn?

Now thank we all our God
With heart and hands and voices;
Whowondrous things hath done,
In whom his world rejoices.

In the middle of terrible darkness and death Martin Rinkert was able to write these words because he knew what it meant to be truly thankful.

Maybe it is not that we are ignoring the things that have gone wrong…it is just that focusing on what has gone right, stops the bad things having the same power over us.

In the midst of whatever you have been through recently...
I am sure you have something you can thank God for???

Something to think about...

priorities

2010-11-24T09:32:00.001+13:00

If you were to write down your top five priorities in life, what would they be? And have they changed much compared to 5, 10 or more years a go?
Interesting thought really…
If you answer that question honestly you are guaranteed to learn a lot about yourself.
I would even go as far as to say...that you will find where you are at right now.

When I was a teenager they went like this…
1. My Band
2. Music
3. Girlfriend
4. Food
5. Family

I think they have changed quite a lot in the few years since!

Priorities show what you truly value.
They help show what you want emphasized in your life.
They tell everyone else around you subconsciously what sort of person you really are.
Your priorities can not be hidden. You can’t even try.
Priorities help pinpoint what might be making you happy or even making you unhappy.
They help indicate what the spiritual temperature of your life might be currently…

As a pastor I have found time and time again that people who don’t feel very loved or very close to God have a priorities list that can look a bit lop-sided to others.

So what is God’s idea for good priorities?
What would be in His top 5 for our lives?
That is easier to answer than what you may have thought…

Jesus gives you a big hint when he was challenged by some religious nutters about what really matters in life.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:37-39

So this is what I think is God’s list for you and me…
1. God
2. Family/Friends/Neighbours
3. whatever you like
4. whatever you like
5. whatever you like

Maybe this concept is a challenge to you? Great!
Maybe you and I need to check that our priorities in life match what God thinks?
God’s way ultimately I think is the best way to live.

Something to think about…

hills

2010-11-17T11:36:00.001+13:00

For most of my life the cars that I have owned have struggled to get up hills.
Either I felt like I needed a ‘run up’ to get over them or I employed a crazy technique of leaning into the steering wheel to aid the cars climb. Sometimes rocking backwards and forwards seemed like a good idea...
The second technique must have looked stupid!
In fact I am laughing at myself as I write this…

Hills are different to me now.
With my new hobby of road cycling, hills represent a whole new challenge to me. You can’t just get a ‘run up’ or lean forward if you want to successfully get over one.
I have also learnt that it is not just about effort.

Getting over hills for me is all about what I believe!
I remind myself before I start my climb that I can do it.
I remind myself that the short term effort will be rewarded with the satisfaction of making it to the top.
I even remind myself that no matter how big the hill may be...that God is always bigger.

In life as well, you face many hills.
‘Run-ups’ or simply leaning into the challenges we face is not enough to guarantee success.
I remind myself about who God is whenever I face my hills. I talk to myself and tell ‘me’ that with God on my side I can do it. I also focus on the satisfaction I will feel making it over the challenge before me.

Just like the Bible reminds us...if God is for us, who (or what) can stand against us?

So can I encourage you to not hope you will make it?
Rather place your hope in the One who can guarantee you will make it.
Remind yourself who is bigger.
Remind yourself again and again…

See you at the top!

Something to think about…

statue

2010-11-10T10:29:00.000+13:00

In Poland someone thought it a good idea to build a very large statue to represent Jesus...
Now I don’t want to get into a debate on whether this was a good idea or not. Whether the time and money could have been spent on other projects.
Or whether this is something God is that excited about really at all.

This is not something new to people of faith.
People have been building statues to represent what they believe for a very long time.
When I was in Japan some years ago I was taken to a very large and respected Buddhist Temple.
In the centre, surrounded by beauty and everything man could offer, was an enormous gold statue of Buddha.

What it does bring up for me is how big is God really?
Here we have some people making a very european looking Jesus as large as they can...but how does that compare to God?

Here is what we do know.
The Bible says that God is so big that if he wanted he could use the earth as a footstool. The question for me then would be, which country gets to be the resting spot for his feet?
It also says that he moulded everything with his fingers.

If God is so big...then that gives me hope.
Hope that someone that big and powerful can help deal with the issues that I face. He is more than able too based on His perspective. Our big issues by perspective are so small. And small issues by nature are easier to deal with.

So whatever you are facing at this time...please know there is a God bigger and he is ready to help you.
Why don’t you try Him out?

Something to think about…

yeast

2010-11-03T09:28:00.001+13:00

Sometimes I feel like making my own bread…
There is something therapeutic about making it, smelling it as it cooks, and then eating it hot smoothed in buttery goodness!

The only problem with this craving is that it nearly always happens when I have every other ingredient in the house except the most influential one.
That being yeast...

Yeast is that special something that makes the bread expand and swell as it turns into the finished product we have been dreaming of.
Without it all you end up with is a small lump…

Jesus talked a bit about yeast, but with a little angle to it. He didn’t teach on how yeast will make the perfect loaf. What he did teach was that there are parallels between this little product and life in general.

Jesus and his friends were in a boat one day.
He starts to tell them to “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
Of course the disciples think they are in trouble because they forget to bring bread for their boat trip.
That wasn’t the point at all.
What Jesus was doing was relating yeast to an important principal for our lives.

Matthew 13:33 says this...
He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”

Jesus relates yeast to teaching...teaching being what you learn. What you study. What you let into your life that has the power to influence your thinking, attitudes and ultimately the direction you take.
This yeast is a double edged sword for us.
It can be good for you and it can be bad for you.
It will effect you. This is guaranteed.
The type of yeast or teaching is the key.

Jesus warned his friends that religious people will present teaching that will not help you at all.
Exposure to it will effect you. It is yeast. It will get in.
The opposite is true. Good yeast, good teaching will effect you. It will get in.

So the next logical step is ask yourself…“what teaching am I exposing myself too?”
You can’t say that is doesn’t matter.
What you expose yourself to will effect you just like yeast will to dough.

If you want good stuff to happen in you and through you, check your yeast is good yeast.
Don’t be like me and forget about the yeast stored in the fridge...which has now expired…

Get some good yeast into your life.
It will cause you to grow. That is a certainty!

Something to think about…

hide

2010-10-27T13:46:00.001+13:00

Everyday I used to pray the same thing.
In fact I am safe in saying without being a normal exaggerating Pastor (being evangelastic), that I did it everyday for years.

So what was this prayer I hear you say across the cyberspace gap between us?

Simply this...

“Help me to hide Your Word in my heart
So that I might not sin against You”

Now this isn’t something I came up with on my own.
Someone wrote it in a very long song to God that you can find in the Bible under Psalm 119:11

Everyday when I sat down to read the Bible I prayed that prayer. I recognized then and I still recognize now, that I am more than capable of sinning.
If it was good enough for that Psalm writer to say that, then it is definitely a good idea for me.

That writer recognized I think that whatever is on the inside of you is probably who you really are.
That what rests inside us, our thoughts, desires, attitudes will take us somewhere. That they will come out somehow even if we don’t want them to.
The writer recognized that a major key to trying to stay on track was to replace the junk inside with God’s Word.
It is this idea that we have a better chance of doing the right things if what is on the inside of us is right.

Like the Bible also says about itself...that it can get into even the marrow of our bones. That is pretty deep!
That those words we read in the Bible can change our thoughts and motivations.

The key is getting it in there in the first place.
It is not just a band-aid for sin but a vaccination from sin.

So what is on the inside of you?
Do you want it to be different from what it is now?
How about taking some time this week to just read a Bible?
But before you do...how about praying that prayer?

“Help me to hide Your Word in my heart
So that I might not sin against You”

Something to think about…and to do...

door

2010-10-22T09:31:00.001+13:00

I opened a door for someone last night...
Actually I open doors for people all the time. This was something my mum taught me when I was really young.
It is the polite thing to do. The ‘right’ thing to do for others.

Christians are funny people I think...
We talk all the time about God opening doors.
We say things like...
“I won’t do it unless God opens the door”
“I am just waiting for the right door to open”
And that idea or theology is ok.
But I also wonder whether we take it too far?

Last night I opened a door for a guy as we left the gym.
I had no idea who he was. We had never said a word to each other before.
My opening the door created a response from him...a “thank you”.
Next thing we are walking down the stairs to the carpark engaged in some small talk.
We get to the carpark and now we are talking, really talking.
In the space of a few minutes we know each other’s name.
How many kids we have.
Where we moved from to come to Taupo to live.
What we love about our town.
All because I opened a door...

The thought I went away from that supposedly chance meeting was that I opened a door.
By simply opening a door, God opened a door.
That by my small effort...was God now doing even more with it?

Christians spend a lot of time waiting it seems to me!
Hoping that some opportunity in life or to reach out to someone else will just fall into their lap.
Maybe we need to open some more doors?
Open doors for someone else?
You just never know where it might lead?

Something to think about...

stories

2010-10-20T12:54:00.001+13:00

Just been reflecting on the last few days and thinking about what to share…
I guess that what we have done would be a good place to start.

Now if you are a cynical kind of person, maybe you shouldn’t read any further...for danger of assuming I have some self promoting agenda...because I don’t!
If I lose some reward for sharing my stories, I can live with that in the knowledge that it might help you. That can be my reward.
Maybe why I sharing this is to encourage you to try and be something similar. It will change your world and change the world of someone else around you.

First story…
Some people we hadn’t seen in many years were travelling down the country with their kids and a car full of possessions. When they got as far as Waioru their engine blew!
We got a call asking for help.
We said yes straight away and had the honour of helping them out with somewhere to stay, food to eat...whatever comfort we could provide.

Second story...
I went to the gym yesterday. In the space of one hour I had helped someone use a weight machine they hadn’t used before. I set another guy up with a RPM bike and then helped setup the RPM Class (even thought I wasn’t going to be doing it).

This is so simple!
It is “salt and light” stuff.
It is reflecting God to our world.
It is “doing good when we have the opportunity”.

Do I feel tired from doing right? No way!
In fact it energizes me…

I have no idea what opportunities to help someone else are coming around the corner. I don’t have a prophetic word about each day to prepare myself.
What I do do...is try and have an attitude of being ready to help.
Ready to respond.
Ready to say yes to someone else.

Why don’t you try and change someone else’s world today, tomorrow...and the next. Get ready...
Go on...I dare you!

Something to think about…

meek

2010-10-13T11:49:00.000+13:00

I love this statement!
“…we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.”
Hebrews 10:39

Many people take a single passage from the Bible and build a doctrine around it that over rides everything else the Bible has to say sometimes.
Take for example Jesus saying this...
“Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.”
Matthew 5:5

Some take it that this is how to live life.
And even think that means you should just chill...
Just see what happens…
That everything is all about being ‘meek’.

Jesus said other things too…
What about this one?

From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.
Matthew 11:12

Not very ‘meek’ sounding!

Jesus one day grabs some cords and makes a whip. Then proceeds to drive out people from the Temple area who were there to just make a profit.

Not very ‘meek’ sounding!

Now back to where I started…
You should have some passion for what you believe.
You should want to take it with both hands.
You should live out your faith with some grunt…
Otherwise we can shrink and fall back.

As for me, and my encouragement to you…
Let’s go after God with passion this week!
Be humble and gentle to others with love yes...
But let’s also persevere and win the prize for which we were created for in the first place.
I am running with you!

Something to think about…

disappointed

2010-10-06T14:54:00.001+13:00

Have you been disappointed recently?
I know I have been.

Just because you have a relationship with God, doesn’t make you immune to being disappointed at some time or many times during your life.

Sometimes things don’t go the way we plan.
Sometimes people do things that hurt us.
Whatever caused it is not ultimately what will define the disappointment. It is what happens next…

It is about ‘response’ verses ‘reaction’.
Anyone can react to disappointment. No real skill there!
But choosing how your will respond is harder, and harder is normally the right way to go (check out last weeks thought for more on that one).

For most of my life, when I have faced the “d” word...I have reacted. Sometimes I have sulked. Sometimes I have cried...other times just got angry.
But I have been trying to do it a little different recently.

Most of you will have heard of a man called Jesus!
Well one day he gets some news that disappoints him.
He hears that a person he has known since his childhood has been wrongly executed. Beheaded in fact!
His mother knew the friends mother.
They were part of the same extended family.
At one stage their lives crossed very publicly where this friend honoured him very highly. Even baptizing him.

Now he is dead and Jesus has to choose.
Respond verses React.

So what does he do?
Well you read that he withdraw from everybody for a short time and prayed. That is his response.

As disciples, the encouragement you can take from his story, his example...is what to do when you are facing a disappointment.
Don’t run around telling everybody why someone is a jerk for hurting you. Because that will still leave you hurting.
Get away with God for even just a short while. Pray.
Give it over to the one who understands completely.

If you read the next part of the story...he fed 5000 people with a small amount of food.
Maybe if we handle things right when we face disappointment a greater miracle is actually just around the corner?

Something to think about…

hard

2010-09-29T16:06:00.000+13:00

'Sometimes the hardest thing to do is the right thing to do’

We wrestle between two worlds as people.
Trying to make things easier.
And trying to do what can be hard.

We want life to be as simple as possible.
We want things to come easy.
But at the same time we recognize that the best things in life don’t always come from no effort.
That there is more reward in what we have worked for.
Just as you can not have huge muscles like your pastor...if you are not willing to work hard and develop them at a gym.

We made a decision some time a go to not take shortcuts with our life and with our Church. We have watched people try, and then watched things eventually get a little ‘hairy’ or worse.
We know in our hearts that tackling issues is the best thing to do, but that doesn’t always make it easy to do.

I am glad God thinks like this!
He chose to do the hard thing for us because it was the right thing for us. He chose to sacrifice His son because it would achieve the best result...salvation for all mankind.
The easy way out would have been to wash His hands of us. But as they Bible says...he can not disown himself, the people he has created.
God picked hard over easy...because it was right.

Maybe this week you are facing some challenges?
Something that has an easy way out or a harder option.
Can I encourage you to go for it?
Rip that bandaid off the issue and deal with it.
I personally think God honours us for the hard decisions in life when we seek to do things the right way.

Something to think about…

time out

2010-09-22T08:20:00.001+12:00

You need a ‘time out’.
I am serious, you do!

Not because you are naughty.
And I have just caught you…
But because without giving yourself some self imposed ‘time out’ your life will be the lesser for it.

Let me explain.

With children we use it as a punishment.
A way of helping them with their behaviour now and ultimately their ability to make better choices in the future.
It is a discipline thing.
When it comes to us who are a bit older, we need the discipline thing, not to punish us, but to help us get through life in one piece.

By the time you read this I will be in the middle of my ‘time out’. I am making space for me to pray, meditate, think, ponder...all without my normal every day distractions.
I am doing this while driving 4 hours.
And to be honest I can not wait!

God took ‘time out’ after he created the world and everything in it.
Jesus took ‘time out’ especially in moments of sadness.
They thought it was a good idea...so I think it is a good idea for us.

Maybe you can look at it as a refreshing holiday for your soul? I dare you to give it a go.
Have a ‘time out’.
Get away for even a little while from your normal routine.
Pray, think, rest…
I dare ya!

Something to think about…

honest

2010-09-15T15:22:00.005+12:00

Why is it that being honest seems one of the hardest things for humans to do?
I mean, we can conquer mountains.
Break land speed records.
Break out of orbit and fly to the moon.
We have all this ability...yet without the natural ability to tell the truth.

Just watch a Motorway Patrol programme and see all the dishonesty plastered around…
“No officer...I wasn’t speeding”
“No officer..I just don’t have my license on me”
“No osifer...I’m not *hiccup* drunk!”

Plus you have that famous line...“no, I did not have sexual relations with that women”

The reality is that we don’t want to get into trouble by telling the truth.
For many, truth equals bad things happening to you. Being dishonest can simply be an attempt to protect yourself from the consequences of whatever thing has happened.
Again the reality is that you are only hurting yourself and delaying the inevitable.

The challenge for us as believers is to be honest.
It doesn’t matter how much everyone else around is being honest, how much you are is the most important thing.

Can I encourage you to be honest on three levels?
With yourself.
With others.
And with God.

The Bible is really simple and clear on this.
It tells us to answer others honestly...let your yes be yes or your no be no.
It encourage us to confess our sins to one another, so that we can be healed from whatever it hurting us.
It also shows us to not be afraid to pour our hearts out to God, like David did in many of his Psalms.

It is slightly tacky, but the phrase makes sense…
‘Honesty is the best Policy’

May this be a mark of your character?
May you have the courage to be honest with your life and by your actions?
May you and I be known as a people of honesty?

Something to think about…

stir

2010-09-08T11:41:00.000+12:00

It is pretty hard not to want to tie into the earthquakes our friends, family and countrymen are facing...when writing for your blog this week.
It has been and continues to be a very trying time for them!

It did get me thinking about life in general again.
How that being shaken is not the most pleasurable experience you can have.

Last night I saw a documentary on a fairly famous rockstar called Nikki Sixx.
Essentially it was about his journey from young screwed up guy...to rockstar...to drug addict...and somehow out the other side.
At one stage he overdoses and the people around try and shake him to see if he would come out of the coma he is in. When it doesn’t work they threw him in a dumpster thinking he was dead. Not the best of friends obviously!

Sometimes if we are honest, we can look a little dead.
Maybe some stuff has happened to get us there and maybe it was not by our choice?
Maybe we have made some silly decisions to get us to that point as well?

As humans we want things to always be ‘settled down’.
It is like the mantra about having a normal life.
The more I have thought about that idea, the more ‘settling down’ makes me nervous.

I don’t think the life that God truly has planned for us is all about ‘settling’.
I think it is more about being wound up or even ‘stirred’.

2 Timothy 1:6 simply says...
...fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you…

I think what God is saying is multi-faceted…
One, everyone of us has the potential no matter how
talented or gifted to just want to settle down.
Two, everyone of us probably should take some time every now and to check out where we really are at.
Three, you have to be purposeful about the things of God in your life. You have to put some effort into it. You have to fight the urge to just ‘settle’.
Four, it is not too late. If you feel settled already, you don’t have to stay there.

Get stirred. Getting ‘fanning’.
Come on...lets live the life that God truly has for us.
I think you can do it!!!

Something to think about…

random

2010-09-01T11:30:00.001+12:00

‘Random is not random’
...is something you can say in a Yoda voice...and it sounds really cool...deep...and meaningful…

This is what I believe…
When it comes to our lives.
The things that happen.
The choices we are faced with…
Nothing is random.
There is something or someone who is ‘helping’ our lives along.
Creating opportunities.
Arranging circumstances.

God has a history of orchestrating things so we end up in the right place.
It can look and feel random at the time or as you are going through it. But in hindsight, it was exactly the way things should have worked out.

Now you might say that is not cool.
That you want to be in ultimate control of everything.
Fair enough.
But that also means you are ultimately responsible for every outcome.

Maybe, just maybe…
When you do something which might seem random for someone else...it was supposed to be that way?

Man, this is getting a little deep for me as well!

Let me finish by saying this...
If you can believe God created the world, the universe, and can hold it all together in perfect working order…
Then believe that God can arrange opportunities for you.
Believe God will direct you into everything He has for you.

Something to think about…

attention

2010-08-25T11:53:00.004+12:00

Generally, I think we all like attention.
Maybe not all the time?
But quite a lot of the time…

We want to be noticed.
We want to be complimented.
Most people are looking for their 15 Minutes of Fame.

We have the tools now more than ever to live out this primal human desire.
Facebook.
Twitter.
YouTube.
MySpace….
Endless amounts of avenues to grab yourself some of the attention you crave.

Before you judge someone else for their attention seeking stunt or comments, I bet on some level and in some way you have tried to do the same recently.

You see, no one wants to be ignored or to feel completely invisible...unless they are needing ‘some space’.
As humans we have something inside of us that craves attention. My wife thinks I need too much attention...but that is another story for another time…

I reminded myself today that while the old facebook/twitter thing can fulfill that need in some way, ultimately I can upgrade.

God is always paying you attention!
Now that might freak you out, but that is the deal.
He is paying so much attention that he can record all your activities in some books.
Maybe God likes scrapbooking?
He also spends time each day counting the hair on your head. Personally I would like Him to count and add hair at the same time…

Why?

Because he wants to pay you all the attention your heart desires...you can’t outdo His capacity to pay attention to all that you do.
God cares more than just wanting to police your life.

Next time you are sitting there craving attention…
Update your status...
Tweet or retweet…
Post something…
...Directly to Him.
He Cares!
He is paying you attention!

Something to think about…

people

2010-08-18T11:42:00.001+12:00

I gave myself a pop quiz this morning!
Yes, I am weird…
I mean who gives themselves a quiz???

I was thinking ‘If someone put me on the spot and asked me what the most important things in my life were...what would they be?’

I was surprised by the first thing that came to mind.
Coffee was the first thing...
Most likely because I wanted one anyway and was about to pour myself some freshly brewed goodness.

It didn’t take me long to answer a bit more thoughtfully to the quiz master in my head.
My real answer...people!

Now before you switch off from reading this saying how predictable that was, please let me say a few other things?

For me people are everything!
Without people in my life I will do anything to hide the fact I need them.
I will eat too much.
I will drink too much coffee.
I will watch too much TV.
I will play too much PS3…

People are the ones who define really what sort of life you have. People are who you are designed to be connected to on this little planet of ours.
You need friends.
You need ‘family’.
You need connection with people in all facets of your life.

My encouragement to you as you read this very ‘simple thought’...is to choose to immerse your life with people.
All sorts of people.
Inconvenience your life with as many people as possible!
I bet you will look back over time if you do this well, and be more grateful for the ‘people’ then all the coffee...

Something to think about…

manners

2010-08-11T11:28:00.000+12:00

When you were growing up, were you told again and again to have good manners?
To say “please”.
To say “excuse me”.
To say “thank you”.
Funny how things go in cycles...now I am teaching my kids (well I am trying) to do the same.

Today I have been thinking about these ‘manners’ things.
Thinking about why we do it.
Thinking about what effect it has on me and those I practice them with?

Saying “thank you” is actually quite a powerful thing!
People seem to respond well to hearing it.
People even get upset when they think they should have heard it from someone...and then didn’t.

Part of what got me thinking about “thank you” was a
passage of scripture we shared from on Sunday.
Jesus said these words just before Lazarus came out a tomb where he had been dead for 4 days…

...Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me.” John 11:41

In fact Jesus said “thank you” a few times…
And each time something cool or supernatural happened.

He thanked God as he took those few loaves bread and fish...and fed 5,000 in one sitting.
He broke bread and thanked God during what we call the last supper...and then went to the cross for us!

Why say “thank you”?
Not just because it good manners...but because it is good!
You can’t really go wrong saying it.
And you may just have something cool or supernatural happen from it.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 simply says…
give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Something to think about…

laugh

2010-08-05T15:12:00.003+12:00

Hey...thought I shock you all and post something twice in 2 days...
Now before you read any further...watch the clip from the link below...then come back and carry on reading. I guarantee it will make sense.

[video]

The Bible says that God laughs...
It also says that we are made in His image, so we are designed specifically to laugh as well...

It is normal for people who believe in God to laugh!
I think we should take our faith in God seriously...but not to the point where we are dead!
Why is it that religious people are seemingly no fun or potentially have no personality?
It is actually 'christian', actually 'biblical' to laugh!

God wants us to be salt/light/attract.
I have found that fun people who can laugh and enjoy stuff tend to be better at the attracting of people more than boring religious types.
People are naturally attracted to fun people.

Laughter seems to even change something inside of us.
When I was looking into this yesterday and medical research into it, there are several things scientists have found:
1. Laughing causes blood vessels in the brain and other parts of the body to expand promoting blood flow.
2. It produces endorphins, which make you feel happy.
3. In some studies they have found the limbic area of the brain being involved.
That is the part of the brain which helps us with all the basic functions needed for survival.
So is laughter a basic requirement for human survival?

Many of us have seen the movie Patch Adams.
It is based on the true story of a medical student who found happiness seemed to improve quality of life.
He found that happiness was like a drug.
It had power to transform a life.
Power to kill some pain.
Power to possibly heal?

Funny how God knew this all along, and we take some time to figure this out...

Proverbs 17:22 says...
A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

The Amplified Bible puts it like this...
A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing,
but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

Make sure you take some time each week laugh if you can.
You are designed to function better when you do.
Take some time to enjoy life...
Take a moment...
LAUGH!

Something to think about...

clean

2010-08-04T14:13:00.001+12:00

Suze & I had a little conversation that I thought more about after, then during...if that makes any sense?

We were talking about what we like or appreciate clean in our house.
For Suze it was the removal of all the dust.
For me, I like having a clean toilet.

We like clean don’t we?
We like to be in a clean environment.
To visit clean places.
It just makes things ‘feel’ better...

Which got me thinking about us.
I like to feel clean.
Not just that feeling you have in the shower washing away the grime you have accumulated.
But that feeling of clean when you know you have done the things you should have.
When everything seems right in your life.

One of the key ‘themes’ to our relationship with God is that he wants us to be clean.
And the best part of it for me...is that it is more to do with what God can do in us, that what we can do.
It is a ‘grace thing’.

King David wrote some stuff in songs, and sometimes they referred to his desire to have a pure heart and clean hands.
Even back then they recognized that without all this clean stuff, that you didn’t feel quite right and that it affected their relationship to God.

Check out how this works for us now…

21and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 10:21-23

The question is…”how clean do you feel?”
If you don’t, don’t panic!
Just simply come back to Jesus and get it sorted.
It is not complicated.
God doesn’t want it to be.
Get clean and enjoy the life that God has for you...

Something to think about…

skin

2010-07-28T11:55:00.001+12:00

Here is something you most likely didn’t know…
My belly button is not on right!
When I look in the mirror it seems like it is not in the centre. I thought they were supposed to be.
I kind of sits off centre a little. Weird!

My skin is also very pale.
I remember the day I got baptised for many reasons.
One being that it was a highlight of my spiritual journey.
The other being was that I was laughed at by nearly everyone there I think.
As I walked into the swimming pool area after getting changed, the first thing people noticed was not my angelic glow being so spiritual, but the glow of my Scottish heritage induced legs.

The reality is that we do care what others think.
At least a bit.
For many years I have heard people say “it doesn’t matter what others think” as though that it is a universal truth to live by...if you can ever make it that far and be the ultimate in maturity.
I now think it is only partly a good philosophy…

If you don’t care at all you will go around potentially unwashed, unkept...and unapproachable to others.
That takes the “it doesn’t matter” thing too far.

A better way to go is to have a better ‘point of reference’.
As humans we always care on some level what others think. It is part of our human condition, how we are wired.
But if you can change the ‘point of reference’, your opinion can change to be a little more balanced.

I have chosen to try and keep looking for the best ‘point of reference’ to compare myself to.
For me, that is God.
What He thinks about me is ultimately what I want to think of me.
God says that He made me to a specific plan.
He says that I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

My belly button position.
My glow-in-the-dark legs.
They are all part of what God designed for me.
They are all part of what makes me who I am and how special I am to God.

So even in the middle of winter I will wear my shorts to the gym.
I no longer have an issue with my leg colour.
My ‘point of reference’ is changing to be more in line with how God sees me.

I am happier in the skin I am in now than before.
What about you?

Something to think about…

evolved

2010-07-21T11:52:00.002+12:00

We think we are so evolved don’t we?
We wear clothes that are way more ‘cool’ and functional then any other generation.
We have technology way more advanced then previous generations could have ever dreamed of.
And in the west we have access to resources beyond many other more desperate parts of the world.

But even with all that is going for us...we still have common struggles.
For many of us it is the relationships we have.
Family.
Friends.
Work.
Where ever this a human relationship...there always seems a chance for something to be wrong.

We get offended.
We get hurt.
Our expectations get dashed.

One of the biggest needs/desires in our heart is for love.
To feel it, to express it...to live a life enveloped in it.
We want to get along with those in our lives.

I think we get disappointed because we don’t understand what love is. We think love is all about feeling, when that is only ever a part of it.

The best example I could ever find is pretty extreme!
The Bible says that Jesus gave himself to be crucified because he loved us first.
I am convinced he wasn’t feeling all gooey towards us when he made that choice and when he went through his expression of love towards us.

Love for Jesus was expressed all in his actions.
Not on feelings and how it would impact his lifestyle.
Not on whether someone deserved to be loved or not...

There are times when you will feel all gooey, but that is not the definition of love and not the guarantee of good relationships in your life.
What I think works for us is love that is built on action, built on decision.
We get to decide to love.
It is not always some mystical thing floating in the sky!

Please choose this week to build your life and relationships on that foundation.
Love in action.
Choose to forgive.
Choose to let things go.
Choose to do the opposite of what may seem ‘logical’.
Give others the ‘benefit of the doubt’.
I know this is challenging…
It is a big call.
But you know it is the right way to go.

Doesn’t the Bible say that people will know God is real because of our love for one another?

Something to think about…

organs

2010-07-14T09:24:00.001+12:00

Don’t you just hate that pit of your gut feeling when you find out you have offended someone?
For me it is like some internal organs have decided to move south in my body. It just feels wrong!

Do I offend people on purpose?
No way!

I think this happens all the time for people in this world.
Jesus even had something to say about offence when he said these crazy words “offences will come...”
He knew that there would be moments for all of us where offence would find a way to invade our lives.

Kind of like a game of tennis...you are either serving it up or receiving it.
And if you are naturally a sensitive type of person, you seem to cop more than your fair share of offence balls to your side of the court.

So what to do?
Can you avoid offending someone?
Probably not...but you can lessen the chances of doing so by making wise decisions.
Can you avoid being offended?
Probably not...but you will always have an opportunity to respond to it.

Whether you are the server or the receiver you are still in the same game.
We forget I think that there are always two in the game.
We aren’t all out to ruin people’s lives.
And we aren’t all perfect and well behaved 24/7.
A rule of thumb I try to live with is that you give everyone the benefit of the doubt.
Jesus even challenged us all to forgive.

Don’t hang onto an offence...it will just drag you down.
And if you offend someone...do what you can to make things right.

Something to think about…

sleep

2010-07-07T11:08:00.001+12:00

I was so ‘geeky’ that just before I went to sleep recently I got on facebook and twitter via my phone just before nodding off…
Initially it was just to check for messages and comments. But then I had a little idea pop into my head...and posted it up on my profiles…

‘sleep is a good idea and a great invention...and us humans can't take any credit for it’

None of us invented sleep.
It is something that is both natural and learned.
Parents end up helping there offspring to do it.
Teenagers fight it until the wee hours and then sleep through out the other end.
Workaholics try to avoid as it seems like such a waste of time.

Apparently the world record for going without sleep is 18 days, 21 hours, 40 minutes while the person participated in a rocking chair marathon. The record holder did however report suffering from hallucinations, paranoia, blurred vision, slurred speech and memory and concentration lapses.

I am my own worst enemy with this.
While I like sleep while I am doing it, I tend to avoid it because there are so many other things I would rather be doing.
The problem is that eventually it seems to catch up with me and ‘cracks’ start to appear.
I start to get headaches and my moods change...that sort of thing.

One prophet in the Bible was told by God to get some sleep because without it, God know he couldn’t do everything planned.
If this person couldn’t survive or achieve without it, neither can we. Especially if we are wanting to do cool things for God!

As believers we all want to feel good about ourselves and right on the ‘inside’.
Maybe if you aren’t right now, you might just need some sleep?
Not more activity of entertainment...but more sleep.

Think I might start going to bed a little earlier?

Something to think about…

'word'

2010-06-30T11:54:00.001+12:00

“word to yo motha”
I heard that phrase in an 80’s song that someone was performing recently...funny aye!
It actually comes from an old Vanilla Ice song.

Apparently the meaning is one of agreement.
If you said that, you were agreeing with a statement someone else had just made.
The other funny part is that it is commonly attributed to the Afro-American culture...not some skinny white guy trying to rap...very badly!

This week saw us doing this E100 Challenge reading to some similar sounding words…

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1

On face value this can look as confusing as Vanilla Ice trying to be cool.
It is seemingly comparing God and words, and showing that they completely linked together in some way.

I now think that is point!

God is not like us in the sense that he operates exactly like us.
Number one, he exists outside of our time.
Number two, he can not lie.
Number three, he is perfect.
Number four, he is the definition of love.

With all that going for him, when you are talking about His word or what He says...it has a whole new complexion to it.

You see, God doesn’t just think about doing something…
He actually does what He says.
You don’t find references to God promising to deliver on something and not following through.
God ultimately has the power to stand by His word.
He can make it happen!
God’s words to you are powerful.
They are the only words you can fully trust in and never be let down by.
They have a history of proving their reliability.

So as you rock into the rest of your week…
May you remember what God says?
May you trust what he says will come to pass.
It is, and has always been...about His words.

Something to think about…

confess

2010-06-23T15:26:00.001+12:00

In a movie I watched over the last few days, a very young and inexperienced priest kept asking an old man to come to confession.
He wanted the old guy to ‘confess’.
The old guy tells him go away...not so nicely!
Over the course of the movie things changes for both people. Until one day he confesses…
He doesn’t confess what the priest was expecting, but things that had been bothering him for many decades.
Apparently he felt heaps better afterwards?

We all have secrets don’t we?
Even today as I drove around, a lady was talking on the radio about the fact she had an abortion when she was 17 and the fact that her husband still doesn’t know.

I have secrets too…
Things I try to hide.

Now you are probably going to keep reading this hoping I am going to confess to some life shattering sin?
Well today when I was out I bought a sausage roll.
I made sure I ate it before I got home so my wife wouldn’t find out about it.
I regularly ‘sneak’ chocolate out of the cupboard in my office, which sits directly behind me even now as I type…
The problem is that I am hiding something that will eventually get found out anyway...when my body gives me away!

In James 5 it talks about “confessing your sins to each other and praying for each other so that you may be healed.”
Now me confessing bad eating habits won’t stop me getting fat, but it may have other positive outcomes.

Guilt sucks when it comes to the things we try and hide.
It saps the life out of you.
It can get you so distracted you can go off course.

Maybe you need some confession time?
If you do find someone you can really trust.
Confess and get it off your chest.
Let them pray for you.
And get healed from the guilt that might be eating at you?

If that is not you...remember to have some grace for those you know struggling with some stuff right now...

Something to think about…

angry

2010-06-16T12:39:00.002+12:00

Why is it that some emotions are easier than others to experience it seems…?

Take getting angry for example.
Most of us have been angry at some stage recently.
Maybe even in the last 24 hours?

Lots of things can make me angry.
And yes I do get angry…
Pastors aren’t all sweetness and light you know….

I get angry when a referee makes a bad call in a game.
I get angry when someone hurts someone else maliciously (not by accident).
I can get angry at home sometimes too…
The spectrum of anger is so varied, and yet it is all the same emotion.

So what is the deal with anger? Is it ok?

I guess ultimately anger can cause a lot of pain.
Anger can scare those around you.
Too much will cause you to do crazy things!
But anger can also cause you to come to someone’s aid in a time of need. It is like an emotional turbo boost!

If you read the Bible you will see everyone in the Book seems to get angry at some stage…even God! The common theme to everyone’s anger which lead to something good...was they didn’t stay angry.
It was for a moment. And then it was gone.

I think that being angry for a moment, and where it doesn’t take you too far in your response, is ok.
Where it is not cool is when it never stops.
When it takes over.
That is when your life is now one of being angry.

Ephesians 4:26 simply says...
"In your anger do not sin" : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.

We all get angry sometimes. That is life.
The key is to not let it take over and cause you to sin.
Plus don’t hang on to your anger...let it go.

As the day ends...let it go with the day...

Something to think about…

dodgy?

2010-06-09T11:51:00.000+12:00

Have you in the last few months thought that what someone else you know watches or listens too...is a bit dodgy?
You know...beyond their tastes, to the actual content…

I have found that ‘opinions’ on this vary all over the place.
What someone feels comfortable to watch…someone else thinks is terrible.
Where is the tipping point?
Where is the boundary?
Now more than ever, that place is very grey.
Someone else’s opinion is not the best guide I don’t think.
But again where should be a boundary?
Should there be a boundary?

Take porn for example.
Most would agree that it will damage you.
But when does porn become porn?
For many porn is porn when you see private body parts.
Others argue that it is not porn to them.
There seems differences between guys and girls.

Another one is...what is bad language?
To one person a word is bad, while to another it is acceptable.
And then most agree that certain words are not appropriate in certain settings. You don’t use certain words in a Church service...but then some people who think that, are happy to hear those words in a movie or a song.

See where I coming from?

People quote the Bible over this sometimes and say things like “everything is permissible, not everything is beneficial...” but was Paul talking only about food or things beyond?

Jesus said this profound statement…
“Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness.”
Luke 11:34-35

Essentially he is saying that what you let into your life has an effect.

Everything you let in does.
Everything you experience.
My ‘opinion’ is that we need to be aware about what we listen too and watch...and the effect it will have on us.
Assuming that it won’t effect us is wrong.

Is what you are listening to and watching good for you or hurting you.
Is what is ‘entertaining’ you just ‘entertaining’ you or doing something more?

Something to think about…

2010-06-02T12:02:00.000+12:00

I am in danger of being over simplistic with what I am about to say...but I am sure you will get the point…

I have been thinking about something today and have come to realize that the relationships we have with
people, discovering who they really are, comes down to two levels.

When you meet someone, first impressions seem huge.
We judge people on their looks.
What they are dressed like. What they look like.
How good looking...that sort of thing.
In a short space of time we figure out someone’s
personality and their obvious talents...

The next level is when we judge someone’s character.
Character I have found is more about who a person is rather than their looks, personality or talents.
When we find out more what a persons character is like, we then decide if this person is really someone we want to invest ourselves in.

God cares about those first impression things, but cares way more about the character part!
Character counts above everything else.
It doesn’t matter how good looking and talented you are...without good character...you end up lonely.

So maybe today, take a few seconds to think about your character? What others would say about it if they could, and we wouldn’t get too offended? Pretty challenging!!!
Maybe ask God to grow your character and mould it.
What do you think?

Something to think about…

rescue

2010-05-26T14:09:00.001+12:00

I always find it interesting that in the middle of something else that is being said, presented, taught...there can be another truth revealed…

Here I was talking about freedom on sunday, and I am still talking about with people since the weekend...and the idea that God sends someone to help bring freedom to us keeps popping its head up.

I used the example of Moses and God picking him to help rescue his people from Egypt.
But what about these other people?
Joseph was sent ahead to rescue his people.
Joshua lead the people into the promised land.
Rahab helped the spies before Jericho fell.
Deborah.
Gideon.
Samson.
...they all saved their people.
God looked around one day and finds Isaiah to send.
God even sends His own Son for us…

The Bible is full of these stories!
Stories of where God sends a person (not just a man) to rescue others.
I think that is awesome, and applies to you reading this right now.

If you need rescuing in anyway in your life...pray that God would send someone and he will!
If you don’t need rescuing in anyway in your life...be ready for God to send you to someone who needs it.

God rescues!...through you and me...

Something to think about…

coincidence?

2010-05-20T23:14:00.001+12:00

There is a character called The Merovingian in the Matrix Movies.
He is a bit of a dodgy French guy (please note, I am not saying the French are dodgy, just this character) and he starts to philosophy in one of his conversations.
“Have I told you before there is no escaping the nature of the universe? Is it that nature that has again brought you to me. When some see 'coincidence', I see 'consequence'. When others see 'chance', I see 'cause'.”

Due to some events in my life this week and how they tied into my past...they got me thinking about this thing we call coincidence.
Let me explain…

As I was working on this thought on Wednesday, my reading for the day from E100 was about Joshua and what God said for him to be as the new leader of his people.
That is the same passage God gave us when we were looking at whether he wanted us to move to Taupo.
I was reading it on the same date I said yes 365 days before.
How crazy is that?
How random you could say?
Maybe you could say it means nothing?
Or that it is just a coincidence?

I am wandering around the resource area of the conference I am at on Tuesday and I bump into a guy I hadn’t seen for many years.
We get talking and find out that a course we are thinking of running later this year is actually headed up by him for New Zealand. I had no idea!
How crazy is that?
How random you could say?
Maybe you could say it means nothing?
Or that it is just a coincidence?

Maybe what we call coincidence is not just some strange event at all?
Maybe it is not some thing that nature or the universe made up?
But could it be the creator of nature and all of the universe arranging things exactly for our benefit?

I personally think God is at work for us more than we will ever realize. He is looking after His kids and making all the right days, times and ‘appointments’ work to our benefit and for His glory.

Something to think about…

2 days

2010-05-12T12:05:00.002+12:00

I would have thought 2 days would have been long enough to recover...but I am wrong!
I am sore.
I find it hard to move.
And I am very frustrated…
All because I did something stupid.

My wife had been for many weeks now ‘encouraging’ me to try her class she does each Monday morning.
Now I am not Mr Unfit, but I seriously over-estimated my abilities doing something different.
So during what they called the ‘warm up’ I loaded more weights than my wife suggested and proceeded to try and follow the instructor.

I should have known something was wrong as my legs began to shake in ways I had never experienced quite before.
But here I am surrounded by others that I thought would judge me as ‘weak’ if I didn’t keep things going…
So I pushed on through.
Trying to stop the leg shake from being too obvious.

We are now 2 days later and my muscles hate me.
In fact I think they have said to themselves that I am stupid and that I don’t deserve their cooperation.
I'm left cringing every time I try and move.
I actually crawl up the stairs because walking normally is impossible.

We do this with our lives sometimes don’t we?
We push ourselves to the point of extreme pain.
We don’t want to stop because we don’t want to look bad in front of others.
We can think honesty now is the same as weakness.

I have found that it doesn’t matter whether you have a relationship with God or not. You still have your own freewill to decide how far you will take things.
I should have stopped.
I should have taken it a fraction bit easier.
Swallowed my pride.

My encouragement to you is that you watch your boundaries. Know how far you can push before something may start to break...like my leg muscles...
If God thought it was a good idea to rest for a day...it
certainly can’t be a bad idea for us either!

Go hard in life, love, faith...and all that.
But don’t destroy yourself in the process.
Otherwise you can’t enjoy this life that God offers us...

Something to think about…