Ever learning. Always failing. Forever weak. Yet eternally saved. From a price to pay. Which I could and can not afford. Learning to live life. Learning to love life. Growing into shoes larger than my own. Finding meaning in Your name. Love and peace.
I was at the Job Centre Plus for a Back to Work session, stage 2...
It's a one on one interview where they individually review your case, looking at your aspirations and realistic job applications.
After our brief exchange, the lady told me that I was obviously lost about what to do and to get any job for now, that'll be 16+ hours and concentrate the rest of my time on my long term goals. She was a nice enough lady, as far as personalities go. But I think I have to hesitantly agree with what she said.
I was reading on up on Delirious and where the inspiration for songs came from, right from the horses' mouths!
In particular, I felt encouraged by Martin Smith's response and encouragement when talking about the song History Maker. I'm going to type out the whole passage, just to show you how amazing God is.
When Jesus came to Earth as a child, no one could have ever imagined the impact He would have had on His culture and on the lives of billions of people in the ages to come.
The question has been asked, Can anyone reawlly change anything today? Is this it? Do we fit into the system and culture we livei n-just see it through till we leave this planet?
The answer we all know is no. But still, we're afraid of the challenges and sacrifice involved in being a part of that change.
It's much easier to sit back and let everyone else do ti. Jesus proved that it can be done (admittedly it helped a little that He was the Son of God!). But He had to lay His life down at the cross to achieve the most radical change the planet has ever seen or will see. He gave humanity the chance to have eternal life-tobe set free from sin and our selfishness that separates us from God Himself. He showedd us that we don't earn salvation by following a set of rules but by friendship, surrender and commitment to Someone we love.
When we talk about making history, Jesus was the ultimate example of this. Our job is to identify in our culture what needs changing and then make that change, acting as the hand of Christ in whatever situation we find ourselves. It could be sticking up for someone at school whom everyone ridicules, or lobbying government regarding changing laws on pornography.
A friend of mine from Australia, Mark Zschech, is a modern-day history maker because he sees what needs changing and does something about it. n 1994 there was a mass genocide in Rwanda as 800,000 people were killed in a 100-day period, although the rest of the world was ignorant of this atrocity. While visintg Rwanda in 2006, he and his wife, Darlene, decided to do something to help the nation still struggling with its own grief. They mobilized their church and thousands around the world to bring hope in that place of despair. For 100 days, foreign doctors taught local doctors how to perform heart surgery; craftsmen built new houses for widows and orphans; musicians sang a new song of deliverance. These people brought about change, real change,stuff you read about in books about heroes of ages past-but this was 2006! The church was being the Church, showing the love of Jesus.
This ordinary guy with an extraordinary belief in God's ability to do miracles encourages me to believe the same, to think bigger, to believe more, to genuinely believe that we, the Church of Jesus Christ, cahn change this world. Why? Because His church is still the most active and passionate people group that exists-and the reason it exists is not for its own gain but to bring light to the world. The church is an army of volunteers who live for a higher purpose. I love Luke 4:18-19: "The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaims freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the lblind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." I want to be a history maker has been a phrase that many have sung with passion and is one of the older songs (1995) that we still sing every night we play. We joke sometimes that this tune just won't go away! I first wrote the song as the heart cry of a young man with his life in front of him, a prayer to my Maker to use me in whatever way He saw fit. In my mind, I had grand thoughts of wanting to be part of the biggest band in the world.
Life never turns out exactly as you'd expect. Ten years into my music career, the passion is teh same, but I've changed my perspective on what a history maker is. It's not all about the big stuff, about being famous-although that is great. True history makers are those who walk humbly before their God and do whatever He asks. I know many believers who quietly serve God in a radical way, yet they will never receive any recognition. Stil, they faithfully see their mission through to the end.
The key is not how fast you run the race but whether or not you finish. I once thought that being a famous band was making history, but now I realize it's more important to be faithful to my wife, to stay married and to see my children become the makerse of history in the future. Don't get me wrong- like the song says, I want to be part of changing the course of millions of lives, of seeing the blind set free and dead men rise and witnessingnations turn back to Jesus. But I'll play whatever part God asks of me.
Each of us is only one small piece of the jigsaw puzzle-and we all must get beyond ourselves to get in God's big picture. Speaking truth to all mankind must be our mission, whether on a big or small scale. We must remember that we all have our spheres of influence-we're all part of God's history-making team.
I'm glad this song never goes away, as it reminds us every night what we're here for. I personally have cried many tears in many nations when I've seen people's faces in the crowd light up when they know God is cherring them on. The great cloud of witnesses is watching and waiting, for today is the day. Let's get busy changing the world!
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So I'm left here, pondering on Martin's words. After listening to History Maker, I got a grasp of what he was saying...the dark mood at the beginning by the militant, steady riff of the synth, the pulsating bass. A bit of celtic U2, with overlapping delay and light distortion...but actually, the theme of being a History Maker.
If I was honest, it's not my goal right now. I never thought I was able to be so big. But thinking about what Martin said...I was born a History Maker, wherever I am and wherever I go.
Then I struggle with this issue of pride...well, if I'm a history maker, I must be famous and powerful. Being famous in itself doesn't bother me, but then I have the issue that God will exalt.
Then I realize the focus is all wrong. It's about my exalting God in whatever I do. That I will be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ wherever I can. Whether or not I'm famous is irrelevant, because I echo what Galatians 1:10 says.
Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.
So yes...I am a bit lost. But with more focus at the same time. I don't know what to do, yet I know I was born a history maker and to bring change wherever I go. More importantly...less of me and more of Him...that's really humbling.
So, I guess I'm going to wait for God. Patiently or not is another blog post probably...
Are you REALLY a Christian? If you claim to be a Christian and are aware of Gods warning in the Bible that those who die in their sin, spend eternity in Hell, but you're not telling people about Jesus at every opportunity, then you have no love and may not even be saved yourself.
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. - 1 John 4:8
The Bible says that those who don't obey the Word of God will come under His judgement. Here is what Jesus said:
Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. - Mark 16:15
Why call ye Me, "Lord, Lord," and do not the things which I say?" - Luke 6:46
If you know someone unsaved and are not sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ then their blood is on your hands.
When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in this sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand. - Ezekiel 3:20
Now you know what your primary responsibility is are a follower of Jesus Christ. Go and obey.
The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." - Luke 19:10
Letter From an Atheist "You are really convinced that you've got all the answers. You've really got yourself tricked into believing you're 100% right. Well, let me tell you just one thing. Do you consider yourself to be compassionate of other humans? If you're right, as you say you are, and you believe that, then how can you sleep at night? When you speak with me, you are speaking with someone who you believe is walking directly into eternal damnation, into an endless onslaught of horrendous pain which your "loving" god created, yet you stand by and do nothing.
If you believed one bit that thousands every day were falling into an eternal and unchangeable fate, you should be running the streets mad with rage at their blindness. That's equivalent to standing on a street corner and watching every person that passes you walk blindly directly into the path of a bus and die, yet you stand idly by and do nothing. You're just twiddling your thumbs, happy in the knowledge that one day that "walk" signal will shine your way across the road.
Think about it. Imagine the horrors Hell must have in store if the Bible is true. You're just going to allow that to happen and not care about saving anyone but yourself? If you're right then you're an uncaring, unemotional and purely selfish (expletive) that has no right to talk about subjects such as love and caring."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is from a tract that Tomps gave me a few days ago. What do you think when you read this? Is your soul at perfect peace when you read this? Can you say that you can speak with a clean conscience to the atheist who wrote this?
Consider this tract not a condemnation; rather, pick it up, learn from it. If what he says is true, do something about it TODAY. You can respond in anyway; there are none believers EVERYWHERE around you. At work, in school, college, university, extra curricular activities, on the bus or train. Take that extra step. It's not an option, nor is it a gentle request; it is your obligation as a follower of Jesus Christ. If you are convicted, or are scared, know that God is with you EVERYWHERE YOU GO, not just when you are happy and engaged in fellowship with fellow believers.
Exodus 23:23-25 says:
My angel will go ahead of you and bring you into the land of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites and Jebusites, and I will wipe them out. Do not bow down before their gods or worship them or follow their practices. You must demolish them and break their sacred stones to pieces. Worship the LORD your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water.
Break people's hearts with the news of Jesus Christ, his blood on the cross and God's never ending supply of grace to make up and erase whatever our past conceals, regardless of how dirty or shameful it may seem back then.
God HIMSELF, from HIS own MOUTH promises you in Isaiah 43:2-3
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush[a] and Seba in your stead.
Do not fear, because He's got your back. He's a God of promises; here He has promised to keep you safe. Go and spread the Word.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
「€Œ 4:58 pm 」 » 
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