Walking the Talk

This week has been a busy week, with meetings every day at different levels of ministry. I've been in the car quite a bit and have been listening to a few sermons that I have downloaded to my i-pod. You know, there is a superb website - www.sermonindex.net - where you can find hundreds of wonderful messages by great men & women of God and download them ... free! Amazing. I downloaded one by a guy called Gehard DuToit called 'The Burden of God' and I have been deeply moved and challenged over the last few days.

In his message he deals with the whole area of brokenness and walking with God and he shares many of the dealings that God had been working through his life. At one point he challenged the fathers and grandfathers in the congregation -"Do your children see your brokenness before God? Do your children see a father who walks with God?" I began to think, "What do Lydia & Josiah see in me? Yes, I know they are young but is there anything I have shown in my life that as made them realise, "Daddy loves God so much." I asked Lydia, "What does Daddy do?" She replied that I 'teached down the back' and was a Pastor." Josiah thought Lydia was saying 'pasta' ... which made him laugh so much!

I have been praying today that my kids will grow up and will see that they have a daddy that knows God - not as a pastoral duty - but someone who knows the heart, voice and tears of God.

I planned to write a few blogs about being a Father a few weeks ago but couldn't. Maybe now is the right time. I want you to read the following account about a Scottish missionary called John G. Paton. This man was absolutely amazing and his motto was 'Lo, I am with you always." Even when surrounded by a tribe of cannibals he could stay calm because "they are not stronger than my Jesus and He will not let them harm us." If you want to be challenged and encouraged find out more about his ministry - do a yahoo or google 'search' or check out the following website:  www.wholesomewords.org/missions/biopaton.html

The following words describe the very beginning of Paton's missionary journey - going to catch the train in Glasgow! He talks about the relationship he had with his Godly father and of that 'long' journey they made together from Ayrshire to Glasgow. I will add my own thoughts tomorrow:

John Paton was a Scottish missionary to the Islands of the South Pacific. He died 100 years ago this year. He was born in 1824. He went out to the Islands at the age of 34 in 1858. And there he labored for the rest of his long life. After 31 years, he wrote his autobiography. In it, he remembered the time—almost 50 years earlier—when his dear father had walked him out of his village, and toward Glasgow, where his future lay. And with 50 years having gone, Paton was still obviously affected by this man who so trusted in God, feared Him, and delighted in pleasing Him.

I started out from my quiet country home on the road to Glasgow. Literally “on the road,” for from Torthorwald to Kilmarnock—about forty miles—had to be done on foot, and thence to Glasgow by rail. Railways in those days were as yet few, and coach traveling was far beyond my purse. A small bundle, tied up in my pocket-handkerchief, contained my Bible and all my personal belongings. Thus was I launched upon the ocean of life. I thought on One who says, “I know thy poverty, but thou art rich.”

My dear father walked with me the first six miles of the way. His counsels and tears and heavenly conversation on that parting journey are fresh in my heart as if it had been but yesterday; and tears are on my cheeks as freely now as then, whenever memory steals me away to the scene. For the last half-mile or so we walked on together in almost unbroken silence,--my father, as was often his custom, carrying his hat in hand, while his long, flowing yellow hair (then yellow, but in later years white as snow) streamed like a girl’s down his shoulders. His lips kept moving in silent prayers for me; and his tears fell fast when our eyes met each other in looks for which all speech was vain! We halted on reaching the appointed parting place; he grasped my hand firmly for a minute in silence, and then solemnly and affectionately said:

“God bless you, my son! Your father’s God prosper you, and keep you from all evil!”

Unable to say more, his lips kept moving in silent prayer; in tears we embraced, and parted. I ran off as fast as I could; and, when about to turn a corner in the road where he would lose sight of me, I looked back and saw him still standing with head uncovered where I had left him—gazing after me. Waving my hat in adieu, I was round the corner and out of sight in an instant. But my heart was too full and sore to carry me further, so I darted into the side of the road and wept for a time.

Then, rising up cautiously, I climbed the dyke to see if he yet stood where I had left him; and just at that moment I caught a glimpse of him climbing the dyke and looking out for me! He did not see me, and after he had gazed eagerly in my direction for a while he got down, set his face towards home, and began to return—his head still uncovered, and his heart, I felt sure, still rising in prayers for me. I watched through blinding tears, till his form faded from my gaze; and then, hastening on my way, vowed deeply and oft, by the help of God, to live and act so as never to grieve or dishonour such a father and mother as He had given me.

The appearance of my father, when we parted—his advice, prayers, and tears—the road, the dyke, the climbing up on it and then walking away, head uncovered—have often, often, all through life, risen vividly before my mind, and do so now while I am writing, as if it had been but an hour ago. In my earlier years particularly, when exposed to many temptations, his parting form rose before me as that of a guardian Angel. It is no Pharisaism, but deep gratitude, which makes me here testify that the memory of that scene not only helped, by God’s grace, to keep me from the prevailing sins, but also stimulated me in all my studies, that I might not fall short of his hopes, and in all my Christian duties, that I might faithfully follow his shining example.” (Paton, Autobiography, pp. 25-26)

Sheltered in His Arms

Today, I am incredibly amazed at the grace and mercy of the Lord. Yesterday I preached at the SIL (Wycliffe) base in Bagabad, one hour south of here. I preached about the peace of God. When we left SIL, the winds were becoming stronger and there was an incredible amount of rain. Some parts of the road were flooded and very dangerous. I knew that a major typhoon was on its way ... and I was more than a bit anxious!

Every news and weather station - both locally, nationally and internationally - had plotted the typhoon 'MITAG' to pass through Isabela at around 2-3am. It looked like a monster! Winds were going to be from 160-210 km per hour and heavy rainfall was expected. In the Philippines, when you get wind AND rain during a typhoon... it's a killer.

They said that it was slow moving - only 2-13 km per hour, so we would have terrible storms all Sunday night and right through until Monday night. We were told it was best to only travel if in emergency.

So, like a good dad, I sat the kids down and said that it could get rough during the night. We let them sleep in our bed just for one night, so they wouldn't be scared. I slept on the couch because our old house is falling apart at the seems and there are so many leaks everywhere when it rains. I was prepared with my torch and a few basins! Man of faith!


I was going on what the professionals told us. I was going on what everyone else said was going to happen. What I didn't know was that many many people in Santiago were interceding before the Lord that He would change the course of this typhoon and postpone disaster. Pastor Marlou and all at Cornerstone Santiago had a time on the service when they got into groups and cried out to the Lord for His help. Marlou said that he felt a deep sense of assurance. They prayed again in the evening service and asked God to cover Santiago with His hand... and again they felt the peace of God.

But there I was in my house ... ready for whatever. I watched the football and tried to stay awake through the night. Every hour I went outside and checked the weather. Every time I found a light breeze with light rain. I saw every hour ... 1am, 2am, 3am ... but still no typhoon. At 4am I went out again. Same situation. I felt God speak into my heart ... "Go to sleep, it's OK." So I did. I left it with the Lord and abandoned my post!

I woke up this morning and rushed through to see the news on TV. I was amazed the TV was still on! Even more amazing .. the internet was still on! Usually, the slightest breeze would knock it off for days. I checked for news about Isabela ... we were on signal 3 (very severe storm) and we were warned of danger. I saw pictures of towns all around us who had been through a nightmare time with the typhoon. Roxas, Cauayan, Aurora, Dinapige ... all towns in Isabela who were 'hit'. Still no news about Santiago.

I had a Leaders meeting at Cornerstone Church followed by a Government Hearing about our land in Nagassican. When I drove to the church I was amazed! It was a beautiful day! In fact, it turned out to be the hottest and best day we have had for weeks! Check out this picture below... see the blue skies? And at that time we were under signal 3 ... severe stormy weather. All around us I could see the storm clouds in the mountains that surround us. But in Santiago we had fantastic weather.


Jonathan Batayan, our wonderful Maintenance Man, went out at 6am this morning to see 'the effects of the typhoon on Sefton Village." What he saw amazed him. He didn't see gray skies full of rain and great gusts of wind. He said the sky was a beautiful shade of yellows and orange and he felt the peace of God. The Bible says, "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies." (Psalm 23) Today, the Lord put His hand over Santiago during a storm that was due to hit us hard; that's mercy. He actually changed the course of the typhoon so that it went north and ended up in the ocean ... that's grace.

No matter what we go through in our lives - whether physical storms, spiritual storms, emotional storms, financial storms, relationship storms .. there is always a place of rest and a dwelling of peace - even right in the centre of the storm. That is the place to be. I once read ... better the storm WITH Christ than calm waters WITHOUT him.

I leave you with the beautiful Psalm 91. I was going to cut and paste some parts of it out but I felt I needed to let you read the whole passage. This is our testimony of what the Lord has done for us in the last few days. Enjoy ...

Psalm 91

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."

Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare
and from the deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.

A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.

You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.

If you make the Most High your dwelling—
even the LORD, who is my refuge-
then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.

For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;

They will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

"Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.

With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."

Thank You for your Prayers and Concern. We Love You.

Face the World Face Down ...

Last week was ultra busy yet ultra excellent. So many things were squeezed into a few days and it seemed like we were on a roller coaster that wasn’t stopping anytime soon!

We started off with our FEBC Radio Programmers Seminar from Monday to Wednesday. We are praying that by Oct/Nov we will start to build the radio station at Sefton Village, but before that FEBC have to train people to run the programmes. Around 20 progammers came – comprising from housewives to businessmen to pastors – and they had a great time. Their final assessment was that they all had to plan and execute a 15 minute ‘live’ progamme … they did so well.

A bonus for us was to meet a Scottish FEBC Trainer – Peter McIntyre – who is from Edinburgh but who has been ministering in Manila for 20 years. When I first met him he said that his wife was from a place I had probably never heard of (Tain), but he got the shock of his life when I told him that we often drive through Tain because my wife was from much further north in Wick!

From Tuesday – Friday we had our ‘Week of Refreshing’ which is designed to give our students and former students a few days to feel special – to relax, un-burden, be ministered to, to have fellowship and plenty fun. We had seminars, ate out, went swimming, played sports .. but the most important thing was that the Holy Spirit really broke into some of our meetings and touched the lives of these precious young people.

Many of them come from very difficult pioneering works and they receive next to nothing for their support. They really know what it is to ‘live by faith’. In one meeting the Lord really impressed on my spirit that he wanted to ‘break the chains of disappointment’ over some of their lives … and it was tremendous to see many respond and to see God breaking many things in their lives.

On Friday afternoon we had a very special occasion – our SBTC Graduation Service. We had a great time and the students did so well. We had the marching of the students, their parents and SBTCF staff, praise & worship, testimonies, Graduation song and then Keith gave a great message. We gave out their certificates and then all the Pastors prayed for the students – this is always a special time. At the end, the students are given 2 flowers to give to the people who have helped them through Bible School. It is so touching to see them thank and pray with their mums, dads, pastors and relatives. There are very few dry eyes!

I watched over the week at these young students and Alumni (former students). One thing that struck me was the amount of time they spent just bowing before the Lord. Just kneeling at His feet. Waiting for His voice. Sitting in His presence. Not flustered about time. This is not a place of weakness … but a place of strength.

If we are to face the world with the Gospel of Christ, then we must go from our knees. We must learn to rise up before we speak out. We must learn to listen in quietness before we speak with power. We must learn to bow in surrender before we walk in victory. These young people don’t have much in the eyes of the world … but in the eyes of God they have surrendered lives and open hearts; and that is all He needs.

Selah…