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...

In Acts 2:41-43 , there are two types of responses recorded from those who heard and saw the Apostles and disciples of Jesus. They were amazed and in awe at the wonders and signs performed by the Apostles. But more importantly, when they saw the changed lifestyles of the disciples, they “liked what they saw” (v41, Petersen’s paraphrase “The Message”). They saw believers:- living in wonderful harmony, pooling their resources so that each person’s needs were met, following a daily discipline of worship, sharing meals together, in joyful, exuberant celebration, praising God. Was it any wonder then that “ Every day their numbers grew, as God added those who were saved” , because people “ liked what they saw ”. When God created the world, He saw that it was “good”. When we share the Good News of the gospel of ‘re-creation’ through Jesus, it's no news at all, unless the hearer can see the results of this re-creation in us and be able to say “ it is good, I like what I see ...

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...

Good evangelism is more than apologetics, which attempts to give a reasoned defense of the Christian faith.  Apologetics cuts down trees; evangelism builds houses. As John Stott puts is, " You have to win a person's confidence before you can win their soul ". But good evangelism is more than being friendly, its more than inviting your neighbour to a mission at the Church. Evangelism is relating to people as Jesus did - day by day, week by week, right at the point of their need. And the best evangelistic Churches are where people truly love one another, especially across racial, social, cultural and other barriers which previously divided them. In the end, an evangelistic life-style arises out of the reality of our own experiences of Christ. If He has really changed our lives, that's great news and we will want to share it. ---===X===--- Mt.9:31 "they (the blind healed) spread the news of Jesus..." Ps.66:16 "Come and hear...I will decla...

"In a time when blood transfusion was unknown, Jesus chose the perplexing figure of drinking His blood. Ever since, Christians have wrestled with the theology of the Eucharist. Who can describe the process by which Christ's body and blood become part of my own? We are brought near to Him; we participate in Him; He feeds us - any of these phrases only hint at the mystery. Jesus used the analogy of branches attached to a vine. The more contemporary metaphor of blood transfusion opens the way for me to grasp the intended meaning. The communion service reminds me that Christ is not dead and removed from me, but alive and present in me. Every cell in His Body (the Church) is linked, unified, and bathed by the nutrients of a common source - blood feeds life. The infusion of fresh blood also helps explain the process of cleansing. I focus on the toxins accumulating in scattered cells of my body and the happy relief that comes when blood washes away those poisons. And f...

"Love is the one treasure that multiplies by division. It is the one gift that grows bigger the more you take from it. It is the one business in which it pays to be an absolute spendthrift; give it away, throw it away, splash it over, empty your pockets, shake the basket, turn the glass upside down, and tomorrow you will have more than ever." (source unknown) ----xxxXxxx---- Pr.11:25 "The liberal soul shall be made fat; he that waters shall himself be watered" Isa.58:10 "If you give food to the hungry, and satisfy those in need, then the darkness around you will turn to the brightness of noon" Lk.6:38a "Give to others and God will give to you; in full measure, a full measure poured into your hands - all that you can hold." 1 Pet.1:22 "See that you love one-another with a pure heart fervently" Jhn.15:12 "This is my commandment, that you love one-another as I have loved you" 1 Thes.3:12 "May the Lor...

I was saddened during the week to receive the following prayer request through the International Christian Leadership electronic network. This Elder's Church has been involved for about 2 years in outreach to chronically mentally ill patients at a home, bringing residents to worship services. Some had become members. However, a fair number of the core Church members felt uncomfortable and threatened. Consequently, the Church "Session" voted to exclude these disabled members from worship. The carers have taken to conducting special mid-week services at the home. But how does one tell these people that they cannot go to "their" Church to worship any-more? This from the land of "free speech" and "freedom of religion". Please pray for this elder and his faithful band of carers. Also pray for the other members, that they might understand the " Acceptable year of the Lord". ----xxxXxxx---- Jn.8:7 " He that is without sin a...

Although this phrase borders on American jingoism, to me it simply encapsulates the important duality of the gospel. For Jesus came to make possible the restoration of right relationships between God and man, and that there might be peace among all men. In my years in youth outreach in coffee shops and beach missions, particularly in a cross-denominational environment, the perennial discussion is about "friendship" evangelism versus "conversion" evangelism. Building friendships is fine as a means of breaking down the barriers to serious communication. But unless the friendship comes from true acceptance and humility rooted in the fact that God accepted and loved me "while I was yet a sinner", then the friendship is false. Equally important is the desire to share the good news of what God has done in my life and is available for all. Our living is the picture for the world to see, our words are the captions and sub-titles. ----xxxXxxx---- Rom.15:19 ...

Sometimes God’s answers to our prayer for direction in our life can at first be unrecognised or even harsh. But we must remember that in God’s time, “ All things work together for good... ”. The following member’s submission is unnamed for privacy. “Quite some years ago, I was struggling with God’s direction for my life, especially at work. One morning I was feeling particularly stressed about going to work and prayed about it before leaving. Within an hour, as I arrived at work, the boss met me waving a cheque and generally sounding off about this customer’s cheque bouncing. He challenged me about why I had “not been looking after this customer”. I explained that I had been going out of my way to keep this customer happy, but that I was not a credit manager.  Even so, I was sacked on the spot (this was before ‘unfair dismissal laws’). Some 6 months later, my ex-employer came to my home. He said that he had recently become a Christian and felt that he had t...

" Laugh and the world laughs with you, cry and you cry alone " - this is the philosophy of the world - of "fair weather friends"! But Christians are called to march to the beat of a different drum. We are called to bear one-another's burdens for this is the "law of Christ". This is true religion. We even have Jesus' verbatim statement - " This is my command, that you love one-another ". But let's look at this from the side of the burdened - don't we all have our various burdens? Don't we pray to God for strength, healing, courage, support, encouragement, faith etc. Yet our Lord has commanded that these are the very things that we are to share with each other. Could I be so bold as to suggest that the answers to many of our prayers will/should come through the love of a fellow believer? Have you been the answer to some-ones prayers this week? " Lord, open my ears to hear your call, and my eyes to see you beckoning. Help me...

To laugh is to risk appearing a fool; To weep is to risk appearing sentimental; To reach-out to another is to risk involvement; To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self; To place your ideas and dreams before the crowd is to risk their wrath; To love is to risk not being loved in return; To live is to risk dying; To hope is to risk despair; To try is to risk failure. BUT....Risks must be taken Because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing. The person who risks nothing, has nothing, does nothing, and is nothing. He simply cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love, or live. Chained by his certitudes he is a slave; He has forfeited freedom because only a person who risks is free.