Dear Brethren

Greetings in Jesus precious name.  As I am writing this letter I am looking at the book of Ecclesiastes chapter 3 and the subtitle in my Bible, the NKJV, says: 'Everything has it's time'.  As we know, the first eight verses of Ecclesiastes 3 speak about seasons and times.  Verse 1 says 'to everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven, verse 2 says ' a time to be born, a time to die, a time to plant, a time to pluck what is planted', and then it continues.  I can honestly say to you that for me a new season has been birthed.

Words cannot describe what took place at MMC 2009 two weeks ago.  We knew that the glory of the Lord was going to come down on that gathering because the Lord had told us very distinctly, in more ways than one, but we would never have dreamt in a million years how he was going to do it.  I thought maybe it would come through the music or maybe the campfires and the fellowship of the thousands of men that were there.  I thought maybe even through the preaching, but no, God had a specific plan and He wanted to teach us about the brevity of time.  If you look at that word 'brevity', I have always wondered what it really meant, it is derived from the word 'brief' and one thing that God showed us at this conference is that we are not here on this earth forever.  There is a shortage of time and we need to use it in the best way possible.

I want to encourage everyone of you reading this letter to sit down and take stock and ask yourself the serious question 'what am I doing with the time God has given to me?'  You see, my dear friend, I was standing literally at the gates of heaven.  I want to say to you, if any of you fear dying that, for a believer, there is no pain in death.  God in His infinite grace and wisdom has given me an extra portion of time.  I really felt, as did so many others on that Saturday afternoon, that I was going to be with Jesus Christ in glory, but by His goodness and only His understanding, He has given me a reprieve.  He has given me an extra period of time on this earth and now it is as if my eyes have been opened, I have come of age.  I am starting to see that things that two weeks ago I thought were important, have no importance whatsoever at the moment, material issues.  God has shown me one thing that I want to leave with you, and one thing only, quite simply that there is nothing more on this earth that is as important as relationships.

What is man's chief purpose on this earth but simply 'to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever'.  That is all that the Lord wants us to do.  He has told me in no uncertain terms to shelve all MY PLANS and start to do what He has told me to do, and He will do the rest.  In the space of that weekend we saw relationships, I am talking in my own personal life, restored forever.  I have never seen or experienced such a magnitude of love from the men towards me and towards each other, never in my life!  When that helicopter airlifted me off the farm to Pietermaritzburg, I saw a multitude of hands reaching up towards the helicopter as the  men prayed for me.  I was as good as dead when they put me in that helicopter and ten minutes later when we touched down at Medi-clinic (a young lady pilot flew us straight there), I was totally and completely healed and that is nothing short of a miracle!  I believe in miracles and I believe in them more today.  Our God is a miracle working God and He is a good God!  He is nobody's debtor and He is there for you and me.  No matter what your problem or your need is, He will do it.  I have preached that for 30 years but I am telling you that I lived it two weeks ago.  He is on your side.  A very dear brother said to me that he saw, or heard, in the spirit, angels coming down to take me away - that is what he thought, only to realise that the angels were sent by God to protect me from any forces of darkness.  We just stand amazed at the goodness of God.  Remember, if the Lord Jesus Christ is your saviour, you have nothing to fear.  Paul said in Phil.1:21, 'for me to live is Christ, and to die is but gain', and I can honestly say amen to that.

Thank you for your love and your constant prayers and support for me and my family.  I am so proud of my wife, Jill, she was so strong, God gave her that strength over that time.  I am resting well and I am completely healed.  My family insisted that I went for a second opinion and the doctor can find nothing wrong, whatsoever.  We praise God for your prayers.  We will be taking 3 weeks break and then returning to prepare for the trip to the United Kingdom.

May God bless you all.

Yours in Christ's service
Angus & Jill and all at Shalom