Stars and Sand: Roger Aubrey

Welcome to Stars and Sand

Thanks for visiting my site, Stars and Sand. Here you will find articles, devotions, insights, comments, news, some much needed light relief and occasional links to other sites of interest. I hope you have a blessed and challenging time reading the various items that appear here.

You can also buy my books at online bookstores like Amazon and the Book Depository in both print and Kindle format (Angels available only as Kindle and iBookstore versions). If you don't have a Kindle you can use your Kindle app on the Mac, PC, iPad, iPhone and most smartphones.

The time is ripe to do right

In this second extract from Martin Luther King's Letter from a Birmingham Jail, King writes about the tragic misconception of time that excuses many Christians from righteous and prophetic action:

I have just received a letter from a white brother in Texas. He writes: "All Christians know that the colored people will receive equal rights eventually, but it is possible that you are in too great a religious hurry. It has taken Christianity almost two thousand years to accomplish what it has. The teachings of Christ take time to come to earth." Such an attitude stems from a tragic misconception of time, from the strangely rational notion that there is something in the very flow of time that will inevitably cure all ills. Actually, time itself is neutral; it can be used either destructively or constructively. More and more I feel that the people of ill will have used time much more effectively than have the people of good will. We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people. Human progress never rolls in on wheels of inevitability; it comes through the tireless efforts of men willing to be co-workers with God, and without this hard work, time itself becomes an ally of the forces of social stagnation. We must use time creatively, in the knowledge that the time is always ripe to do right.

Letter from a Birmingham jail - Martin Luther King

This extract from Martin Luther King's famous Letter from a Birmingham Jail, written in April 1963, still resonates today:

There was a time when the church was very powerful--in the time when the early Christians rejoiced at being deemed worthy to suffer for what they believed. In those days the church was not merely a thermometer that recorded the ideas and principles of popular opinion; it was a thermostat that transformed the mores of society. Whenever the early Christians entered a town, the people in power became disturbed and immediately sought to convict the Christians for being "disturbers of the peace" and "outside agitators."' But the Christians pressed on, in the conviction that they were "a colony of heaven," called to obey God rather than man. Small in number, they were big in commitment. They were too God-intoxicated to be "astronomically intimidated." By their effort and example they brought an end to such ancient evils as infanticide and gladiatorial contests. Things are different now. So often the contemporary church is a weak, ineffectual voice with an uncertain sound. So often it is an archdefender of the status quo. Far from being disturbed by the presence of the church, the power structure of the average community is consoled by the church's silent--and often even vocal--sanction of things as they are.

The Spirit Controlled Mind

Here is yesterday's message from All Nations Church. I spoke on the Spirit Controlled Mind. Our minds are vitally important, but they have to be our servants not our masters. When we are born again our minds are not saved, they have to be renewed. How does that process begin and continue? This message will explain why you need a renewed mind and how to get one.

The Spirit Controlled Mind

The power of saying YES to God

When we really say YES to God, the most amazing things happen to us and are made available to us. When we really say YES to God our whole world changes. We were never designed to say no to God; our YES to him and his will for us is the most natural thing to do.

In this message from All Nations Church, I speak about the power of saying YES to God. I mention four important things that happen when we say YES. Click on the link to hear what those four things are. You can also download the message completely free.

The power of saying YES to God.

Francis Chan: Weird Thinking

 

Remembering a Martyr

Yesterday was the anniversary of the death of Jim Elliot, who along with fellow missionaries Ed McCully, Pete Fleming, Roger Youderian and Nate Saint, were killed by members of the Waodani people in 1956. The five were involved in Operation Auca, an evangelistic mission in Ecuador to reach the Waodani with the Good News of Jesus. Elliot was just 28 years old. The killers of the five were later saved. Elliot has left a legacy of radical, costly discipleship that is largely absent today in the western church. This extract is taken from his journal and sums up the man:

I walked out to the hill just now. It is exalting, delicious, to stand embraced by the shadows of a friendly tree with the wind tugging at your coat-tail and the heavens hailing your heart, to gaze and glory and give oneself again to God – what more could a man ask? Oh, the fullness, pleasure, sheer excitement of knowing God on earth! I care not if I never raise my voice again for him, if only I may love him, please him. Mayhap in mercy he shall give me a host of children that I may lead them through the vast star fields to explore his delicacies whose finger-ends set them to burning. But if not, if only I may see him, touch his garments, and smile into his eyes – ah then, not stars nor children shall matter, only himself.  Oh Jesus, Master and Centre and End of all; how long before that glory is yours which has so long waited you? Now there is no thought of you among men; then there shall be thought for nothing else. Now, other men are praised; then none shall care for any other’s merits. Hasten, hasten, Glory of Heaven; take your crown, subdue your kingdom, enthral your creatures!

Weekend Song

James Taylor and Carol King live at the Troubador: 'Sweet Baby James'.

 

The Great Liberator

It's impossible to live the resurrection life of Jesus if you have not first died. The Cross is the Great Liberator: it is the place where we all have to die to free us from our old sinful self. As Jesus said, "The grain of wheat has to fall into the ground and die" (John 12:24). The Cross liberates you from yourself, it liberates you to become the son of God that God always intended you to be. The Cross enables God to get hold of a dead person and fill them with his own life. His life is eternal life, not a life that just goes on forever. It is a totally different kind of life from anything you have experienced. The God-life is a life lived free from selfish ambition and self promotion. It knows nothing of self interest and self absorption. You live by the life of Another. The great paradox of the Great Liberator is that the Cross does not set you free to be independent and isolated; it brings you into true servanthood with Jesus as your living Lord. There is an old hymn that says, "Make me a captive Lord, and then I shall be free." You are liberated to be God's captive!

The Old Cross and the New

Happy New Year. I'd like to start it with what might seem a strange post; but I believe it is most apt for the time we are in and for what lies ahead for the Church if it is to be all that God intends. It's a well known devotional piece from the pen of AW Tozer; I think it is one of the finest ever written about the Cross of Christ, and remains as prophetic and therefore relevant as when Tozer wrote it over fifty years ago.

For Leo's sake

This is my final post of 2011; it is dedicated to the memory of my friend. Leonardo was the pastor of the church in Manzanillo, Cuba. Two weeks ago he was killed in a car crash; his wife Mercedes is in a critical condition. Obviously his family, children and friends across Cuba are all devastated by the loss of a fantastic man. I had the privilege of staying in his home and speaking in his church. I have to say: in all of my visits to Cuba and in all of the churches I have visited there, I have experienced the manifest presence of God more in the church with Leo and Mercedes than anywhere else on the island. He truly was a man of deep devotion and possessed a zeal for God and his house.

Men like Leo are not consumed with themselves. It's true that in Cuba the trappings of material wealth do not pose the same threat as they do elsewhere. Nevertheless, the heart of man is the same everywhere; and it's just as easy to live a self-absorbed, self-centred life there as it is in the USA or the UK. Leo was sold out to Jesus; he was consumed with passion and love for his Lord and Saviour. He was a man of the Spirit who loved to see the power of God manifest among his people in salvation, miracles, in signs and wonders. He was my kind of man.

This final post of 2011 is dedicated to Leo, because the crying need today is for more men and women just like him and Mercedes. Jesus did not come to this earth to fulfil our personal agendas and give us ministries, titles or positions. He did not come so we can live half-converted, dipping our toes into his life whenever we need a pick me up or to be rescued from our latest sinful rebellion and stupidity. Much that passes for Christianity today in the west is nothing more than sugar-coated, self-absorbed and self-indulgent religion masquerading in the guise of freedom of the Spirit. But Jesus called men and women to follow him; and that life begins for us on the cross - the place where we die.

In this season of celebration - and I intend to enjoy it very much! - don't hibernate spiritually. Rest and enjoy your family and friends; tuck into the Christmas fayre with great gusto; enjoy the presents (even if it's another pair of socks). But: remember whose you are and who you are. For Leo's sake.

Merry Christmas.

Well said Mr Cameron, but....

British Prime Minister David Cameron's recent comments about the continued value and importance to this country of 'Christian values' has met with varying degrees of approval and rejection. That is only to be expected. Mr Cameron made his remarks during a speech commemorating the four hundredth anniversary of the King James version of the Bible.

In his speech the PM said that Christian values were central to Britain and should be 'treasured'. He said that faith gave people a 'moral code' and that the summer riots that shattered several cities were evidence of the fact that this country has lost its way. He also said "[Christian values] are also values that speak to us all – to people of every faith and none. Those who oppose this usually make the case for secular neutrality. They argue that by saying we are a Christian country and standing up for Christian values we are somehow doing down other faiths. I think these arguments are profoundly wrong."

I applaud Mr Cameron's remarks. To hear a modern politician speak of morality and right and wrong is refreshing. (It is interesting that his Liberal Democrat Deputy, Nick Clegg, today embarks on a campaign to stop plans for tax breaks for married couples, citing it as a return to 1950s morality. This despite all the evidence that overwhelmingly proves the benefit of marriage to society). We are right to stand for Christian values; the Bible tells us that righteousness exalts a nation (Proverbs 14:34). The problem in this nation is that there is too much anti Christian legislation; as I have written before, we cannot support Christian - God - values, while passing laws which militate against those values. Therefore, if Mr Cameron wishes to see those values restored - and I believe he does - then somewhere along the line he and his government will have to introduce legislation in line with that desire.

We must face the fact, too, that Britain is not a Christian country. There is no such thing as a Christian country, not even the United States, which has In God we Trust on its money but it's against the law to pray in school (to quote the late Larry Norman). The Gospel of the Kingdom does not produce Christian countries, it produces Christian communities (the Church) in countries, which transform and challenge their societies with the love and power of Jesus Christ. One of the biggest disasters to befall the Church was when it became the official religion of the Roman Empire. Christianity's function is not to be such a thing, it cannot be the State Church. When Mr Cameron directs his comments to the Church of England, he speaks to the wrong body. A state-sponsored and state-controlled religious organisation in which large numbers of its leaders deny the truth of biblical Christianity, cannot speak for Jesus Christ or truly represent him. (That should create some reactions and responses!)

Ultimately, the promotion and support of Christian values will not be sufficient. Society is truly changed only when people are changed, for society comprises real people. Acceptance and acknowledgement of a value system is not far enough. The need is not only for legislation which promotes Christian values; the Church - the real Church that is - has to preach a Jesus as Lord, who is alive as Lord, the reality of the miracle of a changed life through new birth, the love and holiness of God, and express that life in the Church and to the world as an invitation, a demonstration, a provocation and a proof that Jesus is the living Lord of all. If the Church incarnates Christ with all his life and 'values' then the nation will sit up and take notice - as it is beginning to do - and acknowledge that the Kingdom of God has come.

 

Weekend fun

Discovering God: God is Holy

Today is your final opportunity to buy Discovering God and Stars and Sand at the special offer price on Kindle. Our final excerpt from Discovering God is from the chapter God is Holy: we must never forget that God is not only love, he is also holy. If we neglect that important facet of God's character we end up with a sentimental Santa Claus instead of the one true living God. His love is a holy love:

Discovering God: God is Love

There are just two days left for you to buy Discovering God and Stars and Sand at the special price of £1.14/$1.84 on Kindle. Here's a short piece from Discovering God about the love of God:

Discovering God: God is Good

Discovering God and Stars and Sand are on special offer at Kindle until 30 November. Here's an extract from Discovering God from the chapter God is Good:

'Check it out with a doctor'

News reports in the UK today are 'exposing' a church which has reportedly told HIV sufferers to stop taking their medication after receiving prayer for healing. Leaders of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (no connection at all to All Nations Church Cardiff, which I belong to), have been filmed by undercover reporters who pretended to have the HIV virus (report and video here). There are claims that up to six people have died as a result. If true, that is tragic.

I believe in the God of miracles and healing; I have personally experienced healing by Jesus and I have prayed for thousands of people to be healed in Jesus' name. Many have been healed; some have not. Some receive miracles, others have died. None of those who died did so as a result of my telling them to stop their medication. That is one thing I know, because I never have and never will tell somebody to do so. It's just a practice that I follow and that we ensure in our church. (In fact, I take life-preserving medication every day myself). I have been privileged on many occasions to see Jesus heal people who also take life-preserving medication, after I have prayed for them, my wife has prayed for them, or people in my church have prayed for them. I have even seen people healed when nobody has prayed for them. Nevertheless, I do not feel it is my place to tell somebody to stop their medication. That is not a lack of faith; I believe we have precedent in the Bible. When Jesus healed a leper he told him to go and check his healing with the priest, which was what was required of anybody who had that terrible disease (Matthew 8:3-5). In being checked out by the priest, the miracle could be independently verified and the man declared cured. Jesus honoured that process, even though he knew the man was healed. It is wise to let the miracle be affirmed; it doesn't lessen it in any way at all. Rather, it brings greater glory to God.

I am sure that the folks in the Synagogue Church of All Nations are sincere in their faith in Jesus, and we should not be swift to condemn them out of hand. It would be interesting to hear some reports of the miracles and healings that do take place among them, as I am sure is the case. Let's not take this opportunity to hang them out to dry, but to ensure that all we do is not only radical, but wise and responsible.

 

Discovering God: God never changes

Another extract from Discovering God, which, together with Stars and Sand, is on special offer at Kindle until 30 November. This comes from the chapter God is Unchanging:

Discovering God: Yahweh

Discovering God is on special offer at Kindle until 30 November. Here's an extract taken from the chapter on Yahweh, the name of God.

Roger's pre-Christmas treat

Following on from the recent special offer on the Kindle version of The Circle of Life: I am now able to make available the same offer on Discovering God and Stars and Sand. Until 30 November, both can be purchased on Kindle for only £1.14/$1.84 each. You can also download them via any of the free Kindle apps. Treat yourself, or better still, why not bless somebody else and offer to get it for them? I have heard several testimonies of people who have been saved after reading Discovering God - he is amazing!

Keep it Simple

Here's yesterday's message from All Nations Church. I spoke on the simplicity that Jesus is Lord. So often we make Christianity more than it is, and even less than it is. To be a Christian is to have Jesus as Lord. Those three words - Jesus is Lord - are what life is all about, even for non Christians. Jesus is Lord of everybody and everything. End of story.

Keep it Simple

Paths to maturity: The View

Every father enjoys hoisting his children on to his shoulders so they can get a better view of what is going on: the parade; the game; the band. I did it for my kids. Now they are grown and they see for themselves. They no longer need to sit on my shoulders. They have the same view as me. In fact my son is taller than me so he can see even more. His view is not restricted by my eyes: he sees for himself. In fact, he can see beyond me. I have taught my children to see things for themselves: they have their own faith in Jesus, they see him for themselves. Consequently, our conversations are different from when they were young in years and in faith. They no longer seek answers to certain questions: they have established that God loves them and that he is good no matter what happens to them. They have learned for themselves the spiritual laws of sowing and reaping, that God is their source. Life is more simple yet more profound. My longing for my children is that they see more of Christ and of God’s restoration purpose than I do, because that is the compensation nature of restoration. Each generation of sons of God moves the restoration purpose on further than the previous generation. They can do that only if they are seeing more than those who have preceded them.

 As we grow in maturity as sons of God, therefore, our view also grows. We see for ourselves, and what we have seen spurs us on. We often call it having a vision. Sometimes people ask me what keeps me going, despite the many setbacks, disappointments, and failures that I have experienced. I tell them, “I have seen something.” Paul was controlled and directed by what he had seen; all his life with Jesus it kept him through times of success and difficulties, so he could say:

 “I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven.” (Acts 26:19)

 It was the same for Abraham. At the age of seventy-five, he left everything to follow what he had seen, and he spent the next hundred years living and energized by a vision:

He was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. (Hebrews 11:10)

Paths to maturity: True Value

Children do not appreciate nor understand the true value of things. My granddaughter Tabitha was eight months old at her first Christmas. Naturally, she was inundated with gifts. However, she was equally fascinated with the wrapping paper, and spent ages ripping it and holding it above her head! By the time she is eighteen I am certain that things will be different. When I was a child my parents owned a beautiful leather chair upholstered with buttons. One day, when I was about three or four, I became intrigued by how the buttons were fixed to the chair. So I went to the kitchen, took a sharp knife from the drawer, and proceeded to dig out the buttons. By the time my dad discovered me I had all but destroyed the chair.  My own children broke ornaments and put toys in the video player when they were little; now they know better.  Mature people understand the true value of things. For the mature believer this means we understand and appreciate increasingly the true value of what it means to be a Christian, for example, the true value of Jesus, the purpose of the Church, the prominence and values of the Kingdom of God, who we are in Christ, the centrality of the Holy Spirit. When I received Jesus as my Lord and Saviour in 1966, I did so because I did not want to go to hell. For me, Jesus was the means by which I escaped eternal punishment. One year later I was baptized in water because I wanted to obey his command. I belonged to the Church because that is what Christians do. All these things are right and valid: to reject Jesus is to be condemned to an eternal hell; we are baptized because he commands it; we belong to the Church because that is the right thing.

             However, as I have grown in Christ over the years, I have gained much more appreciation of the true value of spiritual things, which are the true realities. It is not that I know more doctrine or facts about Christianity; merely knowing something does not bring appreciation of it. Maturity brings appreciation and a sense of value that determines behaviour and conduct. I do not only believe in God: I know him. Jesus is not merely my personal Lord and Saviour and ticket to heaven. I have discovered, and continue to discover, that he is the glory of God, the focus of the plan of the Father for humanity, the Head of the Church, the King of the Kingdom, the complete revelation of the Father. He is the centre and circumference; he is the Eternal God. He is the One that history and creation is all about:

 God the Father made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. (Ephesians 1:9-10)

 This growing sense of value continues to transform me, affecting every aspect of my existence. It increasingly determines my every thought, action, word, and motive. Mature Christians are not dry, theological experts who think they know everything, or shallow, immature children who glory in their ignorance. They are those who are being restored and transformed from one degree of glory to another degree of glory (2Corinthians 3:18), all the while growing in their revelation of God and his purpose.

Paths to maturity: Responsibility

A few weeks ago I wrote about how important it is for us to grow to maturity as Christians. This came home to me again at our annual Worldwatch Conference this past weekend when one of the speakers emphasised the need for us to change from being self-centred and self-obsessed believers who remain childish. As such, we are no use to God. Here's something on the importance of taking responsibility in order to become mature.

Keith Green: Make My Life a Prayer to You

Says it all:

 

Keith Green: O Lord, You're Beautiful

Today's Keith Green song is enjoying attention again through the various covers on offer. Here is Keith singing it in concert, preceded by a small tribute. At the end of the song Keith goes into the powerful My Eyes are Dry.

 

 

Keith Green: To Obey is Better than Sacrifice

Despite his fierce radicalism, Keith Green had a keen sense of humour, as the introduction to this live version of the wonderful To Obey is Better than Sacrifice demonstrates:

 

Keith Green: Asleep in the Light

This week's posts are dedicated to the music of Keith Green, the radical, uncompromising Christian musician who affected a generation before his death at the age of 28 in 1982. Keith died in a plane crash along with two of his young children. Today's choice is one of my favourites: Asleep in the Light.

 

Circle of Life - The Power of Disagreement

This week's final extract from The Circle of Life is from the section on confession and deals with the important law of the power of disagreement:

Circle of Life - The God who speaks

Continuing our theme this week: here's an extract from The Circle of Life, which is on special offer at Kindle until Saturday. This is from the chapter, The God who speaks:

Circle of Life - Act Naturally

The Circle of Life is currently on special offer at Kindle. To whet your appetite I will be posting extracts from the book for the rest of the week. Today's is the first chapter - Act Naturally: