Has anyone noticed how many rainbows there are around these days? We have rainbow footpaths, office windows, pedestrian crossings, buses and toys. So many that I thought people must be either reading their Bible or totally forgetting the meaning of the rainbow. I decided to print my own tee-shirt to explain.

This morning I climbed the steps to enter our city council gym and was greeted by an archway of balloons arranged in rainbow-order. I thought “I wonder who is telling them to promote pride week and whose rates are paying for it? That got me thinking. Why pride?

Pride is something we feel when a child or adult has achieved something notable or has demonstrated character in the face of difficulty.

The other use of the word pride is in the context of lack of humility and rebellion and the first instance of this type of pride was a long time ago. Lucifer was the most decorated created being in heaven. He wore beautiful garments, which glistened with jewels of every colour of the rainbow.

“You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold... "You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you” (Eze 28:13-1)

Sadly, as Lucifer led the parade in worship to God, he began to think that the worship should belong to him. Iniquity and pride entered his heart, and he was cast from heaven to become Satan, the hater of mankind and God.

Pride in this context of arrogance and rebellion has never benefitted anyone. As Kevin Conner said "If pride can turn and archangel into a devil, what can it do to us"?

Has pride ever helped a couple resolve their issues? Has pride ever helped a broken relationship be restored? Has pride ever helped reconcile a son to his parents or enabled them to confess their faults? Never. God took pairs of males and females into the ark for the good of the planet. Homosexual pairs animal or human would be non-regenerating and an evolutionist might say, a threat to the survival of the species. Not much to celebrate there either.

Why would we be proud of pride? We don't celebrate “lust week” for adulterers, or “greed week” for thieves and gangsters, so why would we celebrate pride week for those caught in homosexuality? It makes no sense.

Why would the U.N. and government promote and celebrate a lifestyle that on their own admission and figures, has a far worse suicide and mental health outcomes than the general population? Canadian figures put suicide risk at fourteens time higher for LGBTQ people. That is not fair on our young people.

Of course, homosexual people look for acceptance and they should find acceptance from us all, for every human being is infected with the same disqualifying sin. Gay or straight, black and white. Whether we live in Remuera or Manurewa, are atheist or religious, sin affects us all differently but affect us all, it does.

Some of my friends have gay children. We love and accept them because they too are us. All of us must find our way back to God through the same narrow gate, Jesus Christ.

Israel Folau was given a hard time for saying that homosexuals will go to hell. But maybe he and everyone else missed the point. It is not just homosexuals that will be excluded from heaven (Hell) but every person that hasn't asked found forgiveness from God, though a personal faith in Jesus Christ. This includes rugby boards, politicians, presidents and preachers. In short, no one will live with God unless they are humble enough to acknowledge their imperfection and need for God's forgiveness. And humble enough to accept the only salvation that God has provided (at great cost to himself), the cleansing blood of his Son.

So, while doing my leg press, I thought “Why should we be celebrating pride week in a government run gym? Soon our primary schools will be full of rainbows. What to do? I know, I'll wear my rainbow bow tee-shirt to the gym next week.” Then I thought “This only happens because everyone is too afraid to speak up. I should say something today,” So I went to the gym instructor and asked “What is the meaning of these rainbow-coloured balloons? Who told you to display them?”

He said “I went overseas to bury my mother and got stuck over there with a lockdown. My staff put them up to celebrate my return to work”. :)

Oh well there is still way too many rainbows with the wrong meaning out there!

When you discover what God is asking you to accomplish in your voyage of life, don’t be surprised if it takes a little while.  Like a lifetime! If your dream is big and if it is from God it will not happen overnight. Some people leave a church because they think they should have “arrived” after 4 years. God chose Moses and prepared him for his task. It took God 80 years just to get Moses ready to start.  Some Christian soldiers lay down their arms after 15 years in the battle.

When Jesus was walking toward Jerusalem people left Him to Himself. “they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem” Luke 9:53 ). They would have entertained Jesus but they could see that Jesus had resolutely set His course. Stopping along the way, was not His priority. If you set your face toward something, wrong things and even good things won't distract you.

The reason Jesus, the Apostle Paul and even Columbus, achieved their life purpose was because they heard from God, counted the cost, charted their course and followed it.  They went the path less travelled. Columbus had done the easy things for 10 years. He had been east to the Mediterranean, south to Africa and around to India but now his compass was set west, out into the darkness of the Atlantic. To discover the hidden treasure of God we must first allow all the known country to slip away behind us.  Don’t live your whole life and never become who you are meant to become.  We cannot become an admiral from the arm chair. Hard winds will seek to drive you off course.   Fog may come in and night will fall but you must stay at the helm.  Don’t let people hijack the dream. Instead we have to learn to repel the negative “borders” that assail us and adjust the sails to stay on course. Don't run aground on the rocks of past and present failures. Don’t sink under the waves of ruined dreams and aborted goals. You must not let the past determine your future.   Walt Disney went bankrupt five times before he succeeded.  Though you fail you are  not a failure.  Failure is an event not a person.  Invariably we all fail- its part of being human but whenever we do it’s our only our beliefs that are failed us.  We thought wrongly that we could do life without God or we believed that somehow we would be able to pay for things later that we cant afford now . Mostly when we fail it is just time to change our beliefs and align the to God’s Word.  God’s dream for your life will take time and constant focus. And our Father knows exactly what spiritual successes and natural troubles are needed for us to develop the maturity we will need to arrive at our destiny.

Joseph sat on an imposing throne surrounded by the trappings of ancient royalty. The end of Joseph’s life looks easy. We would all like to be him; riding on golden chariots and banqueting for breakfast. He was on top of the world and people bowed low before him as he rode past. But the process God used to get him there, was not as easy. He was attacked, abused, and accused and his integrity was tested.

There are sure ways to enter the blessing of God and our destiny but there is no easy way. As it says on the wall of my gym “There is no elevator to success, you will have to take the stairs “

Sometimes we would like to be removed from the process which God is using to bring us into His promises. As someone once said, “There is no glory without a story”. There is also no degree without study. People learn nothing on graduation day apart from the fact that perseverance pays off. It is the journey that benefits us most, not arriving at the destination. It was not standing at the border of the Promised Land that prepared Israel for conquest, but their long journey there. Few people become “great” without going through great difficulties.

Every believer has troubles; they might be different from yours or they may even not appear to have them, but they do. We all live in a broken world. Living with Jesus in heaven will be easy, living for Jesus on earth is our challenge. David McCracken used to say, “God is more interested in our character than He is in our comfort”. So, He is the God of all comfort, but occasionally, He allows dis-comfort, to produce in us, something more valuable.

Friend, your journey may be difficult, it may even be a “mess” but as you travel onwards trusting, it is accomplishing more in you, than arriving at your desired destination, ever could.

My daughter and son in law recently tramped over the Tongariro crossing. It took them 6 and half hours to cross between the mountains. They said it was difficult to do but rewarding to have achieved it. The first hour was easy, and they enjoyed the ever-changing vistas along the way. It soon got harder, and exertion and effort replaced the easy stroll.

It was great that they could have a break from the children and do something together. It is also a great metaphor for the marriage journey.

Have you ever noticed that falling in love is easy but walking in love is more challenging? Well the science is in. Apparently falling in love or feeling in love, is because a chemical called dopamine is released in our brain when we first attracted to someone. But after 24 months this chemical is produced way less and when the feeling of love subsides somewhat, we have to choose to love or begin to actually love. This is the reason for the old saying “Love is blind, but marriage is an eye opener.” This refers to the fact that in the falling in love stage, the character flaws or imperfections of the other party are not able to be seen for the brightness of the sun shining out of them. The rest of the saying “Marriage is an eye opener” is not true for it is time that is the eye opener. After every couple has lived together for 2 or 3 years, and the dopamine has dwindled, peoples eyes are opened to see all the things they never saw when they were “in love”.

This explains why so many couples who were head over heels in love 2 years ago, when breaking up today say, "It’s amazing, they just changed" or "They didn't turn out to be as captivating or charming as I thought” or " I found out things about him which annoy me and I don't like" Well, welcome to reality. Your chemical drug has worn off and now you're seeing them without your rose-tinted glasses. They’re not unusually bad, they are just ordinary people.

We can't say we truly love someone; until the dopamine has waned and we are choosing to walk in love for 15 years maybe 50; until we have fallen out of love and choose to keep on loving.

The true lover is not someone who can feel in love with 15 different people for 2 years but someone who can love just one person for 30 years.

Of course, chemicals don't completely leave our brain after a few years, and other chemicals like oxytocin flood our bodies for a few days after physical intimacy. This is a blessing which remains throughout the rest of our lives together. It helps us to feel bonded and helps us get past the idiosyncrasies, habits, personality quirks and annoyances we and they, have to live with every day.

Falling in love is like falling from a high mountain. Because of gravity it's inevitable, effortless, exhilarating, heart pounding stuff but learning to love and choosing to love is like climbing up a mountain. It's hard work that also gets the heart rate up but when a couple climb the mountain of love everyday over decades, they prove their love for their mate and create a refuge of the stability for their family. They actually produce in their lives, the very character qualities they should have been looking for at the start, if they weren’t so "blinded by love". Qualities like commitment, patience, putting the other first, being considerate, etc, and these qualities can produce a feeling similar to being "in love" but for the total length of relationship. Their love begins to reflect the love of Jesus who continues to love us even when we are unloving or unlovable.

As it turns out, He is the divine provider of short-term chemicals and the producer of lifelong character.

Friends, we don't need to fall off the mountain with someone new we need to climb the mountain of love today, with the one we can truly love.

The Easter event had many players in various scenes as they unfolded over three days, and all of the roles but One, can be played by us.

 First scene was Judas who loved a deal. He had already followed his heart, a kiss of betrayal a small price to pay for a bigger bank account.

Caiaphas appeared but had religious considerations and didn’t want to lose the respect of his community.

 Next was Pilate who knew that Jesus was innocent but was too afraid to stand with Him. How many years did we do that? He asked the question that all the other actors were to answer. “Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” Mat 27:22 

Peter is there too. Peter who had spent so much time with Jesus the perfect man, but who denied he even knew Him, as he stood by the evening fire. Fortunately, Jesus new Peter and us better than we know ourselves. The rooster crowed over Peter’s feelings of failure but all of us need to feel like that, before we feel the need for a Saviour.

The crowd gathering in Pilate’s courtyard, started shouting their decision. “Crucify Him”!

 Next came Barabbas. He was offstage in a jail waiting for his execution. His name means “Son of an earthly father” and he was a murderer.  In the jail he heard cheering out on the streets and heard footsteps coming his way. The door was opened, and the jailer said “The crowd has decided to kill Jesus Christ instead of you!  You are free to go. He also represents us - sons and daughter of earthy fathers, set free by the only Son of the Heavenly Father.

 Next the soldiers at the cross. They took Jesus robes off Him, now covered with blood and hung him naked on the cross. As Jesus hung in shame, they divided His righteous robes among themselves. The crucifiers like ourselves, can walk away wearing the holy garments of Jesus.

 Of course, Jesus was on the cross. He began His lonely journey in the garden where He went with His twelve disciples. There in Gethsemane, He went a little further with just three men. But only two disciples followed him to Gabbatha and only John is standing at Golgotha near the cross. Finally, Jesus is on the cross alone for no one else could share His pain.  He was very alone, then absolutely alone, as He realised that even God had forsaken him. “And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME? “Mark 15:34 

He was alienated and abandoned by His Father as He became sin.  The One who is holy and “of purer eyes than to behold evil,” turned away from Sin of the world, including yours and mine.

 In the penultimate scene there is the penitent thief about to receive the punishment he is due for sin in this life.  Through simple faith in Jesus’ kingship, he is offered eternal life in the next.  Before he had a chance to attend church, give an offering, learn some verses, or do one kind thing, he was offered glory and splendour that Caiaphas and Pilate for all their trying, would never know. Jesus’ offers forgiveness and eternal life is not based on performance or knowledge but faith in Him.  The thief’s story is one that ends well, and we can choose whether we will be him in the play.

 At the end of three days “the play” moves to the final scene. The tomb is opened, Jesus is alive and none of the old actors are there.  Instead, three women come to find the tomb filled with angels instead of the body of their Friend. This is our great hope and what sets Jesus apart from every special person in world history. Mohammed, Buddha, Swamis and Lamas have come and gone but Jesus is still alive.

Do you believe on Jesus this morning? Believing is not hard, for God planned something that would make it easy to believe - the resurrection. The resurrection is the greatest proof that Jesus is the sinless Son of God. Death could not hold Him, and He rose a victor, over death, hell and the grave.  This hope for all men, is what transformed the first disciples into a band of champions. They risked it all to tell the world the message of His love. Strangely they faced rejection and even the stake but continued to love their persecutors. As the centuries past, they exchanged horses for cars and worship styles changed and got louder. Today believers will tell the Easter story a thousand different ways, but it will always have the same message of hope, which is, Jesus Christ died for sinners and that every person gets to choose which person in “the play” they want to be.  Jesus has chosen the part of Saviour, but thief is still available. Be humble and choose that part.

One day while I was in prayer,  I saw a picture of the Lord sitting on the well.  When I got closer to it, I noticed it was dry, filled with rubble and rubbish.  That was not part of the familiar picture so when I asked Him I felt He said “The only time people throw rubbish into a well is when it’s empty.  When they come to a well expecting to find water and find that it never delivered, what it promised. No one rubbishes the church when it full of Living Water. People don’t come to find rules they don’t turn up hoping to get ten things to do before God will meet them; they come to find life giving, pure rivers of love, flowing into their heart. Every local church is a well of living water, where any sinner or Samaritan can come in their shame and rejection and meet the Lord.  He sits enthroned on the well.  The well was the throne of grace, were she came find mercy and help in her time of need.  We are to be a place where they can come thirsty and go away satisfied by Living Water.

Friend, all over the world I hear the sound of the wells filling up.  Are you ready for thirsty visitors?

It is an annual thing - Getting the tree out of the garage and trying to do something different with decorations we have collected over years. By the time we finished our small five foot tree sparkles with colours and lights. Underneath the tree lay brightly coloured packages and ahead of us lies a week that we love; a time to see people and food that I only see once a year. Whether sitting under a Pohutukawa tree in New Zealand or imagining how it was in the old country, with cheery fires and snowmen, Christmas seems bright and beautiful. But, surrounded by bright lights, red candles, and presents, it is easy to forget there is a sinister and ugly reason for Christmas…. Sin.

Behind every disrupted home; every shattered friendship, every broken heart, every selfish action and human misery, is the reason for Christmas... Sin. Many years ago Thomas Guthrie wrote of sin....

"Who is the painted temptress that steals our virtue? Who is the murderess that destroys our life? Who is this sorceress that first deceives and then damns our souls? Sin.

 Who with icy breath blights the fair blossoms of youth? Who breaks the hearts of parents? Who brings old men grey hairs with sorrow to the grave?

 Who by a more hideous metamorphosis than Ovid even fancied changes gentle children into snakes, tender mothers into monsters and their fathers into worse than Herods? Sin.

 Who cast the apple of discord on household hearts? Who lights the torch of war and bears it blazing over trembling lands? Who by division in the church rends Christ's seamless robe? Sin.

Who turns the soft and gentlest heart to stone? Who hurls reason from her lofty throne and impels sinners mad as a Gadarene swine down the precipice into a lake of fire? Sin."

Great writing and yes, though Jesus is the reason for the season, our sin is the reason for Jesus. Matthew 1.21 reads, "And she shall bring forth a son and thou shalt call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sin. Sin may be the ugliness of Christmas but the real beauty of Christmas is to understand how the ugliness is cured.  We could not save ourselves but thank God, He sent a Saviour Jesus Christ, into the world to save sinners.  Sin is a disease cured by only one thing, and that is the blood of the divine physician Himself. He bore the punishment that we deserved so we could receive His eternal life which we never deserved.

So let’s enjoy the bright lights and colours and spend time with friends, family and those we love but most of all let us receive the Saviour sent from God, to bring His bright hope into our lives. Let our Christmas be filled with gratitude for Jesus and perhaps next year hang a black bauble on the tree just to remember.

David was small compared to Goliath but not to other men. The idea that David was some kind of small, puny guy is not true. David was a shepherd, he was a tough man, and he was a man’s man. He killed a lion and a bear with his bare hands!  Saul was a head & shoulders taller than anyone else in the land and Saul must have sized David up before he offered David his armor.  So it is likely that David was a big and strong man like his bother Eliab “So Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail. David fastened his sword to his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, "I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them." So David took them off ”  (1Sam 17:38-39)  David couldn’t use the Armor, not because it didn’t fit but because he hadn’t tested it.  Because he wasn’t used to it – it wasn’t his tools.  David was anointed to be king, but it wasn’t his time, his calling was still a shepherd. So he goes down to the stream picks us five smooth stones and puts them in his shepherd’s bag. When Goliath who was over nine feet tall, looks down at David, he doesn’t see a smaller man he sees a shepherd. David still has his staff, and his shepherd’s bag, containing the sling, and the five rocks.   He wasn’t trying to be a soldier; he had no proof of any other calling.  The Bible says, “and Goliath was enraged, and he said am: I a dog that you are coming at me with a stick (which is a staff)?” Goliath dishonoured David’s calling but God honoured it. David knew that God will prosper you in your calling.  One of the most destructive things we can do is always wish we were somebody else. To be the best Bob that Ted can be.

Friends, honour the strengths and callings of other people and live within your own.  Go through a process to find your talents and calling.  Work out what God has gifted you to be and live in the centre of that.  That is your sweet spot. Don’t live your whole life and never become who you are meant to be.