I always love visiting Tube Station when we're in town. Some great creativity and clear vision going on there. 

This morning a couple from Canada shared about their work with young people in Bangkok, spanning two decades now. It was really inspiring and they had an awesome energy and understanding for where God had placed them. 

But the coolest thing for me was seeing the guy sit back down. Next to him sat his two young daughters. One of whom was Thai, and adopted. She proceeded to cuddle up to her Dad and put her head on his shoulder. 

They have probably seen God do some massive things in Bangkok over the last 20-odd years. But just imagine what might have happened to that little girl if they hadn't adopted her at 6 weeks old. If they had achieved nothing else in all their time there, she would have been enough of a reason for God wanting them out there. 

God is the Father to the fatherless. I think I saw a little glimpse of what that looks like this morning.

The joy of the Lord will be your strength.

It's 6.30am, we've both had an incredibly long and busy week and we are completely knackered. Yet at such an early hour, my wife is dancing around to worship music, using hair straighteners as a microphone.

'For you make me glad by your deeds, Lord; I sing for joy at what your hands have done.' (Psalm 92 v4)

Looks like she gets that :)

'People are unreasonable, illogical and self-centred. Love them anyway. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Do good anyway. If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway. The biggest people with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest people with the smallest minds. Think big anyway. People favour underdogs but follow only top dogs. Fight for the underdog anyway. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway. People really need help, but may attack you if you help them. Help people anyway. Give the world the best you’ve got and you’ll get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.'
 
- The Freedom in Christ Discipleship Course

So, it's a few hours passed 6pm on May 21st. Looks like that nut-job Pastor got it wrong. No surprises there. The Bible clearly tells us that we won't know the day or hour that Jesus comes back, so I dunno how this guy convinced so many that he'd worked it out!? 

What I found most interesting is the fact that so many people are talking about it! Whether the guy was miles off or right on the money, why did it spark such headlines and debate!? 

That's all I'm going to say. Why was it a line spun so effectively!? 

Think about it. The guy got it wrong, but he was right about one thing. 

Jesus will one day come back. 

Dont believe anyone who claims to have worked out when it will happen, but believe the hype, because people have an awe for God deep down that causes this kind of story to spark such media frenzy. 

You could go back to living without giving it a second thought again....or you could start weighing the facts.

God didn't screw up when He made you. He's a Father who loves to parade you.

My Dad prayed for me yesterday. That's pretty cool if you think about for a bit. Not many people are in that kind of position with their Fathers to do that.

Experiencing God is a funny thing. Everyone does it every single moment they're alive, to a certain extent. Breathing, seeing, loving, hoping, moving, laughing, crying. They're all examples of a God experience. 

But then it can go deeper than that; not many people realise it. We tried it yesterday - and it worked! Closer glimpses of God's intentions over your life and His real love.

When people speak of The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit, it's likely that the latter is the forgotten or misunderstood one. But it's that one that's needed to comprehend the first two to us in the first place. Without the Holy Spirit we wouldn't be able to experience the Father & the Son. He's the explanation. 

If your heart is inclined towards experiencing more of God (and I really hope it might be), then sitting and waiting for that explanation from the Holy Spirit is the key. Don't man-make the experience. Don't man-fathom the explanation. 

Like a rushing wind, God the Holy Spirit will meet you with shocking accuracy and gifts that will floor you.

Try. All you need to do is ask for it.

1 John 1 v2-4

The Word of Life appeared right before our eyes; we saw it happen! And now we’re telling you in most sober prose that what we witnessed was, incredibly, this: The infinite Life of God himself took shape before us. We saw it, we heard it, and now we’re telling you so you can experience it along with us, this experience of communion with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. Our motive for writing is simply this: We want you to enjoy this, too. Your joy will double our joy!

Walk in the Light. Don't crawl around in the dark.

Yesterday I stood in the Royal Albert Hall along with 4,000 other men. It was awesome. I heard the most powerful preaching I've ever heard and came away feeling very fired up. 

I was sitting alongside my brother and my youngest brother-in-law which was also pretty cool. 

But i'll tell you what was even more amazing than that...

It was having the priviledge of baptising that same brother-in-law this morning at our church!

I was choked to say the least. 

Yesterday he'd sat through several talks about being a man for God. How to pursue Godliness in the workplace, in marriage (even though he's only 17), and representing God out in the big wide world. All incredibly important lessons to consider and start applying. 

But the first and greatest lesson he could have learnt came through his actions this morning. 

Jesus says so plainly that we are to repent and be baptised in His name. So it is very important to hear preaching such as yesterday's, but thankfully it comes alongside his obedience to Jesus' call today as well.

If you want to see big things happen in your life through God, be obedient to that first command. Repent and be baptised. If a 17 year old can stand before hundreds of people to follow the call, then so can you. 

Im waiting with great anticipation to see how God uses this guy. 

I read this verse this morning: "zeal for your house house will consume me" - Psalm 69 v9 & John 2 v17.

To be completely consumed by something is quite a big thing really. If my life should be consumed by any one thing, I really hope it is for the Lord's house - His works, His people, His message. Too often over the years I have been consumed with the wrong things; the world's things - money, highs, girls, parties, success, popularity, music. The list could go on and on.




Please, Lord, help us realise that zeal for your house is all that we should be consumed by.

Truly the righteous attain life, but whoever pursues evil finds death.
The Lord detests those whose hearts are perverse, but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.
Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will go free.

These are just a few lines from the book of Proverbs (chapter 11). Quite helpful really considering the headlines plastered all over the media today. One of, if not, the most evil man known today, died yesterday. Most people will be happy to hear news of Bin Laden's death. None more so than the families of the 3,000 odd people killed by his devastating scheming on the 11th September a decade ago.

Most would concur that he deserved death; he led a shocking life after all. I think Hell exists. And whether you believe in it or not, most would hope/believe he had gone there.

But looking at Bin Laden's life is a helpful gauge to everyone. His organisation masterminded the death of 3,000 people ten years ago. That's as evil as evil gets probably.

But what if we all face a perfect judge at the end of our lives!? (the end of our life could come in a raid by CIA opps or fast asleep in our armchair, aged 100 - or somewhere in the middle of that). When I die I'll face the same judge that Bin Laden faced only hours ago.

Jesus.

You might not have killed 3,000 people. But what if you have 3,000 lies that are unforgiven? What about the 3,000 times you downloaded porn? Or the 3,000 times you forgot/ignored/betrayed God? 3,000 times you lost your temper; lusted; got drunk...

etc etc...

Same Judge. Same sin. Same plea. Same sentence. Bin Laden certainly didn't know Jesus as far as I can ascertain. But if you don't either..well, it's same Judge, same sin, same plea. Same sentence.

Unless...............you allow Jesus to clear that slate before you get there.

Someone asked a group of us to pray the Lords prayer this morning and I realised how long it had been since I prayed that. Recently I've been struggling with praying. It's not like I have nothing to pray about...I have loads. It's not like I don't have the time...everybody has enough time to speak with God.

I have no excuses. Neither do you.

If you're struggling too, then join me in praying this prayer more often. It's how Jesus himself taught us to pray, so it's probably a decent place to start!


Our Father, who sits enthroned in Heaven, Holy is your name! May your kingdom come and your will be done, here on Earth, just like it is in Heaven. Pleave give me today all that I need, and forgive me of my wrongdoings, as I might forgive those who do wrong to me too. Please guide me away from any temptation and save me from the hand of the evil one. For yours is the kingdom; you have all the power and all the glory is yours. Right now and forevermore.

Amen.