“For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it.“
Luke 14:28
We need to count the cost - Preparation is vital in these times that we are living. There is no room in the Kingdom of God for people who are just winging it... Just going for it, just taking a chance.
You know, I just watched a documentary yesterday about three men. One was Scott of the Antarctic, the other Ernest Shackleton, and the other one was Roald Amundsen a Norwegian. You know, Scott was a passionate man. He had a desire to be the first one to reach the South Pole, the Antarctic. The most unforgiving, treacherous continent on earth, the coldest place in the world. But you see, he did not prepare correctly... he got to the South Pole but at tremendous cost. On his way back he lost all his men, every single one of them died. They perished.
Shackleton was an extremely brave man. He got to within 100 kilometres of the South Pole but he had to turn back because he had not made sufficient preparation. He went back defeated because he did not prepare correctly. But that Norwegian, Roald Amundsen he was prepared. He went and he lived with the Eskimos first of all, the Inuit people and he learned their ways. He put on the correct dress, he took a very small group of men with him. These men were experts in their field, one was the Scandinavian skiing champion, another was an expert in working with dogs. They used huskies. They didn’t pull those sleds physically like the other men.
On his way to the South Pole Amundsen put deposits of supplies for the way back, that’s right - He got to the South Pole with hardly any effort and he got all his men right back. He was the first man in the world to conquer the South Pole. Folks, that wasn’t just luck. How can you define luck anyway, how can you define that word? That wasn’t just a lucky chance, no, no! He prepared himself.
You and I need to prepare ourselves better. Whether you are going to get married, going into business, or whether you want to be a professional sportsman, you need to prepare yourself. And most of all, we need to prepare for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. I want to tell you, He is not coming soon... He is on His way!
We need to be prepared and we need to be ready for His coming. Have a wonderful Saturday!
God bless you and goodbye.
16/10/2021
Properly Prepared
October 16, 2021 • Angus Buchan • Luke 14:28
18/04/2024
April 18, 2024 • Angus Buchan • Psalm 27:1, Matthew 28:20, Philippians 4:13
I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Thursday morning, the 18th of April, 2024, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We start in Psalm 27:1: The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? Then we go to Matthew, the Gospel of Matthew 28:20, the last verse in the Book of Matthew: “…I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” You and I can never be alone. Jesus has promised us that He will be with us always. We must always add His resources to our own when we are making calculations. That is what F B Meyer says, and I agree. When you sit down and work out your budget, when you are working on your spreadsheet and making plans for your future, always put it next to it with a little + sign, “But God.” So when people come to you and say it will never happen, it is too big, just answer two words, “But God!” Remember, we can do all things through Christ Jesus, who strengthens us. (Philippians 4:13) William Carey, who translated the Bible from English into many different Indian languages, was just a cobbler. People mocked him and said, “You are a shoemaker, aren’t you?” He said, “No, I can’t make shoes, I can only repair them.” Yet God used that man because He brought God into all his calculations. He became the Chief Interpreter to the High Court of Delhi. A country boy, just a man who could repair shoes, why? Because he added God into all his calculations. He added God into all his resources. He said, “Attempt great things for God and expect great things from God.” Today, remember to add “But God” to all your calculations, and you will be surprised at what things you can do for the King. Jesus bless you and have a lovely day. God bless you and goodbye.
17/04/2024
April 17, 2024 • Angus Buchan • Psalm 34:7, Psalm 147:3, 2 Corinthians 12:10
I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Wednesday morning, the 17th of April, 2024, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We start in Psalm 34:7: “The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.” “He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3 In the New Testament, 2 Corinthians 12:10, simply says: “For when I am weak, then I am strong.” And we ask ourselves the question - how come? Well, it’s because when we get out of the way and let God take over, He makes us strong. You know, proud people are often very lonely people. When we come to the Lord Jesus because we just can’t go on anymore, that’s the time that He takes over. It happened in my life and I am sure it has happened in your life. He says, “I can,” just when you say, “Lord, that’s it. I cannot do it anymore.” Maybe you are in that position today. As an evangelist, always the highlight of any service for me, is when we make the altar call. We ask people to come forward and to lay their burdens down at the altar rail, at the foot of the Cross. We see instant and miraculous changes taking place. It is quite something. You see a whole crowd turn in an instant from being down-hearted, fearful and afraid. All of a sudden, they start to smile, there is a real sparkle in their eyes. Many are weeping because they are free from the chains and the shackles of guilt and condemnation. It’s definitely the highlight for me, every single time, and I never, ever get used to it. Billy Graham always used to sing a song, “Just as I am, without one plea”, as the people started to come forward, and I have done it myself many times. It is a very special hymn, it’s a deep hymn, it’s a hymn that sets the captive free, it heals the brokenhearted. That hymn, you know that hymn, maybe you would like to sing it with me? Just as I am, without one plea, But that Thy blood was shed for me, And that Thou bidds’t me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come! I come! Just as I am, though tossed about With many a conflict, many a doubt, Fightings and fears, within and without, O Lamb of God, I come, I come! Jesus bless you, Have a wonderful day, Goodbye.
16/04/2024
April 16, 2024 • Angus Buchan • Genesis 4:9, Matthew 22:39
I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Tuesday morning, the 16th of April, 2024, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today. We start in the Book of Genesis 4:9: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Then we go straight to Matthew 22:39: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” It’s a commandment for you and me. It is not optional. The first family that ever existed was our Heavenly Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, His Son and His Holy Spirit - the First Family. Families are under tremendous strain at the moment. I am getting many letters from families who are not getting on. We ask ourselves the question, why is it that there is so much strife and so much trouble in the family unit? Well, I believe it’s because the family is so close to our Heavenly Father’s heart. He loves the family unit, and the devil knows it, and the devil hates God and the way that he can hurt God, is to hurt God’s family. There is no one who fights like brothers, and it is not even a joke, folks; it is serious. The first two brothers in the Bible were the children of Adam and Eve. Their names were Cain and Abel. Remember, Cain killed his brother, Abel, and when our Heavenly Father asked, “Where is your brother?” He said, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Am I responsible? Well, the answer is yes, we are responsible. What about Joseph with the coat of many colours, how he and his brothers could not get on together? No-one fights like brothers. The Jews and the Arabs have got the same father, Abraham, they are half-brothers, and look at what is happening as I talk to you now, in the Middle East. You know, I knew two brothers who could not get on and it got so bad that the one brother went to the government offices and got his surname spelling changed. He did not even want his name to be spelt the same as his brother's. It is not a joke, folks. It is so serious. We must to learn to forgive, to make up and to press on together, and we must also see how the devil’s hand is in this - he will do everything in his power to destroy the family unit. So what is the solution? The solution is, we need to talk to one another, we need to ask for forgiveness, say sorry. You say, “I can’t.” Jesus says you can and you must for His sake, for your own sake and for your brother’s sake. Jesus bless you and goodbye.