May 04 2013
WOMEN’S WEEKEND AWAY Friday 7 June – Sunday 9 June 2013
WOMEN’S WEEKEND AWAY
Friday 7 June – Sunday 9 June 2013
Please see the attached brochure for more details.
Apr 28 2013
Sermon for April 28th 2013
Jesus’ promise to us.
Every now and then I watch the news as we are having our dinner and every time we do I am reminded why we don’t watch it every night.
It’s always so depressing and if there is a good news story it’s usually slotted in briefly before the sport, is it because we humans have a macabre interest in anything tragic? What is it that makes us hunger for bad news? Or is it just the media telling us this is what we want to see? Because it sells more papers and TV time.
In the West Australian on Wednesday I listed these stories all of which made me raise my eyebrows in horror of varying degrees.
- Crime stoppers (a whole page on theft and muggings in Perth)
- French embassy in Libya bombed.
- Japan cranks up Island tensions
- Elite force to protect India’s wealthiest man (Government force because of his wealth?)
- Dad forced sons to live in Cellar
- Canadians foil Terror attack
- Charges reviewed after shot woman dies
- Guilty verdict in Kill case
- Warning of jail for man on drug offer
- Death sparks murder probe
- Boston bombings
- Killer of Langford boy found guilty of murder in New Zealand
- Hidden toll of Modern diggers (Bob read to us)
- Sex register gets 500 hits a day (statistics show that there have been 90,197 hits to the register in the last year)
- Purring for a new home (cat thrown from moving vehicle)
- $10m package for farmers (farmers in crisis)
- Driver’s attitudes biggest WA road safety scourge. (attitude cause of road rage)
All that and more in one days newspaper no wonder people suffer from depression, which got me to wondering were these things happening in biblical times?
Yes there were, I found so many references to wars beatings robberies murders and prostitution that I would bore us all to tears if I read every reading I found, suffice it to say that I have attached 25 of those readings for your appraisal which will be found later, on the uniting church website.
Why do we feel that the world is out of control and evil is running rampant towards a doomed future? Because we are living it now. Ask the Israelites how they felt going up against such great armies as the Philistines and Canaanites.
In today’s society we have instant access to world events at the press of a button we can see or hear what is going on anywhere in the far reaches of this planet, with such vast resources at our finger tips is it any wonder that our very beings become saturated with the horrors of the world?
In comparison in biblical times news of war and other tragedy’s was carried from place to place by messenger. Did this make the tragedies any less painful? No of course not! They had less to deal with mentally; maybe that is why mental illness is becoming a modern epidemic in the western world.
As I said in the beginning the news of the world is so depressing and I’m sure we overload our senses, is it any wonder then that people feel such despair? I had a call on Friday from a lady who told me that she and her daughter couldn’t come and meet us as arranged because her daughter’s condition had become critical and they were fighting just to keep her alive.
Suicide is a symptom I believe of bad news overload, we become so saturated with everything around us that some people are just unable to cope and the tragedy is that to some death is the only way to escape the torment they find themselves in.
Suicide does not end the chance of life getting any worse; it eliminates the chance of it ever getting better.
But there is hope in the book of Nahum verse 7 we Read,
The Lord is good, a refuge in the times of trouble, he cares for those who trust in him.
In Ecclesiastes 3: verses 11- 13 we read,
11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live.
13 That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil–this is the gift of God.
National Suicide Prevention Week is September 8th to September 14th 2013 I encourage us all to keep eyes and ears open so that we may possibly be a refuge for those who think suicide is the only option left. We may not feel able or qualified to offer advice, but sometimes there is a time to listen as well as a time to talk. We can also encourage those who seem suicidal to seek medical help.
How can we as Christians help those in need? What authority do we have to help others? How do we get the strength to be able to fight at the front line?
In Ephesians 6 we are given the tools to help us fight the evil in this world, let me add a word of warning do not fight unarmed, go in fighting only when clothed in the full armour of God for the battle is a spiritual one and only with God through Christ can we win.
Ephesians 6:11-17
Put on the full armour of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armour of God that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
So in conclusion I believe I have shown that there is nothing new in this world in
Ecclesiastes 1:9 NIV we read.
What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.
There is joy in Christ Jesus Philippians 1:26 NIV
So that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.
Benediction
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. AMEN.
Apr 28 2013
Bible Readings for Sermon on Relevance 28th April 2013
- 1 Timothy 1:18-19
This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may fight the good fight, keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.
- 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,
- Ephesians 6:11-17
Put on the full armour of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armour of God that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
the West Australian text for Wednesday was from the little read book of
- Nahum 1:7
The Lord is good, a refuge in the times of trouble he cares for those who trust in him.
- Ecclesiastes 3
1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: 2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, 5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, 6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, 7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, 8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. 9 What does the worker gain from his toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on men. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. 13 That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil–this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.
- Exodus 1:22
Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: “Every boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live.”
- Judges: 1-4
1 After the death of Joshua, the Israelites asked the LORD, “Who will be the first to go up and fight for us against the Canaanites?” 2 The LORD answered, “Judah is to go; I have given the land into their hands.” 3 Then the men of Judah said to the Simeonites their brothers, “Come up with us into the territory allotted to us, to fight against the Canaanites. We in turn will go with you into yours.” So the Simeonites went with them. 4 When Judah attacked, the LORD gave the Canaanites and Perizzites into their hands and they struck down ten thousand men at Bezek.
- 1 Samuel 31
1 Now the Philistines fought against Israel; the Israelites fled before them, and many fell slain on Mount Gilboa. 2 The Philistines pressed hard after Saul and his sons, and they killed his sons Jonathan, Abinadab and Malki-Shua. 3 The fighting grew fierce around Saul, and when the archers overtook him, they wounded him critically. 4 Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through, or these uncircumcised fellows will come and run me through and abuse me.” But his armor-bearer was terrified and would not do it; so Saul took his own sword and fell on it. 5 When the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his sword and died with him. 6 So Saul and his three sons and his armor-bearer and all his men died together that same day. 7 When the Israelites along the valley and those across the Jordan saw that the Israelite army had fled and that Saul and his sons had died, they abandoned their towns and fled. And the Philistines came and occupied them. 8 The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9 They cut off his head and stripped off his armor, and they sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim the news in the temple of their idols and among their people.
About three months later Judah was told, “Your daughter-in-law Tamar is guilty of prostitution, and as a result she is now pregnant.” Judah said, “Bring her out and have her burned to death!”
” ‘Do not degrade your daughter by making her a prostitute, or the land will turn to prostitution and be filled with wickedness.
” ‘They must not marry women defiled by prostitution or divorced from their husbands, because priests are holy to their God.
He must not marry a widow, a divorced woman, or a woman defiled by prostitution, but only a virgin from his own people,
He oppresses the poor and needy. He commits robbery. He does not return what he took in pledge. He looks to the idols. He does detestable things.
The people of the land practice extortion and commit robbery; they oppress the poor and needy and mistreat the alien, denying them justice.
Penalties are prepared for mockers, and beatings for the backs of fools.
Blows and wounds cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the inmost being.
in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger;
but if it happens after sunrise, he is guilty of bloodshed. “A thief must certainly make restitution, but if he has nothing, he must be sold to pay for his theft.
For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.
For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,
Food gained by fraud tastes sweet to a man, but he ends up with a mouth full of gravel.
Everyone is senseless and without knowledge; every goldsmith is shamed by his idols. His images are a fraud; they have no breath in them.
“Every man is senseless and without knowledge; every goldsmith is shamed by his idols. His images are a fraud; they have no breath in them.
But the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish
guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Saviour, and my hope is in you all day long.
Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD.
through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Apr 26 2013
Sermon for April 21st 2013
Sermon for April 21st 2013
The other weekend Tania and I drove up to Geraldton to be at David’s induction service, and by the way, they send their sincere regards to you all.
It was a lovely relaxing drive as we made our way up the inland road to Wubin and then on through to Mullewa and then on to Geraldton.
We stopped briefly at Dalwalinu for lunch and discovered a most excellent little bakery where I was able to experience a rissole and salad roll.
But as we sat in the little park on the bench I was just coughing and coughing from the wog I thought I had recovered from and so decided to head to the IGA over the road to find some cough lollies.
Explain how to look for something in a strange shop ! The counters just in the door ! everybody smiles at you !
Explain moment of insect biting !
Explain somewhat uncomfortable drive out of town. (squirming a bit )
So after a while things are back to normal, we’re on cruise control, 112km, sitting back………..
And wham, another bite, but this time around the front.
I can’t go into too many details on this,……… but needless to say it was an emergency.
So I’m jumping around ……. Trying to locate the little critter,…. Steering…. Perhaps not focusing 100% on the road ahead and
Tania, I think she’s starting to get a vision of what heaven is going to be like ……….any time soon !
So when I saw that today’s lectionary reading was John’s vision of heaven I was immediately interested.
Some people really get into the book of Revelation. They understand all the visions and number references and all that ………but to be honest I struggle with it.
As I was reading a bit more about it in some commentaries,……….. I discovered that it’s like this because it was written to those early Christians who lived in a time of great persecution.
All the fantastic apocalyptic visions and symbolism was in a kind of code that those early Christians and Jews could easily understand. It seems that this kind of literature was not unusual for those post Christ times but having said that,…. it would be remiss of us not to try and understand what is being talked about.
The book of Revelation describes a vision of the future, ………………a vision of eternity ; And it’s purpose was to give strength to people who were …and are suffering.
And in those early days, it could have been people who may ultimately have to pay for their membership of the church with their lives.
But it was more than that.
The life and death and resurrection of Jesus Christ introduced a profound new way of understanding God.
It bought new hope and new life and that required new understanding. The old testament view of God and the response required to him was radically changed.
Revelations helps us look at our lives in a new context…………
Because when we have discovered the grace of God, through Jesus Christ…, Whether our lives have been good or bad, ……..happy or sad. When we’ve discovered the grace of God we’re encouraged to look ahead…..
To look ahead to a life eternal ………and the passage we read today is the nearest thing we have to glimpsing what that may look like.
Read verses 9 –10
I love being part of a huge crowd.
Describe 75 000 at the football at the MCG…… Collingwood/Essendon
What about 115 000 at the Billy Grayham crusade at the MCG. 115 000 souls singing songs of praise. What an experience ! Norm and Val ?
But John describes a crowd so vast that they are uncountable. People from every nation singing in a loud voice.
And then in verse 11 the angels join in.
I think it is worth just pausing our minds for a moment and try and picture the scene because mostly we just gloss over visions like this ……. as just too fantastic and too unreal to seriously contemplate.
All those jokes about how boring heaven’s going to be, ……. But particularly for those who have been in a big stadium crowd,…… just try and imagine 10 times the MCG all singing hymns for all their worth.
What an experience that will be.
But let’s move on……
In verse 13 the question is asked, “who are all these people ?”
And the answer given is “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation.”
This idea seems to have captured the imagination of theologians ever since then. People have written books on the matter.
There has been all kinds of speculation and posturing about what this great tribulation means.
Most of the commentaries I read, think it refers to a period of intense persecution in the last days. Are we in those last days ? Many believe so ! No one really knows.
But it is commonly thought that it also refers to that constant tribulation that is part of all of our lives in the battles we have with sin and it’s consequences. This is not just some kind of super suffering that is going to come, …..but simply stuff that we deal with day to day.
We all experience tribulations and trials !
The next verse is particularly important to note.
I mentioned a minute ago that the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ introduced a profound new way of understanding and relating to God.
It brought new hope and new life and that required new understanding. John is trying to convey this sensational new thinking to a people struggling with their daily tribulations
In Johns vision he describes the folks as …….. “they have washed their robes…… and made them white…… in the blood of the lamb.”
John uses his words very carefully here. In the Hebrew, there is a definite understanding that this is a once only action required. Not the “kill a goat” and be safe for a “bit longer”….. This is a totally life changing , once if a lifetime…… redemption.
It’s a strange concept really isn’t it, being made white in blood. This is quite strong language.
He is directly attributing the death and resurrection of Christ to the fact that all these people, who have suffered tribulation, are standing before God, ……reconciled, ………clothed ………and with dignity. They are not groveling naked in shame and guilt.
Christ is the game changer. Christ is the link between separation from God and an eternal future with him.
This was a really important message for those early Christians but I think somehow we’ve been dulled to it by the passage of time.
And perhaps that is my message today.
Don’t allow yourself to fall into that stupor of complacency. Don’t be seduced by those 100’s of other God’s that seem to demand our attention ………………and they do demand of us !
Don’t forget the lengths God was prepared to go to bring you back to his love and his protection.
It’s a wonderful message that this heavenly crowd cries out. “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.”
It’s a wonderful message that we should be proclaiming to anyone who will listen. There is a resurrected man on the loose in our community ! There’s a resurrected man on the loose in our community………..
Before I finish I just want to sober up a bit and back track a little.
In verse 15 John describes God sitting on the throne and spreading his tent over the vast crowd. Under this tent, there will be no more suffering or tears. And Christ is at the centre to be their shepherd.
It’s a very tender and encouraging picture.
“But this is heaven….. and far removed from our lives today”… I hear you say.
Interestingly, very early in the gospel of John 1:14 we read
“And the Word became flesh and lived among us”
Very significant !
“The word”,….. in this passage is universally recognized as Christ. and If you look back to the Greek , “lived among us” translates as “tented “ or “tabernacled”.
So we have …Christ …..became flesh….and brought us under his tent.
In the old testament God dwelt in the tabernacle…….. a big tent. The holy tent , the holy place. No-one was allowed into the inner sanctuary except under very specific and special circumstances. God was a dangerous presence………. and although very close, actually separated from the people.
Christ lived, died and was resurrected and in doing so tore the curtain of separation apart, literally and symbolically.
We are encouraged into the tent,……. forgiven …..and reconciled.
We are certainly not set aside from all further problems and stress and troubles, But assured that God is with us whatever happens. What ever happens ………we are in the tent…
And then we have this vision of eternity, ……….Again nurtured within the shade of God’s protection …. For eternity!
Remarkably another lectionary reading for today is Psalm 23, written way before Christ but very prophetically.
As I read it….., just reflect on the words in the context we have just been looking at.
I hope it means as much to you as it does to me.
Amen
Apr 21 2013
Ride for Life May 2013
Ride for Life
Ride for Life will be running again each weekend during May. Four children have been nominated to participate in the current course, 3 boys and 1 girl, 2 from Year 8 and 2 from Year 10. Continue to pray for the leaders and the participants. If you can be a Ride for Life Prayer Warrior and pray during the sessions please talk to Sal Marais or Pauline Taylor. We are also looking for people able to help provide morning and afternoon teas. If you can help please talk to Debbie Tengvall.