Archive for December, 2006
You are currently browsing the Philip K Stone blog archives for December, 2006.
11
Dec
2006
Believing & Seeing!
In the summer of 1998 I had the privilege to travel with 54 young people to Israel with Ronnie McCracken. For me it is an experience that has remained very fresh in my life as I read Gods word and try to understand it a little deeper. During the trip there were a few moments that I alsmost felt I could slip back in time and just live in the moment when Jesus was there.
We had the privilege of getting a boat trip over the Sea of galilee, on the way over the first time the boat was shut down and as we listened to the wind howl. I remember thinking about the storm when Jesus walked on the water, I also remember being told that a storm can brew up on the sea of Galilee in a few moments. What an experience!
The Beatitudes was also a great site to visit, the Hill were Jesus fed 5000 Men (not to mention women and children) How awesome to walk were Jesus once walked and to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit on this site and everysite while there.
Another experience for me was being in the Place where Jesus was the night before He was taken through the streets of Jerusalem and humiliated carrying His cross for our sin, I wept uncontollably at times as Ronnie read various scriptures – I have this bit on camera if anyone ever wants to see it (I actually took 18 hours footage in 2 weeks) For me that was a moment of reality, of recognising a little more of the pain and suffering that Jesus went through, while the movies help you understand a little this did something deeper, it cemented something deep in my heart in my relationship with Jesus.
The most tramatic trip was to Yad Vashem, Israel’s extraordinary memorial to the six million Jews killed in the Holocaust – words would never do this justice, If you ever get the chance – Go!!! It will open your eyes (and bring a box of tissues)
Finally on the last few days of the trip I had the greatest honour in being able to visit the Tomb Garden , where Jesus was buried for several hours before his resurrection, Such a beautiful place! For me it was made more special because on that afternoon I took my First Lords Supper, Often Its nearly to easy for us not to focus on this part of Church – But Guys it is so important for us to Focus on Jesus, He was real, Is real and the realness of Him has yet to be seen by many! If you ever get the opportunity to Go to Israel, Go – You will never forget it!
5
Dec
2006
Where are the signs?
When Jesus was walking the streets and roads of Jerusalem, Galilee etc He was followed during His time in public ministry by people of all walks of life because they saw the signs which He was performing on those who were sick, never once did He tell the people to get lost or to go away, He created time for them to see him and listen to Him, He didn’t always do a rushing away act to get back to his 5 star hotel room, or demand ridiculous luxuries for providing His ‘services’ to these people.
Today to many ‘christian artists, tele evangelists etc’ have lost the humble servant attitude, for to many a flashy car, jet planes, fat pay cheques for seminars have become the norm, yes I know they are giving their time and so on and so forth, I know that A labour is worthy of his wages but I also know that the Love of money is the root of evil. In the Gospels these ordinary people wanted to go were God moved not as many believers have got some idea that they go were money moves.
I’m not judging people in this i’m asking the question if these guys and girls were to get petrol money and a ‘token gift’ would they still be doing it?
I’ve come to learn in life that Many Local pastors, youth pastors and sometimes volunteer pastors are the hardest working, people pleasing servants of Christ, I’ve never heard many of them complain about their salaries, they just want to see God touch and move people, While I still have many ‘famous’ speakers I like to listen to, its hard to beat hearing a sold out pastor who lives in your town bring the Bible to your level and relate it to your community!
I Believe the signs of God will be found in local churches when people stop running elsewhere for a quick fix and settle down and focus on seeking God in their own place of worship, Jesus in my opinion would rather be with needy people than broadcasting on Christian TV
NB. There is some good stuff on Christian TV, but not very much in my opinion.
4
Dec
2006
Daddy Day Care
Boy o Boy, That was a weekend to remember. Amy Got a well deserved break this weekend so Here I was with two great kids for the weekend, and boy did I enjoy it. Friday night was great kids were sleeping at 7pm through most of the night apart from a few moments prior to me going to bed, I got the chance to spend 5 full hours playing with my new laptop before going to bed. Saturday morning I resumed transferring my stuff from old laptop to the new to be asked by Ben, daddy why do you have 2 laptops? As he sat down beside me stirring with a little confusion in his face He said Daddy Can I have the old one so that I can be like my daddy?
from that I could take his question one of two ways:
1. Daddy I want to be like You
2. Daddy Your always on the computer and I must be missing out so i want one to
at that I put the computer off and took the two of them to play with the rubber ducks etc in the bath, Boy they had loud fun, it took a few towels to soak up the water after they got out, but they had fun, and thats what kids deserve to have.
So often it feels like an inconvience to give the kids quality time, but they need it and deserve it, and the satisfaction from it is priceless!
Satuday turned into an adventure, Amy had got all the clothes ready for me to stay at a mates on saturday night, I nearly forgot to bring my own clothes (becuase they werent packed) and I forgot nappies (because they weren’t packed) But I didn’t complain, I should have checked and not expected everything to be done for me!
So from my weekend I also learned that You can’t sit in church with two kids – not a hope, when one doesn’t want to go to creche and the other doesn’t want to sleep then the option i to sit in the foyer, So this weekend I felt a little unchurched tso I’m looking forward to Cell tonight!
Have a fun weekend, and Dads Enjoy your kids and spend quality time with them cause its well worth it!
1
Dec
2006
World Aids Day
Today is World Aids Day, I just want to thank John Mcmullen for highlighting this Aids Epidemic in Church and for the many others who are in the Body of Christ that have woken up to the fact that the Chruch can get involved in helping get relief and aid, hope and love to those affected by Aids.
Here are stats taken from the World Aids Day Website just to help you realise how Big an issue this is in the ‘modern world’. This is something Yes we must pray about, but its also something we need to get involved in, Today my question to me and You is – What can I do?
What does the Bible say?
Ps 103:3 Forgives all sin and heals all diseases
Luke 9:2 Preach the kingdom of God and heal the sick
Mark 2:17 Jesus came for the sick, not the healthy
Mt 10:7,8 Preach the kingdom – Heal the sick, – freely you have received
James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress…and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Isaiah 1:17 Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed, defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.
Micah 6:8 Do justice, love mercy, walk humbly with God
Psalm 18: God delivered me when I cried.
If Jesus was here in flesh, He would be with the Aids Sufferers, Its the 21st Century Leprosy
People living with HIV – Globally
- 39.5 million people worldwide
- 37 million adults
- 17.7 million women
- 2.3 million children under 15
New HIV cases in 2006
- 4.3 million total new cases
- 3.8 million adults
- 530,000 children under 15
AIDS deaths in 2006
- 2.9 million total deaths
- 2.6 million adults
- 380,000 children under 15
For a Full listing of Stats go Here
