Renew The Mind; Transform Your Life

New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Holy Bible, New International Version® Anglicized, NIV® Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Holy Bible, New International Version® Anglicized, NIV® Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Holy Bible, New International Version® Anglicized, NIV® Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Ezekiel speaks out the Sovereign LORD's judgment on an historical figure called, "The King of Tyre."  Beginning with the 'Ruler' of Tyre, the prophecy has been taken to transcend the original reference point of a human ruler and, instead, has been elevated to explain the fall of the devil, himself.

It's a fascinating concept, well articulated in this article:
https://www.blueletterbible.org/faq/don_stewart/don_stewart_82.cfm

Original image by Comfreak of Pixabay

New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
Holy Bible, New International Version® Anglicized, NIV® Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

My music for this theme utilises the Uilleann Pipes - since pipes seem import to satan's musical lietmotif.  The place where the text ends and the louder music kicks in reminds me of some of the drama of Jeff Wayne's "War of the Worlds."

In the background is a "Shepard Tone" - an ever rising theme to represent the constant arrogance of those who set themselves up against the Most High.

What a joy to meet up with Sarah Marie Boyle this week and here one of her keynote messages for a business audience.  Knowing her passion for ministering to people, I really enjoyed this call to action to choose to prioritise 'connection' over 'protection'.  Risk and trust are interwoven as strands that support the most important priority: relationships.

I am the man who has seen affliction
    by the rod of the Lord’s wrath.
He has driven me away and made me walk
    in darkness rather than light;
indeed, he has turned his hand against me
    again and again, all day long.

He has made my skin and my flesh grow old
    and has broken my bones.
He has besieged me and surrounded me
    with bitterness and hardship.
He has made me dwell in darkness
    like those long dead.

He has walled me in so that I cannot escape;
    he has weighed me down with chains.
Even when I call out or cry for help,
    he shuts out my prayer.
He has barred my way with blocks of stone;
    he has made my paths crooked.

Like a bear lying in wait,
    like a lion in hiding,
he dragged me from the path and mangled me
    and left me without help.
He drew his bow
    and made me the target for his arrows.

He pierced my heart
    with arrows from his quiver.
I became the laughing-stock of all my people;
    they mock me in song all day long.
He has filled me with bitter herbs
    and given me gall to drink.

He has broken my teeth with gravel;
    he has trampled me in the dust.
I have been deprived of peace;
    I have forgotten what prosperity is.
So I say, ‘My splendour is gone
    and all that I had hoped from the Lord.’

I remember my affliction and my wandering,
    the bitterness and the gall.
I well remember them,
    and my soul is downcast within me.
Yet this I call to mind
    and therefore I have hope:

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion;
    therefore I will wait for him.’

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
    to the one who seeks him;
it is good to wait quietly
    for the salvation of the Lord.
It is good for a man to bear the yoke
    while he is young.

Let him sit alone in silence,
    for the Lord has laid it on him.
Let him bury his face in the dust –
    there may yet be hope.
Let him offer his cheek to one who would strike him,
    and let him be filled with disgrace.

For no one is cast off
    by the Lord for ever.
Though he brings grief, he will show compassion,
    so great is his unfailing love.
For he does not willingly bring affliction
    or grief to anyone.

To crush underfoot
    all prisoners in the land,
to deny people their rights
    before the Most High,
to deprive them of justice –
    would not the Lord see such things?

New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Holy Bible, New International Version® Anglicized, NIV® Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Music:
Bach Double Violin Concerto in D Minor - Largo ma non tanto
musescore.com/user/3070621/scores/5117189

See Transcript for the Transcriptures!
Recorded for Good News Church, Wimborne.  Not for profit.

New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Holy Bible, New International Version® Anglicized, NIV® Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Music:
Bach Double Violin Concerto in D Minor - Largo ma non tanto
musescore.com/user/3070621/scores/5117189

See Transcript for the Transcriptures!
Recorded for Good News Church, Wimborne.  Not for profit.

New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Holy Bible, New International Version® Anglicized, NIV® Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Music:
Bach Double Violin Concerto in D Minor - Largo ma non tanto
musescore.com/user/3070621/scores/5117189

GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOU... AND IT'S A GOOD ONE!

I'm regularly asked to record Bible Readings for the Good News Church in Wimborne.  These are from the NIV (UK edition).  Imagine my delight that the rota fell in such a way that I get to share this WONDERFUL passage with you.  You may say, "Lex, ALL God's Word is wonderful!" and you'd be correct.  However, there is a difference between Logos - the given Word of God - and Rhema - the Word of God that He quickens  and burns within our hearts as if speaking to us specifically and personally.  This is one such passage.

"For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord"

The language of Exile is similar to the New Covenant understand of us being strangers, aliens, foreigners on Earth, once the New Birth has occured.  If this is a good point, know then that we too are to behave like the Israelites in Exile.  We are to pray for the prosperity of the places where we live.  We are to seek the peace and prosperity of the places where we live - we are to engage with where we are in the world - not withdraw.  We are to build homes, raise families, plant our gardens and eat their fruit.  I find this most affirming and uplifting.  There is hope.

New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Holy Bible, New International Version® Anglicized, NIV® Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Image credit: my own image captured in The British Museum

This is what happens to false prophets.

I'm regularly asked to record Bible Readings for the Good News Church in Wimborne.  These are from the NIV (UK edition)

I am often concerned at the non-sense 'prophesied' in the Name of the Lord in our charismatic churches.  It's like some Management Training exercise that doesn't really matter if we don't get it right.

I've done it!

Speaking as if it was from the Lord is a Holy matter.
How much better to say, as the Apostle Paul says, "I speak as one who has been proven reliable.  I say this, not the Lord..."  For the exact words look at 1 Corinthians 7:12 and elsewhere.

New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Holy Bible, New International Version® Anglicized, NIV® Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Image credit: my own image captured in The British Museum