This is sure to offend someone...( and I am not that sorry about it)

In my quiet time this morning, as I sit quietly and reflect upon my life and what I see and sense around me these days, I must confess I have some concerns ...things that worry me, even frighten me.

I apologise if this blog offends you, but I guess if you dont want to be offended you could always stop reading right now and go away ...(lol).  That's up to you...  !!!!

I sit in my prayer room, looking at my books, many of which have changed my view on life and ministry...people who have gone before me, people wiser than I am, with loads of experience in leading church and changing church for the Kingdom of Gods sake.

I want my life to count for something, that when I die, that I might have made a difference to something, someone ..somewhere.  I tried to write a book, but never got it finished.... and my life is heading towards its end, 57 years of age, I may have 30 years left in me, at best.

Life is short there are rumors of war and some crazy bloke up north who wants to annialate us all by dropping a bomb on innocent people for some stupid reason, we have a crazy group of people running around chopping off peoples heads and Christians are hot targets.  Its truly only a matter of time before Australia is gripped with fear over terrorism on our shores.

And so here comes the offensive bit.... ( your last chance to go away )

Many people I know, and some obviously who I don't know have given up hope, they have got bored and started to disbelieve, even doubt that God exists. Turning their back on church and Christ.  And yet thats where our hope truly lays. I would hate it to see anyone pass from the his life to the next  having rejected Jesus only to find out that they were wrong.

Its kind of like the ANZACS having fought for our freedom, only discovered that our freedom was lost because of political correctness and opposition to our way of life after they had died for their country . ( well maybe it's nothing like that at all )

Jesus came to the earth, His life sacrificed for our sin, that when we choose Him, we have a promise of eternal life after we die. With Him.

Many people get caught up in an emotional response to this truth and in a fleeting moment they commit to Him, but when the life dished up gets tough, they turn from Him and run away and give up on Him.

Our promise as Christ followers is that I once we die we will be with the Lord.  End of story. Or beginning of the story.  Depending on your theology, whatever.... my belief is that when I die I will live with the Lord Jesus forever, and I just want others to have that truth for themselves also.

My friends, my family, Salvos... everyone...  and yet, many will miss it, completely for they have built their life on an insipid human foundation that isnt enough to get them into heaven.

We dont want talk about it do we, its not politically correct, it offends ...it scares, it disturbs us, it messes with all kinds of issues when we start disturbing stuff here on earth with Kingdom speak.

But say that bloke does just drop a bomb and in an instant its over for many of us, ......are we ready for  what is on the other side of the grave ?  Truly ready ?  Would we be happy if we had it wrong about Jesus on the other side of the grave ?

Well my rant is pretty much over, but I will finish by saying this....  it's not too late to lay down your life for Jesus, to accept Him into your heart and allow Him to rule your heart.  It might just change everything for you, it did for me.

If I am wrong...well I am wrong... but what if I am right ? What then ?

Where are you sitting. These days.

If you got this far reading this blog, well well done to you,  I am not done challenging... yet,

many of us have started building our lives based on human goals, on this worlds ideals and not a slight thought given to a creator God who sent His Son to die for us that we might have life forever more.

We live for the moment and hardly give any thought to what lays beyond the grave... but friends thats what counts most of all.

Think about it today, make some changes,... trust Jesus.

As I finish this blog today I wanted to send you a link to help encourage your spirit... if you have come this far, in the blog... you might as well take a listen and be blessed by Gods people singing about HIM.

Its all about Jesus. Always has been and always will be.

ELOHIM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTT9aLFR3YM&sns=em

Being a Significant leader.

I haven't blogged for a little while and I thought I would just jot down some thoughts today that are going through my head.

These thoughts arise out of a busy week...with a mixture of great stuff as well as some not so great stuff, which is what it is like in ministry and has been for the past 22 years or so.

As I conclude my quiet time today I am drawn to think about a good friend of mine who is involved in a significant ministry and is making some key differecnes to those around him. In fact his future ministry is looking very exciting and he will end up being a world changer for some people who need a change in their world. (For Jesus that is )

It leads me to think about what is " A Significant Ministry ".. what does it mean to be a man or woman of significance ?

Well in man's eyes, we make judgements on this very issue all the time, I am not sure how we come to some conclusions around whether a person is significant or not, but I do know this, anyone who chooses to lay down their life to serve the Master and His Kingdom, in HIS eyes , is significant.

Jesus said, whoever wants to be great must be servant of all.... its a hard thing, isnt it ?

We are not always that keen to be a servant to everyone... and let's just clarify that it's not about being a slave or a doormat to everyone, but rather to think about others before ourselves, to see what we can do to help others, to lift them, to encourage them, to add value to them.  I am not so good at this, and still working on it in my own life.

Am I a Christian leader of Significance  ? (Well dont answer that !)

In some ways, no way...especially when in comparison to many around me who are.

And I guess that's where we get unstuck... we compare ourselves to those around us, we look at others and think I could never be like them, or do what they do, or think the way they think... when at the end of the day we were never asked to be like anyone else, we were asked to live our lives like Jesus. And to be like Him, and thats the way to be significant, if that is a goal to be aimed at.

But at that very level we must understand that Jesus said He was servant of all. And there is arguably no one more significant than what He was and is.

There are times when others make you feel insignificant, and devalued and thats a sad place to be placed. When we look for affirmation and it doesn't come, when we are overlooked for something we would love to have a crack at, and it is given to someone else, when we want to make a name for ourselves and the ones in power cant see it in you, these are all times of discouragement and devalue...

All you can do...all that any of us can do, is seek to serve the King, and find our meaning and the definition of our life in Him.

And thats makes us all significant.

Just a thought.