Windows On The Soul

Over the last few years, a certain retailer has adopted furry bears as their symbol of Christmas. Despite their obvious marketing mercenary intent, Christmas is a good time to remind us of Gal.6:2 , " ...to bear one-another's burdens, and thus fulfil the law of Christ ". However, as we read further, Gal.6:5 gives an almost contradictory directive to " bear our own burdens ". As we read Paul's letters elsewhere, we discover the reason - certain Christians at that time, in anticipation of Christ's imminent return, gave up working themselves, and essentially lived off the charity of their fellow Christians. But this is not the "law of Christ" - we have no 'right' to take, but we all have the responsibility to Bear and Share . The 'socialist' says " What's yours is mine ", but the Christian says " What's mine is yours ". To the economic rationalist, the outcome might be the same in either case, but t...

Having been challenged last Sunday about seeing Jesus in the needy, it would be good to praise God for some of our quiet achievers. Thank God for:- t he bread company donations that are collected and distributed regularly by some of our ladies. the supporters of Azeline House special accommodation for girls; for financial, spiritual, moral, emotional and physical needs. the Temple Day offering, especially the ministers distribution of the Emergency Welfare Fund offering. contributors to the casserole "bank". Heathmont Inter-Church Help volunteers. Please remember the box in the foyer for donations of food. Remember too the collection box for our missionaries’ Christmas Hamper. A short list like this can only give a hint of the depth of these ministries.  If you have or know some-one with a special need, or would like to help in any way, call the office or any of the Church's pastoral carers. ----xxxXxxx---- Mat.25:40 "Inasmuch as you did it for the...

Our family’s most prized piece of family history would have to be my great-great-grandfather’s apprenticeship indenture certificate from the 1860’s. To modern eyes, the terms and conditions border on slave labour. The young teenage George had to leave home to live and work with his ‘master’, who in turn had to teach him the mysteries and secrets of the trade of clothier, as well as house, clothe and feed him, and pay him the princely sum of two shillings at Christmas. When the Bible talks about Jesus’ disciples, the concept of Disciple is very similar to that of Apprentice. The disciples lived, traveled and worked with Jesus, learning ‘on-the-job’. The commitment, to which they were called, included leaving their homes and jobs. As we celebrate with the young people being baptised tonight, lets encourage them in their commitment. For the commitment of ‘becoming a Christian’ is not like joining an organisation, but rather the commitment of entering into a life-long relatio...

Many years ago when going for my driving licence (Victoria, Australia), the testing police officer quizzed me on the law concerning two cars at an intersection. I responded that “ the car on the right has the right of way ”. The officer re-asked the question, to which I quizzically gave the same answer. The officer patiently asked me the same question again, to which I still gave the same answer. He then pointed out that the correct answer was that “ any driver approaching the intersection, has the responsibility to ‘give way’ to the car on his/her right ”. (Australian's drive on the left-hand side of the road) It's a lesson I have never forgotten - “ rights ” are not inalienable for the taking. A “right” is really a “ responsibility ” on another to give. In the Bible, God does not promise “ freedom of speech ”, “ freedom of assembly ”, “ pursuit of happiness” , etc. Rather, we are warned that the Christian’s lot could include persecution and imprisonment. The only ...

I thank my parents that as a child I was taught to write an "I want" list. This helped me identify those things I "really" wanted well after the initial plea had faded. Then came the hard part of giving up some things to save up the money to buy my heart's desire. The same principles apply to our Christian walk. We want to serve, but are we prepared to pay the price? We want to be humble, but are we prepared to be humiliated? We want to be a true disciple, but are we prepared to truly discipline our body, mind and soul? We want to be loving, but that includes the "unlovely", and carries the cost of sacrifice, non-reciprocation, even outright hostility. We ask in pray, but are we willing to accept and obey the answers given? ----xxxXxxx---- Lk.18:18-23 "'What must I do to have eternal life?'...you lack one thing, sell all you have and distribute to the poor...he was very sorrowful for he was very rich" Mt.16:24 "If anyo...

That's the title of one of the exercises I have to do in the coming weeks in preparation for a career planning seminar. I've done various goal setting and life-style evaluations in other training courses, but "Obituary" has a ring of finality about it. As an old preacher friend advised on sermon structure, "First tell 'em what you're going to tell 'em. Then tell 'em. Then tell 'em what you’ve told them". The progressive life (as in moving forward in a direction) is like that, a beginning, a middle and an end.  Another view is "Plan, Do, Evaluate". In the Christian life, the planning stage is a matter of obedience and seeking God's will personally. In obedience, the doing follows (super)naturally as we are driven and empowered by the Holy Spirit. The evaluation is ultimately the Lord's - will our obituaries include "Well done my good and faithful servant"? ----xxxXxxx---- Rom.11:29 "God's gifts...