The door has opened...

As I write this, I’m 24 hours off leaving my home for 6 weeks, starting the long travel to eventually arrive in Camundambala, Angola. And to be honest, I can’t wait!

The last few months have dragged on as I’ve waited for confirmation of a visa, booked for and had jabs, found insurance and bought tools. Excitement has been swapped for nervousness and back again. I’ve tried to picture what it will look like, what the food will be like, how hot it will be and how much work we can do in the time. I’m helping Jonathan and Ruth Singleton in the building of a school and anything and everything else I can possibly fit in. I want to experience as much of life in Angola (and ultimately Africa), as I possibly can. 

The first reason why is because this trip has been a long time coming. It’s not the first time I’ve hoped to visit Africa to help. I’d tried 7 years ago to go, and the answer was “no”. I tried again 3 years ago to go to Zambia, and it was also “no”. Though it meant accepting God’s timing and will wasn’t matching mine, I was content. But now, all of the doors seem to have opened, and I’m standing on the very edge of my trip with a real sense of excitement and adventure, and feeling firmly grounded in the knowledge that this time, God has said “yes”. 

I’ve thought about the snakes, bugs, spiders and any other wildlife that will share the local vicinity with me. The language barrier (for anyone who isn’t trained up in the “Geordie” accent) and cultural differences. But most of all, the second reason for wanting to go for so long, is to hopefully through the experiences grow closer to my God. I don’t feel that in the western world I honestly pray for “daily bread” like the Lord encouraged His disciples to. I buy it. Sometimes I use cash, sometimes card. Because of our wealthy society, I feel as though it encourages an unthankful spirit. My hope is that I will learn true dependence, and my faith will deepen and ultimately my thankfulness will be genuine. When the trappings of materialism is removed, what’s left? When the bare essentials of life are all you have, does it make you happy? Can Jesus be all we need? And ultimately, just how real can God be? 

One thing I’ve learnt so far is how generous God’s people are, and how God uses them to meet His purposes. Thank you to everyone who has helped towards the costs, it’s certainly appreciated. 

I hope you’re interested to hear how I get on. Feel free to share your own experiences with me, particularly those who have left the western world and visited Africa. Feel free to get in touch as well to encourage me as I lie in the dark trying not to hear what’s outside the door! Ha ha. I’m not sure what I’ll learn, or who I’ll meet or what we’ll get up to.... but I honestly just can’t wait! 

In Him
Dan

When seeing isn't believing

It's been quite a while everyone, appreciate you checking back in...

Been reading John 12 tonight, and there's a verse which says...

"But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:”
John 12:37

Depressing eh? Even the miracles of Jesus couldn't convince some people to trust Him. I just can't get out my head the thought that so many of the people we have contact with in our Christian lives today are described by this verse. Should Jesus appear before them, where they were and perform a miracle in front of their very eyes, they wouldn't believe. Guess they'll never be won, so we should give up right?

How is it that so many people experienced Jesus and yet failed to follow him? Was it too difficult a lifestyle change, was his teaching too controversial or perhaps he didn't measure up to their expectations? After all, he was hardly the Roman-defeating, rebellion leading, captivity freeing deliverer they were hoping for was he. To some, he would only ever be "Jesus of Nazareth", or "the son of the Carpenter". Preconceived ideas clouded the mind and closed the eyes. Today, so many people are raised being taught in school that science has the answers, and that the Big Bang, evolution etc are fact. No amount of evidence, debate or conversation can change their way of thinking. Humanly speaking, their eyes are closed to the truth.

However, what's encouraging is to realise that God is in the business of opening eyes. Even more encouraging, is that He uses us to do so. Paul was told

"I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. Stand up! I have chosen you to be my servant and my witness—you will tell people the things that you have seen and the things that I will show you. This is why I have come to you today. I will keep you safe from your own people and also from the others. I am sending you to them to open their eyes so that they may turn away from darkness to the light, away from the power of Satan and to God. Then their sins can be forgiven, and they can have a place with those people who have been made holy by believing in me.’”
Acts 26:15-18

The question isn't what do we say, or do to lead people to Christ; we don't know who will respond. The question is am I showing them and telling them the gospel? The rest God will do when He sees fit. Maybe that child of a Christian couple who has for many years sat emotionless in church, (and maybe even left church behind), suddenly realises they need Christ in adulthood. God opened their eyes! The neighbour or work colleague who is antagonist to Christianity, finally sees the love of Christ in us and in how we treat them. "God opened their eyes!" That religious person, trusting in themselves  and good works to gain acceptance from God, sees that Jesus is "THE Way, THE truth and THE life". God opened their eyes! Like the sower casting his seed in the field among the different types of ground, let's keep doing our bit, knowing that God will do his... despite what we may think, for our God said "I am the LORD, the God of every person on the earth. Nothing is impossible for me.”
Jeremiah 32:27

Thanks for reading; all comments, thoughts, questions and shares are welcome...

Sowing

“He, who goes forth weeping, bearing precious seed, shall without doubt return with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him”

What a difference a week can make. 

This time last weekend I was sat at my desk when a very, very simple idea came to mind. I remembered that a year or two back, we had a “Post a bible verse day”, where lots of Christians posted a verse that was a help and encouragement to them. Also, I had been privileged to help out at a "Seed sowers weekend" where they distribute packs with posters of Romans 5:8 to as many houses in an area as possible.

Hmm. What if then, my Christian friends on facebook all posted the same bible verse on the same day? If any of us had any mutual friends, it would really make them think, and force them into considering just what it was that was happening. What if for one day, instead of the usual jokes, pointless chat and complaining on facebook, God’s word was seen. Not just any verse; a verse of love, hope, grace and mercy......John ch 3 v 16. This verse is one of the most quoted, well known, and influential verses in the bible.

The date was set. 48 hours later, in time for the daily commute on Monday morning (8-10am) the verse was to be put up in picture or word form and left for the day. How many friends would get involved? 100? Possibly 200? If all of them, that would be over 400. By Monday morning, at 7.30, there were 11,000 people who had committed to do it (At this point 120,000+ people had been invited aswell, so the actual numbers will never be known). In 40+ countries around the world, in many different languages, the verse would be posted and read. That is unbelievable! Every hour of the day for at least 24 hours, somewhere in the world, someone was posting. Starting in New Zealand, and 24 hours later ending in Chile, the world saw the Love of God in the sacrifice for sin of Jesus Christ. The power of the internet to make something happen so soon, and to so many, so many miles apart is amazing! 

Since Monday I have heard of one girl trusting in the Lord, lots of unsaved people starting conversations about the faith of their friends, and the reason why seemingly “unconnected” people were posting the same thing on the same day. Many Christians have been encouraged to share their faith which perhaps they had struggled to before, and several Christians who had drifted, seemingly coming back to their saviour.

Some people however don’t think this is the best use of facebook. That there are better ways of spreading the word of God. That is their opinion, and I respect them for it, but here is why I thought it would work. On Wednesday, I listened to the Lord’s parable of The Sower in Mark 8, and I noticed the following things.

1) The seed is the “Word of God”. It is therefore powerful to achieve its aims. (Isaiah 55:11)

2) The sower casts his seed widely. He doesn’t seek the best ground, or most fertile. He simply casts.

3) The seed is always the same. It doesn’t change depending upon the soil.

4) The sower doesn’t water the seed; neither does he have any influence on the growth of the seed.

5) Some seed will naturally fall on hard ground. (wayside) Here it will be trodden on, and eaten away by the birds of the air (Devil), who is literally taking “the word out of their hearts”.

6) Some will fall on rock or hard ground. Lacking moisture (encouragement or help) it will simply wither away due to a lack of roots.

7) Some will fall among thorns. Some seed will start to develop and grow, but the pleasures of this life choke the interest and growth away.

8) Some will fall on good ground. This will result in much growing, fruit and joy!

9) You never hear of the sower returning to harvest the seed. Someone else does that.


What then do we learn? Well, God alone has the power to save. It’s His word, His watering and His growth. He graciously allows us to sow the seeds of His word in this world. To assume that our conversations, debates, arguments or persuasions can convince anyone to be saved is to take a view of ourselves which is high. Too High. We are simply called to sow; not our own thoughts, or ideas or views, but the word of God. As a result of Monday, many thousands (and as a friend of mine worked out, perhaps millions) saw the wonderful gospel verse of John 3 v 16. What they do with that information is not up to us. Some will “trample it underfoot”. Some have an initial interest which will be snatched away. Many may consider becoming Christians, and may do, but will fade due to a lack of real interest. Perhaps a few will be saved, but slip away into the world again when the Christian life becomes too tough. But if one, just one person is truly saved, they in turn could grow and develop and “produce much fruit”.

You and I on Monday fulfilled this verse. “He, who goes forth weeping, bearing precious seed, shall without doubt return with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him”. Psalm 126:6

Now we are to rejoice with those who rejoice. Pray for the hearts of everyone who saw it, that the Holy Spirit may bless our small effort and enlighten the understanding of a currently unsaved heart. Take any opportunities that may come to speak of our faith and the power the gospel had on our lives who were once in darkness ourselves, but now see.

Thank you for being involved, may heaven alone show us the full extent of mondays effort. 

You can now follow the idea throughout the year on twitter: @John316day and facebook on John 3:16 Explained (A page to guide those curious to in order to find out more). Please share this post to show others what it was that was done, and to increase interest for next year. 
Yours in Him. Dan