Had an enormous response back from people regarding their favorite reading material over 2007 [exactly 1 person reads books apparently if the responses have anything to go by]
So here's my lot for 2007.
1- U2 BY U2. An interesting read as Bono,Larry,Edge and Adam share in chat sized bits their journey from school boys in Ireland to mega international rock stars.Only half way through but loving it.Their spiritual journey including the power and influence of the charismatic move and their ups and downs that was always tempered by their spiritual awareness.Lots of pictures, a good look and easy read before one falls off to sleep at night.
2-Above all earthly powers, by David F Wells. Too much of this book certainly will put you to sleep but a thorough and well written book examining culture,modernism,postmodernism and their affects on society and the church as a whole. Cal Thomas [syndicated columnist] says this about this book:
'The finest critique of culture I have read since the late philosopher - theologian Francis Schaeffer.David Wells outlines the lay of the cultural land and offers a type of GPS system for navigating it if we are to arrive safely at our final destination.Every Christian should read and internalise what Weill's says in this powerful book'.
Not easy reading but worth the read.
3-The Bible.
I'm absolutely serious that this remains my number one read.I am more transfixed by other books at times[holiday novels and sport books] but once read rarely want to read them again.Its now over 40 yrs since Ive read and re read this amazing book and it still keeps me coming back.It has living breath in its very pages and even in seasons of little illumination it gives away enough hope,joy,truth and wonder to keep coming back.
I have read the bible from cover to cover many ,many times but it keeps surprising me,speaking to me and challenging me to reach further into the life of the living God.
Yesterday it was Psalm 59:16 'But I will sing of Your power;Yes I will sing aloud of your mercy in the morning.For you have been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble'
Cant tell you how much hope and healing poured into me as I shared the psalmists need to trust in Gods power and strength'
Yes still number one for me.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
SURF
Suns out today and all I can think of is surf and all the 'God blessed' people who live along the coast.Not fair - totally jealous.
What's it about surf that triggers such primal emotions in me; someone who hasn't surfed for months and for whom the future possibility for another dash to the coast looks bleak.Is it the sun,the waves,the friendship,the peace one encounters?
What's it about surf that triggers such primal emotions in me; someone who hasn't surfed for months and for whom the future possibility for another dash to the coast looks bleak.Is it the sun,the waves,the friendship,the peace one encounters?
I realised its that part of me that wants to be free from daily choices,decisions and pressure that simply leaves you 'boring' and 'tired' and 'responsible'.The thought of a carefree life really does look good when winter is ending and the body is a bit tired and the planning and decision making needed for the months ahead looks pretty intimidating.
My friend Graeme Singleton has just got back from the Maldives where he surfed himself to a standstill. He cruelly sent me his quiver full of shots showing himself carving up the face of a beautiful 4 ft crystal clear wave in that part of the Indian ocean [ see the two shots].Apparently meant to encourage me but actually left me totally jealous and envious of someone being able to have a life to do such things.
My friend Graeme Singleton has just got back from the Maldives where he surfed himself to a standstill. He cruelly sent me his quiver full of shots showing himself carving up the face of a beautiful 4 ft crystal clear wave in that part of the Indian ocean [ see the two shots].Apparently meant to encourage me but actually left me totally jealous and envious of someone being able to have a life to do such things.
Looking out the window and the suns out again and I hear that the surf is looking great down the south coast-that primal call just gets louder.
I know Jesus found the lakes and mountains to be His place of 'connection' and somehow that gives me a sense of permission to check out the diary and consider another dash to the coast.
I remember Bill Hybels talking to leaders on staying healthy and sane in this calling as church leader's .He spoke about having a healthy spiritual life [daily prayer,word,worship etc] and a healthy body[did gym 4-5 days a week-only a Dutchman like he could be that disciplined!] but how after all his disciplined lifestyle looking solely after his body and spirit life that he still felt weary.It wasnt till he spent time with good friends who didn't drain him and got back into his yachting [his sport he loved but gave up] that he truly felt whole and free again.He explained that yachting has become a key to filling up his emotional tank [peace,speed,wind,time alone,excitement etc]He recognised that being made with 3 working parts to our one being [body,soul,spirit] that we as Christians need to be aware that feeding our emotional tank is as important as feeding our spirit and body .In fact the emotional tank kept 'alive' gives joy to the rest of our life's journey.
So there we have it-Jesus and Bill Hybels both say its time for me to find a good beach,hot sun and a wave to heal my troubled soul !! Now all I have to do is convince Dale that Jesus and Bill really do know their stuff!!
ISAIAH 40:31 They shall renew their strength,they shall mount up with wings like eagles.
I know Jesus found the lakes and mountains to be His place of 'connection' and somehow that gives me a sense of permission to check out the diary and consider another dash to the coast.
I remember Bill Hybels talking to leaders on staying healthy and sane in this calling as church leader's .He spoke about having a healthy spiritual life [daily prayer,word,worship etc] and a healthy body[did gym 4-5 days a week-only a Dutchman like he could be that disciplined!] but how after all his disciplined lifestyle looking solely after his body and spirit life that he still felt weary.It wasnt till he spent time with good friends who didn't drain him and got back into his yachting [his sport he loved but gave up] that he truly felt whole and free again.He explained that yachting has become a key to filling up his emotional tank [peace,speed,wind,time alone,excitement etc]He recognised that being made with 3 working parts to our one being [body,soul,spirit] that we as Christians need to be aware that feeding our emotional tank is as important as feeding our spirit and body .In fact the emotional tank kept 'alive' gives joy to the rest of our life's journey.
So there we have it-Jesus and Bill Hybels both say its time for me to find a good beach,hot sun and a wave to heal my troubled soul !! Now all I have to do is convince Dale that Jesus and Bill really do know their stuff!!
ISAIAH 40:31 They shall renew their strength,they shall mount up with wings like eagles.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Leadership
Leaders are central to producing great communities.
Listen and look at the life of someone who has grown up under the leadership of a great dad or mum.When life gets rocky I notice they have an ability to fall back on their parents proven journeys.This journey carried pressure,loved through difficulties and trusted in simple and proven principles like faith,hope and love.
Listen and look at the journeys of people who have influenced the way you lead in the work place.In my case as a church leader I look at Barney Coombs from Canada , an apostle,friend and spiritual father who for 30 yrs has cared for me and my family.He has never missed a trip in 30 yrs,has financially cared for me in seasons of difficulty,has growled at my carnal behaviour,has believed in me when just a young man.The leadership he has modelled carries into my life to this day a security,faithfullness and confidence that overshadows my own journey as a leader.
Listen and look at the price leaders pay to produce lasting legacies.They all have paid a big price,have stood strong in opposition,experienced and walked daily in their own vulnerability,have failed,doubted yet have kept believing,kept trusting in others and in a simple belief that their life can make a difference.
This spot is dedicated to such leaders.To all of those great people let me say thank you.
Because my life is spent with leaders [church,business,parents]I get to listen and look at their lives and hear their stories.The challenge,pressure,joy and cost are never far from their conversations.Often they hear little of appreciation from those they serve and wonder if they really are making a difference.
Because of this I want to dedicate this spot to leaders who have influenced our lives and suggest this week we find ways to 'encourage and inspire' that person.Why not ring and thank them for the part they have played in your life,send them out to dinner,send a card,flowers,pray for them,send a movie pass or go all the way and buy them a new BMW ! Whatever the gift be, the 'thankyou' and 'gratitude' behind it will inspire them to keep on doing what is so vital-leadership!
We need great leaders so lets do our part in raising up their profile and place in our communities.
Proverbs 25:11.A word [gift]aptly spoken [given] is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
Listen and look at the life of someone who has grown up under the leadership of a great dad or mum.When life gets rocky I notice they have an ability to fall back on their parents proven journeys.This journey carried pressure,loved through difficulties and trusted in simple and proven principles like faith,hope and love.
Listen and look at the journeys of people who have influenced the way you lead in the work place.In my case as a church leader I look at Barney Coombs from Canada , an apostle,friend and spiritual father who for 30 yrs has cared for me and my family.He has never missed a trip in 30 yrs,has financially cared for me in seasons of difficulty,has growled at my carnal behaviour,has believed in me when just a young man.The leadership he has modelled carries into my life to this day a security,faithfullness and confidence that overshadows my own journey as a leader.
Listen and look at the price leaders pay to produce lasting legacies.They all have paid a big price,have stood strong in opposition,experienced and walked daily in their own vulnerability,have failed,doubted yet have kept believing,kept trusting in others and in a simple belief that their life can make a difference.
This spot is dedicated to such leaders.To all of those great people let me say thank you.
Because my life is spent with leaders [church,business,parents]I get to listen and look at their lives and hear their stories.The challenge,pressure,joy and cost are never far from their conversations.Often they hear little of appreciation from those they serve and wonder if they really are making a difference.
Because of this I want to dedicate this spot to leaders who have influenced our lives and suggest this week we find ways to 'encourage and inspire' that person.Why not ring and thank them for the part they have played in your life,send them out to dinner,send a card,flowers,pray for them,send a movie pass or go all the way and buy them a new BMW ! Whatever the gift be, the 'thankyou' and 'gratitude' behind it will inspire them to keep on doing what is so vital-leadership!
We need great leaders so lets do our part in raising up their profile and place in our communities.
Proverbs 25:11.A word [gift]aptly spoken [given] is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
All over the world
Last year I lived in burundi (Africa), and one of the things that amazed me was just realizing how huge God is. That I could travel to the other side of the world and he is there. God is God all over the world, and God is moving all over the world. I recieved an email from a guy I worked with in Burundi in regards to a team of African evangelists they had trained and sent throughout Burundi.Here it is:
I've just received a report about what the twenty three groups of Harvest for
Christ evangelists got up to. Ten in each team, they went to fourteen unreached
areas, and had a massive impact. I know some reports tend to be quite
evangelastic(!) in terms of exaggerated numbers, but I assure you these guys are
the real deal. I'll just translate Onesphore's summary:
From our door-to-door visiting and outreach, 15,890 people believed and
prayed to receive Christ, including 47 witchdoctors and 16 Muslims. We burnt
talismans and objects of witchcraft in 49 families. There were 45 miraculous
healings, including 4 mentally ill and 11 demon-possessed people. 8 couples on
the verge of divorce repented and want to make their marriages work. 2 people
about to commit suicide were talked out of it. 308 people were trained for
follow-up in different churches.
He goes on:A famous witchdoctor at Ijenda, Joselyne, gave her life to
Christ. Her sister refused to believe, but brought over the demon-possessed
neighbour. The latter hadn't eaten for three days, and Joselyne's sister
challenged the believers:"If you heal this girl, I'll know that you are
serving the one true God.God duly healed the girl, and 21 people (including
the sister) promptly gave their lives to Christ. Elsewhere a group of
evangelists were arrested and taken to prison. One lad whilst in his cell led
two people to Christ! Another team were beaten up, but continued preaching.
That's just a sample. You get the idea! Praise God!
Its good to be reminded that we serve a Global God. The Church is doing amazing things all around the world by God's grace. What a privelage to be part of it.
God Bless
Aaron
I've just received a report about what the twenty three groups of Harvest for
Christ evangelists got up to. Ten in each team, they went to fourteen unreached
areas, and had a massive impact. I know some reports tend to be quite
evangelastic(!) in terms of exaggerated numbers, but I assure you these guys are
the real deal. I'll just translate Onesphore's summary:
From our door-to-door visiting and outreach, 15,890 people believed and
prayed to receive Christ, including 47 witchdoctors and 16 Muslims. We burnt
talismans and objects of witchcraft in 49 families. There were 45 miraculous
healings, including 4 mentally ill and 11 demon-possessed people. 8 couples on
the verge of divorce repented and want to make their marriages work. 2 people
about to commit suicide were talked out of it. 308 people were trained for
follow-up in different churches.
He goes on:A famous witchdoctor at Ijenda, Joselyne, gave her life to
Christ. Her sister refused to believe, but brought over the demon-possessed
neighbour. The latter hadn't eaten for three days, and Joselyne's sister
challenged the believers:"If you heal this girl, I'll know that you are
serving the one true God.God duly healed the girl, and 21 people (including
the sister) promptly gave their lives to Christ. Elsewhere a group of
evangelists were arrested and taken to prison. One lad whilst in his cell led
two people to Christ! Another team were beaten up, but continued preaching.
That's just a sample. You get the idea! Praise God!
Its good to be reminded that we serve a Global God. The Church is doing amazing things all around the world by God's grace. What a privelage to be part of it.
God Bless
Aaron
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
