Dear Friends

I have just returned last night from the Great Karoo, where we saw the move of God yet once again amongst men's lives and their families at the Karoo MMC 2012. And again, I thank God for the great work that the Karoo team accomplished headed up by Jannie and Marlize Moolman. It is so wonderful to see the men taking the baton and continuing the good work. I had the priviledge of speaking  on the Sunday morning and went down with my older son Andy and some wonderful men of God.

 

 The topic I spoke on and what I would like to encourage you with my dear friend, is the subject of pain. So often as New Testament  believers we shy away from pain. We need to understand that pain is very much part of the Christian lifestyle. In fact, if you look at our symbol, the cross, it is a reminder of the pain that Jesus Christ went through for you and me. In fact if you look up the Oxford dictionary the Latin word for pain is 'poena' which the word penalty is derived from.

 Jesus paid the ultimate price (penalty), for your sin and my sin and went through extreme pain in the Garden of Getsemane, (meaning the olive press). He was sorely  pressed. The Bible says in Luke Chapter 22:39-46 that He actually sweated great drops of blood from His forehead, because of the pain He endured for you and me.

 We need pain my dear friend, if we are going to grow in Christ. Aristotle said, "we cannot learn without pain." Pain makes us compassionate and less judgemental. Paul if you remember, in my humble opinion the greatest apostle of them all, wrote two thirds of the New Testamant, asked the Lord three times to take away the thorn from His flesh. He understood pain and God said, "My grace is sufficient for you," 2 Corinthians 12:9. It's pain that gives us character and makes us patient and also gives us hope. So don't be shy or afraid of pain. It is only when we have suffered pain that we can comfort those in trouble? I spoke to a very dear old friend of mine on the phone, just last week, who lost his son in a plane crash in Indonesia. I just realized again, he is not looking for scriptures and stern rebukes of pulling himself toghether and remembering who He is in Christ, but rather, he is looking for love, compassion, for tears and to have a warm embrace. Pain make us get up again and I always like to use the illustration of Rocky Marciano, the only heavy weight champion ever to never have lost a fight. He was not the greatest fighter but I don't think there was a man that could take pain the way he could, he kept getting up, and eventually his opponent started to loose heart because he didn't know what to do to knock this man out. Eventually Rocky would defeat his opponent. Pain makes us strong. I think of the old Blacksmith's forge, he makes the wrought iron white hot in the fire and then he starts to beat it on the anvil with a hammer, and that pressure brings forth resillience, purity, strength and commitment. Yes, indeed pain can be a friend, don't be afraid of it. The scripture that I want to leave with you is found in John 16:33, where the Lord says" I told you these things, in Me you will have peace but in the world you will have tribulation (pain),  but take heart for I have overcome the world." Remember, it is only once a candle is lit and burns that it shows light, if it is not lit up, it will never ever burn out but it will never ever show any light.

 May God bless you as you continue to run the race for Him.  Even though it can be painful and maybe you are going through a painful experience as I write this letter to you, be assured of one thing, the Lord has promised us that all things work together for the good of those who love the Lord and are called according to His purposes.

 

Yours In Christ Service

Angus & Jill Buchan

 

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