Young men witnessing for God on Britain’s Got Talent

God is doing something significant. Christians who want the world to know God is real and their talent emanates from Him are winning major TV talent quests. Dami Im won the 2013 X Factor Australia. On winning the final, she gave all the glory and honour to God for her success. Sister Cristina Succia, the nun from Sicily won Italy’s The Voice 2014. She attributed her popularity to a thirst for joy, for love, for a message that is beautiful and pure. I am sure she is right. Collabro -They won the Britain’s Got Talent final 2014. Note the audiences reaction to the message on righteousness delivered by these  five young men – a standing ovation. Many in the media don’t get it, they just conclude like Jim Kelly of the Daily Mail “Their success does not show that Britain has got talent at all. It only confirms that both the taste and the thinking of the British public remain at best an utter mystery and at worst banal”.

Letting Go and Letting God

Danny Gokey has a poignant story to tell. His book title “Hope in Front of Me – Find purpose in your darkest moments” gives you an inkling of its substance. Its the first time I have posted a music video. I have a feeling any women viewers will appreciate it. Let me know what you think. Danny Gokey came third on American idol. He almost withdrew from the first audition as his first wife in her early twenties died unexpectedly from complications after heart surgery just weeks before the audition. The quality of this video is not great but even if you don’t like Danny’s song fast forward to the interview so you hear his story. Only God can transform lives like this and you know what, HE is doing it all the time.  There is no doubt that all things work together for good to those who love God and are working according to His purposes. If you want to hear Danny sing more, go to the second link, to the interview on Huntley Street. His second song on this clip is my favourite. http://video.christianpost.com/100-huntley-street-featuring-american-idol-finalist-danny-gokey-episode-4-5749/

DENZEL WASHINGTON sharing his belief in GOD

“Put your shoes way under your bed each night to ensure you get on your knees first thing of a morning in prayer.”

What good advice that is from a famous movie star who is not afraid to speak about the reality of GOD and the impact for good He will have on your life. True success is obedience to God.

When You Got God, You Got a Friend

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Matthew McConaughey wins the best actor OSCAR for “Dallas Buyers Club”.
Amazing how the world responded with ridicule and hate to a simple acknowledgment of God.
Why is this, other than a clear example that they unwittingly follow the one who usurped the throne of this world, Satan.
The Bible clearly reveals we are involved in spiritual warfare and the war is hotting up as the world increasingly rejects God and His commandments. God led me to a great resource on Spiritual warfare just when I needed it – The Three Battlegrounds by Francis Frangipane.
I love Matthew McConaughey’s lead up to his acknowledgment of God.
“There’s three things I need each day. One of them is something to look up to, another is something to look forward to, and another is someone to chase”. then he drops the bomb.
First off, I want to thank GOD, cause that’s the one I look up to. He’s graced my life with opportunities that I know is not of my hand or any other human hand. HE has shown me that it’s a scientific fact that gratitude reciprocates. In the words of the late Charles Lawton who said ‘when you got God, you got a friend ….
He then continued with the rest of his speech.
For Christians his acknowledgment of God was encouraging and it is wonderful to know that God has his people in the media.
It is also wonderful that new Christian films such as SON OF GOD will shortly reach our theatres.
In fact three major movies based on Biblical narrative will be released in 2014 and four more are in the works for 2015. It is as if Hollywood has realized that it pays to provide movies based on God’s word. God can use anyone to achieve His purposes.
Pray God will over rule in the production of the Biblical movies that have not been produced and will use SON OF GOD that is already in cinema’s.
The two big budget movies this year are the SON OF GOD, already a box office success in the USA and NOAH which stars Russell Crowe is due later in the year.

What is the Holy Spirit to you?

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Whilst Dr Walter Wilson was saved December 21st, 1896, he did not personally become acquainted with the Holy Spirit until January 14th, 1914. After he was saved, Walter had a deep love for the scriptures yet it bothered him that his life did not seem to bear spiritual fruit. In 1913 he was challenged by a missionary with the question  “What is the Holy Spirit to you?” Wilson answered “He is one of the persons of the Godhead, a Teacher, a Guide; the third person of the trinity”.

“He is just as great,” the missionary said, “just as precious, just as needed as the other two Persons  of the Trinity. But you still have not answered my question, What is He to you?”

“He is nothing to me”, Wilson said, surprised at his own candour. “I have no contact with Him, no personal relationship, and get along quite well without Him”. His visitor replied, “it is because of this that your life is so fruitless even though your efforts are so great. The missionary’s words taunted Wilson into the next year. He wanted to bear the fruit of the Spirit but feared becoming a fanatic, giving an inferior place to Jesus Christ by overly exalting the Holy Spirit. On January 14th, 1914 everything changed when Wilson heard Dr James Gray, later to become President of Moody Bible Institute preach a sermon on Romans 12:1

Gray asked, “Have you noticed that this verse does not tell us to whom we should give our bodies? It is not the Lord Jesus…..He has his own body. It is not God the Father….He remains upon His throne. Another has come to earth without a body….God gives you the privilege and indescribable honour of presenting your bodies to the Holy Spirit, to be His dwelling place on earth”.

Wilson reported later that he said to the Holy Spirit, “My Lord, I have mistreated You all my Christian life. I have treated you like a servant….I shall do so NO more. Now I give you this body of mine ; from my head to my feet……………., I hand over to YOU for YOU to live in it the life that YOU please.

Walter Wilson , the “beloved physician” often testified, “With regard to my own experience with the Holy Spirit, I may say that the transformation in my life on JAN 14th 1914, was greater , much greater than the change that took place when I was saved DEC 21st 1896.

Dr Wilson died in 1969 after a life of amazing service as a physician (1904 – 1912), General Manager (1912 – 1920) and then President (1926 -1928) of a major corporation. He founded the Kansas City Bible Institute in 1932 which became the Kansas City Bible College when he became President. He hosted a daily Bible exposition broadcast on two radio stations in Kansas City 1933-1944, one rated the most popular radio program in the area. But above all he considered Holy Spirit guided “soul winning” his prime task since handing over his life to the guidance of the Holy Spirit in 1914.

What is your answer to the question, “What is the Holy Spirit to you?”

Nick brings hope to Uruguay

Nick Vujicic
God is using Nick Vujicic to introduce people around the world to the transforming power of JESUS CHRIST. I already have two posts on Nick – Nick on Oprah Winfrey’s Show and Nick in Cambodia. If you didn’t see Nick on 60 Minutes take a look on YouTube. 

On 22 October Nick arrived in Montevideo, Uruguay, to talk about the freedom God has given him. Vujicic spoke boldly about the transforming power of God’s Word before politicians and journalists at Uruguay’s House of Parliament. Thousands of Uruguayans watched on television. Director of Operation Mobilization, Uruguay, Alejandro Las, was appointed as his official translator.

President Mujica also met with Vujicic and they joined in prayer as Alejandro translated.
“In the last few years it must have been the closest encounter he has had with the gospel in his life,” reflected Alejandro.
The front page of the Uruguayan newspaper the next morning proclaimed, “Vujicic Challenges Abortion Laws at Teleton”. His time at the centre for handicapped children brought a great deal of media attention, which he used to proclaim a biblical perspective on abortion.
In a press conference soon after, an OM journalist asked him about his views on separation of church and state.
Vujicic said, “When people see me, they say,“Wow Nick! We love your values; we love your attitude; we love your strength; we want your joy! But don’t tell us anything about your God. But for me you can’t separate the two. It’s only because of my faith that I have what I have.”

The streets in Montevideo were covered wall to wall with posters of Nick Vujicic. His testimony was aired on the three largest secular television channels in the country: Teledoce, Canal 4 and Canal 10.
At the Rambla, the recreational coastline of Montevideo, nearly 15,000 people stood for two hours in the chilly night air to hear what he had to say.
“If you want to know about the peace that has set me free, that will set you free, lift up your hand,” he shouted. As Alejandro fervently translated the message, a drug addict standing near the OM team raised his hand.
Another hand went up. Followed by another.
The dark sky over Montevideo’s shoreline witnessed hundreds of hands go up as individuals indicated a desire to know the transforming power of Jesus Christ.

A MAN WHO LIVED ETERNAL NOW

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Statue of John Wesley outside Wesley Church in Melbourne, Australia.

John Wesley considered every thought word and deed in light of eternity.
Wesley preached with unceasing zeal that complete holiness was the primary fruit of a vibrant faith in Christ and of course the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of every believer. Wesley wrote “until you press believers to expect full salvation from sin, you won’t see revival. Before I preach love and grace I must preach sin, law and judgment.”
Consumed by the thought of the shortness of time, the great work to be done and the need for haste in doing it, on he marched, preaching, pleading, warning and guiding.
Wesley pleaded with men and women to repent and by faith make peace with God or suffer an everlasting hell. He was determined to declare the whole counsel of God in Christ and give warning of the dreadful consequences of rejecting the Gospel.
When he was 83 he made a note in his diary that he was regretful that he could not write more than 15 hours a day without hurting his eyes. He preached almost up to the day he died. truly his vigour and zeal in old age were the reward of his faithful stewardship of time.
He did indeed consider every thought word and deed in light of eternity.

Man with no arms and legs living eternal now

Nick Vujicic

The amazing 30 year old evangelist Nick Vujicic, born without arms and legs is one of the most inspiring examples I know of a man who truly understands what it means to be living eternal NOW.
“Nick” as he is known, spoke recently in Vietnam, May 22-26, 2013 to many thousands. He spoke at seven official events, including two in large stadiums in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Three of the major events were televised nationally on VTV and he did numerous television interviews. After only 4 days, you would have been hard pressed to find a Vietnamese who had not heard about “Nick”.
Though not allowed to preach in public events, he took the country by storm as a motivational speaker. He became an instant hero and idol.
The unprecedented tour was sponsored by a consortium of a Hoa Sen business group whose Chairman Le Phuoc Vu is a devout Buddhist.
It seems Mr Vu, the lead organizer and sponsor wanted to do something positive for Vietnam’s youth, many of them aimless, purposeless and lacking role models.
Mr Vu’s answer to critics on spending so much on “Nick’s” events said, “In the spiritual perspective, the amount is negligible, Nick’s story is a great source of encouragement for the disadvantaged, the disabled , orphans , the poor, …. It is like water for thirsty people in the desert, very precious.
At a private dinner party for Nick at Mr Vu’s estate which included two Buddhist advisors to Mr Vu, he turned to Nick and said, “I see GOD in you, such hope and joy”
At the Hanoi stadium event a little girl with Nick’s identical condition was brought to him. When they met Nick asked her (National TV and thousands in the stadium), “DO YOU KNOW WHY I LOVE GOD? BECAUSE HEAVEN IS REAL! ONE DAY WHEN WE GET TO HEAVEN WE ARE GOING TO HAVE ARMS AND LEGS. AND WE ARE GOING TO RUN, AND WE ARE GOING TO PLAY, AND WE ARE GOING TO RACE”
News reports said, “participants burst into tears” at this powerful expression of Nick’s faith.
Nick is a man who by the power of the Holy Spirit indwelling him knows how to live eternal now
He has learned to swim, surf and skydive, is married to a beautiful woman and has a son, has authored best selling books and is the epitome of purpose, joy and gratefulness.
see complete article by Reg Reiner in The Christian Post 05/06/2013.