The Day I Died

I was in agony. I could feel pain in every part of my body. I had at least one broken rib from the beatings I had endured over the last few days. Three broken fingers from the previous torture session. It had seemed like I had been here for an eternity but it had only been a week. I was in some non descript building in Iran. I tried to open my eyes. Through the slight haze in one eye I could see the small window with burglar bars. It barely gave light to the small cramped room I had found myself in. My other eye had stopped working. In this awful situation I somehow found peace. I found God. He was the reason I was here. I knew I should have been more careful with the bible I possessed. I had always known how dangerous it would be if I had been caught. There were so few in the country and now there was one less. It had surprised me that my friends had turned me in. I forgave them. They had been raised as extremist Moslem as had I. It was their duty. I had been a Christian less than a year. I had kept it secret from everyone except Ahmed my Christian brother. We had studied the bible together in secret to avoid being persecuted. All this was now coming to an end. I had been beaten on the brink of death and commanded to deny my faith. To turn against my father, creator and friend. To worship someone who did not Love me. It was impossible to do. Since meeting Jesus I had been changed permanently. I had no fear of death. I worshiped Jesus.


The door burst open. Three men came in and dragged me out the room. One had a machete. I knew this was it. The pain was going to stop. I was going to meet my maker. I began to shake uncontrollably and to sob aloud. They pinned my head on a block of wood. I was freaking out. The one in charge asked me. "Deny Jesus, serve Allah and his prophet Mohammed or you will now die". I was seriously considering changing my mind. Was God real? Where was he? I felt fear and hopelessness. As I was about to open my mouth I suddenly felt warm and loved. I knew I was safe. I knew Jesus was with me. I heard Jesus speak. He said " I am with you as I always was". My lips moved and I shouted " Jesus is God". I barely finished the sentence before the machette sliced through my neck.


I knew I was dead. It felt strangely good. I saw Jesus in front of me. He grabbed me by the shoulders and gave me a hug. All my pain was gone. I felt immeasurable love. He said " Well done Aabidah, welcome to my home. I have a room for you.


Consider the Christians around the world who are persecuted for their faith in Jesus. Many who die for their love of Jesus. Visit persecutedchurch.org and find out more. Pray for their protection.


Cheers
Greg hay

Breaking News – Young Christian Man Survives near Death Experience in Cave full of Lions

A young man in America known as Dan has survived a near death experience in a cave full of a large pride of very hungry lions. The Lions had been imported from Africa to be used as a method of executing people after it was found the Electric Chair and Guillotine had cost too much in running costs in the current tight economy. The Lions were found to be low maintenance as they were fed only humans on a regular basis. In particular the Lions were used to deal with extremists such as Christians or other God fearing people such as the Jews. The Lions had a 100% track record of executions including a group of men found guilty of worshiping God. This track record has now been broken by this well know man called Dan. Dan is a man who works in the local UN office in a very high position of Power. He is well known for being honest and hardworking. Unfortunately Dan is also a Christian who worships regularly at his home in full view of other bystanders who are subjected to his beliefs without their permission. Over time this has become an issue for the local authorities who want Dan to stop worshiping his God, Obey the local laws and worship the President of America as God. Dan was given a brief trial in which he confessed guilty and was sentenced to Death by Lions. Dan was escorted to the Lions Cave by a number of guards. On being tossed to the Lions the expectation was that Dan would be killed within minutes and consumed in entirety shortly thereafter. The Lions had not eaten for a number of days and would enjoy the meal. Much to the surprise of the onlookers the Lions did not do anything to Dan and remained calm during the entire process. The Crowd were disappointed to discover that Dan had survived the night and based on legal laws was released shortly after dawn. There were a number of his close friends to welcome him on his release. According to Dan the Lions could not touch him as he was protected by the Christian God called Jesus.

This story is based on the book of Daniel Chapter 6 and raises a number of Questions for us in modern society. The Question of what we hold important to us is foremost in the picture. Do we hold Jesus as the center of our lives or would we prefer a President, Country, Flag or business to be what we stand for. Daniel was challenged to worship someone other than God and go against all his peers and the laws of the land in what he stood for. He worshiped God and had a relationship with God many people would envy. In Some countries of the world today Christians cannot worship or Pray without fear of being killed. Not much has changed in all these years from what Daniel experienced. Yet Christianity still grows as more and more people hear Jesus and follow his voice regardless of the consequences. What would you do in Daniels situation? What would you do today if you lived in one of the countries of the world where Christians cannot worship freely? Yet sometimes in our freedom we cannot even stand up for the God we believe and follow. Lord Jesus help us to follow you above every other god that tries to compete with you.

Cheers

Greg

The Swan Paddling against the current

This story is inspired by a Word that came out of our Sunday morning church today.

The Sun was high in the sky shining across the river which made its way through wonderful landscaped mountains.  I sat on the edge of the mountain peering down at the lake at the end of the River through binoculars. The landscapes were impressive to say the least. A movement caught my eye as I was going over the landscape. It was a Swan on the lake trying to paddle against the current of water pushing it downstream. The swan tried it’s best to move upstream but seemed to constantly be pushed back by the torrent of water moving in the opposite direction. The Swans reflection in the water got churned up as the Swan tried to paddle harder and harder. Eventually the Swan realized that going against the current was not working and it stopped paddling and floated with the current. The Swan with a few kicks then used the current to take to flight and soar into the air, leaving behind all the struggles of going against the current.

In life we are sometimes like that Swan. We struggle against Gods plan for us. The more we struggle the more we don’t reflect who we are and we don’t get to where God wants us. We need to go with the current and allow God to give us what we need so we can take flight and get beyond all the issues in life. Let God be in control and reflect Jesus by allowing him to form you. Let the Potter be the potter and don’t fight so hard to be something you were not designed to be.

Cheers

Greg

The Great Circus

I let go of my father’s hand and ran as fast as I could. I could hear the voices and the sounds of Animals. I could smell the distinct smell of grass. In front of me was a barrier. A tall wooden fence made of pine. That was all that stopped me from seeing the Circus. I ran down the fence a few meters and found a hole big enough to put my eye on. I looked in. I could see a tail. It was something large and grey. It must be an elephant if only I could see the rest.  I ran further down and found another hole. I peered in to see what I could find. The Elephant had gone and all I could see was colour and movement. I could not tell what it was. The frustration in mind was building. I wanted to see everything. I ran to the next hole and checked again. There, I could see it, it was a monkey holding onto something……I could not see what it was. I was so frustrated. My Father was following me silently seeing what I would do. I ran to another hole and peered in….an elephant. Wait, I had been to this hole. I ran further and tried again. It seemed no matter what hole I tried I always came up with a small view of what was going on. I turned round and looked at my father. I was sad and my face showed it. I said with great disappointment.” I can’t see anything”. My father reached down. Grabbed me by my arms and lifted me effortlessly to his shoulder. My world erupted in colour and movement. I could see everything. I could see a large Elephant balancing on a block. There were monkeys dancing around. There was the colour of the clowns with their bright red noses playing tricks on each other. In the corner was the best of all a male lion in all his glory with a huge mane.  I could now see the entire Circus and I was happy, Happy that my father had been there to lift me up.

Often we try to put everything together in our lives and understand what is going on but only God see's the entire picture. We need to rely on him and trust him to show the full story when the time is right. Without him we will have limited view and will only see in part.

Cheers

Greg

The stupidity of humanity

We build gadgets that can do great things and then discover that they fail to boot up, freeze, overheat, crack and eventually die. We build cars that can take us to great places……we then realise that they have no fuel, need maintenance, rust and eventually also stop working. We build ships to move great things great distances, we marvel at our great works and then realise that they sink, rust and eventually stop working. We build buildings that are skyscrapers…..wow…..then they fall over, get washed over, crack and fall down. We build great dams to hold back large rivers…..amazing…..until they burst, flood, leak and destroy humans.  We play with atoms…. Incredible…then they blow up and wipe out more humans. We fix our bodies with our skill… a pill here, an operation there. Yet we still die at less than 100 years. We get diseases, plagues and still eventually die.

Yet God made animals that live longer than us. He said we should not live longer than 120 years….and it was so. He created mountains larger than our skyscrapers and they stay where he put them unless he wants them moved. We marvel at a distance at the planets, stars and galaxy’s…..but we have not been there. God has. We has been there, created the planets, stars and galaxy’s and knows every single one by name….we haven’t found them all yet never mind given them names.

If we were so evolved why can’t we sense an earthquake with our feet, swim under floods with our gills, fly to the moon and back without mechanical assistance. Create food for the nations from nothing.

It’s simple….we are stupid…. when compared to God. You can try what you want. Be a genius. You still don’t get close to what God can do. We can’t even imagine it. Yet we have the audacity to try to proclaim ourselves god through our small science kits…….Ridiculous.

Cheers

Greg

Breaking News - Rabbi saves woman from stoning in Israel..

Today a Woman caught in adultery in Israel was led by a mob of Pharisees to a local Rabbi for punishment. According to Jewish custom the woman was to be stoned to death for her Sin. The Man she was with was not to be found and seemed to have escaped the mob. An argument took place over the legality of the stoning based on Jewish laws. The Rabbi argued that the men wanting to stone her had sinned just as much as the woman and therefore could not stone her. He indicated that based on their interpretation of the law they should also face the death sentence. The result of which is that the men left the scene leaving the Rabbi with the accused and a large pile of stones. The Rabbi said he would not condemn her however she did need to stop living her life of Sin.

This story was taken from John 8:3 in the Bible. Read the story and then consider the message Jesus has for you. “Neither do I condemn you, Go and Sin no more”.

Jesus does not want to condemn us. He loves us and wants us to follow him whole heartedly. We will never have the strength to do this alone. We need the Holy Spirit to give us the strength to make it through each day. Pray and invite the Holy Spirit to guide you and lead you. Allow Jesus to be your friend. Listen to him and respond to him. Yeshua Ben David.




Cheers


Greg

The Great Inheritance

One upon a time there was a young man whose father passed away and left him and inheritance. The will was read out and two items were sent to the son. First he was given a gift. It was a gift neatly wrapped in a small blue box with a ribbon on. Secondly he was given his Fathers mansion. This mansion was the largest ever built in the entire world and was worth huge sums of money. The Son was so delighted in receiving the mansion that he ignored the small blue gift and rushed to the mansion. After walking around the mansion he realised that a large section of the mansion was closed off behind a large vault door. The door was very, very big. It was like a door he had seen on movies protecting great treasures. He knew that there would be great treasures from his father behind the door and all he needed to do was open it. Rooms would be opened and secrets would be revealed that would change his life. He called a locksmith who tried to open the door unsuccessfully. He called another locksmith who failed just as badly. The young man tried other locksmith’s. He got the best safe cracker in the world at a hefty price. He Tried angle grinders and other heavy machinery but nothing would work. One day he arranged for someone to try blowing the door open with dynamite, then c4 and then shape chargers but the huge metal door stood firm.

The young man was no longer young. He had spent many years and much of his wealth trying to open the door in the mansion. He had sacrificed time, money and his relationships to try to get into the Vault. Everything he had tried had failed. He had nothing else to leave his son and that had saddened him but it was too late. On his deathbed he breathed his last breath and left the mansion to his son. The son walked around the mansion and searched the house. Everything had been sold and the house was empty. While looking in the study he noticed a small blue box sitting on the top shelf. It had ben untouched. The wrapping was a little worn. The ribbon was no longer in place. The son wiped the dust of the gift and began to open it. Inside was a shiny key. It looked like it had never been used. There was a note which read. “My Son, All I have is yours. Open and enjoy.” The young man knew that it was the key to the Vault. He ran to the vault and searched the door for the keyhole. In between the scratches dents and bumps from all the work that had been done on the door he found a small hole. The key slid in perfectly. The Key turned smoothly with a small click. The key seemed to trigger a series of loud thumps as the locks that had stood in place for many years began to move out of place. The door swung open and before him was a long passage with many rooms on the side. He knew that it was going to be a long time before he discovered what was behind all the passages and doors that now lay before him.

God has left you a key that opens many doors and many surprises. The Holy Spirit is the key to all the hidden secrets that God has for you. Find the Holy Spirit, find Jesus, find God.

Hope you enjoyed.

Cheers

                Greg Hay