Down On the Corner

The Adventures of Mole and Rat

2012-01-18T22:20:00.002-05:00

Sometimes children’s literature is the best place to turn when we want to gain a better understanding of those eternal truths which can, at times, be difficult to explain. This is particularly true when it comes to explaining what is meant by the little phrase, “the fear of the Lord.” Proverbs 9:10 tells us that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (NIV). As you might know, this is not a fear filled with terror, or the run-and-hide response of being scared, but an awe-filled respect that causes us to bow in adoration before the presence of the Lord. Kenneth Grahame (1859-1932) captured a way of describing this fear in his children’s classic entitled The Wind in the Willows. In the presence of such profound mystery and divine holiness, the two main characters in the story, Mole and Rat, experience the following:

The Rat whispered, “’Here, in this holy place, here if anywhere, surely we shall find Him!’ Then suddenly the Mole felt a great Awe fall upon him, and awe that turned his muscles to water, bowed his head, and rooted his feet to the ground. It was no panic terror – indeed he felt wonderfully at peace and happy – but it was an awe that smote and held him and, without seeing, he knew that it could only mean that some august Presence was very, very near….. ‘Rat!’ he found breath to whisper, shaking. ‘Are you afraid?’ ‘Afraid?’ murmured the Rat, his eyes shining with unutterable love. ‘Afraid! Of Him? O, never, never! And yet – and yet – O, Mole, I am afraid!’ Then the two animals, crouching to the earth, bowed their heads and did worship.”

This story encourages us to feel the sense of awe, the sense of mystery – indeed, the overwhelming sense of respect – that standing in the Presence of God affords us. In His presence there is joy! In His Presence there is peace! It’s as if all the highs of human experience rush together into one, for immediately we want to laugh, shout, dance, run, clap, rejoice and worship all at once! And also, in His Presence there is fear, but not a fear that says, “Run!” but a fear that says, “Stay” – and, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Ps. 46:10, NIV). It is in those times of standing before the Lord that we become more keenly aware of how awesome He really is. In fact, the sheer magnitude of His presence becomes overwhelming as we realize how small we are in comparison to His greatness. As the prophet Isaiah asks on the Lord’s behalf, “’To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?’ says the Holy One…The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth” (Is. 40:25, 28, NIV).

In his classic novel entitled The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, the late Oxford and Cambridge scholar, C.S. Lewis (1898-1963), provides another description of what it would be like to stand before Ultimate Royalty, which is portrayed in his book as a mighty lion named Aslan. Here we get to listen in on a conversation with Lucy, Susan and Mr. and Mrs. Beaver:

“’Is – he a man?’ asked Lucy. ‘Aslan a man!’ said Mr. Beaver sternly. ‘Certainly not. I tell you he is the King of the wood and the son of the Great Emperor-Beyond-the-Sea…’ ‘Ooh!’ said Susan. ‘I thought he was a man. Is he – quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.’ ‘That you will, dearie, and no mistake,’ said Mrs. Beaver. ‘If there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than most or else just silly.’ ‘Then he isn’t safe?’ said Lucy. ‘Safe?’ said Mr. Beaver. ‘Don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.’”

This description of meeting Aslan is gripping, for it removes from out thinking the idea that God is somehow manageable and that He can be tamed. Of course, the Lord God Almighty is not like that. He is not some “cosmic bellhop” that can be ordered around and controlled, for He is as Job said the God who “does whatever he pleases” (Job 23:13), NIV). As we come before the Lord Almighty – the Everlasting Father, the Ancient of Days – we do so knowing that He is beyond what we can imagine, but we also come knowing that He is good, full of love and truly compassionate.

The Fourth Man

2012-01-17T16:49:00.007-05:00

Recently, as I have been preparing to teach on Bible Overview: The New Testament at School of the Word Canada, I came across a message by the late Oral Roberts entitled "The Fourth Man." I was deeply encouraged by his summary of all the names by which the Lord Jesus Christ is mentioned throughout the Scriptures. Listed are those names from all 66 books of the Bible as Oral shared them many years ago:

The Fourth Man

By Oral Roberts (1918-2009)

Who is the Fourth Man in the fiery furnace?

In Genesis He is the Seed of the Woman.

In Exodus He’s the Passover Lamb.

In Leviticus He is our High Priest.

In Numbers the Pillar of Cloud by day and the Pillar of Fire by night.

In Deuteronomy the Prophet like unto Moses.

In Joshua the Captain of our Salvation.

In Judges our Judge and Lawgiver.

In Ruth our Kinsman Redeemer.

In First and Second Samuel our Trusted Prophet.

In Kings and Chronicles our Reigning King.

In Ezra our Faithful Scribe.

In Nehemiah the Rebuilder of the Broken-Down Walls of Human Life.

In Esther our Mordecai.

In Job our Ever-Living Redeemer.

In Psalms the Lord our Shepherd.

In Proverbs and Ecclesiastes He is our Wisdom.

In the Song of Solomon the Lover and the Bridegroom.

In Isaiah the Prince of Peace.

In Jeremiah the Righteous Branch.

In Lamentations the Weeping Prophet.

In Ezekiel the wonderful Four-Faced Man.

In Daniel the Fourth Man in the burning fiery furnace.

In Hosea the Faithful Husband, forever married to the backslider.

In Joel the Baptizer with the Holy Spirit and Fire.

In Amos our Burden-Bearer.

In Obadiah the Mighty to Save.

In Jonah the great Foreign Missionary.

In Micah the Messenger of Beautiful Feet.

In Nahum the Avenger of God’s Elect.

In Habakkuk God’s Evangelist, crying, “Revive Thy Work in the midst of years.”

In Zephaniah the Savior.

In Haggai the Owner of all the silver and gold in the earth.

In Zechariah the Fountain opened up in the House of David for Sin and Uncleanness.

In Malachi the Sun of Righteousness, rising with Healing in His Wings.

Who is the Fourth Man in the fiery furnace?

In Matthew He’s the Messiah.

In Mark the Wonder-Worker.

In Luke the Son of Man.

In John the Son of God.

In Acts He’s the Signs and Wonders of the Holy Spirit.

In Romans He is the One who makes all things work together for good to those who love God.

In First and Second Corinthians He is the Fruit of the Spirit and the Gifts of the Spirit.

In Galatians He’s the Redeemer from the Curse of the Law.

In Ephesians the Christ of Unsearchable Riches.

In Philippians the God who Supplies all our Needs.

In Colossians the Fullness of the Godhead Bodily.

In First and Second Thessalonians our Soon-Coming King.

In First and Second Timothy our Mediator between God and Man.

In Titus a Faithful Friend.

In Philemon a Friend that Sticks Closer than a Brother.

In Hebrews the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant.

In James the Great Physician.

In First and Second Peter the Chief Shepherd.

In First, Second and Third John He is Everlasting Love.

In Jude the Lord coming with Ten Thousands of His Saints.

In Revelation the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

A True Man of God

2011-12-10T11:21:00.004-05:00

Today, I want to pay tribute to a great man and true servant who went to be with the Lord on Thursday, December 8th as a result of a car accident. Leonardo Cruz was an exceptional man of the Spirit who was a highly respected pastor to pastors, serving as a superintendent in the Methodist Church in Cuba.

I shall never forget the times of praise and worship in the Manzanillo church and the great joy expressed in the music and dancing and the profound love that Leonardo had for all the people. I felt that he was a true kindred spirit - a man who lived to help, love and encourage the people of God. Today, I want to thank God for Leonardo. I thank the Lord for the privilege of knowing him, and for allowing me to spend five days in Cuba with Leonardo, learning more of what it is to truly love God and His people. I will miss you my dear friend.

God's Plan of Restoration

2010-09-28T17:53:00.004-04:00

The church of Jesus Christ burst onto the Jerusalem scene with tremendous zeal and an overwhelming infusion of spiritual power. Starting with a small band of Christ-followers, the Holy Spirit literally pushed these first disciples out onto the streets where they could begin telling others the good news of Jesus Christ. Eyewitnesses to this event said that people came running from everywhere to see what was going on. Clearly, the demonstration of God’s Spirit was so powerful – so astonishing – that literally “three thousand were added” to the number of believers that day (see Acts 2:41, NIV).

Today, many people tend to look back on those events and think that the church as it began on the Day of Pentecost represents the “high-water mark” of its life and power. Instead of seeing that day in Jerusalem as just the beginning of what was yet to come, many often find themselves saying, “If only we could have the same power they had, things would be different.” The reality of course, is that we do have the power they had! The Holy Spirit has not changed – His power has not diminished! What changed over time was the church, for even by the end of the first century there was a clear movement away from “faith to a type of Christianity in which ethical interests and concern for law and order predominate.”[1]

Sadly, after such a powerful and dynamic beginning in the first-century, the next 600 years of history show that the church went into a period of decline. Biblical patterns of church leadership changed to a system of priests, popes and bishops. Water baptism gave way to the “christening” of infants, and the warmth of community life in the Holy Spirit was replaced with a sterile liturgy in so-called “church buildings.” While one could always find pockets of renewal amongst “believers whose corporate life was consciously based upon New Testament teaching,”[2] much of the church moved away from the biblical principles of life to a rigid institutional form of religious expression.

Today, we believe God is working to restore His church! As Acts 3:21 says, Jesus “must remain out of sight in heaven until everything is restored to order again (MSG, italics added). This restoration will not only include experiencing the dynamic power of the Holy Spirit as He appeared on the Day of Pentecost, but it will also lead us onward to experience everything that God intends His church to be. This means that restoration is more than simply knowing what is to be restored. It is more than gathering a checklist of biblical truth. In reality, restoration is about taking what we have learned from the Scriptures and living it from day to day. This is why restoration is only restoration when what is learned is put into practice.

As we read the New Testament, a picture begins to emerge of a redeemed community that had a tremendous impact upon the world around it. This impact was not based so much on the activities or structured programs of the church, but upon the quality of life amongst its members. This life comes as an answer to the cry of the human heart which says, “Show me a life that really works!” People today, as they did nearly two thousand years ago, are still saying, “Show me a marriage that really works, and I’ll listen.” Or, “Show me a man or woman who really demonstrates inner peace and joy, and I’ll consider accepting the good news of Jesus Christ.” People need to see an example of the life we tell them is worth living. This is why we are looking to demonstrate to the world an experience of life that is so bold – so beautiful – so extraordinary, that it will literally take the breath away of those who see it. As a result, the common response to such a life will be: “This is what I have been looking for all my life!”

As we consider God’s plan of restoration over the past one hundred years, we have seen the Holy Spirit highlighting the following truths:

· The relevance of the gifts of the Holy Spirit for today.

· The plurality of eldership in the local church.

· An emphasis on personal holiness and righteous living.

· The authority of the Scriptures over ecclesiastical authority.

· An understanding that all believers are priests before the Lord.

· The baptism in the Holy Spirit.

· Water baptism.

· The emergence of Ephesians 4:11 ministries such as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers.

· The recapturing of the biblical teachings on the kingdom of God and covenant relationship.

· A commitment to freedom in thanksgiving, praise and worship.

As we look ahead to the future, we know that there is so much more that the Lord wants to do. The restoration process will not end until the Lord is ready to return. This is why we must ask the Lord to give us “an extra measure of grace to take us beyond the Acts experience right into all that was in the heart of God for his church from the beginning.”[3] Today, we are looking for fullness – the fullness of Christ in His church, and the fullness of His eternal purpose. As modern-day Restorers, we seek to make ourselves ready for the coming of the Lord, believing that this generation will capture the heart, mind and will of God like never before. In doing so, we will rightly be able to say with the Holy Spirit, “Come, Lord Jesus” (Rev. 22:20, NIV).

[1] Cyril C. Richardson, Early Christian Fathers (New York: Collier Books, 1970), p. 39. [2] David Matthew, “Part I: Swift Decline – The First 600 Years,” in Restoration, March/April 1983, p. 31. [3] David Matthew, “Part 9: Aiming for God’s Ideal,” in Restoration, July/August 1984, p. 11.

What Do We Really Have?

2010-06-28T16:32:00.004-04:00

The crippled man in Acts 3:1-10 was probably not a whole lot different than some of the street-people we see sitting on the streets of most world cities – except that this man did not have the use of his legs. Verse 2 tells us that this man was “crippled from birth” and that he had to be “carried to the temple…where he was put every day to beg.” Day in and day out, from morning till evening, this crippled man sat in the roadside dirt and begged for a living. With filthy clothing and matted hair, he was a picture of those who had been rejected by humanity.

Everyone who passed through the temple gate knew this crippled man, for he had probably been begging there for many years. Having lost all sense of self-worth, he likely had no problem saying, “Hey mister, can you spare a quarter for a cup of coffee?”

But Acts 3:1 says, “One day…” In the midst of what seemed like a never ending cycle of days, there came a special day for this crippled man – a day like no other. “One day” the Day of the Lord dawned for this crippled man in the form of Peter and John, and as a result, everything changed!

During those times when it seems like nothing will ever change, or when you are faced with what appears to be an impossible situation, suddenly that “one day” breaks upon you and everything changes! “One day” the crippled man asked Peter and John for money and instead, he received something far more valuable than mere silver or gold. They simply said, “Look at us!” (v. 4).

1. Why look at Peter and John?

All of us as Christians should be able to say “Look at me! Look at my life. Look and see if what I am telling you really works.” Inside of Peter and John was the Answer for the crippled man’s situation. Inside each one of us is the Answer the world needs, if only we could believe in ourselves enough to know that this is true.

Inside of every born again, baptized in the Spirit believer is a power that is so extraordinary, so magnificent, so dynamic, that nothing should be impossible for us. The same power that created the universe lives inside of you! In fact, the apostle Paul said that “the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you” (Rom. 8:11).

Perhaps this is why Paul could write, “By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope” (Eph. 3:20, NLT, italics added).

We can be forever thankful that Peter and John didn’t simply give the man a handful of money, for his life would never have been so dramatically changed. We can also be thankful that they were not overwhelmed by the man’s disability or need. Instead, they reached into God for miracle! Simply stated: Real faith is always about looking to God for the Answer.

2. What did Peter have?

In verse 6, Peter says, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I have I give you” (italics added). The KJV says, “but such as I have…” This was the confident declaration of a man who had spent much time with the Lord Jesus. It was also the confession of someone who had received the Holy Spirit and was now living in His presence – indeed, this verse could be translated as “but such as I possess…” Peter had the Person of the Holy Spirit living inside of him and that Person has the power to heal. At that moment, Peter was completely yielded to the Holy Spirit.

As Peter said, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk” (v. 6), he took the crippled man “by the right hand” (v. 7) and began to pull him to his feet. It was in this point of contact that suddenly a rush of supernatural, Holy Spirit power was transferred to the crippled man. As a result, “the man’s feet and ankles became strong” (v. 7) and he “jumped to his feet and began to walk” (v. 8). Simply stated: It is those who are willing to take a risk of faith that are most often used by God.

3. What do we have?

The same Holy Spirit who was living inside the apostle Peter almost two thousand years ago is also living inside each one of us today. This Holy Spirit still has the power to heal today just as He did at the Beautiful gate nearly two thousand years ago. The challenge we must face is whether or not we will be as open and yielded to the Holy Spirit as Peter was. Simply stated: The path to real change is not found in trying to receive more of God; it is found in giving Him more of me.

How Should We Live?

2010-05-29T22:41:00.004-04:00

In our country today, we can safely assume that there are thousands of Canadians who are looking for a faith that is authentic – they are looking for something that is real and not superficial. Along with this, we find that people are looking for a sense of purpose – a sense of meaning that helps makes living worthwhile. Perhaps the apostle Paul had this in mind when he wrote to Titus in order to encourage the people to “make the teaching about God our Savior attractive” (2:10, NIV, italics added). Clearly, Paul wanted people who heard the gospel to know that they would live better lives as a result of following Jesus Christ.

In the opening chapter of Paul’s letter to Titus we discover that the apostle had left this young man on the island of Crete to “straighten out what was left unfinished” (1:5, NIV). Part of Titus’ commission was to travel from town to town promoting the “sort of character which should spring from sound teaching” (2:1, JBP). In other words, Titus was charged with the responsibility of teaching the people how to live! And so, in each town, Titus would gather the church together in order to address all the various groups on the practical aspects of their Christian life. In these meetings, Titus would not have wanted to simply impart theory or information, but instead, he taught those things that were necessary for a successful Christian life.

Today, we can look at what Paul encouraged Titus to teach by examining the following areas in Titus chapter 2:

To the Older Men - “Teach them about being examples of maturity” (2:2).

The church of today needs mature, older men who will be examples of what it means to walk with God throughout life. We need men who stand out as fathers in the faith – patriarchs who have proven by their lives that being a Christian is the best life one can live. About such men, the apostle Paul said they should be:

· Temperate - Such a man is balanced and knows how to live wisely. He remains calm in the face of difficulty.

· Worthy of respect - He stands out as a man who has proven himself in the way he lives. He is a pillar in the church!

· Self-controlled - He has learned to master his desires and clearly knows when to say “yes” and when to say “no.”

· Sound in faith, love and endurance - Such a man is firm, sensible, positive, trustworthy and stable in the all circumstances of life. He can weather all the storms that life throws at him because he has lived through enough of them in the past to know that God is always with him.

As a man grows older “his influence ought to increase,” (John Eldredge) not decrease, for this is one of the best stages in life to train younger men in the things of God. As I look at my own responsibility in this area, I am asking the Lord to help me produce many sons in the faith – a new generation of kingdom men who are fully committed to His purpose of restoration.

To the Older Women - “Teach them about being women of dignity” (2:3, 4).

Many people today are looking for an example of family life that really works. Because older women of faith have already managed a family and raised children along with their husbands, it is important that they pass on what they have learned to the younger women and mothers in the church. About such women, the apostle Paul said they should be:

· Reverent - Such a woman is worthy of respect, for she stands out as a person of distinction and nobility.

· Free of gossip - Her most common expression is not “Did you hear about so and so,” but rather, “Let me tell you what the Lord has shown me about life.”

· Disciplined - The text says that such a woman is “not to be...addicted to much wine” (2:3). The issue here has to do with self-control and the need to live a balanced and productive life.

· Models of goodness - Paul says that such women are “to teach what is good” (2:3). This means that the older women need to tell those who are younger what things in life are good to embrace.

Concerning the older women who are in the church, Titus 2:4 points out that “By looking at them” (MSG), the younger women will learn how to become effective wives and mothers.

To the Younger Women - “Teach them about enjoying life” (2:4, 5).

All of us know that life has its seasons – seasons that bring extraordinary joy for those who are open to it. It is interesting that the J.B. Phillips translation says the younger women should learn about “the good life” from the older women (see verses 3 and 4). Even though the instruction is not limited to young mothers, Paul does seem to encourage the love of home, husbands and children. About such women, the apostle Paul said they should be:

· Self-controlled - Such a woman stands out as someone who lives wisely and is known for her moral integrity and uprightness.

· Pure-hearted - Such a directive is really for all people and follows in line with David’s prayer in Psalm 51:10 where he says, “Create in me a pure heart, O God. In other words, God is the One who creates purity of heart.

· Kind - Such a woman is compassionate and safe to be with, for she thinks of others more than herself.

To the Younger Men - “Teach them about being disciplined” (2:6).

The secret to the success of every young man is found in what he does on a daily basis. This is why it is true to say that “the way you live today impacts your tomorrow” (John Maxwell). Clearly, we must learn to make TODAY a MASTERPIECE! Perhaps this is the reason that Paul lists just one characteristic for young men to embrace:

· Be self-controlled - The disciplines a young man embraces today will be with him for life. Therefore, all young men ought to ask themselves, “What habits am I forming today that will have a positive impact on my future?” This not only means the disciplines of prayer and Bible reading to strengthen one’s spiritual life, but also the importance of physical exercise, wise food choices, time spent watching television, financial prudence, and many other areas that create a balanced and stable life.

To those who are Employed - “Teach them about working with excellence” (2:9, 10).

Our lives touch the world in a practical way through our jobs. With our jobs taking up 40 or more hours of our time each week, they provide a major opportunity for us to reveal Jesus Christ to the world.

Many years ago when I was first married, I had the wonderful privilege of working as “the hired-man” on a local strawberry farm. Even though I would never have called it a privilege back then, as I think about it now, I can see how I leaned many valuable lessons about the importance of doing a good job. The reason for this is that God is always watching! I will never forget the many, many long hours of pulling weeds out of the strawberry fields to make way for the harvest in the middle of June. Looking back, I remember complaining to God about the work by saying, “Lord, don’t you know that I was born for better things than this! I’ve got a university degree – and here I am pulling weeds for a living!” I was acting as if God just didn’t understand my situation.

Well, when I finally got around to listening to the Lord about the “why?” of it all, I clearly remember Him asking,

“Bill, who owns these fields?”

“You do, Lord,” I said.

“Then, Bill, who are you working for?”

“You Lord,” I answered.

As you can imagine, I learned a valuable lesson that day. And it’s a lesson that has stayed with me all my working years, for as Paul said in Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men” (NIV). When teaching about our jobs, Paul said to Titus:

· Work hard - Ultimately, you are working for the Lord, for all employment comes from Him.

· Be honest - Show your boss that in all things you can be trusted, for your goal should be to let your “good character...shine through” in your actions (see Tit. 2:10, MSG).

Joy to the World!

2009-12-14T17:55:00.009-05:00

It was a night like so many that had gone before. Supper was over and as it was getting late, the night sky was quickly filling with stars. In the darkness, the large herds of sheep were settling into a quiet night of grazing in the fields around the little town of Bethlehem. The shepherds themselves were bedding down after a long day of watching over their flocks – when suddenly, an angel of the Lord stepped out of eternity and landed with indescribable glory right into the midst of their encampment.

As the shepherds stood in amazement, the Bible tells us that “the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified” (Lk. 2:9, NIV). This “glory” was the light of heaven bursting forth in a way that absolutely frightened even the most hardened men amongst them. Here was light so brilliant, so glorious, so dazzling, that I’m sure no one could actually look at it – they could only bow down in reverent awe and wonder. And so, what these shepherds experienced that night was the glory of God expressed through an angelic messenger! Undoubtedly, it would be a night they would never forget for as long as they lived.

After the first angel made his appearance, I can just imagine the choirs of heaven getting warmed up behind the scenes to make their grand entrance. I’m sure all the angelic hosts were on tip-toe just waiting for the command to appear before the shepherds. And how could they not? Nothing like this had ever happened before! This was the long-awaited moment when the Messiah would make His appearance. This was the fullness of time when Almighty God, the Ancient of Days, the Great I AM, would step out of heaven and take upon Himself a human body. Just think of it! The Everlasting Father, whose presence fills the entire universe and beyond – the Eternal God who rules over billions and billions of stars – “imploded to become a peasant baby who like every infant who has ever lived, had to learn to walk and talk and dress himself” (Philip Yancey).

But first, the solitary angel who had lit up the night-sky around Bethlehem had a message to proclaim. It was his job to announce the coming of the Messiah with all the passion and strength of voice he could muster. Like the sounding of a trumpet he called out to the shepherds: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy…Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord” (Lk. 2:10, 11, NIV). What I absolutely love about this announcement is that it is good news of great joy! What distinguishes the gospel from everything else is joy. There is no room for sadness in the presence of such wonderful news, for the angel said his message was one of joy!

Joy is what defines our gospel. Running throughout the Scriptures is the constant theme that fullness of joy is to be the hallmark or one of the main characteristics of God’s people. We especially see this in the apostolic pronouncements that say:

"For the kingdom of God is…righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:17, NIV, italics added)
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace…" (Gal. 5:22, NIV).
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice" (Phil. 4:4, NIV).
"Be joyful always" (Phil. 5:16, NIV).
"You never saw him, yet you love him. You still don’t see him, yet you trust him – with laughter and singing" (1 Pet. 1:8, The Message). Or "you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy" (NLT).

How we must remember that the gospel of Jesus Christ is good news which comes to us from a good Heavenly Father who’s “love endures forever” (Ps. 107:1, NIV). And this good God, who tells such good news, wants us to be filled with a joy that goes beyond anything – absolutely anything – the world has to offer.

The Gospel of Luke tells us that after the first angel was finished, “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel” (Lk. 2:13, NIV). It was as if the hosts of heaven literally burst out of eternity and with one voice began to praise God by saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace on whom his favor rests” (Lk. 2:14, NIV). Of course, ever since that day, hymn writers have been trying to capture the significance of what happened on that wonderful and holy night. One of the best was Isaac Watts (1674-1748) whose classic Christmas Carol “Joy to the World” is sung every year at this time. He wrote:

“Joy to the world! The Lord has come; Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare Him room, And heav’n and nature sing, And heav’n and nature sing, And heav’n, and heav’n and nature sing.”

No one seems to remember how long the angels spent ringing out their message of joy and peace. Undoubtedly, anyone who was there that night would have been absolutely mesmerized by it all. I’m sure it would have seemed like time stood still – and perhaps it did, for when ushered into the presence of eternity, who would dare try to check the time? And so, when the angels were finished, the shepherds very simply and humbly said, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about” (Lk. 2:15, NIV). Perhaps the words of the old Christmas Carol capture that moment as believers from every generation sing out:

“This, this is Christ the King, Whom shepherds guard and angels sing: Haste, haste to bring Him laud, The Babe, the Son of Mary” (William C. Dix, 1837-1898).

God Meant It for Good

2009-11-18T17:42:00.003-05:00

It had been a restless night. Plagued by the unfair events of his past, the prospect of falling asleep seemed almost impossible. Flashes of what he thought were forgotten memories lurked at every hour of the night. While trying to sleep, he remembered the trauma of being sold into slavery, the false accusations of an unrighteous woman, and probably the worst of all – the months and months of trying to survive in an Egyptian dungeon. As he lay on his bed, it seemed as if he could still feel the dampness of his darkened cell and hear the scurry of the hungry rats that paid him an unwelcome visit every night. His arms and legs still bore the marks of his shackles, and if he listened to his memories, he could still make out the faint moaning of imprisoned men who had lost all hope in what seemed like one of the worst places on earth.

All of this and more filled Joseph’s mind as he readied himself for a visit from the brothers who had sold him into bondage at the very early age of seventeen. How things had changed! Now he was the prime minister of Egypt – second only to the Pharaoh himself! Now he had the power to decide the fate of his cruel and uncaring brothers who wanted to be rid of the young man they had called “the dreamer.” But God had a different plan. Instead of seeking revenge, Joseph sought reconciliation. Over the years, he had learned about the power of forgiveness and how God in His wisdom fits everything that happens “into a pattern for good” (Rom. 8:28, JBP).

With great courage and compassion, Joseph called his brothers together and said, “Come close to me…I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt!” (Gen. 45:4, NIV). But he went further than just seeking a reunion; he also declared God’s purpose in it all. With incredible wisdom and depth of insight, Joseph said, “it was not you who sent me here, but God” (Gen. 45:8, NIV). The purpose of his sending: To save lives! In the face of severe famine which was to last seven years, God had sent Joseph to the land of Egypt “to preserve a remnant…and to save your lives by a great deliverance” (Gen. 45:6, NIV).

More and more today the conviction that we are here to save lives is breaking in on the people of God. We have witnessed God’s efforts to bring His people to maturity; we have watched Him work to restore His church, but now we must see a people emerge who will live to see others saved from the wasteland of brokenness and spiritual famine. Yes, we are called to proclaim a message that says, “You can be saved from your sins and your sicknesses, and you can be saved from poverty and brought into prosperity!” The weight of oppression can be lifted and the cloud of fear and anxiety will dissipate! God has chosen us to be bearers of a message that has the power to save lives! Hallelujah!

I will never forget the time many years ago in Belleville when I met a young man for coffee whose confession to me was, “I’ve spent so much time looking at the bottom of a bottle.” His life was one of desperation and despair, but he didn’t know how to be set free. And then one Sunday he came to one of our meetings. It was in this meeting that he realized that there was a way out – a way to life and freedom – but he needed help to know what to do. So he called me up on the Monday morning to ask if I could meet him for coffee. It was near the end of our conversation that he looked at me and simply said, “I’m so lost.” Thankfully, there is a way for the lost to be found! That morning he was ready to receive Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, and as a result, he was saved – saved from himself and all his sins! He was saved to learn how to live for God and for others.

The truth that stands out for me as I read the story of Joseph is how he was able to interpret the events of his life in relationship to God’s purpose for him. He clearly saw that despite how terrible things had been, God was able to weave it all into a wonderful pattern for good that ultimately led to the saving of many souls from famine. This is why later in his life Joseph could say to his brothers, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Gen. 50:20, NIV, italics added). This is a staggering revelation, for it connects what you and I go through in life with how God uses it all to bring the knowledge of salvation to others. In others words, if God can work in my life to bring about good, He can certainly work in yours, no matter how difficult or hopeless things may seem.

I think this is one of the reasons why Jesus stated right at the onset of His ministry what He intended to do. His purpose in coming was to provide salvation to all mankind, so He said, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Lk. 4:18, 19, NIV). Indeed, God means it all for good! How wonderful it is to know salvation from sin, sickness, poverty, and oppression – and to top it off, to enjoy the favor of the Lord! Now that is something to shout about! Praise God, He has done everything well! And, praise God, we have a part to play in His great plan!

The Momentum of the Holy Spirit

2009-07-23T14:09:00.009-04:00

As one reads through the book of Acts, it s not long before it is discovered that successive waves of Holy Spirit-led activity kept the early disciples focused outward. Beginning in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, the wind of the Holy Spirit continued to blow with greater and greater intensity as the disciples literally took the gospel of Jesus Christ all over the world. The wind of the Spirit is continuing to blow today, for we are catching a vision of what God wants to accomplish in our city. This means that:

God wants to see all people born into His kingdom.
God wants to see all people healed of sickness and disease.
God wants to see all people freed from mental and demonic torment.

More and more I sense the Lord saying. “Stay focused on seeing lives transformed.” Acts 10:38 says that Jesus was anointed “with the Holy Spirit and power,” and that “he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.” The wonderful thing is this: We are called to be just like Jesus! So we should expect to do the same things as He did.

Acts 11:1 in The Message translation says, “The news traveled fast and no time the leaders and friends back in Jerusalem heard about it.” Obviously there were “some” believers who criticized Peter for his actions, but most were probably thrilled that the good news was continuing to spread. They were especially thrilled to hear that the Gentiles had received the Holy Spirit. Peter simply said, “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning” (Acts 11:15, NIV). As a result, the news about what had happened spread so fast that it preceded Peter’s arrival in Jerusalem.

News about signs, wonders and miracles always travels fast! Throughout the New Testament there is a great emphasis on what and how we hear. Hearing about what the Holy Spirit is doing actually creates a spiritual momentum of expectancy and faith. Simply stated: Hearing about the miraculous creates a hunger for God to do more!

God's Empowering Presence

2009-07-22T11:57:00.003-04:00

Recently, the Lord has been saying to us, “Will you give My Holy Spirit the opportunity to work in your city?” As I listened to the Lord speaking deep into my heart, I heard Him clearly say that we have had over 100 years of religious activity in our city, but that now is the time when the Holy Spirit wants to move in power! He wants to break out of all restriction and hindrance to show what He can supernaturally do in the lives of people. In fact, we know that the Holy Spirit can do more in just 5 minutes than all the hours of counselling that so often people feel they need. As the prophet Zechariah said so long ago, “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty” (Zech. 4:6, italics added).

In light of this, we have felt that it is important to study the Book of Acts in order to see how the Holy Spirit worked with the first disciples. We are not looking to try and duplicate what was present in the beginning, but want to put ourselves into the stream of God’s activity that has continued right from the Day of Pentecost onward. The Book of Acts reflects the fact that the gospel was first taken to the streets of Jerusalem (chapters 2 – 7), then to Judea and Samaria (chapters 8 – 11), and finally to the city of Rome and beyond. Like ever widening circles, the story continues to be written today. In Acts 1:2, Luke tells us that Jesus concluded His time on earth by giving instructions to His apostles in at least two areas:

The importance of the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3) - This is the reign or rule of God on the earth.

The importance of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4, 8) - This is God’s empowering presence.

These two areas are interrelated (or connected) since the kingdom is found in the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit is the One who brings the kingdom. The two are inseparable! These areas also show us what was most important to Jesus just before His Ascension back to heaven. And so, in light of these important themes, Jesus goes on to tell His disciples, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you" (Acts 1:8, NIV). It must be noted that the Person of the Holy Spirit are His power are one. We are not talking about some influence or energy, but the living presence of the Person of the Holy Spirit. From Him comes the power to accomplish all that God intends for His world today!

The Holy Spirit and His Gifts

2009-06-17T13:55:00.003-04:00

One of the most pressing words I heard the Lord say to the church recently is, “Will you give My Holy Spirit the opportunity to work in your city?” As I listened to the Lord speak deep into my heart, I heard Him clearly say that we have had over 100 years of evangelicalism in the city of Peterborough and that now is the time for the Spirit to move in power! Clearly, He wants to break out of the restrictive plans and programs of men so that once again He will have His Way. As the prophet Zechariah said so long ago, “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty” (4:6, NIV, italics added).

In order for this to happen, the people of God must clearly commit themselves to the present reality of the Holy Spirit. There can be no assertion that somehow the gifts and working of the Holy Spirit came to an end with the close of the first-century. In fact, you will find as you study the New Testament that there is not one place where the Lord said He would withdraw His supernatural activity. Indeed, it was Jesus who said, “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father” (Jn. 14:12, NIV, italics added). How the Holy Spirit must long to do in Peterborough these “greater things” which I believe are meant to be the hallmark of today’s church.

In this time we are called to be a community of the Holy Spirit! Commenting on the first-century church in his little book entitled Concerning Spiritual Gifts, Donald Gee says, “the spiritual gifts with which their gatherings were enriched all arose out of the fact that the individuals comprising them were personally filled with the Holy Spirit” (p. 15). As Gee points out, being filled with the Holy Spirit is the necessary key to spiritual advance. I have personally seen how the Holy Spirit has done more in just five minutes when a person is filled than in five hours of intensive counseling. Indeed, the Holy Spirit has such a wonderful way of changing everything, for when He is at work, suddenly everything becomes new! As the apostle Paul said, “and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Cor. 3:17, NIV, italics added). Or as the J.B. Phillips translation says, “wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, men’s (and ladies) souls are set free.”

1 Corinthians 12:7 says, “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good” (NIV). This is an extraordinary verse of Scripture for it challenges us to look beyond all human limitation or boundary. To think that the eternal Spirit of God – the Spirit who was present at creation, the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead, the Spirit who came at Pentecost – is to be manifest in and through you and me is, well, quite simply, earth shattering! As the word “manifest” means in the original, God wants to make Himself “visible, clear, and known” through YOU! In The Message translation of verse 7, it says, “Each person is given something to do that shows who God is.” Following this line of thought, Donald Gee has written, “The ultimate and full purpose of spiritual gifts thus stands revealed. They are to bring men face to face with the reality of the Invisible God” (Concerning Spiritual Gifts, p. 31).

Perhaps this is why it would seem necessary for the church to experience a restoration of awe in the presence of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. You see, the gifts are not spiritual toys to be played with, nor are they human abilities that have a touch of inspiration mixed in. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are a manifestation of the Spirit of God that affects and transforms our whole being! The apostle Paul knew this when he said to the Corinthians that in the presence of the clear prophetic word an unbeliever “will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, ‘God is really among you’” (1 Cor. 14:25, NIV).

As I look back over my years of serving God, I can remember many times when I have felt a great sense of awe and reverence for the Lord in the presence of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. One time in particular comes to mind when I was in a leaders gathering in Chicago during the mid 1990s. The late Bryn Jones was present in the meetings and during a time of prayer he prophesized over my life in a way that I will never forget. His spiritual insight into my life and the clarity by which he spoke touched me right to the core of my being. For not only did the Lord speak to me through Bryn about my heart’s desires, but He also laid out the path of my future – a path that all these years later has proven to be a true prophetic insight into the very mind and heart of God concerning myself and my family. It was a dramatic moment and one that I will never forget. Even now I can see the various images that Bryn painted that spoke about things past, present and future. At times like this, you truly know that you are standing in the presence of a holy and awesome God of light and power who knows everything there is to know about you!

I am sure that all of us could tell stories about times when we have known the greatness of God in the presence of the gifts. At such times there is a heightened awareness of the majesty and greatness of God. Confronted by His supernatural presence, we are overcome with feelings of awe and reverence, for the gifts open the door to a realm in which God is absolutely in control of all things. Therefore, we must welcome the gifts of the Holy Spirit on all occasions and in every circumstance. For when we do this, we show the world that God is alive and well and ready to supernaturally change lives. How Peterborough needs this! And so, as we ponder the question, “Will you give My Holy Spirit the opportunity to work in your city?” how will we answer? I trust it will be with the affirmation, “Yes Lord, start by using me!”

The Power of Faith for Today

2009-05-21T17:38:00.008-04:00

I could see him trying to make his way to the front of the Crusade Tent where we were standing. He walked slowly, using two canes for assistance in order to compensate for a definite limp. Well-dressed and distinguished, he had probably tried everything to find relief. But on this night, he came in faith to our advertised “Healing Meeting” in Brighton, England. I clearly remember the man leading the meeting, evangelist Don Double, asking the crippled gentleman to take a seat in the front row. As Don bent down and raised the man’s legs, it was plain to everyone that one leg was much shorter than the other. This explained the many years of walking with an extreme limp.

As I think back to the scene in my mind’s eye, I can remember Don saying to me, “Keep your eyes open and watch what the Lord is going to do.” So, of course, I did just that! There was no way that I was going to miss seeing the power of God come in visible demonstration! Suddenly, Don just spoke to the shorter leg, commanding it to grow. And it did! Right before my eyes I could literally see the leg grow and line up with the other. In fact, seeing this almost took your breath away. It was like, “O my, look at that! His leg grew! That’s amazing!” I had just witnessed a profound miracle. Shortly after this, the man got up and without assistance, made his way to the back of the tent.

Throughout the New Testament, healing was a very common occurrence. But there was one occasion as described in the Gospel of Mark when “Jesus wasn’t able to do much of anything” (Mk. 6:5, The Message). This is a rather strange statement, for it seems almost out of character for one of the Gospel writers to say such a thing. But in Nazareth, which was Jesus’ hometown, it seemed as if the people were not only resistant to the message of the Lord, but to His healing ministry as well. There were a few exceptions of course. Mark tells us that Jesus “laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them” (Mk. 6:5, The Message), but generally speaking, Jesus “was amazed at their lack of faith” (Mk. 6:6, NIV). It was this lack of faith that seemed to hinder His desire to do the extraordinary.

Compare this scene in Nazareth to the healing of the man I just described in the U.K. The man in Brighton came to the meeting in faith, whereas the people in Nazareth had a noticeable “lack of faith.” Clearly this gives us a clue to what we should be looking for as we meet people who need healing. Consider the following examples:

To the sick woman, Jesus said, “Take heart, daughter…your faith has healed you" (Mt. 9:22, NIV, italics added).
To the woman with the demon-possessed daughter, Jesus said, “you have great faith! Your request is granted” (Mt. 15:28, NIV).
To blind Bartimaeus, Jesus said, “Go…your faith has healed you" (Mk. 10:52, NIV, italics added).
To the man with leprosy, Jesus said, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well" (Lk. 17:19, NIV, italics added).

In each of these situations, Jesus simply responded to what was already present. He saw their faith! He didn’t need to pray about it or ask some probing questions to see where the person was at. He simply saw their faith. This leads me to ask, “What does faith look like?” Well, part of our answer lies in the story of the sick woman as mentioned above. Matthew 9:21 in the Amplified Version says, “For she kept saying to herself, if I only touch His garment, I shall be restored to health” (italics added).

As I think about the story of the sick woman, it becomes clear to me that faith is certainty. It is knowing deep inside that what I am believing for will actually happen. This is why the woman could say with absolute confidence, “I shall be restored to health.” There was no question in her mind as to whether she would be healed, she just knew that once she touched Jesus’ garment, she would be healed. We see this “certainty” in the definition of what faith is as found in Hebrews 11:1. The writer says, “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see” (NLT).

In his insightful book entitled Christ the Healer, F.F. Bosworth has written, “Before anyone can have a steadfast faith for the healing of their body they must be rid of all uncertainty concerning God’s will in the matter…one needs to know what the Scriptures plainly teach, that it is just as much God’s will to heal the body as it is to heal the soul” (p. 5). It is the Word of God which creates the certainty in us that God will do what He has promised. Added to this certainty is the importance of making a right and positive confession concerning our healing. Matthew 9:21 tells us that the woman who was sick “kept saying to herself…I shall be healed” (AMP). Faith and confession are really two sides of the same coin, for one will not work without the other. You cannot on the one hand say, “I am believing to be healed,” while on the other keep listing all your aliments. The list will sooner or later rob you of the ability to truly believe.

I never saw the gentleman who came to that “Healing Meeting” ever again. While I know that his life was forever changed because of what happened on that night, I can honestly say that my life was changed as well. For on that night my eyes were opened to the power of faith for today – the same kind of faith that Jesus responded to when He said to the sick woman, “your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering” (Mk. 5:34, NIV).

The Day Everything Changed! (A Story Based on Mark 10:46-52)

2009-04-25T18:45:00.002-04:00

The day dawned like so many others before it. Slowly life began to stir on the streets of Jericho as the first rays of sunshine sought to dispel the darkness. One by one the various shop-keepers readied their wares for the coming day, while the traffic of animals and heavy carts slowly started moving along the main road into the city. Bartimaeus also stirred in his hiding place along the edge of the old city walls. As a blind beggar living on the streets of Jericho, he always tried to find a safe spot every night where he could get at least a few hours of sleep. But even then, most nights were filled with attempted robberies from other hungry beggars, and always, one had to watch out for the wild dogs that roamed the streets looking for someone or something on which to prey.

Like so many days before this one, Bartimaeus had to find his way to a place along the main street where he could beg for a few scraps of food or a little money. It was not easy, for the people of Jericho were often unkind and unwilling to help. And so, with little assistance from others, Bartimaeus simply felt his way along the street to a place where he could sit and beg for his life. But today something different was happening! All along the street people were talking about a man named Jesus who had visited Jericho and was now on his way to Jerusalem. People were saying that this Jesus was the promised Messiah – the Son of David – and that he had the power to heal all kinds of sicknesses and diseases. In fact, it was this same Jesus who was coming down the road that very minute!

“Jesus, Son of David,” Bartimaeus began to shout. “Have mercy on me!” Despite the protests of those standing next to him, Bartimaeus kept shouting. “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Clearly, Bartimaeus was desperate! If ever there was a time when he wanted something – now was that time. He had nothing to lose in calling out to Jesus. He simply thought, “If I can just get his attention, maybe – just maybe – he will speak to me and I will regain my sight.” So, while the crowds were pushing and shoving, and the streets teemed with all kinds of activity, Bartimaeus tried shouting louder and louder in the hope that Jesus would hear him.

Of course, the wonderful thing about this story is that Jesus did hear Bartimaeus shouting his name. Stopping in the middle of road, in the midst of a large crowd of people, Jesus simply said to those around him, “Call him.” With that, Bartimaeus was on his feet, and throwing his cloak aside, made his way over to where Jesus was standing. “What do you want me to do for you,” Jesus asked him. For Bartimaeus, this was the question of a lifetime! Here he was, a blind, unemployed beggar, who lived on the streets of Jericho, standing face to face with Jesus! And so, from deep within he said those words that have echoed throughout history: “Rabbi, I want to see.” Of course, he could have said so much more, but true faith is never complex; it never has to say a lot. True faith simply, and confidently says, “Lord, I believe.”

Jesus’ answer was simple and direct: “Go, your faith has healed you.” Here were the words that changed everything that day, for instantly, Bartimaeus could see! He could see colour, he could see people’s faces, he could see trees, flowers, the blue sky – finally, the darkness of being blind was gone! And yes, he could even see the face of the man who said, “Go, your faith has healed you!” Such faith changes everything. The power of God is released in response to the man, woman or child who simply and honestly puts their faith in God. And this is what happened on that dusty road in Jericho so many years ago. Bartimaeus simply believed that God could do anything – including making a blind man to see.

Herein lies the challenge set before us as the people of God. The Lord is looking to see an awakening of faith to overcome what appears to be impossible to the human mind. God wants us to dare to believe for the sick to be made well, for cancers to disappear, for mental illnesses to be removed, and for those who are lame, deaf or blind to find freedom to live life without hindrance. Yes, today is the day of the Lord’s favor, and His hand is reaching out to “bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners” (Is. 61:1, NIV), for truly we standing in expectation to see the earth filled “with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea” (Hab. 2:14, NAS).

Finding Water in the Desert

2009-04-06T16:14:00.006-04:00

As Christians, we are called to live a life that is filled with praise and thanksgiving to the Lord no matter what we may be facing in the world around us. Hebrews 13:15 says it well: “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that confess his name” (NIV). King David had learned to do this for in Psalm 34:1 he says: “I will praise the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips” (HCSB). Even while living out in a desert as described in 1 Samuel 26, David stayed in joy and knew the presence of the Holy Spirit.

A desert is not one of the nicest places in which to live, for it conjures up images of a dry, barren and desolate wasteland or wilderness that is unfit for human habitation. It is interesting that King Saul did not venture very far from the safety of the road, “but David stayed in the desert” (1 Sam. 26:3, NIV). From this verse, it is clear that David had learned how to trust the Lord – even while living in the desert, for Psalm 54:4 says, “Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me” (NIV). In other words, David had found water!

Consider the following two points:

1. Giving praise and thanksgiving to God helps lift us above our circumstances.

While David was living out in the Desert of Ziph, he penned the words of Psalm 54, addressing it to “the director of music.” Known as “the hill country of Judah,”the Desert of Ziph was a place where David could stand looking over his surroundings with his hands outstretched in praise to God. Despite the dry and barren landscape, David stood to say: “I will praise your name, O Lord, for it is good. For he has delivered me from all my troubles, and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes” (Ps. 54:6, 7, NIV).

The joy we experience in praise is to become “detached from the external pressures of life” (Bryn Jones) in order to clearly see things from God’s perspective. In praise, the power of self and its problems loses its grip and we become conscious of God and His glorious plan. An “Awareness of God presence quiets…inner turmoil” and enables us to experience peace and joy. In fact, C.S. Lewis has written that “The real test of being in the presence of God is that you…forget about yourself altogether.” Simply stated: Becoming God-conscious paves the way to inner freedom!

This is why we must understand that there is a clear connection between lifting one’s voice and hands in praise and staying filled with the Holy Spirit. It follows that to be filled with the Spirit means being empty of self.

2. Staying filled with the Holy Spirit is critical for our survival in this world.

1 Samuel 26:3 tells us that unlike King Saul, David and his men “stayed in the desert,” probably because they had found water. The Bible tells us that David was a man after God’s own heart (see Acts 13:22), which leads me to believe that he must have been a man of the Spirit as well. Sustained by the “water of the Spirit,” David could survive anything!

Recently, I have found myself gripped by the simple phrase, “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27, NIV). There is a special treasure in this simple phrase that only comes to us by way of revelation. It is simple, but deeply profound! The only way the truth of these words becomes possible is by remaining filled with the Holy Spirit – the very Spirit of Jesus Christ. It is the Holy Spirit who will quicken (or help develop) all that Jesus Christ wants to be in each one of us. He quickens faith, courage, peace, power, love – all the fruits of the Holy Spirit and more.

Faith for Bigger Things

2009-04-04T15:48:00.005-04:00

We are living in a time when God is encouraging us to have faith for bigger things! John 14:12 says, “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these” (NIV, italics added). This means that our attitudes must be adjusted so that we will not be limited by what we have been in the past. Of course, the reason for this is that attitudes are what govern our lives.

In his book entitled The Difference Maker, John Maxwell defines “attitude as an inward feeling expressed by outward behavior.” He says, “There is not a single part of your current life that is not affected by your attitude…It is like the mind’s paintbrush.” This means that the way we think affects the kind of attitudes we possess. Therefore, the kind of attitude we possess is directly related to whether we become a people who have faith for bigger things. Clearly, faith and attitude are always connected!

We see the importance of attitude in the following three key statements:

1. The attitude you possess will always determine your first response to the situations you face in life.

2. A willing attitude will always unlock the power of faith in your life.

3. An attitude that is governed by faith will always say, “God can do anything!”

The First Source

2009-01-27T10:00:00.003-05:00

In his book entitled Embracing the Mysterious God, James Emery White writes about the times in life when we find it difficult to let God come near to our lives. He says, "One of the tragic ironies of life is our tendency to keep God at bay, particularly at times when we need him most by our side." The reasons for this are often complex, but it is fair to say that most of the time it is because "We're far too occupied by our attempts to save ourselves." In other words, we often try to find a way through the difficulty we are facing by means of our own strength, intelligence, or ability to work things out. So often when we need God the most, He is the last Person we turn turn.

In Proverbs 3:5, King Solomon said, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding" (NIV). The last statement in this verse is telling, for often it is our own understanding or thinking on which we lean the most. So often, we think we know what's best in a situation instead of calling out to God for His guidance and wisdom. As White says in his book, "the more we are overwhelmed by a matter, despite the temptation to strategize and maneuver, the more we should fall on our knees." How many of us turn to God first when facing a tough time? So often it is the doctor, the counselor, the church leader, perhaps even a friend or family member that we turn to first, instead of going to God as the first source of instruction, counsel, or healing. As James says, "Come near to God and he will come near to you" (4:8, NIV).

The Spirit Within

2009-01-12T10:39:00.003-05:00

The apostle Paul shares a wonderful word of affirmation and truth in Galatians 4:6 when he says, "And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, 'Abba, Father'" (NLT). What a blessing to know that we have the gift of the Holy Spirit within! Because of this, Paul says, "Now you are no longer a slave but God's own child" (Gal. 4:7, NLT), and further he says, "So Christ has truly set us free" (Gal. 5:1, NLT). Wow! What blessing, what promise - what potential - we all possess in God! And, what security to know that we have been adopted into God's family and have a place at His table.

I firmly believe that in 2009 the church of Jesus Christ will shine! It will shine if we keep our focus on what the Holy Spirit wants us to do and say, for I believe this is a year for the Spirit. As Gordon Fee has written in God's Empowering Presence, "In dealing with the Spirit, we are dealing with none other than the personal presence of God himself" (p. 6). We have not been left alone - alone to somehow figure things out by ourselves. No, Fee writes, "Life in the present is empowered by the God who dwells among us and in us" (p. 8). This is why we can say with confidence that absolutely nothing is impossible to those who rely on the power of the Holy Spirit within!

A Year for the Holy Spirit!

2009-01-10T11:40:00.008-05:00

As I think about 2009 and all the promise it holds, I was reminded again about the importance of the Holy Spirit in all that we do and say. In the midst of so many activities and objectives we might have for our churches, the one major emphasis must be on the Holy Spirit. I saw this again as I was working through a major work by theologian Gordon Fee entitled God's Empowering Presence. Working from Regent University in Vancouver, Fee has done an excellent study on the Holy Spirit in the writings of the apostle Paul. In the Introduction he writes, "For Paul the Spirit, as an experienced and living reality, was the absolutely crucial matter for Christian life." Fee's position is not meant to be some dry theological principle that is debated in university or college classrooms, but he writes, "the only worthwhile theology is that which is translated into life."

I think it is worth quoting Fee (pictured at right) again at greater length, just to get the sense of the burden he is carrying: "Despite the affirmations in our creeds and hymns and lip service paid to the Spirit in our occasional conversations, the Spirit is largely marginalized in our actual life together as a community of faith. At least that seems to be true of my own experience of the church; it also seems to be reflected in the thousands of ways individual believers have longed for a greater sense of God's presence in their lives." So, it can be argued that 2009 presents us with a fantastic opportunity for this to be a year of the Holy Spirit! What would our lives and churches look like if we gave way to the leading and direction of the Spirit? What would life be like if we simply followed the promptings of the Spirit from moment to moment? And - here's the question - could we move into the abundant life that Jesus promised in John 10:10 like never before? I must say, this is my commitment for 2009 - to be a man of the Spirit, no matter what!

The Happiness Effect

2008-12-15T16:05:00.003-05:00

An interesting article appeared in this week's Time magazine. It's called "The Happiness Effect," and it basically deals with the impact one makes on others by being happy. Through a 20-year scientiful study conducted by Dr. Nicholas Christakis of Harvard University, it was found that happiness can be contagious. Their finding: "If unhealthy habits like smoking are contagious, why not healthy mental states? Can you catch a case of happy?"

It is interesting that Dr. Christakis found that "your joy may, to a larger extend than you realize, be determined by how cheerful your friends are." In fact, he even found that when it comes to Facebook and the kind of pictures one posts, it is those who smile that "tend to cluster together, forming an online social circle." Clearly, Solomon was right when he wrote thousands of years ago:

* "A cheerful look brings joy to the heart; good news makes for good health" (Prov. 15:30, NLT).

* "A cheerful heart is good medicine" (Prov. 17:22, NLT).

The Secret

2008-12-12T19:31:00.009-05:00

It is probably an understatement to say that the Bible is filled with life. If you take a Concordance and look up the words that are mentioned most often in the Scriptures, you will find that they are life, love and faith. Clearly, if you center your life in Jesus Christ, then abundant - joy filled - life will be yours.

Not too long ago a book appeared on the market called "The Secret." The fact that it pretended to offer people a formula to finding a successful life helped propel it to the best seller lists. But recently I came across another "Secret" that has a much more lasting - indeed, a much greater impact than any book of the same title. It is a poem written by Ralph Spaulding Cushman (1879-1960) and it is simply titled "The Secret." As you read it, see if you can discover what Cushman had learned to be true.

I met God in the morning,
When the day was at its best,
And His presence came like sunrise,
Like a glory in my breast.
All day long the presence lingered,
All day long He stayed with me,
And we sailed in perfect calmness
O’er a very troubled sea.
Other ships were blown and battered.
Other ships were sore distressed.
But the winds that seemed to drive them,

Brought to me a peace and rest.
Then I thought of other mornings,
With a keen remorse of mind,
When I too had loosed the moorings,
With the presence left behind.
So, I think I know the secret,
Learned from many a troubled way:
You must seek Him in the morning
If you want Him through the day.

The Joy of Life!

2008-12-10T15:42:00.007-05:00

There is so much to be thankful for and so much to enjoy about life! Truly, the gift of life that God has given us is extraordinary. The little poem by John Kendrick Bangs (1862-1922) says it well:

Today, whatever may annoy,
The word for me is Joy, just simple joy:
The joy of life;
The joy of children and of wife;
The joy of bright, blue skies;
The joy of rain; the glad surprise
Of twinkling stars that shine at night;
The joy of winged things upon their flight;
The joy of noonday, and the tried
True joyousness of eventide;
The joy of labor, and of mirth;
The joy of air, and sea, and earth -
The countless joys that ever flow from Him
Whose vast beneficence doth dim
The lustrous light of day,
And lavish gifts divine upon our way.
Whate'er there be of Sorrow
I'll put off till Tomorrow,
And when Tomorrow comes, why then
'Twill be Today and Joy again!

The Joy of Life!

2008-12-08T10:58:00.005-05:00

God has given us NEW LIFE in Christ! What a tremendous blessing this is to all of us who love the Lord. The Message translation of John 1:4,5 says it wonderfully: "What came into existence was Life, and the Life was Light to live by. The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; the darkness couldn't put it out." A clear definition of what this life entails comes from John 10:1-10 which tells of the time when Jesus was speaking to His disciples about His responsibility to them as the Good Shepherd. Right after this, in verse 10, He tells them about the purpose of His coming and the kind of life He would bring. To help us better understand this verse, consider the following translations:

The Amplified says, "I came that they may have and enjoy life."

The New Living says, "My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life."

The J.B. Phillips says, "I came to bring them life, and far more than before."

Clearly, Jesus is pointing to the fact that we Christians are called to experience a life that is beyond the ordinary - in fact, it is meant to be extraordinary! It is meant to be a life that is filled with joy and wonder. It is God's kind of life that is available to all who live in the fullness of the Spirit. As we approach the Christmas season this year, how good it would be if we all decided to enjoy life to its fullest. Take time to visit and share meals with friends, family and fellow believers. Laugh often and find ways to have lots and lots of fun. Above all, let the true Spirit of Christmas fill each one of us with joy unspeakable and full of glory - a joy that constantly gives praise to God for the birth of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ!

Moses and God's Presence

2008-12-02T16:42:00.011-05:00

In Exodus 33:7 we are told that it was “Moses’ practice” to meet the Lord in a Tent where “the pillar of cloud would come down and hover at its entrance” (v. 9, NLT). This verse makes it clear that Moses regularly met with God, for he would never have been able to lead the people of Israel without the strength that only God could provide in His presence. One can only imagine what it must have been like inside that Tent. As Moses waited inside with his hands outstretched, He gradually became aware of the manifest presence of God filling the place where He was standing. Suddenly, it may have seemed as if time stood still and Moses was lifted outside of himself into a realm where only God mattered. In that Tent, Moses was no longer aware of himself, for the light of God’s Presence became all consuming. The Lord became Moses' complete focus of attention.

Therefore, it is important to ask: What did Moses know about God’s Presence that we need to learn today? Well, I think there are at least three things we can see from Exodus 33:7-7:

1. In God’s Presence we learn His ways (v. 13) - Knowing how God works and the ways He uses to accomplish His purpose reveal a depth of relationship that goes beyond simply seeing His acts.

2. In God’s Presence we learn to cease from our striving (v. 14) - In the New American Standard Bible Psalm 46:10 says, “Cease striving (or ‘Let go, relax’) and know that I am God.” As Bishop Desmond Tutu from South Afica has written, “We can hear God’s voice most clearly when we are quiet, uncluttered, undistracted – when we are still."

3. In God’s Presence we learn about our identity (v. 16) - Part of the purpose of the church is to be a home for the presence of God – a place where the Spirit of God is most keenly felt.

God's Awesome Presence

2008-11-18T11:40:00.005-05:00

I read recently of a time when theologian R.C. Sproul (pictured at left) was, as a young man, summoned by the Lord to leave his dormitory room late one night. As he wrote later, the inner summons clearly commanded, "Get up. Get out of this room." The summons became stronger, more urgent, impossible to ignore, and so, R.C. got up and what to the college chapel where He seemed to sense that God was waiting to meet him in a way that he had never known before.

As he knelt quietly in the chapel, the only sound seemed to be the beating of his heart - the thump-thump telltale sign of something extraordinary about to happen. Suddenly, the wave of God's presence passed over him - a flooding of his soul with unspeakable peace and instant rest. "At once," he said, "I was comfortable. I wanted to linger there. To say nothing. To do nothing. Simply to bask in the presence of God."

Years later, Dr. Sproul wrote about this expereince by saying, "That moment was life transforming. Something deep in my spirit was being settled once for all. From this moment there could be no turning back; there could be no erasure of the indelible imprint of its power. I was alone with God. A holy God. An awesome God...a God who invaded my dormitory room to rouse me from complacent slumber."

What else sets us free from "complacent slumber" but the presence of God? When confronted with who He really is, how can anyone ever be the same again? As the apostle Paul said, "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory" (2 Cor. 3:17,18, NIV).

God's Presence

2008-11-17T10:59:00.005-05:00

It was Moses who said to the Lord, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here...What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?" (Ex. 33:15,16 , NIV). What can be more important to us than the Presence of God? What changes a life like the Presence of God? Who of us can really describe what His Presence - His Person - is like when He is felt?

Sometime after the mathematician, Blaise Pascal (1623-1662, pictured at left) died, a servant happened to find hidden in the lining of his master's coat a little piece of parchment paper that was covered with writing. On this paper, Pascal had tried to describe a life-changing encounter with the living God that for some reason he had kept secret. Here is some of what he wrote:

"In the year of Grace, 1654, on Monday, 23rd of November...from about half past ten in the evening until about half past twelve...FIRE...God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, not of the philosopers and scholars. Certitude...Feeling...Joy, Peace, God of Jesus Christ."

How can we describe the Presence of God? Well, for Pascal, it was like standing in a FIRE. But it was not a fire that destroyed him, but instead, it changed him completely - never to be the same again. The FIRE consumed the man he once was. When trying to describe the experience, Pascal used simple language to say, "The Presence of God, well, He was 'Joy.' But, He was also 'Peace.' And O, while standing there, I I felt such certainty - it was as if everything made sense. I just knew Him, and He knew me. FIRE sums it up!" And so, until his dying day, this brilliant mathematician remembered his experience with the Presence of God. He was a FLAME that blazed forth, and for Pascal and all others like him, this flame brought him face to face with the Lord Jesus Christ!

Fish Anyone?

2008-11-14T10:09:00.007-05:00

Just a couple of cool pictures of Matthew and Brian holding their trophy fish that they caught in Rice Lake a few nights ago. Matt caught a 7 1/2 pound pickerel, which is quite a good size fish. Night fishing is quite exciting as you really can't see the size of the fish until you get it up to the side of the boat. And then there is a lot of, "Hey man, look at the size of this fish!"

The Radical Wesley

2008-11-13T20:09:00.008-05:00

In a recent trip to England, I had the opporunity to visit the city of Oxford and to tour a small part of the university. While walking through the campus, we stumbled upon St. Mary's Church where John Wesley often preached as a young man. Needless to say, it was a very moving experience for me as I learned that this was also the place where in August of 1744 the congregation asked Wesley to leave after he dared to preach on the importance of faith and salvation. In his Journal he wrote, "I have preached, I suppose, the last time in St. Mary's. Be it so. I am now clear of the blood of these men. I have fully delivered my soul."

As I sat in the church building (as pictured at right), I tried to imagine what it would have been like for Wesley as he stood to preach to people who refused to truly hear his words. And yet, this would not deter him from continuing to preach the importance of salvation by faith and the forgiveness of sins. As a radical reformer - a man committed to the restoration of God's original intention for His church - Wesley stood strong in the face of all opposition. Like the prophet Isaiah, Wesley could say, "those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagle's. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint" (Is. 40:31, NLT).

Is Anything Impossible for God?

2008-11-03T16:34:00.004-05:00

It was during his early days as a missionary to India that E. Stanley Jones experienced the power of God in a way that transformed his life forever. At the beginning of his work, he seemed ill equipped to withstand the stress and strain of working with so many different groups of people in India. Jones later explained that he was having “nervous collapses” because his inner experience of God was not able to sustain what he felt called to do in India. In his autobiography entitled A Song of Ascents he wrote:

“In that dark hour I was in the Central Methodist Church in Lucknow…I was at the back of the church kneeling in prayer…when God said to me: ‘Are you yourself ready for the work to which I have called you?’ My reply, ‘No, Lord, I’m done for. I’ve reached the end of my resources and I can’t go on.’”

The Lord’s reply was: “’If you’ll turn that problem over to me and not worry about it, I’ll take care of it.’ My eager reply: ‘Lord, I close the bargain right here.’ I arose from my knees knowing I was a well man.” “A great peace settled into my heart and pervaded my whole being. I knew it was done! Life – abundant life – had taken possession of me…I seemed possessed by life and peace and rest – by Christ Himself.”

From this short story, we learn a number of things that can be applied to our lives. The first thing is this: God is never intimidated by the challenges we face! The reason for this, of course, is that He is God! "He is present, active, involved, real, here, now. We don’t worship the great I Was; we worship the great I Am.” (David W. Henderson). This means that there is absolutely nothing that is too hard for the Lord to accomplish. In every time and in every place HE IS ABLE to do exceedingly more than we can ask or imagine. The late Bryn Jones said it well when describing how we should view life:

“Dream your dream. This is the hope that keeps your heart beating from day to day. This comes down to what you ‘see.’ God burns a vision into your life. Dream of possibilities for yourself. Nothing we are in is the end of what it can be. Life roles always have growth potential. Everything you touch in life has growth potential. Believe God for your dream!”

The second thing we learn is that We should never measure God's ability by our own. The task set before us as restorers of the church should never be seen as overwhelming, for the Lord’s reply to such a concern is simply, “It may seem impossible to you, but nothing is impossible for Me.” This means that the limits of our abilities, strategies, thoughts, actions, and so on, are never meant to be the end. The reason: God is able to accomplish infinitely more (see Eph. 3:20).

God's Good News!

2008-11-02T16:35:00.008-05:00

Today there is such a great need for people to hear a message that brings them good news and hope! In the face of a world that is often plagued by natural disasters, famine, violence, economic downturns, terrorism, and so on, the question often comes, “Is there any hope?” For the believer in Jesus Christ the answer is a big YES, for God has absolutely “everything under control despite what our natural eyes see” (Keri Jones). We clearly see this in the events that have brought about great revival in China. In his recent book entitled Living Water, Brother Yun (the Heavenly Man) writes about what God has done in his homeland:

“After the Revolution in 1949, the Christians in my country were persecuted. Churches were destroyed or turned into…government offices. All of the foreign missionaries were expelled and sent back to their home countries…Thousands of pastors and church leaders were executed or thrown into prison for many years. Hundreds spent more than two decades performing hard labor in dire prison camps for no other reason except that they loved Jesus Christ…To anyone on the outside looking in, it appeared there was no church left in China.

Then in the 1970s, God started to do something. At first, just a little seed appeared…By the early 1980s, thousands of trees (believers) had emerged throughout China, and they, in turn, produced many seeds that were blown far and wide by the wind of the Holy Spirit. Thousands of believers turned into millions as revival swept our nation, and millions turned into tens of millions, and now even 100,000,000!”

Zechariah 3:1-9 presents to us a compelling picture of the victorious people of God as represented by Joshua the High Priest. From this passage we discover that:

1. The good news is that the Lord has snatched us from the fires of accusation and guilt (see Zech. 3:1,2).

2. The good news is that the Lord has taken away all of our sins (Zech. 3:3-5).

3. The good news is that the Lord can set us free in a single day (Zech. 3:9).

Not too long ago, my son, Matthew, and I crawled through the Warsaw Caves (just outside Peterborough), only to emerge completely filthy from head to toe. It was not a pretty picture, especially since we were covered in wet cave dirt and grime. Verse 3 of Zechariah likens sin to the “filthy clothes” that Joshua was wearing (just like our cave clothes). But to Joshua the angel of the Lord said, “Take off his filthy clothes” (v. 4, NIV). Aren’t you glad the Lord said this to you! The Lord says, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you” (v. 4, NIV). The good news is that we are completely free from all sin!

The Importance of Joy

2008-11-01T19:00:00.002-04:00

It was while the apostle Paul was imprisoned somewhere in Rome that he testified to the fact that no matter what he faced, God would use it all for His purposes. This underlining sense of God being in control and that life has a purpose which gave Paul his confidence and joy. It was in 1990, after 27 years of imprisonment, that Nelson Mandela emerged from jail to eventually become the President of South Africa. When writing about his experience on Robben Island, Mandela said:

"Prison is designed to break one’s spirit and destroy one’s resolve. To do this, the authorities attempt to exploit every weakness, demolish every initiative, negate all signs of individuality – all with the idea of stamping out that spark that makes each us human and each of us who we are…I was now on the sidelines, but I knew that I would not give up the fight…We would fight inside as we had fought outside. The racism and repression were the same; I would simply have to fight on different terms…but I would not and could not give myself up to despair. That way lay defeat and death.”

As a result of his time in prison, Mandela would come to realize that “The Struggle is My Life.” Like the apostle Paul, Mandela learned that imprisonment was part of the ongoing struggle he faced to make a difference in the world. The challenge we face is whether we will go through our struggles in despair and discouragement, or in joy and hope. From these thoughts, the following points emerge:

1. Living in joy is a sign of spiritual maturity.

2. Living in joy runs deeper than happy feelings.

3. Living in joy provides a foretaste of what is to come.

Real joy, as described in the Bible, is the deep sense that all is well, for God is in control of all things. Such knowledge produces deep peace and confidence along with a child-like willingness to trust the Lord no matter what. This is why Jesus could fall asleep in the back of a boat, even while a storm was raging (see Mk. 4:35-41). It is also why Horatio Spafford could write the moving hymn, “It is Well with My Soul,” even after his four daughters died at sea in 1871. He wrote: “When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, it is well, it is well, with my soul.”

The Importance of Faith

2008-10-28T14:39:00.006-04:00

Human beings can survive almost anything in life except the loss of hope. The definition that best describes what the Bible means by hope is this: “hope is always the expectation of something good” (Rihcards). In many ways, hope is inspired by our vision of the future. In August of 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stood in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. and opened his heart on what he saw for the future:

“I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four little children will will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character…This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with.”

It can be said that a vision (or what we see) is “a compelling picture” of the “future that inspires” us to take action.” Hope and vision relate to the future, while faith keeps us strong in the present. We see this in the fact that:

1. Faith keeps us rooted in the unwavering conviction that God keeps His promises.

2. Faith keeps us rooted in the truth of three simple words: GOD IS ABLE!

The last part of Dr. King’s speech in Washington shows how faith works when he said:

"With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.”

The Importance of Hope

2008-07-07T17:05:00.004-04:00

In a recent conversation with Noralv Askeland from Norway, I asked him what he considered to be the signs of a healthy church. His response was interesting, for he quoted 1 Corinthians 13:13 where the apostle Paul says, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” Noralv pointed out that the signs of a healthy church or individual are the presence of faith, hope and love, for these traits are what continue on into eternity.

Human beings can survive almost anything in life except the loss of hope. This is why it is important for us to understand that: The restoration of hope is one of the most important ingredients in bringing healing to a marriage, a family, a church, or to an individual.

It was during the difficult days in the U.K. during the Second World War that Prime Minister Winston Churchill would often stand in the House of Commons to inspire the British people with words of courage and hope. During a war time speech to the House of Commons he said:

“I would say to the House…’I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.’ We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long months of struggle and of suffering. You ask, what is our policy? I will say: It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength God can give us…That is our policy. You ask, What is our aim? I can answer in one word: Victory – victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory, however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival.”

Simply stated: Hope is inspired by our vision of the future. This is why it can be said that vision (or what we see) is “a compelling picture” of the “future that inspires” us to take action.” In other words, hope keeps us moving forward! Hope gives us the ability to carry on no matter what we have to face in life!

The Blessing of Trouble

2008-05-18T14:58:00.011-04:00

In 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 the apostle tells about the time he faced a deeply troubling situation in the province of Asia. In fact, it was so bad that he writes, “we didn’t think we were going to make it” (The Message). Some commentators believe that what Paul and his companions faced was a riot over the gospel where their lives were threatened. And yet, as Paul looked back on this traumatic event, he wrote that God “comforts us in all our troubles (or “affliction,” ESV) so that we can comfort others” (2 Cor. 1:4, NLT). This leads us to conclude two very important principles from this passage:

1. Trouble is often tailor-made to help make us a blessing to others.

Paul says they were:

· “crushed” (v. 8).
· “utterly burdened beyond our strength” (v. 8, ESV).
· “unbearably weighed down” (v. 8, AMP).
· “overwhelmed” (v. 8).
· “expecting to die” (v. 9).

This whole experience speaks of someone who has been broken. And yet, it is important to note that blessing always follows brokenness. The reason for this is that on a personal level we receive comfort from the Holy Spirit that helps us endure, and also, we become a comfort to others through our shared experience. In other words, we become “missionaries of comfort to others.”

2. Trouble often forces us to stop relying on ourselves.

It is interesting that Paul makes a connection between surviving a riot and growing more confident in trusting God. In The Message translation it simply says, “Instead of trusting in our own strength or wits to get out of it, we were forced to trust God totally.” All of us have had things happen to us that left us asking “Why?” Perhaps the secret to making it through trouble and difficulty is not asking “Why?” but “How?” The question becomes, “How can God use this situation to deepen my ability to trust Him?”

Mountain Climbing!

2008-05-03T21:40:00.004-04:00

The Gospel of Matthew tells us that Jesus took Peter, James and John “and led them up a high mountain by themselves” (Mt. 17:1, NIV). Luke tells us that the purpose Jesus had in climbing this mountain was “to pray” (Lk. 9:28). Ascending into the presence of God through prayer is like climbing a high mountain, for the focus of our attention shifts from ourselves to the high air of heaven where God enables us to see things from a new and better perspective.

A couple of summer's ago I had the wonderful experience of climbing a large rock outcropping during a canoe trip to the Kawartha Highlands just north of Peterborough. As I stood with my son, Matthew, and our friends, we could see at least three lakes, along with miles and miles of forest stretching out before us. It was while standing at the top of this peak that I was reminded again of the importance of seeing things from a higher perspective.

Matthew Henry has written, “Those that would have a transforming fellowship with God, must not only retire (to a place by themselves), but ascend; lift up their hearts, and seek things above.” On the mountain of the Lord’s presence, God will often open our eyes to a greater revelation of Himself and His purposes. This is why “mountains in Scripture are associated with God’s acts of revelation.” As a result, the Lord Himself becomes our main focus, not the concerns, the needs, the problems or the situations of life.

After all that the disciples had seen and heard on the mount, the end result was “they saw only Jesus with them” (Mt. 17:8). The goal of any mountaintop experience is to re-focus our attention on Jesus! Once this had happened, the “disciples descended the mountain” (Mt. 17:9), for it was important for them to go back into the real world where the living of life awaited them. Such experiences are meant to change us and give us a new appreciation for our Sovereign Lord and His unfolding purposes. And yet, they must also be translated into our daily lives, so that what we have learned on the mountain might be “fleshed out” in the way we live from day to day.

The Gift of Peace

2008-04-24T14:54:00.007-04:00

It will be 63 years ago this coming August that the Allies dropped the first Atomic Bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. The pilot of the B-29 bomber who delivered the Atomic Bomb, Lt. Col. Paul Tibbets, recalls, “A bright light filled the plane…We turned back to look at Hiroshima. The city was hidden by the awful cloud…boiling up, mushrooming.” When seeing the awful sight, the co-pilot, Robert Lewis, simply wrote in his journal, “My God, what have we done?” Of course, it was hoped that the decision to drop the bomb would save lives – both Allied and Japanese – by bringing a quick end to the war. Dropping the bomb was seen as a way of creating lasting peace throughout the world. And yet, in the 63 years since the bomb was dropped, peace has eluded us – even right up to our day. Today we have many different “wars” raging all over the planet.

We have: The War on Terrorism; The War on Drugs; The War on Poverty; The War on Pollution; The War on Climate Change; The War on Disease; The War on Famine

With so many wars raging across our world, one must seriously ask, “Where is there peace?” In many ways, war and peace in our world are merely an extension of what is happening on the inside of the individual. This is why Jesus addresses the issue head on by saying, “I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give” (John 14:27, NLT). It is important for us to see that the peace Jesus is talking about begins on the inside of a person. As Jean Vanier has written, “True peace can rarely be imposed from the outside; it must be born within.” There are two aspects to this peace that are important for us to embrace:

1. Peace with God - Such peace is “rooted in one’s relationship with God” (Lawrence Richards). Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ the way back to God has been made available to us.

2. Peace with Ourselves - Here we find that the presence of God brings an “inner harmony” that creates wholeness and freedom from fear and anxiety.

Both of these lead to peace with others and the possibility of peace in humanity at large. In conclusion, consider how the peace and presence of God made such a difference in the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. who was assassinated 40 years ago this month. In was in the early days of his campaign for civil rights that Dr. King received a late night telephone call from an angry man who said:

“Listen…we’ve taken all we want from you; before next week you’ll be sorry you ever came to Montgomery.”

Filled with despair, Dr. King got out of bed and went to the kitchen table where he sat with his head in his hands. As he sat at the table he prayed:

“Lord, I’m down here trying to do what’s right. I think I’m right. I am here taking a stand for what I believe is right. But Lord, I must confess that I’m weak now, I’m faltering. I’m losing my courage. Now, I am afraid…I am at the end of my powers. I have nothing left. I’ve come to the point where I can’t face it alone.”

It was at the moment Dr. King finished praying that he heard the Lord say, “Martin Luther, stand up for righteousness. Stand up for justice. Stand up for truth. And lo, I will be with you.” As a result, Dr. King said he experienced the presence of God like never before – the peace of God – where he says “at once my fears began to go. My uncertainty disappeared. I was ready to face anything.”

Lost in the Wild

2008-04-04T15:17:00.002-04:00

Have you ever been lost in the woods at night? I can tell you from personal experience that it is not something you would enjoy. It happened to me many years ago while I was staying at a Boy Scout Camp near Alliston, Ontario. It was a winter weekend and I had decided to go out snow-shoeing late in the afternoon. The camp Ranger had told my friends and I that just on the edge of the Scout property stood an old abandoned pioneer cabin that was supposed to be over 100 years old. Well, being a history buff by nature, I decided to set out to see if I could find and then explore that old cabin.

Well, I can tell you that I found the cabin, but I got lost trying to get back to the Camp. It was very windy that afternoon and I never expected that my snowshoe tracts would be filled in with snow so quickly. To my horror, the trail back to the Camp had disappeared! There was absolutely no trace of it whatsoever! Quickly it seemed as if afternoon turned into evening and I was still lost. I can remember thinking about the possibility of sleeping in a snow bank over night, but decided to press on instead. It’s strange how the mind plays tricks on you when you’re really scared. I mean, the wind seems to howl much louder, and every noise in the forest seems to catch your attention. Panic sets in quickly. In all of this, I can remember feeling a growing desperation to get home. But just as I was wondering what to do next, suddenly off in the distance I could see a warm, welcoming light shining out of one of the Scout cabins windows. I was safe! I had made it! Never did light from a cabin window look so wonderful!

The person who does not know Jesus Christ may experience some of those same feelings of desperation and lostness. Empty and without hope, so many turn to drugs, alcohol or immoral relationships in an attempt to dull the pain that just doesn’t seem to go away. But there is good news! In the midst of the darkness, Jesus shines out as an answer to the desperate situations people face. In John 8:12, He says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (NIV).

Thinking for a Change!

2008-03-30T21:54:00.005-04:00

One of the greatest challenges that you and I face from day to day is choosing how we will think. It was the Roman emperor, Marcus Aurelius (161-180 AD), who summed up this challenge in eight simple words – words that can change your life: “Our life is what our thoughts make it.” King Solomon said something similar when writing the Proverbs: “For as a man thinks within himself, so he is” (23:7, NAS). It naturally follows that the way you think is directly related to how you will feel. In other words, if you think happy thoughts, you will be happy. If you think depressing, miserable thoughts, then you will feel miserable. There is always a connection between thought and feeling.

The great English poet, John Milton (1608-1674), who lived in the seventeenth century, discovered the truth of these eight words when he said, “The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of Hell, a hell of Heaven.” Startling words, are they not? And yet, if you reflect on what Milton is saying, I’m sure you will agree that our thoughts will determine the kind of life we will live. In fact, both Napoleon and the writer, Helen Keller, are perfect examples of this. Napoleon once wrote at the height of his influence, power and life of riches, “I have never known six happy days in my life;” while Keller – blind, deaf and dumb – declared: “I have found life so beautiful.”

The apostle Paul said “let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think” (Rom. 12:2, NLT, italics added). He also said to the Ephesians, “there must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes” (4:23, NLT). Clearly, Paul makes a connection between becoming a new person and the way you choose to think. This is why Christians should be people who think positively, who contemplate the bright side of life, and who seek to bring out the best in others by encouraging a good mental attitude. As Keri Jones has written in his little booklet entitled The Bright Side of Life, “We need to know that we all rise or fall, go forward or backward, succeed or fail, according to what we think.” Therefore, let us remember: “Our life is what our thoughts make it.”

The Need for Encouragement

2008-03-02T19:00:00.002-05:00

In his book entitled The Quest for Character, Charles Swindoll tells about a special box in the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. labeled, "Contents of the Presidents Pockets on the Night of April 14, 1865.” As you might be aware, that was the night when President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated while he was watching a play at Ford’s Theatre. Inside the box are a number of items, for example: A handkerchief, embroidered with the name “A. Lincoln,” a county boy’s pen knife, a spectacles case repaired with string, a purse containing a $5.00 Confederate bill, and some old and worn newspaper clippings.

The clippings were concerned with the great deeds of Abraham Lincoln, and one reports a speech in which Lincoln is described as “one of the greatest men of all times.” Such a statement stands in stark contrast to the prevailing attitude many people had of Lincoln during the Civil War. More often than not, he was blamed for the War, and as is so often the case, the newspapers of the time pointed out all the problems the nation faced while Lincoln was President. Sadly, one can see Lincoln sitting alone in the White House at night reading under the flickering flame of a candle those few words of encouragement which were written in the midst of a sea of criticism, anger, even hatred. There he was, reading those few words of encouragement to gain strength for the task of ending the pain and sufferings of his people.

How we each need to be encouraged! We all need to hear those words, which will lift us and make the often-difficult road ahead a little easier. The book of Proverbs speaks to this issue when it says, ‘how good is a timely word” (15:23, NIV). The great Bible Scholar, William Barclay, said it well: “One of the highest of human duties is the duty of encouragement…It is easy to laugh at men’s ideals; it is easy to pour cold water on their enthusiasm; it is easy to discourage others. The world is full of discouragers. We have a Christian duty to encourage one another. Many a time a word of praise or thanks or appreciation or cheer has kept a man on his feet. Blessed is the man (and woman) who speaks such a word.”

When Troubles Come

2008-02-22T09:37:00.005-05:00

This morning I was reading James 1:2-4 where we are encouraged with the following words: "when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy" (NLT). We know, of course, that experiencing trouble is a part of life. No matter where we live, or at what stage of life we may be in, trouble will somehow find us. But what I appreciate about the encouragement from James is that when we face trouble, difficulty, or hardship, we should see it as an opportunity to rejoice. Why? Well, James goes on to say that when our faith is tested in times of trouble (particularly trouble we don't understand), our ability to endure grows! It means that we will become stronger in faith and in our walk with the Lord.

As I look back on my life as a Christian, I have always appreciated the times when things were going well. When things are well, what joy life seems to produce! But as I have grown in my faith, I now look back and see that the times which strengthened me the most were when trouble or difficulty touched my life. It's not that I go looking for trouble. Who in their right mind would do that? But I have learned that no matter what one faces, there can be a joy which the Holy Spirit gives that causes one to praise and to worship Him no matter what.

And so, stand fast and let the Lord grow you into a person of great character. Winston Churchill said it well: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”

A Tale of Two Kings

2008-02-18T15:19:00.009-05:00

Recently, I have been working through the Old Testament book of 2 Kings. In chapter 3 we find the story of King Joram and King Jehoshaphat who had made a pledge to go to war against the King of Moab. This story can represent a way of looking at the coming of God's Spirit into the challenges we face from day to day. In verse 9, we discover that the kings had "traveled along a roundabout route through the wilderness" (NLT). The Message translation simply says that they went "Through the badlands of Edom." When the Bible uses the word "wilderness" to discribe a place or situation, it can often refer to a time in life when God seems absent or when things seem extremely dry. Have you ever faced such a time? Have you ever experienced a time, like the two kings, when "After seven days they had run out of water" (v. 9, The Message)?

Well, from the story, there are at least three things we learn - particularly from King Jehoshaphat and the prophet Elisha. These points are:

1. When times are dry, the best thing we can do is seek the Lord - Obviously the two kings had become lost in the wilderness. At such times, we have one of two choices. We can be like King Joram who in panic said, "We're done for! (v. 10, GNB). Or, we can be like Jehoshaphat who called for Elisha in order that they might seek the Lord.

2. When the power of God comes, everything changes - Verse 15 tells us that "the power of the Lord came upon Elisha." As Elisha sought the Lord, things began to change - first in him, and then in the kings. What I like about this is that when the power of God comes, people are released into freedom!

3. When the Lord decides to act, nothing is too hard for Him to accomplish - Elisha's word to the kings was, "This valley will be filled with water" (v. 17). In other words, the Lord was saying that there would come a mighty refreshing of life-giving water which will lead to victory over your enemies. Then Elisha adds, "This is an easy thing in the eyes of the Lord" (v. 18, NIV). I absolutely love this verse, for it puts everything into perspective. Nothing, absolutely nothing, is too difficult for the Lord to accomplish!

Snow! Snow! Snow!

2008-02-17T21:36:00.005-05:00

We have had a lot of snow here in Peterborough this winter. Here are just a few pictures that reveal the amounts we have received.

Joy In Ottawa!

2007-12-09T20:08:00.000-05:00

Margaret and I had the privilege of traveling to Ottawa this weekend to visit our great friends, Steve and Sarah Wilkins, and to visit the members of All Nations Church. The last time we were in Ottawa was in March, and since that time the church has definitely grown - which is very exciting. We found the people full of joy and peace - and clearly committed to the task of winning people to the Lord in the city of Ottawa. It was a wonderful time and I felt great liberty and joy in sharing the Word of God with everyone gathered on the Sunday morning. What a bessing to know that God is doing a great work in our nation's captial!

A Vision for Life: Part IV

2007-11-15T14:19:00.000-05:00

In 1991 we moved as a family to Belleville, Ontario, to begin the process of pioneering a new church. We had been sent by the church in Peterborough, along with two other couples, to start holding meetings and to share our faith in Christ with all who would listen. This was an exciting venture as every aspect of our journey was by faith - faith in the absolute power of God to provide all our needs. And God was faithful! In the ten years that we lived in Belleville, we never once lacked the money that was needed to pay our bills, provide food and clothing for the children, and to extend the work of God. We had learned the truth of Paul's words to the Philippians: "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus" (4:19, NIV).

In 1994, we were blessed to be part of what had come to be called "the Toronto Blessing." While there was some controversy to becoming involved, the tremendous sense of God's presence and the refreshing that He brought far outweighed any controversy that sprang up. In fact, we rarely had any problems administering what God was seeking to do amongst His people. What we found was that God was wanting to set His people free. Where there had been sadness and sorrow, the Holy Spirit was helping people to laugh again. Where there was a sense of dryness, the Holy Spirit brought refreshing joy and peace - often as people lay on their backs in the presence of God. In fact, so much happened that it is impossible to list it all here. Needless to say, when the Holy Spirit fell in our gathering in July of 1994, we started meeting almost every night for the remainder of July. These meetings lasted right up to the starting of school in September. Truly it was an awesome time as the Lord lifted us to a new level of understanding and experience in what He was seeking to restore to His church!

It was during our time in Belleville that God opened the doors for us to meet many, many wonderful people. Not only did people come from all over the Quinte Region, but we also had the opportunity to serve people who came to Prince Edward County as refugees from Kosovo. It was in 1999 that up to 5,000 refugees were airlifted from the war in Yugoslavia to Canada so that they could face the possibility of starting a new life. As members of Belleville Community Church, we were given the opportunity to not only meet many of the refugees who were coming into the country, but also to be involved in the follow-up once they were settled into their new communities. This was a great blessing, and I know it helped all of us to remember again how much a blessing it is to live in a country like Canada.

And the Fish Keep Getting Bigger!

2007-11-12T08:56:00.000-05:00

I couldn't resist posting this picture of Joe Taylor, Brian's Dad, who caught an 8.5 pound pickerel on Saturday night in Rice Lake. What a beauty! These two fish were catch and release trophies that will continue to produce even bigger fish. I hope Arne Skagen sees these as this is what awaits him when he comes to fish here in Canada.

More Fish!

2007-11-10T10:05:00.000-05:00

Well, its been a great season for fishing! As you can see from these photos, Brian and Matthew each caught a couple of real beauties. These fish were caught out on Rice Lake at night while it gently snowed. Cold I'm sure, but fun! Congratulations goes out to these mighty fishermen!

A Vision for Life: Part III

2007-11-08T13:19:00.000-05:00

After Margaret and I were married in 1980, we settled into life here in the city of Peterborough. Melody was born in 1984 and Matthew was born in 1986. Later in 1991, Stephanie was born.

It was during the 1980s that we found ourselves asking the question, "What kind of church does Jesus want?" "How should it look?" Should it look like the Baptist Church? Does it look like a Pentecostal Church? Should it look like some of the non-denominational churches that have been prevalent in North America throughout the last 25 years? We found ourselves asking whether the church of the 20th century should have any resemblance to the church of the first-century? While our culture might be different, and certainly our technology is different and perhaps more advanced, it is important to ask if the same truths that existed in the early church should be in evidence in the 20th century church.

The answer to our questions began to emerge as God began to open Ephesians 4:11-13 where Paul speaks about the importance of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. These gifts, we saw, were not for the early church alone, but were meant to be in evidence to bring a revelation of what Jesus wants His church to be. It was exciting for us to see that the people who had these gifts were meant to equip the church, build the church up, and help each member become "mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ" (Eph. 4:13, NLT) Here was part of our answer! We could not go backwards to what the original church was like, nor could we copy the specific practices of a denominational church, but instead, God was calling us on to fullness in Christ - to become a church that reflected His life, His character, and His priorities in every way! We were meant to be the body of Christ that was prepared by God for His Son before time began.

And so, throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, we held in our hearts the vision of a restored church - a church that God was seeking to raise up in every nation throughout the earth. A church of faith and love - a church where members knew how to live in covenant relationship. It would be a church that lived in victory and saw the kingdom of God coming to earth in power. Such a church would be filled with people who loved to praise, worship and adore our Lord - and a church that had as its foundation in the ministries of apostles and prophets who would help it grow strong and vibrant - full of life, health, and a powerful anointing for healing and miracles. Such a church would become a marvel to the world, for it would be amongst its members that people could come to find the help they needed. As the prophet Isaiah says, "People from many nations will come and say, 'Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord...There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths'" (2:3, NLT).

The Six Pounder!

2007-11-04T15:04:00.000-05:00

I just had to post the pictures of this 6 pound pickerel that I caught in Rice Lake on Saturday night. My son-in-law, Brian Taylor, was kind enough to take Matthew and I out night fishing, and mid-way through our time on the lake, I hooked onto this beauty. Thanks Brian and Matt for helping me get it in!

A Vision for Life: Part II

2007-11-03T13:00:00.000-04:00

In 1976, I moved to Peterborough to attend Trent University. It was during my time at Trent that I became involved with the Peterborough Christian Fellowship. This was a huge blessing for me and an answer to prayer, because I was wanting to be a part of a church community that sought to fully embrace all that God was wanting His church to be. Under the leadership of Walter Best, "the Fellowship" (as it was called then) was on the cutting edge of what God was doing in the province of Ontario. With its vibrant praise and worship, and Walter's teaching on restoration truth, the Fellowship was developing a reputation as the place to be. Then at Easter of 1977, everything changed for me. It was over that weekend that we had the privilege of having Ern Baxter come to us from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to lay a foundation from Hebrews chapter 6. I will never forget his messages, for he truly spoke with great conviction and authority, and opened for me a whole new understanding of God's eternal purpose in Christ. It was a ground-breaking and life-changing weekend. After every meeting I went away with my heart burning, for the truth of God's Word was bursting every pre-conceived notion I had about what God was doing in His world.

From that time onward it became our quest - both Stephen Best and myself - to see from the Scriptures what God was seeking to restore to His church. We saw the emergence of apostolic and prophetic ministries as recorded in Ephesians chapter 4; we saw the teaching on the kingdom of God literally jumping off the pages of the New Testament; we saw covenant relationship, serving, discipleship, the gifts of the Spirit, and most especially, an eschatology of victory for the church, rather than a millennium of defeat. They were exciting times when God was moving in restoration truth all over the earth. But, it was not simply for then, but for now! The truth that was being restored was never meant to be lost once again as the church moved into the 21st century, but was (and is) to be part of who we are today. In 1980, I married my wonderful fiance, Margaret, and eventually graduated from Trent with a degree in History and Philosophy.

A Vision for Life: Part I

2007-10-28T15:17:00.000-04:00

As a young boy and teenager, I grew up in the United Church of Canada. Looking back to those early days seems rather strange from the vantage point of my understanding of church today. So much has changed, and so much of what I see the church is meant to be is different from what I experienced as a teenager. I remember my first encounter with "something different" came just after my conversion in 1972. I had heard about a youth meeting in the north part of Toronto called "Reach Out." It was led by a man named Bart Wiles and was simply a large group of young people who met together in a Lutheran Church building on Saturday nights for a praise gathering and ministry from the Word of God. My first experience with this group was absolutely life-changing - especially for a United Church boy like me.

The thing I remember most about this group was how passionate the young people were in their relationship with Jesus Christ. My upbringing had encouraged quietness, reserve, and a certain amount of mysticism. While this group of people was expressive - I mean really expressive! For the first time I saw people raising their hands in worship. I saw people dancing, and I heard people speaking in strange languages that I had never heard before. All of this had a profound impact on my life. Of course, trying to take all this back to the little United Church in which I had been raised proved to be a disaster. I will never forget our 65 year-old "Youth Leader" pointing his bony finger at me and saying, "We'll have none of that in this church!" Well, as you can imagine, this meant my days in the United Church were coming to an end, for more and more I wanted to be with people who shared a passion for Christ as I did.

In 1974, my family and I moved to Brampton, Ontario where I met a whole new group of people who were associated with what had come to be called the "Charismatic Renewal." This renewal had touched many denominational churches with a belief in the present reality of the gifts of the Spirit as listed in 1 Corinthians 12 and with the baptism in the Holy Spirit. It was while living in Brampton that I too was baptized in the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues. It was a tremendous blessing and also it provided me with a doorway to seeing God's plan for His church differently than how I had been raised. Part of this happened through two publications that were prevalent in Charismatic circles at the time: New Wine magazine from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Restoration magazine from the United Kingdom. Both of these magazines taught that God was working to "restore" to His church those truths that had either been lost or neglected throughout the centuries of church history. In all of this, I felt swept up in a great vision to see the church become what God has always wanted it to be. It is a vision that has never left me - a vision from the Lord which says, "Restore My Church!"

What a Wonderful Life!

2007-10-25T20:14:00.000-04:00

I was reminded today that I have been a Christian for 35 years! It just seems like yesterday that I went to hear a group of "Jesus People" who had been invited to sing at a small Baptist Church just around the corner from where I lived in downtown Toronto. Many of my friends and I had been searching for some kind of meaning in life. Questions like, "Who am I?" "Why am I here?" and "Does life have any meaning?" were a constant part of our conversation. Of course, like many others in the late 1960s and early 1970s we listened to the Beatles and Bob Dylan, and many others, hoping to find some kind of answer to our questions. Many tried eastern religions or immersed themselves in philosophical thought and discussion. But all of it was to no avail.

I remember going to hear the group of young people who had traveled from Louisiana to Toronto. I had never seen people who were so happy! And so, after the concert was over they asked if I would like to join them for prayer in the basement of the church. As I look back, I am forever thankful that I said yes instead of "playing it cool" and saying I didn't believe in that sort of stuff. And so, about twenty of us joined hands to pray. One by one each person took turns praying, and for me, the whole expereince was extraordinary. The people in that room seemed as if they really knew the Person they were talking to. It wasn't like they were talking to a God who was a million miles away. Instead, it seemed as if they were talking to Someone who was right there in that room!

Suddenly, it was as if God walked into that little Sunday School classroom for me! Even though I didn't say anything, I knew that because He had come for me, my life would never be the same again. I remember that night as I went home that everything was different. The trees were greener! The flowers were more colourful! The sun was brighter! Everything took on a new look because I was seeing it all with new eyes! How thankful I am for that day. But also, how thankful I am for my life with Christ since that day. Over 35 years, I can truly say, "It has been a wonderful life!"

We Are God's Masterpiece!

2007-10-01T15:26:00.000-04:00

Recently, I have been reading through the book of Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament and was impressed by Solomon's little statement: "God has made everything beautiful for its time” (Ecc. 3:11, NLT). This is a wonderful verse that reminds me of the apostle Paul's declaration in Ephesians where he says, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (Eph. 2:10, NLT, italics added). A masterpiece is the work of a skilled artist that is considered priceless - indeed, it goes beyond putting a value on it (like the Van Gogh pictured at right). Paul says that we are a masterpiece in Christ. In other words, God sees us as a treasure that to Him is priceless. This was why Christ was willing to die on our behalf to bring us back to God.

The focus of Ecclesiastes 3:11 is not on the externals of life (what we possess or do), but on the quality of one’s inward life and attitudes. This is why Solomon tells us that God “has made everything beautiful for its time.” This is a key phrase, for it lets us know that God is always working according to His purpose for our lives. In his little book entitled Don't Waste Your Sorrows, Paul Billheimer has written, “In order to grow in character it is necessary to understand that nothing God permits to come to His child, whether ‘good’ or ‘ill,’ is accidental or without design. Everything is intended to drive him out of himself into God.” All of this is to prepare us for “that time” to which God is directing our lives. As Mordecai said to Queen Esther, “Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14, NLT, italics added).

Working in the Miraculous

2007-09-01T11:46:00.000-04:00

We are living in a time when God is seeking to restore the ability of His people to work in the miraculous. As one studies the Gospels and the book of Acts, it is apparent that the release of the miraculous was an essential tool in bringing people to an understanding of the truth. Our gospel is not meant to be something that merely informs the mind, but it is to be a gateway to the supernatural dimension of the Spirit. From Matthew 8:5-13 we learn the following:

1. People who work in the miraculous are courageous - Jesus said to the centurion, “I will go and heal him” (v. 7). It takes courage to launch out with this kind of confidence.

2. People who work in the miraculous operate on a word from God - The centurion said to Jesus, “just say the word, and my servant will be healed” (v. 8, italics added). Oral Roberts has written, “Your faith begins to move, to act, when the power of God supernaturally empties you of doubt and fills you with a knowing. You come into a state of knowing that you know that you know.”

3. People who work in the miraculous are dependant on the power of God’s Spirit within - The apostle Paul asked, “Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard? (Gal. 3:5). It is the Spirit who works the miracles, not me! And yet, I am a vessel He wants to use.

4. People who work in the miraculous expect the miraculous to happen - Jesus said to the centurion, “It will be done just as you believed it would” (v. 13). In other words, the centurion saw his servant being healed even before it happened! Therefore, we must ask ourselves whether our lives allow for expressions of faith. Oral Roberts has a famous phrase that can help us in this life of faith: “Expect a miracle.” The Lord opened this further for him by saying, “Expect a new miracle every day.”

Pictures from Wedding #2

2007-08-02T10:01:00.000-04:00

We had a wonderful time in Bergen, Norway, with Matthew and Silje, along with Silje's family. Norway is a beautiful country in which God is working. The mountains, the valleys, and the fjords are outstanding. But most of all it was the people - we loved meeting so many wonderful people in Bergen!

I've posted a few pictures from the wedding that I know you will be interested in seeing. Next week, we will be hosting a "Canadian reception" here in Peterborough for all our family and friends, and the brothers and sisters in the church. It will be an exciting time. After this, who knows? The season of weddings will be over for us. Of course, we could offer our service to others as wedding planners. We certainly would have a great resume!

Off to Norway!

2007-07-23T11:19:00.000-04:00

Today Margaret and I, along with our youngest daughter, Stephanie, head out to Bergen, Norway for the wedding of our son, Matthew. This Saturday, July 28th, he will be married to Slije Skagen who he met while he was student on the GAP team in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Truly the plans of God are amazing! I would never have guessed that as Matthew was growing up in Belleville, Ontario that he would someday meet a girl from Norway while going to school in Michigan. Wow!

So, this is now our second wedding this summer, and man, is it exciting! We praise God for His faithfulness and kindness, and for the way he has blessed us with Brian and Melody, and now Matthew and Silje. Stephanie is thrilled!

The Gaze of One's Soul

2007-07-19T20:37:00.000-04:00

In his book entitled Life's Ultimate Privilege, DeVern Fromke tells of the time when he was laid up in hospital after a terrible accident. His eyes were covered with bandages and like so many that have been in similar situations, he wondered whether he would ever have the ability to see again. It was during this time that the famous songwriter, Helen Lemmel, sent a friend to visit DeVern with an autographed copy of one of the most famous Christian songs ever written. You see, Helen had been blind throughout most of her life, and yet she had learned a special way of "seeing" the Lord through the eyes of the heart. These "inner eyes" had helped her see the beauty of the Lord which enabled her to write the song, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus. Here are the words born out her revelation of the Lord:

O soul, are you weary and troubled?

No light in the darkness you see?

There's light for a look at the Savior,

And life more abundant and free.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth

Will grow strangely dim,

In the light of His glory and grace.

The primary ministry of the Holy Spirit is to help us become focused on the Lord Jesus. The writer to the Hebrews knew this when he said, "fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess" (3:1, NIV). As Fromke has written, "The fixation of our soul upon problems will only bring frustration, while the gaze of our heart upon the Lord will allow us to more clearly perceive spiritual realities." Jesus is to be the Center and the Source of our living, and when we are focused on Him, He is able to freely work through our problems and difficulties in life-changing ways. For truly, "If our gaze is continually upon the Lord Jesus, we need only glance at all else."

Bring that Boy to Me!

2007-07-12T12:30:00.000-04:00

In Mark 9:14-29, Jesus is confronted with a father and his son who was possessed by an evil spirit. His disciples had been unable to handle the situation, and so Jesus simply said, "Bring the boy to me"" (v. 19). This one little directive from Jesus – “Bring the boy to me” – made all the difference, for Jesus continues to say the same thing today. Today He says, “Bring that man to me,” or “Bring that woman to me,” or “Bring that child to me.”

In his autobiography entitled The Call, Oral Roberts says that in 1947 when he first began praying about healing, “The sick, the crippled, the afflicted seldom darkened the door of our church and little happened when they did.” Perhaps the one announcement that is missing in so many churches today is, "Bring the sick to us, for God still is in the business of healing the afflicted." As I thought about this, I realized that we need to make every opportunity for people to be prayed for in order to be healed. We must keep saying, "Bring that boy to me!

Oral Roberts has written that as he extended his faith and called people forward at his first healing meeting, “An old German woman with a withered hand was one of the first to reach me. I grabbed her hand and prayed, ‘In the name Jesus Christ of Nazareth be healed!’ Her arm shot up in the air, she screamed and began opening and closing her hand. It electrified the whole house.” How this is needed today! How we need to see a restoration of the miraculous in our midst.

Caleb Is At It Again!

2007-06-30T18:51:00.000-04:00

I just had to add this in for your viewing enjoyment so that you can see what Caleb is doing with his spare time. Way to go Caleb!

Wedding Pictures

2007-06-21T21:57:00.000-04:00

This past weekend my lovely daughter Melody was married to Brian Taylor. Here are an assortment of wedding pictures:

Proud Parents!

2007-06-13T13:39:00.000-04:00

Our oldest daughter, Melody, graduated recently with an Honours B.A. in History and English from Trent University here in Peterborough. She achieved an average mark that put her on the President's and Dean's list, which was really exciting for us all. As you can tell, we are really proud of her achievements - and on top of that she is getting married this Saturday (June 16th) to a wonderful young man named Brain Taylor. This next semester, Melody, will be completing her Bachelor of Education at Trent. And then what? Well, maybe teaching? Maybe a Masters? The Lord will make it clear.

The New Covenant: Part II

2007-06-12T13:23:00.001-04:00

Bible teacher and author, Charles Simpson, has pointed out that "The purpose of covenant is to produce a family." Since we know that it has been God's desire from all eternity to have a family for Himself, we must understand that such a family is made possible by the covenant God has made available to us in Christ. God literally binds Himself to His promises, paving the way for us to enter into relationship with Him and the other members of the covenant family. Clearly, we were designed to be a covenant people!

As a result of what God has done for us, it can rightly be said that at the heart of the church must be a willingness by its members to demonstrate covenant love to each other! This means that walking in covenant is meant to be a way of life. It is not merely an intellectual acceptance of certain "covenantal truths," or a Sunday morning "attendee" mentality, but a practical day-to-day decision to live in relationship with others who carry an ability to keep covenant in their hearts. This is why it is important for us to remember that covenant is a matter of the heart.

Tony Ling has pointed out "that covenant is the prescribed way by which the life of God is demonstrated. The eternal covenant within the Godhead became visibly embodied in Christ whom the Father gave 'to be a covenant for the people' (Is. 42:6). That covenant is still manifest in Christ through the church which is his body." How we must praise God for this, for today we are meant to see a covenant people - full of love and faith - emerging in the earth for the glory of God and all to see!

The New Covenant: Part I

2007-06-03T13:40:00.000-04:00

We come now to the last of the divine covenants, which Hebrews 13:20 tells us is the "eternal covenant." Even though God entered into covenant with various people throughout the Old Testament, there has always been the One, great and everlasting covenant which has existed "within the Godhead" (Tony Ling) from all eternity. That covenant is none other than Jesus Christ, the "King of kings and Lord of lords" (Rev. 19:16, NIV). Isaiah 42:6 tells us that it is Christ whom God gave "to be a covenant for the people" (see also Is. 49:8). This is the covenant that was revealed "when the time had fully come" (Gal. 4:4), but was first announced to the people of Israel by the prophet Jeremiah when he said:

"'The time is coming,' declares the Lord, 'when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah'" (Jer. 31:31, NIV, italics added).

Contained in Jeremiah's words was the promise of a new covenant that God would make with His people. Because of His great love for all people, God spoke through Jeremiah about the great and eteranl covenant that He had decided upon in the timelessness of eternity. It was (and is) a covenant that is found in the Person of Jesus Christ, who is our Redeemer, OUR SALVATION - the One who sets us right with God! This is why as His people we find ourselves CENTERED in the Son, the very "Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world" (Jn. 1:29, NIV).

Jesus is the "one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens" (Heb. 7:26, NIV). It was through the shedding of Jesus' blood that the New Covenant was ratified, for "The cost of covenant relationship is sacrifice" (Simpson). This is why at the Last Supper Jesus said to His disciples, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you" (Lk. 22:20, NIV). In such a covenant, we rejoice, for no one else could bring us into relationship with God the Father in the way Jesus has through His life, death, and resurrection! He is our covenant, the One who holds the church and its people together in perfect harmony!

God's Covenant with David

2007-06-02T13:41:00.000-04:00

It was the prophet Nathan who came to David with the following words of promise: "The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom" (2 Sam. 7:11-13, NIV). Even though the word "covenant" is not used in this passage, the language that God uses is covenantal in nature, for "the essence of covenant is promise" (Richards).

The fact that God entered into covenant with David is confirmed in Psalm 89:3,4 where David says, "You said, 'I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant, I will establish your line forever and make your throne firm through all generations." Even though the covenant initially began with David's natural son named Solomon, the exciting part of the unfolding covenant is that it is truly fulfilled in the coming of Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of David. Isaiah 9:7 says that Jesus would "reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever" (NIV). This is something no natural son of David could do, for only Christ could "establish" and "uphold" David's throne forever!

We know that the coming of Jesus Christ has been God's plan from all eternity. In announcing His plan, God chose David, "a man after his own heart" (1 Sam. 13;14, NIV) to be the one with whom the royal line would begin. The condition of David's heart reveals once again that the ability to keep covenant always begins in the heart. A willingness to submit one's life to God paves the way for this ability to live in covenant with both God and His people. Out of such submission develops a covenantal loyalty that cannot be broken by difficulty, tough circumstances or hurt that may come our way while relating to people in the body of Christ. This is why Charles Simpson has written, "Loyalty is defined as the ability to keep covenant."

God's Covenant with Israel

2007-05-31T13:17:00.000-04:00

After Moses led the people of Israel out of Egypt, they met the Lord at Mount Sinai where He declared His intention to enter into a covenant relationship with the people. It must have been a truly awesome experience for the people of Israel to meet the Lord at the mountain, for as Exodus 19:16 says,"Everyone in the camp trembled" (NIV). It is important to point out that obedience on the part pf the people was the Lord's primary condition for them to remain in covenant relationship. This is revealed in the following statements:

1. "if you obey me fully..." (Ex. 19:5, NIV).
2. "if you keep my covenant..." (Ex. 19:5, NIV).

The presence of covenant was meant to be woven into the very fabric of Israel as a nation. Covenant regulated "the personal, social, and civil life of Israel" (Richards) and certainly spelt out the religious obligations of the people. God's intention was that "out of all nations you will be my treasured possession" (Ex. 19:5, NIV). He further stated, "Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation" (Ex. 19:5,6, NIV).

Such a view has profound implications for the church of today, for if anicent Israel was to be a model of how God wanted His people to live, then how much more should the church of Jesus Christ stand out as an example of kingdom life and faith. This is why we must, in this generation, rise above our petty concerns and divisive pratices in order to discover afresh what God has always intended His church to be. There must be a restoration of covenant understanding amongst the people of God today!

It is important to consider that the strength of the Israelite community was based in large measure upon individuals in that community deciding to live in covenant relationship with God and each other. The implication, as has been said in earlier posts, is that the ability to keep covenant always begins in the heart. It follows that an inability to keep covenant reveals a problem in the heart of a person. How we need, therefore, a change in the human heart - something that the new covenant in Jesus Christ clearly promises (see Ezekiel 36:26).

God's Covenant with Abraham

2007-05-29T12:04:00.000-04:00

Abraham was born in Ur of the Chaldeans which today is located in southern Iraq. He heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you" (Gen. 12:1, NIV). In response to God's calling, the writer to the Hebrews tells us that Abraham "Obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going" (11:8, NIV). From this event onwards, God began to speak to Abraham using covenantal terms. Even though he may not have understood all the implications of his journey and what was to come, Abraham revealed in his obedience to the Lord that his heart was inclined to covenant.

Abraham's obedience raises a very important point that we must understand if we are going to live as a covenant people today. Simply stated: The willingness to live in covenant with God and others always begins in the heart. Covenant is always a matter of the heart, for it is not something that is born out of a legalistic view of life, but rather, it is born in the heart - the core of who you are as a person. Tony Ling stresses this point when he says, "Those who would live in covenant must recognize in each other a common heart and spirit."

The Bible tells us that Abraham was also a man of faith. Genesis 15:6 says, that "Abram believed the Lord and he (the Lord) credited it to him as righteousness" (NIV). Perhaps Abraham could express such great faith because he allowed himself to be bound to the Lord in covenant. Therefore, I believe it can be argued that covenant relationship provides a secure and nurturing environment where faith can develop and grow.

God's Covenant with Noah

2007-05-25T11:54:00.000-04:00

God first announced His intention of providing a covenant for Noah and his family in Genesis 6:18 where He says, "But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark - you and your sons and your wife and your sons' wives with you" (NIV). The initiative for the making of this covenant was on God's part, not Noah's. This means that Noah could be secure in the knowledge that this was God's covenant, not something he had conjured up himself. As we think about the covenant God has established with us through Christ, we too must realize that the covenant is God's and not something we have initiated ourselves.

God's covenant with Noah provides a blessing for all people today, for God has promised that "Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth" (Gen. 9:11, NIV). In fact, the sign that God's covenant remains firm and unchanged is the appearance of the rainbow after each rainstorm. God said to Noah, "I will see it (the rainbow) and remember the evelasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth" (Gen. 9:16, NIV).

In this sense, God's covenant with Noah is like the one He made with Adam. It is a covenant of life! This is also confirmed in Revelation 4:3 where the apostle John shares his vision of the throne of God where "A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne" (NIV). Clearly, this should bring great security to every believer, for day and night the rainbow shines out as a sign of the covenant God made with Noah, which is of great benefit for us today!

God's Covenant with Adam

2007-05-24T12:13:00.000-04:00

In the timelessness of eternity, God sovereignly decided to create humankind in His image. The apostle Paul said it well in Ephesians 1:4, "Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love" (The Message). Ultimately, the central purpose for our existence is to have fellowship with God. As the Westminster Confession of Faith so clearly states: "The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever."

Even though the word "covenant" is not found in the Genesis account of how God created man and woman, it is in Hosea 6:7 where the prophet says, "Like Adam, they have broken the covenant." The implied meaning here is that Adam was disobedient to God's original covenant commandment that was given in the Garden of Eden. God's promise to Adam was to provide a "covenant of life" (Williams) through His permission for the man and woman to eat from the tree of life.

But Adam disobeyed by eating from the wrong tree - the knowledge of good and evil. As a result, he and all those who would follow him in the line of humanity would be condemned to die. And yet, our God is a good God, for He promised Adam that a Redeemer would one day be raised up who would crush the head of satan and provide all people an opportunity to receive new life. This means that through Christ the covenant of life has been restored to the people who choose to live for God! Today, the continuation of this covenant of life is found in Christ, for He has become for us the Tree of Life, containing fruit on which we must continually feed.

The Power of Covenant Love

2007-05-23T10:35:00.000-04:00

One of the hallmarks of spiritual revival throughout the world today is the restoration of biblical truth to the church. Such a conviction requires a radical commitment to seek out and embrace those biblical truths that have been either lost or neglected by believers throughout the centuries of church history. Today, one of the truths that is being restored to the church is a greater understanding of what it means to live in covenant with God and His people.

As you may know, the word "covenant" is used repeatedly throughout the entire Bible, for it is a word that is meant to help us understand how God chooses to relate to His people. And yet, with such a large portion of the Scriptures devoted to God's covenant dealings with people, one must wonder why it is so rare today to hear Christians speak of covenant. Indeed, the consequences of this could be serious for many church communities, for without an understanding of covenant, we will be limited in our ability to know why we should stay together. This is especially true for many evangelical/charismatic churches where there is a constant circulation of people moving from one church to another. How tragic it is that many believers take the route of walking away from each other instead of staying in relationship to work things out. This why an understanding of covenant holds people together.

One of the defintions that I have used repeatedly over the years comes from Charles Simpson's book entitled The Covenant and the Kingdom. Covenant, he says, simply means "to bind together." I like this defintion because it reveals how intimately God wants to be involved in the lives of His people, for a covenant is the ultimate commitment one makes to others. In the coming days, I would like to open this subject of covenant more fully as we believe God together for an understanding of His promises.

The Power of a Dream

2007-05-09T13:15:00.000-04:00

I was recently struck by a short article in Time magazine’s “The Most Influential People in the World” edition for May 2007. The article that caught my attention was about Elizabeth Edwards, the wife of Democratic Presidential hopeful John Edwards (pictured at right), who has just recently been told that the breast cancer she had been battling has returned and metastasized. Of course, the looming question over John’s bid for the presidential nomination is: “Doesn’t cancer stop all that?” Their simple answer to the world was: “No.” Elizabeth would receive treatment over the next few months, but the campaign would continue. The way they explained it was like this: “The Edwards’s have built a dream. It is who they are and what they know. To stop that dream would be to let the fear of cancer win.”

As I read these powerful words I thought of how often people fail to see their dreams realized because fear or anxiety shut down their ability to move forward. It’s like they become paralyzed and unable to move beyond the looming issue they may be facing. But just consider what the writer of the article on Elizabeth Edwards said about her own battle with cancer: “Cancer is powerful. It can stop whole lives and start new ones. It is the ultimate dark drama. Cancer brings a crisp urgency to every hour: Live right, live well, live now. Take each day and create. Create good, create love. Cancer touches everyone around it and can bring wisdom and learning.” I was deeply moved by these words as I read them, for I came to see again that absolutely nothing can stand in the way of someone who is living with a dream beyond themselves. For no matter what you have to face in life, the power of a dream – the thing you feel destined to achieve in life – can help you to stand against any obstacle that may be in your way.

Of course, there’s no sense making foolish statements about whether a person can or can’t beat cancer. Cancer is a serious disease and must be treated as such. But does cancer or anything else have the power to stop a dream you may feel born to pursue? Can dreams live despite our circumstances? I, for one, would have to say a resounding “YES!” In fact, I believe the obstacles we face in life make the power of a dream that much more significant, for anything of lasting value – anything that can change the world for the better – is worth fighting for! Perhaps this is why David said, “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears” (Ps. 34:4, italics added, NIV). Clearly, dreams can only become a reality if we take those courageous steps of moving past our fears.

The late Bryn Jones talked about the importance of dreams at a course I took in the U.K. back in 1996. He shared six what I would call “Dream Principles” that can help each one us. These are:

1. Dream your dream - This is the hope that keeps your heart beating from day to day.

2. Plan towards your dream - Invest in those areas that will enhance what your dream is.

3. Live in keeping with your dream - Take daily steps towards the success of what you have seen.

4. Work to fulfill your dream - Hard work is always a part of any success you will enjoy.

5. Build relationships with people in keeping with your dream - If you want to be passionate, align yourself with passionate people.

6. Embrace prayer, holiness and zeal - These three help make your dream become a reality!

Facing the Lions

2007-05-02T14:26:00.000-04:00

One of the outstanding heroes of the faith as mentioned in the Scriptures is Daniel, a man who had a reputation for unwavering faith in God. It was because of his faith that Daniel faced the prospect of execution by being thrown into a den full of hungry lions. The various rulers of Babylon who worked under Daniel’s authority conspired against him in order to have him put to death. They convinced the king to issue a decree that made it illegal for people to pray to any god other than the king himself. And so, because of his disobedience to the king’s decree, Daniel was faced with execution by being thrown into the lions’ den. This leads us to the following observations:

1. Even though the lions cannot harm us, sometimes God requires that we spend a night or two in the lions’ den.

It is interesting that the king sealed the opening of the lions’ den “so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed” (Dan. 6:17, NIV). Sometimes we face circumstances that are meant to help us discover that God does not always take us out of difficult situations, but He gives us the grace and strength to go through them. Even though Daniel had to face a night of hearing hungry lions roar, His trust was in the Lord. Sometimes our troubles and problems are like those hungry lions that loom large in our thinking. They roar at us and threaten us, perhaps even pushing us into a corner where there seems to be no way out. But know this: No matter how big the lions may appear, God is still bigger!

2. No matter what we face in life, we can be confident that God is in absolute control of all things.

After spending the night in the lions’ den, Daniel’s confession was, “My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouth of the lions” (Dan. 6:22, NIV). Even though Daniel had to spend the night in the lions’ den, God showed His control over all things by coming in the form of an angel. God came like the “forth man” who visited Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fiery furnace. He came as the One whom the apostle Paul said is “to be in all things alone supreme” (Col. 1:18, NEB). This encourages us to know that when we are in the darkest of situations, our fellowship with God can be at its best, for the light of His glorious presence will help keep our focus off the dangers around us. Like David, we can say, “”Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death (or “through the darkest valley”), I will fear no evil, for you are with me” (Ps. 23:4, NIV, italics added).

3. One of the most important qualities that God is building into our lives is the ability to trust Him.

Perhaps one of the most important questions God asks of us as we face the various circumstances of life is, “Will you trust Me?” Can we trust God with our finances, with our health, with our children or teenagers, with our jobs, with our future, and with our very lives? The longer I live for the Lord, the more I discover that walking with God means moving from one level of trust to another. This means, of course, that my ability to trust God should be greater today than it ever has in the past, for we are all called to grow from faith to faith and from strength to strength. We are not meant to stay the same, but in all things we are called to grow up into the fullness of the Lord Jesus Christ. The end result for Daniel was that throughout his life he was known as the man who survived the lions’ den “because he had trusted in his God” (Dan. 6:23, NIV).

Where Does Jesus Live?

2007-04-17T12:07:00.000-04:00

In his book entitled Windows of the Soul, Ken Gire tells the story of a young English missionary who had gone to India to help reach people for Christ. During his time of service, the young missionary was required to do extensive bookkeeping, which as everyone soon discovered, he was not very good at. It turned out that “his balances were always off, and the separate accounts he was supposed to keep kept getting mixed.” As a result, the mission board for whom he worked released him as being unfit for the mission field. The young man left without incident and simply disappeared.

Years later, the story is picked up once again by a young woman missionary who was visiting a remote village in the jungle where she felt called to tell the people living there about the Lord Jesus. As Ken Gire tells the story, “She told them of His kindness and His love for the poor, how He went to their homes to eat with them, how He visited them when they were sick, how He fed the hungry, healed the sick, bound up the wounds of the brokenhearted, and how children loved Him.” As she told about Jesus, the eyes of the natives lit up, and their faces beamed with joy. “Miss Sahib, Miss Sahib, one of them said, “We know Him well; he has been living here for years!”

When the people in the village took the young lady to meet the man, guess who it was she discovered? It was the missionary who years earlier had been released from the Mission Board in India. He had traveled to this remote village in the jungle and settled there to share the good news of Jesus Christ with the people. He had visited the sick, fed the hungry, looked after the old and infirm, and when cholera had broken out in the village, he went from hut to hut in order to help where he could. His life had become a testimony of how Jesus would have lived if He had been there in the flesh. But of course, Jesus was there in the life of the young English missionary, for the natives could not distinguish between the Jesus they heard about in the Scriptures and the way the young man had lived amongst them for so many years.

It was Francis of Assisi (1182-1216) who once said, “Preach the gospel at all times and when necessary use words.” Perhaps Francis said this because he understood that the words which impact the world the most are those which have been incarnated into our very lives. These are words that have “become flesh” and are “dwelling among us” (Jn. 1:14, NIV). They are no longer simply printed words on a page, or even messages that speak about the Lord when He was on earth, but now, they are words that actually have a life of their own, for they are in you and in me! Perhaps this is why the apostle John wrote, “Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did” (1 Jn. 2:6, NIV).

This leads to an important question for each one of us to consider. It is a question that probes the depth of our commitment to the Lord Jesus and His gospel. If someone was to come to our place of employment, or to one of the schools in our area, or to one of our neighborhoods and began to describe to all who would listen what Jesus is like, would the people quickly respond by saying, “We know Him well; He has been living here for years!” If this were the case, then truly we would catch a glimpse of the word becoming flesh right in the country where we live – countries that so desperately need a demonstration of the good news in both word and deed.

Of God and the Wilderness

2007-04-12T16:20:00.000-04:00

Matthew 4:1 tells us that “Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil” (NAS). Without having any choice in the matter – without any apparent objections – Jesus simply followed the Spirit into a place where the enemy of all human life would become an unwelcome companion. Throughout the Scriptures, “the wilderness” often refers to “a barren wasteland,” or “a place of wandering.” It is also a place of profound “dryness,” where very little water is found. It is, to say the least, a spiritual desert where one experiences prolonged periods when God feels absent. The wilderness can often refer to a dark time in the life of a believer – what some writers refer to as “the dark night of the soul” – where the way ahead seems uncertain and difficult.

In his book entitled Windows of the Soul, Ken Gire writes about the importance of the wilderness experience, for it is there “we learn that we do not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” When the enemy is in hot pursuit, and you don’t necessarily feel the presence of God – when things seem confusing, and whatever peace you once had seems lost – where do you turn? We turn to the word of God! The Word of God is what keeps us strong and steady when everything else around us seems dark and forbidding – when life itself seems to offer so little encouragement. At such times, the Word of God is meant to be “a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Ps. 119:105, NIV).

Jesus knew the importance of God’s Word when the devil came with his taunts. “Since you are God’s Son,” he said, “speak the word that will turn these stones into loaves of bread” (Mt. 4:3, The Message). Hungry, tired, feeling weak and maybe a little disoriented, Jesus took “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:17, NIV) and sliced through the intrusive thoughts of the enemy by saying, “It takes more than bread to say alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God’s mouth” (Mt. 4:4, The Message).

Many years ago I was traveling with a few friends to a Scout Camp near Alliston, Ontario where we were scheduled to stay for the night. I well remember the experience of walking into the camp grounds and finding that it was so dark that we could see absolutely nothing. I mean, it was so dark that you could not see your hand if you waved it in front of your face. You could not see the sky above or the trees to your right and left. In fact, even though I knew my friends were right beside me, I couldn’t see them. I only heard their frightened voices saying, “Where are we?” It was scary, and it was hard to put one foot in front of the other because you just didn’t know what you might walk into. And yet, gradually, as we kept moving forward, we began to see a light in the distance.

As we moved out into an open field, the dim light from the stars above made the way ahead a little more bearable. In time we arrived at our destination in order to set up camp. But I will never forget that night. I will never forget the deep darkness and the feeling of uncertainty that went with it. And yet, I will also never forget the joy of knowing that at the end of every night there is always a new dawn – at the end of every wilderness experience there is always a new appreciation for the presence of God, and at the end of every “dark night of the soul,” there is always the prospect of being more fully centered in Christ.

He Has Risen!

2007-04-07T16:39:00.000-04:00

Sometime after the resurrection of Jesus, the men who had been guarding the tomb started a rumor that accused the first disciples of stealing the Lord's body during the night. The chief priests offered the soldiers money to start spreading the lie and promised that they would answer any questions the governor, Pontus Pilate, might ask about the whole affair. The Gospel of Matthew tells us that this story was "widely circulated" amongst the people of that time, leaving the impression that the physical resurrection of Jesus was just a big hoax. But was it a hoax? Did the resurrection of Jesus really happen as the Bible says it did?

Well, just for a moment, let us consider the possibility that the resurrection didn't happen as the Bible describes. This would have meant that all the first-century disciples would have given their lives in vain. Just think of it! The early Christians were hunted down, imprisoned, beaten, tortured and many were eventually killed. This would seem absolutely ridiculous if what they were dying for was just a big hoax. In fact, one might well ask, why would anyone die for such a story?

We all know that people can only live with a lie for so long. Sooner of later the truth ends up being exposed for all to see. Charles Colson makes this point when he shares about his Watergate days in the 1970s. He tells of how one by one all the people involved in the scandal came forward to "save themselves" from possible incrimination. Likewise, the first disciples would have faced a similar situation that Colson describes if the resurrection of Jesus were not true. And yet, to their dying days, the united confession of those very brave men and women simply was this: "God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact" (Acts 2:32, NIV). They also went on to say, "God has made this Jesus...both Lord and Christ" (v. 36). Indeed, He has risen!

Those Marvelous Hymns!

2007-03-24T15:21:00.000-04:00

Recently, I picked up a book that was published in 1923 entitled, One Hundred and One Hymn Stories by Carl F. Price. Throughout its pages it provides the background of how and why many of the great hymns over the past 500 years were written. One that stood out is the popular "What a Friend We have in Jesus," that was written by Jospeh Scriven (1819-1886, and pictured at right) who lived in Port Hope, Ontario.

When Jospeh was a young man he was engaged to be married to a lady "whom he had known and loved for a long time." All the plans for the wedding had been made and the date set, but tragically, shortly before the wedding day arrived, the young lady was accidently drowned. This set young Joseph into the deepest of sorrow, as one might expect. As the author of the book tells it, "From this sad experience came a deep sense of his dependance upon Christ," and as a result, Scriven penned the words that have helped so many throughout the world: "What a Friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer."

As one might guess, so many of the great hymns of the past (and perhaps in the present) have been written by those individuals who really knew their God. From Martin Luther to Charles Wesley, from William Cowper to Fanny J. Crosby, these were people who held on to God in the face of circumstances and hardships that were beyond their control. And yet, through these experiences, they learned that God was and is absolutely faithful.

As Scriven so wisely wrote: "Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer. Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer." How thankful we should be that these great men and women set their knowledge of God to words and song, so that today, we might be encouraged to press on no matter what the challenge!

The Great Exchange

2007-03-19T11:41:00.000-04:00

Isaiah 61 is a fabulous chapter that speaks about the ministry of our Lord to all those people who become part of His kingdom. In verse 3 we discover the tremendous blessing found in exchanging one way of living for something better:

1. God offers us "a crown of beauty instead of ashes." Throughout the Scriptures "ashes" refers to times of mourning or to feelings of misery and shame. It can also apply to the feeling of being worthless and unloveable. Isaiah tells us that Lord offers us an exchange: a life of shame and misery for a life crowned with love and acceptance - a life that will become a beautiful thing in God's hands. This beauty of which the Lord speaks is not one of physical appearance, but instead, it is the quality of one's inner life in Christ!

2. God offers us "the oil of joy instead of mourning." Gladness speaks of a "lightness of heart" that transcends any problems or difficulties we may be facing. It means looking on the bright side of things instead of always looking at the negative. Proverbs 17:22 says, "A cheerful heart is good medicine."

3. God offers us "a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." The good news is that God offers an exchange - praise for despair, joy for depression, fulfillment for disppointment. As we choose to put on the garment of praise, things in our lives begin to change, for "praise is the bread that nourishes us - it is the liberation of our souls" (Calvin Miller).

Living Lightly

2007-03-15T10:16:00.000-04:00

Recently, I was looking at an old book that I purchased by one of the first equal rights activists in the United States - a man who was born into slavery in the 1850s - Booker T. Washington. The book was published in 1902 and is entitled Character Building. In this book is a series of lectures that Washington gave to his students at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama on Sunday nights. The first one is called "Two Sides of Life."

Washington said to his students, "I want you to go out from this institution so trained and so developed that you will be constantly looking for the bright, encouraging and beautiful things in life." He goes on to say, "The persons who live constantly in a fault-finding atmosphere, who see only the dark side of life, become negative characters. They are people who never go forward."

I like Washington's challenge, because it encourages us to live lightly - to cease striving, to stop being so negative, and especially to stop taking life so seriously. As Proverbs 17:22 says, "A cheerful heart is good medicine." It's time to laugh a whole lot more! And, speaking of proverbs, here is a great one from Keri Jones' little booklet entitled The Bright Side of Life: "We never stop laughing because we are old but we grow old because we stop laughing." Makes sense, doesn't it?

Excitement in Ottawa

2007-03-13T20:33:00.000-04:00

It was wonderful to visit once again with all our brothers and sisters in Ottawa at the All Nations Church. Ottawa is an exciting city that continues to be ready for the advance of God's kingdom within its borders. We were blessed to have spent time with Steve and Sarah Wilkins, along with Tim and Leslie Brock (who is due to have a baby any day now). The church is doing great and there is great evidence of God's grace in all that is being done - especially as it continues to reach into the University of Ottawa. For this we praise God!

Off to Ottawa!

2007-03-10T09:26:00.000-05:00

Margaret and I are really excited about the opporunity to be off to Ottawa today to visit our brothers and sisters in the church there. We know that God is at work in our nation's capital, so it will be a real joy to see the evidence of all that He is doing throughout the city, and especially with the All Nations Church. I will be speaking on Sunday morning to the church and I am especially excited about the word from Mark 12:28-34 that the Lord has given. I trust that you will pray with me for continued increase and strength for the emerging church in that city. We want to see a great work emerge that truly impacts the entire city. I'll give an update when I return!

The Place of Rest

2007-03-05T10:35:00.000-05:00

In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus speaks about the importance of rest. He specifically addresses those individuals "who are weary and burdened" and therefore, need to come to Him as the Source of lasting peace and contentment. I like the way Jesus simply says, "I will give you rest." Of course, in coming to Him we must be willing to lay down those things which have become so large in our thinking. In fact, sometimes those things may even have become larger in our thinking than God Himself! How we need to be reminded again and again of who He is and how nothing - absolutely nothing - is too hard for Him to accomplish.

In verse 30 of Matthew 11, Jesus says, "For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." This means that if the burden you are carrying is weighing heavy upon your shoulders, than that burden cannot possibly be from the Lord. For Jesus Himself said, "my burden is light." I have had to learn this lessen on numerous occasions when issues in the church, various concerns, problems, differences of opinion, etc. have all worked together to make it seem like there is a great weight one must bear if they are in leadership. But this should not be so! God is bigger - and better - than any "weight" that life should push our way. How good it is to know that in Christ, we can "find rest for our souls."

Just One Person Can Make a Difference!

2007-02-24T15:40:00.000-05:00

I have been struck recently by the impact one person can make if they respond to the Lord in obedience. In Acts 9:10 we read, "In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias." The Scriptures do not tell us anything about Ananias’ background or upbringing, or even how he came to Christ. We never find out whether he was a leader in the church in Damascus, or whether he had a family, or what he did for a living. All we are privileged to know is that Ananias was a disciple of Jesus Christ. But that in itself tells us a great deal, for since Ananias was called "a disciple," we know that he had settled the issue of who was in charge of his life! We also see that the Lord knew Ananias by name, which means that they probably had a fairly close relationship. As a result, the Lord could entrust Ananias with the very important responsibility of praying for the future apostle Paul.

In Acts 9:10 we learn that Ananias quickly responded to the call of God by saying, "Yes, Lord." Today, there is a great need in our world for believers in Jesus Christ to say, “Yes, Lord.” There are so many issues in life that could be settled if people will just turn to the Lord and say, “Yes, Lord, I will do what you ask.” Indeed, the great challenge facing every Christian throughout their lives is to respond in obedience to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. If Jesus is really Lord of your life, you can never say, “No, Lord.” In fact, the words “No” and “Lord” should never really be found together, for they represent a contradiction in understanding. If Jesus is Lord, how can anyone ever say, “No” to Him?

But when we say, "Yes," great things can be accomplished! This is why there is no one who is insignificant in the kingdom of God. While we may not all have the same function or calling in serving the Lord, all of us are called to respond to the Lord in obedience. You may never know all the results of your obedience in this lifetime, but God knows. God knows that when each one of says, “Yes, Lord,” He can achieve the extraordinary through our lives.

Going Deeper

2007-02-13T18:21:00.000-05:00

I have been captured recently by a fascinating book entitled Into the Depths of God by Calvin Miller. One of the opening comments Miller makes in Chapter One is that "Christians are to be defined as people who are hungry for God." Just as Psalm 42:1 says, "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God" (NIV), believers today must rekindle a passion to know the Lord better through time spent alone in His presence.

This time alone with God has been a great blessing to me, for in the quietness of listening, He speaks in ways that brings everything into right perspective. Suddenly, things that seemed so important to me become less important when God gives His insight on what should be done. Concerns, issues, challenges - all the things that seem to weigh on people's minds - become small compared to the greatness of the One whom we seek. In the depths of His presence there is nothing that cannot be sorted out!

And yet, time with God cannot be hurried. How it must grieve Him when we attempt to rush in and out of His presence, missing the opportunity to spend quality time with Him. In fact, it is probably fair to say that all clocks and watches should be laid aside at the gates of God's throne room. For to truly meet Him - to really find Him - is to meet Him on His terms. As Miller says in his book, "To run in and out of the presence of royalty or to try to set limits on our converstaion is to forget who we are and to whom we are talking." I am learning to listen more deeply, for it is here that we find ourselves knowing that "The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God" (1 Cor. 2:10, NIV).

How we need churches which are full of people who are willing to go deeper!

Coming Home

2007-02-02T10:45:00.000-05:00

One of the things I love is coming home after a full day of work to the joy, peace and safety of my home and family. I especially feel this on a cold winter's night when here in Ontario it sometimes gets dark at 5:00 p.m. All of us who live here know what this is like. It's dark outside, the street lights are on, it may be snowing, the wind may be blowing - and you step through the front door and say, "I'm home!" Of course, it's the feeling of being home that matters most - not just the fact that I've stepped through the front door. There's just something about the security of knowing that I'm in a place where I'm loved and accepted for who I am.

Psalm 90:1 says, "Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations" (NIV). As I read this short verse, I get the strong impression that the writer is talking about being at home in the presence of God. There in the utter privacy of His presence, the Psalmist could open his heart - open his soul - to the One who says, "I love you unconditionally - just be yourself here with me." How wonderful this is! To know that God's presence is "home" for the believer in Jesus Christ.

One of the challenges we face in our busy and impossibly full lives is to make sure we take adequate time to come home to the presence of God. Sometimes there is a need for us to just be silent, instead of always talking. Sometimes there is a need just to get some rest, for as one writer has said, "Without adequate time for rest, we lose the ability to be fully present" (Ruth Barton). She goes on to say, "When we are depleted, we become overly reliant on clamoring voices outside of us for direction." At such times, we simply need to "come home" where we will once again be calmed and refreshed by the peace of His presence.

Transforming Words

2007-01-30T20:26:00.000-05:00

One of the greatest challenges that we face from day to day is choosing how we will think. It was the Roman emperor, Marcus Aurelius (161-180 AD), who summed up this challenge in eight simple words – words that can change your life: “Our life is what our thoughts make it.” King Solomon said something similar when writing the Proverbs: “For as a man thinks within himself, so he is” (23:7, NAS). It naturally follows that the way you think is directly related to how you will feel. In other words, if you think happy thoughts, you will be happy. If you think depressing, miserable thoughts, then you will feel miserable. There is always a connection between thought and feeling.

The great English poet, John Milton (1608-1674), who lived in the seventeenth century, discovered the truth of these eight words when he said, “The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of Hell, a hell of Heaven.” Startling words, are they not? And yet, if you reflect on what Milton is saying, I’m sure you will agree that our thoughts will determine the kind of life we will live. In fact, both Napoleon and the writer, Helen Keller, are perfect examples of this. Napoleon once wrote at the height of his influence, power and life of riches, “I have never known six happy days in my life;” while Keller – blind, deaf and dumb – declared: “I have found life so beautiful.”

The apostle Paul said “let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think” (Rom. 12:2, NLT). He also said to the Ephesians, “there must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes” (4:23, NLT). Clearly, Paul makes a connection between becoming a new person and the way you choose to think. This is why Christians should be people who think positively, who contemplate the bright side of life, and who seek to bring out the best in others by encouraging a good mental attitude. As Keri Jones has written in his little booklet entitled The Bright Side of Life, “We need to know that we all rise or fall, go forward or backward, succeed or fail, according to what we think.” Therefore, let us remember: “Our life is what our thoughts make it.”