Redefining #Blessed

Posted on August 24, 2017 by The UnApologetic

A little gem from another blogger. Thanks Jonathan.
“As iron sharpens iron, so a person sharpens his friend.”
Prov 27:17

JC's avatarThe Ministry of JC

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Our society is always changing.

And perhaps this is best represented in our weird tendency to redefine things. Particularly nowadays. It seems everywhere we turn, a previously unquestioned concept is experiencing a huge social reconstruction. I’m looking at you, marriage. Not forgetting the 63 genders you can now choose from. Here’s the problem:

We all want a say on how life should be defined.

We do it in more subtle ways too. For example, the hashtag #blessed has been used 77,000,000 times (on Instagram alone). And it appears to be a way of boasting whilst remaining humble. Win a sporting event. Pass that hard university topic with flying colours. Get a promotion at work. Be surrounded with friends and family. Live in a huge house. Such events seem to qualify our ability to say that we are blessed.

And so our culture has formed something of a silent creed. An unspoken but very loud anthem…

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Reckless Obedience (Part Two)

Posted on August 4, 2017 by The UnApologetic

(If you haven’t read part one, you can read it here.)

‘Go and talk to Hayley.’

It was mid-morning and I was just about to sit down to read my Bible and write in my prayer journal, when this thought popped into my head. Again, I knew it was God…

* * *

Hayley is my next door neighbour, and the week before, I had bought her a bunch of flowers. I was on the way home from church, after a “Community Engagement” seminar with guest Pastor, Paul Bartlett. (Author of the book Thank God it’s Monday [#TGIM] and Pastor of Lighthouse Church in Woolongong, NSW.)

I dropped into the shops before heading home, and while I was there, I saw a bunch of flowers marked down at half price. I heard God tell me, ‘Get them for Hayley.’ I picked them up and gave them a closer inspection. They still looked in good condition and I felt that they might be the type that Hayley would enjoy.

…I would like to tell you that I put them in my trolley straight away.

But I didn’t.

(Why! Oh, why! do we hesitate??!!)

I told myself, ‘I will get them at the end of my shopping.’ (As if that would make a difference?) God told me, ‘If someone takes this bunch, you’ll have to buy a full price one.’ (He had a point.) Anyway, I bought the flowers and when I got home, I knocked on Hayley’s door. I gave her the flowers, saying, ‘I was at the shops when I saw these, and I thought of you.’ She was very moved that I would give her such a gift, and commented that no one had ever done anything like that for her before. (Which I thought was incredibly sad. How many people out there have never received a gift, “just because”?) She then was trying to think of all the ways she could repay me, but that wasn’t the point. We chatted for a little while, and with the promise of coffee, I went home.

Fast forward to a week later and God saying, ‘Go talk to Hayley.’

It went something like this:

God: Go talk to Hayley.

Me: Now?

God: Yes.

Me: Ahh, okay…But what do I say? I’ve already used the “I’m thinking of you” excuse.

I didn’t want to come across as the creepy, too friendly, Christian neighbour.

God: Take your cup of tea and do your devotions on your front veranda.

I quite often do this on sunny days. Luckily, even though it was mid-winter, today was one of them. I figured God had a good idea here. Perhaps Hayley would come out for a smoke and I could talk to her then.

So I go outside and start writing in my prayer journal.

…Five minutes later? Hayley comes outside!

Me: Hi Hayley.

Hayley: Hi

We get chatting about our week. She mentions that she has a sore back. We talk about the lovely sunshine etc.

Seeing that I am busy with my journal, Hayley doesn’t want to distract me any longer.

Hayley: Well, I’ll leave you to it.

As she turns to leave, I get a (reckless) idea…

Me: Hey, can I pray for your back? Is that okay?

Hayley: Sure. That would be lovely. Thank you!

I say a quick prayer, she goes back inside, and I am left to my prayer journal with the biggest grin on my face.

God + timing = perfect.

When I started this journey of Reckless Obedience, I thought it would be full of moments like this. But up until this point, there weren’t really any other moments of which to speak. And even when it came to this one, I wasn’t even thinking, ‘I must obey, because I promised Reckless Obedience’. I just did it.

But isn’t that the point?

When someone does something reckless, and this time I mean stupid or dangerous, you might later ask them, ‘why did you do it?’ Their response will usually be, ‘I don’t know. I just wasn’t thinking.’

I thank God that I didn’t stop to think about whether I should pray for Hayley. I thank God that I just did. Had I stopped to think, Hayley would have gone inside and it would have been too late. (Unlike with Janine, here, I wasn’t going to get a second chance.) I didn’t even stop to think whether it was my idea, or God’s.

And that, I think, is the secret. When we are so in tune with God, we don’t even think, ‘God told me to…’ we just do it and later realise, ‘Oh, that was you God!?’

I prayed that I might become more reckless in my obedience to God…

What He did was draw me closer to Him.

In John 17 v 21, Jesus prays for you and I. (Just think on that for a moment!)

…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. NIV

As big as the grin was on my face after Hayley left- it wasn’t about me… ‘so that the world may believe.’

When we make ourselves available to God, all for His glory, amazing things can- and will- happen.

I still have a long way to go on this journey of Reckless Obedience. (Such a long way!) But I thank God that, this time at least, I got it right.

 

 

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Reckless Obedience (Part 1)

Posted on May 27, 2017 by The UnApologetic

 

‘Go pray for Janine’

It was the last day of the Youth Alive We the People Conference, and I was standing at the back of the mosh-pit during worship, when this thought popped into my head. I knew it was God, but instead of obeying straight away, what followed was a five-minute conversation of me listing every possible reason as to why I shouldn’t… To be honest, ‘the dog ate my homework’ would have been a better excuse.

It went something like this:

God: Go and pray for Janine.

Me: Okay, I guess I could do that.

I don’t move.

God: Go on then.

Me: But, look at her. She looks so beautiful worshiping. I don’t want to distract her.

God: And?

Me: I like this song. I want to worship.

God: Really?!

I look over. Janine is now kneeling and lifting her hands in passionate worship.

God: Look. What a perfect opportunity to go kneel next to her and pray with her. Put your arm around her.

Me: But what would I say?

God: Tell her I hear her prayer.

Me: Well, that’s a bit simple, isn’t it? I could have made that up.

God: And?

Me: Well…

God: The song is almost over… quickly!

Me: But I like this song…

We sing the last chorus and the song comes to an end. Luckily for me, there is more.

God: Go…

I look over to Janine. She is now sitting in her seat, flicking through the pages of her Bible.

Me: Well, I can’t go now, she’s obviously in the middle of something. I’ll definitely distract her!

God: Isn’t that just proof that she is searching for something?

Me: It’s got be more than, ‘God hears your prayer’.

God: Does it?

Me: It could have been just me?

God: So?

By now, Janine is standing again, worshiping.

God: You know you’ll really regret it if you don’t go.

Me: *rolls eyes* Okay! Fine!

I thank God that He is ever so patient: and more annoying than I am stubborn. I thank God that I obeyed… eventually. I thank God that, even though I was oh so close to missing out, He persisted, and allowed me to be a part of something more important that I knew.

The rest of the story went something like this:

Janine has her eyes closed, worshiping. I touch her on the shoulder.

Me: …Can I pray for you?

Janine: Sure

I begin to pray, just saying whatever comes to mind. Then I tell her what God told me to say…

Janine looks at me astounded.

Janine: I am writing that down! Thank you. That was exactly what I needed to hear.

I silently berate myself for wasting those five minutes in an unwinnable argument and wonder what might have happened if I had acted sooner. (Though, ‘no one is ever told what would have happened.’)

Me: That means a lot, because I was debating for five minutes whether to come, wondering if I was just making it up.

Janine: No. It was perfect. Thank you for being obedient.

Obedient…

Was I? Really?

I am a karate sensei (teacher). In class, when a command is given, you have a split second to obey. And obey with a loud, clear and enthusiastic ‘hai!’ (Yes!) If my students don’t respond with all of this criteria, I make them stop and do it again. With one of my senseis, we get push-ups if we don’t respond loudly and immediately.

Why make them do it again? Why the push-ups? Because we train to respond “on command”. We train to respond without thinking. This ‘hai’ response is now so ingrained in me, that I have to stop myself from using it elsewhere. It hasn’t slipped out at church… yet, but when the preacher asks, ‘Amen?’ ‘Hai!’ is always on the tip of my tongue.

If I ever hesitated in karate like I did that day at Youth Alive, my sensei would… well, I honestly couldn’t tell you what they would do, because it just wouldn’t happen.

Which leads me to ask: Is obedience delayed, really obedience?

Even though I got there in the end, I still felt that I missed something. And it was only by God’s grace that I didn’t miss it altogether!

I walked away from Janine in embarrassed and befuddled amusement. All the excuses I had just given- to GOD, I might add- now seemed absolutely ridiculous. Janine wasn’t a stranger. I wasn’t’ preaching on the streets. I was in a church service for goodness sake! Yeah, the dog ate my homework really would have been a better excuse.

Over the next few days, I was really psyched that God had given me such an important word, but my hesitation bothered me. I didn’t feel guilty… I just wanted to know why? Why did I not obey when God first said, ‘go…’?

I prayed about this and God said, ‘the more time you spend with me, the quicker you will obey.’

Just like in karate, when the sensei says, ‘go,’ and I say, ‘hai!’ I wanted to obey God on command. So, for this last month I have been on a journey.

No arguing.

No debating.

No asking, ‘why?’

 

Don’t think. Just do.

 

I call it Reckless Obedience.

 

Whether it’s ‘you don’t need two pieces of bacon,’ ‘don’t buy that,’ or ‘go talk to that person,’ I obey. Whether I think it’s God talking or it’s just my own thoughts, still, I obey. Have I always gotten it right? No. But I am trying…Training. And I am getting faster.

Now let me just say that I am not talking about being reckless in potentially dangerous situations. I am talking about the little things. An illustration by Steve McCracken has helped me immensely on this topic. He says, if it’s good or neutral, don’t argue, just obey. (Read here)

As in karate training, this act- this discipline– of Reckless Obedience is creating physical pathways in the brain. The more you do it, the easier it becomes. And then there are the Spiritual benefits. As Jesus teaches in the Parable of the Talents (Matt 25v14-30), if God can trust you with the small things, He can trust you with the big things.

Or as with Janine, what seemed like a small thing to me was actually a big thing. I remind myself of this whenever God gives me an instruction. I don’t want to be the reason someone else misses out on a miracle.

I want to be reckless.

I want to obey.

Fair warning to those who want to join me on my journey of Reckless Obedience: it won’t be easy. It will be inconvenient, tiring and it will make your head spin. But it will also be thrilling, spiritually strengthening and totally worth it.

I know my journey has only just begun. (In Geek terms, I’m barely out of the Shire!) There will be more to report, if you’ll join me…

It’s time to be reckless!

 

 

 

 

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Who is My Neighbour? Part 2.

Posted on January 26, 2017 by The UnApologetic

She waited the tables

At midday.

She had just started

Her shift.

She tucked a stray hair

In her head scarf.

And smiled for all the

Customers.

 

He sat down outside

Jake’s Cafe.

He had just come from church.

He placed his bible

On the table.

And asked the waitress

For water.

 

She brought his drink to

The table.

He asked about

Her day.

She saw his bible,

And wondered why

A man like him would

Talk to her.

 

He finished his drink

And waved

Goodbye. She waved.

And smiled

Because she was glad.

He left her a

tip. But hoped she found

Something more.

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Who is my Neighbour? Part 1.

Posted on January 26, 2017 by The UnApologetic

* * *

Today (especially today) I acknowledge the First Peoples of my country, Australia; and I pay honour to their elders, past and present. May the hurts of the past be healed, for we are all children of God.

* * *

‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

-Luke 10v27 NIV

Wait a minute, it’s Australia Day! Neighbour = Mate

‘Mateship’ is a concept that can be traced back to early colonial times. The harsh environment in which convicts and new settlers found themselves meant that men and women closely relied on each other for all sorts of help. In Australia, a ‘mate’ is more than just a friend. It’s a term that implies a sense of shared experience, mutual respect and unconditional assistance.

-About Australia

But who is my mate?

Jesus was also asked,

And who is my neighbor? -Luke 10v29. NIV

So He told the story of The Good Samaritan. (read here)

The Samaritans were social outcasts. They didn’t follow the customs of the land and followed different religious practices. Sound familiar?

There are many Christians who are deeply opposed to Muslim migration to Australia. They fear a religious takeover- that Australians will be forced to accept certain Muslim practices, while Christianity will be squeezed out. And while their concern is understandable (the media does nothing to help this image) their fears are unfounded. (And to be honest, do they worry this much about the atheists?)

There is another story in the Bible that tells of an encounter with a Samaritan. This time between Jesus and a Samaritan woman. (read here)

To give a bit of cultural context, the Samaritans were deeply hated and scorned by the Jewish people. They were considered “unclean” and foreigners in their own land. The Jewish people would go out of their way to avoid them. So much so, that when travelling from Judea to Galilee, instead of travelling the few miles through Samaria, they would cross the river and go the long way round: Doubling the length of their journey! They would not speak with them; they would not eat with them: They would not touch anything they had touched, or else they would become “unclean”. Plus, in that day, men did not speak with women who were not family. So for Jesus to be alone with a Samaritan woman- and ask her for a drink…?!?

Jesus disciples were (understandably) shocked when they found Jesus talking to this woman. The culture of the day- the Law– said that this was unacceptable. But no one questioned what he was doing. The disciples often misunderstood what Jesus was saying, but perhaps here they understood that some things are more important?

Why do I think my friends’ fears are unfounded? Because God’s love is stronger. God’s truth is greater.

But we must be that love and that truth.

In that order.

Jesus first showed love: He spoke to the woman. He did not ignore her or treat her like something diseased, like something to be feared. He started a conversation on a topic they could both relate to: water.

She started asking questions…

Jesus then spoke truth: He told the woman that physical water was not enough. He told her that there was something more. Something she was missing. But He did not end with that…

Jesus ended with hope:

 “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.  Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.  God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”

 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”

-John 4v21-26 NIV

Then, when she finally asked, He told her Who He was.

And she believed.

* * *

Australia Day celebrates our diverse and multicultural nation, but really we are so insular; stuck in our own little world. (Anywhere else, you drive a couple hours and people will be speaking a completely different language, but here? ‘We speak English here, “mate”’) We need to stop fearing people who believe differently to us.

How should a Christian respond to Muslim migration?

Go make friends with them. Invite them into your home. Learn about their culture, their family and tell them about yours.

Jesus last command to us was:

 Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.

–Mark 16v15 NRSV emphasis added

But today, the world is coming to us! We have it easy: so no excuses!

These people- these beloved children of God- have come to make Australia their home. How would it be, if we welcomed them in, and they found their spiritual home as well?

 

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

– Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

About Australia, Accessed 26/1/2017, from http://www.australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/mateship-diggers-and-wartime

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Be Edmund

Posted on January 17, 2017 by The UnApologetic

My favourite book series is The Chronicles of Narnia. I always wanted to be Lucy: Brave, kind and always believing. But during a recent prayer time God reminded me of something else from the Stories, and said to me two words, ‘Be Edmund’.
Edmund was the second youngest Pevensie sibling, and in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe betrayed his family to the White Witch for a box of Turkish Delight. I do not mean “be Edmund” in this story. (Although, we are all like Edmund and need saving.)
When God said, ‘Be Edmund’, another scene came to mind.
A Scene from Prince Caspian.

* * *

Set years after The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the Pevensie Children return to Narnia in hopes of helping the young Prince Caspian win his throne. First they must reach him. But there are enemy soldiers and a forest between them: and they are unsure of the way. Lucy sees Aslan (the Great Lion) and she knows He is telling them the way to go. However, none of the others see Him and they do not believe her. Edmund, remembering his past failings, chooses to trust her: even though he cannot see himself.

“Well, there’s just this,” said Edmund, speaking quickly and turning a little red. “When we first discovered Narnia a year ago—or a thousand years ago, whichever it is—it was Lucy who discovered it first and none of us would believe her. I was the worst of the lot, I know. Yet she was right after all. Wouldn’t it be fair to believe her this time? I vote for going up.”

But Lucy and Edmund are out-voted and the company continues down the wrong path.

“Down,” said Peter after a long pause. “I know Lucy may be right after all, but I can’t help it. We must do one or the other.”

So they set off to their right along the edge, downstream. And Lucy came last of the party, crying bitterly.

… and they almost walk into an ambush .

That night, Aslan comes to them again. And once again only Lucy can see Him .

“Now, child,” said Aslan, when they had left the trees behind them, “I will wait here. Go and wake the others and tell them to follow. If they will not, then you at least must follow me alone.”

It is a terrible thing to have to wake four people, all older than yourself and all very tired, for the purpose of telling them something they probably won’t believe and making them do something they certainly won’t like. “I mustn’t think about it, I must just do it,” thought Lucy.

She went to Peter first and shook him. “Peter,” she whispered in his ear, “wake up. Quick. Aslan is here. He says we’ve got to follow him at once.”

“Certainly, Lu. Whatever you like,” said Peter unexpectedly. This was encouraging, but as Peter instantly rolled round and went to sleep again it wasn’t much use.

Then she tried Susan. Susan did really wake up, but only to say in her most annoying grown-up voice, “You’ve been dreaming, Lucy. Go to sleep again.”

She tackled Edmund next. It was very difficult to wake him, but when at last she had done it he was really awake and sat up.

“Eh?” he said in a grumpy voice. “What are you talking about?”

She said it all over again. This was one of the worst parts of her job, for each time she said it, it sounded less convincing.

“Aslan!” said Edmund, jumping up. “Hurray! Where?”

Lucy turned back to where she could see the Lion waiting, his patient eyes fixed upon her. “There,” she said, pointing.

“Where?” asked Edmund again.

“There. There. Don’t you see? Just this side of the trees.”

Edmund stared hard for a while and then said, “No. There’s nothing there. You’ve got dazzled and muddled with the moonlight. One does, you know. I thought I saw something for a moment myself. It’s only an optical what-do-you-call-it.”

“I can see him all the time,” said Lucy. “He’s looking straight at us.”

“Then why can’t I see him?”

“He said you mightn’t be able to.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. That’s what he said.”

“Oh, bother it all,” said Edmund. “I do wish you wouldn’t keep on seeing things. But I suppose we’ll have to wake the others.”

Though none of the others can see The Lion, Lucy (with Edmund’s help) manages to convince them to follow her.

Lit only by moonlight, Lucy follows Aslan down the rocky path.
Edmund cannot see Aslan: so he follows Lucy.
Then soon, he sees Alan’s shadow: so he follows the Shadow .
And when he cannot see the Shadow in the darkness: he follows his little sister.
As they follow further and further on, Edmund’s belief grows stronger. And soon he sees what Lucy saw from the beginning. Eventually the others do too, and they all come safely into camp.

* * *

When God told me “be Edmund” l was looking for a different message. I wanted Him to show me the way so I could lead others to where we needed to go.

I wanted to be Lucy.

Our pastors, our youth leaders need more Edmunds. Being Lucy is hard and we all need someone to believe in us. This is not blind faith. No. Lucy had been right before. And the others knew her well. (She was their little sister, after all.) Our leaders need to know that someone trusts them. So be someone who follows: even when you can’t see where they are going. Even if you don’t agree on where they are going.
Don’t break your morals, but maybe, just maybe, they are following Something you can’t see. So follow them. And when you catch a glimpse of His Shadow (and you’ll see it soon enough) … follow the Shadow.

Until you do …Be Edmund.

Quotes taken from C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, Chapters IX and X (c)1951

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My Life as an Etch-a-Sketch

Posted on December 7, 2016 by The UnApologetic

God rewrote the text of my life when l opened the book of my heart to His eyes.  –Ps 18v24 (MSG)- 

Ask any author what the worst part of writing is and they will all say the same thing: Editing.

It is tedious, complicated and painful.

It’s not so bad fixing the little mistakes like spelling and grammar. Even the best authors make these. A typo here, or the wrong use of a word there.We’d all like to say it never happens, but… in the midst of inspiration, it does. But this is not the editing I mean. I mean the editing that deals with structure, plot, continuity and character development.

It’s tedious because you have to go through your entire manuscript to make sure what you said at the beginning is not contradicted half way through.

It is complicated because when it does contradict, you must correct it; which often means rewriting much of your story.

And it is painful, because that rewrite means deleting what you’ve already written. Deleting what you have poured blood, sweat and tears into.

God rewrote the text of my life when l opened the book of my heart to His eyes. -Ps 18v24 (MSG) –

When I read this verse, it struck me that I see my life like one of my stories- perhaps my greatest story. But here is the thing:I am not the author. God: the Alpha and Omega, the Great Author of Life, is the Author. Or perhaps for the purpose of this illustration, He is my Editor.

You see, often, it is the editor who will tell you what to change in your manuscript. They can see the mistakes and the inconsistencies. They can see when what you have written is actually not very good; and can encourage you to do better.

This is where the “painful” part comes in. It is bad enough trying to edit a story and characters that aren’t even real, (although, we like to think they are) let alone editing real life! That is not to say God goes back in time and “magically” changes what happened. But was l willing to “open the book of my heart” to Him, so he could rewrite what did happen for His purpose? I used to think I trusted God completely. (I do). l used to think my heart was fully open to Him. (It was… wasn’t it?) After all these years I am still learning that trusting God in theory is a lot easier than in practice. And while I might be able to say, ‘God, I open my heart to you,’ it is another thing entirely to keep it open when God is doing a rewrite.

‘But God what about this part of my life? Doesn’t it mean anything anymore?’ ‘But God, don’t they know that- don’t YOU know that …’ But opening up the book of your heart means giving up the questions. It means letting God do an edit on any and every part of your life, even if it’s really, really painful.

That is not to say that God wants us to suffer. He doesn’t!!!

For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone. -Lam 3v33 (NIV)-

But like any author or editor, He does it because He knows the story can be better.

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. –Rom 5v3-5 (NIV)-

Sometimes it can be a small edit; God gradually working in our lives with little “course corrections” to get us on track. Sometimes it can feel like our life has been shaken upside down and erased, like an Etch-a-Sketch shaken clean, ready for a new work.

It takes courage to let this happen: There will be tears. It is not easy to have your heart and soul laid bare. But it’s worth it.

As a good friend and mentor told me, ‘embrace the squirm!’

After all who better to edit your Story than the Alpha and Omega- the very Author of Life!

God made my life complete
    when I placed all the pieces before him.
When I got my act together,
    he gave me a fresh start.
Now I’m alert to God’s ways;
    I don’t take God for granted.
Every day I review the ways he works;
    I try not to miss a trick.
I feel put back together,
    and I’m watching my step.
God rewrote the text of my life
    when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes.

-Ps -18 v 20-24 (MSG)-

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No In-App Purchases

Posted on October 12, 2015 by The UnApologetic

So you have a new game on your phone.

Suggested to you by a friend, you have your doubts, but the game is free so you download it. After passing a couple of simple levels, you begin to see what your friend is raving about. (They are up to level 94.) You even admit it is kind of fun.

In no time at all, you are racing through. As the levels get higher, so does the difficulty, and you take the opportunity to use a hint or two. Given time, you probably could save the hints and figure it out on your own. But you want to catch up with your friend who is now on level 106. So you press on… and realise you should have saved that hint. It was your last one.

Then it happens. A pop-up appears, asking if you would like to buy more hints…with real money. And you wonder if this wasn’t the purpose of the game all along.

Can I tell you something?

God’s grace has no in-app purchases.

The game experience is cheapened always by the money making ploy of the “extras” you can buy to make your game better.

God’s grace does not get better.

This is because God’s grace comes with all bonuses, extra lives and all levels unlocked- right from the beginning. It’s the complete package. You don’t have to pay up halfway through to get to the end. And it’s free!

God’s grace is not the prize you are given at the end if you complete all the levels. Grace is the beginning. Full of quests and discoveries, God’s grace is unlimited. You won’t need to purchase any extra lives, no matter how many times you fail a level. The multiplayer function allows you to team up and quest with others.

God’s grace is compatible with all devices. It never glitches. It never crashes. When other games have long since come and gone, God’s grace will still be there. Top rated.

God’s grace: Download it into your heart.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God –Ephesians 2v8-

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A Wallet Full of Photos

Posted on September 2, 2014 by The UnApologetic

There are so many Bible verses about being “fully known” by God.

 All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

-1 Corinthians 13v12 NLT-

And, 

O Lord, you have examined my heart

and know everything about me.

You know when I sit down or stand up.

You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.

You see me when I travel

and when I rest at home.

You know everything I do.

You know what I am going to say

even before I say it, Lord.

…You saw me before I was born.

Every day of my life was recorded in your book.

Every moment was laid out

before a single day had passed.

-Psalm 139v1-4,16 NLT-

To some people this may be scary. Even terrifying. All our faults, failures and secrets, laid bare before the God of the universe.

But I think it’s fantastic! Why?

Because, wow! God knows all that and He loves us anyway!!

But more than that…

You saw me before I was born.

Every day of my life was recorded in your book.

Every moment was laid out

before a single day had passed.

-Psalm 139v16-

Oh, the Father, knows our hearts- completely! We are fully known. Not just our “dirty little secrets”, but the good ones as well. He knows our inner most desires. He knows our hearts, even when we cannot fully express them ourselves. He knows who we are, and who we will become. He has a photo album for each of us, already filled with our greatest achievements. And a wallet with our pictures, so He can brag to the angels.

…Well, isn’t that what dads do?

How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.

They cannot be numbered!

I can’t even count them;

they outnumber the grains of sand!

-Psalm 139v17-18 NLT-

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Easter Eggs and the Empty Tomb

Posted on April 20, 2014 by The UnApologetic

Did you go searching for Easter eggs today?

 

There are many stories in the Bible of people who went searching for Jesus.

A sick woman pushed through the crowd just to touch Him.

A blind man cried out as he stumbled forward, just to meet Him.

Parents brought their children, just so they could be blessed by Him.

The crowds camped up the mountain for three days, just so they could hear Him.

…Zaccheaus climbed up a tree, just so he could see Him.

 

Did you go searching for Easter eggs today?

In film circles, an “Easter egg” is a hidden extra on a DVD. It can be an unexpected reference to another episode or movie, within the film itself. Or it can be an extra clip or interview that is does not show on the DVD menu. Usually, it’s not something you notice the first time round. For even the most avid fans it can take two or three viewings before they find it.

I love Easter eggs. Especially the ones that have been right in front of you the whole time.

On my second viewing of The Lion, the witch and the Wardrobe, I quite literally jumped out of my chair as I watched the scene where Peter and Susan talk to the Professor, and I noticed his silver apple tobacco pot! (All you Narnia fans will understand my excitement. And for those who didn’t notice themselves, I’m sure you will race to put the DVD on and see for yourself…But please wait until the end of my blog 😉 )

When you discover an Easter egg, it’s always unexpected. It’s as if you’ve been invited to share in a special secret. Sometimes you feel like the extra has been put there just for you.

On the first Resurrection Sunday, the women went to the tomb expecting to find the stone in place and a dead man inside. What they found was the best Easter egg of all! As the peered inside at the empty tomb, the angels said to them:

“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.”

 –Luke 24v5 NRSV-

And so the greatest Easter hunt began!

In fact, ever since Creation, God has been placing “Easter eggs” within His Word and through all He has made, just for us to discover.

By taking a long and thoughtful look at what God has created, people have always been able to see what their eyes as such can’t see: eternal power, for instance, and the mystery of his divine being.

      –Rom 1v19 MSG-

Did you go searching for Easter eggs today?

 

If you find God mysterious, and His Word confusing: don’t worry, and don’t stop searching!

The great hunt doesn’t end on Easter Sunday… It’s only the beginning!

It is the glory of God to conceal things,

but the glory of kings is to search things out

      -Proverbs 25v2 NRSV-

 

Image

 

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