This book was published remarkably quickly after the election of Pope Francis. Despite that, I found it an engaging and informative outline of this remarkable man of faith.
As you read it becomes clear that he truly is a man of humility, a man singularly qualified for leading the Catholic Church,
I totally enjoyed this book.
The sermon for February 16th 2014 is now available on the New Life web-site.
In this sermon, Margaret Bates talks about God’s Rescue Plan.
Click here to listen
With many parts of Eastern Australia in drought, our farmers are again doing it tough and asking for emergency relief. So how do we compare with other cuntries in support for farmers?
From the ABC:
There’s been intense debate about the Federal Government’s refusal to subsidise General Motors and SPC Ardmona. And there are still questions about the Government stepping in to assist Qantas.Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey has said the age of entitlement is over.
On ABC TV’s Q&A program, Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull was asked whether the Government’s hard line on subsidising the manufacturing industry also applied to agriculture.
He said: “Our farmers are among the least subsidised in the world, the least supported in the world.”
ABC Fact Check examines the evidence on agricultural subsidies.
Read the full story here
Scripture
For we are God’s servants working together; you are God’s field, God’s building.
Observation
Paul was not able to feed the Corinthians solid food because they were acting like people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.
The sign of their immaturity is the fighting and jealousy amongst them. They have split into camps claiming to follow different leaders.
Paul points out that he and Apollos are just servants of the Lord called to different roles in the Body of Christ. They work together for God, not in competition.
Application
Unity in the Spirit within the church is a basic sign of maturity according to Paul. From this judgement nearly all christians in the West are of the flesh because the church is so fragmented.
There is nothing wrong with having multiple congregations in a town or neighbourhood. The problem comes when a congregation thinks of itself as the only true expression of the church, or when congregations compete for followers.
Division within a faith community is even more destructive. To prefer one leader over another is to play into the hands of satan who, loves to bring division into the Body.
We must always keep our eyes on Jesus the true shepherd of the flock.
Prayer
Lord Jesus please bring the church to a true place of unity where we recognise your presence in all congregations and your Spirit in all believers. Amen.
Scripture
“No the word is very near to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart for you to observe.”
Observation
Moses exhorts the nation of Israel to choose the way of the Lord which is life. He says the commandment is not too hard and not too distant. They will not have to cross the sea or go up to heaven to receive it because God has placed it in their mouths to recite and in their hearts to obey.
It is a choice. Obedience brings life and prosperity. Disobedience brings death and adversity.
“Choose life,” he implores, so that they and their descendants will live long in the land they will enter.
Application
Although christians are no longer under the Law of Moses, there are principles here that apply to us.
Obedience to God brings life and prosperity. If we follow the way of Jesus, choosing to obey rather than rebel, we will know fullness of life.
Obedience is a choice, and so life is a choice. In the daily decision we make, large or trivial, we can choose to honour God or to choose the way that feels comfortable. The sum total of our decisions takes us either closer to God or further away from Him. The choice is mine to make.
God’s ways are not difficult to understand. We don’t need to chase the latest guru or study for years at theological college. God has placed His word in our heart. We have the Holy Spirit. All that is needed is to listen to Him.
Prayer
Today Lord I choose you and your abundant life. Help me to make decisions which bring me closer to you. Amen.
I was sickened when I heard of the outrageous story of a 12 year old girl illegally “married” to a 23 year old man.
Apologists for Muslim groups claimed that the man was ignorant of Australian laws. I believe the imam who conducted this procedure should be charged with being an accessory to child sexual abuse.
My blood boiled when I read this morning that the father of the girl was not some uneducated Afghan refugee, but a native-born Australian who converted to Islam. What a sick excuse of a man.
From the Daily Telegraph.
THE Muslim convert father of the 12-year-old girl at the centre of a child sex case following her “marriage” to a 26-year-old foreigner confessed his unhappiness at their union, but said “it was not my decision”.
But the fifth-generation Australian man, who allowed the pair to be married by an imam in his Hunter Valley home on January 12, now says he fears she is going to “die” from a broken heart.
He also addressed public outrage on the case following the 26-year-old Lebanese man’s arrest on Thursday, saying he might “cop a little bit of abuse off people but I will have to cope with that”.
Read the full story here
The sermon for February 9th 2014 is now available on the New life web-site.
In this sermon, which is based on 1 Corinthians 2:1-16, I talk about the power and wisdom that come from God.
Click here to listen
Scripture
“For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.:
Observation
Following from the Beatitudes, Jesus goes on to tell His followers that they are salts and light for the world. Salt must retain its saltiness and the light must be allowed to shine forth. We must let people see our good works so that they may give glory to our Father in heaven.
Jesus came to fulfil the Law not to abolish it. The Law will not pass away until all is accomplished. Our righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees if we are to enter heaven.
Application
As followers of Jesus, we must make a difference in the world. We are the light of the world and salt for the earth. The love and righteousness of God should be shining out in our lives bringing people to a place where they glorify God because they recognise that we are empowered and motivated by God, not by our own nature.
We must not blend into the background, living lives that are outwardly the same as everyone else. Neither must we withdraw into a christian “ghetto” where we are completely cut off from the rest of the world.
The kingdom of heaven grows as we live our lives out in public and demonstrating a radically different life to the general population. The only way to do this is to pursue an ever deeper walk with Jesus.
Prayer
Lord, teach me to live for you in all things. May I truly be light and salt in the world today. Amen.
Praise befits the upright. Psalm 33:1
A spirit of praise toward God is not just obligatory. It is fitting. It is beautiful. That’s what the verse is saying.
A frowning church is really missing something. But a praising church is beautiful. Think of a man wearing a great suit, with the perfect shirt for that suit, but then he puts on a killer tie that makes the whole thing pop. That’s what praise to God does for a church. Whatever the “style” of the church may be, a spirit of praise puts a convincing and satisfying beauty upon it.
Praises to God so befit us who are not upright in ourselves but fully upright forever in Christ!
New Life Narrabri 