The sermon for October 12th 2014 is now available on the New Life web-site.
In this sermon, Rozina talks about how we need to be mindful of context when we are reading Scripture and listening to others.
Hard Work
So today’s agenda seems to be dominated by these things.
Normally I give then the same respectful distance I do a brown snake, but digging cannot be avoided today.
Book Review: “Slow Church”
We live in a society that values efficiency in everything. Speed, dehumanising efficiency and predictable results are the values of McDonalds and other fast food franchises They are not the values of God, but often become the values of the church as it seeks success.
Authors Chris Smith and John Pattison invite us to try a more godly way of doing church together and building community. They advocate that we slow down and take time to value one another and to love our communities.
Hospitality leads us to welcome strangers, sabbath reminds us that we were not created for endless activity and faith leads us to trust in God for enough to share.
This book is an eminently readable call to abandon the ways of the world and to embrace the way of Jesus- walking the dusty path (not speeding in air conditioned comfort along a freeway) carrying His cross joyfully.
I think that over the years our church has established good ways of sharing together and caring for one another. It is good to be reminded of simple practices that can help this.
Surrogacy or Trafficking
There have been several very concerning news reports coming out lately about babies being ordered, gestated and born in Asia to parents from wealthy countries.
A few months ago, an Australian couple took home a baby girl but rejected her twin, a boy with Down’s Syndrome. The boy was left for the Thai mother to care for. Clearly the intent was that they didn’t want the inconvenience of a baby with obvious imperfections. It turned out that the adoptive father had previous convictions for abusing little girls.
About the same time there was the report of a wealthy Japanese business man who had fathered literally dozens of babies through a surrogacy agency, again in Thailand. It was never explained why he needed to have so many children.
Last night there was a report of an episode from 2012 where Australian parents took home one twin and left the other in India because the baby was the wrong gender.
So babies are now just another consumer item which you can buy.
Many Western countries have outlawed what is called commercial surrogacy which is an agreement for a woman to be paid to bear a child on behalf of someone who is unable to have children themselves. So infertile couples are turning to developing countries and, often through commercial agencies, paying healthy but poor mothers to have babies for them.
This is just repugnant on so many levels. It treats human beings- both the mother and the baby- as no more than economic units, a factory and a product. You pay a price and effectively buy yourself a baby.
When human beings are bought and sold like this it devalues all humanity.
When babies become commodities the potential for abuse is infinite. Even when regulations are in place, in many countries they are not enforced or will be ignored by bribing officials.
It’s not hard to imagine babies being mass produced for paedophiles to abuse and for pornography.
We kill babies who are inconvenient in the name of choice. We procure babies on the open market in the name of choice.
If this isn’t human trafficking, slavery by another name, I don’t know what else it is.
Reflection on Matthew 22:1-14
Scripture
“For many are called but few are chosen.”
Observation
The kingdom of heaven is like a wedding feast prepared for the son of a king. The people who were invited refuse to attend.
The king sends servants to tell the invitees that the feast is ready, but they ignore them, some even killing the messengers.
The king then sends his army to kill the murderers and then sends his servant out to bring in people from the streets, all they can find.
One of the guests refuses to wear proper clothes, and is cast out to the outer darkness.
Application
God is determined to have a party for His Son.
The people who were first invited failed to recognise that Jesus is the Son and so God invited the whole world in to celebrate with Him.
Some refuse the call. Some even kill the messengers, but the party continues with all who will feast with the King.
Prayer
Lord, today I say “Yes” to your invitation. I say “Yes” to your Son. Amen.
Lunar Eclipse
I didn’t take any photos of the lunar eclipse, because I was leading my cell group. We did go out after the group and see the light pushed back and the dark red take over.
It is actually quite difficult to take decent photos and it takes a lot more than a smart phone pointed in the general direction. Expensive equipment and great skill are needed.
The ABC published these excellent photos this morning:
Lunar eclipse: 10 stunning photos of the Blood Moon
Updated
People around Australia were treated to the rare sight of a blood-red lunar eclipse on Wednesday night, as the Moon passed through the Earth’s shadow for an hour.
Clouds proved to be a frustration for many people on the east coast, but the skies cleared for long enough to allow some stunning photos.
It was a different story over central and Western Australia, where photographers were given a great view of the Blood Moon.
From a partially obscured Moon to a blood-red total lunar eclipse, the spectacle offered an amazing insight into the mechanics of the solar system.
Scroll down to see 10 of the best photos from ABC photographers and readers around Australia.
The Heart Is An Idol Factory
Surely we, in the sophisitcated West don’t need to be wanred against idols and false gods- do we?
Ed Stetzer thinks we do
OCT 8, 2014
IDOLATRY
Idolatry Is Alive Today: Why Modern Church Leaders Still Fight an Old Battle
Idolatry is still trying to work its way into our lives. |
NEVERTIME / WIKIPEDIA
Some readers likely saw the headline on this blog and decided they didn’t need to read an article about the Old Testament, perhaps opting to read a blog on leadership instead.
After all, you probably don’t have a carved stone statue in your house, and you’ve never traveled to Asia and purchased a totem or some other representation of a false god. So why would a conversation about idolatry be of any importance to you, right?
Nothing New Under The Sun
Well, believe it or not, the most common warning about sin in Scripture does not deal with lying, gossip, adultery, stealing, or murder. The most common sin in all of Scripture that we’re told to avoid, reject, and move away from is idolatry.
And that’s not just Asherah poles in the Old Testament.
In fact, in the New Testament, 1 John 5:21 says, “Little children, guard yourselves from idols.” So apparently idolatry is still trying to work its way into our lives and distract us from worshipping and obeying God.
Idolatry is still trying to work its way into our lives and distract us from worshipping and obeying God.
Idolatry is not just a pagan issue. It is not just an Old Testament or Jewish issue. It is a human issue.
Is it that a 12-inch tall piece of wood or bronze can do something bad to us? Or is it that we do something awful to ourselves when we place adoration and attention that should go to God in other things?
When it comes to idolatry, the danger is not in an item… it is in us.
Read the rest here
Free writing- Spring
Free writing is just writing what is in your head for 10 minutes (or any other time length) with minimal editing. The aim is to free the creativity and exercise the brain.
One of the unusual things about Narrabri is our system of seasons.
Spring often feels a lot like summer, especially in a dry year like this one. But then natural variability is so wide that winters can persist until November when summer strikes back with a vengeance.
About 5 years ago we were hitting temperatures well into the thirties in mid-September. The westerly winds blew from parched drought-dried land in South Australia bringing dust and heat such as I’ve never seen before.
Often spring can be really benevolent with warm days and enough rain to make everything grow in a sea of luxuriant green. the farmers like it to dry out before harvest, though, as warm weather causes the wheat to improve its protein content.
The meteorologists are predicting some rain on the weekend which will be really refreshing after weeks of dryness.
Reflection on Philippians 4:1-9
Scripture
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again- rejoice!
Observation
Paul exhorts the Philippians to stay true to the Lord. In particular, two women who have disagreed are to settle the matter.
Rejoice always, Paul tells us. We must nor be anxious about anything, but instead we should pray and trust the Lord.
We should fix our thoughts on what is right and honourable, lovely and admirable. And then we need to put into practice what we have learned.
Application
All the directions of our relationships need to be constantly worked on. Our relationship with God comes first and everything needs to be seen in that light. Prayer and faith lead to peace and joy.
By being consumed with negative things, our internal lives are damaged. We need to give our attention to what is good and honourable to allow our souls to be healed, and for godly values to flow out of our hearts.
If there are conflicts in our lives we need to reconcile them. It’s fine to disagree with others, but we must not allow that to break relationships, particularly with other christians.
When we put into practice the teachings of scripture we find that our lives are changed and we make a difference in the lives of everyone around us, including unbelievers.
Prayer
Thank you Lord for saving me and for the promise of peace in every situation as I submit myself to you. Please help me to lay everything at your feet in prayer. Amen.
Reflection on Exodus 32:1-14
Scripture
So the Lord changed his mind about the terrible disaster he had threatened to bring on his people.
Observation
While Moses is up on the mountain receiving the Law, the people of Israel decide to make an idol. They go to Aaron and demand that he make them a god.
Aaron takes the gold from their earrings and fashions a calf. Then he builds an altar and declares the next day will be a festival to the Lord. The people burn sacrifices to the idol and engage in “pagan revelry.”
The Lord tells Moses to go down and see how quickly the people have reverted to idolatry. He threatens to kill them all and make a new nation from Moses. Moses intercedes on their behalf, and the Lord relents.
Application
Idolatry is always lurking in the human soul. We have infinite capacity for worshipping false gods. It is as if being in relationship is too big a gift for us to appreciate and receive.
Most christians do not worship golden calves or other explicit idols. We might find ourselves exalting other thins above our obedience to the Lord- family, church, denomination, sport, work.
There are many idols but just one God.
Prayer
Father, please rescue me from my tendency to put other things ahead of you. May I never give in to any form of idolatry. Amen.
