Not a bad blog

Hey - just looked back at this - not a bad blog!

Todays revelation can become tommorrows religion

A clever man - Albert Einstein reportedly once said “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results”.

Sometimes our religious practices can get a bit like that.

God shows us how to do something and it works well. So we repeatedly use that method to get the same result over and over.
Sometimes we even say “because we have always done this this way and it worked, we should always do it this way”.
After a while, though, our set practise no longer works or there is something just not right, it gets stale and we lose the heart of what the original intention was.

Imagine a husband bringing his wife 5 roses for the first time. Wow she is amazed, he was so thoughtful ! The next night because he saw how it pleased her, he decides to bring her another five roses. Wow she is amazed again but he continues to do this day after day, week in and out for months on end, do you think she would appreciate those roses after a while ?

With God it is a bit like that. He gives us a revelation for now, this moment, but many times we take it and start practicing it over and over, believing that because it worked once, this is what He wants us to do. We make a religious practice from it. We no longer rely on a daily revelation from God but we start repeating past practices in the hope that somehow doing the same thing over and over will get us repeatedly better results. We even start to ‘encourage’ others to do the same practice and before we know it – a new religious activity.

God deliberately cuts across our religious precepts …

Acts 10 Peter's Vision
9About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. 13Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat."
14"Surely not, Lord!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean."
15The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."
16This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.
17While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon's house was and stopped at the gate. 18They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.
19While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Simon, three[a] men are looking for you. 20So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them." ….
… Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 26But Peter made him get up. "Stand up," he said, "I am only a man myself."
27Talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28He said to them: "You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean. 29So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?"

Wow – God actually used an offensive image to get Peter to realise that the Gospel was not only for the Jews but for Gentiles as well – so Peter preached to the gentiles.

Imagine what could have happened if Peter decided – “hang on here – this may not be God speaking to me as it is against my religious practise to kill and eat these animals – so I will ignore what the vision is commanding” – no conversion for Cornelius household….no conversion for the first gentiles….

I want to encourage you that look at how or why we do things in a certain way. Is it because that is the way we have always done them and our practices are now “sacred”.
I encourage you to become more God aware – from day to day, hour to hour, minute to minute. Jesus speaks to us with new revelation each day through the Holy Spirit, thru His Word, thru others around us, He can even speak thru a mule.

Abraham sacrificing Isaac
Genesis 22:2 (New International Version)
2 Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about." In Leviticus we read…Leviticus 18:21" 'Do not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molech, for you must not profane the name of your God. I am the LORD.
The whole point was all about Abraham listening to God and trusting in Him – it was a matter of faith in God but He would have to be certain that it was God who spoke with Him. Contrary to the religious belief of the day, God initiated an activity that could be construed to be against Abrahams religion. How could it be that Abraham set about doing what he was asked ?

Jesus constantly offended the religious of his day by breaking their rules eg.
He does not wash His hands when He eats thus defying the pharisee’s rule of hand washing...

Why could Jesus do this – He tells us that He only does what the Father tells Him to do (scripture) What makes Jesus different? His walk – His speaking, praying and walking with His father made the difference.

Did you know that God is speaking to you right now – He uses His Word, your gut feeling, confirmation of friends and colleagues to talk with us ?

Sometimes it may seem that He is cutting across our religious preconceived way of seeing things – can you walk and talk and trust Him or will you stick to recipe of the past ?

Left hand / right hand

When we market our good deeds and get regcognition from men for what we have done, we lose the right to be recognised from God. By marketing the church and what we do, even in good intention, we clearly miss the point of Matthew chapter 6 –
“Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (NIV)
Promoting what you do in front of men and even others in the ‘church’ robs you of being rewarded by God. Why do we need to video our good deeds, why do we need to exclaim how much we have spent on orphanages, hostels, feeding the needy – is it because we want to have world justify us and accept us- are we worried that we will be rejected – are we the new ‘hypocrites’ that Jesus spoke about, storing treasures for ourselves on earth, is this where our heart is ? (As it says in Matthew 6:19)
I believe we are meant to be counter-cultural, not conforming to the ways of this world but transformed into His likeness, to be a transformer. Its tougher and spiritually more sensible to do your good deeds without mans recognition – I would far rather have God reward me than any pat on the back from anyone else. There is an interesting web site out there that has the title “Church Marketing Sucks” – I want to suggest something else – “Church Marketing is Dumb”.
Read Matthew 6 right through – there are some amazing nuggets there – read it all and consider the context of where it starts off from and where it ends up. It ends with “Do not worry about your life…But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

What have I done today to make a difference that only God knows about ?

Relational Discipleship

I'm still reading Organic Church by Neil Cole (see below) but here are some thoughts on discipling etc.

I was thinking the other day that about how the standard way many church organisations work - this is not anti the method but an observation...

A new comer comes to the building thru invite or walks off the street. They immediately notice all seats face forward - to a stage or pulpit area. They meet a few people then sit facing forward where those who are permitted get up and lead some music (or worship songs) then theres a welcome and a speech by a person (or a sermon) for about 30 minutes to an hour, then a collection, some announcements and a final song with tea and coffee afterwards. This is roughly what many 'meetings' run on...

If the person wants to go further, they can attend a new comers course, some classes on basic christianity, a marriage course and even a small group. If the person wants to get to that stage though, they need to be 'vetted' and complete certain criteria as well as various other levels of serving. This is all b due to the fact that they may not be known or trusted enough as yet.

This is all fair enough - not everyone can just walk in and lead the show.

So where and I going with this you may ask ?

Well here it is ....

The trust factor is very important.

Consider this as an alternative :

Jesus spent roughly 3 years with His disciples. At mid-point that time He sent them out. He had 1. shown them what He was about 2. taught them what the Father was about 3. connected them to the Father (eg. with the Lords prayer) and 4. sent them 2 by 2 (as backup)

All of the above steps indicate trust through relationship - He trusted them as He knew they had His heart as He knew them.

So - should we spend more time with those we connect with, show each other how to connect to the Father and trust others as we know we have the same heart i.e through the time we have spent together ?

Is relational discipleship the way to better trust relationships ?

Organic

I'm reading an excellent book by Neil cole called Organic Church: Growing Faith Where Life Happens.

One quote I like is "Shoving the light down the throat of the darkness."

Words

Heres an anonymous poem about words :

Did is a word of achievement, Won't is a word of retreat,Might is a word of bereavement,Can't is a word of defeat,Ought is a word of duty,Try is a word of each hour,Will is a word of beauty,Can is a word of power.-- Unknown Author

I remember a number of years ago there was a fad that occurred in a number of churches that was referred to as the “Name it and Claim it” gospel. Primarily it was based around scriptures like :

Matthew 7:7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
John 14:13 "Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”

Many people interpreted that to mean that “Whatever you ask for you can get”
I don’t agree exactly with that interpretation but I do believe that the words that come out of our mouth carry a lot more power that we realise.

When I grew up I was told over a number of years by teachers at school that I was lazy and would not amount to much. I am glad to say that they did not know what they where talking about, despite that, their words held a power over how I perceived myself. Only a few years out of school did someone in authority take an active interest in me and tell me that I could achieve what I set my mind to. Before that I had failed most of my attempts to complete a part time accounting diploma over 5 years but once I had this positive affirmation I completed it without failing anymore and took on a full time computer course and a part-time university diploma. I passed all with good marks. Just a few words – had so much power.

I had a boss earlier in my career who always used the words : “Of course you can !” whenever we asked something reasonable – it was much more than a “ok go ahead” or “yes” – it always amazed me that those few words sounded liberating – they empowered me to feel that he trusted me.

Mother Teresa once said :

"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless."-- Mother Teresa (1910-1997)

Words can be used to bind and constrict or we could use words to free others and ourselves. Words are very revealing about what is going on inside of us :

Mark 7:21
"For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts,”
You see – the words come from inside us and give away our thoughts
James 3:5 says “So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire…”
Did you know that one of the most common reasons for marriage breakdown is the saying : “I don’t feel I love him/her anymore”
A piece of advice that marriage counselors give is “Start saying and doing loving things for your partner and keep doing them – think about ways you can show kindness and it will start changing the way you see the other person”

My friend was taking his rubbish out to the bins near his apartments and there was a family coming out of the swimming pool area a mother and some kids – one little girl – about 3 or 4 was saying “mommy I’m so cold – can I have a hug” over and over – the mother shouted back profanities at the child and said “not now stop bothering me !” Given a number of years of verbal abuse like that when seeking affection and our children will seek love elsewhere – food, addictions and unhealthy relationships.

Proverbs 18:21 says “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.”

So where am I going with this ? What words have been spoken to you that bind you, what words have you spoken over others without thinking them through ? It is in your power to break those words that bind you and release those people who you may have inadvertently spoken over or even deliberately said things that could have hurt.

Did you know that you have the power to break the hold that they have over you - did you know that it is only you who allow them to bind you ?
Did you know that you have the power to correct the things that you may have said over others – it may be embarrassing but it could set you and the other person free…..

Heres what God say about us : (from http://www.ccesonline.com/godsanswertomythoughts.htm)

You say, "It's impossible.”God says, “All things are possible.” (Luke 18:27)
You say, "I'm too tired."God says, “I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
You say, "Nobody really loves me." God says, “I love you.” (John 3:16 & John 3:34)
You say, "I can't go on." God says, “My grace is sufficient for you.” (Psalm 91:15 & II Corinthians 12:9)
You say, "I don’t know which way to turn." God says, “I will direct your steps.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
You say, “I can't do it." God says, “Through Me you can do all things.” (Philippians 4:13)
You say, "I'm not able." God says, “I am able.” (II Corinthians 9:8)
You say, "It's not worth it."God says, “It will be worth it.” (Roman 8:28)
You say, "I can't forgive myself." God says, “I forgive you.” (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)
You say, "I can't manage."God says, “I will supply all your needs.” (Philippians 4:19)
You say, "I'm afraid."God says, “I have not given you a spirit of fear.” (II Timothy 1:7)
You say, "I'm always worried and frustrated."God says, “Cast all your cares on ME.” (I Peter 5:7)
You say, "I don't have enough faith."God says, “I've given everyone a measure of faith.” (Romans 12:3)
You say, "I'm not smart enough." God says, “I give you wisdom.” (I Corinthians 1:30)
You say, “I feel all alone.”God says, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

Does size matter ?

I think it does but I dont believe there is a wrong size or right size.What I mean is that smaller is better for relationship building, higher percentage involvement and accountability but God is not contained by our limited view of life. God can use bigger.

From Jesus example I can see that He spent time with the twelve and some others, like Mary, Martha, Lazarus etc. but He took three of them to places the others were not directly invited by Him. (John, Peter and James eg. see Mark 9:2) I've read a number of books and blogs and spoken to various people about the size of the church. (the local context - the gathering of two or more)

The challenging article I did read was by Wayne Jacobsen on "Why House Church is not the answer." This was during my paradigm shift of what is church and it challenged me to again turn to Jesus, and not just expect a new format or way of thinking to be the answer I sought.After typing this - I think Jesus matters more.....

YouTube by Floyd McClung

Just watched an interesting video on Youtube :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ccbj3xFei2U

Have a look - great core values !!

I was reading the other day about when the Israelites got to the river Jordan. (Joshua 1 : http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=6&chapter=1&version=31)

The previous time they ended up there, because of their lack of faith, God sent them back to the wilderness for 40 years. This time, with Joshua at the helm, they now stood at the river again. Just picture it, the past generation had sadly spoke about getting to the Jordan and everyone new the story, 12 spies into Canaan, two good reports (one Joshua) and ten bad reports….

Now here they stood, again, at the river. God told Joshua a few things :

• Do everything according to how I told Moses
• Get the priests to walk into the river and stop
• Get the people through the river
• Build a rock memorial
• Circumcise the men again (ouch)
• Take your shoes off – your on holy ground

The big thing for me was – “Why did He get the Ark to stop in the middle, while everyone crossed through?” I think it is in that time of transition, when we get to our river Jordan, He says to us to cross through the river, but He will be in the middle, holding back the water until we are over on the other side. Make sure that we don’t forget what He has done for us, make sure other generations know what He has done for us. Then when we are over there, consecrate ourselves and remember that we walk on Holy ground….

The desert – through the river – to the promised land. Transition, with God in the middle of the water with us as we cross, holding back the stuff that can damage us during our transition.

Don’t stand around waiting for bad reports, cross the river, He is in the middle of the transition with you, there is a promised land ahead….step in the water in faith…

Connections

The past few days I have been connecting with friends from all over the world on http://www.facebook.com/ Its amazing how many degrees of separation there is. One of my friends in Australia has a cousin who is a friend of my cousin in Scotland !!

Its also been good to catch up with friends and family I'd lost contact with over the years.

It reminds me that what is more important in life is people and not things. Sometimes we end up running around doing so much stuff and making plans that we miss those around us and before we know we are wondering "Where did so and so go ?

My challenge is to connect with someone we have not seen or spoken to for a while....

So is this what its all about :-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFw2LxKB4i4

Good book

Just finished reading a good book - An Army of Ordinary People by Felicity Dale.

Its well presented with a chapter on a different persons story but also a page or two on why the story is included. Its give you a great feel for what the church should be and how people are doing simple church.

Forgive, forgive and still forgive...

Its a sad day when good people, and christians at that, bad mouth or tell those in their "flocks" to stay away from those they do not agree with.Its endemic in the system, one man tells others what to do, how to think and that he hears from God for them. the rest follow believing somehow that he is the man of God delivering a word from God. Its obvious to me that this is not so, when they use their position to undermine others instead of doing what God has for them.

The scripture that comes to mind is Acts 10 - 13 Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat." "Surely not, Lord!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean." The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."

We need to be very careful as chirstians not to judge others, as the way we judge will be how we will be judged. We need to be careful not to call something unclean because it is not according to our religious system, like Paul with the vision from God about killing and eating.We should walk as close to the Holy Spirit as we can, so that we can hear what God is saying to us, otherwise all that we are left with is a man telling us what todo, what not to do and a set of laws that where once spirit breathed but are now dead regulations that condemn us.

Again here I am having to forgive, not because I am some humble feable christian but because He has given me the power to do so....

Relief

Excellent news - though sad given two people died ...

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20070902/29151_19_Freed_Hostages_Arrive_in_South_Korea.htm

A Catalyst

Sometimes it takes a catalyst to get something moving. Rockets are great examples of an occurrence of something that moves the vehicle in another direction. The explosion inside the rocket pushes outward and escapes thru the only place it can and propels the rocket forward.

Its like that in life. Something happens that causes a change in direction. I think its God putting or allowing catalysts to push us in another direction. Its at those times that we can either push against the direction that the catalyst (placed by God) is throwing us in, or we can move at the speed of the push in that direction.

Many times I see the catalyst in a negative light and spend lots of time where the catalyst occurred, mulling over why it happend or who caused it to happen etc etc - but when it comes down to the facts - where is the explosion, set off by the catalyst, pushing me towards - why does God want me to move in that direction ?

Has a catalyst occurred in your life - try look at it from a different viewpoint - its possibly pushing you toward a direction you may not have gone in.

In the bible I read in Acts about the martyr Stephen when he was stoned to death because of his beliefs - this would not have been pretty - but a dispersion happend that caused the disciples of Jesus to run in all sorts of direction for fear of their lives - God disperses the early church beyond just Jerusalem and Judea ! A catalyst.

A wise man once said - "God uses your Bruises". The Holy Spirit allows discomfort and irritation to get us to move.

What catalyst has hit you lately - where will it take you ?

Thoughts about forgiving the church that hurt me.

I can say many things to justify the pain. To keep my own private piece of hurt. Nurtured nicely and tucked away to resurface whenever I feel it would be good to mumble and grumble. But I need to start forgiving. Forgiving the church that hurt me.
I want to be sure that I am not carrying something of a hurt agenda.

The organized church is a misnomer. Many times it looks like a disorganised, disenfranchising, dysfunctional body. Yet it is a group of believers trying to do what they think church should be – I need to be careful not to disqualify a part of the global church – the organized church from Gods kingdom. Its not my ‘church’ – its Jesus bride – in whatever format or size it comes. I still think that it can be better done in a simple format - in a smaller meeting – with a relational walk beyond all of that functional stuff.
For me to walk into what The Holy Spirit has for me, to BE church and not just DO church, I need to release the past, especially the past hurts. Especially if I think the organized church has hurt me.

When we fossilise the Spirit

Have you ever seen a fossil move ? Have you ever seen a fossil talk ? Have you ever seen a fossil grow ?

I'm a great one to speak ! I prop up those great memorials to a past move of the Holy Spirit, so much so, that I can't see the real thing when He comes !

The Holy Spirit moves and we want to pitch a tent, capture the Kodak moment and hope He blesses what we are doing, instead of blessing what He is doing.

John 3:8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

Over time we take the things that have occurred around the time when the Spirit moved and practice them - we practice them to death ! But it becomes religion - it loses its life and the Spirit moves on calling us - but we stand admiring our past experience.

Does the Holy Spirit have the ability or the freedom to move me now - out of my past into my future - can He tear down the temple I build to the past ? Do I know Him that well to trust Him to do what He knows best ?

Sad post

Yesterday I read a sad news report about one of the South Korean hostages in Afghanistan being killed. Its sad when evil men do evil things and it appears they get away with it. If you did not know there are 23 people being held hostage by the Taliban and I read that the pastor of the group was murdered on his birthday.

(Photo: Yonhap / Sammul Church) In this photo released from Sammul Church, 42-year-old pastor Bae Hyung-kyu poses for a memorial photo before leaving for Afghanistan Friday, July 13, 2007 at Incheon International Airport in Incheon, west of Seoul, South Korea. (transcribed from The Christian Post - see link)
Please pray for the release of the hostages and the family of Bae.

http://www.christianpost.com/article/20070725/28603_Body_of_S._Korean_Youth_Pastor_Found.htm

To Bee or not to be

Sometimes we call people busy bees. Buzzing around doing what we are programmed to do. Find the flowers, get the nectar, back to the hive & feed the queen. Find the flowers, get the nectar, back to the hive …. In the busyness, the nectar getting, the flying, the getting to the hive, we actually miss what we are doing. Together we are building a hive, a place of safety so that we can perpetuate our bee tribe – so that tomorrows bees will be able to live and swarm and get busy.

But hey we are not bees. No, we don’t have hives. But we do have busyness. Whatever it may be that takes our time, our focus, our energy, our resources and our attention – that can be our hive mentality. While we fly here and there, we look for the nectar of life on flowers – but we miss the beauty of what we are landing on – a flower. I walked past someone today and said, “How are you ?” and didn’t wait for the answer – in my busyness I had flown off – job done, I had been courteous. But I did not wait to hear the answer from the person I spoke to. I missed the point.
The task will be there tomorrow – the person may not be.

So I have to be more human, don’t buzz around and miss the person. I need to be a human “being” not a human “doing”.

Heal the land

I heard this scripture on the radio this evening while driving home :

2 Chronicles 7:14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

And I started thinking about what does "Heal their land." mean ? I understand that we humble ourselves and repent and God forgives our sin but how does God heal our land and what is "Our land" ? Here are my musings - feel free to comment ....

• Land is where we get our food from - if the land is sick - we get sick - what are we feeding ourselves on ? ( John 6:56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.)


• Land is where we are standing, where we stand needs our repentance and, where we are needs healing. (Ezekiel 22:30"I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none.")


• Many times the worst enemies that we have and have made are those on our land - closest to us. Family and friends and colleagues. A nation at war with itself is its worst enemy. The enemy seeks to divide and conquer... (Mark 3:25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.)


• The land is where we lay our foundations - unstable soil - unstable foundations. (Luke 6:48He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.)
  

Where is your land - what is it God would heal if you turn and humble yourself and pray ?