Sunday, October 19, 2008

FREE SURGERY..NO WAITING..NO SIDE EFFECTS!


While I was getting a lift home from my son's rugby match yesterday by my friend he complained about his sore elbow. He even mentioned the possibility of needing surgery to have it fixed. He had been lifting heavy things from his attic following a clear up at the end of a messy divorce. Some object had slipped but his pal was below so instead of instinctively letting go he held on and did painful damage to his elbow.

I said I knew a surgeon who was free of charge, could operate without side effects and could do it all instantly! When we got home and were having a cup of coffee in my house I again asked if he'd like Jesus to heal him now. I showed him Jesus' promise in Mark 16 "they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover" He admitted to being a skeptic on these matters. I said God is not looking for faith from him at this time. He then asked me "what if I don't get healed". I said we'd talk about that later if he didn't get healed.

I then held his elbow and asked the risen Christ to heal him. I felt a small heat and minor vibration then and I knew God was touching him. I then asked him to flex his elbow and lift up something. At this stage he went "Bug eyed" and testified to a complete healing in amazement. It was then that I got to clearly explain the difference between religion and a living faith in the risen Jesus who proved his divinity by His resurrection. To God be ALL the glory. What I learnt from this was the way the heart is opened by the miraculous. Now I'm HUNGRY!

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Ray meets Jesus, in person.


Time itself will vanish in heaven I believe. We only use time down here because we need a measuring stick for the brief "vapour" before eternity so we can wisely rest, plan and be good stewards of the opportunities and resources God gives us. Jesus was never frantically carrying around a massive list of good works to do. NO. He simply acted in obedience. Clearly that's our call too. I don't know about you but I know for me the challenge is HEAR God. How can a kid obey his parent if he can't hear them!
My dear friend Ray Shiels, pastor of Every Nation Church in Dublin went to be with Jesus this week. He was one who recklessly obeyed God and thereby inspired many. I miss him but rejoice at the thought of him in the presence of Jesus. God bless and surround Caludine, Jack and Sam. Read the tributes on Wolfie's blog at http://wolfinlondon.wordpress.com/2008/10/13/tribute-to-my-hero-friend-ray-shiels/#comment-1200 (cut and paste this url into the browser window)

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Debt Purge (God's style)


Man's plan: Enslave others in debt if you can get away with it. God's plan: The Jubilee (Read Leviticus 25) where debts are purged on a periodic basis. If debts are not purged (wiped) periodically then they will wipe themselves in due course (toxic debt they call it). Like all violations of God's principles there are consequences when ignored. A wee bit of other news caught my eyes recently "The World Health Organisation and UNAIDS, the UN agency that co-ordinates the global fight against Aids, said there was compelling evidence that the operation can reduce infections among heterosexual men by up to 60 per cent." (Times 28-3-07). I'm not suggesting us lads do anything dramatic but I love when "science" thinks they've discovered something new which was already written by God Himself.
Peter the fisherman spoke of nuclear physics (2 Peter 3:10) when under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. The writer of Hebrews spoke about quantum physics and the binding force of the atom in Hebrews 1:3. David wrote of "the paths of the seas" in Psalm 8:8 thousands of years before Matthew Maury plotted them for the first time in the 1800's (His inspiration was indeed Psalm 8!). God's word is full of Gems, many yet to be unearthed but the primary gem is the purging not of debt but our sin by the bleeding and dying of a chap who was entirely innocent (indeed the only ever innocent one) Jesus Christ. Wow! He will give you a garment of praise for a spirit of heaviness (Isaiah 61:3)