I beleive that Jesus is God in Human form and that the church is God's ongoing presence in the world. Led by the spirit of God, i am passionate about relieving suffering and fighting injustice, joining the God of the oppressed in living out the transforming message of the resurrected Jesus. Jesus calls his church to be a compelling force for good in the world, and I beleive that the church is at its best when it serves, sacrifices, and loves, caring about the things God cares about.
I have just moved to London and it didn't take me too long to find a church that i love. My pastor back home told me about Hillsong London. Now when he mention it to me i was a little apprehensive because of the size of the church and my own misconceptions that this Church is just about worship. I was pleasantly surprised to see that this Church is vibrant and making a difference in the community it serves. I have only been attending Hillsong for a month but I have to say what a month it has been. Not only have i been challenged to look at my christian life from a different perspective on how we as christians should live, But how faith in action speaks more loudly than any words i could ever say. Its refreshing to be in a church with so many people that are on fire for God.
Millions worldwide have found in the humble prayer text and lyric tune "Be Thou My Vision" a vehicle for praise and worship. It offers a singular voice of fierce devotion rooted in medieval Celtic Christianity that is still relevant today.
The eighth-century prayer was composed in Old Irish:
Rob tu mo bhoile, a Comdi cride. Ni ni nech aile, acht ri secht nime …
Only in this century did this text find its English translation. Mary Byrne rendered it into literal English prose in 1905.
With its heartfelt poetry and moving melody, "Be Thou My Vision" beautifully expresses the desires of my heart. Though its popularity rose only in the past fifty years or so.
Between the years of 400 and 700 AD the Irish people lived out a passionate faith in Christ. Ireland took up the missionary endeavor with excitement, and the country became known for its all-absorbing efforts to share Christianity throughout the world. Irish missionaries were found from Scotland to Switzerland, spreading the Good News wherever they went.
Some scholars believe that the words to the hymn are the product of a man known simply as St. Patrick. Patrick was born in A.D. 373 along the banks of the River Clyde in what is now called Scotland. When he was 16 he was kidnapped by pirates and taken as a slave to Ireland. There he gave his life to Jesus Christ. He eventually escaped, but he never forgot this experience and when he was about 30 he returned to his former captors with only one possession: the Latin Bible. History tells us that St. Patrick was the man most responsible for the Good News of Christ coming to Ireland. As a result of his preaching, over 200 churches were established and 100,000 converts were baptized.
"Be Thou My Vision" undoubtedly comes from this spiritually rich period. Its prominent theme encourages single-hearted focus and devotion to Christ. In the hymn lyrics, the poet expresses his adoration of God through the many titles he gives him: Vision, Wisdom, Word, Great Father, Power, Inheritance, High King of heaven, Treasure, bright heaven's Sun, Ruler of all.
Today, we continue to sing the words of this hymn, echoing the poet's response to God's many titles. "Thou my best thought, Thy presence my light."
Over the last while it has bothered me that i don't have much contact with my family, as much as i would like to be there blue eyed boy that would mean i would have to turn my back on God and walk down a path i haven't walked down in a long time.
But i thank God for the work he has done in my heart and the hope that he has given me for the future.
At times i do get lonely and upset when i see other families happy, but that's because i am so envious of what i haven't got, A FAMILY.
Then the other night God really touched my heart and I wept for well over an hour and I kept hearing;
I will be a father to the fatherless and i will grant you the desires of your heart.
Its mad the way God shows up when I least expect it.
And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.
Jeremiah 33:8
If we could only realize that the depth of God’s mercy far exceeds the depth of our sin. Alexander McClaren summed it up well when he said, “You cannot believe too much in God’s mercy.” He continued:
You cannot expect too much at His hands. He is “able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.” No sin is so great but that, coming clean from it, a repentant sinner may hope and believe that all God’s love will be lavished upon him. Even if our transgression be aggravated by a previous life of godliness, and have given the enemies great occasion to blaspheme, as King David did, yet his penitence may in our souls lead on to his hope.
Let no sin, however dark, however repeated, drive us to despair of ourselves, because it hides from us our loving Savior. Though beaten back again and again by the surge of our passions and sins, like some poor shipwrecked sailor sucked back with every retreating wave and tossed about in the angry surf, yet keep your face towards the beach where there is safety. You will struggle through it all, and though it were but on some floating boards and broken pieces of the ship, will come safe to land. He will uphold you with His Spirit, and take away the weight of sin that would sink you, by His forgiving mercy, and bring you out of all the weltering waste of waters to the solid shore.
My Friends, we serve a forgiving God. His one desire is for you to make it safely to heaven’s shore. Allow Him to help you in the journey.
I nearly died of shock when i came across this. Can you believe it? One day i believe i will be a Pastor and who knows this might actually be my church sign.
The past few weeks I have been asking my Dad to come along to church.His response,'I have my own relationship with God.' I was kinda surprised by the answer. So I tried to push the matter further until I hit a Brick wall and he went an a 30 minute rant on why Christians put there hands in the air and wave them around like they just down care. He then made several references about me being a member of, 'THE GOD SQUAD'. When he finished his humorous rant on Christians being mad he then turned around and said,'Ah give us a shout next week I might go with ya'.
Just when you think you haven't a hope, God reminds you that ultimately he is in control of every situation.
Phillipians 4:6-7 (from the message) Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers letting God know your concerns. Before you know it a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the centre of your life.
Memories played in my head over and over. All I wanted was a way out... a way to get rid of the sharp edges of pain that kept piercing my heart. I SEARCHED for acceptance from the kids in my neighborhood because of the rejection I experienced from my parents. My friends showed me their way to escape which was marijuana. I joined them. I went much deeper into drugs but could not experience peace in any high. My life became full of pain, trouble and emptiness. I ended up on the streets at the age of 16. I had nothing, my friends turned there back on me and my family hated me. I was lost and alone on the streets of Dublin. The first year was the hard to cope with and at Christmas it got even harder. But as the years went on i ended up staying at a Salvation Army Night Shelter, and thats where i met Howard a salvation army officer...he would always walk around with a smile on his face and tell the guys not to forget that the Alpha course would be on this week. Sure i thought he was mad the first time i met him... But i went to the Alpha Course and it was the start of something new in my life.
