Popcorn Christianity! (Mark 15)

Popcorn Christianity! (Mark 15)

Mark 15.21 Then they compelled a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to bear His cross. [nkjv]

Mel Gibson's film 'The Passion of the Christ' gave many people a new understanding of Jesus' journey to the cross and the horror of his crucifixion. Like many Christians around the world, I went with my Church to go and see the movie. In some ways I wish I hadn't. I would much rather have sat in the privacy of my home so I couldn't be distracted by the people around me. Along with many others in the cinema that day, I was moved to tears. All I could think while I watched Jesus being beaten, whipped and crucified was, 'He did this for me!" But there were some in the cinema who talked through the movie, some giggled while others sat there in their comfortable seats stuffing their faces with popcorn, chips and choc tops, while the Son of God was crucified in front of them!

Jesus' death to these 'Christians' was nothing more than a night's entertainment!

Afterwards as people were coming out of the cinema, some wanted to chat, all I wanted to do was jump in the car and go home as quickly as I could. I wanted to be alone. Scenes from the movie played over and over again in my head. I just wanted to fall in a heap on the floor somewhere and sob, and repent of living a selfish life. There was also part of me which wanted to phone every one of those 'so called Christians' and give them a piece of my mind. How can you watch something like that and be indifferent!

But I guess there were thousands of people just like these who actually witnessed Jesus going to the cross that day and walked away unchanged. Some hurled insults. Some jeered. Some even took great joy in seeing Him suffer. Would I have been any different if I were there that day?

There were some who were impacted. There were those closest to Jesus, His mother and friends who watched from afar. There was the Roman centurion who came to the realisation that this truly was the Son of God. There was the criminal on the cross who that day entered with Jesus into eternity. And there was Simon, the man compelled to carry the cross of Christ.

Simon was from North Africa. Maybe he was chosen because he was black, maybe because he was a foreigner, maybe because he stood out in the crowd. Regardless of why, he had the honour of being the very first person to carry the cross of Christ. But he had to be forced to do it.

To carry the cross of Christ is never easy. It is never comfortable and it is never convenient. But Jesus tells us that if we want to follow Him, it is something we need to do daily. To carry the cross causes us to focus our attention on Christ. It means laying down our will, our desires, our dreams. It forces us to stop thinking about ourselves. It causes us to stand out in the crowd and identifies us with Jesus.

Just like Simon, we are 'compelled' to do it but we are often blessed by the things we are compelled to do. We are changed! Scripture says that Simon was the father of Rufus and Alexander. We learn in Romans that Rufus was someone known to the early Church and was a devoted follower of Christ. We can surmise that something happened to Simon that day. He may have been a stranger to the city. He may not have known this 'Jesus' whose cross he was commanded to carry, but in carrying the cross, a transformation took place, one which not only changed his life but also that of his children.

My prayer is that we all put down the popcorn and pick up the cross so we can experience the transforming power of Jesus' love in our lives.

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Be All You Can Be! (Mark 14)

Be All You Can Be! (Mark 14)

Mark 14. 8 She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. [nkjv]

Randy Kraus was paralyzed. His left side was useless. But his right hand was good enough to lift the barrel of a .38 to his temple. Once, he'd been a police officer in Fresno, California, and owned a private-eye agency. Once, he'd been strong and able. Now, he felt he was nothing.

His trouble started with Parkinson's disease, but it didn't end there. In July 2002, the 60-year-old Kraus went into the hospital for an operation that implanted electrodes in his brain to control the shaking. But during the operation, he had a stroke. He was paralyzed. The cop, the tough guy, the man who loved golf, "could think, but couldn't move." Transferred to a rehab hospital, Kraus wanted the therapists to give it to him straight. "You may never walk again," they told him. "Maybe you won't even be able to talk."

Once home, he found he couldn't lift a fork or take a drink by himself. Physical therapy was so painful and slow. What did he have to live for? So now Kraus held the gun against his head. Feeling the cold metal on his skin, he began to consider not his pain, but the pain he would cause his wife, daughters and grandchildren. He didn't pull the trigger.

And his exercise physiologist, Andrew Garud, didn't pull any punches with him. "You are where you are", he told him. "The pace would be slow; the pain would be real. But as long as you are alive, you have the ability to get better." After three months of working with Garud, Kraus wanted to see if he could stand. He could. Then he took three steps, sat down and cried like a baby.

One step, as they say, led to another. Next he managed a short walk along the edge of a boxing ring in the health club where they worked out. It was the hardest fight of Kraus's life. People at the gym cheered him on. Garud kept saying he could do more.

Today, Kraus can walk up to 50 feet with no assistance, brush his teeth, shave himself, and uses an eletric wheelchair to enjoy an active lifestyle. He finds great pride in helping local patients find their path to recovery, just like he found his. He has become an inspiration to many.

Sometimes we can mistakenly think that success is receiving world wide recognition for your talents and achievements. We can think that success equals money in the bank, a degree on the wall, a top 10 hit. But Jesus' definition of success is found in this story of the lady with the anointing oil. He praised her because she did all she could!

God expects no more from us than doing ALL we can do.

For each of us that will be different because we all have different capacities. The question we need to ask ourselves is, "Have I done what God has asked of me to the best of my ability?"

Sometimes we set the bar too low. Left on our own we often take the easy road. We all need at least one person in our life like Andrew Garud. Someone who will speak the truth and urge us on. Someone who believes in us and someone who won't settle for any less than our best.

John Wesley once said, "Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can as long as ever you can."

Simply by doing the most insignificant task to the best of your ability, you could inspire a whole generation.

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Left Behind! (Mark 13)

Left Behind! (Mark 13)

Mark 13.33-36 Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning - lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. [nkjv]

In August 2008 a four-year-old Israeli girl was left behind at Ben Gurion International Airport at Tel-Aviv as her mother, father and four siblings rushed to catch a flight to Paris. The ultra-Orthodox family of seven, who between them had 18 suitcases, were in a hurry not to miss their flight and in their haste failed to notice that only six of them had actually boarded the plane. The girl was found crying and wandering around the departures hall by a police officer. It was too late to stop the plane as it had already left the terminal. As the aircraft gained height, the girl’s parents suffered the crushing embarrassment of being told by the pilot that their family was one short. They had apparently still not realised. There was a happy ending to the story as the little girl was put on the next flight to Paris, accompanied by a flight attendant. The forgetful parents were questioned by authorities upon their return home.

There is an event on the Christian calendar which is shrouded in mystery. No one knows exactly when it will take place or what it will look like but it is getting closer day by day. I am talking about the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

As a child in the late 70's and early 80's I can remember hearing preachers talk a lot about the return of Jesus. Planes falling out of the sky. The mark of the beast. Earthquakes. Famine. Disease. Persecution. The Rapture. It sent chills up my spine.

I remember coming home one day from school to find no one at home. There were no notes, no phone messages, just a freshly made cup of coffee on the table and no one around. The words of Larry Norman's song, "I wish we'd all been ready," came echoing back to me. One line in particular screamed loudly around in my head, "there's no time to change your mind, the Son has come and you've been left behind."

I panicked! Immediately I began phoning every person I could think of who I was certain was a better Christian than me, the only problem was no one was answering their phone!

Just as I was about to fall in a heap on the floor and plead with God for a second chance, I heard the familiar sound of my parent's combi van coming up the driveway.

Despite my misguided fears, there is going to come a day when Jesus will return like He said He would. To each of us His servants, He has left us with the responsibility for His house, given us His authority, and commissioned us with work to do. When He returns I am sure He will want to see just how faithful we have been with these in His absence.

My Dad had a very simple philispohy on end times. "Plan as though Jesus is never coming back but live like He is coming back this very minute."

I wonder what Jesus will find me doing when He returns?

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Who Wants to be a Millionaire? (Mark 12)

Who Wants to be a Millionaire? (Mark 12)

Mark 12.42-44 Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood. [nkjv]

Just last week a Queensland couple and a man from Adelaide won $53m dollars each in Oz Lotto's biggest division one prize. To a lot of Australians, winning the lotto is a dream come true. The chance to get ahead in life. But for those lucky few, the dream can quickly turn into a nightmare.

"Winning the lottery isn't always what it's cracked up to be," says Evelyn Adams, who won the New Jersey lottery not just once, but twice, to the tune of $5.4m. Today the money is all gone and Adams lives in a trailer.

Jack Whittaker won a record $314.9m Powerball jackpot in 2002. But life for him has been anything but perfect since that day. There has been a long list of arrests, lawsuits and broken relationships. In 2007 his wife admitted she wished she had torn up the ticket.

William Post won $16.2 million in the Pennsylvania Lottery in 1988. He was sued by a former girlfriend and his brother hired a hitman in the hope of inheriting his winnings. Post invested badly and within a year was $1m in debt! Today he gets by on social security payments and wishes the whole thing never happened.

Janite Lee won $18 million in 1993 but filed for bankruptcy just eight years later.

Michael Carroll won $9.7m in 2002 and after 30 court appearances and being jailed for drug related offenses, admitted to only having $500,000 of his windfall left just six years later.

Willie Hurt won $3.1m in 1989 and spent it all on divorce and cocaine within two years.

I could go on and on...

Jesus watched as this poor widow gave her two mites. According to custom, she had an obligation to pay something into the treasury. One coin was expected. But she gave two!

And even though what she gave was so small in comparison to other's gifts that day, Jesus highlighted the fact that the value of a gift is determined by what it cost the giver. This is what made the widow's offering so valuable.

It cost her everything!

Most of us haven't won the lotto. We have debts, mortgages, and bills. We are pulled in a thousand different directions by things wanting our time and attention. We have to get up each morning, go to work, to earn money to live. Even though it may seem like we have very little, we can't use our lack as a reason not to be generous.

Generous with our time, our money, our words and our life.

The poor widow challenged the mindset, "I'll give more when I have more". And Jesus noticed her out of everyone else!

I wonder if I were in that line that day, would my offering have caught Jesus' attention?

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Eat What You Want and Stay Thin! (Mark 11)

Eat What You Want and Stay Thin! (Mark 11)

Mark 11.13-14 And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. In response Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.” And His disciples heard it. [nkjv]

Sometimes false advertising is easy to spot. We hear those incredible statements like 'lose 50 kilo's in 5 days' or 'eat all you want and stay thin!' If it sounds too good to be true, most often it usually is. But sometimes false advertising is a little more subtle.

Take for example Listerine.

First formulated in 1879 as surgical antiseptic, it was given to dentists for oral care in 1895. It was the first over-the-counter mouthwash sold in the USA in 1914. However by the 1920's it was being marketed as a cure for sore throats and coughs, a dandruff preventative, an anti-shave tonic and a safe way to protect yourself from cuts, bruises, wounds and stings!

It promised the world but at the end of the day, delivered very little. Eventually the company was fined and ordered to make amends.

In this modern day and age, very little has changed. We are surrounded by marketing campaigns promising the world but coming up short. The end result is we get more and more cynical.

Jesus found the fig tree to be guilty of the same sort of false advertising and He cursed it! Not because it didn't have fruit, but because it's green leaves promised fruit but delivered none.

There are too many churches today doing exactly the same thing. They present themselves publicly in such a way that hungry people are drawn to the 'green leaves' in search of food, only to find upon closer inspection that there is no fruit on the tree. People come expecting sustenance and substance but leave empty handed and I think their heart grows a little more cynical each time it happens.

However it's easy to cast blame on the church but we need to remember that churches are made up of people, just like you and me. So we have a responsibility as individuals to ask ourselves the question, "if someone came looking at my tree, what fruit would they find?"

Love? Joy? Peace? Patience? Kindness? Goodness? Faithfulness? Meekness? Self-control?

Maybe if we all did that, the church today would resemble more of what Christ intended for her to be.

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The Day My Wife Left Me! (Mark 10)

The Day My Wife Left Me! (Mark 10)

Mark 10.9 Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate. [nkjv]

A couple in Cambodia have taken divorce to a whole new level. On September 10th 2008, Moeun Sarim and Vat Navy decided to end their 18-year marriage. Rather than a long drawn out court process over 'who gets what', 42 year old Moeun made a decision to split everything they owned right down the middle. Literally! With the help of family and friends, he turned up at the house, armed with a chainsaw and crowbar and carried off his half of the house!

As funny as that sounds, it paints a very accurate picture of divorce - the tearing apart of something whole to make two halves. I've lived through divorce. My parents separated when I was 5 years old. I know the effect it can have on vulnerable children. I always swore that I would never put my kids through what I went through.

In a month's time, Cath and I celebrate 17 years of marriage. To be honest, we really never thought we would make it this far. We've had our difficulties, every couple has them, but ours just seemed unrelenting and overwhelming.

Up until eight years ago, we hadn't had a very healthy relationship at all. Ministry and church life overshadowed everything. My past was a big hurdle which seemed impossible to conquer. Our priorities were out of order and our marriage felt like one huge lie. We would be trying to help people in their relationships usually at the expense of our own. We felt like hypocrites.

The turning point of our relationship came the day my wife left me. She packed the car, took the kids and left for her parents. The next few days were a blur of emotions, tears and anger as I struggled to come to terms with what was happening. Jesus described marriage as not just a legal contract but as a union - two people coming together as one. I could feel a tearing take place as our lives were literally ripped in two.

It's only by God's grace that we were able to walk through that period of our lives. He has helped us put together the broken pieces of our life. It's a day by day walk, hand in hand. Our relationship is stronger today than it has ever been. I am more in love with my wife than the day I first met her.

Sure we still face problems, what relationship worth having doesn't? But this time around things are different. Each day we choose to make God the center of our marriage and what God joins together, stays together.

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The Photo Which Changed The World (Mark 9)

The Photo Which Changed The World (Mark 9)

Mark 9.36-37 He put a child in the middle of the room. Then, cradling the little one in his arms, he said, "Whoever embraces one of these children as I do embraces me, and far more than me—God who sent me." [msg]

On 11th March 1993, photojournalist Ken Carter, travelled to famine-stricken southern Sudan with the UN onboard Operation LifeLine Sudan. Immediately after his plane touched down in the village of Ayod, he was told he would only have 30 minutes (which was the time it took for them to unload the food supplies from the plane). He quickly began snapping photos of famine victims.

Seeking relief from the sight of masses of people starving to death, he wandered into the open bush. He heard a soft, high-pitched whimpering and saw a tiny girl struggling to make her way to the feeding centre. When he crouched to photograph her, a vulture landed in view. Careful not to disturb the bird, he positioned himself for the best possible image. He would later say he waited about 20 minutes, hoping the vulture would spread its wings. It did not, and after he took his photographs, he chased the bird away and watched as the little girl resumed her struggle. Afterward he sat under a tree, lit a cigarette, talked to God and cried.

The photograph was sold to The New York Times where it appeared for the first time on March 26, 1993. Practically overnight hundreds of people contacted the newspaper to ask whether the child had survived, leading the newspaper to run a special editor's note saying the girl had enough strength to walk away from the vulture, but that her ultimate fate was unknown.

A year later Kevin Carter went on to win a Pulitzer Prize for his shocking picture. However he came under heavy criticism for just photographing and not helping the little girl. On 27th July 1994, (just 15 months after taking the photo) at age 33, Carter committed suicide. His photo is accredited as one which helped change the world and one which helped highlight the plight of children in poverty, yet I can't help but think that it did little to help this little girl.

Jesus took a child in His arms and embraced him and said whoever does the same, is showing God just how much you really love Him.

Most of my Christian life has been about me. Dealing with my sins, my habits, asking God to supply my needs while millions of children all around the world face each day without hope. Alone. No one to embrace them. But what difference can I possibly make to starving children in Africa?

The problem with poverty is that it seems so big and we are so small. I once heard a story about a man who asked the same question. He was walking along a beach and came across a young man busy throwing the starfish that had washed ashore back into the ocean. When he was asked why he was doing this, the young man replied, "The sun is coming up and the tide is going out and if I don't throw them in they will die." Upon hearing this the man commented that there were miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish. Can he really hope to make a difference? To which the young man picked up a starfish, threw it back in the ocean and as it hit the waves simply said, "It made a difference to that one!"

I may not have the skills, the influence or the resources to solve the difficult problems of extreme poverty but I can do something - I can change the world for one child.

I know this is what Jesus would do.

(If your not sure where to start, sponsor a child or if you already do then go a step further)

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The World Will End December 21, 2012! (Mark 8)

The World Will End December 21, 2012! (Mark 8)

Mark 8.31 And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. [nkjv]

2012 will be a big year. On 31st January 2012, the second largest near Earth object, 433 Eros, will come close to Earth's orbit, making it visible with the naked eye. July 27th sees the Olympic Games underway in London. On November 6th Americans go to the polls to re-elect President Barak Obama, and on the 21st December 2012 the Long Count Calendar of the Ancient Mayans comes to an end, with many predicting cataclysmic events signaling the end of the world as we know it. Those of us who remember the media build up to Y2K will no doubt approach this imminent apocalyptic event with a great deal of skepticism.

Adding to the hysteria is a movie released later this year titled simply 2012. Although I approach movies like this purely for entertainment value and of course the special effects, I couldn't help think as I watched the trailer, "If I knew that my life would come to an end tomorrow, would I change the way I am living today?"

It's a fair question, one well worth consideration. Generally we choose not to think about it unless confronted by the death of a friend, sickness or giant asteroids plummeting to earth. I recently came across a post by a man named James. He had just undergone quadruple bypass surgery and asked himself the same question. I like what he had to say.

Jesus knew He had limited time on this earth. His ministry life was only three years, yet in that time He changed not only history but also eternity. When you know the value of time, life becomes purposeful, priorities shift and people become paramount. People become more important than careers. The health of relationships trump the pursuit of riches. I've never heard anyone say on their deathbed, "I just wish I had spent more time at the office!"

Unfortunately most of us tend to procrastinate. I am a procrastinator. No end date on a project means another day up my sleeve to hold off completing it. There is always tomorrow!

But what if there wasn't? What if today was all I had. How would I spend it? Who would I spend it with? What conversations would I have?

As Christians, we don't fear death but we do have a responsibility to be good stewards with the time God has given to us. Let's make a renewed commitment to make today count.

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Dinner with Tom Cruise or Mum's Lamb Roast! (Mark 7)

Dinner with Tom Cruise or Mum's Lamb Roast! (Mark 7)

Mark 7.5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?” [nkjv]

There was an ad in the early 90's where actress Naomi Watts passed up a dinner date with Tom Cruise to eat her mum's lamb roast. I love to cook. I'm no Jamie Oliver but in our household I am famous for my lasagna, pancakes and chocolate slice. I learnt how to cook by watching my mum in the kitchen when I was a child. Even now, when I need advice in the kitchen, I'm on the phone to mum straight away.

I heard a story recently about a young girl who also use to watch her mum in the kitchen. One day, while preparing a roast, she noticed her cutting off the ends of the roast. When she asked her why she did that, her mum replied, "that's the way my mum did it dear." Still puzzled by this, the little girl rang her grandma to ask the same question. Grandma also gave the same answer, "that's the way my mum did it dear." Not satisfied, the little girl rang up her great grandmother and asked her the same question. "Oh my dear", she said, "when I use to cook a roast, the only way I could fit it in the pan was to first cut off the ends before putting it in the oven."

We all have our traditions. Those quirky things we do, which have been passed down through the generations. Those things our parents did and which we will probably teach our children to do. They aren't necessarily all bad. Some traditions bring a sense of comfort and familiarity. Some help us focus on what's important in life.

The Pharisees and Scribes however were so caught up in their traditions and religious customs that when confronted by something different they struggled to believe. They didn't evaluate Jesus through the measure of God's Word rather they evaluated Him through the measure of their religious traditions.

This is when traditions become unhealthy. They blind us to the truth. They become more about rules and less about grace. Sometimes even the tradition becomes more important than God Himself. And the greatest consequence is that God's message of love, forgiveness and grace gets lost in translation and religious tradition.

Unless of course there is a little girl, bold enough to ask 'why?'

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Jesus Still Changes Lives! (Mark 6)

Jesus Still Changes Lives! (Mark 6)

Mark 6.3 Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him. [nkjv]

Nicky Cruz wasn't even 4 years old when his heart turned to stone. As one of 18 children born to witchcraft-practicing parents from Puerto Rico, bloodshed and mayhem were common occurrences in his life. He suffered severe physical and mental abuse at their hands, at one time being declared the "Son of Satan" by his mother while she was in a spiritual trance.When he was 15, Nicky's father sent him to visit an older brother in New York. Nicky didn't stay with his brother long. Instead, full of anger and rage, he chose to make it on his own.

Tough, but lonely, by age 16 he became a member of the notorious Brooklyn street gang known as the Mau Maus (named after a bloodthirsty African tribe). Within six months he became their leader. Cruz fearlessly ruled the streets as warlord of one of the gangs most dreaded by rivals and police. Lost in the cycle of drugs, alcohol, and brutal violence, his life took a tragic turn for the worse after a friend and fellow gang member was horribly stabbed and beaten and died in Nicky's arms.

As Cruz' reputation grew, so did his haunting nightmares. Arrested countless times, a court-ordered psychiatrist pronounced Nicky's fate as "headed to prison, the electric chair, and hell."

No authority figure could reach Cruz - until he met a skinny street-preacher named David Wilkerson. He disarmed Nicky - showing him something he'd never known before: Relentless love. His interest in the young thug was persistent. Nicky beat him up, spit on him and, on one occasion, seriously threatened his life, yet the love of God remained - stronger than any adversary Nicky had ever encountered.

Finally, Wilkerson's presentation of the gospel message and the love of Jesus melted the thick walls of his heart. Nicky received the forgiveness, love and new life that can only come through Jesus. Since then, he has dedicated that life to helping others find the same freedom.

At church yesterday, our pastor preached an amazing message titled, 'Jesus still changes lives!'. This carpenter who lived 2000 years ago in a remote part of the world is still in the business of changing people's lives.

As a carpenter, Jesus would have learned a few things. He learned that there is potential hidden within an ordinary log. He would have learned that it takes work and time to draw out that potential and make something usable. And just like Nicky Cruz's story reminds us, He would have learned that the finest things are made from the hardest wood.

There are so many hurting people on this earth waiting for a carpenter, just like Jesus, to walk up to them and tell them that they are loved, there is hope and that Jesus can change their life.

Lord let me be that person for someone today!

Watch Nicky share his testimony. You can also check out the upcoming remake of 'Run Baby Run'

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It's Amazing Who You Meet in a Cemetery! (Mark 5)

It's Amazing Who You Meet in a Cemetery! (Mark 5)

Mark 5.2 And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. [nkjv]

The shocking news is quickly making it's way around the globe - Michael Jackson is dead!

I must admit, when I first heard I had mixed feelings. I've never met him. I've never been to one of his concerts and I don't think I even currently own one of his albums yet he has been part of my life right from a young age. Every Saturday morning I'd watch the 'Jackson 5' strut their stuff on TV. When Michael performed 'Billy Jean' at the 1983 Motown 25 Concert, I remember the very next day wearing a single white glove to school to show my dedication as a fan and not to mention my extreme 'coolness'. Then there's the hours spent alone in my room practicing the 'moonwalk' and imagining that moment in time when I, the geekiest guy in school, get to show off my super cool dance moves while my fellow students look on in awe.

I did get to meet Michael's brother, Jermaine Jackson, about 20 years ago. We chatted for a little while while I cleaned his hotel room. But that's about it.

I think that there will be a lot said about Michael in the weeks ahead. Some good and some not so good. His life was riddled with controversy. People will have mixed reactions to his death. There is a church group in America claiming to represent God called Westboro Baptist Church. They released a press statement today saying that God was behind the heart attack which killed Jackson and 'praised God' that he was now in hell.

I visited their website and it made me ill. How can people who call themselves Christians represent God that way? Does He really hate people? The people at Westboro Church seem to think so. They target gays, those in the military, prostitutes, and even Joyce Meyer gets a mention! According to their beliefs, I'm sure God hates me as well for for even suggesting they might be misled.

But as I read through the Bible I see a very different picture of God.

Jesus got into a boat and sailed across the Sea of Galilee. He was exhausted. He travelled through a hurricane. He had to deal with disbelieving disciples. He arrived and met a demon possessed guy. Healed him. Then got back into the boat and sailed straight back to the other side.

Jesus went through all of that just for one man!

One man who society rejected. One man lost in a helpless situation. One man who He loved.

You can't tell me that God doesn't love people.

Regardless of the life he lived, the choices he made, Michael Jackson was someone dearly loved by Almighty God. No matter how much the people at Westboro Baptist Church protest, they can never change that.

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Sometimes Jesus Does Nothing (Mark 4)

Sometimes Jesus Does Nothing (Mark 4)

Mark 4.37-38 And a furious storm of wind of hurricane proportions arose, and the waves kept beating into the boat, so that it was already becoming filled. But He [Jesus] was in the stern of the boat, asleep on the leather cushion; and they awoke Him and said to Him, Master, do You not care that we are perishing? [amp]

Without warning, the peaceful calm of the Sea of Galilee can be transformed into a violent raging storm which can quickly turn deadly. A storm in March 1992 sent 10ft high waves crashing into downtown Tiberias, causing massive damage. I read a story yesterday about a tour group crossing the Sea of Galilee, when suddenly the wind, rain and waves began to kick up. A young man on the boat thought “What would Jesus do?” and stood up to rebuke the storm. When he spoke out, “Peace, be still” the rain and wind kept coming but the engine of the boat immediately cut out.

Sometimes when we pray things get worse. And sometimes God seems silent. Almost like He's asleep at the helm.

I've been through my fair share of storms. One in particular, really stands out to me. I was doing all the right things for all the right reasons, when all of a sudden I found myself in the middle of chaos. People I had trusted turned on me, our finances dried up and doors of opportunity, which were once wide open, now seemed nailed shut. And through it all, God seemed strangely quiet.

I did what the disciples did. I worked harder, using every ounce of strength and skill I had just to stay afloat but nothing helped. I prayed. I fasted. I looked for answers in Scripture but found nothing. I could feel my frustration and anger giving way to bitterness. "God don't you even care?"

The disciples got into the boat that day only because Jesus told them to. Jesus was the one responsible for leading them into a storm and then when they needed Him the most, Jesus was fast asleep!

I wonder how long it took the disciples before they decided to wake Jesus up? How exhausted were they before they came to the realisation that this was a battle they could not win?

Not every storm we face is a devilish scheme aimed at our destruction. But sometimes God invites chaos around our life simply to remind us that no matter the size of the storm, we are never alone. Jesus is in the boat with us.

Instead of coming immediately to our rescue, He lovingly waits. He waits for us to stop striving and doing things in our own strength. He waits for us to come to Him and tell Him how much we need Him.

He waits.

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