Newday-Prince

The Challenge: 

With help from Eugene H. Peterson, the publisher of The Message, quit stirring your coffee and start catching Paul’s passion and excitement as he wrote to a group of Christians. 

Here goes:- 

Now that the worst is over, we’re pleased we can report that we’ve come out of this with conscience and faith intact, and can face the world-and even more importantly, face you with our heads held high. 

But it wasn’t by any fancy footwork on our part. It was God who kept us focused on Him, uncompromised.¹.

Friends, to make your way through the journey from beginning to end, direct your attention on who God is. 

In spite of the challenge, and the effect that it may have on you, stick with God! 

Accept Him as true. You can believe Him! 

Yep! That’s right! 

Your status cannot faze the character of God! 

He’s reliable! Consistent! Trusty! Authentic! Real! 

He never changes! 

Remember this, the rhythm of God’s grace is still in full flow. He is so crazy about you, even when you’re oblivious to it. 

And know this, the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.².

For this reason, test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. 

Don’t drift along taking everything for granted. 

Give yourselves regular check-ups.³.

Now, that’s the challenge!

Direct your attention to who God is. 

Give yourselves regular check-ups. 

Consider this, a dull axe means harder work. Being wise will make it easier.⁴.

Then, come out of this with conscience and faith intact. 

Don’t just put up with your limitations; celebrate them, and then go on to celebrate every strength, every triumph of the truth in you. 

Meanwhile, let’s pray hard that it will all come together in our lives.⁵.

And finally, let’s party, celebrate, and spread encouragement with friends and fellow travellers on our journey of faith

Come-on!! 

Amen? Amen!

¹ 2 Corinthians 1:12

² Martin Luther King, Jr.

³ 2 Corinthians 13:5

⁴ Ecclesiastes 10:10

⁵ 2 Corinthians 13:9

The Future’s Bright: 

Over the years, some folks have spoken of me as being just like Job: a hero in the Old Testament who maintained his faith in God in spite of afflictions that tested him. 

To a greater degree, he patiently endured continual wrongs and trouble without giving up hope. 

Now, some may question the comparison. 

Job lost everything he closely-held, had all of his children wiped-out, and was grievously affected with gruesome disfiguring diseases. 

Still, don’t take my word for it, judge for yourself. 

Here goes:-

I was diagnosed with Diabetes at the young age of four. 

And, as a teenager, I was also taken ill with Pneumonia. 

Already, my future appeared grim! 

Whilst in my mid-twenties, I became totally blind – due, in part, to diabetic retinopathy 

This followed an episode when my wife, Judith, had also undergone surgery to remove an abnormal artery growing from her pituitary gland to the hypothalamus in her brain! 

A little while later, I had renal Failure. 

And, overlapping this, my wife and I suffered the emotion of having five babies born into Heaven. 

By the age of twenty-eight, I had to have a kidney & Pancreas Transplant. 

Four months later I was given only three days to live – due to septicaemia 

Just over two years later, I endured the pain of a fatal Car Crash. 

At age 30, I had lost my health and my wife.! 

What’s more, three years after that, my kidney transplant failed! 

At this point in time, I was diagnosed as having an enlarged heart and bowel, experienced Angina, and also had a heart murmur. 

During this time, I fell ill with Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, not once, not twice, but three times. For this reason, on one occasion, apart from being unable to see, for a little while, I also lost all sense of hearing! 

Then came the second kidney transplant. 

Sometime later, I found new love, and got married to Rachel. 

But, it wasn’t long before I was diagnosed as having an enlarged bladder, endured bladder retention, and had to start using speedi caths up to eight times a day. 

And then, my lovely wife, Rachel, not only had a prolapsed disc, but also suffered Temporomandibular joint Disorder. 

Then, if this wasn’t enough, I began to develop a skin condition, which, at one time or another, was examined by numerous health professionals, with the diagnosis just as varied. 

At one time, it was thought I had Eczema, or possibly Psoriasis. Then, at some other time, we believed it could be another episode of Staphylococcus Aureus, or maybe a Pseudomonas infection, or simply, an unknown Keratosis! 

Anyway, our recollection remains clear of the uneasy feeling we felt, as something didn’t seem right. 

Sure-enough, in November 2011, we discovered I had two types of skin Cancer – Basal cell carcinoma and Squamous cell carcinoma. 

The Squamous was growing through, and spreading within the Porokeratosis, which in turn, appeared to be imitating Eczema. 

These, and multiple other issues could render most people immobile or at least cause them to lose faith and become ineffective for God. 

Bringing heartache, and gloom, on top of suffering! 

Nevertheless, our confidence today, is found in the concluding part of the story of Job – when it ends with him restored to health, with a new family, and twice as much livestock. 

Wow!! A God-sized dream! God-given! 

So, let’s consider this, we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good! 

Agree? Agree! 

Yes, that’s right! 

For this is God’s promise – He will bless us with a future filled with hope – a future of success, not of suffering. 

What a comfort! 

What a promise! 

So now – we walk in grace! 

For-sure, we are who we are because of God’s grace. 

He knew the plans He had for us before we were born, and He has led us through many a circumstance for us to be where we are today. 

The future’s bright with Him! 

Praise Him! 

Amen? Amen!

Jeremiah 29:11

Romans 8:28

2 Corinthians 12:9

James 1:12

The Event: 

Heat rays danced on the roof of the brick built facility. 

The broiling sun bearing down made it feel like an oven. 

For us, air conditioning was unheard of in those days. 

Insufferable heat that hadn’t let up for weeks, caused the perimeter grass to wilt and fade to a straw-like colour! 

It’s a wonder the tarmac surface of the parking area hadn’t turned to a melted candy-like-liquorice! 

Anyhow, 1976 was the hottest summer in the United Kingdom since records began. 

As well as the heat, Britain was in the middle of a severe drought. 

Still, with windows open wide, doors and fire exits too, The congregation gathered to witness the special occasion. 

Imagine the atmosphere – the excitement. 

Such a buzz! 

Everyone in the place were looking at nothing else but the event. 

The baptismal. Full immersion. 

An outward expression of having a changed heart and life. 

One by one, each “candidate” took their turn. 

For some, a change for the better – with a temporary relief from the scorching heat – as one stepped into the tepid water. 

Cool! Refreshing! 

Now, in the hands of pastor Bowater, who offered guidance, reassurance and support. 

Time was given for a short testimony from each candidate. 

Oh-boy! 

And so, the familiar words were spoken, “In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” 

Then, plunge! A complete soaking! Saturated from head to toe! 

And then, quickly, one emerged, spluttered, followed by a short laboured intake of breath! 

That was my experience anyway! 

This, an outline of the burial and resurrection of Jesus. 

Symbolizing the old life is gone, a new life begins to flourish. 

Let’s interject a praise here! 

Soon afterwards, with great suspense, the riveting crowd hung on every word, every promise. 

Yes, that’s right! 

A Bible reference, specially chosen for each participant, spoken aloud by another member of the leadership team. 

For me, some words from Isaiah 42 – reworded today for the purpose of clarification – for this generation, found in the Message paraphrased version – current, fresh, and understandable. 

God’s Message, the God who created the cosmos, stretched out the skies, laid out the earth and all that grows from it, Who breathes life into earth’s people, makes them alive with His own life: “I am God. I have called you to live right and well. 

I have taken responsibility for you, kept you safe. 

I have set you among my people to bind them to me, and provided you as a lighthouse to the nations. 

To make a start at bringing people into the open, into light: opening blind eyes, releasing prisoners from dungeons, emptying the dark prisons. 

I am God. That’s my name.”¹.

Wow! 

In retrospect, I’m lost for words! 

Well, almost! 

And why not?! 

God is so good! 

He cannot be equalled or matched. 

There is none like Him! 

Thus, He deserves our applause! 

Our praise! 

For this reason, let’s make God’s glory resound; echo His praises from coast to coast.².

Let’s proclaim the good news that He saves. 

Let’s publish His glorious deeds among the nations, and tell everyone about the amazing things He does.³.

God, You’re so awesome! 

Thank You for saving me. What can I say? You are my everything. I will sing Your praise.⁴.

Amen? Amen! 

¹ Isaiah 42:5-8

² Isaiah 42:10

³ Psalm 96:2-4

⁴ Martin Smith.

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