I Saw the Light

A friend recently dug this photo out from when we did a play together in May 2006. It struck me as quite fitting that, in the play, I am sitting behind a man-made light, but looking up, as though I've had some sort of divine inspiration and seen light of another kind.

I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

-John 12:46.

It was just two months before that date that I'd received Jesus, the light of the world, into my life. It was at the time of the play, two months later, that I felt he was calling me to Bible College, where I am now typing this. I don't know what's next for me, but he is in control. I've always had ideas about what is right for me and my future, but they have never come to fruition. Now though, even though I don't know completely where it's leading, I'm on the right path, both following the Light to wherever he chooses, and also, by God's grace, being a bearer of that light for others to see.

The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

-John 1:5

People know there is something different about us Christians. Before I became a Christian I had all sorts of stereotypes that I would associate with Christians, and I still maintain that many of them are true. But, if we as Jesus' disciples are truly living for him, then I believe it is his light in us that people will notice. If they look beyond the stereotypes and misconceptions, they cannot help but see it. By our abstension from certain things or the way we conduct ourselves in everyday situations-how can they not see the light of Christ? I may have been unwilling to acknowledge it Oli (the guy who eventually led me to Christ), and it was definitely a gradual process, but I knew there was something about him that made him happier than me, and it was more than just having very good morals. It was the light of Christ, and I am so grateful that I now radiate that myself.

When we have the light of Christ in our lives, who can turn away from it? Who can ignore it?Who would want to?

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How not to react

The 'ACTS' Open Mic Church will happen by the way. It'll be on Weds 20th Feb 2008 in Sheffield. More info on that nearer the time but please check out the following for now: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7103397693

A friend came up to me earlier and said something about something I had done, which turned out to be largely wrong, and I had two choices. I could have corrected them in love, or I could have got defensive and snapped at them. Unfortunately I chose the latter, but I felt it was justified, and so didn't feel guilty about it. Later on, whilst reading my Bible, I came across Acts 21:10-14, which says this:

10After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11Coming over to us, he took Paul's belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, "The Holy Spirit says, 'In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.' "
12When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 13Then Paul answered, "Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." 14When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, "The Lord's will be done."

In many ways, hosting the ACTS Open Mic Church will be the most 'out on a limb' for Christ that I have ever been. Granted, I preach and I evangelise where possible, but to something so new, so bold, so unpredictable...this is a step of faith, and I will need complete dependance on the Holy Spirit. From reading Paul's response to Agabus, we see that he is unafraid of dying for Christ so long as God's will is done. Wow. I believe that, in order for me to be completely open to God and thus for His will to be done through me, parts of me will need to die too. Scary? Not at all. I serve a faithful God who knows what's best for me, and surrendering my all to Him is the best thing I could hope to do. So Lord, may your will and not mine be done!

It took my friend (the one I snapped at) to make me realise the above though, and something else. We had arranged earlier on that we would have a Bible study and prayer this evening, which we honoured. He confirmed the above to me, but also made me focus on Paul's reaction. Even though Paul probably could have sensed that what Agabus was saying would come to pass, he didn't get shirty with him. Instead, he said, 'Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.' Hallelujah. Right now I bind myself to God's will in Jesus' name. May His will be done! :)
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POWERFUL!!!!!

I am indebted to my good friend Mr. Wood for showing me this video. Go on, watch it. I challenge you not to be moved/cry/both.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyheJ480LYA
Turns our there's power in interprative dance. But then again, Jesus is involved, so that doesn't surprise me in the slightest!

Enjoy and God bless:)
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Are you ready?

Yesterday was a very interesting day for me. In order to raise money for my dissertation project ('ACTS open mic church'-check it out: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7103397693), I did a sponsored blindfold from 8am until bedtime, when it came off whilst I was sleeping at around 4am. That's almost 24 hours of complete darkness! It was inspired by an amazing Christian friend I made in Norway last March. My friend, Karin, has been completely blind since she was four days old, and also has torrettes and bulimia. But you know what? Despite these three (what I would call) disbabilites, she said her biggest disability of all is that she is unable to share her faith with her 'friends', as they would reject her. I may not be in the same position as you but I have experienced that too. Karin is so awesome though. There aren't many who can navigate around snow and ice without the use of a stick!

I was really inspired by Karin, and took to blindfolding myself for 20 hours in order to both raise money and to put myself in her shoes. It was not an easy day, but it was a lot of fun. I didn't walk into walls as much as I thought I would, but I did cut my finger on something, get disorientated a couple of times, habitually turn the light on when visiting the loo and often found that my fork met my lips with nothing on the end of it, but overall it was a great experience. I found I could discern who certain people are just by their breathing and their coughs, and so my hearing, and also my taste buds, seemed to heighten. 'Watching' films and television wasn't as much fun as I'd hoped, but things like atmospheric music at least helped me imagine what was going on. Somebody died on Neighbours, which wouldn't have been any more upsetting for me if I'd seen it, but there you go. In fact, maybe I would have been upset-not by the death, but more like the terrible acting. Anyway, I'm digressing.

A very good friend of mine rang me about midway through my day of darkness and shared a really encouraging scripture with me. It was Isaiah 43:16-21. It talks about God having led Israel through the Red Sea and the wilderness. It talks about our need to forget the things of the past, because GOD IS DOING A NEW THING. Since September, I've heard this passage used at least four times, by different people and on separate occasions. Coincedence? Perhaps. But there is of course the possibility that what the Bible says is true, and this time we are in now is crucial to what God is doing in this nation. Change is certainly in the air. Thinking about it, if we are Christians, God has already brought us out of slavery and made a way for us to live His way, so this passage is relevant to us all, but looking a little deeper, there is more to be thankful for and excited about.

Rob Frost, a world-famous evangelist and the founder of 'Share Jesus International', passed away a few days ago. For his family and those who knew him, his loss is very sad, but not of course when we consider where he is now. The work he did in furthering God's Kingdom can be known only by God, for it is not humanly possible to tell. He was a MIGHTY man of God, and God used him to do amazing things. There can be no doubting the success of his life's work, in the many different forms it took. But God is doing a new thing. Change is in the air. As God's mission, and in which the work of Share Jesus continues, so does the call to evangelism for every Christian.

At Cliff we are in the process of appointing a new principal. This is a really important time for the college and will have a big impact on how things are done here, including how we evangelise. Change is in the air. In the passage (verse 18) we are told to forget the former things, because...change is in the air. God is doing something new! Perhaps Share Jesus will continue to do things the same way as before. Perhaps we at Cliff will continue to conduct our mission work as before. Perhaps the Methodist Church (for example) will largely continue to stagnate. Perhaps the millions in this nation who are currently not being reached by the Word of God will continue to go unreached. Or maybe...just maybe...God really is doing something new.

I believe we are living in the end times. I believe in a God who has the power to raise the dead, and whose son Jesus actually did that. I believe that through his death, every single person can know what life really is, and if they believe in him can have a relationship with God. I believe the message of the Christian gospel is for everyone to hear. I believe I am privileged to have the opportunity to share it. I believe God IS doing something new, and whether we are young or old, blind or ably-sighted, black, white, rich, poor, or whatever or whoever we are, we all have a chance, by the grace of God, to proclaim His praise (verse 21) and see Him glorified in this nation. I believe now is the time of the Lord's favour. I believe that his light is going to shine so brightly in the darkness that all will see it, and will be forced to react to it. I believe the living God will not be ignored or unheard for much longer. I believe Jesus is coming back soon. The question is, are we ready for that? Am I ready for that? Are YOU ready for that?

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