NO LONGER A BABY

We are at the end of yet another year, and on the threshold of the year before us. Christmas celebrations have come and gone. We remembered once again the incredible provision of Almighty God for the redemption of Man from the eternal consequences of sin and rebellion towards Him - by sending His Son in human flesh to be born as a baby in an unlikely setting for a king - a dirty, dusty stable. As Rick Joyner of MorningStar Ministries states in his book "The Harvest": That The Lord Of Glory would choose such a place to make His entry into this world is one of the more profound revelations of his message to man..................Human reasoning would never lead us to a stable to find God. The only way He could be found was by revelation; only those who were led by the Spirit would come. That which is born of God is usually found in a place that is repulsive to the pride and presumptions of carnal men. As the apostle Paul stated it: "God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised, God has chosen, the things that are not, that He may nullify the things that are, that no man should boast before God" (1 Corinthians 1:27-29).
Jesus did not remain a baby. That baby grew up to be Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world, who after three and a half years of ministry to all who would receive His ministry - words of Life, physical and emotional healing, deliverance from demonic oppression and many other works and miracles, some recorded in the Gospels, many more unrecorded, according to the apostle John in Jn. 20:30,31 and Jn. 21: 25 - was condemned to death on a cruel Roman cross, the sinless Son of God, fulfilling the will of the Father in dying an agonizing death in our place, taking the penalty for our sins, in order that we might be reconciled to God the Father . Romans 5:8 says: God demonstrated His love for us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
If that was not good news for us in itself, the Lord Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, conquered the power of death and hell, rising triumphantly from the grave on that first Resurrection Sunday.
The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are not only recorded as actually taking place, in the Bible. There have been scholars who have set out to disprove the resurrection of Christ, only to conclude, after honest research, that the events recorded in Scripture are historically verifiable. Two such scholars of note are Simon Greenleaf (1783-1853), a law professor at Harvard University, who became one of the forerunners of the discipline known as Christian apologetics - and Frank Morison, who also set out to disprove the "myth" of the resurrection, only to come to the conclusion, like Simon Greenleaf, that the Biblical record of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ was true.
For forty days following His bodily resurrection from the dead, Jesus appeared to multitudes of people, including the eleven remaining original disciples (Judas Iscariot, the twelfth, betrayed Him and took his own life). At one time, he appeared to five hundred at once ( ! Corinthians 15: 6). After commissioning the disciples, and telling them to wait in Jerusalem for the Promise of the Father,  the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, Jesus ascended to the right hand of the Father. On the Day of Pentecost, an annual Jewish feast commemorated fifty days after Passover, while waiting in the Upper Room, the 120 gathered were filled with the Holy Spirit, receiving the gift of speaking in other tongues - a gift which is still available to Christian believers today, along with other gifts of the Holy Spirit as listed in 1 Corinthians 12-14. Jesus said before His ascension to Heaven that"You  shall receive power after the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you shall be my witnesses" starting from Jerusalem and spreading to the farthest corners of the earth. The power to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, bringing in the hearts of the hearers, a conviction of sin and the need for repentance is part and parcel of the equipping by the Holy Spirit of the believer in Jesus. The ministry of Jesus in the world and in the Church continues unabated today through the lives of Bible-believing Christians who have taken Jesus at His word to "Follow Me, and I will make you disciples of men". He said to his disciples in John 14:12 that the works He did on earth they (and those who followed them down through the Church age) would do and greater works than these they would do, because He was going to the Father.
Down through the Church age over the past 2,000 years, millions upon millions of lives have been transformed, many radically, by the same Resurrection power of the Holy Spirit which raised Christ from the grave. The dead are being raised to life today. Miracles of healing and provision are occurring all over the world, where the name of Jesus is proclaimed as Lord. You won't hear about these happenings in the secular media, but they are happening. JESUS CHRIST IS THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOREVER!
As we enter a new year, with all its challenges personally, as well as nationally and internationally, while darkness is increasing in this sin-sick rebellious world, let those of us who claim Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord consecrate ourselves afresh to live uncluttered, and fully committed lives to honour and glorify Him.
If you are reading this, and have never made a commitment of your life and will to Jesus Christ, please know that, as you come to Him with a repentant heart for the sin and rebellion in your life towards God, He will cleanse you from sin as you call upon His name, and acknowledge His death on the Cross in your place as the means to your salvation. Just as Jesus rose from the dead after three days, you too can know the power of the Holy Spirit to help you live a new life in Him. It is not an easy life. The true disciple of Jesus will face persecution, but know that God is dwelling in you by His Spirit to enable you to be strong for Him in any and every circumstance of life. For further help in becoming a Christian, may I suggest: www.vision.org.au, the Vision Radio Network in Australia, part of United Christian Broadcasters. Click on the Resources tab at the top of the page, then from the drop down menu, click on Christianity. God Bless you. I pray that 2015 will be a year of you knowing in increasing measure the goodness of God in your life, and one of fruitfulness in His kingdom.

FAITH OR FEAR?

THE CHOICE IS OURS!

It's good news week.
Someone dropped a bomb somewhere contaminating atmosphere
and blackening the sky.
It's good news week.
Someone's found a way to give
the rotting dead a will to live, go on and never die..............

These are the opening words of a one-hit wonder song from 1965 called "It's Good News Week" by British band "Hedgehoppers Anonymous".

Or, who can remember the classic hit from Barry McGuire "Eve Of Destruction" - from 1965
The eastern world it is explodin', violence flarin', bullets loadin', 
You're old enough to kill, but not for votin'
You don't believe in war, but what's that gun you're totin'
And even the Jordan river has bodies floatin'

But you tell me over and over and over again my friend
Ah, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction.

Don't you understand what I'm trying to say?
Can't you see the fear that I'm feeling today?
If the button is pushed, there's no running away
There'll be none to save with the world in a grave
Take a look around you, boy, it's bound to scare you, boy

But you tell me over and over and over again my friend
Ah, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction.........

The 1960's was a tumultuous time with the Vietnam War looming large on the landscape throughout the decade. Early in the 60's the Cuban Missile crisis was a cause for much fear and foreboding. This was the time of the Cold War. 

Fast forward fifty years, almost - to 2014. Guess what? The world news is not only still bad, but it is getting worse. The threat of communism seems largely to have gone, although new tensions have arisen between Russia and the West. In the intervening decades, we have seen numerous wars in Africa, Asia and parts of Europe with untold casualties and misery. We have seen economic crises on a grand scale. There have been catastrophic natural disasters in many parts of the world, again leaving trails of destruction and human misery. There have been disease pandemics or threats of the same.
As of writing this, the Ebola threat is increasing, creating fear in many, not only in the West Africa nations hit most by this deadly virus, but in countries around the world where there is a growing fear that travellers from these affected areas may return to, unwittingly be bearers of this terrible infection, from which those affected have a very high chance of not surviving.
The scourge of the evil ideology of radical Islam has taken prominence as the major protagonist threatening world peace, even though Islam is touted by its followers as a religion of peace. Peace to the Muslim, at least, to the radical Muslim, is submission to Allah, their false God - forced conversion to Islam, or death to the infidel as the alternative. Oh, what peace!?!?!
Perhaps what should be an even greater cause for fear is the god of Political Correctness that the majority (apparently) of our politicians at a federal and state level, as well the bulk of the MSM (Main Stream Media) bow down to, bending over backwards to not offend Muslims, and the other radical main player today, the homosexual activists, who are waging a relentless war against the traditional definition of marriage and the nuclear family unit, headed by a mother and father, as in woman and man. Ultimately this is a Satan-inspired war on Christians and the eternal unchanging Word of the Living God. As the Apostle Paul proclaimed in Romans 1, the sin of homosexuality is "exchanging the truth of God for the lie, and worshipping and serving the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. (Homosexual practice). END OF STORY!
Jesus Christ, the Eternal Son of the Living God, speaking prophetically of the times in which we are living, said in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 24: "Don't let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming,'I am the Messiah'. They will deceive many. and you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don't panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won't follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.
Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come. Matthew 24:4-14 New Living Translation.

For the true Christian, a modern day disciple of Christ, who takes the Bible, the wholly Holy Spirit-inspired Word of the Living God as his manual for living - this is not a time for fear, for giving in to dread or terror. This is the time we have been born for, when the world is in the deepest darkness, we as part of the Body of Christ, the Christian Church have been called and equipped to shine like the stars in the universe, to march forth as an army with banners, proclaiming : Jesus Is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
The Christian is not to fear man or circumstance. We are to fear God and Him only - Godly fear being reverent awe of the One who has saved us from Satan's realm of darkness that we might be bearers of Light drawing the lost to our Saviour.

King David boldly proclaimed in Psalm 27: The Lord is my light and my salvation; 
                                                                           Whom shall I fear?
                                                                           The Lord is the strength of my life;
                                                                            Of whom shall I be afraid?

                                                                            Though an army may encamp against me,
                                                                             My heart shall not fear;
                                                                             Though war may rise against me,
                                                                             In this I will be confident.
                                                                             For in the time of trouble,
                                                                             He shall hide me in His pavillion;
                                                                             In the secret place of His tabernacle
                                                                             He shall hide me;
                                                                             He shall set me high upon a rock. (vs.1,3,5)

The prophet Isaiah wrote encouraging the people of God:
                                                                           The Lord of hosts, Him you shall hallow;
                                                                            Let Him be your fear, 
                                                                            And let Him be your dread. Isaiah 8:13
Again in Isaiah 35:3,4, the prophet writes: Strengthen the weak hands,
                                                                            And make firm the feeble knees.
                                                                            Say to those who are fearful-hearted,
                                                                            "Be strong, do not fear!
                                                                             Behold, your God will come with vengeance,
                                                                             With the recompense of God;
                                                                             He will come and save you."

God is calling forth an army of worshipping warriors, who are full of faith in the Living God, whose lives have been ransomed from the clutches of Hell by the blood of Jesus who died on the Cross of Calvary and rose triumphant from the grave, and ascended in victory over hell and death to be seated at the right hand of the Father, to ever live to make intercession for the saints - the true followers of the Lord, soldiers of the Cross who walk by faith, knowing that their lives are in His hands. 

I don't know about you, but I want to be a part of that army of believers who runs to the battle, and not away from it in cringing fear - but full of faith in the One who is able to "rescue me from every evil attack and bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen. 2 Timothy 4:18 NIV.

                                                                             

WHAT IS TRUTH?

(Continued)

As stated at the start of the first blog post on this topic, a simple dictionary definition of  Truth could be said to be: That which conforms to reality, fact or actuality. Sounds simple, doesn't it. 
BUT, in actual fact, Truth has been made such a complicated concept by philosophically-inclined minds, drawing upon human wisdom and knowledge to expound, in some instances, very wordy  theories pertaining to Truth, but which nevertheless conflict with a multitude of other Truth concepts and theories. 
In the previous blog, I mentioned in heading form, some of the various philosophical theories concerning Truth which have been postulated over the years by secular philosophers, the most popular of these theories being what is known as the Correspondence Theory. Ah, yes! The Correspondence Theory of Truth! Sounds great..........but what does it mean? It turns out that there are several aspects to the Correspondence Theory, but basically the theory in general terms states that the truth or falsity of a statement is determined only by how it relates to the world and whether it accurately describes (i.e., corresponds with) the world.It is a traditional model which goes back at least to some of the classical Greek philosophers such as Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. As an example of the Correspondence Theory of Truth, British philosopher, Bertrand Russell theorized that a statement, to be true, must have a structural isomorphism with the state of affairs in the world that makes it true. For example, "A cat is on a mat", is true if, and only if, there is in the world a cat and a mat and the cat is related to the mat by virtue of being on it. Wow! To think, these great minds with doctorate degrees from the elite halls of tertiary learning are able to come up with such profoundly obvious statements as evidence of truth is somewhat underwhelming! Last time I quoted 2 Timothy 3:7 in the" New Testament of the Bible, where the Apostle Paul, speaking of the times in which we live said there would be people who would be "ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." As I also previously stated, Truth is to be found in a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ, who in the Gospel of John stated, concerning Himself: "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
If the God of the Bible is the one True God, and the Word of God can be fully relied upon to be the expression of God's truth, then we can have full confidence in the Absolute and irrefutable Truth in God's Word absolutely.
There has been much written about Truth being either Absolute truth or Relative truth, and the fact that, for an increasing number of people today, Truth is Relative to the ever-changing cultural norms brought about by societal attitudinal changes. The Ten Commandments of the Bible, which helped form a strong reference point for justice and a framework for mor
ality in Western nations, and in fact, any nation with a Judaeo - Christian heritage, have seemed to become less and less relevant to a world hell-bent on destroying the fabric of society with liberal philosophy espousing the doctrine of relative truth. Relative truth is like a boat adrift in a raging sea, having been ripped from its moorings. It can be stated as: Truth that is only true at one time and at one place. It's true to some people and not to others. It's always subject to change. It is also subject to the perspective of people.
Because of the nature of relative truth, we have seen justification for Biblically abominable lifestyle choices, including the wholesale murder of unborn babies - abortion, in the name of womens' rights. We have seen the definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others, for life or "until death do us part" vehemently attacked by the gay rights activists (Christian social commentator, Bill Muehlenberg calls them the Gaystapo). (See Culture Watch online for some very challenging and enlightening articles relevant to the world we find ourselves in - written by Bill).
The abandonment of belief in ultimate or Absolute truth in today's culture has led to the "Whatever" philosophy of life. If it feels good, then do it. If it benefits me, even if it goes against long- held moral laws, unless it hurts somebody, then I can justify it. If science and human reason support it, go for it. If popular opinion supports your decisions in life, then it is easy to justify going along with the crowd for personal convenience - when the "Whatevers" fulfill our concepts of truth relative to our worldview and personal interest.
For the person who is prepared to take the living God at His Word, Jesus says in John !6: 13 that the Holy Spirit "the Spirit of truth will guide you into all truth."
A generation which does not want to be accountable to anyone for their actions, let alone, to a Holy God whose Word and whose Truth is unchanging, is reaping what they have sown in rebelling against the One in whom is all the Wisdom and knowledge necessary to lead a totally fulfilled and complete life. Truth, ultimate truth is to be found in a person, the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in living according to God's Word, the Bible. I purposely try to keep my blog posts roughly to the same length each time, so will conclude this one now. For further reading on Absolute Truth and all that implies, may I suggest you Google Abslute Truth - Focus On The Family for a very insightful and well written article on this topic.

If you would like to know more about becoming a Christian, there are many ministry websites I could direct you to. I will for now just mention a couple:www.livingwaters.com or www.vision.org.au then click on the Resources button at the top of the page, then click on Christianity from the drop down menu. God Bless. Hope this has given a little food for thought.

WHAT IS TRUTH?

A simple definition of Truth is: that which conforms to reality, fact or actuality. 

It could be stated that there are aspects of truth which are relative to a particular person or place, for example I could say that it is TRUE that I have blue eyes and that I am left-handed. It is also true that I am an Australian citizen by birth, and that I am a resident of the township of Sorell in Tasmania. It is also true that I am married and have two grown children - and two grandchildren. All these facts are true in relation to me, but most of these facts may not be true for you who are reading this.

When I was a student at Bible College in 1980, I remember being struck by the statement made by one of the college lecturers, that ALL TRUTH IS GOD'S TRUTH. Examples of this could be stated as the laws of nature, physics and mathematics which are always true and cannot be changed. Let me clarify this by suggesting that in mathematics 2+2=4 will always be an example of mathematical truth. Sir Isaac Newton's Universal Law of Gravitation is another example of God's truth in the natural world proving reliable one hundred percent of the time. Newton postulated that any two objects in the universe attract each other with a force which is directly proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. HUH! The simplified version concerning Gravity is: What goes up must come down!
There are other reliable and consistent laws in nature which were designed by the Creator God of the universe. At this point, anyone reading this who believes the universe just came into being as a result of the Big Bang, and out of that, over time everything evolved over millions or billions of years without any intelligent design, may not like my conclusions - but I make no apologies in believing God is the Prime Mover for everything in this universe, including the complex life forms on our own planet Earth. As evangelist Ray Comfort so rightly says:"Every song has a composer, every book has an author, every car has a maker, every painting has a painter, and every building has a builder. So it isn't irrational to take this simple logic a little further and say that nature must have had a Maker. It would be irrational to believe that it made itself." So, looking at the Big Picture, ALL TRUTH IS GOD'S TRUTH.
As a committed Bible-believing Christian, I believe the Bible to be the written Holy-Spirit inspired Word of God. We are addressing the question: What Is Truth? in this blog.
Truth is personified in the eternal Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, who in John 14:6 stated concerning Himself: "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." What a remarkable statement Jesus made in response to a question from Thomas, one of his disciples. 
Earlier in this same Gospel of John, Jesus addressing some Jews who believed in Him, said: "If you continue in My Word, you are My disciples indeed.
And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:31,32
The unmistakable fact of history since the time of Christ's ministry on Earth and His subsequent death on the Cross of Calvary and His triumphant resurrection on that first Resurrection Sunday is that those who have embraced THE TRUTH in the person of Jesus Christ, and who have availed themselves of the reconciliation to God the Father offered by Christ's sacrifice on the Cross in our place, He who knew no sin, dying in our place -  if they give heed to the Word of God, find that Truth to be life-changing, in fact liberating from the bondages of sin and Satan, the Arch-Deceiver, whom the Bible calls the Father of Lies.
As I was contemplating what to write in this blog "What Is Truth?", I Googled this question on the internet. I discovered a lengthy Wikipedia article which outlined some of the philosophical theories concerning Truth, and what it means. These include: What are known as Substantive Theories, including Correspondence Theory
                                -Coherence Theory
                                -Constructivist Theory
                                -Concensus Theory
                                - Pragmatic Theory
Then there are Minimalist or Deflationary Theories. These include:
                                -Performative Theory Of Truth
                                -Redundancy and Related Theories
There are also what are known as Pluralist theories.
I discovered that of the above, the Correspondence Theory seems to have the highest percentage of support in relation to the definition of Truth - in philosophical terms.
I am reminded of the verse in 2 Timothy 3:7 where the apostle Paul speaking of the days in which we are living describes people who would be "always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." 
If you who are reading are on a quest to know ultimate Truth in all its dimensions, may I suggest you take a look in the Bible at the one who is TRUTH HIMSELF, the Lord Jesus Christ. When Jesus finished His earthly ministry, He told His disciples that He would send them a Helper, the Holy Spirit. Jesus said in John 16:13 that "....when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come."
In John 18:36-38, as Jesus stood before the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, who would decide whether He lived or would be condemned to be crucified, Jesus said: "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here."
Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are you a king then?" Jesus answered: "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."
Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?" And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, "I find no fault in Him at all."
Pilate asked Jesus one of the most important questions He could have asked of the Son of God: "What is truth?" and he didn't bother to wait for the answer. Like Pilate, many today are searching for the meaning of Truth in Philosophy, Religion, Science - even Politics and always coming up short.
The apostle Paul warns in Colossians 2:8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
He goes on to say in verses 9 and 10 For in Him [Christ] dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;
and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
Does it matter what we believe to be the Truth today? Isn't Truth relative to the circumstances, culture, socio-political setting in which we find ourselves today? Ah.........we shall have to leave the answers to these questions for another time in cyberspace in the not too far off future.
Thanks for taking the time to read this blog. If you have any comments, would love to receive feedback. Keep all comments civil. Thanks!

VISION

More Than The Eyes Can See

Part 3

Many examples could be cited from both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible of men and women who through their faith and obedience to the commission the Lord had called them to fulfill - were able to accomplish great exploits for God. They were not people who lived life without a clear sense of purpose and direction. They were people of great VISION, some having received literal visions and or dreams from the Lord. Many others knew from the inner promptings of the Holy Spirit the direction in which He was leading them in life, in order that they might fulfill their God-given destinies.
Since the time of Christ and the subsequent twenty centuries of the Christian Church, there have been many outstanding men and women in so many nations of the world who have been people of vision, who in their lifetimes have impacted their families, their local communities, their villages, towns, cities, and nations for the Kingdom of God. 
Probably the vast majority of these have been individual Christians who have devoted themselves wholly to following the Master, the Lord Jesus Christ wherever He would lead them and who have remained largely unknown to the world. They have been faithful servants of the Lord who knew their calling and commission from the Lord and followed that call with simple devotion to the Master. Sadly there have also been many Christians throughout the Christian era who, though having a commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ, have never pushed through to discover and fulfil the vision that God has or had for their lives - that they might make an impact for the Kingdom of God in their lifetimes.
Many of you who are reading this blog would know that I have been involved in Christian radio broadcasting for some years in the past, in a full time capacity from 1981 to the early 90's, firstly with Radio Rhema in Christchurch, New Zealand, and then from 1988 at Launceston's WAY FM in Tasmania.
In relation to this blog theme of Vision, I would like to highlight one man whose tenacious dedication to follow the vision he received from the Lord resulted in a worldwide media ministry, starting from primitive beginnings in a makeshift studio in his garage at his Christchurch home. The man's name was Richard (Dick) Berry.
In 1961, at the age of 20, he was miraculously healed of a back injury. He was already a Christian, but this healing prompted Richard Berry to an even greater commitment to God and in gratitude to the Lord, he offered himself to serve the Lord in whatever way he could.
It was then that he received a clear direction (vision) from the Lord to establish Christian radio in New Zealand, dedicating his life to that one consuming goal.
In those days, there was no such thing as private radio. On the contrary, there was strict government restriction on any form of private broadcasting with no real possibility of private groups gaining broadcasting licences.
Although very few others were able to share his vision or enthusiasm and excitement for it, he began to seek the Lord for ways he could implement his plans, and that is when the first studio was built in his own garage. A foundation of prayer was laid during these early years, which has characterised the ministry throughout its history. This commitment to prayer carried the vision through many years of struggles,disappointments and heartaches......and was the key to ultimate victory.
In 1968, a church property was purchased in Mairehau, a suburb of Christchurch, from which the first one day broadcast was held on the 23rd November 1974 - a day which Richard Berry looked back on one of the most significant and memorable of his life.
On 11th November, 1978, an even greater event took place, as Radio Rhema began broadcasting on a full-time basis.
This was a milestone, not only for Christchurch and New Zealand, but also throughout the British Commonwealth.
It was a tribute to the extraordinary faith, determination and courage of one man, who dared to take God at His word, and who had fought almost single-handedly against incredible odds to pursue the mission and the vision to which God had called him.
In the 26 years since Radio Rhema commenced broadcasting permanently with the call sign 3XG, Christchurch, not only has the ministry expanded to cover all of New Zealand on three radio networks; the Rhema Broadcasting Group also have a television service called Shine TV, as well as proclaiming the Gospel message and teaching through the internet, smart phone apps and printed publications. Internationally, as the umbrella organisation, UCB (United Christian Broadcasters), they have, in Australia established an ever expanding radio network, called the Vision Radio Network with close to six hundred cities, towns and small communities in every state and territory of Australia being impacted with sound Biblical teaching, and Christian music programming 24/7 every day. AND THE END IS NOT YET! UCB Australia has plans to expand the radio network by as many towns and communities across the nation of Australia as local interest demands, and finances and personnel are provided.
UCB International is headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand, with broadcasting affiliates in 25 countries. It also publishes and distributes the popular daily devotional, "The Word For Today" with Bob Gass.
All this from one man who dared to believe the vision he had of establishing Christian radio in New Zealand was, against seeming insurmountable odds, with time and patient faith, divinely possible.
Did Richard Berry ever receive a supernatural vision from the Lord played out before his eyes like a video or movie presentation? Not that I know of, but he certainly had a clear vision inspired by the Holy Spirit of fighting the good fight of faith to see Christian media become a reality in New Zealand and beyond. Richard Berry, sadly succumbed to a very aggressive form of cancer at the age of just 47, in 1988 - but the ministry has grown exponentially since then, for many years under the leadership of Hal Short, who was a very close ministry executive associate of Richard Berry.
The above is but one example of many men and women whose lives have impacted many by their faith and unwavering commitment to see birthed fruitful endeavours for the Kingdom of God, touching many lives with the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Footnote: Much of the information concerning Richard Berry above was gleaned from a special tribute edition of Radio Rhema's "Frequency" magazine Issue No 153 (October 1988) following the death of Richard Berry.

VISION

More Than The Eyes Can See

Part 2

The prophet Joel, one of the Minor Prophets in the Old Testament of the Bible, prophesied the inauguration of the Christian Church, some 800 years before the birth and subsequent earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ.
In Joel 2:28,29 the prophet writes concerning the church age: "And it shall come to pass afterward
That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your old men shall dream dreams,
Your young men shall see visions,
And also on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days."

In the Book of Acts, in which some of the beginnings of the Christian Church are recorded, in Chapter 2, the Apostle Peter quotes the above passage from the prophet Joel with the words: "This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel....." signifying the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as being foretold over 800 years previously by the prophet. God is always true to His Word.
As mentioned in the first part of this blog, there are numerous examples of people in the Old Testament having received supernatural visions and dreams. Such also is the case in the New Testament, with examples such as those received by Cornelius and Peter in Acts 10, and also by the Apostle Paul in Acts 16:9,10 where during Paul's second missionary journey:
 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."
Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them. 

Another aspect of vision can be seen in passages such as recorded in Habakkuk 2:1-3
 I will stand my watch
And set myself on the rampart,
And watch to see what He will say to me,
And what I will answer when I am corrected.
Then The Lord answered me and said:
"Write the vision
And make it plain on tablets,
That he may run who reads it.
For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
But at the end, it will speak, and it will
not lie.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
Because it will surely come,
It will not tarry."

Proverbs 29:18 KJV states Where there is no vision, the people perish; but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
The NKJV says Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint.....
Other translations give an even clearer picture of the meaning of this verse...
"Where there is no continuous revelation, the people live carelessly."...."Without a progressive vision, the people dwell carelessly."........"Where there is no vision, the people run wild,"............."Without prophecy, the people become demoralized."
It was never God's intention that we, as His children, should live haphazard lives, with the attitude of the old song "Que Sera Sera"....Whatever will be, will be.
As the Good Shepherd (John 10), He promises to lead and guide us into "green pastures."
We may not all have supernatural visions and dreams in technicolor, but we can just as surely know the plans and purposes the Lord has laid out for us as we draw close to Him and come into His presence with expectant hearts, trusting Him to give us vision for now and the future.

The much quoted verses in Jeremiah 29:11-13 are worth mentioning here. Jeremiah was speaking to the people of Judah who had been taken captive from Jerusalem to Babylon. 
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart." Verse 14 goes on to say: "I will be found of you," declares the :Lord, "and will bring you back from captivity."

To Be Continued................................

VISION 

More Than The Eyes Can See

When we speak about Vision, we can be speaking about a number of different things. The most obvious meaning is that which is able to be seen or perceived with the human eye. In that regard we speak about our ability to see clearly, for example, as having clear or perfect vision. A vision specialist doctor or an optometrist uses an eye chart to test visual accuity, such as the one opposite, originally developed by a Dutch ophthamologist, Hermann Snellen, in 1862. The chart was called, not surprisingly the Snellen chart. A variation of this chart is now used.

In the business world, businesses and other enterprises often formulate a Vision Statement, outlining in clear unambiguous terms a succinct summary of the goals and aspirations of the organisation, thus presenting the Vision for said business or organisation.
 Many churches and Christian ministries present
a Statement of Beliefs as well as a Mission and/ or Vision Statement.

In the Bible, the word Vision can also take on several meanings. There are many instances in both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible where people had supernatural revelation from God, very often in very visual, as well as often audible experiences. Space does not permit to list all these instances of supernatural visions in the Bible. A good exercise is to look up the word vision, or revelation in a concordance or Bible Dictionary, or on the internet, and see how many times the Lord God has spoken in His Word to individuals on behalf of the nation of Israel quite often - in the Old Testament, and for the benefit of the Church in the New Testament. 
A vivid Old Testament example is the call of the prophet Isaiah, as recorded in Isaiah 6. The chapter begins: In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.
Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.
And one cried to another and said:
"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
The whole earth is full of His glory!"
And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke.
       So I said:
"Woe is me, for I am undone!
Because I am a man of unclean lips,
And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips;
For my eyes have seen the King,
The LORD of hosts."
The chapter continues to recount the call and commissioning of Isaiah to prophesy to the nations of Judah and Israel, and to the surrounding nations - to declare the Lord's displeasure and judgment upon sin in the nations, but also to help turn the people away from their sin and disobedience to avert disaster. The greatest purpose, as stated in the notes in the New Spirit Filled Life Bible was to lay a foundation of hope and promise for the faithful remnant of God's people. The book of Isaiah contains a large number of Messianic prophecies - foreseeing the coming of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ.
There can be no doubt, after reading the account in Isaiah 6 that the vision the prophet received was highly visual, as well as involving other senses.

One New Testament example of a supernatural vision is that recorded in the Book of Acts, in Chapter 10 where the Roman centurion, Cornelius, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always (verses 1-2) - sees an angel in a vision telling him to send men to the town Joppa to find the apostle Peter, whom Cornelius is assured by the angel, will tell them what they must do. The chapter goes on to recount that Peter himself also receives a supernatural vision from the Lord instructing him to go with the men sent from Cornelius to tell him and his household the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with their resultant salvation and Baptism in the Holy Spirit. 
Powerful stuff, indeed!!

Proverbs 29:18 KJV states: Where there is no vision, the people perish, but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
Other versions, including the NKJV use the word revelation instead of vision.
What is this type of vision? How does this apply to Christians, individually and to the Church today?
These questions and examples of this type of vision will be addressed in the next blog post in this series. God Bless.

Peter Harvey

HE IS RISEN

Up from the grave He arose,

With a mighty triumph o'er His foes

He arose a Victor from the dark domain

And He lives forever with His saints to reign.

He arose! He arose! Hallelujah, Christ arose!

This was the chorus of an Easter hymn written in 1874 by Robert Lowry, a Baptist minister from Philadelphia, PA in the USA. The hymn had three verses as well as this chorus.
I remember well the times in years gone by when I attended water baptismal services in several churches here in Australia, and also in New Zealand, where this rousing chorus was sung, each time the candidates for baptism rose up from the water.
One instance in particular stands out in my memory - that of a special time of water baptisms of a number of Christians who were part of a church where I was in fellowship in Christchurch, New Zealand. The church was in a suburb called New Brighton, a beachside suburb in that city. From memory, this particular service was held at the swimming pool complex which was a part of the QE2 stadium built for the 1974  British Commonwealth Games.
I remember singing this triumphant chorus a number of times as each person being baptized  rose up from the water. How wonderful to be with like-minded Christians publicly declaring our faith in the Risen Christ in that arena, and to be able to join with those being baptized in their celebration of declaration that they had died to their old sinful lives and were, by faith looking forward to lives spent energized by the Resurrection power of the Holy Spirit.
Sadly, the QE2 stadium in Christchurch was a casualty of the devastating earthquake of 2011.
Other times of water baptisms carried out in a public setting vividly etched in my memory were those when I was in fellowship at the Southport AOG church on the Gold Coast in the 1970's, where because the church met in a rented hall, there was no purpose-built "pool" for water baptisms, the church went to a nearby river public swimming area. Under the leadership of the Senior Pastor, Tom Whiting, those being baptized made a public stand for Jesus Christ, while Pastor Whiting boldly announced in his deep rich English/ Welsh accent for all to hear, the reason why we were there and doing what was taking place, according to the Word of God.
Easter has come and gone for this year of 2014, and Christians around the world have remembered the agonizing death of their Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ on the cruel Roman cross on a hill called Calvary outside of the city of Jerusalem in Israel. Good Friday is the day we remember the crucifixion of Christ as prophesied in the Old Testament many hundreds of years before the event.
Jesus spoke of His crucifixion on a number of occasions. One example is recorded in John 12:31-33 "Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.
And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself."
This He said, signifying by what death He would die.
Jesus also prophesied His own resurrection from the dead. He knew without a doubt that, although He had to die a horrible death on the cross, He would be raised back to life the third day following. 
Luke 18:31-33 Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished.
For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon.
They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again."
Another instance where Jesus confidently prophesies His death and resurrection is in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 12:38-40. Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from you."
But He answered and said unto them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.,
For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."
Just as the prophets of old, and Jesus Himself prophesied, on the morning of that first "Easter Sunday", as the day began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 
The exciting reality of this time continues to be related by Matthew in the last chapter of his Gospel account: And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.
His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.
And the guards shook for fear of him; and became like dead men.
But the angel answered, and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.
He is not here, for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay." (Verses 1 to 6)
The crucifixion of Jesus Christ and His resurrection from the dead on that first Easter Sunday are historical facts which happened at well documented points in time. 
Because He took our place on the cross, and overcame Hell and death being raised to life again - to live evermore, those who have put their trust in Him since that time have been released from the power and penalty of sin, and have experienced newness of life, and renewed hope from the God of Hope. He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

THE CRUX OF THE MATTER

Subtitle: THE CONUNDRUM OF THE CROSS

The Apostle Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know that it is the very power of God.
As the Scriptures say,
                                     "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise
                                      and discard the intelligence of the intelligent." (Isaiah 29:14)
So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars and the world's brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish. Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe. It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom. So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say that it is all nonsense.
But to those called by God to salvation,both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God's weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength. (New Living Translation)

The cross of Christ has been the central, enduring symbol of the Christian church down through the last 2,000 years. Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, who had divested Himself voluntarily of His Godly attributes (see Philippians 2:5-8) to live on this earth as a man, hung with his bloodied and broken body nailed to a cross of wood between two convicted criminals.  The sinless Son of God was dying a criminal's death - one of the cruelest forms of capital punishment ever devised by man.
From the world's viewpoint using man's wisdom, the thought of the Son of God willingly subjecting himself to such a humiliating process leading to death seemed totally illogical - absurd even.
But, again as the Apostle Paul points out to the church at Colossae (and to those of us who believe today), "You were spiritually dead because of your sins and because you were not free from the power of your sinful self. But God gave you new life together with Christ. He forgave all our sins. Because we broke God's laws, we owed a debt - a debt that listed all the rules we failed to follow. But God forgave us of that debt. He took it away and nailed it to the cross. He defeated the rulers and powers of the spiritual world. With the cross he won the victory over them and led them away, as defeated and powerless prisoners for the whole world to see." 
(Easy-To-Read Version) ERV
In his book "When The Crosses Are Gone - Restoring Sanity To A World Gone Mad" by Michael Youssef. PhD - Senior Pastor of Church of the Apostles in Atlanta, Georgia - published in 2011, he writes: The cross is a bridge which spans the gulf between God and humanity. The cross is not a wall of separation - it  breaks down walls between people, bringing us all together as God's children. The message of the cross is a message of love.
That's the conundrum of the cross. In previous generations, the cross was an accepted symbol in our culture. A church steeple topped with a cross announced that here is a place where the message of God's love is preached. In our generation, however, the cross has become a dangerous thing - despised, hated and rejected. We are just one generation away from seeing the departure of the Christian Gospel from our land.
Today, many evangelical churches, in an effort to be more "seeker-friendly" have decided not to identify their buildings with the symbol of the cross. Their intentions may be good...........................But though their intentions are good, they are taking a step toward compromise with the culture - a culture that is increasingly hostile toward the cross. By increments, they are departing from the truth.
Later in that same chapter of his book, Michael Youssef states: Only a superficial or hostile thinker could look at the cross and see a symbol of religious oppression or arrogance. The cross is a profound conundrum, a paradox, and the paradoxical logic of the cross tells us that hope springs from despair, life springs from death, and faith springs from our struggle with doubt and unbelief. The logic of the cross tells us that sinful human beings can be declared righteous in God's eyes - not because of anything they have done, but purely because God Hinself died on a cross. This idea is absurd according to human logic; but that is the logic of the cross.
The Latin word for cross is crux. It is fitting because the cross is literally the crux, the heart, of the Christian message. Remove the cross and you eliminate the essence of Christianity.

Because Jesus died for us on the cross at Calvary, we can experience new life, because His body was broken for us, we can be truly made whole, as we come to him in our brokenness. 
For the man, woman or child who looks to the cross and all that it symbolizes in the work of redemption accomplished by Christ, the conundrum of the cross is a conundrum no more. The cross becomes the meeting place of a wayward heart and life with a loving Father God longing for relationship restored for eternity.

THE CRUX OF THE MATTER

"Have You Heard Of The Four Spiritual Laws?" 
Yes, it is a question you may wish to ponder for the answers to true purpose in your own life, but it also is the title of a small booklet, written in 1952 by Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade For Christ to present the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ "in a nutshell". According to Campus Crusade History, this little booklet with very basic illustrations, each law being supported by several relevant Scripture verses - has been the most widely distributed religious booklet in history, with upwards of 2.5 billion printed in all major languages of the world.
What are these Four Spiritual Laws?
They are, according to Bill Bright, as follows:

Law 1.

God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life
(John 3:16; John 10:10)

Law 2.  

Man is sinful and separated from God.

Therefore, he cannot know and experience God's love and plan for his life

(Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23

Law 3.  

Jesus Christ is God's only provision for man's sin.

Through Him, you can know and experience God's love and plan for your life

(Romans 5:8; 1 Corinthians 15:3-6; John 14:6)

Law 4.

We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord; 

then we can know and experience God's love and plan for our lives

(John 1:12; Ephesians 2:8,9; John 3:1-8; Revelation 3:20)

Some have criticized this as being a simplistic presentation, and that it does not tell the whole story of the Christian life - that it leaves out the realities of suffering and tribulation which are the lot of the true disciples of Christ. However, personally, from a starting point of introducing a person to the Gospel, I believe it has been a very effective tool in leading many (probably in the millions) people to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ at the start of their journey of faith.

I remember being given a copy of this little booklet when I committed my life to Christ at a Christian coffee shop outreach on Queensland's Gold Coast way back in 1967. As mentioned above, the laws were illustrated by simple drawings, simple in their design but which had a profound impact on my mind and spirit. 

The second law states that Man is sinful and separated from God. This was illustrated by two line drawings depicting Man trying in vain to reach out to God through his own efforts through good works, philosophy or religion.

The third law shows again the two entities illustrated by line drawings - God above and Man below, but this time with the separating gulf being bridged by a large Cross with Jesus printed on the cross beam - showing that the Cross of Christ is the only means of Man's restoration to God, As Paul the Apostle wrote in 1 Corinthians 5:21 "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousess of God in Him."

As Jesus said of Himself in John 14:6 "I am the way,the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me".

Also speaking of His death on the Cross, He said: "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me". John 12:32
There are a number of Old Testament scriptures which directly speak about the crucifixion of Christ.
Several of these are as follows:
Psalm 22:14-16 - "My life is poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax, melting within me. My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You have laid Me in the dust and left Me for dead. My enemies surround Me like a pack of dogs; an evil gang closes in on Me. They have pierced My hands and feet."
Zechariah 12:10a - "Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the family of David and on all the people of Jerusalem. They will look on Me whom they have pierced and mourn for Him as for an only son."

It is little wonder that Paul said concerning the emphasis of his own ministry, in 1 Corinthians 2:1,2  And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.
For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
Not every person has or will embrace the message of the Cross of Christ, as Paul, again states in 1 Corinthians 1:18,19 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God.
For it is written:
                         "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
                          the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate." ( from Isaiah 29:14)
That leads us to the Conundrum of the Cross, which I shall address in the next part of this blog.

THEY SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES

(CONTINUED)

One of my Facebook friends, himself a Pentecostal pastor, made an interesting comment following my second part of this current blog. He said: "You don't hear much about speaking in tongues these days." When he said that, I knew he was right. He was stating a reality which my wife and I sensed was so, but perhaps would not have been willing to categorically state. This man, having been a pastor for some decades now, in a major Pentecostal movement in Australia, had obviously become aware over time of the apparent diminishing importance given to the experience by Pentecostal and Charismatic churches and movements. Most of these churches would still have in their Statement of Beliefs a clear indication that one of their core beliefs is that subsequent to salvation or being "born again", the Baptism in the Holy Spirit with the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues is available to every believer.
Again, as in previous blog posts on this topic, I think of the prophecy of Joel, some eight hundred years BC, confirmed by Peter on the Day of Pentecost as being fulfilled at that time, where the prophet said: "And it shall come to pass afterward
                      That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
                       Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
                       Your old men shall dream dreams,
                       Your young men shall see visions;
                       And also on My menservants
                       And on my maidservants
                       I will pour out My Spirit in 
                       those days."
After quoting this prophecy, Peter, empowered and inspired by the Holy Spirit, added: "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." Acts 2: 38,39. NKJV
The "gift of the Holy Spirit" referred to here by Apostle Peter is the Baptism in the Holy Spirit the 120 in the Upper Room had received that day, with the manifestation of speaking in other tongues - in that particular instance, languages unknown to the speakers, but known languages recognized by the hearers from other countries gathered together in Jerusalem at that time.
Peter said the Promise is "to you and your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." He was saying that the Promise of the Gift of the Holy Spirit, with the accompanying evidence of speaking in tongues was to all believers in every era, every generation, to those of all ages, all races, all backgrounds - in fact, to everyone, Jew or Gentile - who would repent of sin, and receive the salvation offered through Jesus Christ.
With the restoration of this truth to the church in the twentieth century, the Gifts of the Holy Spirit as outlined in 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 were also restored to the church. These nine gifts or manifestations of the Spirit include: the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith (the gift of faith), gifts of healings, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, different kinds of tongues (in public gatherings) and the interpretation of tongues (in public gatherings). (Words in italics added by me.)
The fact is that we, as Christians, are in a war- a battle for the hearts and souls of men, women and children. One of my favourite verses in the book of Isaiah, speaking prophetically down through the ages to the day in which we live, says: So shall they fear 
                                                                                      The name of the Lord from the west,
                                                                                       And His glory from the rising of the sun;
                                                                                      When the enemy comes in like a flood,
                                                                                      The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a 
                                                                                        standard against him.
.
Dennis Bennett, the Episcopal Rector in California who, in 1960 became a catalyst for the beginning of the Charismatic Movement, when he announced to his church congregation that he had been baptized with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues, stated, that for a Christian to be born again and not baptized in the Holy Spirit would be like sending a soldier to Vietnam without a rifle. In these times of ever-increasing darkness covering the earth, the church needs to avail itself of every provision the Lord makes available to us. That provision includes the Baptism in the Holy Spirit subsequent to the salvation experience, with the provision of the ability to speak in tongues, not as some quirky aberration of Christian experience, but to better equip the believer for effective ministry for our King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Lord Jesus Christ.

TESSA'S TESTIMONIES

Our cat died recently. He had been a faithful friend for over thirteen years. I know that adults and children suffer and die daily through wars and other forms of abuse.

    But the pain over the loss of the cat was still real to me. I remembered his beauty as he ran along the top of the fence, like a living flame in the sunlight glowing like molten gold. I remember the way he waited hours at the window for our car to return home. How he followed me around the garden, even when ill.

Awake last night, I looked at the stars so clear, so still, so remote and unbidden the words of the Bible came to me from Deuteronomy 31: The eternal God is your refuge

                            And underneath are the everlasting arms.

I am so grateful that in a world of constant, often painful, change, God is our refuge, a place to be still and regroup.  He cares so much for our individual lives and our transient griefs, no matter how deep-etched.