Our God Reigns??

A VERY big challenge that hit my as I was giving the seminar, about God loving the whole nation. His desire is fro everyone to know him. Everyone, not just the nice neighbours, or the town kids, but also the bad people. The bombers, the plane crashers, the murderers. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7075584.stm BBC News article about a girl who was murdered in Italy last night, was from Leeds uni where we were today. L ) Osama Bin Laden, he loves Marilyn Manson, he loves who ever kidnapped Madeline mcann,( http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7068760.stm ) HE LOVES THEM ALL. But what about my judgement? Am I the same as Jonah who said they don’t deserved to be saved so I don’t want to go and talk to them. Yes I probably am. WOW I need God to break through into my heart.

On the way home I had an encounter. I was thinking some more about this whole God loves EVERYONE thing it really started to get to me. I have not even got close to God’s heart for the lost. Not even a glimpse. Friday nights we have a drop in at the community centre in Risborough and we get between 30 and 70 kids through each night. Some can be really annoying and I just want them to start a fight so we can physically remove them. IF ONLY! But God loves them too. What would he do about it. What would He be talking to them about? I was listening to Delirious in the car, there song really got hold of me. The song was Rain down and the bridge goes, “Do not shut, do not shut, do not shut the heavens, but open up, open up, open up my heart” I rewound and turned it up and listen again then as I thought about those people that God loves and I don’t I start to sing along, then rewound again, then really starting crying out for God to open up my heart and do some surgery and change me and mould me and give me a part for his heart.

The next track was written about the position of African orphans and HIV victims, and the chorus was real to me again. The reprise later in the album too. In fact at a gig they did a few weeks ago, they did this song and by the time they hit the guitar solo Stu G was on his knees, but then end so was Martin and Jon … quite powerful.

These are the lyrics.

Our God Reigns

40 million babies lost to Gods great orphanage,
It’s a modern day genocide and a modern day disgrace
If this is a human right then why aren’t we free?
The only freedom we have is in a man nailed to a tree.

100 million faces, staring at the sky,
Wondering if this HIV will ever pass us by.
The devil stole the rain and hope trickles down the plug,
But still my Chinese take away could pay for someone’s drugs.

Our God reigns, Our God reigns,
Forever your kingdom reigns.

The west has found a gun and it’s loaded with ‘unsure’
Nip and tuck if you have the bucks in a race to find a cure.
Psalm one hundred and thirty nine is the conscience to our selfish crime,
God didn’t screw up when he made you,
He’s a father who loves to parade you.

Yes he reigns, yes you reign, yes you reign,
For there is only one true God,
But we’ve lost the reins on this world,
Forgive us all, forgive us please,
As we fight for this broken world on our knees.

Written by Delirious? ©2005 Curious? Music UK

As I prayed for God to reign in my heart he broke me again. Hard to drive with tears forming, maybe I need to pick a better time to pray! I can’t get over the need for me to have God’s heard for the lost. I pray he will keep changing me until I have his heart, I hope it will change the way I react to the news and to the annoying kids!

Day in the life of the Next Gen touring Team.

Day in the life of Touring Tim & Jess – the Next Gen touring Team! Saturday the 3^rd November.

Having got our selves involved in a new initiative a few weeks ago we had to travel up to Leeds. The New an initiative is superb! UCCF have got a bunch of mission agencies together to try and raise awareness and bible understand of global mission with CU’s in the North east of England. I know we aren’t actually based in the North but any access to Student aged Christians is a must for us.

So up at 0515, in the car for 0530 on the motorway with Jess almost awake too!! Jess has only been working with me for 2 months yet we seem have done a few exhibitions already. Quick stop for some breakfast at Leicester forest east services, eating bacon whilst trucks pass below you is slightly odd at 0700 in the morning!

In Leeds for 0845, straight in and upstairs to get set up, well rehearsed now, done in about 15 minutes flat, compute screen and all. Not too many exhibitors which is nice we have a tiny table, which is not too great but we don’t have to share it like some of the others!

0930 car parked up people are expected to start arriving any minute now. I must go and find a timetable and work out where my seminar room is. YES I get to do a seminar, TWICE today about GO to the nations, it is going to be interesting, not a Wycliffe push, a general mission thing. We’ll see how that goes a bit later!

Before the first meeting has even begun we have names on paper. People flocked, maybe because we are young and not grumpy despite the early start! Very encouraged already!

1st meeting 1 odd song I didn’t know, then Mark Boddington (right) spoke. He is my older brother James’ ex land lord! He was good, very deep and incredibly detailed all about the cross. He also told a couple wonderful stories about being a parent. (ana, and Gus in particular!)

Then a brief break and into my 1^st seminar. Only 8 people showed up which was a bit disappointing, but we had a great time exploring what the bible says about God’s heart for the nations, I have to give credit to Eddie Arthur for an inspirational chapter he lent me about the tower of Babel incident and Acts 2 and how amongst all of that, God created diversity, and yet he gets more glory as a result of our diversity. One day in revelation it says every tribe and tongue and nation will be in his throne room singing ‘holy holy holy’ is the lamb. How rich will that sound be as a result of the diversity, but how magnificent that God is glorified as a result of the diversity he created as a judgement on mankind!

The seminar was good I feel a lot happier with the material and the last minute re-arrangement was a result. Couple more conversations over lunch, including another agency with lots of partnership potential for the future. Both our organisations work in the same place and they are already sending teams who visit some projects that we are involved in!

Second seminar more people turned up, about 20 of us this time, Jess does a wonderful job of putting on EVERY vest for out main players activity, very amusing to say the least, however she was not happy that mentioned lack of CU at uni, on the finding of a boyfriend have started working with us!

That session finished well, some good conversations with participants, and then to the stand, a flurry of people, more names on paper, in fact we have 12 or 13 names, some VERY exciting people we (royal we, I mean JESS!) to get in touch with next week.

SO 1600 next session starts we are told if we want to go we can, so we get on an pack down. Jess is on the phone AGAIN! But recovers well by going and handing out postcards to people.

Get all the stuff into the car, and off by 1700. RESULT we aren’t supposed to finish till 1730 so that is very cool, maybe I will get home to see my family after all!

Jess is staying in Leeds with some mates form uni tonight, I have to drive home on my own. No big deal used to do it to and from Sunderland all the time!

Tomorrow I am leading worship at church, whilst playing bass. THAT will be interesting, I hope I am alive okay!! Haha, need to get he music sorted out before bed, cos it isn’t going to happen in the morning!