Reflection on Ephesians 3:14-22

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Scripture

Now unto him who is able to do immensely more than all we can ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen

Observation

Paul prays for the church in Ephesus and for the universal church. He prays for power through the Spirit that Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith.

He prays that we will dwell in love and know the unknowable- the dimensions of Christ’s love, and in that to be filled with the measure of the fullness of God.

Application

Christ’s love for us is in a sense unknowable- it is infinite, unending, unfailing, not bound in any possible way. The love of Christ is not just infinite in extent but also in quality. The human mind has no way of expressing or even understanding the implication of God’s love for us. Paul wants us to know this experientially and not just as a doctrine.

This is something that we best experience in community, “together with all the saints.” We understand the love of God as we experience it in the love of other people.

Knowing the love of Christ is not just receiving but also giving. The love of Christ is poured out upon us. How can we understand this love until we begin to love like He does, pouring love out on others, especially the ones we find least likeable?

Prayer

Lord grant me the power to grasp the height and depth, the breadth and length of your love, living in the power of love in all my relationships. Amen.

Desperate Shorten Threatens Australian Economy

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copper-crossing-solar-power-2-fw

I woke up to the news on the ABC this morning that Bill Shorten wants to take a proposal to the ALP National Conference that would make it policy to at a target of 50% renewable electricity by 2030.

It seems that Shorten is as thick as two short planks- not only is this likely not achievable, but it will drive the cost of power through the roof either through direct charges to consumers or through ever increasing Government subsidies.

The drama about changes to the Renewable Energy Target earlier this year was not driven by anti-renewable ideology as the media and the ALP portrayed it. It was basically about the fact that there was no way we could achieve the 20% by 2020 mandated by Kevin Rudd and consequently there would be massive penalties imposed on the electricity generators, driving up the price of power.

Here is the thing. Renewable energy, most likely in the form of solar will soon become economically viable. It is almost competitive with the cost of installing new coal powered generators, which is the only reason why AGL announced with great fanfare it would not be investing in any new coal-fired generators.

By the time we get to 2030 it is quite possible that new solar power stations will produce power so cheaply that existing coal powered stations will be closed down and replaced by power, simply by the laws of economics. The technology around both the generation and storage of power is going through such a revolution at the moment that it will make financial sense to invest without subsidies and targets imposed by Government.

Andrew Bolt’s take, complete with pretty pictures:

Under pressure on leadership, Bill Shorten lurches even more to the Left, promising a policy that will savagely increase the cost of electricity:

 

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten is set to unveil a bold climate policy goal requiring half of Australia’s large-scale energy production to be generated using renewable sources within 15 years.



This means more than doubling green power but without using more of the hydro electricity that so far produces most of it. (Labor won’t build more dams.):

image

That vast expansion of wind and solar will not happen without paying a fortune in subsidies and forcing consumers to use more green power, givenhow expensive it is:

image

This will potentially cost taxpayers and consumers billions more each year, when we already subsidise green power by around $3 billion a year.

Effect on global warming?Nil.

Effect on the economy? Business lost, jobs lost.

Reflection on Psalm 14

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How stupid to deny you Lord

How foolish to pretend

There is no God or judge

There is no heaven or hell

…

Even worse are those who

Give lip service to you

Praising you on Sunday

Serving self on Monday

…

Keep me free O God

From all self-will

Make me humble God

And all my deeds right.

Reflection on 2 Samuel 11:1-27

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Scripture

She gave birth to a son. But the Lord was displeased with what David had done.

Observation

It is spring time, and instead of leading his troops into battle against the Ammonites, David remains in Jerusalem. There he sees a beautiful woman named Bathsheba and determines to have her. He sleeps with her and she becomes pregnant.

David then tries to cover up his adultery by calling Bathsheba’s husband Uriah back to Jerusalem from the front. Being an honourable man, Uriah sleeps at the palace gate rather than going home.

David then conspires to have Uriah killed in battle. He has Bathsheba brought to the palace, but the Lord is displeased with all David has done.

Application

David was a man after God’s heart, but he could sin as extravagantly as he worshipped.

Ancient kings were free to do anything they pleased with their subjects, but the king of Israel was subject to God’s Law as much as anyone else. David failed at this point because he stopped looking to God’s ways.

One of the temptations leaders must always fight is a sense of entitlement, This applies to ministers, political leaders and business people. The temptations can be subtle: “You deserve more,” “You work so hard to serve others”.

If we are not careful, we can easily find ourselves doing things that we would have once never dreamed we were capable of doing, and justifying to ourselves why it is acceptable.

Prayer

Grant me a humble heart, Lord, and insight into the temptations that assault me. Help me to stand firm in your ways. Amen.

Government and Sport

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What is it with politicians sponsoring sporting events at the expense of the tax payers? 

If all of these people who are outraged about a $5000 helicopter trip actually looked at the big money being wasted by the millions to wealthy sporting organisations like Liverpool FC, the AFL, the  NRL, IOC and FIFA maybe we could start reducing taxes instead of trying to find ways of increasing them.

From Freedom Watch:

Big Government in bed with Big Soccer

by  on July 21, 2015 in Economic freedom

 

Ball_in_net

Earlier this month I wrote on FreedomWatch about the absurdity of State and Territory governments subsidising AFL matches. Equally absurd is the government funding of friendly soccer matches involving the big European clubs currently touring Australia.

Real Madrid, AS Roma and Manchester City are currently playing in a pre-season tournament in Melbourne. Liverpool played Australian team Brisbane Roar on Friday night and Adelaide United last night. Manchester City played Melbourne City on Saturday night on the Gold Coast whilst Sydney FC played Chelsea in June and Tottenham in May.

According to the Australian Financial Review the Queensland and South Australian governments are understood to be paying Liverpool $10 million in appearance fees. Whilst the organisers of the tournament in Melbourne have received upwards of $8 million from the Victorian government.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews demonstrated the real reason why politicians are prepared to spend public cash on elite sport when he was front and centre at Real Madrid training on Friday. It is because elite sport is popular with voters.

As I wrote in The Spectator last year, governments pretty much always overstate the economic benefits of major sporting events when justifying spending their taxpayers’ hard-earned money. Indeed, Victorian Minister for Sport John Eren made the audacious claim that the series would generate between $50 million $80 million for the Victorian economy.

The reason these clubs are in Australia for glorified pre-season training (apart from picking up some free money from our governments) is to build their already enormous global fan bases. Liverpool claims to have almost 600 million fans worldwide. 10,000 people paid $15 each to watch Real Madrid train at the MCG last week.

Clearly, the organisers of these games don’t need government money to make them profitable, it’s just that it makes the undertaking a little bit more profitable, and a little less work. They have identified an opportunity to play state governments off against each other, and state governments have shamefully played ball.

If governments really think they can attract and hold major sporting events more efficiently than the private sector, they should introduce a voluntary major events tax whereby citizens can decide whether they want to contribute to what is essentially a luxury.

How Often Should We Celebrate Communion

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John Wesley recommended that Methodists celebrate Communion as often as possible. At New Life we celebrate Communion every Sunday and some times at cell groups.

Here is a good article by Allan Bevere explaining why this is so important.

ON THE DUTY OF CONSTANT COMMUNION: BECAUSE SOME THINGS ARE TOO IMPORTANT TO NEGLECT

July 20th, 2015
By Allan R. Bevere

John Wesley, the founder of Methodism (along with his brother Charles) participated in the sacrament of Holy Communion at least a couple of times a week. He told his people called Methodists that they should take Communion as often as possible. In his sermon entitled, “The Duty of Constant Communion,” Wesley gives his reasons for constant Communion as well as answering common objections to those who believed the Lord’s Supper could be celebrated too frequently. In response to one objection that I heard often growing up in the church, Wesley writes:

A Third objection against constant communion is, that it abates our reverence for the sacrament. Suppose it did? What then? Will you thence conclude that you are not to receive it constantly? This does not follow. God commands you, “Do this.” You may do it now, but will not, and, to excuse yourself say, “If I do it so often, it will abate the reverence with which I do it now.” Suppose it did; has God ever told you, that when the obeying his command abates your reverence to it, then you may disobey it? If he has, you are guiltless; if not, what you say is just nothing to the purpose. The law is clear. Either show that the lawgiver makes this exception, or you are guilty before him.

In other words, the objection is that if the Lord’s Supper is celebrated too often it will lose its meaning to which Wesley basically responds, So what? If Jesus commands us to do this often and it loses its meaning, does that allow us to break the command? But Wesley continues:

Read the full article here

NSW father found guilty of procuring 12yo daughter as ‘child bride’ is sentenced to six years in jail

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This is a good response to child abuse disguised as marriage and hidden under Islamic tradition.

From the ABC:

NSW father found guilty of procuring 12yo daughter as ‘child bride’ is sentenced to six years in jail

By court reporter Karl Hoerr

Updated 40 minutes ago

Father found guilty of procuring his 12yo old daughter as a 'child bride'PHOTO: The father, who cannot be identified, was found guilty of procuring his 12-year-old daughter for sex as a ‘child bride’.(ABC News: Antonette Collins)

A New South Wales man who allowed his 12-year-old daughter to illegally marry in an Islamic ceremony has been sentenced to at least six years in jail.

The 63-year-old, who cannot be identified to protect the girl’s identity, was convicted in April of procuring his daughter for sex with a man, who was 26 at the time, and being an accessory.

Judge Deborah Sweeney said they were serious offences which cannot be excused by the man’s Islamic faith and the sentence needed to deter others from similar conduct.

The girl, now 13, was married to a 26-year-old man in a ceremony by a local sheikh at the family home in the Hunter Valley last year.

She miscarried after falling pregnant and the man she unlawfully married, now 27, has already been jailed for at least seven-and-a-half years.

Judge Sweeney said the man “failed in his duty as a father to protect his daughter”.

The court heard he viewed the marriage as a solution to the risk of his daughter committing sin and allowed the ceremony to go ahead, against the wishes of the child’s mother.

She described his actions as a breach of trust.

Judge Sweeney said he “lacks insight into his offending”.

She imposed a total sentence of eight years for both offences.

With time already served, the man, who has been an unemployed disability pensioner for the past 20 years, will first be eligible for parole in November 2020.

Reflection on Mark 6:30-34,53-56

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Scripture
Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

Observation
The apostles return from their ministry tour and begin to tell Jesus all they have done. Jesus takes them away to a quiet place because the crowds a pressing in. The people follow them, and Jesus has compassion on them so He starts teaching them.

They cross the lake, and people instantly recognise Jesus. They run to bring the sick to be healed. All who touch Him are healed.

Application
Jesus is motivated by compassion for the people who seem to Him to be like lost sheep, All that He did in His earthly ministry was motivated by this deep love- whether He was healing, teaching or performing miracles.

Even His death on the cross was a result of His love for people who have lost the way to the Father. His love for me caused Him to lay down His life for me so that I can have eternal life.

What an awesome thought this is.

Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for your great love for me. Amen.

Too Many Christians, Not Enough Lions”

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If you thought the same sex “marriage” push is all about love and tolerance, then this may change your mind.

From Life Site News:

 

Pro-gay activists react to gay ‘marriage’ resistance: ‘Too many Christians, not enough lions’

Christianity,Homosexuality,Media Bias,Sally Kohn,Same-Sex ‘Marriage’

July 14, 2015 (LifeSiteNews) — There has been no shortage of anti-Christian rhetoric from various media outlets in the fallout from the Supreme Court decision decreeing homosexual “marriage” across the country.

“Too many Christians, not enough lions,” a derisive reference capitalizing on the Christians martyred in ancient Rome, was also how one LGBT activist responded to Catholic Vote’s (CV) pro-marriage “Not Alone”video, according to CV President Brian Burch.

Released the day of theObergefell v. Hodgesdecision, the CV video logged more than 1.3 million views in the first 10 days.

“Seeing the power of our message, LGBT activists have now mounted a massive campaign to mock, ridicule, and shame us,” Burch wrote to supporters. “They have used every curse word (and more) to attack us personally. They threatened our staff with phone calls. And now some are openly calling for the persecution of Christians.”

Defaming of Christians, and Christ,continuedover atThe Huffington Post, where a column by Jules Suzdaltsev titled “Was Jesus Gay?” was picked up July 8.

“After the Supreme Court’s historic ruling on gay marriage,” the column began, “it seemed like all the proudly homophobic Christians came out of the woodwork to talk about how much they still hate gay people.”

“As a straight Jew, the homophobia amongst Jesus’s followers has always struck me as a bit of a surprise,” Suzdaltsev wrote. “Worshipping at the feet of a ripped, hung man, seems at least a little homoerotic.”

The piece went on to make derogatory comments about the crucified Lord and conservatives.

The original July 6articlecame from the websiteVice, where the author interviewed openly homosexual pastor Bob Shore-Goss, first asking whether Shore-Goss thought Jesus Christ was gay.

“I would hope he is. I would project that he is,” Shore-Goss responded. “For my own spirituality, I would love to jump into bed with Jesus. At the very least, Jesus was queer.” 

The piece then endeavoured to present biblical evidence of Jesus’s homosexuality, including asserting that St. Paul was a closeted homosexual.

Read the fill article here