Happy Fathers Day!

Today is Fathers Day! The time-honoured tradition where the family will take a day to encourage, bless and thank the father of the home.

Today was really nice. Lydia came through at 5am and whispered, "Happy Fathers Day ... can I get a Yakult" all in one breath. Today, for the first time, wee Josiah came with his daddy on a preaching engagement. We dropped mummy and Lydia off at Cornerstone Santiago (because Lydia goes to Kids Church there and loves it so much she doe not want to miss it!) and Josiah, me and Pepito (Josiah's bestest friend in the Philippines and my unofficial adopted son!) headed for Cornerstone Ramon.

Well, surprise surprise. Josiah behaved great! He didn't cry for his mum once and seemed to enjoy the occasion. At the end of the service there was a 'Fathers Day' time where the kids or wives of the fathers said something really nice and then handed us a mug. Well, when my turn came, wee Josiah grabbed the mike and said, "Happy Fathers Day daddy, I love you!" I was taken aback and even more shocked when he started to sing! No, it wasn't an emotional paternal love song ... but it was from his wee heart -"One Way, Jesus"! He he. He even went really low and did the "You are the way, the truth and the Life ..." bit and started all over again! What a hoot. The folk loved it! And I was so touched.

I spoke about the Father Heart of God, and here were my points. I know there are 7, but I can assure you they were short!

1. A FATHER WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR HIS CHILDREN
2. SOMETIMES NO WORDS ARE NEEDED
3. THERE IS NO DAY OFF - IT'S 24/7!
4. CHILDREN TOTALLY DEPEND ON US … BUT ONLY FOR A SEASON
5. MY CHILDREN KNOW MY VOICE
6. MY DESIRE IS TO BE CLOSE TO MY CHILDREN
7. A FATHERS LOVE IS FOREVER

I thank the Lord so much for my dad and all the he has done for me. You never really understand the sacrifices and pain that your father goes through until you yourself are a father! Even now, my dad is so important to me and I know he he right behind us and what God is doing at Sefton Village. And I thank the Lord so much for that. I pray that I will be as good a dad to my children as my dad has been to me.

I remember speaking to Pastor Jim McGlade ad he said something really interesting. He said that you can only test how good your parenting skills are by how your grandkids turn out! He said that if you have spent time with your kids, brought them up in the ways of God, taught them good morals and trained them in righteousness ... then what you have put into your kids will come out in their kids! So I'm praying that not only will myself, Paul and David bring blessing for my mum and dad ... but OUR kids will also be a blessing to our family, their churches and the society they live in. Interesting ....

Well, we have a tough week ahead. Tomorrow, the new Elementary School will start as well as the new school year for the Nursery School. Also, the Bible School will start our new year. I am also preaching at the launch of our 'Feeding Programme' at Nagassican. Help ma boab! What a day!

But there is a very serious problem we have to deal with tomorrow. I cannot share any details but we would really appreciate your prayers. Right now, it is living on a roller coaster ... so many ups followed by great tests and challenges. I feel that there are great victories ahead ... but we have many battles to face on the way there.

Here are some laughs concerning fathers. Enjoy:

Letter to a Father:

Dear Dad,

$chool i$ really great. I am making lot$ of friend$ and $tudying very hard. With all my $tuff, I $imply can't think of anything I need, $o if you would like, you can ju$t $end me a card, a$ I would love to hear from you.

Love,
Your $on

The Reply:

Dear Son,

I kNOw that astroNOmy, ecoNOmics, and oceaNOgraphy are eNOugh to keep even an hoNOr student busy. Do NOt forget that the pursuit of kNOwledge is a NOble task, and you can never study eNOugh.

Dad

My Dad thinks he wears the trousers in our house, but it's always Mum who tells him which pair to put on!

After the church service a little boy told the pastor, "When I grow up, I'm going to give you some money." "Well, thank you," the pastor replied, "but why?" "Because my daddy says you're one of the poorest preachers we've ever had."

A company held a contest for kids with the theme: "The nicest thing My Father Ever Did For Me." One kid answered "He married my mother."

Happy Fathers Day to all you great men out there. Be blessed and bring up your kids in the ways of the Lord.

Hunger

About a year ago Mary did a study with the aunties in the Children’s Home concerning spiritual hunger. She asked them, “Have you ever been hungry?” She was amazed at their response. Every one of them, at some point of their lives, had suffered true hunger. Hunger that meant they were so desperate to eat but there was nothing there; and nowhere to find the food they craved. Mary and I have never been through true hunger. Have you?

Hunger is a relative word. Hungry in UK is not the same as hunger in the Philippines; hunger in the Philippines is not the same as hunger in Mozambique. In the UK, hungry means you had a meal a couple an hours ago and you can’t wait for your next fill in approximately 75 minutes. Hunger in the Philippines means that you are not getting quite so much food (em, rice!) that you would like but you know that somehow somewhere there will be someone who you will eat with very soon. In Mozambique, hunger means desperation and death. There is no hope.

I hear a lot about Todd Bentley and the Lakeland Revival from folk in the UK. I finally managed to get my cable company to put on God TV but the Revival is on from 2-6am! So, I have seen very little of what God is doing there. But I managed to get the last 20 minutes last Friday and Todd was ministering to Pastors and their wives who felt like giving because it was so difficult. Some pastor’s wives were sick with cancer, some were so discouraged, some were worn out. At the end of the rope … but still hungry!

Hungry enough to travel huge distances to taste the healing power of God. Hungry enough to recognize their weaknesses and failures. Hungry enough to stand in front of millions and say, “Lord, I need you.” Hungry enough to realize that no-one can touch us like the Lord. Hungry enough to ignore other people’s opinions. Hungry enough to reach out and touch God.

It was a joy to hear these lovely Pastors and their wives just tell God that they were hungry for a new touch from him. As I watched tears ran down my cheeks. Todd Bentley said something – “Friends, I am hungrier for God than anyone. I am hungry for His presence.” At first I thought, “Mmmmm, that’s a bit arrogant!” And as I thought about my own life and ministry I began to realize that you can go on week after week and month after month without being truly hungry for God. We can do things for Him without really being desperate to be with him. Over the last week I have been really examining my life. Am I really hungry FOR GOD? I have to admit that there is so much going on at Sefton. Plan after plan, meeting after meeting, team after team, pressure after pressure, work after work … ALWAYS something to do and someone to see. Living under pressures of trying to minister, bring up a family, keep up with admin & write newsletters (when the kids are down!!), trying to live (and drive) in another culture, melting in the sweltering heat … etc. etc. We have around 60 staff now and we are responsible not only for them but, in many ways, their families. Sometimes, to be honest, it is really overwhelming. And hunger for God is lost amidst the cares of life and ministry.

This June, I have determined in my heart that I want to experience hunger for God. I know I must sometimes get out of Sefton and spend time alone with the Lord. I want to be desperate. I need to be broken. I desire something fresh. Something new. Who I am and what I am doing is not wrong, but I know I am not in the place I should be. I don’t want to be an advisor; I want to be a demonstrator. I don’t want theory; I want encounter. I don’t want to be an examiner of the river; I want to swim in refreshing water. I don’t want to paddle in the side; I want to go deeper. I don’t want same old same old …. I want anointing for today. I don’t want a heart of stone; I want a heart of flesh. I don’t want to be distant; I want to be close. I don’t want to be lukewarm … I need the fire.

How about you my friend. I don’t know who you are but I do want you to do this. Examine your heart and life. I am nit asking of you are busy for God. You probably are. I am not asking if you are a regular attendee in your church. You probably are. I am not asking if you give faithfully and live as righteously as you can. You probably do. I am asking – are you hungry for His presence? Are you hungry for one touch? Are you hungry enough to let go and let God? Hungry to be broken? Hungry enough to be vulnerable?

Hunger. Do you feel it? Hunger means your body needs more food. Do you long for more of God? Do you know that where you are is not where you should be and your life is not all that it can be? Whoever you are .. God has so much more for you. More dreams, more vision, more passion, more adventures, more revelation. He loves your life more than you do. Are you hungry to hear his words? Are you hungry enough to touch His heart? Are you hungry enough to ignore other people’s opinions? Are you hungry enough to be honest with yourself?

A couple of weeks ago, the Youth in Cornerstone Santiago started a new youth service. Matthew was the speaker and I went along to encourage them. As they began to worship, I looked over and saw an amazing sight. Remember Willy? (left) He is the little boy who comes from Nagassican and prayed desperately for his dad to come home? Well, tears were tripping down his face as he lifted his hands and worshipped the Lord. He wasn't singing the words of the songs like everyone else; in fact he wasn't singing! He was lost in worship. Alone with God in a crowd of young people. I was deeply moved and challenged.

Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness … for they shall be filled! If you don't feel the hunger you will never be filled or fulfilled.

Hungry?