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The Prayer of Relinquishment
The Prayer of Relinquishment This Sunday we’re going to be looking at how to deal with disappointment in prayer. This is a difficult topic because we’re not just talking about missing out on the Gold Lotto here. Disappointment in prayer ranges from the trivial to the tragic moments of despair when we cannot understand why God does or doesn’t do something we ask. We’ll be spending time together looking at how Jesus dealt with this tension on Sunday, but for now, I want to share with you an article written by Pete Greig and 24/7 Prayer on ‘The Prayer of Relinquishment’. I hope its advice helps you in those times when you are so discouraged that you really aren’t sure how to pray. Here it is: A quick introduction
‘Where is God?’ Why God’s Omnipresence Matters
‘Where is God?’ Why God’s Omnipresence Matters “Where is God?” It is a question you are probably familiar with. When we first encounter the idea of God, it is quite reasonable to wonder where he is; many children have asked their parent this simple question. And when difficult times arise and tragic events happen, we often ask this question in a different sense. The simple yet profound answer is “everywhere”. This is what we call God’s omnipresence (omni meaning ‘all’); the reality that God is present in all places at all times. God, as the creator of the universe, is not bound by the concepts of time and space which he created, so he is present in every part of time and space, while existing outside of them. But
An Update from our Children’s Ministry
An Update from our Children’s Ministry Our Operation Christmas Child appeal for 2020 has officially ended, and I’m so pleased to say that despite the challenges we experienced this year has, our church family has packed 240 shoeboxes for children living in poverty. Because of your generosity, a child will not only receive a box full of gifts, they will be invited to attend a Bible teaching project where they will hear the good news about Jesus. These shoeboxes provide a wonderful opportunity for the local church to reach their community and share the gospel with families. Thank you to the many people who have donated items, given money for postage costs, hand-made beautiful items for the boxes, and packed their own shoebox. I feel blessed to be part
The Most Rewarding Spiritual Practice (And How You Can Do It)
The Most Rewarding Spiritual Practice (And How You Can Do It) “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11) Chuck Swindoll once wrote, “I know of no other single practice in the Christian life more rewarding, practically speaking, than memorizing Scripture… No other single exercise pays greater spiritual dividends! Your prayer life will be strengthened. Your witnessing will be sharper and much more effective. Your attitudes and outlook will begin to change. Your mind will become alert and observant. Your confidence and assurance will be enhanced. Your faith will be solidified” (Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life, 61). Perhaps this is surprising to you? I must admit, I’m a novice when it comes to the practice of Scripture memorisation, and have
Youth Camp 2020
We had a great time at BECOME Youth Camp on the Sunshine Coast last weekend! There was plenty of fun, powerful times of worship, and engaging sessions from our speaker, Rev. KJ Tromp, who led us through the story of Joseph as we thought about how God Breaks, Shapes, and Makes his people. It was awesome to see several teenagers make the decision to give their life to Jesus at camp. Camp is a fun, engaging space where many friendships and memories are made, and it is also a powerful opportunity for us to think about what following Jesus really means for us. The Tribe Wars were a big highlight for me! In the Tribe Wars, everyone was split up into tribes which were given a colour and created
Lessons Learned from Ecclesiastes
Lessons Learned from Ecclesiastes This Sunday we come to the end of our study in the book of Ecclesiastes as we land our series, Chasing the Wind. And what a ride it’s been! I don’t know about you but I feel equal parts exhilarated and gloomy, excited and depressed. But I guess that’s exactly the way we should be feeling. After all, when we consider the totality of life in this world, as the Teacher has been doing throughout the book, it is equal parts exhilarating and depressing, exciting and sobering, joyous and painful, beautiful and tragic. This is my biggest personal takeaway from the book of Ecclesiastes. The complex, multi-faceted, nuanced experience of life. To put it simply, life is not simple, nor is it neat. In fact,
Learning from Our Aboriginal Friends
Learning from Our Aboriginal Friends I don’t know how much you know about the culture and history of our First Nations people, but I must confess that I have been ignorant for years. The only thing I remember from my school education was the movie, ‘Rabbit Proof Fence’. Over the past few years though, I have had a growing desire to learn more from our indigenous Australian family. Some things have sparked this for me. For example, Peter Adam (formerly principal of Ridley College Melbourne) taught me a Bible College subject in early 2019. I loved watching this brilliant, humble, Bible-loving Christian show so clearly that the church needs to be an advocate for indigenous Australians (you can read some of his articles here). Another thing that sparked this
A Poem for Father’s Day
A Poem for Father’s Day This weekend is Father’s Day. It is a day where many young children proudly make cards and hand-pick random gifts for their Dads. Older children purchase the never-fail Bunnings voucher, and weekends are filled with family catch-ups and meals. However, while many celebrate on this day, others find it a day filled with sadness, regret, pain, and other complex emotions. While we acknowledge that Father’s Day is a secular tradition, the Bible is clear that we are to honour and love our Fathers (Eph. 6:2). We will celebrate Dads in the service on Sunday by acknowledging some of the wonderful things our Dads have taught us. But we know that even the best earthly Fathers are only a shadow of our perfect Heavenly Father.
