An amazing story of faith, courage, solidarity and the Power of God which changed the outlook of the most powerful man in the ancient Middle Eastern world.

Read this:
Daniel Chap 3 v 1-27.

Rap this, out loud:
Neb built a golden statue—that’s expensive!
It musta’ made the people apprehensive.
Lovin’ it or cursin’ it,
They gotta fall an’ worship it.
Or burn inside a furnace—that’s intensive!

His PR man gave the great an’ good a statement.
“When you get the theme tune, don’t you be too late, gents.
When you hear the deadly jingle
Cain’t you feel the red flame tingle?
Now I’ll let the hit men tell you the arrangements.”

“Ev’rybody bow the knee to the statue.
‘Cuz we are gonna be all lookin’ at you.
Better get yer face down,
Better let it stay down.
‘Cuz we are hangin’ ready here to snatch you!”

Neb’kanezza needed feedin’ of his ego.
‘Cuz he didn’t have too many real amigos.
He‘s some control freak;
Freedom is oldspeak;
Too bad for Shadrak, Mishak, Abednego!

In the civil service they’re the three best fellas.
It’s human nature. All the rest are jealous.
Said, “Now we’re gonna get ‘em,
‘Cuz their faith’ll never let ‘em
Ever bow to other gods—they’re over-zealous.

They told Neb, “Your laws are bein’ flouted.
Shad, Mitch an’ Nego, they ‘bin outed.
Dear leader don’t get uptight,
But we hear the three stayed upright.”
“Then bring ‘em all to me!” Is what he shouted.

“I’m givin’ you a last chance.
Bow or do the fire dance.”
“I’m givin’ you a last chance.
You bow or do the fire dance.”

“Be it death or glory
The Lord he owns our story.
“Be it death or glory
The Lord he owns our story.
That is our final answer—that is our stance.”
That is our final answer—that is our stance.”

The King, it drove him, yellin’ to the wi-yer.
Said, “Bring the stove up seven times high-yer!”
Too hot to turn a roast by it,
The guards are turned to toast by it
While slingin’ them into the fi-yer.

Neb thought “ I’ll eat my hat an’ shed some ego;
‘Cuz who is that with Shadrak, Mishak, Abednego?
For sure they’re safe an’ sound in there.
What’s more, now walkin’ round in there,
There’s four where there was only three amigos!”

The three come out without a whinge from the thick of it;
Yer see without a semi-singe or a sniff of it.
The rescue was a miracle;
The rescuer, angelical.
Yer see, God’s in the ring an’ he is fit for it.

Now Neb is biggin’ up the God of the threesome.
Said, “He’s livin’ He’s a bod who is fearsome.”
Anybody who is dissin’ Him,
You gonna soon be missin’ him.
‘Cuz Neb, he gives the nod an’ disappears ‘em!

Ask this:
Have I got a few brothers, or even one who would stand with me through my fiery trials?

Pray this:
Please Lord, find me some men who will stand with me, for You, whatever.

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A few thoughts about driving…………..

A couple of years ago I had a very slow speed collision with a motor cyclist, caught in the ‘blind spot’ of my car, he had no reflective clothing on and must have been ignoring all the other traffic activity around him, but in the confusion and shock I admitted responsibility. As a result of this – and as an alternative to going to court, I attended a DRIVER IMPROVEMENT COURSE run locally.

Since then I’ve been caught out for speeding on two occasions both of which were due to my carelessness, the second of which I opted for a SPEED AWARENESS COURSE.

As a result of these activities I decided to sign up with my local ROSPA group believing myself to be a reasonably good driver and likely to pass the test in quite a short period of time, only to discover that I was barely above average.

The biggest difficulty has been breaking entrenched bad habits of 38 years’ driving, and my general – slack – style of driving. The biggest plus has been the ‘on the spot’ mentoring that is available.

The Derby group is made up largely of men!! Lots of on the spot mentoring, and on each outing (once a fortnight for an hour) there is feedback both good and bad on the quality or not of driving experienced.

The reason I am telling you all this is that I see major parallels with the Gospel and the life we lead as Christian men.

With ROSPA there is a strict adherence to observing ‘speed limits’ (2 mph maximum allowance either way) or you fail the test, planning ahead, maximising safety, and the pursuit of ‘top quality driving practise’.

Each time I go out I learn something about myself and my attitude (not always good – I’m a man) and can relate it to being partnered by another christian ‘travelling alongside’ through life.

I wonder how many of us still drive just over 30 (31,32,35,38?) when the speed limit is 30??? and the same for the other speed limits? I used to think nothing of it, but now I watch the speedo very carefully and very regularly. I used to to travel at 75 – 90 or more on the motorway, but no longer – and yes it is hard work.

What sort of a driver are you, a committed christian? Do you follow the crowd and flow as I used to or do you set an example as I now work to do?

I thought the mentoring would just change my driving, but it has actually challenged the life that I live as a christian. Its not that pleasant having your faults pointed out, but Oh so necessary, and it gets tighter the nearer to the test I get.

SO – watch your speed and check your mirrors regularly – and remember – the speed cameras may not get you – but who’s by your side in the car at ALL times?

God speed

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Recite this out loud:
Seagulls flying, crying, crying
To the wind, to its sighing,
Eagle-eyed, (seagull-eyed),
Watching, spying
On a man cooking fish.

Seagulls calling, never falling
From their flight, never stalling
On the wind, till from the wind
Landing, standing
By the man cooking fish.

But unless
There is a screaming,
Stormy day or worse
I guess
A gull has lesser meaning,
Yet its glory seems a curse

What used to be
Reduced to be
A hopping, perching, lurching,
Flopping, scrapping, flapping
Bunch of feathers
In still weather
By the sea.

Yet from weight
By the wind set free,
Careless now of gravity,
Its fate
Will always be
Slave to the wind’s depravity.

Without fail
Forced to sale
Upwind hauling, mauling,
Downwind sliding, gliding,
Ever soaring
On the roaring
Of the gale.

Stranger still,
The human story
Seems to me to be perverse.
Our free will,
That seems a glory
Which we’ve turned into a curse.

Free to choose
Or to abuse
That freedom in dissenting
From the best and so preventing
What we could be
And the good we
Now must lose.

As part of all
We hold most dearly,
Freedom cannot be divorced.
At heart of love
Lies freedom, clearly
Love’s not love if love be forced.

But what fate
Befalls those left
When selfish freedom’s had its way?
By our great
Self-love, bereft
Of life, they never had their say.

All that’s lost,
All the cost
Of freedom needs repaying
Or a human life I’m saying,
Is so cheap,
On fish-head heaps
We’re tossed.

And can we
Be truly free
At heart of our humanity?
Or will we
Forever be
Slaves to the heart’s true vanity?

Once, a man
Said, ‘I AM;
I am the problem’s answer.’
Surely madman, bad man, chancer?
Then he died,
Crucified.
Sad man!

All one night his friends went fishing
Close inshore, perhaps were wishing
He were there. Ashore, they stare;
With seagulls, spying
On the frying.
It is him! Cooking fish.

Read this: John 21, v 1-9.
Happy Easter.

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I keep being told, “The Jesus Saves Racing team are back on track.”

In one sense that’s true. After thirty three years away the team with a message has returned to the track. But was it ever actually ‘off track’?

The team officially ran for three years (1978-1980) displaying the ‘iconic’ Jesus Saves logo as the primary ‘sponsor’. It seemed like a quick flourish with historic wins in both Formula Ford and Formula 2, and then, as team founder Alex Ribeiro returned to Brazil, it was gone.

However, Jesus Saves Racing had been over ten years in the making as Ribeiro progressed from Brazilian Formula Ford to F1. From the back streets of Brasilia all the way to Grand Prix racing Alex had faithfully carried the Jesus Saves logo on each of his cars.

As the team discussed its return to the track a burning question sparked in my mind – “am I off track?” We were aware that as a team we had not ‘hit the wall’, the trophies proved it, but when people started using the term ‘back on track’ about us I began to fully embrace this idea more as a concept for me. Sometimes we as Christians can actually be ‘off track’ by simply being parked. And sometimes for years.

In a way it can be easier to deal with life’s big ‘in the wall’ moments than with the ‘car park’. Things happen and the carnage needs sorting. Only too painfully our dramatic crises often reveal our damage. It forces us to step up to the consequences on our knees in front of God and fix the carnage around us. Sometimes we are much like the King David who dramatically repented after the fatal ‘roving eye issue’ (2 Samuel 11; Psalm 51). David hit that wall, and we plainly know when we have too. Many of us also know that like David, through our contrite U-turn and “sorry” God gets us moving again.

But if I’m parked do I really need to do that U-turn?

Revelation 3:15 says that God wants us on fire for him. He wants us hot or cold but not lukewarm. When we sit in the ‘car park’ we might feel like we are happening, but actually we are parked and there is no journey. ‘Parked’ is lukewarm, and ‘parked’ is as much use to both us and God as us being stone cold ‘in the wall’.

Jesus Saves Racing is rediscovering momentum, there’s lots to do as we return. We are up for it. We, as a race team, certainly aren’t cold or lukewarm but we do find that in our own Christian journeys there’s always a danger of grinding to a halt by us letting life slow us or stop us. In 2013 the Jesus Saves team are moving back out onto the grid. And this is the deal – to do that ‘car park U-turn’ we all need to be rolling …

The challenge for us is to stay hot, whether that means for us a race team or for us all in our daily walk with Jesus Christ. Our moments of being parked are just as dramatic for God as our moments ‘in the wall’, and they need dealing with in exactly the same way. A Christian journey is just that – a journey, it means movement. Sure, respite is a part of the journey but we all know the difference between a vital pit stop and the ‘car park’.

We are never more on fire than when we are right with both God and each other… because we’re moving.

Please get involved with the ‘Jesus Saves’ team this year as together we build vital momentum …

Alvin Davies is Team Manager and Chaplain of the Jesus Saves Racing Team – jesussavesracing.co.uk

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We can be slaves to the tyranny of time, or we can be free.

Read this: Ecclesiastes ch. 3 v. 1-11.

The first part of it must be amongst the most famous pieces of writing in Western Culture, though most people probably don’t know where it comes from. Verse 11 speaks into every restless searcher’s life.

Now read this: 1 Corinthians ch.3 v 21-23.

Recite this out loud:
There is a time.
There’s not just time.
There is a time.
There comes a time;

Appointed time,
Anointed time,
Anticipated, hated time;
Much wanted and unwanted time.

They hide in time.
They bide their time
Until their time;
Until it’s time
For every purpose under heaven.

No sooner born than waiting
For the time to die;
The timing’s right, they’re laughing,
When it’s not the time to cry.

Holes in socks and time warps
Both need a stitch in time.
Harvest’s itching to arrive
Before we’ve tended any vine.

A time for building up
What else but some construction;
To stand fast–until the time,
That is, for its destruction.

A time to throw away
At the end of time to keep;
A time reluctantly to zip it
At the end of time to speak.

Hoping the embrace survives
The time to turn away;
Searching till, despairingly
‘It’ is called a day.

A time to spend romancing
Right up until the break
Of dawn, or of the  romance, dancing
Turning to a wake.

Earnestly we gather stones
Just as if it mattered;
Time will come when time’s long gone
Since every stone was scattered.

A trooper screams out ‘Medic!’
As another opens fire.
The time for peace has ended,
With mercenaries on hire.

Etcetera etcetera
And so and so and so;
Etcetera etcetera
And round and round we go.

Craving satisfaction
When time gives us a chance is
To be driven to distraction
By time’s agent—circumstances.

‘My time’s my own.’ It’s not.
Own up. Sign this confession:
‘Time-driven and time’s prisoner,
I am time’s possession.’

Your heart, it has the heart’s disease.
It’s restless, as is mine.
Its rhythm’s from eternity
But it must beat in time.

In Him whose heart was broken,
For whom ages are as hours,
Time present and time future
And the World, it can be ours.

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Read this: Daniel Chap 1.

Rap this:
Jerusalem is on its knees
An’ power is with God’s enemies
An’ people groan in poverty
An’ Dan is in captivity.
But ‘cause of his high pedigree
He’s earmarked for celebrity;
.
Fed up on local grub an’ booze,
Read up on local culture, views;
If Dan makes the grade-good news!
-A job for life at the Royal Mews

But Dan decides to make a stand.
This meat n’booze of a foreign land’s
Against his faith-the time’s at hand
To draw a line down in the sand.

Dan, he just eats vegetables.
Even though could cause him trouble.
They said, “This could burst yo’ bubble!”
He said, “Cool, I’m comfortable.”

Dan goes on the Cabbage Diet.
They say, “This goin’ cause a riot!”
“OK. Ten days—let me try it.
Then decide if you’re goin’ buy it.”

Dudes who stuff on steak and chips
Are lookin’ rough; ain’t no snake hips.
Dan an’ friends got their own huddle
Lookin’ like some male model.

The Palace takes fit-lookin’ guys;
Not just looks; they’re s’posed be wise.
Dan trusts that God who made the skies
Gives brains and looks– without no pies.

They beat all the opposition.
God won them the competition.
Prizes were some Royal Positions,
Better than the Royal Magicians.

Though Dan’s the man, God had it sussed.
So if you think that you bin’ cussed,
An’ hey! God’s plans seem blown to dust.
An’ if you feel you’re goin’ for bust,
Above all else, one thing’s a must:
The World’s a mess but God is Just.
He’s still in charge, you gotta trust.
Yeah, he’s in charge, you gotta trust.

Ask this:
How do I react when, like for Daniel, taken into captivity, God’s plans seem to be falling to pieces?

Pray this:
Please Lord, when all seems lost, help me to just hang on in there and stay true to You and your rescue plan for me.

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Here is a strong opinion on men from Dave Hearn, the leader of Global Adventure. Feel free to comment …

As men, we must begin to step into our roles as Men of God to lead our families, our wives, our communities, our churches, our businesses, and our small groups to a greater relationship with Christ and greater relationships with each other.

Do know the most formidable piece of kit in the Roman Legion? Maybe the catapult, ballista, javelin, or short sword? No, none of those–It was the shield, called the Scutum (I’ll give you a second to giggle). This shield was the most critical piece of equipment for the armies that secured the frontiers of the Roman Empire, from Britain to Egypt. The Legion’s prowess in battle didn’t come from advanced weaponry–it came from training, unity, and tactics. Its skill came from the formations of rows upon rows of strong, practically impenetrable shields.

Roman historian Suetonius recorded a story of one heroic centurion:

…with one eye gone, his thigh and shoulder wounded, and his shield bored through with arrows in a hundred and twenty places, he continued to guard the gate of a fortress put in his charge… he drove the enemy before him with the boss of his shield.

Man Up!

As Men of God, we have been given the role of shields and protectors of our families. After many battles, our shields may be “bored through” with the arrows of temptation, lies, and pain. But that’s what we’re here for, so that our families don’t have to take these arrows.

There are practical ways to be the shields, to stand firm, to deflect the arrows…

1. Protect Your Future Wife

For those of you who aren’t yet married, there are still ways to protect our future families. Pray for your wife and children daily. Yep, that’s right. The woman that you haven’t met and the children that aren’t even a twinkle in your eye yet? Pray for them. Pray for their safety and their as-yet-unfulfilled destinies.

Protect your future wife by keeping yourself pure… by not filling your mind with images of pornography that will twist your thoughts of sex. And protect her heart by not giving away yourself to women who aren’t your wife.

For those of you in relationships with what could be your future wife: keep your relationship safe and pure. Shield her by showing her that you will care for her and keep her safe, and treasure her heart and body.

2. Protect Your Wife

For those of us already married, protecting our wives is a daily battle. Protect her heart by serving her, loving her, and being a man of character. For some that may mean doing the dishes, for others, buy her flowers. For others, that may be lending a shoulder to cry on, or provide a compliment on her dress. For all of us, it means realizing that your wife is your first priority on this earth. Show her that you’ll love and protect her – she’ll return that love with respect, honor, and love.

You also protect your wife by protecting yourself – stay away from temptation, inappropriate relationships, immature living, and destructive habits. This is where our comrades-in-arms can help by being our accountability partners and sounding boards.

3. Protect Your Children

Protecting your children begins and ends with prayer. Pray in the morning, pray them to sleep, pray for their future, pray for their hearts. In between, we need to physically protect our children and protect their minds.

Protecting their minds means that we fill it with life and love more often than the junk that fills it everyday from outside stimuli, people, and media. Fill it with good memories, learning opportunities, hugs & kisses, and the Word of God.

It’s a harsh world out there, and there are predators and potential danger around every corner. While protecting our kids, we have to find the right balance of keeping our kids safe from harm without creating a bubble where they don’t grow and learn.

4. Protect Your Brothers

The strength of the Roman Legion also came from how well they worked together as a unit; how well they defended themselves and their brothers. So be the shield to the men around you as well. Be intentional and don’t be afraid to ask the hard questions.

Men, be the shield. Be the Protector. Your wife is waiting for you to step into this role, your children rely on you to protect their hearts and minds, your brothers are counting on you to protect their weak points.

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Read Hebrews ch 2 v 16-18.

Recite this out loud:

An always all-wise God- who knows?
Who knows the stigma of a fool,
Who’s called a fool by fools but throws
No insult back.
A ruler making every rule?
Who wants to rule with one;
With love, gone on and on, one tool,
My heart to crack.

A light outshining all bar none?
Which shines into the dark
So there from darkness I can run
And overtake.
A sunbeam shaft, a laser’s spark
Which pierces keenly, arrow thin,
Through eyelids, in and pins its mark,
My dawn to break.

One who could every victory win?
But tells his armies, ‘Stay’
And meets hell’s vaunted malice grim,
Weak and alone.
And counts the countless cost to pay,
No other man could share,
And dares to face that fearful day,
My fears to own.

One who is tempted with the snares
Of comfort, wealth and fame?
But never bows and so he bears
Them more than all.
So when I’m bowed beneath the same,
He knows the weight I take.
And on his strength I make my claim
And stop my fall.

One whom power and heaven forsake?
Sick joke to decent men;
Left writhing, nailed up, on a stake?
I ask Him, ‘Why?
And why d’You take the scorn from them?’
He answers, ‘It’s your scorn.
I’m torn, your chains to break, for then,
Your death I die.’

Who would run with me? For we
Would best not run alone.
Of all the runners there might be,
Just give me Him.
The lonely, tortured nailed one,
The man run through for me;
Now running with me, life re-won.
We’ll run and win.

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Read this: Luke ch 2 v 1-16.

Recite this, out loud.

The Outsiders.

At dead of midnight,
In the dark stillness, deep silence,
Save the odd bleating
Of a sheep,
We, the outsiders,
Distrusted, discounted;
We snatched a fleeting
Hour of sleep.

I was the one awake.
I was the watchman, the first man
Won by the glory
Of that light,
Cutting through darkness
Cross class and society.
Scum tell the story
Of that night;

Perfumed by sheep muck,
Persons unpleasant, us shepherds.
Up pops Joe Angel,
(Like they do!)
We’re all up, terrified;
First thing he says to us,
“ You’re in no danger;
Like, stay cool!”

Says he’s got good news;
Him who’s expected, who’s earmarked;
Rescues the nation,
Born today,
Master of everyone,
Down in the village.
We of low station
Get first say.

After the soloist,
Then comes the chorus; it floors us.
Millions, whole armies
Pack the sky.
‘Singing’s’ too small a word—
Mind blowing, heart wrending.
You’ll think we’re barmy
But we cried.

One giant air-show
Done just for us few, us shepherds,
Lefty and Skin’ead,
Me and Zeke.
While I’m still puzzling,
They say “Let’s suss it and
‘Stead of being tin’eads,
Take a peek.”

Down in the village
In the dark stillness, deep silence,
Save the odd bleating
Of a sheep,
Perfumed by sheep muck,
In with the cattle stuck,
He snatched a fleeting
Hour of sleep.

Down in the village,
In the dark stillness, deep silence,
My eyes grow wider
As I see,
Stuffed in a feeding trough,
Wrapped in old strips of cloth,
Him—an outsider?
Can it be?

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Read Daniel ch.6.

Rap this:
Dan’s in with the lions
An’ he’s not a supergiant.
An’ he’s not supercool,
Not super self-reliant.
This is what yer get
For bein’ so defiant.

Would he choose it for a job‘n
Could he lose it without sob’n?
C’mon it’s a no-brainer,
He is not a lion tamer.
Guess what he forgot?—
His lion-type restrainer!

He’s already feelin’ chicken
When he starts to feel ‘em lickin’!
His stomach starts to sicken.
His bones they’ll soon be pickin’.
Then they go to sleep,
An’ he’s still alive ‘n kickin’!

He’s not feelin’ puzzled
How the lions they bin muzzled.
‘Cause The Lord, He shut ‘em down,
Or they’d ‘ve had ‘im guzzled.
Them pussy cats ‘n Dan—
They’re so together nuzzled!

He caused so much het up
We could guess this would be set up
On some charge they had to get up,
So the lions an’ Dan, they met up!
He prays to Who he prays,
An’ for him there is no let up.

Dan serves kings but One who’s greater
Who’s the Master and Creator.
All through life he’s bin his Saviour.
Dan accepts no imitator.
The Lord an’ Dan done stuff!
So he prayed an’ worried later.

The ruler of the nation,
Beaten by manipulation
Of his fear and pride,
Had his foundation shaken —
Bin’ forced to put his hope
In the God of Dan’s salvation.

The king,we hear him rockin’
Right up to this stinkin’ lock in.
This is really tellin’,
‘Cause now he’s started yellin’
Outside the lions’door.
That is awesome that is shockin’.

Now he’s out there, hov’rin’
For an answer. He is grov’lin’.
Now he should understand
He’s got nothin’ that’s worth off’rin’.
God of lions, God of all,
You are Sov’reign over sov’reigns.

Amen.

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