Reconfigured: The road ahead

So I was Just walking along theHammersmith Road in London.

The air was kind of arctic in consistency.

It bit me hard.

The pavement was packed so full that I had to weave in and out just to stay upright. 

But I hardly noticed.

My head was showing a kind of cinematic video of the year ahead of me. 

2014.

I felt a warm bolt of excitement pass through my body.

2013 had brought challenges beyond human understanding. I had gone through things that no one should have to go through. I had gone through things that had set me back in my life progress a little. I'd been let down by people who should have supported us. We endured a sustained attack on our ministry. In the midst of all of that we moved 287 miles South from the North East to London. We arrived at an appointment that didn't really set my heart on fire. We moved house, changed car, changed appointment. It was a testing year in many ways. A year that on more than one occasion I felt like just packing my bags up, getting out of the Salvation Army and going home to the city I love the most! Liverpool.

Yet.

There is treasure out of the difficult year we have had. 

Even though I couldn't see any good coming out of probably one of the most difficult years I've endured in a long time, certain things have definitely happened. 

I'm stronger.

I'm clearer.

I'm better equipped. 

We have a big year ahead. 

As we try to join Jesus in  building a fresh Salvation Army in West London. 

But last year, as bad as it was, has actually prepared me for the road ahead. 

I've been refined in the fire.

I've been strengthened in areas that were lacking and wouldn't have helped us in this task. 

God has added a dimension to my ministry that will only help.

The task ahead, if Dawn and I look at it right now with human eyes, seems pretty bleak. There is a fog ahead. 

But.

Through Spiritual eyes, and having been refined in a raging fire, then coming out the other side stronger, fitter and equipped, I know there is hope. 

And I see a future beyond the fog. 

I see an Army. 

Built from the ashes of hopelessness. 

I see it. 

For Christmas I have had a new phone. 

It took me all day on Boxing Day to reconfigure all my accounts and calendars, apps and widgets. 

Reconfiguration.

I guess that's what has happened to me. 

I've been reconfigured. 

I've been reset.

And.

I'm ready for the road ahead this coming year. 

I'm ready and raring to go.

A new year.

A new start. 

Reconfigured. 

And I guess for anyone struggling with what life throws at us. It is hard to see that there can be any good to come from it. I know, I've been there believe me.  But maybe, just maybe you are being reconfigured. Maybe God is tuning you in to something special, preparing you for the road ahead. Maybe you are being strengthened. I feel like I've been given a gift of resolve this year, and really am better equipped than I've ever been for the task that lies ahead. I challenge you to look for the treasure that God is extracting from the situation you are in. Look for the resolve he is loading you up with. Look for the spiritual equipment he is arming you with for whatever the future holds. 

Whatever happens try and see that Jesus is at work in your life and will always be. 

Have a blessed 2014. 

Gaz. 

Christmas Blog Post

In the bleak mid winter.

A guy comes to the door of our church. 

He is filthy.

His clothes look rancid. 

He is freezing cold.

His eyes are filmy, dull and drooping from tiredness. 

He's shaking from lack of alcohol.

He asks for food. 

Fortunately a group of people had just had a roast dinner, so I was able to put a dinner together for him. 

He tells me he has been sleeping in a warehouse. But he had to get out because he hates rats and there had been some serious rat activity at night. 

I mean.

I just can't imagine?

I get him some clothes and arrange an appointment with a homeless centre for him to get a bed for the night and hopefully get help from there.  

It's a bleak winter for this guy alright. 

I feel sad for him.

And for all those who have nowhere to lay their head. 

And.

It always amazes me how the homeless head for the Salvation Army. 

Are we doing enough?

Is the Salvation Army as a whole really doing enough?

It's not for me to comment.

All I can do is Make sure I'm ready. 

Ready to receive the lost.

Ready to do anything I can to help them.

Ready to stop at nothing to relieve the pressure on them. 

Ready to lay down the sad side of traditionalism to reach into their very being. 

Ready to intervene in their dark sorry lives. 

In the bleak mid winter. 

Especially around Christmas time. 

Somehow the world reflects. 

The birth of Jesus does that to you.

Makes us reflect. 

As we reflect on a king born in a stable. Not the poshest of settings. On a baby who went on to suffer serious rejection from society, a baby who went on to have nowhere to lay his head, on a baby who ultimately died with all our rubbish piled on his life, I ask you to reflect on those who are homeless, destitute and marginalized. 

Pray for them.

Minister to them.

Show them the deep deep love of the king of this world. 

Get ready for them. 

Open the doors of our churches, homes etc, but way more than that open up our hearts.

Lay aside our views on it, like who is to blame. Who should be dealing with it. 

Bless them with the riches we hold. 

Feed them, give them drink, clothe them make sure they are OK.

Maybe their winter won't be quite so bleak. 

Maybe their future won't be bleak at all having encountered the love of a savior through us. 

That's it. 

That's my Christmas blog. 

Not that exciting I know. But vital all the same. 

Have a fabulous time this Christmas. 

And as I do each year, Can I thank the thousands world wide who read my blog posts. What started as a personal blog for a few friends and family has just expanded so far and wide I can scarcely believe it. Thank you for all the comments, although I don't allow comments direct through my blog! I receive them through twitter, Google plus, LinkedIn and a few from Facebook. And I thank you so much for the encouragement. You are all such a blessing. I thank The Lord Jesus Christ for each of you. Thank you. Gaz

Word: Out of line?

"Get into line!"

I head the frustrated teacher shout to a bedraggled looking group of school kids gathering by the road crossing ready to cross the road.

I watched this amusing scene from my seat in Starbucks. 

Get in line!

I realized God was showing me something .

I d just heard His voice. 

I heard it as I was praying in between delicious sips of Caramel Machiatta (skinny of course!)

The voice into my heart spoke about alignment. 

And.

Lately.

As God pointed out to me.

I've been out of alignment a little.

Or a lot.

Pioneering new prayer Centre's is a task that is less than glamorous.

Especially this time. 

Every day has been a mixture of visions or putting fires out. Putting out the dying embers of an almost dead SA corps and preparing to start a new fire in West London. 

And.

Sometimes?

You get a bit fed up with the side effects of that. 

And it had knocked me out of alignment a little lately.

Speaking out and thinking that things are impossible that God in reality deems possible, means we are subscribing to satan's purposes, and also means we are out of alignment with God's  purposes. 

And.

I've stepped out of line a bit lately.

With thoughts like, "What on earth can Dawn and I do about this situation? It's death on heat! Please God take me back into a different life other than one in the Salvation Army!

And 

In the house with Dawn I've spoke that impossibility out loud more than a few times.

Forgetting that God?

Is a God that can make sure the impossible becomes possible.

And.

This morning?

In the midst of a crowded coffee shop, watching a gang of kids getting told to get back in line? 

I got the message. 

And.

I felt a searing desire to get back into alignment with Gods purposes. 

Because.

His purposes mean that we step into line with the possible. 

We step into the marching force of his love. 

We stop seeing dead ends and see a glorious vista unfold before our very eyes.

Because 

Listen up this Christmas. 

The message of the birth, life, death and resurrection of Christ is the most life giving message we can possibly carry with us in this life. 

And because of that reality,

Anything is possible

Are you feeling a little out of line?

Are you feeling like your facing a dead end of some kind?

Maybe the frustrated teachers words will help you right now.

"Get back in line!"

Put yourself back into alignment with Gods purposes for your life. 

I read this just before I left the coffee shop.

It says it all.

"As we acknowledge as hopeless what God declares as changeable, we have come into alignment, at least in part, with the devil's thought processes and plans for us. We go way past the realms of woundedness, fear and criticism. We no longer want to step out into the light. We flat out do not even think he accepts us, loves us or has any plan for us, even a plan B. This is simply not true. (James Goll)

I don't know about you but I want to step out into the light. 

So.

What is it you are declaring as hopeless?

Look to Jesus.

You will find that God declares it as changeable. 

A message I needed today as we look to turn around a desperate situation that to the human eye seems pretty hopeless. 

So I got myself back in line.

The right line.

Alignment with God's purposes. 

Will you?

Deep Change

Time is going fast.

Only three weeks until we close Ealing Corps for three months.

Three weeks until the Corps as people would know it changes forever.

In that time there will be changes to the interior of the building, and, way more importantly, there will be drastic changes to the way it operates in this part of London.

Deep deep change. 

A lot of people have made some very courageous decisions.

For Dawn and I it means virtually starting again from scratch. 

It mean carrying and distributing the vision he has entrusted us with.

Something we have been very used to during the course of our ministry. 

I really didn't want to do that again on this appointment. 

But God is God. 

And.

His plans are truly brilliant. 

Unfathomably better than ours. 

So we're better sticking to His plans really.

He gives and takes away.

He reminds us there is a time to die. 

And.

A time to build. 

He beautifully and clearly let's us know that we cannot put new wine in old wine skin. 

He gives the the green light to administer deep change. 

Deep change is hard to swallow for some. 

But it's needed. 

Especially in our lives. 

Especially in the church.

Especially in the world. 

I met a guy recently who has slept on the streets in London for twelve years. He is one of these guys who refuses help and seems happy to fend for himself and take his chances out on the street. He was telling me that he had a new lease of life. He said he had slept on the same park bench, in the same park, in the same part of the city for nearly all that time. He said he made the same pilgrimage every day to get sausage rolls out of the same bin behind the same bakery. To get there he waked the same path every day. 

The reason for his new lease of life?

He told me that he had changed park benches.

He went to the park down the road and just decided he needed a change.

So.

He picked a new park bench.

He said he had to walk a different way to the bakery. 

His face lit up as he said his new route took him past a lake, through a beautiful walled garden and most importantly it took him past a tea kiosk that offered him a free cup of tea every day. 

He said it had made a massive difference to him.

Deep change.

Seriously brings a new lease of life. 

God is about life.  

He breathes it into dead things. 

Deep change. 

We've been good at incremental change in the church. 

Changing little bits at a time.

It's a bit pointless that. 

You can't put new wine into an old wine skin. 

Deep change is required. 

It's where the breath of God touches the lifeless, it's where the beating heart of God can be reassuringly heard. 

It hasn't felt very life giving as we prepare for deep change in the West London development project. It's been really hard on the "wrapping up the past" leg of this journey. But I know it is life giving. I know there is wave of new life coming. Because people have been brave enough to draw a line on the past and head for the future. 

Because? 

God is the new wine through Jesus. 

So guys. 

Are you in need of a change?

Are you fed up with the same old same old?

Have you cocooned your life in an old wine skin?

Be brave. 

Change park benches!!

Go for deep change.

Allow God to change everything. 

Allow his new wine to drench your life. 

Blessings. 

 

 

Flashback!

This morning I felt compelled to republish an old post.  Not remotely because I have nothing to say,  but rather I felt seriously prompted to!

So I guess it is for someone.

Here goes.

I traveled to Liverpool recenrly to attend the funeral of a lady who I've known my whole life.

It took place in the Salvation Army Hall where I attended for the years between me being born and me leaving to marry Dawn.

I only just made it to the service two minutes before it was about to start. It was standing room only as the church was packed.

So I ended up standing near the front against a radiator that was so hot I felt seriously uncomfortable.

As the service progressed, My mind focused on the years I spent coming to this Church.

Faces from the past flooded in to my mind.

I scanned my eyes over the congregation and felt a warm feeling envelope me as I stood face to face with old familiarity.

I saw aspects of the building that brought memories flooding back.

As I glanced sideways, my eye fixed on a pair of double doors.

I was standing right next to them.

And

I had a major flashback.

These were doors I used to be acquainted with.
I remembered the many times that I had headed for these doors during meetings when I Was a teenager and into my twenties. If I felt emotional or under any kind of conviction,  although I have to say that I didn't understand those feelings back then, I would take the opportunity to"Go to the toilet" that lay just beyond these double doors in the back rooms of the hall.

When I say 'go to the toilet?

I really mean.

Get out of the situation.

I used to"go to the toilet" an awful lot!

I think people were worried I had some extreme bladder disease or something!

I then began to realise as I reflected on those days that this hall had been a battle ground for a large part of my life.

I had, without realising it, been the subject of a battle for my very soul, and a battle for my life .

A battle that is ongoing in the heavens.

In the days spent in that hall I was a very different Gary.

I was losing that battle back then.

But the real battleground wasn't the hall.

The real battleground?

Was.

My mind.

The following morninv I got back into Durham, the first thing I heard on the street, was that yet another student had fell into the River Wear that flows through the city centre, and had been pulled out dead at 3 am this morning. Drunkenness was at work in the lives of bright young people once again. I felt a real pain in my heart for this young man and his family.

I believe he was under the same battle for souls that I am under.

That we are all under.

This tragic scene  made me think that morning.

It made me think about the battleground.

My mind.

It made me reflect on my first twenty odd years in the Salvation Army.

I can see it now.

God was constantly trying to get through to me. I was choosing to walk away from the intense spiritual heat that God poured on me. I was choosing to literally walk away through those double doors to pretend to go the toilet.

But walking away from conviction, only led me further and further into oblivion, into emptiness and a purposeless existence.

Getting out of the heat of God led me into the biting cold air of darkness.

The land of nowhere.

It wasn't until my thirties that I stopped choosing to walk through that door.

I stopped running away from God and made the choice to run towards him instead.

That choice transformed my whole existence.

The young guy who died in tragic circumstances last night made a choice that led to death.

In a spiritual way,  that is really what the double doors I was transfixed on yesterday led to.

They didn't lead to an imaginary toilet.

They led to spiritual death.

A dead life.

I'm glad I chose to allow the rescuing hand of Jesus to save me from death.

As it etched down to me.

I took hold it.

I chose life.

There is a battle for our souls that will rage until Jesus returns.

But the battle has been won.

At the cross.

Which means we have the amazing power to choose life.

The blessing  of choosing life is a powerful weapon in the selection of weapons God has graced us with.

So today if there is someone out there who is reading this right now and is feeling the heat of the battle for your soul and you feel like your losing.

Choose life.

Don't run from God anymore.

Run towards him instead.

Whatever you think, however you are now, whatever you have done.

His arms are open.

Massive blessings