Next!
I recently read an article by Gordon MacDonald – he is the author of many books including ‘Ordering Your Private World’. He spoke of attending Nashville, Tennessee, at Mount Zion Baptist Church, where he delivered a message to students who were graduating from one level of education to another.
MacDonald spoke of hope being rebirthed in him at seeing and hearing the dreams of young men and women for the future. He said in his article, ‘It provoked some fresh thinking. Chief among my thoughts was an upgraded commitment to do whatever I can as a spiritual father to encourage younger people to aspire to the greatest heights God has intended for them.’
When I read that I thought how cool is that? I love the heart and spirit of Gordon MacDonald. That is exactly what I want to do with the next generation.
This Friday night hundreds of young people will fill the auditorium of the church here in Ipswich – it will be a great night as churches from across denominational lines gather together to celebrate God. Yes the ‘mosh’ pit will be full, it will be noisy, loud, the crowd will like a can of worms – moving constantly yet I will be there absolutely giving them my total support.
I am committed to generation ‘NEXT’. I am committed to that generation doing better things than I have done in my lifetime.
MacDonald went on to conclude his article – “There once was a man named Zechariah. In his aging years he and his wife birthed a son named John. Of this child, Zechariah sang these words: ‘And you, my child, will be a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him …’ And John did. But only because an old guy, his father, started pouring hope into him when he was still fresh from the womb.”
I want to pour hope into the next generation so I say to the young people who will be at ‘Youth Alive’ this Friday night – ‘Make all the noise you want, the louder the better – be passionate for God – go for Him with all you have.’ And this old bloke will be there with you cheering!
Rain, rain and much more rain!
For a sunburnt country – the last couple of days of rain have been unbelievable. For the past forty eight hours it has not stopped raining in the SE corner of Queensland. Last night it all came to a head – flash flooding in areas that have not been flooded since the famous 1974 floods.
For me the experience was personal – late in the afternoon the one lane bridge and only access to my home went under AND I mean way under. The bridge disappeared under a torrent of flood water. So I and three members of my family could not get home.
So the hunt for a bed for the night started – wet and cold we were all taken in by friends – no fresh clothes – toothbrushes and some basic essentials purchased on the way were all we had.
This morning I finally made it home – surveying the damage on the way was something to behold. Cars that had attempted to cross flooded roads and causeways were left by their owners after fruitless attempts at crossing obviously turned into a disaster. How no lives were lost when you see where some of the cars ended up is a miracle.
Then I thought there is something in all of us that just wants to get home when disaster strikes. I had that same feeling – should I attempt to get home or is it safer to ‘bunk’ out the night with friends?
Family is a powerful magnet – created to be in a community of love and care our first tendency is to get home, call home or contact home. We feel safe, we feel loved, we belong, we are secure, we cope better, we gain reassurance for our fears and we have that listening ear that we unload to.
Yet at the same time my thoughts turned to those who do not have, for whatever reason, that community of love. Sadly for many the return home that I received is not the norm but far from it. I realized how much I took for granted my family – how special and privileged I am and how little I appreciated the lonely of our world.
Last night was more than a night away from home due to floods – for me it was a wakeup call. Hopefully you will read this and think as I did how special you are to have a community of love and care around you and perhaps tell them how much you love and appreciate them. Some just don’t have that privilege!
Anyway – good to be home!
A True Hero
I had never heard of ‘NORTHFACE 100’ until my friend Matt Reis told me that he had entered an ultra marathon set in the Blue Mountains NSW. It is a world renowned race covering a gruelling 100 kms with an elevation gain half the height of Mt Everest. The conditions are brutal with competitors from previous years dropping out from exhaustion to hypothermia due to the extreme cold.
Matt, his wonderful wife Bec and young child Lulu are in my life group and since before Christmas last year Matt trained. I watched in awe as he pounded the roads every day – six days every week. No short runs for Matt – he would run from Ipswich to Mount Cootha – well over the 40 km mark as just one run for this preparation.
You see Matt had a dream!
The desire of his heart was to run this event – complete it in less than 15 hours.
His sense of discipline was awesome to behold
Then race day came – nervous – of course I was – you thought I was talking about Matt being nervous? Well, no doubt he was!
Bec and I texted all day – progress reports – ‘How is Matt?’ ‘How is he going?’ ‘How far has he gone now?’ ‘Is he OK?’
At the 75km mark Matt hit the dreaded runner’s wall – yet I know Matt Reis! He kept going – for a short period it became a walk but he didn’t give up. Then the finishing line – 100 kms – not 15 hours but an incredible 13 hours and 37 minutes – 25th out of 400.
I received the SMS and burst into tears as I knew what this meant to my mate Matt.
Dream accomplished!
Matt is for me in every sense a hero
He is courageous beyond measure
He is faithful, honest and loyal
His pursuit of his dream was not for the fainthearted
His work ethic and preparation sacrificial
He is humble not self promoting
A man of few words but those words when spoken mean much
Many people have dreams but do little to achieve them but Matt is not one of those people. He has known what it is like to wake up the day after and know that he is one of the elite who conquered NorthFace 100.
I am so proud of Matt
He inspires me greatly
He is truly my hero
Yet above all else he is my friend
Well done mate!
Justice and Compassion
Recently the way I thought about a particular issue was really challenged by Gary Haugen. I listened to him speak about the difference between justice and compassion. Was there a difference I thought?
Gary Haugen is President and CEO of International Justice Mission which is a human rights agency that secures justice for victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression.
Haugen explained the parable of the Good Samaritan in a way that I had never thought of. He indicated that the care provided for the victim of crime was wonderful and very compassionate. Yet, what if there was justice to the point whereby the robbers who committed the crime were not able to operate because of fear of the consequences wouldn’t that be better?
This is the essential difference between justice and compassion – I had never thought of it in this way.
You see, compassion is great, but it is essentially after the event – justice prevents the event from taking place at all.
It was at this point that I realized that if justice is only based on a fear of the consequences it will never totally eradicate crime, abuse or exploitation. However if values are the essence of justice then it means that if one can implant values into the heart and soul of people then justice would flow from those values.
Well it is a noble thought – but it did get me thinking!
Do-It-Yourself-Heroes
Nancy Gibbs writing in this week’s edition of Time Magazine says that ‘in tough times, the virtues that inspire us are old fashioned, unglamorous and hiding in plain sight.’
She mentions three recent heroes that were everyday people who stood up when circumstances dictated and achieved hero status. First there was Captain Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger who landed his plane on a river then walked the plane ensuring no passengers were left behind. Captain Richard Phillips the oil tanker Captain who offered himself as a trade to Somali pirates in the place of his crew. Finally Susan Boyle – the unemployed woman who cared for her mother until her mother’s death but sang on Britain’s Got Talent until all who heard her teared up.
Gibbs suggests that there normality made them special. Normal people who display old fashioned values such as competence, sacrifice, persistence and patience and now have their names written in the annals of folk law.
I then realized that my heroes are not celebrities or stars or front page people or even publicity seeking individuals – they are ordinary people who took the time, displayed the patience, gave the encouragement, persisted during my tough times, were loyal and faithful when I was not, stuck by me in good and bad times and rejoiced with me during the mountain highs. They are not known to the masses, unrecognizable in a crowd and avoid hero status like they would the flu.
Yet I know them – I honour them – I admire them – I am proud of them – I call my friends.
Thank you Nancy Gibbs for allowing me the time to reflect on who my heroes really are – I have enjoyed just thinking about them, seeing their faces in my mind and remembering their influence and impact upon me.
Who are your heroes?
Mother’s Day
This weekend at church was a wonderful celebration of Mother’s Day. For me Mother’s Day is a mixture of emotions as I’m sure it is for many people.
My mum passed away 21 years ago and Gail, my spouse, also lost her Mum a few years ago now. Yet despite this I really enjoy Mother’s Day.
There were some amazing moments is church this weekend.
Who will forget when all new mums who had babies since last Mother’s Day stood with women of previous generations who then prayed for the new babies? Three generations of women together – it was so moving.
Then, what about all young people coming forward to write Mother’s Day messages on specially prepared paintings – some of the little ones who cannot write yet drawing pictures on the artwork. To see this happening was beautiful to behold! Some of the children had prepared messages which they copied onto the paintings. I saw one little girl with her note which read, ‘My mummy loves roses’.
And on top of this – all the Mums in the church standing together, gifts in hand, being prayed for by the next generation of young people. Tears flowed – mine included as the generations of the church gathered together as one.
I think that makes church so special – people of all ages, backgrounds and family situations enjoying Mother’s Day together. From the youngest baby only a few days old to the astonishing older people of the church who have been faithful in church life decade after decade.
It is no wonder that I love church!
The Practicalities of Devotions
HOW DO I DO DEVOTIONS?
My friend Wayne Cordeiro taught me this method. It is called the S.O.A.P. method.
It involves journaling so get yourself a journal AND a bible reading plan which systematically allows you to read through the bible. Download from http://www.ircc.org.au/joomla/Resources/Daily%20Devotions.pdf if you want to.
Then after reading the verses write up your journal as follows
S – Scripture
I write out the scripture that I will be journaling. When I refer to the scripture, I don’t mean just writing out the reference such as John 3:16; I actually write the scripture out in full. At the most it should be only one or two verses, but as I write it out it gets into my memory because I want to retain and think about it for the remainder of the day.
O – Observation
What do I observe about the passage of scripture on which I am journaling?
A – Application
Perhaps this is the most important part of the journal entry, as it is where I record how I will apply the scripture that I have read and written about.
P – Prayer
At the end of my entry I record my prayer, how this passage of scripture can be applied to my life, and I ask for God’s help to enable this to happen. I want to live the day differently because of what I read. To go even further, I want to live my life differently because of what I read each and every day.
So what do you think? Well worth starting devotions? I think so – please join with me as each day we listen to God speaking to us through devotions.
Devotions
Let’s talk about REFRESHING YOURSELF SPIRITUALLY – spending time daily with God.
This is commonly called devotions – I define ‘devotions’ as a specific time and place where I can devote myself to God.
When is the best time to do devotions? The best time is when you are at your best. Are you an owl or a fowl – good in the mornings or good in the evenings? It appears that Jesus enjoyed the early part of the day. Mark 1:35(NKJV) records, “Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.”
You need to have a good look at your lifestyle and find out what is best for you. The same time will not suit everyone. Once you find a time, it is important that you make a commitment to stick to it. I find that the discipline of a definite time is paramount to my doing devotions for such a lengthy and consistent time.
I also find that a wonderful cup of coffee really helps me, so I found a place where I can have a nice coffee and do my devotions. You may have a special place in your home where you can sit quietly to spend time in the Word, or you may prefer to find somewhere outside your home. The location is not important, as long as it is somewhere you will feel comfortable and be free of distractions.
Something else I have discovered that really helps is to choose a time, perhaps once a week, where you do devotions with a group of other people. The discipline of knowing that as a group you meet in the same place at the same time helps to keep momentum with devotions.
My next post will discuss the ‘how to’ of devotions!
Cycle Class
I am now into day 6 of my personal May Challenge – refreshing my body, soul and spirit. Yesterday at 5.30 am – yes that’s right – 5.30 am I went to the gym to participate in a ‘cycle class’. My young mate Jake came with me. Now you may well ask – ‘What is a cycle class?’ Good question 99 – it is a stationary bike experience where loud music pumps, an incredibly fit woman yells instructions at you and you pretend you are racing up hill and down dale.
45 minutes of sheer pain and sweat – to be honest I loved it. It was a great way to start the day.
Now why am I doing this May challenge? Why am I exercising? Well to be honest it is not to recapture my 20 year body – at 50 years of age that is long gone never to be recovered! Although I do admit to wanting to trim up a bit or as they say at the gym – ‘tone up’. Don’t you just love the language?
I want to do all that God has called me to do. That is the desire of my heart more than anything else. So I don’t want my health to prevent me from being available to be used by God.
There was an Australian Bureau of Statistics survey commissioned by Australian Financial Review reported 15 March 2008 that 80% of ministers of religion are overweight or obese and carry more weight than any of the other 50 professions surveyed.
I just want to be used by God and not limited by my unhealthy lifestyle.
So why not start some form of exercise TODAY – it is so worth is and you will fell so physically refreshed – keep posted for more ideas for our may Challenge.
May Challenge
Winter in Australia is only one month away – so I thought why not devote the month of May to enhancing body, soul and spirit. We tend to forget that we are made up of body, soul and spirit so I wonder if all of us could invest into each of those aspects during this month.
So how do you go about it?
Well it will take some discipline and planning but here are a few suggestions and over the next month I will add to those suggestions as together we enhance our state of health in these three areas.
Start with body – why not devote some time either each day or a certain number of times each week over May to exercise? Watch what you are eating over this period?
Now your soul – the source of your emotions and without doubt so important to your overall health. Ask yourself this question – What refreshes you? Actively pursue something that really refreshes your soul – develop a hobby.
What about your spirit? Can I ask you a question? How are your daily devotions with God going? Do you pursue a daily discipline of reading your bible and then journaling?
So over this month this is what I am going to do – I am going to actively think and plan way to enhance body, soul and spirit.
Will you join me?
Watch for new posts on this blog for really practical suggestions to help you participate in the May challenge of enhancing body, soul and spirit!
This is going to be great!
