Tandem Travelling

I first saw Christ as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die. He was out there, sort of like a president. I recognised his picture when I saw it, but I didn't really know him.
But later on, when I met Christ, it seemed as though life were rather like a bike ride. But it was a tandem bike, and I noticed that Christ was on the back helping me pedal. I don't know when it was that he suggested that we change places, but life has not been the same since.
Christ makes life exciting, when I had control, I knew the way. It was rather boring and predictable. It was the shortest distance between two points.
But when he took the lead, he knew delightful long cuts, up mountains and through rocky passages at break neck speeds. It was all I could do to hold on. Even though it looked like madness, he said, "Pedal!"
I worried, and was anxious and asked, 'where are you taking me?' he laughed and didn't answer, and I started to learn trust.
I forgot my boring life and entered into the adventure. And when I'd say, 'I'm scared', he'd lean back and touch my hand.
He took me to people who had gifts that I needed, gifts of forgiveness,healing, acceptance and joy. They gave me their gifts to take on my journey, our journey, my Lord and mine.
And we were off again. He said, 'give the gifts away; they're extra weight'. So I did, to the people we met, and found in giving I received, and still our burden was light.
I did not trust him, at first, in control of my life. I thought he'd wreck it. But he knows a bike's secrets, how to make it take sharp corners, jump to clear high rocks, fly to shorten scary passages.
And I'm learning to relax and pedal in the strangest places and I'm beginning to enjoy the cool breeze on my face with my constant companion Christ.
And just when I'm sure I can't do any more, he just smiles and says, "Pedal."

People vs Program

Don't be put off by this heading but over the last couple of weeks I have been thinking about what is the most important issue for us today as far as evangelism and getting the word of God out to people, and I have come to the point where I am thinking it is not so much about what programs we run or what format we take but it is actually about who we are. Now I am not suggesting that we don't run programs or that we ignore the call to take the message to the world, I am just saying that we have to make sure that we have everything in order in our personal lives and that our lives portray the love of God to others before anything we run will be effective.
We need to ensure that we don't get so busy running around trying to please God and people that we forget to spend time with God and get (for want of a better term) plugged into God. We need to ensure we spend time in prayer, and seek Gods desire in what we are doing.
Capt. Dianne Main preached last Sunday on three vital ingredients to an effective church: Passionate People, Prayer as the foundation and building strong working relationships. We should be constantly working on these things, we need to be Passionate about Jesus, we need to make evangelism our top Priority,we must pray continuously!! (if we are not speaking to God how can we possibly know what His will is). Be Persistent,have patience!, commit to the long term (it is not just introducing people to God, but its travelling with them until they are ready to follow Jesus!) Everything must be based on the teachings of the Bible.
I am so grateful for the strong Christian influences in my life and the part they have played in shaping me, I hope that by ensuring that everything is in order between God and myself that I might be able to be a positive Christian example to others, and maybe the seed that I sow may grow into a great tree for the Kingdom Of God. After all this is what this is all about the Kingdom of God !