The sermon for June 26th 2022 is now available on the New Life web-site.
In this sermon, which is based on Acts 9:1-31, Margaret Bates talks about the Conversion of Saul.
Click here to listen in your browser, here to download the mp3
Month: June 2022
Quote for the Day
Individuals who disagree about gay marriage might think they are disagreeing merely about the limits of the legitimate identity of the contracting parties, but their actual differences go much deeper than that. They disagree on nothing less than the very definition of marriage relative to its ends. Carl Trueman
Today’s Bike Ride
I rode right up to the Mount Kaputar National Park entrance this morning. Another beautiful morning.
Quote for the Day
No culture has ever preserved itself where it is not a registration of sacred order. There, cultures have not survived. The third culture notion of a culture that persists independent of all sacred orders is unprecedented in human history. Carl Trueman
Reflection on Judges 3:1-11
Scripture
These people were left to test the Israelites – to see whether they would obey the commands that the Lord has given two their ancestors through Moses.
Observation
The Lord left nations such as the Philistines and the Canaanites to teach warfare to a generation that had no experience in battle.
The Israelites quickly gave into the ways of their pagan neighbours, intermarrying with them and worshipping their gods.
The Lord then sent the Arameans to rule over them. When the people cried out to the Lord for rescue, He sent Othniel. The Spirit of the Lord came on him to deliver the people of God. The Lord gave Othniel victory, and there was peace in the land for 40 years.
Application
Why does God allow suffering, persecution and hardship? Why is it so hard to be a Christian?
The Lord allows temptations and opposition to make us stronger in Him. if life was always easy, we would not see a need to pray.
These tests also come as a way of allowing God (and us) to see if we will be faithful to Him. If it costs nothing to be faithful, is my heart truly committed to the Lord?
In the case of the Israelites, they very quickly became like their neighbours instead of winning them to follow the Lord.
Sometimes, it seems that it is easier to be like the people of the world so we can fit in. The truth, however, is that this way leads to spiritual death.
Prayer
Lord, it is hard to stand up to all the temptations that surround me. Please help me to stand firm for you. Amen
What is a woman?
The great question of our age has stumped nominees for the Supreme Court of the USA, politicians and even health professionals.
“What is a woman?” is the question that defines the stupidity of the elites that run our nation.
In April Senator Eric Antic asked Brendan Murphy, the head of the Australian Health Department, no less, for a definition of a woman. You would think that a doctor would be able to manage what most 7 year olds can do. You wold think that a man who has obviously been around for a few decades could think back to last year when we all agreed what a woman was.
You would be surprised. Doctor Murphy asked for the question to be taken on notice. It only took 78 days, but the Department came up with the following definition of a woman:
“The frameworks adopted to define a person’s gender include chromosomal makeup, the gender assigned at birth, and the gender with which a person identifies. The Department of Health does not adopt a single definition. Health policies and access to health programs are based on clinical evidence and clinical need for all Australians, regardless of gender identity, biological characteristics, or genetic variations. Our programs are designed to be inclusive and to provide better health and wellbeing for all Australians.”
Well that clears that up.
Rescue Plan
It was a perfect morning for bike riding, as so many of them have been lately.
It was a Saturday morning, and I was nearly home after a 40 km ride that took me down the Kamilaroi Highway to Turrawan, across the Tariaro Bridge and back along the Old Gunnedah Road. Whenever I take this route, I stop at the bridge and admire the beauty of God’s creation.
Less than 2 kilometres from home, I noticed that the back tyre felt soft, and a minute later it was clear that there was no air in the tyre at all. The greatest hazard a cyclist faces is a puncture in the middle of a ride.
Without a second thought, I called my wife, who jumped into the car and came to rescue me. I was thankful that it was only a 2 km ride home and not a 20 or 30 km ride.
A couple of days later, the inner tube was replaced, and I was back in business.
My need to be rescued reminded me of an even greater need that we have.
Our tendency to run our own lives our own way is described by the Bible as “sin.” Our lives work best when we live God’s way, but we all want to do things our own way, regardless of the cost to ourselves or other people.
Sin separates us from God. It destroys the relationship that we have been created for. We can’t fix it on our own abilities.
But God initiated His own rescue plan, by sending Jesus into the world to pay the penalty for our sin. The most famous verse in the Bible reminds us: “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
If you are finding that your life is about as much fun as a bike with a flat tyre, why don’t you ask God to take control? Say “Sorry” to God and ask Him to lead you to a church where you can learn to live God’s way.
Today’s Bike Ride
Yet another perfect morning for riding!
Quote for the Day
While earlier generations might have seen damage to body or property as the most serious categories of crime, a highly psychologized era will accord increasing importance to words as means of oppression. And this represents a serious challenge to one of the foundations of liberal democracy: freedom of speech. Carl Trueman
Today’s Bike Ride
Frosty and sunny this morning.
New Life Narrabri 