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That’s a whole lot of names and a whole lot of history. So what the heck are we supposed to understand God is saying by listing all these names of kings that the people of Israel defeated? Seems to me that people of Israel experienced Gods promises being lived out in their lives. Time after time God said that he would not let them be defeated and that he would deliver them land. Writing these names down in their scriptures would serve as a reminder to them in the future. How do we remember the promises that God has delivered us? I know some people who write down their prayers in a journal so they can look back and see the answers that God has given them. That’s pretty similar to the Israelites writing their s answers to prayer down in scripture. Me, I find that I always forget to write them down, that’s one of the reasons I pray with close friends regularly. When I am down and complaining that Gods not answering my prayers, they are the ones who can remind me of all the prayers in my life God has answered.

Author - Max Cross, Joshua | No Comments »

Doesn’t it sometimes seem that the world just is going mad. It’s a new year, you’re busy getting used to a new lesson or lecture plan. Then suddenly this project or that assignment crop up and need to be completed. Before you know where you are, the end of year exams are looming, and all that, before the guys at home pile on house chores. Sometimes you just want to shout stooooop. That must have been how Joshua felt. It seems like for years they have been at war, but did you notice that final line; “and Israel had rest from war.” So finally they have some rest. The problem is that when we do finally get that time to rest we are so used to charging around at school, college and work, that we have forgotten how to rest. Well, one of Gods original commandments included a day of rest. Is it possible, that the creator of our bodies, knew that we needed that regular rest? That day might be Saturday, that day might be Sunday, but whatever you do, there should be a day. A day where you can pause and take some time to be on your own, to be with your family, to chill with friends, to wait on your God. Make it habit now, and you will be ahead of most adults in this world.

Author - Max Cross, Joshua | No Comments »

“Josh don’t worry about that lot. Hey there may be thousands of warriors ganging up against you, but don’t worry.” That’s what God told Joshua. Now my first thought would be, “are you nuts, let’s get out of here.” But that is not Joshua’s view. He calmly accepts what God has said to him and trusts his Lord. And surprise, surprise God comes through. Doesn’t it wind you up when someone has the faith that God asks them to have, and then God rewards them for it. It does me. Maybe you are having trouble at school, maybe home life is hard, maybe college is just too demanding for words. And you pray and ask God to help, but it seems to be taking forever. What do your leaders say? I know what they say, they say “trust God he will look after you.” What are your thoughts? If it’s anything like me, you are thinking, “Ahhhhh.… I know God will look after me, but at the moment it’s very, very scary.” That’s a real feeling, from a real Christian, and actually you can bet that’s how Joshua felt to. That’s how I feel right now as we go through our own hassles here at the aftershock team. So don’t be surprised if that’s how you feel and don’t feel guilty if that’s how you feel. What’s the answer? Well I hate to say this, but you, like us, will have to trust your God, but that doesn’t mean you have to be alone. Find someone to pray through the situation with you, just like we are, and I am sure Joshua did to.

Author - Max Cross, Joshua | No Comments »

Joshua is on a run. There is no messing now that Joshua knows what God wants him to do. He doesn’t hang about he gets on with the job in hand. Admittedly a job that seems a little strange, but never the less he doesn’t hang around. He could easily sit there and say things like, “Ill wait until the weather is better”. Joshua could easily be forgiven for saying “well we have just put one bullying king to rights, we’ll rest before we do the next.” But that’s not what he does; God has given him a job and gets on with it. Puts me to shame really, I know that I can hang around until the time is right, only the time is never right is it? How about you? Has God told you to speak to someone at college or school? Maybe you have felt God say that you should do something, but you feel you are too young to be taken seriously. Well if we are to take a leaf out of Joshua’s book, then we should get on with the job in hand. So take a big breathe and then bish, bash, bosh, get on with it.

Author - Max Cross, Joshua | No Comments »

We have talked before about the fact that there are consequences to our actions. These five kings ganged up on a weaker neighbour and God was not happy about that. God used Joshua to carry out his judgment on these five kings. Lets be clear about one thing, this is not the norm. In other places, God reminds us that he is the one who will judge and that we should leave revenge to him. However what we can learn from Joshua’s actions is that we should help the weak and defenceless. It’s right to help those who can not defend themselves at school. It’s right to defend countries that can not defend themselves. But in both cases, we had better understand our motives. If we choose one side to help at school, because we dislike the other side, then we have missed the point. If we help one country because we have something to gain, whilst we ignore other countries, then once again we have missed the point. It’s tough to be consistent in our actions but that is what we must try to do, when we are defending the weak. We must also be clever about the way we defend them. We probably don’t need to charge in and start punching the bullies at school. In the same way, war must be our last choice, when defending other countries. Comparing war to bullies at school might seem a bit daft, but if you and I can work out how God would have us deal with bullies at school, then maybe as we grow we will also manage bullying countries better too.

Author - Max Cross, Joshua | No Comments »