The sermon for August 17th, 2014 is now available on the New life web-site.
In this sermon I talk about 10 things a spiritual son should do.
Click here to listen.
Wind farms paid record sum not to produce electricity
The true cost of renewable energy is that it is still dependent on subsidies to be commercially viable. Despite all the claims of the activists and the lobbyists, there is no renewable energy that comes close to good old coal and gas.
From the Telegraph (U.K.):
Wind farms paid record sum not to produce electricity
Windy weather and low demand for electricity led to wind farm owners being paid a record amount to switch off turbines on Monday
10:00PM BST 12 Aug 2014
Wind farms were paid a record sum of almost £3 million in a single day this week not to produce electricity.
Strong winds amid the remnants of Hurricane Bertha left the electricity network unable to cope with the amount of energy being produced by turbines on Monday.
As a result National Grid paid owners £2.8 million to shut down their wind farms, at up to double the rate they would have received in subsidies had they actually generated electricity.
A further £1.1 million was given to other power stations to generate electricity to make up the shortfall created by shutting the wind farms down.
The money – detailed in figures provided by National Grid – will ultimately be added on to household bills and paid for by consumers.
A Happy Story
Amidst all of the news coverage of ISIS, Boko Haram and Hamas wreaking death and suffering on so many people it is good to remember that these terrorists don’t speak for ordinary Muslims. The stories of crazy Australians living on the disability pension and going off to jihad with their little boys and posing with severed heads shock most people.
Let me tell you a happy story about some decent Muslim people.
Margaret had been looking on EBay for a new (slightly used) lounge suite, and she wanted the best. King Furniture use the same manufacturer of springs as Porsche, and their furniture is nice but expensive. She found one in Sydney that seemed ideal but was pipped at the post. As a result, she found out about a web-site where you can ask for a quote and independent trucking companies bid for the job. There was one bid and the price was under $500 which seemed excellent.
On Thursday, another lounge came up, right manufacturer, good colour and excellent “Buy it now” price, located at Katoomba. She contacted the carrier to find out if he would do this job for the same price and he said “yes”.
She bought it, paid for it and organised the carrier. It was here before lunch today, two days later.
The team was a man and wife, she dressed in the traditional Muslim head covering. They are just the nicest, friendliest people and make you feel good even just being around them for the 15 minutes to unload the furniture.
The couple work hard- they must have started out at 6 this morning to get to Katoomba by 7.15. They would have been lucky to make $200 for the day’s work when you take the fuel and other running expenses out. They are friendly, do exactly what is promised, going the extra mile with a smile. They see Australia as a country with endless opportunities to build a business (oddly enough called Schemozzle) and earn enough to give their children a good education.
So next time you see the latest atrocity or the violent demonstrations or the demands of activists that our nation bends to conform to Arabic culture and Sharia law, just remember Khaeld and his wife- two hard working Aussies who happen to be Muslims.
Three Types of Tongues
In the Bible, there is often more description of the way things are or should be than analysis of events. If we are not careful, we can easily be confused because we try to impose an order or a structure onto the scriptures that is not meant to be there.
The gift of tongues (sometimes called “glossolalia” from the Greek word meaning literally to speak in tongues) has three different applications in the New Testament and in contemporary experience. We need to be aware of these different usages in order to read the scriptures properly.
1. Sign of the Baptism in the Spirit
In Acts 2:4 we are told: “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”
When we receive the Baptism in the Holy Spirit (or are filled with the Holy Spirit), God releases a special spiritual language that enables us to pray to God from our spirit to God’s Spirit. This is one of the manifestations of the Holy Spirit listed in 1 Corinthians 12:8-11.
In Acts 10:46 (the conversion of Cornelius’ household) and in Acts 19:6 (Paul in Ephesus) there are two more descriptions of the giving of the Holy Spirit and the sign of this is speaking in tongues.
Someone might ask what is the purpose of this prayer language? There are several:
- There are times when I simply don’t know how to pray, so in tongues my spirit communicates directly with the Holy Spirit.
- There are times when my human desire might be contrary to God’s desire in a situation. How can I pray without being directed by the Holy Spirit?
- Some people claim that the Devil cannot understand glossolalia so this intimate communion with God is important in times of intense spiritual warfare.
- It is a reassurance that the Holy Spirit is still with me, even when I feel inadequate or unworthy.
This is a private, personal use of tongues.
2. Tongues as an Interpreted Miracle
In Acts 2, the disciples were speaking in languages that were, to them, unknown. Yet the gathered crowds heard them speaking in their own various languages. You can argue whether there was a miracle in the speaking or in the hearing, but in either event people heard a tongues phenomenon in which they heard people speaking familiar words.
There have been numerous accounts of people speaking in tongues in a gathering discovering that someone present was hearing a message in a human language or dialect unknown to the speaker. This kind of event is quite rare in practice. When it happens it brings deep conviction to the hearer who is usually an unbeliever.
3. Tongues as a Public Utterance
There have been times when I have experienced in an open meeting someone standing up and speaking a message in tongues. Following this, another person (or sometimes the same person) will give a message in English which is an interpretation of the glossolalia. Together the tongues and interpretation amount to a form of prophecy.
In my experience, the language of the public tongue is different to the private prayer language. It feels different inside as if the Holy Spirit is pushing something out. I have also experienced the interpretation part of the equation whereby as another person is spekaing in tongues, I an hearing the words in my head in English.
In 1 Corinthians 14, Paul addresses the proper ordering of charismatic worship. His concern was not so much about which gifts were best, but facilitating the most helpful way of people participating so that the Holy Spirit could minister and everyone could have a turn.
Paul gives guidelines for the proper administration of this mode of speaking in tongues.
- Don’t overdo this or prophecy. Let a few people each have a turn, speaking one at a time.
- There must be an interpretation. The speaker must pray for the interpretation, and if there is no interpretation coming then there should be no more public tongues.
- People are able to speak in tongues privately to God without restriction
These three modalities of the gift of speaking in tongues are quite different in their operation and usage. We need to learn to flow in the power of the Holy Spirit in whatever way He wishes to work.
Reflection on Matthew 15:10-28
Scripture
“Dear woman,” Jesus said to her, “your faith is great. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed.
Observation
Jesus tells the crowd that holiness is not about what we eat but more about the words we speak. The disciples don’t understand him so he explains further. The food we eat passes through the body and doesn’t stay in us so it cannot defile us. The words we speak show the sin in our heart and that is what makes us unclean.
A Gentile woman comes to Jesus pleading for deliverance for her daughter. Jesus first ignores her then fobs her off. She persists and Jesus tells her that her great faith has healed her daughter.
Application
What is more important- acting in certain ways to seem good or having our heart transformed by God’s goodness?
Most religious behaviour aims to win God’s approval through doing something good. God doesn’t judge by visible actions but the motives that drive us.
It is faith that connects us to God- the desperate, unshakable faith that holds on to God even when He seems to not care. Persistence is the key to breakthrough.
Prayer
I am desperate for you Lord- desperate enough to know that faking goodness won’t impress you. Help me to hang on to you. Amen.
Unmitigated Evil in Iraq
Apologists for Islamic extremists take note of this. There is no justification for this kind of atrocity
From perscution watch group ICC:
5-Year-Old Christian Boy Cut in Half by ISIS Terrorists
Heart-wrenching stories continue to pour in from areas in Iraq and Syria taken over by the Islamic State (IS, better known as ISIS). Following last week’s capture of Qaraqosh, formerly home to Iraq’s largest Christian community, thousands of Christians fled for their lives from the ruthless IS. Two of these Christians were the parents of a 5-year-old boy who was cut in half by IS militants during the attack on Qaraqosh. As IS forces are now pressing into regions previously controlled by Kurdish peshmerga fighters, many Christians are fleeing for their lives once more.
Iraqi Christians continue to appeal for prayer and monetary support, of which they remain in dire need. Learn more about what ICC is doing in Iraq and how you can help Iraqi Christians.
By Melissa Barnhart
8/11/2014 Iraq (CP) – A 5-year-old boy, who’s the son of a founding member of St. George’s Anglican Church in Baghdad, was slaughtered by Islamic State terrorists, better known as ISIS, who cut the boy in half during an attack on the Christian town of Qaraqosh.
“I’m almost in tears because I’ve just had somebody in my room whose little child was cut in half,” Anglican Canon Andrew White of St. George’s Church told the Anglican Communion News Service Friday. “I baptized his child in my church in Baghdad. This little boy, they named him after me — he was called Andrew.”
Christian refugees who fled to Qaraqosh seeking shelter in the Christian town were forced to flee again by the tens of thousands Thursday as Islamic State forces began invading the peshmerga-controlled regions of the country.
The deceased boy’s parents and brother, George, who’s named after the Anglican church in Baghdad, have reportedly fled with other Christians to the city of Arbil where the U.S. consulate is located, which President Barack Obama said would be protected by the U.S. military through targeted airstrikes against Islamic State convoys.
Groan. Sometimes I Despair
Apparently Westboro Baptist Church is at it again
From Christianity Today:
Controversial Westboro Baptist Church organisation, known for their “God Hates Fags” slogan, has announced they will picket the funeral of Robin Williams.
The actor, whose death on Monday shocked the world, portrayed a gay man in the 1996 film The Birdcage and cross-dressed in hit comedy Mrs. Doubtfire, roles which led the Topeka-based church to claim Williams made “merchandise of filthy proud sin”.
Of all the Hollywood actors and producers you might want to protest at or even consign to hell, Robin Williams would have to be one of the least likely. I’m not saying he was born again or anything like that, but really guys, pick your battles.
I’m not going to judge the organisation except to say this: Westboro Baptist Church does not represent real christian belief or action. They need to get over all the hate preaching and start showing Jesus who was a friend of sinners, so much so that he died to set them free from their sin.
Not the Same
It’s just great to see that while the terror group ISIS is rampaging around the Middle East crucifying, beheading and raping people, that our more enlightened politicians are trying to tell us that Islam is really not that bad, and certainly no different to Christianity.
Most people were shocked at the sight of a young boy from Sydney holding up a human head like a trophy. The gallant people of the political left told us to get over it and move on.
The Australian reports this:
Opposition assistant treasury spokesman Andrew Leigh said the image was “horrendous” and noted “extremism comes in all sorts of guises”. “We need to celebrate the Australian Muslim community to recognise that there are many peoples of different faiths in the world and extremism comes in all sorts of guises. The Oklahoma bombing was carried out by a Christian.”
Mr Leigh should do some basic research. There is a thing called the internet and a quick check of Google or Wikipedia would have shown him that the Oklahoma bombing was in fact carried out by a guy who would best be described as agnostic and who had turned his back on the Catholic faith that he was raised in.
Extremism does come in all kinds of guises, but the most deadly and barbaric at the moment all happen to be Islamic, not christian. We worry about people returning from jihad in Syria, but not about anyone coming back from Rome.
Reflection on Psalm 133
Harmony, unity,
Oneness, togetherness
Loving community
God’s will for all
Disciples, believers
Followers, churches
An overflow of grace
Reflection on Genesis 45:1-15
Scripture
“So it was God who sent me here, not you! And he is the one who made me adviser of Pharaoh- the manager of his entire palace and the governor of all Egypt.”
Observation
Joseph has become the top leader in Egypt, second only to Pharaoh. His brothers have come seeking aid in the famine and have not recognised their long lost brother.
Joseph reveals his identity to his brothers. Rather than being angry with them for their ill-treatment of him, he recognises that God is the one who sent him to Egypt for all of their sakes.
Joseph tells them to go and tell Jacob their father to come with the extended family and live in the region of Goshen until the famine ends.
Application
Joseph is an example of a mature man of faith.
Firstly, he sees his whole life, even the bad parts, as being directed by the Lord for the long term good of himself and his family.
Secondly, he has learned to forgive this brothers for callously selling him into slavery.
Both of these are big challenges in all of our lives- faith and forgiveness.
Prayer
Lord, please help me to see your hand in every part of my life and to always forgive those who hurt me. Amen.
