Thursday, November 18, 2010
Dubai (Pakistan Trip 1st Post)
Well only one picture which is pretty lame but I didn't have a camera. I stayed with an old friend Michael Frampton who was singing and playing the piano at Frankies. ( A restaurant bar started by Frankie Dettori (famous jockey) and Marco Pierre White). He generously picked me up from the airport and rode on the fabulous new Dubai overland metro that winds its way through the fabulously 21st century Dubai city. We spent the day catching up and went to a fantastic mall (the Il Ibadan) for food etc. The next day my Afghani friend Abdul Rahim came over to Michael's apartment for five hours in the afternoon. We talked, read and prayed together. I met him in 2006 in an immigration centre in London. Claiming asylum as a Christian, he was refused and sent back to Afghanistan. He has spent periods on the run, walking all the way to Pakistan, starting Christian groups that were raided by the police. and traveling the country meeting with and encouraging new believers.
The time with Abdul was very special and reinforced my belief in him that God is using Him for something special. God has kept him through so much in the past few years all for a purpose and I am so happy to be a part of that and help him in whatever way I can.He lives in Kabul but spends large amounts of time travelling around the country encouraging and strengthening new believers. He is on the very front line of the battle working in dangerous circumstances and deserves all the support he can get I believe. We will be helping him in the future and hope to pass on news of his progress in the future. God bless Him!
The time with Abdul was very special and reinforced my belief in him that God is using Him for something special. God has kept him through so much in the past few years all for a purpose and I am so happy to be a part of that and help him in whatever way I can.He lives in Kabul but spends large amounts of time travelling around the country encouraging and strengthening new believers. He is on the very front line of the battle working in dangerous circumstances and deserves all the support he can get I believe. We will be helping him in the future and hope to pass on news of his progress in the future. God bless Him!
First post for a long time!!!
Well its been so long since the last post. Natasha went to Kenya for five weeks. It was a long time away for all of us at home but the Lord really kept us and so we were fine even though missing her. She came back safely and ten days later I went to Pakistan. Well first I went to Dubai for
one night and then to Pakistan for the next 12 days. What a special trip it was! Emotionally you feel like I discovered a home I never knew you had but it has become a place where I feel completely at home with friends and Christian family. I will gradually blog my experiences there. We are all together once again..putting together a youth performance for schools for the end of term in four local schools.. and then getting ready for a visit from my mum over Christmas which will be a real blessing to us all.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Last Pics from Drakensberg
The last day of hiking took us way out of the National Park to Cannibals Cave past several waterfalls. Beautiful winter sunshine meant that noone got burnt, though we did run out of water on this trip.
What was quite interesting was the food that would boost us. We found that cherry tomaotes were incredibly encoragng on the long hike as well as oranges and chocolate and the obligatory sandwiches.
One day we were horrified as we sat down to find our sandwhich bag was missing. How could we have dropped it??!! We sat horrified sharing the few snacks and morcels we had. Eventually we stood up to go and Jad (12) found he had been sitting on them all the time!
The beautiful Drakensberg. This range behind us is called the amphitheatre.
Our final destination. Cannibals Cave actually took us out of the National Park for a couple of hours. We had all settled for looking at the cliffs and seeing any small cranny and saying, "That must be the Cannibals Cave." Only Richard (in the hat) persevered to find this spectatular cave and came back to lead us there
What was quite interesting was the food that would boost us. We found that cherry tomaotes were incredibly encoragng on the long hike as well as oranges and chocolate and the obligatory sandwiches.
One day we were horrified as we sat down to find our sandwhich bag was missing. How could we have dropped it??!! We sat horrified sharing the few snacks and morcels we had. Eventually we stood up to go and Jad (12) found he had been sitting on them all the time!
The beautiful Drakensberg. This range behind us is called the amphitheatre.
Our final destination. Cannibals Cave actually took us out of the National Park for a couple of hours. We had all settled for looking at the cliffs and seeing any small cranny and saying, "That must be the Cannibals Cave." Only Richard (in the hat) persevered to find this spectatular cave and came back to lead us there 
This and more was the inside of the cave.
On the way..this was the section that had been burnt the previous day
Shawn (15) with Jad (12)
On the way..this was the section that had been burnt the previous day
Shawn (15) with Jad (12)
All in all it was memorable trip...with over 45 kms covered and no major setbacks injuries or complaints!!
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Are you praying Old Testament or New Testament?
I recently heard a series of talks on prayer by a Louis Giglio
His basic point was that generally we pray for four things on a regular basis that really, as Gods children and New Testament Christians, we should realise are not in line with our beliefs. He was suggesting we upgrade or remix our prayers to reflect what we actually believe.
The things were:
1) God bless me/us/the situation/this meeting/ this time/ this journey etc
2) Be with us/Go with us here/there/as we go
3) Protect us from harm
4) Forgive us for our sins
Can you think why these are are not such New Testament prayers?
See below!
1) God bless me/us etc
The point is that through salvation through grace and becoming joint heirs with Christ, God has already blessed us to the nth degree. The promises are in the bank and there to be claimed and received by faith. We dont have to ask for Gods blessing as through Christ he has already blessed us over and above all we could ask and think . How would you feel if you gave something to a child (full blessing) and then they kept asking for it. Frustrated?!
How about instead praying that we can bless Him!
2) Be with me/us...go with me /us
Jesus has already promised to "be with us aways even unto the end of the world." He has already promised to "never leave nor forsake us." If these promsises are to be believed (which they are) the last thing we need to pray for is for God to be with us, as He already is!!!
By leaving these things out and praying for other things we can make our prayers more effective.
3) Protection.... is not necessarily a New Testament given. In fact we are promised that in the world we will have tribulation/ or trouble. Nearly all the apostles came to a sticky end somewhere. If we are always praying for protection and asking for protection and looking for safety and security for oursleves and our families we may be frustrating Gods greater purposes.
(He shared the story of an Australian missionary Graham Staines who was murdered with his two sons outside a home for lepers in rural India in January 2000. He had served in India for 30 years. His wife and remaining daughter publicly forgave the murderers and committed their futures to India. the incident had a major impact on India as a whole and turned into a marvellous testimony and victory for the cause of Christ in India)
I must say I find this one a little tricky as this is something you generally always pray for especially on long journeys and mission trips. I think the point is that these prayers need to be bracketed with the request to glorify Him in whatever ways He sees fit. .....?
4) Forgive me for my sins.
Finally and most simply He already has.! The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin. We need to confess our sins but His part of forgiveness is already in the bag!
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
It is already in the bag . It is done. It is finished.
Interesting concepts, hey?
His basic point was that generally we pray for four things on a regular basis that really, as Gods children and New Testament Christians, we should realise are not in line with our beliefs. He was suggesting we upgrade or remix our prayers to reflect what we actually believe.
The things were:
1) God bless me/us/the situation/this meeting/ this time/ this journey etc
2) Be with us/Go with us here/there/as we go
3) Protect us from harm
4) Forgive us for our sins
Can you think why these are are not such New Testament prayers?
See below!
1) God bless me/us etc
The point is that through salvation through grace and becoming joint heirs with Christ, God has already blessed us to the nth degree. The promises are in the bank and there to be claimed and received by faith. We dont have to ask for Gods blessing as through Christ he has already blessed us over and above all we could ask and think . How would you feel if you gave something to a child (full blessing) and then they kept asking for it. Frustrated?!
How about instead praying that we can bless Him!
2) Be with me/us...go with me /us
Jesus has already promised to "be with us aways even unto the end of the world." He has already promised to "never leave nor forsake us." If these promsises are to be believed (which they are) the last thing we need to pray for is for God to be with us, as He already is!!!
By leaving these things out and praying for other things we can make our prayers more effective.
3) Protection.... is not necessarily a New Testament given. In fact we are promised that in the world we will have tribulation/ or trouble. Nearly all the apostles came to a sticky end somewhere. If we are always praying for protection and asking for protection and looking for safety and security for oursleves and our families we may be frustrating Gods greater purposes.
(He shared the story of an Australian missionary Graham Staines who was murdered with his two sons outside a home for lepers in rural India in January 2000. He had served in India for 30 years. His wife and remaining daughter publicly forgave the murderers and committed their futures to India. the incident had a major impact on India as a whole and turned into a marvellous testimony and victory for the cause of Christ in India)
I must say I find this one a little tricky as this is something you generally always pray for especially on long journeys and mission trips. I think the point is that these prayers need to be bracketed with the request to glorify Him in whatever ways He sees fit. .....?
4) Forgive me for my sins.
Finally and most simply He already has.! The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin. We need to confess our sins but His part of forgiveness is already in the bag!
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
It is already in the bag . It is done. It is finished.
Interesting concepts, hey?
Monday, September 20, 2010
Punishment no more
Just a little thought .... I went to church recently and enjoyed a little clarification..sometimes bad things happen to people and they can be tempted to wonder.."is that God punshing me? after all i am not perfect and I make lots of mistakes etc" and I would normally say "No, .....I dont ..think so!"
But it was clarified for me that for His children, those who have received His son into their lives, there is no such thing as "punishment" any more.
Punishment looks back in to the past at what you have done; chastening or training looks into the future into what God is making you into.
Because Jesus took our punishment for us, we are no longer under punishment. But we are in training and anything that happens to us is for a purpose and a reason , a part of His love for us and an investment for the future! Nice huh?
"He suffered and endured great pain for us,but we thought his suffering was punishment from God. He was wounded and crushed beacuse of our sins; by taking our punshiment he made us completely well.
All of us were like sheep that had wandered off . We had each gone our own way, but the Lord gave Him the punishment we deserved." Isaiah 53
But it was clarified for me that for His children, those who have received His son into their lives, there is no such thing as "punishment" any more.
Punishment looks back in to the past at what you have done; chastening or training looks into the future into what God is making you into.
Because Jesus took our punishment for us, we are no longer under punishment. But we are in training and anything that happens to us is for a purpose and a reason , a part of His love for us and an investment for the future! Nice huh?
"He suffered and endured great pain for us,but we thought his suffering was punishment from God. He was wounded and crushed beacuse of our sins; by taking our punshiment he made us completely well.
All of us were like sheep that had wandered off . We had each gone our own way, but the Lord gave Him the punishment we deserved." Isaiah 53
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
The Yes Man ( Are you one?)
About a year ago (?) a movie called the Yes Man came out starring Jim Carrey. Quite hilarious really and based on the true story of a young journalist who following a break up with his girlfriend, had made saying "No!" to invitations and opportunities a habit. Until one day, he met a man on a bus who told him " You should say Yes more. People who lack passion are people who say No to things."
It had a big impact on my life as socially I was a bit of a No Man! An offer for tea or a drink would often find me nervously looking at my watch and saying , " So sorry but I think I better get on!"
I decided to become a Yes, Man and say "Yes" as much as possible to all invitations and possiblities!
Since then I have seen the tremendous benefits of being a Yes Man.
It has improved the quality of my life 100 no 1000%. Two recent events lead me to writing this post and coming out of the closet , so to speak, to confess that "Yes, I am a Yes Man!!""
We have a project in Malawi working with a church that has a big emphasis on missions to the rural areas and has planted 26 churches so far. However they lack a central church for meeting and for gathering. All resources have gone into the rural areas. We wanted to build them a church, but it is sooooo expensive to build a big church, (thats what they need) so that despite raising some funds we were ready to give up. Yesterday I went to a church to pick up some donated shoes and we were invited to coffee. (in the past I might have looked nervously at my watch and said, " I think we had better be going.") This time I responded with enthousiasm and we sat for a coffee with a nice lady called Sally. We talked and shared together and she mentioned that theyhad just built a new church. They used to be in a tent she said. "A big tent that could hold 450 -500 people. It is sitting outside right now. Someome had said they would pick it up but they had never come."
I believe that this tent is for the work in Malawi and we will transport it up there.
If I had not said yes to the coffee it would not have happenned.
Secondly the once in a lifetime trip that Natasha is on now is because we refused to say no to an invitation even though it seemed ridiculous for us to get all the way up to Kenya to answer it.
It was absurd to think we could do it but we wrote and said we were interested and would like to come and since saying "Yes" to that the Lord has opened doors, supplied a camper and made it happen.
So Just Say Yes today and watch your life change. God is going to open doors today! He is going to provide oppotunities today to make your life an exctiting ride rather than a dull monotony. Will you sign up for the ride of your life by becoming a YesMan!! or a YesWoman!!
I hope so!!!
It had a big impact on my life as socially I was a bit of a No Man! An offer for tea or a drink would often find me nervously looking at my watch and saying , " So sorry but I think I better get on!"
I decided to become a Yes, Man and say "Yes" as much as possible to all invitations and possiblities!
Since then I have seen the tremendous benefits of being a Yes Man.
It has improved the quality of my life 100 no 1000%. Two recent events lead me to writing this post and coming out of the closet , so to speak, to confess that "Yes, I am a Yes Man!!""
We have a project in Malawi working with a church that has a big emphasis on missions to the rural areas and has planted 26 churches so far. However they lack a central church for meeting and for gathering. All resources have gone into the rural areas. We wanted to build them a church, but it is sooooo expensive to build a big church, (thats what they need) so that despite raising some funds we were ready to give up. Yesterday I went to a church to pick up some donated shoes and we were invited to coffee. (in the past I might have looked nervously at my watch and said, " I think we had better be going.") This time I responded with enthousiasm and we sat for a coffee with a nice lady called Sally. We talked and shared together and she mentioned that theyhad just built a new church. They used to be in a tent she said. "A big tent that could hold 450 -500 people. It is sitting outside right now. Someome had said they would pick it up but they had never come."
I believe that this tent is for the work in Malawi and we will transport it up there.
If I had not said yes to the coffee it would not have happenned.
Secondly the once in a lifetime trip that Natasha is on now is because we refused to say no to an invitation even though it seemed ridiculous for us to get all the way up to Kenya to answer it.
It was absurd to think we could do it but we wrote and said we were interested and would like to come and since saying "Yes" to that the Lord has opened doors, supplied a camper and made it happen.
So Just Say Yes today and watch your life change. God is going to open doors today! He is going to provide oppotunities today to make your life an exctiting ride rather than a dull monotony. Will you sign up for the ride of your life by becoming a YesMan!! or a YesWoman!!
I hope so!!!
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