The meaning of life in 8 words...

Know Christ. Know Life. No Christ. No life.

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Backpain...? What backpain...? Email from Lautoka, Fiji

Hey there,
Okay Fiji 08 - Mission 3 has just kicked off as the crew have left for Fiji at roughly 11am this morning (and still have another 1.5 hours to go til landing...).
They arrive in Nadi tonite at ~7pm local time and then drive from there straight to the Coral Coast about 3.5 hours away. Pray for their safety too - Fijian roads are something to behold...and experience...especially at nite as they come complete with cows, horses, pigs, piglets and massive potholes that are so big the locals reckon you could do a lovo in them :)!

The rally starts tomorrow. And there is only one thing we ask you to keep doing - and that is pray...for our "God is faithful and just to hear" (1 John 1:9) and answers "above and beyond our greatest expectations" (Ephesians 3:20). Please pray for many souls to come to the saving knowledge only found in the Saviour of the world, Jesus Christ.

On another note though...I got this email late last week for Ps Eddie in Lautoka, Fiji. It is such a great encouragement of the goodness of God, the restoration, healing, deliverance that only can be done through His Son Jesus...Ps Eddie (a youth Pastor in Lautoka) had majorly chronic backpain that was caused by a fall of a horse. This pain had been constant for numerous months, making everyday movement difficult to say the least. However what is so inspiring is that regardless of this pain, Ps. Eddie still attended all meetings, even did the food and clothing drops in Sabeto village carrying many bags and walking many km's like the rest of us. He was in charge of the sound system etc and also led worship on stage. On the last nite in Sabeto, after everyone else had been ministered too, at about 11.55pm, he came up for prayer for his back...Talk about common aches and pains sometimes becoming spiritual!! It was totally riveting watching a demon spirit of infirmity come out of his back. The poor guy dropped to his knees, his face clearly displaying unbearable agony that he was going through, gasping and groaning in pain...but in the name of Jesus, this debilitating oppression left him. He got up and started twisting, turning, bending, touching his toes etc...This is all on video. When I get some more time I may post it. I won't comment anymore...but rather you read on and enjoy...and be encouraged...God is on the throne. But is still close enough to meet you where you are at.

Email from Ps Eddie Molia, Lautoka Fiji

September 26 at 12:14pm
Bula Anneline,
Hey I'm all good......yea that was a powerful prayer of healing...yes indeed God is really working. Well with that back pain, I would say...I've been totally healed. Right now I even forgot that I had that pain on my back...Totally healed in Jesus.
Bless you all....Ps Eddie.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

FIJI 08 - Mission 3...

hey there...
well it is less than a week to go to Fiji 08-Mission 3. jesse & ian & kathy thomson will be off to fiji next week september 30, 2008.
straight from the airport in nadi to navoua - this time the outreach is going to held in the main indian district in navoua.
why?
well after the June-July trip, 3 house churches have been started in the indian community as a number of indian people gave their lives to the Saviour of the world.
so...now they want to share this gospel truth that they experienced with their community...and hence mission 3.
...so please pray, pray, pray...and pray, pray, pray some more afterwards...
...prayer is what moves the hand of God...
...check our the statistics for the number of people dying per second, per minute, per day around the world on the post "A friendly notification letter from Prof You. R. Dead" (it's under the label "you die...then what...").
this really puts into perspective the fraility of human beings...and the realisation that someone somewhere right now is about to meet their Maker...but do they know Jesus...that is what really matters.
...so yeah thanks for the prayers so far...and thanks for the prayers to come...
...oh yeah and God was God (as He is) and did what only He could do last sunday at kbc...

:) anneline

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

If you don't stop swearing, I'll dump you off this jetty!!!


Top: Lying on the Jetty (boy in background getting ready to jump off)
Bottom: Climbing up the ladder of the Jetty to jump off again...


Bareback brumby (wild Australian horses) riding. Barge in the background that comes over from Ingham.



The Jetty a common place for fishing, swimming, and jumping off the poles...


Lying on the Jetty - boy in the back about to back somersault of a Jetty pole into the ocean below.
(*Photo's by Helena Lumme & Mika Manninen)
Sorry - been heaps busy. But all good though, have more updates on Palm Island... Jesse got back home last week Tuesday nite (Sept 9th 08). And one word - WOW!!The amazement of God's greatness, God's goodness was so intense that for many people God became real.One example of the life changing...well...changes...that only Jesus can do to a person is with a group of boys Jesse met on the Palm jetty...



He had been ministering during the day and was gearing up for preaching that evening, with a couple of hours to rest in the afternoon. Jesse went down to the jetty to do a bit of fishing, relax in God's creation and contemplate the evening. There was already a group of boys (~10 boys) aged around 10-15 years old...and swearing profusely.

...it is important to understand that for these kids and numerous others out there, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, kids in a remote community or those growing up in a mainline city, swearing is not a "bad language" that is only used when someone is fumingly angry. Conversely swearing, although still considered "bad language", has become a normal part of convesation. Walk into any state school (and even private schools), university, and practically every worksite (from offices, law firms and hair salons through to building sites, gyms, and factories) and swear words are commonly used in common conversation even though many know that swearing is offensive. So these kids are not an isolated case. Swearing unfortunately has become an almost integral part of many families. And children brought up in these environments, are not "bad" but simply following older examples.



However one of the boys (about 15 years old) approached Jesse and started up conversation as follows...
"What's your name?"
"Jesse."
"What's your wife's name?"
"Cookie."
The kid proceeded to ask what Jesse's mom and dad's names were etc...and then got to this question...
"So what are you doing here?"
"I am an Evangelist. That means I am a preacher of the good news about Jesus."
"So you're a Christian?"
"Yes."
"So you're a Christian...you don't swear do you?"
"No I don't."
"WOW - you know I am a Christian, but I don't go to church much...and I swear. That's it I don't want to swear anymore."

Some of the other boys on the jetty were swearing away at the own content. This boy however hearing them swear got really upset and yelled out at them,
"Hey stop swearing! This man here is a Christian and he doesn't swear!!"
The boys kind of gawked a Jesse, who was still fishing. But they stopped swearing.


However another group of boys (about 5 boys) about the same age rode their bikes up onto the jetty to see what was going on...and yes they were swearing profusely. This newly convicted non-swearer hearing them swear with Jesse still there reared up and yelled out at them the same as to the first group. But one of the new boys was a bit of a smart alec, and continued to swear (more to reinstate his authority more than anything else). The non-swearer however would have none of it and confronted him angrily, "Hey stop swearing!! This man here is a preacher and is a Christian. And He doesn't swear. So stop swearing!! If you don't I will dump you off the jetty!!"


All the while Jesse watching these kids thinking to himself "What? Because I am a Christian and don't swear, these kids are getting told off for their swearing...by a boy who was just swearing as much as the rest of them not even 5 minutes ago! What the???" and getting ready to intervene if things got nasty...

The non-conforming ignored the non-swearer and continued swearing. That did if for the non-swearer. Grabbing the boy still swearing, he pulled him down the jetty stairs and dunked him, clothes and all, into the ocean, all the while reiterating that swearing is bad. And Christians don't swear....etc...

...Okay just to paint another picture about Palm Island...all the kids are A+ swimmers and many could jolly well take on some of the world's best in diving. Diving of the Jetty is a favourite pastime with the kids from the time they are able to walk. And the Jetty is not shallow at all. The above picture of the barge shows you what "pulls up" at the jetty. It is a VERY VERY high Jetty with very deep water so that barges and Catamarans (that often ferry people to and from Palm) can come into shore. But although it is very deep, with sharks and jelly fish, the Palm Islander kids are legendary at swimming and diving and getting wet - clothes and all!
The dunked boy, wet to the core came up the stairs complaining that he would tell his brother to which the non-swearer simply retorted, "He shouldn't swear too. Christians don't swear!! And if he swears, I'll dump him too!" But this dumping provoked the kids to have a massive interest in Jesse for some reason as they all converged around him asking questions...
"So you're a Christian?"
"Yes."
"So that means you don't swear?"
"Yes."
"So what do you preach?"
"I tell people about the good news that God sent to the world."
"So what what does God look like?"
"God is a spirit - not like a physical person, who is only here, God is a Spiritual being. But you can know God through the way He sent to us through Jesus His Son."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"So are you God's son then?"
...and to this Jesse first thought was "Where did that just come from??!!" But just as quickly he replied, "Yes I am. I have become a son of God. And you can too. You want to know how you can be a son of God too?"
"Yeah! Will this make us Christians and then we don't have to swear too?"
"Yes."
...and so Jesse told all these kids about Jesus, the Saviour of the world, and why He came to earth, and what He did, and how He died, but how He rose up from the dead too. And what He is doing now.

They were so interested the group decided they would come to the rally that nite. And so they did...Some came in but some also sat outside the building instead of coming inside because they were shy. Yet they listened to everything being preached. And when the alter call was made, some gave their lives to Jesus inside, but those sitting outside asked someone if the preacher could come outside to them, because they want Jesus too, but are too shy to do it in the building in front of all "those other people".

However when Jesse came outside, a group of adults followed him out which frightened the kids, who took off running. Unfortunately Jesse didn't lead them to the Lord that nite, but the seeds were planted. And more importantly some of their friends got saved, which has allowed Pastor Ron to follow up these boys further.

Also for the first time in Palm Island history, the high school now has Years 11 & 12. Before highschool education stopped at Year 10, and if kids wanted to further their education, they had to leave the Island and move to mainland away from their families. But now they have Year 11 & 12 taking kids further in their educational career. But also because of these inquiring boys amongst other things that God did, Jesse has been requested by the high school (kids and teachers) to come and talk to Year 11 & 12 about life, about career, lifeskills etc and (most important) the importance of God in a person's life and how to know God personally.

...And this was just one example of Jesus doing what no-one else can and working in the lives and hearts of people in Palm. So many things have happened and I will post more of God doing's in Palm Island September 08 shortly. Thanks heaps for the prayers. And please don't stop! The wake of these meetings and encounters with Jesus has definitely had a marked change to the atmosphere of Palm and the Christian, especially Pastor Ron Geia, are "overloaded" in a good way with the work. And it is slowing up either - which is even better!And please pray for the people of Palm. Jesse will be back up there in October as they want to hold more meetings to other parts of the Palm Island community.

All I can say is this...truly "How Great is Our God. The Name above all Names. He is worthy of all Praise." (Adapted from How Great is Our God by Chris Tomlin, Jesse Reeves & Ed Cash). He alone is "The Lord. The Famous One. Great is His fame in all the earth." (Adapted from Famous One by Chris Tomlin & Jesse Reeves).
:) anneline

Sunday, September 7, 2008

The move is on...in Palm Island...:)

(Sunset of the Jetty at Palm Island - a great place to go fishing for squid at nite!) (If Christ died & stayed dead, then He would currently be extinct. That is non-existant. But (thankfully) He does exist. Death couldn't defeat Him. And the tomb couldn't hold Him...and so we have the reason for HOPE.)
Spoke to Jesse the other nite - and things are revving up more than a few notches in Palm - while I am sitting in the comfort of my home typing this blog, Jesse is preaching right now in a 3nite campaign in Palm that started last nite (06/09/08) and concludes tomorrow (08/09/08).

We didnt have much time to talk, but the main gist Jesse wanted to convey is this:

People are the same everywhere. People need Jesus everywhere...and...but wait yes there is more...

......when Christ comes into a person's life, even though we can't see what has and is taking place in that person's emotional and spiritual parts, but the outward expression of JOY cannot be mistaken. It is clearly written all over their faces. The smile. The twinkle in the eyes...their eyes are smiling too. A bright radiance that is simply glowing. Without saying any words, it can be clearly read "Hey! Everybody! Look at me! Can't you see? I got Jesus. You hear me? I GOT JESUS! I GOT HIM! In my heart! Here! Right now! I got Him! And boy oh boy oh boy - I am SO STOKED!!! I can't explain this joy - but no drug, no alcohol, no packet of smokes, no nite out on the town or at a casino can ever or will ever compare to this fulfilling JOY I finally got now. Because of Jesus."

Jesse mentioned about praying for a lady with kidney failure. She was so sick and in pain due to her kidney disfunctions. But something notable happened to her. God met her where she was at in her life. And instantly the pains left. But regardless though, Jesse told her to go to a doctor, and get a doctor's report on the healing in her body. But he also mentioned on the phone that she was one very excited lady, putting it mildly.

There is something about Jesus. The real Christ. Not the cheap imitators that pop-up every so often. But the real message of Jesus Christ. To share the gospel (i.e. the GOOD NEWS) that He, and only He, can impart JOY, PEACE...and LOVE into a person's life.

Healing is one side of the coin. But the other side is HOPE. A HOPE that is so sure that God is with them. That He hears their cries. He hears their prayers. He hears their sobs. And He is more than willing to get His hands dirty when He cleans up their lives. Which is just what Jesus when He came to earth. Compare earth to heaven, where it is so pristine, clean, spotless, immaculate to earth. Dirty. Dusty. Muddy. Mouldy. Sinful. And complete with cockroaches, weevils and mosquitos that can transmit elephantitis and Ross River fever.

...and yet Jesus would actually leave the glory, splendor, pristiness of heaven for dirty, smelly, sinful earth? Why?

Because of His unfathomable love. Something no one can ever get their heads around even if they analyse it from every angle possible from birth to their death at 100 of age. No one will ever be able to understand the love that God so willing wants to impart into lives. To fix it up. To clean it up. To wash it down. To brighten it up. To transform. To change.

And one thing is for sure, no one would ever be able to say that the God of the Bible is a coward. How could He be when He left heaven, for smelly earth knowing completely well why He was coming to earth. To die. On a cross. With spikes & a hammer. With a crown of thorns. With lashes from the latest Roman designed state-of-the-art cat-o-nine tails complete with fragments of bone, glass, rock, and metal to ensure deep gourging out of flesh and sinews.

To know all this...and to still carry it out...willingly...unbelievable...

That is what has been sinking into the lives of many Palm Islanders. And with that life changing transformations are taking place too.

Thanks for the prayers.

:)anneline

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Palm Island -day 1: Fresh off the plane with people eagerly waiting

(Palm Island ~60km off the coast of Queensland, Australia - in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef!) (One of the pristine beaches on Palm Is)

Spoke to Jesse last nite and here is a quick update on the latest of what's happening on Palm.

And one thing is for sure - Palm Island would have to be the place to be right now :)!

Jesse arrived yesterday late afternoon and went straight to a meeting.

There were about 40people gathered! This is absolutely amazing. To have 40 people in Palm Island gather together to hear about Jesus is like the people packing the Brisbane convention centre to hear about Jesus! Consider this - the Palm Island population is roughly 5000 people...and you could count the number of people attending the church on your hand - two hands on a really good day. So 40 people gathered together on a Tuesday nite to hear about Jesus is pretty full on :)!

There were 4 people who gave their lives to Jesus for the first time. And there were another 4 backslidders who recommitted their lives over to the Lord.

And from the word go, it was an amazing demonstration of the power of God. Demons were screaming out, crying out left, right and centre. It could not be denied that Jesus is alive. It could not be denied that the same Spirit that rose Jesus from the dead (i.e. the Holy Spirit) was present right there.

God was simply being God and doing what only He can do through the power His Son Jesus purchased for us at the cross. People were set-free from all sorts of oppressions...and all this happening in the presence of the Palm Island community leaders. Well politicians and community groups need to know that Jesus loves them too. That Jesus died, was entombed but rose up from the dead for them too. That Jesus is able to change lives still today. That Jesus can and will change their life too.

And it could not be denied that Jesus loves the lost. He loves the destitute. He loves the broken. He loves the drunk. He loves the abused. He loves the hopeless. He loves the depressed. He loves the sick. He loves the violent. He loves the unwanted. He loves those that society ostricizes. He loves community leaders. He loves politicians. He loves the poor. He loves the wealthy. He loves the unemployed. He loves the business-person. He loves men. He loves women. He loves the old. He loves the young. He loves adults. He loves babies. He loves adolescents. He loves the road worker. He loves the developer. HE LOVES EVERYONE. To the extent that He would take our place on a rough, dirty cross and die so that we can be free. He loves us so much that He rose from the dead so we do not need to be eternally separated from Almighty God. That is who Jesus is.

A great time of freedom...and this was on nite 1! And this is still continuing until next week Monday.

Keep praying. God is answering.

:) anneline

Monday, September 1, 2008

Palm Island 08 - time for a fresh start. A new beginning.

(A view of Palm Is from Wallaby Point)

Hi everyone,

Spring is finally back and the weather is certainly starting to warm up.

Baby curlew birds are out of their eggs and walking around under the watchful eyes their parents.

Flowers buds are appearing.

And...we are only weeks away from scrumptious, sweet, fleshy Queensland mangoes and lychees.

Gotta love that.

All this however is just the fruit of God's creation. "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1) and everything in it. And He commissioned all of His creations to continue creating themselves in their due seasons...flowers, mangoes, baby curlews are just a continuation of God's spoken word that continues today for "His word is forever established in the heavens..." (Psalm 119:89).

Spring conjures a new change. A new beginning. Fresh start. New life.

Ironically this is the reason behind the trip to Palm Island.

Jesse will be leaving for Palm Island on the 2nd September 2008. For those who don't know, Palm Island, the largest Aboriginal community with a population of ~5000 people from nearly 50 different tribes, is located about 60km North-west of Townsville, North Queensland.

This trip will be one week long. But one very full-on week at that. Evangelism and ministry to the lost and backslidden is a key component and something that needs to be held up in prayer.

However just like the fresh newness that Spring brings, the main part of this trip will be to uplift the believers. Encourage, raise-up and inspire the Christian remnant in Palm that they are NOT ALONE. They are NOT UNDER. They are NOT DEFEATED. To reinstate and raise up the truth that there is HOPE in Jesus. There is PEACE in Jesus. There is JOY in Jesus. There is LIFE in Jesus. And because Jesus lives, they "can do all things through Christ who gives us strength" (Philipians 4:13).

Prominent community leaders will also be attending the meetings. Please pray that lives will be changed. Lives will be restored. And Jesus will be back in the place that is rightfully His in Palm - the centre of their lives.

Prayer is what moves the hand of God. So keep it coming. And God is faithful and just to hear, answer, forgive and restore (1 John 1:9).

Keep you posted on the latest as it happens.

:) anneline