Support Matt Flanagan Go Missional in New Zealand! Why? Because It Is the Right Thing To Do!

Disclaimer: Matt and Madeline Flanagan are the victims of this piece of gutter journalism… sorry, verbose diatribe!  They have in no way done anything to foster the words or these intentions.

Bloggers of NZ-World… Feel free to cut and paste… but blog it over… If this is gonna fly, you may have to give it wings!

“Oh, so you think so I am Jonny King.”  Well, that was the point of the Header, so guilty as charged, but I have blog cred., so backoff, otherwise I will unload a can of “I am an ugly Calvinist” on ya, cause I am Jonny King does not wear pink for no reason!

Okay, so talk is cheap, and we have three children… does that mean I am easy?!  I am a married man, and if I sing, I will sing like Solomon to my Shulamite!  After all, it is biblical!

No mental pictures, they say that beauty is in the eye of beholder… or should that be beer-holder?!

If the reader is beginning to perceive a growing reality of perplexion in one’s perception, join the club! It is a fan club of one, but I am looking to expand, take over the world… no need to fear!

Nevertheless, I am looking to glorify God in what I write.  Laugh Sinner, surely the grace of God has given you everything is reason enough [the offer is still on the table]!

I know, if only this blogger had foot in mouth disease, at least something would shut him up.  However, there is madness to my method [that is plain to read... or, is it the other way around?]!

We are at a stop sign, so I will slow-down-to-stop-and-park-then-proceed… forward… noted.  I can put it in no simpler terms than this… Jesus Christ came to save sinners of whom we are near enough to be chief.  We are all the worst sinner we know, and because of this, we need to be “Baywatched” because we are drowning, cold, and out of breath.  This is one deal that the government can not even try and buy back [for the Yanks], as it is bankrupt as well!  If this is a foolish message to you reader, it says more about the perspective of your presently-pending destiny than it does about the messenger and His Message, and even if this story will merely annihilate your approaching reality [for you Mr Flanagan], what a “Hell” of a way to continue one’s story, when there is a hope that will float your human-resurrected boat, all the way into eternity!

That my friends, is the Gospel message… Well, that might impugn the Word of God… let’s say that this is a creative summation!

Therefore, if I may, let me speak for the Flanagans [a cold sweat descends on MandM], but such a message is the foundation of their present-to-future, the fuel of their existence, the certain hope of their endless future, and the means whereby life makes sense… even if they could do with more dollars!

I don’t know about you, but I believe that the God of the Bible has correspondence with the God of the Reality, and I believe that He has authorial intent to say what He chooses.  Even though you may doubt my method, and you may call such affirmations madness, I believe that He is in control, and that He has a plan, even a cunning plan [Joesph and Job], but He is a postal service we can all trust!

Could such be a time, when even Job’s wife believes?

Therefore, in light of God’s call in our own lives, in light of His call to our nation of New Zealand, in light of the implications of the Gospel, I am sounding the Trumpet, as shofar has not been sho-good [I know that stinks like a ram's horn]!

Therefore [again], I am calling Christians in the blogosphere to unite behind a common cause for very un-common ends.

Today, as I have read the MandM blog, I have been reminded again of the following words.

Let me quote myself… Go on then!

In the good providence of the always good God, who is always on time, Matt is waiting for his academic train to arrive.  In the Rhode Island of our God [that may be a bit obscure... let me help, a city in the state of Rhode Island... No?... Providence], Madeline is also coming through unusual days, with recovery from an accident impacting her present-future… such is the motivation for a clarion call of the faithful to stand with their comrades…

… We Christians in NZ need the Gospel to grasp us better so that we view our money as His money… are we not mere stewards of this resource?… yeah, as long as we control its use!… just maybe, we could do something really significant if we would put all our chips in His hands and go all in, not merely with our words, but with the expression of our existence.  We too easily affirm that Acts 2:42-47 is merely historically descriptive, without asking the question as to what would happen if we grasped the spirit of what happened then and practice it now… in our time and in our place!

Can I say that I am becoming more and more convinced that if we could only fix and gaze at His bigger picture and remove our personal parochial positioning that is so often privately motivated, we would be more willingly to give what we have, and give it to something bigger than ourselves, something that is doing a job that we do not and can not, remembering it is not all about us!

What Matt [and Madeline] can do for the Kingdom is not available to all, nor should this be expected [body analogy, anyone]… Yes, you could spend the years of committed diligence and replicate his journey, however, this also assumes that one is spiritually gifted in kind [body analogy... with the Creators providentially purposeful plan], and this will be an exception to any rule, which is why we should be supporting this couple in our New Zealand context and use this opportunity as a catalyst for the Flanagans to be better resourced, better supported and better used for the glory of our Creator…DO YOU FEEL ME!!!

This is about the Priesthood of all believers taking on this reality, passionately in pursuit of Christ, His mission… and to use some recent-ish lingo, help the Flanagans continue to minister “missionally” in a New Zealand context.

Just imagine as a witness to our belief that we believe the Flanagans serve an important and vital part in the body of Christ, if we the people did something about this.  Yes, we could wait for something to turn up, but what if in the providence of God we stood and were counted because we believed it was the right thing to do, and because it is the right thing to do, it will be done!

Imagine, for example, if we could get 100 contributors each giving $5 a week to support the Flanagans to continue to pursue, even more intently, the important niche where they are both gifted that would also give them the needed resource with which to provide for their family, for a time period of His choosing… be it short or even long!

Seriously, I see this as a practical way of affirming that we are apart of something bigger than our own picket fence, with such possibly even being the catalyst for a greater unity where a groundswell of the common folk pick up their plowshares, link arms and… walk on [U2 reverberating in the distance].

Practically, surely such an amount is not overtly prohibitive.  I am personally aware, given our context, the scarcity of the monetary resource. However, for more people than not, the pertinent criteria relates to whether one believes that this is one of those things that one will commit to doing.  One could also take this out of one’s giving to the local church without seriously impacting this context [assuming you are not the only giver... at your own church... Pastor], or one could be put this aside in a greater family context.

Think on this next time you supersize your 2nd combo at Macca’s… for that day!

I know, this talk comes pretty cheap… however, I am willing… are you?!

Surely such an undertaking represents how the body should be working, and how most often it does not.

It’s time to get real, we stink at supporting people in ministry, and its time to clean up our… stuff!

What do you think?  What will you do?

Today, I spoke with someone… no, it was not myself… I have a friend [he claimed I did most of the talking... Yeah Right, who's gonna believe that porker] about providing, therefore positioning Mr Flanagan in our New Zealand context that would allow him to function in a missional sense, whereby, for examples sake, having a visit from someone like William Lane Craig would be the exception, as we the people have set up another rule, whereby Christianity in New Zealand can have an ever-growing voice of intellectual reasoning that can speak out to any number of contexts, in any number of media.

The potential is possible, and can be probable!

Could it be in the providence of God, the delay in finding his future, is ripe for our picking, and that God “combatabilistically” knows this is the time, and this is the plan, where Matt can be best used in our nation?!

Okay, What Now [I am way too mature for that programme now... Special Agent Oso, anyone]?

It’s up to you the people!  Now this call is to a New Zealand context, but it is not limited to New Zealanders.  Readers-Christians of the World, we are one in Him, let’s prove it!  Catch the vision!

Today, I put my stake in the ground… again.  Our beginnings can be small, with only a few, and many of you maybe thinking this as you read… another pie pig-in-the-sky idea, and it is easy to think such things, as we are want to talk big and act small… History proves this too often… But whose fault is that???

Just as you think that this is somehow an insignificant happening, which you will let pass… let me take you back to 11 frightened disciples in another time zone from New Zealand, whom God used to shake the very foundations of our culture and existence.

While history never really repeats, God laughs

Even today, I believe we can do something in our country that affirms the intent of Ephesians 3:20-21!

I invite you to play your part.  Commit yourself to giving $5 .00 a week.  I don’t know where this will end, or if it will only allow them to get by and continue doing their thing in the short term [and, If you are committed to the practice of the vision, leave a message here or contact me at I am Jonny King]… If you want to commit more millionaire, feel free!  This is merely a figure to get the ball rolling!

But, why don’t we do something in our generation.  Stop reading church history to see God doing something,  Stop looking overseas for something good in God. It’s not about us, but let’s do something body.

There may be other ideas and other plans, but if such be a beginning to a greater ending, start your engines, speak forth, and take this to the next level [as I said it's not about us... me]!

These words are done!

In closing, I want you to read… even feel free to sing our national anthem, but look at the words.  We so freely sing these words, but they are our battle hymn of the commonwealth.  Maybe you would want to say something else… nevertheless, they are sending a message, which should be loud and clear!

If such be our cry, then… Nike it!

Until Next Time

I am Jonny King

If you are interested, and would like to play some part, also send me email, so that I have yours… iamjonnyking at gmail dot com

God of nations! at Thy feet
In the bonds of love we meet,
Hear our voices, we entreat,
God defend our Free Land.
Guard Pacific’s triple star,
From the shafts of strife and war,
Make her praises heard afar,
God defend New Zealand

Men of ev’ry creed and race
Gather here before Thy face,
Asking Thee to bless this place,
God defend our Free Land.
From dissension, envy, hate,
And corruption guard our State,
Make our country good and great,
God defend New Zealand.

Peace, not war, shall be our boast,
But, should foes assail our coast,
Make us then a mighty host,
God defend our Free Land.
Lord of battles in thy might,
Put our enemies to flight,
Let our cause be just and right,
God defend New Zealand.

Let our love for Thee increase,
May Thy blessings never cease,
Give us plenty, give us peace,
God defend our Free Land.
From dishonour and from shame
Guard our country’s spotless name
Crown her with immortal fame,
God defend New Zealand.

May our mountains ever be
Freedom’s ramparts on the sea,
Make us faithful unto Thee,
God defend our Free Land.
Guide her in the nations’ van,
Preaching love and truth to man,
Working out Thy Glorious plan,
God defend New Zealand.