Thursday, December 12

Personal Life

Staying authentic in a conflicted world
Leadership, Personal Life, Uncategorized

Staying authentic in a conflicted world

Recent years have reshaped how we need to approach the world, our lives and ministry. I'm not just talking about the effects of the pandemic, but also shifts in sociological norms, the savage pressures of media on Churches and the shifting expectations from within ourselves. We need to navigate this well as our future success and well being will hinge on it. It has been my observation that there are some fundamentals we need to keep in shape in order for us to stay strong in the midst of these onslaughts. These observations, I trust, will help us live free of internal conflict or division, hence why I use the word 'authentic' to describe them. Authenticity in its purist sense is being the real deal. It is a behaviour that is integrated within oneself. A person who is w...
What on earth am I here to do?
Personal Life, Uncategorized

What on earth am I here to do?

In the background are all the usual party sounds, the bustling of glasses, coffee cups and chatter.  Music is faintly penetrating these sounds to bring an ambiance to the evening. Yet through this are the tones of Lizby talking to a couple of people.  I can’t make out exactly what she is saying, but I know it’s her voice, I know her tone, her vocal rhythm and intonations.  I can even tell the mood of the conversation.  She is so familiar to me it isn’t difficult to hear this through all the other background noises. There is an echo in our spirit.  It’s a heavenly sound, which is why it is sometimes so quiet, it sounds different to other sounds, it is not pushy but it is insistent, it doesn’t take over, but it can consume, it isn’t a demand, but it is a call
The Blessing of Wisdom
Personal Life

The Blessing of Wisdom

A short Bible study encouragement on Ephesians 1:3 and bouncing into Proverbs 9 and 10. Talking about the spiritual blessing connected to wisdom. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3JIlH6LQrQ
Seek God …
Personal Life, Uncategorized

Seek God …

He revealed his character to Moses and his deeds to the people of Israel. The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. Psalm 103:7,8 An interesting differentiation between the aspect of God that Moses got to see, and what everyone else got to see. Moses intentionally sought the face of God. He longed for the presence of God, he desired to know God deeply personally. In this search God was able to reveal to Him, who He is - His character. Moses called on God "Show me your glory" (Exodus 33). And God did, He visited Moses with His presence and revealed His character - compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in love - the statement God used of Himself - revealed to Moses, not everyone else. For others, all they got to see was the ou...
The Royal Law
Leadership, Personal Life, Uncategorized

The Royal Law

If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbour as yourself,” you are doing right. James 2:8 NIV The ROYAL law - to love others, whoever they might be, from whatever background, broken, whole, … this is dignity, this is carrying ourselves with honour, because we give honour.  There is no more supreme act of faith. When we love someone as ourselves we are showing 'royal' behaviour. It's supreme, it trumps all other behaviours, it is how disciples show the world that we are followers of Jesus, by our love for one another. It is how our communities discover a love that is beyond normal. I like to put it like this, we are here to be the hope on every street. How can I be hope to my street?  By being the pastor to my street - given the royal law, o