Becoming Seasoned Salties!

Posted by Bill on December 12, 2012

The meaning of the Canadian slang, Saltie, is … “an ocean-going sailor”. An ocean-going sailor becomes a saltie after being conditioned by seasons of the worst kind of weather at sea. A saltie is not someone who easily turns yellowy-green and empties his/her stomach contents during turbulent weather conditions whilst at sea.

On one occasion, as evening came, Jesus said to His disciples, “Let’s cross the to the other side of the lake [Sea of Galilee]” (Mark 4:35). Scripture goes on to say … “But soon a fierce storm arose. High waves began to break into the boat until it was nearly full of water” (Mark 4:37). Let me pause to remind you that several of these disciples were seasoned ‘salties’ – the Sea of Galilee is where they had grown-up and had learned and practiced their profession as fishermen. The disciples were not land-lubbers (a person unfamiliar with the sea or seamanship). At this time, however, weather conditions at the sea became far threatening than they had ever experienced – so much so, they woke Jesus up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you even care that we are going to drown?” (Mark 4:38).

Can you relate to what was happening in the lives of the disciples? They had decided to follow Jesus – but they hadn’t fully understood what following Jesus would, at times, entail. Jesus knew that a storm was appointed for Galilee for that time. He knew this would test the ‘spiritual saltyness’ of His disciples. He knew this was an ideal situation that was needed to condition His land-lubber disciples into becoming spiritual salties so they could pass through the worst storm without turning yellowy-green. Jesus is in control of every storm His disciples pass through, no matter how fierce storms may appear to us. Scripture says, “When he woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the water, Quiet down!” (Mark 4:39a). The narrative continues … “Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a [great] calm” (Mark 4:39b). What was the lesson in this incident? Faith testing for faith development! Jesus said to His disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still not have faith in Me?” (v 40).

In the months I have been engaged in my work in Western Australia I have experienced a number of storms, fiercer than I had ever experienced. These storms have left me yellowy-green in my faith – my faith needed further development … enough that would enable me to stand steady and calm through any storm the Lord has determined for me to pass through.

Friends, the storms of life we are passing through (and will pass through in the future) are ordered by the Lord. They have been determined for us that we may not be filled with fear, but “filled with awe” (Mark 4:41). I want to become the seasoned saltie the Lord can make me. I want to become fit to pass through the worst storm in my life. I want to be filled with awe, not fear. I want people to observe my life, steady and calm, with the Lord sitting in my boat, in the fiercest storm of life.

I want them to sign-up with Him …“becoming seasoned salties”.

Bill

Coaching Connection – Prayer

Posted by Bill on September 29, 2012

Here’s a powerful prayer to use on a regular basis. It’s a good ‘all-rounder’ that will keep you on track with the Lord.

Teach me, O Lord, to follow every one of your principles.

Give me understanding and I will obey your law; I will put it into practice with all my heart.

Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found.

Give me an eagerness for your decrees; do not inflict me with love for money!

Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word.

Reassure me of your promise, which is for those who honor you.

Help me abandon my shameful ways; your laws are all I want in life.

I long to obey your commandments! Renew my life with your goodness (Psalm 119:33-40).

It doesn’t matter if you can’t discern ‘what’ the Lord is doing in your life at a particular time.

As His reputation with us is perfect, trust Him!
Trusting Him when we can’t ‘see’ is faith.
Faith is what enables you to move forward with Him.

Doing LIFE together!

Posted by Bill on

Small groups are groups of 5-12 people (believers, with or without un-churched friends), who meet in homes and other places each week for the purpose of “doing LIFE together”. (LIFE is an acronym for Living In Fellowship to Evangelise.)

In the context of mutual acceptance and love, healthy small groups aim at providing safe and intimate environments whereby strangers can become friends, and friends can become family. In this ideal setting, believers can discover, use, and develop their gifts, enabling their church to grow in health, strength, and love (Ephesians 4:16).

I believe, as a consequence of healthy, growing, and full of love small groups, our un-churched friends will be attracted to the church, and will, in time, taste the goodness and grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ – resulting in their salvation! Friends, we were created to do life together.

Jimmy Hill says … “Our group has grown!”

Posted by Bill on September 22, 2012

Jimmy Hill is the Youth Pastor of CrossLife – Southport Campus, in Queensland, Australia. He’s a no nonsense, down to earth – ‘do whatever needs to be done to win one more person for Christ’ Kingdom builder. His love for the Lord, and his love and compassion for the ‘lost’ fuels his zeal in life and Christian service. He, and His wife, Christie, are top class Christ-models. Whatever they put their hands to, the Lord blesses. Here’s a sample of the fruit that resulted from their faithful endeavours with their small group:

Three years ago I experienced CCI’s Small Groups Development training. It was such a highlight. I loved it and put into practice the Small Groups Church Plan, and many worthwhile principles. I knew God had opened my eyes to a simple and effective method of God growing His Kingdom. There were no life-groups in our church, so we gathered three or four people to be part of starting a new group.

In the initial two years, our newly formed group never really took off. In fact, we seemed to have a revolving door with people coming and going. The vision for reaching our un-churched friends never caught on, and consequently we didn’t see any growth. Our group shrunk… it was a frustrating two years.

However, we stuck at it, and in our third year we once again took those who were still in our group through the Small Groups Development training. This time, around, some in the group were beginning to ‘catch the vision’… thanks be to God, a new momentum began, and during the past 12 month, the Lord did great things.

Our vision to reach our un-churched friends began to bear fruit, and many non-believing friends have since joined our group, as well as attend church services on Sundays. One member made a decision to follow Christ, and was recently baptised. Most group members are serving in the group in some capacity, discovering and developing their gifts, and growing in the process. Many of us are also catching up outside of group time for accountability in becoming more like Christ.

As a result of these great things, our group has grown. The other week, we realised we had too many in our group for it to be comfortable for new people to attend. Our size was halting our growth! We needed to multiply – So we did! Praise God.

It is such a thrill to see people ‘reaching in’ with friendship to those in the group, and ‘reaching out’ to their non-believing friends. We continue to dream and pray of what God will do in the future – that His Church may grow, and we see these two life-groups multiply again, and again….

God’s timing is always best!

Jimmy Hill (pastorjim@southportbaptist.org.au)

CCI is branching out!

Posted by Bill on March 22, 2012

Did you know that CCI is branching out? We now have a Port Headland (Western Australia) office!

I know that many of you already have heard about this, but in case you haven’t… earlier this month Beryl and I made the road-trip from our home on the Gold Coast to Port Headland, where I have taken up a new job. Our across-country journey of 5,360 kms took us 4 ½ days to cover. Beryl and I tag-teamed in the 50 hours of driving. The weather was great, and the roads we travelled along were straight and well surfaced. Australia sure is a BIG country! We believe this is the beginning of a new and exciting adventure with the Lord and as always, we are expecting great things to result from our commitment and service to Him.

The new CCI branch office in Port Headland, Western Australia

Our new branch office!

After undergoing the induction, and working for a couple of weeks, I now know my availability of time to serve the Lord, and you, through CCI. Apart from not being able to respond within 24 hrs of receiving email contact from people, my input to CCI remains the same as before. CCI’s momentum is increasing, and I want to see it remain this way.

Beryl is now back home and although we are far apart, we remain in regular contact throughout the day by mobile phone, and emails. Guys, we needed to do this. We all, at various times, see the need to make sacrifices in our lives for worthwhile outcomes. Both, Beryl and I have peace with the actions we have taken.

Please include in your prayers: Elijah’s small groups development conference and training in Liberia (early April), Fredrick and his Destiny Kids International team’s Easter day Food Gift-bags outreach to Sudanese refugee youths in Cairo, and Wale and Emma in the early days of Liberty City Church. More news about these exciting initiatives will come to you soon.

Please keep me and the rest of the CCI team updated with what the Lord is doing in and through your lives.

Thank you for your love and encouraging support.

Bill