Happy New Year

Happy New Year folks... I realise I'm a little late, but I've been away from my keyboard celebrating and procrastinating in equal measures.

I was thinking yesterday about a friend who I gave a scripture to, towards the end of last year. They had been convicted about something in their life that God was calling them away from and hadn't been taking it seriously (I myself had a similar experience just prior to that, which is why I felt burdened to share the scripture).

The passage was from Haggai. God sends his prophet to the people of Jerusalem and urges them to rebuild the temple; however, he also warns them to "give careful thought" about doing it. You see, this wasn't the first time the people had begun to rebuild the temple; they had attempted it previously but had abandoned their efforts at the first sign of adversity and had divided up the resources they were going to use for God's house and decorated their own homes instead.

The reason I've felt compelled to write about it now, is that recently I've felt that I've been placed in a couple of situations where I know exactly how God was feeling there... and it's not comfortable at all.

Of course, my thoughts and personal feelings pale in significance compared to God's. We really do take God for granted. We receive in good faith all the things he gives us by his grace... and we think very little about the cost - both costs. What I mean by that, is that we glaze over what God did for us in the past to bring us into a relationship with him; all too easily. At the same time, we show very little regard for what he might be calling us to do in response to the fact that he blesses us so abundantly. We are so one sided and we don't think for a moment about how our attitude affects God's heart.

I'm starting to understand that this is what lies at the core of what the Bible calls being lukewarm:

"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."

Revelation 3:15-20

You know... God is SO gracious and he gives us so many more chances than we deserve... and I'm not just talking about the unsaved, I'm completely including Christians in that. We are reluctant labourers. We think only of ourselves. We are wretched. God's love is too often unrequited and we really do need to change our hearts with regard to that.

Maybe at New Year, you made a resolution... or somewhere deep in your heart you know he is challenging you with regard to something. I urge you not to ignore it or treat it casually, instead take it seriously and don't be half hearted about it... it's not fair to treat people that way and it is certainly not right to treat God in that manner, when he has given us infinitely more than any human.

I feel like Jude, I wanted to write something light about this being the start of a new year full of hope,potential and how wonderful God is. Make no mistake God is wonderful... this is a new year... but I felt God was asking me to write this more somber message in conjunction with the way I have been feeling.

I do pray you have a blessed year... in addition to the blessings God has already richly lavished upon us all.

Happy 2008!

Two Viewpoints

It occurred to me today that often we fall into one of two types of flawed behaviour, when it comes to how we live out our lives.

The first type are "the grass is always greener" crowd. People who follow this path, have little conviction when it comes to commitment and loyalty, if a better offer comes along... they are off to pastures new.

The second type are the "you made your own bed, lie in it" crowd. I know all about them! In the past, that is the group I have most closely associated with. These are people who value loyalty and commitment so highly that if they make the wrong choice, they stubbornly refuse to get out and instead try to make the best of a bad deal.

The sensible people are those who fall in between... but I wonder in reality, how many people that actually amounts to. It would come as no surprise to me if they were in the minority.

I have a problem with the first group I mentioned... I don't like it when people act like locusts, especially in matters of friendship and relationships. I find it unacceptable that a person can come along, strip mine another individual for all their goodness and then leave them when the next best thing comes along. It is wrong. How does a person justify such an attitude in their own heart? Of course the truth is that it probably never crosses their mind... and for that... if it weren't for the terrible damage they cause to others by their behaviour, perhaps they would have more of my pity.

However the second group, the one I have followed in the past... don't believe in hurting others, they don't understand that there are times when it is OK to get out... that sometimes staying is the wrong option. If you are slowly being devoured in body mind or spirit through a friendship or relationship... I think it is OK to escape.

True friendships and relationships are built on symbiosis (two or more separate individuals working together to benefit one another). Too often we can fall into the trap of parasitic relationships - where one party takes advantage of the other.

I strongly encourage you to think carefully before making a big decision either way about your relations with others. If you are thinking of walking out on someone, ask yourself why. Ask yourself is it really worth it. Ask yourself if you are thinking of what is best for both people, or if you are just trying to have your cake and eat it.

Similarly if you are on the receiving end, if you are in a relationship with someone where you feel obligated to helping them, ask yourself if you are really helping them by spoon feeding them. Are you losing sight of yourself, do you feel like you are slowly dying inside? Don't needlessly commit yourself down a path from which there is little or no escape.

Essentially all I'm asking you is if it is a two way thing. There is an old Korean parable of a soldier who dreams he dies and is shown Heaven and Hell. In Hell, he sees men and women wailing in despair because they are given impossibly long chopsticks with which to eat. In Heaven, the people have happy faces... and yet they have exactly the same chopsticks. the difference is in their attitude. In Hell, the people are trying to feed themselves... in Heaven they are feeding one another.

Are you getting fat off what other people feed you, whilst neglecting to return the favour?

Or are you being fed at all... or are you giving all your food away without receiving nourishment?

Please think about these questions, your long term future may one day depend on it.

Regards and blessings

Nick

Amen

The following poem is by Adrian Plass. I felt it appropriate to share it on Good Friday, it is a challenge to us to really considfer the cost of discipleship and take up our own cross:

When I became a Christian I said, Lord, now fill me in,

Tell me what I'll suffer in this world of shame and sin.

He said, your body may be killed, and left to rot and stink,

Do you still want to follow me? I said Amen - I think.

I think Amen, Amen I think, I think I say Amen,

I'm not completely sure, can you just run through that again?

You say my body may be killed and left to rot and stink,

Well, yes, that sounds terrific, Lord, I say Amen - I think.

But, Lord, there must be other ways to follow you, I said,

I really would prefer to end up dying in my bed.

Well, yes, he said, you could put up with the sneers and scorn and spit,

Do you still want to follow me? I said Amen - a bit.

A bit Amen, Amen a bit, a bit I say Amen,

I'm not entirely sure, can we just run through that again?

You say I could put up with sneers and also scorn and spit,

Well, yes, I've made my mind up, and I say, Amen - a bit.

Well I sat back and thought a while, then tried a different ploy,

Now, Lord, I said, the Good book says that Christians live in joy.

That's true he said, you need the joy to bear the pain and sorrow,

So do you want to follow me, I said, Amen - tomorrow.

Tomorrow, Lord, I'll say it then, that's when I'll say Amen,

I need to get it clear, can I just run through that again?

You say that I will need to joy, to bear the pain and sorrow,

Well, yes, I think I've got it straight, I'll say Amen - tomorrow.

He said, Look, I'm not asking you to spend an hour with me

A quick salvation sandwich and a cup of sanctity,

The cost is you, not half of you, but every single bit,

Now tell me, will you follow me? I said Amen - I quit.

I'm very sorry Lord I said, I'd like to follow you,

But I don't think religion is a manly thing to do.

He said forget religion then, and think about my Son,

And tell me if you're man enough to do what he has done.
Are you man enough to see the need, and man enough to go,

Man enough to care for those whom no one wants to know,

Man enough to say the thing that people hate to hear,

To battle through Gethsemane in loneliness and fear.

And listen! Are you man enough to stand it at the end,

The moment of betrayal by the kisses of a friend,

Are you man enough to hold your tongue, and man enough to cry?

When nails break your body-are you man enough to die?

Man enough to take the pain, and wear it like a crown,

Man enough to love the world and turn it upside down,

Are you man enough to follow me, I ask you once again?

I said, Oh Lord, I'm frightened, but I also said Amen.

Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen; Amen, Amen, Amen,

I said, Oh Lord, I'm frightened, but I also said, Amen.

I just want to say thank you to Jesus for being man enough to pass through Gethsemane... to endure the cross for salvation.... mine and yours. The cross has said it all. As Jesus said, it is finished.... completely completed... the great Amen.

Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?" Luke 9:23-25

As I said the other day, enjoy your life... but enjoy it in context. The lives we live today are merely the tip of an iceberg that runs into eternity. You cannot see eternity, but it is there nonetheless. Don't sacrifice that which is eternal for that which is temporary. The Bible speaks of wisdom being supreme and that though it may cost you all you have, it is worth attaining. How much more so is salvation? Accepting the free redemption offered by Christ is the highest wisdom.

For he is no fool

Who gives what he cannot keep

To gain what he cannot lose