Mick's Blog
Update Camp Ashraf
04/02/12 13:46
The imminent danger to residents at Camp Ashraf has been postponed for 6 months. How this happened can be considered a miracle. However, things are nowhere near satisfactory for the residents still. Living conditions are very difficult, and the threats are still being issued by Iraqi soldiers surrounding the camp assailing their ears 24/7 with insults and demeaning statements.
Keep praying for their situate please, and go to the website to keep updated:
http://www.campashraf.org/un-relenting-to-bullying-by-iraq-on-camp-ashraf/
Read More...
Keep praying for their situate please, and go to the website to keep updated:
http://www.campashraf.org/un-relenting-to-bullying-by-iraq-on-camp-ashraf/
Read More...
RAVINGS ABOUT CHURCH PART 1
13/11/11 20:33
Had a great meeting tonight with a bunch of like minded revolutionaries. Well not really revolutionaries; just guys who want to express Jesus to the world and one another in the manner closest how we understand Jesus did and still wants to do.
What do I mean? Well, as a teaser, look at the Gospels in this light: Jesus came proclaiming the Kingdom of God. He never sought to initiate a structure or an organisation. The only thing that Jesus offered, and on which we all depend is this: relationship with Him. Think this through. So much of what we seek to do is centred around structure and form - which unless is as dynamic as the living relationship with Jesus, can be as antithetical to the Gospel as a help!
This requires that we stop thinking of Church as anything other than as being. We no more go to church than we "do" church. Church is not about anything else than a bunch of people getting together to supportively love one another, and to honour their Saviour. As soon as we start focusing on all the stuff that we have become accustomed to doing, we fall into the trap of forgetting our relationship and Christ's centrality to that, and start getting task orientated - even on "worthy" matters.
This runs entirely contrary to how we think and act normally. But we should not be surprised. Jesus and the prophets before Him came to us from "out of the wilderness", not from the centre of religion and establishment (Jerusalem). He came saying: "repent, the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand". "Repent" means "Change your thinking". But we don't! That is the challenge. Change your thinking! Stop building petty kingdoms, and start seeking the Kingdom! And doesn't look like anything you have seen before, because if it does, it probably is not authentically God's.
What do I mean? Well, as a teaser, look at the Gospels in this light: Jesus came proclaiming the Kingdom of God. He never sought to initiate a structure or an organisation. The only thing that Jesus offered, and on which we all depend is this: relationship with Him. Think this through. So much of what we seek to do is centred around structure and form - which unless is as dynamic as the living relationship with Jesus, can be as antithetical to the Gospel as a help!
This requires that we stop thinking of Church as anything other than as being. We no more go to church than we "do" church. Church is not about anything else than a bunch of people getting together to supportively love one another, and to honour their Saviour. As soon as we start focusing on all the stuff that we have become accustomed to doing, we fall into the trap of forgetting our relationship and Christ's centrality to that, and start getting task orientated - even on "worthy" matters.
This runs entirely contrary to how we think and act normally. But we should not be surprised. Jesus and the prophets before Him came to us from "out of the wilderness", not from the centre of religion and establishment (Jerusalem). He came saying: "repent, the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand". "Repent" means "Change your thinking". But we don't! That is the challenge. Change your thinking! Stop building petty kingdoms, and start seeking the Kingdom! And doesn't look like anything you have seen before, because if it does, it probably is not authentically God's.
HELLO X-TRAIL
19/08/11 21:31
6 Months after the Discovery died, we have bought a used Nissan X-Trail (Nov 2007 T31 Model). It has all the luxuries we used to live without, but are quite happy to accept. Mick used to disparagingly call these oversized puddle-jumpers "N-Trails", but now has a new respect for them.
Try getting 6.8 Litre/100klm from Sydney to Wollongong in a Landrover (also a 2.5 L engine)! Add to that a healthy 2 Tonne load on the tow-bar, and 125 kW power, 226Nm of torque, and overall we are not complaining, especially for a humble $20,000. It has great road manners also. OK, it ain't a big-time 4WD, but its 4WD system is remarkably clever. It even has the descent control its big cousins have! It just doesn't have quite the clearance of some, nor a low-range (probably Mick's one slight regret).
Mick has already "blooded" the car as a workhorse this weekend by hitching up the trailer and moving 1 Sq Metre of dirt. In 3 weeks He takes it and a bunch of students to the Snow country for a mission retreat; and in 6 weeks we go to Parkes for a week of camping at Mamre Farm with Jeff Evans and the Vision Ministries crew.
FAREWELL DISCOVERY!
06/03/11 18:00
Its gone!After 13 years of comfortable cruising and 1/4 million kilometres, the Land Rover Discovery has gone to a new home - and the possibility of new life!
We had grown quite attached to the old dear, though she had become, in some respects, a little cantankerous with age - and certainly rather costly to keep her in the manner to which we had become accustomed!
Well, that last statement may not have told the whole story. After all this was an "off-road" vehicle. The issue now was that it was spending about 50% of its time off-road, and in the service bay getting fixed!
Sadly it all came to a head - almost literally - on new year's eve, when on a 42 degree day near Kilmore in Victoria she ruptured a hose and cooked spectacularly, cracking the block. Interestingly the head did not warp, as so often happens in these vehicles.
So we had a 4WD worth $6,500 in the market, with an insurance value of $4,000 needing repair amounting to $10,000.
One good car with a bad engine, needed one good engine needing a car! It was a long chance, but eBay did it!
The advertisement was placed to sell the wreck for $1,700, and it was snapped up by the best new owner it could have asked for! Someone who knew Land Rovers inside out, and could fix anything! He had a motor looking for a car, and we could bless him with a car.
The new life Discovery will be the first car for his daughter to drive. We wish her well, and many happy travelling days - just as we had.
The picture above is the last thing we saw of the Discovery. For me it is poignant, and evocative as it moves away on its new journey to be loved into life. There were feelings of grief as 13 years of travelling together have ended. However, we will get over it.
In the meantime we still have our even older Mazda 121 'Bubble', and my scooter.
We are presently unable to afford a new car until our debtors settle up and/or we sell a house near the beach north of Coffs Harbour.
TIME OUT WITH GOD
04/02/11 17:49
Today I took time out with God. Off to a secret location in the bush where I could have a good loud debate with the Lord...
A retreat was needed because (a) I had a felt need for time with God in a significant way, and (b) there had been two occasions when I had received words in prayer/prophecy that pointed to a need to have some concentrated time with God.
The tenor of these words was that I was wasting virtue by sowing onto pavement as it were. I needed to change, I had been frustrated in ministry because of this. Also I was a kind of Jacob, trying to prove myself by my own strength, gifts and abilities. I needed to place it all before me as at Jabbok, and wrestle with God until He blesses me.
This was a good description! Also the frustration of the seeming lack of progress in aspects of BackYard Ministries was weighing heavily on me, aspects of College work were weighing heavily on me, and we have been in a parlous financial predicament into which we have had massive (ie 4 zeros) expenses with a car worth only half that.
OK, so to the time out.
The first hour was spent filling my only handkerchief with tears and snot, as years of tension unwound and God spoke some hard truths into me about the sort of person I had been. It was true that I had wasted much of myself in trying and trying… but trying for what? As it turned out (later) I was trying to win approval.
Then I read Genesis 32 and the following texts. Really helpful. Even with a dislocated hip Jacob did not give up until God blessed him. It is important to hang onto God, not the rest that he had sent on ahead.
George had recently passed me an article called “Living Loved” a Lifestream Ministries item Winter 2011 (http://www.lifestream.org/bodylife.php?v=c). God spoke very loudly through this right then, and I suggest that you read it rather than I try to explain it all here.
In short, I have to stop trying, and start loving people. Forget performance, including doing something to satisfy the expectations of what ministry demands. This will have ramifications as to how I engage in ministry from here on. I need to start helping others to fulfil the vision that God has for their lives.
At this point God reminded me (re-affirmed) that He loves me. I responded that being loved and accepted by Him was not necessarily the same as having Him bless me. God responded by saying that it was not about my agendas and me. That is what gets me into trouble! There was plenty of back and forth between me and God here!
The article (referenced above) had talked about being “in Him”, so I went to the best passage of Scripture I knew about being “in Him” – Ephesians 1. Here it was! I was blessed! I had power! I had an inheritance! I am to His praise – all so long as I rest in Him!
No more need for any religious ‘duty’ or ‘doing’ or obligation. Just love people with God’s love. Nor should I be anxious about people asking “where is the fruit of your ministry?” This is for Jesus to judge. The Holy Spirit will bring forth the fruit.
At that point I had received what I had come for. I lingered longer to enjoy the time with God, and then took to the scooter to ride through a set of massive thunderstorms to get home!
Your prayers will be appreciated in the weeks to come as I learn to live in a new space. There was much more that happened between God and I, and that is how it will remain. This retreat might not mean much to you, but it was very important and necessary for me, and how I can actually bless you!
A retreat was needed because (a) I had a felt need for time with God in a significant way, and (b) there had been two occasions when I had received words in prayer/prophecy that pointed to a need to have some concentrated time with God.
The tenor of these words was that I was wasting virtue by sowing onto pavement as it were. I needed to change, I had been frustrated in ministry because of this. Also I was a kind of Jacob, trying to prove myself by my own strength, gifts and abilities. I needed to place it all before me as at Jabbok, and wrestle with God until He blesses me.
This was a good description! Also the frustration of the seeming lack of progress in aspects of BackYard Ministries was weighing heavily on me, aspects of College work were weighing heavily on me, and we have been in a parlous financial predicament into which we have had massive (ie 4 zeros) expenses with a car worth only half that.
OK, so to the time out.
The first hour was spent filling my only handkerchief with tears and snot, as years of tension unwound and God spoke some hard truths into me about the sort of person I had been. It was true that I had wasted much of myself in trying and trying… but trying for what? As it turned out (later) I was trying to win approval.
Then I read Genesis 32 and the following texts. Really helpful. Even with a dislocated hip Jacob did not give up until God blessed him. It is important to hang onto God, not the rest that he had sent on ahead.
George had recently passed me an article called “Living Loved” a Lifestream Ministries item Winter 2011 (http://www.lifestream.org/bodylife.php?v=c). God spoke very loudly through this right then, and I suggest that you read it rather than I try to explain it all here.
In short, I have to stop trying, and start loving people. Forget performance, including doing something to satisfy the expectations of what ministry demands. This will have ramifications as to how I engage in ministry from here on. I need to start helping others to fulfil the vision that God has for their lives.
At this point God reminded me (re-affirmed) that He loves me. I responded that being loved and accepted by Him was not necessarily the same as having Him bless me. God responded by saying that it was not about my agendas and me. That is what gets me into trouble! There was plenty of back and forth between me and God here!
The article (referenced above) had talked about being “in Him”, so I went to the best passage of Scripture I knew about being “in Him” – Ephesians 1. Here it was! I was blessed! I had power! I had an inheritance! I am to His praise – all so long as I rest in Him!
No more need for any religious ‘duty’ or ‘doing’ or obligation. Just love people with God’s love. Nor should I be anxious about people asking “where is the fruit of your ministry?” This is for Jesus to judge. The Holy Spirit will bring forth the fruit.
At that point I had received what I had come for. I lingered longer to enjoy the time with God, and then took to the scooter to ride through a set of massive thunderstorms to get home!
Your prayers will be appreciated in the weeks to come as I learn to live in a new space. There was much more that happened between God and I, and that is how it will remain. This retreat might not mean much to you, but it was very important and necessary for me, and how I can actually bless you!
Peace on Earth, and in Canberra!
27/12/10 22:37
Back in Canberra after spending a delightful 3 days with the extended family in Sydney, Orchard Hills and Corrimal. Best part was getting to see all the family, including the grandchildren. Food was good, and not over supplied, and the weather great for Saturday, but massively wet on Sunday, with a huge storm setting in just before sundown.
The drive back to Canberra was easy and lazy, but sadly passing one accident requiring rescue vehicles. Canberra is like a sleepy country town at these times. Good chance to prepare the itinerary for a short trip to Vic in a few days, and to fix a few things up around the place.
Might even get into the studio for a few minutes! Received lots of lovely emails from friends saying Happy Christmas, and even a txt or 2!
The drive back to Canberra was easy and lazy, but sadly passing one accident requiring rescue vehicles. Canberra is like a sleepy country town at these times. Good chance to prepare the itinerary for a short trip to Vic in a few days, and to fix a few things up around the place.
Might even get into the studio for a few minutes! Received lots of lovely emails from friends saying Happy Christmas, and even a txt or 2!
THE GREAT CHRISTMAS QUESTION
05/12/10 19:03
I keep hearing on the radio that Christmas is the season for giving.
This is the secularist explanation for Christmas, and tries to follow some (crazy) pathway of Political Correctness.
All I ask is "Why?"
"Why is it the season for giving?"
Because if you do not answer with the story of Christmas, you have no valid answer.
So the next time that you hear someone spout the PC platitude of Christmas as the season to give, ask them "Why is it the season to give?"
And don't give up until they have been found out to be lacking in the substantive answer that it is because of God and the incredible gift of His Son Jesus.
Put an end to the claptrap and unthought out reasonings of unthinking and blind people who are caught up in sharing their ignorance by buying the popular say-so of secularists. Challenge their assumptions. Ask "Why?"
This is the secularist explanation for Christmas, and tries to follow some (crazy) pathway of Political Correctness.
All I ask is "Why?"
"Why is it the season for giving?"
Because if you do not answer with the story of Christmas, you have no valid answer.
So the next time that you hear someone spout the PC platitude of Christmas as the season to give, ask them "Why is it the season to give?"
And don't give up until they have been found out to be lacking in the substantive answer that it is because of God and the incredible gift of His Son Jesus.
Put an end to the claptrap and unthought out reasonings of unthinking and blind people who are caught up in sharing their ignorance by buying the popular say-so of secularists. Challenge their assumptions. Ask "Why?"