It is in fact the most normal thing in the common Christian life to pray together. Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Quote for the Day
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Today’s Bike Ride
Bit gloomy this morning. The weather is dull too. I rode to Haire Drive. #cycling #Narrabri #Biketooter
Quote for the Day
No matter what objections there may be, the fact simply remains that where Christians want to live together under the Word of God they may and they should pray together to God in their own words. Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Quote for the Day
Unison singing, difficult as it is, is less of a musical than a spiritual matter. Only where everybody in the group is disposed to an attitude of worship and discipline can unison singing, even though it may lack much musically, give us the joy which is peculiar to it alone. Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Reflection on 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
Scripture
God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives.
Observation
Paul, with Silas and Timothy, now encourages the Thessalonians to live in a way that pleases God. They already do this, but but now he is encouraging them to do more.
God wants us to be holy so we must avoid sexual sin. If we do this we are controlling our own bodies and living in holiness and honour.
We must never cheat a brother by violating his wife. The Lord avenges all such sins.
God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. If we refuse to do this, then we are not disobeying human teaching but rejecting God, who gives us the Holy Spirit.
Application
God wants His people to be holy, as He Himself is holy. That means that we do not always get to do what we want to do. Instead, we must live God’s way.
In our culture, sex is the big thing. it seems that every controversy, every government policy, and even corporate policy, is about sexual preferences and identity. I have the right to use my body in any way I choose. I have the right to indulge my fleshly passions.
God wants us to rein in the body and to use our union with Him to overcome the lusts and desires of our bodies.
Not only does God give us the commandments to obey, He also gives us the grace to obey them.
In the long run, God’s ways are more fulfilling, more fruitful, more productive of joy, than just doing my own thing.
Prayer
Lord, you call me to live a holy life. Please show me how to have victory over the sins that hold me captive. Amen.
Quote for the Day
‘Sing and make melody in your heart to the Lord’ (Eph. 5.19). The new song is sung first in the heart. Otherwise it cannot be sung at all. The heart sings because it is overflowing with Christ. Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Quote for the Day
Proper reading of Scripture is not a technical exercise that can be learned; it is something that grows or diminishes according to one’s own spiritual frame of mind. The crude, ponderous rendition of the Bible by many a Christian grown old in experience often far surpasses the most highly polished reading of a minister. Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Home Improvements. Day 1.
The home renovation project started nice and early this morning. Half a dozen of Narrabri’s most dedicated tradies turned up primed for action.
Today’s project was to knock down the internal walls and the ceiling.
Tomorrow Matt Anderson comes to remove the asbestos, so there won’t be too much obvious progress in the next day or two.
Quote for the Day
We must learn to know the Scriptures again, as the Reformers and our fathers knew them. We must not grudge the time and the work that it takes. Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Quote for the Day
Holy Scripture is more than a watchword. It is also more than ‘light for today’. It is God’s revealed Word for all men, for all times. Holy Scripture does not consist of individual passages; it is a unit and is intended to be used as such. Dietrich Bonhoeffer
New Life Narrabri 