The Re-Release of "A Divine Invitation"

I wrote A Divine Invitation in 2002. I am about to release a second edition of the book with a new cover and two additional chapters, bringing the book from ten to twelve chapters. The following is an excerpt from one of the addiontal chapters in the soon-to-be-released edition... Please note that the book is not available yet. We are in the production process now. Watch the web site to see when the book is in stock.


How, then, does it look when mature grace-walkers bring the presence of Christ into their environment? What does it look like when we are as He is in this world? In a word – love. God doesn’t just love. He is love (See 1 John 4:8), so when our lives are an expression of the union we share with Him, what will be expressed will be a supernatural, unequivocal, unconditional, irrevocable, and indiscriminate outpouring of love on everybody else.

The truths in the other chapters of this book are vital because it is only when you understand how deeply you are loved that you will be released to pour out agape on others. 1 John 4:19 says “we love because He first loved us.” We don’t just love Him for that reason. We love everybody for that reason. When my grandchildren visit our home and dip their beach pail into the Gulf of Mexico, the pail can’t contain the Gulf so the water spills over the edge on every side. That’s how it is when we have received God’s love. It’s just too much for us, so everybody around us gets wet too.

This is where grace becomes practical. When we have fully experienced the loving grace of God, we will faithfully express it. As He is, so are we in this world. Jesus loved. He loved the down-and-outers (the Samaritan woman) and the up-and-outers (Matthew). He loved the unrighteous (Zaccheus) and the self-righteous (Saul of Tarsus). He loved the rogues (Peter) and the religious (Nicodemus.) He loved the horribly immoral (the woman taken in adultery) and the highly moral (the rich young ruler). Jesus just loved. He said, “I and my Father are one” (John 10:30). He shares the same DNA as the One who is love. What else could he do?

Peter says that you have now become a participant in that same divine nature. (See 2 Peter 1:4). To love profusely is the normal way of life for a grace-walker. Jesus said that it is “by this [that] all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:25). If you have the spiritual DNA of Jesus Christ and His is the same as His Father’s DNA, and if the very essence of God is love . . . you get the point. It isn’t hard to connect the dots here. It is your nature to love. It’s that simple.

The focus of most churches today is on how to live, but the focus in the modern church needs to be learning to love. Empty religion is preoccupied with right behavior defined by doing the right things and avoiding the wrong ones. The lifeblood of an authentic expression of faith in Christ is loving people the way He does. Behavior can be elevated no higher than that.

Melanie's Thoughts On Swaziland

I'm in contact with people in Africa to determine how to best move forward toward helping with the great needs there. The note below was written by my wife, Melanie. As you can see, her heart was stirred deeply by our experiences there.




I am a mother. I’ve been a mother now for over 32 years and have been a grandmother for almost 10 years. I have enjoyed all the benefits and trials that come along with being a mother and a grandmother, and it has been the joy of my life. I have seen to the needs of my family as best I could. They have had my unfailing love.

I have kissed away thousands of hurts and have soothed countless fevered brows. I have cooked their favorite foods. We’ve had birthday parties and wonderful family holiday time. I have bought their clothes and coached them in their studies. I have been their advocate and supporter. I saw to it that they had a decent place to live that was clean and healthy, a place where they could grow into maturity. I gave them a sanctuary where they would always be loved and always be safe.In June, this mother visited South Africa and Swaziland and I will never be the same. I looked into the faces of hungry children and I knew that these were my children too. I touched their faces and smiled into their eyes and inwardly promised that they would know that love was more than words.
In Swaziland, we visited the village of Mafutsini. With only a few hours notice, they were able to bring to us over 300 children who are orphaned by the AIDS pandemic.

Swaziland has the highest concentration of HIV/ AIDS in the world. 42% of the whole country has been infected with HIV and 20,000 a year dying because of AIDS, and that number is rapidly growing. The hospitals there are only equipped to handle about 2000 of those. The rest are left to deal with their illnesses alone without any medical help to ease their pain and journey toward death. The life expectancy now stands at 32 years old.

I looked into the eyes of these babies and wondered, “Will this one survive?” “Will this one live long enough to see adulthood?” As I hugged them to me, I couldn’t help but think, “If they do grow up, how long will they live. What will be their quality of life?” It is estimated that 60% of these children are infected with HIV. Already, many of the children, 12 and 13 years old, have assumed adult roles in caring for the needs of their siblings since losing both of their parents to AIDS.

God has given me the gift of motherhood. The thing that I see now is that there is a world of orphans out there who need someone to care for them. They, too need food and shelter. They need education. They need someone to care enough that their needs will be met. They need someone to care enough to offer them the chance to have a future.

I have felt compassion in the past. I have been moved by the needs of others when I have seen programs on television, but not enough to become fully involved. Through this trip to Swaziland, my family has been expanded. I can be a mother to hurting children. I can offer medical aid to children who are already dying because of AIDS, through no fault of their own. For others, I can offer them an education. I can clothe them and feed them. In short, I can offer them a chance in life. A person cannot see what I have seen and remain idle and uninvolved. I want these children to know the love of our heavenly Father but it is my opinion that they will begin to know His love by seeing mine.

I want to involve my whole family in this. I want to involve you in this. We, who are so blessed, have the opportunity to share our love, our Father’s love, in action. I don’t want to simply have warm fuzzy feelings. I don’t want to send out prayers that these children will “be warmed and filled.” I want to put love and faith into action. I have been there. I have seen their faces. I have kissed them. I have touched them. They have touched me. I am their mother … and so are you.

Photos from Table Mountain and Cape Point

A Brief Word About Future Plans

I can hardly stand the anticipation I feel! Just writing these blogs and looking back at all my pictures has my heart churning and my imagination running wild again. Here's something for you to pray about with me.

I want to adopt a village of people in Swaziland. It's the village of Mafutseni, where we met with the chief and the orphans and others. I am praying and will be gathering information about what it would take to meet serious needs in this village of 1000+ families.

It's bizarre, I know. I'm not a rich man -- trust me, but I think I hear God's voice, calling me to call others to join me so that we can do the impossible together. Melanie hears the same voice, saying the same thing.

I do know some rich people. You know who you are. You'll be hearing from me :) And I know many, many people who aren't rich, but who could join together to give a future to some people who absolutely don't have one unless God intervenes. To quote the Minister of Health in Swaziland, with whom I met, "Our nation will become extinct unless God does a miracle."

None of us can help everybody, but we can help somebody! I'm going to do it. And I'm going to ask you to do it too. I'm going to be bold because lives are at stake.

Do you know how hollow words can sound when you're telling 350 children that they have a Father who loves them and then walk away and do nothing knowing that they don't even have food and shelter? I can't do it. I won't do it. I'm going to share and show God's love to some kids I've met who have no home. . . and to some Christians whose families have swollen to 12-15 people because they have taken in children whose parents have died from AIDS . . . and to people like the man I prayed with, who is dying from AIDS and who could be made comfortable as he dies -- for mere pennies.

I'll tell you more soon. Within the next week or so, I'm gathering information. When I have something concrete to share with you, I'll let you know more. Right now, just pray. Pray for them. Pray for yourself too. Ask God to open your heart of compassion.

Big plans are in the works. I want to share and to show grace to people who have no hope apart from caring Christians. It's not just about Africa either. There are some things going on in Brazil I will tell you about too. And these are just a start. I am not going to "grace talk." I'm going to grace walk. The bottom line is that "Grace Loves". It's that simple . . . more to come. Much more.

Preaching In Matsapha (Swaziland)

It was a real joy for me to meet Nelson Vilakati while I was in Swaziland. Nelson is the National Director for The Voice Of The Church (one part of Trans World Radio's ministry) and is the pastor of Christian Ministries Church in the community of Matsapha.

Shortly after I met Nelson, I told him that I didn't want to simply be told about the need of the area, but that I wanted to see for myself. (I am convinced that seeing with our own eyes will cause compassion to grow much more than simply hearing about problems.)

Nelson took me up on my request and I am thankful to him and praise God that he did. He took us to the chiefdom of Mafutseni, outside of Manzini. It was there that we met with the chief, his council and saw the orphans. I will give you more details about that visit within the next week. Nelson also took us to the home of one of his church members who is in the final stage of AIDS. Then I spoke in Nelson's church on Sunday morning. The congregation applauded and affirmed the message of grace the whole time.

These pictures were taken while I was speaking in the church.

Our African Safari

The whole time we were in Africa, we were accompanied by Bill and Joan Mial, missionaries with Trans World Radio. We had a great time with the Mials. They are both fun people to be with and have a great passion for the grace walk. Bill's testimony is "I wish I had read this book 40 years ago." He and Joan are leading the way in making the message of the grace walk known across Africa.

While we were there, TWR gave us the gift of a safari. We went on Saturday afternoon at 4:00 and left on Sunday morning at 9:00 in time to preach in Manzini. It was really cold, but when we got in bed we found a hot water bottle already there to keep us warm. I've never loved a hot water bottle so much.

We ate warthog for dinner and wildebeest for breakfast. It was a unique experience for us that we will never forget. Thanks to Trans World Radio and to Bill and Joan Mial for giving us such a great gift!

I took these pictures while there. I was surprised how close we could get to some of the animals.

Back Home

We are now back home, after a long journey from England via Chicago. It was good to sleep in our own bed again. No matter how much you enjoy a trip, it's true that "there's no place like home."

Words can't express the value Melanie and I both place on this past month. In South Africa, Swaziland, Norway and England, we were amazed and thrilled to see the things the Lord did. You will be hearing much more from me in the days ahead about some things that God has placed firmly in our hearts. I believe that the ministry of Grace Walk is going to expand exponentially as a result of this trip.

There are two things that I am particularly excited about and will be giving you more information within the next week.

1. The potential for a radio broadcast with Trans World Radio that will cover much of Africa. We are discussing three different radio programs that would be broadcast in both English and French.

2. Paul Anderson-Walsh, Director of The Grace Project in London, and I have agreed to join together in a ministry partnership we are calling "Grace Loves." The focus will be on expressing the loving grace of God to people in other countries in practical ways that meet physical needs. Melanie and I were deeply touched by what we saw in Swaziland and Paul's heart has been stirred by all he has seen in his ministry visits to Brazil. As we talked and discovered that the Lord has been doing the same thing in each of our lives, we agreed that through a partnership of our two ministries, we can see the impact of grace multiply exponentially more than we can do individually.

I'll give you more details about both of these issues within the next week. Right now, it's the weekend and I want to rest!

Thanks again for your prayers and gifts. I can tell you without hesitation that your involvement with Grace Walk Ministries is making a difference around the world and I pledge to you that it is only going to multiply in the coming days as a result of what God is doing right now.

More to come . . .

Oxford, England

Over the next few days, I'll be putting up some photos we took during the month. I thought you might enjoy seeing them. These were taken at Oxford.

Our friends, Paul and Haley, drove us to Oxford a couple of days before we left England. These are a few of the photos I took. I particularly enjoyed having lunch at "The Eagle And Child," the pub where C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien hung out together.

Be sure to note the dining hall at Christ's Church. If you've seen the Harry Potter movies, you'll recognize it. The pictures on the walls are those of former honor students, going all the way back to the 1200's. It's amazing. There's a picture of John Wesley hanging there. He and his brother, Charles, were both ordained at Christ's Church.

It was our first time to Oxford, but I hope not our last. It is a beautiful town.

Update from London

The "I Am My Beloved's Conference" was held on Friday and yesterday. It was an enjoyable experience to speak together with Paul Anderson-Walsh during the conference. The participants were all responsive to our teaching and indicated that they enjoyed it. On Saturday, Dave Bilbrough was a part of the conference. He taught a session and sang some of his songs. Dave is an extremely well known musician in the U.K. and is a wonderful grace filled writer and singer. (www.davebilbrough.com).I have asked him if I can offer his CDs for sale through Grace Walk in the states. Once we receive his music, I encourage you to get to know him and his music. He's definitely a kindred spirit to all grace walkers.

Those who attended the conference came from various places. There were three people from Finland who came and a couple from Canada. Paul and I have decided to teach a conference together like one this two times next year, once here in London and once in Florida. I'll make you aware of the dates so you can plan to attend.

We love the city of London. The double-decker buses, the little black taxis, the red phone booths, the quaint, cozy little pubs, the beautiful old buildings ... it's fun to see for Americans whose country is so young. One church building we walked past yesterday is over a thousand years old. Obviously, you can't see that kind of thing at home.

I speak this morning (Sunday) at The Grace Project. Then tomorrow we will go to Oxford where, among doing other things, we'll see the pub where C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien hung out together - the authors of The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings together in a pub in Oxford. I would have liked "to have been a fly on the wall" during some of those conversations!

Thanks again for your interest in this trip and your prayers. It has been great, but we do look forward to coming home this week. As the saying goes, "there's no place like home."

From London, England

We arrived in London yesterday afternoon. It's good to see our dear friends, Paul and Haley Anderson-Walsh again. This morning Paul and I will be on a national radio program for an interview together. (I also was on the radio in South Africa and Swaziland while there.)

Last night, Paul and Haley sent Melanie and I to The Ritz for high tea. It was quite an experience for these two Americans whose only prior experience was sweet tea and moon pies to have a proper British high tea, complete with crumpets, finger sandwiches,and sweets that I can't even describe. :) I haven't seen anything like The Ritz in London since the last time we were here and received a private tour of The House of Parliament. It was an extremely nice thing for them to share with us. They said it was for our birthdays (mine is this weekend), but the experience reflects the kind of generosity they always show.

The "I Am My Beloved's Conference" is tomorrow and Saturday. I look forward to teaching with Paul. Over the past few years, we have become kindred spirits, sharing our personal journeys together to a degree that isn't casually entered. This will be the first time to teach together and I look forward to it.

If you're still praying for us, please pray that I'll feel better. I apparently caught a cold during the past few weeks. Though the common cold won't put you on your back, you know how it can take the "umph" out of you. Since I'm teaching this weekend, I hope to feel better. (At least my challenge isn't as great as the last time I was in London. I was admitted to the hospital here with kidney stones then!)

Our time in Norway was very good. I love the pastor and church there and am always blessed by being at Oslo Christian Center. Despite the fact that this trip has been physically tiring, I have found myself being spiritually rejuvenated at each step along the way.

Thanks for praying!

Oslo, Norway Update

It is Monday night here in Oslo (six hours later than Eastern Standard Time). We have really enjoyed our time at Oslo Christian Center. I spoke yesterday evening from Genesis chapter one. I shared how that the "law of first mention" in the Bible has great significance and talked about how that the best thing Adam ever received came to him while he slept (Eve). I taught from 1 Kings 19 how that when Elijah was discouraged and ready to die, God caused him to lie down and sleep while the angel of the Lord prepared a meal for him that sustained him for the next forty days. Also, in Acts 12, on the night before Peter was scheduled to die, he slept. As he rested, the angel of the Lord woke him up and delivered him. The bottom line is that the best things in life come to us as we rest in Him. Then, at the end of life, "those who sleep in Jesus" have heaven to enjoy.

I spoke this morning on Joash: The Keeper of the Oil from 1 Chronicles 27. The oil is a type of the grace of God. The message was well received.

I speak again twice tomorrow, then head on to London on Wednesday.

Oslo Christian Center is solidly grounded in grace. Pastor Age Åleskjær exudes grace and the church he leads obviously loves the message. It is so encouraging to know the impact this church is having, not only in Scandinavia, but around the world.

Thanks for your prayers. This trip reminds me again of how hungry people are to hear the wonderful message of the grace walk and the unconditional love of our Father.