New Wine. (cracks appear)

Jesus said that cracks would appear and the old wine skin would be ruined, if we tried to pour new wine into it.

Often God seems to choose the most rejected and broken people. He choses what the world rejects to make a point, that the world in its pride and what it considers wisdom, is foolishness compared to God.

As the New Wine of God’s Spirit is poured out, CRACKS APPEAR. These must be addressed and healed otherwise they can lead to problems in the future. These areas are often to do with long standing rejection, they are often to do with PRIDE as we seek to WHITEWASH THE ISSUES.

One of the expressions of God’s New Wine is creatively communicated. Through art and music and written work we can begin to understand some of the facets of God’s character that we are not necessarily familiar with. “Avant garde’ and unusual ideas.

But as a matter of caution we must look at the problems in each of us that this reveals. For example our own insecurity and desire for control can make change difficult to handle.

As an example new and different expressions have often been seen in creative history but are often motivated by anger and rebelleous pride which in turn result in further problems.

Like a volcano there are deep cracks and fissures beneath the surface which, when pressure builds up, leads eventually to disruption and destruction.  The bible says that... bitterness defiles many. We must overcome these problems. Be healed of them.

As God pours out His new Wine among us, let us look at the problems that it reveals, perhaps they are long unhealed areas.

Social justice

For someone with a strong sense of what is wrong and right within society, as they see it, it seems clear what changes need to be made. This is a strong quality of the emerging prophetic person. However the need for deep healing, cannot be emphasised enough.

In the time of the Judges, in biblical history, it was said that...‘everyone did what was right in their own eyes...  i.e. REALITIVISM. This can be a problem.

We are living in times where there are an increasing number of people ‘on the edge of society’. We must cater for so many needs, can there be a way of catering for all this?  We must be motivated to be aware of all these needs!

People have an in built sense of justice and judgement, but can we trust our own hearts? Are we qualified to judge?

It is not the aim of this study to offer a solution, merely to suggest that we must look beyond our own sense of justice. Jesus was motivated by a genuine desire to help and include all.

It is good to have a sense of social justice but it can be filtered through a lot of pain and unresolved issues. At the turn of the last century this birthed huge changes. Avant garde developments in society were actually initiated by this sense, but by people motivated by their own view of society.

Pioneering change puts us in a position of responsibility, because many others are influenced. I am so glad that Jesus showed the best way. One man pioneered and it affected everyone, in a good way.

Jesus fore-ran social justice. I am glad He made a way. He deserves ALL our worship and Praise.

Daniel Chuter

Updated to Remote Control Article

UPDATES to the Remote Control article:

BBC news have just published this article HERE

Someone else just launched this WEBSITE... interesting a?

Plus this found this ARTICLE 

Legal Issues in the U.S. described HERE - which uninformed country will be the Guinea pig then?

What went wrong?

Creative people can tend to be very sensitive. They were made to be that way. But this gift must be harnessed. It comes from God and we must be healed.

Continuing the study on the ‘avant garde’ and modernist tradition of the recent century we shall look at a very interesting pattern. Vincent van Gogh, Wassily Kandinsky and Piet Mondrian had a christian tradition and background. Indeed Van Gogh’s father was a leader of a local church and Kandinsky grew up with all the tradition bible story teachings.

Vincent van Gogh, in fact, trained and studied as a preacher in Belgium for a while. He was a great pioneer and from an early age wanted to honour God with His work. But he didn’t get on with his dad.  Deep healing was needed. We know later that this man was tormented and in the end took his own life.

Kandinsky wrote much about the spiritual theory and meaning of art.  He listened to piano playing whilst painting and spoke much of his findings and expressed a new form of abstraction which has a huge influence. Yet he and Mondrian began to portray how they felt through form and colour.  Mondrian was best known for his Purist approach to his work where he removed emotion and expressed spiritual purity through a n absence of clutter, something which we do “outwardly’.  However both these painters arrived at a time when Europe was about to explode in the form of war and rebellion. They both subscribed to an occult based belief system. Called Theosophy, it was a new age thinking about a new order coming out of the chaos around them. The fruit of this was the destruction about to occur all over Europe but the influence and indeed seeds of this work continues.  This needs rooting out.

God needs to be central in our thinking and motivation. We need to get the deep roots and pain healed.  We can influence so many and defile so much at the same time. It is like a volcano to which immense pressure is applied beneath the surface. It can explode and effect many. Or it can effect many in a good way, but only when God is allowed to be in charge.

Daniel Chuter

Creativity, reflecting & influencing society

I talked recently of the ‘avant garde’, a term that conjures up things that go against the expected norm... things pioneered... things that we are not used to seeing... NEW THINGS. However in terms of the discipline of painting and music particularly, we must be very careful about the original roots and birth of these. We need to have new expressions of creativity birthed by the Spirit of God. These will be of lasting value and ultimately they even change the atmosphere and pattern of society.

Let me give you an example, in the negative:
New avant garde ideas were being produced at the turn of the last century. Society was very disillusioned and the seeds of war existed. This in turn was reflected in creative terms. Philosophy at the turn of the century, about 1910, declared... ‘God was dead’(Nietzsche). German expressionist art tried to vent emotion whilst new developments in technology were de humanising society. Out of all this ‘Dada’ was born as a rebellious art movement, and in turn ‘surrealism’. All this of course was rooted in the thoughts that God had turned away or in fact that He didn’t even exist. These brief movements led to massive changes in the way in which we now see creative expression. We know what came later, maybe not directly as a result of art but this had a huge influence and effected the perception of many.  Creativity should be an indicator, RELEVANT to what is really going on.

God is raising up many different ways of expressing Himself.  But it must be rooted in His peace and order and pure motivation.

We are products of our society but only God can change what needs to be changed.  God’s creativity must be harnessed. When unchecked you get true innovative people but in rebellion.

What is happening in our society that must be reflected in creative expressions. But we must go further and reflect God’s values so that God is once more declared as ALIVE.  The Spirit of God comes to every generation and we all have a part.

So lets look at the roots. Lets come up higher and see what must happen.

Daniel Chuter

Remote Control: Rise of the “armchair generals”.

It seems there is currently, an arms race to produce improved, even Independent, ‘drone’ warplanes; rail-guns; depleted uranium ordinance; sonic cannons, brainwave interpretation research, There’s the development of (rather creepy) all-terrain, robot “mules” for logistics, Infantry Heavy Duty Exoskeletons (think the movie Avatar); and then, down the road, cognitive, but unemotional robot troop units? (It’s the unemotional bit, that is a real concern)


All this to say - sci-fi is here, now!

The most visible manifestation of all this arms-development, is in the area of ariel drones, either equipped with weapons or surveillance cameras. If news reports are to be believed, missile strikes by air-drones are used extensively in the “middle east” today. However, it's easy to forget, with the remote drone strikes, that there are human beings (or were) at the end of it. The point of writing part of this article, was to draw attention specifically to an aspect of this “REMOTE” warfare, where the controls and execution (literally) are in the hands of a service personnel, sometimes many miles away from the “killing-zone”. It’s the potential for a culture of "sociopathic warfare" to develop in a person, that this particular way of conducting military tasks could bring; especially when they leave service. i.e. regarding natural feelings of guilt or more worrying, having No guilt or empathy at all.

The second area for concern, is where all this new technology can affect a “national” CULTURE. Here, in the safety of our bedrooms, we can play 'Call of Duty' or 'Assassin’s Creed' on our Xbox, without the responsibility of people, in reality, dying. This whole TV/movie violence thing, is a bigger issue in itself, of course.

More so, because of the coverage in the media. The gulf war in the early 1990’s, brought to the news coverage, via the nose-cam footage of smart-bombs and cruise missiles etc for the first time; and brought an illusion that this was a clinical, precise tool of war. Only the bad guys, copped it! Compared to cluster or carpet bombing, yes, that’s probably true (relatively) Initially the “Shock and Awe” of these new weapons, brought pride and confidence in our allied forces. These weapons did the job!!! However, a consensus arose that it felt like we were watching a realtime “video-game”. There then dawned a sense of, oh “someone” just got incinerated.

Prince Harry stated in a recent television documentary, whilst on tour in Afghanistan, the midi-cannon he operated, mounted on the apache attack helicopter, had a control system reminiscent of his Xbox 360 hand held controller.

In nazis Germany, the Jews were reduced to “sub-human” in the eyes on that nation. The propaganda machine, made sure that public were groomed to accept this attitude. The result was a (general) lack of empathy towards the mistreatment and then murder of the Jews in Europe. Of course not everybody in Germany, was so convinced. e.g. Bonhoeffer etc... it is a concern for human life and righteousness he had, that we need to champion!

When a group, be it identified as a “racial group” or  even socially, are marginalised and viewed as somehow “sub-human”, it puts in place a deluded precedent, for justifying all sorts of ill treatment and evil.

This is the crux of the matter with remote "tech"... that people are thought of only as a target-reticule on a computer screen, and not someone’s son or daughter... with a name. The caveat to this of course, is that in war, tactical decisions have to be made. I know, they would not be made lightly and that I certainly, would not like to be the one to make them! But my hope is, that care is taken, in this technology, that it does not become an "emotionally remote" thing. When someone pushes a button somewhere and a missile is launched, it's going to take a life... take away all somebody has! I guess my heart in all this, is for the populations that governments are elected to serve. The innocent. They say, in war the first casualty IS innocence.

Rapid advances in technology, in a civilian context, are a concern also!!!
Why? Well, we can delete a "Friend" from our Facebook, with the click of a mouse. Virtual relationships. You upset me there - goodbye, click. It is so easy to play god on the internet. Some young people have committed suicide after becoming the victim of cyber-bullying. But to the bully, it was an offhand swipe of the heart and a click of the mouse. Jesus said when you "hate" someone, you've murdered them in your heart. That's an everyday thing we all have to guard against, but technology makes "dismissing people", slander, gossip and "detached sniping" much easier. When we send that text or post a comment on (Two)Facebook, is that click of the mouse button like a pilot sending a missile on it's way? There's somebody's daughter or son on the other end of that... please be careful and let God's love bring wisdom and His Spirit develop the fruit of "self-control".

Also, market forces pushing these advances, via the sale of the latest gadgets, could see a race into what is essentially trans-humanism.
An example of this change in culture is with the smartphone advances in the last few years... every five minutes a new feature is integrated (driven by the need to make money); and it is bought by the public (driven by the urge to have the latest advantage now!)

In a few years, will the advantage in life, (for those that can afford it), be to those that get themselves “upgraded”. The whole issue of trans-humanism is a potential article in itself. Nano “creatures” and cyber implants, silicon tattoos, GM virus/vectors in our blood, designed to repair us from within. Will such “trans-humans” think of the rest of us as lesser? The same temptation is there in the area of consulting dark occult forces too of course.

The heart of this article is about, how we as Men and Women, God’s creation! could loose ourselves and our compassion for others. Without receiving Jesus Christ as our Lord and saviour, individuals are lost anyway. However, some of the technology used for our "defence" and some we may selfishly and ambitiously  “integrate” physically or genetically, could result in the mutilation of our bodies and conscience before The Lord God, Creator of all.

Remember Eden... do not be be overly impressed with this availability and acceleration in knowledge. Aw, that won’t happen to me? No? Got the latest SmartPhone, yet? Do you feel disadvantaged, if you haven't? What if in a few years they can feed the screen directly into your mind? What if those with upgrades get the job, you want. What if... you need a mark on your right hand or forehead to do any trading. What if? what if? The nations are being groomed into a culture of coveting right now. The motive is selfish advantage. The next “must have” is just around the corner!

I’m not against technology, by the way, but let us NOT loose ourselves or sight of others (also fearfully and wonderfully made), because of it. Please pray for your government and regarding the motives for producing technology.

Pray for your news media. Let us not loose ourselves as a nation, by becoming sociopathic* to the suffering of others, because we think “they deserve it”.
*If we do... what exactly is it, we are fighting to defend anyway?

UPDATE 27/3/2013 :

BBC news have just published this article HERE

Someone else just launched this WEBSITE... interesting a?

Plus this found this ARTICLE 

UPDATE 24/4/2013

Hello!!!? OXFORD UNIVERSITY STUDY

UPDATE 24/5/2013


UN concern about autonomous "killer robots"... article HERE




David Robinson

Avant Guard

Avant Garde (guard) is a French term used to describe a group of soldiers going ahead of the rest.

Society as we now see it has been hugely influenced by the influence of modern art and creative thinking. In the disciplines of music, poetry, painting, dance and theatre the effect of this can clearly be seen. However, at it’s origin, this new movement was unpopular.

Obviously we must trace the real roots of this thinking, because it has had such a profound effect. You wouldn’t have to go far to realise that much of it was rooted in the anger of society and the rebellion of man. However it has now worked it’s way into every creative expression today.
In time we could do an in-depth study of the origins of the modern movement within many creative disciplines.

What is interesting is to look at the ways in which God births a lasting change in society. It is birthed in the creative heart of God and often the result of a generation asking for change. However the answer that God gives isn’t popular, or even understood. When Jesus came to earth, He wasn’t exactly welcomed as the answer to what people thought they needed.  There is a pattern within the way in which God has worked in the past.  It often involves the complete ABSTRACTION of what we have been led to expect and believe. The early church turned society upside down.

Are we witnessing this change. Modern art has changed everything, but it’s architecture resulted in awful modern flat units. Obviously, in principle, we can’t go too far in pursuing this.

However, something has to CHANGE.



Daniel Chuter

Living In Today

Perhaps the greatest assault on the hearts and minds of men has been on the tendency to fantasise and comfort and live in unreality or non-acceptance. This is an understandable consequence of rejection, but the bible speaks a lot about living each day and hearing His voice each day and indeed walking one day at a time, making the most of every day.

Jesus spoke much about this, in fact He spoke of trusting God and not letting anxiety take over. But in the letter to the Hebrews we see a lot written on this subject. In chapter 3:7, there is a warning not to harden the heart but take every opportunity. He is wanting to speak to us every day. In fact the original intention in making man, is to walk and talk with him. In verse 13 we are encouraged to help each other daily, this is so important when going through a trial.

This does not get away from  the daily pressure the people face through work and finance but it is saying that when things distract from our relationship with God they are a problem. That is why I talk in terms of the assault to make us over-busy.

God is a God of clarity and order. But we often self-comfort or, in fact, hide and distract ourselves. We are deceived that "doing", is responsibility. Responsibility, is admitting our need for God.

Most importantly it is a question of our motivation. Who are we trying to please. Against whom do we compare ourselves. There is nothing we can do to cause God to change the rules. When God sees the sacrifice involved in an anxious person trying to stop his or her fear and be aware of Him, it gets His attention and approval.

The Lord justs wants us to seek Him... ...AT LEAST TRY.

"Oh, that you had heeded My commandments!

Then your peace would have been like a river, 

And your righteousness like the waves of the sea."

Isaiah 48:18

Daniel Chuter