The Importance Of Mothers

The vital importance of motherhood needs no confirmation because the very existence of each of us and any progress we may have made toward physical or emotional maturity is a living testimony to the essential nature of motherhood. Most of us could personally attest to and endorse old sayings such as, "God couldn't be everywhere, so he gave us mothers". Or, "The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world." Or again, "Behind every great man stands a great woman." Down through the ages responsible Godly mothers have served mankind and have fulfilled God's eternal purpose for man as well.  Since all good is a gift that comes down to man from the Father in heaven, these qualities could also be described as divine qualities; especially those particular characteristics that obviously emulate the divine attributes of God.

It would seem significant that God's plan involves responsible mothers who have a primary responsibly in bringing up children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. The importance and influence of a mother's role as a primary care giver and loving guide of the children God entrusts to the home cannot be overstated. Many studies have confirmed that mothers  who take this responsibility seriously are by far the primary influence that can determine the direction of a child's life. The same studies reveal that a large percentage of this influence is exerted before the child is six years old. The mother often creates the environment and teaches the standards and values that ultimately determine a child's personality, character traits and future value judgements.

Of course, this is not recent news. Someone said long ago, "Virtues are learned at mother's knee - vices at some other joint." God inspired the wise man to say, "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it." History confirms the importance of responsible mothers in the formative years of a child. Sir Walter Scott's mother was well educated and a lover or poetry. George Washington's mother was a pure and good woman. The mother of Patrick Henry was very eloquent of speech. John and Charles Wesley's mother was intelligent, pious and full of organisational ability. Napoleon Bonaparte's mother was energetic and full of ambition. When asked what France needed most, Napoleon replied, "Godly mothers." Lord Bryon, the great infidel and agnostic poet, had a mother who was ill-tempered, proud and violent.

A mother's ministry of help includes a baby's first steps, first words, the mystery of shoe strings, and the magical world of pretend. There is a story told of a mother asking a pastor when she should begin teach her five year old about God. He replied, "Hurry home, you've lost five years already!"  

-Pastor John White

Anzac Day

Anzac Day, April 25th, is a very special day in the life and culture of the nation of Australia.   It is a day Aussies and Kiwis pause and honour those Returned Service Men and Women who have paid a price to procure and maintain the precious freedoms we all enjoy. It is also a day we are called to stop for a moment and take stock and remember the sacrifices of those who purchased such freedoms for us by making the ultimate sacrifice of their blood. It is a time we should ask ourselves, “What price are we willing to pay to maintain the liberties we hold so dear as free men and women in a free nation?”

On Anzac Day,  the younger generations will stand and watch the faltering steps in the slow parades of those honoured men who have served the country in six conflicts of the last and present centuries. They will see the tears fall freely upon the cheeks of stooped and greying men, as they weep openly for their fallen comrades in arms.

They will hear again and again the poignant words, “Lest we forget,” issue from the lips of those who hold the memory of the fallen so dear. They may stand trembling in the half-light of dawn services and hear the mournful notes of the last post; played in remembrance of those who lie in graves on such faraway fields as Gallipoli and in the Owen Stanley ranges.

In previous years  large crowds have  carried signs and placards in support of our men and women who are serving today in harms way. They have wanted to counter the misguided voices of the peace at any price pacifists who seem to feel they occupy the moral high ground. They wish to counter their illogical philosophy that freedom is cheap and it is better live on your knees as slaves to tyrants and despots than to die on your feet for freedom’s cause. This is the least we of the often silent majority feel we can do in this critical hour.

As we once again count the blessings of our freedom, it would be good to also ask for God’s blessings upon our nation. We should surely say and pray today, “God Bless Australia.” But in order to sincerely do so, we must first ask ourselves if we are willing to do our part to build or rebuild a nation that God would view as a fit recipient of His continuing blessings?

I believe principles enunciated in God’s statement to Israel on the matter still hold true today, “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)

It should be clear to any discerning Christian that our nation and our world is on the very verge of a moral and cultural collapse. As we await His return, we should continue as watchmen of the walls of freedom. As one great man once said, “The price of liberty is eternal vigilance.”

Why Easter?

The Easter Season is here again. Once again the world's focus upon symbols rather than substance continues to distract many from the real meaning of the Season. In a day of terrible tragedy and bad news, it is good to have a time we can be reminded of some really good news. A time we can remember the death He died and the sacrifice He made for our sins during that first Easter Season. A time we can recall that the good news of the resurrection of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, is still the very essence of the Christian gospel.

Easter is also a time to remember God's answer to the riddle of man's mortality. A time to reaffirm that a true and spiritually satisfying answer to man's perpetual quest for immortality can only be found at that empty tomb.

It is a time to again assert that the resurrection story is the most well documented fact of history. More than five hundred eye witnesses saw Christ alive during the forty day period following His resurrection. They were surely thrilled to have their eternal hope confirmed by His resurrection. But by faith the contemporary true believer finds the same joy in the real Easter Story - the gospel record of Christ's victory over death, hell and the grave.

He understands that through true repentance and faith he can also have eternal life. The risen Christ is the Christian's blessed hope. When we face death, the common denominator of all mortals, what other hope would suffice? Our quest for immortality joyfully ends at that empty tomb where an angel once cried, "He is not here, He is risen!"

Easter serves to remind all of us who are saved by His grace that He is our personal Living Saviour. We are once again eternally assured that because He lives we will live with Him eternally.

Easter also offers a special opportunity for anyone who has not yet truly repented of their sins and placed their absolute and utter trust in the resurrected Christ, to do so. What better time to discover the.-real joy of knowing you have eternal life in the Christ of Easter?

Pastor John White