Learning to find companionship in the lonely times

John 17 is part of a great sequence of passages starting from John 13, when Jesus and the disciples first reclined to eat the last supper in the upper room. It is a scene of a master taking his protégés through their final preparations before he departs, before he sends them on their way, before they graduate from his mentorship.

And then he concludes with this amazing prayer in John 17. It is said to be Jesus' longest prayer. It is probably more accurate to say it is his longest recorded prayer, because there are scenes throughout the Gospels where Jesus removes himself from company to be alone with the father for hours, usually at sunset or sunrise. I assume his prayers with God during those times are longer than this one in John 17.

There are a lot of wonderful nuggets of information in this passage. I would like to focus on 3 verses, which underpin the central message of this blog - verses 20-23:

20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

Jesus said that we should be one, as he and the father are one, and that we should be in them, in the father and in the son, so the world will believe that the Father had sent the son.

What does this mean? How can we be in the father and in the son? How do we apply this to our everyday lives?

Many years ago when I was in high school (I think I was about 14), I went to watch a football match. My high school, Wolmer's Boys school was playing Trench Town Comprehensive school in the Manning Cup, the main competition for football supremacy. Trench Town was, and probably still is, one of the political garrison communities, an enclave. A community where you only go if you know someone and they know you; and if you are of the wrong political persuasion you cannot go there.

The game was played at the National Stadium, Jamaica's version of Wembley, and thousands of supporters flocked to the stadium to watch the game. I don't remember the result of game, but what has stuck with me is what happened after the game.

It was dark, and I was walking towards the central bus station in Cross Roads to catch a bus home, it was about a 2 mile walk. The street I was walking along was lined with people on both sides, all streaming towards Cross Roads. Suddenly I was stopped by a guy. He was a little bigger than me, and older. He tried to engage me in conversation, but I tried to ignore him and step around him, but he accosted me and asked me for my watch. I told him I wasn't giving him my watch, so he made a motion towards me with his right arm. Instinctively I blocked his arm, my first thought being that he was trying to punch me. When I looked down I saw a knife. Before anything else happened, I heard shouts and running footsteps, and a mass of Wolmer's boys were rushing towards me. The guy saw this and ran off.

This is one of many experiences I had throughout my high school years that taught me what it meant to be a Wolmer's boy. I recall this one because it was the first. I didn't know any of the boys who came running to my rescue, but they came to my aid because I was wearing a Wolmer's uniform. I was a Wolmerian. If there was a Wolmerian in distress, in trouble, in a fight, you went to his aid. It was not something that was talked about, or was taught, it was in-grained in you as part of the culture and fabric of the school. We take care of our own. And as I result, you never felt alone. You always knew that somewhere near by there was a Wolmerian who would be there to help you if you needed it. And that applies to Old Boys as well as current students. That type of brotherhood is heartwarming and emboldens you in times of trouble and strife. Even now, having left Wolmers over 30 years ago, I feel kinship with boys who are there now. When the boys do well, I feel good. When boys need help, I feel compelled to assist. There is a companionship, a oneness, a belonging that is hard to explain and replicate. It is fair to say that Wolmers is in me, and I am in Wolmers.

I think this is what it means to be in Jesus, and in God.

But how do we attain this? I have told you what being "IN" looks like, but has that helped you get there?

Looking back, for Wolmer's to be in me, and me in Wolmer's, there were some steps I had to go through. 

Firstly, I had to desire to go there. I worked really hard to prepare for the Common Entrance exams, the equivalent to the 11+ here in the UK, the entry exam to move from primary school to secondary school. Every child across the island had to choose  2 schools, and Wolmer's was my first choice. I don't even remember what was my other choice. My only focus and desire was to get into Wolmer's. Similarly, we have to choose Jesus as our saviour and Lord. We must desire him over the other choices in this world. Desire his love, forgiveness and grace over all else. The big difference is that we don't have to work hard for any of this, we only have to believe, repent and ask.

Secondly, I had to accept the culture at Wolmer's. If I rejected the culture, the infusion and cross pollination would not be possible. Similarly, we must accept Jesus and the gift of the Holy Spirit. We must drink him in, and allow him to infuse us with his love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithful, gentleness and self control.

There is a third step, but before I describe that, it is very important for you to understand the nature of this desire and this acceptance that I just described. They are of the heart, not of the mind. They are not intellectual, but visceral. If you have a hard or cold heart, you cannot desire the Lord or accept him. It is in your heart that you must do this, and this is very important. The tears that flow when the Holy Spirit convicts you are not possible if you only understand what you have done in your mind, but you have to feel it in your heart. The joy you feel based on your hope in the Lord is not based on a logical conclusion, but an infusion of love in your heart. We cannot comprehend God, we cannot understand his greatness, his power, his grace in our minds, but we can get it in our hearts, and share that with others. This is about the heart, your heart. First in the heart, and the mind will follow. 

So finally, the third step is action. I had to act on my desire and acceptance for it become part of me. That incident I described stayed with me because there was action. I am a part of the school history, and it is a part of mine because of actions, my participation in the life of my schoolmates, the school, and its history. And then I become a part of a brotherhood that stays with me wherever I am and go. In the same way, we are expected to take action in Jesus Christ, using our gifts to bring glory to God's Kingdom. We are not expected to simply come to church each Sunday and do nothing, but instead we are expected to take action so that we can be woven into the fabric of God's Kingdom, we in him and he in us. And with this comes companionship.

Are all these steps needed in this order to gain companionship when you are lonely? No. I don't think so. God doesn't seem to work in a prescriptive way. He has his own ways and means that sometimes are hard for us to understand. As I said earlier, when we try to figure out God in our minds we very often fail. What I have tried to do is explain the elements needed. Desire and acceptance are forms of belief and faith. I believe faith and belief are muscles that have to be worked to become strong. In my own experience it is sometimes hard. There are times when I feel extremely lonely, and everything seems really dark. There is one thing that pulls me through consistently, and that is my hope that is based on my faith. I have always wondered how anyone who does not know the love of Jesus, and doesn't believe in his resurrection gets through the hard times. What is their hope? What do they hold on to? Is it their wealth? Is it their job? Is it their friends? Is it their family? The fact is, all those things go away. You can lose your job, lose your wealth, lose your friends, even lose your family. That is why people commit suicide when the stock market crashes, or when they are disgraced and lose their status or careers, and the loss of a family member can shatter their lives. The thing in which they placed their hope is gone. 

In my times of loneliness, I fall on my knees and pray. Very often in tears. I believe that in doing so, I am desiring the heart of God, I have accepted my weakness, and I am taking action by humbling myself. It is ok in these times to be angry with God, it is ok to shout at him if that is what you need to do. Shout, cry, whisper, plead, do something, but take some type action. Doing nothing is not an option. Seek him, desire him, humble yourself, accept your place at the foot of his throne.

At the end of John 16, Jesus tells the disciples that they will all scatter and leave him alone. This must have been very hard for them to hear, and hard for him to say. Just for a moment, we get a glimpse of Jesus the man, the human-ness in him must have despaired. After three years together, in his moment of need, they would all run away. We can relate to this. When we are in greatest need, there seems to be no one around. We are alone.

But then Jesus reassures them. That moment passes quickly. He reminds them that he will not be alone, for his father will always be with him.

I want to remind you that if you desire, accept and act, your heavenly father is always with you.

What can we learn from Pentecost?

A Pentecost Sunday message

What can I say about Pentecost Sunday that you haven't heard before? For those of you who have been to many Pentecost services over the years, maybe not much. For those of you who are new to church and Christianity, or are seeking truth, let me start by setting the scene. By the way, the relevant passages are Acts chapters 1-3. 

At the end of the Gospels, Jesus had been crucified and buried, and a few days later, Mary found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Jesus' body was gone. It soon became clear to them that he had risen from the dead, and he stayed with them a few days, revealing himself to dozens of believers, and then he was gone, returning to heaven to be at the right hand of the Father.

The believers were alone. They were probably scared, because Jesus had been literally ripped away from them and killed like a criminal. The people had howled for his death and the release of a murderer instead. What could this mean for them? Would they be next? Could they also be dragged away by soldiers, or dragged into the streets by a mob and stoned for what they believed? They locked themselves away in a room, in fear, waiting.

They were waiting because Jesus told them to wait. To wait for the councillor who would be with them always. But who was this councillor? So they waited, obediently, but fearfully.

Then suddenly, in a rush of wind and blazing fire, the Holy Spirit bursts into the room and into its occupants. So that is the backdrop to the following thoughts, and hopefully new insights. 

What do you think was the overwhelming emotion at this time? Before there was fear. The disciples cowering in the upstairs room. Waiting … and waiting. Suddenly, they are speaking in tongues so loudly that crowds gather to find out what is happening. Fear is banished, and now, the overriding emotion is joy. Pure unadulterated joy, as they are bathed in the glory of God. Wow!

If you have accepted Jesus as your saviour, and have been baptised in the Holy Spirit, you are also filled with this same spirit. Where is your joy? Is that a difficult question to answer?

Let’s stop and think about this for a moment. This same spirit that caused these men to be transformed from fearful to joyful, inhabits you. The joy of the Spirit should be toe curling, stomach knotting, cheek hurting joy. Joy that makes you giggle for no reason, joy that dispels sadness due to circumstance, it is a joy that is based on hope. 

But there is more. Galatians 6 tells us about the fruit of the Holy Spirit that inhabits us. It says this fruit is love, joy (there's that word joy again), peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. All of this is within us. 

But how can this be? Over this last week I did not feel any of this? To be honest, I felt anger. Angry at life for not treating me well; impatient with my spouse; I shouted at my children with very little self control; I was brusque instead of gentle when approached by someone in need; I sinned against you Lord, showing how unfaithful I am. So how can it be that I am filled with your spirit? This Spirit that produces this fruit that seems so alien to me. 

How? Because all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. 

So. When you feel this way, fall on your knees and ask the Lord to refill you anew; to banish those bad and depressing feelings. Confess your sin, and be refreshed with the Holy Spirit. Commit to be God's vessel, and you'll be surprised at how your day will turn out. The Holy Spirit just needs your compliance and desire, and the fruit will rise to the surface. In fact, it will overflow. We are vessels to be filled to the brim, and to overflow into the lives of those we encounter each day, each hour, each minute. We just have to put down our burdens and pick up his yoke. Each day, ask to be refilled anew, and let the Spirit do his work in you, and through you. 

The other thing that is noticeable is that there was action. The disciples went out and did amazing acts. These acts were the product of the gifts of the Holy Spirit that they were given. Have you read these stories and yearned for such things to happen to you? I have. Paul tells us that we should yearn for the greater gifts. So at times I feel deficient, wondering why I can't heal or raise the dead. But that is the devil speaking. If you have 2 children, one talented in music and the other in sports, would you discourage one or the other because they do not possess the talent of the other? No. You would provide encouragement to each child based on their own talents, and if they should feel inadequate because of the talent of the other, you would gently admonish them, and make them feel good about the joy they bring you when you watch them performing at their talent. 

So if you would have this approach, how much more so would your Heavenly Father love and reassure you in your talents?  God will not make you feel inadequate about the gifts you have, but the devil will, so guard against this. 

We have all been given gifts. All! How do I know this? The word of God tells me so. 

We all have gifts. 
We ALL have gifts. 
WE ALL HAVE GIFTS. 

Do you get it yet? This is important. If we all have gifts, it means that YOU have gifts.  Yes, God gave you gifts also. What are they? I don't know. You need to seek the Lord and find that out, but I KNOW you have gifts. We are each given gifts, to fulfil a role in the body of Christ on earth. 

Now that we have established that you have gifts, and you have a role to play in God's plan by using those gifts here on earth, in his church. It is your job to find out what those gifts are, and start using them for God's glory.

The last thing I want to bring to your attention is an obscure passage that I have never really paid much attention to. It is Acts 2:46-47.

In summary it says, "they met with glad and sincere hearts ... and God added to their number."

Don't you find that remarkable? They met, and God added to their number. That's it. They didn't plan an outreach program, execute it and God added to their number. They didn't plan a retreat, or an away day, or a BBQ.  They didn't do anything, except meet, and God added to their number.

This confused me. And I struggled to understand what this meant. It can't be telling us that we shouldn't do those activities I mentioned earlier ... could it?

No. I believe it points to something else Jesus said, "... by your love people will know that you belong to me." 

I have paraphrased intentionally, because I want us to focus on one point. We must love each other. When people who love each other meet, there is sincerity and there is joy (there is that word joy again). People see this and want to know what it is, want to be a part of it, want to know more about it. 

They met, with joy and sincerity in their hearts, signifying their love for each other, and God added to their number. Maybe there is something for us to learn from this.

So three take ways from Pentecost:

- the overriding emotion was JOY, from the fruit of the Holy Spirit

- there was Holy Spirit "gifted" action

- they met, with joy and sincerity in their hearts, and God added to their number. 

My prayer is that we trust in the Holy Spirit to do his work within us, and through us.

By my own strength ... not.

I am approaching a fascinating and exciting crossroads in my life. I am about to launch my first book via a legitimate publisher. This is a significant moment in any author's life, and like any author I am apprehensive about the public response to my work.

But there is more. I believe that this is the start of a new career for me, with four other novels in my head waiting to be written. Therefore, there is an inherent expectation that this first novel will be successful so that I can set about the challenge of writing the other books without distraction.

So there is the hope that the book merits the interest of a few hundred thousand, or a few million readers, and sets me on my way. There is a marketing campaign planned for January and February, and with the help of my daughter we have set up social media to start generating interest in the impending release of the book in February.

Like any other person, I don't like disappointment, so I have tried to steel myself with the appropriate level of expectation. I have done some research on the success of self published authors. In general, sales of 2-3 thousand copies is considered to be a success for a self-published author's book. There are some authors who have been more successful than this, and one means of doing this is via social media, where the volume of followers leads to more sales. In general, it takes a year to create this critical mass.

While still optimistic, I am beginning to wonder if my ambitions are completely unrealistic with the evidence that is before me. For some reason, I have this feeling deep within me that this book is going to be successful enough to make it feasible for me to become a full time author, but sales of three thousand books will not make this possible. 

So where does this optimism come from? To be honest, I don't know, because it does not really make sense. Everything is suggesting that my hopes are really a pipe dream. There are very few authors who earn enough from writing for it to be a their only form of income. Throughout writing school, and in all the writing magazines that I have read, there is a consistent message that is repeated - there is a one in a million chance that you will be as successful as authors like Jeffery Archer or James Patterson (both with over 250 million book copies sold worldwide). My logical mind is telling me that I should appropriately set my expectations and stop dreaming of greater success, but there is something within me that keeps on ignoring the logic and the facts, and keeps encouraging me to expect more.

Fantasy? Maybe, although I'd like to think it is The Lord speaking to me through his Holy Spirit. Reminds me of the passage that tell us that the things of the Spirit are foolishness to the carnal man. That's my paraphrase of 1 Corinthians 2:14 - The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit

Yesterday I was reflecting on the story of Gideon in Judges 6-8, and this led me to sit down and write this piece.

In that story, Gideon is led by God to pull together an army of men to fight against the Midianites who are brutally oppressing the Israelites. He musters 32,000 men to fight against what we later learn is 135,000 Midianites. These numbers are overwhelmingly stacked against the Israelites, but these brave men set out in battle to rescue their people from a terrible existence. But The Lord stops Gideon and says, 

'You have too many men, because when you win the battle, your men will believe that they won it through their own strength, and will not believe that I delivered the victory to you.'

So through a series of tests, God told Gideon to reduce the number of men, leaving him with the grand total of 300. In case you have forgotten, Gideon is going to fight against 135,000!

However, to reassure Gideon before leaving out on what could only be rationally considered a suicide mission, God told Gideon to go down to the camp of the enemy and listen to what they were saying, because this would give him confidence. When he went down, he overheard two men talking about a dream and its interpretation - the god of the Israelites had won the battle over the Midianites!

With this reassurance Gideon and his 300 men surged forward and attacked and defeated the 135,000 Midianites.

I found it interesting that I would recall this story at this time, and I have spent some time thinking about what this means for me. The obstacles facing me are in no way similar in magnitude to the 135,000 Midianites, but there are some parallels that I could draw on, and therefore learn from. 

Everything is telling me that the battle is lost. There is no hope of victory. Reality says that there is a one-in-a-million chance of success. But the Holy Spirit seems to be telling me that everything is stacked against me to make sure that I know that the success of the book will not be by my strength, but through God's strength. It will be His victory. Praise be to God.

On January 7, my marketing company will be sending out the press release of my book to selected press outlets in the UK an US. Is this my sojourn to the edge of the enemy camp to listen to what they are saying about the impeding battle? Will this initial feedback from the press affirm my belief and give me the impetus to move forward, or jolt me? I eagerly look forward to what January, and the rest of 2013 has to offer.

No greater love

In one of my earlier blogs, I mentioned how I used to spend many hours working on my car. This passion remained with me for many years until I realised how hard it was to keep my hands clean, and I found that I had less leisure time on my hands, so working on the car was no longer a high priority activity.

But before I got to that stage, I would spend a lot of time at the parts shop. My 2nd car was a 1979 VW Rabbit. In the US, that was the name given to the Golf at that time. I was the proud 3rd owner of this beautiful car. An elder woman had imported it from California when she retired to Jamaica, and I bought it from the guy who bought it from her. That guy had made some modifications to it, changing the manifold to equi-length pipes, changing the exhaust to an inch and seven-eights, and changing the shocks and springs. She flew like a bird with an irresistible growl, and cornered like a greyhound. That's the Rabbit, not the woman.

Anyway, my favourite parts store was in Cross Roads. An elderly man and his daughter ran it, and they employed a young man a few years younger than me. Don't remember his name, which is interesting, but I'll call him Peter. Peter was polite, knew his parts, diligent and good humoured. One Friday, I went into the store to buy some parts. Not sure why I remember it being a Friday, but I do. The daughter was very glum, so I asked her what was up. Shockingly, she told me that Peter was dead.

What?

She related the story. He went on a trip with his church to St Elizabeth, to a popular beach location. A large coach had taken the contingent, and they had a great day out, eating fried fish and enjoying the sea and beach. As early evening approached, the group was preparing to leave when another young man, Peter's best feiend, went out in the sea to wash off the sand so he could put on his shoes. Somehow he got caught by a strong under current and got pulled out to sea and under the water.  

Peter rushed out to help his friend. It was not long before both Peter and his best friend were in trouble. They struggled and fought, but as one seemed to be save, the other would get into trouble. This seesaw struggle went on for some time until they were both getting tired.

Peter shouted, "Save yourself while you still can. Leave me!"
"No!" His friend cried.
"Leave me! There is no point in both of us dying. Go!"

Peter's friend left him. It took 5 days for them to find Peter's body.

I was in shook after hearing the story. A few days later when I had some time to reflect, I was in an even greater state of shock. Peter sacrificed his life for his friend! I asked myself - could I do that? After many minutes of soul searching I realised that I probably could not.

Why?

I was afraid. I didn't know what awaited me if I gave up my life for my friend, and I did not have the courage to find out.

So what did Peter have that I did not?

Then it dawned on me. Peter must have been a Christian! 

Greater love has no one than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. (John 15:13 NIV) 

I then began to search, to find out what kind of love was this that gave Peter this courage.

'Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?' 
Jesus replied, " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and the greatest commandment. And the second is like it, 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:36-40 NIV)


Peace and Love

Study the word? What?

I still have a vivid memory of one of the first speeches a senior teacher gave my class when we entered 6th form. We were proud young men, having reached the head of our high school. Man a yard!

"Gentlemen, for 5 years you learnt how to regurgitate what you were told. Now you have to learn how to think and not be parrots. Contrary to popular opinion, thinking does not come naturally. Thinking implies questioning, understanding, and formulating opinions and ideas with what you are told."

My first thought was, "Regurgi-what?"

I soon learnt that swatting, which was just memorising the material, was no longer enough to do well in exams. In fact, it was a revelation when I realised that if I understood the material, it was easier to remember than memorising it. The next hurdle to cross was figuring out when I really understood something. I stumbled upon this when a friend asked me to help him with a maths problem, and I soon realised that I could not explain how to arrive at the solution because I didn't really understand how I came to the solution. 

Eureka!

If I can explain it, then I understand it. If I can't explain it, then I don't understand it. I had discovered the holy grail! I finally figured what studying really was. The rest of my scholastic career was based on this simple principle, and it has served me very well in my working career also.

Many years later, I was in a discussion with a family acquaintance who believed that God existed, but he shocked me by saying that he did not believe that Christianity was the only way to God. That other religions had just as much validity, and could also be legitimate paths to God. For a moment I was speechless. Flabbergasted! I didn't know what to say. I knew I had to say something, but what? I was very uncomfortable with his assertion, but I had no response. It was many days, if not weeks later that I found the answer, but I was very disappointed in myself that I didn't remember the passage or the principle at the time when I needed it. I never saw that friend again. He died a few years ago, and I do not know if he ever heard the truth.

What is the truth?

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6 NIV) 

It still bothers me that I couldn't remember the passage during that conversation, and I am irritated when I can't remember where I had read a passage, and I want to refer to it in a time of need. You see, I have always been an avid reader of the bible. I'll admit that I struggled at first understanding the King James version, but then an aunt gave me a NIV student's bible and it was truly a God send. Since then I have spent many wonderful hours reading.

I am embarrassed to say that it has only just occurred to me that the problem is not related to my poor memory, but me not applying a principle I had learnt many years ago. I need to study, not just read. Understand, apply and explain it to someone. God's word is alive in you when you read it and apply it. Study it, understand it and bring it alive by explaining it to someone.

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes from my mouth. It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:10-11)


Peace and Love

Who needs an iPad anyway?

I was in a meeting with some thought leaders a week or two ago, and the discussion was centred on what customers really wanted. A very reasonable suggestion was made -

"Why don't we do a market survey, asking our customers what they want?"

Sounded reasonable to me. If we ask people what they want and we give it to them, then they must surely be satisfied and buy a lot of it. The response was thought provoking.

"Do you know that one of the most successful businesses in our era never does market surveys. I mean, who needs an iPad anyway?"

One cannot deny that Apple is very successful. I went on their website a few days ago to take look at the iPad and there is still a restriction of two per order, two months after its release. That means that Apple can't make them fast enough to meet the demand. Amazing!

Don't get me wrong. I am a Mac convert. Six or seven years ago my Windows laptop blue screened on me in the middle of a crucial visit to a client in Switzerland, and I was stranded with no laptop for the rest of the week until I could get my flight home. My client was not impressed! That weekend I rebuilt my laptop with Linux, and I was happy. For two years I used Linux, but after a while I found I was spending too much time writing scripts to maintain my laptop, and then at a conference I stumbled into dozens of geeks who were all using MacBooks. At every opportunity I interviewed a geek, and I was convinced. A few weeks later I had my MacBook.

I'll be honest, the first week was a nightmare. I had to sit myself down and convince myself that this was worth the effort. After three weeks I was hooked, never to return to Windows. I've overheard people, Windows users of course, scoff at the enthusiasm with which Mac users speak about their gear.

Now, you tell me! How has Microsoft been able to convince the world that it is acceptable to use an operating system that requires fixing every month. Think about it. What else do you use in your daily life, or any other part of our life, that every month you have to go and get it fixed?

When I reminisce about my first car, I recall having to service it every 3,000 miles. Religiously, I would go and buy my spare parts, and would spend a Saturday morning changing the plugs, points and oil. I developed a real relationship with the guys in the parts shop. Now, many years later, I own a late 2009 high-end sedan. After driving it for almost 2 years I realised it had not been serviced. I called the dealer to ask them why they had not called me to book the servicing of the car. I mean, what type of company is this, treating their valuable customers like this? 

The gentleman asked me, "Is the car giving any trouble?"
"No."
"Was the inboard computer telling me that the car needs servicing?"
"No."
"Did I check the service manual to see if the car needed servicing?"
"Ah hmm ... Let me call you back."

The car has done almost 30,000 miles, and it has been serviced a grand total of once. One service in almost 3 years! Compare that to my once every three months servicing of my first car. I have never met the people in the parts shop, in fact, I don't even know where the parts shop is!

So how is it that we accept once a month servicing from Microsoft?

Anyway, I digress. What was I saying again? Oh yes ... Well, I bought an iPad3 a few weeks ago. Sorry, my mistake. The "New iPad". Hey, at least I forced myself to wait for the 3rd edition before buying one.

Why?

I like gadgets as much as the next guy, but that wasn't reason enough. It's a useful tool, although ...

• It is much heavier than the Kindle, and therefore not as convenient for reading books. 
• It can't play videos on some web pages. 
• Typing on the screen takes some getting used to. I bought a keyboard, but found that it defeated the purpose of having a small compact device. So I haven't used the keyboard in anger yet. 
• Transferring stuff from the iPad to my MacBook Pro is not a cake walk, and I still haven't fully worked out how to use iCloud effectively for that yet. When I get some time. 

So it is not perfect. But it has transformed how and where I interact with my computing device, making that interaction more pervasive and convenient where it was not so before. By inference, I then have the opportunity to be more productive. It has also transformed my relationship with my personal technology. Providing a bridge between my iPhone and my MacBook, by being more available than my MacBook, and as easy to interact with as my iPhone.

By the way, I have figured out how to use the iCloud to transfer stuff between the iPhone and iPad effectively. The net effect has therefore been positive.

So who needs an iPad?

I guess I do, and I didn't even know it until I got it.

Peace and Love.

Dead man walking

If only I could heal the sick and raise the dead! Then surely, surely, people would see the truth and worship God! 

 Really?

 John 11 describes the raising of Lazarus, after being dead for 4 days. A great story, but so what? Doesn't happen today. Can't happen today. 

 Really?

On March 17, 2012, Fabrice Muamba, the Bolton midfielder, collapsed on the football pitch at White Hart Lane, during the FA Cup match between Tottenham Hotspurs and Bolton. In the UK, we followed this story with fascination on the news wires and social networks, where there were numerous appeals for prayer for Fabrice. Days later, we heard the news that he was astonishingly dead for 78 minutes! Doctors acknowledge that it is a miracle that he survived.

Medical science tells us that it takes only 5-6 minutes of oxygen deprivation for there to be brain damage. Doctors acknowledge that it is a miracle that Fabrice has no side effects.

For more, see http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2133303/Fabrice-Muamba--interview-How-I-came-dead.html

There is little doubt in the minds of Fabrice and his family that God saved his life. That God raised him from the dead. What has been the public response? Over the last week or so, tribute has been paid to Fabrice and the medical staff, during recent football games at the Reebok Stadium (Bolton's home ground) and Wembley Stadium. The fans have stood and applauded. How many of those fans have given tribute to God? More importantly, how many of those fans have sought Jesus as their saviour after Fabrice has been raised from the dead? How many of the thousands of people who followed this story in the news have even considered the relevance of God in their lives after observing an event that has been simply called "a miracle"?

How can miracles not inspire people to search for the face of God?

Revelations 16 describes the 7 bowls of wrath that will be poured out on the earth in the last days. What is striking for me is that people will curse God, instead of repenting and accepting him as their Saviour.

I always wondered - how can this be? Surely, in the face of God's hand being clearly shown, people would repent instead of rebel? We have evidence this week that miracles by themselves will not soften people's hearts and open their eyes.

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20 NIV)

Jesus did not mention miracles, but told us to go out and share, baptise and teach. I guess Jesus knew something we still find hard to understand. When Lazarus was raised from the dead, the Pharisees plotted to kill Jesus and Lazarus, instead of believe in Jesus.

Miracles have their place, and praise God for that, but dead men walking do not substitute for the work we are commissioned to do. Go and make disciples.

Peace and Love.