Roger Aubrey

Now Faith

Tomorrow we're off to our annual Bible Week at the Staffordshire Showground in Central England. About 1200 people from our family of churches across the UK will be gathering together to meet with the Lord, hear some strategic teaching for our time, and generally have a fantastic lot of fun together. We'll also be having a report on all the things we have been doing across the world in the past year.

The Conference is entitled, 'Now Faith 08' - looking forward to it immensely. We'll be back at the end of next week. Blessings.

O Magnum Mysterium

Here's a simply beautiful piece of music.

Thought for the day

Truth without love is brutal; love without truth is sentimental.

A wise investment

Don't store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. (Matthew 6:19-21)

One of the ways in which we can store up treasures in heaven is by using our earthly treasures in heavenly ways and for the advancement of the Kingdom of Heaven. Take money, for example: even though it's only paper or metal, it represents something spiritual. Jesus taught more about money than many other subjects. He understood its power. Jesus never preached a gospel of poverty; he taught us how to control and use our wealth. The way we handle our money demonstrates where we have stored it. That is why we tithe and give offerings; why we are generous with our money, and why we handle it with integrity and honesty. If we have stored it in heaven then heaven's King has ownership and control of it. If God has your wallet he has you.

Vindication for Christian Registrar

A Christian registrar who was harassed and discriminated against after she refused to carry out same-sex civil partnership ceremonies has won a key legal battle. Lillian Ladele, 47, said that she was treated like a pariah by colleagues at Islington council in North London after she said that she could not carry out the ceremonies as a matter of religious conscience.

 

Read more about this story here.

Thought for the day

Christians are not today's people; we are tomorrow's people living in today.

Home from Harstad

Dianne and I arrived home from Harstad, northern Norway, yesterday afternoon. We had been speaking at the summer conference of our churches up there. This is the time of year of the midnight sun: it never goes down. The picture was taken a couple of minutes after midnight - the sun just dips down and comes up again! Needless to say, eye masks come in handy for those who are not use to it. The one I am modelling so fetchingly was given to me by a dear brother, Torbjorn, who presented Dianne and me with a pair at the opening meeting.

The conference was very good. Five people were saved; many encountered the Holy Spirit in a new and dynamic way; and the faith of the people was stretched again. We have been invited to go back in November, which will be very exciting. 

‘Discovering God’ – God is Love

The final extract from my new book, Discovering God, tells how God is a God of love: probably the most appreciated and misunderstood attribute of God. In this extract I explain the two Old Testament words that are used to describe God's love.

Dianne and I are off to Norway tomorrow. We are speaking at the northern Bible Week up in Harstad. Apparently, we're going to see the midnight sun! Better take some eyeshades so I can get some sleep. We're back on Monday; so see you next week.

Great deal on book

Great news for all customers: Discovering God is now avaliable at the Book Depository for just £6.20, with free postage worldwide. Delivery in 2-3 days as well, which is faster than Amazon right now for UK buyers.

They also have The Circle of Life for £5.59.

Here's your link.

‘Discovering God’ – God is All Powerful

Today's extract from my new book, Discovering God, comes from the chapter God is All Powerful. This section deals with the question that many of us ask: if God is all powerful why does it sometimes appear that he isn't? Read on...

'Discovering God' - El Shaddai

As promised, here's the first short extract from my new book - Discovering God. This is taken from the chapter entitled El Shaddai: the 'more than enough' God.The book is now available for purchase from your local Amazon. You should be able to buy it online through Borders too.

'Discovering God' now available

My new book, 'Discovering God', is now available for American customers at Amazon. UK, Canadian and European buyers will be able to purchase online very soon. Next week I will publish some extracts.

Here's the Amazon link for US customers.

My new book: 'Discovering God'

 Today I'm delighted to announce the forthcoming release of my new book: Discovering God. It will be available to purchase in just a few days. I will give you more details of how and where you can buy it later. What's it about?

Discovering God sets out to answer the most important question anybody can ask: what is God like? We build our lives on our concept of God; therefore it is vitally important that we know him as he really is. Discovering God uses the Bible to explain in everyday language what God has to tell us about himself. This book will take you on an exciting adventure, with fascinating and life-changing insights into the nature of God. Knowing God is the greatest thing that can happen to you.  Discovering God will help you know him better.

 

Next week I will be publishing selected extracts from the book here, which will hopefully whet your appetite.

 

Back soon

I'll be back in action this Thursday with news of my new book. Stay tuned!

Time out

Checking out for a few days: will be back later in the week. Be blessed.

Claiming the Capital

Here's the first in a series of videos from All Nations. It's part of a longer piece which shows various aspects of our church as we claim the capital for Jesus. This one focusses on our youth ministry.

This clip features one of our Sunday meetings:

Thought for the day

This week sees the end of my tenure as Principal of School of the Word. Yesterday was our last class, and on Saturday we will hold our Graduation Ceremony. I have been thinking back over the last six years and of all those who have come and gone during that time. Mostly my memories are fond ones, tinged only by thoughts of the tiny few who at this moment of time, are not walking with God as they should. I am immensely proud of those who have gone on to greater and greater things in God since their year at the School. To have played even a small part in their destiny is hugely satisfying.

At times like this I often think of a quote from that great man of God, Arthur Wallis:

If you would make the greatest success of your life, try to discover what God is doing in your time, and fling yourself into the accomplishment of His purpose and will.

That's my prayer for all 117 men and women who have passed through the doors of School of the Word; and for all who will pass through in the future.

Double blessing

Last weekend Dianne and I visited our church in Preston, Lancashire, which is led by our dear friends Mark and Marjan de Leeuw van Weenen. We had a great time with the people of God in that pioneer work. We were blessed in so many ways. The one I want to share is about a financial blessing we received.

Last summer, at our annual Bible Week, I prayed for a young man who was in financial need. As a token of God's provision to him I sowed a certain amount of money to him as I ministered to him. I forgot all about it. At the meeting in Preston last Sunday, Dianne and I wanted to sow into the offering. We agreed how much we would give and Dianne popped the money into my shirt pocket. The moment she did, the same man I had prayed for last year came over to us and reminded us of what I had done for him. He then handed me an envelope in appreciation. I put it in my bag. Later, when we got home, I opened it to find that he had reaped back to me three times the amount I had sowed to the Lord in him.

Back to the meeting: when the time came to give into the offering Dianne and I put our agreed amount into the basket. We always sow with thanksgiving and faith. As soon as we sat down another brother came up behind me and put something into the same shirt pocket I had just taken our offering from. When we were in the car driving home later on, I put my hand in and pulled out five times the amount we had sown!

You can never out give your heavenly Father!

The Ancient Power

Today I have been with my brother, David. He has not been well recently, but happily is now recovering and enjoying the hand of God on his life. He has been taking time to go through some of our family history, collecting photographs, letters, and information on our ancestors.

David has uncovered a letter written in March 1908 to our grandfather by his brother, Tom, who was a seaman. Tom had had a remarkable conversion to Christ: he was infamous in the pubs of Cardiff as a drunkard who would fight anything that moved. He would stand with his back to the bar and take on all comers. One night, however, he met God. Tom was standing at the bar and reached out his hand to pick up his drink when the Holy Spirit came upon him. Tom could not physically lift the glass; such was the power of God on him in conviction of his sin. Right there and then, Tom received Christ! He was a changed man.

The letter I held in my hand was written by this man of God, still a seaman, but now transformed by the love of Jesus. He was writing from Norfolk, Virginia, to his brother, about the goodness of God and how much Tom loved his Saviour. The last sentence reads: 'His touch has lost none of its ancient power.' As I read these words out loud, written by my ancestor one hundred years ago, I was moved in my spirit by their power. I felt something of the eternal nature of almighty God, how down the ages the touch of his hand that Tom had experienced is the same today.

And then I thought about the Scriptures. Even though my Bible is fairly new, having been purchased just a few weeks ago, it is an eternal book, written by the Ancient of Days. It has an ancient power, and that power is as alive and potent today as when the inspired writers first wrote the words. When the eternal God touches you with that ancient, eternal power, you can never be the same again.

Thought for the day

It doesn't matter if you win or lose – until you lose.

'Holy is the Lord'

Here's Chris Tomlin singing 'Holy is the Lord'. There's a really good version by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir too, if anybody can locate a video of it.

'You can't preach here'

Two Christian preachers were stopped from handing out Bible extracts by police because they were in a Muslim area, it was claimed yesterday. Oh yes, this incident happened in the UK. Read more

'Radical Islam filling a void'

The decline of Christian values is destroying Britishness and has created a "moral vacuum" which radical Islam is filling, one of the Church of England's leading bishops has warned. Read more of what Michael Nazir Ali has to say here.

Image of the day

Back from a hugely enjoyable time with the church in Skien, Norway. Weather was great too!

Here's a picture of sea slugs: far better looking than those brown ones that try to eat my hostas.

Back to Norway

Today, Dianne and I are off to Norway again. This time we travel to Telemark in the south of the country, to the town of  Skien to spend the weekend with the church there and the church in Stokke, who will be joining us. We are looking forward to a visitation of the Holy Spirit on the people; an anointing and impartation of faith; an equipping through the Word and through signs and wonders!

We'll be back on Monday.

Famous last words

It was by faith that Joseph, when he was about to die, confidently spoke of God's bringing the people of Israel out of Egypt. He was so sure of it he commanded them to carry his bones with them when he left! (Hebrews 11:22)

I wonder what you'd like your last words to be? I really like Joseph's: they were words of faith. He spoke not only about his own future but also about that of his descendants. He went out with a bang, not a whimper. So powerful were these last words that, over four hundred years later, they were obeyed. Exodus 13:19 tells us that Moses made sure they took Joseph's bones with them. Even though this man was long dead, his words of faith about the future destiny of his people were still living.

I think I'd like my last words to be: 'Look! Here comes Jesus!'

Thought for the day

This comment was left by Tom Miller in Beijing on the Times website, following an article on the continued decline of the traditional 'church' in the UK (for which I am grateful!).It featured in the News Review last Sunday.

I am an atheist, but still culturally Christian and I'll ensure that my son grows up knowing the Bible stories: though I hope to God he never finds faith.

The singer

Sing a new song to the LORD! Let the whole earth sing to the LORD! Sing to the LORD; bless his name. (Psalm 96:1-2)

God is musical; he loves a good tune. That shouldn't surprise us: after all, he created music. God loves to hear his people sing to him. In fact, to him the whole earth is one massed choir of praising singers, each one belting out their songs of adoration. I'm so glad that the Psalmist didn't say, 'All those who can sing in tune, sing to the Lord'. I'm relieved he didn't limit those allowed to sing praises to those with voices like Pavarotti or Bruce Springsteen. He said, 'Sing! Sing! Sing!' God's not concerned with the tunefulness of the voice; he can sort out the niceties of the notes when they reach his ears. All you need is a voice a song of praise and a thankful heart. All together now....

Image of the day

Thought for the day