SpeckledLambs

Hello … I absolutely needed to write about this.

There’s this book I just finished reading titled “Epicenter”. The author, Joel Rosenberg, is a political journalist who spent years immersed in the geopolitical environment of Washington, Israel and the Middle East.

Please go buy a copy. I got mine from Crest in Far East Shopping Centre, but I think you can get it from any major bookstore in Singapore. It’s been on the New York Times best seller list for sometime already.

A Messianic Jew from an orthodox background, he has been writing political thrillers, intentionally fictional, but based on the prophecies of the prophet Ezekiel. The interesting thing is that the plotlines in his stories “have had an eerie way of becoming true”.

Here’s an exerpt from the book that chronicles a conversation between Rosenberg and a high ranking Arab government official, a Sunni Muslim leader, visiting Washington.

The context for the conversation was a book someone had given to the Arab official, one of Rosenberg’s novels, the Ezekiel Option, about the rise of a Russian dictator who forms a military nuclear alliance with Iran (page xxi – All eyes on the Epicenter):

Arab official “You wrote all this before Ahmadinejad came to power?”
Rosenberg “Yes, sir.”
Arab official “And you based all this on a Bible prophecy?”
Rosenberg “Yes, sir.”
Arab official “Which one?”
Rosenberg “It comes from the Jewish Scriptures, the book of Ezekiel, chapters 38 and 39 …. It’s what many refer to as the War of God and Magog.”
Arab official “And this prophecy says that in the end times, Russian and Iran will attack Israel?”
Rosenberg “Among other things, yes it does.”

Epicenter is non fiction. In it he explains the basis for his plot lines in detail and goes on to project – based on Ezekiel’s prophecies, interviews with key players in the political sphere and publicly available newspaper headlines – the scenarios that could come upon us in the not too distant future.

I call it prophetic journalism.

It’s important that you give it a read.

Most of you reading this blog know me, so email or call. I want to hear your thoughts.

The shepherds came from afar to worship the Christ child. They travelled overland from the east (evidence suggests Persia or Mesopotamia) all the way to Palestine, bearing precious gifts for the new born King.

Their hearts led them in search of the Messiah.

Their journey ….. was an integral part of their worship offering.

Excerpt from Dec09 Sunday sermon titled “The Heart of Worship” by Pst Christopher Chin@Christ Methodist Church

This struck me deeply when

I
heard
it.

I
thought
about …….
the preparation ..
the time and travel …
the expense and possible
inconveniences ……………..
the searching and the hope …..
the persevering faith to believe that
they had gotten it right whilst following
the star to an unknown location ……………
and how these melded into the final delivery
of their worship, of themselves, their hearts and gifts
to the
King.

In my goal oriented, task centered, “time is money”, all important “end game” psyche, the process of “getting there” is often just something to get over with as quickly, cheaply, effectively and efficiently as possible.

But iff,
in the pursuit of God and His Purposes for our communities and ourselves,
“getting there” is an integral part of the worship process
then it means that:

• the process of struggling and working through ourselves to forgive …. is worship
• the effort we put into understanding others and listening with our hearts; and listening some more, again and again  …. is worship
• the persevering through uncertainty and prayer …. is worship
• the continuing in hope and trust … is worship
• the choices we make to think joy and to rejoice when circumstances and experiences are going against us ….. is worship
• the keeping at “keeping on” till the power of His Word breaks through, out  and over our lives and circumstances …. is worship

This changes everything for me actually.

Quite radically.

Keep writing if you have the time and let me know your thoughts yah? It’s really great to hear what God has been doing and saying to you.

Photo by Larry and Paige.

There are several chronic catatonic relationships that exist around me that are sources of immense challenge. And these started blinking at me like Christmas lights this season.

So, because I know that He desires for me to keep on working at improving the channel of grace that Jesus came and died on the cross to release to and through me, I started lifting these relationships before Him afresh.

And this is what I did. (Maybe you can try it too when you have some time.)

As I put this into practice, practical applications for what to do to improve these situations popped in!

Thus my relational grace goals for 2010.

Hey …. when our relational world changes, our whole lives change inside out, and the Peace our souls are seeking for, come to rest upon us.

May 2010 bring to you and I the greatest Shalom Breakthrough of our lives.

And eh …. if you get a breakthrough, write and let me know yah? It would my pleasure to rejoice in these together with you.

Growing in relational grace will be my goal for 2010.

It has taken centre stage in my attention space these past few days, the fact that relational grace is meant to start with God at the cross, extend outwards from us as individuals who have experienced His grace, to all the people around us. It’s a Grace that is meant to cascade relationally from person to person into the community at large, in a series of never ending ripples.

Many thanks to Larry and Paige for this great pic.

I can choose to either be a relational ripple continuum of His Grace or a ripple terminator. When the offenses and irritations come hurtling, I can choose to forgive and continue to work at the relationship with grace (with whatever I can muster and pray for help to come) or I can choose to terminate it with my responses.

This is tuff stuff …… BUT …… I keep finding myself arrested by the fact that God did not walk away from me and indeed continues to extend Grace to me, day after day, regardless of the way that I am.

Therefore I gotta keep at keeping the ripple of relational grace going. I truly believe that best “from the heart” efforts suffice, because He will supply the Grace for the rest.

Blessings to you this Christmas.

He came to make all things new.

Judges 6, records an angel of the Lord finding Gideon threshing wheat in a winepress, fearful and hiding from Midianite sight. He addresses him as “mighty warrior”, gives assurance of God’s Presence with him and says “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” (NIV Judges 6:14).

What an assurance this is, to remember that when God calls us to do something, He does not expect something out of us that we do not already possess.

It’s a partnership of the strength that we have + His Presence with us to effect the supernatural that will get the job done.

There a lot of other nuggets in this story so do take a read of Judges 6 – 8.

For today, just remember: The strength that you have, is enough.

Be encouraged.

My friend Phyline recently asked for these lyrics because she wanted to spend time soaking in the truths they carried. So …. I thought to append them here as well, as a Sun Soaking Tip set to music ….

 

 The Eye of the Storm: Play Now

May the Holy Spirit cause the revelation of His Power, Sovereignty and Love explode within and soak us all through and through ….

David and Goliath

1 Samuel 17 : 10, 11 – And the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may fight together.” When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.

(Then David, the shepherd boy turned up …..)

1 Samuel 17 : 51, 52 ….. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. And the men of Israel and Judah rose with a shout and pursued the Philistines as far as Gath and the gates of Ekron, so that the wounded Philistines fell on the way from Shaaraim as far as Gath and Ekron. And the people of Israel came back from chasing the Philistines, and they plundered their camp.
Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

During my latest reading of this famous encounter, it struck me how very quickly the situation changed when fear flipped sides.

I also found it amazing that the Israelites were able to instantly arise to defeat their enemy, because this means that they already had in their possession, the capability to triumph all along, but did not know it.

This got me thinking about:

• the various situations in my own life that are currently bounded by fear
• the possibility that the ability to overcome (in Christ) is also already within my grasp at this time
• the amazing possibility that these situations could radically change as quickly as it did for Israelites that day, when a little shepherd boy led them to boldness and faith in the Living God

Hey! Here’s more Light to soak in ……. just open your heart and let the Truths in this movie clip soak you through and through today …….

It’s kind of amazing how creation does indeed shout His praise.

The 2 plants by my office window have all their leaves turned yearningly sunward, with their most luscious growth found facing that way.

With the right dosage of the morning sun, their development has been most remarkable. This is in stark contrast to the weeks before when I was battling white spots, yellowing and weak leaves to no avail, when the plants were left largely in the shade.

For a few seconds today, the Holy Spirit used these plants to gently remind me of the importance of spending time sitting in His Company, feeding on His Word and being watered by His Spirit.

Spending time soaking in His Presence that is like the morning sun is the only way to grow, as well as to fend off the sicknesses that commonly come against the body, soul and our everyday lives.

How good is that?!

Here’s one Sun Soaking Tip: Spend the next 5 to 10 mins soaking in (i.e. open your heart and receive) His acceptance and love for you as you listen to this sound clip …..

 

 Standard Podcast [5:08m]: Play Now

For more great music please visit :

www.wildox.ca