As I flew out of San Diego yesterday, I watched the city lights twinkle through the window of the small plane. It occurred to me that it would be foolish to deny the existance of human life. Lights in a contiunous grid pattern filled the darkened landscape below. I could make out a small baseball diamond, an illuminated rectangular pool, and cars crept through the highway like blood cells flowing in a vein. In the Pirate's of the Carribean ride at Disneyland I always loved the skeleton who drank the wine that could be seen flowing through the rib cage. The L.A. traffic looked like that, shimmering far below in a continual stream.
Every window is fitted with a plastic cover that can be pulled down to block out the sight below. In talking to a friend today, I learned the position of the Australian government is athiestic. Let's say I told my fellow passenger, "Look at all the electric lights down there." He promptly closes the window and says, "How can you know those are lights?" Well, I've seen lights before, I've turned them on, I've changed bulbs, tubes, and mercury vapor and halides...I know an electric light when I see one. In my opinion, it takes no faith whatsover to believe that I saw lights out the window the opposite direction of stars. It takes the deductive power of a two year old child to make that simple conclusion.
I do not believe it takes any faith whatsover to believe that God exists. I think it is even more remedial than the concept posed by Ray Comfort is all is required is to "have eyes that see and a brain that works." A man would never come upon cave drawings or paintings and think that the clear representation of hunter and prey were the cause of millions of years of erosion and lime. What diver would believe that a wrecked ship near a reef was the evidence of driftwood joining itself together? No one could ever step foot into a plane believing that there was no engineering involved in the design and it is the product of random chance. When I start thinking about how the human body forms in the womb with all bones, skin, glands, hair, organs, taste buds, bone marrow, brain, vascular, reproductive, and respiratory systems I know it is far beyond man to comprehend.
Man has learned to "harness" the power of wind, but man cannot create wind from nothing. We can create mechanical means to fan ourselves or condition the air of a house, but we must use copper, steel, wires, coils, refrigerant, and electricity to do it. Benjamin Franklin "discovers" electricity with his kite and key and is hailed as a hero, and Thomas Edison invents the incandesent light bulb harnessing electricity and every child at school is taught of him. The grand irony and tragedy of all this is God, the Creator of electricity and all things, is ignored and seen as irrelevant. Schools and governments alike try in vain to cover up every evidence of God and focus on the exploits of man who uses what God has given Him. We worship the creature over the Creator. All we have to do is open our eyes and God's glory is seen!
Even if every window in the airplane was shut, it wouldn't change the reality of the lights far below. The world can make athiestic claims right until the Day of Judgment. No system ever formed itself. No building ever built itself. No pastry ever baked itself. No book ever wrote itself. No painting ever painted itself, and no man ever made himself! Yet there are those who say the world made itself by accident, along with the life and ecosystems in it. I would be a fool for believing that! The earth was made with the ability to support life God created. Life has never come from non-life. Anyone who thinks otherwise is no different than the alchemists of the middle ages who tried to make gold from non-gold through chemical means. What they learned by failure we know scientifically as fact, that gold and silver are basic elements and are not reducible.
Life is the most basic element of God's handiwork. Jesus came that we might have abundant life through Him. Man has the ability to make beautiful things, like lights spread out like a glimmering carpet underneath the plane. But the heavenly lights and stars that God spoke into existence have been around since the beginning of creation, and will remain long after my body turns to dust. He is the eternal God, the mighty Creator of the heavens and earth. He is my God, and I will shine eternally for His glory by His grace.
22 September 2009
Safe in Brisbane!
I have arrived safely in Brisbane! It was a great flight, smooth through customs, and the Landman family was there bright and early to pick me up.
Apparently there is a big windstorm coming up from Sydney and we are seeing the effects in Brisbane. More to come!
Apparently there is a big windstorm coming up from Sydney and we are seeing the effects in Brisbane. More to come!
18 September 2009
Preparing a Place
As the time of my departure draws near, it has been a blessing to hear of the preparations taking place. Today I received an e-mail from Louis that the preparations of "my room" have been completed. I sent over a copy of my itinerary and Louis will pick me up from the Brisbane airport. Over the last couple weeks there have been discussions concerning renting a car or scooter to aid me in transportation. He and his wife Sonja have prepared a room with a bed, a laptop with internet access, a printer, and even a mobile phone. I am blown away by their generosity, thoughtfulness, and care. But this moved me to appreciate my Savior even more.
I started thinking about Elisha. Elisha was an Old Testament prophet who was greatly used by God. As he passed through the city of Shunem, there was a God-fearing woman who often constrained him to eat at her house. 2 Kings 4:10 records a conversation with her husband: "Please, let us make a small upper room on the wall; and let us put a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand; so it will be, whenever he comes to us, he can turn in there." Knowing that Elisha was traveling and could not provide for all his necessities, God put it in the heart of the Shunamite woman to build a furnished room for Elisha. She wanted to provide a bed so he could sleep, a table and chair for eating, a lampstand for reading or writing. She was blessed to bless the man of God. Her outpouring of care was not lost on Elisha and he later asked her, "What is to be done for you?"
My brothers and sisters in AUS have been thoughtful in their care for me. As the Shunamite considered and provided for Elisha's necessities with thought for his comfort, so a place is being provided for me in AUS. But while I will be spending a short while in the Landman house, there is a place being prepared for me in heaven by my Savior, Jesus Christ the LORD, with whom I will dwell eternally. If a fellow pilgrim walking this earth can abundantly supply my needs in a country foreign to me, how much more my Maker!
Abraham was called out of his city to the land which God would show him. Abraham was a pilgrim on this earth, dwelling in tents because he was looking unto a heavenly city made by God. Hebrews 11:16 says, "But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them." Let this verse sink into your hearts: because Abraham desired to be where God is, God is not ashamed to be called "the God of Abraham." Does not this bring tears of joy to your eyes and intense longing to your heart? If you seek God, He will not be ashamed to be called your God!
The Father has prepared a city for His people, and Jesus has gone to prepare a place in that city for all who follow Him in faith. Jesus says in John 14:2-3: "In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. [3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." Who do we need more than Christ, and who knows our needs better than Christ! Where we are going internet and mobile phones are unnecessary, beds and lamps will be useless. The Light of the world will be our light, and the one who does not slumber nor sleep needs no bed. How good it is to long for heaven! We shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
When Elisha was provided a room he asked, "What is to be done for you?" We should ask the same of God, for He has prepared a place for us! A man can do nothing for God unless God does it through him. We have already entered into the dwelling place of the Most High God through the blood of the Lamb as we enter boldly into His throne room of grace. We are now the temple of the Holy Spirit. Our inheritance in Christ is to be entered into now to the degree a mortal can. 1 Cor. 15:54-57 says, "So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." [55] "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" [56] The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. [57] But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Let us enter into the abundant life found in Jesus Christ, laboring for Him. There is no life to be found in cars, houses, mobile phones, or internet service. Life is only found in Jesus Christ. Have you tasted and seen that the LORD, He is good? Oh, the wonder of His grace, that I am His and He is mine! Let us serve Christ and others for the glory of God, for He has prepared a place for us.
I started thinking about Elisha. Elisha was an Old Testament prophet who was greatly used by God. As he passed through the city of Shunem, there was a God-fearing woman who often constrained him to eat at her house. 2 Kings 4:10 records a conversation with her husband: "Please, let us make a small upper room on the wall; and let us put a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand; so it will be, whenever he comes to us, he can turn in there." Knowing that Elisha was traveling and could not provide for all his necessities, God put it in the heart of the Shunamite woman to build a furnished room for Elisha. She wanted to provide a bed so he could sleep, a table and chair for eating, a lampstand for reading or writing. She was blessed to bless the man of God. Her outpouring of care was not lost on Elisha and he later asked her, "What is to be done for you?"
My brothers and sisters in AUS have been thoughtful in their care for me. As the Shunamite considered and provided for Elisha's necessities with thought for his comfort, so a place is being provided for me in AUS. But while I will be spending a short while in the Landman house, there is a place being prepared for me in heaven by my Savior, Jesus Christ the LORD, with whom I will dwell eternally. If a fellow pilgrim walking this earth can abundantly supply my needs in a country foreign to me, how much more my Maker!
Abraham was called out of his city to the land which God would show him. Abraham was a pilgrim on this earth, dwelling in tents because he was looking unto a heavenly city made by God. Hebrews 11:16 says, "But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them." Let this verse sink into your hearts: because Abraham desired to be where God is, God is not ashamed to be called "the God of Abraham." Does not this bring tears of joy to your eyes and intense longing to your heart? If you seek God, He will not be ashamed to be called your God!
The Father has prepared a city for His people, and Jesus has gone to prepare a place in that city for all who follow Him in faith. Jesus says in John 14:2-3: "In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. [3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." Who do we need more than Christ, and who knows our needs better than Christ! Where we are going internet and mobile phones are unnecessary, beds and lamps will be useless. The Light of the world will be our light, and the one who does not slumber nor sleep needs no bed. How good it is to long for heaven! We shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
When Elisha was provided a room he asked, "What is to be done for you?" We should ask the same of God, for He has prepared a place for us! A man can do nothing for God unless God does it through him. We have already entered into the dwelling place of the Most High God through the blood of the Lamb as we enter boldly into His throne room of grace. We are now the temple of the Holy Spirit. Our inheritance in Christ is to be entered into now to the degree a mortal can. 1 Cor. 15:54-57 says, "So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." [55] "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" [56] The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. [57] But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Let us enter into the abundant life found in Jesus Christ, laboring for Him. There is no life to be found in cars, houses, mobile phones, or internet service. Life is only found in Jesus Christ. Have you tasted and seen that the LORD, He is good? Oh, the wonder of His grace, that I am His and He is mine! Let us serve Christ and others for the glory of God, for He has prepared a place for us.
16 September 2009
Where I'll be staying God willing...
I am excited to report that I know where I will be staying when I travel to Brisbane. The Landman family has graciously extended their hospitality to me during my visit. Louis and Sonja invited me over to their home for a wonderful dinner with them during my previous stay. They have two terrific kids, Louise and Johan, and I look forward to spending time together. If you want to check out the street I'll be staying on, feel free to check out the link. The area is indicative of much of the suburbia that is Brisbane, very picturesque and beautiful. Please pray for the Landman family and I thank God for their sacrificial hospitality.
I had a conversation with a brother at church that reminded me that I need to explain my visa situation so you might pray towards that end. I will be traveling on a "tourist visa," which is a one year visa that allows multiple entry but only for a three month maximum stay. I am not allowed to do any work or make any money in AUS. A tourist visa only makes sense in the interim because it is easily obtained and is cheap. The trouble is I cannot afford to bring the whole family over on tourist visas and leave every three months for a couple weeks.
Another visa option is the "religious workers visa." This is a two year visa that would cover me and my family, but I would not be able to draw any income from AUS. There are prerequesites for obtaining this visa as well: I would have to be brought into an established church in Queensland as a pastor. The church would apply with Queensland to be eligible to bring in a foreign minister, and then I would have to apply with Queensland as well. The church would have to prove that I have a skill set not available in Queensland, and that I am not taking a job away from Australians.
Then there is the independent worker. This visa is very spendy (about $4,000 American) to pay for the application process and is no guarantee whatsoever that I will be accepted. There are only certain trades that qualify, and I've been out of my trade (mechanical insulator) for longer than three years so I don't believe I qualify. Once this visa is obtained, you can only work in the field that the visa specifies. This still would not guarantee a job, provide permanent residency, and you can forget trying to become a dual-citizen without that.
You know why this pumps me up? Because the only way I will be able to serve long-term in Australia is with the divine intervention of God! The doors He shuts none can open, and the doors He opens none can shut! Beaurocracy is not greater than my Savior, and all nations tremble at His voice. No government can stand before the KING of Kings and LORD of Lords. I rejoice in my Savior, Jesus Christ. It's miraculous that two continents are united with people praying and supporting me and my family in this venture of faith for the glory of God. The earth is the LORD's, and the fullness thereof. The whole earth is filled with His glory!
Is anything too hard for our God? He does not change, grow weary, or become faint. If anything is too hard for your god, then your god is a pathetic farce. My God is LORD of ALL, and nothing is too hard for Him. He is worthy of all honor, glory, and praise.
I had a conversation with a brother at church that reminded me that I need to explain my visa situation so you might pray towards that end. I will be traveling on a "tourist visa," which is a one year visa that allows multiple entry but only for a three month maximum stay. I am not allowed to do any work or make any money in AUS. A tourist visa only makes sense in the interim because it is easily obtained and is cheap. The trouble is I cannot afford to bring the whole family over on tourist visas and leave every three months for a couple weeks.
Another visa option is the "religious workers visa." This is a two year visa that would cover me and my family, but I would not be able to draw any income from AUS. There are prerequesites for obtaining this visa as well: I would have to be brought into an established church in Queensland as a pastor. The church would apply with Queensland to be eligible to bring in a foreign minister, and then I would have to apply with Queensland as well. The church would have to prove that I have a skill set not available in Queensland, and that I am not taking a job away from Australians.
Then there is the independent worker. This visa is very spendy (about $4,000 American) to pay for the application process and is no guarantee whatsoever that I will be accepted. There are only certain trades that qualify, and I've been out of my trade (mechanical insulator) for longer than three years so I don't believe I qualify. Once this visa is obtained, you can only work in the field that the visa specifies. This still would not guarantee a job, provide permanent residency, and you can forget trying to become a dual-citizen without that.
You know why this pumps me up? Because the only way I will be able to serve long-term in Australia is with the divine intervention of God! The doors He shuts none can open, and the doors He opens none can shut! Beaurocracy is not greater than my Savior, and all nations tremble at His voice. No government can stand before the KING of Kings and LORD of Lords. I rejoice in my Savior, Jesus Christ. It's miraculous that two continents are united with people praying and supporting me and my family in this venture of faith for the glory of God. The earth is the LORD's, and the fullness thereof. The whole earth is filled with His glory!
Is anything too hard for our God? He does not change, grow weary, or become faint. If anything is too hard for your god, then your god is a pathetic farce. My God is LORD of ALL, and nothing is too hard for Him. He is worthy of all honor, glory, and praise.
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