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Christmas

Sun, 09 Jan 2022 06:49:57 GMT

Do not be afraid - Matthew 1:18-21

Well this week I had to go to my dermatologist. It seems that I have a small cancer on my nose and we had to send a small biopsy off for testing. My dermatologist is an unusual man. I’ve been visiting for about 4 years, and he’s barely cracked a smile in that that time. One time, he suggested a medication for me. I said, that’s fine, it’s not going to kill me. And he said straight faced, oh no, it has killed people, that’s why they stopped using it for blood pressure.

But this week as I lay on the table and he had the scalpel in his hand readying himself to take a swipe at my nose, I mentioned that I live near Bankstown airport. He suddenly came alive like never before, telling me all about the 3 parallel runways and that you can’t fly in or out from the north, south or east and you can only fly in and out from the west and can you imagine coming to land and there’s other planes taking off coming right at you. I tell you, as you came at me with the scalpel I thought of these significant words ‘don’t be afraid’, because by this time I was a little worried!

This is the last of our ‘do not be afraid’ or do not fear statements. And I’ve left it till last because this reading tells us all we need to know about today. Interestingly, only Joseph’s angel appearance occurs in a dream. And the angel appearance occurs after Joseph finds out Mary is pregnant and he’s decide OK, it’s time to end this engagement (given that the child is not his).

Maybe the angel needed to appear when Joseph was asleep because in daylight hours, his mind would have been going 100 miles an hour. He was sure that Mary had been a person of integrity, he was sure that she was honourable. But he’d discovered she’s pregnant. What could this mean? Mary would have been chosen as his wife when they were kids. They’d known forever that they would get married one day. That they were the only option for one another. Pregnancy outside of marriage is not just a disgrace and shame, in that culture, it could mean death.

So when Joseph’s mind is at rest, that is, while he’s sleeping, the angel makes his move. ‘Don’t be afraid’ the angel says. Honestly, that’s exactly the words Joseph needed to hear.

Don’t be afraid. I think that needs to be our new mantra for 2022. There’s been so much fear this year with the pandemic, there’s been so much angst over vaccinations, vaccination roll outs, mandates, side effects. There’s been so much fear with small businesses, and loss of income, so much fear because people have been isolated from family and friends and lonely.

And all of that is completely valid. It’s been a shocker of a year. And humanly speaking it’s been devastating. But we believe, that there is more….much more….than what we can see, hear, touch, understand. We believe that God is sovereign and God is still in charge. Do not fear.

It’s a lot like Joseph. All he could see and understand was devastation, a disaster for himself, for Mary and their families. But the message to him was do not be afraid…the situation looked terrible, but the angel is asking Joseph to trust God.

“Do not be afraid” will always require us to trust God. There will always be times when we wonder what God is doing, or how could this situation be resolved, or will my kids be ok, or will there be a time when I don’t feel grief from the past.

Trust God. Trust with your life, and listen to what he asks of you. The angel gave some instructions to Joseph.

Matthew 1:20 “Do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.”

And just like that, Joseph has the answers he was looking for. In an instant, disgrace and shame is wiped away. And importantly, in an instant, Mary is given safety and security.

The angel went on, “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).

The angel of course, is quoting Isaiah 7:14

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”

These verses tell us all we need to know about today. Jesus is conceived by the Holy Spirit, and Jesus’ whole purpose is to save us from our sins.

Max Lucado wrote “If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent an educator. If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist. If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist. But since our greatest need was forgiveness, God sent us a Saviour.”

That is what the angel is basically saying to Joseph. You're going to call His name Jesus because He will save people from their sin. Everyone I've ever met has a deep sense that they need forgiveness from someone, for something. I remember travelling around Australia and I would have said something to my sister or cousin and had a deep sense of I have to make things right. I have to resolve it, say I’m sorry. I have to get forgiveness. Most of the time, they couldn’t even remember me saying whatever it was that I was stewed up about.

1 Timothy 1:15 says “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst”.

And that friends is why we celebrate today. Because you and I are in need of forgiveness from God, and Jesus provided the way.

Today what is the Holy Spirit saying to you? Is it to not be afraid? Not be afraid for next year? Perhaps, there’s a prompt to reconnect with Jesus this morning. Or to seek His forgiveness again for thoughts or deeds that are not in keeping with His will. Whatever it is we’re going to have a few reflective moments to consider God’s word to us, as we listen to Our Come Let us Adore Him (O Come all Ye Faithful). God bless you this week.

Advent Week 4

Tue, 21 Dec 2021 10:03:00 GMT

Luke 2: 4- 15

So far we’ve looked at 2 Fear not or don’t be afraid statements. To Zechariah the angel said “don’t be afraid Zechariah, your prayer has been heard” (Luke 1:13). It had seemed to both Zechariah and Elizabeth that their prayers had not been heard by God, and Zechariah had given up hope. They were good and godly people, and we were reminded that unanswered prayer is not a reflection of your faith or belief. And also God hears our prayer!

And last week we read that the angel said to Mary “Do not be afraid Mary, you have found favour with God” (Luke 1:30). Mary, the most unlikely girl from a tiny village, used by God for eternal purposes. It may be that you feel like the most unlikely person to have a particular purpose in God, but God wants to use YOU, for his eternal purposes. and don’t be afraid because YOU have found favour (or grace) with God.

Well today we read that Jesus is born in very poor circumstances – basically the back shed of a motel. No one has any idea what’s happening, they’re all catching up with family, eating with friends, trying to corral their kids, working out how to fulfil all the daily religious requirements when they’re far from home. Bethlehem is bursting at the seams with people, but even with all those people in Bethlehem for the Census, not one of them has a clue about the Jesus’ birth and its significance.

And whilst the rest of Bethlehem is sleeping, the shepherds out in the field are the honoured ones. They’re the first to hear, to understand, that a Saviour has been born. I know I say it all the time, but I LOVE that it wasn’t the priests, the prophets, the ordained, that God sent the angels to. I LOVE it that God sent the angels to ordinary people. People who couldn’t even get to the temple regularly, therefore people who were ceremonially unclean.

The angel says to the shepherds Verse 10: ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.’ There’s that phrase, do not be afraid again, followed this time by 'I bring you good news'. Good news or good tidings is the same Greek word as 'evangelise'. It’s the same word that’s used when the good news of the gospel is mentioned in the New Testament. So the Angel is saying: Behold, I evangelise you and it’s going to bring you great joy.

I’m not sure what your preconceived ideas are around evangelism. Perhaps the idea of evangelism is awkward to you, or you don’t know what to say. Or in some parts of the Christian world, evangelism is all about telling people what they can’t do. You know, ‘Well Billy Bob, you may want to follow Jesus but first you gotta give up drinking, wild women and chewin’ tobacco. Then you gotta read the Bible every day and you gotta give up cussing, and if you can’t do that then don’t be bothering Jesus.’ Oh, that’s not good news is it? I mean, Jesus may well help Billy Bob give up cussing, but giving a person a list of do’s and don’ts is not good news. Evangelism is always and only good news. The good news that Jesus entered the world to lift up the oppressed, to free the prisoner, to forgive the fallen.

Evangelism…Bankstown Corps, has partnered with Campsie, Belmore and Hurstville Corps to run Evangelism Explosion Training. These Corps all have strong ministries to the Chinese community. Evangelism Explosion (EE) started in 1962, and it perhaps doesn’t fit every culture. It used to be quite confrontational but in recent years EE announced that they were changing their approach to emphasize relationship-building and discipling new believers.

This is the second course run by the Officers at Bankstown Corps where 13 people participated and 25 people were introduced to Jesus this year, despite the pandemic. During the first course in 2020, there were 13 participants in EE and 23 people accepted Jesus Christ as their Saviour. These people are saying yes to the Good News of a life surrendered to Jesus. There is a group of 48 praying people who are supporting this outreach every day. Evangelism, that is, telling people about the good news of new life and hope in Jesus is alive in the Salvation Army.

Jesus birth was not just good news, it was great news for the shepherds. It’s the news the Jewish nation had been waiting centuries for. This good news was not that another judge has been appointed, like those in the Judges, or that another Moses has come to lead this nation of Israel out from Roman oppression. The good news was not of another prophet for Israel, to call them to repentance.

The good news was this: a Saviour has been born! A Saviour not just for that time and for that people, but a Saviour for every people in every century. A Saviour to meet human kind’s deepest need.

Fear not, do not be afraid, because we are bringing you the best news.

The Pax Romana, the Roman peace, had lasted since 27 BC up to this time - a peace from a political source, from the rule of Rome. But a philosopher of the day, Epictetus (epic-te-tes), wrote these words: 'While the Emperor may give peace from war on land and sea, he is unable to give peace from passion, grief and envy. He cannot give peace of heart for which man yearns more than even for outward peace'. Rome, for all its power, could not bring peace the hearts of women and men. Nor can the world bring true peace of heart to us.

“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” Good news that will cause great joy. At this point the God, the Angels, Mary and Joseph were the only ones who knew that the most exciting thing in human history had taken place. And really Mary and Joseph could not have comprehended it.

But I get the sense that the angels are almost unable to contain themselves and are trying to convey the magnitude of the occasion. This event will bring unimaginable joy to people.

Sometimes, when we’ve hung around Jesus for a while, we kind of forget what life would be like without God. God is light, without him there’s only darkness. God is love, without him there’s indifference. God brings healing to brokenness, without him there’s ongoing pain and emotional immaturity. God brings cleansing and forgiveness from our sin and mistakes, and without him there’s ongoing guilt and shame. God brings generosity and community, without him there’s greed and selfishness.

Joy Webb’s has written this song with the most beautiful words:

All around us, darkness holds its sway;

Truth and love are faltering, peace in disarray;

And if we needed you, we need you now!

Come into our world,

Come into our world, now, Lord Jesus!

People sit in loneliness, children cry for bread;

Men fight men in hatred, by suspicion led;

And if we needed you, we need you now!

Come into our world,

Come into our world, now, Lord Jesus!

Faced with such confusion, hope has slipped away;

Men have stopped believing, forgotten how to pray;

And if we needed you, we need you now!

Come into our world,

Come into our world, now, Lord Jesus, come.

Well, Jesus came into the world, and this news brought great joy.

The angels followed up do not be afraid with “Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.’ (Luke 2:11-14)

Don’t be afraid, you have the grace and favour of God with you, with whatever you are facing.

Don’t be afraid, Jesus has come into our world and has bought you good news of great joy.

Advent Week 3

Sun, 19 Dec 2021 03:52:41 GMT

Luke 1: 26-33

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Advent Week 2 - Do not Be Afraid

Mon, 06 Dec 2021 03:02:05 GMT

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Well, we moved in to our new house or new quarters on Tuesday. They picked up our boxes on Monday and set them down in Georges Hall on Tuesday. It’s a 2 storey house and on that Tuesday I was up and down those stairs multiple times. Wednesday to Friday I had to be in Redfern at THQ for 3 days, so I was up and at ‘em on Wednesday morning. I stood at the top of those stairs with legs like Bambi (not skinny…I mean, unsteady), and said to myself ‘come on rob, it will be OK, you can make it down these stairs…there’s coffee at the bottom’.

Then, I’m used to sleeping in perfect quietness in our Tarrawanna house and I was at the house by myself overnight and heard every plane taking off at Bankstown airport. That didn’t worry me (it was annoying) but what did worry me was hearing a door open downstairs. With heavy beating heart I got out of bed and turned on some lights…no one seemed to be around. The next morning I discovered we’re so close to our neighbours, you can hear when they go out their back door at night.

There’s lots of things to adjust to and lots of things that could be a bit scary, but nothing compares with Zechariah in today’s story, coming face to face with a supernatural being. Over the next couple of weeks I’m focussing on the ‘Do not be afraid’ phrases in the Christmas story. And what’s as intriguing as the command to not be afraid, is why in each situation the person is told to ‘not be afraid’.

So we’ll look at Zechariah and Elizabeth's story in Luke chapter 1. We heard some of the story recounted by General Brian Peddle, of Zachariah going in to the Temple that day and encountering an angel. As the General says, this story is full of surprises. The angel says in Luke 1:13, “‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah;”. This is the first of the do not be afraid statements we read in the Christmas story and each of them is closely followed by another statement. And the angel says to Zechariah ‘Don’t be afraid… “your prayer has been heard.”

Now I could stop preaching here because in our relationship with God, it’s as simple and as complex as this….everything you’ve said to God, he’s heard.

It’s simple because he’s God and he’s supernatural and hearing billions of people at once is no problem for him. But it’s complex for a few reasons.

1. Some of the prayers we’ve prayed over the years and the when we look back at the things we asked God for…well we’re glad that he didn’t always act on those prayers. Oh when I think of the guys that I thought were marriage material when I was 16!

2. It’s complex because our prayers, even the good ones, do not always seem to be answered.

But here’s a few thoughts I have about this.

Unanswered prayer is not a reflection on your level of faith or godliness or if God likes you. I’ll say that again, because I think deep down sometimes we can think this… Unanswered prayer is not a reflection on your level of faith or godliness or if God likes you.

We read in verse 5-6 “Zechariah… belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.”

These people came from the most holy families, they were both from families that went right back in the priestly line. All the men in both Elizabeth and Zechariah’s families would have served in the temple in some way. But they didn’t just come from decent temple serving families, the Bible tells us they were good and just people in God’s sight, they acted with integrity, they were diligent in keeping God’s ways and laws. Yet their prayers seemed unanswered.

We sometimes get a Sound of Music theology happening. I need to say quickly – I like the Sound of Music – before Emma walks out! But remember when Maria and Captain Von Trapp finally work out that they both like each other and they sing

“Perhaps I had a wicked childhood

Perhaps I had a miserable youth

But somewhere in my wicked, miserable past

There must have been a moment of truth

For here you are, standing there, loving me

Whether or not you should

So somewhere in my youth or childhood

I must have done something good”

It’s very romantic…but it’s just not right. It’s that idea that if things are going well, I must have done something good in the past to deserve this. And if things are going badly, if they’re not going my way, then I must have done something wrong in the past to deserve this situation. You know, life is not that simple. And we see here in the Bible an exemplary couple, 2 fine, amazing, godly individuals, who have not had their prayers answered. God doesn’t answer prayer because you’ve been good, and he doesn’t withhold answering prayer because you’ve been bad.

Oh you might say, but God did answer their prayers in the end. But Zechariah and Elizabeth didn’t know that. They still they would have had 50 years of wondering why God had not answered their prayers. Unanswered prayer is not a reflection on your level of faith or your spirituality.

Second, even the best pray-ers sometimes falter. I think of Zechariah, a priest, a fine upstanding godly man, and when the angel says ‘your prayers have been answered, your wife is going to have a baby’, he basically says ‘you’re joking’ to the angel. Now, this is not exactly the greatest faith filled answer is it? It makes me think that though they may have asked God fervently for a child 50 years earlier, somewhere along the way…maybe when she turned 50, or 55 or 60 they kind of gave up on that dream and move on to other prayer points.

This encourages me in 2 ways. It may be that sometimes people and situations fall off my prayer radar, but this reminds me God never forgets and He’s not perturbed if I forget to pray for a situation.

It also encourages me that sometimes I might think that a particular prayer request was too much for God. Zechariah said in verse 18 ‘‘How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well on in years.’ He believed it was too much for God, too hard for God, too difficult to believe. So if you ever think, oh gosh, I’m praying for this situation but I really can’t see how God could resolve it. Remember it’s not your problem – you are not God. When Zechariah asked ‘how can this happen’. Actually Gabriel did not give a biology lesson. ‘well, I’m glad you asked, it starts with an egg…’ No, Gabriel says ‘I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you’. That’s all. If God says he’ll do it, then he’ll do it.

Third, just that – your prayer has been heard. It may not always be answered in the timing you had in mind, in may not always be answered in the way you want, but don’t be afraid…your prayer has been heard. I like this reading about Unanswered Prayer:

I asked for strength that I might achieve;

I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey.

I asked for health that I might do greater things;

I was given infirmity that I might do better things.

I asked for riches that I might be happy;

I was given poverty that I might be wise.

I asked for power that I might have the praise of men;

I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life;

I was given life that I might enjoy all things.

I got nothing that I had asked for,

but everything that I had hoped for.

Almost despite myself my unspoken prayers were answered;

I am, among all men, most richly blessed.

This morning we remember that Advent is a season of waiting. Waiting for the Messiah, and waiting for answers to prayer. Today God would say to you, don’t be afraid, because he has heard your prayer. Don’t give up and don’t give in, God knows your heart and hears the prayers of your heart. God bless you.

Ruth Chapter 4

Mon, 06 Dec 2021 02:59:05 GMT

Ruth Chapter 4

Last week I left the story of Ruth and Boaz where Ruth had basically proposed marriage to Boaz. She’d gone in to where he was sleeping at night uncovered his feet and lay down near his bare feet. Ruth was acting on her mother in law Naomi’s advice, they were both widows, and I think it’s a pretty bold strategy.

Now I say, ‘Ruth proposed marriage’, but what she actually said (in chapter 3 verse 9) “‘Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a guardian-redeemer of our family.’”

I like that Ruth says ‘our family’. He was the guardian redeemer or kinsman redeemer for Naomi’s family, and Ruth was born and raised in Moab. But after her husband died, Ruth said ‘Naomi where you go I go, where you stay I stay, your family is my family’. So Ruth said to Boaz you are the one who has a responsibility to care for the family, please take me in, give me a new life, and provide an heir so the family name will continue.

Now, you might think that this is the end of the story and they all live happily ever after. But just like the thrillers in Hollywood, there’s a twist in the plot. Boaz is keen, and he says I’ll look after you. But he also knows that he has to be honourable and apparently there’s another guardian redeemer in the family who is more closely related to Naomi, and that man should be the first person to have the option of redeeming Naomi and Ruth. And Boaz knows there’s a right order, a right way to do this, and he wants to honour that cultural process.

I imagine Ruth went home and Naomi asked excitedly how everything went and Ruth said well Boaz says he has to sort something out. I wonder if all Ruth’s insecurities came to the fore – I’m a foreigner from Moab (and they all think Moabites are a disgusting nation), I’m a widow, I was married ten years and I don’t have children. I’m in a position where I have to glean the fields just to eat, what do I have going for me, will I just be a burden on Boaz, this is not going to go well. Waiting is so hard, and we often fill the space with our insecurities.

But the whole point is, that Ruth’s redemption has nothing to do with who she is or where she’s come from or what she’s done. Ruth’s redemption has everything to do with who Boaz is and what he wants to accomplish. And if can grab hold of this truth it will transform our life.

Now as I said Boaz wants to do the right thing and wants to honour the right process of the law. We’ve already been told the outcome that both Boaz and Ruth want. We know that Ruth wants to be ‘redeemed’ or be taken under the wing of Boaz, and we know that Boaz wants this too. But there’s a process to follow, and you know, doing things the right way can be a pain in the neck. But really God often shapes our character as we follow the right processes.

Ruth 4:1 “Meanwhile Boaz went up to the town gate and sat down there just as the guardian-redeemer he had mentioned came along. Boaz said, ‘Come over here, my friend, and sit down.’ So he went over and sat down.”

As an aside, you know the walls of the towns were really thick, so the gate was not like a wooden fence. It was more a large area with seats, and it was where all the wise people sat and disputes would be settled there. And in the presence of 2 witnesses they could sort most things out. Boaz went looking for the relative of Naomi’s and it didn’t take long to find him.

Ruth 4:2-4, “Boaz took ten of the elders of the town and said, ‘Sit here,’ and they did so. ³ Then he said to the guardian-redeemer, ‘Naomi, who has come back from Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our relative Elimelek. ⁴ I thought I should bring the matter to your attention and suggest that you buy it in the presence of these seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, do so. But if you will not, tell me, so I will know. For no one has the right to do it except you, and I am next in line.’

‘I will redeem it,’ he said.”

The guy says, sure, the land sounds like a good option. Now Boaz, he’s shrewd and he says to this relative, oh good, you want the land, well there’s more. If you take the land, you also have to take a wife and mother in law for free! Oh and the wife, well she’s from Moab. And this guys like, the land sounds great but the wife from Moab and mother in law….thanks but no thanks!! So the closer guardian redeemer says, no, I’m not going to redeem Ruth.

All along Boaz knew the outcome he wanted and he was probably well enough regarded to take a short cut in the process and just marry Ruth. But he knew it wasn’t right, and acting on decisions that are not right can haunt people for life. Or it can be an outright disaster.

When Bob was at WBH, rehabilitation was a 4-10 month process and there was a real transformation process there for a lot of people. But you’d often hear in the media of footy players who were caught driving under the influence or having an affair, and they’d do a 2 week rehab. Perhaps they genuinely wanted a new life, they may have wanted a good outcome of a clean and sober life, but you can’t short change the process of transformation.

Really we do all understand this and there’s endless examples. The ads that tell you that if you take this pill you can eat whatever you want and not exercise and you’ll lose weight. And at the end of a month the only weight you’ve lost is in your wallet…it’s feeling a lot lighter!

Many people want to be able to play the piano well, but you have to start with scales and regular practice and that’s boring. I used to see people dancing and I’d be like, oh yeh, I want to do that. But any dancer here (that’s NOT me) will attest, that it starts with learning where to put your feet, how to hold your hands, how to hold your head and lots of practice.

As we follow the right processes, not just jump to the outcome we want, God will work in us and through us as we wait.

Ruth 4:7-8 “(Now in earlier times in Israel, for the redemption and transfer of property to become final, one party took off his sandal and gave it to the other. This was the method of legalising transactions in Israel.) ⁸ So the guardian-redeemer said to Boaz, ‘Buy it yourself.’ And he removed his sandal.”

This is great isn’t it? When Bob and I bought a house in Macksville there was so much paperwork. And I’m someone who desperately wants to read the fine print. But this day and age it’s impossible. How about when you tick or click that you’ve read the terms and conditions…and there’s 30 pages of fine print terms and conditions.

I never feel right about saying I’ve read the terms and conditions when I haven’t and I reckon handing over a shoe sounds like a great idea. I want to buy this house from you – I hand over my Doc Martin and we’re done. Sealed.

Ruth 4:9 “Then Boaz announced to the elders and all the people, ‘Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelek, Kilion and Mahlon.”

Boaz says today you are my witnesses to the decision I’ve made. He makes a public declaration. And there’s something in this – nailing your colours to the mast – saying this is it, this is who I am, this is what I believe, this is what I stand for.

In passing this week I spoke to a man who knew that I’m a Salvation Army Officer and that I believe in God. We’d never met, never spoken before and as I got near him he said ‘I don’t believe in anyone’. I said to him ‘do you believe in yourself?’ he said ‘yes I believe in myself’, I said ‘well that’s a great start’ and kept going.

That’s not the best example, except to say, when people know that you’re a follower of Jesus, some will take it as an invitation to debate or deride your beliefs or character. But you are called to be a witness for Jesus and the only way you can do that is by somehow letting people know you believe in Jesus. Otherwise, they’ll just think you’re a nice person.

A generation ago, it was common to take your kids to Sunday school every if you didn’t believe in God. That doesn’t happen now. And it’s crucial that this generation is willing to say ‘Jesus is real and I follow His way’. A public declaration of who Jesus is, and what He’s done.

Ruth 4:10, Boaz continued “I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property, so that his name will not disappear from among his family or from his home town. Today you are witnesses!’”

And Boaz, what a guy. Boaz is buying a field. Boaz doesn't need a field. Boaz is rich. He's got lots of fields. The last thing Boaz needs is more land. In fact, Boaz doesn't want the field. Boaz wants the girl. But he is willing to buy the field to get the bride.

It sounds a little like the parables of Jesus that I spoke about in the newsletter this week, where Jesus said, the kingdom of God shall be like a treasure hidden in a field. And a man sells everything he has to buy the field that he might get the treasure. Giving 100 percent for the treasure.

And what was the treasure that Boaz was getting? Not just a bride, but a Gentile bride. We begin to see the heartbeat of God for the world in this story. Here is Boaz from Bethlehem willing to buy a field to redeem a Gentile bride, and care and love her. It’s a beautiful picture of what Jesus has done for us.

Ruth 4:11 “Then the elders and all the people at the gate said, ‘We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the family of Israel. May you have standing in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem.”

In other words, we pray that your descendants will be numerous. And we’ll finish with these verses.

Ruth 4:13-15 “So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. When he made love to her, the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. ¹⁴ The women said to Naomi: ‘Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! ¹⁵ He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.’

¹⁶ Then Naomi took the child in her arms and cared for him. ¹⁷ The women living there said, ‘Naomi has a son!’ And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.” And we know that from David’s line, comes Jesus.

We start Advent today, celebrating tiny Jesus who comes from this heritage. We celebrate Jesus who came in to the world to redeem us, to take our mistakes and mess and give us a new life. And that redemption has nothing to do with if we’ve been good, or if we have the right background. It has everything to do with who God is, and his kindness in taking us in and giving us a new life. God bless you this week.

Ruth

Tue, 23 Nov 2021 12:34:12 GMT

Ruth 3

I want to mention providence again today. The word comes from a combination of two Latin words, pro and video. Provideo. Pro means before, video means to see. So the combination of those two words, provideo, is the idea of seeing something beforehand. God can see everything before it happens. He knows what's going to happen. God is all knowing and that includes the future. And because he knows the future he can providentially, through natural circumstances, arrange so that things kind of, coincide.

Like last night I was speaking at a church, and a guy who’d been to WBH was there and spoke to me about recovery. It the right place and the right timing for him to have a talk about recovery with me there.

So it's God's seeing in advance and then working those things out for the good. Don't confuse God's providence with miraculous events. Miraculous events are not natural events. I know we use the term lightly like, oh every time a baby is born, that's a miracle. No it's not. It happens every day. It's part of natural law. It happens across several species. So these are natural laws and natural occurrences. It is not miraculous. Oh, a sunrise and a sunset is miraculous. No it's not. It happens every day.

Turning water into wine - that's a miracle. A miracle is when God contravenes natural law, interrupts natural law with a supernatural event. And God from time to time in history works miraculously.

But most often, God works ‘providentially’. He weaves things together just so. As you look back on your life, I bet you can go, man. I met that person, then that happened, and think well if that hadn’t happened, then this wouldn't have happened, and then-- right? You can look back and you can see it. You don't see it at the moment.

It also doesn’t mean that things are perfect. It doesn’t mean there’s no heartache. But I look back and say, well if I hadn’t gone to Uni with some Salvo’s, I would not have done my uni placement at The Salvation Army Outreach Service in Kings Cross, and I might not have gotten the job there years later and I might never have met Bob.

We can look back and we can see the hand of God. So we can here in the book of Ruth. First of all, there was an issue of timing. Back in chapter 1 of this book, verse 22, it says that Naomi and Ruth came to Bethlehem at the time of the barley harvest. Now the barley harvest is late April, beginning of May. And so you have the right timing. It just happens to be the time of the barley harvest. And there also happens to be a law in Israel that if you're poor, you can glean in anybody's fields so that you can get some of the produce and take it home.

And you have rich landowners and poor people in the fields together. And the right place at the right time. In 2:3, “So she went out, entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz". As it turned out…Ruth didn’t plan it, she didn’t understand the impact of being at this particular field.

All of these things just happened. God is weaving them together. So on the horizontal, things look haphazard. Crazy. Scary. From the vertical, they're providential. You may not know what God's doing. But you don't need to know what God's doing. And God doesn't owe us an explanation of what he's doing. It’s about trust. And you believe all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.

So that takes us to chapter 3. And it says, "One day Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, ‘My daughter, I must find a home for you, where you will be well provided for.”

Now I love Naomi. You're going to see she's very, very practical and very busy. But what she'll discover is though she may be busy, God is busier. And he's already got this thing planned and is utilising the drive of Naomi to get his will accomplished. So we come now to a time of after the harvest. After the harvest is gathered in, after the grain, after the barley is collected, there is a time of winnowing. They winnow it to separate the chaff from the wheat.

And so it says in verse 2, " Now Boaz, with whose women you have worked, is a relative of ours. Tonight he will be winnowing barley on the threshing-floor. "

Threshing floors were elevated areas out in the fields or near the fields where they would collect the produce from. They would take it to an elevated threshing floor, to catch the afternoon winds. They used a five-pronged kind of a forked rake. And they scoop it up, throw it up in the air, the chaff then blows away, and the kernel falls down to the ground. That's how they winnow. They would winnow it in the evening time when the winds come by.

Boaz is there in Bethlehem on the threshing floor and he is winnowing on the threshing floor. Verse 3, Naomi says to Ruth, "Wash, put on perfume, and get dressed in your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing-floor, but don’t let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking.”

I was out at a Multicultural Gala on Friday night. I was in my cultural costume…a uniform! But I was talking the woman sitting beside me who came from India. She told me her whole story of coming to Australia with her husband. I said to her, do you mind me asking if it was an arranged marriage? She looked at me like I was crazy and said ‘of course’. She went on to say that though he was her parents choice, she had a friend who knew him independently and verified her was a good man. Her parents were match making and here we see Naomi in a similar role. Put on something nice says Naomi and go see him.

Somebody once said there's three kinds of people. There's the person who makes things happen, then there's the person who watches things happen, then there's the person who has no idea what's happening. Naomi is in the first category. She's the kind to make things happen. She's very practical. She knows that Boaz is interested. Ruth has stated that he acts interested. He's done favours for her, gone out of his way to speak to her. And so she goes, OK. So Naomi is like, let’s take the next step.

So be pro-active in life. Look this is my view. But I think sometimes I’ve prayed and struggled with what does God want so much that I’ve become stuck. Don't be afraid to be pro-active. And though you make plans and you are practical, also be flexible, because you don't know what God is doing behind the scenes.

Verse 4, "When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do.”

This is amazing to me. Most of us would say ‘excuse me, what do you want me to do?’ Uncover his feet? He'd been working in the fields all day. I'm not going to uncover his feet. But Ruth, she’s like if you want me to do that, I’ll do it.

Verse 7 & 8, " When Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he went over to lie down at the far end of the grain pile. Ruth approached quietly, uncovered his feet and lay down. In the middle of the night something startled the man; he turned – and there was a woman lying at his feet!”

Now when they would winnow, they would have a feast in the evening celebrating all that they have collected, there was a huge pile or several huge piles, and the workers would sleep around the pile of barley or wheat with their head at the centre and their feet sticking out like spokes on a wheel, to guard what they had collected. There were thieves around and they had to guard what they had harvested. So that's why they slept guarding the barley.

I find Naomi’s suggestion extraordinarily bold. I think if any person approached another in the middle of the night, moved their blanket and lay down next to them, it’s sending a strong message of something! And it took an enormous amount of courage and determination.

So there in the middle of the night Boaz is startled.

“‘Who are you?’ he asked. ‘I am your servant Ruth, she said. ‘Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a guardian-redeemer of our family.” (Verse 9). She’s kind of saying take me under your wing. She’s reminding him of his obligation to care for her. And basically, Ruth is making a marriage proposal in the middle of the night. She's proposing marriage to him, but it is based upon a law.

This was the law around the issue of levirate marriage. It was a custom of the ancient Hebrews by which a man may be obliged to marry his brother's widow. Deuteronomy 25:5-10 prescribes that if a man dies without a son, that man’s brother has an obligation to take the deceased man’s wife as his own wife. The firstborn male produced by that marriage is to prevent the deceased man’s name from being blotted out (Deuteronomy 25:6).

So that's the idea of this. OK, back to our text, chapter 3, verse 10. " The Lord bless you, my daughter,’ he replied. ‘This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier: you have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor.”

Now this would indicate that Boaz was an older gentleman, between most guess 45 and 50 years of age, while where she was quite a bit younger. And he is commending her. You could have gone after a lot of young men. But you didn’t.

You see, if she’d married into another family, she couldn’t have taken her Mother in Law with her. When a woman was married, she had to leave her family behind and join her husband’s family. Where would that have left Naomi?

Even though this story begins to turn into a romance, between Ruth and Boaz, the real enduring love story is Naomi and Ruth. This is the sort of love that isn’t about butterflies in the stomach or heart palpitations. It’s the sort of love that makes the right decisions for children and sisters and brothers and friends and parents and in-laws. It’s not exciting, and often there’s a lot of sacrifice involved. I honour today all of you who love like this – who decide where to live because of your children, who look after ageing parents, who cared for friends and siblings. Like Boaz says – you could have gone off with someone else. But Ruth made a commitment to Naomi, she loved her, and that loved endured.

Verse 11 " And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character.”

There is a beautiful correlation to Jesus in all of this. It does require us to be found at the feet of Jesus, and then he redeems us, saves us, cares for us, draws us to himself, and takes us under his wing. It requires that we start at the feet of Jesus - it’s all about Him. God bless you.

God the Provider

Sun, 21 Nov 2021 02:58:00 GMT

Ruth 2

What we see in chapter 2 is a “chance” encounter by a man and a woman that begins to grow the seeds of romance in their lives. The couple are complete opposites – they often say opposites attract. He's rich, she's poor. He's Jewish, she's not. She's a Gentile. She's from Moab. He's the owner of the field. She's a worker in the field. He's single. She's widowed. But in all the chaos of Ruth’s life, God is up to something.

Ruth 2: 1-3, “Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side, a man of standing from the clan of Elimelek, whose name was Boaz. And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, ‘Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favour.’ Naomi said to her, ‘Go ahead, my daughter.’ 3 So she went out, entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelek."

What Ruth was doing was known as gleaning and it was an ancient means of God taking care of the poor. In Leviticus 23 there’s a command that when you reap your fields, you go through your fields once. You don't go through them again. You leave some of the fruit on the vine, some of the fruit on the tree, some of the wheat in the stalk. You go through it once, and you leave. And they left up to, in most cases, 25% of the crop in the field. And that was so the fatherless, the widow, the poor of the land, the stranger of the land could come in and take it-- could pick it. So it wasn't like, we'll collect it and give it to you, so there's no labour involved. If you're a rich landowner, you leave some of it, so they can come in and pick it later. So that's the gleaning of the field.

So she's out gleaning in the fields in Bethlehem. Ruth 2:4, "Just then Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters, ‘The Lord be with you!’ ‘The Lord bless you!’ they answered." This is not a work crew I have ever come across in my own experience! If you go to a construction site today or tomorrow and listen to the language at the construction site or a place where there's farming like this, you're probably not going to hear this conversation. But immediately, we are struck with the personality of Boaz. There is a generosity about his personality. And he's a spiritual man-- a godly man.

Ruth 2: 5-8, “Boaz asked the overseer of his harvesters, ‘Who does that young woman belong to?’ The overseer replied, ‘She is the Moabite who came back from Moab with Naomi. She said, “Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the harvesters.” She came into the field and has remained here from morning till now, except for a short rest in the shelter.’ So Boaz said to Ruth, ‘My daughter, listen to me. Don’t go and glean in another field and don’t go away from here. Stay here with the women who work for me." The law said she could go into any field she wants.

I love that Ruth says ‘please just let me glean and gather food’. Ruth has had a difficult life. At this point she has full responsibility for her widowed mother in law. She was married for ten years, but without children and is now widowed. She’s travelled away from the safety of her own family and language….too far away to ever go back. She’s stuck here in Bethlehem. I honestly don’t think that Ruth has a plan, I don’t think she knows what to do, which fork of the road to take. She just can’t look too far ahead. And so she just does the next right thing.

I think there’s so much wisdom and integrity in this. A writer, Emily Freeman says “Doing the next right thing is good advice, but it didn’t sink in for me fully until I started noticing it in the Gospels.

So often, right after Jesus performed a miracle, he gave a simple next thing to do. To the leper, he said to tell no one, “But go and show yourself to the priest” (Luke 5:14). To the paralysed man, he said, “Get up, pick up your stretcher, and go home” (v. 24). To Jairus and his wife, after raising their daughter from the dead, when he had their full and complete attention, and when chances were good he could get them to swear their lives away for his sake, he did not perform a lecture about dedicating their lives to him or about what grand plans he had for their girl now that she was alive. Instead, he told them to give her something to eat (8:55). After raising their daughter from the dead, the one thing Jesus told them in the face of their rapt attention was to go make lunch.

At first glance, that seems like a waste of a captive audience. Rather than a life plan, a clear vision, or a five-year list of goals, the leper, the paralytic, and Jairus and his wife were given clear instructions by Jesus about what to do next—and only next. Perhaps he knew something about our addiction to clarity. He knew if we could somehow wrangle a five-year plan out of him, we would take it and be on our merry way”.

We want greater clarity, but what we desperately need is greater trust. We often don’t have the big picture, but that means we have to trust our gracious God all the more. But He will guide us, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to do the next right thing. Not a necessarily a big thing. But the right thing.

The AA Big Book says: “We earnestly pray for the right ideal, for guidance in each questionable situation, for sanity, and for the strength to do the right thing.”

Back to the story. Boaz says, no need to go into any other field. Ruth 2: 9 "Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and follow along after the women. I have told the men not to lay a hand on you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled.’"

I also love this. Boaz steps up and says ‘there’s no sexual harassment here. Not on my watch. Not here. Not ever.’ He said, I've already instructed the young men, don’t you dare touch her. She was at the bottom of the pecking order. She’s not Jewish, she’s a woman, a widow, and a foreigner. She would have been considered fair game for any man.

But Boaz, steps up and takes action. He respects her and brings dignity to her desperate situation. But more than that, he actually does something. He speaks up for Ruth who has no power and no voice in this situation.

Ruth 2: 10-13, "At this, she bowed down with her face to the ground. She asked him, ‘Why have I found such favour in your eyes that you notice me – a foreigner?’ Boaz replied, ‘I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband – how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.’ ‘May I continue to find favour in your eyes, my lord,’ she said. ‘You have put me at ease by speaking kindly to your servant – though I do not have the standing of one of your servants.’"

So he had heard of her commitment to her mother-in-law. Your people will be my people. Your God will be my God. Sometimes we think the commitments we make go unnoticed but there are always people who notice.

Ruth 2:14-15, "At mealtime Boaz said to her, ‘Come over here. Have some bread and dip it in the wine vinegar.’ When she sat down with the harvesters, he offered her some roasted grain. She ate all she wanted and had some left over. As she got up to glean, Boaz gave orders to his men, ‘Let her gather among the sheaves and don’t reprimand her." Let her take whatever she wants, whatever she finds.

Also-- get this, "Even pull out some stalks for her from the bundles" that you guys are carrying, you reapers, "and leave them for her to pick up, and don’t rebuke her.’ So Ruth gleaned in the field until evening." (Ruth 2:16-17).

This is interesting. Boaz is providing for Ruth and Naomi, but he’s not just giving a handout. Ruth is still working hard and gathering food, but Boaz has out all the conditions in place for her to be successful. Honestly, there’s so much to like about this story. She has the dignity of providing for herself, and yet, Boaz takes away any barriers that would prevent her doing well.

I think about the racism and prejudice she would have faced and Boaz looks beyond that. I do think that if we are not extending kindness and generosity to assist people to thrive, we’ve lost the plot.

I love that we have young mum’s come to Tarrawanna Playgroup with Tammy and they find the resources and support to parent well.

I love it that kids come to kids in the kitchen and we do everything to help them feel confident in the kitchen, to see them succeed.

I love it that young people come to the youth group and find a group of people to help them navigate the bumpy road of adolescence.

And I love it that when someone new, unknown, foreign to us, comes to church, that someone will sit with them, extend grace, show kindness, so they can feel at home here and thrive spiritually.

Ruth 2: 18-23, “She carried it back to town, and her mother-in-law saw how much she had gathered. Ruth also brought out and gave her what she had left over after she had eaten enough. Her mother-in-law asked her, ‘Where did you glean today? Where did you work? Blessed be the man who took notice of you!’ Then Ruth told her mother-in-law about the one at whose place she had been working. ‘The name of the man I worked with today is Boaz,’ she said. ‘The Lord bless him!’ Naomi said to her daughter-in-law. ‘He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead.’ She added, ‘That man is our close relative; he is one of our guardian-redeemers.’ A guardian-redeemer or kinsman redeemer, is a male relative who helps a vulnerable relative in need or danger. This person avenges (in the case of a relative being murdered), delivers, rescues, and in many cases, redeems property. And Jesus is our ultimate guardian redeemer the One who rescues us.

What does this chapter tell us about God? He is our provider. There were many parts to this story that may have been thought of at the time as chance- the timing – it was the beginning of the barley harvest. The place, the fields of Boaz. She could have been in any field. But there was a “chance” encounter. And yet we know God is working in this situation. We know that the genealogy of Jesus is being formed. God is working in this situation. Ruth has had a terrible life and yet God is not finished with her yet. God is not finished with you yet.

What does it tell us about people….

Maybe you’re wondering about the will of God. This shows us that doing the next right thing, keeps us on His path.

This story tells us we need to step up and speak up for others who have no voice.

And we see the outcome of actively showing kindness and generosity so others will succeed.

Ruth

Tue, 02 Nov 2021 05:18:56 GMT

Commitment from Love, Ruth 1: 1-18

We’re looking at the book of Ruth and it’s such an interesting book.

There are only two books in the Bible that are named after women. And they're both in the Old Testament. The other one is the Book of Esther and this Book of Ruth. The name Ruth means friendship, or companion, or compassionate friendship. She is true to her name and we’ll see that later. It is the only book in scripture that is named after an ancestor of Jesus. Ruth shows up in the genealogical record (Matt 1:5). Also, it is the only book in the Old Testament that is named after a non-Jewish person. Ruth was not Jewish. She was Gentile. She comes from the land of the Moabites.

So onto our story. Verse 1, “In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab."

Now it says, “In the days when the judges ruled." The book of Judges was one of the darkest times in Israel's ancient history. It was a time of anarchy. There was no king in Israel. Everyone did what they wanted to do. They didn't want to obey God. They didn't want to obey God's laws. They didn't care about authority because there really was no central authority.

2 Chronicles 15:5-6 describes this time of ‘when the Judges ruled’ and I’m reading from The Message. "At that time, it was a dog-eat-dog world. Life was constantly up for grabs. No one, regardless of country, knew what the next day might bring. Nation battered nation. City pummelled city. And God let loose every kind of trouble among them." That sums up the era of the Judges.

And verse 1 also says there was a famine in the land. Now famine was pretty typical in the Middle East. There were so many reasons that you could have a famine. You could have a famine because of drought. You could have a famine because of locusts. So life in Judah was not good. There’s no food and it’s a lawless place. I imagine there would have been desperate people doing desperate things.

Still verse 1, "So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab. The man’s name was Elimelek, his wife’s name was Naomi," Naomi means pleasant. " and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to Moab and lived there.” (Ruth 1:1-2)

The name of his two sons were Mahlon, which means sickly, and the second child, Chilion, which means pining or weeping and crying. Not great names, right? But perhaps they were born during the famine and strife, and lived their lives with names that reminded the whole family of that awful time.

Elimelech (Naomi’s husband) is a great name. It means my God is King. So wherever he would go, he would say my name is my God is King. His name was his testimony. And yet, I wonder if he was trusting that God was his King when he decided to take his wife to a pagan country outside of Judah.

This is all just verse 1 but moving to Moab is SUCH a big deal. There’s history you see (as there always is in the Bible). The Moabite people were the result of a sexual encounter between Moab was the child of Lot and his daughters. So the Jews never looked kindly upon the Moabites. In fact, they kind of viewed them with disgust.

So it’s huge to decide to go to Moab. Obviously looking over from Bethlehem across the Dead Sea, he could see the highlands of Moab where there was a lot of rainfall, and it seemed like a good idea. So he moves his family.

Then verse 3 & 4, " Now Elimelek, Naomi’s husband, died and she was left with her two sons. They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years” verse 5 “both Mahlon and Kilion also died."

Oh gosh. Naomi is in Moab and her two sons and her husband have all died. They made a choice. Let's go to Moab. They go to Moab seeking a livelihood and, in the process, lost their lives. They thought they were going to start some new wonderful life together. Instead, they found a disaster and tragedy.

There's a lot of loss and a lot of pain compressed into these 5 versus. This woman loses everything. She is in a foreign land. She loses her husband. She loses her son. She loses the family name. She loses the inheritance. It's all gone.

Verse 6, "When Naomi heard in Moab that the Lord had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them, she and her daughters-in-law prepared to return home from there." Now this is interesting. For five verses, from the beginning of the book of Ruth, God isn't mentioned (except in Elimelech’s name). But God doesn’t feature at all. Now He is being mentioned.

It's as if there is a consciousness of God that is returning to Naomi. Remember, she’s originally from Bethlehem and she starts thinking about God. She hears that the famine has lifted in Judah. Yahweh has visited his people in giving them food. Naomi is very clear that the provision and abundance in Judah is from God. And all of a sudden, she's very conscious of God, or maybe conscious of her need for God.

Sorrow and pain can awaken a person's need for God like nothing else. Martin Luther said, “were it not for trials and affliction, I wouldn't understand the scriptures”. He attributed much of the depth of his understanding to the fact that he lived through such deep sorrow. And here after years in Moab, a very different culture, different gods, and Naomi is talking about the Lord.

Verse 7, " With her two daughters-in-law she left the place where she had been living and set out on the road that would take them back to the land of Judah." In that verse, you have a beautiful picture of repentance. Naomi goes out on the main road that had led her to Moab. But now, she doing an about face, and she turns around to go back to where she came from - Bethlehem. That's really a beautiful picture of repentance. Repentance means to turn around, to change direction 180 degrees, to go in the opposite direction. Sometimes we feel so far from God. Well, just turn around. You'll find Him. You turn around and say, God, forgive me. And He’s there.

Verse 8 & 9, " Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, ‘Go back, each of you, to your mother’s home. May the Lord show you kindness, as you have shown kindness to your dead husbands and to me. May the Lord grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband.”. So, go back to the city in Moab, get married again, get a new husband, and give yourself a future. "Then she kissed them goodbye and they wept aloud".

Now just freeze-frame this for a second because now we come to one of the decisive moments in all of history. It doesn't look like it-- just three women out on a dirt road, having a conversation. One decides to go back home and one decides to stay. I suppose, if you were to freeze-frame that historically and look around at the world at that time, there would be some significant things happening.

But this was a decisive moment in history because if it doesn't play out right, you better tell the Magi not to come to Bethlehem. Because the Magi come to Bethlehem because Jesus is born in Bethlehem.

Jesus is born in Bethlehem because David, his ancestor had been born in Bethlehem. David was born in Bethlehem because his dad, Jesse was born in Bethlehem. Jesse was born in Bethlehem because his dad, Obed was born in Bethlehem. And Obed was born in Bethlehem because Boaz and Ruth got married and had Obed in Bethlehem. So this is a very decisive moment, that is playing out on the road out of Moab.

Zechariah chapter 4:10 that says, "Do not despise these small beginnings." (NLT). Life is made up of small choices. Those choices that you make, one that leads to another that leads to another-- small though they may be or seem, can lead to great and monumental things.

Verse 10, " they wept aloud and said to her, ‘We will go back with you to your people." Now they're out there on the road having a good old ugly cry. And they say, no way are we going to our paretns home Naomi, we're coming back with you back to Bethlehem and your people. "But Naomi said, ‘Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me?”

Why would she tell her daughters-in-law to go back? I think, she is basically saying, if you're going to follow on this road with me, you're going to have to count the cost. First of all, being a widow is tough in any generation. Being a widow in ancient times was even worse, given there was no financial support and no man to give you a voice in society. And being a widow in ancient Israel, especially if you were a foreign woman living among Israelites was even worse again. Both Ruth and Orpah are widows also.

And Naomi knew the prejudice of her people toward the Moabites. Naomi knows that for these women, living in Bethlehem as a Moabite widow (remember how they feel about Moabites) - it's going to be hard. So go back home. Go back to your family. Go back, and hang out with your people.

Verse 14, "At this they wept aloud again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye," It was a goodbye kiss. She walks off the pages of history. She goes back home and she's never mentioned again. Verse 14 goes on, " but Ruth clung to her,". As they stand there, I imagine Naomi with her arms protectively around Ruth, she whispers again, go home Ruth, it’s for the best…

Verse 16-17 “But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.”

These are some of the most beautiful poetic words in the Bible. Where you go, I will go. Your God will be my God. Your people will be my people. Here, Ruth makes a commitment-- a sincere commitment. She says, don't ask me to go back. I'm going with you. Interestingly, earlier she said ‘I’ll go back with you to YOUR people.’ But now she says ‘your people, will be my people’.

Not only is it a sincere commitment, it's a spiritual commitment. She says, "Your people will be my people and your God my God." I am willing to turn my back on all of the gods of my people.

And then notice how steadfast this commitment is, "where you die, I will die." In other words, I’m coming with you and it’s for good. I'm in it for life. I’m NEVER going back to Moab, not even after you die. Verse 18 & 19 “When Naomi realised that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her. So the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem."

Ruth made a whole hearted commitment and Naomi realised that.

Later on, Ruth’s story takes a romantic turn. But our story today is about love. Rock solid, I’ll be there for you, non-romantic love. And this story is about the commitment that comes with love. It reflects God’s love and commitment to you and the love and commitment we’re asked to live our lives with.

This too shall pass

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 20:04:12 GMT

Psalm 126, 24th October '21

This is an interesting Psalm – another psalm of ascent. We spoke about these Psalms of Ascent a few weeks ago. They were songs the Jewish people sang as they made their way to Jerusalem to go to the temple, through the forest, along the tracks, camping by the roads. And I believe songs like this kept them focussed and kept their spirits up. I can imagine days of walking together, tiring, boring, hot and dusty. And singing some of these Psalms keep them focussed on the faithfulness of God. Much better then eye spy for the kids.

Journeys are not all their cracked up to be even if the destination is worth it. As you know, when I was growing up we always holidayed at Bawley Point past Ulladulla, and in those days it was about a 4 hour drive from Sydney. We always left later than we meant to…and the last 20 mins was on a dirt road. One year when I was probably about 4 years old it was dark by the time we got to the dirt road, and half way along the dirt road, was a dodgy wooden bridge over a river. I think part of the bridge had been damaged and we had to wait a bit in the pitch black darkness before we could proceed. Dad was out with a torch ensuring the bridge was safe to drive on and mum and us 4 kids were sitting in the darkness – no street lights, no moonlight. Of course, you might be able to guess what I said to mum in that car, with fearful crying…you’ve probably heard it from kids before. I said ‘I want to go home’. Mum said to me, ‘we can’t go home Robyn, we’re almost there’. In truth, after the bridge we had the last 10 minutes of a 4 hours journey left. We safely crossed the bridge and we were OK. But I remember it. I remember the feeling of being scarred in the darkness. I remember not liking this journey at all. Even though I always loved the destination.

Well this psalm celebrates the end of the journey and the arrival at the destination. Psalm 126:1-3,

“When the Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream! We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. And the other nations said, “What amazing things the Lord has done for them.” Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us! What joy!”

Before we can understand the laughter and joy of the Israelites, we have to understand their journey. This Psalm looks back to when they arrived back in Jerusalem after 70 long years in Babylon. The captives had experienced great sorrow and mourning in exile. We read these heartbreaking words in Psalm 137: “Beside the rivers of Babylon, we sat and wept as we thought of Jerusalem. We put away our harps, hanging them on the branches of poplar trees. For our captors demanded a song from us. Our tormentors insisted on a joyful hymn: “Sing us one of those songs of Jerusalem!” But how can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a pagan land?” (Psalm 137:1-4).

Their tormentors demanded they sing joyfully, but they were like – that’s impossible, it doesn’t come from our heart. So they just sat by the waters of Babylon and wept. But now by an amazing work of God they were suddenly back in Jerusalem. And so their joy came from their heart. The wait was over, the journey was complete. “We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy.”

The journey is the hard bit though isn’t it? I was reminded of this, this week. An Officer couple I was speaking to, said that their teenager said some very hurtful things to them. Stuff like, ‘you make my life worse’. As they spoke to me, I did very little but listen and pray with them. They do have other supports in their life as well, already seeing a psychologist. But what I was thinking in my head as they were speaking was ‘oh the teenage years, I’d forgotten them’. Though we have 2 wonderful young adults in P and K, they were times when it was more than tense. K wears her heart on her sleeve, and to this day apologises for some of the things she said to me. And P, you wouldn’t know what he was thinking, and then all of a sudden all his thoughts and feelings for the last 3 years would come out like molten lava everywhere.

A few days later I checked in to see how the couple and their teenager were going. I mentioned in passing about teenage years and very briefly about our experiences. I didn’t want to make it all about me. But I said teenage years can be painful and those years can really hurt everyone in the family. Teenager included. They know that we have a good relationship with P and K and they said to me, you know, this is helpful. It gives us hope.

I was like, yep, this too shall pass. Because when you’re in the midst of the journey of pain and sorrow, you sometimes wonder if there’s light at the end of the tunnel. If you’ll laugh again or experience joy again. You begin to wonder, “Is this all that God has for me? Will I ever be happy again?”

And here’s the promise in Psalm 126:4-6,

“Restore our fortunes, Lord, as streams renew the desert. Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.”

When you are going through a time of deep sorrow, Psalm 126 is strong medicine for your soul. It carries a powerful message of hope. It tells you that times of trouble and sorrow do not last. It tells you that God will turn your sorrow to joy and your tears to laughter.

If you are going through a challenging time right now, I pray that this psalm will speak to your heart this morning. Let me tell you right up front, whatever you’re going through, it will get better. God will change your tears to joy.

This week I found something I wrote about 10 years ago. I had written it on a piece of paper and there was a whole reflection about my life. At the time we had my mum living with us, she had dementia, and mostly I remember the good times and the fun times with her. I was also the Corps Officer at Glebe and Bob was the manager at William Booth House. After a page of writing I had written something like this “I’m often anxious, I’m usually stressed, I have eczema on my eyelids and ulcers in my mouth. I always feel pressed.”

I went out to Bob in the lounge room and I’m like, ‘oh my goodness, eczema on my eyelids and ulcers in my mouth’, often anxious, usually stressed. The thing is, my life feels a long way from that now, and I’d forgotten what that part of my journey felt like. I’m sure when I was there I couldn’t look ahead and see a time of joy…but the truth is that “Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.”

This too shall pass.

‘Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us!’ says verse 3. God is faithful – he does the healing, the restoring, he brings the streams in the desert that renews and brings fruitfulness. I don’t need to tell you – it takes time. Today, I’m praying for a work of healing in your life, a gradual restoration of joy, of laughter.

Like me as a kid, sometimes we don’t like parts of this journey at all. Even though we know our destination is good. And ultimately, we have a destination like no other and that’s the promise of God. A home in heaven made possible through Jesus. May God bless you this week as you look to Him, listen to Him, find your hope in Him and find courage and healing in your journey.

Last Meal

Tue, 19 Oct 2021 09:58:52 GMT

John 13:21, 17/10/21

Jesus speaking to the disciples says, ‘Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me. The Thirteenth chapter of the Gospel of John is a high velocity chapter, in my opinion.

Headline after headline, The Last Supper is the feature article we know best, but then, there is Jesus washing the feet of the disciples to very mixed emotions. Then comes Jesus teaching regarding sacramental service and how he anticipates the disciples proper treatment of others.

Iscariot’s predicted betrayal was mentioned, then Jesus speaks of The New Commandment followed closely on the same evening by Jesus warning and prediction of Peter’s denial of Jesus.

A big night around the dinner table for everyone there, and a momentous series of events to unfold within the following few days. A lifetime of indelible memories for the disciples as the plans and purposes of God are revealed in the next few days.

For the crowds who were present to witness this occasion many people must have found it mind blowing simply too hard to grasp…..all the events were miraculous, certainly, other worldly, certainly, and still today a full comprehension still eludes us without the exercise of a simple faith. I may not completely understand the ways of God…but I do trust God to be God.

I’m okay with that and so is God!

Earlier this week the media was full of conversation and speculation about how people were going to celebrate ‘freedom day’ (Monday 11th) the stroke of midnight was overwhelmed by pictures of mobs going to licensed premises to make pigs of themselves at the bar, the pokies and other gaming tables and screens.

I’m afraid for me seeing the behaviors of people within the first twenty-four hours of so called freedom day was just a concentration of many days in the past 5 to 18 months.

We saw many distorted ways for people to tell others how bad off they are and how tough their life has been at the hands of an uncaring and indifferent Government be it State or Commonwealth.

The elusive quality many should be turning their attention to is their lack of ‘insight’. I find it sad even tragic when so many fail to recognise within themselves widespread disregard, disrespect and even indifference for human life, who are being driven by fear and selfishness.

The restrictions introduced Internationally we call ‘lock down’ or stay at home directions, work from home, home schooling, click and collect, shopping on line for anything and everything on a shelf or in a shop. GP’s consultations on line, pharmacy requirement, prescriptions on line and chemists delivering.

Most of what we needed and wanted was accessible one way or another with one important exception in my case….haircuts! Robyn offered…several times….and so did my daughter Keren. Freedom week got me a seat at the hairdresser on Thursday following several visits and several hours in a queue. The last haircut was just before the hairdresser went on maternity leave, she was back at work this week, her child is learning to drive now….its been a while.

All four of my grandparents had died by the time I was in my twenties with only one of them really known by us and she was amazingly patient, durable, gracious, kind, and very warm and loving. A grandfather had served in both world wars and with some of his family migrated from a poor place to Australia during the Great Depression for a better life, and got it.

There’s nothing unique about my family and nothing peculiar to Australia, this story of overcoming hardship, grinding poverty, widespread sickness and misery was known to millions upon millions over the world.

You and I do not hail from the hordes of angels, we hail from the ordinary everyday variety of people who have populated the earth, not from those who live a charmed life.

We however have a nature and a soul bestowed upon us by God the Creator of All, capable of kindness, compassionate and loving service.

If you haven’t seen the real unspoiled nature of humanity at work, seek out the stories of your family, if you have grandparents, great grandparents, uncles and aunties who were born before the 1950’s talk and research and discover the strength and fiber of your inherited humanity. This does come with a warning however, be prepared for a surprise.

The old expression, ‘I am today, what all my yesterdays have made me’, carries a great truth, but at best it can only convey part of your story. We are human with all the accompanying peculiarities……BUT we are more, much more.

We are reading from the Gospel of John today, and I must admit, this is the Gospel I always turn to first.

John 8:12 ‘when Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’

Please take some time to ponder these words and how they are directed to you, this is personal. If you don’t think Jesus words are directed to you today…..then who is He speaking to?

We have a guide to lead us so we can find our way. Our wisdom is to look to Him, and absorb His Spirit and apply that to all our circumstance of life.

**We do have a guide for life and life for us each would be not only more **harmonious but we would be more fulfilled, we would truly know from **personal experience what Jesus means by applying the bowl of water and **towel in the Sacrament of Service.

With such a sure guide in the world in does seem odd to me why many, many more people don’t follow the light of God. Humanity might have made greater progress faster than we have.

Let’s get back to John 13: 21 before someone pulls the Zoom plug out of the wall.

Before going in to hospital, I decided to help myself a bit by sorting and packing our books (700). However, there is one shelf still crammed full. No prize for guessing, they are cook books also I watch cooking shows on TV, UTube etc.

Cooks often ask the guests on the show about their favorite meal, even what would they ask for if they knew this was to be the last meal. Two surprises, Ice Cream is a biggy, a multitude of flavors and trimmings. The second surprise has been simple meals like mum or grandma used to cook. This is when you discover food is a lot more than for just eating. I’ve never heard of anyone asking for Brussel sprouts or Kale.

During these conversations about favorite foods we often hear about the significant people in their life, who were their great influences, those that bough much joy and kindness, those who were able to console, challenge and encourage even those who inspired love and gently directed people on to life in its fullness.

Rarely do we hear about those who instilled fear or humiliation, distrust or dislike.

Generally, we don’t gather people to the table who broke our hearts or spirit, crushed our dreams or betrayed our trust.

Just before Jesus went to a garden to plead with His Father for another way out of His looming death, He invited 12 of His closest friends to join Him for Dinner, one last time. As the wine was being passed around the table Jesus dropped a bomb by announcing to them all, He knew one sitting at the table would betray Him and another would deny Him.

What a stir, what a turmoil within each one as they declared their innocence, they all said it wasn’t them. Jesus knew in a few short hours He would be handed over to be crucified.

A final meal together and Jesus could have chosen others but He chose the group closest to Him, including the ones He knew would soon betray and hurt Him.

My last meal.

Your last meal.

Who would be on the invitation list?

Why Jesus?

What does this mean?

This is what love does.

Palms Up Palms Down

Tue, 19 Oct 2021 09:51:38 GMT

Psalm 25, 3rd October 21

I really love this Psalm and it seems to me that it’s written from the perspective of an older person. That’s why I chose this Psalm today, with last Friday being the International Day of the Older Person. Many scholars believe that Psalm 25 was written by King David much later in life when his son Absalom organised a coupe against David. It’s like David is looking back over his life, thinking about the scrapes and dramas he was involved in as a younger person, and God’s faithfulness. There’s a certain reflectiveness to this Psalm I think.

The Psalmist starts out by stating their absolute trust in God.

“In you, Lord my God, I put my trust. I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame, but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause.” (Psalm 25:1-3)

Now King David clearly had some issues in life. He talks about his enemies here, and it’s safe to say that though we think life gets easier as we get older, the issues are just different. When we’re younger the issues may be around where should I work, do I want to date this person, what’s my purpose in life. Or that person seems to have changed since they got married, or there’s been a falling out with a friend and now we haven’t spoken a word for years.

Older people also face issues, or to use David’s language “enemies”. It could be an enemy of physical ill health. Or it could be mental health – certainly it’s very common as people get older for them to experience depression. Beyond Blue, a support service for people experiencing depression says

“It is thought that between 10 and 15 per cent of older people experience depression and about 10 per cent experience anxiety. Rates of depression among people living in residential aged-care are believed to be much higher, at around 35 per cent.”

Older people struggle with the questions around living at home, should I get someone in to help out, can I ask for help, should I move? Like the Psalmist we say “I trust you God, I put my trust in you, don’t let me be put to shame”. I PUT my trust in you...it’s an active thing.

A little while back I read a book called a ‘A man called Peter’, about Peter Marshall, a Scottish Presbyterian minister who moved to the United States in the late 1920’s, and eventually was the chaplain to the senate. Peter made the point that to trust God, often means that we have to take our hands off our problems and hand them over to God, trusting Him, whatever the outcome. In difficult circumstances, he would endeavour to hand over the problem to God and say “The problem is now yours, in all it’s ramifications. I promise to be hands off” (p 199). It involves a lot of trust, and it involves a lot of patience.

Richard Foster wrote Celebration of Discipline, and he had a way of praying that he called, “Palms Down, Palms Up”. He said

“Begin by placing your palms down as a symbolic indication of your desire to turn over any concerns you may have to God. Inwardly you may pray, ‘Lord, I give to you my anger toward John. I release my fear of my dentist appointment this morning. I surrender my anxiety over not having enough money to pay the bills this month.’ Whatever it is that weighs on your mind or is a concern to you… release it. You may even feel a certain sense of release in your hands.”

“After several moments of surrender, turn you palms up as a symbol of your desire to receive from the Lord. Perhaps you will pray silently, ‘Lord, I would like to receive your divine love for John, your peace about my dentist appointment, your patience, your joy’.”

Psalm 25:4-5, King David says “Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Saviour, and

my hope is in you all day long.”

King David is humble. He knows he doesn’t have the answers and he says to God ‘You are my only hope. Please show me Your path’. He’s saying to God, all I want is Your will. But here’s the thing, this also requires something from us.

Imagine if you were out at in the middle of the night – the nights are pretty cold at the moment. It’s dark, damp and foggy, and you’re in an unfamiliar part of the bush where your phone has lost it’s signal. You’re desperate to get home, desperate to be warm. And you come across 2 paths…but which one leads home. Which one leads to safety? You’ve stuck there immobilised, when you suddenly realise your phone has a little signal and you can access a map to work out which way you need to go. What is needed is action. You’ve received guidance but you need to walk the path. No point knowing which path to take and then doing nothing about it. King David pleads with God to teach him, show him, guide him…but David has to take that path, has integrate that teaching into his life.

Jesus was really clear on this. Matthew 28: 18-20 says “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’”

Jesus doesn’t say that discipleship is about knowing Jesus commands and teaching. He says that discipleship is teaching to OBEY everything Jesus said. Obey. That’s not such a popular would, but it really just means walking that path. Jesus shows us the way to go and we walk that path. We integrate it into our life. If we’re learning from God, but walking our own path, we can’t really be called a disciple. For all of us at any age, the call is to walk the talk, to put in to action what we’ve learnt and what God has taught us.

The Psalmist then says, “Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, Lord, are good.” (verses 6-7).

These verses speak to me of regrets and things we’ve held on to. I remember visiting a lady in her 80’s and she had felt called to Officership, but she married and her husband wasn’t interested in Officership. She never got to college and 60 years later she said to me “Robyn, I’ve always regretted the decision I made to marry instead of following God’s plan for me”.

You know some people say, “I don’t have any regrets, life is too short for regrets”. I say, if you don’t have regrets it just means you haven’t done anything worth regretting! There’s a myriad of things you could regret…not talking to someone before they died, not saving money when you were young, becoming involved with the wrong person, putting someone’s life at risk, using drugs/alcohol/sex/work/ to excess, not telling someone you love them. If you have something you regret, have a think about it. My prayer for you is ‘Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love…Do not remember the sins of our youth and our rebellious ways; according to your love remember us, for you, Lord, you are good.” God loves you…mistakes and all. But perhaps it’s time to ask God’s forgiveness and then live so as to minimise future regrets.

Is there an issue you need to trust God with - turning over your issues and problems to God? Is today about learning the way of Jesus and obeying, following his path? Or perhaps receiving the love of God, especially at that point of regret, asking God’s forgiveness, and forgiving yourself?

For such a time

Mon, 27 Sep 2021 09:37:15 GMT

Esther7:1-6

I few years back I used to do a lot of whinging to God about my circumstances. There was a stage when I was like ‘it’s not fair God!’ But after a while, I’d think, well Rob is all your whinging completely valid? I mean, there’s a lot in your life that’s great and you live in the western world, life’s pretty easy in many ways… so I’d say to God ‘Aha, but what the Developing world, the third world countries, where 15,000 children die every 24 hrs (that’s from 2019). What about that, that’s not fair. Why don’t you intervene? Got you there.

Then I get this thought ‘Robyn, if everyone lived as God has asked us to, if everyone did their bit, if everyone lived out their purpose, if everyone lived generously… there would be no hunger in the world, there’d be enough medications and medical treatment for all and diseases would not be decimating populations. If we lived as God has asked us to, with compassion and peace, there would be no homelessness in Australia – there would be the resources for adequate mental health services and housing for people.

Imagine if everyone in the world gave a tenth of their income, if not to church, then to a charity that’s making a difference. If people lived as God wants us to, there would be basic sanitation and running water in the developing world. If the world lived as God has asked us to live, there’d be no exploitation and no human trafficking.

If we lived differently…the truth is that many of us in the western world don’t think much further than our immediate surroundings. So often we just don’t see the need in our own communities, let alone the need in the world.

I’ve taken these words from Tarrawanna’s face book page, from this week.

“As Covid cases have increased in the Illawarra, many of the most vulnerable in our community have been impacted. Two local facilities for the homeless were put into isolation last week. From last Friday, with only a few hours notice, the Salvos were called in to provide breakfast and lunch to about 130 people who are isolating in rooms with little more than a bed. From lunch today, NSW Health are now equipped and ready to provide meals to these facilities for the remainder of their 14 day isolation period.

Thank you to all who helped over the weekend by shopping for food, picking up at McDonalds and Subway where needed, making 280 sandwiches, baking slices, packing breakfast and lunch packs and delivering meals around the clock. Please continue to pray for those who are isolating in extremely difficult circumstances in our local community, who feel very scared and alone.” It all starts with seeing a need and doing something about it.

In our story today, Esther is a young Jewish woman who ended up married to King Xerxes, the King of Persia. She’d been raised by her Uncle Mordecai, and at his suggestion, she kept her Jewish heritage a secret from the King.

Not long after she became part of the royal court, a decree was made that on a certain date the entire Jewish population living in Persia was going to be killed. King Xerxes made this decision at the suggestion and urging by a guy in the royal court called Haman. So, the Jews are to be killed in Persia, and Esther, a Jewish woman, is married to the King. I say married, but it’s not as we know it nowadays. He still had a harem and she had no power whatsoever.

When news gets out that there will be a genocide of the Jewish people, Mordecai says to Esther – you have to do something, you have to talk to the King. Esther is like, but it’s dangerous. You see, you could only see the King if he asked you. But if you approached him, without his permission, he’d put you to death...even if you were his wife. There were a lot of risks for Esther.

In Esther 4:13 Mordecai replies to Esther, ““Don’t think that just because you live in the king’s house you’re the one Jew who will get out of this alive. If you persist in staying silent at a time like this, help and deliverance will arrive for the Jews from someplace else; but you and your family will be wiped out. Who knows? Maybe you were made queen for just such a time as this.””

That’s a good question that Mordecai asks Esther - who knows if God has placed you in the royal household for all these years, so that at this particular time in history, you are in a position to do something courageous.

Think about our own lives. How would you react if someone said to you, “God has placed you where you are, in this point in history, for a purpose.” Is it possible that God has placed you in your current position, at home, in your neighbourhood, in your family, in your school, in your work, in your group of friends, that you’re alive at this time in history for a purpose? This was Mordecai’s question to Esther.

Mordecai wasn’t asking her to do something supernatural, he was asking her to be courageous and speak up for family, her people, her beliefs. To no longer be secretive about who she was. To intervene on behalf of other people. Yet this is God’s intervention. I’m always amazed that God uses us ordinary people to intervene in other people’s lives.

Do you sometimes think ‘where are you Lord? Why don’t you intervene in this world?’ For whatever reason, God usually chooses not to directly intervene in history, with a miraculous signs and wonders.

But he does intervene… and the amazing thing, is that he chooses to work through you and I. And for each generation, God works through the lives of ordinary men and women to bring about his purposes. Each time, the need has been great, and there have been men and women who have seen the need and responded to it. Courageous ordinary people through the wars, courageous ordinary people standing with Martin Luther King to bring about change. Courageous ordinary people standing up to say ‘Black Lives Matter’. And today, we know that there are courageous ordinary people stepping in to intervene in human trafficking.

If Esther, our hero in this story, travelled through time and was with us today, I wonder what she would tell us. I think she would tell us that God sees the big picture of your life.

To you, your life may seem disjointed and purposeless. Maybe your life seems so ordinary and mundane. But God has a different view of your life.

I think Esther would tell us that God has plans and purposes for our lives that we can only guess at. Maybe he’s not going to use our life to save a whole nation, but he may very well use our life to save another human being.

There may be someone you work with, living a life of silent desperation, praying that someone will listen to them. There may be a neighbour who is worried and would love someone to pray with them. There may be a friend who’s just waiting to hear about the love and light that Jesus can bring to their life.

Esther would tell you, that God has placed you where you are, in this point in history, for a purpose. Song, O Church Arise

Meditating on the Word

Sun, 26 Sep 2021 20:46:08 GMT

Psalm 1

Psalm 1:1-6 (NLT)

Oh, the joys of those who do not

follow the advice of the wicked,

or stand around with sinners,

or join in with mockers.

2 But they delight in the law of the Lord,

meditating on it day and night.

3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank,

bearing fruit each season.

Their leaves never wither,

and they prosper in all they do.

4 But not the wicked!

They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.

5 They will be condemned at the time of judgment.

Sinners will have no place among the godly.

6 For the Lord watches over the path of the godly,

but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.

On the Thursday night online catch up we spoke about which TV show is our guilty pleasure. I won’t revel any of those – but I could have said Better Homes and Gardens. I really love this show - not sure why, because I can’t cook or garden or use a hammer or saw! Anyway, last Friday night, Graham the garden guy, visited the Illawarra Grevillea Park in Bulli which was set up in 1987 to house a wild grevillea collection for scientific research.

One of the things they spoke about was how to plant a grevillea and make sure it grows. So they dug a hole, wet some water crystals and put them in the base of the hole, then they put a handful of wetting agent in the hole. I’m not going to lie, I’ve got no idea what I’m talking about here, but this is from the grevillea expert.

They threw a handful of slow release fertiliser in the hole, and they completely filled the hole with water. Then they dunked the roots of the tiny grevillea plant in a bucket of water until all the air bubbles came out, then they picked up the plant, water dripping from the roots, and put it into the hole that was still half full of water. They patted the soil around it, then tipped more water on it.

Graham said there’s misconception that Grevillea’s like dry conditions but he said they like to have water around their roots, and for the first 12 months water them once a week. And in no time at all, they’ll be flowering.

Wouldn’t it be great if every living thing came with instructions for care, you know, “do this to help this plant/puppy/baby thrive”. Well the great thing is, we’ve been given instructions about the conditions that help us to thrive.

Here’s the advice “Oh, the joys of those (other versions of the Bible say “blessed or happy are those) who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.”

Firstly, we need to be careful about who is influencing us. I have a friend who’s become an Influencer on Instagram. She takes photos of herself and her family endlessly, where they look happy and beautiful, and she subtly promotes whatever clothes or kids games or baby accessories she’s been given. For people reading her posts, the carefully staged photos are appealing and there’s an underlying message…you can have this lifestyle too if you buy these products.

All our life we will contend with subtle messages from our culture about what we need to make us happy and successful and beautiful. Sometimes we might believe it…and just HAVE to buy a particular car and then we’ll be happy, or try that face cream and then we’ll be beautiful (even though we really know that the model is 18 years old and of course she doesn’t have wrinkles). The psalmist says, be careful who you follow, who you allow to subtly influence you.

Because the psalmist tells us…the only thing that will really change us is to “delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.”

Now this word meditate is an interesting one. The Psalmist is not talking about eastern meditation, where we sit with our legs crossed and go ‘Ooohm!’ That’s not what we’re talking about. Eastern meditation is about emptying yourself.

The word ‘meditate’ has quite a different meaning in the Bible. The word meditate in Hebrew means “to mutter or mumble or growl to moan or to talk to oneself about.” It was actually used to describe an animal who was standing over its prey, ready to feast.

When a lion is in this position it makes a low, growling sound. Or the noise of a cow chewing away on fresh delicious grass and loving every moment of it.

Look I’m pretty certain that sometimes I make these same noises when I’m eating ‘mmm, nom, nom. That’s good!’. It’s kind of like savouring your food, slowing down, tasting each mouthful.

That’s the same word being used to describe the person who’s not just reading the Word of God but feeding on the Word of God.

It was always the habit of the people of God to meditate. In Old Testament times they didn’t have the benefit of a printed copy of Scripture so they would take what they were taught in the Temple or early gatherings of the church and they would turn the words over and over in their minds. They would do this in the morning and during the day while they worked and before they went to bed at night.

It’s about slowing down, savouring the Word of God, thinking about ‘what does this tell me about God?’, what does this tell me about people?’ and ‘what should I do this week in response to this passage of scripture?’. Chewing it over.

For instance, if I was to answer these questions about these verses….what does it tell me about God…he strengthens us, he watches over our path, he nourishes our soul. What does it tell me about people…we have a choice, freewill to live with God or without God, the company I keep, the influences I have will shape me. What am I going to do about this week….I’m going to chew over the word of God for half an hour a day.

Every so often I’ve spoken at or attended conferences. They can be enormously expensive and truly I’m not sure that most of them bring lasting change. I’m more convinced than ever, that the only true change with come in our lives, when we get serious about reading the Bible and discovering the delights held within for ourslef. The Bible is an amazing, challenging, uplifting book, and God uses it to change our lives.

The next part of this I love is Psalm 1:3, “They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper (or thrive) in all they do.”

This reminds of the grevillea – for it to grow it needed moist soil, regular watering. Sure you could choose not to water it. I gave a friend of mine a well-established lavender bush in a large pot for one of her birthdays. She put the pot on her covered veranda and I noticed every time I visited it looked a little less healthy. When the plant was on death row, I finally said, what’s happened to the lavender? She said, well I never water it.

There’s no mystery to life and health in our relationship with Jesus. I mean, if we want a relationship with God, why not go all in, why not give it 100%.

Because this is the outcome, you’ll be like a stable, strong tree, and you’ll get your source of life and strength from the Holy Spirit filling your life, like water from a stream. You’ll grow and thrive and there’ll be new fruit in your life. You don’t have to fake enthusiasm for Jesus, it will just be part of who you are.

We’re going to listen to “He will hold me fast” written in 1906 by Robert Harkness. a gifted Australian pianist who travelled the world in his twenties with the famous evangelist R.A. Torrey and his musical director Charles Alexander.

One night, at an evangelistic rally in Canada, Harkness met a young man, recently converted, who feared he might not be able to “hold out.” Harkness longed for the young man, and countless others impacted by the revival meetings, to have confidence deep in their souls that their finishing the race, and keeping the faith, did not fall finally to themselves. He wanted this young man and others to know that God finishes what he starts.

I’ve chosen this song, because as we meditate on God’s word, he holds us fast, we’re grounded, stable, growing. You can stand up to temptation, you delight in Jesus.

What is your response to these verses? God bless you as you chew on the Word of God this week.

I Love the Lord

Sun, 26 Sep 2021 20:40:08 GMT

Psalm 116: 1-9

We looked at a Psalm last week, Psalm 124. And the Psalms are kind of grouped together in themes. I wonder if anyone can remember what group last weeks Psalm was part of? If you can’t don’t worry, I could barely remember and I wrote the sermon – but it was a Psalm of Ascent…Psalms 120- 134 were written especially for singing as they travelled the long journey to the temple. Well Psalm 113 to Psalm 118, are called the Hallel psalms and these were psalms that were always sung at Passover.

In each meal, as the family or families or the friends would gather together, there would be a host. He would preside over the feast and he would be the one to begin the prayers and the singing of these hymns. When Jesus celebrated the Passover with his disciples, we know that these are the psalms that he sung in the last time he gathered together with his friends. Imagine, Jesus knowing that he was about the be betrayed by the Jewish hierarchy and killed by the Romans on the cross, and most of his friends would leave him. As they sat around after the meal, they sang this song:

Psalm 116:1-9

1 I love the Lord, for he heard my voice;

he heard my cry for mercy.

2 Because he turned his ear to me,

I will call on him as long as I live.

3 The cords of death entangled me,

the anguish of the grave came over me;

I was overcome by distress and sorrow.

4 Then I called on the name of the Lord:

‘Lord, save me!’

5 The Lord is gracious and righteous;

our God is full of compassion.

6 The Lord protects the unwary;

when I was brought low, he saved me.

7 Return to your rest, my soul,

for the Lord has been good to you.

8 For you, Lord, have delivered me from death,

my eyes from tears,

my feet from stumbling,

9 that I may walk before the Lord

in the land of the living.

Well, I got out of the house this week. I conducted a funeral and burial of a lady who was 93 and had planned this day 30 years earlier. When the lady was 61 a relative said they were going have her cremated. The lady said ‘you’re not going to throw me into the fire like a bag of rubbish’, marched down to the cemetery and arranged her plot! Even in death, she was able to control her circumstances! But in life we’re not always able to control our circumstances and we see this in the psalm today.

But first, how about that first line. “I love the LORD”. I always think it’s funny when people think the Bible is conservative or Christians are reserved or non-demonstrative. Here’s the first line – I love the LORD. This doesn’t speak of duty, or just something I’ve grown up with or I can’t think of anything better to do with my Sundays. It’s out there.

And not only does the Psalmist say “I love the LORD” but he says why. I don’t’ know if you’ve ever told someone you love them and they ask you why? Have you ever gone blank at that point? Mumbled “you’re a good cook” or “I like green eyes”.

Well the Psalmist had no such problem. He’s thought it through. He said “I love the Lord, for he heard my voice, he heard my cry for mercy.” (Psalm 116:1). I wonder, have you thought this through? What would you say if you were asked, about your faith? Would you be able to say, “I love God because…”. And have an authentic, genuine answer?

It struck me that this psalm is all about the psalmist telling their story, telling someone else about their faith journey. This psalm is their testimony. So I’m going to give you some thinking music and I want you to think about and write down if you’ve got a pen and paper…

I love God because… or to use the Psalmists words I love the Lord because…. Here’s some ideas. I love the Lord because… He gave me strength through a difficult time, or because He took my burdens and now I’m a new person, or because He’s my constant companion. What is it for you…I love the LORD because…you might have a list of 20 reasons.

What you’ve written is your testimony, your story, not complicated.

The psalmist continued telling his story

2 Because he turned his ear to me,

I will call on him as long as I live.

3 The cords of death entangled me,

the anguish of the grave came over me;

I was overcome by distress and sorrow.

4 Then I called on the name of the Lord:

‘Lord, save me!’

What does the Psalmists story tell us about his experience of God?

That God listens. If the Psalmist was alive today they would say to you ‘look, I know there’s 7.9 billion people in the world, and there’s a LOT of problems in the world….but God hears YOU.

I remember watching Bruce Almighty and he became God for a time. At first he was overwhelmed with the prayers of people constantly in his head, so then he thought ‘I’ll give the prayers a filing system’ and his lounge room was completely filled with 4 draw filing cabinets. Then he decided, post it notes, every one’s prayer from round the world should be on an individual post it note, and everything in his house was immediately covered in post it notes.

I don’t believe you are one voice competing with all those in the world, for God’s attention. Because YOU have the Holy Spirit within you. And the Holy Spirit within you is just listening to one voice – YOURS.

What does the Psalmist’s story tell us about people?

That really in life we are pretty powerless. The words “The cords of death entangled me,” that’s a vivid picture of someone bound and being dragged down, no choice, feeling like this is it”.

The Psalmist says they felt absolute anguish in their situation and were overcome by distress and sorrow. Regardless of how much we may try to control our environment, keep everything chugging along just so, we do know deep down this truth, we are powerless over people, places and things. The only one we can truly control is ourself, and the only other resource we will ALWAYS have is God.

In this deadly danger the Psalmist calls on the name of the Lord. To be honest, I hear lots of people call out the name of the Lord. It’s increasing common and no one every says ‘oh Muhammad!’ and it’s not uttering magical words like ‘abracadabra’. Calling on the NAME of the Lord, I think implies we know something about his name, because the name of God tells us of his character.

ELOHIM: God “Creator, Mighty and Strong” (Genesis 17:7; Jeremiah 31:33)

EL SHADDAI: “God Almighty,” “The Mighty One of Jacob” (Genesis 49:24; Psalm 132:2,5) – speaks to God’s ultimate power over all.

YAHWEH-JIREH: "The Lord Will Provide" (Genesis 22:14)

YAHWEH-RAPHA: "The Lord Who Heals" (Exodus 15:26)

YAHWEH-M'KADDESH: "The Lord Who Sanctifies, Makes Holy" (Leviticus 20:8; Ezekiel 37:28)

YAHWEH-SHALOM: "The Lord Our Peace" (Judges 6:24)

YAHWEH-TSIDKENU: "The Lord Our Righteousness” (Jeremiah 33:16)

YAHWEH-ROHI: "The Lord Our Shepherd" (Psalm 23:1)

There are many more names for God and you can look them up on the internet! The Psalmist was counting on the character of God when he called out to God. ‘Lord, save me!’ The NKJV says “O Lord, I implore You, deliver my soul!”

Charles Spurgeon liked this prayer and said that this prayer is “short, comprehensive, to the point, humble and earnest. It is well if all our prayers were molded upon this model. Perhaps they would be if we were in similar circumstances as the Psalmist for real trouble produces real prayer.” It’s true isn’t it?

The psalmist continued telling their story

5 The Lord is gracious and righteous;

our God is full of compassion.

6 The Lord protects the unwary;

when I was brought low, he saved me.

For a season the Psalmist was in this death/life crisis. But having gone through that crisis, the Psalmist says ‘yep, that was terrible, but I can testify that God is real and he brought me through’. I know that to be true for almost all of us here today. We could all say ‘yep, that was terrible, but I can testify that God is real and he brought me through’.

And we finish our reading today with

7 Return to your rest, my soul,

for the Lord has been good to you.

8 For you, Lord, have delivered me from death,

my eyes from tears,

my feet from stumbling,

9 that I may walk before the Lord

in the land of the living.

The Psalmist finishes with thanks and gratitude to God, such a great place to be. I read a devotional thought by Richard Rohr yesterday and he said “Most people I’ve known in my lifetime react, they do not act. They spend their whole life reacting to circumstances and always consider themselves the victim of circumstances.”

Gosh, to be honest, I’ve been there, feeling like I’m a victim of circumstances. Presenting OK on the outside but really being angry and resentful to God and other humans. Yet the Psalmist shows us that acknowledging the past terrible circumstances, yet remaining thankful to God for His faithfulness and goodness, brings us to a place of rest and peace. I pray that that’s true for you this morning. That though there have been times, or maybe you’re in the midst of times, when everything feels like it’s being shaken, I pray you’re still able thank God for His faithfulness and goodness through it all. Because it will bring you rest and peace.

As we listen to “I’m in his hands” by Phil Laeger, I’d like you to think about “I love the Lord because…..” . This is your story, your testimony, This is what you tell others when they wonder about your faith. Remember God hears you…the Holy Spirit dwells within you and hears only your voice. God bless you.

Trust in the Lord

Sun, 26 Sep 2021 20:36:45 GMT

Psalm 125

Many people around the world are living in uncertain times. And the truth is we never know what the future holds. I used to say, ‘just as well’. But many people live afraid of what might happen to them or their families. They’re afraid of what might happen in the world, in their country or in their community. Whenever you feel unsettled or uncertain, Psalm 125 is a great place to go.

This is called a Psalm of Ascent and the Psalms of Ascent (Psalms 120-134) were sung by worshipers as they made the journey up to Jerusalem for the annual feasts. They would walk along, on this potentially dangerous journey, singing songs that reminded them of God’s protection and faithfulness.

This Psalm tells us that those who trust in the Lord are safe and secure. Verses 1-2 (NLT): “Those who trust in the Lord are as secure as Mount Zion; they will not be defeated but will endure forever. Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, both now and forever.” These verses tell us two things. They tell us what we are like when we trust in God. And they tell us what God is like to you when you trust in Him.

So, what are we like when we trust in God? Verse 1: “Those who trust in the Lord are as secure as Mount Zion; they will not be defeated but will endure forever.” When we trust in God we are as secure as Mount Zion, the NIV says “which cannot be shaken”. The Bible uses the image of Mount Zion possibly for two reasons.

Firstly, any mountain is rock solid, not going anywhere, unmoved by harsh conditions of weather… drought, flood, fire. At the end of it the mountain is still there. Think of the Blue Mountains. Almost 2 years ago, fires raged through the Blue Mountains destroying everything in its path. Except for the mountain itself. The 3 Sisters still as beautiful as ever.

But Mount Zion is also mentioned because in the Old Testament it’s used as a reference to the place where God dwelt. And the place where God dwells is a place of safety and security. Those who trust in God can be confident. We know that God’s people face difficulties, discouragements, setbacks - it’s documented in the Bible and it’s our experience. But it we’re trusting in God, we will not be moved or shaken. are safe and secure. You are like Mount Zion which cannot be shaken but endures forever.

Is this wishful thinking? No, you and I know people who have trusted in God through cancer treatment, who’ve trusted in God when their husband or wife has left them. In fact, for many of them, they have found that God has continued to teach them and their dependence on God has grown. Their insight into themselves increase, their humility and graciousness blossoms. That’s how it can look when we’re trusting in God, and sticking close to him no matter what’s happening.

Just this week I wrote a reference for a person I’ve known since 2003, I’ll call her Bronwyn. She was married to a guy with 3 kids when we met. He was unusual – I used to say she interpreted the world to him and him to the world. But after about 20 years of marriage, he had a very public affair with someone from their church. The marriage ended and Bronwyn cared for her 3 kids, they became adults and left home. She met another man. A beautiful man who treated her with all the kindness and goodness in the world. They married and after 3 years of marriage, he died from an aggressive form of cancer. I wrote this about her:

“Through difficult personal circumstances, Bronwyn has maintained an unwavering belief in a loving God. Bronwyn has never become cynical or bitter, instead, she is known by her colleagues and peers, as a person of prayer and reading the Word of God. My observation of Bronwyn is that she is insightful, wise, calm, relational, resilient, measured and compassionate.”

She was always a lovely person, but she’s become even more, kind of, radiant with the presence and peace of God. She’s dwelling in a place of safety and security…she’s as secure and immoveable as Mount Zion and will not be defeated.

So what God like to you when you trust in him? Verse 2 says “Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, both now and forever.”

John Phillips says: “To get at Jerusalem an enemy had to get past the mountains. To get at God’s people, an enemy must first get past God.” We understand this image of mountains surrounding a city, because that’s what we have here in the Illawarra. I understand that in the early 1800’s it was quite difficult for people to travel to our neck of the woods, because it was protected by the beautiful, surrounding mountains. So verse 2 compares the surrounding mountains to God surrounding your life. God is not simply at your side, but he surrounds you on every side.

Close your eyes for a moment- try and imagine God all around you. Keep your eyes closed if you are able, and picture this for yourself.

St Patrick wrote: Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.

Open your eyes. That’s your daily life. Surrounded on all sides by the Holy Spirit. And by the way – isn’t St Patrick a deep thinker – I only usually think of green when I think of his name!

“Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, both now and forever” (verse 2). Now and forever. Through a strange set of circumstances I have ended up doing an 8 week zoom course on discipleship. It’s run by Dave Milne from the Presbyterian church. And somehow I seem to have gate crashed into a little group of uni students that all know each other and they’re about 20 years old. And me.

From the responses of the guys in the group, I guess they’ve grown up in the church. Last week read John 17:1-5, and verse 3 says this “And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth”. One of the guys said, wow, I’ve just understood for the first time, that eternal life is about knowing God and Jesus Christ…and that knowledge starts now. Eternal life is not just something for the future. Eternal life is here and now as we get to know God and spend time with God and surrender our lives to Jesus.

Yes! The Psalmist understood this a long time ago. This life of security and stability and being surrounded by the Holy Spirit is both NOW and forever. Living life close to Jesus we can experience something of that eternal life, or what heaven will be like now. We have the presence of the Holy Spirit within us and surrounding us. That’s what heaven will be like. And that can begin today.

I always write a prayer at the top of my sheet of paper when I’m writing a sermon. And in part to read today. “I pray that something of your hope will come through. Something of the security found in you. Something of the trust worthiness of placing our lives in your hands”. Let me tell you, that prayer is both for you and I.

We’ll listen to or sing along with In Christ alone because of these words:

In Christ alone my hope is found

He is my light, my strength, my song

This cornerstone, this solid ground

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease

My comforter, my all in all

Here, in the love of Christ, I stand

What is your ‘take away’ today? What does this mean for you and the days ahead? God bless you as you trust in the Lord, and find your safety and security in being surrounded by Him.

What Going on in your Heart

Thu, 02 Sep 2021 11:07:17 GMT

Mark 7:1-8

Do you watch the TV news, listen to the radio or use social media to get your dose of local, national and international news. There is no shortage of voices who present their opinion like they’re solid facts. A news tape or grab as it’s called, runs and the individual speaks for less than 15 seconds, it then takes the news expert services 5 grueling minutes to tell us what we just heard.

But its not just the news services, its others, plenty of others who want to tell us what foods we should and shouldn’t eat, what’s been ethically sourced, which companies are to be trusted and how we should raise, educate and discipline children, old people, and refugees.

There are people who are largely self made and who are self promoters who are now referred to as ‘influencers’. These people don’t usually bother themselves with presenting facts, either historical, medical or scientific…there opinion is their influence.

Currently there is a large libel war raging in the federal courts over the effect one ‘influencer’ exercised over the fishing industry and the serious outcomes.

The influencer had been saying people should not eat Tasmanian Salmon because it gives cancer, its now been revealed in court the person made those statements just as an exercise to test the levels of her own influence in the social media. For many its all about sounding plausible and being believable and selling copy and advertising space. This is about polishing someone’s ego and nothing at all to do with eating these particular fish.

So, are you comfortable asking questions, examining a subject or having a strong expectation for people to be clear and precise and truthful when they deliver information effecting you?

Throughout the Gospels Jesus showed how comfortable He was with questions, both in answering peoples questions and by asking those same people questions. There were times when people designed a question to put to Jesus with the intention of getting Him to incriminate Himself, only to find themselves embarrassed by the question Jesus gave in reply.

In this Gospel report Jesus demonstrates how faith isn’t just about subscribing to a doctrine or particular religious traditions or a lifestyle. What is going on in the heart, He says, is as important as what is going on in your head. And the Scribes and Pharisees now sprung in their own clever trap weren’t happy to say the least…..they were outraged.

When working in the Drug recovery programme often people would relapse by returning to their old destructive habits and returning to Booth intoxicated.

Often they would say they had no idea this would happen, going into a pub and drinking was an impulse they had no control over. It’s hard to tell people sometimes their explanation and excuses were rubbish.

Every action we take, all we do, has in the very first place been considered and rehearsed in the mind, in our thoughts, and the longer we entertain and play with those thoughts we begin to feel it in our heart and that’s when we act ….the action we take has always been a choice, a choice we make.

This process of thinking, feeling and acting is never wrong, not with the religious leaders and their followers and the disciples back then and it’s still the same today. The idea of blaming others or refusing to accept responsibility is still alive and strong. It’s when we find those thoughts in our mind and thinking…..then is when temptation or rebellion need to be challenged and be pushed away. This is when courage needs to be woken up and that does take a lot of insight and practice followed closely by courage and faith in God. Sinners remorse only comes following the wrong. When you catch yourself asking why you made the mistake…be brave and answer yourself honestly.

‘Trust God’ is more than a catchphrase. Proverbs 3:5-6 written by King Solomon ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him (God) and He will make your paths straight.’

The old king is simply telling us if we don’t already know it…..Don’t rely on your own insight, acknowledge God’s supremacy. In order to be wise, you can’t be wise in your own eyes. Have your questions, look for answers, keep searching, embrace what you don’t get, let people know what you’re wondering about…..and you will find more of God than a few catchphrases and unexamined cliches.

Jesus shows what does and doesn’t matter when it comes to obeying the ways and commands of God. Jesus addresses the Scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem who have every intention of springing a trap to use the laws to condemn Jesus and His followers. Jesus knew He will meet this religious lot again, next time in Jerusalem when He will be tried and crucified……and they again will think they have won. Three days later Jesus rose from the grave but only some marveled at the power of God.

Back to Marks reading. After Jesus had spoken to the Scribes and Pharisees He turned His attention on the ordinary men and women and drew them in closer to Him. What you each need to understand, it is NOT what you take into your body, food and drink, and all of their dietary requirements that matters. Following the religious traditions and rules will not, and will never be what gets you ready for God’s Kingdom. All these things will simply pass through your system and leave you hollow and empty…just like the traditions….only useful for a moment.

Without condemning these people Jesus gently points out food consumption and the dietary requirements are grossly inadequate as a pathway to purity and fellowship with God.

Jesus then addresses the third group who were in His company that day….His disciples and says, to them, you guys don’t get either…do you?

Fellows listen to me, you know this, you already know the truth in what I’m about to say! It is from the heart that evil intentions come, it’s from your will, your unreasonable and selfish desires constantly corrupting you.

We each make choices and each one of those choices is followed by their natural outcomes and consequences. We have been taught there are things we can be consumed by that spoil us and our relationship with God and many others along the way. What we are consumers of can be distorted and find a place of power in our life by our desire for self satisfaction and self rule being allowed to run loose. We become insatiable consumers of the things, of pleasures, of other people, even our own energy, then what was once in our control switches us around and power is in the wrong hands.

The work of Salvation is and ever is Gods initiative and Jesus in this gospel story tells all those gathered around Him that day to reconsider what you think is essential to gaining a place in Gods Kingdom. God knows who we are and indeed He know who we should be and He makes the great offer of grace and mercy. If we apologise to God for this rebelliousness we have, He will accept us into His Kingdom.

Bread from Heaven

Wed, 18 Aug 2021 19:39:20 GMT

John 6: 41-51

Can you relate to any of these scenarios – no names are mentioned to protect the people involved! You’re about to leave the house and realise you don’t have your car keys, they’re not in the place they always are, and neither are they in the second most likely place to be. You think back to when you came in the front door last, where did you go – did you rush to the toilet throwing the keys on the toilet or bed? Have the keys fallen out of your pocket before you even made it in to the front door? Of course, the word car keys could be substituted with ‘mobile phone’, sunglasses, prescription glasses, or wallet. And the number of times, OK I’ll say I, have then found the item in an obvious place after hunting around the whole house….like phone on the charger, keys on the kitchen bench, glasses on my head. Sometimes it’s easy not to see what’s right in front of you.

And this week we read of the Jewish religious people grumbling, because they can’t see what’s right in front of them. They know that Jesus is no ordinary man…there have been many healings and miracles that have taken place with him. How could they have possibly missed what seems so obvious to us. They’re grumbling because they didn’t understand what was happening. Last week we heard that Jesus inferred that he was God, he said “I AM the bread of life”. He use the name of God – I AM – to talk about himself. And this week Jesus says John 6:41“I am the bread that came down from heaven.”

And the Pharisees said, “Are you kidding me? OH.MY.WORD. He grew up in Galilee!!!

Or as the Bible says in verse 42 of John chapter 6, “Isn’t this Jesus, the son of Joseph? We know his father and mother. How can he say, ‘I came down from heaven’?” You and I probably have some sympathy with the Pharisees. If someone said to me today that they were God, I’d have trouble believing them. But there were signs, and the sign or miracles were there as a signpost, to give us a clue about Jesus.

The Bible says Jesus fully God and fully man. That’s not an easy concept right. But apart from Jesus himself saying it, others also saw it and confirmed it – like Thomas when he saw and touched Jesus after he was resurrected, he said to Jesus, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28).

Or when Jesus says to Martha “I AM (there’s that those words again) the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?” Martha’s been in the background, watching, observing, seeing the miracles, watching the great compassion and love of Jesus and she says “Yes, Lord, I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God.” (John 11:27). Or Peter who saw all that Jesus said and did, and then Jesus said, well Peter, who do you think I am? And Peter said ‘you are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16).

But the Pharisees looked right past the obvious signs and miracles, it’s like they didn’t see them because it didn’t fit with their preconceived ideas. Whatever or whoever they thought the Messiah would be, they didn’t think Jesus fitted the bill! And so, they were like, nope, he grew up in Galilee, he’s human and that’s all there is to it. As an aside, it is a hard concept and the early church struggled with this idea and came to understand it as the fullness of God and the fullness of humanity co-existing in the person of Jesus. It’s not like it’s all mixed up together and his got Mary’s eye’s and God the Father’s good temperament. Rather, in Jesus each nature dwelt in its fullness without changing the other. Being God didn’t make His humanity superhuman, and His humanity did not dull down the gloriousness of his divinity.

Thomas, Peter and Mary looked at what was happening and interpreted it through a lens of faith and trust. The Pharisees looked at what was happening, it didn’t fit what they expected or wanted, so they rejected Jesus.

You know, I know people who live with terrible regrets. I know people who see no hope for the future. I know people who live in misery in the present. And yet, when I say, give Jesus a go, invite him in to your life, you’ve got nothing to lose. And they say no to Jesus, because of their preconceived ideas of who he is, and it’s such a tragedy. Because life could be so different for them. We have absolutely nothing to lose by trusting in who Jesus is and surrendering our life completely to him.

I often say that when I was in the Salvation Army’s training college, I thought a lot about theological things. I’m sure you’d think ‘thank goodness, that’s exactly what you’re meant to be doing there!’ But can I say, sometimes, you can think too much. Faith is not a logical thing. The Pharisees had thought through so much, that they thought they knew how God would act, what the Messiah would look like. Sometimes, we just need to take a deep breath and say, OK, I don’t understand what you’re doing God, or I don’t understand all the theological issues, but I am going believe and trust you with my life.

Then in verse 44 Jesus says “For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me”.

God the Father draws us to himself. God has made all the moves so that we can have a relationship with Him. He sent Jesus to walk amongst us, he sent Jesus to die for us, he reached out to us. Many people go lectures and hear gurus talk, and feel that they have to search for God. A bit like a child lost in a supermarket – running frantically to try and find their parent, the source of security. Yet God seeks us out – the poet Francis Thompson called God, the Hound of Heaven. He pursues us, stays on out trail, undaunted by our rejection of him, and despite our rebellion toward him. This is an act of enormous kindness, He loves us in spite of our failures, our rebellion and our sin. We love because God first loved us (1 John 4:19).

God the Father draws us to Jesus. He’s doing that this morning in church, He does that when you see the sunrise, He does that when you hear a beautiful piece of music, He does that when you encounter the compassion and love of another person. God draws you to Jesus in so many ways…but it’s our responsibility to respond…don’t’ ignore the Holy Spirit when He whispers ‘see that mountain, I made it’, or when He says ‘you know how much you enjoyed that persons sense of humour, they’re made in my image’, or when He says ‘how about that meal, I provided that for you’. It all leads to Jesus.

Then Jesus says in verse 47 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life.”

This is what it’s all about eternal life with God. But make no mistake, it starts now. We live in this world but we live with a glimpse of heaven. 2 Corinthians 1:22 says that God has given his “Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first instalment that guarantees everything he has promised us.” We have the Holy Spirit with us – and in that we have the fullness of God within, but it’s just a down payment on what is to come when we experience the fullness of God in heaven.

This morning, 3 things to consider:

Firstly, The Pharisees held back from Jesus and grumbled. Honestly, you and I have nothing to lose by believing unreservedly and surrendering to Jesus. Are there areas where your doubting and fearing? Surrender them to Jesus today.

Secondly, remember God is always drawing you to Jesus. Listen to His whispers as he draws your attention back to Him. Everything leads back to Jesus, and it’s a way of gratitude.

Thirdly, Jesus did it all so we can experience an eternity of being with God. He loves us, He forgives our sins and mistakes, and He’s give us his Holy Spirit so we can experience a little of heaven on earth. So good. Everything was done, so you can come to Jesus

Bread of Life

Wed, 18 Aug 2021 19:39:16 GMT

John 6:51-58, 15th August 2021

Well, a common question at the moment is ‘how are you going?’. We often ask this question of one another, but it seems to have taken on more significance in COVID times. It’s like it’s full of meaning …how are you REALLY? When people ask me I usually say “Fine. I’m doing OK. Lockdown is boring but I’m OK.”

How are you, is an important question though. Last week Lifeline reported that it had recorded its highest ever number of calls for a single day in its 58 years - 3345 calls to Lifeline in a single day. The journalist reporting on this quoted a neuro psychologist, Susan Rossell, who likened the coronavirus pandemic to an international conflict.

Professor Rossell said, “There are very few pandemics that have lasted this long. So, the comparison to wars, especially wars that last a very long time, is a good one, During the conflict times, so, during the pandemic time, it elevated stress and anxiety, loneliness, confusion, poorer quality of life – all the things that we are seeing at the moment.”

There are many people who are struggling each day. We used to fill our lives with visits to family and friends, going to the gym, going to social groups, volunteering out time, visiting a coffee shop, going shopping, getting a haircut (oh the hairdresser is going to be busy once we’re out of lockdown), going to work…that’s been huge, the number of people forced to take holidays or unpaid leave.

But that’s all been taken away. All the ‘doing’ of life is suspended…and people are left with what? For some people it’s left a yawning hole in their life. There’s nothing to do, and doing life has become strange and unknown.

But there’s a difference between doing life or having life; that’s the issue Jesus is concerned about. That’s the focus of today’s gospel. It is important enough that it has been the subject of the last several Sundays of gospel readings. Each week has brought us closer to the unspoken question behind today’s gospel: Is there life within you?

That’s a hard question and one which many will avoid or ignore. They will turn back and walk away rather than face the question. “They may answer, I’m fine, I’m ok’. But not really answer, is there real life within you? The question pushes us to discover the hunger within us and the life Jesus wants to feed us. That’s what Jesus has been after these last few weeks.

Three weeks ago 5000 hungry people showed up. They were fed with five loaves and two fish. They didn’t understand. They thought it was about loaves and fish. It was really about life and where life comes from. Two weeks ago Jesus challenged us to consider the bread we eat. Is it perishable bread or does it endure to eternal life? Last week Jesus declared himself to be the bread of life, the living bread they came down from heaven.

Today he says, “You’ve gotta eat my flesh. And drink my blood.” This was an interesting week with the reading, because most of the commentaries that I read spoke about Eucharist or Communion…this bread is my body, this wine is my blood.

Now, you know I didn’t grow up in the Salvation Army and I enjoyed communion for all of my worshiping life until I became a Salvo. But as I read this passage I thought, but how could it be about Eucharist or Communion, it wasn’t a ‘thing’ at this point. They hadn’t had the last supper, Jesus hadn’t broken the bread with the disciples. And I thought what might the original hearers have understood.

Well one group of original hearers were the Pharisee and they were horrified. Even you and I would find it pretty icky if someone saying you’re got to drink my blood. But Jewish Law was very particularly against partaking of any blood…it was forbidden by God’s law. For Jewish and Muslim people God’s law is still that way…they are NOT having a slice of black pudding for breakfast (you can look that up latter if you’ve never heard of it).

I’m convinced this was more than just a reference to the future practice of Communion and Eucharist. I think it’s about so much more. This is about the only way we ever have life within us. Jesus is very clear and blunt about it. His flesh is true food and his blood is true drink. Any other diet leaves us empty and hollow, hungry and bereft of life. In verse 53 Jesus says “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you.” Those are serious words, ominous words, words about eternal life. But Jesus is talking about quality of life now - a life that is beyond words, fulfilling, beautiful, indescribable.

Most of us spend a fair amount of time, energy, and prayer trying to create and possess the life we want. In spite of our best efforts sometimes we live less than fully alive. Sometimes the outside and inside of who we are don’t match up.

We ask ourselves, “What am I doing with my life?” We wonder if this is all there will ever be. Is this as good as it gets? We lament at what has become of us and our life. Nothing seems to satisfy. We despair at what is and what we think will be. Despite family and friends we find no place in which we really belong.

Those questions and feelings are not so much a judgement on us, but a diagnosis of us. There is, however, treatment for our condition and food for our hunger. The flesh and blood of Jesus are the medicine that saves. One dose, however, is not enough. We need a steady diet of this sacred medicine, this holy food.

Apparently when Jesus said that we were to eat his flesh the word eat means to really “chomp”. Jesus is not talking about some half-hearted nibble on life with Christ. Just nibbling here and there. Reading his word now and then, meditating on his goodness every so often. The Message Version of this verse urges us to bring “a hearty appetite to this eating”.

But there’s the thing that I said last week…we’ve got nothing to lose by surrendering completely to Jesus. Jesus is our medicine and our health. He is our life and the means to the life for which we most deeply hunger. We don’t work for the life we want. We eat for the life we want.

We eat and digest his life, his love, his mercy, his forgiveness, his way of being and seeing, his compassion, his presence, and his relationship with the Father. We eat and drink our way to life. So leave nothing behind. Push nothing to the side. Lick the plate clean…miss nothing of the goodness of Jesus.

When everything else is taken away…we are NOT left with a void, we are NOT left with nothing. We are left with God the Father who loves us, nurtures us, feeds us. We are not alone, we can thrive when all else is gone, we can survive and thrive again after heart ache. But we need to be close to Jesus, receiving the bread of life every day.

Love the Giver, Not the Gift

Tue, 03 Aug 2021 11:04:05 GMT

John 6:24-35

Last week we heard that Jesus miraculously fed thousands of people. They were hungry, starving, and he filled their stomachs. Maybe it was the best meal they’d ever had. But we get the idea now, that this massive crowd is following Jesus with the idea, ‘we’ll squeeze more outta this guy! He gave us a great lunch yesterday, but listen more importantly what’s for breakfast today?!?’

In verse 26 Jesus says to them “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you.”

I understand that there’s something alluring about hanging around someone who can provide materially for you in some way. I read about Whitney Houston and all the ‘friends’ and ‘family’ who came out of the wood work once she had some money. They would hang around her constantly, using her money to buy drugs and party hard. But at the end of her life, those people had moved on and were no longer there for her. They were interested in Whitney’s money, not her company or friendship. They sought the gift, not the giver.

That’s exactly what Jesus is saying here to the people ‘you seek me, because you think I can give you a slice of bread. But there is so much more, and make sure you don’t miss it. Jesus says ‘you’re thinking about food – bread’, “But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you.”

I read a story this week about a woman whose friend had died unexpectedly from cancer.

.She wrote “I offered my friend a lift to her appointment at the hospital. She was fighting a rare and aggressive form of cancer: one which would take her life within mere months. We were mostly quiet as we travelled that morning when suddenly she broke our shared silence and she said, "I only wish..." and she paused to catch her breath. I found myself holding my own breath as I waited for what she would say next. "I only wish I hadn't worried so much about money." And yes, I remember well the day her four children emptied out her house and divided up her precious things, particularly the growing pile which would make its way to the city dump. I remember crying just a bit as I walked through her kitchen to see all this play out.”

The things we wished we hadn’t worried about so much in life. Don’t be concerned about perishable things says Jesus. It’s hard isn’t it? I get that we need to have a place to live, we need to have enough money to eat. And yet Jesus says there’s so much more to life, so much more to life in Him. There’s so much more to put your energy in to. He says be careful about where you put all your energy. There are many things that, at the end of life, won’t matter.

The people following Jesus wanted someone who could provide them with bread that’s here today and gone tomorrow. And Jesus said

33 The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

34 “Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.”

35 Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

I AM the bread of life says Jesus. You might remember that in Exodus 3 Moses is at the burning bush and says to God, who shall I tell everyone I’ve been talking to? Exodus 3:14 “God replied to Moses, “I am who i am. Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me to you.”

And Jesus uses this exact wording to say “I AM the bread of life”. What is Jesus saying? By calling himself I AM, he’s saying that he is God. And the bread of life? Who doesn’t like the smell of fresh baked bread out of the oven! Such a nice idea, but in our culture we wouldn’t eat too much of it!

But in this ancient culture, bread wasn’t an optional extra with a meal – they weren’t worried about carbs then! Bread WAS the meal. Think of middle eastern food even today, and the prominence of flat round bread. And in the desert with Moses, bread, called ‘manna’ was provided by God every day. Bread wasn’t an optional extra there either – no bread, no life. That’s all they had to eat. In this one statement Jesus says that he is God, and that he has been sent to provide everything we need for spiritual life.

And later in Jesus life, just prior to his crucifixion, we read in Luke 22:19, “He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” Jesus broken body on the cross took our sin and brought us spiritual life and hope. And forgiveness is just the beginning. The bread of life wants to nourish our spirts every day, wants to continue to make us into the beautiful people of God that just shine for Him.

What does that look like? It means digging in to the bible, or reading a devotional book, or reading a biography of someone who did great exploits for God, spending time talking to God in nature, or listening to a podcast of an inspiring Christian speaker, or listening to beautiful music that inspires, or taking notes during my message on Sunday and looking up some of the scriptures for yourself…and coming back and saying ‘I don’t’ think you were tight there Robyn’. And you’d never have only one meal a week…that would never sustain you. We need to seek the life and nourishment from God every day.

Eating is an active thing – you need to do something. Jesus will provide the nourishment, but if you don’t actually eat it, nothing changes. We seek the giver, not the gift. Having your own personal miracle, for the people in Jesus day it was bread, it exciting, but next week the bread is stale, mouldy, gone. But when we seek Jesus, we receive life and spiritual nourishment that will never fail, and is always enough.

The Time is Now

Wed, 19 May 2021 20:34:47 GMT

Based on Craig Groeschel’s sermon series - Haggai

If you missed previous weeks we’re talked about what happened back in 587 BC, when the Babylonians under the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Judah, crushing the incredible temple that Solomon had. For 70 years the Jewish people were held in captivity, and so when they were allowed to actually go back and start to rebuild you can only imagine the excitement of finally being able to rebuild God's temple, the house, the dwelling place for God.

If you remember in week number one they started strong. They built the foundation, they built the altar, and then when the Samaritans opposed them they panicked. Ahhh, we can't do this, and they quit. Well God raised up the prophet Haggai and said, "The time is now. The time is now to build my temple." They had to make the hard but right decision over the easy wrong decision to start building. Then last week, they started and got discouraged by comparing their temple to Solomon’s and by not seeing much progress. And God said, firstly, I AM with you. And second, be strong and do the work. Just put the next brick down, keep going, don’t quit.

As we pick up the story this week, if you look at their attitude you can find that many of them really battle the same battle that many of us feel when we think we're trying to do what you asked us to do God, but things just aren't going well. We're trying to obey you God and yet our life still is not working very well. "God we're obeying you and yet where are you? Where are the results?" "God I'm trying to do life your way. I went to church. I did the right things and yet my life is still not working the way I believe that it should."

It’s a bit like when all the WBH guys would go to Congress Hall, and at first it would seem odd and uncomfortable, but often they’d come to appreciate going there. And one week they’d think, this is it, it’s time to do a step 3, hand my will and my life over to God. So they’d go forward and kneel at the mercy seat. They’d pray and someone would pray with them, and sometimes it was quite an emotional experience. But the next week, they’d think well, my sisters still angry with me, and my debt is still there, and God hasn’t answered my prayer to move me from this room with a snorer who could be heard in Canberra! But the truth was…it had taken 20 or 30 years to get to the place they were, the addiction, the relationship difficulties, the debt, the shame. And really, God can do some things overnight, but generally it’s a life time of discipleship and following him that continues to sort things out. When God hadn’t sorted everything out on that week, when it wasn’t going how they thought it should, some guys were discouraged and like, it’s not worth it, God didn’t work.

The Jewish people were trying to build the temple. It wasn't going the way they thought it would be, and they're wondering, "Is it even worth it to obey God in this area?" This brings about the problem they battled with. It's a problem that many of us have battled with. It’s called conditional obedience to God. Conditional obedience to God is like, I'll do what you want me to do as long as I see the results I want to see. But if it makes me uncomfortable, is inconvenient, or you're not doing what I think you should do, at this point God, I’ll pull back. I'll obey as long as it’s not too hard.

It’s just like our selective hearing or how kids only hear what they want to hear. You could yell, "Hey kids, come on here and help me hang out the clothes.” And they don't hear anything. But if you say under your breath, "Ice cream," they’ll come running from every corner of the house. It's ‘I'm hearing what I want to hear’. For us, it can be I'll obey the commands that I want to hear. We can be like this with God. Like ‘I love that verse God "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." I love that verse’. But ‘forgive my enemies? You don't know my enemies. I'm not forgiving my enemies. I hate my enemies. Oh, pray for my enemies? Sure God, I'll pray for them. I'll pray they’ll rot in hell, that's what I'll pray God’. It's ‘I'll obey as long as I'm comfortable’. It's conditional obedience, but we need to understand that God does not give us options to consider, but commands to obey.

So back to Haggai 2:12, and God through Haggai asks a very unusual question. "If one of you is carrying some meat from a holy sacrifice in his robes and his robe happens to brush against some

bread or stew, wine or olive oil, or any other kind of food, will it also become holy?’”

Now this is because when they’d sacrificed an animal, they’d carry some of the meat back for the priests to eat and this meat was considered holy. So Haggai asks ‘if this meat brushed against other foods like bread or stew…would they then become holy like the meat.’ And what did the priest say? The priests replied and say, "No." In other words, the holiness doesn't rub off.

Haggai 2:13, Haggai asks, “If someone becomes ceremonially unclean by touching a dead person and then touches any of these foods, will the food be defiled?” The priest answers, "Yes." Haggai is basically showing that sin is like a disease. It's like this, a modern example would be... If Bob has a cold, and I’m well, and I hang around him, will he catch wellness from me? No, I’m most likely to catch his cold. Sin spreads easier than holiness. It's the corruptive power of sin. Paul said it this way in the New Testament. He said, "Bad company corrupts good character” (1 Cor 15:33). He didn't say good company cleanses bad character. He said that there's the corruptive power of sin. You could say that sin is like a cold. Sin’s particles, sin’s “aerosol’s” are far reaching.

Haggai 2:14, So Haggai responded, “That is how it is with this people and this nation, says the Lord. Everything they do and everything they offer is defiled by their sin.” There’s sin in their life and it contaminates everything. We could say it this way. When your heart isn't right with God, everything you do will be wrong. That sounds a bit extreme but Jesus said the same thing.

In Matthew 5:23-24, Jesus said “So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.” Because if your heart is not right, it doesn't matter what you do. Bringing a sacrifice is the right thing to do, but not if your heart is not right.

You know this is true with kids. One kid does something wrong to another kid, so what do you do? Kid one, apologize to kid two. Kid one walks up and says, "SORRY," walks away. Does that count or not? No. He’s technically done the right thing, but with the wrong heart and attitude. Right thing, wrong heart does not count. Go up and say it like you mean it. "Sorry." Almost, not quite. This time say you're sorry and give him a hug. "Sorry."

Attitude matters. If your heart isn't right, whatever you do is not right. So what sometime happens? "Ok God, I'll obey you, as long as you do what I want you to do." "God, I'll obey you as long as this is working out for me." "I'll obey you as long as it doesn't cost me too much, or isn't convenient to me."

This is a wrong approach to God. We need to understand that we do not obey God so that he will bless us. We obey God because we love him. It's all about the heart. We do not obey God for what he's going to do for us, so he'll make our lives better. We obey God because of who he is. We obey God because we want to honor him with everything in us. This is why getting our hearts right matters so much. God reminds his people, he's going to get down to the heart of the issue.

Above all else God says, "I want your heart," and to be honest, this is the biggest miracle God can do in our life. In Matthew 15:8, Jesus quoted Isaiah saying, "These people honour me with their lips but their hearts are far from me." They honour me with their lips but their hearts are far from me. This is a massive problem in Western Christianity, it's conditional obedience.

Like yeah, yeah, I'll do the God thing as long as it's going well for me. It's people who honor Him with their lips, but their hearts are far from Him. In the New Testament Jesus said, ‘There is one command above all others, and that is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength’ (Mark 12:28-31). It's all about the heart. If your heart isn't right with God, even if you’re doing the ‘right’ thing, it’s not right. It's all about the heart. I want your heart, says God. We do not obey God so he will bless us. We obey God because we love him. With all of our hearts, minds, soul and strength.

Grace

Tue, 27 Apr 2021 12:40:26 GMT

John 8:2 – 11

Our story today contrasts judgement on one hand and grace on the other. We see people who look at the actions of a woman and condemn her. And we see Jesus who looks beyond all that stuff and sees a woman in need of grace and mercy. Oh such a great story!!!

You know, the people Jesus hung around with most, were people with faults and messed up lives. But there were a lot of people who thought that they didn’t need Jesus.

In our story today, a woman caught in adultery was brought before Jesus. This woman was in a sexual relationship with a married man. This story is set 2000 years ago, and the rules were absolutely black and white, very clear about what the punishment should be for adultery.

The most important religious people of the day, the Pharisees, brought her to Jesus, and said ‘the law says that she should be stoned to death for her behaviour, we think she should be stoned to death – what do you think?’ You might notice that there is no mention of the man who must have been caught in the act with her. There are still parts of our world today, where a woman will be killed if she is found to be in a sexual relationship with a married man.

These religious men didn’t care about the woman – they were publicly humiliating her to get at Jesus. The reading says that they made her stand in front of all the people who had gathered in TEMPLE to listen to Jesus. They did care about the law, and what they thought her punishment should be. She must have felt enormous fear, knowing that she could die at any moment. I wonder if she knew Jesus – she probably thought that he would be like all the rest of the men who were condemning her to death. But Jesus is different.

The first thing that Jesus did, was to crouch down and start writing with his finger, in the dirt. We don’t know what he wrote, but some people suggest that he might have been writing down all the wrong things and sins that those religious people had done. Because the next thing that Jesus said was “if any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her”. Jesus was making the point to these people that everyone sins – we’re all in the same boat. You know, there are a lot of people that want to rate sins – like that talking about someone behind their back is not so bad, but stealing is really bad. Some people think that Centrelink fraud isn’t so bad because they hate the government, but if you say something bad about their Mum you should rot in hell!

But the bible teaches that all sin keeps us from being the people that God wants us to be, and all sin keeps us from God. Think of the person who you think is the worst! You are in the same boat as them. So when the religious people wanted Jesus to condemn this woman to death, he turned the tables completely on them, by saying to them – ‘look at your own life – you also have sin in your life’. Everyone sins– there is no perfect person, except for Jesus. Everyone has faults in their character, everyone does the wrong thing and that means that we are all equal before God – no matter what we have done.

Romans 3 verse 23 in the bible says “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” These religious people must have realised that they too were sinful, because one by one, they all walked away. They obviously came to realise that whilst they were condemning this woman, they forgot to check out their own life, and look at their own defects of character. Have you heard people say that when you point the finger at someone, there’s three fingers pointing back at you. We are all sinners before God.

So, back to the woman. Everyone else left, and she was left there standing with Jesus. I imagine that she still would have felt terrible. Even though she knew that those people were not going to sentence her to death, she was still standing in the temple with Jesus. And I think she would have been very aware of her situation and failings. She knew that she had done the wrong thing. So Jesus said to her – “woman, where are they? (meaning the people who had wanted her killed). ‘Has no one condemned you?’

I kind of like that Jesus asks her a question and gets her to speak. She’s there perhaps overwhelmed by shame and he asks a question which focusses her attention off herself and on to Jesus. Gosh, we all need that don’t we. Something that takes our focus off ourself, off our shame, off our guilt, off our fear, off our anxiety, off perhaps our self-pity, and puts our focus back on to Jesus. Is there anyone here still condemning you? She said “no one sir”. And then Jesus delivers the most beautiful life giving sentence that anyone could hear. “neither do I condemn” he said, “go now and leave your life of sin”.

Jesus, who was without sin and ironically could have said, this is the law and you deserve a terrible consequence. But he didn’t…even before his death, even before his resurrection, even before his defeat of sin and evil, he showed grace and mercy, that was his life, not just a result of his death. Grace and mercy. If we have trouble with showing grace and mercy in life, we need to have a heart to heart talk with God…because we need to be all about grace and mercy.

And the second part of Jesus statement is just as important. Jesus doesn’t condemn her, but he does ask her to leave her life of sin, and give up her old ways. He can forgive us for any of our sins, but he also asks us to be willing to change. Jesus said to her, and says to us today “I don’t condemn you – you’re off the hook for your past, but make your future different.”

Jesus’ message was not just about forgiveness of sins, but also about a quality of life that overcomes the power of sin with God’s help.

This requires being willing to change, and that can be very hard. Jesus says in the bible “who needs a doctor – the healthy or the sick? I’m here (with)… an invitation to a changed life, changed inside and out” (Luke 5:32).

Sometimes we can know we’re doing the wrong thing, but not be prepared to give it up. Not be prepared to change. Jesus said that he didn’t condemn her for her past, and when we say we‘re sorry to God for our past, he doesn’t condemn us. But he does ask us to be willing to give up our old destructive ways –there might be various things that come to mind for you.

There is an old story, and I’m told a true story about how you catch monkeys...presuming you want to catch a monkey! Now, monkeys are very fast, and they are very clever. It would be impossible to chase them – they are too fast, and they can climb trees pretty quickly.

But someone worked out how to catch a monkey really easily and it’s like this. You put a banana in a small cage, and wait for the monkey. You don’t leave the cage door open, the monkey doesn’t even have to go inside the cage. The monkey comes along, sees the banana, reaches his hand through the bars of the cage and grabs the banana. But in grabbing the banana, he can no longer get his hand out from between the bars (demonstration). The only way the monkey can get his hand back out through the bars is to let go of the banana - then he will be free.

If we are willing to let go of the destructive ways in our life, and be willing to have God remove them, we can live in freedom of spirit. But sometimes we want to hang on to certain behaviours or thought patterns – even though we know that they are hurtful to ourselves or others. We have to be willing to let go – let go of our defects of character, and ask God to change us. And you know I think this is a life time work in progress. Because we are not perfect, we need to keep asking God to change us, to free us to become the people He knows we can be.

Maybe you need to ask God to forgive you for something you’ve done, and ask God to change you. Or maybe you’ve thought of a defect of character, and like the monkey, you don’t want to let go of it. Yet you don’t want to stay trapped with that defect. Or maybe there’s someone you need to stop condemn or judging? We have all sinned, and all done the wrong thing.

Or perhaps it’s time to bring your focus in life back to Jesus…. God bless you this week as you receive grace and mercy, and show grace and mercy to others.

Easter Sunday

Tue, 06 Apr 2021 19:24:25 GMT

Easter Sunday

A few months ago Rob and I were talking about friends of ours and the difficulties they are experiencing in their relationship. Rob said something so true and terrible when she said, ‘don’t forget she lives in a graceless marriage’, my heart did sink a bit at that bad news.

Tragically there are those in this room and in our families who have or are experiencing that injustice and whose marriage vows, parenting and other close relationships are a mockery of love and honour.

On ‘Good Friday’ we are reminded of how hard it was on that day for the greatest act of grace by God to be seen by those attending. Brutality designed to kill and terrorise, it was so that day as it is always the way when people design their days without mercy or without grace.

There’s not an event in the Christian calendar carrying more significance and truth about God than Easter. Safe to say without Christmas the acknowledgement and celebration of the birth of Jesus there would be no Easter, but without Easter the whole message and purpose of Jesus arrival would never have gained its power and the full purposes of God for His creation. God sent Jesus.

John 3:16 has been called the Gospel in a nutshell and is probably the best know verse in the Bible. For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

From the time when people first discover this truth all energy and focus is about our response to God. The Holy mysteries of this day aren’t understood by me – but they are deeply felt.

When we come into a personal realisation of God we don’t just come to a new set of beliefs, we come in to a new life. We are encouraged and told by those who would disciple, lead and instruct us, there are two things we must have if we are going to change our way of life to become followers of Jesus.

One is faith, the new confidence in things unseen, the other is obedience, to live according to our faith, living each day as we believe God wants us to live, with gratitude, humility, honesty, purity, unselfishness and love.

Faith and obedience will give us the strength needed to overcome those struggles to give up and struggles to give in, and choose to live well Gods way.

How is it, what we do, or don’t do, matters to God….God the Creator! God says He alone is the Creator, Governor and Preserver of all we can see, hear and do and much, much more besides while retaining a vital interest in all of humanity. That’s just too vast for me to understand, but not just me, I’m in good company.

Scientists and scholars say the ‘master planner’ of creation left nothing to chance. The slant of the earth at 23 degrees produces our four seasons, and just one or two degrees difference the scientists tells us the north and south poles and the oceans vapours would pile up continents of ice.

The moon is 200,000 miles away but if it were only 50,000 miles the whole planet called earth would be submerged in water. If the earth’s crust was just 10 feet thicker there would be no oxygen leaving no animal or vegetation and certainly no humans.

How they do this I’ll never understand but the earth is estimated to weigh six sextillion tons. That’s a six with 21 zeros and it remains perfectly balanced and revolves at more than 1,000 mph.(1600kph)

That weight at that speed on the invisible axis held in place by bands of gravity and Job said, ‘God poised the earth on nothingness’ Job 26:7 ‘He hangs the earth itself on nothingness.

And there is David in Psalm 8 which is based on Genesis 1, celebrating God’s majesty as Creator but also the unique place of human beings in His Creation. ‘When I gaze to the skies and meditate on your creation….on the moon the stars and all you have made, I can’t help but wonder why you care about mortals…sons and daughters of men…specks of dust floating about the cosmos’.8:3.

And don’t you? I often enough wonder the same as the Psalmist as we express amazement, considerable shock and are stunned in the same way as we reflect on the immensity of God and the intimacy of God.

So, what is Grace, what does God say…..but very importantly, what do you say!? Not just an opinion or a repeat of the churches doctrines….the unmerited favour and love of God. Or. ’The Spirit of God operating in humans to regenerate and strengthen them’.

There are different concepts of how we might attain this grace, how can I get it, what do I need to do to earn my salvation!?

It is Easter and we need now more than any other time to focus on the total and complete wealth and sufficiency of the redeeming work of God.

We each in our endeavours to love and serve God proceed with some care when it comes to interpreting the common and popular and somewhat distorted wisdom of this world. There are many concepts twisting our thoughts when it comes to us deserving and earning our entitlements and rewards.

Often we would agree and say we believe it is God’s and only God’s Grace which redeems and saves, not our works or exertions or performances.

There’s no free lunch.

You get what you deserve.

You want money? Work for it.

You want love? Earn it.

You want mercy? Show you deserve it.

Watch out for welfare queues, the shiftless thieving homeless.

Government handouts that are abused…give them something, but not a penny more.

God loves good little boys and girls.

There is such a big judgement on personal effort and who the deserving and undeserving are.

Tragically that is twisted and distorted and bought into the church and colours the pages of the Bible.

No pain, no gain gives the impression DoItYourself has become the fashion of the church.

The Scriptures have always, and will continue to insist the work of salvation is God’s initiative. There is no side entrance or secret code to gain entry into the house of God..

Personal responsibility has replaced personal response.

Your spirituality, my spirituality, without exception or excuse starts with God. By Grace we are Saved.

We talk about acquiring virtue or spiritual maturity like it can be attained like good handwriting or the ability of drawing a horse.

The emphasis is on what I do rather than on what God is doing, believing we can pull ourselves up by our bootstraps.

In practically every other endeavour in life our efforts and enterprise is what makes a big difference in us achieving what we want. When it comes to our relationship with God it must be realised by us the union or our communion with God starts with Him…not me!

It will be discovered by us, if it hasn’t already… we have an inability to add even a single inch to our spiritual status.

Our scrambling for brownie points, the huffing and puffing to fix ourselves to make ourselves worthy is futile and ignores the Gospel of Grace.

Matthew 9:9-13. The Voice.

Later Jesus was walking along and He saw a man named Matthew sitting in the tax collector’s office.

Jesus (to Matthew): Follow Me.

Matthew got up and followed Him.

Once when He ate a meal at home with His disciples, a whole host of tax collectors and other sinners joined them. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked Jesus’ disciples,

Pharisees: Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?

Jesus (overhearing this): 12 Look, who needs a doctor—healthy people or sick people? 13 I am not here to attend to people who are already right with God; I am here to attend to sinners. In the book of the prophet Hosea, we read, “It is not sacrifice I want, but mercy.”[a] Go and meditate on that for a while—maybe you’ll come to understand it.

In today’s world Jesus comes for sinners, those outcasts, for those caught up in consequences of bad or reckless choices, abandoned and failed dreams and plans. God’s grace in the gift of Jesus comes for those our world admires and venerates, the superstars, the comfortable and those our world avoids and cares little for. God’s grace is for all so none would be lost to Him.

Not only does Jesus engage and talk with these drifters and wanderers, He sits with them and shares a meal, fully aware the company at His table does not find approval by some. Those who sit and eat with Jesus in this parable know full well who Jesus is and importantly they understand they are sinners.

The sweet sound of Amazing Grace can always help us to stop denying our common weaknesses and know we are in need of Grace.

God not only loves me as I am, but also knows me as I am, Jesus point is, there is nothing any of us can do to inherit the Kingdom. We must receive it like little children. And little children haven’t done anything.

“God loves unconditionally as we are and not as we should be, because nobody is as they should be” (Brennan Manning)

Growing into an Emotionally Mature Adult

Mon, 22 Mar 2021 12:20:54 GMT

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Week 7

Today we’re delving into growing into an emotionally mature adult. The last few weeks have led to this. Obviously we cannot be mature if we’re not authentic. We cannot be emotionally mature while we refuse to be honest about the impact of past events on our present way of being. We cannot go on to maturity if we get to the wall and give up entirely. We cannot go on to maturity if we do not face the reality of our grief and losses and mourn them properly. And we cannot go on to maturity if we refuse to cultivate a life of solitude and quietness and reflection and rest, which Sabbath and the Daily Office help us to do.

Now, regardless of our biological age, we are at different stages of emotional maturity. We can be in our thirties or forties physically, and yet be emotionally a teenager or infant. Here’s a description of the 4 emotional stages we find ourselves in. See which of these you identify with most:

Emotional Infants • Look for others to take care of them • Have great difficulty entering into the world of others • Are driven by need for instant gratification • Use others as objects to meet their needs

Emotional Children • Are content and happy as long as they receive what they want • Unravel quickly from stress, disappointments, trials • Interpret disagreements as personal offenses • Are easily hurt • Complain, withdraw or become sarcastic when they don't get their way • Have great difficulty calmly discussing their needs and wants in a mature, loving way

Emotional Adolescents • Tend to be defensive • Are threatened and alarmed by criticism • Keep score of what they give so they can ask for something later in return • Deal with conflict poorly. • Become preoccupied with themselves • Are critical and judgmental

Emotional Adults • Are able to ask for what they need, want, or prefer--clearly, directly, honestly, respectfully • Recognize, manage, and take responsibility for their own thoughts and feelings • Can, when under stress, state their own beliefs and values without becoming adversarial • Respect others without having to change them • Give people room to make mistakes and not be perfect • Have the capacity to resolve conflict maturely and negotiate solutions that consider the perspectives of others

There’s a parable in scripture that can teach us something about emotional maturity and love. The Good Samaritan is well known to many here. We read about a guy who asks what he has do to inherit eternal life and Jesus says ‘well, what do you think?’. He says ‘well, You gotta love God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ ‘Dead right’, says Jesus. But then maybe thinking there were some people he’d just as soon not have on the neighbour list to love, the man seeks clarification and says, ‘but who is my neighbour?’ This is Jesus’ reply. Luke 10: 30-37 (NLT)

“A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side. Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’

“Now which of these three would you say was a neighbour to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked.

The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.”

Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”

The emphasis on this word “do” is an action word that means go and live this way.

The road from Jerusalem to Jericho is a desolate and tough place in climate. It descends 3300 feet as you wind your way from Jerusalem, It is a very narrow and dangerous road with lots of caves. The man is beaten up, he has been abandoned and left there to die. The Priest and the Levite come along. The Priest and Levite know the Bible. Their whole life is set aside to love and serve God, but they see the man and do nothing. We don’t know why. Maybe they thought he was dead, and if they touched a dead body they couldn’t serve in the temple that week. Maybe they may have been worried that there were still robbers in the caves and they could’ve been beaten up. Maybe they had a lot on their minds. The point is that they kept going. What is clear is they had disconnected spirituality from loving well. Our reading says “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him”.

Despised…that’s a strong word isn’t it? Jews and Samaritans hated each other and were in essence 2 races, 2 different religions with 2 political views. Jews saw Samaritans as second class and not worthy of the Kingdom of God. They were seen as dirty, inferior, untrustworthy, disgusting. But the Samaritan had ‘Compassion” This is the key phrase of the entire parable because the Priest and the Levite had no compassion. Oh, they had learnt about love in the scriptures but it was just an idea for them. The word “compassion” is about a feeling in your stomach, like a wrenching in your stomach you can’t ignore. The Priest and Levite had head knowledge about ‘love your neighbour’, but the Samaritan let love impact him. He actually did something.

When I in training college Dean Smith spoke about a book by the Jewish theologian Martin Buber, called I and Thou. And he said that the human tendency is to look at people as an, “it.” He said, healthy mature adults don’t see people as ‘it’s’, we see people as made in the image of God. But sometimes we don’t see the individual and their sacredness. Sometimes at Uni we might have been doing a group assignment and we view the others as ‘its’. We don’t really care what their story is, we just want them to do their bit so we can do well in the assignment. They are a means to an end.

We may view people from different cultures as ‘its’ or different life styles as ‘its’. We don’t relate to them, we don’t see them as individuals and we don’t really want to understand their situation. Or we help out someone with toys at Christmas but they don’t seem grateful and they don’t come to church, so we give the toys a miss next year. Perhaps being kind to them was a means to an end…I’ll give you something, but really the expectation is that you’ll come along and join us. The Samaritan sees this man and doesn’t see him as an object. He sees them as someone made in the image of God and he enters his world.

However, he also keeps a sense of himself and his own boundaries.

The Samaritan doesn’t have all of the talents or gifts needed to help this man. Notice that while he stops on the journey to care for the man, he then takes him to the inn but doesn’t bring the guy home. The Samaritan actually goes on his way and continues his journey. He spends his money but he doesn’t give the guy his credit card. He comes back and pays what is needed and he does enough to save the half dead guy. The little bit that he has he is willing to give any save the guys life but he also holds onto his life and continues on his own journey.

What if the Samaritan had brought the half dead man home to his house and then he stayed for six months and then he began to resent him? His wife divorces him and his kids are distant because they never see him and the Samaritan no longer picks anyone up anymore.

We can’t be everything to everyone and we need to know our limitations and boundaries. There’s many an Officers kid or ministers kid who is been resentful and angry at God and the church, because they never saw their parent…they were always out ministering to others. The Samaritan saved the beaten up guy, but he also attended to his own journey and life.

Seeing people and entering another’s world, also comes at a cost. For the Samaritan it cost some time and some money and maybe some reputation depending on who knows that he picked up this enemy off the side of the road. If we want to love well we have to recognise that it will come at a cost and it does take sacrifice. This has been our Self Denial Appeal and we give because we love. There’s a cost, a sacrifice. You’re asked to give over and above your regular giving and we do, because we can’t just walk past another in need. We stop, we enter their world through the videos, and there is a cost to us.

But the truth is, we are good to others because God has been good to us. We love others because God loves us. Jesus always integrated the love of God with the practice of loving people. Pete Scazzero says, one of the greatest gifts we can give the world is to be a community of emotionally healthy adults who love well. This will take the power of god and a commitment to learn and grow and break with unhealthy destructive habits that go back generations in our families and culture.

Daily Office and Sabbath

Sun, 14 Mar 2021 10:13:10 GMT

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality wk 6, Daily Office and Sabbath

Present day Salvation Army Officership involves completing a form called a Ministry and Development Plan. This is a way of helping us to be reflective about our life and ministry – but it’s about how we are personally. It helps us to ask questions – how am I going in my relationships with God and others, what are my personal goals, how might I attain those goals. Well last year I sat down with Miriam, my boss, and we went through it. Of course, I took very little time to reflect and the theme of my life is “I need to lose weight and spend more time with God”. So I kind of went with that! I ended up with goals like, I’ll walk regularly, I’ll have a monthly retreat day – just me and God, I’ll look into finding a spiritual director, I’ll read more books. So last week it was time for the annual review. Of course, I’m bigger and less fit than when I wrote the goals last year, and we got to the monthly retreat days. Not one in the whole year! Just after I made my goals last year I scheduled one and then there was some sort of emergency, I cancelled that day and never scheduled another one. So as I’m talking to Miriam online, I look in my diary and to my surprise, this coming Monday though the day is completely free. Miriam asks ‘and how are the retreat days going’, and I say, ‘well Miriam, I’ve scheduled one for this coming Monday!’. Oh dear. Each day is jam-packed. Or just slips past with…I’m not sure what. But today is about Sabbath Rest and what Pete Scazzero calls ‘the daily office’. So I’m hoping I’m listening up!

Life in the western world seems to be marked by pressure. I don’t think it always used to be this way – or not to the same extent for our grandparents. We are busy, and especially when we are between 20-60 years, we live our lives “on the run”. We often multi-task, and sadly sometimes our relationship with God can become just one more thing we multi- task, desperately trying to keep our distracted mind off the items we need to buy at the shop later in the day. As a result, few people have the time to develop their own direct experience of God. In fact, most people don’t really pray that much on their own. A US study showed that even the average pastor prays only about 7 minutes a day. It seems that we’re not all that intentional in spending time in God’s presence.

This week we’re looking at two ancient disciplines going back thousands of years—the Daily Office and Sabbath. The first ancient practice is called the Daily Office. Many of us were taught to have quiet times or devotions. Many of us spend time with God in the morning, for example, reading the Bible and praying. The problem is though, even just a few hours later we’re so wrapped up in the demands of the day that all thoughts of God are out the window, let alone having a conversation with Him or listening to Him.

The focus of the Daily Office is not to get something from God, not to learn more, and not even to pray for others more. The focus of the Daily Office is just to be with God. It is about communion, abiding, remaining in Jesus. The Daily Office is about meeting with God not once a day but pausing to be with him 2, 3, or 4 times a day. The word Office, comes from the Latin word Opus and means ‘work’. And for the early church the Daily office was literally “the work of God”. It was their highest priority. We know that King David practiced set times of prayer seven times a day (see Psalm 119:164). Daniel prayed three times a day (see Daniel 6:10). Devout Jews in Jesus’ time prayed two to three times a day, and Jesus himself probably followed the Jewish custom of praying at set times during the day. Pausing through-out the day to be mindful of God’s presence, is the key to being more continually aware of God’s presence. This pausing to be with God can last anywhere from 2 minutes to 20 minutes to 45 minutes. It is up to you. There are endless possibilities, and tools, for what you can do with your time God during these prayer times. God has built us each differently. What works for one person will not for another.

But there are four elements, that Pete Scazzero says are essentials for the Daily Office.

1. Stopping: This is the essence of a Daily Office. We stop our activity and pause to be with the Living God. To be unhurried, to so that what we read or pray can sink down in our spirits.

2. Centring: Scripture commands us: “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him” (Psalm 37:7a) and “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10a). We move into God’s presence and rest there. Pete Scazzero suggests sit still, sit straight, breathe slowly and deeply, close your eyes or lower them to the ground. As you breathe in, ask God to fill you with his Holy Spirit, as you breathe out, exhale all that is not of God.

3. Silence: Dallas Willard has called silence and solitude the two most radical disciplines of the Christian life. The practice of silencing everything, including yourself, to be with God. Henri Nouwen said that “without solitude it is almost impossible to live a spiritual life.” And fourthly,

4. Scripture: The Psalms are found in almost any Daily Office book available. But you could read through the Bible, or meditate on different scriptures

EHS have a small Daily Office book called “Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day by Day.”

The Second Ancient Treasure is Sabbath-Keeping. The Daily Office concerns itself with a daily rhythm. Sabbath-Keeping is about a weekly rhythm for our lives. The word Sabbath comes from the Hebrew word that means “to cease, to stop working.” It refers to doing nothing related to work for a 24 hour period each week. The reason this is so radical is our culture knows nothing of setting aside a whole day (twenty-four hours) to rest and delight in God. Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for people, not people for the Sabbath” (Mk. 2:27). It is a gift from God we are called to receive.

In the 10 commandments, the longest and most specific commandments is the fourth: Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord our God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

There are two extremes to the way people approach Sabbath. On one extreme is legalism. This says, “If you don’t keep Sabbath, God is angry and it is like you have committed the worst sin.” The other extreme is one that treats Sabbath as irrelevant and there is no need to bother with it at all. The balanced position is that Sabbath keeping is a core spiritual formation discipline – like prayer and reading Scripture.

Practicing Sabbath is about setting a regular rhythm every 7 days for a 24-hour block of time. Traditional Jewish Sabbath begins at sundown on Friday and ends on sundown Saturday. The traditional Christian Sabbath is Sunday. But there’s lots of people who can’t have a Sabbath on the weekend – nurses, police, fire fighters. So they could choose another day of the week. The apostle Paul seemed to think one day would do as well as another (see Romans 14:1-17).

What is important is to select a time period and protect it! The following are four principles of biblical Sabbaths that distinguish a “day off” from a biblical Sabbath. The first is:

1. Stop. Sabbath is first and foremost a day of “stopping.” Yet most of us can’t stop until we are finished whatever it is we think we need to do. We need to complete our projects, answer our emails, return all phone messages, and finish cleaning the house. There’s always one more thing to do before stopping. The Sabbath calls us to build the doing of nothing into our schedules each week. We stop on Sabbaths because, God is at work taking care of the universe, assuring us the world will not fall apart if we cease our activities. He manages quite well without us having to run things. The second quality is:

2. Rest. Once we stop the Sabbath calls us to rest. God rested after his work. We are to do the same—every seventh day- resting from our paid and unpaid work. We rest from things like hurry, physical exhaustion, catching up on errands, technology and machines. Again, what is rest to one person may not be rest to another. The third component is

3. Delight. A biblical Sabbath revolves around delighting in what we have been given. God, after finishing his work of creation on the first Sabbath, proclaimed that “It was very good” (Genesis 1:31). God delighted over his creation. On Sabbaths we are invited to enjoy and delight in God’s creation and its gifts. We are to slow down and pay attention to the innumerable gifts of life God has provided for us to enjoy. Finally…

4. Contemplation of God. Exodus 31:15 says that we are to keep the Sabbath ‘holy’. We focus on God, we ponder His love through worship or fellowship or nature. We slow down to focus on the giver, not just the gifts.

Pete Scazzero says that Sabbath is like receiving the gift of being snowed in every week! Stores are closed, roads are impassable, and you have the gift of a day to do whatever you want to do. And we get 52 of these a year – that’s the equivalent of over 7 weeks of Sabbath per year. Sabbath-keeping and the Daily Office help us stay tuned in to God’s presence for our days and our weeks. But they may be the first small steps towards a less hurried life that is more anchored and centred in the love of God.

Enlarge Your Soul Through Grief and Loss

Mon, 08 Mar 2021 06:44:20 GMT

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Today we’re talking about grief and loss. Sometimes grief and loss happens all in one go with a catastrophic event – like an accident. And sometimes it’s a slow drawn out process, like a disease. Loss is part of life. We lose our youthfulness. No amount of plastic surgery, cosmetics, good diet or exercise routine can stop the process of growing older. We lose our dreams. We experience loss in transitions of life. Each time we change jobs, or move is a loss. Our influence and power decreases as we grow older.

Most of us, in one or more moments of our lives, experience catastrophic loss. Unexpectedly, a family member dies. A spouse has an affair. We’re diagnosed with cancer. Our company suddenly downsizes and we find ourselves unemployed after 25 years. They are all losses. We feel betrayed by a church tradition, a leader, or even God himself.

Grief and loss will transform us or destroy us, but it will never leave us the same. There is no going back to change the past…. The choice is whether these losses will crush our spirit and life or open us up to new possibilities and depths of transformation in Christ.

Every culture and family deals with grieving differently. Some of us come from families/cultures where sadness was a sign of weakness. You weren’t allowed to be depressed. The expectation was that you would just keep going and pretend everything was OK. Others cultures do a lot of screaming and wailing, but that doesn’t mean they process it any better.

In our culture, addiction has become the most common way to deal with pain. We keep busy, running from one activity to another. In our culture we see people indulge in overworking, overeating, pornography, drinking, taking pills—anything to help us avoid the pain. Some of us expect that someone or something (a marriage, an ideal family, children, an achievement, a career, or a church) will take our pain away.

On top of this, in the church, we have little theology for anger, sadness, waiting, and depression. “How are you?” we are asked after a loss or disappointment in our lives. “Couldn’t be better! God’s working all things for good. I just can’t see it all yet.” We feel guilty for not obeying Scripture’s commands to “rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4a). In the church today we often associate anger, sadness, and grieving with being unspiritual, as if something is wrong with our walk with God. If there are setbacks, disappointments, crisis – we feel the need to let people know we’re solid, we’re OK. Sometimes when sadness or grief did overwhelm – we would be encouraged to quote Scriptures “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” However, grief and loss is a huge way God “enlarges” our soul and transforms us into one who is more able to love God and others.

A theology for grieving can be broken down into three phases. First, pay attention to it.

We read in the Bible about Job, who lost everything in one day—his 10 children die suddenly in a natural disaster. He loses all his wealth – even though he is one of the richest people in the world, and he loses his health to such an extent that he is physically unrecognizable.

Job didn’t hide his anguish. He screams out in his pain, holding nothing back. He was in so much anguish that he basically says he was sorry he was ever born. In Job3:3-4 (MSG) he says “Obliterate the day I was born. Blank out the night I was conceived! Let it be a black hole in space. May God above forget it ever happened.” The in Job 6, again in The Message, Job says ““If my misery could be weighed, if you could pile the whole bitter load on the scales, It would be heavier than all the sand of the sea! Is it any wonder that I’m howling like a caged cat? The arrows of God Almighty are in me, poison arrows…” (Job 6:1-4).

Job was so honest with God. I confess, I often have not been that honest with God. I remember in college hearing one of the cadets say they were so hurt by life’s circumstances they yelled out “God I hate you!”. Oh gosh I was really shocked. Probably because I wouldn’t use the word hate on anyone. But she was doing what Job was doing…paying attention to the depth of pain and acknowledging it before God. Job shouted at God. He prayed wild prayers. The told God exactly what he was thinking and feeling. For 35 chapters we read that he struggled with God. He doubted. He wept. The wondered where God is and why all this has happened to him. He did not avoid the trauma of his situation, but faced it.

Often in the Church we are taught that anger is a sin. We think to be like Jesus we need to ignore all feelings of irritation, annoyance, resentment, and hatred. But Ephesians 4:26 says “In your anger do not sin”. There’s an acknowledgement in the Bible that we will become angry, but the warning is, be careful what that leads you to do and say.

When we do not deal with these very feelings that make us human, such as fear or sadness or anger, we leak. Our churches are filled with “leaking” Christians who have not dealt with their emotions. Grieving is not possible without paying attention to our anger and sadness. Most people who fill churches are “nice” and “respectable. A lot of us stuff these “difficult feelings” down, trusting that God will honour our noble efforts. The result is that we leak through in soft ways such as passive-aggressive behaviour (e.g., showing up late), sarcastic remarks, a nasty tone of voice, and giving people the “silent treatment.” Job paid attention to both God and himself, choosing to enter the confusion of his personal “dark night of the soul” rather than try to medicate himself or avoid it.

The 2nd phase of Biblical Grieving is -- Waiting in the Confusing In-Between.

When we experience losses and setbacks, God invites us to wait. I hate waiting. I prefer to know what’s going to happen. Sometimes I even read the end of a book, or look at the summary of the TV series online so I know what’s going to happen ahead of time! I understand why Abraham, after waiting eleven years for God’s promise of a son to come true, took matters in his own hands and had a baby outside of his marriage with Hagar. In doing so he birthed a baby called Ishmael. Birthing Ishmaels is common in both our churches and personal lives.

Job waited for a long time when those closest to him quit. They did not have a big enough God or theology to wait in the confusing in-between. In fact, Job’s friends wanted to make sense of it and told him they knew why this was all happening. They told him he was suffering loss because of his sin. ‘that’s how God works’ they said, ‘you sin and he punishes you’. It’s all your fault somehow.

This may sound a little familiar to you. You may have heard or read of people saying ‘well, the reason you’re not healed is because you don’t pray enough, fast enough, read the bible enough’. That is, it’s your fault. And if you were a better Christian God would love you more and you’d have a better life. You may have even had that thought creep in to your own head some dark night.But, it wasn’t true for Job, and it’s not true for you. Job’s suffering was not brought on by his sin. Job was innocent and God wasn’t punishing him.

The truth is the confusing In-between bit, may last until we see Jesus face to face and all will be revealed. “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him” (Psalm 37:7) remains one of the most radical commands of our day. It requires enormous humility. The confusing in-between resists all earthly categories and quick solutions. It runs contrary to our entire culture. God is not in a rush.

The third phase of biblical grieving is to let the old, birth the new. Good grieving is not just letting go, but also letting it bless us. Job did just that. The old life for Job was truly over, that door remained closed. But there was new life after that. The central message of Jesus and the Bible is that suffering and death brings resurrection and transformation. Our losses are real, very real. But as we pay attention and wait on God in our losses and grief, no matter how long it takes, God, over time, births resurrection. If we will follow the biblical process of grief ---always there is a resurrection of some sort over time. A few years ago, in the middle of winter, I was contemplating life and God and all my questions. And I said to myself ‘spring always follows winter’, it’s God’s principle, there can always be new life and new growth after the most devastating winter of the soul.

There are many rich fruits as a result of embracing our losses. The greatest, however, concerns our relationship to God. When we grieve God’s way, we are changed forever. We all face many losses within our lives. That is God’s path for all of us. Don't be discouraged. The choice is whether these losses will crush our spirit and life, or will open us up to new possibilities and depths of transformation in Jesus. Pete Scazzero says “Here is where my soul is enlarged. Here is where I choose to sit for a while. I will feel my pain. I will admit my fear. I will grieve my losses. I will carry my grief and ask others to carry it with me and help me. I will stop acting like it’s wrong, or sick, for me to ask for help. And I will trust God to hold me, to embrace me, and ultimately to heal me”.

Journey through the wall

Mon, 08 Mar 2021 06:40:18 GMT

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality wk 4

Today we are going to look at what it means to “journey through the wall.” Every one of us at some point come up against a wall. It might be divorce, a job loss, the death of someone close, a cancer diagnosis, a disillusioning church experience, a shattered dream, an inability to get pregnant, a deep desire to get married that remains unfulfilled. We question ourselves, we question God, we discover for the first time that faith does not appear to ‘work’. We have more questions than answers, as the very foundation of our faith feels like it’s on the line. And some people become stuck there. Estimates are that 85 percent of Christians get to the wall at some point and never make it through. In a way, that rings true to me. When I think of the number of people who I went to Sunday School with or youth group, and don’t really have any faith today. Or when I was out at pubs on a Friday night, and the number of people whose lives were all over the place, and they’d say with great feeling, that they attended the Salvation Army as children. But something happened along the way.

It may be that some of us this morning are stuck. We’re at the wall, and we’re stuck. I also know that some of you are looking at me saying, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Life is good!” But I hope you will take this on board because you will hit the wall one day.

We find several places in scripture stories where people are hitting a wall and one of them is Abraham. Abraham hits several walls in his faith journey. In Genesis 12 he had to leave his family, his culture, his security. He had to leave Ur, which is present day Iraq, travel hundreds of miles into the unknown just trusting God. That’s a big thing having to leave behind everything that is known. I imagine along the way, he could have hit the wall, wondering if it was all worth it, wondering would they all die unknown in the desert. Later, Abraham has a huge conflict with his nephew Lot. This could have been another wall.

We also learn that he and his wife Sarah can’t get pregnant. They wait for 11 years, perhaps questioning themselves and God, they answer this problem by having a child with Sarah’s handmaiden Hagar. And Ishmael is born. Sometime after that God promises Abraham that he’s going to have a child with Sarah, and they basically laugh at that.

But they have to wait another 14 years after Ishmael to have a child, Isaac. And then there’s another wall, when Sarah comes to Abraham and says, now I want you to send away Ishmael and Hagar. We may gloss over that but the pain of sending his child Ishmael his own son away, can’t be underestimated. The Bible particularly mentions that this upset Abraham very much.

And then life begins to be all about Isaac. We’ll read from Genesis 22: 1-5 (NLT).

Some time later, God tested Abraham’s faith. “Abraham!” God called.

“Yes,” he replied. “Here I am.”

2 “Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”

3 The next morning Abraham got up early. He saddled his donkey and took two of his servants with him, along with his son, Isaac. Then he chopped wood for a fire for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day of their journey, Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 “Stay here with the donkey,” Abraham told the servants. “The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there, and then we will come right back.”

Remember, this was the way people worshipped 3000 years ago - they brought grain and animal sacrifices to the altar. But Abraham and Sarah had waited 25 years for the birth of Isaac, and this is definitely a wall. How would Sarah feel about this idea of sacrifice of her only child? Imagine that conversation? “Sarah, I’m taking our son to kill him because, well, God said so!” Perhaps Sarah didn’t know and Abraham held that pain and anguish to himself. Sometimes we hit the wall, and not even the people closest to us, our husband, wife, children, parents, sister, brother…sometimes we don’t even tell them. The wall can be a very lonely place to be.

Here’s what we read happens next. Genesis 22:6-8

6 So Abraham placed the wood for the burnt offering on Isaac’s shoulders, while he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them walked on together, 7 Isaac turned to Abraham and said, “Father?”

“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.

“We have the fire and the wood,” the boy said, “but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?”

8 “God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son,” Abraham answered. And they both walked on together.

I imagine that Abraham is nervous and confused, yet there remains a trust. Kind of like, I don’t understand this process, I don’t understand my circumstances, but I am making a decision to keep in trusting God, He WILL provide a sheep, and I WILL continue on this journey.

We read this next in the story. Genesis 22:9-14

9 When they arrived at the place where God had told him to go, Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on it. Then he tied his son, Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. 10 And Abraham picked up the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice. 11 At that moment the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”

“Yes,” Abraham replied. “Here I am!”

12 “Don’t lay a hand on the boy!” the angel said. “Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son.”

13 Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son. 14 Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means “the Lord will provide”). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”

St. John of the Cross called this the “Dark Night of the Soul.” Where you’re saying I don’t want to be here, I don’t what you’re doing God. When you’ve had a tragedy, and you’re plunged into darkness.

We can hit the wall and choose to push God away, but what do we have left - the pain, the sorrow, the darkness, the powerlessness, and you have nothing to hold on to. The image Abraham gives us is of someone who held on even when it was hard, even when it was challenging. And it’s those times, when we don’t pull away from God, when we don’t try and cover the pain with over work or addiction or just shoving it down never to be thought of again, it’s at that wall, that God continues to rewire us, to shape us, to love us.

The Dark Night of the Soul, is not just a trial we encounter each day, like an annoying boss or traffic jams, or an oven that doesn’t work. The Dark Night of the Soul, is Abraham and Sarah waiting 25 years for a son. It’s Abraham being asked by God to sacrifice his son. I have no doubt there some in this room who have been through enormous dark nights that have been unbelievably painful. But the only the way forward is to hold fast to God. Abraham didn’t know what was going on as he climbed that mountain with Isaac, but he keeps going because he trusts God. He waits on God, even though he can’t see the answer. He listens to God. He obeys God. He remains faithful to God, even though everything in him would have wanted to abandon the journey to the altar on the mountain. He goes because he knows God is good and loving. He simply keeps going, one foot after the other. It’s like he says “Thy will be done God”. That is a powerful prayer to hold onto, and sometimes it’s all we have!

If we can hold on to God, he will eventually move us through the wall. And life on the other side looks a bit more like this…

There’s a greater level of brokenness. We’re less judgemental of others, because we know, we really know, we’re not perfect. In fact, we know deep down in our soul, that we are truly no better than anyone else. And no worse than anyone else. Our brokenness brings a humility that helps us to embrace other people without judgement.

There’s greater appreciation for the mystery of God. I’ve often said that in the western world, a lot of the time, we can determine our own outcomes. We want to go to university…well, schooling is free and if you work hard anything is possible. You want to get a job. Well unlike China, where 10,000 people may apply for the one job, usually in Australia, if you continue to apply for work, eventually you’ll get a job. But when you hit the wall, you know you are not in control. Pete Scazzero says ‘most of the time we have no idea what God is doing’. We wonder why, if we’re in relationship with God, why everything is not smooth sailing. But when we hit the wall, we have to accept living with the ‘not knowing’, that is, not knowing why God would allow this, why God has not protected us from it.

On the other side of the wall, there’s a greater ability to wait on God. Abraham learned to wait at his wall. He waited 25 years for Isaac, powerless to make something happen in his own timing.

And on the other side of the wall, there’s greater detachment. We understand more about holding ‘things’ lightly, free from the dominating power of things. WE understand a bit more about what’s really important…and what’s really not!

What’s so amazing about Abraham’s story is that he never knew what his life was going to become. Indeed, he never saw it in his lifetime. God says, “I’m aware of all the details of your life, Abraham, and I’m going to bless you and your descendants. All the nations are going to be blessed through you and your family.” Hebrews 11:8-13a says that Abraham kept going in faith though he faced many walls…because he believed that God is faithful.

Going Back to Go Forward

Mon, 22 Feb 2021 18:01:52 GMT

Emotionally Healthy Spirituality

I was speaking to my sister on the phone yesterday. She and her family go to Hillsong church. We spoke about a pastor who has been stood down in the USA, for having affairs. My sister said about Brian Houston ‘I think he’s very trusting of people and he trusted that pastor’. I said, ‘well he wasn’t trained by Beryl (our mother) was he?!?You know, where everyone is under suspicion until proven otherwise!’ She laughed and agreed, yep we grew up trained in the fine art of guilty until proven innocent! The truth is, we are all incredibly shaped by our families for good and for ill, and today we’re looking at that. We are in our third week of a sermon series on Emotionally Healthy Spirituality as part of the season of Lent, and we’ll follow this for the 6 Sundays before Easter.

Today is about the impact of our family on us, and Joseph had a doozy of a family going back generations. Joseph’s grandparents are Abraham and Sarah. In their relationship alone you have lies (Abraham lied twice about Sarah), sibling rivalry of Isaac and Ishmael, favouritism (Abraham favoured Ishmael and that caused big issues).

Joseph’s grandparents are Isaac and Rebecca and in the relationship we find lies, sibling rivalry, favouritism, and an unhealthy marriage. Then we look at Joseph’s father Jacob and his mother Rachel and you have lies, sibling rivalry between Esau and Jacob and favouritism (Isaac favoured Esau and Rebecca favoured Jacob). Are you seeing any patterns?

Joseph’s father Jacob has two wives and two concubines. He was lied to by his father in law, and tricked into marrying sisters Leah and Rachel. Jacob has a favourite wife Rachel and therefore her first born Joseph is the favourite son, out of 12 children. And that causes enormous problems.

There is a generational pattern of behaviour here, but interestingly, Joseph breaks this family pattern. And if you’re here today thinking, I see the family pattern in my own family and I can see it happening again…I want to say, there is hope.

Jacob is the favourite son and Joseph makes a special robe of many colours – it’s a symbol of status and authority. So here’s Joseph, the youngest, but he’s given the authority by the father as the favourite kid. One of Joseph’s abilities is that he has dreams. One night Joseph has a dream where he sees everybody, including his brothers, bowing down to him. Having the dream is not so bad, but then he shares it with his brothers who already despise him. Joseph says “isn’t that a great dream???” and he brothers say, “Yeh….let’s kill him”

Joseph life seems marked by traumas at the hands of his family. His brothers hate him at this point so much that they throw him into a deep well to die. He’s finally pulled out of the well by some of his younger brothers who feel bad for him, but then he is sold to the Egyptians as a slave. The brothers then go back to their elderly father Jacob and They tell their father that Joseph’s been killed by lions. There’s lying, secrecy, favouritism and jealousy, just like their parents before them and their grandparents before them. In the space of one day, Joseph loses his parents, siblings, culture, country, language, freedom, and hope.

Then in Egypt, he was falsely accused of raping Potiphar’s wife and thrown into prison. His own family reject him, sell him as a slave, and then he’s thrown into gaol based on lies. You kind of wonder “How can Joseph go forward? How did he not just give up? I mean, he’s here simply because of his family.

In gaol Joseph would have had a LOT of time to think about how his family had wrecked his life. If anyone should have been filled with rage and bitterness toward his family, it was Joseph! You’d think he’d be plotting his revenge, working out how to get even, if he ever got out of gaol. But the story of Joseph doesn’t finish that way. In fact, he went on to honour and bless the family that betrayed him.

After almost 13 years in prison, through a series of events, Joseph is elevated by the Pharaoh to be one of his advisers and is made number two person in this super power nation of Egypt. Joseph is put in full charge of Egypt. Famine does eventually break out, not just in Egypt, but all over the surrounding area, but because of Joseph Egypt is well prepared for the famine.

Joseph’s brothers have to travel to Egypt to beg for food 22 years have now passed Joseph is physically unrecognizable to them…but Joseph knew exactly who they were. He’d spent 22 years thinking about them. At this point he could have had them thrown in gaol – he would not have even needed a reason. He could have had them killed – just as they had intended for him at one point. Or, he could have walked away and commanded another Egyptian deal with them…because this is painful.

But he does neither of those things. He sets up a bit of a test to see if his brothers have changed over the years, and it seems they have. He then reveals who he is. He helps his father and brothers settle on the best land Egypt has.

How does he do this?

Firstly, he has a profound sense of God in all of his circumstances.

Joseph repeatedly affirms that God was with him throughout his whole life, the good and the bad, the pain and the hardship. He says to his brothers in Genesis 45:8 “So it was God who sent me here, not you! And he is the one who made me an adviser to Pharaoh—the manager of his entire palace and the governor of all Egypt.”

Joseph understood that in all things God is at work, in spite of, some of the diabolical circumstances we find ourselves in…sometimes because of our family.

Many years later Joseph says to his brothers (and this is a great verse) Genesis 50:20-21:

20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. 21 No, don’t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children.” So he reassured them by speaking kindly to them.”

I want to be really clear, I don’t believe God makes these bad things happen in our families. I don’t believe God intended to harm us and I don’t believe he intends us to end up in families that hurt us.

But it’s this idea that God says, if you give it to me, if you give your life to me, I’ll EVEN use the pain in your life and in your families, and bring about something good.

The point of the story of Joseph’s family is that God can and will work in mysterious ways through all this mess of life we experience. God is working to move Joseph to a place in Egypt to bless and save many people. God is working on a purpose in spite of Joseph’s brothers and messed up father. Joseph believes that God is weaving a plan, even when he can’t see it. He’s in prison. He’s a slave. He doesn’t know what’s going on, but he knows one thing that brings him hope—God is good.

Second, he honestly admits the sadness and losses of his family.

He does not deny or minimise the harm done to him. He grieves it deeply. In fact Genesis 45:2 says “Then he broke down and wept. He wept so loudly the Egyptians could hear him”. He does not sweep anything under the carpet and pretend nothing happened. But out of his honest grieving of the pain, he truly forgave and was able to bless the brothers who had betrayed him.

Finally, Joseph partnered with God to be a blessing.

Joseph had a choice. He could have destroyed his brothers in his anger, but instead he chose to bless them. I think, this choice is not about the brothers, but it’s about God. Can God be trusted? Is God good? Is God safe? Then, I can make brave choices for my future, and they don’t have to be determined by my pain. God bless as you go back to your family of origin, to go forward.

The Problem of Unhealthy Spirituality

Wed, 10 Feb 2021 10:48:47 GMT

Source: Emotional Healthy Spirituality, Pete Scazzero

On Tuesday we started Kids in the Kitchen and it was a joy to be back. I was talking about eggs to the kids. I had one egg that had been soaked in vinegar over night and was sqidgy, you know spongy to touch, but when we broke it open there was a completely normal yolk and white inside. Another egg was completely black on the outside – we colour it in with texta and the kids always hate the look of it. But when we opened it, it was a beautiful egg on the inside. Another egg I had looked perfect on the outside, but when I broke it open, there was nothing there – no yolk and no white. The kids eyes are always wide and their surprise is real. They asked me – did you know when you bought it there was nothing inside?? But of course, what they didn’t know was that I had put a tiny hole at the top and a tiny hole at the bottom and blown out the contents of the egg before-hand. But the point is this, like eggs sometimes people can be different on the outside to what they are on the inside. Everything may look good and fine outside but everything may be crumbling away on the inside.

People are not always as they appear to be and it can be very confusing. Pete Scazzero has written a few books on Emotionally Healthy Spirituality and his main point is this

‘You can’t be spiritually mature if you’re emotionally immature’. Many people might know all the scripture references and have gone to church all their lives, and they may look to be very holy and Godly. But if those people are emotionally immature, then they’re unable to put into practice all the things they’ve learnt about God, and on the inside there’s disaster waiting to happen.

So today, we're going to talk about the problem of emotionally unhealthy spirituality. Our life is a lot like an iceberg. The part we see of an iceberg is only ten% of the entire iceberg. 90% is below the surface and that’s the part that causes the damage to things it comes into contact with...like the Titanic! Likewise, it is the things deep beneath the surface in our lives, those things that others don’t see, and sometimes we can't see, that cause the real damage in our relationship with God, ourselves and wreaks havoc on others.

Pete Scazzero, says of himself, "I became a Christian at 19, but for the next 17 years, as a Christian, the truth was, the gospel didn't extend very far beneath my own iceberg. I continued to live on the surface. And I experienced its destructive effects. And I think it's part of what God used in my own life to begin to show me some things. It's been a very slow process for me to come out of that into some health. And I'm still working on it."

Of course Pete isn't the first person to live an emotionally unhealthy life. In the Old Testament King Saul started out well as the first King of Israel, but then things went pear-shaped. We're going to pick up the story in 1 Samuel chapter 15, beginning at verse 20. In the story, he is given a command by God to muster the armies of Israel, hundreds of thousands of troops, and to go up against the Amalekites, and completely wipe them out – everything and everyone.

So Saul goes, musters the armies of Israel, and heads out on the mission. But he doesn't quite follow all Gods instructions. He does most of it. In verse 9, we’re told that instead of wiping out all the sheep and cattle, and the king and all of the Amalekites, "Saul and his men spared Agag’s life and kept the best of the sheep and goats, the cattle, the fat calves, and the lambs—everything, in fact, that appealed to them. They destroyed only what was worthless or of poor quality.” (NLT)

I guess to Saul, it didn't make sense to lose all those financial resources. And so Saul made a decision and didn’t do quite everything that God asked him to. Most of it…he did most, but not all. And then the prophet Samuel shows up. I’m reading from 1 Samuel 15:19-22 (MSG), Samuel said to Saul…

“So why did you not obey GOD? Why did you grab all this loot? Why, with GOD's eyes on you all the time, did you brazenly carry out this evil?" Saul defended himself. "What are you talking about? I did obey GOD. I did the job GOD set for me. I brought in King Agag and destroyed the Amalekites under the terms of the holy ban. So the soldiers saved back a few choice sheep and cattle from the holy ban for sacrifice to GOD at Gilgal—what's wrong with that?" Then Samuel said, Do you think all GOD wants are sacrifices— empty rituals just for show? He wants you to listen to him! Plain listening is the thing, not staging a lavish religious production.”

The first thing Saul does as an emotionally unhealthy person here is he says, "No" to reflection and self-awareness. Saul’s in complete denial – Samuel says ‘why didn’t you do what God said’ and Saul shoots back “I did the job GOD set for me.” But he hadn’t. Complete denial. And he’s defensive. Instead of admitting he did the wrong thing, he said, “So I brought a few things back, what’s wrong with that??” Well, there’s only one thing wrong with that, it wasn’t what God wanted him to do. But Saul can’t admit that. In the middle of all this, he continues to believe he's doing God's will.

And even after he finally ‘gets’ that he’s really offended God by his behaviour he kind of blames other people. Even though he’s the King, he says in 1 Samuel 15:24 (MSG), “I cared more about pleasing the people. I let them tell me what to do.” So Saul, are you saying it’s everyone else fault?

Surely you’ve met people who did something that hurt or offended you, and they respond with ‘well, it’s because you provoked me’. If you hadn’t said this, or if you hadn’t done that, I wouldn’t have hurt you’.

This is a cancer in our souls. Many people who have said they were Christians, continued to explode in anger and say ‘well, if you’d been a better person I wouldn’t have lost my temper’. Or they ripped off the Corps financially and said ‘well, if the Salvation Army paid me properly I wouldn’t have had to do it.’ It’s someone else’s fault!

This is emotional immaturity, people are often in denial about responsibility for their own actions and show a complete lack of self-awareness and self-reflection.

The second thing Saul does is he says "No" to cultivating his relationship with God. He has a public life in God, but you never see any evidence of a private life in God.

Reading from 1 Samuel 15:22 (MSG) “Then Samuel said, Do you think all GOD wants are sacrifices— empty rituals just for show? He wants you to listen to him! Plain listening is the thing, not staging a lavish religious production.”

In other versions Samuel says to Saul ‘to obey God, is better than sacrifice’. The Hebrew word for “obey” and the Hebrew word for “listen” are the same word! Saul doesn’t listen and he doesn’t obey.

Saul probably thought he’d done enough for God. God told him to go defeat the Amalakites and he had. Wasn’t that enough?? But there was something missing in his receiving from God, something missing in the hearing, something missing in perhaps the attitude he had in serving God. Perhaps he didn’t listen well, perhaps he had attitude as he served God.

We are all free to listen or not listen as well. I mean you be here this morning thinking, ‘finally a great drying day, and when I’ve hung out my washing, I’ll duck down to the shops…’, or you may think ‘oh, that’s a pearler of a message… for someone else’. But at the end of the day, you and I turn up here each week, to focus on cultivating a personal relationship with God. Sure we might enjoy the sparkling company around us as well. But each week you and I need to be asking, "What's God saying to ME?"

Saul had a relationship with God. But he also had other things happening inside him. Maybe he thought he knew better than God on this matter, maybe he thought God wouldn’t care or find out if he kept a few things. None of that was right. God knew best, God did care about Saul’s disobedience and God did find out. What it tells me, is that Saul ceased to listen and cultivate his relationship with God.

Nobody can cultivate your life in God except YOU. We have church and lots of things going on around us, but it's your responsibility. It's about developing that space in your life for God, which we’ll be discussing over the next weeks.

Whilst the 10% of our lives that’s visible to others may look different because of our relationship with Jesus, we might be nicer or not swear or we may pray, the 90% below the surface, that is, the messages you grew up with in your family, expectations of life and the ways we’ve learnt to respond to pain, compel us in life and can remain untransformed by Jesus.

We’re going to listen to “he will hold me fast” and if we’re to open our lives up to the work of the Holy Spirit, we have to know that Jesus will hold us fast.

The Fugitive

Sun, 17 Jan 2021 10:23:14 GMT

Matthew 2:9-16

We pick up the story again this week, of the Magi, wise men. They travelled following a star, believing that they would find someone extraordinary at the end of their journey. Herod, of all people, directed them to Bethlehem. I guess we can be grateful that he didn’t have them followed. The reading says they entered a house, saw Jesus in the arms of Mary, and somehow they just knew that this baby was like no other. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh.

Of course, as mentioned last week, Herod was not happy with the thought of someone who might challenge his position and even though Jesus was just a baby, Herod decided he wanted to eliminate the problem. He wanted to kill Jesus. Warnings in dreams figure a fair bit in this part of the story. And in a dream, the magi were warned not to report back to Herod. So they worked out another way home, left the area without being seen, and returned to their own country. This leaves Herod furious. He doesn’t know where Jesus is but he figures if he kills every baby in the area, he should be right.

So an angel then warns Joseph in a dream “Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,” the angel said. Joseph doesn’t feature all that much in the Christmas story. He’s usually the strong silent type at the back of the nativity scene, who could probably be mistaken for a shepherd. But this story shows that Joseph had an enormous responsibility, placed upon his shoulders to protect and preserve the life of Jesus.

This beautiful family had to flee to Egypt. Flee is the word Fugo in Greek – and this is where we get the word fugitive. They are running for their lives to a place where they have no friends or family, no temple to fulfil their religious obligations, where they have no language for communication. The wonder of a miraculous birth that we celebrate at Christmas, gives way to the brutal realities into which this baby is born.

Imagine a refugee family reading this story for the first time. This story would be so familiar to them and could be written in many eras, in many cities, in many villages. A U.N. report released yesterday said that the COVID-19 pandemic reduced the number of international migrants by 2 million by the middle of 2020 because of border closings and a halt to travel worldwide. Imagine, that’s 2 million people who are unable to flee for their lives. 2 million people who are continuing to have to live in daily fear for their lives and poverty and lack. I heard this week that half the children under 5 years in Afghanistan are starving – half the children!

Each of those children is miraculous, each with enormous potential to impact the world. Many won’t make it. The wonder of a miraculous birth gives way to the brutal realities into which their baby is born.

Back to Mary and Joseph. They are living in fear for their lives. Joseph is warned in a dream that Herod is on the war path, and he’s told to get up, take Mary and Jesus, and go to Egypt until it’s safe to come back. I was thinking about this – could God not have supernaturally protected them where they were living? If they stayed where they were, couldn’t God have protected them there?

Sometimes I think this way and maybe you do too. Sometimes in the past I’ve thought, well I’ll just stay here in this situation, and God can protect me. He can make me strong enough, to face whatever foe, and survive. But you know, sometimes God just says ‘flee, run for your life’.

When I was younger I dated one or two guys who weren’t interested in God. I thought, God will make me strong, and I’ll be an influence on them. I’ll survive. But at the end of the day, usually it was my relationship with God that

suffered, and for me, God’s word was always ‘flee Robyn, run for your life!’.

I know that there are people who’ve been through rehab who say, well, that’s all behind me now, and I’ll be strong enough, God will make me strong enough to go out for drinks after work and not have a drink. But more often than not, God would say in that situation – flee, run for your life.

Sometimes people live abusive relationships for a long time believing that God could or may change the abusive person. I was talking to a person recently who said, ‘I stayed too long’. I was like ‘But adding God to the equation can sometimes complicate things. You believe 100% that God can changed and transform people and relationships. That’s what you were praying for and that’s why you stayed’. But sometimes God would say ‘flee’.

There’s no question God is more powerful than Herod. Could he smite Herod if he wanted to? Yes! But for whatever reason, that’s not the way God seems to work. Joseph had to do the hard yards of packing the family and trekking into a lonely and unfamiliar land. There was no miraculous intervention to keep them safe from Herod - no army of angels to protect the Son of God. BUT, God did intervene to say ‘you need to go’.

The French artist Luc-Olivier Merson’s painted Rest on the Flight Into Egypt, in 1879 (pictured below). It’s quite dark, and the painting is kind of bare. Joseph sleeps on the desert floor. Mary, perhaps to protect herself and the child, is sleeping up between the feet of the Sphynx, an imposing symbol of Egypt. There’s a glow around the baby, a halo. There’s the family, alone in their journey. They have nothing, and they seem to have no-one. The environment is grey and bleak. They are in an unfamiliar and foreign land, uncertain of when they’ll be able to return to their homeland. There are many uncertainties for them. They are doing the hard yards for their future, to protect Jesus…for Mary and Joseph, there is no miracle on demand. It would have been a difficult journey.

What a responsibility for Joseph…he was entrusted with protecting this precious cargo. He had to protect the Saviour of the world, when the Savour was tiny and vulnerable. That’s a big job, but he did it successfully by relying on the wisdom and guidance of God. And acting on that wisdom. Flee to Egypt for safety, God tells Joseph, and that’s exactly what he did.

I want to say that you have been entrusted with precious cargo also. You may have family members or friends that God would ask you to care for and protect, and you may be doing the hard yards with them. You may be only too aware of your need to rely on the wisdom and guidance of God. But I think you have no greater precious cargo than the gift of your own life. Sometimes we take this gift lightly, we may not even think much of it sometimes. There are times when we forget how precious our own life is. But we have this precious gift that we have been entrusted with, our life, and the only way we can survive is by listening to the wisdom of God and acting on that wisdom.

Is there a situation that God is asking you to flee…maybe a relationship that is not a great influence on your relationship with God; maybe it’s an ongoing disagreement that you think you’ll win and change the other persons mind, and God’s saying just leave it; maybe there’s just something that you’ve been asking God to change and his answer is to flee.

The picture I was speaking about of fleeing to Egypt is dark and bleak. But there is light, God is there, in the foreign land. Not a spectacular miracle, but the miracle of His every day presence.

The Journey that God chose

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 06:55:02 GMT

Matthew 2:1-7

What a week huh? Brisbane is in a hard lockdown – people as far as Maroochydore stripped the supermarket shelves bare in panic buying on Friday, ahead of 3 days at home. I went out to Corrimal Court and Warrawong this week and was really impressed – everyone I saw had a mask on. How good is the Illawarra?? But it has been very inconvenient for some. My friend, who is a Franciscan Friar, was meant to move to Adelaide to live a week ago, and still doesn’t have permission to travel across the state border yet.

So today’s story - people travelling from afar – nay, another land to see Jesus. I thought, just as well it didn’t happen nowadays. Those wise people would never have made it across the borders to Jesus! But travel across borders they did! They travelled across geographic borders, cultural borders, racial borders, language borders and spiritual borders. The term Magi is a Greek term for Zoroastrian priests, which was the official religion of Persia.

We imagine there were many in the party, even though there were only 3 gifts mentioned. They would have travelled from Persia, with cooks and animal handlers, and servants – a great moving band of people who spoke Persian and did not worship Yahweh or God. And yet, here they were following a star (that had actually shone however many light years earlier for them to see it), to find Jesus.

There is such a lot in this well-known story that is fascinating. For instance, the Persian priests follow the star as far as Jerusalem, and then very sensibly ask for directions. Herod, who was appointed as the Jewish King heard about this. Herod was Jewish but his family had converted, they didn’t go back for generations in Judaism. Also he had a fairly decadent and spent lavish sums of money on himself. And he was aggressive and a tyrant and even murdered his own wife and some of his sons. So though Herod was technically the King, the Jewish people knew he wasn’t for real. They knew that his lineage wasn’t right and his heart wasn’t right. So when the Magi start asking questions about this newborn King of the Jews, Herod is very interested. He’s willing to kill his own flesh and blood to retain power – killing a baby of poor villagers, that is Mary and Joseph, would have been nothing to him.

It fascinates me that Herod consults the leading Jewish teachers, the chief priests and head scribes, to ask them where the promised Messiah would be born. And they tell him “Bethlehem”. These guys knew. They had all the head knowledge of all the prophets, they knew the scriptures back to front. In fact, they even believed the scriptures. But they just never went to Bethlehem themselves!

Finding Jesus and following Jesus is NEVER just about head knowledge. Plenty of people can study scripture and know all the stories, but never actually do anything about it that impacts their life. Imagine if those Jewish teachers and priests had thought for one minute…maybe, just maybe we should check this out. Maybe it’s more than a coincidence that scripture talks about the Messiah being born in Bethlehem and these guys have followed a star here.

I’ve often recounted that I grew up learning all the stories about Jesus. I went to Sunday school and heard about Jesus. I went to Sunday school every week. but it wasn’t until I was 14 years old that I heard for the first time that I could proactively seek Jesus with everything I have, give my heart to him, follow him, give my life to him. And I found a new life!

This week I thought a lot about people who have hung around church for a long time on and off, who have a knowledge of God, but never really make a commitment. You may feel like that, like you’re on the outside looking in when it comes to Christianity, even though you’ve kind of hung around for years. And it seems to me at least, that when we do that, we’re missing out on the best bit!! Whole hearted commitment to God is life at its best…forgiven, trusting God, becoming part of his family, having a purpose. Knowing you’re never alone, knowing that God himself is within you. The best.

My first point today is - Being a Jesus follower has NEVER been just about head knowledge…you can know all the stories like those Jewish teachers but unless you make a commitment to God, it won’t impact your life.

Secondly, the Magi didn’t have all the answers. They weren’t sure at all when they started out where they were going. But they went anyway. And they moved with what they knew.

I think sometimes God’s plans for us unfolds little by little. For those of us who are older, think of all the ways and places that you have served God and others. And each time, you could never have guessed where God would take you next or what you would be doing.

I often think about me being asked to play the piano at Sunday school when I was a teenager…oh I was SO nervous. But I kept going back every week, and eventually I played for the youth group – again so nervous. But I kept going back every week, and then I started playing for church. Sometimes before we’d start I’d think, ‘what happens if I go out there and look at the music and the little black notes on the page don’t’ mean anything…like they don’t compute!’ But God is faithful – sure I’ve had big mistakes, some here. But I always wanted to say yes to God if it meant if would mean his people could worship. It was not about my ego or my embarrassment  .

I know many of you here over the years have said yes to God to teach Sunday school, or minister to people in aged care, or shake hands at the front door, or make morning tea (when we could do that!), or do a sermon, or lead a bible study or to feed people. And each time you could never have imagined where God would lead you next. But lead us, he does. Just like those Persian Priests. Bit by bit, not knowing where our journey will lead, but moving where God seems to direct us. We’ll never know all the details, but we need to keep moving with God.

So following Jesus has never been just about head knowledge, and we’ll never know all the details but we need to move with God on what we know.

Finally, the Persian persist didn’t let any barriers stand in their way. They were from another country, culture and religion. Language could have been a barrier, cultural and racial differences could have been a barrier. But they overcame every barrier because they were focussed on their goal of worshipping Jesus. Hebrews 12:1-2 says “Let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.”

You may have lots of barriers to following Jesus, being the person he wants you to be, doing what he wants you to do. Maybe family barriers, it’s all too difficult with family resistance. You may feel there’s educational barriers – if only id gone to bible college. You may feel there’s age barriers – im too young or too old for God to follow God wholeheartedly.

I acknowledge, some barriers are real and hard to overcome. But keep your eyes on Jesus. The Magi just kept focussed on their desire to worship Jesus, and didn’t let anything get in the way. What are your barriers to deeper commitment to God?

Hebrews says it so clearly…how can we keep on with what God wants us to do? There’s so many distractions, so many things that could prevent us, so many things that are a barrier to following Jesus daily…but the answer is, keep focussed on Jesus.

Following Jesus has never been just about head knowledge, we’ll never know all the details but we need to move with God on what we know. Keep focussed on Jesus to overcome barriers along the way. We’ll listen to, Yet not I but through Christ in me.

A Kingdom that Never Ends

Fri, 08 Jan 2021 09:40:27 GMT

Luke 2:1-7

Well we’ve made it to the end of the year. Who could have thought how this year would unfold, we started hearing about a flu that was from China and had begun to impact Italy and then Spain. We didn’t understand the impact of this flu. Who could have imagined a year when hardly any planes flew anywhere? Travel agents, museums, cafes were all impacted. In fact, a lot of retail was affected as people began to shop online as whole nations went in to lockdown for months.

There were completely unexpected positives to the pandemic – in April National Geographic said that from China to industrial northern Italy and beyond, pollution levels plummeted as lockdowns closed businesses and trapped billions of people at home. In India, where air pollution is among the world’s worst, people reported seeing the Himalayas for the first time from where they live.

Then in May George Floyd died in the US, and protests around the world ensued. The whole year seemed consumed with news of the US election - we couldn’t escape it! And it turned out to be a divisive and polarising election – even in Australia, people usually have a strong view about it.

The whole year saw skyrocketing anxiety and loneliness. People in China with their front doors nailed shut, tower blocks of residents in Victoria told of a snap lock down and the scramble to get food and other essential products and services to them.

Many people lost their jobs, many people lost businesses. Everything’s been pushed to it’s limits - health systems, our economy, teaching via zoom and parents home schooling. People worked from home with varying degrees of success. Some people loved the flexibility of working hours, the lack of wasted time travelling to work, and going to ‘work’ in their slippers. Those who found it more challenging were parents of toddlers (there were a few who made a surprise appearance on their parents zoom call), extroverts who needed to see and talk to someone…anyone, and anyone who doesn’t have a good internet connection! The quote for the year is ‘you’re on mute!’ Unprecedented, Unimaginable, Unbelievable. Such tough times.

But in the midst of this God’s kingdom prevails. Whilst the kingdoms of this world suffer and fight and groan under the weight of pain, God’s Kingdom – a Kingdom of goodness, and kindness, and generosity, and healing, and peace - prevails. Our opening reading said that, Jesus “will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!” The greatness of Jesus has not been diminished one bit, and his Kingdom is as trustworthy, strong and reliable as ever.

Our reading earlier spoke gave us some context to the birth of Jesus. Israel was part of the Roman empire, and Augustus who was the Emperor, decided to check out who exactly was in this empire for the first time. So, Augustus decreed that there would be a census and many say, the primary reason was taxation purposes!

Everyone had to go back to the town their family came from. If I went back 2 or 3 generations I would have to go back to Petersham in Sydney. There was no choice and so Joseph and Mary set off. They were living in Nazareth and they had to travel to Bethlehem – just a government requirement. Or was it?

You see, there were lots of prophecies in the Old Testament about the coming Messiah or Saviour of the world, and none said he would be born in Nazareth. Old Testament prophecy specifically said that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. But Mary and Joseph were going to Bethlehem to fulfil a government requirement weren’t they? Surely that had nothing to do with God??? And yet going to Bethlehem was fulfilling the plans and purposes of God.

This really encourages me, because it wasn’t that they heard an angel tell them to go to Bethlehem. They went to Bethlehem because that was there everyday life at that moment. And that is precisely where God works in us and through us.

I know many people feel that they don’t have the faith to move mountains, or the belief of someone else at church, or they aren’t as ‘spiritual’ as others. But God doesn’t need to be sending angels all the time to announce ‘you go here’, ‘you – go there’. All he needs is for you to commit yourself whole heartedly to God in the ordinary stuff of life, and he WILL lead you, he WILL guide you…and you may not even be aware.

Mary and Joseph thought they were just fulfilling a government requirement. But that was all part of God’s bigger plan. You may think you’re just going to get the groceries. Or you’re just talking to someone at Officeworks. Or you’re just calling someone to say hello. Or you’re just mowing a lawn. But who’s to say that it’s not all part of God’s bigger plan to work in you and through you. The mundane stuff, the stuff that feels like fulfilling a requirement, may be the very stuff that God uses and works through.

There’s been plenty of fulfilling requirements this year, sanitise hands, stand 1.5 meters apart, stay at home. I pray that in all of these requirements that God is weaving the details of your life in a vast eternal tapestry…making a thing of beauty as we commit our ways to him in the ordinariness of life. You know God hasn’t given up on our world and he hasn’t given up on you. He came to bring peace and hope on earth, and it’s possible through faith in Jesus. I love the words in the 2nd verse of ‘It came upon a midnight clear’. Yet with the woes of sin and strife, The world has suffered long,

Beneath the angel strain have rolled, Two thousand years of wrong. And man, at war with man, hears not, The love song which they bring. O hush the noise, ye men of strife, And hear the angels sing. God bless you this week.

Just Like God Promised

Fri, 08 Jan 2021 09:35:50 GMT

Luke 2:21-40

What a strange new year’s eve. I texted this to a friend at 5pm on New Year’s Eve.

“This is somehow a metaphor for life. There are teenagers opposite our house illegally climbing into the soccer field, whilst listening to dance music. I silently watch them whilst dismantling my cardboard box to make it fit into the recycling bin, dressed in the clean pyjamas I’ve already got on for tonight”.

Such a strange new year. We don’t know how the latest wave of COVID will affect us. How about the long lines for testing? We all applaud them but having to wait in a car for 6 hours is incredible. And people in Aged Care – it’s heartbreaking that they’re not able to see their family now or go on outings. We need hope don’t we?

Following on from the birth of Jesus, which we celebrated last week, Joseph and Mary, with their new baby boy, have travelled from Bethlehem to Jerusalem to visit the temple. A faithful Jewish family had to perform several religious acts after a child was born. The primary ritual for a boy on the 8th day after his birth was circumcision and naming of the child. He was given the name Jesus, which as the angel had instructed, which in Hebrew is “Yeshuah”, and means, “God is salvation”.

The parents were required to go to the Temple to make animal sacrifices, a lamb for an offering to say thanks to God and a bird – a pigeon or a dove – for a sin offering. The sin offering was made because Mary had been ritually ‘unclean’ after childbirth. If a family were too poor to afford a lamb, they were allowed to substitute a second bird for the thank offering. So Joseph and Mary come with a poor family’s offering, a pair of birds. As they stand in the temple presenting their child and offering their thanks to God, an aged priest comes forward: Simeon. Simeon had been led there by the Holy Spirit that day, Luke tells us. God had revealed to him that he would not see death until he saw the Saviour of the world. And then the Spirit of God showed him that this was the day, and Jesus was the One.

You know I love Simeon’s story! I have spoken about him before at Tarrawanna…I think my message on that occasion was ‘It’s never too late’ – that is, Simeon waited his whole life to identify and celebrate arrival of the Messiah. And it wasn’t until we presume his old age, that his life’s purpose was fulfilled. So, it’s never too late, and you’re never too old, for God to fulfil his purposes through you!

Simeon doesn’t see any flashy miracles in the temple that day. Water isn’t turned into wine. No one’s cured of leprosy. A dead man doesn’t rise from the grave. He sees baby Jesus, Immanuel, God with us, and our reading says he praised God. That is, something bubbled up inside him of utter gratitude to God when he saw Jesus, he was overwhelmed with thankfulness.

Actually a lot of people call this the Song of Simeon – it’s because that’s the way Jewish Rabbi’s and Priests said prayers – they sang. I think that’s pretty cool. So Simeon looked at Jesus, raised his eyes heavenward and sang, “Lord, now let your servant depart in peace according to your Word, for my eyes have seen your salvation which has been prepared for all people.”

As an aside, Simeon’s song is in the Anglican Book of Prayer and is called a Canticle which meant to be said or sung every night, I guess just before sleep. The Canticle, has been put to music by many composers. We’re going to listen to Simeon’s Song, put to music by Tommy Walker:

Now, what struck me this year, is that Simeon is full of gratitude and thankfulness to God…but the truth is, the promise of Jesus is not yet completely fulfilled. I mean, Simeon is holding a baby – a completely helpless, unable to speak a word, unable to control his bodily functions yet – baby. But Simeon knows and believes with every fibre of his being that God is faithful and he comes through on his promises.

When he says “For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles…”(Luke 2:30-32), Simeon is directly quoting many Old Testament prophets. One for example is Isaiah 42:1, 6b-7

“Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight;

I will put my Spirit on him, I will keep you and will make you,

to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles,

to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.”

And Simeon absolutely believes that God is true to his word, that God has fulfilled what he has promised. And that absolute trust in God, shows itself in gratitude and thankfulness - even though God’s promise is not completely fulfilled YET. Note the reading says he praised God “For my eyes HAVE SEEN your salvation”. He’s seen it. He’s certain. He’s not just hoping that something will come of this baby. If it was me, I’d be thinking, well dag-nabbit I wish I’d met this guy in the temple when he’s fully grown and can actually bring about salvation! No, his trust is 100% in God and his word. And his trust and hope looks forward to what is to come.

How is your trust in God going? Because it will make all the difference to how you live life. It makes a difference to the choices we make, it makes a difference to how we respond to our circumstances, it makes a difference to how we perceive our life. And it makes us more thankful and grateful.

I read this post on face book this week from Jess Farthing, the Corps Officer at Shellharbour.

“For a family to love, and beautiful friends to share. For my babies laughs, and wiggly teeth.

For a roof over my head and food on my plate. For living in a safe part of the world, with very few worries. For Free medical and hospital beds. For the clean water that runs from a tap in my house!

For Free education and silly teachers that have crazy imaginations, and teach more than just books.

For the tears of the broken that have found amazing grace.

For creativity and the possibility of renewal, revelation and revival. For the peace, kindness, and selflessness of a stranger.

For the choice to love, and empathise, in the face of adversity. For HOPE and wise counsel.

For a Love that surrounds me, pursues me, shapes me and confronts me, for reasons that are bigger than my understanding. I.Am. So. Very. Grateful.

The foundation of gratitude is trust…trust in God, even if your prayers are not answered yet, evn if your circumstances are difficult. 100% trust in God.

We’ll listen to Great is thy faithfulness (sung by Women of Faith)…I pray for “Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow….” for you this week. God bless you, Robyn

Who will prepare your way?

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 21:01:34 GMT

Who will prepare your way?

Why celebrate Christmas? Year after year after year….it’s been a long time now…how many Christmases have you had?

The purpose for us ‘celebrating’ should be more about acknowledging or recognising or accepting we have been given a gift by God.

All of humanity has been given a gift by God…it’s something God did a very long time ago. And just as it should be we appreciate this gift at least once every year. God created the heavens and the earth, night and day, heat and cold, wet and dry, animals, birds, fishy things, insects and microbes. When the planet eventually came into order, God then created human beings…individuals with a soul.

Come to think of it I like to consider the possibility God created the human soul before creating the human being…the body. After all the Soul is the only eternal element to us.

From what we know courtesy of the sciences and other historians there is always strong evidence these early societies sought after a supreme being.

People had an instinct for the existence of a force or power just outside the natural world of their understanding… and persistently they made attempts to make contact and gain understanding. Each individual asks, what is life about? Why am I here? You see we all have the awareness we are not just a biological mass!

People want to know about Creativity and the power which orders the universe. Knowing about the creator helps us to know about ourselves and we all want that to varying degrees at various times.

Regardless of the date, Christmas reminds us we have a Creator…God, and if it is December 25th or August 8th no matter.

Acknowledging our Creator God is probably the most profound actions we can take in life. The exchanging of gifts is a symbolic gesture by us of what God has given us….the most precious gift.

Jesus, the Son of God has been gifted to us and on every Christmas day in particular we can acknowledge and respond to God by our gratitude and thankfulness.

Gift giving, or the exchanging of gifts is a powerful custom and is often a show of affection and love…..but not always. For many gift giving is spoiled by the accompanying sense of indebtedness or obligation. Family members, friends, neighbours and acquaintances can remind you very powerfully at the most hurtful times with words like….after all I’ve done, or, after everything I’ve given you! And what was once a pleasure has been distorted in to the pain of contractual obligation and indebtedness.

The Message John 3:16-18

This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.

God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again.

Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it.

Jesus is not a Christmas gift! The 25th December just happens to be a day of acknowledgement, recognition, acceptance and proper tribute, and it does carry a lot of power.

Over the years I have met many, many people with an incredibly mixed and diverse belief in God. Nearly all of those ideas, beliefs and philosophies have come from others. Organised religion has its strengths and weaknesses and internationally over the past few years we have seen gross failings by organised religion to properly value human life and deal effectively with the perpetrators of sin and crime.

Sometimes I think I would like to dispense with religion but of course I remind myself I have spent the past 40 plus years working in the context of organised religion. I then have to contend myself by knowing I’m doing the best I can….and sometimes that’s very ordinary.

Some old guy said to me once, Religion is man’s best effort to reach God…but…don’t forget Jesus is God’s best effort to reach a rebellious mankind.

If we were able to divest ourselves of all the Christmas trappings and the religious conditioning for a bit and focus on….your relationship with God through Jesus, how would you be feeling?

In Australia the cricket season has started ODI have come and gone with Aust. vs India and the real cricket…the test cricket is underway.

Listening to an experienced coach talk to players the big question was being asked of every player……what is the purpose, the goal for every player. What are you here to do today?

There are a lot of answers to that question….and then the coach said to every Australian player….your job is the same as everyone on the team regardless of what your speciality might be…….preserve your wicket, play to prevent the loss of your wicket.

God has given us a gift and through this gift of Jesus we have much more than His philosophy or viewpoint to follow.

Certainly over the years you have read much about the life and times of Jesus. You have read about His wisdom, His insights, judgement, sharpness, cleverness, humility, kindness, love and compassion. You have read about Jesus healing people, feeding people, chastising, challenging and encouraging people. Jesus touched their bellies their broken and ailing bodies as well as the minds and emotions of those in trauma and chaos. He did so much for so many and today we can still learn, and be inspired and be encouraged as needed we are nurtured, supported and sometimes pushed to be persuaded.

As the coach said, what is your purpose? What do you think the purposes of Jesus are? There are many areas of ministry we can see Jesus engaged in. Through the Gospels we do learn of several events when Jesus was tempted to put aside His true purpose and pursue recognition, celebrity and fame.

Equally we hear the words of Jesus to those who wanted to keep hold of Him and thereby limit Him when He said, ‘I must be about my Fathers business’.

Jesus is our Saviour and Jesus is our Lord…this is why God sent His Son Jesus.

So we take the time at Christmas in particular, in agreement with millions of others to accept God has given us the gift of a Saviour and Lord.

Mary did you know?

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 20:59:16 GMT

Luke 1:26-38

Were you ever in a nativity play? What part did you play? You know, I remember being in a nativity at church, but I do remember being in one at school when I was about 7 years old. And I don’t remember what part I played. I do remember clearly though being jealous of my best friend Cindy who was chosen to be Mary. Cindy was very shy and I wondered how she’d say her lines in the play??? I think the teacher made a good choice in Cindy but I’m sure deep down I thought I’d be a much better Mary. Even at the age of 7, I remember being jealous and wanting to be Mary.

How times have changed - I no longer envy being Mary! I know she was favoured by God and all, but I think age and maturity have shown me that there is nothing straightforward or easy about being Mary! There’s the things we’re not told in the story like…When did you tell your parents you were pregnant? Did you tell Joseph yourself, or did the gossipmongers of Nazareth take care of that for you? Did anyone in the village believe your story? After Gabriel departed, did you doubt his visitation? Question your sanity? Fear for your life?

The story of the angel Gabriel making this announcement to Mary is familiar to us. "Six months later in Nazareth, a city in the rural province of Galilee, the heavenly messenger Gabriel made another appearance. This time the messenger was sent by God to meet with a virgin named Mary, who was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David himself.." (Luke 1:26-27)

From this mind-boggling introduction, an even more mind‐boggling story follows. Our reading says that the angel greets Mary, saying “You are favoured, and the Lord is with you! The angel describes the God’s plan for a miraculous conception. Mary expresses doubt, Gabriel explains God's plan in greater detail, Mary consents, and the angel departs.

There’s not a lot of detail here. We know that Mary was " baffled" by Gabriel's words…I think, an understatement. We know from her question ("But I have never been with a man. How can this be possible?") that she recognized the bizarre nature of the angel's announcement. And we know from her last words to the angel that she agreed to God's plan. But there must have been a some wrestling for Mary with these unfolding events.

Tradition tells us that Mary was probably thirteen or fourteen years old when the angel appeared to her. We know that in first‐century Jewish culture, a girl who became pregnant out of wedlock faced grave danger. At the very least, she became an object of widespread scorn. At the worst she risked being stoned to death by the village. To say "yes" in this instance was to knowingly give herself over to scandal, misunderstanding and rejection. It was to put everything — her reputation, her marriage, her very life — on the line.

And this is the special honour God bestowed on his favoured one? This warns me that God's "favour" is not the lucky rabbits foot I'd like to believe it is. It's not the God of the Old Testament where divine favour equals wealth, health, comfort, and ease. Mary's favoured status led her straight from scandal to danger to the trauma of her son's crucifixion.

God's call required her to be profoundly countercultural, to trust an inner vision that flew in the face of everything her community expected of her. We are told that Mary pondered these things…again, an understatement I’m sure. To say yes to this plan of God, must have required great courage and some determination.

Denise Levertov has written a poem call ‘Annunciation’ – these are excerpts from her poem

We know the scene: the room, variously furnished,

Arrived on solemn grandeur of great wings, the angelic ambassador, standing or hovering,

whom she acknowledges, a guest.

But we are told of meek obedience. No one mentions courage. The engendering Spirit did not enter her without consent.

God waited.

She was free…..to accept or to refuse, choice……….integral to humanness.

Called to a destiny more momentous than any in all of Time, she did not quail,

only asked a simple, ‘How can this be?’

and gravely, courteously, took to heart the angel’s reply,

This was the moment no one speaks of, when she could still refuse.

A breath unbreathed, Spirit, suspended, waiting.

She did not cry, ‘I cannot. I am not worthy,’

Nor, ‘I have not the strength.’

She did not submit with gritted teeth, raging, coerced.

Bravest of all humans, consent illumined her.

Mary had a choice, she was free…..to accept or to refuse God’s plan, as we all have a choice. The danger in skipping over or idealising Mary's consent is that it distorts her humanity, and keeps her story at arm's length from ours. I can't relate to a person who leaps headlong into such costly obedience. I can relate, however, to the one who struggles, to the one whose "yes" is perhaps the result of some struggle and pondering.

A popular Christmas song addressed to Mary asks what she knew when she said yes to Gabriel's request: "Mary, did you know that your baby boy would one day walk on water? Mary, did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters?"

We have no way of knowing what Mary knew. My guess is that like us, she knew just enough to get started. My guess is that each trembling "yes" Mary whispered into God's heart, changed the world.

What does this say about God? He waits for us to say yes.

What does this say about me? A yes is required…it’s OK to ponder, to question, to wonder…but ultimately God waits for your yes!

Keeping it Simple

Wed, 02 Dec 2020 11:08:38 GMT

Mark 6:7-13

Once a month I go to a meeting of ministers and Pastors in the area. Actually, I went twice this week – once for an hour prayer meeting – and both meetings started at 7.30am in the morning! But this week I heard of a young woman, 14 years old, who heard about Jesus and has decided to ask him into her heart. She began to read through the gospels and was so excited by her new found faith, that she wanted to get her 3 friends together and do a regular bible study. She is keen, keen, keen.

One of her friends is a Jehovah’s Witness and they have some very different ideas to other churches, and the others have no faith background. My Pastor friend was worried about the young woman. Would it be too much pressure for her being so new in her faith to host a group of friends who might undermine her faith? He wanted to protect her fledgling faith and yet saw that it was important to encourage her enthusiasm and sharing. I see his point, and yet I also think that this young woman will never be as enthusiastic as she is right now. And I think it’s great it she learns that sharing your journey with God is normal. I said to my Pastor friend that maybe he could reassure her that she didn’t have to know all the answers and that he and his wife could be a resource and support.

The disciples in this reading are being sent out by Jesus into the world. A world that had never heard of Jesus. I’m kind of intrigued that right from the start Jesus shares his power and authority, even whilst he’s alive. I think this is really unusual. Think about a high profile Christian like Billy Graham. He built his ministry around himself. It was Billy graham doing the speaking, the evangelising. Yes, he had a team doing the background stuff, but he wasn’t saying to his team. ‘Off you go to a city, go in my name, and preach there.’ I reckon Billy would have thought it too risky to allow just anyone to preach under the banner of ‘Billy Graham ministries’. And yet, here’s Jesus, sending disciples out in his name. They’re representing him. It’s a risky business…those disciples could do anything when they’re out there. It shows a lot of trust by Jesus in his disciples.

If you identify as a disciple of Jesus, then he has the same trust in you. We bear his name CHRIST – IANS, and we are here in our part of the world, interacting with people in his name, under his banner, as it were. That’s an awesome thing, and it should be a sobering thing for us too. If people know you go to church, if they know that you are a Christian, then you are representing Jesus. You know that old saying, you might be the only Bible that someone reads. A woman at the checkout that Bob has gotten to know said to him the other day, ‘do you go to church?’. He said ‘yes, why?’. She said ‘oh, I just thought you probably did’. Now I’m not sure what that means and neither did Bob. But you go out into the world with the power and authority of Jesus, under the banner of Jesus, and representing Jesus. And YOU are the only Bible some will ‘read’.

Jesus gave them some really helpful tips for mission before they left. Mark 6:7-9 says “…(Jesus) sent them out in pairs. He gave them authority and power to deal with the evil opposition. He sent them off with these instructions: “Don’t think you need a lot of extra equipment for this. You are the equipment. No special appeals for funds. Keep it simple.”

Honestly, I used to think I would need a theology degree to share my faith. I grew up in a household, where we went to church but we never spoke of God. We were encouraged to say a prayer before bedtime, but speaking about God was not an ordinary part of life. So when I became a teenager I kind of wanted to be able to share my faith with others but had no idea where to start. And so, I thought, maybe if I did a theology degree then I’d have all the answers and I’d feel more comfortable sharing with others. Of course, a theology degree has got almost nothing to do with it. The 14 year old I spoke of earlier hasn’t done a degree.

But what she has is a lived experience of God and enthusiasm. ‘Don’t think you need a lot of extra equipment’ says Jesus.

Lots of people in the Salvation Army used to think that they had to go to expensive overseas conferences to become equipped to share their faith with others. There was a time when people would take off to the USA every year for this course or that conference. And for the most part, it didn’t seem to change them at all. Jesus says in The Message version ‘No special appeal for funds. Keep it simple.’

‘You are the equipment’, says Jesus. I’m not against courses or conferences, but in terms of sharing your faith, the only thing that makes a difference is to have your own growing dynamic relationship with God. But that’s hard isn’t it? There’s so many distractions in life. So many pressing things to fit into a day. Or so many other things that may seem more enjoyable at the time, like a sleep in 

But there’s no substitute for reading the bible regularly and praying. I know, it’s like going to a Dr and they say ‘diet and exercise’. You come to church and hear ‘bible reading and prayer’. I’m not great at any of this. But hand of heart, I know that when I read the Bible in an organised and regular way, I just mean, starting with the gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and reading a few verses a day. Thinking about them, praying, thinking what is God saying here. When I do that, it’s like something in my spirit is topped up and there’s enough to flow over to others. You are the equipment. Jesus said that to the disciples back then and he would say it to his disciples in Tarrawanna today. You are the equipment. Don’t think you need to have gone to training college, or have done the 3 spiritual laws course or whatever.

This week I heard about a young guy in high school in the Illawarra, and he decided to start a Bible study. It’s on at the same time as some others are playing sport. So he said to his year, if anyone’s interested I’m going to have a bible study at this time. 16 guys have been turning up. His dad said to me, ‘oh, I think they’re all already Christians going to other churches’. He sounded a bit disappointed. I said to him, ‘no, it’s really important. They’re coming to an age when there will be intense pressure from other points of view and to be part of a group of his peers and friends that are Christians is great. And I thought it was good that it wasn’t just their mum and dad’s church, and they’ll be forming a faith that is strong and robust. That young man kept it simple, just asked some friends if they wanted to be part of a group.

In the last verses in our reading today, Jesus says “No luxury inns”, “Get a modest place and be content there until you leave. If you’re not welcomed, not listened to, quietly withdraw. Don’t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way.” Then they were on the road. They preached with joyful urgency that life can be radically different; right and left they sent the demons packing; they brought wellness to the sick, anointing their bodies, healing their spirits.” (Mark 6:10-13)

And that’s the focus of our message, that life can be radically different. We carry a message that God’s plan has always been to reconcile people to himself, to bring us close, but our sin and pain had kept us far away. In Jesus, God made a way for us to be part of his family, to experience hope and forgiveness, transformation and eternal life. Actually, if you’re interested we have small pamphlets about this and also a small book by Robert Street.

You know I travel around a bit, and in some of my areas, there are Salvos right now anointing bodies and healing spirits. We’ve bought an idea that God couldn’t possibly work that way now, but perhaps it just takes us stepping out in faith to see God’s amazing power at work. Let’s keep it simple. Bless you.

Free At Last

Sun, 15 Nov 2020 05:22:44 GMT

Mark 5:1-20 (The Message)

I’m loving listening to the gospel of Mark as I drive along in the car. As I said last week, sometimes I’ll go for a day or two listening to the same chapter and having something different stand out to me each time. The story today is about a man who has a “tormenting evil spirit” and Jesus restores health and wholeness to him. There’s 3 different parts to this story I want to focus on.

Firstly, Jesus. Our reading says “They arrived on the other side of the sea in the country of the Gerasenes. As Jesus got out of the boat, a madman from the cemetery came up to him. He lived there among the tombs and graves.” (Mark 5:1, MSG). It seems that when Jesus stepped out of the boat the cemetery, tombs, graves and pigs were not far away. This is a very risky place for a Jewish person to be. Jesus was going to places where no other Jewish person was going. A Jewish person simply could not be around pigs because they were deemed unclean animals. And Judaism has strict instructions about the dead – they must be disposed of quickly and then you don’t hang around too long!

Jesus was taking an incredible risk. He was going to places that his Jewish peers would judge him for being near. And this sends a strong signal, long before the disciples caught on to it, that Jesus’ mission was for all – Jewish and non-Jewish. A signal that God was reaching out to everyone.

Jesus was a risk taker. He’s hanging around near a cemetery, near the pigs, and he’s taking a path that leads by a man that everyone has given up on. This man was absolutely tormented, and though he was relegated to live in the cemetery, the community would have heard his howls of anguish every so often. No one went there...except Jesus. No one spoke to him…except Jesus. Everyone was afraid of him…except Jesus. No one but Jesus…Jesus was his last hope.

As I read this, I admired Jesus’ risk taking, his ability to not be inhibited by what others may think. This is how the Salvation Army began – out in the streets whilst other churches were inside the safety of their church walls, out in the pubs and in the East End of London where respectable churches and respectable people would not go. This is in the Salvation Army’s DNA - risk taking, so that those who are in pain, and alone and lost can find healing and transformation and a God who loves them. Where might those places be in our world? Who are those people?

The next part of the story that amazes me is the man. Our reading says “No one could restrain him—he couldn’t be chained, couldn’t be tied down. He had been tied up many times with chains and ropes, but he broke the chains, snapped the ropes. No one was strong enough to tame him. Night and day he roamed through the graves and the hills, screaming out and slashing himself with sharp stones.” (Mark 5:4-5, MSG).

I presume there was a time this man lived in a family, enjoying all the benefits of being part of community. He would have had friendship, purpose, connection, the simple pleasure of sitting at a table and eating with another person occasionally. I’ve been to funerals where there was no-one except myself and the funeral director (pre COVID), and it makes me reflect on a life that had no human connection. No one to check in if you’re still alive. No one to let you know that you matter to someone.

This man was completely isolated, living among the dead, so tortured within himself by a “tormenting evil spirit”. Day and night he roamed through the graves screaming out, and self-harming, cutting himself with sharp stones. Sometimes people cut themselves or harm themselves because it’s a distraction from the inner pain that seems overwhelming, sometimes it’s to feel something if they feel numb, sometimes a way of showing some external sign of the inner pain, sometimes because they don’t know any other way to express the pain. This man was suffering.

People had tried to subdue him in various ways (although the only person he seemed to be harming was himself) but it hadn’t worked. And in the end he was rejected by the village to live in absolute isolation. No clothes, no friend and no peace of mind. Never.

Into this scene comes Jesus, and in a picture of compassion, practicality and authority, he delivers the man of these tormenting spirits. And here’s the outcome “Everyone wanted to see what had happened. They came up to Jesus and saw the madman sitting there wearing decent clothes and making sense, no longer a walking madhouse of a man. (Mark 5:14-15, MSG).

One interaction with Jesus and the man is transformed. He’s a different man – a completely new man, transformed spiritually, emotionally, and physically. He’s not tormented, he no longer howls and shrieks, he’s able to have a conversation with people, his thoughts are ordered, his clothes resplendent. I guess such was his gratitude and so great was his encounter with Jesus that we read he asked Jesus if he could join him and the disciples.

”Jesus said, “Go home to your own people. Tell them your story—what the Master did, how he had mercy on you.” The man went back and began to preach in the Ten Towns area about what Jesus had done for him. He was the talk of the town.” (Mark 5:19-20). Jesus directed the man back to his community. Maybe Jesus felt that he was best placed there, embedded in a stable community, after all of his trauma. But that would have been hard huh? Hard for the man, who had been rejected by those very people, and hard for the community who would have found it difficult to believe he was truly a new person. That is often the story of transformation. Sometime we find it hard to believe others have truly changed, and we continue to think of them as they were in the past. And sometimes people refuse to believe that we have changed, and that can be incredibly frustrating.

This leads me on to the last part today. The people. The pig owners to be precise.

“Those who had seen it told the others what had happened to the demon-possessed man and the pigs. At first they were in awe—and then they were upset, upset over the drowned pigs. They demanded that Jesus leave and not come back.” (Mark 5:16-17).

These people had just witnessed an incredible miracle. Jesus had healed this tormented, tortured, isolated man. And the people were worried about the pigs. OK, it may have been their livelihood, and perhaps I’m being harsh. But the people were witness to the supernatural power of God at work, a supernatural power that had a ripple effect as he told everyone in the surrounding towns about Jesus. And these people completely rejected Jesus and his miracle working power, because of the pigs drowning.

This is a remind that there will always be people in life who major on the minor things of life. God is working in amazing ways, and someone’s leaving the church because the air conditioning is too cold one Sunday. Or they left the church because the flag was in the wrong position…both true stories. Let’s you and I not be that person.

The take aways today are ….Like this man, there’s nothing about you that is TOO MUCH for Jesus. No past too horrific, no family too twisted, no disease too extreme. He welcomed that man – nothing in Jesus took a backward step. He welcomed him…and Jesus welcomes you with all your complications! I also pray for a day when the Salvation Army are risk takers again, bringing hope to those who are suffering and tormented. And I pray that we will see the transforming power of Jesus continue to transform lives in our community in the Northern Illawarra

Time and space to Grow

Sun, 08 Nov 2020 21:11:04 GMT

Mark 4:1-8, 13-20

What a week it’s been in politics world-wide. I realised for the first time there are things I have taken for granted in Australia – like, when I vote I do trust that it will be counted and that there won’t be any fraudulent votes counted. I’ve never felt stressed about the vote counting process, and I know people who have been involved and vouch that we have a system that has integrity. But there are many things that have caused stress around the world in the last couple of weeks. A new wave of COVID 19 across Europe, new lock downs, unrest between France and the Muslim world that has spilled into other countries.

But if you’ve lived on the earth for any length of time, you’ll have worked out that there’s never really a time with no stress. Some years may be better than others personally, but eventually there will be something…family or relationship problems, issues at work or with your neighbours, ill health, financial strain, decisions about moving.

And as I listened to Mark 4 in the car, I realised it says something about the effect of stress on us. Here’s the scripture reading in Mark chapter 4 (The Message)

1-2 He (Jesus) went back to teaching by the sea. A crowd built up to such a great size that he had to get into an offshore boat, using the boat as a pulpit as the people pushed to the water’s edge. He taught by using stories, many stories.

3-8 “Listen. What do you make of this? A farmer planted seed. As he scattered the seed, some of it fell on the road and birds ate it. Some fell in the gravel; it sprouted quickly but didn’t put down roots, so when the sun came up it withered just as quickly. Some fell in the weeds; as it came up, it was strangled among the weeds and nothing came of it. Some fell on good earth and came up with a flourish, producing a harvest exceeding his wildest dreams.

13 He continued, “Do you see how this story works? All my stories work this way.

14-15 “The farmer plants the Word. Some people are like the seed that falls on the hardened soil of the road. No sooner do they hear the Word than Satan snatches away what has been planted in them. 16-17 “And some are like the seed that lands in the gravel. When they first hear the Word, they respond with great enthusiasm. But there is such shallow soil of character that when the emotions wear off and some difficulty arrives, there is nothing to show for it. 18-19 “The seed cast in the weeds represents the ones who hear the kingdom news but are overwhelmed with worries about all the things they have to do and all the things they want to get. The stress strangles what they heard, and nothing comes of it. 20 “But the seed planted in the good earth represents those who hear the Word, embrace it, and produce a harvest beyond their wildest dreams.”

I reckon if you’ve been a Christian for a while, you’d usually listen to this parable and read it kind of secretly thinking ‘yeh yeh, I’m the 4th soil, I’ve been hanging in there a long time with God and haven’t drifted off. I’m good soil!’

But as I listened, I was particularly struck by the third type of soil. Now I’m getting ahead of myself. Jesus says that the seed in this story is the Word of God. We can have a direct and supernatural revelation of the Word of God, but mostly we hear the Word of God, through the Bible.

And the first type of soil is the person is the one whose heart is dry and hard – they are uninterested in, and don’t want to hear, the Word of God. So it’s like when seed lands on a path that’s been packed down hard. It lays on top of the path and the birds eat it up. Jesus says when you have a hard heart it’s like you’re unable to hear the word of God and Satan snatches away the message of life and hope that is there. This person is not receptive or open at all to God.

The second type of soil is about shallow, rocky soil…you like to keep the Word of God on the surface. Yes, you’re open to God but you don’t really want to chew over the Word of God and let it sink deep down into your life. And so when the sun shines beastly hot, that is, life gets difficult, the Word of God dries up and is powerless to grow and change you.

But here we are back at the third type of soil, those who hear the Word of God “but are overwhelmed with worries about all the things they have to do and all the things they want to get. The stress strangles what they heard, and nothing comes of it.”

I replayed that last sentence a few times when I was listening in the car “The stress strangles what they heard, and nothing comes of it”. I thought, hello, I could be soil number 3 sometimes. Are there times for you and I where the stress or worry is so overwhelming, we respond just like anyone without faith? We’re open to God and we hear and take on board the Word of God, but in equal measure we allow stress and anxiety to crowd our hearts and minds.

And the outcome is that nothing comes of the Word of God. Maybe we forget the promises of God, not completely trusting that God is good and he loves us? Maybe forgetting that this is not our permanent home here, and Jesus said there would be difficulties? Are there times that we’ve crowded our life so much, there’s just no room for the Word of God? This soil is crowded, there’s a LOT happening, but ultimately much of that grows into weeds that strangle the life out of the Word of God. We can fill our lives with more and more, but does what we’re doing, and dwelling on, lead us into a deeper, more trusting relationship with God?

To be honest, there have been times when I have let the deep concerns of life crowd out the Word of God. Sometimes, I’ve stopped reading it, sometimes even though I say I still trust God, I’m busy trying to work out my own solutions and plans. “But the seed planted in the good earth represents those who hear the Word, embrace it, and produce a harvest beyond their wildest dreams.” This is what I want, and this is what I want for you. That you would embrace the Word of God, giving it time and space to grow. And I pray that it will change you and the world around you, bringing an outcome beyond your wildest dreams. God bless you as you open yourself to God’s Word this week.

What do you want to be known for

Tue, 27 Oct 2020 03:00:08 GMT

Matthew 22:34-40

This little collection of verses here in Matthew are probably some of my most influencing verses in the Bible for me, and really have helped me navigate my faith through harder times and confusing times and deconstructing times. In all honesty, they have been the grounding that I needed as my life transitions from one season to the next to the next. But, as with most of these popular verses, I’ve heard it so many times and let it become my life motto without really stopping to read what’s happening and why Jesus said it. I think I’ve always had in my head that this passage was some warm and fuzzy feels teaching, almost like the Sermon on the Mount. I knew it was a bit controversial, but that was the extent. And then, I read the context.

Jesus had spent the morning travelling, and then ended up in the Temple teaching. This was something he did quite a lot, and there are a few examples of this recorded throughout the Gospels. Up until this point on this day, Jesus had taught the parable of the two sons, the parable of the veil farmers, and the parable of the great feast (if you want to check these out they begin in chapter 21 of Matthew, and each of these parables would have been incredibly confronting for the religious leaders, as they directly target their power and their hearts.

After Jesus finishes teaching the parable of the great feast, the Pharisees all huddle together and try to figure out a way to trap him and trick him, and begin asking him some difficult questions. Jesus answers these, so the Saducees try to catch him out, which doesn’t work either. The Pharisees have a final go, and bringing in someone within their group that is an expert in the law, they try to trick Jesus about the law, asking Jesus, “Which is the greatest commandment in the law of Moses?”

Once again, I think it’s important to know this context because, for me, it completely changed the way I read this little snippet of teaching. I think, at this point, Jesus is probably a bit done. He had spent the morning teaching, hanging out with people who were craving what he had to say and hanging off his every word, and then the religious leaders, who have their knickers in a knot because they were confronted with themselves by his teaching, decide to come in and test him. And it wasn’t just once – it was persistent questioning to try to trap him. When I think about how Jesus was probably feeling at this point as he teaches the most important commandment, I think maybe it was a little less of an angelic, calm, lovely teaching moment, and a little more of a “Oh my goodness. It’s not about which is most important, it’s about love,” teaching moment.

It has become really easy for us to read today this as a blanket statement, or a blanket teaching moment directed at every person, and to make it clear, I’m not saying this isn’t applicable to every Christian, but when Jesus said this it was directed at the religious leaders. The people who did everything they could to show how good they were because they were keeping the law to perfection. The people who used to law of Moses to exclude and isolate and create divisions within community. Jesus spoke this to people who held power and control and authority over others because they had weaponised the law to suit them. And by doing this, he confronted their very character. He confronted their hearts.

These religious people needed to be reminded in this moment that it doesn’t matter how many laws they keep, their hearts were in the wrong spot. They were really good at keeping the law, and would brag about how amazing they were because they didn’t murder anyone and they didn’t steal and they did all the religious practices perfectly and they knew so much stuff about their religion and the religious teaching. But they got so caught up in that, they forgot what it was all about.

When all these laws were written, they weren’t written to restrict the community or to exclude people. They were written to keep people safe, they were written so that people knew how to practically love others. And whether that was by not stealing or lying or murdering, or something a bit different like if someone had an infection they had to make sure they pulled themselves away from community until they were better because it’s not loving to share illnesses with others, or not cooking foods that would make them sick because they were tricky to prepare in those days. It wasn’t about restriction to exclude, it was about creating freedom to love. The ability and understanding about how to worship and love God, and about how to keep others safe and love them.

And I’ll be honest, this stopped me in my tracks and made me think. What if I am the religious leaders? What if we are? We are now the ones who know the law, we know the rules, we have these ideas of what our religion expects of us. We are the ones who get to decide who’s in and who’s out. Admittedly, this might look a little different than how it looked with the Pharisees. But I think it still happens. We get to decide who we talk to and how we talk to people that are in our community, or those people that are new that walk in our doors. We get to decide what rules we hold people to, what expectations we have that we hold people to. We get to decide if we, whether straightaway or over someone’s faith journey, make them feel loved and accepted, or if we hold them to a whole heap of rules that we take to an extreme and have become legalistic about. We really do get to choose.

I’m not saying that we suck at this all the time, but I think reading through this passage in its entirety really made me think. And this is the question that I want to land on to continue pondering: “What do we want to be known for – that we ticked every box or that we loved?”

We look back at the Pharisees and the Saducees, and they are known for ticking every box. They kept to their rules and their traditions so strictly that there just wasn’t room for love. And it didn’t have to be that way. The laws they were following, and we talked about this a few weeks ago with the Ten Commandments, were meant to give freedom and show love to every person in their communities, and also protect those that were from other faiths and backgrounds and life experiences. But, I think it’s human nature that we crave to follow simplistic rules, to create divisions, to figure who’s in and who’s out. To take these rules, and maybe even some of our own like how we participate in worship, what we wear, how we view those that we “help” or who we let do what based on how worthy or good enough we see them, and take them to the extreme to exclude and segregate and make ourselves feel special.

But our faith isn’t about us. It’s about others. It’s about love. It sounds so cliché, but it is just what I see. Love God, and love others as we love ourselves. You are all incredible people that I have been so privileged to get to know over the last year, and I see the love just ooze from who you are and from the stories that I hear and I love that. So I want to leave you with the encouragement of this question as you continue to grow in your faith in God and in your community: “What do you want to be known for – that you ticked every box or that you loved?”

Gratitude

Fri, 16 Oct 2020 20:30:44 GMT

Luke 17:11-19

This story is one of the better known healings that Jesus did during his ministry, and I’ve heard it taught many times before. Luke places this story in a time where Jesus is well into his ministry. He has been travelling for quite a while with his disciples, and has spent a lot of time teaching and healing and performing miracles. We know, as well, that there are so many miracles and teaching moments and days in Jesus’ life that aren’t accounted for or documented throughout this Scriptures, and yet this one is. And so, I think it’s important to ask the question, “Why?”

As we read, Jesus is walking on his way to Jerusalem when he encounters ten men with leprosy, a skin infection that creates huge issues for the person with it. It’s a relatively easy-to-treat disease these days, but in Jesus’ time, those with leprosy were cast out of town and away from their communities because they were considered unclean. By sending them out of town and giving them the status ‘unclean,’ these men were excluded from everything that life had to offer. They were not able to see their friends and family, except from a distance, they were not able to work or earn a wage or have families of their own, and they were not able to participate in the traditions of their faith. They were outcasts. And the only way they would be allowed to enter back into society was to present themselves to the priest at the temple, completely healed, and be given the approval of that priest. This was quite a process, and rarely would it have happened because they were just not living in a society that had ways to make them well. It was a pretty hopeless situation for these guys.

And then, here comes Jesus. They yell at him from a distance, which makes me wonder what they’ve heard about Jesus already. There’s obviously some familiarity there, and I think their desperation to be well mixed with the snippets of things they had probably heard provides them with an illogical amount of hope that Jesus will stop and maybe heal them. And that’s exactly what happens. Jesus goes to them (in the process exposing himself to leprosy and causing him to be religiously unclean, but that’s a whole other sermon), listens to their pleading, and sends them, fully healed, to show themselves to the priests.

One of the things that stands out to me about Jesus is that he doesn’t just heal people for the sake of healing them, but rather every time he heals someone, it creates a way for them to re-enter their community. That, too, is another sermon entirely, but it’s something that we see here so beautifully. By healing these people of their leprosy, but making it possible for them to show themselves to the priest, they are now able to have a full life with the same opportunities create lives for themselves, and to be contributing members of their communities. It’s pretty amazing.

So, Jesus sends them all to be seen by the priest, and they all leave. I want to mention here, too, that it becomes clear they didn’t leave Jesus’ presence healed. It was somewhere on their way to the priest that the healing took place, and we know this because it says, ‘when he saw that he was healed, he returned…’ We don’t know how long these men had been walking for at this point. It could have been in the first few minutes or maybe half an hour. And I think that’s important to consider because it means that each of these men left to see the priest as an act of faith. They began their journey, unhealed, trusting that the healing would happen before they got there. And I think it’s important to think about that because it’s so easy in the next bit of the story to be quite harsh towards those men that didn’t return to thank Jesus.

Like I said at the beginning, I’ve heard this passage taught a lot of times, and I think every time it has been on gratefulness. And don’t get me wrong, I think it’s a great starting point. We can learn so much from the Samaritan man that came back to thank Jesus. And we can learn a lot from those that chose not to. I think it’s almost quite easy to stop the story at “this teaches us that we should be grateful to God when good things happen to us,” because I think there’s an insinuation that the other nine men weren’t grateful because they didn’t come back to thank Jesus.

But today, I want to take it a step further than stopping there. Because I don’t think that the nine men were ungrateful. I think their step in faith in heading to the priest unhealed is a clear sign of that. I also wonder if (and maybe I’m adding too much into this story that just isn’t there) they said thanks to Jesus as they were leaving. Maybe they had already expressed their gratitude to him in expectance of what was to come. We don’t actually know. But what we do know is that the Samaritan man came back. That for him, something was different.

And maybe, what was different for him was something that was happening in his heart. Maybe, his coming back was an act of worship over an act of religious duties. You see, I don’t think the other nine were wrong for continuing on to the priest. It was what they had to do, and what Jesus directly told them to do. It was also what was supposed to allow them to connect with God, because once they had done that, they were able to re-enter the religious ceremonies and practices that were so important in their faith.

But what we see from the Samaritan man that return was an act of worship grounded in gratitude. He chose to prioritise the desire in his heart to worship over the religious procedure that was meant to make it possible for that to happen.

And I started to wonder if sometimes we do this too. How often do we go through the motions of worship because they’re what our religion expects of us or asks of us? Or maybe, the question needs to be, how often do we set aside the religious idea of worship to worship solely from a place of gratitude?

I think this is where I see the most difference between the nine and the one. The one that came back had a heart-moment, filled with gratitude, and acted from that. His response of worship was from an outpouring of gratitude, where the others, regardless of how grateful they were, accepted it for what it was and continued on their way.

I wonder if, like we see with the Samaritan man, if we can allow ourselves to follow our hearts rather than the customs of belief, maybe it is then that we find ourselves in true worship. Where everything stops in that moment, where we put aside every expectation that we feel upon us to participate in religious worship in a particular way, and we just worshiped from the depths of our being from a place of pure gratitude from both little and big things, maybe that is where we truly encounter God.

The Ten Commandments of a Liberating God

Sun, 04 Oct 2020 02:39:47 GMT

Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20

One of my favourite parts of my job is to have conversations with people about God, and more specifically, how we view God through the Scriptures. I like to ask questions, especially within the New Testament stories, around what tone we read into the words that Jesus speaks, especially because you can’t convey tone over text. And so as I sat with the Ten Commandments this week, I was challenged to do the same thing myself in how I read them, trying to keep in mind what I know and understand about God, and how I have experienced God in my life.

This seems like a simple thing in theory, but I soon realised that the lens I put on God in this passage was one of restriction and constraint. I think it’s fair that I’ve thought this way – it’s what I was taught in Sunday school, as well as how I’ve experienced rules playing out in my own life. They become restricting and constraining and usually limits what I want to do, and while some have been helpful, I think some have been a little pointless.

But to understand these rules properly and see how their application should play out in my life and in my community, I was forced to reevaluate how I view the God giving them. The God I know isn’t one of restriction and constraint! The God I know is one that wants us to thrive, to do well, and to liberate me/us from the unhealthy and unjust situations in our lives and in our world. So, I started reading a bit, as I often do, around the Ten Commandments, and found that I wasn’t the first to try to view the Ten Commandments through this different lens. And so I thought I might share with you some of the things I learned, and my new way of understanding these rules for our lives today, and, in particular, how they play out practically in our lives.

The first bit is: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me.” In other words, “I freed you from your incarceration, from your unjust working environments where you were treated poorly, and where you worked only to benefit the lives of others, while you continued to suffer. Don’t have another god before me, they don’t put yours and your community’s best interests first.”

Then it’s, “You shall not make for yourself an idol…” And I began to wonder, what idols do we have today? It’s easy to pick money as the top idol, but what about maybe how we create idols out of institutions, churches and church structures and denominations, or our careers, or convenience, or whiteness or male or abusive power because it works for us better sometimes? Do we push God aside so we can have these things because they suit us better?

Next is, “You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord,” and I was struck by this one through the lens of a liberating God. What if it isn’t just using God’s name as a swear word, but more than that, what if it’s about when we weaponise it? What if it’s when we use it against vulnerable people, like how historically (and in some places/ways today) we have used it to endorse slavery, or maybe sexism or war or homophobia or racism? Do we use the name of God to exclude people who make us uncomfortable or are different to us or challenge the way we want to live?

My favourite one is next, “Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.” I love this one because it really just gives me permission to rest a day a week. But I’m not sure that that is available to everyone just yet. Some people in our communities work shift work and two or three jobs just to make ends meet. What if this is really holding us accountable to “everyone gets to work and give back to their community six days a week, but no matter who you are, a healthy community and society will give the everyone the same ability to rest a day a week as well, without not being able to pay their bills and or being hungry that week.”

“Honour your father and your mother.” While this one is important just as it is, what if we expand it to honouring the people who formed us and where we came from. I think it becomes easy to weaponise this one as well, because I’ve heard it used to force people back into unhealthy, unsafe relationships with family members, which I am not at all endorsing. But we can give honour and value to those who have stepped in, whether our parents were there or not, and formed us to who we are today.

“Do not murder” seems like a pretty simple commandment, but I was challenged when I read a bit more into this, thinking of the ways I sit quietly by while direct or indirect murders are taking place, mostly due to our unjust society. I thought about asylum seekers who are trapped in detention centres for years, sometimes sent back to their country of origin where they are never heard from again. I thought of the health gap with our Indigenous communities and how we continue to see the long term impact of colonization within our own country. I thought about our LGBTIQ+ youth who are turning to self-harm, suicide, drug abuse and toxic relationships because they are faced with so much bullying and criticism. And I realized in all of that, we still have a long way to go in the “do not murder” department.

“Do not commit adultery” was another one that I thought was pretty simple, until I read this line in one of the sermons: “It means, do not intentionally break your commitments to anyone that you love.” My gosh, I know I’ve done poorly at that one.

“Do not steal” forced me to think more deeply about if the way I live my life is actually stealing from others. Even down to the simplicity of thinking about where I live, the impacts of colonization on our Indigenous peoples, and how the land I live on was stolen all those years ago. It is now something that I take for granted, and sometimes even feel entitled to, and yet has come at a cost and is a result of theft.

When I came to “do not give false testimony against your neighbour,” my mind immediately went to my Sunday school teaching of “don’t lie about people.” But I was challenged to think about what that actually meant as well. What if it means something like, “Don’t value or call your neighbour anything except a child of God, valued and loved by God, unique and valuable and worthy of love and belonging?” I then have to ask myself the question, “Is anything I say about anyone else or think about anyone else counter to that fundamental truth?” And am I listening to lies from others who say that some people are worth less?

And then finally, and I actually came to a lovely point of peace on this one, was “Do not covet.” Instead of it being this huge directive of “stop being so jealous of what everyone else has,” could we turn it to God saying to us, “you already have everything you need?” What if that is true? What if we do already have everything we need? What if God, and then our community, is actually everything we need?

This week for me has been a big learning and wrestling week, and I have to admit, coming to the end of it, thinking about this new way of reframing the Ten Commandments, has left me feeling pretty unsettled and uncomfortable. These confront some of the ways I’m living, what actions I’m taking, and what impact I’m having on the world around me.

But when I read these through the lens of God as a liberating God, I see that if I am actively trying to work towards this way of living, and if every Christian strived to live this way, our communities would begin to look a little more like the Kingdom of God. They aren’t ways of living that are to restrict our wellbeing, but rather improve it, and create a more harmonious environment in which we can all thrive.

Alice Edge

No Longer Slaves

Sat, 05 Sep 2020 22:55:37 GMT

Exodus 12:1-14

Remember at school when your class was playing sport and those chose two captains, who then, one by one, had to pick a team. I wonder if they still do that. As someone who wasn’t sporty, that was an excruciating process, and there’d be me and my 2 friends passed over, and left till the end! No-one wanted to be passed over!

On the other hand, there are times you’re ecstatic at being over-looked or passed over. When you were a kid and you did something wrong, but miraculously, your parents didn’t find out. Yep, over-looked in a good way! Or in the early days of being here in Tarrawanna, I was going up Bulli pass, getting a bit of power up to get up the hill, and didn’t realise the speed I was doing OR that a police car can often be found waiting at the hairpin bend! I was doing almost 20 kms over the speed limit (he told me), which would usually be 3 points lost. I’m not sure what did it…I think he took pity on me because I’d not long had surgery on my face and I didn’t have it covered, and it was big and red and scabby. He didn’t overlook my offense entirely but he looked at me and said ‘I’ll make this one point, but drive carefully’! In this case, I was greatly relieved that he kind of passed over my offense. This week we’re looking at some people who were passed over and were greatly relieved.

A little background. Last week I spoke about how at 80- years of age, Moses had a revelation from God…he heard from God in a bush that was alight but not burning. God said that he had seen the pain of his people, who were slaves in Egypt and heard their cries for help. God said, ‘So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians…Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.” (Exodus 3:8-10)

Moses was unhappy, he didn’t want to go back to Egypt, but he eventually relented and went to Pharaoh. He asked Pharaoh to let God’s people, known as the Hebrews or Israelites, go free. Pharaoh stubbornly refused…I mean, who would build the pyramids if the slaves were set free??

God sends several plagues upon Egypt and we come to this tenth and final plague…the slaughter of the firstborn sons in Egypt. I guess I’ve often thought about this in relation to first born babies, but this was the first born son in every family all the way through the generations. It even included the first born male of all their animals. I wonder who the first born male is in your family? Imagine the devastation that would cause...and not just your family, but your neighbour’s family and your cousins, and your Uncle if he’s the first born male, and your dog if he’s the first born male.

Pharaoh still wouldn’t budge and preferred to keep the Hebrews as slaves, even after hearing that this would be the consequence. The devastation was scheduled for midnight, involving every firstborn male, from the first born son of Pharaoh to the first born son of a prisoner (Exodus 12:29).

I could say at this point ‘no exemptions’ but that’s not entirely right. There were some first born males who were passed over for this terrible fate. And the reading this morning gives the instructions, which if followed would mean that God would pass over their house, and their first born son would live.

Each household had to set aside either a lamb or a young goat without defect, and on the fourteenth day of the month kill it, roast it, and eat it – along with bread made without yeast and bitter herbs. They had to be ready to move camp at any moment, so whilst eating they had to be fully dressed with their sandals on and their stick in their hand. And they had to eat in a hurry (Exodus 12:11). That would of course suit me!

But it is the blood of that lamb that makes the difference. It was to be dabbed on the door frame and “the blood on your doorposts will serve as a sign, marking the houses where you are staying. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 12: 13, MSG).

There is no threat for Hebrews in that tenth plague. The blood of the lamb means life for them. You see why Jesus is known as the Lamb of God. I love John the Baptist’s words in John 1:29-30. No-one really knew Jesus at that point, although John and Jesus were related. John sees Jesus walking along the road and exclaims “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’ “

John got it right – the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. The perfect Passover lamb, given for us, who died for us, so that we no longer need to be afraid of death, no longer afraid of judgement by God, and no longer a slave to sin.

Of course with such grief all over Egypt, Pharaoh said ‘get out, leave Egypt, go’. And they were free. No longer slaves to the Egyptians.

God gave further instructions. “This is a day to remember. Each year, from generation to generation, you must celebrate it as a special festival to the Lord.” (Exodus 12:14).

It seems like God is saying, we need a new beginning that must never be forgotten. We need our reality redefined by a single, decisive event that becomes the most important thing about us. From now on, this will be the thing that defines your life and your year.

The Passover continues to be celebrated by Jewish people to this day – reminding their children of the great rescue plan that God had for his people. And it’s celebrated in a very personal way…not like it’s just about a story in the past. The Jewish people say ‘this is our story, this is MY story’.

The night before Jesus died, he celebrated the Passover with his friends. As he celebrated God’s great rescue plan for his people, eating the bread without yeast, the roast lamb with bitter herbs, he took some of that bread and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.” (Luke 20:19).

And this signified our new beginning. Jesus death and resurrection is not just a story in the past, this is our story, this is MY story. We celebrate Jesus, the Lamb of God again today, the one who bought us freedom and gave us new life. I pray that God’s great rescue plan is YOUR story today. God bless you this week.

An undeniable Experience

Fri, 28 Aug 2020 12:22:58 GMT

Exodus 3: 1-10

Moses is a man who knew the extremes of life. He was from a poor Hebrew family but was raised in great wealth as part of the Egyptian Royal household. Moses was embraced as part of Pharaoh’s family. He always knew his heritage, and he knew his people were the Hebrews – who were Egyptian slaves.

When he was 40 years old, he saw a Hebrew slave being beaten by an Egyptian and he impulsively reacted and killed the Egyptian. Pharaoh heard about it and determined that Moses must be punished and killed. Moses ran away. He didn’t know where he was going - he had no-one to run to and nowhere to go. But he knew he couldn’t stay where he was because Pharaoh would kill him.

Life is often like that. All we know is we can’t stay in a situation as it is, even though we don’t know where we will go or what our next step will be. We often know that the situation we’re in has to change somehow, even though we have no idea what that means for our future. If you’re been in that situation, or you are in that situation, you’re in good company, because that’s where Moses found himself. And even though moving forward with change can provoke a lot of anxiety, what we will see in this story is that even in situations where we don’t know what our next step will be, God goes before us and continues to open doors at the right time.

Moses ended up alone and in the desert. But there he met and married a woman called Zipporah, who was a daughter of a Priest. After Moses’ 40 years of living in enormous wealth with servants, power and sumptuous food, he now did what he could in the desert to survive. He became a shepherd and looked after his father in law’s sheep. That’s some change in circumstances, but we have every reason to believe that Moses was content with his simple desert life, raising a family.

After another 40 years (that’s right, Moses is now 80 years old), he’s out tending the flocks and he sees a bush that seems to be alight. I’m not sure if Moses had seen bushes combust from the heat or from lightning strikes, but he’s intrigued, so he walks over toward it. See, if God wants our attention, he works in ways we’re going to notice. If he wanted Bob’s attention, he might speak to Bob through classical music, or if he wanted my attention, he might speak through something on facebook. But what I think is…God doesn’t try to make it especially hard for us to notice him…it’s not a game for God. For you, God might get your attention through nature, or through the Bible, or through swimming or through Songs of Praise. God got Moses’ attention through an everyday shrub in a desert.

The bush wasn’t burning up so Moses went closer.

“When the Lord saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!”

“Here I am!” Moses replied.” (Exodus 3:4)

Ah, here’s God calling Moses by name. You know, God had been part of Moses’ story all along, but perhaps Moses hadn’t known that. And it’s only now at 80 years old, that Moses has a particular revelation of God. Again, this is true for so many of us. Many of us went to Sunday school or Corps cadets or school scripture class, but we weren’t aware of the presence of God in our lives. But there comes a time when God gets our attention and speaks to our heart directly. And we have a choice at that point…to say like Moses ‘Here I am Lord’, or to ignore God’s call to us.

And I would say that for anyone to follow Jesus, there has to be some point at which they have a particular revelation of God. It’s no longer just about stories they’ve heard in Sunday school. It’s now a personal; understanding, Jesus died for me, he’s forgiven me, he’s filled me with the Holy Spirit. I can have a personal relationship with God. Is your relationship with God more than just knowing the stories of the Bible or hearing of other people’s experiences? God specialises in personal revelation…much like Moses (thought probably without the fire!), and he desires that we say ‘here I am Lord.’

Then God says to Moses ‘don’t come any closer and take off your sandals – this is holy ground’.

God continues “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt…Yes, I am aware of their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey…Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.” (Exodus 3:7-10).

Two things I love here:

1.God sees and understands the suffering of his people. Honestly, this means everything to me. There’s situations I’ve not understood, and yet, knowing that God sees and understands and cares for me in that situation makes it bearable.

2.God has a purpose and a plan for Moses, and it was to be the answer to someone else’s prayer. The Hebrew people were crying out to God in their misery and suffering, and God’s plan of rescue came through another ordinary human, that is, 80 year old Moses. I’m sure if God wanted to supernaturally smite Pharaoh and release the Hebrew people, he could have done it. But he chose to work through Moses to rescue the Hebrew people. I tell you, we’re all capable of being the answer to someone else prayer. Of course it’s not always easy or convenient...I mean, Moses had to go back to Egypt after 40 years, and the last time he’d been there he’d had a death sentence hanging over his head. The plans and purposes of God are not always easy. But as you stay open to the Holy Spirit’s direction, God can be fulfilling his plans and purposes through you.

Have you had a revelation of God, an undeniable experience of God that draws you to him in repentance? And have you responded to God and said ‘Here I am’? Knowledge of God is not enough for salvation and a life time of love and purpose in his Kingdom. And are you willing to be the answer to someone else’s prayer? I thank God for the ways I see God working through you to bring life and hope and joy to others, and I pray that Tarrawanna Salvos will always be a community that is the answer to the prayers of others. God bless you this week.

We are of value

Sun, 23 Aug 2020 07:40:04 GMT

Romans 12:1-8.

This letter that has become the book of Romans was written by Paul, but it’s a bit different to the other letters that we see in the Bible. This letter was written not to criticise a particular issue he had seen within the Roman faith community, instead, man scholars believe he had not had any contact with the Roman people and had never even been to Rome, let alone was responsible for the communities of believers that were found there. That’s not to say that Paul didn’t want to see or meet them, he just hadn’t gotten there yet. So he uses this letter to introduce himself, and probably to try to gain support from them as he makes plans to travel in their area.

This passage is stuck in the middle of Paul’s letter to the Romans. And I think it’s fascinating what we see in it. The reason that I mentioned Paul’s disconnection with this faith community is that this letter isn’t written to tell the Romans off about their behavior, the way he does with some of the other faith communities. He is writing to them about things that are apparently common behaviours within a lot of faith communities.

Back in those days, there were a lot of restrictions and rules around the Jewish faith, something we’ve touched on a few times before. People were put into categories dependent on what their social standing was, where they were from, how much money they earned, how many kids they had, and lots more. Paul talks about this struggle in a lot of his letters, as what the Christian faith was essentially trying to do was allow Gentiles to have a belief in the Jewish understanding of God through Jesus, and this is what we find in this passage. Before this point in history, Romans would not have been allowed to have anything to do with this belief structure. These social standings and beliefs and categories that people were put into impacted every aspect of their lives, from where they worked and what they could do for work, where they could live, who they marry, how much money they have, and how they can express their faith. And I think this is why Paul encourages them to allow God to transform the way they think. This isn’t a little thing. It’s huge. And it got me thinking.

I wonder if we still do this today. We are taught by society to categorise people based on heaps of different things: how much money they have, what they wear, how pretty they are, what their marital status or family build up is, their gender, ethnicity, experiences, and their employment status, just to name a few. And, whether we like it or not, that impacts the way we behave in faith communities. We begin to decide who we like enough to let in, to be leaders in our communities, to have voices in big (and small) decisions.

But what we learn from Paul, is that when we allow God to transform our minds, we start to see people differently. Instead of figuring out who’s in and who’s out based on our preferences, we have a God who values each person without question. Now, and I want to make a point of this, there will be some people that, because of their life situations, may need extra support, even if we feel they have done nothing to deserve it.

I had the opportunity to teach a class at our Training College at the beginning of this week, and we talked about this need to name our biases and prejudices to and against other people, exactly for this reason. Taking such a hard look at ourselves might be an uncomfortable thing to do, but it is the only way that we will be able to correct ourselves and see others’ humanity. What Paul is teaching us is to see that every person is valuable, has worth, and has the same opportunity we do to thrive in life, whether in everyday life or in more formalised worshipping communities. That God sees all people the same way, and if we allow God to transform the way we think, we will see that, too.

So carrying on from that, this next little bit stood out to me. “Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.” Prior to this week, I think I probably read this as a bit of a personal attack about humility. And maybe there’s a part of it that is accurate. But I do also wonder, in this context, what it actually means. I wonder if there was a bit of a belief that because these Roman folk had converted to Christianity, if they felt they were better, maybe superior, than others. Maybe they believed that the way they live or worship or talk to other people or whatever made them better. Maybe they were an affluent community, or maybe they shared well, or maybe they were all able to find work that was creating a better life for each person there. But what this tells us is that that doesn’t make them better than any other person.

I think this is a trap that is easy for us to fall into. Perhaps not intentionally, maybe instead it’s something we’ve adopted or has just never been challenged. We are not better than anyone else because of what we believe, how we treat people, what leadership position we hold, how much money we have, or how much we serve in our communities. It is only by the grace of God we are in the circumstances that bring us here today. One quick life decision made by ourselves or someone else could have landed each one of us in very different life situations. We are not better than others.

But, we are also not worse. Like I said about others earlier, and want to repeat again, our worth is not negotiable. God sees each one of us as treasured people, valued and loved and worthy.

Finally, and this is where I’m going to close from today, the last part of this passage says, “We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other,” and then lists different spiritual gifts that we might have. If we believe all that the first section of this passage teaches, if we allow God to transform our minds, we suddenly have no option but to realise that our spiritual gifts are to be used towards everyone, without exception. These expressions of God in us, our spiritual gifts, are not to be used selectively to people who have earned the opportunity, to those who we deem worthy, or really with any attitude of it being a chore.

We are expected to live out our spiritual gifts to grow the Kingdom of God, but from a place of viewing the value and worth of others and ourselves. Regardless of the life circumstances in which we find ourselves. Regardless of whether or not we think another is “worthy” or “doing enough to help themselves” or what they’ve done or who they are. Every person, including ourselves, is worthy of love and belonging. There is no place for exclusion in the Kingdom of God, and there is no place for exclusion in our faith communities. And when we see this at its best, we see good things come. We see more and more of God at work, we see our communities begin to thrive, and we see people’s lives transformed because healing takes place.

This writing from Paul to the Romans is just as valid and applicable today as it was when he wrote it. We probably have just as much work to do, and it’s probably going to be just as hard. But we know that God was in the work then, and God continues with us now

Forgiveness

Fri, 14 Aug 2020 11:28:20 GMT

Genesis 45:1-15

This story continues on from the reading last week that Robyn preached on. Between that story and this, Joseph is sold as a slave to one of Pharaoh’s Officials, whose wife took a fancy to him. That situation got messy, landed Joseph in prison, and while he was there he met two of Pharaoh’s servants, a cupbearer and a baker. He explained a couple of their dreams that they had, which accurately predicted the baker being killed by Pharaoh and the cupbearer being reinstated within the next three days. This happens, Pharaoh has some troubling dreams, and the cupbearer remembers that Joseph explained his dream, and recommends him to Pharaoh. This action, and Joseph’s accurate interpretations of Pharaoh’s dream leaves Joseph as the second-in-charge of all of Egypt to prepare and manage seven years of plentiful harvest and then seven years of drought. And this is where this story fits in. The drought that was predicted and prepared for is underway, Joseph is in charge, and his brothers, unknowingly, approach him to beg for the food necessary to see their family through such a tough time.

This encounter between Joseph and his brothers was a big deal, and I think there two big lessons we can learn from today’s reading: forgiving others and accepting forgiveness for ourselves. Let’s start with forgiving others.

I think we know, and I probably don’t really have to say, that forgiving people that hurt us can be a really difficult thing. I know I’m not alone in feeling that sometimes it’s really, really hard to properly forgive someone that has really hurt me. I also know that the longer I leave someone unforgiven, the longer it has in my head to swirl around and change from simply being unforgiveness of a behavior that hurt me to being resentful and bitter towards the person. It’s a messy space to be in, and I don’t think anyone would have blamed Joseph if that was where he landed. His brothers’ actions (excluding them considering murder) opened the doors for a whole lot of bad things, one after the other, to happen to Joseph. He became a slave, was screwed over and put in prison, left there to rot, and then left there to rot again. Each of these circumstances were incredibly horrific situations to land in, and were triggered by the jealousy and anger of Joseph’s brothers. So, I would totally get it if Joseph decided, long before this moment, or in this moment of seeing his brothers once again, to become cold and angry and distant and decide to not forgive them.

But, that’s not what happens. I do wonder, though, when Joseph decided to forgive his brothers for what had happened. There were so many opportunities over the years for that moment for Joseph to forgive to take place. Maybe it happened when he was serving his master in Egypt. Maybe it happened as he pondered his life in the cells. Maybe he was reflecting one night about the crazy turn of events in his life that led him to saving thousands of lives. We don’t know, but I think it’s something to think about, because each of these times would have brought different challenges in forgiving. What our own experiences tell us a lot of the time, however, is that the longer we leave it to forgive, the harder it can be, and the easier it is to become resentful or bitter towards that person.

And yet, regardless of when the Joseph actually forgave his brothers, we see him genuinely articulate forgiveness towards them when they meet face-to-face. What a crazy turn of events. Joseph had wrestled with the events of his life deeply enough to recognise that even though awful things happened, God had brought from it all incredible outcomes. It seems that this attitude of Joseph, someone who had no reason to forgive for a second, was what allowed him to forgive his brothers and make peace with what they had done. He doesn’t say that it was okay or that their choices were good ones, but that they were able to forgive themselves because Joseph forgave them.

This leads into the second lesson we can learn. The brothers had to get to a point where they could accept the forgiveness that Joseph offered them. I think sometimes it’s really easy to see ourselves only in the shoes of the hero in Bible stories, in this case, Joseph. But I wonder if we took a moment to see ourselves as the brothers, what would we see? How good are we at accepting the forgiveness we have offered?

If you keep reading the following chapters, you’ll see that Joseph’s brothers are skeptical of his forgiveness, frightened even, and are worried that he’ll act in a way that is seeking revenge for the awful things they did to him. Even in this initial meeting, they’re terrified to be in his presence. They seem to carry with them an uncertainty that they are actually forgiven, and aren’t able to initially rebuild the trust that they broke with their brother so long ago.

But I wonder if what we see in their mistrust of Joseph is actually a reflection of their own hearts. I wonder if they’re worried that Joseph will do to them what they would do if the tables were turned. Sometimes the reactions that we have are surprise expressions of where our hearts are and the darkness that lies within, and I think this might have been part of the struggle for Joseph’s brothers.

I wonder, too, if the other part of their problem is that they know they are unworthy of the forgiveness that Joseph has given them. They made awful choices many years before, and have done nothing in that time to make up for it. They have done nothing to earn the forgiveness of their brother, nothing to try to repair the relationship. If we look closely enough, they haven’t even been given the chance to apologise or to prove they’ve changed. None of that takes place. Instead, they’re confronted with the grace and forgiveness of their brother, seemingly with no strings attached. It seems too good to be true. And I don’t think the saying, “When it seems too good to be true, it usually is,” is a new field of thought. I think they have every logical reason to not trust Joseph’s forgiveness. They’ve probably been through this kind of thing before and been burned. They probably still haven’t forgiven themselves.

I was chatting with a friend about this sermon topic and the struggle that it can be to accept forgiveness, and she said this: “Accepting forgiveness at face value is often just as hard as offering it.” And I think that is a gem of wisdom and truth.

As we reflect on this story, I wonder where we sit with our own stories of forgiveness. Are we struggling to forgive someone for something they’ve done? Or on the flipside, maybe are we struggling to trust the forgiveness of someone towards us at face value?

Sins of the Fathers

Sat, 08 Aug 2020 06:17:36 GMT

Genesis 37: 1-4; 12-28

Two weeks ago I spoke about Jacob whose story is told in the Bible. Jacob fell in love with Rachel, but he was tricked into marrying her sister Leah, who he didn’t love or care for. Then (as they did in the good old days) he also married Rachel, thus being married to sisters.

It’s complicated already isn’t it? Jacob had 12 sons and a daughter. He had 6 sons and a daughter with Leah, 2 sons with Rachel’s servant, 2 sons with Leah’s servant, then his final 2 sons were with his beloved Rachel.

Rachel’s first son was Joseph, and her second son, Benjamin. Joseph was Jacob’s favourite son – the first born from his favourite wife. Remember, there’s 13 offspring, and Joseph alone gets the special coat. The King James Version describes it as “the coat of many colours,” which you may have heard before.

The Bible makes it clear that Joseph was a bit of a dobber as well. He was the younger brother and he spied on his older brothers. When they didn’t do something right with the flocks, he ran straight back to tell his father.

In today’s Scripture reading, we skipped verses 5-11, which describe Joseph’s dreams which further inflamed the relationship with his brothers. In his dreams Joseph saw his brothers and the heavens bowing down to him – the older brothers serving the younger.

Additionally, later on we’re told that Joseph is “well-built and handsome” (Genesis 39:6), all these factors together, and it’s pretty easy to see why his brothers hated him.

One day when the brothers were tending the flocks near Shechem, Jacob sent Joseph to his brothers to see how things were going. When Joseph arrives in Shechem, he can’t find his brothers. He sees another man who tells him that his brothers had left earlier to go to Dothan. Shepherds had to move often to find the best grass for their sheep. So Joseph heads toward Dothan and danger.

His brothers look out across the fields and see Joseph coming. His coat no doubt identifies him at a distance. The brothers quickly put their heads together and come up with a plan to kill Joseph. One of the brothers, Reuben, convinces the brothers not to kill Joseph, but to put him in a pit in the ground. They strip him of his hated special coat, the symbol of all their father’s favouritism, and then begin to debate their plan.

That’s when a caravan of foreign traders passes by on the major caravan route that went to Egypt, and a new idea strikes them. They decide to sell Joseph as a slave to the traders and devise a cover story to tell their father. They agreed to say that Joseph has been killed by wild animals.

This part of Joseph’s story ends here this week on a pretty bleak note.

As I was reading the story this week, I was struck by the impact of generational patterns. And the impact of generational decisions.

Joseph had a grandfather (Laban) who set this whole family off on the wrong path from the beginning. Joseph’s father Jacob was tricked by Laban into marrying Leah, whom he didn’t love. He didn’t treat her well, and he didn’t treat her children very well. This led to bitterness and resentment by Leah’s sons. It wasn’t their fault that their father didn’t love their mother, and it wasn’t their fault that in turn, their father didn’t love them. But the loveless relationship with the mother impacted on the children, and those hurts disappointments and resentments showed themselves in later years.

Jacob did love Rachel and he loved and favoured her children Joseph and Benjamin.

I wonder what biases and decisions still reverberate through your family? I wonder, was there a favourite child that everyone else resented? Was there a bias in the family that impacted on you?

I have a friend who is now in his 80’s, who always felt less than his older brother. He felt his older brother was the golden haired boy, favoured by his parents. He felt his older brother was seen as competent and capable, and he couldn’t compete with that.

Then, he had 3 sisters – all lovely women. But it did seem that their mother favoured the girls. And this had an ongoing impact on him.

He was enormously smart – especially with maths. He’d thought of being a maths teacher or an accountant but his parents said he’d never make it, and he believed them. So he worked in electrical wholesale all his life, selling switches and conduit and light bulbs. He became withdrawn in his relationships. He didn’t visit his family very much, and his kids didn’t have much to do with their cousins. Somewhere along the way when he was a child, I think he stopped trying with relationships. Perhaps he felt he was powerless to make his parents value and appreciate him. And therefore in his interactions with his wife and children, he was withdrawn and uninvolved. Those biases and perceived favouritism reverberated down through the generations.

Perhaps you’ve had similar experiences in your family. And sometimes we think ‘just get on with life, don’t whinge, you’ll be right’. But we see here that sometimes that bitterness or disappointment or deep hurt, leaks out in other ways. Maybe it has had an impact on the next generation somehow, or maybe there are days those feelings are as fresh as they were when you were 10 years old.

Yet, with every fibre of my being, I believe that life lived with Jesus, means that ongoing healing is a possibility. This week I read Psalm 130:7(TPT)

“Keep hoping, keep trusting, and keep waiting on the Lord, for he is tender-hearted, kind, and forgiving. He has a thousand ways to set you free!” I just love that verse. It’s not about being ‘saved’ but living in the same misery we’ve always know. God wants to set us free and continue to transform us. This means that brokenness, pain from the past, is never the end of the story.

The Bible recounts many stories where Jesus healed people – he helped people see for the first time, he helped people a woman who was twisted up straighten out, he helped a man who was paralysed and immobilised move for the first time, he healed someone who was tormented in their mind and gave them peace.

I pray Jesus will help us to ‘see’ where we’ve become bitter because of family dynamics. I pray he will heal those twisted ways we think and understand ourselves. I pray he will help us from being stuck and immobilised in certain ways of thinking and help us move forward.

And I pray that Jesus will bring healing to our tortured minds and give us peace.

Spoiler alert – he was able to do that for Joseph and for his brothers, even though it was many years later.

Keep hoping, keep trusting, and keep waiting on the Lord, for he is tender-hearted, kind, and forgiving. He has a thousand ways to set you free! God bless you this week.

Sharing our Abundance

Sun, 02 Aug 2020 00:27:29 GMT

Matthew 14:13-21

This is one of those stories that has so many aspects to it and is told so many times. It is probably one of the best-known Bible stories, is told in a few of the Gospels, and has so many learning points for us to take away.

But what it also does is remind me of when I was little and we used to go to my Grandma and Grandpa’s house for lunch. For those who don’t know, I’m from a pretty big family. My dad has six siblings, all but one of those has kids, and I’m one of the youngest 21 grandchildren, and Grandma has 24 (I think?) great-grandchildren with at least one more on the way. It’s big. And every Sunday after church, my parents would drive out to my Grandparent’s farm, where we would join a heap of the aunties and uncles and cousins and any other strays that would be picked up along the way for lunch along a huge table. Grandma, like most women in her generation, knew how to put on a cracker spread, and sometimes other people would bring something to contribute, but there never seemed to be enough food to go around.

What would tend to happen, though, and something I found was quite common in big families, was that if you ate too slowly, someone else would start helping themselves to the food on your plate. You always knew you had to pick carefully as to who you chose to sit next to, because, and especially when it’d come to dessert time, if you chose the wrong person, you’d hardly get a mouthful in and there’d be no food left on your plate or in your bowl. We had to be very protective of the food on our plates, keeping your eyes on your plate the whole time, and shovelling it down as quickly as possible before it evaporated.

Thinking back, though, there was also always an abundance of leftovers that we would help put into containers after lunch, wrap in foil, or snack on when coming back in for afternoon tea after playing outside for a while. There never seemed to be enough at the beginning of lunch, but by the end, we would realise how much there really was in the beginning! I wonder now if we’d slowed down in the beginning, we’d have seen how much food we actually had, and maybe more of it would have landed in my stomach than find its way onto my cousin’s plate.

And I wonder if this is maybe what happened a little bit in this story. Leading up to this, Jesus had been pretty flat out. He had been teaching all over the place, and then travelled back to his hometown where he was rejected by people that had known him, saying he was “just a carpenter’s son.” As he left that town and continued on, he finds out that his cousin, John the Baptist, had been killed. So Jesus tries to take a moment aside to breathe. I don’t know about you, but when grief hits, it seems to suck the energy out of me a bit. I find it comforting to know it had the same impact on Jesus, and that even he just needed a minute to recharge and refocus, but also to be alone to process awful news.

But, sadly for Jesus, and probably for a lot of us, too, he doesn’t really get that moment to grieve. He sees the crowds following him on the boat, and instead of just ignoring them (which, admittedly probably would have been my first reaction), he is filled with compassion, and joins them, healing their sick and spending time teaching them. That in itself could be a whole other sermon, so we’re going to park that for another time.

And, as it happens for a lot of us, before they knew it, it’s beginning to get dark. The disciples realise and panic, not knowing what to do with the crowds of people, including children, who are out in the middle of nowhere and getting hungry. They race to Jesus, telling him to send the people away so they can go to local towns and get the food that they need. But instead, Jesus tells the disciples to feed them. I feel a bit sorry for the disciples at this point, because, as we heard, there are over 5000 people there. And all they have is five loaves of bread and two fish. Not quite enough. But Jesus takes this small offering, blesses it, and the disciples distribute this and gather the leftovers that fill twelve baskets.

Now, I’m quite comfortable with this being a supernatural miracle performed by Jesus to provide a quick-fix solution to the problem of hungry people. But as I think about this a bit more, I wonder if maybe a bigger miracle took place.

I wonder if, as the disciples were handing around what little they had, and were giving sacrificially knowing that once their food was gone, there’d be none left for them, other’s watched and began to do the same. Perhaps the selfless act modelled by the disciples inspired others to behave in a selfless manner, sharing what little they had, or perhaps sharing the abundance they had, so that everyone could eat. I wonder if this had less to do with supernaturally multiplying bread, and more to do with creating a generous heart in the people there.

I know there will be some of you who will be thinking about me that I’m wanting to logic away this story into something that I can understand clearly and easily. And sure, there might be a part of that that’s true. But I wonder what the bigger miracle is? Is it changing bread or changing hearts? And I wonder, probably more than that, which one Jesus is more interested in doing?

We live lives that are very “me-centric.” It’s the way our society has wired us to be, and I think as we continue in uncertain times, that wiring is reinforced. But I wonder what it would look like if we shared what little, or what abundance, we have with those around us. What if, by the end of the sharing, everyone at until they were full, and we had twelve baskets over? What would that look like?

It’s a hard thing to have our hearts changed from one way of thinking to another. We might come from the perspective that we have worked hard for what we have, and others aren’t working as hard, so we will keep what we have for ourselves and allow them to work harder. And I wonder if that day, that was the attitude of some of the people there. Maybe there was a hesitancy from some to share what they had out of fear that there wouldn’t be enough for them anymore? But what it took that day was for the disciples to lead by example, to step out, begin sharing what little they had, and others joined them in doing the same.

When things dont' work out

Sat, 25 Jul 2020 01:50:27 GMT

Genesis 29:15-28

I was saying to someone this week, when people talk about a “Biblical idea of marriage”, they should be a bit more specific. Jesus speaks a little about marriage and divorce. Paul, who never married, speaks a bit more about marriage and roles. But the only real images of marriage and family we have are from the Old Testament….and it can get weird!

Today’s reading is about Jacob and I’ll give you a bit of background to this reading.

Two generations back from Jacob was Abraham. Abraham and Sarah had a child, Isaac. Isaac grew up and married Rebekah, and Rebekah had a brother called Laban. Then Isaac and Rebekah (who had a brother Laban) had two sons, twin boys Esau and Jacob.

Helped along by his mother Rebekah, Jacob cheated his slightly older twin brother out of the family inheritance and the blessing of their father, which was rightly Esau’s.

Esau was furious and decided to kill Jacob. So, his mum Rebekah said, ‘quick, go and stay with my brother Laban who lives a long way away, you’ll be safe there’.

And before he goes, his dad Isaac gives parting advice…. “marry one of your uncle Laban’s daughters. May God Almighty bless you and give you many children. And may your descendants multiply and become many nations! May God pass on to you and your descendants the blessings he promised to Abraham. May you own this land where you are now living as a foreigner, for God gave this land to Abraham.”.” (Gen 28:2-4)

So, Jacob heads off to Uncle Laban’s house, with his Dad’s words of wisdom and blessing ringing in his ears ‘marry one of Uncle Laban’s girls, and may God make you fruitful’.

Jacob didn’t know exactly where Laban lived. So when he came to a well not far from where he thought his Uncle might live, he asked the shepherds there if they knew his Uncle Laban. Yes they replied, not only that but “here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep” (Gen 29:6b).

The Bible says that “Jacob kissed Rachel and began to weep aloud.” (Gen 29:11). I’m intrigued at the detail here, but I think there’s something about his relief at finding a safe place. Remember his brother wants to kill him, he’s on the run, and he’s found his relatives and a place of refuge. It seems to me that he greets Rachel and then cries tears of relief.

“As soon as Laban heard that his nephew Jacob had arrived, he ran out to meet him. He embraced and kissed him and brought him home. When Jacob had told him his story, Laban exclaimed, “You really are my own flesh and blood!”." (Gen 29:13-14).

It does seem as though they’ve never met before. Of course when Jacob’s mum Rebekah married Isaac, she probably moved away from her family and brother Laban, never to see them again. Even nowadays in many parts of the world, upon marriage women have to move in with their husband and his parents and his siblings. And she has no choice but to severe all ties with her own family, who often live in another village.

So this seems to be the first meeting of Jacob and Uncle Laban - a happy meeting of distant relatives, for now. Jacob started to work for his Uncle, and after a month Laban said, ‘no, no this can’t go on, I know you’re a relative but it’s not fair that you’re not being paid. Tell me what you want your wages to be.’

So Jacob said, ‘well, I’m in love with your daughter Rachel, so I’ll tell you what, I’ll work for you for 7 years, with no other pay except to be able to marry Rachel.’ Rachel was payment for work. She was given in marriage to Jacob, in an arrangement about which she had no choice.

The agreement is made between Laban and Jacob and 7 years pass. Laban organises a great wedding feast for Jacob and Rachel, but on the wedding night, Laban switches daughters at the last minute, and Jacob unwittingly marries Leah, the older sister. You might be thinking how can this be, but Leah was either heavily veiled, or brides may not have even been part of the ceremony. The marriage was after all, an agreement between 2 men in this culture – the father giving his daughter to another man, to cook, clean and produce male heirs.

Laban’s justification was based on family shame. An older sister must be married before her siblings. Again, there are still parts of the world where the older sister must marry before her younger sisters, and she therefore is given to whoever will take her. It sounds like a world or pain.

And there’s a world of pain in this story. There are no winners here. Jacob’s understandably upset – he’s married the wrong sister. Leah has been given to someone who doesn’t like or love her, so she doesn’t bring shame on the family. And Rachel has just witnessed the man she presumably loves, marry and go to bed with her sister. And you thought your family was messed up!

Dodgy Uncle Laban says, ‘OK, I understand you’re upset, but I’ve got good news! You can marry my other daughter Rachel next week, if you work for me for another 7 years”. Two wives in two weeks – not only that but they are sisters and they go on to fight about who’s going to sleep with Jacob!

Who would have ever thought that the soap opera stories of a dysfunctional family, brokenness, lies and deception, unmet expectations and hopes would become sacred stories? This is true not just for Jacob and Esau, Laban, Leah, and Rachel but for all of us.

We each have stories of family dysfunction, sorrow, loss, despair, and brokenness; stories of how things did not work out for us, sometimes through our own fault and other times simply by chance or the circumstances of life. Often the abuse and manipulation of others, the Uncle Laban’s of life, have us twisted up for weeks, months or years.

Those stories are probably not the first place we turn to when we are looking for God. And yet, God is always somehow mixed into our stories of dysfunction, brokenness, sorrow, and despair, continuing to bring goodness, and hope and restoration and healing and life.

Between Leah, Rachel and a few maid servants, Jacob fathered 12 sons, who became the 12 tribes of Israel. And these tribes became the beginning of the fulfilment of God’s promise to Abraham to make his descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore (Genesis 22:17).

We don’t lead perfect lives, and life doesn’t usually follow a perfect plan! I love these words of Jesus “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33).

Take heart today and stay close to Jesus. In His presence is peace and walking with Him brings hope and healing and new life. And this is truth for our neighbours and family and community, who also don’t have perfect lives, and need to know the hope of Jesus. God bless you this week.

In the midst of chaos

Fri, 17 Jul 2020 10:04:29 GMT

Psalm 139:1-12

As I read over this Psalm this week, I think I realised that this is one of those incredible parts of the Bible that is just timeless, and so relevant in so many of life’s different circumstances. This external processing of our intimate, personal relationship with God has brought so much comfort and hope to so many over the years, and I think it is one that will continue to in the years to come. And as we find ourselves in this strange season in our lives, in the midst of this pandemic, this Psalm is perfectly suited to speak into our hearts for today.

As I watch the news, look at facebook posts, and have conversations with people face-to-face (socially distanced of course), I have realised that there has been a new-found struggle that is now becoming a norm in our society. Early on in the corona outbreaks, the fear and anxiety in our communities was pretty high. The sudden shock of this pandemic and what that meant for our everyday life threw people into a bit of a frenzy. Everything was shut down, toilet paper flew off the shelves, and we saw both the best and worst sides of everyone’s character.

But, the time has flown, and it has been a few months now since that all started. The shock of the situation has worn off, there are glimpses we see of life returning to normal as cafés and shops and schools have reopened, and while there are still restrictions in place, there is a part of me that I realise sometimes has adjusted to the new normal and almost forgets that corona holds the same threat as it did in those early days.

What I have discovered, however, is the inability to plan anything. The state of our country changes from week to week, in some areas even day to day, and it is impossible to think ahead more than a week at most. Holidays are being postponed time and time again, and even coffee dates or business meetings that are potentially held face-to-face are only loosely booked in, and always with a good technology backup plan.

My observation is that this way of living, with not being able to plan, not being guaranteed safety from one week to the next, and living with such high levels of uncertainty about what the future will look like is creating a level of anxiety within us as people. There is something so satisfying about being able to plan our lives and be in control of what is going on around us as best we can, and this pandemic has, to an extent, stripped us of that control and security. And as I see this anxiety play out in others, and experience it a bit myself, it is not the anxiety that I have studied at uni or read about in my psychology text books. It creeps up on us slowly and edges its way into our lives without us eve fully realising it’s there.

I do want to say, for the record, that this anxiety is valid. Whatever you’re feeling in the midst of this pandemic is valid and understandable and you’re not alone. And if this is a time in which you need extra support, please reach out and get it, whether that looks like a conversation with Robyn or myself, friends, family, or some more professional support in the form of chatting with your GP or seeing a counsellor. This is a messy time that can bring up some less than pleasant things in us, and it’s important to not push them down or try to face them alone.

So, we see our society in this state of uncertainty, and some of us will sit with some pretty uncomfortable feelings. We have very little control of what is going on around us, and we don’t know what that will look like moving forward, whether tomorrow or next week or next month. And then I return to this psalm. As we read it again, just take a moment to consider it in our current context.

1 You have searched me, LORD,

and you know me.

2 You know when I sit and when I rise;

you perceive my thoughts from afar.

3 You discern my going out and my lying down;

you are familiar with all my ways.

4 Before a word is on my tongue

you, LORD, know it completely.

5 You hem me in behind and before,

and you lay your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

too lofty for me to attain.

7 Where can I go from your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?

8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,

if I settle on the far side of the sea,

10 even there your hand will guide me,

your right hand will hold me fast.

11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me

and the light become night around me,”

12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;

the night will shine like the day,

for darkness is as light to you.

In the midst of our chaos, in our anxieties and uncertainties, God knows us and sees us. God knows our rhythms and our struggles. God joins us in the highs and the lows. God never leaves our side in our darkest moments, or when we feel like we’re going to burst with joy.

I will admit, I used to find this passage a little terrifying. I used to think that because God never left my side, and I wasn’t able to hide anything I did ever, God would become increasingly frustrated, perhaps even angry, with my continuous failings and shortcomings. I know it can be hard to believe, but I certainly have plenty of those!

But instead, as I have journeyed and learnt more about God, I have grown to see this psalm from a comfort perspective. God never leaves, no matter how dark it gets or what I do. And I think that’s pretty cool. But, more than that, God has never left. This psalm was written a whole lotta years ago, and the God we know today continues to hold true to this psalm. I think by now, God would have seen almost everything. I don’t think there are many experiences humans can have now, many feelings that we feel or situations we find ourselves in that other people haven’t had before us. And God has been there through it all. And God continues to be.

We won’t be pushed away when things get hard or messy. They might not be resolved as quickly as we’d hope they would be, and I think this pandemic is the perfect example of that. But in the midst of our uncertainty, God is with us and knows our hearts, our struggles, our joys. Everything about us.

Hearing and Understanding

Sun, 12 Jul 2020 05:21:42 GMT

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

In our scripture reading today, Jesus is teaching us through images and stories, showing us to live and grow and thrive in God. This story tells us about seed which is sown, on the path, on the rocky soil, in the thorns and then in the good soil. We’re told that ‘seed’ in this parable is the “message about the kingdom” (Matt 13:19). The message about the Kingdom of God is shared with people and there are a variety of responses to the good news of the Kingdom of God.

In this parable I have often thought that this parable is all about the hearer of this message…you know, they had hard hearts and rejected the good news (path), or they were overcome with trouble or worries of the world and walked away from God (rocks), or they became focussed on money, career, status and had no time for the Kingdom of God (thorns). I thought that the focus was on the person receiving God’s word, and their responsibility.

But as I read the parable from Matthew’s gospel, these words struck me. "Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. …But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown." (Matt 13:18-19, 23).

This word “understand” jumped out at me. Now my mum lived with Bob and I for 3 years. She had dementia and she was hearing impaired. That meant when she didn’t hear properly, she couldn’t fill in the blanks to comprehend what I was talking about. So the word, ‘understand’, the verb ‘to understand’ took on great significance in our household.

Every morning mum had breakfast. Every morning a piece of toast, a bowl of porridge, and a cup of tea. Every morning there was morning medication. Every morning I would then say “time for a shower”. This followed the same pattern every morning. So about 2 years in to this routine, one morning mum had her toast, eats her porridge, drinks her tea, swallows the pills, then I say “time for a shower”, and she looks at me like I’ve gone crazy and says “A jower? What’s a jower?”. My head says ‘you just ate your toast, had your porridge, swallowed your medication, what do we do every morning after porridge????’. But actually, if mum doesn’t understand it’s not her problem… it’s my problem. You see, my aim, every day was to make sure she had a shower, and if she doesn’t understand it’s my problem. So then I would do whatever it took - speak a bit LOUDER, enunciate a Little. More. Clearly, and try a few charades or actions - because it’s my responsibility to make sure that my message is clear and unambiguous.

The difference between the path/rocks/thorns, and the good soil is hearing and ‘understanding’ the message of the Kingdom of God. And this implies, that if people truly understand the grace and forgiveness found in Jesus, if people truly understood that God is with them very moment or every day, if people understood that they can have a new life…then the seed of the Kingdom of God will take hold deep in their heart and grow and flourish. And yes, it’s my responsibility and your responsibility to help them understand.

I believe that the Holy Spirit brings understanding, but we have a responsibility to bring the word of God to people, in a way that is clear and understandable.

Paul Borden, a Baptist preacher wrote in 2009

“I recently heard of a group of graduate students stuck in a boring class with a professor who only read from his notes and did not entertain questions or discussion. By the third day of the class the students had created their own chat room. While the professor droned on, they discussed among themselves the questions and issues about which they wished they could have interacted with their teacher. This story reminded me again that we live in a culture where adults are going to do what they want to do regardless of what conventional standards or practices of decorum assume or demand. This understanding is crucial in a number of areas. It means that when I communicate in either public or private settings, if people do not listen or understand it is ultimately my fault, not theirs. Preachers might believe that people should listen when they preach, but in the real world the congregation listens only if they are interested and it’s relevant to their wants, desires and needs.”

Paul Borden is not talking about changing the Word of God, in an effort to be relevant. But he is talking about engaging with people in life, so that they are receptive and open to hear, understand and respond to the Kingdom of God. Alice and I have a responsibility to do this, and yet we are all called to help those around us understand the grace and truth of the gospel that will change lives.

Captain Kim Haworth is the Divisional Commander in Tasmania, that is, boss of the Salvos in Tasmania. She didn’t grow up in the church. She had an idea that there might be a God, but had no understanding or concept of relationship with God. She married and had kids and met Bram Cassidy, who was the treasurer of her kids' kindergarten committee. He was the local Salvo Officer and he’d decided to join the kindergarten committee with the intention of making friends with people. Bram and his wife Jean became friends with Kim and her husband, and in time, she accepted their offer to attend a Sunday service. Kim says that she had an undeniable encounter with God that day: "It was almost like all of a sudden my eyes became open. I just felt as if I could see God; I could feel God. On the outside, everything was still the same. But on the inside of me, everything changed that day.” Suddenly, Kim understood the good news of relationship with God.

Imagine if the seed, that is understanding the Kingdom of God, could go deep down into the hearts of your friends and family and neighbours. It begins with an intention on our part, a desire that people would come to know Jesus and understand the grace of God for their own lives. I pray we will take great delight in helping people ‘understand’, so they will grow and thrive in God.

Making the best out of a bad situation

Fri, 19 Jun 2020 08:06:43 GMT

Genesis 21:8-21

I sat with this story for a while this week, and really spent time pondering how to preach on it, because there’s so much about the story I find just really awful. But the more I thought about it, the less I noticed the events themselves, and more began to notice Ishmael. So today, that’s who we’re going to concentrate on.

The story of Ishmael is mostly taught as a side story when we talk about the struggles of Abraham and Sarah to conceive a child. They were running out of time (and I say that a bit tongue in cheek as they were 100 and 90 years old) and needed to produce an heir for Abraham’s estate. God had promised Abraham and Sarah a child in their old age, but as the time passed they became anxious and took it upon themselves to make this happen. And this is how Ishmael came to be. Sarah gave Abraham permission to have a child with one of her servants, Hagar, as a “good enough” solution to their problem.

Now, this all seemed like a great plan until Sarah fell pregnant herself, and Isaac was born. Ishmael became a no-longer-needed part of the family, and was replaced in the line by Abraham with Isaac. As Ishmael and Isaac grew up, we read that Sarah becomes unhappy, almost bitter and resentful, towards Hagar and Ishmael, and demands that her son should not have to share the inheritance, but instead had to receive it all. The good idea she had had a few years prior had lost all the novelty, and started eating away at her because of the love she felt for her own son and a desire to see him become the best he could be.

So, for whatever reason, Abraham, heartbreakingly, relents to Sarah’s wishes and sends Hagar and Ishmael away out of their camp, essentially leaving them in the desert to die. Now admittedly, I’m not a parent, but I’m really not sure I could ever do this. I can’t imagine the struggle it would have been for Abraham to make that decision, but that’s where he landed.

Hagar and Ishmael walk through the desert, have a near-death experience from dehydration, and, after finding water, live out in the wilderness for the rest of their days. Ishmael learns archery, and I’m guessing this is the skill he used to find food and create a home for himself and his family. His wife finds him a wife from Egypt, which is where she was from before she became a slave, and they almost seem to live happily ever after in a sense.

But I have to be real with this – I really admire Ishmael in this story. This poor kid was thrown out of the family, rejected by his dad, cut off from everything he had known, almost died, and ended up living in the desert with his mum who had not a penny to her name. He has a lot of decision made for him that were out of his control. A lot of people with influence spoke into his life and set him up for failure before he could even understand what was going on. And yet what we see is Ishmael making the best life for himself that he could. He had a mother that believed in him and had his back, but even more than that, we see a resilience and determination to not give up in the face of adversity.

I think this story really highlights the impacts of our choices on others, but also the impacts of others’ choices on us. I wonder how many times in our lives people have made decisions on our behalf. Admittedly, these could be positive, life-giving decisions that have worked out well, like our parents deciding to feed us or picking a good school for us to go to, or taking us to the doctor when we’re sick, or even what neighbourhood is best for us to live in when we move house.

But there are a lot of decisions made around us every day from the moment we’re born (and sometimes even before then like we see with Ishmael’s family) that impact us, and essentially set us up for failure, or at least have really negative consequences on our lives. People might make decisions to be abusive in a variety of ways or cut us out because they don’t like the decisions we’re making or spend money in ways that are unhelpful for the household. There might be alcohol or drug dependency, mental illness that they refuse treatment for, family divisions that remain unresolved, or another child becoming the favourite at birth or as they grow up because they have a different temperament or learning style or are this or that or another thing. I’m sure this list is only the beginning of lots and lots of decisions.

These decisions impact us. Whether we are aware of it or not, they inform how we live, how we respond to others, and how we think about ourselves. I can’t imagine the struggle that Ishmael went through to try to find some sort of belonging and community after his experience from his dad. But what we also see is that no matter how our life begins, or what decisions are made on our behalf, they don’t have to dictate the rest of our life. We might have to spend our lives making the best out of rubbish situations, and it might feel a lot of the time like we are living in the wilderness or in the desert when we see others thriving in beautiful, grassy areas. But that doesn’t mean that’s all we can achieve.

I think the saving grace for Ishmael was that he had someone who believed in him and who wanted the best for him. And for each of us here, we have those people all around us, even when we can’t see it. We have people in our faith community, in our church, that just want to see each one of us thrive. We have people that believe in us when we can’t or don’t believe in ourselves. What we might lack from those that “should” be providing it, we gain from our church family.

You are loved and seen and cared about. You have a place to belong, even if you’ve never had that before. You have a place to figure out how to create a better life for yourself, even if that is in the wilderness, with people around you who want to journey that with you. Like Ishmael, we have people who make decisions for us that might not do us any favours. But also like Ishmael, we have these chances to make the best out of rubbish circumstances.

Coping During Uncertain Times

Sat, 13 Jun 2020 12:56:20 GMT

Psalm 100 (NRSV), 14th June 2020

Do you ever wonder what it would have been like to grow up in a village in some Pacific Island? I mean, I know there’s terrible diseases, and awful poverty, but some of those cultures really seem to have something. I watched a show a couple of months ago, where a couple from Sydney went to live in a village in Vanuatu or somewhere near that.

It was quite a remote village, with a lot of traditional life still occurring. He was really into it straight away. He’d been stressed out in Sydney and couldn’t wait to get his shirt and trousers off and hop into a little grass number. He spent his days gardening, and from the early afternoon, all the men would gather together and drink Kava all evening.

The women on the other hand, also spent the day gardening, but then they had to start the fire, and make dinner… without any modern utensils, no refrigerator, no stove. Then the women would take the evening meal over to the men, who were still drinking Kava, and leave them to eat alone. Men and women ate separately. Then the women cleaned up. The men drank Kava and talked until about 10.30pm at night, making decisions about the village life. The woman in the show wasn’t all that impressed… there’s no light from 7pm or so, and she’s hanging around waiting for her partner.

The guy, of course wants to live there forever… but his wife has a 10 yr old son from a previous relationship. She was worried about schooling and her husband kept saying ‘we’ll home school him’. She was worried about their elderly parents, and he’s saying ‘well, they can visit any time they want’. Eventually, they went back to Sydney to live…. Not all that happy about being back in hustle and bustle of life here.

What was it that appealed to that man about living in a remote village on an island? Do you know, there were many things he loved. He loved the sense of community, the sense of eating the food that you cultivate yourself. He loved that people you walked past would say hello, and I think he loved the lack of clothing… but what he loved most was the lack of stress. He loved not being regimented by a clock, not having to compete in the work place, not having to worry about money.

I think some of those things are appealing to most of us, at some time. And those times are usually when we’re stressed, and feeling anxious. Have you ever been in a stressful situation, feeling anxious or worried and thought ‘I could really just give it all up and go live in the bush, away from all of this’.

2020 has been a year like no other. We’re almost half way through the year, and we’ve barely left the house for 3 months – a quarter of the year.

A Wollongong psychiatrist this week spoke with the ABC and she said that she’d seen an increase in domestic violence, anxiety and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. People are stuck at home and for many, things are not good. I’m sure there’s a LOT of people dreaming of Pacific Islands or going bush!

Some people cope with stress by watching TV, or you may go for a run, or you may get onto the internet, or perhaps you eat a lot, or maybe you play a computer game compulsively or drink to much or sleep or day dream. Or lay awake at night thinking. And some of those things are helpful…but a lot can lead to more complications.

So here’s the thing. As I read Psalm 100 this week I thought it gives some really practical ideas for coping with life and stress and the myriad of things outside our control. To be clear, I’m not talking about clinical depression or anxiety or PTSD – you need professional support for those things.

But for coping with bushfires, COVID-19 and isolation…these things may help!

Psalm 100:1-2 say “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.

Worship the Lord with gladness; come into his presence with singing.”

I can hear you from here saying ‘But I’m not a singer!’. Or ‘religious music is not my thing!’

I’ve got bad news for you. I did a quick search of “Praise the LORD” in the Bible and found 70 verses of scripture. So worship and praise is something that God requires of us. Of course, worship is much more than just singing, so if singing is not your thing, then find other ways to worship God.

But when I read these verses, they really spoke to me about being mindful of what we surround ourselves with, what we fill our environment with.

You know, if you’re feeling a bit down, turning on the country radio station and listening to sad songs is bound to be a downward spiral! Years ago we had a young woman staying with us and she wore her heart on her sleeve. She was sensitive, and prone to tears. Bob always has music going in the house, and sometimes we’d all be talking, and Bob and I would hear some mournful tune come on to the radio. We’d catch each others eye, and one of us would silently go over and turn the radio off!

Because our environment influences us. God tells us to praise him, to worship him, and the amazing thing is, that we benefit from it. Sometimes we need to walk away from the negative influences - some days face book can be a negative influence on us, or particular TV shows, or cynical and sarcastic people. Fill your mind with things that are true, and honourable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise…and I think worshiping God and focusing on God, fits the bill!

Be mindful of your environment. Next

Psalm 100:3, “Know that the Lord is God. It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” Very simply, remember that God is God and we are not. There’s an awful lot in life we can’t control…as this year has shown again!

I actually think that in our Western Society, we kind of take on board that we can make things happen, if we want to. You know, ‘the harder I work, the luckier I become’. Without even thinking about it, I think we believe that whatever outcome we want, we can get. And in our culture, there’s a lot we can make happen through sheer hard work. It’s not like we’re in a developing country with no access to food or water or education. But I also think that it makes it more difficult for us, when we suddenly realise that we cannot control everything in life.

But these verses remind us, that God is our shepherd, he made us, we are the sheep of his pasture. That is, he directs us, guides us, provides for us. We won’t understand everything, and we can’t control everything, but God is still in control.

Be mindful of your environment. When everything is spinning out of control, remember God is still God.

And although we can’t control our environment very well, we can control how we personally respond in that environment. “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name” (Psalm 100:4). Be grateful. You know that a psalm was originally a song, and this is called a Psalm of Thanksgiving. But it’s way more than a psalm or a song, living thankfully, living with gratitude is an orientation to life. It’s a way of living.

I absolutely know that there are times when it’s hard to be thankful to God, but having an attitude of gratitude, counting our blessings, is good for us. Gratitude lowers your blood pressure, helps you sleep longer, and makes you better able to deal with stress. It’s also helpful to others around you. And sometimes it’s being grateful for the tiniest thing. A crunchy apple…a decent lamb chop…the sun shining through the window, maybe write 3 things down each night if that helps. And thank God.

1. Be mindful of your environment. 2. When everything is spinning out of control, remember God is still God. 3. Practice gratitude to God.

You and I may find this difficult – we have a life time of habits and a particular personality to work with! But the truth is Jesus died and rose again, and nothing is impossible...

Ascension of Jesus

Sat, 06 Jun 2020 10:55:50 GMT

Acts 1:6-11(NLT), 24th May 2020

You know, when I prepare for a sermon, I especially love it when I’m like oh wow, I’ve never thought of that before, or what a great verse…I don’t ever think I’ve seen that before.

Well these verse talk about the Ascension of Jesus. I honestly can’t really remember hearing too many sermons on this.

In fact the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus are so widely known and celebrated we even have public holidays around those times, people who barely know anything about Jesus get a day off because of Jesus birth and death. And then there all the Christmas cards and even Easter cards. But you’d be hard pressed to find a Happy Ascension card to give to someone.

The ascension happened 40 days after Jesus was resurrected. Jesus and the disciples had gone for a walk up a mountain just outside of Jerusalem. I’m sure the disciples didn’t know the significance of the day, when they woke up that morning. But after sharing some last thoughts with them, Jesus begins to ascend and disappears into a cloud.

The reading says that the disciples just stand there looking at the sky…and who can blame them? This is like a second grief, a second good bye. They’d been devastated when Jesus died on the cross, disbelieving at first and then delighted when he came back, and now without much warning he disappears. I imagine they’d be there with their mouths open, completely lost for words. To their mind, they’ve lost his leadership, his protection and his love all over again.

It would have been devastating for them, but there was a bigger picture. And you and I always have to remember that. There is a bigger picture than the stuff that’s happening in our lives, today, this month, even over years. Like the disciples, we have one perspective on what’s happening, but we don’t always know the plans of God behind the scenes.

Mind you, God did try to let these guys in on the plan a bit. The angels give them the heads up. Acts 1:10 says, “As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven…” (VOICE)

Though he disappeared into a cloud, Jesus did not rise off the ground to be forever on a cloud with a harp. He’s not living in the sky, He’s not swinging on a star.

Hebrews 12:2 says “He (Jesus) endured the cross and ignored the shame of that death because He focused on the joy that was set before Him; and now He is seated beside God on the throne, a place of honour.”

Jesus ascended to the throne of heaven. Much the same way we would speak of royalty here on earth. Queen Elizabeth ascended to the throne in England and rules over the Commonwealth…I know, not a perfect example! Previously she’d just been a Princess…but when she ascended to the throne, she had authority and responsibility and power over a vast area. When Jesus ascended to the throne of heaven he took his rightful place as King, with power and authority and responsibility over heaven and earth.

You may be thinking great but what does it mean for me?

Listen to what Jesus said “But the truth is that My departure will be a gift that will serve you well, because if I don’t leave, the great Helper will not come to your aid. When I leave, I will send Him to you”.(John 16:7, VOICE)

Jesus was the most incredible person to be around – he was an amazing teacher, he was a compassionate healer, he was an insightful friend, he was the one who forgave sins, he was light in a dark world, he was the shepherd… guiding, protecting, nurturing, he was the one who challenged hypocrisy.

But he was confined in time and space on earth. Really a few thousand Middle eastern people would have had the privilege of knowing Jesus and being impacted by him. But when he ascended to heaven, the Holy Spirit replaced him…and the Holy Spirit is not limited by borders, language, time or space. It means that you and I can experience the presence of Jesus every day, no matter where we live or who we are.

And here’s a beautiful scripture, from Romans 8:34 (NLT), “Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honour at God’s right hand, pleading for us.”

I haven’t led a perfect life and you haven’t led a perfect life. There are things we would do differently if we had our time over again. There are things we wish we’d never said to people…perhaps our words have caused grief and hurt to others. Or perhaps there are people we wished we had said something to…perhaps an apology, or reached out to them, or spoke up for them.

But can anyone condemn you? No, because Jesus is on the throne of heaven, saying ‘no, it’s ok I died for her; no, all good…I’ve forgiven his sin; she’s a new person – the past is wiped clean.’ Jesus, who loves you without measure, is on your side, letting all of heaven know ‘she’s with me…he’s with me’.

Jesus’ life, death and resurrection is part of a BIG plan that is only ultimately completed with Jesus’ ascension. The disciples, at the moment of Jesus’ departure, couldn’t see that big picture. The truth is, that God had a plan for salvation and transformation, that was bigger than the Jewish people, and transcended all nations and time.

This morning I wonder, perhaps it’s time to remember there’s a big picture and we don’t know all of the details. It might be hard to see what God could possibly be up to in your life, but don’t lose heart. There’s big picture being painted by a God who loves you. And this morning we remember King Jesus, the one who rules and reigns over heaven and earth…but knows you, sees you, loves you, heals you, teaches you, intercedes for you. Praying that you will go forward into this week with confidence that King Jesus is interceding for you now.

Love, Encourage and Grow

Fri, 05 Jun 2020 11:46:06 GMT

2 Corinthians 13:11-13

These small verses are found at the closing of Paul’s second letter to the people of Corinth. These people, while enthusiastic, seemed to cause Paul a little bit of anxiety in his ministry. They were a group of Gentile converts, so had no idea of any of the traditions or “acceptable behaviours” that Paul had been used to with Jewish converts. Most of them would have been outcasts in the social ladder, with Corinthians having a bit of a reputation of being prostitutes or drunkards. They didn’t have a lot of education, and this added to the complexity in Paul’s ministry to them. They also weren’t really connected with any people that had been followers of Jesus, they’re very new to their faith, and in all honesty, many of them would have been further excluded from their families and friends because of their conversion. This background information is helpful to really understand why Paul writes what he does to them, and how to interpret it for ourselves and our faith communities today.

The first thing that Paul says in closing to the people of Corinth is be joyful. I think this would have been easier said than done for a lot of these people, especially in their challenging circumstances. But what Paul had spoken to them about already, and what we know to be true today, is that God is a comforting God who is with us continually. This reminder to be optimistic and joyful in the midst of their struggles probably would have been something this community needed to hear a lot, and perhaps is sometimes important for us to hear, too.

The next thing that Paul says is to grow to maturity. Essentially, be the best version of you that you can be, as God created you to be. There is a need for people who are followers of Jesus to be on a path of “self-improvement.” It’s important to note that this isn’t because our worth is dependent on it, but rather that as we continue to grow and understand our worth, we are compelled to be the most loving, kind, compassionate and forgiving people we can be! While this looks different for everyone, because we are all unique with our own quirks and personalities and ways of doing things, it is important to not swing the other way and become complacent with who we are or decide we’re done growing. It doesn’t matter how old we are or what we’re doing or how much work we’ve done already or how long we’ve been a Christian, we still have more work to do on ourselves.

If we are honest with ourselves, this takes guts. To see where we need to grow and develop means we have to take a hard look at ourselves and what our pros and cons are. Where we’re doing okay, and where we have some work to do. We are forced to live authentic lives, admitting to ourselves, and sometimes to others, what we need to work on. And that can be scary. Being vulnerable with both ourselves and others is uncomfortable, but it is the only way to continue to grow and develop and be the best version of ourselves that we can be.

Next, Paul reminds the Corinthians to encourage each other. While this seems easy for us to do nowadays, we need to remember that, as I said earlier, a lot of these people were new to the faith, and probably still trying to figure it all out. This can be exhausting for the individual, and the last thing they need is to have each of their flaws pointed out, or each time they “fail” to become the topic of conversation. While I absolutely agree that accountability within faith communities is important, I wonder if Paul was seeing then what we sometimes experience today – that extreme accountability which is really just trying to disguise judgement and disgust towards one another.

We hear of this a bit in churches today, and I know it’s something a lot of my friends have experienced. They feel that instead of encouragement for the hard work they’re putting in to grow, they are slammed for the old habits they haven’t quite kicked yet, and now don’t feel safe to walk in the doors of a church without judgement. But I personally think that instead of that, we can be a people of encouragement that checks in with one another, builds one another up, and when there might come a time of accountability, the relationship is strong enough and the trust is there to be able to do that without feeling like judgement is being brought upon each other.

Finally, Paul instructs them to live in harmony and peace. This struck a chord with me this week after seeing all the impacts of racism on the news and on my Facebook feed. We’re seeing that personal beliefs and values impact our ability to live in harmony with one another, but even more than that, we’re seeing that living in harmony and peace requires our active participation, because while other people in our communities are suffering at the hands of injustice and we as their communities are staying silent, we actually aren’t living in peace. I know there isn’t a simple way forward with that, but it’s definitely something my heart is wrestling with at the moment.

Paul’s final comment says that then the God of love and peace will be with you. I was reading a commentary to help give me some background to these verses, and in the commentary it closes with this line, and it’s the thought on which I want to close today.

[People] must love each other before their love for God has any reality.

How are we loving one another? How are we joyful? How are we growing to maturity? How are we encouraging one another? And finally, how are we actively living in harmony and peace?

Pentecost

Fri, 29 May 2020 11:35:52 GMT

John 20:19-23

Every year that I’ve heard a sermon on Pentecost, it’s been from the Acts passage that talks about the tongues of fire falling on the heads of the disciples, and from that they are filled with the Holy Spirit, evident by different giftings they receive. And while I love this passage, this week I discovered (thanks to the Lectionary) a different telling of Pentecost that we read in John’s Gospel. Jesus appears to his disciples after his resurrection, meets them in a locked room, and breathes the Holy Spirit into them. We talked about this passage a few weeks ago regarding Thomas, but this Holy Spirit moment is something that until this week I have tended to skim over, and not really take into consideration as a Pentecost moment.

And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

I love this imagery of Jesus breathing the Holy Spirit into his disciples, and while I struggle to really picture what that looks like practically, the idea of the Holy Spirit becoming the air they breathe, filling their lungs, inhabiting their blood stream, is something I love. But this idea of the breath of God in human beings isn’t a new one. If we look back on the Creation narrative in Genesis 2, we see a similar thing happening. We read that God creates the world and everything in it, and then God gets to the creation of humans. In verse 7 of chapter 2, it says,

Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.

This moment in the locked room where Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit into the lungs of the disciples mirrors what happened in that moment of Creation where God breathes life into Adam. The breath of God gives life to humans, both at the point of Creation and at Pentecost. In this action, Jesus finds completion in restoring humanity back to the perfection found in Creation. The disciples in that room literally become the new creation of God, redeemed through their belief in God the Father, YAHWEH, their close relationship with Jesus, and filled with the Holy Spirit. In that little, locked room after the resurrection of Jesus, filled with fear and confusion and sadness and pain and with a grim forecast for the future, the disciples experience the fullness of the Trinity. The fullness of the Trinity experienced there that day, whether they could recognise it for what it was or not, led to healing and wholeness and hope. It didn’t fix the troubles that were to come, but it gave them peace in the moment of hardship.

But Jesus doesn’t just leave it there. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit in their lives led to them being a sent people. This wasn’t just something that was for them as a private, exclusive moment with Jesus that was never to be spoken about again. Jesus says in verse 21, As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you. We see this sending moment, this call to something bigger, something more than that moment in the room, echoed in the Acts Pentecost story, where the disciples, after being filled with the Holy Spirit, can do nothing but tell other people about the Jesus they know as God.

What I love most, though, is that between the two stories of Pentecost, the disciples are given all they need to succeed in this mission, in this sending out.

In the John telling, they have each other for companionship. They have one another to encourage them, to build them up, to work as a team. But they also have a shared experience of God. While each one of them probably understood it a bit differently, they were all in that room that day, and could account to one another what happened, and find strength in that when times became hard. And that isn’t something to take lightly, whether it’s them or us. There is so much importance in finding people to go on the journey with us, people who have shared faith experiences, that can remind us of those moments and vouch for them when we start to get wobbly or when times get really tough.

In the Acts telling, the disciples are given different gifts by the Holy Spirit according to what they needed for their individual ministries to be effective. What they needed in those moments were the ability to speak different languages to be able to communicate to different people groups. They were given visions and dreams and the ability to prophesy, all of which spoke the truth about Jesus to those who were able to listen.

Maybe today our gifts look a little different. Maybe we don’t need to be able to speak in different languages to get the truth of Jesus across, but instead we’re given a deep compassion for those who are suffering, or a gift for studying to be able to advocate for the most vulnerable in our community, or we are able to work effectively with kids or young people or old people or anyone in between, or a heap of free time and energy to serve in different ways that other people can’t, or the ability and love of cooking or cleaning or writing letters or seeing people that might otherwise fall through the cracks.

But all of this starts with a breath. The breath of life as the Holy Spirit given through our relationship with Jesus. This breath that fills our lungs, the breath that we probably don’t even think about on a second-by-second moment because breathing is so second nature to us.

So, this Pentecost, I encourage you to think firstly about the breath of God in your life. What does this mean for you? How do you experience it? How does it give you life? And as an extension of that, what is God sending you to do? What giftings do you have that mean you can spread the truth of Jesus and who Jesus is in your own special, unique way? What does this Pentecost mean for you?

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God Carries Me

Sun, 17 May 2020 00:37:05 GMT

John 14:15-21

To understand where this passage sits in the grand scheme of things, we need to time travel a bit to before Easter. Jesus and his disciples have just finished the “Last Supper” in which Jesus exposes Judas as the person who will betray him. Judas leaves, dinner finishes up, and Jesus begins teaching. And this teaching is the precursor to Jesus being arrested and crucified.

So, Jesus begins teaching, and, as seems to be tradition a lot of the time, is interrupted by Peter, who Jesus then says will betray him three times. So not a great start, but once that’s dealt with, Jesus seems to find his rhythm and goes on uninterrupted.

I like to think about this almost final teaching time of Jesus as almost the Sermon on the Mount 2.0. When people quote Matthew, they tend to quote out of the Sermon on the Mount. When people quote John, apart from John 3:16, the verses are out of these few chapters before his arrest. We’ve got, “I am the way, the truth and the life…,” Jesus being the true vine, love one another as I have loved you, there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends, if the world hates you, remember it hated me first, and then a hope moment of sadness being turned into joy. And in the middle of all of that, we find this passage about Jesus sending the Holy Spirit.

Jesus knows what is coming. He knows that it’s going to be a really scary time. One of his disciples has already left to betray him. Another is going to multiple times before sunrise. The others will be scattered all around the place, turned against one another, have to go into hiding out of fear, and worst of all, see their best friend and their hope and their God killed by their leaders. So, Jesus’ last message to his disciples becomes a message of comfort and of hope. It’s an attempt to prepare them for what’s to come, almost without trying to cause panic.

And so, we come to this little passage in the midst of all of that. Jesus promising the Holy Spirit, the advocate, the comforter, for when times are going to get inevitably harder. Jesus knew that he wouldn’t be there in the flesh for them but wanted them to know they weren’t going to be alone, no matter what life threw at them. And they would know the Holy Spirit because they knew Jesus. They know what to look for and what to expect, because what they know the characteristics of Jesus. They knew that the Holy Spirit was good and trustworthy, and most of all, was love. The same love that Jesus displayed, so would the Holy Spirit. In the darkest of their moments, the Holy Spirit, or on a broader level, God, would not leave them. Not having Jesus there could leave them feeling so alone and scared and abandoned. But when they experienced the Holy Spirit, which is something that we will look at more in a couple of weeks at Pentecost, all feelings of fear and abandonment disappear. Instead, the Holy Spirit brought them together in unity.

And yet, when we continue reading through the rest of the story, past Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, we see disciples who forget this promise, this Sermon on the Mount 2.0, that was intended to bring comfort in these hard times that Jesus predicted. And this is the point I want to get to today: How many times do we forget the comfort and the lesson we’ve been taught when times get tough?

Now, truth moment, I do this all the time. I, thankfully, have a God that has proved will not abandon me over and over again. Unfortunately, I also have a God that created me to be a bit slow to learn these kinds of lessons. God can absolutely take the blame on that one. The second things get really hard and hit the fan, my first question seems to be, “Where is God in all this?” “I can’t feel God so obviously God has checked out for a bit?” When I’m in a good headspace and things are going right in my life, I can recognise that these questions are invalid, as I can look back or forward and know that God has been or will be there in the midst of it all.

But in the midst of the yucky moments, in the deepest parts of my sadness or grief or anger or feelings of injustice at what I see around me or what is happening to me, I really struggle to find God. And, at my worst, this led me to completely losing my faith. I spent so long in not being able to feel or see God, I felt so abandoned, and had so much awful stuff happening around me that IF there was a God, he was done with me for sure. If God was around, all this awful stuff wouldn’t be happening. It just wouldn’t be.

But after a few years, I slowly started making my way back to church and the idea of God, and slowly learnt as I healed that it wasn’t God orchestrating all the stuff that was happening to me. What this passage teaches me, and what I’ve seen confirmed in my own life, is that in the hard times, God is with me through them. I struggle with the Footprints poem analogy for a lot of my struggles, because I don’t feel that God has carried me through. I feel like a lot of the time, I’ve had to drag myself through super deep sand with my heavy backpack. But looking back, and when I can in the moment, I look up and see God next to me each time. Sometimes holding my hand, sometimes sitting quietly as I catch my breath, and sometimes maybe carrying my backpack.

Here is what I love most. When we read about this happening with the disciples, with Jesus promising the Holy Spirit as their advocate and comforter so they’d never be alone, this has been my experience, too. Which means it can be, and IS, the same for everyone. None of us are left alone, no matter how alone we feel, because Jesus promised the Holy Spirit and we see that promise fulfilled. Each one of us walks each day, regardless of how good or how completely awful it is, with a companion that will never leave us alone. As it was with the disciples, that, too, is our comfort.

Is Your Heart Troubled?

Thu, 07 May 2020 22:20:20 GMT

John 14:1-14

We start our reading today with verses that are quite well known and have often been read at funerals. “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?” (John 14:1-2)

When I read this this week I thought ‘there some irony that Jesus says there’s more than enough room in the Father’s house for everyone, when his own arrival on earth was marked particularly by a lack of room in any house! Yep, the Kingdom of God has different values and basis than the rest of the world.

But this story takes us back to the Thursday night before Jesus' death. In John's account, Jesus not only knows that he will soon leave this world but also tries to prepare his disciples for the events that are about to happen. He tells them that he’s going to be betrayed and die and that Peter would even disown him and abandon him.

Then Jesus says ‘Don’t let your hearts be troubled’. You can imagine they were thinking ‘what, are you not getting something Jesus. Of course we’re troubled, look at our circumstances!’ The King James Version says ‘Let not your hearts be troubled’, which is a line that Bob often uses when I’m whinging about something…let not you heart be troubled Rob!

But these verses speak of confidence in God…don’t let your heart be troubled.

Trust in God, trust also in me says Jesus. That’s worth repeating again, ‘don’t let your heart be troubled, trust in God, trust also in me’ said Jesus. Ah, how well Jesus knew his friends, and how well he knows us.

I love that the Bible records the doubts and questions of Jesus’ followers. Because they often came out with really forthright and bold questions. There’s two questions like that in this reading.

Firstly, Jesus says ‘When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.” (John 14:3-4)

They all stare at him and the minutes pass. Would you have been the type of disciple to ask Jesus what on earth he meant, or would you have been the type of disciple to nod and smile…and really have no clue? I confess…I can go either way with this! Sometimes nod and smile with no clue, and sometimes speak up and ask the question that we’re maybe all thinking!

Well wonderful Thomas, gives voice to the question they all have “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have NO IDEA where you are going, so how can we know the way?” (John 14:5)

Jesus answers “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6). Thomas’ bold question leads to the most beautiful answer from Jesus…follow me says Jesus, follow my way, follow my truth, and you will find life in all its fullness. Now, that’s a pretty good formula for life in all its glory and complication!

The second great question comes from Philip. He says “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” (John 14:8)

I imagine that by this time, some of the disciples were wringing their hands with anxiety. If it wasn’t enough that Thomas voiced their collective confusion, Philip asked that Jesus would ‘show’ them God. The thing is, that was just not something you would EVER ask. In ancient Israel, it was simply understood that no one can see God and live. God was understood to be too awesome, too holy, too powerful, too mighty, too majestic, too full of light, for ordinary human beings to ‘see’ and survive!

In fact, the ancient Israelites would not even mention or write the name of God (leaving out letters in ‘Yahweh’ so that they had not technically written ‘God’.) They felt that the name of God was SO holy it must not be uttered by human lips. And here was Philip saying ‘show us God’.

Philip’s question was bold and impertinent. And yet, these guys were at their wits end and desperate, desperate for some hope that things would get better. Desperate to know there was some bigger picture, or that God was still in control.

Maybe you can relate to this, looking for a reason to believe that there is more to life than the difficulty you’ve been facing. Maybe it was when the doctor told you that the cancer had returned. Or when a loved one died unexpectedly. Or when an Officer left in difficult and controversial circumstances. Or when you lived through the disintegration of your family unit. Or after one more miscarriage, or when the drought persisted after much prayer. And we cry out to God, just show me something of You God, give me a sign that you’re here, some reassurance you understand what’s happening, let me know you care.

Oh thank goodness for disciples like Thomas and Philip, because they ask the questions on our heart. I truly love that the Bible has not been ‘white-washed’ and those difficult conversations are still there for us to read.

Jesus’ response is to come up to Philip and say ‘if you’ve seen me, Philip, you’ve seen the Father. Philip, the Father is right here’. That’s the message today. The Father is right here. God has drawn near to you. Whilst everyone is saying ‘what’s happening in our world God’, I pray that God will help us to know that He is near. Beautiful church of God, don’t let your hearts be troubled, trust in God. He’s near.

"Doubting" Thomas

Wed, 22 Apr 2020 15:01:44 GMT

What did Jesus' resurrection mean for Thomas?

John 20:19-29 – “Doubting” Thomas

Already Easter feels like a lifetime ago. I was able to watch some online services, stare at digital chocolate Easter bunnies, and spend time resting in a season that is normally pretty busy. And yet, in all the chaos, there was the Easter peace and celebration in the resurrection of Jesus.

But as I continue on in my life, it can become easy to once again resume the rhythm in my life, put Easter behind me, and move forward without a second thought.

However, this wouldn’t have been the case for the disciples. We talked a bit last week about the hope Jesus’ resurrection had for Peter in the midst of his betrayal, guilt, and shame, so this week we’re going to look at what Jesus’ resurrection meant for Thomas.

I think I was about 17 when I read this story for myself for the first time. I had heard sermons on it in church, and talked about it in Sunday School sometimes, but I had never stopped to really read it for myself (which I’m sure a lot of people can relate to!). And I’ll admit, I was pretty harsh on Thomas, as I think I was taught to be. He was always taught to me as “Doubting Thomas,” the disciple that lacked faith in the resurrected Jesus, even though the other disciples told him they had seen Jesus in the flesh. But the more I read and dissected this story for myself, I began to see that maybe that isn’t completely accurate. So I’m going to encourage you to do what I had to do: clear your mind of all the ideas you might have about “Doubting Thomas,” and come on my journey of discovery with me.

In John’s telling of the events after Jesus’ resurrection, the first time Jesus appears to his disciples is this particular occasion, while they are all (except Thomas) gathered together in a room. He spends some time with them after miraculously breaking into the room in true Jesus style, and shows them his hands and side where the holes were from his death. He then breathed the Holy Spirit into them, commissioned them to continue spreading the good news, and left. After thinking this man was dead, the disciples in the room had a pretty day that day. I imagine they were probably a bit overwhelmed, but full of relief and hope for the future.

So, Jesus leaves, and Thomas shows up. The other disciples tell him what happened, how they saw Jesus, how he broke into the locked room, how he spent time with them, how they were told to continue on in the ministry Jesus had begun. And Thomas finds the whole story unbelievable. He probably thought they were losing their marbles in the midst of their fear and grief. Perhaps he thought they were hallucinating or maybe they saw a ghost. And while there’s a part of me that thinks that conclusion is a little nuts, I wonder if maybe I would have thought the same thing. And so he tells them that if they’re right, well that’s nice but he’s not going to believe them until he sees Jesus for himself. And not just see Jesus, but to touch him, proving that he’s not a ghost or a hallucination.

And here is when I start to get a little stuck with the negative “Doubting Thomas” analogy. Thomas simply asks for the same experience the other disciples had with Jesus. He wants proof for himself, the same proof they got, the same moment with Jesus that they had.

If I’m honest, that doesn’t actually seem unreasonable to me. Instead, it almost sounds like my experiences growing up. I remember hearing all these stories of how people were experiencing God but didn’t have any experiences that I could recognise for myself. Even these days, I sometimes compare my experiences of God with those of others, and almost feel that their Jesus must be more valid than mine because they seem more “impressive” (whatever that means). And suddenly, I have found myself questioning God. Doubting the existence of God or the experiences of others because I haven’t had the same experiences.

Thomas had known and journeyed with Jesus for the same amount of times as the rest of the disciples, and this was his moment to ask for the same proof they had that Jesus was still alive. He almost demanded it.

But my favourite bit of the story is what happens next. The following week, Jesus honours Thomas’ doubt. He showed up the same way he had the first time. He talks to Thomas, shares with him the same greeting he had shared with the other disciples and allowed Thomas to do what he needed to do by touching his wounds. And Thomas sees his Saviour. He recognises him and believes. And Jesus said to him, “Stop doubting and believe.” Almost – “I’ve given you proof. Here I am. You don’t need to question again. Believe in me.”

For me, this passage is full of encouragement. Instead of judgement for the doubt Thomas felt, which is what I had always been taught, Jesus steps in and gives to Thomas what he felt he needed to believe. Certainty in the risen Jesus and hope for the future.

So, where does that leave me? Where does that leave us? I think it gives us permission to doubt. I think it gives us permission to ask for proof. For that moment that we can’t deny and will never deny again. Permission to look for certainty in our faith, particularly in challenging times, like those Thomas and the other disciples were facing.

Palm Sunday

Wed, 22 Apr 2020 15:01:41 GMT

Celebrating those around you.

Matthew 21:1-11 – Palm Sunday

I’m not sure about you, but I feel that, when considering the celebratory nature of Palm Sunday, I feel like it might be rubbish timing this year. Coming out the other side from fires and floods across Australia, and now as we sit in our homes protecting our communities from the current pandemic, it really just doesn’t seem like the time for celebrations. And yet, we come to this time of celebration in the Christian calendar, and we are given a unique, almost distraction-free time to ponder what it means for us today.

At this point, Jesus seems to be full-swing in his ministry. He has been travelling around teaching communities, performing lots of miracles, hanging out with a lot of people, and everything seems to be at its peak. In fact, just before this telling of Palm Sunday in Matthew, Jesus heals a blind beggar! He is an active presence in many towns around the place, everyone knows who he is, and he’s on a roll. Admittedly, there are murmurings of the Pharisees being unhappy with what he’s doing and how he’s doing things, but all in all he’s a pretty popular bloke.

And so, what does the community decide to do? They throw him a celebratory party. They do what they can to give him the honour they feel he deserves. Crowds line the streets, and the celebration they throw him mimics a royal welcome. Jesus enters town on a donkey, the streets are lined with people’s cloaks and palm branches (which was really all they could afford as just ordinary people), and Jesus rides through the middle as people cheer him on.

I love thinking of this picture, this image of Jesus surrounded by the crowds cheering him on. I begin to wonder who might have been there. Maybe the blind man he just healed? How about the lepers? Maybe the woman who was bleeding for years? Or the people that were possessed by demons? Some of the 5000 that he fed? Maybe some of the people from the wedding he attended that ran out of wine? Imagine how Jesus felt, on that donkey, looking around, and seeing all the people he’d impacted. How many lives he changed. How there was now a community of people whose place in society was restored to its rightful place. And they gathered to celebrate Jesus.

But if I look past the crowds, I wonder how many people there were who were still suffering, still hurting, still hungry, still excluded from society. How many never quite got close enough to Jesus to receive the healing or the food that so many others did. I wonder how they responded in this celebration. Were they able to share the joy that the others were sharing? Were they able to bring themselves to join in the celebration because they saw others being healed? Or were they not quite there, and felt their heart break as others celebrated the victories they just missed out on?

Incredibly, I begin to think that this story might be even more timely than I had first thought. I wonder if this season that we are in now is a season for celebration? In the midst of the devastation, there are good things happening. Nurses and doctors are actively treating patients that are suffering, whether from COVID-19 or other illnesses. Retail employees are working around the clock, even when suffering abuse from customers, to make sure we have access to food and other supplies during this time. There are cleaners working overtime to keep our communities extra clean and extra safe. People are finding new ways to connect with one another, and we are realising the importance of genuine and intentional connection in our lives. These are incredible things that are worth celebrating! And behind each of these are individuals that we know who are having the same positive impact on people that Jesus did, that Jesus was celebrated for.

But this story also reminds me that it can be so easy to celebrate people when it’s convenient for us, but how easily our celebrations can be influenced by the people around us. Within a week, those who were celebrating the person that restored their place in society were actively advocating to have him killed. Within a week, Jesus became the most hated person in their world. And I wonder how easy that is for us to do? To get caught up in the hate. To love someone one day for what they’re doing, and then the next, whether because of media or because of something we’ve heard, we hate them and are calling for them to be reprimanded, stood down, shunned from community. So many of our opinions about people can be easily influenced by the crowd, and so I write this as an urge to consider our reactions.

In this coming week, as we lead into Easter, I encourage you to consider the people in your life that are worth celebrating. The people in your life that are doing good things in the world. Maybe even the people who are copping a bit of hate for simply doing their jobs.

Once you think of someone – let’s celebrate them! Give them a call, send them a card (if it’s safe for you to do so), chuck them a message on facebook. Whatever works. Let’s bring some celebration into a scary time, stand firm in the knowledge that people are doing the best they can with what they have, and are striving to see the world be a better, healthier place. They are the hands and feet of Jesus. Let’s celebrate them in creative ways, the same way Jesus was celebrated thousands of years ago.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, as we worship you today, save us from empty praise; save us from superficiality; save us from following the crowd; save us from being fickle; save us from pride; save us from ourselves; save us now, we pray.

Amen

He is Risen

Wed, 22 Apr 2020 15:01:40 GMT

He is Risen - Indeed!

Luke 22:54-62

Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest's house, and Peter was following at a distance. And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

Mark 16:1-8

Saturday evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went out and purchased burial spices so they could anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they went to the tomb. On the way they were asking each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled aside.

When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe sitting on the right side. The women were shocked, but the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body. Now go and tell the disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died.”

The women fled from the tomb, trembling and bewildered, and they said nothing to anyone because they were too frightened.

John 21:7

Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore.

After reading the passages above, let’s take a minute to stop and think about Peter in this all for a minute.

It’s resurrection Sunday – although Peter doesn’t know that. He had followed Jesus for years, seen countless miracles, and they had such a close relationship. And in the past few days, he had seen it all; been a part of it all. He had shared Passover with Jesus and the other disciples, fallen asleep in the garden while Jesus was asking them to pray, woke up to the Jesus being taken by guards.

As he followed Jesus around, keeping an eye on things from a distance, people began to recognise him, asking him if he was one of Jesus’ followers. And he denied knowing him, just as Jesus had said he would. He had been given a warning about that, and still did it.

And now Jesus was dead. He was buried. And there was nothing more he could do. He had contributed to the death of Jesus. The death of his best friend. And nothing he could do could take that back.

Peter had to sit in that feeling. It was all over. All done. I wonder how Peter was feeling at that point. I would imagine he’d be feeling pretty rubbish.

Then, as he sits there feeling awful, he hears a commotion outside. The women are racing to him, telling him the tomb is empty. They’ve seen an angel, and Jesus’ body is gone, and he’s risen back to life.

Peter can hardly contain himself. Maybe there’s a tiny glimmer of hope. But he pushes that feeling back down as quickly as it rises within him. It’s impossible. He races to the tomb, and sees it empty, just as the women described. What could this possibly mean? Is Jesus actually alive? And if he is, what next? How could he face Jesus after all that he’d done? After he’d denied knowing him? The guilt and shame Peter carried swept over his body. A little hope, but a LOT of guilt and shame.

I start to think about what I tend to do when that shame hits. And it’s usually retreating back into myself. I don’t want to face what I’ve done, but on top of that, I don’t really even want to face the world. When I get into my shame spiral, and I’m so sure there are other people that will really relate to this, all I want to do is crawl into bed, pull the doona over my face, and wallow in it all.

Yet, that’s not what Peter did. Peter recognises that the best way to move forward, even with the shame he’s feeling (not only if he met Jesus, but probably around the other disciples who I’m sure would know what he did), was to get back out there. To face the world. and so he goes fishing. He goes back to work. He surrounds himself with people he knows care about him, regardless of what he’s done.

This is so important. Facing the world, and the people in it, when we’re in the middle of a shame spiral, is the best antidote.

But, as luck would have it, Peter had a terrible fishing day. He’d put on his big-boy pants, faced his shame head-on, and had the worst fishing day ever. He didn’t catch anything.

All of a sudden, he hears this voice from the shore saying to cast his net out to the other side of the boat. At first, I think he probably would have rolled his eyes. Surely it wouldn’t make much difference what side of the boat the net was on, seeing as fish swim around anyway. But then it’s the lightbulb moment. The “I know that voice” moment.

John turns to him and says, “It’s the Lord!”

That was it for Peter. He strips off his tunic – no way was he going to be slowed down swimming back to meet Jesus. And there he stood, face-to-face with the man he loved, the man he betrayed, the man he thought was gone forever, with his second chance. Jesus, filled with love and grace, removed whatever shame was left within Peter. In fact, he saw so much in him that he sent him out to be a foundational person in the Christian church. Through this, we can see so clearly that it isn’t out mistakes that define us in the eyes of God. And we see that only our shame is what holds us back in restoring our relationship with God.

I wonder how many times we think to ourselves, “We’re too far gone? God couldn’t forgive that. Or he could, but I don’t deserve it.” Maybe sometimes we try to hide that stuff from God. We continue to carry it around, and our guilt becomes a shame that is so deeply rooted that we can’t even face it anymore.

But when I look at this encounter that peter had with Jesus, I see a shining example that tells me I don’t need to carry this stuff around anymore. I begin to see that if Peter, who’s actions had a huge influence on Jesus being executed, could find restoration in his relationship with Jesus, then maybe I can to.

This was a discovery I made pretty early on in my relationship with God, and maybe even before I would have said I had any sort of relationship there at all. I felt so broken and so weighed down by shame that I felt irredeemable, unforgiveable, too far gone. But this story says to me, to each one of us, that it doesn’t matter if it’s the first time we stuff up or the hundredth, that our God is a God of second chances. That we are not irredeemable. That nothing we do is unforgiveable. That it doesn’t matter how long we’ve journeyed with Jesus, or how close our relationship is with him. We’re going to stuff up, we’re going to feel shame around it, and yet, Jesus is still there, waiting for us and loving us. Peter had been following Jesus for years. He had seen everything, heard everything, and was a pretty committed disciple. And he slipped up. He made a choice, three times, that he thought was unforgiveable. And yet, Jesus forgave him.

And he does that for us, too. The resurrected Jesus gave Peter hope in a restored relationship with his Lord. This resurrection Sunday, and every other day, we have the same hope.

May this day be a day free of shame in your relationship with God, and instead, a day of restoration for you.

Darkest Valley

Wed, 22 Apr 2020 15:01:38 GMT

…When I walk through the darkest valley…

Psalm 23

Gosh, this week has been so unusual. Here’s snap shot of my week.

- Looking at people suspiciously in the GP’s waiting room. All I had to get was a referral letter. I wonder why they are here? Was that a muffled cough I heard?

- Catching up with people in Parramatta for lunch in a café. I need to use the toilet before eating. Thoroughly wash my hands after, and then try and open 2 toilet doors with only my pinky finger. Tricky.

- At Territorial Headquarters in Redfern for a meeting. The person sitting beside me is sniffling and sneezing – OK, that’s not Covid-19, but then he coughs…is that a wet or dry cough…should I stop thinking about this and focus on what the person is saying in the meeting???

- I’m at Officeworks and we’re meant to be 2 metres apart. I’m in a queue and frankly most people seem to have a 20 cm apart rule happening. Trying not to breathe too much. Again…tricky.

- A friend offers me their hand sanitiser. But if I use it, I have to hand it back and surely touching the bottle means I’ve got their germs again. I squeeze out the hand sanitiser, give the bottle back, then rub the goop all over my hands. This new life takes a lot of thought.

There are many things in our new reality that make me smile. But the truth is…this is very serious. The Covid-19 bug is incredibly infectious and hardy, and I desperately don’t want to be a carrier to anyone else.

But our new normal seems to be all about isolation. Social distancing is the term used to describe the practice of putting distance between people, in order to stop the virus’ spread. It includes avoiding physical touch like shaking hands, hugging and kissing (I know, a lot of you are delighted!) and maintaining a certain distance between people in public places or gatherings.

This may be OK in Italy where they live in apartments and stand on their balconies singing to each other. But in Australia, we are often living the Australian dream, bunkered down in a house by our self.

We usually cope with this by being part of groups, like Home League, where we genuinely enjoy each other’s company. Or we go to a café and catch up with a friend. Or we drop in to an elderly neighbour and enjoy a cuppa and a biscuit together. Or we pop in to the local Aged Care facility to support an old friend.

This has all been taken away from us at present and the advice for most of us is to stay home. I saw on facebook recently ‘Still haven’t decided where to go for Easter….The living room or the bedroom’.

We’re more isolated than ever. That’s never good for us, but I want to acknowledge that there are some of us who will feel this even more keenly.

There are many of us who have already struggled with many health issues in the last year and this just feels like the last straw. There are many who have struggled with anxiety or depression and this feels like more encroaching darkness. There are many who already felt the distance of family and now friendship is being done at a distance.

Into this situation comes Psalm 23. Yes, it’s well known. I conduct funerals for community members and many times people request the 23rd Psalm, even though they say they’re not ‘religious’!

But I love this Psalm because it is set in darkness. It is set in the ‘presence of my enemies’, it’s set in the ‘valley’ of life.

The truth is there will always be ‘valleys’ in life. The Psalm doesn’t say IF I walk through a valley, it says WHEN I walk through the valley.

Psalm 23:4 (New Living Translation)

Even when I walk through the darkest valley…

The Psalm acknowledges that the green meadows and peaceful streams of the earlier verse will at some time give way to the valley. There will days that the sun does not shine, because you’re living in the shadow in the valley. There may be weeks, or months or years when the shadows have grown long in your life.

Sometimes we’re plunged suddenly into the valley, and sometimes there’s gradual descent that we don’t at first notice.

I think of the 20,000 Qantas employees who are being put off, or the many small businesses in the Illawarra – cafes, travel agents, restaurants – who are already only just keeping their head above water. All of them pay rent or a mortgage, all of them have to eat and some have to feed a family. These times are incredibly tough for them.

For these businesses the valley was not a gentle descent into a ravine, it was a free fall drop off the edge into the shadows. They didn’t see this coming, none of us did. In early New Year we wouldn’t have thought this virus and its impact was possible.

Of course, the truth is that any day or hour can bring disaster, danger and risk, and mostly we are caught off-guard. But the rest of the verse tells us that we can be fearless in the valley.

Psalm 23:4 (New Living Translation)

I will not be afraid…

The biggest decision we have in the valley is how we respond. And we have a choice of fear or faith. Rick Warren reminds us that the words “do not be afraid” are written 365 times in the Bible. That’s one for each day of the year! It’s like God knew he’d have to write it over and over for us…don’t be afraid…don’t spend your days preoccupied with anxiety and worry.

Maybe it seems unreasonable to you to be asked to not be afraid when you’re in the darkest valley. Well the rest of the verse tells us why we don’t have to be overtaken with fear.

Psalm 23:4 (New Living Translation)

I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.

God is with us. The shepherd has never ever left us…even when we were freefalling into the valley.

Philip Keller used to be a shepherd and he writes from that experience about Psalm 23. “In the course of time I came to realise there is nothing that quieted my sheep more than seeing me in the field. The presence of their master and owner and protector put them at ease as nothing else could do” (A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, p 44).

There’s nothing worse in the valley than feeling like you’re alone. And nothing better in the valley than knowing you’re never alone. God is with us in the valley. He is near, His presence brings comfort, and even more, He brings hope. We’re not alone. The shepherd is there. He will fight for me. He will provide for me. He will protect me. He will keep me on the right path. We can breathe out. It’s OK.

You know, valleys don’t last forever. Psalm 23 says ‘…when I walk through the darkest valley… (Psalm 23:4). We walk through the valley – it is temporary and He will not leave us there.

Today we don’t have a prayer song or an altar call. But I love Leslie Brandt’s paraphrase of this psalm and I ask you to read it and mediate on it as we finish.

Psalm 23, From "Psalms/Now" by Leslie F. Brandt.

The Lord is my constant companion.

There is no need that He cannot fulfill.

Whether His course for me points

to the mountaintop of glorious ecstasy

or to the valley of human suffering,

He is by my side.

He is ever present with me.

He is close behind me

when I tread the dark street of danger;

and even when I flirt with death itself,

He will not leave me.

When the pain is severe,

He is near to comfort.

When the burden is heavy,

He is there to lean upon.

When depression darkens my soul,

He touches me with eternal joy.

When I feel empty and alone,

He fills the aching vacuum with His power.

My security is in His promise to be near me always,

and in the knowledge that He will never let go.

May the knowledge of God’s nearness bring you comfort today. Robyn

The Breath of God

Wed, 22 Apr 2020 15:01:36 GMT

All you need is my breath...

Ezekiel 37:1-14, 29th March, 2020 (all scripture NIV)

One of the things that’s unusual for Australian culture is to see people in masks. I went shopping on Wednesday and the Big W workers had masks and gloves on. We have friends who are cleaners…they have custom made masks with teddy bears on them (pretty cute!). It’s a culture shock. Mostly we stopped wearing masks when we were 10 years old, when we stopped believing we were actually Spider Man or Zoro or Catwoman!

I completely understand the need for masks. It’s all about breath and the power of breath. We all know that Coronavirus can be spread through coughing and that’s why we have to stand so far apart from each other.

Breathe is a powerful image used in the Bible. The Hebrew word for breath ‘ruach’, is also translated as the power or wind of the Holy Spirit. And our reading today speaks of the breath of God.

Today’s reading is set in a desperate situation. The year was approximately 585 BC and both the nations of Israel and Judah had been defeated and oppressed. Ezekiel was in the group taken to Babylon and they heard that the city of Jerusalem had been destroyed and the temple was in ruins. All hope seemed lost.

They had lost all the things that gave them an identity as the people of God. They were without the temple which they believed held the presence of God. They were without a King who they believed they needed to fight for them, and they were without the land that God had promised to them through Abraham.

In our present circumstances the Church has lost many things that have given us identity as the people of God. The sacred rites of Holy Communion and Baptism are on hold for now. The gathering together to pray and sing are on hold for now. Ministering to the community is largely on hold for now. All the things that helped define us as ‘God’s people’ have been taken away.

And the community itself has lost many things it took for granted and gave a sense of identity and belonging…going to the gym, having a drink at the pub, gathering for coffee at the local café, going to craft group. These are tough times and for many there is a growing sense of disquiet and panic.

It was the same for the Israelites, and God had a message for them that is as relevant today as it was then.

Ezekiel 37:1 “The hand of the Lord was on me…”

This is the only place to be in a crisis. We can try to go it alone, but why would we? The truth is that God is with us, and his hand is on you. He wants to communicate with you, and he wants to show you the way He sees things. We have to do whatever it is, to put ourself in a place to hear God’s voice. Take time. Take time today. Seek God.

Ezekiel had a visions and found himself in valley surrounded by bones. Lots and lots of dry, sun-bleached bones. It was evidence of lives long gone, the remains of lives once full of vitality and purpose. What had happened here? Obviously some sort of awful tragedy.

God asked Ezekiel ‘…can these bones live again?’ (Ezekiel 27:3)

I’d call this ‘God’s rhetorical question!’ That’s the question you ask when you don’t really want an answer or when the answer is so obvious it doesn’t require a reply! Can the bones come to life again??? The answer seems SO obvious. No, God, these bones are part of a past that can never live again!

You and I know this feeling. We see something that once used to be a thriving Corps or church, we see a generation raised in the church who have abandoned organised religion. We say in our heart, can your church ever live and thrive again God? Will there be a time when people find life and hope in you again??? Will the lost generations seek you again???

Ezekiel was a lot wiser than me (of course!) and when God asked if the dry bones could live again, he very diplomatically said “.Sovereign Lord, you alone know.” (Ezekiel 37:3). That’s a great answer! Note he didn’t say ‘yes’ and he didn’t say ‘no’. Ezekiel could have been a politician!

Ezekiel 37:4, “Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them…”. Two things again to note – 1. Ezekiel heard from God, and 2. God asked him to speak the words he gave him.

You know, we are God’s people. We WILL hear from Him, and He WILL whisper things in our heart to do and say. You may not have the gift of Prophecy, but God still wants to speak in and through you.

Fortunately, Ezekiel was obedient and when God asked him to command the dry bones to come to life, that’s exactly what he did. Ezekiel heard a rustling, the sound of bones moving, and then coming together, bone to bone. Sinews formed, then muscles on the bones, then skin stretched over them.

The rubble of dry bones now formed an army of people. But this vision was not yet complete. Yes, this was a huge sign of hope but the bodies were still lifeless…they had no breath.

I heard Jan Becker, a midwife and helicopter pilot, speaking on the radio this week. She spends a lot of time in Tanzania working in midwifery. She said when she first visited there, the mortality rate of babies was very high. On one of her first days there, the hospital pronounced a baby dead. But she observed that they hadn’t really done anything to help it take its first breath. She said all they have to do is rub the baby on it’s back and it usually gasps that first all important, life giving breath. Breath is life.

God again commanded Ezekiel to prophesy “Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.” (Ezekiel 37:9)

Ezekiel obediently did as God asked and the real miracle occurred. Breath enter the bodies and life took hold. The bones, once dead and gone forever, became an army of living breathing beings again. So beautiful. so extraordinary. So merciful. So hopeful.

The vision ends with God saying to Ezekiel, the Israelites say

“‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ (Ezekiel 37:11). God knew exactly what was happening for the Israelite people, and he knows exactly what’s happening for you. He knew their hopelessness, he knew that they felt their best days were over, he knew that they looked to the future with without hope.

And this is God’s response was ‘My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel… I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land.” (Ezekiel 37:12-14).

That’s all a bit gruesome, God saying he’d open up their graves. But this speaks of bringing life to a place that seemed long dead. And when God says he will put his Spirit in them, it’s ruach, the same word that was used for breath earlier. Breath equals life. God’s Spirit equals spiritual life.

The beautiful thing about this vision is that although the Israelites had lost everything dear to them, God’s message is…all you need is my breath, my Spirit. That’s all we need.

There are many things in our community of faith that we grieve. Some died long ago (for instance, the brass band at Tarrawanna) and others are a more recent grief (like meeting together).

But in the midst of what seems like a desolate, dry, abandoned situation, God has a purpose and a plan. Last Sunday people came to faith through online Salvation Army church services. All round Australia pastoral care is happening in a way we haven’t seen for years. People are stepping up and contacting one another. Connection is intentional. People are seeking God and praying fervently.

Keep connected, keep praying, keep seeking God…because He gives us His ruach, His Spirit, and the truth is, that’s all we need. God bless you this week, Robyn

Good Friday

Wed, 22 Apr 2020 15:01:35 GMT

This is a subtitle for your new post

As I begin our reflection today, I pause to be still and refocus my scattered thoughts upon the presence of God.

Light of the World You stepped down into darkness

Opened my eyes let me see

Beauty that made this heart adore You

Hope of a life spent with You. (Michael W Smith)

Jesus, the One who created the world by his Word. The One who breathed life into creation. The One who created light in the darkness. In fact the One who IS a “light that thrives in the depths of darkness” (John 1:5, VOICE).

Jesus, the light of the world, stepped down into darkness.

Today, we remember the darkness, his suffering, his death.

We linger here for a moment to remember the Light that darkness thought it had overcome. And we remind ourselves, that darkness never, ever, ever overcomes the light of Jesus.

Prayer: (by Lt Col Terry Grey)

God of Universe,

God of Earth,

Our God …

This Friday morning there is a question that sits heavily, like a weight upon our soul.

It remains ill formed at the edges of our consciousness,

for we think people of faith may not ask it.

Where are you?

Where are you in the midst of a darkness so deep,

that it feels like we will never escape its life exhausting grasp?

We are mindful that the story of Good Friday is marked by darkness and even despair.

Despite our insatiable appetite for joy, our addiction to feeling good,

we refuse to move too quickly from the events of Good Friday. Because we recognise

that, as difficult as it is, it is good for us to sit with you

and ponder the cost and meaning of the cross.

[pause]

We recognise that we are somehow woven into the narrative of that day, such that it

becomes for us our story too.

We all like sheep have gone astray;

all of us have turned to going our own way,

and you Lord laid on him

the iniquity of us all.

God of Universe,

God of Earth,

Our God …

As we negotiate for ourselves the personal, cross-shaped, meanings of:

self-sacrifice, courage, grace and love,

may they be renewed in us today, and as a resource for the world in the days ahead.

In the name of the Christ,

through the Spirit we pray,

Amen.

The Death of Jesus, Luke 23:44-46 (NIV)

It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.

This was the end of a long week. Jesus had been betrayed by a friend and arrested, set up by his religious leaders, who handed him over to the Roman authorities. They wanted him dead.

For Jesus, there was a long night full of hate, ugliness, lies, condemnation and abuse. The next day the beating and mockery by cruel Roman soldiers; rejection from the crowds shouting, “crucify him!”; a crown of thorns shoved down on his head; a long walk to the hill known as Golgotha, carrying his cross on shoulders already cut by the soldier’s whip. All before he was nailed to the cross.

When he came to Golgotha, long nails were driven through his hands and feet. And then as his cross was raised, Jesus was held to that cross by just three nails, driven through his flesh. For six, long, excruciating hours, he suffered unspeakable agony, as life slowly drained from his body.

We read earlier that at about 12 noon, darkness covered the land. The Light of the World hovered momentarily in the thin place between life and death…and it seemed like all creation knew it. Darkness in the middle of the day must have been incredibly eerie. I imagine that people would have had a sense of foreboding, like something had gone terribly wrong in the world. The sun stropped shining and as Jesus was dying, the onlookers were in complete darkness. Light was extinguished.

Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” (Luke 23:26)

And yet, no-one took Jesus’ life from him. He determined when he gave up his life. Even at the point of death, Jesus was in control. He was the casualty of terrible human cruelty, yet Jesus was not a victim. Though he was dying in the darkness, nothing could extinguish his light. Dying because he chose to give his life for us, sacrificially. Satisfied, that he accomplished what he came to do.

Earlier in his ministry Jesus had said “I am Light that has come into the world so that all who believe in me won’t have to stay any longer in the dark.” (John 12:46, The Message)

On this terrible day, these words of Jesus are our comfort. You don’t have to live any longer in the dark, I don’t have to live any longer in the dark. Because of Jesus death, the darkness of our sin is extinguished. The darkness of our sorrow and grief is lifted. The darkness of our past is erased. The darkness of our mistakes are forgiven. The darkness of our lack of love is covered by all-encompassing love of Jesus. The darkness of our anxiety for the future is illuminated.

The people who had been living in darkness

have seen a great light.

The light of life has shined on those who dwelt

in the shadowy darkness of death. (Isaiah 9:2).

We live in the light because of his death. Light that brings hope, and flourishing and life.

Prayer:

In our hearts we humbly bow before you God. We see just a little of the pain and anguish that this Friday brought to you and all of heaven. We read of the darkness that covered the land. Sometimes, we’re overwhelmed by the darkness that covers our world. The selfishness we see, the greed that seems so easy for people. And yet, we remember Your light. Your light that extinguishes darkness. We pray for ourselves and our world, that You light will continue to dispel our darkness. In Jesus name, Amen.

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross

The emblem of suffering and shame

And I love that old cross where the dearest and best

For a world of lost sinners was slain

So I'll cherish the old rugged cross

Till my trophies at last I lay down

And I will cling to the old rugged cross

And exchange it some day for a crown.

Emmaus Journey with Jesus

Wed, 22 Apr 2020 15:01:32 GMT

Road to Emmaus

Luke 24:13-34 (New Living Translation)

This story is known as the Road to Emmaus. This week a friend of mine said that she had never heard anyone speak about this story and my immediate response was ‘it’s one of my FAVOURITE stories!’. There’s so much to love about this story and hopefully there will be something that speaks to you, as we retell the journey of two of Jesus friends.

They were part of a large group of men and women who’d given up everything to follow Jesus, to live as he lived, to learn from him, to listen to him. It changed their world. Jesus spoke of forgiveness, and healing, and the nearness of God. He said there was nothing, nothing more important than love.

One of the really exciting things that Jesus taught about was a Kingdom that he was going to establish – and everything would be different in it. People who were poor would be rich, and people who were usually last – like me at sport, would be first! I can only dream of that! Jesus said in his Kingdom, people who are in addiction can be free, people who are broken and hurting can be healed.

Jesus friends all had their own ideas about how this all might happen. Most of them thought that Jesus would somehow overthrow the Romans, who were their oppressive rulers. But then, Jesus was killed by the Romans – and for the people around Jesus, for those who loved him, for those who were ready for the fight for a new Kingdom, it was a crushing blow. Their leader was dead. Their hope was gone. Our story starts around this time.

Two of Jesus friends were walking alone, on the road out of Jerusalem. They’d left the rest of Jesus friends, I imagine they were heavy hearted and incredibly disappointed. They were probably isolating - now that sounds like a common theme with us right now! Maybe they were going back home to live, maybe they just wanted to get out of Jerusalem, thinking that Jesus’ followers might be next on the persecution list.

They were walking down the road and Jesus began walking with them. The Bible tells us that death wasn’t the end for Jesus, and after 3 days he appeared to some of his friends. These guys had heard that story but really? They just couldn’t believe that Jesus was alive – and so when Jesus joined them, they didn’t even think it could be him. They just didn’t recognise him.

Jesus said to them ‘What are you talking about?’

They said “Are you the only one in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard what’s happened during the last few days?”

And then they went on to speak about Jesus. They said he was man of God, a prophet, dynamic, blessed by God…and yet betrayed by their own religious leaders, found guilty in a dodgy trial and killed.

I imagine the two guys would have stood there with their heads down as they said “But we had hoped he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.” (Luke 24:21)

“But we had hoped” Those four words speak of intense disappointment and regret – maybe they were wondering if they should have followed a different teacher than Jesus. Maybe they had started to feel that the 3 years with Jesus were a waste of the prime of their life. Maybe they’d given up everything - their families may have disowned them, their friends probably thought they were crazy.

But now it all seemed hopeless. I’m sure you’ve been able to relate to how these guys were feeling, at some point in your lives. Regrets and disappointments…you may have felt like the best years have passed, or thought that you trusted too easily, or believed someone too willingly, or felt that this wasn’t how you thought life would turn out.

For these two guys walking along, their hopes were crushed.

And Jesus started talk with them about God and how his death and resurrection was always part of God’s plan for the world.

Now, there’ SO MANY great parts to this story - getting to the end of their destination and Jesus “acting” as if he was going to keep going. I reckon Jesus was watching these guys… what would they do? Part company with Jesus, or invite him in to their space and their lives. And Jesus lingers, waiting to see what they will say.

“Stay with us” they said to Jesus. So he went in and ate a meal with them. I love it.

I love that Jesus joins them on their journey that was filled with disappointment, regret and loss. He joins us in that place of despair and walks with them. I love it because it’s our story – Jesus joins us on our journey.

That in itself is a beautiful thing – you and I are no longer alone. Even if no one else completely understands our pain, one person does – Jesus.

And like these guys, there will always come a time, when we need to say to Jesus ‘stay with me’ I don’t want to do the journey by myself anymore.

There’s a time when we need to make a commitment to living life with Jesus, and invite him into our space. To decide that we want him to be our companion and friend for the journey…..Jesus stay with us.

But today there’s one more part to the story that makes me smile.

“Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him…They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” And within the hour they were on their way back to Jerusalem.” (Luke 24: 31-33).

See I know I said it before, but I LOVE this. Recognising Jesus and inviting him into our lives makes a difference. It makes a difference to the way we live our life, it makes a difference to the choices we make, and it changes the way we perceive things.

Those disciples had been heading out of Jerusalem, despondent and alone. But this encounter with Jesus changed their world view. It changed their plans and they went straight back to Jerusalem within the hour. It was night time remember, but they weren’t worried about that. Whatever their reasons for leaving Jerusalem…fear, despondency, disappointment…that no longer factored into their thinking.

They were changed men. The encounter with Jesus gave them courage to go back to Jerusalem, gave them boldness to travel at night, gave them HOPE for the future.

Gosh, I pray that this will be our experience. If you haven’t done it before, please invite Jesus into your life, to stay with you. Allow him to teach you, warm your heart, to change you. And watch hope rise as you stay close to him.

God bless you, Robyn