Been Feeling Uncertain Lately?

You're in good company:


"I do not love God. I never did. Therefore I never believed, in the Christian sense of the word. Therefore I am only an honest heathen...And yet, to be so employed of God!"

- John Wesley, at the age of 63, in a letter to his brother

"I look back now over our decades together, and it's easy to see God's big plan. But of course, as we were making our way through it, there was a lot of confusion; there were a lot of questions. We didn't really know from day to day what God had in mind!"

- Oretha Hagin, RHEMA, in her husband Kenneth E. Hagin's eulogy

"Art thou He that should come, or look we for another?"

- John the Baptist's question to Christ, when he was in prison

And yet the Lord Jesus immediately said of him (John):

"Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist..."

"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief."

- Paul the Apostle, in his old age, in a letter to Timothy, his own son in the faith

Paul's mind was:

"Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

Been Feeling Uncertain Lately?

You're in good company:


"I do not love God. I never did. Therefore I never believed, in the Christian sense of the word. Therefore I am only an honest heathen...And yet, to be so employed of God!"

- John Wesley, at the age of 63, in a letter to his brother

"I look back now over our decades together, and it's easy to see God's big plan. But of course, as we were making our way through it, there was a lot of confusion; there were a lot of questions. We didn't really know from day to day what God had in mind!"

- Oretha Hagin, RHEMA, in her husband Kenneth E. Hagin's eulogy

"Art thou He that should come, or look we for another?"

- John the Baptist's question to Christ, when he was in prison

And yet the Lord Jesus immediately said of him (John):

"Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist..."

"Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief."

- Paul the Apostle, in his old age, in a letter to Timothy, his own son in the faith

Paul's mind was:

"Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

Balancing Prayer with Praise

When we praise, God does something.

Balancing Prayer with Praise

When we praise, God does something.

A Message to the World by Evan Roberts

"THE Power of the revival in South Wales is not of men, but of God. He has been close to us and has shown us the way.

There is no question of creed or of dogma in this movement. The work that is being done has the support, I believe, of all Christian people and Christian churches in our country. I have merely preached the religion of Jesus Christ as I myself have experienced it.

God has “made me glad,” and I am showing others the great joy of serving Him, a joy so great and so wonderful that I shall never be able to express it in its completeness. We are teaching no sectarian doctrine, only the wonder and the beauty of Christ’s love, the love of man for Him, and the love of man for man.

I have been asked concerning my methods. I have none. I never prepare the words I shall speak. I leave all that to Him. I am not the source of this revival. I am only one agent in what is growing to be a multitude. I am not moving men’s hearts and changing men’s lives; not I, but “God worketh in me.” I have found what is, in my belief, the highest kind of Christianity. I desire to give my life, which is all I have to give, to helping others to find it also. Many have already found it, thank God, and many more are finding it through them.

This is my work as He has pointed it out to me. His Spirit came to me one night, when upon my knees I asked Him for guidance, and five months later I was baptized with the Spirit. He has led me as He will lead all those who, conscious of their human weakness, lean upon Him as children upon a father. I know that the work which has been done through me is not due to any human ability that I possess. It is His work and to His Glory. “I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou should’st lead me on. I loved to choose and see my path, but now lead Thou me on.”

I desire nothing but to be allowed to continue this work that has begun. “The Lord is my Shepherd. I fear no want.” All things necessary He has provided, and will provide. I wish no personal following, only the world for Christ.

Some things have been said about our meetings, and about me which are not true; but God’s truth has not been hurt by these misstatements, and they, therefore, matter little. I believe, too, that He has put it into the hearts of those who have written of the revival to say helpful things, for some of the papers have carried our message to many whom we have not personally reached.

I believe that the world is upon the threshold of a great religious revival, and I pray daily that I may be allowed to help bring this about.

I beseech all those who confess Christ to ask Him today, upon their knees, if He has not some work for them to do now. He will lead them all as He has led us. He will make them pillars of smoke by day and pillars of fire by night to guide all men to Him.

Wonderful things have happened in Wales in a few weeks, but these are only a beginning. The world will be swept by His Spirit as by a rushing, mighty wind. Many who are now silent Christians, negative Christians, Christians whose belief means little to them and nothing to anyone else, will lead in the movement. Groping, hesitating, half-hearted Christians will see a great Light and will reflect this Light to thousands of those in utter darkness. The whole world will hear His message of “peace, good-will toward men,” and listening, will be blessed. Thousands upon thousands will do more than we have accomplished, as God gives them power. This is my earnest faith, if the churches will but learn the great lesson of obedience to the voice of the Holy Spirit. Obedience! Obedience!! Obedience!!!"

A Message to the World by Evan Roberts

"THE Power of the revival in South Wales is not of men, but of God. He has been close to us and has shown us the way.

There is no question of creed or of dogma in this movement. The work that is being done has the support, I believe, of all Christian people and Christian churches in our country. I have merely preached the religion of Jesus Christ as I myself have experienced it.

God has “made me glad,” and I am showing others the great joy of serving Him, a joy so great and so wonderful that I shall never be able to express it in its completeness. We are teaching no sectarian doctrine, only the wonder and the beauty of Christ’s love, the love of man for Him, and the love of man for man.

I have been asked concerning my methods. I have none. I never prepare the words I shall speak. I leave all that to Him. I am not the source of this revival. I am only one agent in what is growing to be a multitude. I am not moving men’s hearts and changing men’s lives; not I, but “God worketh in me.” I have found what is, in my belief, the highest kind of Christianity. I desire to give my life, which is all I have to give, to helping others to find it also. Many have already found it, thank God, and many more are finding it through them.

This is my work as He has pointed it out to me. His Spirit came to me one night, when upon my knees I asked Him for guidance, and five months later I was baptized with the Spirit. He has led me as He will lead all those who, conscious of their human weakness, lean upon Him as children upon a father. I know that the work which has been done through me is not due to any human ability that I possess. It is His work and to His Glory. “I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou should’st lead me on. I loved to choose and see my path, but now lead Thou me on.”

I desire nothing but to be allowed to continue this work that has begun. “The Lord is my Shepherd. I fear no want.” All things necessary He has provided, and will provide. I wish no personal following, only the world for Christ.

Some things have been said about our meetings, and about me which are not true; but God’s truth has not been hurt by these misstatements, and they, therefore, matter little. I believe, too, that He has put it into the hearts of those who have written of the revival to say helpful things, for some of the papers have carried our message to many whom we have not personally reached.

I believe that the world is upon the threshold of a great religious revival, and I pray daily that I may be allowed to help bring this about.

I beseech all those who confess Christ to ask Him today, upon their knees, if He has not some work for them to do now. He will lead them all as He has led us. He will make them pillars of smoke by day and pillars of fire by night to guide all men to Him.

Wonderful things have happened in Wales in a few weeks, but these are only a beginning. The world will be swept by His Spirit as by a rushing, mighty wind. Many who are now silent Christians, negative Christians, Christians whose belief means little to them and nothing to anyone else, will lead in the movement. Groping, hesitating, half-hearted Christians will see a great Light and will reflect this Light to thousands of those in utter darkness. The whole world will hear His message of “peace, good-will toward men,” and listening, will be blessed. Thousands upon thousands will do more than we have accomplished, as God gives them power. This is my earnest faith, if the churches will but learn the great lesson of obedience to the voice of the Holy Spirit. Obedience! Obedience!! Obedience!!!"

The Sweet Strains of the Steel

"Anyone who doesn't like it, doesn't have a heart." That's what a Toowoomba steeler told me once.

One woman said she hears the steel guitar as poetry.

"Nothin' short of dyin' half as lonesome as the sound."

Wikipedia mentions its beautiful "liquid, yearning" sound.

"Moaning".

"Weeping" - others feel it deeper.

A sound that "just makes the hair on the back of my head stand up".

And if it "don't raise the hair on your head, you must be baldheaded".

"The only type of music that 'feels right'," someone said.

"I felt home".

They're right.

Like a Republican Party victory celebration; like Jimmy Swaggart in the pulpit; like a second-half comeback by Queensland's State of Origin team; like an arrangement of flowers; like a honeymoon on a Pacific island in an endless summer - it's just beautiful!

Every now and then I can't resist getting my late grandfather's lap steel out of the cupboard - to allow my fingers and my heart that sound which somehow just puts you in touch with everything your heart's been longing for.

One of those days where nothing much else gets done...

I can't wait to see my granddad again. He was pretty good at it while he was here - I can only imagine how sweetly he can play it now after these many years in heaven - where he, and my great-grandfather, my great-great grandfather, and my great-great-great grandfather are all together, beholding the beautiful face of Jesus every day.

"Behold I go and prepare a place for you. And if I go, I will doubtless come again, and receive you to myself, that where I am, there ye may be also."