Douglas Bader lost both his legs in a flying accident. Yet he returned to the RAF at the beginning of the Second World War to become Britain’s most famous airman and hero. According to his biography “Reach for the Sky”, Bader led his squadron of Spitfires to kill after kill, keeping his subordinates going with unstoppable banter and encouragement. Shot down in occupied France, his German captors had to confiscate his tin legs in order to stop him trying to escape. But Bader faced it all, disability, leadership and capture, with a charm, charisma and determination that was to become an inspiration to all around him.
What was it that drove this on-in- a-million man to such incredible achievements? Paul Brickhill, the author of Reach for the Sky, answers the question in this way: “[Bader] always thought he had to go on proving himself. It was never conscious. The exterior was always masterful but underneath hid the little demon born in him, aggravated in his childhood and again when he lost his legs. He just had to be better than anyone to find the deepest and unconsidered assurance”.
The over-arching goal of Douglas Bader’s life was to prove that he amounted to something. Right through school and into adulthood, Bader had many goals. He aspired to play first team cricket, rugby and boxing, all of which he captained. If he hadn’t crashed, he would probably have played for England against the Springboks in 1931. He was selected for the elite RAF aerobics team. Yet all of these goals contributed to the over-arching goal of proving that he amounted to something.
Which goals are setting the course of your life? Where are you investing your time, energy and resources? What keeps you awake at night and gets you going in the morning? Do you have an over-arching life-goal?
The Apostle Paul’s life-goal was to know Christ. He wrote: “But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead (Phil 3:7-11).”
Perhaps you know Jesus as the one who changed you on the inside and gave you new life. Maybe you are “in Christ” because you now have the Spirit in you. But are you beginning to know Jesus as your boss? Are you learning to walk in obedience to Him every day of your life? This was Paul’s supreme goal in life. What is yours? If your goals are anything like mine, you will need to make some adjustments!
Cheers for now - Ian
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Thursday, November 24, 2011
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Reminders are important
Reminders can keep one out of trouble. My phone revs like a Harley Davidson to remind me of Gail’s birthday. It plays the eine kleine nachtmusik on marimbas a week before our wedding anniversary. As you can see, Steve Jobs has done his bit to keep my marriage on track!
Then there are those cars that boing melodiously when you have forgotten to plug your seatbelt in. Such reminders are particularly prolific, I have discovered, in cars with “limited” emblazoned on the side. Though I have never worked out in what way such cars are limited. And why brag about it if your car is limited anyway?
Well, so much for everyday reminders that keep us out of trouble. But I recently came across an impassioned reminder in Paul’s letter to the Philippians. It is a reminder to put your confidence in the right place (Phil 3:1-11).
Nothing gives us confidence for this life and the next like “the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (v8). The “knowing” spoken of here means two things: 1) accepting that God saved you through faith in Jesus alone, and 2) putting Jesus in the driver’s seat of your life. It is about being put right with God by believing in Jesus and as a result striving to live daily in faithful obedience to God and His Word.
Yet many people – especially those that “believe in God” – put their faith in a false confidence. Like trapeze artists, they are in freefall, hoping that one day God will catch them and reward them with eternal life. The basis for their confidence is that they always try to obey the Golden Rule; they never willingly hurt anybody else; they are GOOD people; they even may go to church or they may have a “private religion”.
I am sure that you know people like this. Sadly, their confidence is no confidence at all. They are depending on a system corrupted by human weakness, frailty and a tendency to sin – in short a fleshly system. Such people need to be changed on the inside. Like the Judaizers of old, they are depending on something external when what they need is an internal “circumcision of the heart”.
This brings me to today’s reminder. If you have friends, colleagues or family members with a false confidence, do not be lulled into a false sense of security over their eternal destination. It is tempting to start believing that good is good enough for God. It isn’t. Keep praying! Seize every opportunity! Don’t give up hope!
Cheers for now - Ian
Then there are those cars that boing melodiously when you have forgotten to plug your seatbelt in. Such reminders are particularly prolific, I have discovered, in cars with “limited” emblazoned on the side. Though I have never worked out in what way such cars are limited. And why brag about it if your car is limited anyway?
Well, so much for everyday reminders that keep us out of trouble. But I recently came across an impassioned reminder in Paul’s letter to the Philippians. It is a reminder to put your confidence in the right place (Phil 3:1-11).
Nothing gives us confidence for this life and the next like “the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (v8). The “knowing” spoken of here means two things: 1) accepting that God saved you through faith in Jesus alone, and 2) putting Jesus in the driver’s seat of your life. It is about being put right with God by believing in Jesus and as a result striving to live daily in faithful obedience to God and His Word.
Yet many people – especially those that “believe in God” – put their faith in a false confidence. Like trapeze artists, they are in freefall, hoping that one day God will catch them and reward them with eternal life. The basis for their confidence is that they always try to obey the Golden Rule; they never willingly hurt anybody else; they are GOOD people; they even may go to church or they may have a “private religion”.
I am sure that you know people like this. Sadly, their confidence is no confidence at all. They are depending on a system corrupted by human weakness, frailty and a tendency to sin – in short a fleshly system. Such people need to be changed on the inside. Like the Judaizers of old, they are depending on something external when what they need is an internal “circumcision of the heart”.
This brings me to today’s reminder. If you have friends, colleagues or family members with a false confidence, do not be lulled into a false sense of security over their eternal destination. It is tempting to start believing that good is good enough for God. It isn’t. Keep praying! Seize every opportunity! Don’t give up hope!
Cheers for now - Ian
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Some good news from ZImbabwe
Having heard about the recent violence at a political rally it Chitungwisa, you are probably wondering whether there is anything positive going on in Zimbabwe. I would like to share the testimony of somebody from my congregation in order to encourage you.
Jane (not her real name) is involved in Alpha Zimbabwe, who ran what was called a Prison GAT in August. Yes, I kid you not – a Prison GAT! Now I know that sounds like some sort of firearm designed to keep prisoners in order, but actually it means: Prison Global Alpha Training. A Prison GAT is a course designed to train prison Chaplains to run Alpha courses in prison. Right, now that we have cleared that up, it is worth noting that the Prison GAT was a great success, attended by over 70 prison chaplains from all over Zimbabwe, four of whom gave their lives to the Lord and were born again. It helps when chaplains are actually Christians!
So the Prison GAT took place in August. But what has been happening in the prisons since then? Let us turn our attention now to John (you guessed – not his real name). John is a friend of Jane, and he lives near a small Zimbabwean town. In a telephone conversation with Jane last Friday, he related the following story:
John had been having trouble with a local n’anga or spirit medium, who was eventually arrested and imprisoned because of the trouble she gave him. However, John received a call from the Chaplain of the prison to say that the n’anga had been born again, and now she would like to ask John for forgiveness. So John headed off somewhat reluctantly to prison where he was in for a powerful surprise.
Not only had the n’anga been born again, but as a result of the Alpha course that the Chaplain was running in the prison, so had many of the prisoners too. In fact, the prisoners sang worship songs non-stop whilst John was visiting the prison. The Chaplain said that the prisoners have taken to singing in their cells for long periods of time. One cell will begin a chorus; the next will pick up the descant and so on until the whole prison sounds like a cathedral.
John was deeply moved. And so was Jane when she heard about it. “There were prison chaplains from all over the country at the GAT, and if this is what is happening in one prison, what is happening elsewhere in the country?” What indeed? Perhaps God will use prisoners to spearhead revival and transformation in Zimbabwe? After all, He does have a way of using the "foolish" things to confound the "wise".
Cheers for now - Ian
Jane (not her real name) is involved in Alpha Zimbabwe, who ran what was called a Prison GAT in August. Yes, I kid you not – a Prison GAT! Now I know that sounds like some sort of firearm designed to keep prisoners in order, but actually it means: Prison Global Alpha Training. A Prison GAT is a course designed to train prison Chaplains to run Alpha courses in prison. Right, now that we have cleared that up, it is worth noting that the Prison GAT was a great success, attended by over 70 prison chaplains from all over Zimbabwe, four of whom gave their lives to the Lord and were born again. It helps when chaplains are actually Christians!
So the Prison GAT took place in August. But what has been happening in the prisons since then? Let us turn our attention now to John (you guessed – not his real name). John is a friend of Jane, and he lives near a small Zimbabwean town. In a telephone conversation with Jane last Friday, he related the following story:
John had been having trouble with a local n’anga or spirit medium, who was eventually arrested and imprisoned because of the trouble she gave him. However, John received a call from the Chaplain of the prison to say that the n’anga had been born again, and now she would like to ask John for forgiveness. So John headed off somewhat reluctantly to prison where he was in for a powerful surprise.
Not only had the n’anga been born again, but as a result of the Alpha course that the Chaplain was running in the prison, so had many of the prisoners too. In fact, the prisoners sang worship songs non-stop whilst John was visiting the prison. The Chaplain said that the prisoners have taken to singing in their cells for long periods of time. One cell will begin a chorus; the next will pick up the descant and so on until the whole prison sounds like a cathedral.
John was deeply moved. And so was Jane when she heard about it. “There were prison chaplains from all over the country at the GAT, and if this is what is happening in one prison, what is happening elsewhere in the country?” What indeed? Perhaps God will use prisoners to spearhead revival and transformation in Zimbabwe? After all, He does have a way of using the "foolish" things to confound the "wise".
Cheers for now - Ian
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Filled with the Spirit
Have you ever wondered what it means to be filled with the Spirit? I mean... the Holy Spirit is a person. Surely I have as much of Him as I will ever get. So what is Paul getting at when he commands, “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:18)”?
The fact that Paul contrasts being drunk on wine and being filled with the Spirit implies that there is something common to both experiences. What is it?
A person that is drunk on wine has yielded control of his body to alcohol. So perhaps being filled with the Spirit is asking the Spirit to control your life.
This proposition seems to make sense, but does it accord well with Paul’s theology of the Holy Spirit? I think it does. Romans 8 – for example - contains references to being controlled by the Spirit. Here are two examples: 1) “The mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace (v6)” and 2) “You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. (v9)”
Incidentally, the second example dispels any temptation to believe that a person can be a Christian and yet not have the Holy Spirit in them. So it would be wrong to believe that the Holy Spirit enters a person some time after he has been born again – for example, when he is “filled with the Spirit”.
So far, our proposition fits well with some other Biblical teaching on the subject. But does it fit with the grammar? The form of the Greek “be filled” verb tells us three things: 1) it is a command, 2) God does the filling, and 3) the filling must happen on a daily basis. None of these compromise our proposition that being filled with the Spirit is asking the Spirit to control your life. It worth noting, however, that since God does the filling, we should: 1) ask Him to take control of our lives through the Spirit, and 2) we should do it on a daily basis. This is why Jesus taught us to pray “thy will be done”.
Yielding control of your life to God is a process. You should pray for the Holy Spirit to take control every day, yielding control as He leads and guides. Allow Him to take the keys to every room in your life. Don’t leave Him in the entrance hall and deny Him access elsewhere.
Therefore, being filled with the Spirit is asking God to take control of your life through the Spirit on a daily basis. Remember, you have as much of the Spirit as you will ever have, but how much of YOU does the Spirit have?
Cheers for now - Ian
The fact that Paul contrasts being drunk on wine and being filled with the Spirit implies that there is something common to both experiences. What is it?
A person that is drunk on wine has yielded control of his body to alcohol. So perhaps being filled with the Spirit is asking the Spirit to control your life.
This proposition seems to make sense, but does it accord well with Paul’s theology of the Holy Spirit? I think it does. Romans 8 – for example - contains references to being controlled by the Spirit. Here are two examples: 1) “The mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace (v6)” and 2) “You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. (v9)”
Incidentally, the second example dispels any temptation to believe that a person can be a Christian and yet not have the Holy Spirit in them. So it would be wrong to believe that the Holy Spirit enters a person some time after he has been born again – for example, when he is “filled with the Spirit”.
So far, our proposition fits well with some other Biblical teaching on the subject. But does it fit with the grammar? The form of the Greek “be filled” verb tells us three things: 1) it is a command, 2) God does the filling, and 3) the filling must happen on a daily basis. None of these compromise our proposition that being filled with the Spirit is asking the Spirit to control your life. It worth noting, however, that since God does the filling, we should: 1) ask Him to take control of our lives through the Spirit, and 2) we should do it on a daily basis. This is why Jesus taught us to pray “thy will be done”.
Yielding control of your life to God is a process. You should pray for the Holy Spirit to take control every day, yielding control as He leads and guides. Allow Him to take the keys to every room in your life. Don’t leave Him in the entrance hall and deny Him access elsewhere.
Therefore, being filled with the Spirit is asking God to take control of your life through the Spirit on a daily basis. Remember, you have as much of the Spirit as you will ever have, but how much of YOU does the Spirit have?
Cheers for now - Ian
Thursday, October 27, 2011
A close shave
Ever had one of those moments when you realise that for a change you actually got it right, but it is impossible to feel proud because you realise how close you came to getting it wrong? I had a similar moment recently. But God’s provision for a good outcome came a few days before in my daily Bible reading:
“The mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace” (Rom. 8:6).
At the time of reading this verse, I was powerfully struck by the result of having a mind controlled by the Spirit. Who is up for a greater dose of life and peace? Don’t know about you, but I could do with heaps more life and peace. In fact, the more life and peace I can get the better.
If I can do with more life and peace, the implication of course is that I should give the Spirit more control of my thinking. But how can I do that? The answer lies in verse 5: I must set my mind on what the Spirit desires.
In the incident I alluded to earlier, it was very tempting to react with anger and frustration. But the Spirit does not desire us to react in anger. Actually, the Spirit says: be slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires (James 1:19-20). An angry reaction pours petrol on the flames.
Another temptation I experienced was to make assumptions, reading into the situation more than I should have because of past experiences and my own insecurities. But the Spirit says: love rejoices with the truth (1 Cor. 13:6). We must ALWAYS try to get the facts and listen to all sides of the story. I guess that is why James said: “My dear brothers, take note of this: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (James 1:19).
In contrast to what the Spirit wants is what the flesh is screaming out for. But we are no longer owned by sin. We need not say yes to the flesh. We can set our minds on what the Spirit desires, and the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. Bring it on Lord!!
Cheers for now - Ian
“The mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace” (Rom. 8:6).
At the time of reading this verse, I was powerfully struck by the result of having a mind controlled by the Spirit. Who is up for a greater dose of life and peace? Don’t know about you, but I could do with heaps more life and peace. In fact, the more life and peace I can get the better.
If I can do with more life and peace, the implication of course is that I should give the Spirit more control of my thinking. But how can I do that? The answer lies in verse 5: I must set my mind on what the Spirit desires.
In the incident I alluded to earlier, it was very tempting to react with anger and frustration. But the Spirit does not desire us to react in anger. Actually, the Spirit says: be slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires (James 1:19-20). An angry reaction pours petrol on the flames.
Another temptation I experienced was to make assumptions, reading into the situation more than I should have because of past experiences and my own insecurities. But the Spirit says: love rejoices with the truth (1 Cor. 13:6). We must ALWAYS try to get the facts and listen to all sides of the story. I guess that is why James said: “My dear brothers, take note of this: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (James 1:19).
In contrast to what the Spirit wants is what the flesh is screaming out for. But we are no longer owned by sin. We need not say yes to the flesh. We can set our minds on what the Spirit desires, and the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. Bring it on Lord!!
Cheers for now - Ian
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Beyond Selfishness
“I have no one quite like Timothy. He is loyal and genuinely concerned for you. Most people around here are looking out for themselves, with little concern for the things of Jesus (Phil 2:20-21 – The Message Translation)”.
From time to time, I am shocked by the degree of self-interest I find in my life. Even things done in the name of Jesus are intended to further my own agenda. Talk about using the Lord’s name in vain! How often do we appear to be working for Jesus but actually it is all about us? Then the there are those who claim the name of Christ without even pretending to be concerned with the things of Jesus. Both conditions are deadly serious.
Currently, my self-interest is expressed in the amount of time I spend “looking in the mirror”. That is to say, I can get preoccupied with what I look like in the eyes of others. Perhaps you can relate to what I am talking about?
Further, I am currently distressed because it looks like God is requiring me to set aside a writing project that has been a long-standing dream of mine. To put it bluntly: people and their needs keep getting in the way of my writing! I can’t seem to put the one above the other! But maybe that is an indication of transformation. Paul’s words about Timothy remind me that concern for the things of Jesus is expressed as a genuine concern for others.
Perhaps God will allow me to continue the project in the future. Maybe then it will be a genuine provision for the needs of others rather than a pandering to my own need for significance or worth. God knows! And He always knows best.
Cheers for now - Ian
From time to time, I am shocked by the degree of self-interest I find in my life. Even things done in the name of Jesus are intended to further my own agenda. Talk about using the Lord’s name in vain! How often do we appear to be working for Jesus but actually it is all about us? Then the there are those who claim the name of Christ without even pretending to be concerned with the things of Jesus. Both conditions are deadly serious.
Currently, my self-interest is expressed in the amount of time I spend “looking in the mirror”. That is to say, I can get preoccupied with what I look like in the eyes of others. Perhaps you can relate to what I am talking about?
Further, I am currently distressed because it looks like God is requiring me to set aside a writing project that has been a long-standing dream of mine. To put it bluntly: people and their needs keep getting in the way of my writing! I can’t seem to put the one above the other! But maybe that is an indication of transformation. Paul’s words about Timothy remind me that concern for the things of Jesus is expressed as a genuine concern for others.
Perhaps God will allow me to continue the project in the future. Maybe then it will be a genuine provision for the needs of others rather than a pandering to my own need for significance or worth. God knows! And He always knows best.
Cheers for now - Ian
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Don't let it happen to you
Israel’s failure to enter the Promised Land has got to be one of the greatest tragedies described in the Bible. However, I think we often consider the failure a tragedy for the wrong reasons. We see in our minds eye an entire generation trudging for forty years in a pall of dust, the very dust that eventually swallowed them up and to which they returned. They never saw the lilies of the valley, the dew of Hermon never sparkled like jewels in their hair nor did they drink beneath the roar of her waterfalls. Flies and heat were their lot as they shrivelled like raisins in the burning sun.
But the real tragedy was that Israel missed out on the purpose that God had for her. Yes, Israel was saved from a terrible slavery, yet her rescue was intended as a means to something else. God was in the process of bringing redemption to mankind, and Israel had a part to play in that redemption. Israel was to become God’s people, and He was to become their King so that they could teach the nations of the world about God, setting the stage for the coming of Jesus.
Israel’s inheritance, therefore, was not ultimately for her own satisfaction. The Promised Land was a place where Israel could meet her divine destiny. It was provided so that Israel would have the means to fulfil God’s divine purpose for her existence. And God’s choice was perfect, for the Land was at the centre of civilisation, placed strategically at the intersection of the world’s greatest trade routes.
So may you see that saving you from slavery to sin was not God’s ultimate intention for your life. He has an inheritance for you. It is an inheritance that will enable you to fulfil God’s purposes. And here’s the thing: the world is literally dying for you to enter your inheritance so that you may start walking in God’s purpose for your life.
Cheers for now - Ian
But the real tragedy was that Israel missed out on the purpose that God had for her. Yes, Israel was saved from a terrible slavery, yet her rescue was intended as a means to something else. God was in the process of bringing redemption to mankind, and Israel had a part to play in that redemption. Israel was to become God’s people, and He was to become their King so that they could teach the nations of the world about God, setting the stage for the coming of Jesus.
Israel’s inheritance, therefore, was not ultimately for her own satisfaction. The Promised Land was a place where Israel could meet her divine destiny. It was provided so that Israel would have the means to fulfil God’s divine purpose for her existence. And God’s choice was perfect, for the Land was at the centre of civilisation, placed strategically at the intersection of the world’s greatest trade routes.
So may you see that saving you from slavery to sin was not God’s ultimate intention for your life. He has an inheritance for you. It is an inheritance that will enable you to fulfil God’s purposes. And here’s the thing: the world is literally dying for you to enter your inheritance so that you may start walking in God’s purpose for your life.
Cheers for now - Ian
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