History

Did you ever realise before that The Cross is quite literally at the center of history?

Funny Quotes

Some funny quotes that can hit home more than you may expect:

Some people are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited-until you try to sit in their pews.
Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisers.
It is easier to preach ten sermons than it is to live one.
The good Lord didn't create anything without a purpose, but mosquitoes come close.
When you get to your wit's end, you'll find God lives there.
People are funny, they want the front of the bus, the middle of the road, and the back of the church.
Opportunity may knock once, but temptation bangs on your front door forever.
Quit griping about your church; if it was perfect, you couldn't belong.
The phrase that is guaranteed to wake up an audience: "And in conclusion."
If the church wants a better preacher, it only needs to pray for the one it has.
God Himself does not propose to judge a man until he is dead. So why should you?
Some minds are like concrete, thoroughly mixed up and permanently set.
Peace starts with a smile.
I don't know why some people change churches; what difference does it make which one you stay home from?
A lot of church members who are singing "Standing on the Promises" are just sitting on the premises.
We were called to be witnesses, not lawyers or judges.
Outside of traffic, there is nothing that holds this country back as much as committees.
Be ye fishers of men. You catch them - He'll clean them.
Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous.
Don't put a question mark where God put a period.
Don't wait for 6 strong men to carry you to church.
Forbidden fruits create many jams.
God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.
God grades on the cross, not the curve.
God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.
He who angers you, controls you!
If God is your Co-pilot - swap seats!
Prayer: Don't give God instructions - just report for duty!
The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us.
The Will of God will never take you to where the Grace of God will not protect you.
We don't change the message, the message changes us.
The best mathematical equation I have ever seen: 1 cross + 3 nails = 4 given.
"Father, bless this person in whatever it is that You know he or she may be needing this day!"

And lastly, some interesting quotes from the Dalai Lama

The Dalai Lama was once asked what surprised him the most in life and his response was man, “because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then he dies having never really lived."

Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

There is a saying in Tibetan, “Tragedy should be utilized as a source of strength.”

No matter what sort of difficulties, how painful experience is, if we lose our hope, that’s our real disaster.

Keep Going

If ever God spoke to me through a signpost, this was it.
We were all on our way home from a holiday in Tenby and I saw the clouds settled in the valleys, so we stopped the car to take some photos. About 10' away was this sign, completley on it's own. I have no idea what it was referring to, but it spoke to me and is speaking to me at a time when life is very hard going.
In the past I've been so dull to hearing God, I think I made it difficult for Him to speak to me by my super spiritual expectations. These days I just take what ever He's giving.

Keep Going.
Keep Going.

The Debt Crisis

I was told last night about the Wolfson Economics Prize 
I'm not an economist, and don't understand half the questions on the list that need to be answered to win the £250K prize.
But I had a thought....

I remeber hearing as a kid about these people who trap monkeys. They would drill a small hole in a box, put some rice in it, and then wait. Along comes a monkey, sticks it's hand in the hole to get the rice...but now because it's hand is full it can't get it out of the small hole. Rather than let go, the monkey is so greedy it will cling onto the rice even as the hunter approaches and stuffs him in a bag. Literally caught by it's own greed.
The answer is to let go.

The Bible talks about a Year of Jubilee
Leviticus 25: 10
And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you, when each of you shall return to his property and each of you shall return to his clan.

The idea was incredible. Cancel all debt on this year. It was so redical. It would happen every 50 years. The idea is millenia old, but can you guess how many times the Year of Jubilee was celebrated? That's right, none. They were too greedy to give it a go, and eventually all ended up in slavery, time and time again.

What if we cancelled all debt?
What if we said to all the countries struggling to pay us back, your debts are cancelled. Not just lessened, postponed, but cancelled. What if all your mortgages and loans were cancelled.

My first thought is, Nah- it just wouldn't work...would it? It can't...can it?
What if?

Perhaps God's way might just turn out to work?

Treasure Chest

I just love the Bible, the Living Word of God.
I find reading the Word like running my hands through a chest full of treasure.
Sometimes I don't always appreciate the worth of what my hands are holding, and sometimes I am so amazed at a particular gem that I pick it out and just look at it. Letting the light fall on different facets and seeing different things.

Sacrifice

I come into work today heard these words on the radio:

But I've shined like a diamond through sacrifice

here's the full song:

Dolly Parton
The Sacrifice lyrics
Well, I've sacrificed time with family and friends
Gave up vacations for work without end
24/7, 365
But I was willing to make the sacrifice

But empty or full, I've carried my pale
You don't drink the water if you don't dig the well
Through blood sweat and tears I have built a good life
But it didn't come without sacrifice

But I was gonna be rich no matter how much it cost
And I was gonna win no matter how much I lost
All through the years I kept my eye on the prize
You ask if it's worth the sacrifice, the sacrifice

I think about Jesus and all that he gave
And the ultimate sacrifice that he made
He is my strength and my guiding light
And he's taught me that nothing's without sacrifice

I was gonna be rich no matter how much it cost
And I was gonna win no matter how much I lost
I wanted success and, brother, I've paid the price
And, yes, it's been worth the sacrifice, the sacrifice

I was gonna be rich no matter how much it cost
And I was gonna win no matter how much I lost
Grindstones and rhinestones have made up my life
But I've shined like a diamond through sacrifice

I was gonna be rich no matter how much it cost
And I was gonna win no matter how much I lost
But I hope God will tell me, 'Well done, my child
You've won your reward through your sacrifice, the sacrifice'

The sacrifice
But sometimes I wonder in the still of the night
Is it really worth the sacrifice
I've often laughed and I've often cried
I've often failed but I've always tried
I made the sacrifice

I Surrender!!!

I Surrender! Please…don't kill me!

We talk about surrendering to God a lot.

I surrender this situation…
I surrender this problem…
I surrender this attitude…
I surrender to the Holy Spirit…

I have some bad news for you though if it's followed with the line 'please don't kill me', because Jesus doesn't take prisoners.

When we become Christians, we should be surrendering our lives to Him. We say, I get off the throne of my life and hand the seat to you. It's for you to rule and reign from.

What does Jesus do with our surrendered self? The same thing He does to anything that surrenders to Him, He takes it to the Cross and nails it to it until it's dead. Sorry, no cushy cell or slap across the knuckles, it's the death sentence.

Of course, when you die on the Cross you are resurrected again with Him, you are Born Again, A new creation, the old has gone, the new has come.

Thinking on all this the other day I had a picture of a freshly dug grave, and a pair of hands reaching up scrabbling at the dirt trying to get out. That's not surrender. Surrender is lying down and letting that person die. Letting the flesh be crucified so the Spirit can soar. Letting the earth cover you and killing you off.

After we become Christians we aren't finished surrendering to Him. Jesus said we should DAILY take up our Cross and follow Him. The Holy Spirit, who has come and made His home in us, calling us His Temple, will point out more and more things to us that need to go. Attitudes, situations we are involved with, conditions we have, that need to die. We have to surrender them. Let them go. Don't try and cling on to them, picture them being taken to the Cross and nailed there.  When we agreed to make Him Lord, He took us seriously.

Then wait to see what God replaces them with…because God always fills a gap. There are no vacuums in the Kingdom, where there is a space in your life the Holy Spirit rushes in to fill it.

Inspiring Books

I've started making a list of the most inspirational books on Amazon.
The list is here:
LINK

Here is what's on it so far:

1.  The Message Remix 2.0: The Bible In contemporary Language by Eugene H. Peterson The list author says: "The Bible had to be first item. I chose the Message translation as any age can enjoy just picking it up and reading." £5.41

2.  The Heavenly Man: The Remarkable True Story of Chinese Christian Brother Yun by Brother Yun The list author says: "The story of Brother Yun brings the reality of being a Chinese Christian crashing into the homes of the West." £6.30

3.  The Problem of Wineskins by Howard A Snyder The list author says: "You will never look at your Church in the same way again. A dangerous book." Used & New from: £0.75

4.  Smith Wigglesworth: The Complete Collection of His Life Teachings by Alice Berry The list author says: "Not a biography, but a collection of his sermons. Experience Smith speaking to you." £17.09   Used & New from: £12.91

5.  Tramp for the Lord: The Years After the Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom The list author says: "See how a little old lady devestates those around her. An amazing lady." £6.29   Used & New from: £1.99

6.  No Compromise: The Life Story of Keith Green by Melody Green The list author says: "When Kieth was saved, he really got saved. He tried to live a life that he saw the Bible teach. Radical." Used & New from: £1.25

7.  The Lion and the Lamb: Reflections on the Book of Revelation, Volume 1 by Tony Ling The list author says:  "If you know Tony, you can't help but hear his voice as you read these 2 volumes. The best books on revelation you will ever read." £8.99   Used & New from: £4.73

8.  Worship: A Heart for God by Bryn Jones The list author says: "Everyone who knew Bryn loved him. Here is a collection of inspirations on Worshipping." Used & New from: £0.01

Leadership

I just finished reading the memoirs of Major Dick Winters, a book I received for my Birthday. Dick Winters is the legendary leader of Easy Company, immortalised in the Band Of Brothers HBO series.

His book finishes with 10 points on leadership, here it is, and it deserves some thought.


Leadership at the Point of the Bayonet


1. Strive to be a leader of character, competence, and courage.
2. Lead from the front. Say, “Follow me!” and then lead the way.
3. Stay in top physical shape--physical stamina is the root of mental toughness.
4. Develop your team. If you know your people, are fair in setting realistic goals and expectations, and lead by example, you will develop teamwork.
5. Delegate responsibility to your subordinates and let them do their job. You can’t do a good job if you don’t have a chance to use your imagination and creativity.
6. Anticipate problems and prepare to overcome obstacles. Don’t wait until you get to the top of the ridge and then make up your mind.
7. Remain humble. Don’t worry about who receives the credit. Never let power or authority go to your head.
8. Take a moment of self-reflection. Look at yourself in the mirror every night and ask yourself if you did your best.
9. True satisfaction comes from getting the job done. They key to a successful leader is to earn respect--not because of rank or position, but because you are a leader of character.
10. Hang Tough!--Never, ever, give up.