What a lot of words there are that commence with the letter"F". There's fifty, which is what I'm turning today. There's fragile, which is what our church is, according to some people. Too much is reliant on too few to make it happen. What would happen if someone left? Are fifty and fragile linked? Sometimes I think they are, but then I realise that 50 is a lot of experience and a lot (God willing) of living still to go.
What about Faith? Are faith and fragile linked? Or are they opposites? Perhaps when things appear fragile we need to exercise more faith. Maybe then the church will look more fruitful and more fantastic and more ...
For me I want to be seen as more faithful ie more full of faith. I'd also like to be more fruitful, but I guess that's in God's hands. Still there is much to be grateful for. Out of the 59 people present in worship this morning 20 have started attending since we were appointed here just fourteen months ago. That's fantastic! God is faithful!!!
Any more f words you can think of?
Saturday, 17 March 2007
Sunday, 4 March 2007
Follow me
In the Australia Southern Territory our Self Denial Appeal DVD has the words follow me on it. These simple words are just so profound when spoken by Jesus. On Sunday I felt led to use these words as the basis for the message. This started with the Macedonian call to Paul described in Acts 16. In this area we are based in there are many different nationalities. In our corps there are now a few different nationalities represented. God may call us to leave home and follow him but He has also bought a multi-racial fishing pond almost at our door.
I then moved on to talk about the call of the Lord to follow Him and be a fisher of men right where we are. I concluded with a simple talk about salvation in case God The Holy Spirit was moving in someone's heart and the need for growth. It was at this stage that people seemed to be listening the most and the words were flowing. That's a sure sign of God working! There was no visible response but the prayer of one of the soldiers showed me that God was working.
Now I have the opportunity to teach discipleship for the next few months. Does anyone have any ideas about what following Jesus really means, particularly for the long established Christian? I'll be happy for you to share them.
I then moved on to talk about the call of the Lord to follow Him and be a fisher of men right where we are. I concluded with a simple talk about salvation in case God The Holy Spirit was moving in someone's heart and the need for growth. It was at this stage that people seemed to be listening the most and the words were flowing. That's a sure sign of God working! There was no visible response but the prayer of one of the soldiers showed me that God was working.
Now I have the opportunity to teach discipleship for the next few months. Does anyone have any ideas about what following Jesus really means, particularly for the long established Christian? I'll be happy for you to share them.
Monday, 26 February 2007
A day in the life of an australian corps officer
Today can't be described as an every week Tuesday but it has certainly been interesting. We are currently having a Planned Giving survey. Last night our corps council met to vote on whether we would ask the Public Relations Department to conduct a new program or not. Thank God they chose to vote yes. Otherwise , yours truly would have spent today planning months of extra work. Instead I only had to make one telephone call and sit in on a meeting with the great soldier who is going to chair the program. After the corps council meeting I was able to spend an encouraging 20 minutes with 2 of my local officers about Sunday School. God is bringing his plan about for this section. There are great opportunities opening up. Home to bed but I didn't sleep well and woke up way too early.
Off to the office to check the answering machine and emails and spend time with God. Then Jennifer arrived and we were able to do some administrative type work before the people for the Planned Giving meeting arrived. Made my phone call and received a positive response. God is good!!!
Then it was time to go to the local Primary school for our Kid's Hope mentoring session. This is a great program that a few of our corps folk are engaged in. Today I spent time with a grade 1 boy drawing pictures about the seasons. http://www.worldvision.com.au/getinvolved/kha/ will give you an idea of this great incarnational ministry.
Home for lunch and more admin. A quick trip to DHQ to arrange some financial business and then time to pick Catherine up from school. Home for a coffee and getting ready for Songster and Band Practice tonight.
Only God knows what He has in store for tonight.
Off to the office to check the answering machine and emails and spend time with God. Then Jennifer arrived and we were able to do some administrative type work before the people for the Planned Giving meeting arrived. Made my phone call and received a positive response. God is good!!!
Then it was time to go to the local Primary school for our Kid's Hope mentoring session. This is a great program that a few of our corps folk are engaged in. Today I spent time with a grade 1 boy drawing pictures about the seasons. http://www.worldvision.com.au/getinvolved/kha/ will give you an idea of this great incarnational ministry.
Home for lunch and more admin. A quick trip to DHQ to arrange some financial business and then time to pick Catherine up from school. Home for a coffee and getting ready for Songster and Band Practice tonight.
Only God knows what He has in store for tonight.
Friday, 23 February 2007
The good news
Just in case there is anyone reading this blog who might want to know something about my life and that of my family , here's an update.
I've resigned from the Rotary Club of Forest Hill effective tomorrow. I am hoping to join the Rotary Club of Manningham, which will give me more networking opportunities and thus more witnessing opportunities in the area in which I live and minister. I've spent almost 6 years as a member of Forest Hill and served as president in 2005-06. It has been a difficult decision to make, but I believe it is a God directed one.
On Monday night I was presented with the regalia that goes with being named as a Paul Harris Fellow. This is recognition of my service as a rotarian and a salvationist. I am both honoured and humbled. I was even more humbled when a rotarian described me as having put a human face on religion. I hope that he means that he could see something of Jesus in me. That is always one of my aims in rotary; to let people see Jesus through me.
Both of our sons now have jobs although Ben's is only temporary. At least they will have some money and some activity during the day. Catherine will complete her secondary school career this year. Each of them are involved in the corps they attend, which is great for us to see. We have no desire to win the world and lose our children. So far God's grace has been sufficient.
And finally the air conditioner still isn't fixed, but at least it looks like we may be able to afford it now.
I've resigned from the Rotary Club of Forest Hill effective tomorrow. I am hoping to join the Rotary Club of Manningham, which will give me more networking opportunities and thus more witnessing opportunities in the area in which I live and minister. I've spent almost 6 years as a member of Forest Hill and served as president in 2005-06. It has been a difficult decision to make, but I believe it is a God directed one.
On Monday night I was presented with the regalia that goes with being named as a Paul Harris Fellow. This is recognition of my service as a rotarian and a salvationist. I am both honoured and humbled. I was even more humbled when a rotarian described me as having put a human face on religion. I hope that he means that he could see something of Jesus in me. That is always one of my aims in rotary; to let people see Jesus through me.
Both of our sons now have jobs although Ben's is only temporary. At least they will have some money and some activity during the day. Catherine will complete her secondary school career this year. Each of them are involved in the corps they attend, which is great for us to see. We have no desire to win the world and lose our children. So far God's grace has been sufficient.
And finally the air conditioner still isn't fixed, but at least it looks like we may be able to afford it now.
Sunday, 18 February 2007
Adventurous living
Today we were privileged to have our Divisional Leaders Majors Ron and Robyn Clinch as our guest leaders. Robyn led worship with energy and enthusiasm and sensitivity as well. Ron used John 10:1-10 to urge us to live adventurously with and for Jesus. At the end of the address one of the newer members of the congregation knelt to pray with a salvationist at the Mercy Seat. Praise God!
It was an average size congregation. The significant factor was that a quarter of the congregation had only commenced attending since January 2006. The interesting factor for Major Ron was the spread of nationalities amongst these new people; Malaysian, Greek and Morroccan and Chinese with the Sudanese family absent.
Our previously very white anglo-saxon congregation has changed significantly and I don't even think we've noticed. God has brought these people to us and has helped them to fit in, despite our many failings.
Now if only people would stop aging and being sick and have other interests, the corps attendances might actually increase. I guess that's all in God's hands.
Yesterday I wrote a long catch up post that has completely disappeared. Hopefully this one survives!
It was an average size congregation. The significant factor was that a quarter of the congregation had only commenced attending since January 2006. The interesting factor for Major Ron was the spread of nationalities amongst these new people; Malaysian, Greek and Morroccan and Chinese with the Sudanese family absent.
Our previously very white anglo-saxon congregation has changed significantly and I don't even think we've noticed. God has brought these people to us and has helped them to fit in, despite our many failings.
Now if only people would stop aging and being sick and have other interests, the corps attendances might actually increase. I guess that's all in God's hands.
Yesterday I wrote a long catch up post that has completely disappeared. Hopefully this one survives!
Saturday, 3 February 2007
The ups and downs of ministry
I've discovered over the years I've been an corps officer that often good things happening seems to alert the Devil to bring about bad things or at least major distractions. Here's an example - on the day one of our new attenders came to the Mercy Seat, the Sunday School leader told me she wouldn't be leading Sunday School anymore and might well be transfering to another corps. Now those 2 events aren't linked by anything other than the same day. The Sunday School leader has given great service and certainly deserves a break. But on a day when I ought to be celebrating God's moving I'm thinking about who can do Sunday School. Major distraction - still is, weeks later.
During this week I've been trying to get our airconditioning unit fixed. The estimated cost is $6000, which equates to $3000 more than we've got. That certainly is a distraction! Particularly with days of 38 C predicted. So I should have been waiting for the good thing to happen. When it did I was caught totally unaware. One of the young women in the corps told both Jennifer and I that she wanted to become a soldier. Now that's a major distraction from worrying about airconditioners and money. She also wants to work in Sunday School. I may end up forgetting myself and shout Hallelujah!
Our God is good!
I've discovered that the good things always far outweigh the bad, but the bad takes more time to forget. The Devil is a wily enemy, but God is stronger than His foes.
During this week I've been trying to get our airconditioning unit fixed. The estimated cost is $6000, which equates to $3000 more than we've got. That certainly is a distraction! Particularly with days of 38 C predicted. So I should have been waiting for the good thing to happen. When it did I was caught totally unaware. One of the young women in the corps told both Jennifer and I that she wanted to become a soldier. Now that's a major distraction from worrying about airconditioners and money. She also wants to work in Sunday School. I may end up forgetting myself and shout Hallelujah!
Our God is good!
I've discovered that the good things always far outweigh the bad, but the bad takes more time to forget. The Devil is a wily enemy, but God is stronger than His foes.
Saturday, 27 January 2007
If... Then
Tomorrow is our first Sunday back from furlough. It is my privilege to present the Word of God. In the Australia Southern Territory we have been asked to give our people the opportunity of giving to a Drought Appeal that the Territory has launched. As we've been away the corps isn't aware and won't come prepared. So I'll present the need and we'll receive the gifts next Sunday instead.
I have for some time been contemplating the promise of God to Solomon and the people of Israel recorded in 2 Chronicles 7:14. Here it is "if my people, who are called by my name; will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will heal their land." New International Version
The preceding verse begins "When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain..." shows why I have been thinking of this promise in relation to the drought. Is it applicable to today's drought? Is it drawing a long bow to liken the people of Australia to the people of Israel in the time of Solomon?
I have been shown some prophetic words in recent days which relate to the Christian Church in Australia and another which relates to The Salvation Army in the western world. Follow the link to Andrew Bale's blog and read the prophecy for yourself. I am not totally endorsing what Andrew says he was given by God, but it does tie in with the words related to the Church in Australia.
It seems that God is wanting to give me a message about my relationship with Him as well as the relationship the church I lead has with Him.
Chapter 6 of 2 Chronicles contains King Solomon's prayer. It too has this if we do this then God will do this feel about it.
It seems to me that God is calling His people to a return to intimacy with Him. He wants to have His people seeking his face in prayer and in all humility build a strong relationship with Him.
It also seems that He wants His people to return in repentance to obey Him.
I have no doubts that He wants to heal our land and restore His Church and build that part of the Universal Church that worships at Doncaster Salvation Army. But it seems that He may be wanting us to return Him to the throne of our lives.
Any thoughts?
I have for some time been contemplating the promise of God to Solomon and the people of Israel recorded in 2 Chronicles 7:14. Here it is "if my people, who are called by my name; will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will heal their land." New International Version
The preceding verse begins "When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain..." shows why I have been thinking of this promise in relation to the drought. Is it applicable to today's drought? Is it drawing a long bow to liken the people of Australia to the people of Israel in the time of Solomon?
I have been shown some prophetic words in recent days which relate to the Christian Church in Australia and another which relates to The Salvation Army in the western world. Follow the link to Andrew Bale's blog and read the prophecy for yourself. I am not totally endorsing what Andrew says he was given by God, but it does tie in with the words related to the Church in Australia.
It seems that God is wanting to give me a message about my relationship with Him as well as the relationship the church I lead has with Him.
Chapter 6 of 2 Chronicles contains King Solomon's prayer. It too has this if we do this then God will do this feel about it.
It seems to me that God is calling His people to a return to intimacy with Him. He wants to have His people seeking his face in prayer and in all humility build a strong relationship with Him.
It also seems that He wants His people to return in repentance to obey Him.
I have no doubts that He wants to heal our land and restore His Church and build that part of the Universal Church that worships at Doncaster Salvation Army. But it seems that He may be wanting us to return Him to the throne of our lives.
Any thoughts?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
