Saturday, September 30, 2017

Four principles

'Wigglesworth's ministry was based on four principles: First, read the Word of God. Second, consume the Word of God until it consumes you. Third, believe the Word of God. Fourth, act on the Word of God'

From the chapter 'Never the same again' in Johnson's Face to Face with God, p.157


Friday, September 29, 2017

A bit of risk is good for you

To laugh is to risk appearing a fool
To weep is to risk being called sentimental
To reach out is to risk another's involvement
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self
To place your ideas and dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss
To love is to risk being loved in return
To live is to risk dying
To try is to risk failure

But risks must be taken
Because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing
The people who risk nothing may avoid suffering and sorrow
But they cannot learn, feel, change, grow or really live
Chained by their servitude they are slaves who have forfeited all freedom
Only a person who risks is truly free

William Ward quoted by John Brierley in 'A pilgrims guide to the Camino de Santiago', p.36

Monday, September 25, 2017

The greatest need

'I am convinced that the greatest need of the church is to realise again the activity of the Holy Spirit. You see, we organise- organise meetings, organise campaigns, but that is because very largely we have forgotten this element that I am trying to emphasise to you. When the Sprit comes his evidence is unmistakable and the results are amazing and astounding' 

Joy unspeakable, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, p 120

Saturday, September 09, 2017

The death of reading

I really commend reading Philip Yancey's important article  'The death of reading is threatening the soul'. 


Wednesday, September 06, 2017

The Ultimate Quest

'If our value system places more importance on what God does than who He is- if we are religiously motivated rather than relationally motivated- we will not be drawn to recognise the greater revelation behind God's acts. The sad reality is that some are satisfied with what God can do and have little concern for who God is. Such a preference is costly in the long run. Many have missed out on the purpose for their creation by settling for the acts of God, thus failing to come under the influence of the face of God- the ultimate quest and our ultimate destiny'

Face to Face with God, Bill Johnson, Page 86

Saturday blog-sweep

 Some interesting books for pastors The State we're in Attack at dawn Joseph Scriven Joy comes with the morning When small is beautiful