Monday 29 November 2010

Sunday 28 November 2010

McKenzie is Searching


The trees, limp and heavy after days of incessant rainfall, hung stoically in the eerie stillness. The inky black sky seemed to crack open for the briefest of moments and a full moon slid out from behind a slow moving invisible cloud spilling light over the forest floor like a tremendous symphony of chiaroscuro.
Bright beams cut through the dense canopy and splashed pools of iridescence onto the damp, thick camouflage of the wild forest floor. A magnificent cathedral of majestic Kapok Trees stood frozen all-too-briefly in time for the single strobe of the moon’s creative glare.
Would they ever find what they were looking for…..?
A trickle of sweat slowly made its way down McKenzie’s rigid spine. He could trace its course. Beads of perspiration congregated on his furrowed brow. The humidity was tangible. It was two o’clock in the morning and McKenzie longed for the secret solitude of his humble camp-bed back at the hut he fondly called home.
What was he doing lost in the merciless undergrowth of the Amazonian Rainforest? Why was he searching for someone he barely knew?
The child had vanished almost thirty-six hours ago. McKenzie’s hand had shot-up without his permission when the police officer made an appeal for volunteers. It could have been his daughter who was missing….it could have been him. His mind drifted back to a time when he snuggled into his mother’s lap and, with his eyes closed, his mum stroked his hair as she told him this story from the bible…..
Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbours together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ (Luke 15:3-6).
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Sunday 21 November 2010

Friday 19 November 2010

McKenzie Confronts His Fears

Welcome to the New Style Gist.
Over the next few weeks we are rolling out a new way to present the Gist.
Please let us know what you think...we are listening!
Follow this link to read 'McKenzie Confronts His Fears':
http://www.getthegist.net/

Tuesday 16 November 2010

The God of All mankind

Jeremiah 32:27…… “I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?”
…..all mankind, what does that mean? Surely it means everybody! The Lord God is the God of all mankind, everybody. He created us all, every one of us.
Time was when it was possible to tell the nationality of a person from the way they looked. Spaniards had sallow skin and black hair; Scandinavians had blonde hair and blue eyes. Nowadays, Spaniards can have blonde hair and blue eyes and vice-versa.
Why is that? Maybe it is because of the ease of international travel, cross-cultural relationships and the insidious erosion of our unique national identity. Most shops across Europe stock similar products. In fact, most western countries have broad similarities. Wherever tourists travel anywhere in the world, they can often enjoy, should they choose to do so, the same consumer goods as they have at home. How long will it be before countries and continents merge into one world-wide identity?
With global advertising and media being broadcast from satellites into every nook and cranny on earth, it is possible to watch the same TV programmes anywhere. The stage is set for a one-world economy that will be serviced by a one-world currency and hard on its heels, prepare for a one-world religion.
However, some things are sacrosanct and religion is one of them. In a world where indistinct and unclear national boundaries make it increasingly more difficult to define our true identity, one thing that can keep us unique, no matter where we live, is our religion.
Please note that I am saying religion, not faith. Religion is man-made and it can be used by mankind to manipulate multitudes. We must, in view of that, stand and resist being deceived by schemes that speak of a new world order.
Religion is the enemy of every Christian. We must not allow the frontiers of our faith to blur into ecumenicalism. We have to stand-up for Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the God of all mankind. There is no other way to connect with our Maker.
Will the proliferation of global communication make God more available to everyone? Undoubtedly, but be careful, this ‘God’ may not be the God of our Christian faith. Do not be deceived! Will all mankind embrace Christianity? I hear a resounding ‘no!’ from many quarters. Why not, I ask you? Is anything too hard for our God?
Lord Jesus, may all mankind reach out to you. Amen

Sunday 14 November 2010

Eyes Wide Open

I posted a new episode 'Eyes Wide Open' to my podcast.
It is a series of six tracks that will takes us through the cross into the spacious place of our salvation......
Please follow this link to hear Track 1 'What Ezekiel Saw'
http://peterstanway.podomatic.com/entry/2010-11-14T09_07_02-08_00

Sunday 7 November 2010

WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?

To help me to strengthen weak areas and to build on strong areas, will you please take a few moments to complete this survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8P8DLLD
Your feedback is important!

Friday 5 November 2010

Lift Up Your Hands

Psalm 134:2-3….. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD. May the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion.
The beginning of this scripture reminds me of one time, after an argument with my mother, I rushed out to our church meeting. I was praising God with my hands uplifted when I sensed the Lord asking me what I was doing. I knew I had to go back to my mother’s house to apologise to her.
With much weeping and repenting, I asked my mother to forgive me and, in the midst of all that was going on, my dad was wonderfully saved. By doing what I was told, the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth, blessed me and my family.
I understand that uplifted hands are a gesture of worship and praise before the Lord but adopting this posture is not, in itself, worship or praise. Neither is singing. It is in our spirit where true worship originates and, on that particular occasion, I had a wrong spirit.
We are looking here at Psalm 134. It is not by accident that it comes after Psalm 133, a well known Psalm that that speaks of unity. It says where there is unity, ‘the Lord bestows His blessing, even life for ever more.’
If we cannot live in harmony with those people closest to us, how can we expect to be at one with the Lord? How can we expect to be blessed?
Christianity is not about charismatic posturing, it is about character building. Our aim is to love others as Jesus Christ loves them – unconditionally and without compromise. When we do that, not only will our hands stretch upwards to heaven but our praises will too.
Lord Jesus, thank you for showing us the importance of character. Amen.