Hands, feet and pancreas…

"And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some asevangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping ofthe saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body ofChrist…" - Eph. 4:11-12

Prophets, pastors, teachers… are these like the vitals organs of abody? … for it is the organs which supply (equip) the rest of the bodywith blood, life and nutrients (teaching, watering and nurturing)….but if this is the case, what does the rest of the body do and what isits 'work of service'?

Could not one of its primary roles be to interact, engage and do workin the outside world? For it is the hands which pick things up and dowork, and it is the feet which move the body along and into differentenvironments across this world. But do not the working professional,the student and the family set in a neighbourhood do the same? Arethey not the ones engaging, interacting and reaching out into the'outside' world on a daily basis?

There is one type of 'missionary' (a church planter, maybe more of avital organ) who goes into an already existing community (even nation)and seeks to build a new community inviting people in, but anothertype of missionary (say a hand or a foot) goes into an alreadyexisting community and as much as he or she can becomes part of thatcommunity, interacting and working with it. Now both types ofmissionaries are needed, and maybe one can be a mix of the two… buteither way I would suggest the majority are missionaries (usually ofthe second type), seeking to make His name known in, through andamongst the world?

I once saw a picture of a city set in complete black, not being ableto see where the sky ended and the earth began, but knowing whereeverything was… and amongst it all there were floating lightsscattered all about, here and there… one in a supermarket, two on the4th floor of this building and three across the street in that park.Interacting and spreading out amongst the darkness the lights shined…dispersed, diffused and dissolved (as much as light can dissolve indarkness) into and across the city; each seeking to fashion glory onall it touched or came across.

We often commission (send off) our overseas 'missionaries' with honourand prestige, but when was the last time we sent the school teacher,the office worker, the architect or the plumber out into theirmissions field with prayer, support and praise?

As for me things are moving along, having talked to quite a fewpeople… yet I still do not know in what exact capacity I will beworking in Japan… as a hand, a foot or vital organ (or maybe a mix ofall three)… but nevertheless I would really appreciate your supportand help in this venture. Unfortunately, the hands have to feed thebody and even the vital organs so they may function and survivethemselves. And so if I am to be a vital organ and you would like to'feed' me, you can send any support to:




Thank you all for everything He has blessed me with through you, overthe years; in all sincerity and with much love. g-

Crumbs...

“…but even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.” - Matt 15:27

To possess a single speck from the Mightiest Kingdom, to gain a mere glimpse into the Holy Realm, to even taste a Divine Crumb from the Table of God… …for this would be enough. A Divine Crumb for who can even imagine? …colossal in glory, glowing in appearance, towering higher then our largest structures and being more weighty than our heaviest ships; oh the shear magnitude and overwhelming breadth of a lone crumb from the Table of God! A single gaze upon it would awe and satisfy countless days. And yet…

…He has not only given us crumbs, but He has set up the Seat of Honor and prepared the most lavish of all banquets for us (psalm 23). And He has not only canceled our debt (bringing us back to zero), but instead He has graced us with all the vast riches of the abundant Storehouses, overflowing in Wealth and pouring forth in Delight, that is the unending Treasuries of the Kingdom of God!!!

Exceedingly and Great are the Gifts of God, soaring far beyond what the human mind and heart can comprehend. Great are His gifts towards those who believe!

I thank God so much for the ‘First Fruits’ the small tastes of heavenly glory which I have experienced here in Glasgow. My heart melts when I think of all the wonderful relationships He has graced me, and I rejoice in great love for the people here. And so when I think about the possibility of leaving this place, it does very much sadden my heart.

Much love. g-

Amnesia...

“What we are in His sight is all that we are, nothing more nothing less.” - Francis of Assisi

There are two worlds which exist, the imaginary and the Real; for there exists the dream and then there stands the Reality of the Real.

The first is a world which settles like an early morning fog, but ceases when confronted by the noonday sun. It has no substance nor ground on which to stand, nor does it realize the fleeting breath by which it feeds. For it passes by as a moment, not much more stable then cool water in one’s hand. And yet many are subject to her and her ways, having a false confidence; a single delusioned day in which to play.

But yet the second world knows none of these things, for in her very being is grounded Fact and her sure foundation is Truth itself. More real than real could ever be; she stands clearly, distinct and assured without any wavering. Towering high she stretches into eternity far above, and yet she is immovable, anchored down, rooted firmer then the most stable of ground. Definition is defined by her, Existence exists within her, Security is secured because of her …and from her all Life and Love originate. And as for the one who would settle in her shade …they shall obtain far more riches then any master, king, subject or slave.

And so where shall we turn, and to whom shall we live? For the things of this earth are fading away, along with its passions, lusts, greed and pain. But in Him, in Jesus, in the place that is Right, endure the most beautiful of glories, ways, joys and delights. Therefore let us speak what is True, let us do what is Right, and let us live in what is Real …to the glory of our God!

For “whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” - Psalm 73:25-26

Much love in the One who exists, to Him be the praise, honour and glory forever and ever; and may it be so. g-

One-way...

A few months ago I was in my kitchen with my friend Dan; we were contemplating life, dealing with difficulties and venting about the frustrations of this age… but after awhile of discussion we remembered to remember Him and desired to rest in His presence and peace.

Jesus said, ‘…and do this in remembrance of Me.’ Eat this bread and drink this wine …do this, to remember Me. In the middle of circumstance we sought to remember Jesus at the cross. But instead of the small crumb and tiny shot glass of juice that one usually gets in church, we decided to each eat a whole slice of bread and drink a full glass of drink… for in doing so we thought our remembrance would be brought to a slow contemplation of what had actually occurred 2000 years ago. …that with the multiple bites of the bread, we might be reminded that the cross took place through the pain staking confines of time, and how for endless hours He was subjected to immense suffering and torture; while with each staggered gulp of drink volumes of blood spilled out of the broken body of the Holy One… …and for me.

So as I knelt on the cold kitchen floor, I thought of what was I was about to do… …its true, I was about to put to death the Perfect Creator, crucify the Christ ….and kill an innocent Friend!!! …as this thought ran through my heart I could not do it …I could neither eat nor drink… for how could I considered it fair to have this man suffer for my wrong doings, and how could I allow another to receive a punishment which was rightly mine to receive. And so I sat there still neither eating nor drinking.

…silence settled in the room, but after some time…

…He whispered to me, ‘There’s no other way… …if you want to meet with Me you have to go through the cross… …for there’s no other way available.’

I wanted to meet with God, but in doing so I was forced to kill the Christ… my heart broke. Why should the innocent have to be punished for the guilty? Why should He have to die for me?

To meet with Him, to stand in the presence of the Perfect I myself must be perfect… for impurity can not mix with that which is Pure. Forgiveness is needed. My imperfections need to be forgiven (made right). Yet forgiveness requires blood, and Perfect Forgiveness requires Perfect Blood. But why specifically blood? Why not flowers, gold or some other created thing?

Yet Blood equals Love …and as it is stated, ‘Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.’ For it can also be said that one’s life is found in their blood, and so the greatest love is even displayed when ‘one lay down his Blood for his friends.’ And yet God is love. So the Greatest God (Love) could of only been revealed through Dying (spilling His Blood) for His Beloved, first His Father and second for us. Could we of expected any less from our God… Love Divine, perfect in all His ways.

Again, Forgiveness requires Blood (Heb. 9:22), and Blood points to Love (John 15:13), Perfect Love produces Complete Forgiveness (1 Cor. 13:5- keeps no record of wrongs), and Complete Forgiveness requires Perfect Blood (Jesus).

To accept God’s Forgiveness, is to accept God’s Love and to accept God’s Love is to accept God’s blood (Jesus). For those who believe in Jesus the Deliverer… have infused themselves with the love, blood (even life) and forgiveness of God, and have been allowed to enter the Perfect and Divine, even the very presence of God. Glory and mighty songs of joy to our God of all Perfection.

Let us, and even if it may be hard, accept the heart grabbing gift of the Divine Love (the cross) for God has chosen it to be the Perfect and Only way. I pray that this Perfect Love will produce all gratitude and thankfulness, compelling each of us to surrender all that we are to His majesty and service… for it the least that we could ever do, in respect to the most Amazing of all gifts. Let us glory and celebrate with a thankful heart… receiving His love, His forgiveness and His blood (even Jesus)… sharing Him (Love) with all.

Thank you for your love and prayers… they most certainly have been received and felt. Much love to His glory. g-