Rob McFarlane

This morning I visited Cornerstone the new coffee and bookshop in St Neots. If you are in our area I encourage you to go along. They have an excellent selection of Bibles, books and music. They also serve excellent coffee at really good prices. 

I have just read Fearless by Max Lucado.

Max Lucado is a best selling author who over 25 years has written a variety of books, devotionals and children's books. You can click here to read more about Max Lucado's ministry UpWords.

We live in a world where people face fear in many ways - fear of lack, fear of failure and fear of being insignificant to name a few. Jesus constantly encourages us to live beyond fear. It has been said that in the Bible we are told 365 times to "fear not" - once for every day of the year.

This book encourages and equips us to overcome the fears that hold us back from living as God intended. Max Lucado asks us to imagine our lives without fear. He encourages us to trust God more and fear less.

A useful addition included in the book is a discussion guide written to enable the reader to consider and apply the principles of each chapter to their life. It also provides an excellent tool to use as a study guide for a small group discussion.

It is a book that I would recommend to everyone. I will read it again and I know it will help me in my life as an individual and in my ministry to others.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their http://www.booksneeze.com book review bloggers program. You can click here to purchase this book on Amazon. Where possible please support your local Christian Bookshop.

I have not been blogging much recently. We have taken time out to enjoy each other as a family. We have been enjoying walks and BBQ's together.

Where I grew up a BBQ was a line of men waiting to get their hair cut. So for the Zimbo's it should read "Love having a Braai in the summer".

I have just read Lead Like Ike by Geoff Loftus.

It provides leadership lessons looking at General Dwight Eisenhower's preparation for and management of Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe on 6th June 1944.

The book takes the military-metaphor-for-business model and examines D-Day as if it were a corporation and Eisenhower the CEO. It includes a history of events, a look at the people involved and summaries of lesson we can learn at the end of each chapter. There are also inserts from modern business corporations as additional examples.

Even though the book looks at Eisenhower's D-Day strategy and tactics from a business perspective it in no way takes away from the sacrifices of the men and women who were part of that titanic effort. It honors the supreme sacrifices of each person who fought and supported the mission during World War II.

It is a valueable resource for those involved in management and leadership. The lessons are simple but it is the simple lessons that we often forget.

The ten lessons are: determine your mission, plan for success, stay focused, prioritize, plan to implement, communicate, motivate your people, manage your people, avoid project creep, and be honest.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their http://www.booksneeze.com book review bloggers program. You can click here to purchase this book on Amazon. Where possible please support your local Christian Bookshop.

In James 4:13-16 we are told how we should make plans. We see three things in these verses:

1. As people we like to have a plan. James 4:13 does not say that we should live without a plan. In fact the Bible tells us that planning is as good thing. For example we are told without a plan our lives are aimless (Proverbs 29:18) and if we work hard that our plans will succeed (Proverbs 21:5). It has been said that "failing to plan is planning to fail". James does encourage us not be boastful in our planning (James 4:16).
2. We have limitations. James 4:14 points out two limitations we have. First, we do not know what the future holds and second, our lives are short. These two things remind me of two quotes I have heard. The first is that "We do not know what the future holds, but we know Who holds the future". And the second is "We have only one life that will soon be past and only what is done for Christ will last".
3. We must involve God when we make plans. James 4:15 says "We should say if it is the Lords will". This encourages us to consult God first when we plan. Like Proverbs 16:3 says "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed".

How do we involve God in our planning? By doing three things:

1. Find out what the Bible says about it. Psalm 119:105 says "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path".
2. Pray and ask God to give you peace (Colossians 3:15). If you do not have peace from God then perhaps you need to wait or make another plan.
3. Ask others for their advice and perspective. Proverbs 15:22 says "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed".

So how should we live? Proverbs 3:5-6 says "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight" NIV).

In James 1:26 and James 3:2-12 we learn about the power of the tongue. We see four things in these verses:

1. We must learn to keep control over the words we speak. James 1:26 says "our religion is worthless if we can't control our tongue" and James 3:2 says "If never at fault in our words we will be in control of our whole body". Jesus said that will be held accountable for the every word we speak (Matthew 12:36). He continues to say that by our words we will be justified and by our words we will be condemned (Matthew 12:37).
2. Our words effect the course of our lives. In James 3:3-8 the power the words have over the course our lives is compared to a few things. Our words have the ability to steer our lives like a the control a bit has in the mouth of a horse and to the control a small rudder has on a whole ship. He then points out that irresponsible words can start an uncontrollable blaze. Our words are powerful and can promote life or death (Proverbs 18:21).
3. We can't control our tongue without God's help. James 3:7-8 says "no man can tame the tongue". We need to ask God for help in keeping control over our words. Like the Psalmist we should pray "Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips." (Psalm 141:3).
4. We must speak words that encourage others and build them up. James 3:9-12 talks about speaking positive words. Two excellent verses regarding our words are Colossians 4:6 "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone" (NIV) and Ephesians 4:29 "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen" (NIV). Consider your words before you speak. Ask yourself - Will this build others up or tear them down?

Let us be those who speak words that "build up and encourage others" and that are "full of grace" . Your words have the power of life and death. Make Psalm 141:3 your prayer "Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips".

Rob McFarlane ministered at Eden Christian Centre on Sunday 27th June 2010. Eden Christian Centre is a growing Church in Ilford led by Bryon Jones.

Rob spoke on Jesus first miracle from John 2:1-11. There was a good response with about 20 people coming forward to receive prayer for healing.

You can click here for a map and contact details for Eden Christian Centre.

James 1:19-20 tells us how we need to learn to listen. We see three things from these verses:

1. Seek to understand before you seek to be understood. James 1:19 says "Be quick to listen, slow to speak". We should make sure we understand what others are saying before we try and make our point. I have heard it said "We have two ears and one mouth and we should use them in proportion". In the Amplified Bible this verse reads "Be a ready listener".
2. Don't react too quickly. James 1:19 says "be slow to become angry". The Amplified Bible puts it this way "Be slow to take offence and become angry". Often we take offence when we have got the wrong end of the stick. Make sure you really understand what is being said before you answer or respond. Try to see the point from the other persons perspective.
3. Anger does not produce positive results. James 1:20 says "Man's anger does not bring about the righteous life God desires." We often end up regreting words we have spoken in anger. Before you respond ask yourself if you can defuse the situation rather than escalate it. Proverbs 15:1 says "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but harsh words stir up anger".

Finally, lets look at seven tips to help us become better listeners:

1. Give your full attention to the person who is speaking. Don't be distracted by whatever else is going around you.
2. Keep your mind is focused. It can be easy to let your mind wander if you think you know what the person is going to say next, but you might be wrong! Try to concentrate on what is being said.
3. Let them finish before you begin to talk. We all appreciate having the chance to say everything we would like to say without being interrupted. When you interrupt, it looks like you aren't listening, even if you really are.
4. Finish listening before you start thinking about what you are going to say. You can't really listen if you are busy thinking about what you want say next.
5. Listen for the main points. These are the most important points the speaker wants to get across. They may be mentioned at the start or end of a talk, and repeated a number of times. Pay special attention to statements that begin with phrases like "My point is..." or "The thing to remember is..."
6. Ask questions. If you are not sure you understand what the speaker has said ask a question to bring clarity. It is a good idea to repeat in your own words what the speaker said so that you can be sure your understanding is correct. For example, you might say, "When you said ... did you mean ...?"
7. Give feedback. Look directly at the speaker. Now and then, nod to show that you understand. At appropriate points you may also smile, frown or laugh. These are all ways to let the person know that you are really listening. Remember, you listen with your face as well as your ears.

So I encourage you to be a ready listener. Learning to listen will be a valuable tool in building healthy and strong relationship. It is a skill I need to constantly work on in my life. How about you?

You can click here to listen online or download this sermon.

James 1:22-25 tells us not to just listen, but rather to act on God's Word. We see three things from these verses:

1. We must act on God's Word. James 1:22 says "don't merely listen to God's Word. Do what it says." It is good to listen to God’s Word and build our faith (Romans 10:17) but we must also put our faith into action. James 2:17 says "faith by itself if not accompanied by action is dead" and James 2:26 tells us that "faith without works is dead". It is not enough to just listen to and read the Bible we must put its principles into practice in our lives.
2. If we don't act on God’s Word we are only deceiving ourselves. James 1:22 says that we can deceive ourselves if we only listen to God’s Word but never act on it. I know people who have heard many messages but when it comes to the crunch they don't act on God’s Word. The only people who are losing out on the benefits are themselves. It is not what you know but what you live that counts.
3. When we put God's Word into practice we will experience freedom and blessing. James 1:25 says that if we do not forget what we have heard and put it into practice we will be blessed in all we do. It also tells us that Gods law brings freedom. When read the Bible and listen to sermons let us not forget to apply what we learn in our everyday lives.

A few final thoughts.

1. When you read your Bible or listen to a sermon ask yourself a few questions. "What is God saying to me?" "Do I need to do something with this?" "How can I put this into practice?" Be active and engaged, not passive when you read or listen to God’s Word.
2. James 1:23-24 talks about a person who looks into the mirror of Gods Word but then goes away and forgets what he has seen. A good idea is to take notes because too often we look into Gods Word during our personal devotions or while we listen to a sermon but soon forget what we have seen. We will grow as we remember what we have seen and put it into practice.

So I encourage you. Listen to and read Gods as much as you can. Make notes and ask yourself what you should do with what you see. Put it into practice. It is how you will experience Gods blessing and freedom in your life.