BeLOnGings

After the services at Cromwell and Moose Lake, Hilary and I enjoyed some time with our friends Roger and Marnie who pastor these two little churches. It was great seeing them settled in their new Duluth home and the conversation around the dinner table that night was lively and wide ranging.

A few weeks before when they had been in the Cities and visited us. Roger had picked up on a comment our son Robin had made, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” He’d posted it on his Facebook page inviting responses. One of these included the above photo illustrating the Japanese art of Kintsukuroi (“golden repair”) It is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by mending the areas of breakage with lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold. As a philosophy it treats breakage and repair as part of the history of an object, rather than something to disguise.

Gold represents the divine nature.

On our way back down I.35 I pondered St Paul’s words, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the glory may belong to God so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves.” (2Cor.4:7)

The type of this in the Old Testament is the story of Gideon’s army, who were instructed to have the (golden) torch (of the Spirit) hidden inside the earthen vessel (our perishable bodies). Then when Gideon gave the signal, everyone blew their trumpet, smashed the jar to reveal the flame, and gave a shout.

The fulfillment of this type is given in 1 These. 4.13-18 and 1 Cor. 15:50 -57, where Paul describes the order of events at the coming of the Lord. There will again be a trumpet blast, a shout and the earthen vessels of our perishable bodies be destroyed in order to reveal the full glory of God as we are “clothed with the imperishable.”

We arrived back home, and then added up the financial gifts we were given by the two churches:

There was a check for $300 and when we added up all the cash everything from a $100 bill to several $1 bills (actually 5 : – ).

It also came to exactly $300.

It was our friend Ron who also taught us, “The numbers never lie.”

This was a double witness to the story of Gideon I had been reflecting on whose trimmed down army numbered a mere 300.

300 is the number for Divine Deliverance.

Last week Father planted in my mind the question, “Why was the painting entitled “Offer them Christ” rather than “Offer them Jesus”?

He showed me there was a hidden message he wanted me to hear to do with timing!

In this season of Advent as we anticipate Christ’s coming, I have decided to not watch or listen to (mainstream) ‘news’. (I’ve already experienced a lightening of spirit : – )

Instead I am upping my bible reading, joining two of our grandson’s endeavor to read the entire bible in the coming year. Last week we started in Matthew. In the very first chapter I found the answer to my question.

In the genealogical lists we are told there were 14 generations from Abraham to David and 14 from David to the Babylonian captivity, and 14 between the Babylonian captivity and the coming of the Christ. However if you actually count the generations to Jesus you will find there are only 13.

My understanding of this is that the 13th generation gave birth to Jesus the head of the body of Christ, but the full manifestation of Christ is reserved for a future generation when at the coming of the Lord the resurrected head will be united with the resurrected body as the two NT passages above describe.

Might we then be living at the time of the 14th generation……..or in total, the 42nd generation?

If you count the number of encampments of the children of Israel in the wilderness (Numbers 33), you will find that the 42nd encampment took place when they had crossed over to claim their inheritance, again pointing to the moment in time when we will receive again our inheritance of immortality that was lost in the first Adam but redeemed in Christ.

I was pondering last night how a third witness often confirms timing, when someone unexpectedly handed me another check. I looked. $300.… for a third time!!!

NOW is the Day of Divine Deliverance.

P.S. This morning I went to shop for groceries at Costco. I checked my receipt. As if I needed further confirmation!!!…………

In a few weeks time it will be 40 years since Father invited us to leave steady employment in Egypt……..in it’s National Health Service : – ). We are so thankful for our Father’s faithfulness in providing for us (through unsolicited gifts from our brothers and sisters) throughout our wilderness sojourn – receiving each day, as in this day, the perfect amount, to pay each and every bill!

Hallelujah! What a Dad!

Two weeks ago we rose early to drive 3 hours north to share the good news of our Dad’s “smiling face” and “word of grace” at two United Methodist churches, situated at the end of InterState 35. This highway runs the length of the US, from Laredo in the south, by the Mexican border, up to Duluth, near the Canadian border.

Isaiah 35 was the inspiration for my song that begins, “There is a Way of holiness.”

The final verse reflecting the end of the chapter where the redeemed company are entering Zion is rendered,

‘See laughter and joy running past

Sorrow and sighing flee away

Weeping may come but she won’t last

In the morning there’s joy, here to stay.’ 

Traveling up Is. 35 that morning we saw the most beautiful sunrise, pictured above. Hilary then did something she’s never done before – shot the photo off to a number of friends, with the caption, “Good Mornin’ Dad”, because of the similarity with that album cover.

Within a few minutes we had a dozen “Amen!” –s from all around the world, Ireland, Canada, Australia, Netherlands, America……..!

Matthew 24:27 says, “For as lightning that comes from the EAST is visible even in the WEST, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”

A more accurate translation reveals this is describing a gradual sunrise rather than a sudden lightening flash. I believe we are now at the dawning of A GREATER DAY. 2 Peter, 3:8 tells us, “A day is as a thousand years.”

The first church was in Cromwell. Our friend Ron who taught us that, “Father is hooked on phonics” turned up with his wife Pauline! They ‘just happen’ to live a mile away from this little church in ‘the back of beyond!’ (go figure!)

That night Father showed me that Crom-well refers to how our “chromosomes will shortly be made well.” as we put off mortality and put on immortality!

At the second church at the end of the service, the lay leader, Clayton, a beautifully unassuming gentleman began telling me the story of how last year he had been diagnosed with one of the most deadly forms of cancer. Reeling from the news he found himself walking down the hospital corridor and hearing a minister whose address was being piped through the PA system, say repeatedly, “Watch for the light! Watch for the light! ” Suddenly through the window at the end of the hall which looked eastward over Lake Superior there came what he described as“a blinding light!” As it began to fade Clayton saw the window frame in the form of a cross. He knew it was an encounter with the crucified and risen Christ!

At his next hospital visit the perplexed doctor, said, “We must have made a mistake with the diagnosis!” The brother remains to this day, ‘cancer free.’

Although our world still seems ‘covered in darkness’ I believe the ‘Sunrise’ we were given on Sunday is ‘a sign of the times’ as the ‘Sons Arise’ and the Light of Christ, shines world wide from EAST to WEST, as we enter, ‘The Age” also known as the great Sabbath millennium.

Clayton then went off to the church office where I noticed he was busy doing something. Just as we were about to leave he re-appeared with a photocopy of a painting on the wall I had been drawn to. He explained, “It is a picture of Wesley speaking to the first Methodist missionary to America.” It is entitled, “Offer Them Christ.”

The offer of many of that first wave of ‘missionaries’ often failed to bear the fruit it might have in this and other lands because of ‘mixture’.

I have quoted before how ‘The Way’ (Acts 9:2) of Jesus began in Palestine as a fellowship – the experience of being part of a spiritual family, but then ‘morphed’ as it moved to Greece into a philosophy, then to Rome into an institution, then to Europe into a culture, then to America into an enterprise. (It may be significant that the missionary’s name in the painting was COKE. If any word in our language describes capitalism gone mad that must be it! )

By the time the gospel reached these shores ‘the Way’ of Jesus had moved far from it’s primitive root. I’m reminded of Paul’s warning to the Corinthians. “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your SINCERE and PURE DEVOTION to CHRIST.” (2 Cor.11:3)

Sadly the offer often became, not simply Christ, but Christ + Packaging.

A way of thinking (philosophy) a way of organizing (institution) a way of living (culture) and a way of doing business (enterprise) make good servants but poor masters when they usurp the primacy of a “sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” – a relationship with the One who is THE Way.

………………As I was typing this, my neighbor John came to the door distraught. In tears he blurted out, “God I need help! I feel like shooting myself and just ending it all!”

It transpired he had become utterly frustrated with the the dead ends and red tape of the government institutions as he tried to resolve what he saw as a simple issue to do with the license plates on his deceased wife’s car.

“They are so over educated that they just don’t believe people!” exclaimed the simple soul.

After letting off steam we pondered together the scripture, “You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you.” We prayed together, hugged, and he left in peace, even with a chuckle,

“I reckon I just need to putt along like I used to do on my father’s tractor, appreciate today’s sunshine, and trust God…… I know Jesus does love me.” …….

The danger for all of us is that what begins as this simple spiritual family experience becomes complex and soulish, as we get ‘hooked’ in our ‘minds’ and lead astray exchanging God’s truth and grace toward us, for our own ‘opinions’ ‘feelings’ and ‘willfulness’.

I believe we are entering a day when God is purging and purifying his Rising Sons of Light. Then those who have rejected a caricature of ‘Christ’ will be drawn by “the true light that enlightens every man.” and ask that ‘laughter and joy’ company of simple loving ‘Johns’ on ‘the Way‘ of holiness,

‘What is it the source of your real JOY! – and your authentic LOVE?’

Then we will be able to truly, ‘Offer them Christ.’

………..and in unison sing,

“Come up unto the High-Way of the Lord………and together we’ll go in!”

P.S. John just called in again. He wanted to make some peanut butter cookies and was looking for a recipe! He is doing much better : – )

I ended the last blog by referencing ‘Rising Sons’ 144,000 Youtube views!

In a world of ‘views’ and ‘votes’, ‘friends’ and ‘likes’ we could be hoodwinked into believing the lie,’More is always better.’

For example yesterday I talked with an expert on CBD oil which is all the rage. He said the commonest error in using this is to think that if a little is good, more will be better! He said this is not true and it was the ORIGIN and the PROCESS that was of paramount importance! 

This love of ‘BIG’ is as prevalent inside ‘the church’ as outside. However at the end of Jesus story, at the foot of the cross, we find he was left with only – 1 ‘friend’  – John.

Barna reported that Rick Warren’s “The Purpose Driven Life” was the most popular and influential book among Christian leaders today.

But how much of our tendency to exalt the ‘BIG’ – names, numbers, and noises, and desire to be counted among them, might actually be ‘Driven’ by our personal insecurity? 

I believe God is more concerned about quality than quantity, about depth than breadth. 

I have a friend whose passion is to be like John, the ‘beloved disciple’ who had ‘leaned on Jesus breast‘ at the last supper and remained faithful at the foot of the cross. This friend  used the phrase, “process lead life”- making his goal to experience God the ORIGIN of life, seamlessly in the PROCESS of everyday living.

He has as acute hearing of God at all times and in all places as I have encountered. He has not written a best selling book, movie or music album but I would rather spend 5 minutes in conversation with him as read, watch or listen to any “best seller” by one of the “BIG names” because not only has he been with Jesus…..but I find he….. and we, even as we talk…… still are!!! 

In this current culture when Jesus words in Jn.14:12 ‘greater works’ is quoted, many think of “A BIGGER THING!” …a demonstrable product!

In the preceding verses that set up this phrase, Jesus explains the origin of his words and works in his Father with whom he is in complete union. So when he says whoever believes in him will do the same works, I believe he is talking about the ORIGIN of those works rather than their outward expression, and when he then uses the plural, ‘they will do greater works’ it could simply mean that a company of people involved in the PROCESS of living as Johns in this way of Divine comm-unity will cumulatively produce a fuller and more beautiful expression of this same Father/Son relationship than he as a single person could have during his limited time on earth.

Jesus also said that the paradox of His kingdom was that ‘the greatest….. would be the least.’ It is in the ‘still small voice’ he is heard. I have personally found that the voice of our Dad who loves the details often gets lost in largeness and loudness.

So I am suggesting that:

GREATER WORKS =/= A BIGGER PERSONAL MINISTRY                    

GREATER WORKS == A MORE HUMBLE FRUITFUL UNITY  

Significantly the brother I so enjoy talking to, has suffered.

It is in the storms of life that he has passed through, that he has learned that intimate walk and sensitivity to hearing the ‘still small voice’ that also speaks to the winds and the waves in our hearts,“Peace be still” as we lie down with Jesus in the hold of the boat.

……...Surrender and trust…… then hear and obey.

This seems to be the simple secret to finding that place with John

………….leaning on the breast of Jesus

…………at the table of feasting or in the ship of storms.

The Kyle Transatlantic Courier Service was in operation again in September. Our friend Roy asked us to purchase and bring a flash drive from the US showing a ‘one woman play’ called “Corrie Remembers”.

Many years ago we had read and watched Corrie ten Boom’s story in the classic, “The Hiding Place”; how she, her father and sister, had help Jews escape during the Nazi occupation of Holland; how their faith had been tried and tested in Ravensbruck concentration camp; how the day before Corrie’s contemporaries were executed, she was released due to an administrative error; how she then realized her life’s work was to tell the world what she had learned about God’s love and forgiveness.

It was refreshing to see this new depiction of the wonderful story (as we had a sneak viewing before passing it on to Roy).

One scene in particular stood out to me.

Corrie and Betsy were witnessing the terrible treatment of the Jews by the Nazis when Betsy exclaimed,

“Those poor people!”

“Yes!” Corrie responded. “How could they treat them so ?”

“No. I didn’t mean the Jews.” Betsy replied. “I meant the Germans!”

I recently read this commentary on Romans chapter 5.

^“7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates His own love [agape] toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Verse 10 goes on to explain that God reconciled us “while we were enemies.” He did not wait until we became good, nor did He wait until we did anything at all. He took the initiative by Himself, and then “gave us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18, 19). Our ministry, Paul says, is to convey to all of God’s enemies “that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them.”

As ambassadors of Christ, our message is not to frighten the world with threats of hellfire if they do not submit to Christ. Neither is it a message of condemnation in any form. It is a message of what Christ has already done for His enemies, because the love of God is defined in terms of being willing to die for enemies who still hate God. In other words, God does not consider the world to be His enemy any longer. It is only the world that hates God and is in need of being informed otherwise. That is our job as ambassadors.

By setting forth the love of God in Romans 5:7-10, Paul lays the foundations for his teaching on the justification of all men in Romans 5:18.

Those who do not comprehend the love of God will not be able to understand how God could save all mankind.”

Last week you heard Ben sing, “Let there be mercy…… on my foes and enemies.”

When we are able to say this, we are most like God our Father, as we realize that those perceived “enemies” whether a Nazi soldier or an abortionist doctor, the next door neighbor or the City Council, that church leader or that school teacher, my ex- husband or ex-wife, Donald Trump or Barak Obama…….

……. are destined one day to become our friends.

What a powerful gospel!

P.S. The final song I sang at St. Mary’s in Belfast was called The Sons of God Rise Again.

The ‘prince of the power of the air’ – waves, always seeks to ‘divide and conquer’. The ‘worldly’ media which is in opposition to God (1Jn.3.14,15), insidiously stirs this contention by highlighting issues of sexuality and racism in a divisive way. (God through my ‘spell check’ just confirmed my train of thought as in place of divisive way it wrote divine way…….which is what should and will ultimately be ‘broad-cast’!)

That ‘race’ is the root problem’ is quite right, but ‘the world’ fails to understand where that race problem originated. In the final verse of the song I put the record straight:

Since Adam and Eve the killings begun

They’ve known nothing but war between their two sons

But I feel in my bones that the end is begun

As the Sons of God rise again.

 

Where you born of Adam? Then give me your hand

From Belfast to Beijing united we’ll stand

For the meek of the earth shall inherit this land

As the Sons of God rise again

As the Sons of God rise again.

 

On the lead up to the Rugby World Cup Final, I came across the series below recording the background preparation of the England squad. 

I thought the title was profoundly prophetic, particularly since they lost, for in God’s plan there are in the end, no losers, only winners, for “love never fails.” 

What was lost in the first Adam, the father of the human race was restored in the last Adam, the Redeemer of us all.

P.P.S. I happened to notice the number of views recorded for the final episode of the series. Remember I wrote about 144 two weeks ago?

A few weeks ago I mentioned the Foundation Course which we taught to everyone entering Community of the King in Northern Ireland and Coming King Community in America.

In developing this teaching I drew from a number of similar courses that appeared at that time. One of the best known the Foundation Series by Derek Prince which he based on the passage in Hebrews 6, which lists 6 ‘elementary doctrines’

These elements were clearly covered in my Foundation Course, though not as extensively and from a different angle and with a different emphasis.

Years later I went back to look at Derek’s Foundation Series again. (As the photo shows, it was one of the few books that made it with us to the US!)

I realized I had focused on the first 4 elements, as had Derek…. as I sized up the different lengths of his booklets!

I believe there were in fact two reasons for this. The first was that the first 4 “Repentance from dead works. Faith toward God. Baptisms. The laying on of hands.” had a very obvious immediate practical application to life. The second reason I would suggest was that certainly my (and possibly Derek’s?) understanding of The Resurrection of the Dead and Eternal Judgement has needed further development.

At the St Mary’s gathering in Belfast where the abortion issue was front and center, I was asked to sing the song *Easy Solutions. I was inspired as I gave some commentary afterwards. I said this song could as easily have been titled The Abortionist’s Song  The three verses tell the sequential story of the boy, then the man, then the man on his death bed. It is a story common to us all, of how we begin thinking we know ‘better than God’ and attempt to ‘help him along’. Inevitably the results are not good! 

Lying on his death bed he anticipates the hand of God’s judgment as a harsh  hand that will destroy him for his error.

“With one wave of his hand and one breath of his mouth and one look from his eye he will come….and say you foolish old man to know better than God stopping life before it had begun!”

We then hear his cries as he experiences, again what we all must experience sooner or later, ‘God’s fiery judgment’

But then the tenor of the music changes, for instead of the fire destroying him, it has destroyed ‘all your darkness and gloom….. till it’s love alone that’s left behind”  ….and he emerges

….. in God’s time

…..as the butterfly  

For the hand of God has not struck him down but has waved to him, through the fire saying ‘Come’ 

‘…..and start living your life…….. as my SON.’

The simple revelation I have had, since writing the initial Foundation Course, based on further study of linguistics and church history…… is that the word translated ‘eternal’ in our bibles does not necessarily mean forever and ever. This awareness can transform our understanding of the foundational truth, Eternal Judgment.

………and subsequently how we view God, His plan, and other people! 

I do think this is one of those ‘details of doctrine’ that it is not essential that we agree on to enjoy fellowship together as we share a living relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

* From “The Ascent of the Bright Hostage.”  Available on Spotify etc. or on CD from us .

Here’s another song that relates to the theme:

P.S. Thank you for your email responses! After the last blog I got a message from DeAnn currently visiting The Netherlands where she finds herself ‘on assignment’. I only thought to put that photo of ‘FREEDOM! in the Netherlands’ up at the last minute! Then an email from Christine in The Carolinas thankful for the double witness of ‘Cleansing’ that arrived on her 76th birthday : – )

Last Saturday night after receiving the “A Greater Story” blog, I got up from my bed and went downstairs. As I stood sipping a glass of water I noticed the calendar picture of a rainbow opposite me……. Father was continuing to speak, about COVENANT.

The red lights in the kitchen began to flash unaccountably. I glanced up. The clock said 1.44. This number represents the Resurrection Company of Revelation 7 and 14. I reached for a scrap of paper to write down what I was getting and a few moments later I took the photo above!

As you can see, the ‘scrap of paper’ turned out to be one of the extra cards announcing our grandson’s birth. His name LUKE means LIGHT!

I then read the commentary on the calendar:

The rainbow speaks of how the beautiful and colorful diversity of creation has come from the SON-LIGHT (Luke) and to him it will return. “For from him and through him and to him are ALL things. To him be the GLORY for ever! Amen.” (Rm.11:36)

The line. “Rainbows are created when……. is followed by the scientific explanation.

This of course is the secondary reason.

The first is …… God want’s to say something.”

I blogged about how just before we went to Ireland our neighbor John arrived heartbroken on our doorstep to tell us of his wife’s sudden death (‘Who Is My Neighbor?’ September 5th)

A week before this, John had also knocked on our door.

“LOOK!” He said to me, pointing to a rainbow in the sky. “Do you know what that means? It is God’s message in the sky that his love never fails. I was taught that as a child, and I have never forgotten it.”

God wanted to say something to his beloved son John to prepare him for the loss of his human partner of 44 years that was to come a few days later!

The rainbow of COVENANT consists of seven colors. These provided the outline we used to convey the ‘good news’ through our FREEDOM! musical.

7 is the biblical number of Completion, Spiritual Perfection. (The popular rainbow nowadays has only 6 colors. 6 is the color of Man)

When in Ireland one day I went for a circular stroll with Luke in his stroller around our old neighborhood. I got as far as our old house, and paused to observe how it, like so many things ‘back home’ have received an UPGRADE. When I got back to the starting point I realized I had lost one of Luke’s socks. I decided to retrace my steps. I reached our old house again….and there it was lying on the ground by the Wheely Bin/Trash Can

As always I asked Father, “So what is the significance of this?”

….for all things have significance and particularly when accompanied by this sort of ‘God-incidence’

Only last night did the meaning come clear.

The number 76 represents ‘Cleansing’. The photo capturing two 76s is a double witness. It is significant that the numbers appear on the garbage disposal!

The next great event we are anticipating is our ‘UPGRADE’ at the first Resurrection. We are now in the process of being cleansed of our garbage, in preparation for this.

“When this age shall end and the time has come

For the trump to sound and our Lord to come

Then as one we’ll rise and our flame unite

With the one who loved and bought us.”

The FREEDOM! musical has given way to the FREEDOM! retreats which act as a vehicle in which the Holy Spirit reveals and removes our garbage! Some of the team members have been with us for many years. It is wonderful to hear them testify at each subsequent retreat of their continuing growth in freedom and wholeness as they move from glory to glory!

We were due to host a retreat this weekend, but were directed to reschedule it for January 10 -11th 2020. If you would like to attend or recommend it to someone, scroll to the bottom of this page to register paulkyle.org/events

P.S. As I was typing this blog a repairman arrived to fix our basement clothes washer. He just appeared again to say,

“You will need to utilize your ‘Replacement Helper Plan’ as the machine, which is now 10 years old, needs replaced.”

In other words, I require an UPGRADE. (The number 10 represents ‘The Re-establishment of God’s Order’)

I then discovered that he was a brother in Christ from Ghana, Africa! He belongs to an ‘apostolic’ church called ROYAL HOUSE.

I broke into “Lord Jesus we enthrone you…..we proclaim you are King.”

“I know that song!” He exclaimed.

Rich, my new friend, left smiling, CD in hand.

I remained, smiling, as I recalled the scripture:

“Consequently you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow-citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” (Eph.2:19-22)

I released the last blog, A Greater Miracle, on November 1st. My trajectory in this “Greater” series was adjusted by our Father the next night when he reminded me of a report I had read that day, 2nd November, about an event on ‘the world’s stage’ that confirmed to me in a beautifully personal way, the message of my last blog.

You’ll remember that the essence of that blog was the the miracle of the New Covenant whereby God has promised to change human hearts reconciling the world to himself and us to one another. I spoke of how we personally experienced this miracle of reconciliation in divided Northern Ireland. Rocky, the Holy Mutt, was God’s agent sent to bless the feet of those who had proclaimed this good news at St. Mary’s, that God reigns over ALL

The event on ‘the world’s stage’ I’m talking about was the Rugby World Cup Final that was played last Saturday between England and South Africa.

As I lay in bed pondering the epic victory of South Africa over England I realized………

………….S.A. had scored 32 points! As I have mentioned before in connection with the 32 counties of Ireland and Minnesota being the 32nd State in the USA that number represents COVENANT.

…………..My first introduction to South Africa was through reading the book THE COVENANT by James Michener in my twenties. It focuses on the history of the formation of that divided nation through the coming of the Dutch Afrikaners and the English to colonize that part of Africa.

Pienaar, the captain of the victorious South African team that had won the ’95 World Cup hosted in South Africa, said this year’s was a more significant victory, because the captain, Siya Kolisi, was an indigenous African, and the team embodied a true unity of those races.

Pienaar, Mandela who presented the trophy to him in ’95, and Kolosi on this occasion, had all worn shirt #6. While 666 represents ‘the beast’ in Revelation 13, consistent with the truth that God’s reign over ALL, it also represents the three nails (pictured in the Hebrew letter Vav = 6) that pierced Christ on the cross, thus destroying the works of the devil (1 Jn.3:8) and reconciling the world to God.

…………..I read The Covenant in preparation for the first of several trips I was privileged to make to South Africa. There I joined spiritually with the many thousands who were already declaring for their nation through my song……”Lord Jesus We Enthrone you……….we proclaim YOU OUR King.”

Apartheid was still in place as we worked with that precious little community of whites and blacks who met alternatively in white Johannesburg and the Soweto township. It was, as we too were experiencing in Northern Ireland at that time, an embryonic representation of the reconciliation and unity that is possible in Christ….. when God changes hearts.

Then, lying there in bed, I smiled as it finally dawned on me

……………the name of that community was –

Christ the ROCK(y) 

Kolosi began his speech after the game with the words, “So grateful, so grateful…….

This is the only response we can make when knowingly or unknowningly we find ourselves recipients of God’s Grace…..actors in the New Covenant drama.

Thus I realized my little story from last week was being confirmed in this ‘Greater Story’, just as this Greater Story points to ‘The Greatest Story’.  

This is what we see in the book of Hebrews whose main theme is how the New Covenant is Greater than the Old Covenant. The writer quotes Jeremiah’s words, “I will put my laws in their minds, and write them on their hearts.” confirming that where man’s attempt to fulfill his vow to God has failed, God’s promise to fulfill his vow in man will not!

Then chapter 11 records the stories of many heros of faith. These stories however are all pointing toward The Story of The Hero of chapter 12.

“Therefore since we are surrounded by such great a cloud of witnesses let us look to JESUS, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross……”

For when all has been said and done there is only one story, of which all our  stories are shadows  – All of human his-tory……. is HIS STORY!

As Hilary and I sing……

This is the greatest love story ever

Pain beyond bearing, joy beyond pain.

This is the REAL thing, now and forever

Toward which all other stories laid claim

Just before we returned from Ireland I was invited to share at a cross community prayer vigil at St Mary’s.

Significantly St. Mary’s was the first Catholic church in the heart of Belfast and was built in 1784 with funds…… raised by the Protestant folk in the city!!

Many believers from both these ‘tribes’ were hoping that night for ‘a miracle’ that would mean the liberalizing of the abortion laws in Northern Ireland would not happen. The local assembly however faltered and failed yet again and the Westminster law was imposed.

But supposing there had been that miracle? We would still be left with a nation, and world deeply divided, falling apart. The human dilemma will clearly not be resolved by humanly elected and humanly run governments……..just look at the current chaos at Stormont, Westminster and Washington DC, to name but a few chronic failures of humanly appointed lawmakers!

I finished the last blog quoting Jeremiah’s lament over the wickedness of the human heart. However just a few chapters later, the same author records the promise of a Greater Miracle than the mere adjustment of a manmade law.

“‘The time is coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will make a new covenant……I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts.'” (Jer.31)

The ‘good news’ I was given to share that night at St. Mary’s, was this confident hope we have that God will ultimately fulfill his promise to do what he said he will do….. in changing every human heart, until one day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. 

At the end of the prayer vigil a lady made a ‘B line’ for us.

“Paul! I remember you from Drumalis!’ She exclaimed.

I knew immediately what she meant.

Maybe 15 years ago we had been invited to share at a Catholic charismatic conference in a ‘mansion’ 20 miles north of Belfast called Drumalis House. During the event it dawned on Hilary and I the immense personal significance of the context of that meeting.

Decades before, Hilary’s aunt who lived in that area had done ‘the unthinkable’, by marrying a Catholic man! Subsequently her ‘Protestant’ family protested by completely disowning her.

She and her Catholic husband had then ended up living right here! – in the gate lodge of Drumalis House where we Protestants had been invited to address these Catholics! 

It was clearly a ‘set up’ by our Father and so Hilary and I told this story, and then asked the assembled company of our Catholic brothers and sisters for forgiveness as we identified with our forefathers. As it says in The Flame song:

“When our fathers erred they were weak like us

Times they failed to love times they failed to trust

But if we forgive……”

Repentance and forgiveness was reciprocated by our Catholic friends. The location of transgression had become the location of restoration.

We realized we had witnessed the Greater Miracle of God having changed hearts……as ‘the torch of faith’ was passed from one generation to the next!  

(Remarkably, Thomas, the leader who had invited us to share at that conference 15 years ago was counseling in a side room that very evening at St. Mary’s! When we subsequently discovered one another in the same building….. we joyfully embraced!)

This timely sign was to remind us that we have already witnessed the first fruits of this Greater Miracle that is coming!

After the service, as we stood around chatting over a ‘cuppa.’ Paul MacAree’s wee dog pictured above began to passionately lick my shoes. To everyone’s amusement this continued unabated for the next 20+ minutes!

On the way home my friend Keith said Father had highlighted to him the dog’s name – ROCKY. 

I have taught a Foundations Course, that I wrote almost 50 years ago, scores of times to very diverse groups. The opening scripture is the story of the wise and foolish men and the importance of building our house upon The ROCK who is Christ by hearing and obeying his word.

The course lays out the basis for our fellowship with God and our coming into unity with one another in answer to Jesus prayer in John 17. It is not that we agree on the details of every doctrine, but that we share a living relationship with the Rock that is the Lord  Jesus Christ. 

The next morning as I went for a dander up Peartree Hill, the Spirit highlighted to me the scripture:

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news…..”Your God Reigns!” 

I knew Rocky had ‘washed my feet’ because my Father wanted to affirm me in the gospel I had proclaimed, that HE reigns over ALL. 

No matter how bleak things may appear outwardly, he is the God who has committed to transforming us and our world…….. from the inside out

This is the REALLY ‘good news’ that he wants proclaimed!!!

On Wednesday the headlines in the British press featured the discovery of the dead bodies of 39 Chinese nationals in the refrigeration trailer pictured above, that arrived in England from Belgium.

Interestingly… “The number thirty-nine in Hebrew was written with the letters lamed (authority) and teth (serpent). Thirty-nine is the number of infirmity. When Adam and Eve sinned by falling for the temptation of the serpent, they inadvertently gave up their God-given authority to the serpent, who subjected them to disease, infirmity, and ultimately to death itself.”*

The sealed WOMB from which these poor ones were hoping to be launched into a ‘new life’, in a shocking way became – their TOMB!

Statements of horror and outrage came from all quarters including the British prime minister…..“How could these poor people have been so betrayed?”

Ironically the day before a bill legalizing the aborting of unborn children was destined to be passed into law in Northern Ireland by the British government.

Of the children who will die as a result of this legislative change it could be said:

The sealed WOMB from which these poor ones are hoping to be launched into a ‘new life’, will in a shocking way become – their TOMB!

Why do people not see the madness of such a double standard, where one and the same reality is literally one day declared a triumph and the next a tragedy?

Why is this dichotomy hidden from most……..yet in plain sight to others?

I believe there is in Ireland A Greater Famine than that which followed the potato blight in the mid 1800s ……..a famine that extends throughout the whole of the western world.

It is described in Amos 8:11, “The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign LORD, “when I will send a famine through the land — not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD.”

I’ve often said,“The heart of the Irish (human) problem is the problem of the Irish (human) heart.” 

When we have ‘heart idols‘ i.e. gods other than God himself, we are told God will answer us ‘according to the idols of our hearts’ (Ez.14:4). In other words, he’ll give us what we want……or what we think we want.

Hosea 1:6 says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge…..and since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.”

The loss of these children through abortion therefore is in fact the consequence of our rebellious hearts where we reject God’s way because we want our own way.  As it says in the book of Judges, ‘Every man did what what right in his own eyes.’

Jeremiah 17:9 says “The heart is deceitful above all things, and beyond cure.”

……….So is there any hope for us?

Next: A Greater Miracle.

*From The Biblical Meaning of Numbers by Dr. Stephen Jones

In my last blog I told the story of The Harpist and the Horn, the Horn being equated with the song “Lord Jesus We Enthrone You” which incorporates in it the cry of every believer’s heart, “Come Lord Jesus and take your place!”

On Monday evening on our way back from Ireland we were just about to board the connecting flight to Minneapolis in Chicago, when Hilary nodding toward the man opposite in the line said, “Is that not Larry?”

Our friend Larry simultaneously turned around equally surprised and delighted to see us. His first words were.

“We are just on our way home from Jerusalem! I was in fact going to send you a video of “Lord Jesus We Enthrone You” being played at the feast of Tabernacles there by 50 harpists!”

………Then I remembered that just the day before, a 50 Euro donation had been sent to us from Dublin, Ireland, along with a request for the Come Lord Jesus CD. The name of the sender, Jonathan Rowe, rang a bell, so sitting in Dublin airport I emailed to ask him how he had come across our music. His reply amazed us! A little background first……..

40 years ago when I wrote Lord Jesus We Enthrone You, I taught it at our fellowship in Belfast. Just a few weeks later Hilary and I went to Dublin for a weekend ‘get away’. That Saturday evening we were lead to a home fellowship meeting. Sitting on the floor of the living room crammed full of young people who like ourselves had just been ‘set on fire’ by the Holy Spirit, we flowed in worship from one song to the next….and then….. startled… I looked at Hilary and she at me….they were singing my song!…..”Lord Jesus We Enthrone You……we proclaim you are king.’

Afterwards we discovered that a girl from our group who had moved to London the week after I taught the song, had taught it to the London group, and then someone from the London group had the next week brought it to Dublin! (Subsequently we discovered that with the same rapidity the song had spread all over the world in a matter of weeks. Long before things ‘went viral’ via man’s internet….the song ‘went vital’ via God’s Spirit!)

Jonathan then immediately replied to my query explaining that he was indeed the son of the couple that lead that home fellowship! In fact he said his father was sitting right there beside him, (and just a few miles from us at the airport!)……. and sent us his regards! This after no contact for 40 years!

Jonathan also reminded me that the name of the fellowship was…… Shalom. (As in ‘Jeru(Shalom’)

So what are the chances…… that within 12 hours but 3,670 miles apart on two continents, I receive this double witness of….

The cry, “Come Lord Jesus!” arising from Jeru(Shalom) ?

The day we arrived home another very strange thing happened. I received a check from the ‘State of Minnesota Management and Budget’ telling me that several years ago I had overpaid and was due this refund ……for $50!

……..I just noticed the 120 days on the check which points to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the 120 in the Upper Room at Pentecost (50 days). However that feast described in Lev.23, fulfilled, and the downpayment given (Eph.1:14), we now look two chapters later in Leviticus to the 50 year law.

“Consecrate the FIFTIETH year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all it’s inhabitants……In this Year of Jubilee everyone is to return to his own property.” (Lev.25:10)

The significance of a third witness (three 50s) is to reveal….timing.

……..Thetime for the cry of the believer’s heart to be answered, and for the Prince of Peace to come to Jerusalem which means, ‘dwelling place of peace’ made up of the believers who, “like living stones are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” (1Pt.2, Eph.2)

………The time for us to return to our ‘own property’, our inheritance of immortality that was lost in the First Adam but restored in the Last.

In the last blog I told of the sign on Horn Head where we witnessed the bridegroom Justin (the Faithful and True Judge of Rev.19:11) moments away from his desire.

I asked Larry, “Are you traveling alone?’

He replied, “No I have two companions

.…… Justin

…..and Jason!” (Son of Ya…….Jesus)

“Even so! Come Lord Jesus!”