Mother had it right . She 'taught' me thankfulness and humility . She had incarnated them . I don`t remember any lectures on the subject , just a life , well lived , day in , day out and I received the truth . In theory , at least . It has taken a lifetime and I guess still is , to incarnate it fully into my own experience . I cannot ever recall hearing Mum complain about anything ! She was a Pastor`s wife and there were many opportunities , over the years , to let rip . She never did - quite remarkable !
David was a flawed man , passionate ( remember the dance ?) , lustful ( remember Bathsheba ?) , but he knew the mercies of God and his language and writings are full of thankfulness . In his kingship , he remembers that it is God`s choice that put him where he was and to the end , remained the shepherd king as humility reigned in his heart .
My daily reading , a couple of days ago included the well known words : " Repent and change your attitude ." In other words : " change your mind and change your attitude." Both ! If I was pushed , I would say that these two characteristics , are at the top of any list I would make up of what is required to follow Christ. Maybe , I can try and justify that statement..... if you need to , change your attitude !
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ALIVE !
My daily reading this week has been the end of John and the beginning of Acts ! The prominent feature is the resurrection of the Lord Christ and his disciples` compelling witness to it . The turning point of entire history .
Some of you , my friends , must have thought that I was in need of a
resurrection ! My walk in life , pales into pallid insignificance when compared to Christ`s thrashing of death and hell , and the opening of the way to life eternal for all men. Nevertheless , I rejoice that because He lives , we shall ( and do ) live also.
A number of circumstances have conspired to keep me occupied and silent the last few weeks - including a weird feeling of what I can only describe as 'writer`s block', and a strange lack of energy . A lifetime of good habits has kept me alive ! Habits,spiritual instincts ! As my Dad has said so many times : "It comes to pass.." And we will not be silent .
By the Grace of God we are laying good foundations with the interns here in Spain . We are blessed with great young people . They are in N. Africa this week on a practicum mission being led by David Hearn - due back on Saturday . Had good reports so far .
We have another 4 joining us in a couple of weeks and the kitchen table will have to be enlarged . Still my favorite place . Thanks for prayers and patience and I`ll be back quickly !
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G42 LEADERSHIP ACADEMY VIDEO
Here is a video created by one of our interns, Sean Smith, that captures what I believe is God's dream for G42. Once you're done watching, go to the G42 Leadership Academy to find out more and to apply!
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THE MAIL FROM SPAIN .....
2 weeks gone and it seems like yesterday that we started . We are blessed and feel the Presence of the Lord in this adventure . We are getting a rhythm and there is an energy from Heaven . So far :
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- we have started the study on The Kingdom from the point of view of "What is God`s point?"- have delved into the Tabernacle of David and are finding the order of God`s plan (first the natural ,then the spiritual) and the sequence that led to its establishment and the absolute corollary in today`s circumstances ;
- have commenced the study on 'Discerning Life Calling' ;
- have eaten great food and enjoyed each other`s company round the table , including an Inaugural Meal ;
- learned some new card games ;
- have stopped talking about this generation`s inability to make decisions and long term commitments and started to prophesy a ' Spirit of Knowing and a Spirit of Might';
-have visited the flamingos ! ( see previous blog) ;
-have begun the process of long term commitment to Kingdom planting and planning for our practicums - there are lots of opportunities to serve both in Spain , Europe and N. Africa - some really good choices ;
- are expecting our numbers to more than double by June ;
- are expecting some parents to visit and maybe stay ; any Grandparents out there ? ;
- are making a welcome for some summer interns ;
-preached the 42 Generation ( intro) to a local Church .
We`ve been busy ! To hell with the devil and the Kingdom is coming . Come and see us .....
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THE FLAMINGOS ARE BACK.......
Made it ! Started the training center in Mijas , Spain 3 days ago . We`re having a great time ....stonking , comes to mind ! God is gracing us with an atmosphere of life and joy and there is sense of purpose about our activities already . We enjoyed our Inaugural Dinner last night in a lovely local restaurant with views from our mountain town over the sweeping coastline 6 miles away . Mijas is a delight . We have been warmly welcomed by new friends and very much feel at home .We will , of course , keep you in the picture , and will also post a video in a few days to give an idea of who what and where . The weather has been unusually bleak and cold and very heavy rain . However , this is good news . Since we arrived last Saturday it has not stopped raining . There is a sound of abundance of rain ! Mo and I walked through the rain yesterday to open a Spanish bank account and we had a good conversation with the bank lady .
The bank lady told of the three to four year drought that has just now officially ended . The lakes have filled up and the reservoirs are are topped up . Water restrictions have been lifted . There is an inland lake about 45 minutes away ,where flamingos have habitually visited and reproduced for many years . For the last three years there have been no flamingos . They`re back this year . They`re up to their old Spring time tricks and babies are on the way . Life is bursting forth again . We`re planning on making a trip to see them asap .
I am taking this as an encouraging sign . Rain after drought , new life after no births . We want to believe to be part of a generation that sees a dry and spiritually dead continent , burst forth into life and joy , after rainless seasons and empty nests ...Far fetched ? Still dreaming God`s dream . Those flamingos have me thinking and thanking.....
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