Time to Change
Welcome End Time Writers!
It is 2021, what an incredible change and upheaval in the world! Covid 19 invaded our lives in March 2020 and the world changed forever. Shut-down, locked-down and slowed-down. It has forced us all to re-invent, re-discover, and give ourselves to God with a new and surrendered heart.
I have been writing over 30 years, with over a dozen books in that time. I have realised that all the messages and stories are more for the era we live in now. Such is the nature of prophetic preparation over many years. I want to encourage you today the reader, that this is the beginning of the greatest time in history to be a creative; be it writing, music, film, art, poetry, or whatever field you work in. Do not look back on the past, but its now time to seek the Lord for His new strategies for your life.
I know the Lord has called me to encourage you to rise up and be ready. We are in the biblical end-times without a doubt and everyone has a destiny and purpose to fulfil. Now is the hour to do it! Write, play, record, paint, design, articulate; you may have had a tough journey, with so much warfare you gave up. But God is calling you NOW, to take up the cross you need to bear and bring your gifts and talent to the fore and be heard. For that you may need to change.
You can change for the better much more than you think, and in this era of accelerating world and Church change, it is so important to be ready! It is not always easy when you hit a wall, or go through great problems, however, situations we don’t like happen to us all. We have to deal with them, and keep moving forward toward our destiny and the things we desire and are called to in life. You always need help from others to change. It is a given to acquire new wisdom, as the need for changing never stops, especially today.
As a prophetic and creative person, I have been involved in many things in the arts over the years: writing books, articles, photography posts with quotes, and published a thirty-year anthology of poetry. Music is a passion over 40 years, writing many songs, as a singer, musician, recording artist, worship leader, (producing church worship albums and my own).
In my very first career I was a photographer, and that morphed in later life as a presenter, producer of Christian television, film, and documentary programs (see awesomecitytv and Stephen Bennett Music TV on YouTube). You learn much in your journey, and realise you can do anything if you put your heart into it, trust God and follow His leading. It is important to be disciplined. I encourage you to change where you need to, and do your best for the Lord in this time.
As an artist, I have had many things to overcome, but what fuels me daily is faith in God, and the power of His Spirit in me to do anything, despite what I feel or go through. I’ve had many defining moments of change, too many to account here, but they are always accompanied by challenges; be it emotional, physical or spiritual. Those challenges make you stronger. Hardship refines and helps redefine you, showing you what you are made of, and what you are capable of overcoming. God is always there to help.
A decade ago, a significant physical personal change for me, was shedding 20 kilos of weight with a personal trainer. I trained daily, developed a clean healthy diet, and got my ‘youthful back.’ I was 96k, now a lean 79k, I maintain my fitness routine 6 days a week now, and the renewed energy that comes with it. It’s all part of getting ready for these end-times. As a Dad, you need to be well, healthy and present for your children and family, to help them grow, and become strong independent people, with faith, passion, purpose and vision.
Bono of the band U2 once said, “The world is more malleable than you think!” and his faith, activism and music with the band, changed millions of lives. You are more malleable than you think you are! You can reach weight goals and get really fit, no matter your age. You can become wiser, live well, and be a continual better version of you. It is a battle at times, but you can’t do it all on your own. Forget living on the isolated road, you need God and others in your life.
My gift in the arts is prophetic in nature, often seeing things years before their time. The artistic spirit is often like that; it’s one big river with many creative tributaries. As you grow in years you can tend to transition into various art expressions, be it music, art, film, design, writing, it’s an endless list of possibility. This has helped me working with various gifted musicians, leaders, artists, and creatives, encouraging and speaking into their lives over the years.
I have worked as a music overseer in churches with small and large music departments, assisting their vision. In Europe, I had the privilege of being involved in events at the Royal Albert Hall, and Wembley Arena in London, and directing and producing the now historic 1997, “Wembley Stadium Champion of the World” video feature film, as part of the team which helped redefine and inspire Christian stadium worship at the time, with the likes of Martin Smith (Delirious?), Noel Richards, and many other incredible artists.
It all sounds grand, and it was, but here is a little story that brings it back to earth. After playing and ministering at an Easter event at the Royal Albert Hall in London, I had to change the biggest, disgusting nappy that had ‘spread everywhere,’ of my youngest new born daughter Chelsea (sorry Chels x. Now 23!). Sitting on the tailgate of our car, in the wind blowing off Hyde Park at 11pm, one of the last to leave the gig… thinking, “Did I just play for 10,000 people all day with an amazing team?” Reality bites! You get back to normal life! That’s another story, and let’s be real, it’s all part of our ongoing reality in various ways.
I continue to write books, produce, teach, and be a prophetic creative voice in whatever context I’m in. My creativity has helped mentor to musicians, singers, and artists in the Church and beyond. My heart is to encourage and see great change in the lives of people, to fully become the creative people they are meant to be in these last days.
I pray these blogs and writing will touch and help in your journey. This aspect of my writing will cover many topics over time, as I want to see the artists of the world be fulfilled in their art and bring glory to God in the process. These are the greatest of days for making ‘Art for God’s sake.’
The film, The Passion by Mel Gibson 2004, was an inspiration to millions of people; to know who Jesus is and what He did for us all. Nearly 40 years ago, I reached out to Jesus Christ and had my ‘aha’ moment when I knew God was real. I had to learn to trust Him and discover the reality of his care and love toward me, especially as a creative with all those sensitive sensibilities, you know what I mean! But I have never looked back. You just can’t, it’s way too good, albeit with many tough life challenges.
Hopefully, my writing, and our new End Time Writers platform can help direct you there too; if you have never known your Father in heaven. I discovered He has a creative plan for everyone! When you change and dedicate the heart of your art to His purposes, you realise anything is possible; that He is “The Divine Artist.”
