New Year Baptism

It was a privilege to be present at the baptism of Wang Hui (English name Dinah) who was converted to Christ at the 11AM Sunday service on 23rd October 2011.

Dinah is from China and is a student at Aston University where she met one of our church members who invited her to church. Read the full story in the latest Reformer. Just e-mail for a copy.

She was interviewed prior to her baptism and here is the transcription:-

Mary: Dinah, can you tell us a bit about where you’re from and what you do?

Dinah: I’m Dinah and I’m from China. I’m an exchange student at Aston University.
M: Did you hear about Jesus before you came to England?
D: Yes I heard about Jesus because one of my aunts is a Christian so when I was 9 or 10 years old I went to church with her. But at that time I did not know the real meaning behind it. I just knew there was choir and...but I did not know the real meaning of believing in Christ Jesus.
M: How often did you go to that church?
D: I just went there twice.
M: Is your aunt Chinese?
D: Yes, she’s Chinese.
M: How did you come to believe in Jesus?
D: Really amazing! I went to a lecture and I met Mary there. I know that Christianity is the prevailing belief in the Western World because I know that people are guided by their belief and have got their way of doing things so I am really curious about it and so I want to know more about it so I followed Mary to the church Household and see Ben and Annie and Mary and they are dancing in worship. I want to be part of the body so I just want to establish my relationship with God. So I prayed with Graham and then I confessed that Jesus is my Lord.
M: How has God helped you?
D: It’s not easy to be alone and to go abroad, sometimes I just feel homesick. I think I’ve gone through a culture shock! I think everybody is hostile and English people are really cold! God made Mary and I meet and God gave me a family – Graham and Annie are my father and mother and I have Ben, Mary and Katie are my sisters and brother.
God helps me with my studying, in my life, and I know that God will never forsake me, He will guide me and help me.
M: Why do you want to be baptised?
D: Because Jesus said ‘Believe and be baptised’ and I just want to obey His words and commands.
M: Thank you, Dinah. It’s such a blessing to be a part of your story.

Her baptism video:-

International Christmas

I am not a great fan of the way most people celebrate Christmas. It often is to do with an excess of spending and indulging and bears little resemblance to a Christian celebration. Over the years as a family we decided to stop giving presents and see it as a time to celebrate each other and spend the time together enjoying that.




This year was very special. Our daughter Jenny is now living in South Africa with her husband Louwrens and is expecting her first child due any time now. It was sad not to have her here but God made up for that with an international set of guests.




We had three nationalities staying with us over the holidays. Mary lives with us permanently and is from Lebanon. She has become a daughter in our home integrating well with the rest of us. Dinah is a student at Aston University and the newest convert in our church. She is from China and is studying in the UK with a view to doing a Masters degree. Werner was also a temporary guest visiting from the Harvester Church in Cape Town. He was here to see his girlfriend Katie, a church member, and do some work in the Church.

I cooked breakfast for us all Christmas morning. It felt so right to have all of us together. It reminded me of the unity that comes from belonging to Christ and the fact that there is no national barrier between God's people. We are one in Christ.

We held the Christmas Day service in our home which continued this sense of family. It was special to worship and pray with each other. Tears were shed and bonds were strengthened.

I think I have now discovered how to celebrate Christmas. Make it a celebration of the family of God and the wonder of His Body.

So next year who knows who will be with us.

A Cup Of Cold Water

As I was preparing to preach today one of the verses I read stood out to me and led me along a whole different meditation.

Mark 9:41
“For whoever gives you a cup of cold water to drink in My Name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward”

As I meditated I felt challenged as to my attitude to receiving from those God chooses to use.

1. God uses ‘whoever’

Whoever may be someone we don’t know, or someone we wouldn’t choose to receive from. They could be anonymous to us. The important thing is they are God’s channel of provision.

When I have been in need, especially financially, I have often looked for a source God would use. The well off ones, or close friends. More times than not is has been the person I would never have dreamt of – the pensioner or someone with little resources themselves. The first person to give into my ministry was a pensioner with little money. I confess to feeling a little guilty receiving.

If it’s whoever we can’t choose them God does.

2. A cup of cold water

A cup of cold water doesn’t seem a lot. Yet to a thirsty man it is everything.
It can be the smallest and most insignificant thing to us that we give but to someone else it can be so important and necessary.

One of the most precious things to give is our time. Going out of our way to walk the extra mile. I have been privileged to be on the receiving end of so many kind gestures. People have taken the trouble to help or spend time with me to make sure I enjoyed something. On my trips to South Africa to minister I have received so much kindness. It may seem like a ‘cup of cold water’ to some, not much, but it creates lasting memories and precious moments to those who receive.

3. In My Name

This prompted me to consider my attitude and thoughts as a receiver. Do I see it as from Christ? Do I see that beyond the gesture the ultimate source is God? He inspired the gift to meet my need because He loves me.

Pride often causes us to refuse what people offer. We can wrap it up with all manner of false humility but pride often refuses to allow us to see ourselves in a place of need.

We need to show thankfulness and gratitude when we receive and humbly accept what God is using someone to give.

4. Because you belong to Christ

I see in today’s world we want to be the answer to all the provision in our lives. Or maybe the opposite, we expect everything to come form others and we do little for it. God does expect us to work hard and enjoy the reward of our own hands but if we are in Christ we are designed to be part of His Body the Church. There is a responsibility to give and receive.

Apostle André Pelser quotes his friend and mentor Mike Woods as saying. ‘None of us have it all together but together we have it all’

God has so designed Church that we need each other. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 12 that we are members of a body. Some are hands, some eyes, some feet but with Christ as the Head. We are made in Christ to belong to each other.

I saw from this not only that we need each other.The gift we receive is simply an in-house transfer. The giver is not going to lose out because it is all within the Body. I just happen to be in need and the provision is to allow me to continue ministry to the Body.

5. He will by no means lose his reward

As God is the source of the gift He is the source of the reward. I have sometimes made too much fuss when I have received from others, often to their embarrassment. It’s because I have been so grateful or maybe even relieved because of the pressure of the need.

I found it a great blessing to realise I can receive with confidence because God will reward them.

Jesus said ‘assuredly’. It is a vow He uses here, not just an idle phrase. There is substance behind the promise.

If we give ‘in His Name’ and to someone ‘belonging to Christ’ He is obliged to reward. If we give to bless others for the sake of the Kingdom and prompted by God we will not lose out.

As a receiver that lifts the responsibility from my shoulders. I don’t have to feel guilty about taking a gift. God will reward.

Music Inspires

One thing I like about the Internet is the instant access to information and resources. It allows you to re-live some things and helps take you back to past times that were precious to you.

When I was in my early 20's I served as a Pastor in a small church in West Yorkshire. I play guitar and introduced many new songs and styles of worship to the congregation. I even formed a group from some of the young people and we sang and worshipped in quite a few places.

One of my favourite artists from that era is an American gospel artist called Andrae Crouch. He was different, very real. More a worshipper than a performer. I managed to see him live on his tours to Britain in the 1970's and was never disappointed. I have several vinyl LP's of him my favourite being 'Best of Andrae Crouch and the Disciples'. Sadly I have no record player anymore but I was able to buy a couple of remixed Cd's a few ears ago with all the favourite songs on them.

I love music, love playing guitar and singing. I am a worshipper. Songs are more than sentiment and words to me but a way of discovering the reality of God's presence in my life. Many times when I listen to music I weep, not because of memories it invokes but truth it speaks of. I love the old Wesleyan hymns because in them is such amazing doctrinal truth. I often find songs speak more accurately of God's truth than sermons.

Worship in song has done many things for me. It has broken depression, brought deep inner healing, inspired prophecy, released joy and happiness.

I remember one beautiful memory when I was in a meeting years ago. A man I knew was attending and had a serious heart condition that threatened his life. I was with him in the meeting when someone performed a song, 'Rise and be Healed'. As it was sung the man I knew stood to his feet in faith in response to the words and was totally healed. A very special memory indeed.

The love for music was imparted by my father. He was not a spiritual man, far from it. He had a great voice. He would sing to me songs his mother sang to him as a child. He was born 1905 so you can imagine the sings were very unfamiliar to me and from an era long gone. I still remember them. The memories are probably the only sweet memories I have of him. His love of singing gave me a love of singing. He was a pub singer, me a gospel singer. In his last days my music was what he heard. The songs of faith and hope. I took him to church one day and he wept as the hymns were played. A few weeks before his death from cancer he made peace with God. His song could have been so different. He would have made a great gospel singer.

Music and song have paid a big part in my journey. I understand why David has so much to say in song in the Psalms. My song has changed over the years. My new understanding means that some songs that were precious I can no longer sing because the words are not accurate. So new songs need to be written and sung.

Friendship

The past couple of weeks have been filled with incredible acts of kindness. On Friday 7th May I was sat in the evening enjoying a night in with my wife. As we relaxed I received an SMS from a friend in Cape Town. It read something like this: 'André wants you here for conference, ticket paid, when can you come?' At first it didn't sink in. I was all geared up for our trip in July / August and resigned to the fact that that would be the next time I saw my daughter Jenny. It took about half an hour and the arrangements were in place, I was booked on a plane from Birmingham via Amsterdam the following Monday.

As I winged my way over Africa I was so excited and hoped that the trip would be kept from Jenny so I could surprise her. I was almost the first off the plane as it landed and my lift from the airport indicated that it was probable that she didn't know. As we pulled into the drive at Apostle André's house I was a little nervous. It was after 10:30 and I thought Jenny might already be in bed. It turned out that she was the one answering the door. Her face immediately told me she didn't know. At first it was total incredulity, 'is this my dad, can't be he's in England, but it is' She melted into my arms and dissolved in tears. It was the start of a great week with her. She is so happy and I am so privileged to have been able to see it.

Next day I was visited by the other two Brits in the Church, Duncan and Beverley. It was great to see them and even after just three weeks it was obvious they were benefiting from their time there. Lots of catching up.

The week was so blessed. I feel at home in the church there. I received a message from one of the church members on my return: "just having you here at church is heart-warming, like an older brother who left the nest to build his family, and comes home for holidays to visit." That's how it feels.

I had mixed feelings as I left. Wanted to stay longer but knew that things needed doing here.

My return was scheduled for Monday 17th on the 23:55 plane to Amsterdam but the ash cloud meant it was delayed until 6 the next morning. More time with Jenny at least. The delay meant I would not be able to make my connecting flight to Birmingham and the earliest alernative was a day later which meant a stay over in Holland.

This is where other old friendships came to the rescue. I have known my friend Anita since school, she is one of my prayer supporters and we regularly visited her and her family in Holland during the 1990's. Business and different journeys meant I had not seen her since 2003. Annie arranged for me to stay there and I wondered if it may feel a little awkward. I needn't have worried. I was made so welcome and felt so at home. It was a great bonus to see them.

I finally got back to be met at the airport by my best friend on earth, my wife. She is truly amazing. I am so blessed, all of this friendship offered freely.

It reminded me of the scripture from Proverbs about a 'friend who sticks closer than a brother'. His name is Jesus. Such a faithful friend.

Thank you God for your blessings, for friends and loved ones who are a gift from you.

The next step

In our last worship service Stuart, our worship leader, led us from Revelation 1. Let me explain that we do not have 'planned worship' we wait for the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to guide and lead us. The song began and as the Spirit led others took over the singing and we flowed prophetically hearing God's voice speaking into our lives.

In Revelation 1 verse 17 Jesus says, 'Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last'. In other scriptures He is referred to as 'alpha and omega', literally the first and last letter.

The Spirit began to lead us to sing about Jesus being the first and last. As we sang we became aware that God has been in our lives from day one and will be for all our future. He will have the last word.

The Spirit then inspired us to sing about walking in this and the phrase, 'the next step' was repeated. 'Take the next step, be concerned about taking just the next step'

Duncan was our preacher for the morning, he and his wife Beverly are leaving us for three months training in Cape Town. For them the next step is a big one, leaving friends and home for a new place. I have travelled some of the journey with them and seen them take many 'next steps' that have been painful at times but necessary. God has been with them all the way and is ahead of them planning the next steps they need to take.

Duncan spoke about having contentment in all situations. We can only know this if we understand that Jesus is the 'first and last'. He is in control and that brings peace.

I thank God for His continuous faithfulness. He is always at the other side of the next step we take even if for us it is a leap in the dark. May we all learn to trust Him and be content in Him and find His peace.

Harvester Birmingham

I realise it has been a long time since my last posting. Life has taken on a different focus with the church plant we are now involved with. Lots has been happening. My son Ben is almost at the end of his university course, my wife Annie has been at her new school for over a year and Jenny, our daughter, is in Miracle Bible College, Cape Town for at least one year. On top of that we are planting a new church out of our home which is giving us great joy.

The church began to meet on 6th September 2009. Five of us had been meeting for quite a few months on a Wednesday to study the Bible together. God had spoken to me at a meeting in South Africa in September 2008 that we should plant a church. I admit to being reluctant but knew it needed to happen. One night at the bible study I was challenged by my daughter to start it and so we agreed on the date, 6th September 2009 as the first meeting.

At the first meeting there were eight of us, but two were visiting. From the first note on the guitar the worship flowed. This was one of the things that concerned me. What if we can't flow in worship? We believe in God giving us the words and music in the same way David worshipped. In the six months since we began we have only sung two 'known songs' so I needn't have worried.

The next test was the fact that I was away for the next three services. I told George, one of our members who plays guitar, that he must continue in prophetic worship in my absence. He rose to the challenge and has been the one to lead worship for most of the last six months.

In the first six months we have had two regular additions to the Body. Mary is a student at one of the local universities and is from Lebanon. She is proving to be such a delight. Our other addition is Stuart, he is a fine musician and worship leader and has taken on this role in recent weeks. He flows accurately in worship and we are entering another level. We thank God and believe others with be added.

One aspect of the church I really like is the participation and input everyone gives. I think all have prophesied at one point and those who have visited us have gone away greatly encouraged by words given to them. The corporate nature also effects the worship with not only the worship leader bringing the song of the Lord but the whole Body adding to that. It is exciting and effortless to worship this way.

We have had several visitors and are expecting others. Duncan and Beverly Curry are family friends who have recently obeyed the call to go to South Africa for training. They were leading a church in Yorkshire until the end of February this year. They join us whenever they can and are part of us. We will be sending them out next month.

Our first outside speaker was Morné Van Wijk. Morné is from Cape Town and was visiting the UK on business. He spoke to the church and attended a couple of meetings. His impact has been felt since and has brought an impartation to us all.

I do most of the speaking and we've covered a lot of subjects. At the moment we are studying 'Submission'. The feedback has been very good from a subject most preachers never preach. My son Ben has also shared as well as my wife Ann. We look forward to hearing from others in the Body as well.

From February we have begun to meet during the week and have a Household on a Tuesday and Bible Cell on Thursdays. The Household meeting is a led by someone different each week who leads a discussion on what has been taught the previous Sunday. It gives an opportunity to find out if people have understood and makes room for questions. We have had some great times and it is rapidly becoming my favourite meeting.

The testimonies of people with us are fresh and regular. If you'd like to read Katie's testimony go to this link: click here

Last Sunday Duncan and Beverly were with us. Duncan has just had a cataract operation. We decided we would obey the scripture, 'when one member suffers we all suffer'. The following photograph depicts that. As you can see Church is fun.

Portland Oregon

I am almost at the end of my three week visit to Portland, Oregon and my stay at the Eagle Wings Ministries Church. It has been a wonderful time of receiving and giving ministry. My favourite thing was getting to know more of God's lovely people.

Eagles Wings sees itself as a 'base camp' for the Apostolic Reformation. A place of training and sending out. It has a small congregation but a big heart and a wide influence with many people all over the world benefiting from its ministry.

The church is a five fold ministry church, i.e. one that believes in modern day Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers. They see these roles as the functions who govern and equip churches so that the saints can do the work of the ministry. Study of scripture shows that there a several apostles in addition to the original 12, one being Paul himself. There are also Prophets mentioned in the early church. The reforming move emphasises the need to go back to the biblical pattern for church life instead of an evolved model designed by man not God.

The Apostle at Eagle Wings is, Richard Wright. He has served over 30 years in the ministry in different states of America. His books, Not Many Fathers and Not Many Sons are definitely worth reading. The church has ordained and sent out many into five fold ministry including my good friend and mentor Apostle André Pelser.

Once a year they hold a 'Gathering of Eagles' which is a get together of five fold ministers from around the globe. This year I shared accommodation with Faustin from Zambia and John from Canada. We were the international section. Others came from all over the states. New friendships were made and old acquaintances renewed. I gained a lot from my first Gathering and would like to attend future ones.

Highlight of my time here was the wedding of Apostle Richard to Cheryl Schank. I acted as chaperone for the first week leading to their wedding. To see how an American wedding is organised was insightful and educational. The ceremony was beautiful with all the five fold ministers praying and prophesying to the couple as part of the ceremony. After that a hog roast and Hawaiian themed picnic. A great time.

I ministered on the Sunday after the wedding. I really love preaching in places where they know how to receive a prophet. During the worship I received prophetic words for several which later I was told were spot on. If I was way off I am sure they would also have made that known. The Lord gave me a word about endurance which I was told was timely.

Final week was about being spoilt. I have been utterly served and looked after. A great testament to the people here. I have been taken on historical tours, invited for meals, taken river fishing and pond fishing, and been made to feel part of the family. It has been a great blessing.

We are planning to host Apostle Richard and his new wife next spring. Look out for meetings we plan with them, they will be excellent. They have years of material on their website www.eaglesaint.net which are invaluable resources. Why not take a look?

My time is about to come to an end here, back home Monday arriving Tuesday. I shall miss the people. I plan to come for a holiday next summer with my wife and expose her to this wonderful church and beautiful part of America.

Thanks Eagles Wings, you are so special.

Defining Moments

Certain events in your life change you forever. Life is never the same again. They are like pivots that turn everything around and make your future life different. It’s easy to forget their impact.

I suppose the first major life changing event for me was in June 1966. I was 10. My mum and I were church going Anglicans. She went to Sunday services and I to the Sunday School. It was not a particularly high church, no smells and bells. It was an ordinary ceremony based liturgy, the old 1611 hymn book was used and the King James bible. For my mum is was comfort for the loss of my brother who tragically died before I was born. She turned to church to seek for some sense from it all I guess.

In 1964, the old vicar left. The Rev. Stoneley was retiring to the Lake District. He was the vicar in the parish from the 1940’s I think. He always seemed gruff and unapproachable to me. He and his wife never had children so maybe they didn’t know how to relate. I only ever remember him being in our home once and was scared of him.

His replacement was so different. He had five children of his own and two adopted. Peter and Lois were slightly older and younger than me respectively. His wife was also a good speaker and the whole life of the church was transformed. We began to sing things that were not Ancient and Modern and were trained to memorise the Bible. I felt there was life in church which was not there before.

One Tuesday night in June 1966 my mum told me we were going on a coach to a theatre in Liverpool to hear someone called Billy Graham. He was holding meetings in Earl’s Court London that were being relayed to cinemas and theatres all over the country. I remember several of my school mates being with me. We sat together and my mum and her friends sat in another part of the theatre. I don’t remember much of the broadcast, I was only ten. I do remember his appeal to get saved, to be born again. In a moment, even at the age of ten, I knew God was asking me to seek His forgiveness and ask for salvation. I can remember realising that sin was in my life cutting me off from knowing God. I knew about Him but no personal relationship. I responded to the appeal to go forward to the front to receive prayer to become a true Christian. Trusting God not church or creed but Christ alone for that gift. Some of my friends joined me and I also saw my mother was standing along the line too. It was a life changing moment. I knew when I left that place that Christ was my saviour and friend. I was different, never to be the same.

From that moment on what I would do with my life changed. I did struggle with faith and have done in different periods of my life but whenever I moved away from God I found Him ready to receive me back when I came looking. I learned in the (almost) forty-three years since that night that this life with God is so rewarding. Not always easy, not without suffering or pain but worth working through those times to receive the reward that suffering brings which is character.

There’s a verse in the Bible that is one of my favourites, it’s not an obvious one but has great meaning for me..

2 Timothy 2:13...

“If we are faithless, He remains faithful, He cannot deny Himself”

God has proved His faithfulness to me. I cannot deny Him because of that. As a young man I could never understand why older people talked so much of faithfulness. As I have got older I realise it’s because God keeps on proving Himself faithful more and more. It is a precious thing.

Remind yourself of the defining moments of your life. Trust Him to continue to work faithfully in your life. He’s a great and faithful friend.

Making Time

One phrase I hear often when I ask people how they are is, ‘I am busy’ or ‘I am very busy’. I remember when I worked for a company I would often be working 70 hours a week. Sometimes I would be there all night if a server went down. I enjoyed working but then I began to realise my family was suffering. We hardly saw each other, little communication. Holidays were precious but even then it would take most of a week to wind down before we could enjoy anything.

When I began to realise my busyness was to the detriment of family life my wife and I decided we needed to make time for family. Our first step was eating meals together as often as we could. This meant 7 o’clock breakfast and a regulated evening meal. It is a discipline we still try and keep to. Guess what, communication flowed and many useful conversations have occurred around the dining table. We also learned to bring God to the dining table. Prayer, prophecy and encouragement has been part of that. This also extends to guests who come to stay. Much ministry has been done after a meal. It becomes a natural thing to do.

As a prophet I often find people saying, ‘I don’t hear from God’. As I push further it is often the case that they don’t make time to hear from Him. Even where they have a ‘quiet time’ it consists of one way requests. I advice them to buy a notebook and pen as a step of faith and the next time they pray ask God to speak. Using this method with the Word as a source has filled many notebooks for me. God is so keen to speak to us.

I received a gift from my friend André Pelser, a copy of his Blues Album. One track that really blesses me is, ‘Draw Nigh To Me’. It speaks of God always being ready to spend time with us. One line I love is, ‘come sit by me and lay your head upon my breast’. It makes me realise how God longs for us to be with Him. The God of heaven has time for us. When I respond to that prompting I discover the love of God in a very real way.

We are made to feel in our society that time is our master, it governs. That is not true. We should manage our time not the other way around. Maybe we want to do too much. What are you doing that you shouldn’t be doing? Maybe turning the TV off and talking to your family or partner is what’s required.

The trap of busyness is always there. We need to guard ourselves from being too busy. Ask God to show you what you are doing that is stealing time for other things. Adjusting to not doing things is not easy. An accusing voice will tell you that you’re lazy, or this or that needs to be done. Jesus said, ‘Take my yoke on you..my yoke is easy and my burden is light’. Hebrews 4 tells us there is a rest to enter into. I am learning to rest, enjoy family and I find God is able to do more when I do less.

Authority and Power

I recently found a great website dedicated to my home town of Wigan. I was actually born two miles outside of the town in an urban village but ‘going to town’ meant going to Wigan.

Most of the shops we used in the early sixties were local. The nearest we came to a supermarket was a chain of shops called Morton & Sons who sold everything. Within spitting distance of each other were Dewhurst butchers and Robinson’s Fruit and Veg. All family owned and run.

Once a week mum and I would make the trip to Wigan from Ince Bar on the local Wigan Corporation bus. The first fare I remember was 2d (in old money, just over a new penny in value) and half price for kids. The buses were cherry and white, the same as the famous Wigan Rugby League team. The journey seemed to take ages but was probably no more than 15 minutes. Part of it went over the canal bridge and I always hoped the bus would go over this quickly so that my stomach would churn and tickle. In those days you had conductors as well as drivers and you got on and off the bus via the open platform at the back, no closing doors.

The bus stop in town was in Library Street outside of Timberlake’s Garage. To get to the Market Place you walked up Library Street to a junction which consisted of several roads coming together at odd angles. There were no traffic lights or ‘robots’ as we called them. Instead there was a policeman on points duty. Watching him would fascinate me. He seemed to have so much power. He just raised a hand and could hold up a whole row of cars. His different signals were so clear that instead of potential chaos there was order. My favourite time to see him was on a dark winter night. In those conditions he was lit by a strong spotlight suspended across the road. The picture above shows the exact scene from 1961 as I would have seen it.

Years later I was teaching in church about how God promised through Jesus to clothe those of us who are believers with authority from the Holy Spirit. As I was preparing I remembered the scene of the policeman on points duty.

What made him able to do what he did? Two things. One he had training. He was imparted with an ability to direct the traffic, he had to learn the signals so well that he knew exactly what to do to bring order. Secondly, he had authority represented by his uniform. Without the uniform, even with all the correct gestures, it is possible he would be ignored.

There are two similar concepts in scripture concerning authority and power. The word exousia means ‘a right to do something’. We have a legal right to do it. Jesus was someone who taught with a confidence from knowing He had this kind of authority. It’s the word used by Jesus in Luke 9 when He sent His disciples out to heal. ‘He gave them authority’. The Holy Spirit in our lives is the living authority of God. We can operate by His leading in preaching the gospel and healing the sick.


The second concept is power. The word is dunamis and is the same word we get dynamite from. In Acts 1:8 Jesus said we would receive power (dunamis) after the Holy Spirit has come on us. Dunamis is the ability to do something. Again its not natural ability but supernatural. We have a right to pray for the sick to be healed and have a commission from God to do that. As we lay hands on the sick we can impart healing because dunamis power is in us. We have a right to speak in tongues (exousia) and when we do its by the Spirits power (dunamis).

I learned a lot from that childhood memory. I am learning more and more to live by the Spirit and trust Him. To walk in His authority and express in faith His gifts as He gives the ability.

Jesus has given is authority and power from His Spirit. Let’s walk in Him, the Spirit more and more.

Being, not doing Church

What is Church?

I recently spoke at a local house group concerning the Apostolic Reformation that is moving in the earth. One of the reforms taking place concerns church.

Church, as Apostle André Pelser puts it, is God’s plan A and there is no plan B. This was something I was going to touch on with the group. Before the meeting and as a test of people’s understanding I did an experiment with someone I was working with that day and asked her to draw church. She drew a building. I am sure many people would have done the same. At the house group I used this as an illustration of what I felt most people would do if asked to draw church.

Most Christians know that church is people not buildings but we have been so conditioned in our thinking to consider the building where church meets rather than people. This mindset leads to false ideas and notions and what church should be doing and also raises false expectations of what to expect.

The word translated church in the Bible is the word ecclesia. It literally means called out. A building can’t be ‘called out’ but people can be. Church is a community of believers called out to a way of living that produces a Body that Christ is the head of.

Jesus was speaking prophetically when he said in Matthew 8:21:-

“Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head”

Jesus wasn’t saying He was homeless. We read of places He stayed and people who accommodated Him. He was prophetically stating that He needed a Body, somewhere He could be Head of.

Paul tells us that its Christ who is Head of His Body in Colossians 1:18

“And He is head of the body, the church”

What kind of things characterise Church?

Acts 2:40 to 47 describes what the Early Church did:-

• They continued in the apostles’ doctrine
• Were baptised
• Broke bread together
• Fellowshipped
• Prayed
• Were a sharing community
• Walked in signs and wonders
• Continued daily in these things

What is my family’s experience of Church?

My family relates to an apostle and receive his counsel and input into our lives. He is not above us on a pedestal but alongside us mutually submitting to us as we do to him. An apostle is a foundation layer and we receive him as an apostle and as a reward we see foundations laid in our lives.

We are baptised believers. Hebrews tells us that part of the foundation we build on are doctrines about baptisms. Baptism in water, in the Holy Spirit and fire. We have all obeyed the command to be baptised and sought and received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and have experienced the fire of God in our home.
Peter when asked what someone must do to be saved said in Acts 2:38 :-

“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”

Baptism is not something we can say no to. It is not an optional extra. We should be baptised. True salvation is about following Christ as a disciple. A disciple does what His Master asks of him. Its not a pastor we disobey if we refuse to be baptised but the One we say we are serving.

Our family meals are part of our daily fellowship. My work pattern made it difficult for me to eat with the family. I began to realise that problems we were experiencing were partly due to the fact we rarely ate together. Our table has become a place of communion and fellowship as a family. Its where we pray together and study God’s word together. The word fellowship is from a word meaning ‘sharing your lives physically, mentally and spiritually’. Its not just being in the same house but being together on every level.

What we as an imperfect family are finding is Church. We experience Christ together. We pray for each other, prophecy to each other and encourage each other.

Is this the same for corporate Church?

Can that really be the same in a building we meet in as Church on a Sunday. It has to be because that is Church. A place where we discover God in each other and part of the community we become. I would dare to say if we don’t have that we are not Church but an institution.

If all we do when we gather is sing, watch the performance on stage, become part of the committee or team that runs things and put our money on to the plate then we might as well be a Working Men’s club, because that’s what they do.

God is reforming His Church. Its not new but has always gone on. Sad thing is we tend to allow God to reform then when we think we see what He’s doing we make a denomination out of it. God is not about denominations but a Body.

Its interesting to see in the Early Church people were added, 3000 on the Day Of Pentecost alone. Acts 2 the last few verses says they ‘continued daily’ and ‘the Lord added to the Church daily’. God did it. All by God using ‘uneducated men and women’.

What about the large churches we see in some places?

There is a new phenomenon these days. The mega church, some have tens of thousands attending. Are they really being church? I can’t judge but if the characteristics that I describe from Acts 2 don’t exist then they are not Church.

I read a statistic concerning one of the mega churches in the US. The majority of people coming to Christ in this church (I think they said 80%) after five years they are either in another church or not going anywhere. The reason given was that they didn’t feel they were doing anything for God, just making up the numbers.

Everyone has a function, part to play.

Paul tells us in Ephesians 4 that we all have a function. In fact leaders are there to equip us and help us find our function. Paul says when this happens (Ephesians 4:16), ‘by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love”

We grow and mature in a true Body. We know our function and place and we are doers of the word not just hearers. We see God work in our midst with signs and wonders.

God’s plan is Church. The Body of Christ is the answer. Not revival or a special outpouring, they come for a time but the Body Of Christ, His church, is here forever.

It’s Christ Church and He builds it

True Church is Christ’s Body and so reflects Him. There’s no room for big names and great reputations. You can build churches on personality and growth systems but eventually the personality moves on and the grown system fails. There’s only One true Church builder.

Jesus said, Matthew 16:18

“I will build My Church and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it”

Does what you have as Church shake the gates of hell or put all its effort into surviving and keeping its identity. Is God adding to it? Are signs and wonders evident? Do the members operate in their function to edify the whole Body?

God is reforming His Church.

The current reform of His Church is adding back fivefold gifts of Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Teachers and Pastors so that the members can operate in their function accurately.

In the house group meeting I drew a diagram of a pyramid to illustrate the structure of most churches and why people don’t find function. I named it as old. I had wrongly concluded that this type of church didn’t work. Someone corrected me saying that people still get saved in this type of church. That’s true so I stand corrected. However, I could drive a model Ford T if I had a working example but I’d rather drive my four year old Mondeo with the safety features and sophistication it brings. I could use a Hoover from the 1920’s but I’d prefer a modern Dyson. God is moving His Church on, you either allow reform or stand still and operate in old technology.

Don’t let sentimental attachment to a concept or social group rob you of the excitement of what God is doing with His Church. I want to see His Church prevailing against the gates of hell. How about you?

Jill Caroline Crabtree (nee Moulson)

Recently I heard of the sudden death of a friend I knew as a teenager. Jill was a few years younger than me and died suddenly in her garden I am led to believe. She was someone I only knew closely for a few years but was part of one of the most important times of my life.

I was 16, almost 17 and lost. I’d just finished my O-levels and had not done well. Lots of reasons for that but the main one was lack of motivation and a not knowing what I wanted to do with my life. I have been brought up in an Anglican church and made a commitment to Christ at the age of 10. It was real enough and although I never grew in my faith much I knew that I was different. By the time I was ready for sixth form I chose to stay on simply because I didn’t know what else to do.

During the end of the summer term before sixth form I went to a youth group meeting in a house. It was strange for me an Anglican, at that time we didn’t really even have prayer meetings outside the normal services. This led in a round about way with me being asked to go to help at a youth camp to be held in August in the dales around Settle, North Yorkshire. As a family we were poor, no money for camps. A small miracle of provision took place, unexpected income which meant I could go.

I remember arriving at the camp a few days early to help the pastor set up the tents. The scenery was stunning, I remember laying in my tent with my head sticking out from under the side looking at the stars in the night sky. I felt like I could reach out and grab hold of them.

Jill arrived with her younger brother Nick and a friend of hers from school. I think she was 14 and had the most beautiful face and bright red hair. Nick shared my tent and I quickly got to like him. I remember teasing Jill during the week as teenage boys do to teenage girls and thinking that she had a great sense of fun.

That week changed the course of my life. I had been a smoker for two years and stopped overnight, I was ‘on fire’ for God and excited at the reality of faith. I went back to school and within a few weeks two of my friends made commitments. We started a Christian meeting led by a teacher and other friends joined. Where I was hiding faith, now I was telling everyone.

The church that led the camp was a Pentecostal one. I was told they were weird and extreme and had previously had a bad experience at a meeting I attended. What I had seen and felt at camp gave me the courage to go and try it again. It was a special time in the life of that church. The love of God was real and the Spirit of God moved in His gifts. The pastor was a true man of God worthy of a book to be written about him. It was so joyful to be there at that time.

Just before I attended the camp I had been to some youth meetings there led by a group of bible college students from Birmingham Bible Institute. One of the couples helping out were due to end their study and the wife was heavily pregnant with their first child. Neil the husband became the Assistant Pastor and looked after us all as young people.

As the group grew together we began to do things together in ministry. I could play guitar and had the courage to sing so I kind of led that side of things. Neil and Ruth were lovely people. He was a fiery preacher and a fervent man of prayer. I loved that about him. As young people we would go door to door every week spreading the gospel. There are many funny anecdotes to tell.

Through Jill I was invited to her home. Dave and Dorothy (Dode) had just had a baby son, Christopher. I remember my first visit to them. They said I could go any time. I remember walking around the area they lived in for over an hour before plucking up the courage to knock on the door. I needn’t have worried, they welcomed me with open arms. From that time until I went to Bible School a year later they adopted me as a son and I spent three nights a week there. Jill became a sister to me and I was changed by my first real experience of family. I was taught manners, I could debate and enjoy jokes and laughter. It gave me something that was precious.

As time went on I left the area, they moved church and house, and apart from a couple of encounters at church and weddings that was it. After my divorce to my first wife I had no contact. The strange thing was Dorothy taught all my older children at Primary school and was a strong support to them during the first years of separation.

Jill’s death was a shock and I feel sad. Sad not to have the chance in this life to catch up and reminisce. I also can smile at the memories and remember the affection we shared. God knows the answer to why so we need to have faith to trust Him for that. I know I will see her again and we will love each other as never before.

I thank God that He knows who we need and at what time. People are doors and pivot points in life. I ask that I may be a door to someone else.

Bless you Jill. Bless you Moulson family. I love you and thank God for the impact you have had on my life.

Mr Magoo Experience

Are you old enough to remember the Mr Magoo cartoon character. He was someone who was very short-sighted and could hardly see anything, even with his glasses on. I seem to recall there was a film about him with Steve Martin playing the role. Even his car windscreen had prescription glass.

I am not that bad but without my spectacles I can't see well as all. I have a condition which means I am long-sighted in one eye and short-sighted in the other. I also don't have binocular vision and can control which eye I can see out of. The sight in my right eye is now at a place where the lens prescription can't be improved.

Mrs P and our daughter Jenny have decided to attend keep fit classes, the gym and swimming. This decision also affects me as I am told I need to go along too. I confess that exercise for its own sake bores me so it is a discipline that I don't relish.

Out if the three evils swimming is the least painful for me, or so I thought. I have not swam in earnest for several years so I was not looking forward too it. I hate the getting changed bit and trying to make sure that you don't get the clothes you are putting back on wet in the process which I am not very good at. I got into the changing rooms, got changed, put my things in a locker and put the key on the wristband around my wrist. I was ready. Only problem was I had no glasses on and I hadn't worked out the direction that I needed to go in before putting them away in the locker. Instinctively I headed back in the direction I came thinking I'll find my way from there. As I passed several guys on the way I thought they looked at me strangely. That's not unusual so I continued.. out of the doors and back into the reception area. I was stood in my swimming trunks on a dark winter's evening in the middle of the reception. Realising my mistake I fumbled my way back, past the guys who had given me strange looks who were now sniggering. Eventually I found the route to the pool, managed to see my wife's waving arms (good job it wasn't someone drowning and asking for help) that indicated to me where she was in the water and quickly joined her. I can testify that getting older does mean you are less embarrassed, if I was younger I would have got dressed quickly and left vowing never to go back.

I did enjoy the swimming and realised how unfit I've become, especially the next day. I've been back since and am beginning to feel the benefit of exercise.

As I thought about the incident, laughing at myself in the process, it reminded me what the Bible says about people who don't know Christ personally. It says they are blind. I walk in my faith being able to see the things of God because my spiritual eyes have been opened. They can't see those things.

What should my attitude be to those who don't see what I see. Do I shout at them, blame them for walking into things. Do I snigger at them because its obvious to me they are lost? No. I try to guide them, speak truth in love to them, show them the way as one who was once blind. I am saved by grace. Once I was lost too.

It would have only taken one word from someone who saw my plight to put me in the right direction. Maybe all it will take is one word from you and I to direct people to Christ. It could make an eternal difference to someone.

I want one of those

I have just got back from a weekend ministry trip in London where I met up with several guys from Harvester Church, Cape Town including Apostle André Pelser.

It was a great weekend of fun, fellowship and ministry, despite having to endure the embarrassing spectacle of the England verses South Africa match with three South Africans.

As I journeyed back on the tube I saw a poster for a website entitled 'I want want of those.com'. What a contrast to the weekend's blessing. A website that clearly is enticing people to buy not what they need but what they want even if they can't afford it. I began to think of how many families at this particular time are going to go into debt at Christmas because of 'I want one of those' mentalities.

As a child I was told never to ask for things or I wouldn't get them. That continued into my parenting of children too. I then realised that even this was an extreme that wasn't right. As a father I should want my kids to enjoy life and teach them that sometimes we do receive rewards from those who love us. I have learned that my heavenly Father also rewards and delights in His children and sometimes for no apparent reason He just blesses us. I revel in His delight in me and it is such a strength and comfort.

The Bible is full of wisdom concerning money and materialism. Good advice that will help us to prosper in the correct way. Even this divine book has been used in an extreme way. Some of the teaching on prosperity has more to do with 'I want one of those' than 'My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory" (Philippians 4:19). In the full context Paul tells us about how he handles need and plenty:-

10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
14 Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress. 15 Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. 16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. 18 Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. 19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Paul found a place of contentment in need and plenty. He was glad their care had revived for him but this wasn't the basis for that contentment. His contentment was in his relationship with Christ. His strength for living was from Christ.

Things are nice to have, although most things we get for Christmas are forgotten in a few days.

What do I want for Christmas? I want to find that same place that Paul found. A place in Christ where He strengthens me and I am content in that

Endurance

One word has been running around in my brain for the past couple of weeks and that is the word, 'endure'. It seems that is not a popular concept these days. If you look at advertising you will see that most products are quick fixes, or have a 'get want you want today' message attached. I can't help thinking that a lot of the economic problems that we are currently seeing have something of a 'have it today' rather than 'save and wait' thought behind them.

I confess that I have also in the past fallen into the trap of buy today and afford it tomorrow. When I gave up my job to give God room to do what He wanted with my time that had to go. I no longer had the big salary so had to think long term if we needed to buy things.

This past week Mrs P got a new job which she starts in January. She has been in her present role in teaching at the same school since 1992. She has endured a lot. The school was badly run at one point and got into trouble with the inspectors. A new Head arrived and had to make many unpleasant changes. Many of the teachers left, they took sideways moves to get out of the stress of change. My wife decided to endure. She made the adjustments and learnt from it how to be a better teacher. She gained a role in Senior Management and now after being there 16 years has gained a Deputy Head position at a different school. She endured, counted the cost and learned how to be better. Her reward was promotion.

Endurance is about going through things rather than round them. To put up with things for a season. I find God is a long term planner and along the way He expects us to endure hardships and suffer trials which produce in us something that can't be produced any other way.

Jesus gave some solid advice in Matthew 6:28 to 34

“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

In the prayer we call the Lord's Prayer, He talks about daily bread. Literally that means, 'today's bread'. So He was saying we should ask for today's bread today.

It is hard to remain focused on today's issues. We do need to plan but all we can do is plan in preparation for tomorrow. If we began to think too much about tomorrow we get anxious and worry sets in. Mrs P and I try and ask God for today things as much as we can. That way if things come that we need to face today we do it knowing God is in it somewhere. It may call for endurance rather than asking for a 'quick solution'.

Today's issues are sufficient. When we suffer we need to endure it. Its not easy and is against most of the thinking of today. I am getting to the age where I have been through one or two recessions. I remember in the 1970's interest rates of 15% for mortgages and inflation running at a high of 26%! I recall not being able to get a job when I left the ministry in the 1980's because unemployment was several million. If we learn to endure then we will come out the other side different.

God promises us the basic needs for today: food, clothes and drink. I can trust God for a day's provision at least.

Paul exhorts Timothy in his apostolic letter, 'Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus' (2 Timothy 2:3)

We are in a fight as Christians. We are opposed by the god if this world. We though, have overcome by the blood of the lamb and we can stand against those things that come against us.

Endure hardship, it has its own rewards.

Meeting old friends

This weekend was a time of meeting up with friends we haven't seen for a while. They are missionaries in France and God has allowed us to work together over the past few years. Some of you will know Wayne and Wendy and their work in St Etienne. It was great to remind ourselves of what we found together and what in each other makes the friendship important.

It brought excitement to us all, especially my daughter who was thrilled to meet them again. We planned a meal for other mutual friends so invited Wayne and Wendy to join us. Nine for dinner, my wife excelled herself. It was good to catch up and enjoy the witty banter that always occurs whenever Wayne and I get together.

I remember a few years ago joining Friends Reunited. Its a social network on the Internet that allows you add details about yourself, your school, workplace etc. As other people list their details you discover people you haven't seen for years. It was this that fired my curiosity to seek out my best friend from school, Stephen. We were really close for most of Grammar school until he left and I continued into Sixth Form. I eventually tracked him down and rang him. It was almost thirty years since I had spoken to him. A little while later I was on a business trip and stayed in the area where he lived. We arranged to meet in a local pub for a drink and to catch up. I remember being really excited and full of expectation. The person who greeted me was not what I expected, I was still thinking in terms of a thirty year old image of him. In walked someone in his late forties, balding and much heavier than the stick insect he used to be. It was at that point that I realised I too had changed. Grey hair, also no longer wafer thin as I was in those days, and a lifetime of events that had resulted in who I am now. As we talked, things like familiar mannerisms and expressions brought recollections of what it was like back then. It was a great time of catching up but I quickly realised that that was all it was going to be, a past schoolboy friendship. We send Christmas cards and that's about it.

I learned that Godly friendships have a divine purpose to them. They run to a divine drumbeat. Sometimes there is intensity and at other times they are just keeping time. These kind of friendships are led by God in their direction and even after many months apart you can pick up where you left off without missing a beat. That's what it was like with Wayne and Wendy.

Jesus wants us to enter into friendship with Him but there is a price. True friendship costs. It can be inconvenient as well as pleasant. True friendship is serving the other and seeking their best. Out of that heart true friends bring precious wounds at times but it is worth it.

Safe Pair Of Hands

When I was at school I played for the 1st 11 football team in various positions but for a while I was goalkeeper. I was deemed to have a safe pair of hands. It is an unenviable position. You are many times the last line of defence and if you had a bad day it was likely the team lost. A lot of responsibility.

I read an article about the singer Britney Spears, not that I am a fan but I feel compassion for her. She has messed up quite a bit in life. I can empathise with that. Her mess is public. I read today that they have extended the control that her father James has over her affairs. He is the safe pair of hands the judge has entrusted things to. She no longer has control of her finances or career until the judge says so. It seems that most things Britney has touched she has lost control of, even her children. Today I noticed she won three awards at the MTV ceremony in Los Angeles. In true American style she thanked, "God first and foremost for just blessing me like this". She had done well and praised God for it. That is a good sentiment. I sighed inside as I said a silent prayer for her, 'if only you had put God in control of your life, He is a safe pair of hands.'

I have discovered the safe hands of God many times. I usually find that when things have gone badly its because I chose to take back control of the life I surrendered to him at the age of 10. Like Paul says in Romans 7:19, "For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice". He goes on to say that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.

I am learning to reject that condemnation that comes whenever I sin. Its not God's voice. The Holy Spirit convinces me that I have sinned but also inspired me to go back to the Father trusting in the work of Christ. Jesus deserves the right to take my life in His hands. He stretched them out willingly, allowing them to be pierced so that I could be set free from sin. The true gospel is not asking Jesus into your heart, that's not a scriptural concept. The true gospel is the complete surrender of my life into the control of God - my safe pair of hands.

Surrendering your will, decision-making and control of your life goes against everything in us that is flesh. To truly die to self and take up our cross is painful and will cost us everything BUT its the only safe way to live.

Deuteronomy 33:27 is a great verse that tells us of our security: "The eternal God is our refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms; He will thrust out the enemy from before you and will say, 'Destroy'"

He is not just a place to go when we need comfort or protection. Its a place to live in. There is a place of rest and here it is. In His safe hands we can rest. He will dispel those things that seek to attack us and proclaim their destruction. Its not easy to just rest in God. We are not taught to rest these days but to wrestle. God wrestles on our behalf.

Thank you God for being my 'safe pair of hands'.

Laying it down

Long time no posts. Just after my last one I was in South Africa for three weeks in lions enclosures and riding on elephants (no joke). Since then I have been organising gatherings and helping with a conference in Scotland. In the middle of all that I have had a bad ankle which left me unable to drive or walk for a month. Painful and frustrating, there is only so much Loose Women a man can take. Being laid up has its advantages. At first the pain was bad but later after that was controlled it gives you time to meditate and think about where you are going and what you are doing. I have learned that suffering is part of God's economy. It is something that eventually you learn to embrace.

A friend once told me about the 5 T's; trouble, temptation, trials, tests and tribulation. They are all different and have differing impacts no us. Sadly one strand of the Church sees suffering as 'lack of faith' and yet Jesus suffered much even unjustly. All of these things can be a distraction and something that can take your life out of alignment from God's plan. I am learning that even in the worst of times I can have a rejoicing spirit and discover the truth of the joy of the Lord as my strength. It doesn't mean that's easy but then no-one said it would be.

I have laid down my life for Christ and the sake of the gospel. It may seem a noble thing but Jesus said this is what we would have to do if we are to follow Him. At the conference I attended in Scotland someone testified that they had seen a vision of a cobbled bridge and their face was on one of the stones. At first they were upset and didn't want to be walked over but then they realised the vision was about laying your life down for Christ and His kingdom. The Lord spoke to me through that picture. I realised that the stone had no say in where it was placed, it surrenders to the will of the bridge builder. If a stone is prominent and protrudes then it is a danger to those walking over it. People stumble over protruding stones. If you lay your life down then maybe you will not be prominent but you will be significant. Each stone is significant to the strength of the bridge.

Jesus said in John 12 verses 24 to 26

Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.

The grain needs to become obscure before it can produce a harvest. This is true kingdom gospel. Not easy, contains some moments of suffering but its an eternal perspective that we need to have. We live forever.

Paul says that the small amount we suffer in this life is not worthy to be compared to the glory that shall be revealed in us.

Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow.

Friendship

I am so fortunate to have many special friends. We attended a baptism last evening and I was reminded how many people support and care for us as a family. This is a precious thing. Friends are people you can count on to bring comfort, laughter, joy and sometimes correction into your life.

I remember the first 'best' friend I made. It was a school pal called Stephen Dagnall. I was never one for many friends but he was one who was special. I am afraid our alliance started as smoking colleagues behind the chemistry labs, not the best way. His dad managed a public house in a village about five or six miles away and I used to visit quite a bit at weekends and holidays using my bike as a means of transport. I remember the long steep hill which going was a pain but coming back was a delight. This friendship opened me up to many joyful experiences - hay making, learning the process of pasteurising milk and the joys of wondering across fields just enjoying good company. He left school a year before I did and so the friendship ended. I tracked him down a few years ago and we met up almost thirty years since we left school. It was enough to meet the once and now we exchange Christmas cards. The friendship was for a time and that time passed.

Friends come in different types. I suppose my current best friend and forever best friend is my wife. She is stable, solid, always there for me and gives me the grace and love I need to do what I do. The friendship grew out of the attraction and chemistry of falling in love with her and is far more precious now than ever before.

My oldest friend who I still count as a friend is Anita who now lives in Holland. We don't see each other for years but the shared memories and knowledge of each other means that we can easily pick up where we left off. It still needs the occasional e-mail or phone call to remind each other but it will always be there.

I was never one for many friends but as I have grown older I have accumulated a lot more. Perhaps its easier to make friends and sustain friendships as you grow older. I have 54 friends who support the work I do in prayer. That is very special and a great privilege. Too many to mention by name.

I know that my greatest friend is my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The bible tells me that He is one who is closer than a brother and that is so true. I am constantly telling Him I love Him. I find myself doing that many times a day. Something inside me just wants to reach out to Him and express my love and gratitude for all He does and is doing in me and around me and for my family and friends.

A good friend is hard to find and I now have so many. I thank God for friendship.