When I Paint My Masterpiece

Now it's time to resume my story! When I last wrote we were about to venture nervously towards Italy. For the first time we used the overnight train from Vienna to Venice as our accommodation for the night. When we woke in the morning we were crossing the border through the mountain ranges arriving in the land of beggars, thieves, the Mafia, an at large serial killer and of course the Pope. Italy may once have been the greatest ancient civilisation in Europe but this is where you can see the two faces of humanity. History tells us it is a schizophrenic land of beauty and savagery. Once upon a time this pinnacle of human civilisation  threw it's own citizens to the lions for entertainment after all. 

Padua was the recommended stop as a cheaper place to stay than Venice. The remains of the Roman Empire are everywhere throughout the city. Love was also openly on display in Padua at every corner. Boyfriend and girlfriend kissing in the streets. Two girls walking hand in hand or arm in arm which you'd never see in New Zealand. A nun leading a large group of happy children past a fountain on the way to school. These things I remember very well. I watched the nun and felt the sense of respect that there is in Italy for the Catholic Church. What troubles me is that the robes and hats, the confessionals, the rosary beads and the ritual services are what make the every day person think that God is out there and unreachable except through some super religious person which is completely opposite to the truth. It makes the Church look like a dead relic from the past rather than something attractive, spiritual and alive. But at least the very basics of simple faith in Jesus are right. Peter said "love overlooks a multitude of sins", if you truly love someone, there is no escape, you can forgive them anything : )
 

Venice is a remarkable place, a haven from traffic. You don't have to go searching in the museums for the art because the whole city is a work of art. We journeyed in by train from Padua  sitting beside a Jewish family of 4. The oldest boy looked peaceful and regal. I imagined a young David before he was King and I remember the feeling of awe. The artist hopes you get an impression from his work, the one that they were trying to project but very often we will ascribe greater or even different meaning than the artist ever had in mind. There are greater worlds inside of us than anyone could imagine because God has put them there. Sometimes another person will see in you something that you cannot see yourself. If you find someone who believes in you, you have found a great treasure.

The day was hot and walking through the narrow streets made us thirsty. We found a drinking fountain and sat down on a bench by one of the many little canals near two women who were taking a rest as well and listened to the beautiful language that they were speaking. Listening to Italian in that moment was more like listening to music than ordinary speech. I just admired the sound back then but now I think that language has more than a little influence on the way people are. Music incites strong emotions both good and bad.

We tried to get away from the tourist areas a little. The Venetians have a very different life to ours. There were signs that daily life would not be too easy. It wasn't hard to imagine flooding. The washing could only be hung between buildings so some agreement would be needed between neighbours. There would be some difficulty dealing with the daily rubbish for sure. And where do the kids play football except in the narrow streets?

The next day we took one of the rural trains to Florence. It's only about 200km but it took a very long time, it was incredibly slow. We arrived in Florence on a late beautiful warm summers afternoon, the shade from the leaves in the tree lined streets painted another masterpiece as the bus made it's way into the hills and to the hostel. Of all the places we stayed, this was the most stunning with views out to the Tuscan countryside. It would have been perfect for camping but for Cicci the Monster of Scandicci roaming the hills at night. We had been warned that couples especially, should not camp in secluded areas because there was a serial killer at large since 1968. Twenty one years of terror in Tuscany! It remains a cold case to this day, even though a number of different people have been arrested and convicted. Florence for all it's beauty was our first experience of a much darker and dangerous world where everything is not as it seems.

We were approached by a woman holding a baby, begging for money. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted the woman's other hand coming out from under her shawl where she held the baby to try and pickpocket my brothers wallet and I pulled him away just in time. At another time, we watched a young family walk into a church only to come running out a few moments later pursued by a gang of child pickpockets flapping cardboard at them. There is no way to know which one has stolen from you as they all run off in opposite directions. These kind of things are shocking to see and the thieves have you constantly on edge. You keep your valuables close and glance around to see if strangers are lurking. Even at night, you cannot sleep without wondering if you'll wake in the morning to find everything gone. For this reason I used to put my valuables in my sleeping bag with me. It would be difficult to live in peace in a society like that.

At this point we were two weeks into our trip and quite a long way from home. We had been spending a little more than budgeted and with two weeks to go we would have to be a bit careful.
Around the middle of the afternoon we found 5000 lira lying in the street. Being in Italy had turned us into beggars already. We decided it was a gift from above and heard the trumpets sounding as we pocketed it. We had bought a pizza in Padua in for 3000 lira so we knew it was enough for a meal for two.

When we arrived back at the hostel we decided we would have the best Italian meal we could afford. We ordered a pasta which was so delicious you could not find outside of Italy and we sat in the courtyard of the hostel looking at the landscape painting before us, enjoying the moment. However soon after we had finished I felt very ill to the point where I told my brother I was in serious trouble. I went back to the room and had to lie down for more than an hour. I had been very hungry and of course had gotten very bad indigestion from eating too much too quickly. Of course, Cicci could have been working in the hostel kitchen...

The following day we took a day trip to Pisa. Back then you could still walk up the Leaning Tower although to me it didn't look safe at all. What's more, there appeared to be no barriers between each pillar in the tower, it was easy to imagine someone accidentally falling off especially with Cicci around. In fact just six months later and following the warning of another collapse in Pavia in the same year we were there, the tower was closed to the public.

Next on the list was the ancient enemy, Rome. We know the old prophecy that one day this monster will be revived, some would say it is already here in the form of the EU whose tentacles reach to the same boundaries that the Roman Empire once did, so it has a lot of interest. The hostel was near the Olympic stadium but it was a bit crazy getting there. Crossing the road to get to the hostel was taking your life in your hands. It seemed like 50 metres to the other side and about 3 lanes of traffic each way. The only way was to step out on to the road and hope the cars would stop. Some did, others just swerved around you and kept going. The whole night the tooting of car horns kept us awake. We were so tired the next day!

In the morning we walked to St. Peter's square. It is impossible to capture how big it is on my camera, you would have to go there yourself. I was very annoyed with myself as shortly after taking the photo I went to get a drink from the fountain and dropped my camera in the water, there was a bang and I was never able to use the flash again after that.

After that we took the walk to the Coliseum and other famous ancient Roman sites like the Pantheon, the Forum, to where Peter and Paul were imprisoned and to where they used to have the chariot races. It was sad to see empty heroin syringes lying around on the way. We also saw the more modern sites like the Trevi fountain and where all the young people gather on the Spanish Steps. At the end of the day we were exhausted and I think we slept much better the second night! My memories of Rome are better than the actual experience at the time. It was very hot, we were tired and we didn't have enough time to take it all in.

In Italy you get the feeling that you don't know what's going to happen next. Your day might be wonderful or it may be worse than horse manure. You might be drinking wine at sunset looking at the Tuscan countryside or you might run into a serial killer on the way home in the dark. And you don't know in life how it's going to go for you, it's all down to the Grace of God. The guys in the first photo were beggars in Florence but they don't look too different to the guys in the Band who sang this song about Rome and one day when everything would be different...

When I Paint My Masterpiece
Oh, the streets of Rome are filled with rubble
Ancient footprints are everywhere
You can almost think that you're seeing double
On a cold, dark night on the Spanish Stairs

Gotta hurry on back to my hotel room
Where I got me a date with a pretty little girl from Greece
She promised, she'd be there with me
When I paint my masterpiece

 

Oh, the hours we spent inside the Coliseum
Dodging lions, and a-wasting time
Oh, those mighty kings of the jungle, I could hardly stand to see 'em
Yes, it sure has been a long, hard climb

Train wheels are running through the back of my memory
When I ran on a hilltop following a pack of wild geese
Someday everything is gonna sound like a rhapsody
When I paint my masterpiece

 

Sailing round the world in a dirty gondola
Oh, to be back in the land of Coca-Cola

Well, I left Rome, and landed in Brussels
On a plane ride so bumpy that I almost cried
Clergymen in uniform and young girls pulling muscles
Everyone was there to greet me when I stepped inside

Newspaper men eating candy
Had to be held down by big police
But someday everything's gonna be different
When I paint my masterpiece

Read Next Chapter : Spain
Read Last Chapter : Austria

Our Government

Last weekend, NZ had a general election as we do every 3 years. Our current Prime Minister is pretty good, he gets on well with Royalty in the UK and with the President of the USA so this gives a small country like ours a good standing in the World.

Despite this, it's my experience that people who vote are never happy with any party but we vote for what we believe is the best option. I'm sure in every democratic country it is exactly the same. The only ones celebrating at the end of election night are the politicians ; ) 

In fact in NZ it is rare for a party to get more than 50% of the vote and most governments are formed by coalition with other parties. What this means is that half the population has to put up with some party they didn't even vote for! Then of course we all know how politicians misbehave in parliament bringing in laws that the public never asked for or want!

Honestly, most people are unhappy with the government in a democracy. And if you live in a non-democratic country you are probably even worse off, despite what North Korea would have us believe. Is there any country anywhere in this World where the people love their government? 

In Romans 13:1, Paul makes the rather remarkable statement that all governments are put in place by God. He was being entirely consistent with what Jesus said to Pilate just before Pilate had Jesus crucified. In John 19:11 Jesus says to Pilate "You would have no power at all over me unless it were given to you from above". 

Do we really just have to roll over and take it just because God has ordained our government? 

This is very difficult to accept when you think of some of the evil governments of history and even today. Does this mean that God approves of their actions? Of course not! He will judge evil wherever it is found especially in leadership. We must always fight for justice in peace and if we are struck we must turn the other cheek. Who said following Jesus would save us from trouble?

What our government demonstrates is the nature of God. He loves order and because we are like him, so do we. Nobody can stand to live in chaos for very long. In fact, we can see extraordinary order in Nature in our World and in the Universe. Everything is governed by something or someone. This is why every believer can say with utmost confidence that there must be a Designer, an Ultimate Governor over everything. 

Colossians 1

15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Fair enough but is God's Government good, would we like it? There is a verse we often read at Christmas that was written 600 years before Jesus was born. 

From Isaiah 9

"6 For to us a child is born,

    to us a son is given,

    and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

    Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,

    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the greatness of his government and peace

    there will be no end.

He will reign on David’s throne

    and over his kingdom,

establishing and upholding it

    with justice and righteousness

    from that time on and forever.

The zeal of the Lord Almighty

    will accomplish this."

Fantastic words but is this just some politicians election promise, to be broken on the day after being elected? After all it has been 2000 years since Jesus was here and our World doesn't seem to have improved too much - we still have so much evil, injustice, poverty and war maybe even more so. 

Here is something that can only be believed to be seen. Every believer has a dual citizenship. We are citizens of Earth but we are also citizens of Heaven. The ideal of Government is great but down here, we are subject to human government which is corrupt because every man and woman is corrupt. 

Proverbs 29:2

When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.

Is that the kind of government you are suffering under? Have a close look at the leadership! People today say that as long as the person does a good job, their moral character doesn't matter. But one is effected by the other. Whether it be at family, at community, at job or country level, a government like that's days are numbered! 

That's the bad news about mankind but here's the good news. The words in Isaiah 9 are already true and one day will be even more so. I want to tell you something that is true right NOW for every citizen of Heaven. When you face a storm, don't be upset and start to panic. Listen carefully to what God's Spirit says in your heart. You will find that there is nothing to worry about. Jesus is the Prince of Peace and ruling over all so listen to him! 

By now you might think I've gone completely bonkers but why don't you try it out on any problem or trouble you face and prove it for yourself? Seeing is believing after all : )

Living proof of God discovered!

Click here to see the image of GOD!

Is the picture accurate? Yes, I can see a likeness / No, don't be ridiculous

Watch video for further proof Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

Psalm 139:13-16

¹³ For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.

  

Free

Just before I spoke on Sunday, we were shown a video talking about the modern day slavery sex trade. I didn't request it beforehand, someone was inspired to show it, not knowing what I was going to speak about.

It will horrify you to know what is going on in our World today. I couldn't find that same video later as I type this message now but as an introduction, here is another one. I only want to include it because it gives you a picture of what it is like to be a slave.

I think the Lord is wanting to speak about slavery today. It is not something we know a lot about in our free Western culture. In our society it is illegal to have slaves so we don't relate to this concept very well. We understand that slavery is evil but that is all we think.

Perhaps the Lord is calling you today to do something to fight against actual slavery in our World?

For many others who are not actual slaves but who are caught in something that disgusts them, that they cannot get free from, there is the Good News of the Gospel which has the power to set them free. This is what I want to speak about today.

My friend is from a Muslim family and I as I talked to her I made two very important discoveries of the differences between being a Christian and being a Muslim;

1. If you are a Muslim your salvation depends on what you do, whether you are good or bad. For the Christian we completely depend on Jesus for our salvation because he's the only one who's ever fully obeyed the law

2. If you are a Muslim, God is not a person like us, he is impersonal, remote not able to be related to. For the Christian, Jesus is God. He relates to us in the same way we like to relate to others, but better of course!

The history of Islam is one of slavery.

Being a Muslim, you come from the line of Ishmael, the child of a slave mother. You must strictly obey your master.

Being a Christian, you come from the line of Isaac, the child of the free mother. You are free to submit to someone you love.

The Gospel message of Grace is a message of freedom. We are part of the line of Isaac that leads to Jesus. But Grace can be used to tempt people into thinking they can live how they like and be forgiven but that is not the case.

How do we get this balance right between Grace and Law? This is what Paul addresses in Romans 6.

First of all let's note that Paul is writing to Christians, not to the World. He is disturbed because he sees in the Church the same behaviour that he sees in the World to whom he is preaching the Gospel so that they may be SAVED. What is troubling him so much is why are Christians still in slavery to their sins when they now have Jesus in their lives? It's a very contemporary problem, why are Christians still addicts, still living in sinful relationships, getting divorced at the same rate as non-believers, why aren't they FREE?

Right at the start I want to make the distinction between
1. Sin that we are slave to
2. Our ordinary day to day failings

I'm not talking about our ordinary day to day failings because we all know that we fail every day in many ways to live up to the way we know God wants us to think and to live.

I'm talking about the things that we are slaves to, that we cannot break free from. I don't have to tell you what they are. There are many types of addictions, there are many types of destructive behaviours that can enslave us. These are the types that Paul is talking about. 

• Compulsive Behaviour
• Destructive Behaviour
• Drugs and Addictions
• Wrong Relationships
• Violence
• Constant unclean thoughts
• Constant Depression (as a result of personal sin, rather than something that has happened to us)

You can count 5 questions that Paul asks the Christians in Rome.

v1 - Well then, shall we keep on sinning so that God can keep on showing us more and more kindness and forgiveness?

 - In other words, isn't it good when we sin since that's when the Gospel show it's power most when God fulfils his promise to forgive us. We like to point to people who have been converted from a terrible life of sin to following Jesus because it proves that what we are saying is true. We can think, the worse we are the better it is, since people will be more impressed that God can forgive us and prove himself to the World. That is not what the Gospel of Grace is about. Paul answers this first question by asking a second question in verse 2.

v2 - Should we keep on sinning when we don't have to?
 - This is a stunning statement from Paul. We don't have to sin, to be addicted to anything! When we became Christians our old self was crucified and died with Christ. When Jesus died paying the price for our sin, those sins were buried with him. When Jesus rose to life again, we rose with him and have HIS life. The power that raised Jesus from the dead is now living in you if you are believer! Did you get that? We now have the power to choose which we didn't have before when we were slaves. It is up to us. There is no addiction or destructive behaviour that can control us anymore if we choose life! I don't know what you think of the group Wham! but they used to wear this slogan on one of their shirts and I think it's a great message to us believers. It is a much more powerful message to the World when we are free from sin.

v15 - Does this means we can go ahead and sin and not worry about it?

 - The famous Christian writer, Philip Yancey recalled in his book "What's So Amazing About Grace" the story of a man who came to him asking if it was OK for him to have an affair with a woman he was attracted to since God would forgive him anyway. That's what Philip Yancey calls the scandal of Grace. The answer to the question of whether he can be forgiven is "Yes" so Paul asks another question.

v16 - Don't you realise you can choose your own master?

- Let's not mess around. Let me be absolutely clear. In choosing to sin we are choosing a Master that will enslave us and lead us to Death. Why would we want to do that when we can Choose Life? Yes the man will be forgiven but he will pay a heavy price. Make no mistake - the wages of sin is DEATH. All sin is poison, we are all going to die. But some poisons are immediately fatal. If you take arsenic, you know what's going to happen, you are not unique! That is why Paul explains later in v23 "The wages of sin is DEATH but the free gift of God is eternal LIFE through Jesus Christ our Lord".  If you are caught in slavery to sin, it is leading to death, including death of your relationships.  

I don't like to do this but let me illustrate with these 2 pictures of a famous England football player. On the left, in 1990 playing for England in a World Cup semi final at the age of 23. Back in the days when England were quite good. But sadly he is an alcoholic. On the right, there he is today at the age of just 47. Now this man is still alive so there is still hope - Jesus can still save his life.

I typed into Google "Man transformed by Jesus" and I got the story of a homeless wild man living on the streets of Lucknow in India. The man had been abused when he was young and had grown wild and angry. It wasn't his fault but he was enslaved because of what happened to him. He would hurl abuse and stones at anyone coming near him. One day he was approached by a Pastor who prayed for him, took him home, washed and shaved him while Jesus changed the man. Now see him today so transformed that you cannot recognise him!

Every believer has the power of life over death.

The last question Paul asks the Church in Rome is
v20 - In those days when you were slaves to sin you didn't bother much with goodness and what was the result?
- Finally Paul asks to think where  slavery to sin is leading. Only to our shame and to our death.

 Paul concludes we can choose our master.

1. Sin which leads to death
2. Obedience which leads to acquittal/life

Is there any sin in your life which you have been paying a heavy price for?

You don't have to! Jesus paid the heaviest price so you don't have to.

How does the Gospel work in conquering addiction?

• Jesus has dealt with it 
• Our sin is buried with Christ 
• The wages of sin are paid 
• We are forgiven and rise to life with Christ 
• We are granted the power that raised Jesus back to life 
• We can CHOOSE LIFE 
• We are given the FREE gift of eternal life

Do we believe and receive this? The Gospel is so simple, you don't need to go on a man made program to get free from addiction. Just believe and receive the FREE gift from God and then CHOOSE LIFE.

If you've got the time listen to this beautiful song by Casting Crowns and thank Jesus for all he's done for you!

TEN

The 10 commandments - how many do you know?

A lot of people would have trouble listing the 10 - see how many you got from the list. Did you score more than 4? I hope so!! At least that would be a pass ; )

The 10 are basically divided into 2 groups - the first 4 relate to God, and the last 6 relate to People.

Now I want to ask you another question. If I took a commandment from each of the 2 groups and went out to the general population and surveyed people, which ones do you think they would agree with?

For example

1. From God's List : "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy" - Agree / Disagree
2. From the People's List : “You shall not steal" - Agree / Disagree

I would theorise that most people would completely disagree with the ones that relate to God and would agree with (and remember) the ones that relate to people.

I want to share with you something that absolutely stunned me today from Matthew 19:16 - 21. Please read carefully...
¹⁶ Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
¹⁷ “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”
¹⁸ “Which ones?” he inquired.
Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, ¹⁹ honour your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbour as yourself.’ ”
²⁰ “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”
²¹ Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Are you interested to know the secret to Eternal Life? - here Jesus tells the man.

I want to share with you what really stunned me about these few verses;

1. Jesus subtly but powerfully told the man he is God (v17)
2. When asked which commandments to keep, which ones did Jesus say? That's right - only the ones that relate to people. Jesus didn't mention ANY from God's list (v18-19). Since Jesus is God, doesn't that tell you how loving and kind Jesus is to not even mention the laws which people break every day that hurt and offend him. Think how hurt and offended you are when people break the laws from the people list against you!
3. The man still knew something was missing. Jesus answer was to sell everything "then come follow me" (v21). The thing that was missing was the man had no relationship with God! Jesus wanted the man to come and follow him and in doing that he would fulfil the remaining 4 commandments from God's list!

WOW!!! - Do you get it? I can't even put into words what that makes me feel about Jesus but  it sure makes me HAPPY!