The HBC Elders and advisors met again last night. After looking at John 13 together and praying about serving and loving like Jesus, we got to work on a couple of things.

Our treasurer Steve Elliot, took us through how we’re going as a church meeting our “gospel investment” expectations for 2010. Though giving has been a little under what we anticipated, we hope and pray that church members would consider their method and generosity of giving such that we’d still meet expectations for 2010. Steve will be emailing members about this soon. (Small plug… setting up a regular transfer is a great way to be regular and faithful in giving - see how to do it here)

We talked about some more things like; how to appropriately handle giving specifically directed towards MTS. We made some plans to write up some more detailed “appointment process” documents for staff and elders. We talked about what needs to happen to set up a “building fund”, as well as the need and potential of renting some office space in the meantime.

Please remember to pray for our elders, and for our church as we think about things like handling money and think about office space and buildings - that we’d be doing the very best thing for Jesus and HIS kingdom.

At church on Sunday they gave an almighty plug for Life to the Full through an interview with Alex and Johann.  One of the things Alex mentioned was that she was nervous on the first night of Life to the Full.  Questions run around your head like:

What will my friends think? Will they think I’m a looney tune for believing this? Is this going to be any good? Will Sam totally mess up further opportunities to share the gospel by being a complete git?  What will I say?  Will I know what to say about Jesus? How will I argue for God and at the same time hear their concerns and respect their opinions?

These are all great questions.  Some of the variables are completely out of your control but you can prepare yourself for Life to the Full and I think one of the best books I have read to that end is Naked God: The truth about God exposed by Martin Ayers.

Martin’s book is good one to read for 3 reasons.

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. It is very accessible.  Lots of apologetic style books are very complicated, long winded and difficult to get your head around. Martin is comprehensive, clear and concise.  A rare find.  As John Dickson says:  ”I was amazed, actually, how such a short book could feel so comprehensive.”
               2. It is comprehensive.  Martin covers a lot of material.  Whilst more reading could be done on all of the sections he writes about on the book in the Naked God we find a concise and clear distillation of many of those ideas.
               3. In his book he covers much of the same material that we look at in Life to the Full.

WHAT? Women of Truth is an annual, day conference for Christian women in the Hunter region. This year we’ll be getting into Ephesians with Deb Earnshaw and learning about being ‘One in Christ’! Optional seminar topics include Unity in Christ, Evangelism in the Playground, Singleness, Feminism and more.

WHERE? Lambton High School Hall, Young Road.

WHEN? Saturday 29^th May, 9am - 4pm

WHY? It’s a rare and wonderful opportunity to dwell on God and his word with other women!

COST? (includes a delightful morning tea and lunch!)

Students: $20

Standard: $30

READY TO REGISTER? WANT MORE INFO? Go to www.womenoftruth.info/

Registrations will also be taken at 10AM, 5PM, Women’s Bible Study and Unichurch.

It’s Saturday morning and I’m sitting in a café in Nelson Bay while my wife is at work doing a weekend shift.

Now don’t pity me too much. The sun is shining, the coffee is ok, the banana bread is excellent, and there’s a cool breeze coming off the water (I’m about 10 metres from the waters edge).

I dropped Sarah off at work about 2 hours ago, and I’ve spent most of the morning reading the book of Joshua over breakfast.

When I finished it I had this great sense of peace, but also tension.

Reaching the end of Joshua was like finishing the first chapter of the Old Testament.

God had made great promises to Abraham in Genesis 12 that he would give him his own land, make him into a great nation, bless him, and bless or curse the nations depending on how they acted towards Abraham.

Despite the dodgy-ness of Abraham’s kids, the sinful grumbling and rebellion of Israel, and the occasional epic failure of it’s leaders (see Aaron and the golden calf episode in Exodus 32 “No really Moses, I just threw the gold in the fire and this calf just walked out!” I mean seriously…), God has powerfully fulfilled all his promises.

Thus the Lord gave to Israel all the land that he swore to give to their fathers. And they took possession of it, and they settled there. And the Lord gave them rest on every side just as he had sworn to their fathers. Not one of all their enemies had withstood them, for the Lord had given all their enemies into their hands. Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.  (Joshua 21:43-45)

Reading that and looking at the sun shining on the bay I felt I could really identify with Israel. They had peace and rest. God was faithful and trustworthy. God had blessed them enormously.

But I also felt tension. Tension because I don’t expect Israel will be enjoying this land for long. In fact, I’m practically certain they won’t. All through Deuteronomy and Joshua, Moses and Joshua again and again tell the Israelites they are unable to serve God and tell them the terrible consequences for turning away from him to serve false gods.

One of the last things Joshua says to Israel is,

“You are not able to serve the Lord, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good.” (Joshua 24:19-20)

The sinfulness of Israel means they won’t be able to enjoy the blessing of God in the land he has given them.

And as I was thinking about that and enjoying the view, it made me so thankful for Jesus. Because as beautiful as this day is, I know God’s new creation will be more beautiful and wonderful still. And there is no way that I could have any certainty of living there without my sin forgiven and washed away by Jesus death.

It’s been a great morning! Great to enjoy a beautiful day, but even better because this is just the tiniest glimpse into the beauty of God’s new creation! Thank you Jesus! Please come soon!

photo credit: that sugars guy

Its on again!  Life the the Full is running again in the month of May every Monday night from 6-8pm at the Waterboard Bowling Club Lambton.  For those who don’t know it’s a 5 week course where we investigate the claims of Jesus and share a meal together.

The nights are split up as follows;

Week 1. The Reason for Jesus

Week 2. The Historical Man

Week 3. The Problem of Sin

Week 4. The Solution in the Cross

Week 5. The Meaning in the Resurrection

So next time your at church grab one of the life to the full business cards and have a think about who you could invite.  If you do have a friend who would like to come along please click here  to register.

What type of love did Jesus show us? What type of love did Jesus talk about in the hours before his death?

Starting Sunday May 2nd, Greg Lee will be taking us through John’s account of Jesus’ last words with his disciples before he went to the cross. In these chapters we see Jesus being betrayed, Jesus lowering himself to wash his disciple’s feet, praying to the Father for his disciples, and teaching about what is to come.

Make sure you come along to any of our three Sunday meetings over May and June to hear about Jesus and love without boundaries.

Here are 10 reasons the Anglican Archbishop of Sydney Peter Jensen has given as to why the ethics classes are not a good idea.

Scripture v’s Ethics #3 is coming…stay tuned!!!

I came across this article which I thought you might like to read from The National Times.

Stay tuned for Scripture v’s Ethics #3 - where I will provide a sample letter you can use as a starting point for writing a letter in opposition to the ethics classes.

Psalm 78

¹ O my people, hear my teaching;
listen to the words of my mouth.

² I will open my mouth in parables,
I will utter hidden things, things from of old-

³ what we have heard and known,
what our fathers have told us.

⁴ We will not hide them from their children;
we will tell the next generation
the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD,
his power, and the wonders he has done.

⁵ He decreed statutes for Jacob
and established the law in Israel,
which he commanded our forefathers
to teach their children,

⁶ so the next generation would know them,
even the children yet to be born,
and they in turn would tell their children.

One of the amazing privileges of living in Australia is our public education system. Not simply that children have the opportunity to read, write and add but even more importantly children in our public schools are educated about the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord.

Week by week we have teams of Scripture teachers ascending on some of the local schools (both primary and high school) in the area. Each week they open the bible with these kids and help them to access the truth that will set them free.

Recently there has been a push to have ethics classes replace the current Scripture time slots or at least stand in opposition to them. Sadly there is a trial beginning this term in a number of schools around the state whereby parents and children had the choice to withdraw from their current Scripture classes and commence ethics lessons delivered by staff from their school.

Not surprisingly about half the numbers of Scripture children in these trial schools have been withdrawn. How devastating for the future of children in Australia if these ethics lessons are passed. This generation and following generations of children will live in even greater ignorance of their creator and saviour.

What can we do? How are we to respond to the changes in our local schools? Can I give you three suggestions…

1) PRAY - pray that these trials will not be successful. Pray that teachers and students are unsatisfied with the ethics lessons. Pray that God would continue to use Scripture in our schools to bring glory to his name.

2) WRITE - letters to our state government showing your opposition to the cancellation (or decrease) of Scripture teaching in schools. If you are a parent - write to the principals of the schools and areas supervisors showing your opposition to these changes.

3) TEACH - our time in schools teaching this generation about the good news about Jesus may indeed be limited. Why not give Scripture teaching a go! Make the most of the opportunities we have now…have no regrets!!!

My prayer is that these trials will not be successful. My prayer is that children would so love their Scripture classes that when given the option to change to ethics classes they choose Scripture. My prayer is that we would continue having the freedom to go into schools and teach of the praiseworthy deeds of our Lord. Won’t you pray that with me?

How sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Whoever wrote Psalm 119 knew how to fall grow in love for God. Two repeated truths are:

God’s word, laws, precepts, decrees or commands are wonderful
²⁴ Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors.
¹¹¹ Your statutes are the joy of my heart.
¹²⁹ Your statutes are wonderful; therefore I obey them.
¹⁶⁷ I obey your statutes, for I love them greatly.

God alone can teach us to love Him
¹⁸ Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.
²⁷ Let me understand the teaching of your precepts; then I will meditate on your wonders.
³³ Teach me, O LORD, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end.
³⁵ Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight.
¹³³ Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me

It’s worth taking the time to read the whole Psalm and look at all the reasons the writer loves God. Then make it your prayer and your song.

photo credit: ( Torsten )