Beggars in India

Here I am recently in New Delhi and Chandighar with some beggars.

I have travelled extensively around the world and have seen this alot. I train workers not to give them money. It makes sense not to give beggars money.
But this time I did - I had to! There was just something inside that made me do it. God was challenging my heart to be generous. It was my "time" to do this - and no one else around me was asked to do it.

I love this verse -
Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.' Matthew 25:40 (MSG)

Here is what Wayne Mansfield wrote recently in his
regular Maverick email about his experiences with beggars in India - some good thoughts here Wayne! I like this one...
"I can tell you it was a very difficult 15 minutes, until our car arrived, ignoring very skilled emotional sales techniques waged against me. As I closed the door of the car, a woman with her baby in her arms pressed against the glass imploring me to give her money for food. Whilst all the advice is to ignore what had just happened it seemed to me to be amazingly heartless to do so."

Celebration and Ministry Night - Yes!!

Tomorrow night is the night!!

I love our quarterly Celebration and Ministry Nights. It is were we hang out heaps longer with God - and when He turns up to touch lives.

Hope you can make it - Wed 6.44pm - USQ Main Auditorium - Springfield Central.
Honour the Lord with me! Celebrate his great name - Psalms 34:3 (CEV)
.... And the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick - Luke 5:17 (NIV)

Are you coming?

My Best Travel Buddy

Check out the sealed cap - beautiful!
Look at the clear consistency! No colours! No green tinge. No aomebas. No bacteria!
Sheer basic life pleasure.
Pure drinkable water! Love it!
And my best travel buddy when going to developing nations.

PS - Travel overseas makes you just love your local council - they focus on roads, rubbish and water - the simple pleasures of life!!

PS - speaking of sealed water... when I worked in Switzerland in 2000 I just had to laugh. When you went to a restaurant the waiter would ask whether you wanted the water "still" or "with gas." Ha ha!!

Ed Stetzer and "Evangelical Gullibility"

I did a post recently called "Life After Lakeland: Sorting Out the Confusion."

Ed Stetzer - pastor, reseacher, church planter and author - did a great article reflecting on the current state of affairs at Lakelands - it is called "Evangelical Gullibility."

I really like this bit:
True revival is generally a messy affair. On the one hand abuses often accompany genuine works of God, and on the other hand much of what is called revival is nothing more than fanaticism. Courage is required to ask tough questions and do so with with grace and kindness, patience is necessary to wait and see if what is called revival bears lasting fruit, and theological discernment is critical for the church when it comes to awakenings and revival.

You can check out Ed's bio "here."

Life After Lakeland: Sorting Out the Confusion

J. Lee Grady is editor of Charisma. He wrote this insightful but sad article about the current spiritual revival at Lakelands in USA.

He writes:
"I still believe that God desires to visit our nation in supernatural power. I know He wants to heal multitudes, and I will continue praying for a healing revival to sweep across the United States. But we must contend for the genuine, not an imitation. True revival will be accompanied by brokenness, humility, reverence and repentance...."

I am still processing all this.

I spoke on Sunday AM in one of my message points about God's need of us to pray to seize God-opportunities. It is God's desire to move powerfully in our world and "worlds"... but He needs us to partner with Him.

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. - 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)

What do you think?

Beijing Olympics - 080808 - "Let the Games Begin!"

What an opening ceremony!!!!

I love what ninemsn wrote -
"One-fifth of humanity issued a heartfelt message on Friday night to the other four-fifths - we are ready to join you."

India Reflections and Photos - Coming Soon!!

Just got back from 8 days in India - had a blast - but had limited access to the internet to keep you updated with India reflections and photos.
So watch this space real soon!!