THE DIFFERENCE JESUS MAKES

Well we are back on the road touring from town to town in Australia, telling people about the difference Jesus makes to life. But I can’t help thinking about some of the people I met on my recent trip to Tanzania with CBM.

Ordinary folks who live in poverty and yet make the most of their lives despite their circumstances. As you read this the little blind girl in the picture will have sight. Simply through the miracle of modern medicine, the dedication of doctors serving CBM and the prayers and giving of people who believe.

CBM have been around for over 100 years serving the poorest of the poor, people born with disability in poverty. This Christian organisation has brought healing to literally millions of people throughout the developing world. I love the difference Jesus makes to a tragic situation.

The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

“No one, sir,” she said.

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” John 8 : 3-11

She had been dragged half naked from a bedroom..the men of her town determined to take her to a place and stone her to death. Her crime was one of adultery. There was no sign of the man she was with. She is alone and terrified, knowing the fate of her sin. They stood her before a teacher called Jesus, hoping to snare him as well as a false prophet. The law demands that such a sin is punishable by death!!! But what would this traveling story teller, miracle man say? Would his own words imprison him as well? This story is a phenomenon. As Jesus gazed with compassion at this terrified girl he quietly began to deal with the evil spirit of accusation in the crowd, writing words in the dusty ground. As his silence brought a young adulteress to repentance his humble actions brought deep conviction to the bitter legalistic men, hell bent on living by the letter of the law. He never once brought correction to the young woman.. he knew her heart. That’s the difference Jesus makes to your life and mine.

The gift of grace in a harsh world of condemning law.

Thank God for Jesus.

Godspeed,

Pictured: Ali Mohomad with his wife Habiba and their baby daughter Nsura in a village south of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

THAT NEVER ENDING ROAD.

Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction. 2 Timothy 4:2

We head off later this week on yet another country towns tour of Queensland. There’s still so much to do. It’s been many years since we got to tour in a motorhome.

In fact, it was back in 1994 that we did a complete lap of Australia in an old Denning coach owned by friends Michael and Lyn Carlisle from Mudgee, NSW. We made some memories on that epic adventure… had a few break downs out in the middle of woop woop, but managed to achieve our goal of reaching remote towns all across Australia.

Later this week we once again get to travel in a bus converted to a motorhome. Geoff Parry from Mt Tamborine is joining the team for a few weeks with his double decker coach, the ARK. As the SkyPilot guys return from the USA and I return from a busy schedule in Victoria and NSW it will be great to all travel together. We are grateful for friends in ministry who love to partner with us in the mission.

Ultimately… it’s not how you get there.. it’s the message you carry, the convictions you carry. The reasons for doing this unique kind of work. We are called to not only speak out words of hope and truth but live them out in our every day.

“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy”. St Francis of Assisi – Founder of the Franciscan order, 1181-1226

Pray with us as we head off down another road this week, that we will be ready at any time to represent God’s character and love to people we meet. Not just behind microphones on some stage.. but everywhere we go.

As St Francis once said “Preach the Gospel at all times…. if necessary use words.”

Thanks for your support to our ministry.

Godspeed,

Pictured: The old Denning bus we travelled in for the 1994 Australian Tour.