Faith in action. A Celtic monk was sent to a certain place in Ireland. Here he found the Chieftain who owned all the land in that area was a very bloody man. This chieftain thought nothing of putting to death any who displeased him. The monk realised his own life could be forfeited if he fell foul of this man. As usual the monk worked alongside the villagers in the fields and on repairing their dwellings. He quickly found the people had an onerous task in keeping their chief in the manner he expected and in feeding their families. Among these he found several family groups who had no men to care for them. He enquired as to what had happened to their men folk. He was informed they had been put to the sword on orders from their chief. The reason for their execution was they had lost too many of their chiefs flock during the harsh winters they experienced in these parts. The monk could tell the men young enough to endure a harsh winter out in the open went in fear of being chosen as the chiefs herdsmen. He was told that some of the young men had run away and lived as outlaws in the mountains rather than stay and take the risk. When any of them were captured by the chief’s guard they suffered the most horrendous death at his command. The monk was horrified at these disclosures and retreated to a lonely place to fast and pray. After some days he returned to the village and asked for an audience with the pagan chief. When he was brought before the man he made request to be the chief’s herdsman over the coming winter. The Chief was staggered that anyone should ask to take on this very risky work but being a practical man he asked what he would have to give in return should the monk survive. The monk assured the chief that he would survive and his flock would have increased come the spring count. For his pay all he wished was some land on which to raise a building where his God could be worshipped. Land to the Chieftain was in plentiful supply and he readily agreed to his request. The Monk left the Chief and went to take up his position as chief herdsman. The winter was a harsh one and the Monk was sorely tried but in the strength of his faith he not only kept the flock safe but insured there was increase. When the Spring came at last and the Chief came out for the count of his flock and found it had increased for the first time ever, he was overjoyed and gladly awarded a plot of land to the Monk When the Monk took possession of his land he promptly cut some stakes from the forest and staked out the shape of the building. After this he was seen and heard every morning at a set time before the days work began conducting a service and preaching to a non-existent congregation. The next winter he again volunteered his services as the chief’s herdsman. This time he asked if he might have some stone to build a wall around his plot of land as his pay. Again at the spring count the flocks were found to have increased substantially. The Chief paid in enough stone to build his wall and also to lay the base of the church building. Again the monk conducted services as if he had a congregation and by the time the winter came around he had been joined by a number of villagers. Going to the Chief again he was once again appointed as his herdsman for the winter months. The spring showed the flock had become flocks and the Chief was now a wealthy man since wealth was measured in possessions. He was so grateful he built the church for the Monk and awarded him a portion off his own income. Very quickly the fame of the Chieftain spread abroad and he was quickly approached by other minor Chiefs to form alliances. The Chief was so overcome that he asked the Monk if he could become a servant of his mighty God. The Monk baptised him into the Christian faith and he became one of the earliest pagan Chiefs to convert to Christianity. Very quickly the lesser chiefs followed suite and the Celtic Church in that part of Ireland grew in leaps and bounds so that they were able to eventually send out Monks to other parts of Ireland. This little account serves to show the importance of changing ones mind-set, it as you can see is not without risk. Honestly though it is about mind-set and simply changing from an “I can’t” to an “I Can” attitude will bring about enormous benefits. This is how the Celtic Church survived and expanded throughout the period known as the Dark ages. It is not really any different today in regards to Church Growth and financial stability. Anyone and any Church can succeed in the face of impossible odds, but only if they are willing to change their mind-set. The God of the Celtic Church is still the same today and He is only just waiting for his Children to call with the cry of faith or belief. This too is a universal principle open to any who have the right mind-set. So my brothers and sisters what is it to be with you who have a greater advantage than those of the world? Shall you take up your white stones and believe you can change the course of your own history. Shall we embrace the mind-set that says I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me?
Posted on: Fri, 25 Oct 2013 19:55:26 +0000
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