A New Beginning

A new beginning is always a fascinating and exciting prospect. The drug addict who goes cold turkey in an attempt to throw off the terrible destructive effects of addiction is often motivated by the prospect of a drug free life. The smoker, the alcoholic, the compulsive gambler, each mercilessly a captive of his sinful compulsion, longs for the freedom to be found in a real and lasting new beginning.

All of us are subject to this same fascination at times. If we could just wipe the slate of failure clean and start all over again, geographically, vocationally, financially or even matrimonially- ,the new beginning would ultimately lead to a great success.

But would it? Does an attempt to deal with and eliminate the failures of the past necessarily guarantee success in the future? Does turning over a new leaf guarantee we will not spoil it too? As an ex-smoker I can empathize with those who year after year make New Year's resolutions to give up such compulsive and destructive habits. As a much younger man, my repeated failures to deal with the problem finally led me to consider a resolution to quit trying to quit. Then I resolved to confess my failure to God and ask him to give me a personal victory. He did not fail me.

Herein perhaps lies a lesson for us all. God has told us that all our righteous efforts are as filthy rags before Him. That we cannot through self reformation or under our own steam really conquer sin and change our own character. The power and motive for effective and enduring change must come front outside ourselves. Jesus said, ".The Truth will make you free." "He whom the Son sets free, is free indeed!" - Pastor White

Christian New Year Resolutions

During The Year I Will:

Like Paul, forget those things which are behind and press forward. Like David, lift my eyes to the hills from which comes my help. Like Abraham, trust my God implicitly. Like Enoch, walk in daily fellowship with my heavenly Father. Like Moses suffer rather than enjoy the pleasure of sin for a time. Like Joseph, turn my back on all evil advances. Like Gideon, advance even when my friends are few. Like Andrew, strive to lead my brother to Christ Like Peter, repent of my failures and begin anew as a witness for Christ- The Witness

What Is Christmas?

What Is Christmas? Is it an endless shopping list or a depleted bank account or an overflowing credit card? Is it fir trees, candy canes, holly wreaths, bells, tinsel or toys? Is it the sound of piped music played to set the mood for maximum consumer response to insure a seasonal commercial success? Is it Santa; photos, office parties or holiday breaks?

Is Christmas a family gathering around lavishly spread Christmas dinner or a barbecue and the inevitable over-indulgence that seems to follow?   To give Christmas a sacred touch, is Christmas attending a concert or carol sing or switching channels to catch a traditional seasonal Christmas movie?

A Christ-centred Christmas is about perishing men needing to be rescued and lost men needing to be saved. Christmas is God giving His Son to the world and His Son giving Himself for our sins. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Christmas is Christ the Son of God becoming the Son of Man that sons of men might become sons of God. (I John 3:1) Christmas is much more than tinsel, ribbons, presents and parties or a hectic rushing to and fro; giving and getting temporal gifts that will have no value in eternity. It is the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ who came to give us the greatest of all gifts, eternal life

If you are one of those seeking to know the true meaning of Christmas, He stands ready to come into your heart this season and share the true meaning of His birth, life, death and resurrection. Is there room in your Christmas for the real Gift of Christmas? Why not open your heart to Him in real faith and He will come into your heart and life? Then you can truly say with Paul and those of us who have received Him, "Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift!"

Your Christmas Wish

Christmas is an exciting time of the year. We wait with great anticipation for the opening of gifts. Will our most important Christmas wish come true?  If you could have just one wish this Christmas, what would that wish be?  Would you wish for real peace on earth this Christmas! As our world seems to teeter totter on the very brink or war in this day of crisis and conflict, what a marvelous thing that would be! If all the threat of violence and war would suddenly vanish and 'absolute peace prevail among men and nations.

Would you wish for real lasting.,joy and happiness this Christmas? In a world of sin, sorrow and sadness the pursuit of true happiness and permanent fulfillment seems never ending. But it often seems our blue skies are cloudy, our rainbow has no end and our ship never comes in. And even the momentary thrill and joyous laughter of our Christmas mornings die in the air and the tinsel, treasure and glitter become the litter of Christmas afternoons.

Would you wish for real love to fill your,life and permeate all your relationships this Christmas? In the tensions and pressures of today, real loving relationships are hard to achieve, and often seem so fragile and easily shattered that they are even more difficult to  maintain.

Would your Christmas wish be to receive a lasting gift?  A gift  above  all gifts? A gift that keeps on giving?  Jesus Christ, the real Christmas Gift, is the incarnation and embodiment of man's deepest' spiritual desires. That first Christmas Day marked His arrival on earth on a mission of mercy to fill the emptiness of the human heart.

The wish for peace has been fulfilled in Christ. Real peace on earth must begin with peace in each human heart. Only through the forgiveness of God that Christ the Peacemaker can bring can a real reconciliation be achieved. Paul said that only those justified by faith have peace with God. 'Then he asserted that although such peace is beyond man's ability to understand or express, it is a real and lasting peace.

Our deep desire for lasting joy and true happiness can only be fulfilled in Christ. Man's common experience confirms that temporal joy and happiness are elusive and fleeting. But the angels heralded Christ's coming as a mission to bring joy and fulfillment to man on earth. And those. of us who have experienced Him personally know such joy eludes expression in the human tongue.

Of all the needs common to man, true  love is the greatest. To be loved, warts and all, with an unselfish love that expects nothing in return, seems the greatest yearning of the human heart. But where, in this egocentric world we live in, can such pure and unselfish love be found?

Such love can only be found in the true meaning of Christmas. In God giving His only begotten son for the sins of the world and the Son giving His life that we might have eternal fife. In our being offered through Jesus a loving Father-Son relationship with the Creator of our universe.

If you could have just one Christmas wish what would that wish be? The gift of God, eternal life, is the gift Christ came to give all who would receive Him when He came to. earth on that first Christmas Day. It can be yours if you will simply receive Him in simple child-like faith. (John 1:12) Only then can you know what Paul when he said,  "Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift!"

Why We Should Have Thanksgiving

Many in Australia may not know that the primary and most widely celebrated family holiday in America is Thanksgiving Day. It is the day that everyone who is anyone would like to go back to his or her roots and spend the day enjoying a special traditional home cooked Thanksgiving meal with their family. No matter how far one roams from the land of his birth, this remains the case. As one with this heritage, I would like to share with you some facts about this special day and its origins.

In 1621 a little band of pilgrims, who had fled the religious persecution of an established church and sought religious freedom in a new world, paused in their struggle for survival to feast and give thanks to God for His blessings upon them. They feasted and gave thanks, in spite of the fact that the hardships involved in hewing a haven with their bare hands from the sombre, granite hills of Plymouth, had already taken the heavy toll of over half their number.

Their meal was sparse. It primarily consisted of such things as native turkey, maize, pumpkin and cranberries; food the native Indian tribes had shown them how to gather and prepare. It is said that when they sat down for that first Thanksgiving meal they found five kernels of corn on each plate. This served as a reminder of the hardships they had endured during the previous year when rations had been reduced to five kernels of corn for each person each day.

A little over 150 years later, in 1789, George Washington, the first President of the new nation, issued this national proclamation of Thanksgiving, “Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the Providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly implore His protection and favour . . .etc..” Some seventy-five years later President Abraham Lincoln made and proclaimed the last Thursday of November a perpetual national Day of Thanksgiving. Even though the nation had just lost over a million of her sons in an awful and deadly civil war, the aftermath of which would soon take the President’s own life, there was still much for which to be thankful. Those of us who have the blessings of freedom today also have much to be thankful for.

We should give thanks for the grace of God. “O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.” (Psalm 95:1))

We should give thanks for the greatness of God. “For the LORD [is] a great God, and a great King above all gods.” (Psalm 95:3)

We should give thanks for the goodness of God. Ps 100:5 “For the LORD [is] good; his mercy [is] everlasting; and his truth [endureth] to all generations.” (Psalm 100:5)

We should give thanks for the gift of God. “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.” (II Cor.

9:15)

God Is Always There

What can we say in times like these to reassure those whose hearts tremble with fear and uncertainty? Is God still on His throne? Is His world still turning on the axis of His sovereignty? Is His plan for man still heading steadily toward the ultimate consummation of His eternal purpose? Has the omnipotent Creator and Ruler of this universe been deposed by the cruel and heartless acts of His evil and sinful creatures?

If He is still there, how could He allow evil to run so rampant  in our world today?  I will freely admit that the answer to this perennial and perplexing question does not come easily. Especially for those who suffer terrible and traumatic loss. But I do know God has the answer. In fact, He has written a whole book about the matter. Through the ages He has again and again given those who need it most grace and faith to understand and accept His will for their lives; no matter how perplexing and painful it may be. In all this we must never forget that the love and mercy of God can be seen even in a time of great trouble.

Such an answer is not readily understood by those who have rejected God and His Son Jesus Christ. This was highlighted in the response given by a Christian who was asked such a question by a journalist after a terrible disaster. He challenged the reporter with words to this effect: "Why do you ask such a question? Do you believe in God? Are you obeying and following Him? Are you willing to accept His will for your life?" It goes without saying that the journalist quickly changed the subject.

It is not only the precious promises of God found in His Holy Word that persuade us He will stand by those who trust Him. "[It is of] the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. [They are] new every morning: great [is] thy faithfulness." (Lam. 3:22- 23) But we simple Christians know that God is present in all life's experiences. We have experienced the mighty power of His arm In the good times and the bad. The frailty of our fragile mortal frame has drawn us to faith in Him again and again. We have felt the tender touch of His helping hand all along the path of life. We have known the soft sweetness of His precious presence in the lonely hours of the night watch. We have known the healing help that only He can bring in the hour of our harm and hurt. In all of this we have come to know that GOD IS ALWAYS THERE.

Accidental Or Providential?

An incident from the past was brought to my mind this week. My granddaughter was only ten. She had come up to the Gold Coast from New South Wales to spend holidays with us. She had gotten her first small watch for her birthday. That afternoon I took her to the beach. On the way down the long winding path through the sand and sea grass she somehow dropped her tiny watch without being aware of the loss. After her swim, she missed her watch and we spent half an hour searching the sand all over the beach where we had placed our towels.

On our way back to the car, with the innocence of a child, she asked me to stop along the path and pray with her that someone might find her watch or that her mother, who had given her the watch, might not be hurt because she had lost it. As we knelt together to pray, she placed her hand in the tall grass growing from the deep sand beside the path. We had only been praying a minute or so when she felt something underneath her hand and I heard her cry, "I've found it! God has answered my prayer. He's given me back my watch!"

In my mind and experience I felt the so-called "odds" against this happening in an accidental way would have been mind boggling. So did my granddaughter. We should always remember to praise and thank God for even His smallest mercies!

The Ministry Of Encouragement

In the letters of Paul there seems to be a constant urging that we who followers of The Way should focus our lives upon building up our fellow believers rather than the opposite.  That we are all called to a ministry of encouragement.   In the letter to the Hebrew  Christians the writer tells us that a primary reason for our assembling together in the local body is to encourage one another along the way. (Hebrews 10:25)

If we are to participate in the ministry of encouragement, we must have a clear, constant and compassionate confession of faith in Christ. Not only in the first instance, but every day of our life as we walk our weary way through this wicked world of woe. This confession is based upon the Word of God which never changes and upon Jesus Christ who is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Then we are called to consider how to inspire, stimulate and encourage our brothers and sisters to love and good works. As we gather together we are to consider how we can live Christ-like lives and encourage and embolden others to do the same. If we are to fulfil this ministry of encouragement, we must avoid one obvious pitfall at all costs. We must not forsake the assembling of ourselves together. It is clear that forsaking the assembly and the ministry of encouragement are diametrically opposed.

The Greek word for encouragement indicates very close involvement in the life of others. It derives from two words, para (alongside) and kaleo (to call). It is clear that those who are called to the ministry of encouragement are called to walk alongside their brothers and sisters. It is significant when our Savior told us that He would send the Holy Spirit to walk alongside us and help, guide and encourage us in our walk with Him, He used a form of the same word (paraclete) (See John 14:26, 16:7) There is no ministry that yokes us more closely with Christ nor links us more intimately with the work of the Holy Spirit than the ministry of encouragement. Through our encouragement of others we are sharing this uplifting ministry of the Holy Spirit.

An encourager of necessity then becomes one who walks alongside us and helps us along the road of our daily walk with Christ. Just how can this help be most effectively given? It may be good to note that our English word for encourage comes from an Old French word that means "to put courage into - to embolden." A dictionary says it means "to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope: to hearten, to spur on, to stimulate etc." How can an encourager affirm others  in this manner? Sometimes God can use just a smile, a touch or a listening ear or a few simple words to lift, inspire and encourage those around us. God had the wise man to pen this principle in a beautiful poetic thought that should be heeded by those who wish to be God's encouragers. "A word fitly spoken [is like] apples of gold in pictures of silver." ({Prov. 25:11) 

                                                             Only A Word

Only a word of anger, but it wounded one sensitive heart;

Only a word of sharp reproach, but it made the teardrops start,

Only a hasty, thoughtless word, sarcastic and unkind,

But it darkened the day before so bright, and left a sting behind.

Only a word of kindness, but it lightened one heart of its grief;

Only a word of gentle cheer, but it flooded with radiant light,

The pathway that seemed so dark before, and it made the day more bright."

The Christian Work Ethic

As a young lad I had the special experience of following a horse drawn plough as the land was being carefully prepared for planting and cultivation. There is hardly a thing that is more pleasant to my mind than those memories of long ago. In my mind’s eye I can feel once more the pleasant coolness of the rich damp soil against my bare feet on a hot and humid afternoon. The earthy and pungent odour of new turned soil again fills the air around me. In the quietness of my memory I can still hear the sound of the breaking plough ripping its way through the fallow ground, leaving in its wake a squirming trail of worms, grubs and insects, and the occasional nest of field mice struggling for survival.

The sights and sounds of spring overwhelm me with a nostalgic yearning to set my hand firmly to the plough once more and yell out, “Giddap,” to the team for just one more turn around the field. But the memory of row upon row of shiny sod cleaved by the sharp plough also reminds me of sweating from sunrise to sunset under the glare of a blazing hot sun. I can also feel the pain of muscles strained wrestling with a heavy turning plough.

As the long afternoon of struggle wears on, I can feel once again a bone-weariness, giving way to an almost irresistible desire to lay aside my assigned task and make my way to the old swimming hole to frolic in its cold depths with the neighbourhood boys.

It was in such a rural setting that I learned my first lessons of discipline. The discipline imposed by my desire to hear my parents say, “Well done!” The discipline required if I were ever to know the self-satisfying sight of a field well ploughed, planted, cultivated and harvested. What a great blessing parents impart to their children when they give them such a gift of a disciplined work ethic!

Jesus implies discipleship may be viewed as an expression of such discipline in the spiritual realm. The need for a serious and disciplined attitude and approach to the work of God has never been more apparent. It seems increasingly difficult to find people of God who are willing to carry His work on to an ultimate productive and fruitful conclusion.

It seems many would much rather be frolicking with friends of the world in the cool pool of the pleasures of this world, than toiling as yoke fellows with Christ and fellow-labourers in the hot sun of the field of spiritual endeavour. There is no doubt about the nature of our field of spiritual labour . Jesus commanded us to pray that the Lord would send labourers into the field of lost souls.

We know what is involved in preparing the ground to plant the good seed. We know it is necessary to break up our fallow spiritual ground. We know a bit about the cultivation and watering often necessary to bring forth the harvest. We know we need to go forth with weeping, bearing the precious seed of the Word of God. We know the promise of the harvest to those who will really lift up their eyes to the possibilities involved in witnessing and soul winning.

We know the law of sowing and reaping applies to the spiritual as well as the physical world and that our Lord has promised that we will reap in due season, if we faint not. If we would be His disciple, we but need to keep on keeping on for  the glory of God!

The Power Of Three Little Words

 Some of the most significant messages people deliver to one another often come in just three words. When spoken or conveyed, those statements have the power to forge new friendships, deepen old ones and restore relationships that have cooled.  The following three word phrases can enrich every 

relationship:

I'LL BE THERE - Being there for another person is the greatest gift we can give. When we are truly present for other people, important things happen to them and to us. We are renewed in love and friendship. We are restored emotionally and spiritually. 'Being there' is at the very, very core of civility.

I MISS YOU - Perhaps more marriages could be salvaged and strengthened if couples simply and sincerely said to each other, "I miss you." This powerful affirmation tells partners they are wanted, needed, desired and loved.

I RESPECT YOU - Respect is another way of showing love. Respect conveys the feeling that another person is a true equal. It is a powerful way to affirm the importance of a relationship.

MAYBE YOU'RE RIGHT - This phrase is highly effective in diffusing an argument and restoring frayed emotions. The flip side of "maybe you're right" is the humility of admitting "maybe I'm wrong."

PLEASE FORGIVE ME - Many broken relationships could be restored and healed if people would admit their mistakes and ask for forgiveness. All of us are vulnerable to faults, foibles and failures. A man should never be ashamed to own up to he has been in the wrong, which is by saying, in other words, that he is wiser today than he was yesterday.

 I THANK YOU - Gratitude is an exquisite form of courtesy. People who enjoy the companionship of good, close friends are those who don't take daily courtesies for granted. They are quick to thank their friends for their many expressions of kindness. On the other hand, people whose circle of friends is severely constricted often do not have the attitude of gratitude.

COUNT ON ME - "A friend is one who walks in when others walk out." "Loyalty is an essential ingredient for true friendship; it is the emotional glue that bonds people. Those who are rich in their relationships tend to be steady and true friends. When troubles come, a good friend is there, 

indicating "you can count on me."

 LET ME HELP - The best of friends see a need and try to fill it. When they 

spot a hurt they do what they can to heal it. Without being asked, they 

pitch in and help.

I UNDERSTAND YOU - People become closer and enjoy each other more if they feel the other person accepts and understands them. Letting others know in so many little ways that you understand him or her is one of the most powerful tools for healing your relationship.

GO FOR IT - Some of your friends may be nonconformists, have unique projects and unusual hobbies. Support them in pursuing their interests. Rather than urging your loved ones to conform, encourage their uniqueness - everyone has dreams that no one else has.

I suppose the 3 little words that you were expecting to see have to be reserved for those who are special; that is I LOVE YOU.

- Author Unknown

Standing For Truth

When we examine the letters Paul writes we find  he places a very strong emphasis upon the need for always standing for the whole truth of God’s Word. This is consistent with all his writings. In every place he strongly condemns false teachers and false teaching and sincerely commends the proclamation of truth. He often speaks of the singularity of real truth. He tells the church at Galatia that there is just one true gospel and all others are patently false. He informs the church at Ephesus that he has given them the word of truth in love. He summarizes that truth by saying there is just one faith, one Lord and one baptism. He makes it clear to young Timothy that the Lord’s churches are to the pillar and ground of this one truth. He emphasized to the church at Corinth that he could do nothing against the truth.

Christ set this standard for truth when He said, “I am the truth..”. He also said that those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth. He correctly claims that only this truth can set man truly free. He promised his followers in every age that the Spirit of truth would walk with them and He prayed to the Father that they would be sanctified in the truth of His Word.

It is little wonder then that when the Holy Spirit gave us the Word He had Paul and other writers to urge us to always stand for the truth. Jude tells us that we should always contend for this truth (faith) as it was once delivered unto the saints. James cautions against lying against this truth. Peter tells us that we should be firmly established in the truth. John tells the little children of God that they should walk in the truth.

This truth has served God’s people and the cultures and nations in which they have lived well in centuries past. We who live in nations blessed by a Christian history and heritage have much for which we should thank God. We have a faith that is powerful and unique to the Judeo-Christian culture. The truth of that faith is the foundation upon which our free and democratic institutions are based. It is vital that we keep standing for that truth.  It is even more important that we who are blessed to be personally and spiritually resting upon the real Foundation Stone, Jesus Christ, fully understand and deeply treasure our faith and be always ready to not only contend for it, but share it with others also. This is especially true of those of us who have all the blessings related to being His peculiar people, purchased by his precious blood and placed into one of His churches as a place of rendering acceptable service and giving glory unto God. (Eph. 3:21) Our motto spiritual motto should be, “Always ready.” We should always be ready not only to stand for the truth but to share it with those who are shackled by sin. The Truth can make them free indeed!

Remove Not The Landmarks

Man is obsessed with spiritual innovation. Doing things God's way seems to be one of his greatest problems.  He constantly seems to be trying to re-invent the spiritual wheel.  Any way, but God's way, seems to be the best way, as far as man is concerned.  He seems to want to row his own canoe upstream against the will of God.  He doesn't hesitate to seize the initiative at every opportunity and try to become the master of his own fate and captain of his own soul.

The scriptures are replete with examples of those who have gone down this  road of rebellion to their own sorrow and destruction.  Nadab and Abihu, two priests of the Mosaic order,  offered strange fire before the altar of the Lord and were consumed by it.  As far as we can ascertain, their innovative attempt at fire making was not based upon any lack of the proper combustibles, but upon their insistence upon doing things their  own way. Uzzah, a servant anxious to please King David,  was the sort of fellow most would admire.  He saw a potentially great disaster developing right before his eyes and heroically leapt into the breach. He  reached up to steady the God's Ark of the Covenant as it tottered on the jolting ox cart, risking being crushed or run over,  but the culmination of his noble effort came when he fell  dead upon the ground.  Simply because he didn't do it God's way.  No man was permitted to touch the Ark of God no matter what the provocation.

I read of a demolition firm doing  a grand job demolishing a building worth tens of thousands of dollars.  There was just one problem.  In spite of their sincerity and dedication to the task, they had the wrong address. I read of home owner who in a moment of panic grabbed a can he assumed was filled with water and dashed it upon a small fire that was threatening to destroy his home.  Undoubtedly he was very sincere in his effort and had nothing but the best of intent.  But there was just one problem.  Someone had filled the can with petrol.

Man is much like that.  He is often sincere and dedicated in his attempts to please God.  But he does not feel it important to do it God's way.   God has said, "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof is the ways of death."   Jesus spoke of man's broad way versus God's narrow way and the tendency of the masses to go down the broad way to destruction.  Paul emphasised the necessity of God's people doing everything strictly according to the pattern given by God.  Moses and then Solomon cautioned against moving the landmarks of faith that God has set in the land. 

Many times it would be  better to do nothing at all than to fail to do things God's way. But neither error is necessary.  God has settled His Word in the heavens forever and Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.  It is a lamp to the path of a Christian to show him the right way in the world today.  "Remove not the old landmarks..your fathers have set."  Proverbs 23:10

Why Worry?

Our modern day English word worry comes from an Old English word wyrgan, that means "to choke," or "strangle." How clearly descriptive of the essence of worry! Worry not only chokes people up at times and even leads some to a panic attack, but it can also strangle our thoughts and our actions. It can choke out the positive beauty of our surroundings. We can become so absorbed in futile worry that we never seem to take the time to stop and smell the roses along life's way.

It would seem people today share some of the same attitudes of those whom Jesus addressed in His sermon on the mountain. After all, is it not important to be concerned about essentials such as food and clothing? Can we not clothe our worry in acceptability by saying, "After all, I'm not worrying about or coveting luxurious and extravagant things. I'm just concerned about my basic needs and the daily welfare of my family."

But this is exactly what Jesus says we cannot do. Such worry reflects a daily distrust of God. Such illogical rationalisation is reflected in the story about two men who were discussing their relationship with their wives. One asserted loudly that he was the head of his house, carried all the important concerns upon his own shoulders and made all the major decisions. When asked to explain he said, "I am the one who is concerned about world and national affairs. I am the one who worries about inflation and recession and other major economic matters. My wife takes care of the relatively unimportant concerns and decisions such as buying a house or car. She decides about the school our children attend and small things like that.

Remember the history of Israel wandering in the wilderness? How He fed them with the miracles of the manna and then the quail? God would only give them a limited supplies of food and water. The reason is obvious He wanted them to glorify Him by trusting Him implicitly and absolutely for their daily provisions. They were not to worry. When they did so, the result was ungrateful murmuring and complaining that ultimately led to the loving, but severe, chastening hand of God falling upon them.

I heard once of a rich man who was known to be a chronic worrier. He finally came to recognise just how futile and destructive his worry habit could be. He advertised in the local paper for someone to do his worrying for him. He told the man his major concerns and worries. He then assigned him the task of worrying about these things each night. He rationalised that he then could get a good sound night's sleep. The man went to his assigned place and, sitting at his desk, began to worry. Just after midnight he heard his employer creep into the room. He asked him, "What are you doing here?" The chronic worrier replied, "I couldn't sleep. I was worried that you were not really worrying about my worries!"

Learning Patience

Were you ever told by your parent, “Be patient!”? Or did you ever say the same thing to our children? It’s much easier said than done. I well remember being counselled to be patient as I anxiously awaited the coming of Christmas, annual school holidays or some other long anticipated joy. But even more memorable was waiting for a cast to be removed from a broken limb or a bandage from an injury. Even at the earliest age many of us learned the truth of James’ statement, “tribulation works patience!”

At times like these we get an inkling of the patience of Job and how he acquired it. A patient once asked a doctor as he lay immobilised by a very serious accident, “Doctor, how long will I have to lie here?” The doctor answered, “Only one day at a time!”

Learning Patience Sometimes Requires Us To Go Through The School Of Hard Knocks, Then The College Of Crisis In Order To Graduate From The University Of Adversity!

What a lesson. Isn’t it tremendous that sufficient for each day is God’s provision of grace? When we are worried and anxious about the long term, God ministers in the short term, providing grace and endurance for every moment. Patience is a very practical requirement for those who would serve the Lord. How often we encounter problems that no amount of human energy or ingenuity can solve. How frequently we face apparent failures that no amount of knowledge or human wisdom can fix.It may be a relative or a friend we wish to see come to the Lord. When we run up against the stubbornness of self-will, no amount of personal burden, desire, or cleverness on our part, will bring them one millimetre closer to salvation. The time comes when we must concede that only faith, prayer and patience can be brought to bear in the situation.

It may be a relationship conflict in life. Again, a situation in which another’s will is involved. A time when we must ultimate concede that no matter what we do we cannot change another person. We can only allow God to change us and our response to the problem or other person as we submit ourselves to His Holy Spirit working in our lives. If the other party is to be changed, it will have to be the Holy Spirit using us to help them or working directly in their life to bring about the desired changes in attitudes and outlooks and responses. The time comes when we can but rest in the promises of the Lord and lean upon His strong arm to uphold us in the day of our testing and trouble.

It may be a personal trial or thorn in the flesh. A problem or condition that is just beyond our human capacity to cope. A time when we, as Paul, must turn to Him and listen to His voice and accept his promise of sufficient grace. It is then in our resultant infirmity that we may learn patience to keep going on for the Lord.

Yes, we all learned at an early age that patience is related to waiting. Waiting is the common element. For the Christian the critical concern is not just waiting, but how we wait and what waiting works in us. The prophet Isaiah says to those who have exhausted their patience in the work of the Lord, “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength: they shall mount up with wings as eagles: they shall run and not be weary: and they shall walk and not faint.”

Soaring As The Eagle!

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles;..."  (Isaiah 40:30-3

"In 1976 I was privileged to spend a number of weeks in the Solomon Islands with Missionary Neil Morely. We were ministering to and teaching groups of indigenous pastors. It was necessary to fly from one island to another. We were blessed to have Missionary Aviation Fellowship flights available. I will never forget a flight back from a remote village on the Island of Malaita to the main town of Honiara. A storm arose just as we were preparing to take off in the sea plane. The pilot was obviously quite concerned. He would have to fly over a mountain range.

He told us he had no choice because there was a medical emergency. As we headed out, directly into the storm, the clouds became very dark and ascended high into the heavens. It was clear the pilot was praying as hard as we were. Just before we met the storm he said, “Pray with me. I’m going to run into the storm front. If we are blessed, the leading edge up-draft will lift us above the storm and over the mountain!” Our prayers were answered. At just the critical moment the wind caught us and tossed us upward like an autumn leaf for what seemed like a thousand feet or so. You can hardly imagine the prayer of gratitude that flowed for from the heart of His dear little child that day! When I think of our God’s promise that we can mount up with wings as eagles I always think of that awesome and powerful experience."

The Flight of the Christian Eagle

Isa. 40:28-31 “Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, [that] the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? [there is] no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to [them that have] no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint.”

In this world of woe there are so many factors that can drag us down and make us basement dwellers. Family, friends, work mates, situations and circumstances beyond our personal control or remedy, all sometimes work independently or collectively to bring us low and bind and incapacitate us.

But God tells us in all circumstance we can “ . . . mount up with wings as eagles;” Those who trust  and depend upon the Lord can break the shackles of despair that bind them and soar free from the miserable moods that plague them. God has made marvellous provision for our escape. The eagle has always been a noble symbol of strength and a greatness. God uses this beautiful and majestic bird to show us the way of triumph over discouragement and despair.

Those that truly depend upon the Lord need never become dependent upon chemical solutions for their problems. My experience indicates that many addicts begin their down hill journey by attempting to deal with or drown the effects of ordinary daily irritations and afflictions with alcohol or drugs.

Once  I was assisting  my grandson in some homework in biology. He was studying birds and their different types of wings. I found it fascinating that God made different types of birds with radically different sorts of wings designed to fit their particular needs and environment. The eagle is a soaring bird. His wings are aerodynamically designed for soaring. The eagle loves storms and winds that would be considered adverse and destructive by the ordinary bird. He simply effortlessly spreads his wings and catches the up-drafts and peacefully soars far above the buffeting winds without even having to flap his wings.

What a beautiful analogy God gives us in this simple simile! We have the unlimited power of the Holy Wind (hagios pneuma) of God to lift us above the terrible twin peaks of discouragement and despair. All we have to do is to spread our wings of faith amidst the raging winds and storms of life and we will be borne freely into the heights of the wonderful calm of His presence and peace.

Freedom’s Price?

On this weekend as Americans honour those who paid the supreme price for their freedoms, it is appropriate to remember that freedom never comes cheaply. Perhaps we should remember some of the immortal words spoken by patriots on the subject.

One said, “Give me liberty, or give me death” Another said, “The price of liberty is eternal vigilance.” Someone else stated. “It is better to die a free man on your feet, than to live as a slave on your knees.” Mann said, “No man escapes when freedom fails, the best men rot in filthy jails, and those who cried, ‘Appease! Appease!’ are killed by those they tried to please.”

I read a time back that over 200,000 Christian clergymen were killed for their faith in the former Soviet Union between 1917 and 1988. In addition, tens of millions of simple Christians died during this era as well. Let us never forget our forefathers who paid the ultimate price that we might be free of such religious repression and persecution. Let us also remember there is a continuing price to be paid in each generation if these precious freedoms purchased at such a high price are to be maintained and passed on.

But there is another sort of freedom that is even more precious and costly. It is the freedom our Savior spoke of when He said, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free - If the Son makes you free, you are free indeed.” The price of this freedom has already been paid. It was purchased by the Father and Son at the most terrible cost. The ultimate sacrifice  made by the Father and Son to procure our spiritual freedom is beyond the comprehension of the mortal mind. Yet, this incomprehensible freedom is offered to mankind absolutely free. Paul said: “For the wages of sin is death, but the GIFT of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

The spiritual freedom God offers to those who will repent and believe upon His Son is more than momentary and historical. It is eternal. When we are born again of His Spirit and become new creatures in Christ Jesus, we are justified by faith.

We are saved from:

The penalty of sin

The power of sin

The presence of sin

We are given eternal freedom from sin. We are immediately saved from the penalty of sin. Daily we are being freed from the power of sin in our lives. When we are ushered into His presence eternally, we will be freed forever from the very presence of sin!

What does such spiritual liberty mean in a practical sense? God enjoined His Old Testament people to, “Proclaim liberty throughout the land.” Paul said to God’s New Testament people, “Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free...” And, “For brethren, ye have been called too liberty; only use not that liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.”

SIGNS OF THE TIMES

What has happened to our society? Why the great cry for conformity? We see the symptoms on every hand. We are caught up in a great rush for revolution, just for the sake of revolution. Change for the sake of change.  A time when political correctness is demanded of all who would participate in public discourse.  It sometimes reaches the proportions of the ridiculous.

It is reported that an old college grad. returned for a nostalgic visit to the Halls of Ivy. As he talked over old times with an old professor he noted a copy of an exam on the desk and was astonished to observe that it was the same final he had taken years before. He ventured to ask, "How could this be?" "How do you get by without changing the questions? It would seem that all the students would soon have the right answers from previous graduates." "Oh", replied the Professor, "We never change the questions." "We just change the answers!"

Today we are surrounded by a whole host of answer changers. But why not be a square? Why not defy the consensus if it is not a reflection of truth? Is the majority always right? A democracy (or mobocracy, the two are sometimes synonymous) crucified Jesus. The majority danced around the golden calf. The majority bowed down and worshipped the king in Daniel's day.  The majority also worshipped Baal in the days of Elijah.  Are we to assume that the so-called great religions of the world are valid just because of the masses who claim allegiance to them?

Oh, for those who dare to be a square on the issues and crises of our day! Contrary to popular ideas of our time, uniformity for sake of conformity is no more a desirable goal than multiformity for the sake of diversity. What suits one person doesn't necessarily suit another. The mountain and the squirrel need not quarrel. If the little rodent cannot carry a forest on its back, neither can the mountain crack a nut.  Who, but a certain group of liberal social engineers, would want all the shrubs and saplings of the earth suddenly to become towering Huon Pines? Multiformity is a law of nature and of nature's God.

But we are in an age when it costs to raise your head above the crowd. When the herd or its leaders may well turn and rend a dissenter with the horns of mob discipline. This is illustrated when a man in a Scandinavian country was deported from his homeland because he insisted on building his house just a little taller, two feet to be exact, than his neighbours. We have it in our country also. Have you ever noticed the "late risers" in informal business meetings? How many will look around to see how the question is going before taking their stand? Or have you ever noticed those who boast of voting the "winning ticket." When we all know the only winning ticket is the right ticket? -  Pastor John White

CAREFUL WHILE TREADING THE FINE LINE BETWEEN COMMENDABLE CAUTION AND COMPLETE COMMITTAL - THE COMMITTED MAY TAKE YOUR CAUTION FOR COWARDICE!

What Is Salvation?

It should seem simple enough to say salvation means to be saved. But sometimes it doesn't seem all that simple. In our day it seems that the most basic Biblical terms and concepts are considered archaic and unacceptable. It is out of fashion to talk about being lost, even in many so-called Christian circles. To speak of such vital Biblical concepts as being saved, converted or born again, is considered inappropriate and even offensive by many in our day of apostasy. One of the most well known television preachers of our era, virtually refuses to use the word sin and prefers to refer to man's sinful condition as a loss of self esteem. Instead of being saved, a man is said to need to discover his self-worth.  Such people speak of old-fashioned Christian jargon as negative and counter productive and advocate a complete revamp of the Christian vocabulary.

Those who believe that the Word of God is inspired and absolute authoritative on matters of the soul and spirit, view the situation from God's perspective and give no credence to such contemporary man made nonsense. Statements of Jesus, such as, "The Son of man has come to seek and save those who are lost," or, "Ye must be born again," carry much more weight than the sayings of those who are obviously pandering to the popular press and people with itching ears.

So what does the Bible say about our great salvation? Salvation is a real experience: an actual happening, occurrence and encounter, a sudden, specific, spontaneous, and often traumatic event that occurs in time and space. The simplicity and clarity of the word pictures used by Jesus is intentional. To illustrate the nature of salvation, He spoke of concrete items such as a lost sheep, coin or prodigal, being found, saved, and fully restored to a safe environment and relationship.

The same people who question the validity of such terms and concepts as spiritual salvation, seem to have no difficulty in comprehending what it means for a drowning man, carried out beyond his depth by a surging rip tide, to be saved and snatched from the jaws of death by a heroic life saver. When a frantic woman is plucked at the last moment from a burning roof by a brave fireman, no one seems question that her life was saved. When, against all odds, a little boy lost in the bush, is finally rescued by a brave and exhausted band of volunteers, everyone assumes his salvation is real.

The experience and encounter of salvation are inward but the expression is outward. The expression of our salvation is to be worked out with fear and trembling. Baptism is ordained as the first outward expression of an inward possession. When Paul says that after we are saved by grace through faith that God has ordained that we should walk in good works, I am sure he is referring to all the good and productive things a child of God should focus his life upon after salvation. These things express salvation to a sceptical and unbelieving world.

Simple Salvation

Man often complicates the simplest matters. He manages to muddle the mundane into a myriad of galactic proportions. In human affairs man is hopelessly complicated. A simple political assassination will precipitate a World War. A border dispute becomes the occasion for super power confrontation. One high flying plane torpedoes hopes for detente'. Religious fratricide erupts into a conflict that confounds all efforts for peace. A handful of sheiks hold the whole world for economic ransom. A sad little burglary shames and shatters the confidence of a mighty nation.

Around the world the man in the street often feels that if he could for a moment face his counterpart across a table they could cut through all the red tape and penetrate the smoke screen of officialdom and work it all out. It seems just that simple.

But man as an individual seems to possess the same penchant to perpetually muddle his own affairs. The ever increasing incidence of murder, mayhem, suicide, divorce, delinquency, political deceit and perversity, and other variants in the catalogue of sin, amply confirm man's ineptness to manage his own affairs.,

It's the same old problem. Man is a do it yourself creature. Philosophically this is best illustrated by his failure to come to grips with is most pressing problem. That problem is sin. He will not accept outside help. God has provided the solution, but man insists on doing his own thing. He will submit to any form or ritual, modern or pianistic, in order to save himself. He will burn himself on a street corner, throw a baby to the crocodiles, be christened, learn a catechism, join a church, burn some candles, be baptised, go into a trance, or invent one thousand and one different ways to bring himself to God. Just as long as he can do it himself. This is so sad because this is the only way he cannot be saved. He cannot because as he tries to save himself, he will not allow God to save him. He complicates the simple way of salvation found in God's Word.

The whole story of man's problem and God's solution is so simply told in the Bible that even a child can understand. (Matthew 18:3) We prove we are sinners each day of our life, over and over again. It is only logical that a sinner cannot eradicate his own sin. After all, can a leopard change his spots? God's solution to our problem is simply that His sinless Son died for our sins. (John 3:16) Based upon this simple fact, all we have to do is repent of our sins and in simple faith believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ. We just ask God to save us and take our sins away. When we do this, God provides the gift of' everlasting life. (Romans 6:23, 10:13)

JESUS SAYS SALVATION IS AS SIMPLE as opening a door. (Rev. 3:20) When someone is at the door we don't spend hours speculating about the caller's identity. We just open the door quietly and confidently and without fanfare. With a minimum of fuss. That's faith. Salvation is that simple.

JESUS SAYS SALVATION IS AS SIMPLE as a. thirsty man drinking water. (Rev. 22:17) When a man is dying of thirst he doesn't pause to investigate the molecular composition of H20. He's not interested in the details. He doesn't ask questions. He just drinks freely and without reservation. That's faith. Salvation is that simple.

JESUS SAYS SALVATION IS AS SIMPLE as receiving a gift. (Romans 6:23) A gift is offered and we reach out and take it. With no questions asked or strings attached. That is faith. Salvation is just that simple and easy. Why not open the door of your own heart by faith and receive the one gift above all others, eternal life. Those who do find their spiritual thirst eternally quenched.. IT'S JUST THAT SIMPLE.

We Can Trust The Timing Of God's Providence

There are many examples of the providence of God’s time in the Bible. Just imagine for a moment you are an impartial observer watching a ram wandering aimlessly in a wilderness. As you look on, the careless ram catches his horns in a thick bush. Naturally the frustrated ram struggles desperately to free himself, but to no avail. What possible eternal significance could such an ordinary and mundane happening have?

But then you hear a noise and turn to see a terrifying scene. A young lad lying trussed up atop a pile of wood upon a crude stone altar. He lies quietly and calmly awaiting his fate. Standing over him is the towering figure of his father with his sacrificial knife poised to make the fatal thrust! Just as you are about to cry out in horror, you hear an angelic voice calling out to the man; bringing his attention to the struggling ram. You know the rest of the story. The exquisite providential timing of God provides the sacrifice at just the moment it was needed. Not a moment too soon nor a second too late.

Just imagine for a moment a lowly and insignificant donkey wandering around in a wild and arid land. All at once a lion lurking behind a bush leaps; giving out a mighty roar he pounces upon his helpless and hapless victim. Later, the vultures come and pick the bones clean. Days and months pass. The bones are washed clean by rains and bleached and hardened by the hot sun. Then one day a mighty man of God finds himself surrounded and hopelessly outnumbered by an army of a fierce warrior race. In that moment of looming death and disaster, he desperately glances around for some weapon to fend off his enemies. The tough and weathered bones of the donkey immediately catch his eye. He runs toward his enemy; sweeping up the jawbone of the donkey. The Spirit of the Lord is upon him as he slays one thousand of God’s enemies. Again, the delicate providential timing of God provides the right weapon, in the right place at the right time!

Then there’s cache of small stones laid down by the creative hand of God and worn smooth by the flowing waters of a beautiful brook. In the heat of a mighty contest, a young shepherd lad thrusts his hand into the cool water and his strong fingers close around five smooth stones. Just the crude ammunition he needs to slay a ferocious giant who has been defying God and his people. Someone has said he had four stones left over for the giant’s brothers as well!

We could speak further of another small donkey standing ready to bear real royalty into a city one joyous and triumphant day. We could also recall the momentous day a Roman soldier went out and felled a tree that would become a rugged, cruel cross.

Are any of these accidents? Or are they reassuring examples of the tremendous providence of God given to us in the Word of God to reassure us that we can trust the timing of God?

In my childhood, baking day was always a day we looked forward to; especially the Christmas baking days. In a large rural family, it would not be unusual to have at least a dozen different cakes and pies prepared and ready for the holiday season. My mouth still waters at the thought. Hanging out in the kitchen as much as I could, I soon became aware of the various ingredients going into the different sorts of cakes and pies. A few of these were sweet and pleasing to the taste, but a number of the ingredients, when tasted alone, were too salty, sour, dry, tart, bitter or tasteless to please the palate.

But a minor miracle inevitably occurred. My Mom would mix all these single unsavoury ingredients, stir them together for just the right amount of time, place them in a greased pan, heat them at the right temperature for the right amount of time. And presto! A beautiful and tasty cake would emerge.

Many of the ingredients of the Christian life, when experienced alone, sometimes seem too salty, sour, bitter or tasteless. But let the Master baker mix these together in the right combination over a period or time and bake them in the oven of His everlasting love. He promises that a beautiful conclusion will inevitably come to pass. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.” (Ro. 8:28)

A Brighter Day

(See the 21st Chapter  of Revelation)

As we are now well into the twenty-first century, we can but look back and marvel at the technological changes that marked the twentieth century. The century saw the invention and development of many of the processes and products that have revolutionised man’s existence. I have been blessed to personally witness many of these changes.

We have gone from the horse and buggy to jet liners and space travel. Man has travelled to the moon more quickly than he previously travelled across a continent. The computer has replaced the slide rule. The internet and information highway have turned the whole world into a global village. Television has transformed civilisation, and not necessarily for the better.

With all these "improvements," it would seem that we should be able to say that man stands on the doorstep of a bigger, better and brighter future. Surely we have reason to be optimistic. Could we be entering a new millennium of hope and peace?

But if we look around us and make a reality check, we must ask ourselves, what does man have to look forward to in the future? Environmentalists, demographers, sociologists, economists, geo-politicians and military analysts, all speak of the possibility of a future filled with environmental disasters, population pressures, social and economic breakdown and regional wars and strife and terrorism on an unimaginable and unprecedented scale.

Who can deny that every indicator one might use to measure man’s real prospects of achieving true peace, happiness and success in the future seems to give a negative reading?   All this might make one think of the statement of an English realist who said, "In the long run, we will all be dead." Or the statement of the French scientist, Pierre Berchelt, who said in 1860, "Within a hundred years man will know what the atom is. It is my belief that when science reaches this stage God will come down to earth with His big ring of keys and will say to humanity, "Gentlemen, it’s closing time:" Or the response of the lad who was asked what he hoped to be in twenty years. He simply replied, "Alive.!"

It’s Our

Happy Hope

That Makes All

The Difference

I am sure that in the midst of all this it is fair to say that hope springs eternal in the human heart. So let us speak of hope. A real and happy hope. A hope that makes the difference. Of course, man’s only hope lies in a future created and shaped by God. This hope will find its ultimate fulfilment in that city whose builder and maker is God. A prepared place for a prepared people. A place populated by those who have escaped the surly and sinful bonds of this earth and soared to a city where sin no longer abounds nor harms or hurts have their sway.

Where death and disaster no longer damage and destroy the dreams and delights of even the most hopeful. Where the tears of terrible trials and traumas will be turned to tears of tremendous joy and triumph. Where the darkness of wickedness and evil will be forever vanquished; because such can no longer exist in the city that is Lighted by the eternal Son. This hope of a brighter tomorrow brings light in the shadows and darkness of today’s world.

A Mothers Day Tribute To My Wife And Others Like Her

There is one person in your church who knows your preacher’s life.

She’s wept and smiled and prayed for him, and that is your preacher’s wife.

She knows your prophet’s weakest point and knows his greatest power.

She’s heard him speak in trumpet tone, in his greatest triumph hour.

She’s heard him groaning in his soul when bitter raged the strife.

As hand in hand she knelt with him— for she’s your preacher’s wife.

The crowd has seen him in his strength when glistening his drawn sword.

As underneath God’s banner folds he faced the devil’s horde.

But she knows deep within her heart that scarce an hour before.

She helped him pray for strength from God behind a closed door

You tell your tales of prophets brave, who walked across the world,

And changed the course of history by burning words they hurled,

And I will tell how back of them some women lived their lives,

Who wept with them and smiled with them—they were the preacher’s wives.

- Author Unknown

God Bless Australia

The Psalmist said, “Blessed [is] the nation whose God [is] the LORD... " 

Do these words of the Psalmist still hold true for nations such as Australia in our day? As we celebrate Anzac Day, it would be good to stop for a moment and take stock of the blessings of freedom and to remember the sacrifices of those who purchased these with their blood. We who have attended the dawn services and marched in the parades with our fellow returned service men, have watched the faltering steps of those honoured men who have served the country in many conflicts. We have seen the tears fall freely upon the cheeks of stooped and greying men, as they have wept openly for their fallen comrades in arms. We have heard again and again the poignant words, “Lest we forget,” issue as heart-rending prayers from the lips of those who hold the memory of the fallen so dear. We have stood trembling in the half-light and heard the mournful notes of the last post; played in remembrance of those who lie in graves on such faraway fields as Gallipoli and the Owen Stanley ranges. Such observances should move us to once again thank God for those who have gone before us. As we count the blessings of freedom they have bequeathed us, we should surely say and pray, “God Bless Australia.”

God has richly blessed Australia. There are no concentration camps in Australia. People are not executed for seeking to flee our land.There are no dreaded knocks in the middle of the night. There are no mass graves filled with the bodies or those who have been killed by despotic dictators and godless regimes. Every person in our nation has a free voice and a free vote.

In governmental matters, the voice of the people can reflect the way and will of God. We have freedom of religion and speech. I can still say just about anything I wish from the pulpit. There is yet no law that can muzzle me. I can tell you the truth about anything from our Premier to the Prime Minister.

Mark Twain once said, “…a Christian’s first duty is to God. It then follows, as a matter of course, that it is his duty to carry his Christian code of morals to the polls and vote them. … If the Christians .... could be persuaded to vote God and a clean ticket, it would bring about a moral revolution that would be incalculably beneficent. It would save the country — a country whose Christians have betrayed it and are destroying it...Christianity...is on trial now. And nothing important is on trial except Christianity.” He said this a century and one-half ago. How much greater are the weight of his words today!

Henry Blackaby wrote in Fresh Encounter: “Christians should not be surprised by the spiritual darkness around us. That is all it can be. Darkness is dark. The greater problem is not with the darkness. The problem is with the light. When light shines, it dispels darkness. We face a growing spiritual  darkness in our land because the light is not shining brightly.”

On this Anzac Day, let us praise God for His past blessings upon our nation and pray He will continue to bless us. But at the same time let us remember that if we are to expect His continuing blessings upon our nation, we must recognise our need for Him in our national life today. We must be willing to meet His conditions for such continuing national blessings. Conditions that are made crystal clear in His word: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (II Chronicles 7:14)

What Our Nation Needs Now

On this Anzac Day weekend we remember in particular those who were willing to make the supreme sacrifice for God and country. It is true that many who paid the ultimate price did it for their mates and their kin folk at home in Australia. But we not only remember those brave men who laid it on the line 100 years ago, but we pay tribute to all who have willingly done so in subsequent just wars and conflicts. It may be well to remember that as far as the grand scheme of things is concerned, Australia’s contribution and participation numerically has not been at the top of the list. But no on could deny that Australia’s contribution has never been lacking in quality. Her per capita contribution has never been lacking either. Just as always has been the case, it often falls to the few to make the difference in times of great national crisis. So it is today. God has always used His two or three to stand up for the right and fight the good fight of the faith. Look at the Old Testament examples. Joseph in Egypt. Daniel and Shadrach, Meshack and Abendego down in Babylon. The remnant that would not bow their knee to Baal in Elijah’s day. David and his little sling. Gideon and his brave band of 300..

This post is also available in detail from a sermon on the sermon selection tab in the header of this page.

The Reason Why

Purpose and motive are all important in the Christian life. It's often not what we do that really matters the most, but why we do what we do. We are to do right simply because it is right. Not for recognition, reward, fame or fortune, nor for personal or material gain. When we all get to heaven we will ultimately and intricately come to know the answers to all life's problems and perplexities and then, with the mind of Christ, come to fully understand the real purpose of it all. Until then, we must by obedient faith accept God's assertion that we are part of His eternal purpose to redeem unto Himself eternal sons and daughters.

In the meantime, we should love Him, because He first loved us. We should serve Him, because He first served us. It is reasonable we should present our bodies as a living sacrifice in His service, because in His mercy He first gave Himself for us. We should lose our life in His service because He gave His life for us. We should crown Him King of our lives, because He has made us priests and princes. We should glorify Him in our body because He some day will give us a glorified body. We should give Him glory in our church because He has given us His glorious church.

I still clearly remember a beautiful Spring day many years ago. We were planting a new church in a new suburb and I had been out all day knocking on door after door. It was one of those days that, in spite of prayer without ceasing, sometimes makes you wonder if you are really in the right place doing the right thing. Hour after exhausting hour had passed and nothing really worthy of spiritual note had occurred. As I walked up the footpath to our home late that afternoon, if I had felt any lower I would have needed an elevator to get out the basement of discouragement and despair.

Just as I approached the front steps, my little daughter, who had been watching for me for an hour through the window, threw open the front door, ran down the steps, and, throwing her arms wide, jumped into my arms. As she did, her little hand, clutching a small crushed bunch of wild flowers, came from behind her back and she cried, " Daddy, I love you!"

After recovering, I placed her on my shoulders and galloped her around the lawn; playing her favourite game. Later, I asked her why she had given me the flowers. I thought she may have expected me to bring her some candy or a toy. Or perhaps there was some special gift she wanted. She just looked at me with her big eyes and a big childish grin; threw her arms around me again and said, "I love you. You're the best Daddy in the whole wide world!"

Our love for our Father should flow from the same fountain of childlike faith, love and gratitude. We should love, honour, worship and serve Him simply because He is!

The Mystery Of Immortality

In Paul’s resurrection chapter he brings us face to face with the shocking common denominator of all men, death. He speaks to those who have seen all earthly hope collapse and lie in shattered fragments at their feet. He encourages those who in one moment of time have had their world turned upside down to come crashing down around them.

He speaks to those who have realised that eyes that once smiled have closed, lips that once spoke have fallen into cold silence and the warm loving grasp of a vibrant hand has forever relaxed. He addresses all men who, no matter how lightly they may treat the matter or how desperately they may try to circumvent or delay the issue, must someday stand on common ground as their hearts ponder the same age-old question of the mystery of immortality.

The stark reality of man’s mortality is made evident in the life of even the most sceptical. He cannot avert his eyes from the spectre of death that overshadows his every step. He cannot silence the voice that shatters his self-imposed naivete.

The timeless question of Job of old breaks loudly into the false sanctity of his consciousness with all the force of a wailing siren:

"If a man dies,  shall he live again?"  Job 14:14

Paul and Job urge man to break out of the shell of self-deception and face the issue squarely. He implores man to come to grips with the implications of man’s mortal existence, no matter how painful the encounter with reality might be. He insists man admit the hopelessness of his dilemma, unless an answer comes from a higher source and authority.

Theirs is not a question flung as a scornful cry into the face of an unyielding fate. But rather, it is framed as an intelligent appeal, from the heart of a man of spiritual wisdom. A man who recognizes that the answer to life’s central question can only come from the one from whom life issued.

Are we, as Paul, justified in holding that in spite of death, we have a valid hope of immortality? Some scoff at such a proposition as a ridiculous paradox. Some shudder at it as a dreadful possibility. Some, not as wise as Paul, turn to history outside God’s Word and are led only to the grave and left there. Because secular history is merely mute about the matter. It neither confirms nor denies the prospect of an afterlife.

Some turn to science, but find no laboratory, apparatus or technique for analysing life or death or discovering the fate of a soul. Some rely upon philosophy and find themselves free to speculate, postulate, formulate and posit theories, but in the end find their hypotheses unreliable, for philosophy has no reliable means of testing its conclusions.

Some of us turn to the only true and reliable source, the Word of God, to find there the only authoritative and satisfying answer to man’s perpetual quest for immortality. We cherish this hope as the established answer. Our hearts vibrate within us as we contemplate Paul’s climatic cry, "O death where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be unto God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!" 

Our Blessed Hope

There rests within the breast,

Of those who wait for Him,

A fervent, burning hope for rest,

From sin in every limb.

Longing ever to be free,

From the prison of the flesh,

Through faith’s eye the empty tomb we see,

And our hearts are filled with bliss.

And echoing as we pause and listen,

The angel’s cry - "He is risen!" - John White