I'll Ride With You

The Sydney Siege of 15/16 December 2014 has certainly shaken this part of the world down under.  The loss of life is very tragic and families and friends have had their lives impacted forever.  These precious people will carry the battle scars of life and it will be part of their story that will be told from generation to generation.

All the hostages caught up in the siege, are heroes.  My thoughts and prayers are with you as you try and cope with the reality of this unforgettable tragic event.  May God give you the grace everyday to cope, as you walk the path that has been set before you.  

Special mention must be made of the two amazing young people who sacrificed their own lives to save others.  True modern days heroes, Tori Jonson and Katrina Dawson.  They sacrificed, so that others could live.  Our thoughts are with their families at this time.  May you know the peace, which only God can give during this time of grieving and mourning. 

Even though this situation has been tough and tragic for the families,  we will never fully understand and comprehend what has happened but I know something good will emerge.  I believe we have seen snippets of it already.  The heroic acts have truly touched our hearts and when I read and heard the story behind the "I'll ride with you" expression, I was truly moved by the kindness of people.

What sparked this situation? Rachael Jacobs, who said she'd seen a woman she presumed was Muslim silently removing her hijab while sitting next to her on the train: "I ran after her at the train station. I said 'put it back on. I'll walk with u'. She started to cry and hugged me for about a minute - then walked off alone'.


This evoked a series of tweets e.g."If you reg take the #373 bus b/w Coogee/MartinPl, wear religious attire, & don’t feel safe alone: I’ll ride with you. @ me for schedule."


A Twitter movement, #illridewithyou, has sprouted with everyday Australians offering to ride on buses and trains with Muslims or give them a lift to work in order to keep them safe.


This is what life should be about.  Showing acts of kindness.  Loving, caring and protecting one another.  This is what the world should be reporting on.  Come on reporters around the world, let us see your TV stations report acts of kindness e.g.:  "Breaking News - people are caring, protecting and supporting one another."

John 15:13 

"Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends."

1 Corinthans 13:13 

 "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

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It's First The Wind, Then the Waves

In Mark Chapter 4, we read the story of Jesus crossing the lake in a boat with His disciples.  In verse 37, we read “and a great storm arose, the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling.”

Sometimes we embark upon a journey in life, which we believe Jesus is leading and guiding. Yes, He is with us all the time but many times we encounter ‘suddenly moments’ when our world changes inthe twinkling of an eye. It is like we are being battered and bruised by life’s storms and our world begins to‘fill up’ with what’s happening around us and to us.  It is overwhelming and sometimes we don’t know which way to turn.

A key question to ask yourself: “Is Jesus asleep in our boat or is He awake?”  Through all our encounters in life we sometimes, if not all the time, exclude Jesus from our day to day living.  The result is that he metaphorically ‘falls asleep’ and often, we wait until our next crisis to ‘wake him up’.  Our humanistic response is “Jesus, don’t you care about me” and/or  “If this continues, we will surely die”.

When we turn to Jesus something happens.  In Mark Chapter 4, Jesus stood up in the boat and rebuked the wind and said to the sea “… Peace be still!  And the wind ceased, and there was great calm”.  Jesus first rebuked the wind  - the unseen (spiritual) and then the sea - the seen (natural).  

In our own lives, breakthrough needs to happen in the spirit realm, before we feel the effects in the natural.  First the wind, then the waves.

The reality is Jesus wants to be involved in every area of your life. In fact, He is more concerned about your success than you are. Make sure Jesus is awake in your life on a daily basis and include Him in everything that you say and do.

 First the wind, then the waves !

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We Are Rowing To Melbourne

Equal Sacrifice, Not Equal Giving!

Our monthly Heart for the Nations offering is a sacrificial offering we bring collectively over and above our tithes and offerings at Every Nation Christchurch. The purpose is to expand the mission, vision, and reach of Every Nation Christchurch and maximize the opportunities God has put before us, ultimately to make Jesus known.

Brent Archer, a great friend of mine for years, approached me a few weeks back and said, “Let’s row to Melbourne and raise finances for our missions to Melbourne fund”. Look, I’m all for reinventing myself and accepting challenges but lets be honest, I’m no Mahe Drysdale (New Zealand rowing Gold Medalist). My initial response was that he was crazy and ridiculous. I couldn’t even row in the bathtub.

Light bulb moment; Sacrifice over convenience, purpose over process, two birds with one stone. Yes, we are in fact rowing to Melbourne. The challenge has been accepted, however, we will be ‘virtually’ crossing the Tasman Sea using rowing machines. Wisdom Prevails!

Distance from the West Coast of New Zealand to Melbourne, Australia = 2,279km.  Our combined rowing totals will get us to Melbourne.

Follow our progress.

How can you be apart of this exciting adventure and support Every Nation Melbourne through this fundraiser?

1.  Become one of our financial sponsors.  

     

     Account details:  Every Nation Christchurch, 06-0831-0126421-06, Swift Code

     ANZBNZ22797, Reference – Rowing to Melbourne
   
    or use the DONATE button to the right of the screen.

    

2.  Pray for Every Nation Melbourne Church

3.  Take up the challenge yourself.  Find a partner and row, run or walk to Melbourne. 

     Record your distance daily.  Enjoy and have fun.  Email me if you are taken up the 
     challenge.

Vision gives pain purpose.

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