John Piper heard God actually speaking!

Can we hear God speaking, I mean really speaking, today? Read what Pastor John Piper has to say about his experience. Please read the article completely or you may miss the point.
Link to: The moring I heard the voice of God

Mr. A.C.Flack of Clarence

The best years of my school life were spent in Clarence High School, Bangalore. This is a Christian school affiliated to Bethesda (Brethren) Church. Scripture was compulsory as a subject, and many of the scripture passages I know from memory were learnt during my scripture classes there.

The school principal was Mr. A.C.Flack, an Australian. He seemed to know everyone of his students and even where they lived.

One day, I lost my cycle key in school and was trying to find a locksmith, when I very nearly collided into Mr. Flack outside the small gate near the peepul tree.

"What are you doing outside the school?"

"I am looking for the locksmith who sometimes sits here, Sir. I lost my cycle key and never found it, Sir."

"Did not find it."

"I lost my cycle key and did not find it, Sir."

With the help of a friend, I carried my cycle all the way home. In the evening, my mother and I were surprised to see Mr. Flack at our door with the key, which he had found somewhere in the school premises.

Another time, just shortly before I took my board exams, he came home and advised me to get up from my books every hour or so and do a bit of skipping to improve circulation.

I am sure he did not single me out for such kindness. All his students have wonderful stories to relate about this man, and the naughty ones certainly remember the caning sessions as well. Whether it was obvious to others or not, I do not know, but I was keenly aware that although he did not thrust religion down anyone’s throat, but only shared the gospel when it was his turn at morning assembly, he had a heart that was on fire for the Lord. This conviction was once put to the test.

One time, I found myself in the middle of a discussion with my Geography teacher, who was Hindu, about my faith. I said that Jesus claimed to be the only Way to reach heaven, and that there was no other way according to Him. She was incredulous and said that it sounded so narrow minded. Hinduism is accepting of all faiths, holding to the belief that God is one and all religions teach the same basic principles of love and good works and lead people to God. Christianity preached in its pure form must naturally seem very bigoted and wrong, unless God Himself condescended to shed His light. I assured her that this was what the Bible said, and we could accept it or reject it. However, I pointed out, there was so much of evidence that the Bible was the word of God Himself, and so we must give the matter a lot of thought before rejecting it. She was a wonderful person and her horrified reaction was legitimate. She felt that I was mistaken and that Mr. Flack, who was so reasonable, would certainly not agree with me. I said that we could go and ask him.

Soon we were outside Mr. Flack’s office, and he beckoned us in. After I explained the matter to him, he welcomed her to sit down. Finding myself in a room with two faculty members, and being just a student myself, I excused myself and left. I have no doubt that he would have handled the matter ably.

He died a few years later in Australia. The old school hall was brought down. I remember that hall so well, with its dark floor of kadappa stone slabs, wooden benches, simple wooden tiers for the choir, school gong (whose regular use had already been replaced by the siren), and a picture of Shakespeare to whom, apparently, I bore a physical likeness, if my friends are to be believed. At the back of the stage was the bookshelf that was the Sunday school library with its quaint collection of the loveliest old books. Only the Sunday school children would have known of its existence. In place of the old hall, a modern hall, Flack Memorial Auditorium, was built that, with its gallery, had a larger seating capacity. It was the end of an era.

My husband Philip and I were married in Flack Memorial Auditorium in 1986. Another spiritual mentor from those school years, Miss Horton, was an honoured guest at our wedding. More about her next.

Where the mind is without fear

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high;
Where knowledge is free;
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments
by narrow domestic walls;
Where words come out from the depth of truth;
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection;
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the
dreary desert sand of dead habit;
Where the mind is led forward by Thee into ever-widening
thought and action--
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country
awake.

By Rabindranath Tagore

Everyone who has been educated in India is familiar with this poem. It was written by one of India's greatest sons, Rabindranath Tagore, who also penned the Indian national anthem. The depth and economy of words in this poem is striking. In school I had to study this poem many times over the years, and every time it gripped me with its profoundness and motivated me to be fearless with the fearlessness that comes from knowing that you have truth on your side. It motivated me to be honest and clear in my thinking.

Tagore lived at the peak of India's struggle for independence and wrote to encourage his fellow countrymen in their struggle. His poem almost reads like the writing of a Christian. His vision for his country may just as well apply to Christians who are locked behind denominational doors, unable to recognise and understand one another, because of tradition, ignorance of the historical backgrounds of other groups, inadequacy in the right handling of the scriptures, and a lack of love. May we endeavour by reasoning from the scriptures to come together in fearlessness and truth?

I like to think that I have no axe to grind, that my allegiance is only to the Lord and to no one else, and that when I speak or write, my words come out from the depth of truth.
The heart is deceitful above all things . . . (Jer 17:9). When I am not watchful, I fail to recognise dishonesty in the way I respond to the Lord's word. I am sometimes unconsciously intimidated by weighty tomes and sermons and by the words of loved ones and preachers, into maintaining a position that is not really convincing to me. Oh that I may tremble at His word and His word alone, on the basis of which all men will be judged. '. . . that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. (John 12:48)'
Search me, O God, And know my heart . . . (Psalm 139:23)
Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place. (Psalm 51:6)

Then shall my mind indeed be without fear.

Courage to tremble?

Isaiah 66:2 . . . but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word

If we believe that the Bible is God's inerrant and infallible word, we must strive to obey its laws and listen carefully to its message. If someone were to come to me and say, "Nahomi, I believe, you have overlooked a requirement laid down in the Bible," I need to freeze in my tracks, stop all other activity and listen carefully to this person. It is one thing to say, "I want to follow Him wherever He leads," but quite another to actually set out on the path. For He sometimes leads where it is unpleasant to go, where you may need to obey a truth in scripture that people and churches have overlooked or bypassed.

"Lord grant me courage to tremble at Your word."