Monday, 15 September 2014
Out of Africa
Gooday,
I have been back home for one week from visiting Uganda.
I could not be blamed for thinking that I was on another planet.
Thousands of people, cars, taxis and motor bikes, all trying to get to their destination without killing anyone.
One week before I left Oz I spent 3 days in hospital here in Stanthorpe so when I left for Brisbane airport I was 95% good.
But after 24 hours in the air, I hour through customs at Entebbe airport, in hours drive to my destination I reckon I was 85%.
Two weeks later I had shared 12 messages, travelled hundreds of kilometres, confronted a few challenges, met some top class people and all up had a very rewarding time.
Since arriving home I have had an email from my Ugandan pastor friend who has reported that already there is fruit amongst those in the congregation.
In Oz we are of the habit of having ministry programme outlined in a detailed way but the African way is to give scant info and drop the surprise on one when one arrives at the destination.
An example: I was told that tomorrow the young pastor named Peter And I would be attending a pastor's conference. I thought that this would be a bonus where I could meet other pastors.
But in his next breath Peter said, "You are the speaker at the conference".
At least I had 24 hours notice.
Paul the Apostle of Jesus made the statement, "When I am weak then I am strong".
I discovered again that when I felt inadequate and weak The Holy Spirit spoke to the listeners with great effect.
Perhaps the most powerful memory that I have is, after we had spent many hours travelling to an outstation village for three days in a row, the pastor through h an interpreter said to me that he is surprised that a person of my 70 years would travel so far to come to Uganda to share with the people
but even more outstanding was that I would travel to his small village so far out of Kampala to share with them there. So you see, there is a place for those in older years to touch the lives of needy people in other cultures.
Finally, With me came a camera man and his wife Colin and Robyn.Col did many interviews and videod many aspects of Ugandan life. He will be putting together a DVD of the trip for deputation purposes. If you would like to see it when it arrives please let me know.
Tuesday, 29 July 2014
"Checkmate"
Gooday,
There we were, Merle and myself at Gatton Agricultural College with more than 400 screaming, scratching, biting extremely well behaved .noisy teenagers for one week.
It was called 'Teenstreet'. An annual meeting of young people who have come to hear good teaching
as well as enjoy praying together.
There we were two 70 year olds among young people who were young enough to be, either our kids or grandkids. AND WE LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT.
It was organised by the Queensland director of Operation Mobilisation with a smattering of Youth With A Mission young people.
But I want to draw your attention to something that smacked me right in the heart.
The Australian director of O.M. Noddy Sharmer had a brief few minutes sharing with us.
He told the story of a man who had as a good friend a champion chess player. He took him one day to the art gallery and there just inside the door was a painting of a chess board with the chess pieces on it. The title underneath was "Checkmate". This chess player stood staring at it for some time. His friend kept wandering around the gallery.
Suddenly he heard a screaming yelling noise from his friend staring at the painting of the chess board.
Running to him, he asked what was his problem. His friend pointed to the painting saying, " It isn't checkmate, the King has one more move".
That phrase hit me hard. Merle and I are in the final segment of our lives and if ever we had the faintest thought that we were almost done in relation to God's plan for us we need to demolish such thinking. The wonderful fact is for Merle and myself, "THE KING HAS ONE MORE MOVE".
We want to know what it is and then do it.
There we were, Merle and myself at Gatton Agricultural College with more than 400 screaming, scratching, biting extremely well behaved .noisy teenagers for one week.
It was called 'Teenstreet'. An annual meeting of young people who have come to hear good teaching
as well as enjoy praying together.
There we were two 70 year olds among young people who were young enough to be, either our kids or grandkids. AND WE LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT.
It was organised by the Queensland director of Operation Mobilisation with a smattering of Youth With A Mission young people.
But I want to draw your attention to something that smacked me right in the heart.
The Australian director of O.M. Noddy Sharmer had a brief few minutes sharing with us.
He told the story of a man who had as a good friend a champion chess player. He took him one day to the art gallery and there just inside the door was a painting of a chess board with the chess pieces on it. The title underneath was "Checkmate". This chess player stood staring at it for some time. His friend kept wandering around the gallery.
Suddenly he heard a screaming yelling noise from his friend staring at the painting of the chess board.
Running to him, he asked what was his problem. His friend pointed to the painting saying, " It isn't checkmate, the King has one more move".
That phrase hit me hard. Merle and I are in the final segment of our lives and if ever we had the faintest thought that we were almost done in relation to God's plan for us we need to demolish such thinking. The wonderful fact is for Merle and myself, "THE KING HAS ONE MORE MOVE".
We want to know what it is and then do it.
Thursday, 20 February 2014
Gooday,
Last month Merle and I attended a seminar called "Family Foundations International".
Come March we are attending a conference about this ministry with the speaker being Craig Hill the initiator of the ministry.
Again In April there is a training time in which we are interested.
Our aim is to get to the place where we can organise and conduct this family ministry in our local area.
The two m ain words that describe the ministry are: Identity ( who am I) and Destiny (where am I headed).
The ministry is based upon our Jewish roots. As non-Jews we have been grafted into the New Covenant and therefore all the promises and blessings of that Covenant are ours as well. As with the Jewish people so it is, probably more with us non-Jews we need to get back to the 'Ancient Paths'.
The ministry is all about husbands and wives blessing each other and parents blessing their children at different levels of their human growth.
Merle and I are in the process of establishing a change in our family culture. For Instance, each Friday night when we eat dinner we then tell each other what are those things that we enjoy about each other, we then pray for each other followed by celebration of communion and pray for each other. I must confess it felt a little arkward after 49 years of marriage but then any change of culture is always going to feel a bit strange.
But one thing I do know that when we began to bless each other something positive took place in the spirit realm.
There is so much more to be said about this area of blessing ministry but what I have written is enough for now. We hope you are travelling well in your relationships.
Last month Merle and I attended a seminar called "Family Foundations International".
Come March we are attending a conference about this ministry with the speaker being Craig Hill the initiator of the ministry.
Again In April there is a training time in which we are interested.
Our aim is to get to the place where we can organise and conduct this family ministry in our local area.
The two m ain words that describe the ministry are: Identity ( who am I) and Destiny (where am I headed).
The ministry is based upon our Jewish roots. As non-Jews we have been grafted into the New Covenant and therefore all the promises and blessings of that Covenant are ours as well. As with the Jewish people so it is, probably more with us non-Jews we need to get back to the 'Ancient Paths'.
The ministry is all about husbands and wives blessing each other and parents blessing their children at different levels of their human growth.
Merle and I are in the process of establishing a change in our family culture. For Instance, each Friday night when we eat dinner we then tell each other what are those things that we enjoy about each other, we then pray for each other followed by celebration of communion and pray for each other. I must confess it felt a little arkward after 49 years of marriage but then any change of culture is always going to feel a bit strange.
But one thing I do know that when we began to bless each other something positive took place in the spirit realm.
There is so much more to be said about this area of blessing ministry but what I have written is enough for now. We hope you are travelling well in your relationships.
Tuesday, 28 January 2014
Gooday. Here is an excerpt from a feature article: Australia's Christian Heritage"
by Dr. Graham Mc Lennan, a Christian historian and chairman of the National Alliance of Christian Leaders.
Having just celebrated Australia day we as Australians need to reflect on our foundations and recognise the hand of God in the commencement of our nation.
While many Australians look to a convict past with its fear of authority, its feeling of inferiority, rejection, isolation and lonliness. There is another history yet to be written, that of our Christian forefathers and their faith and their contribution to the kingdom of God.
Australia's oldest parliament (NSW) opens with prayer. "Almighty God we humbly beseech you to vouchsafe thy blessing upon this parliament, direct and prosper our deliberations to the advancement of your glory and the true welfare of the people, our state and Australia Amen".
Early Christian influences
The first Christian minister came with the first fleet. His name was Richard Johnson an Evangelical churchman, he brought with him many bibles, books of common prayer.. and on Sunday February 3rd 1788 he conducted the first Christian service on Australian soil using as his text Psalm 116:12 "What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits towards me ?"
Most of the colonies early leadership came from the Evangelical Christian community, many of which were chaplains. Governors such as Hunter, Macquarie and Brisbane and a number of judge advocates as well as the editor of Australia's first newspaper were strongly committed to Christian views as were many school teachers.
Governor Macquarie was always trying to improve the moral and religious well being of the colony, hoping that those in his care would become good Christians.
He personally promoted the British and Foreign Bible Society and the Sunday School movement.
He also personally encouraged Christian education commencing a number of schools under the supervision of the Government chaplains so that by 1817 the most common discussion in the pages of the Sydney Gazette was on the merits of bible reading.
Captain Charles Sturt the great Australian pioneer and explorer of the inland was a man of considerable courage, faith and prayer and was responsible for opening most of Southern Australia to free settlement. Throughout the pages of his journals Sturt shares his faith constantly, especially when writing to his wife. He would pray continually for guidance, committing each day's journey to God.
Other Australian Pioneers
There was Carolyn Chisholm who in 6 years settled 11000 people as servants and farmers in NSW.
We had Ludwig Leichardt who explored much of Australia's North; the Rev John Flynn founded the Flying Doctor Service and the Australian Inland Mission.
Australia's first Prime Minister, Edmund Barton and another Prime Minister, George Reid were trained in public speaking and were inspired to enter public life through the vision of a Christian minister, a Dr. Steel.
In recent times we find, in Australia, committed Christians involved in every major area of life, judges, politicians, businessmen, educationalists, artists. Christians have been at the very forefront of community awareness campaigns and public movements active in preserving Australia's constitutional heritage and democratic freedoms.
Thus we can see that Australia's discovery, settlement and growth can easily be explained in terms of God's intentions for our nation. God has used His men and women to lead in so many areas of development that even the most humanist historian would have difficulty explaining away the mass of evidence for the hand of God on this country.
If the past is misinterpreted then so is the significance of the future. It is important that we don't continue to be deceived by the secularisation process which denies the sovereignty of God in history.
Christians in Australia can rejoice in the contribution of our Christian forebears and confidently step out in faith aware of God's great intentions for our island.
by Dr. Graham Mc Lennan, a Christian historian and chairman of the National Alliance of Christian Leaders.
Having just celebrated Australia day we as Australians need to reflect on our foundations and recognise the hand of God in the commencement of our nation.
While many Australians look to a convict past with its fear of authority, its feeling of inferiority, rejection, isolation and lonliness. There is another history yet to be written, that of our Christian forefathers and their faith and their contribution to the kingdom of God.
Australia's oldest parliament (NSW) opens with prayer. "Almighty God we humbly beseech you to vouchsafe thy blessing upon this parliament, direct and prosper our deliberations to the advancement of your glory and the true welfare of the people, our state and Australia Amen".
Early Christian influences
The first Christian minister came with the first fleet. His name was Richard Johnson an Evangelical churchman, he brought with him many bibles, books of common prayer.. and on Sunday February 3rd 1788 he conducted the first Christian service on Australian soil using as his text Psalm 116:12 "What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits towards me ?"
Most of the colonies early leadership came from the Evangelical Christian community, many of which were chaplains. Governors such as Hunter, Macquarie and Brisbane and a number of judge advocates as well as the editor of Australia's first newspaper were strongly committed to Christian views as were many school teachers.
Governor Macquarie was always trying to improve the moral and religious well being of the colony, hoping that those in his care would become good Christians.
He personally promoted the British and Foreign Bible Society and the Sunday School movement.
He also personally encouraged Christian education commencing a number of schools under the supervision of the Government chaplains so that by 1817 the most common discussion in the pages of the Sydney Gazette was on the merits of bible reading.
Captain Charles Sturt the great Australian pioneer and explorer of the inland was a man of considerable courage, faith and prayer and was responsible for opening most of Southern Australia to free settlement. Throughout the pages of his journals Sturt shares his faith constantly, especially when writing to his wife. He would pray continually for guidance, committing each day's journey to God.
Other Australian Pioneers
There was Carolyn Chisholm who in 6 years settled 11000 people as servants and farmers in NSW.
We had Ludwig Leichardt who explored much of Australia's North; the Rev John Flynn founded the Flying Doctor Service and the Australian Inland Mission.
Australia's first Prime Minister, Edmund Barton and another Prime Minister, George Reid were trained in public speaking and were inspired to enter public life through the vision of a Christian minister, a Dr. Steel.
In recent times we find, in Australia, committed Christians involved in every major area of life, judges, politicians, businessmen, educationalists, artists. Christians have been at the very forefront of community awareness campaigns and public movements active in preserving Australia's constitutional heritage and democratic freedoms.
Thus we can see that Australia's discovery, settlement and growth can easily be explained in terms of God's intentions for our nation. God has used His men and women to lead in so many areas of development that even the most humanist historian would have difficulty explaining away the mass of evidence for the hand of God on this country.
If the past is misinterpreted then so is the significance of the future. It is important that we don't continue to be deceived by the secularisation process which denies the sovereignty of God in history.
Christians in Australia can rejoice in the contribution of our Christian forebears and confidently step out in faith aware of God's great intentions for our island.
Wednesday, 8 January 2014
Gooday,
We contribute to the happiness that God derives from His own glory by our obedience.
The aim of Jesus was to model for us what a human life lived entirely for the pleasure of God looks like.
In fact, at various times, God cannot help but declare pleasure at Hid Son's life of obedience.
In Matthew's gospel, at Jesus' baptism, the heavens opened , and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him. Then a noise from heaven is heard announcing, "This is my Son, whom I love, with Him I am well pleased".
Also on the mount of transfiguration in Matthew 17:5 God's words were, "Listen to Him".
When we are reconciled to God through faith in Jesus, the disappointment and sorrow that we thought that God felt toward us is overruled by the enormous amount of pleasure that God receives by being glorified by Christ. Freed from condemnation, we ought to be renewed in our vision that this is the one end for which humankind is made and that everything else that we may be or do or strive for is to pleasure and glorify God
We contribute to the happiness that God derives from His own glory by our obedience.
The aim of Jesus was to model for us what a human life lived entirely for the pleasure of God looks like.
In fact, at various times, God cannot help but declare pleasure at Hid Son's life of obedience.
In Matthew's gospel, at Jesus' baptism, the heavens opened , and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him. Then a noise from heaven is heard announcing, "This is my Son, whom I love, with Him I am well pleased".
Also on the mount of transfiguration in Matthew 17:5 God's words were, "Listen to Him".
When we are reconciled to God through faith in Jesus, the disappointment and sorrow that we thought that God felt toward us is overruled by the enormous amount of pleasure that God receives by being glorified by Christ. Freed from condemnation, we ought to be renewed in our vision that this is the one end for which humankind is made and that everything else that we may be or do or strive for is to pleasure and glorify God
Wednesday, 18 December 2013
One question I have asked over the years is, " What is God's highest priority ?"
Because whatever His priority is, it should be ours also.
God's priority is to glorify Himself. He is the self-glorifying God.
He delights and revels in HIs own glory.
For instance, Proverbs 16:4) "The Lord works out everything for His own ends".
Again in Psalm 115:3) "our God is in the heavens, He does whatever pleases Him".
Isaiah writes in chapter 46:9) "I am God and there is no other; I am God and there is none like me.
I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say,'my purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please."
Jesus embraced the cross because of the delight that it brought His Father.
And the Father absolutely delighted in the sin-covering, death conquering obedience of His Son Jesus.
Therefore if God's priority is to glorify Himself and Jesus priority was and is to glorify His Father,
our priority then should be to glorify the Father.
One of the ways God glorifies Himself is to draw people to Himself, rescuing them from sin and destruction. The other way He is glorified is to empower His people to be obedient to His commands.
Because whatever His priority is, it should be ours also.
God's priority is to glorify Himself. He is the self-glorifying God.
He delights and revels in HIs own glory.
For instance, Proverbs 16:4) "The Lord works out everything for His own ends".
Again in Psalm 115:3) "our God is in the heavens, He does whatever pleases Him".
Isaiah writes in chapter 46:9) "I am God and there is no other; I am God and there is none like me.
I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say,'my purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please."
Jesus embraced the cross because of the delight that it brought His Father.
And the Father absolutely delighted in the sin-covering, death conquering obedience of His Son Jesus.
Therefore if God's priority is to glorify Himself and Jesus priority was and is to glorify His Father,
our priority then should be to glorify the Father.
One of the ways God glorifies Himself is to draw people to Himself, rescuing them from sin and destruction. The other way He is glorified is to empower His people to be obedient to His commands.
Tuesday, 5 November 2013
Gooday,
This is a brand new blog. A communication tool but for specific reasons.
I will be writing about areas of ministry and Christian activity.
Reasons for this blog:
1. The blog is one way of communicating new as to what Merle and I are about these days, so
anyone who is interested in us can click on to this sight.
2. I want those who are in our age range to see that being retired is not death but simply a change of
activity. In fact we are not retired but we are refired.
3. No one in God's kingdom is useless and that there are many opportunities to have an effect on
people's lives bot in Oz and in other nations, hence our slogan "We are not done yet".
Whether the activity is helping build something, maintenance of something, giving testimony,
or even just relating to people of another culture - there are many opportunities to avoid
vegetating.
4. In your mind I want to plant seeds of possibility that will grow into trees that, in time will drop
seeds and complete a process.
These seeds I am referring to are those of, encouragement and possibilities for you in God's
kingdom.
This is a brand new blog. A communication tool but for specific reasons.
I will be writing about areas of ministry and Christian activity.
Reasons for this blog:
1. The blog is one way of communicating new as to what Merle and I are about these days, so
anyone who is interested in us can click on to this sight.
2. I want those who are in our age range to see that being retired is not death but simply a change of
activity. In fact we are not retired but we are refired.
3. No one in God's kingdom is useless and that there are many opportunities to have an effect on
people's lives bot in Oz and in other nations, hence our slogan "We are not done yet".
Whether the activity is helping build something, maintenance of something, giving testimony,
or even just relating to people of another culture - there are many opportunities to avoid
vegetating.
4. In your mind I want to plant seeds of possibility that will grow into trees that, in time will drop
seeds and complete a process.
These seeds I am referring to are those of, encouragement and possibilities for you in God's
kingdom.
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