Ran Aground!

100’s of people everyday and 1000’s on the weekends have made special trips to Newcastle to see an amazing sight. 

It caught everyone’s attention because it was so out of place.  

The bulk carrier Pasha Bulker was driven ashore by rough seas on 8^th June and for almost 3 weeks it became the centre of attention on the coast of Newcastle.   This vessel was built to handle the high seas; it was built to be surrounded by deep water. Beached on the coast, it was in danger of being slowly broken into pieces; it could not fulfil its purpose; it was in danger of becoming a permanent wreck.  None of us would probably have known the name of this ship except for the fact that it was so out of place. 

Rough weather in our own lives can cause us to get off course and in extreme cases it can cause us to ‘run aground’.  We can find ourselves in situations where we feel trapped and in danger of breaking up or of never breaking free.  

The only solution to the big ship stuck on the beach is a huge tide and some very powerful tug boats to help. 

The only solution when you ‘run aground’ is for effective help to come your way.  

I am thankful for family and good friends who can help us change desperate situations but I am even more thankful for the one who controls the tides.  

“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” John 8:36   If you are off course or ‘beached’ why don’t you look to Him for the help you need?

Coach or Critic?

I have noticed something interesting about the speeches made at the Academy Awards… people always thank their partners, parents, children, friends, co-workers, directors, producers and (it seems) everyone else but I have never once heard anyone thank a critic! A critic is someone who carefully observes the actions or performance of an individual and notes what is lacking.  Then they take delight in pointing out the flaws to the whole world.   A coach is someone who carefully observes the actions or performance of an individual and notes what is lacking. The difference is that they are full of encouragement and want to see you succeed! They believe in you and want you to become all you can be.  It is interesting that these two roles actually require the same qualifications; the only difference is the attitude which you bring to the role.   I have met some critical, harsh and mean-spirited individuals who only seem content when they are putting someone in their place but I have noticed something about them…they are often lonely, disappointed and bitter because of the way they have chosen to view the world.   Some of the most important people in my life see my flaws (a list probably as long as my arm) but they choose to help me work through them and become a better man rather than criticising me for them, pulling me down.  And then, of course, there is the greatest coach of all – Jesus who stands alongside us cheering us on.  So critic or a coach – the choice is yours!

Clean on the inside!

It was dark, wet and horrible and it wasn’t doing what it was supposed to do.  The rain was bucketing from the heavens and it seemed to be going everywhere except down the drain immediately outside of my house.   

I plunged my arm into the muddy drain because a small lake was forming and I had visions of water lapping at my front door then making itself at home in my lounge room. 

The more I reached into the drain, the more gunk and junk I managed to pull out.  Roots, leaves, dirt and all manner of ‘nasty’ had gathered together into a lump and had totally blocked the drain.  

 I pulled and pulled but eventually I could not reach any more of the obstacle…I needed assistance…I needed something that could go deeper and reach further.  So I borrowed an ‘eel’…not a real eel but a claw like devise on the end of a 6m flexible pole.  It was designed so that you could wind it into the drain in sections and reach much further than any normal arm would go.  As you turned the handle it would chew through anything in its way and, with perseverance, the blockage would be no more! From one end and then from the other I utilised the eel and then I felt a ‘pop’ and the blockage was gone…everything began to flow!   There can be many things which cause blockages in your life and some of them require something more than your natural strength or abilities to remove. I have found that Christ can reach further and penetrate much further than any blockage I have ever suffered from.  Don’t wait for a storm before you invite Him to clean you up on the inside!

Do you have Parking Sensors?

I was enjoying the ride in my mate’s very nice and very new car.  It had every gadget you could imagine…cruise control, heated seats, DVD player with 3 screens and heaps more as well. 

But the thing that really stood out to me was when we finally found a parking spot and started to reverse the ‘parking sensors’ automatically turned on and began to lend a hand.   A little screen lit up on the dashboard to show you how far your car was away from any obstacle. 

If you were a safe distance away, there was a gentle beep and one light lit up, as you get closer more lights light up and the intensity and rhythm of the beeps increases until it is a continuous warning that you are about to hit something.  

I was thinking how good it would be to have built in ‘sensors’ which tell us we are approaching danger or about to do something really stupid.  Imagine how many problems would be avoided or how many annoying ‘dents’ we would happily live without! 

But I was reminded that we actually have a set of sensors available…the problem is that most people either ignore or disconnect them!  

“A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.”           Proverbs 16:9   

So it is up to us…it is time to turn on your ‘sensors’ and head out, giving the Lord an opportunity to speak into your life.   

He hears your prayers, He speaks through His Word (The Bible) and His ‘still small voice’ will lead you if you will listen.