I have decided

This video just brought a whole new perspective to my understanding of an old song I used to sing in Sunday School.


Elevation Creative: I Have Decided from Elevation Media on Vimeo.

Click here if you can't see the video

I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.
The world behind me, the cross before me;
No turning back, no turning back.
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
No turning back, no turning back.

Not Been Forsaken

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I know that you think you’ve grown, can do it all alone
But don’t throw away the memories of the past
Remember the love I’ve shown to you all along
And my door is open for you, for you to come back home, prodigal…

I know that you may think you’ll make it on your own
The truth is I can see the path that you have chose
So one thing you should know,
wherever you go, and no matter where life may take you
There’s one thing you should remember,
I don’t want you to forget it
That no matter what you have not been forsaken
I need you to know that you have not been forsaken

Choose to Struggle not Criticise

It would seem that too many people who are part of the called out people of God - His Church seem to rejoice it taking a swipe at the Church be it the global or local expression.

Paul gave us such a different example. He chose to struggle for the Church rather than criticise the church. In fact his struggle for the church meant suffering for the church.

24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church..... 28 Him (Jesus) we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. 1.For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you. - Col 1:24,28 & 3:1

It is even easy for a local church pastor to criticise some of the people God has entrusted to him and equipped him for, to complain about a lack of maturity in them.

Paul chose to use his voice to PROCLAIM, WARN & TEACH EVERYONE rather than CRITICISE & COMPLAIN about EVERYONE.

He chose to STRUGGLE with all GOD'S energy that had been given to him for the CHURCH.

It's just to easy to choose to CRITICISE but to STRUGGLE we would rather not.

Those who have no grace in their hearts despise the church of God. Those who have only a little grace have but slight sympathy with her condition. Those who have great grace and are conscious of having received much mercy from God have great sympathy with the church of God, and a deep regard for her. - Charles H Spurgeon

To love is to be vulnerable

"Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.” - C S Lewis

Image via Church Mag

Unleashing Discipleship

Unleash - Discipleship from MKCCpreaching on Vimeo.

I had the honour of continuing our latest teaching series at MKCC this past Sunday. The core message of Unleash is to get the followers of Jesus to stop just "coming to church" but to be the church. Outside of the box.

My task this week Unleashing Discipleship. Where I shared a little of my journey of growth, shaping and change in following Jesus.

Thanks to Andy Stanley for helping through his book "Deep & Wide" for giving me 5 points that all start with the letter P.

1. Practical Teaching
2. Personal Disciplines
3. Personal Ministry
4. Providential Relationships
5. Pivotal Circumstances

If you can't see the video above click here