On Gorse and Nature

I very strongly detest gorse. The kiwis will know what I mean - that introduced plant full of thorns that was originally brought over from Western Europe as early as 1835, with the intention of making nice hedges to keep our livestock contained and create windbreaks. In our warmer climate it went out of control, and turned out to be New Zealand's most costly invasive plant pest. Wikipedia reckons it now covers around 5% of our land. And it is very VERY difficult to control, impossible to eradicate.

Why the history lesson? Well, I was on a fantastic bush walk today with family, but got very angry about the gorse all through our lovely native landscape . We ended up negotiating a near vertical cliff face to get down to an uninhabited beach and cave system worth visiting. Where the track became more mud than rock one really had to have a grip on the surrounding available vegetation or roots just in case you lost your footing. And of course often that included trying to avoid the gorse if possible. Horrible stuff. I felt resentment welling up about the whole rush to introduce 'homeland' species to a new land without thoroughly testing the outcomes.

Wind back a bit to yesterday. I was reading an article in 'Psychologies' Magazine that was endorsing the benefits of getting into nature, and this inspired me to book in time for a family walk in our local West Auckland bush. "When everyday life gets overwhelming, tapping into the power of the wilderness...or a journey through an untamed landscape, offers us the chance to rebalance our lives and get in touch with what really matters" it said. Quite apart from the fitness and fresh air aspect, being 'out there' helps disconnect us from everything causing anxiety and dissatisfaction - gets us out of our 'having' mode, and helps us feel part of something larger than ourselves.

Well being a believer I know I have this very power inside of me at all times, but there is something 'spiritual' about the wilderness and untamed places that brings me awareness of another side of Him. And there are stories and anecdotes and analogies, metaphors, parables and life lessons whispering all around you if you open your heart to the experience. I eventually became aware of my feelings towards the gorse and asked 'what's the lesson?' It was out of place and ruining the experience - there was not a single indigenous species on this cliffside causing any problem, in fact rather they created great hand holds for our descent and return ascent. (No plants were hurt in the making of this blog.)

Gorse is an invader. Pure and simple. It had its place in the colder regions of Europe - obviously highly regarded there or the pioneers would not have brought it over. But when creating a new life for yourself in new territory you should not bring things that worked for you in the past. You need to live in the new for a while until you get used to 'the way things are' now, how things operate, what contributes to the balance, find out the purpose of the indigenous species and whether you really need anything else or not. Then, when you do introduce a new thing, do one at a time, and start small, testing it with the appropriate controls and over a period of time long enough to see the results and side effects, before making the call to go with it whole hog.

Now how can we apply this personally? What is the 'new land' you are emigrating to? Is it a new position at work or new work place? Is it a new relationship, or shifting flats? Is it an actual geographical shift? Are you just contemplating a change at this stage? Gosh, a change can be great for the soul so I would go for it if it is something you are sure you believe in. What's the worse that could happen? How likely is that? What is the best thing that could happen? How likely is that?
But once you have made the change, rest in the new zone for a while without making further hasty decisions about what you are going to bring to the table, what you are going to introduce, or trying to change other's point of view. Just 'be' for a while and enjoying learning about your new environment, the people and their ways. Try to make sense of what is different and why it might be that way. The wrong change can be costly, and may not be something you can ever take back or undo!

No one likes prickles. That's the other thing I learned. Prickly attitudes turn people off, but also can be invasive and spread through the whole environment. So make like a flax leaf and be flexible but tough. Ooooh, another analogy! But I'll keep that one for another day.
Meanwhile, find that wild place and go visit it with friends or by yourself (safely) to destress and rebalance. It really works! And take some pineapple lumps with you for good measure. Until next time, haere ra .

Silence is a Note

I am a recent-ish convert to listening to the National Concert radio programme on the way to work. As a lover of alternative music in general, it's not too much of a stretch to embrace the epic and varied items of classical music. It's like listening to movie soundtracks. I love the many changes of mood experienced within one piece. The downside of the lulls and dramatic pauses in the music is that if you tune in to the radio station at one of these points you may think the reception is lost!
More than once I have racked the volume up trying to hear what's going on only to be blasted by the continuing score. Sometimes the strings drop low, or there is a sudden gap of silence before a change of pace. The effect is you listen more intently and tune in, anticipating the next notes or movement. It is a valid part of the arrangement. The conductor is still giving signals to the orchestra in these moments. There is power in the silence. 
And that brings me to my point. Yes! I'm not just rambling about music. The lesson I have embraced in recent years is that silence is a legitimate thing. I think the symbol for gaps in the music is called a 'rest'. Moments in life that to the onlooker might seem like inaction can be valuable - downtime, rest, centre-ing.  Little gaps in our story that help us to tune in - experiencing peace while building anticipation for the next chapter. Don't despise the gaps, nor turn the volume up to drown out the silence (or the next note could deafen you!) and don't presume you've missed the station - remember the Conductor is still giving signals. Maybe a job, relationship or prized pastime has come to an end. Whatever the 'lull' is in your life, rest, and listen intently. Don't be in a hurry to fill the gap with random stuff for the sake of feeling useful or loved. It may well ruin the design of this moment in time for you.
Selah.

Carrying the Milk

Random thought today to share with you. I was talking with a guy who was pretty frustrated with that morning's sermon at church. Some guest speaker had been talking about prayer and had given a typical law-based 'to do' list of striving and jumping hoops that just didn't sit right with his new-found freedom in Christ. So we chatted about having the grace to understand where other people were coming from who were still stuck in ignorance about the good news of the gospel. And how it made him think about why he would even want to join a church 'fast' event or prayer meeting if it was being presented in such a fashion.

Well, we do know it is a good thing to get together with other Christians, and sometimes this is reason enough - gosh, if you look forward to being with these people why not? Have fun and enjoy the Presence you all carry together.

But why would I want to do all that 'work' labouring in prayer or fasting when Jesus has done it all on the cross? The Bridegroom is with me, the time of fasting has passed. Jesus intercedes for me, He knows everything so I don't have to go listing my problems or begging for answers. I just need to listen for the answer and speak it out. There ain't a lot of listening done in too many prayer meetings I know of! But still, these people mean well and they sure are in love with Jesus. So shouldn't I support them and wink inside with Christ knowing He's gonna take care of their requests - when faith hits them - despite all the shouting and singing? That could be fun!

So when is it alright to go on a fast? Or to tackle something in prayer 'old' style?

I went for a walk today to the shops to get some milk. Not too radical. We desperately needed milk, and I needed the exercise. Now usually in this sort of shopping emergency I would jump in my ADORABLE little june-bug of a car, which I usually love doing, love parking and zooming around in, and it is not such a chore to pick up a couple of things from the supermarket down the road.
But this time I knew because of the day I'd had (no, week really) that it would just do me a lot of good to walk. It was late afternoon, the sun was warm but not too hot, and it was a very pleasant excursion with opportunity for some 'thinking' time in the fresh air.
I had a bag slung over my shoulder that would have just room enough for two 2L milk containers. Of course  there was a bag of coffee thrown in at the shop last minute as I remembered we (I) needed some at home soon too.
Setting off for the return journey it quickly became apparent that things were not going to stay so pleasant. 4L of milk is really heavy! I had anticipated that of course, but the reality still bit. I had to keep adjusting the bag so it didn't thump me off balance, and hold it out a little for bracing so I didn't look too awkward striding along. You become aware of every step and it does become a labour of love for the family - we had been living off reconstituted milk all day which is just not the same.
And then it struck me. Here I was choosing to do it the hard way because it was the better choice for me at the time - to get some exercise. I didn't need to walk - I have a car and this task could be easy. But I had the time and enjoyed the thinking side of it too. There was no listening to the concert channel or LifeFm on the stereo. Just pure 'exposed to what is going on inside my head' stuff mixed with a little necessary traffic awareness. So it was, I guess, a little less cluttered than a road trip. It also made me focus on getting just the things we needed - no temptation to get distracted with other shopping while I was there, because I knew I needed to carry it home! Boy that milk tasted good too in the end.
So....
...this is where there is a place for doing a fast or prayer session. When it is good for you. When you just know it is what God gives you permission for. When it is an uncluttered thinking time benefit for you. When the labour is not even required, but a pleasant choice. When you don't mind the awkward load because it is just temporary and everything tastes good in the end.
Hope that helps clarify things for you. If you are more confused than ever, tune in next week when you hear about my shaving epiphany. (KIDDING!)

Grace: not a license to sin

'Let us do evil, so that good may come of it'

 I think Paul was pretty astounded he even had to explain this to early Christians, but sadly it is an attitude still around today. With the rise of the 'Grace movement' where Christians are rediscovering the true gospel in droves, there comes a handful of people who hear what they want to hear still (the same malfunction that got them believing the law contaminated gospel previously).


^{Romans 5:20} God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. (NLT)

Some people have taken this to mean they can do what they like because - no worries - God's grace will cover them. But earlier in Romans 3 Paul had already preempted this line of thought:
⁷ “But,” you say, “if, through my lie, God’s truth is enhanced and brings him greater glory, why am I still judged merely for being a sinner?” ⁸ Indeed! Why not say (as some people slander us by claiming we do say), “Let us do evil, so that good may come of it”? Against them the judgment is a just one! (CJB)

Grace does abound, but Grace is a Person, and the Person of Grace only applies if you believe the gospel message (see Romans 5:22-25). 
Jesus' sacrifice on the cross was a replacement act - He replaced us.  And it is only because God now sees Jesus when He looks at us that we can be in His kingdom at all. No Jesus, no kingdom. And it is not dependent on our behaviour or brownie points or 'level of' whatever.

But something else happens when Christ is allowed into our lives - we are not just covered by Him but also filled with Him - the Spirit of Christ. (Gal 2:20) And God doesn't share any space with the devil. When you turn on the light the darkness has no option but to flee!
So why would you want to get drunk still? Or experiment with drugs, or sex, or  get addicted to food? These are all sins against your own body, now the property returned to God your Creator. I can only surmise it's because one is under the illusion that salvation is a process rather than a one time totally finished event. And I used to think that too! I would excuse my lack of self control (or others') by repeating the cliche lines I had heard over the years: life is a journey, we are saved BUT we have to overcome the flesh, etc. This I then discovered was a lie. A subtle lie that keeps us giving ourselves permission to 'fail' and gives us a job to add to the work of the cross: overcoming our flesh (sinful self). What an insult to the Cross! Did Jesus not do a good enough job of resurrection that your old 'flesh' is still hanging off the new creation? Eeww!

The true gospel is a radical one - it tells us we have no place for sin now. It tells us the 'old sinner me' has been totally annihilated - not just overcome! 

What you believe absolutely has the power
to change the way you feel about things.

So the only reason we think we still have to wrestle with sin; whether they be addictions, old habits, or desires borne out of boredom, is because we believe it. What you believe absolutely has the power to change the way you feel about things. If you totally believe the old sinner you has been eradicated and no longer exists, you will not entertain it in the slightest. 
What's more, if you meditated on the fact that the Creator of the Universe, the greatest and goodest mega power in existence, chooses to dwell in you and empower you with all the energy and wisdom needed for kingdom living - let that blow your mind and take over your every thought, you'd probably have no room left to entertain sinning. You'd most certainly no longer be bored.

But I probably better clarify two things I'm NOT saying here. I'm not saying true Christians never sin. (This is a big topic I can't really do justice here.) I'm just saying they are not obsessed with whether or not they have sinned, do sin, or try to overcome as such. They just don't care about their old status anymore! It is irrelevant under Grace.

And I'm NOT saying there is anything you need to do to reach this nirvana gospel-of-grace full-of-all-the-fullness-of-God-possible existence. You were totally in this place the very second salvation flowed to mankind through God on the Cross. The entire humanity was. You just need to believe it. Set yourself free of trying to be a Christian, and just be in His kingdom! The only difference between you and an unbeliever is - guess what? They are saved, but just don't know it. They are just as qualified as you are, but just haven't realised it or accepted it. Wow! Grace is all over the planet and soooo much greater than the one who is presently in control of it (thanks to blimmin' Adam & Eve handing over planet earth to the evil one. But that's another topic.)

I am saying that when truly full of the Spirit of Christ, there is no desire to sin. So that leaves you a big question to ask yourself then doesn't it? Are you playing Christian or are you a believer?
Ouch! Don't panic, just start believing! Read your New Testament again in the light of Grace. Start listening to true gospel teachers (I can give you a couple of pointers here!) Stop listening to fear-fuelled, diluted, law-contaminated, works-based preaching. It only brings more hoops to jump through and exhaustion. You don't need to pray more, fast more, study more, evangelise more or give more! Those things imply that what Jesus did on the Cross was not 'complete' enough! The Person of Grace will fill you completely and you may be compelled to do these things from the sheer energy of Joy and Love busting out in overflow. Maybe. Or maybe what He tells you to do is just rest in Him for a while and soak in the sanctuary of son-ship.

What He won't tell you to do is go out and get drunk, sleep with someone you are not married to, or lie to your boss about being sick to get a sleep in (not all in the same day I might add!) Which is getting back to the topic of Grace: not a licence to sin. Some of us need to wake up! The dirty big lie is these things are fun. Your Creator most certainly wants you to have fun. You just gotta figure out what your true 'fun bone' is connected to.

There are some Grace-filled believers out there having a hang of a lot of fun setting Christians free from the boring and the bewitched stuff. I love a good controversy! Which is why I blog of course. Waking people up is fun. You don't have to agree (with me) but if it makes you think then that's a healthy thing.

Grace in you, the Hope of glory.

Binge Resolutions

We have a binge culture in New Zealand. And I'm not just talking about alcohol. We have a tendency to take things to the extreme here. It's a little dark secret that tries to hide behind all the amazingly wonderful attributes of living in NZ. But it spills out into the news headlines all the time. New Years is a great time to make resolutions (not that I endorse this - it's just a trigger for sorting out your life) so here's a tip for the road:

If you have resolved to give up a binge habit (okay lets call it what it is - an addiction) there is one very simple thing you can do to help - stop hanging around the stuff. (That's the sort of amazing wisdom I can come up with!) Well it's not rocket science, but when you are addicted to something it can be quite startling to hear.
If you are a binge drinker, stop hanging out with drunks. If binge eating is your demon, don't go near a smorgasbord. Drugs - druggies, porn - the internet, gaming - the gaming device. The list goes on. Change your environment, even if that means your friend circle.

Now let's talk about friends. 'Cause this is a biggy. It may be you started your binge-ing because of them, to impress, to fit in, or maybe they joined you. When you make a decision to change your life for the better, if they are your real friends they will respect that and give you the space you need to employ self discipline. You are not de-friending them - just placing yourself in a different environment until such time as it is second nature to NOT binge. Explain that to them.

Here are the friends you most definitely need to give up: guilt, shame, and fear. These are wolves dressed up in lambskins. Their tongues are full of vicious, manipulative lies and yet they call you friend, BFF; they need you, they can't live without you. They are right - if you stop listening to them they will cease to exist.

Then there are the flatterers: self obsession and excuses. They tell you how wonderful you are, that you can do anything you like even if it hurts others, that YOU are the only important factor and your happiness alone is what counts. Only lets take stock - how happy have you been going down this path? Yes. Not very.

2013 most definitely will be a new year. It is full of potential which you are in full control of. Dump the stuff that is holding you back from making a change.

God's Medicine - more from Charles Capp

These declarations are to be spoken by mouth three times a day until faith comes, then once a day to maintain faith. If circumstances grow worse, double the dosage. There are no harmful side effects.
For those afflicted by mental health issues:
"Father, because of Your Word I am an overcomer. I overcome the world, the flesh and the devil, by the Blood of the Lamb and the word of my testimony." (1 John 4:4, Rev 12:11)
"My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. I make a demand on my body to release the right chemicals. My body is in perfect chemical balance." (1 Cor 6:19)
"You have forgiven all my sins; You have healed all my diseases; You have redeemed my life from destruction; You have satisfied my mouth with good things so that my youth is renewed as the eagles." (Ps 103:2-5)
"Father, I resist the enemy in every form that he comes against me - I require my body to be strong and healthy, and I enforce it with Your Word. I reject the curse, and I enforce life in this mind and body." (James 4:7)
In Jesus name!

The Most Powerful Thing In the Universe

This post is largely dedicated to the work of Charles Capps, author of 'The Tongue - A Creative Force.
His theory is simple; "The words you speak will either put you over (create victory) or hold you in bondage."
It is not a foreign concept that words are the most powerful thing in the universe; for good or for evil. "Those that say they can and those that say they can't are both right." Some people have made a living going around teaching seminars on how to change your future by changing your words - the power of positive thinking and positive reinforcement, etc. They get away with it because they are somewhat right: God has weaved into the fabric of the universe, and thus our planet and humankind, that words have an effect both in the spiritual and physical world.
In fact, the universe was formed at God's command (Hebrews 11:3). He said 'Let there be light' and there was light! There has been light ever since, so we can conclude God's Word is just as powerful today as it was the day He spoke it. Not one bit of power has left God's Word.
Then He turned around and gave mankind the same power. In Genesis 1:26 we read "And God said, 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule...'" By design, we have the same ability to create something out of nothing with our words. Creative power was in God's mouth. It is in your mouth also.
So, everything we say is basically operating as a declaration of reality. It is either creating or destroying. (There is a place for destroying - "The reason the Son of God came was to destroy the devil's work." (1 John 3:8) I love that! But otherwise, destroying is bad.)
This doesn't mean we live in denial about what is afflicting us or the reality of our life here on (contaminated) planet earth. But we have the chance to agree with what God says about us and about how things work, by speaking faith-filled, God-inspired words of life at every opportunity!
This requires some re-learning, self discipline, and 'not giving in to fear'. It takes a fair amount of determination and perseverance to change our language. It takes being conscious of what is coming out of our mouths - 'Was what I just said going to work as a blessing or as a curse?' and then making a correction if we have to. It means getting the Word of God (yes I mean the Bible) into our heart and mind so that we know what He said in the first place, and that it is right on the tip of our tongue when we need it.
Using God's Words is way safer than coming up with our own stuff, which for all we know has come from the wrong motives. The closer we get to God (the better we know Him) and the more our thoughts line up with His thoughts, the safer our own language will be, and it is God's intention that we grow into this creative side (which will incorporate our God-given personality and gifts.)
But I digress!
The purpose of this post is to point out that permission largely operates by our words.