OzThoughts Tuesday. 2nd December 2008

It is Advent but Christmas is coming! So many things to do!  So many things to
get! I have been reminded in recent days of Matt Redman’s song:

I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about you, it's all about you Jesus
I'm sorry lord for the thing I've made it
When it's all about you, it's all about you Jesus.
(Matt Redman)


I see the challenge to look to the real things of Christmas. To look to the
reason Jesus came. The world needed a Saviour. Look to the unexpected way God
sent his Son. Our worship is to welcome and praise him.

Jesus is the gift !

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, thank you for Christmas and all it means to the relationship
between you and me. Help me to grow in that relationship as I seek to know more
of you. Help me to see and show Christmas is all about you, Jesus.
  “I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made it, when it's all about you, all
about you Jesus”.  Amen.



The Heart of Worship

[Look and Listen:  http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=c_Wpe_Q-MQk&feature=related ]

When the music fades,
All is stripped away, and I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
That will bless your heart

I'll bring you more than a song
For a song in itself is not what you have required.
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear;
You're looking into my heart.

I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about you
All about you Jesus.
I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made it
When it's all about you,
All about you Jesus.

King of endless worth
No one could express
How much you deserve.
Though I'm weak and poor
All I have is yours, every single breath.

I'll bring you more than a song
For a song in itself is not what you have required.
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear;
You're looking into my heart.

I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about you
All about you Jesus.
I'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made it
When it's all about you,
All about you Jesus.
	 Author: Matt Redman

Hebrews 12:1-3 (The Message)
  1-3  Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all
these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down,
start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins.
  Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study
how he did it.
Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in
and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame,
whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When
you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by
item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot
adrenaline into your souls!


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OzThoughts Monday 1st December 2008

I pray that you will carry the thoughts and meditations and the blessings of
Sunday into the week that lies ahead with its blessings and challenges.

Yesterday was the first Sunday in Advent. For Salvationists, certainly where I
am, it is the beginning of a season of singing and playing Christmas Carols out
in the community. I thought of the opportunities for singing and music making
when I read from the Psalms. I have been reading from The Message Psalm 104
where the final few verses make a wonderful response to God and His marvelous
creation.

33 Oh, let me sing to GOD all my life long,
sing hymns to my God as long as I live!
34 Oh, let my song please him;
I'm so pleased to be singing to GOD.
35 But clear the ground of sinners--
no more godless men and women!

O my soul, bless GOD!

As I reflected on my music making, I thought of a favorite song of mine, “My
Jesus, I love thee”. These words make a great response to Jesus, the  babe of
Bethlehem

[Listen:  http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_1001.mp3 ]

My Jesus, I love thee, I know thou art mine,
For thee all the pleasures of sin I resign;
My gracious Redeemer, my Saviour art thou,
If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

I love thee because thou hast first loved me,
And purchased my pardon on Calvary's tree;
I love thee for wearing the thorns on thy brow,
If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

I will love thee in life, I will love thee in death,
And praise thee as long as thou lendest me breath;
And say, when the death-dew lies cold on my brow:
If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.

In mansions of Glory and endless delight,
I'll ever adore thee and dwell in thy sight;
I'll sing with the glittering crown on my brow:
If ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now.
Author:  William Ralph Featherstone (1846-73
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number:  357


PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, help me today and the rest of this week to live in response to
your love for me. Help me in this time of preparation for Christmas show Jesus
through all my activities. Help me too to deal with those who seem to oppose you
even through indifference. Amen.

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Australian Thoughts at the Weekend.  29th and 30th November 2008

Pies

I find it difficult to understand why in writing these ‘Thoughts’ each
weekend for nearly six years that I have not written about what many consider
our national food. I have told one or two stories about them, but I have not
made the pie the subject of one of these essays.

It has been suggested that this nation of 20 million people consume 250 million
pies a year. The website that gave me that figure goes on to say “The
traditional Aussie meat pie is about 15cm in diameter, just large enough to hold
in one hand and covered in tomato sauce. The pastry is usually shortcrust (heavy
enough so it doesn't fall apart in your hands), and the filling is beef or
chicken with enough thick gravy inside to stick it all together.
(http://www.alldownunder.com/oz-u/food-recipes/meat-pies.htm - there is a
picture on this site, too).

I have been trying to remember when I had my first pie. I am sure it would have
been long before I started school but I remember that was when I met the
pie-man. The pie-man came to our school each lunch hour and parked his panel van
under a tree. In the back of it he had a small oven with a number of trays for
heating his meat pies. He had a small wood burning fire under the oven which
supplied the heat and the smoke which came out the chimney above the oven.

The pie-man’s specialty was pie and peas. The mushy peas were in a large
boiler. When someone ordered pie and peas, he would lift the lid of the pie with
his spoon and then spoon a heap of the peas into the pie. Sauce was supplied
free. It was called “black sauce” or “hot sauce” but the label said
Worcestershire Sauce. Sometimes the pie-man used the top of the bottle to pierce
a hole in the pie top and shake some sauce into the pie. When he was busy he
allowed his customers to do this. There was a single hole in the bottle top to
allow drops of sauce to emerge. The pie-man also sold sausage rolls and cream
buns but pies were his main sale item.

One day when we were returning from the hall used by the school for dance
classes, we found the pie-man had left his bottle of sauce in its place beside
the tree. Now what do 6 12-year-old boys do with a bottle of “hot sauce”. 
Drink it, of course! So we all stood around drinking this free gift of sauce
direct from the bottle. As one of us coughed and spluttered as the hot spice or
vinegar tickled our tonsils, we passed the bottle to a mate. We soon decided we
had had enough and put the now depleted bottle back where we had found it.

My parents taught me never to buy a pie on a Monday .I have heard other people
say the same thing.  It seems there was a good chance that Monday pies were left
over from Saturday or maybe Friday as most shops did not trade on Sundays.
Refrigeration in those days was scarce and freezers almost non-existent so
leftover pies would be stored in a cool place.  Now that cool place in a
sub-tropical climate would be warmer than a hot day in many other places. Maybe
it was Monday pies that got the meat pie its nickname of a “Maggot bag”. I
am told although I have never heard it that a hot pie with tomato sauce was
called a "haemorrhaging maggot bag".

I think the rhyming slang name for a pie is a little better than the nickname
above. In rhyming slang, a pie is a “dog’s eye” and sauce is referred to
as” dead horse”. In days gone by, there were only two choices with pies,
either “take it or leave it”.

A meat pie was usually mince meat and gravy and the options were sometimes mushy
peas and always sauce. These days there are many choices. Here is a list of some
that are available: Steak & Kidney, Curry, Chunky Steak, Chicken, Chicken &
vegetable, Bacon & Cheese, Bacon & Egg, Mushroom, Cottage, Lamb & Rosemary, and
Pepper Steak. These are rather common ones but some establishments will feature
”gourmet pies”.  These are likely to include beef stroganoff pies, Thai
Chicken Curry, chicken vindaloo or other Asian or European dishes converted into
a pie.

I am not sure how universal meat pies are but they are common right across
Australia. Ten years ago I was attending a heart rehabilitation gymnasium and
healthy eating classes with other recovering “heart patients”. One of the
men remarked how he loved pies and now he could not eat them, (too much fat and
salt), he had never realised how many signs there were on shops in our city
advertising “hot pies”. He admitted he found it very hard to go past them.
Most of us agreed with him on that point.

It was while I was in hospital those ten years ago, that I met a fellow patient
who was an old fashioned country baker. A good country baker makes good crusty
fresh bread and good meat pies. One of the many stories he told was how after he
had baked Saturday’s bread and cakes, he would turn his attention to making
several hundred meat pies. They were all made by hand and had to be ready and
hot for interval at the picture ‘show’ (theatre) across the road.
Particularly on cold frosty nights, the crowd would rush across the road to buy
hot pies as their interval snack. Any leftover pies from interval were soon sold
at the end of the pictures.

Some years ago, my wife and I were travelling in country Victoria, when we found
a suitable take-away shop in one town to get some lunch. As we contemplated the
menu board, a tourist coach arrived and emptied its noisy contents into the same
shop. We decided to find somewhere else to eat.  A little further along the road
and up a side lane, we found the town bakery. It had a few tables and chairs and
sold coffee as well as bakery goods, so we settled on that.

I ordered a couple of steak pies ‘eat in’ and two coffees and asked the
young shop assistant if they had any hot, black or Worcestershire sauce. She
said, “What with pies? I never heard of that”. When I said yes, she said
“You have tomato sauce with pies. You can’t be from around here.” So we
did as we were told and had tomato sauce with pies. It was only after that
encounter that I began to notice that Victorians and New South Welshmen do
prefer tomato sauce with their pies.

I have mentioned earlier that my school pie-man had mushy peas to serve with his
pies and that is common throughout Australia. My high school pie shop for a few
cents extra also put about eight or ten hot chips with the peas under the lid of
the pie. Don’t tell the heart health people about that one.

Now, if you go to the city of Adelaide, and find one of the night time pie
carts, you can have a pie with your peas. Adelaide is famous for its Pie
Floater. Here's the official definition from Wiki – “A pie floater is a meal
served at pie carts in Adelaide and elsewhere in South Australia. It was once
more widely available in other parts of Australia but its popularity waned. It
consists of the traditional Australian meat pie covered with tomato sauce
(similar to ketchup), sitting, usually inverted, in a plate of thick green pea
soup”

Now meat pies are the food of choice for many at football matches and similar
events. On a cold winter’s day when watching football a warm pie with sauce
has a particular attraction. I have previously told the story of two Salvation
Army Officer’s who agreed to meet outside the Australian football Grand Final
at the Melbourne Cricket Grounds to soak up the atmosphere and have a hot pie
before going home to watch the match on television.

However, it was not only at football and sporting events that the hot meat pie
was popular. When I was a child, I remember my mother taking us shopping in the
city centre where we would go to Penney’s (later Coles’) Cafeteria where we
would have a pie with three vegetables. This was a pie on a plate with thin
gravy on the pie and served with mashed potato, mashed pumpkin and green peas
(not mushy peas). My wife tells me that her grandmother who lived in a small
country town would take the visiting grandchildren to the local cafe where they
would have a pie with gravy and 3 vegetables.

Now when I left Australia for the first time to go to New Zealand, I did not
miss my Aussie meat pies. However, I did miss out on buying a “Possum pie”
at a roadside shop on the south west coast of the south island. We did stop at
the shop, but other tourists had eaten them out of stock. Possums are Australian
marsupials which were taken to New Zealand and have reached pest proportions as
there are no natural predators.

In my visit to England, earlier this year, I did not get to try an English pork
pie but I did enjoy a Cornish Pastie. When we visited Hampton Court we were
reminded of the nursery rhyme:

Sing a song of sixpence a pocket full of rye,
Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie.
When the pie was opened the birds began to sing,
Oh wasn't that a dainty dish to set before the king?
The king was in his counting house counting out his money,
The queen was in the parlour eating bread and honey
The maid was in the garden hanging out the clothes,
When down came a blackbird and pecked off her nose!

The person conducting our tour of Hampton Court kitchens told us that pies were
common on the menus in earlier days but the pie crust was not eaten. The pie
crust was just the container for cooking the meat and gravy, etc in a similar
way to which we would use a casserole dish today. It was suggested that an empty
pie crust could be filled with live birds or small animals and would cause great
laughter when they escaped as the pie crust was broken.

Now the crust on an Aussie meat pie must not be as hard as that at Hampton Court
but it should be strong enough to stand on its own and not lie down to spill its
contents all over the eater’s hand. Some shops sell their meat pies in an
aluminium foil pie dish but a pie connoisseur knows this is admitting their pies
are not up to standard.

I can’t find any reference to a meat pies in the Bible. However, I could
understand if it was a meat pie that Esau and Jacob (Genesis 25) traded for the
birthright and was given to Isaac (Genesis 27) in exchange for his final
blessing. Maybe the red bean soup or the meat dish served to Isaac was served in
a pastry shell with a lid to keep the heat and flavour in.


More  information about pies:

http://www.kenduncan.com/funandfree/recipe/MeatPieRecipe.htm
http://www.alldownunder.com/oz-u/food-recipes/meat-pies.htm

http://www.mrsmacs.com.au/MediaCentre/MeatPieTrivia.php

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OzThoughts Friday 28th November 2008

As we think of our place before God and as his servants in the world, there must
be many, many thoughts that course like a stream through our mind. There are
some affirmations that we can make. With David the Psalmist we can say “the
Lord is my shepherd” or with Peter “You are the Christ”. We can declare
with the chorus writers “God is still on his throne” and “He’s the same
today as yesterday”. We can say with the song writer “Thou art giving and
forgiving, ever blessing and ever blest”.

However Miriam Richards looks at a number of questions we can ask as a servant
of God and then supplies a wonderful affirmation in the chorus. We can allow God
to speak to us as we prayerfully meditate on these words. Can we shout
“amen” and “hallelujah” to this affirmation?

What can I say to cheer a world of sorrow?
How bring back hope where men have sorely failed?
Just where I am I'll speak the word of comfort,
Tell how for me Christ's sacrifice availed.

Chorus
Just where he needs me, my Lord has placed me,
Just where he needs me, there would I be!
And since he found me, by love he's bound me
To serve him joyfully.

What can I do to ease life's heavy burdens?
What can I do to help mankind in need?
Just where I am I'll share my neighbour's hardship,
Lighten his load, and prove a friend indeed.

What can I do to justify my living?
What can I be to worthwhile?
I'll be a voice to call men to the Saviour,
Just where I am, and win my Father's smile.
	 Author: Miriam M. Richards
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 706

Psalm 24 (The Message)
A David psalm
  1GOD claims Earth and everything in it,
God claims World and all who live on it.
     2He built it on Ocean foundations,
     laid it out on River girders.

  3Who can climb Mount GOD?
     Who can scale the holy north-face?
     4Only the clean-handed,
     only the pure-hearted;
     Men who won't cheat,
     women who won't seduce.

  5GOD is at their side;
     with GOD's help they make it.
     6This, Jacob, is what happens
     to God--seekers, God--questers.


  7Wake up, you sleepyhead city!
     Wake up, you sleepyhead people!
     King-Glory is ready to enter.


  8Who is this King-Glory?
     GOD, armed
     and battle-ready.


  9Wake up, you sleepyhead city!
     Wake up, you sleepyhead people!
     King-Glory is ready to enter.


  10Who is this King-Glory?
     GOD of the angel armies:
     he is King-Glory.


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OzThoughts Thursday 27th November 2008

As we think about Jesus demonstrating his compassion to many people , even those
of “other peoples” such as the Samaritan woman at the well and the
Syro-Phonecian woman, there is a lesson there for us to “go and do
likewise”.  The Christian church has a very long history of going to “other
peoples” reaching back to Jesus and early church missionaries such as St Paul
come to mind. The early Salvation Army was most enthusiastic and some of its
earliest slogans were “Christ for the world” and “The world for Christ”.

I remember reading years ago that when we consider the story of the Good
Samaritan with its challenge to consider “other peoples” as our neighbours,
not to forget our neighbour is also the person who lives next door! Sometimes,
we give ourselves to overseas missions but neglect the mission field over our
home’s boundary fences.

It is not always easy to work in that mission field. Even Jesus found that.
Three of the four Gospel writers include the story of Jesus being rejected at
Nazareth. It is a sad story:

Mark 6:1-6 (The Message)
Just a Carpenter
  1He left there and returned to his hometown. His disciples came along. 2On the
Sabbath, he gave a lecture in the meeting place. He made a real hit, impressing
everyone. "We had no idea he was this good!" they said. "How did he get so wise
all of a sudden, get such ability?"
     3But in the next breath they were cutting him down: "He's just a
carpenter--Mary's boy. We've known him since he was a kid. We know his brothers,
James, Justus, Jude, and Simon, and his sisters. Who does he think he is?" They
tripped over what little they knew about him and fell, sprawling. And they never
got any further.
     4Jesus told them, "A prophet has little honor in his hometown, among his
relatives, on the streets he played in as a child." 5Jesus wasn't able to do
much of anything there--he laid hands on a few sick people and healed them,
that's all. 6He couldn't get over their stubbornness. He left and made a circuit
of the other villages, teaching.

Jesus accepted the challenge of their stubbornness and moved on. However, as he
moved on he had the knowledge he had tried to teach them. It was in doing that
he failed. He never gave up before he tried to teach them. He did not walk away
from them because he knew them. They rejected him because they thought they knew
him already.
I guess that is one of the difficulties of our home mission field. So many
people think they know Jesus. We must try to share his love and the message that
he is “The way, the truth and the life (John 14: 6). People then need to make
their own decision about him. Our task is to love them and give them that
chance.

PRAYER:
Father, I pray that you will help me in the hardest mission field. That is the
places where I am known. Help me to share Jesus in the love I show today. Amen.
[Listen: CongregationalSong: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/songs/songs_014.mp3

Vocal solo: Mandy Williams: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_256.mp3]

The Saviour of men came to seek and to save
The souls who were lost to the good;
His Spirit was moved for the world which he loved
With the boundless compassion of God.
And still there are fields where the laborers are few,
And still there are souls without bread,
And still eyes that weep where the darkness is deep,
And still straying sheep to be led.

Chorus
Except I am moved with compassion,
How dwelleth thy Spirit in me?
In word and in deed
Burning love is my need;
I know I can find this in thee.

O is not the Christ 'midst the crowd of today
Whose questioning cries do not cease?
And will he not show to the hearts that would know
The things that belong to their peace?
But how shall they hear if the preacher forbear
Or lack in compassionate zeal?
Or how shall hearts move with the Master's own love,
Without his anointing and seal?

It is not with might to establish the right,
Nor yet with the wise to give rest;
The mind cannot show what the heart longs to know
Nor comfort a people distressed.
O Saviour of men, touch my spirit again,
And grant that thy servant may be
Intense every day, as I labor and pray,
Both instant and constant for thee.
Author:  Albert Orsborn (1886-1967)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 527

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OzThoughts Wednesday 26th November 2008

Mark 7:24-30 (The Message)
24From there Jesus set out for the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house there
where he didn't think he would be found, but he couldn't escape notice. 25He was
barely inside when a woman who had a disturbed daughter heard where he was. She
came and knelt at his feet, 26begging for help. The woman was Greek,
Syro-Phoenician by birth. She asked him to cure her daughter.
     27He said, "Stand in line and take your turn. The children get fed first. If
there's any left over, the dogs get it."
     28She said, "Of course, Master. But don't dogs under the table get scraps
dropped by the children?"
     29Jesus was impressed. "You're right! On your way! Your daughter is no
longer disturbed. The demonic affliction is gone." 30She went home and found her
daughter relaxed on the bed, the torment gone for good.
This is a pretty strange story. It doesn’t fit the “Jesus of love” we
know. However, I think this is one place where we see the humour of Jesus shine
through. Today, there would probably be some politically correct person who
would point out that it was not lawful to call a person of another race a dog.
The woman was not worried about what Jesus called her. She saw the love and the
smile but most of all her faith saw its opportunity. She saw a crumb that was
hers! She grabbed that crumb. In the words of Jesus she saw his love as being
not only enough for the children of his own nation, but she saw there was more
than enough for her and her daughter’s healing. She saw the fact that Jesus
had left his own country as a sign that he had come to meet her and her
daughter’s need.
Jesus’s love met her faith and she was told that her daughter was well.
PRAYER;
Heavenly Father,  thank you that you love each one of us as your children. Help
me to value others from other nations as your children. Father, in this troubled
world may I show your love to all. Amen.
MEDITATION:
In Christ there is no east or west,
In him no south or north,
But one great fellowship of love
Throughout the whole wide earth.

In him shall true hearts everywhere
Their high communion find;
His service is the golden cord
Close-binding all mankind.

Join hands then, brothers of the faith,
Whate'er your race may be;
Who serves my Father as a son
Is surely kin to me.

In Christ now meet both east and west,
In him meet south and north;
All Christly souls are one in him
Throughout the whole wide earth.




Author:  John Oxenham (1852-1941)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 826

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OzThoughts Tuesday 25th November 2008

For a number of reasons, I have been thinking about a visit to a Catholic church
for a christening some years ago. One of the things I noticed was the Priest was
wearing sandals. They were not the leather sandals like Jesus wore or even a
modern leather version of them. They were what we know in Australia as surf
sandals which are made of (and I am guessing here) plastic and nylon and are
fastened with Velcro.

The fact that he belonged to a Franciscan order probably had something to do
with his clothing and sandals and the simple robes he wore. Certainly it was
simpler and much less formal than the average Salvo uniform. As I thought about
this I thought of the simple faith of many believers. St Francis in choosing
Jesus chose to live a simple life. He called others to live simply as he lived
and to reach out to those in need around them.

I think, too, of Jesus. In thinking of Jesus I thought again, as we did
recently, of Isaiah who said:

I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe
filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings
they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they
were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another:
        "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;
        the whole earth is full of his glory."  (Isaiah 6: 1,2. New International
Version.)

What a contrast there is in the picture St Paul describes:

Christ Jesus:
  6Who, being in very nature God,
       did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
  7but made himself nothing,
       taking the very nature of a servant,
       being made in human likeness.
  8And being found in appearance as a man,
       he humbled himself
       and became obedient to death—
          even death on a cross!
  9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
       and gave him the name that is above every name,
  10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
       in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
  11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
       to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2: 5b-11).

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father. Help me to live as Jesus would have me live today so that I
might be useful for you. Amen.


O that in me the mind of Christ
A fixed abiding-place may find,
That I may know the will of God,
And live in him for lost mankind.

Chorus
Doing the will of God,
Doing the will of God,
The best thing I know in this world below
Is doing the will of God.

The suffering servant he became,
Yea more; in loneliness and loss
He bore for me in grief and shame,
A crown of thorns. a heavy cross.

O that in me this mind might be,
The will of God be all my joy,
Prepared with him to go or stay,
My chief delight his sweet employ.

More than all else I would become
The servant of my servant-Lord;
My highest glory his reproach,
To do his will my best reward.
Author:  Edward Henry Joy (1871-1949)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 451

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OzThoughts Monday 24th November 2008


I am of the age where I look back on many hymns and spiritual songs and see them
as markers in my life. It means something to me to sing them. Sometimes, too, as
I sing a hymn I can share with the writer the struggle and eventual victory
through Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Other hymns remind me of truths I have learnt
and I believe can be a teaching tool for others.

Salvationists have always looked for new songs. The Salvation Army press have
churned out new songs and new melodies since our earliest days. Our Founder,
William booth could write in a Preface to a new Song Book ”Surely, no man has
ever been called upon to make, or direct the making of, so many Song Books ,as I
have.

Some of the newer songs leave me cold. However, there are others which I embrace
and enjoy. One of the newer songs which I have thought about many times, fits
very well into the coming Advent Season. Yes, we can lift the Lords name high as
we praise him for coming from Heaven to earth. Then from the earth to the cross
and so on as we praise God for the full cycle of Jesus life.  It comes as a
reminder that we do not only worship the babe of Bethlehem but we worship Christ
our risen Saviour.

Lord I Lift Your Name On High
[Watch and Listen : http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=COQ6cni_TG8&feature=related ]

Lord I lift your name on high
Lord I love to sing your praises
I'm so glad You are in my life
I'm so glad You came to save us

You came from heaven to earth
To show the way
From the earth to the cross
My debt to pay
From the cross to the grave
From the grave to the sky
Lord I lift Your name on high

Lord I lift your name on high
Lord I love to sing your praises
I'm so glad You are in my life
I'm so glad You came to save us

You came from heaven to earth
To show the way
From the earth to the cross
My debt to pay
From the cross to the grave
From the grave to the sky
Lord I lift Your name on high

You came from heaven to earth
To show the way
From the earth to the cross
My debt to pay
From the cross to the grave
From the grave to the sky
Lord I lift Your name on high
	 Words and Music: Rick Founds

PRAYER:

Father, thank you for your son, Jesus. Thank you that he is a living reality to
me to day. Help me to lift his name on high as I move through the events of my
life today. Amen.

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OzThoughts Friday 20th November, 2008.

Friday. For most people it the end of the work week and a time of beginning to
relax with friends for the weekend. I remember when I was taxi driving I would
be taking people home rather late from work after they had tarried with friends.
If I was lucky, maybe a street or two away, I would pick up some other
passengers who were going to spend the night in enjoyment with friends.

Men I was taking home from work would want to know where to buy flowers for
their wife because they were late. Sometimes the ladies would ask if I thought
they looked okay. Did I think their dress was okay? Did they look okay?  Was I
to say that sometimes they looked less than okay? Could I sound too enthusiastic
in saying they looked fantastic?

Our relationships with others are governed by lots of things. For the Christian
our lives are governed by Christ. Our choice of friends and our choice of
leisure activities are all governed by Christ. It is interesting to meditate on
what Paul writes to the Colossians:


10Now you're dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is
custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now
obsolete.
11Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and
outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on
everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ.
12So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked
out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline.
13Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offence.
Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you.
14And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic,
all-purpose garment. Never be without it.
15Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each
other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate
thankfulness.
16Let the Word of Christ--the Message--have the run of the house. Give it plenty
of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense.
And sing, sing your hearts out to God!
17Let every detail in your lives--words, actions, whatever--be done in the name
of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, I thank you for the direction you give my life through Christ.
I pray today as I meet and relax with workmates and other friends that I will
live well for you. Help me to live and act as you would have me do. Amen.

I've  a friend, of friends the fairest,
I have known and proved him long;
His is beauty, purest, rarest,
His is love most true and strong.
Ever since his kindness drew me,
And my newborn soul found breath,
Jesus has been growing dearer,
Till to lose him would be death.

Chorus
Take the world, but give me Jesus,
He alone can satisfy;
Take the world, but give me Jesus;
Neath his cross I'll live and die.

When my heart with joy is glowing,
'Tis of Jesus I would sing,
When my cup is overflowing,
To his feet my praises bring.
And when care and sorrow meet me,
Pain and grief and dark distress,
Still I cry: O give me Jesus,
He alone can help and bless!

Would you gain this friend so tender?
Would you find this faithful guide?
Come then, make a full surrender,
Yield to Jesus crucified.
Take his easy yoke upon you,
And his purpose daily learn,
Just to do his will entirely,
Pleasing him your chief concern.
	 Authors:  Ruth Tracy (1870-1960)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 343

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OzThoughts Thursday 20th November 2008

Some years ago, I worked for Australian Red Cross and in particular, I was
involved in management of the volunteer branches throughout the State. I was
often called on to chair the branch annual general meetings.

Sometimes it was difficult to get people to act as executives of the branch. So
we would urge people present to accept nomination as President, Secretary or
Treasurer. We always felt satisfied when someone said “Yes, I will accept
nomination”. It then became my task to train and mentor this person in the
tasks of the position.

Sometimes I wondered at the ease with which a person was accepted into the
position and in my mind contrasted it with the selection process I was familiar
with in Salvation Army Corps (churches). So often it is difficult to know who is
willing to serve in what task in the church.

A story which is very special and tells the story of a man and his servant
relationship with God is the story of Isaiah.

Isaiah 6 (The Message)
Holy, Holy, Holy!

1  In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Master sitting on a
throne--high, exalted!-and the train of his robes filled the Temple.
2 Angel-seraphs hovered above him, each with six wings. With two wings they
covered their faces, with two their feet, and with two they flew."
3 And they called back and forth one to the other,
     Holy, Holy, Holy is GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies.
     His bright glory fills the whole earth.
4 The foundations trembled at the sound of the angel voices, and then the whole
house filled with smoke.
5 I said,     "Doom! It's Doomsday!     I'm as good as dead!
   	  Every word I've ever spoken is tainted--
    	 blasphemous even!
    	 And the people I live with talk the same way,
   	  using words that corrupt and desecrate.
    	 And here I've looked God in the face!
   	  The King! GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies!"
6 Then one of the angel-seraphs flew to me. He held a live coal that he had
taken with tongs from the altar.
7 He touched my mouth with the coal and said,
     "Look. This coal has touched your lips.
     Gone your guilt,
     your sins wiped out."
     8  And then I heard the voice of the Master:
     "Whom shall I send?
     Who will go for us?"
     I spoke up,
     "I'll go.
     Send me!"
He said, "Go and tell this people…”

Here in a few verses is worship, cleansing, a call and a response and then a
commissioning.  God needed someone. Isaiah was ready because he submitted to God
and was in a right relationship with God.

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, I worship you in all your holiness, I like Isaiah feel so
unworthy and unclean in your presence. However, Father, I am here to do your
will. If it pleases, you show me your will today. Amen.

[Listen:  http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/songs/songs_062.mp3 ]

I would be thy holy temple,
Sacred and indwelt by thee;
Naught then could stain my commission,
'Tis thy divine charge to me.

Chorus
Take thou my life, Lord,
In deep submission I pray,
My all to thee dedicating,
Accept my offering today.
Take thou my life, Lord, I pray;
Take thou my life, Lord, I pray;
My all to thee dedicating,
Accept my offering today.

Seeking to mirror thy glory,
Living to answer thy call,
Each faithful vow now renewing,
Gladly I yield thee my all.

Time, health and talents presenting,
All that I have shall be thine;
Heart mind and will consecrating,
No longer shall they be mine.

O for a heart of compassion,
Moved at the impulse of love,
Lost ones to bring to thy footstool,
Thy gracious riches to prove!
Author: Brindley Boon
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 786

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OzThoughts Wednesday 19th November 2008

At the moment I can hear the sound of abundance of rain. Here in the south east
corner of Queensland, we had a massive chain of storms on Sunday afternoon and
there has been a lot of damage with houses destroyed or badly damaged in the
western suburbs of Brisbane. At Mt Tamborine in the Gold Coast Hinterland
falling trees were a major hazard. Please pray for those who have suffered.

For most people, there was no damage and our lawns and gardens are benefiting
for the good soaking of rain. Our country badly needs this rain and we pray our
water supply dams will benefit from the downpours.

Sometimes it is just good to soak in the Word of God and allow it to speak to
our mind, body and spirit. I feel like this when I read Paul’s statement of
faith and praise in Colossians.

[Listen: For the beauty of the earth :
http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_1519.mp3 ]

Christ Holds It All Together
15We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son
and see God's original purpose in everything created.
16For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible,
rank after rank after rank of angels--everything got started in him and finds
its purpose in him.
17He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together
right up to this moment.
18And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a
head does a body.
He was supreme in the beginning and--leading the resurrection parade--he is
supreme in the end. From beginning to end he's there, towering far above
everything, everyone. 19So spacious is he, so roomy, that everything of God
finds its proper place in him without crowding.
20Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the
universe--people and things, animals and atoms--get properly fixed and fit
together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured
down from the Cross.
21You yourselves are a case study of what he does. At one time you all had your
backs turned to God, thinking rebellious thoughts of him, giving him trouble
every chance you got.
22But now, by giving himself completely at the Cross, actually dying for you,
Christ brought you over to God's side and put your lives together, whole and
holy in his presence.
23You don't walk away from a gift like that! You stay grounded and steady in
that bond of trust, constantly tuned in to the Message, careful not to be
distracted or diverted. There is no other Message--just this one. Every creature
under heaven gets this same Message. I, Paul, am a messenger of this Message.
Colossians 1 (The Message).

PRAYER:

God, our Father, we pray today for those who are suffering through natural
events and man made causes. We pray that people will look to you and be aware of
your majesty, your holiness and your love.

Father, I join in praise of you because of all your benefits to me. Help me to
go out from this time of worship and reflection as your servant. Amen.

[Listen:   http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_2370.mp3  ]

For the beauty of the earth,
For the beauty of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies,
Father, unto thee we raise
This our sacrifice of praise.

For the beauty of each hour
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale and tree and flower,
Sun and moon and stars of light,
Father, unto thee we raise
This our sacrifice of praise.

For the joy of ear and eye,
For the heart and mind's delight,
For the mystic harmony
Linking sense to sound and sight,
Father, unto thee we raise
This our sacrifice of praise.

For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth, and friends above,
For all gentle thoughts and mild,
Father, unto thee we raise
This our sacrifice of praise.

For each perfect gift of thine
To our race so freely given,
Graces human and divine,
Flowers of earth and buds of Heaven,
Father, unto thee we raise
This our sacrifice of praise.
	 Author:  Folliott Sandford Pierpoint (1835-1917)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 28

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OzThoughts – Tuesday 18th November 2008

I find it interesting the lack of stories of the childhood of Jesus. The lack of
interest in stories of his childhood by the Gospel writers may be reflected in
the incidents they did tell where Jesus emphasised the worth of a child.

“Suffer the little children to come unto me “comes readily to mind. It is an
interesting exercise for a quiet time to do a word search of “child” on
www.gospelcom.net  Use a Keyword search ( http://www.biblegateway.com/keyword )
and search the Gospels.

Mark 9:36-37 (The Message)
36 He put a child in the middle of the room. Then, cradling the little one in
his arms, he said,
37 "Whoever embraces one of these children as I do embraces me, and far more
than me--God who sent me."

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, I thank you for the reminder from Jesus of the worth of a
child. Thanks for the joy of our children and grandchildren and nieces and
nephews who make our lives a delight. Thanks, too, for the joy of the young
people in church. May you continue to bless them all and especially those people
whose ministry in your name is with the children. Amen


[Listen: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music2/mus_3639.mp3 ]

I think, when I read that sweet story of old,
When Jesus was here among men,
How he called little children as lambs to his fold,
I should like to have been with them then.
I wish that his hands had been placed on my head,
That his arm had been thrown around me,
And that I might have seen his kind look when he said:
Let the little ones come unto me!

Yet still to his footstool in prayer I may go,
And ask for a share in his love;
And if I now earnestly seek him below,
I shall see him and hear him above,
In that beautiful place he is gone to prepare
For all who are washed and forgiven;
And many dear children are gathering there,
For of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.

But thousands and thousands who wander and fall
Never heard of that heavenly home;
I should like them to know there is room for them all,
And that Jesus has bid them to come.
I long for the joys of that glorious time,
The sweetest and brightest and best,
When the dear little children of every clime
Shall crowd to his arms and be blessed.
	 Jemima Luke (1813-1906)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number:  794
............................................
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OzThoughts Monday 17th November 2008.

I think I may have told of a Salvation Army Officer Training College teacher who
often told us "we must get our ‘prioritrees’ right”. So “prioritrees”
was a word we worked into the conversation between classmates. If someone said
“priorities” there would be a chorus saying you mean ‘prioritrees”.

As Christian our priority must be Christ and living for him. Today as we step
into the workplace or into the school, if we claim to be a Christian then our
words and actions must reflect that.

Christ must be supreme in our daily living. As Paul writes: “6My counsel for
you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you've been given.
You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. 7You're deeply rooted in
him. You're well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now
do what you've been taught. School's out; quit studying the subject and start
living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving. (Colossians 2 The
Message )

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, I pray today that I might live Christ. I thank you for my
salvation. I pray that the Holy Spirit might give me opportunity, wisdom, words
and love to share with others. Amen.

MEDITATION:

[Listen: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_1600.mp3 ]

I bring to thee my heart to fill;
I feel how weak I am, but still
To thee for help I call.
In joy or grief, to live or die,
For earth or Heaven, this is my cry,
Be thou my all in all.

Chorus
Christ is all, yes, all in all.
My Christ is all in all.

Around me in the world I see
No joy that turns my soul from thee;
Its honours fade and fall;
But with thee, though I mount the cross,
I count it gain to suffer loss,
For thou art all in all.

I've little strength to call my own,
And what I've done, before thy throne
I here confess, is small;
But on thy strength. O God, I lean,
And through the blood that makes me clean,
Thou art my all in all.

No tempest can my courage shake,
My love from thee no pain can take,
No fear my heart appall;
And where I cannot see I'll trust,
For then I know thou surely must
Be still my all in all.
Authors:  Herbert Howard Booth (1862-1926) (verses),
W.H. Williams (chorus)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 489

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Australian Thoughts at the Weekend. 15th and 16th November, 2008.

FLIES AND MORE FLIES.

I was at a barbecue lunch to celebrate my niece’s engagement today. It was
warm and I would think about 30c/86f. Someone remarked “summer is here” and
I thought not really as there are no flies. However, soon after the barbecue was
lit and the sausages and steak put on it the flies arrived. Flies are a part of
life here in Australia and various ways have been made to discourage them.
Sometime ago I wrote about them.

Time flies like an arrow
Blow flies like a banana

The Australian Bush is not a place where time flies. It’s a place of work
until it is done. Sleep and eat when you must and then face another day. It is a
place where there is always time to stop and have a yarn. It is a place where
time doesn’t matter if a mate is in trouble or asks to give a hand. It is a
place where things are done after milking. They happen after dinner which is the
meal that happens when the sun is high in the sky. Tea most often happens after
dark when there is no light to continue working. Tea is the evening meal.

In days gone by many a new chum just out in the colony for the experience or
some other unmentioned reason learnt that to be invited for tea was not an
invitation to a genteel cup of tea and a tasty sandwich or sweet creamy cake. It
was an invitation to a lump of corn beef or pickled pork or if he was lucky a
slab of steak which would have fed the whole boarding house at school. With that
would be as many spuds ( potatoes) or a heap of mashed spud that any Irishman
would die for. A couple of boiled onions or some tinned (canned) peas would
complete the main course. Oh, and there would be the gravy. There would be
damper or home made bread which on good days had butter or jam or cocky’s joy
(golden syrup) to go with it but mostly was handy for soaking up the gravy and
helping it to the mouth. Right from the beginning of the meal, there would be
copious amounts of tea, sometimes with fresh milk often with tinned condensed
milk and a couple of spoons of
  sugar to sweeten it. Tea was the accompaniment to any meal. However as I was
indicating it was not referred to as tea it was a “cuppa” or more recently a
“brew.”

The other accompaniments to the meal were flies. The smaller bush flies or house
flies were always there. They buzzed from place to place and tried to grab a
quick snack from the plates. If you gave your attention to the meat they wanted
the vegies, or would be satisfied with the bread. These small flies are brushed
away with the sweep of a hand. The sweep of the fly chasing hand across ones
face was known as the Aussie wave or Aussie salute. The buzz of a blow fly will
draw people to action like a soldier called to attention. This is no parade
ground but people are very wary of the blow fly which will quickly deposit a
wriggling minute maggot or a dozen wherever it lands.

Blow flies like bananas. Well, they might but they prefer the smell of meat
cooking and love the sight of meat unattended on a plate of a careless diner not
guarding his meal.

  I remember once sitting with a group of people in a country town backyard. The
wafting smell of barbecuing meat had alerted all the flies of the district that
lunch was nearly ready. So they gathered.

We had not long asked the Lord’s blessing on the meal when the old retired
Brigadier (Salvation Army Officer) who was very wise to the ways of the bush
took the sugar bowl and emptied a couple of small heaps on the table beside him.
We all looked and thought the years had taken their toll. We were rescued by his
wife who asked “Stan, what are you doing?” Brigadier Stan simply said
“that’s for the flies, it will keep them busy!”

There is debate at times about flies and what attracts them most. It seems that
most people are agreed that horses, sheep, cattle, ducks, and chooks (chickens)
attract their fair share of flies.  In recent times, with enlightenment meaning
we do not spray insecticides as much as we used to, people are looking for
natural ways of curbing flies.

One of the introductions to Oz to help curb them has been the dung beetle. This
busy little burrowing beetle has a great love of dung. So much so, that he not
only eats the stuff but takes it home to use when breeding. A dung beetle or a
number of them can very quickly reduce a cow pat to nothing having either eaten
it or taken down into the tunnels it has dug. The digging activity of the
tunnelling beetles results in the aeration of soil as well as the transfer of
nutrients to the soil by releasing the nutrients in the dung. Also, dung beetles
break down dung and prevent flies from breeding in it.

It a hot summer’s day in the Outback you can watch people doing “the great
Australian salute”. Moisture seeking small bush flies love to land on the face
and collect moisture there or go to the corner of the eyes beside the nose to
have a drink. Thus a rapid movement of the open hand from side to side across
the face chases the flies, until they return again. Watch a politician or a
farmer being interviewed in the bush and you will see the great Australian
salute in action.

The other thing that happens in the dry heat of summer is that flies will gather
on the sweat wet back of a shirt. It is nothing to see someone walking along the
street or working and find 30 or more flies on the back of their shirt or
blouse. Again the flies know it is a source of moisture.

Today most homes are screened against flies and mosquitos. However, in days gone
by there were all types of sprays and traps to keep the flies away. In fact
browse the supermarket shelves and they are still available. Some of the poisons
have gone but they are replaced by some that in the makers enthusiasm for the
safety of their ‘natural’ product almost invites you to have it on your
toast.

One of my favourites when I was a kid before we had fly screens on the windows
was the sticky fly paper. This was a strip of very sticky paper that was
uncoiled from the container and hung with a thumb tack from the ceiling. It
attracted the flies and when they landed on it there was no escape. It was great
entertainment to watch the flies land on a new strip and listen to them buzz
until they grew silent, all the effort to escape having taken all their energy.

It was great fun, too, to chase the flies around the house with a fly swatter.
It took some skill or was it luck to get a fly before it landed? Yes, this was
the days before television when life was uncomplicated and simple. I noticed
last week one of my Swiss friends pick up a fly swat in a tourist souvenir shop.
It was a great souvenir. The wide action end of the swat was in the shape of a
map of Australia. I imagine it is more useful than some of the souvenirs that
are offered to our visitors.

In the hot days and evenings of summer, Salvation Army bandsmen in Australia
have to go out and play Christmas carols. Carolling is something that the
bandsmen usually look forward to but there are some hazards. One is flies. More
than once in mid carol, I have heard a bandsman break into a spasm of
enthusiastic coughing. You see as he tried for a quick but deep breath through
the corners of his mouth without losing time, he has suddenly lost it as he
realises he has also inhaled a fly.

In the evening, the hazard is not so much flies as mosquitos. As the sun sets
and the bandsmen come out for an evening of carols, the mosquitos find a new
target has moved into their territory.  These days the well equipped bandsmen
goes equipped with roll on or spray insect repellent. Forearmed in this way the
bandsmen is able to continue without slapping at the singing hordes of insects.

At one small corps in the northern suburbs of Newcastle (Australia) surrounding
swamp made a great breeding place for mosquitos that came to visit any unwary
person. It was interesting to note that in the Corps information for open air
meetings and Christmas Carolling were instructions on how to burn cow dung to
keep the mosquitos away. When I was at the corps we used insect repellent but I
often wondered about the band turning up in the street with music and song, War
Crys and collection boxes and a can of smouldering cow dung.

Flies are pests. They must have a purpose. I breed Australian finches but I have
hesitated to do as books recommend and hang a sheep’s heart in my aviary. The
idea is that flies will infest it with maggots and as the maggots fall from the
heart the parent finches will grab them and use them as protein feed for their
young.

I am also a keen fisherman, and although I have used a lot of baits, again I
have hesitated to use “gentes” or maggots as bait. They say they are okay to
use but I will leave that to someone else.

Flies were some of the pests God sent to annoy the Pharaoh and his Egyptian
citizens (Exodus Chapter 8) so that the Pharaoh might let the Children of Israel
go and allow Moses to lead them to the Promised Land.

The Psalmist refers to God’s power over his enemies. “GOD's my strong
champion;
I flick off my enemies like flies”. (Psalm 118: 7 The Message ®)

This weekend I will leave you to suggest a song or chorus that contains the word
“fly” or “flies”. For example: “Trusting as the moments fly”.  ;-)

Psalm 118  (The Message®)

1Thank GOD because he's good, because his love never quits.
2Tell the world, Israel,
"His love never quits."
3And you, clan of Aaron, tell the world,
"His love never quits."
4And you who fear GOD, join in,
"His love never quits."

5Pushed to the wall, I called to GOD;
from the wide open spaces, he answered.
6GOD's now at my side and I'm not afraid;
who would dare lay a hand on me?
7GOD's my strong champion;
I flick off my enemies like flies.
8Far better to take refuge in GOD
than trust in people;
9Far better to take refuge in GOD
than trust in celebrities.
10Hemmed in by barbarians,
in GOD's name I rubbed their faces in the dirt;
11Hemmed in and with no way out,
in GOD's name I rubbed their faces in the dirt;
12Like swarming bees, like wild prairie fire, they hemmed me in;
in GOD's name I rubbed their faces in the dirt.
13I was right on the cliff-edge, ready to fall,
when GOD grabbed and held me.
14GOD's my strength, he's also my song,
and now he's my salvation.
15Hear the shouts, hear the triumph songs
in the camp of the saved?
"The hand of GOD has turned the tide!
16The hand of GOD is raised in victory!
The hand of GOD has turned the tide!"

```````````````````````````
27GOD is God,
he has bathed us in light.
Festoon the shrine with garlands,
hang coloured banners above the altar!
28You're my God, and I thank you.
O my God, I lift high your praise.
29Thank GOD-he's so good.
His love never quits!

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OzThoughts – Friday 14th November 2008

As I come to the end of the work week (for most of us workers), I look back and
praise God for the many blessings I have received. As a fulltime hospital
chaplain, I am continually in contact with people whose life is certainly not
going to what they had dreamt or planned for it.

However, I am always meeting people whose faith encourages me. I think of six
people in this last week who have shared their strong faith with me in spite of
a very restricted life as they receive treatment or wait for the result of
tests. It has been a pleasure to pray with them and shake their hand as I move
off to see another patient.

The strong message I hear from them is that they trust God who is a loving
Heavenly Father who hears their prayers and is with them as they face their
situation. As I hear them I praise God and am happy that he is my Heavenly
Father. I share my joy in Jesus with them and encourage them in their walk with
the Lord.

This week, an old hymn has been going through my mind:

Crown him with many crowns,
The Lamb upon his throne;
Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns
All music but its own;
Awake, my soul, and sing
Of him who died for thee,
And hail him as thy matchless King
Through all eternity.

This is a hymn the congregation can sing heartily and the enthusiastic playing
of the band can really made music that lifts our hearts as we sing God’s
praise.

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, I praise you and thank you for your many, many blessings you
continue to give to me. I thank you for family and friends, for good work to do
and your daily provision of my needs. I pray for those who are feeling the loss
of a love one, for those who are ill, and those who are feeling a down at this
time. I pray that your Holy Spirit will come along side each on and bless them
with your presence and love. Amen.

[Listen: Hendon Band & Songsters:
http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_2519.mp3
Huddersfield Choral Society:
http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music3/mus_4792.mp3 ]


Crown him with many crowns,
The Lamb upon his throne;
Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns
All music but its own;
Awake, my soul, and sing
Of him who died for thee,
And hail him as thy matchless King
Through all eternity.

Crown him the Lord of life,
Who triumphed o'er the grave,
And rose victorious in the strife
For those he came to save;
His glories now we sing
Who died, and rose on high,
Who died eternal life to bring,
And lives, that death may die.

Crown him the Lord of peace,
Whose power a sceptre sways
From pole to pole, that wars may cease
And all be prayer and praise;
His reign shall know no end,
And round his pierced feet
Fair flowers of Paradise extend
Their fragrance ever sweet.

Crown him the Lord of love;
Behold his hands and side.
Those wounds, yet visible above,
In beauty glorified;
All hail, redeemer, hail!
For thou hast died for me;
Thy praise and glory shall not fail
Throughout eternity.
Authors:  Matthew Bridges (1800-94) (verses 1,3,4),
		 Godfrey Thring (1823-1903) (verse 2)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number:  156

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OzThoughts Thursday 13th November 2008

Yesterday, I got an email from a Christian group selling merchandise for
Christmas. With the international exchange rate as it is at the moment and the
high cost of postage, it would be impractical possible for me to purchase any of
the items.

I loved the short message on each of the items. It simply said: “Jesus is the
gift”. My immediate reaction was “What a great theme”. It fits right into
the concern of most people in this coming season of Christmas. On one level it
is the great season of gift giving.

This theme reminds us in the season of Christmas giving that Jesus is the gift.
He is the initial and real gift of the Christmas season.

St Paul tells the Ephesians that “It's God's gift from start to finish!”

Yes, Jesus is the gift”.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (The Message)

  7-10Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the
next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his
idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It's
God's gift from start to finish! We don't play the major role. If we did, we'd
probably go around bragging that we'd done the whole thing! No, we neither make
nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us
by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten
ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.


PRAYER:

Today, I come to you Heavenly Father in thanksgiving for the “clear and
plain” message of the coming Christmas season. I thank you for the babe of
Bethlehem who came for me. I praise you for that gift of love, and I pray today
that I might live worthy of your love and share it with others. I pray for the
ministry of your Church as we prepare for this season of Goodwill and Good News.
Amen.

Love has a language, all its own making,
Voiced in its giving, love gives its best;
Instant and constant with joy while awaking,
Tells its own story--love stands the test.

Chorus
Love stands the test,
Love gives its best,
Love planned our life's course, designedly blest;
Love won in the garden,
Love climbed the green hill;
Love will live on,
for love stands the test.

Love's life is always all its best giving,
Giving, it lives, for love thrives on this;
Thus, when the best in this world is decaying,
Love will live on, for love stands the test.

Love's gift is God's gift--God is all-loving;
We can be like him in this blest quest;
Let love's sweet echo in you be resounding:
Love will live on, For love stands the test.
Author:  Joseph Buck (1889-1945)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number:  51

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OzThoughts –  Wednesday 12th November,2008

Tell me the stories of Jesus
I love to hear;
Things I would ask him to tell me
If he were here:
Scenes by the wayside,
Tales of the sea,
Stories of Jesus.
Tell them to me.

Yes, tell me the stories of Jesus! I really do love to hear them. In fact, I
love to read them and think about them. This year with many Christians, I am
reading through the Gospel of Luke, a few verses each day following the Common
Lectionary. It does me good to think about the things Jesus said and did.

As I type this my mind comes to the present and I think of the simple phrase
that is so popular “What would Jesus do?”   Many times it is represented by
the initials “WWJD”.  That’s a challenge to recall the stories of Jesus.
It is a call to listen again to his words. It is a reason to reflect.  Most of
all it a recognition of Jesus, God’s son as our supreme example.

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father thank you for your son, Jesus. I pray that today I might
meditate on his words and actions. Help me to make Jesus my motivation and
example in all I do. Amen

Listen: The London Citadel Songsters, Canada :
http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_2760.mp3


Tell me the stories of Jesus
I love to hear;
Things I would ask him to tell me
If he were here:
Scenes by the wayside,
Tales of the sea,
Stories of Jesus.
Tell them to me.

First let me hear how the children
Stood round his knee;
And I shall fancy his blessing
Resting on me;
Words full of kindness,
Deeds full of grace,
All in the love-light
Of Jesus' face.

Tell me, in accents of wonder,
How rolled the sea,
Tossing the boat in a tempest
On Galilee;
And how the Master,
Ready and kind,
Chided the billows
And hushed the wind.

Into the city I'd follow
The children's band,
Waving a branch of the palm tree
High in my hand;
One of his heralds,
Yes, I would sing
Loudest hosannas:
Jesus is King!

Show me that scene, in the garden,
Of bitter pain;
And of the cross where my Saviour
For me was slain;
Sad ones or bright ones,
So that they be
Stories of Jesus;
Tell them to me.
	 Author: William Henry Parker (1845-1929)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 848

Hebrews 12 (The Message - Selected Verses)

2Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study
how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed--that
exhilarating finish in and with God--he could put up with anything along the
way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honour, right
alongside God.
3When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item
by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot
adrenaline into your souls!
4In this all-out match against sin, others have suffered far worse than you, to
say nothing of what Jesus went through--all that bloodshed!
5So don't feel sorry for yourselves. Or have you forgotten how good parents
treat children, and that God regards you as his children?

My dear child, don't shrug off God's discipline,
but don't be crushed by it either.
6It's the child he loves that he disciplines;
the child he embraces, he also corrects.

7God is educating you; that's why you must never drop out. He's treating you as
dear children. This trouble you're in isn't punishment; it's training,
8the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to
fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God?
  9We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not
embrace God's training so we can truly live?
10While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is
doing what is best for us, training us to live God's holy best.
11At the time, discipline isn't much fun. It always feels like it's going
against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it's the
well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God.
12So don't sit around on your hands! No more dragging your feet!
13Clear the path for long-distance runners so no one will trip and fall, so no
one will step in a hole and sprain an ankle. Help each other out. And run for
it!
14Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you'll never get
so much as a glimpse of God.

`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

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OzThoughts – Tuesday 11th November 2008

16Be cheerful no matter what; 17pray all the time; 18thank God no matter what
happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live. (1
Thessalonians 5. The Message )

16Be joyful always; 17pray continually; 18give thanks in all circumstances, for
this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5.  New
International Version )

I am mindful that today is Remembrance Day. The 11th November each year being
the time when we pause for a minute or two at the 11th hour and remember those
who suffered during World War 1.  There have been since and is still many wars
and conflicts happening.  People continue to be caught up in conflict.

Today we can thank God for our freedoms and our peace. We have so many things we
can thank God for. As we thank God we can also pray for others who suffer
because of war.

They are great words written by Paul to the Thessalonians. He gives a strong
reminder of God’s will for us, that we be joyful, prayerful and thankful
always.

I love the beautiful hymns “Praise my soul, the King of Heaven” and “Give
to Jesus glory”. The music is good to listen to as music but the words open up
new thoughts that I think of just now. Again the skill of the composers and the
authors draw me close to God.

PRAYER:

Father, I praise you for the good things you bring into my life. I thank you for
family, friends and all the blessings of each day. Today Father as I praise you
for the circumstances of my life, I am mindful of the needs of others. I pray
that you wil meet them just as you meet mine.

Heavenly Father, I thank you for those who defended us in wars of other days. I
pray also for those who continue to suffer because of war. I pray that there
might be peace in our time. Amen.

[Listen: Dean Goffin’s “Symphony of Thanksgiving” which combines the music
of these two hymns: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_2744.mp3

Listen: Huddersfield Choral Society :
http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music3/mus_4785.mp3]

Praise, my soul, the King the Heaven,
To his feet thy tribute bring;
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
Who like thee his praise should sing?
Praise Him!
Praise the everlasting King.

Praise him for this grace and favor
To our fathers in distress;
Praise him still the same as ever,
Slow to chide and swift to bless;
Praise him!
Glorious in his faithfulness.

Father-like he tends and spares us;
Well our feeble frame he knows,
In his hands he gently bears us,
Rescues us from all our foes.
Praise him!
Widely as his mercy flows.

Angels in the heights adore him,
Ye behold him face to face;
Sun and moon bow down before him:
Dwellers all in time and space,
Praise him!
Praise with us the God of grace.
	 Author:  Henry Francis Lyte (1793-1847
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 17
``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
To save the world the Saviour came;
It was for this in mercy
He gave his life; the news proclaim
And give to Jesus glory.
Chorus
Give to Jesus glory,
Give to Jesus glory,
Proclaim redemption's wondrous plan
And give to Jesus glory.

What matchless grace, how rich, how free!
Our Saviour calls all to him;
A Saviour he to all would be;
O give to Jesus glory!

In every land where man is found,
Let us make known the story
Of love divine; its praises sound
And give to Jesus glory.

There pardon is for all who come
Their sins confessing truly;
Then pardon claim, O guilty one,
And give to Jesus glory.
Authors:  Richard Slater (1854-1939) (verses), W.H. Clark (chorus)
  The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 831

`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

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OzThoughts – Monday 10th November, 2008

In our Worship meeting yesterday morning, we read a short selection of verses
from Psalm 118.   As we read verses 24 to 29, I quickly scanned the beginning of
the Psalm. I thought how suitable these are for the week in which we remember
the end of World War 1. The Psalmist speaks to me about spiritual battles that
we face daily in our walk with God.

Psalm 118 (The Message)
  1-4 Thank GOD because he's good,
  because his love never quits.
    Tell the world, Israel,
       "His love never quits."
    And you, clan of Aaron, tell the world,
       "His love never quits."
    And you who fear GOD, join in,
       "His love never quits."

  5-16 Pushed to the wall, I called to GOD;
       from the wide open spaces, he answered.
    GOD's now at my side and I'm not afraid;
       who would dare lay a hand on me?

    GOD's my strong champion;
       I flick off my enemies like flies.
    Far better to take refuge in GOD
       than trust in people;
    Far better to take refuge in GOD
       than trust in celebrities.

    Hemmed in by barbarians,
       in GOD's name I rubbed their faces in the dirt;
    Hemmed in and with no way out,
       in GOD's name I rubbed their faces in the dirt;
    Like swarming bees, like wild prairie fire, they hemmed me in;
       in GOD's name I rubbed their faces in the dirt.

    I was right on the cliff-edge, ready to fall,
       when GOD grabbed and held me.
    God's my strength, he's also my song,
       and now he's my salvation.
    Hear the shouts, hear the triumph songs
       in the camp of the saved?
          "The hand of GOD has turned the tide!

          The hand of GOD is raised in victory!
          The hand of GOD has turned the tide!"

[Listen:  http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_2972.mp3 ]


Stand up and bless the Lord,
Ye people of his choice;
Stand up and bless the Lord your God
With heart and soul and voice.
Chorus
Praise ye the Lord, hallelujah!

Though high above all praise,
Above all blessing high,
Who would not fear his holy name,
And laud and magnify?

O for the living flame
From his own altar brought,
To touch our lips, our minds inspire,
And wing to Heaven our thought!

God is our strength and song,
And his salvation ours;
Then be his love in Christ proclaimed
With all our ransomed powers.

Stand up and bless the Lord,
The Lord your God adore;
Stand up and bless his glorious name
Henceforth for evermore.
Author:  James Montgomery (1771-1854)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number:  20

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Australian Thoughts at the Weekend. 8th and 9th November 2008

Last Friday afternoon, as our plane landed at Mascot Airport in Sydney, I looked
around to see if I could see Qantas newest plane the Airbus A380. It was only in
the last month or so it has come into service. I could not see it, but across at
the International Terminal, I did notice an A380 in the colours of Singapore
Airlines. It was certainly much bigger than the Boeing 747 parked beside it, so
it must have been an A380. It was almost exactly 3years ago that I saw an A380
at Brisbane Airport. Here is what I wrote at the time. (19th November,2005):

A380

On Tuesday afternoon last week, I was driving home from work when I heard the
new Airbus A380 was at Brisbane Airport. Now, as I was working north of
Brisbane, I had to go right past the airport to get to home. So I made a
deviation from the main road and drove to the back of the airport when the
Qantas maintenance hanger is.

There parked just inside the airport boundary fence was not only the A380 but in
the hanger I could see the former Qantas 707B which had been parked outside the
day before. Now the A380 for those who do not know is the world’s newest and
biggest passenger jet and it is not due to come into service until next year.

At first it did not look so big. However, when I parked my car, and began to
look at the people standing around it, it put it into perspective. I soon
realised that while there was nothing between it and the boundary fence, it was
probably more than 50 metres inside the fence.

Outside the fence were an assortment of adults and children. Some people had
brought ladders or happened to have their work ladder on their truck. Some stood
on the top of their 4WDs or work vans. Others had climbed nearby trees. Most
people had a camera. One fellow stood on the top of his 4WD and camera with a
huge telephoto lens mounted on a tripod. I noticed a few people were talking
excitedly on their cell phones to friends and describing the plane.

At one stage the crowd started calling out “John , John, John and there
walking in front of us and under the tail section of the plane was John
Travolta. Yes, that John Travolta! The former Qantas 707B I mentioned earlier
has the registration number N707JT is John’s private jet and is painted in the
original delivery Qantas colours. John is an ambassador for Qantas.

The A380 is a fantastic creation.  The people walking around on the ground below
it place it into perspective. The tail soars way above them. The wingspan is 80
metres (262.5 feet). Each wing is just 100 feet (30.5 metres). Did you realize
that the Wright Brother’s flight was not much more than the length of one
wing? The Wright Brothers first flight was 120feet (36.5Metres).

Except that their wings were too wide ay 40 feet, the Wrights could have taken
off and flown that first flight in the cabin of the airbus (length 73m (239ft
6in).  Open the front window to let them land! It was only 102 years ago that
the Wrights made that first pilot controlled heavier than air flight.

The Airbus A830 and John Travolta were in Brisbane to celebrate the 80th
anniversary of Qantas which was formed at Longreach as The Queensland and
Northern Territory Aerial Service. I was fortunate top grow up just a few miles
from Brisbane Airport so I remember some stages of the growth of Qantas. I
particularly remember the Super Constellation and how we stood and looked at its
long and sleek silver body with its characteristic shape.  It looked so modern
and must be the ultimate in international transport. However, it did not seem
too long before a BOAC (later British Airways) Comet flew over our school on its
way to the airport.

However, as fantastic as the jet engined Comet might be, we soon learnt that
Qantas would buy American Boeing 707 planes.  Again, we eagerly watched the
skies as this modern day transport arrived. However, it was only a few years and
Qantas announced it would buy the new Boeing 747 planes. These were still the
days when flying was something very special and something one dressed up for and
the air hostesses or stewards treated one like royalty. Or so we pretended.

It is not that long ago that men and women stood and watched the birds and
dreamt of flight. Today, some of us catch planes with no more thought than
catching a bus to the city or a train home after a day’s work. Yet there is
still something marvellous about a huge plane than can lift 55 passengers and
take them safely and seeming little effort to the other side of the world.

I notice Qantas has ordered 10 Airbus A830s. Emirates airlines have ordered 48!

I wonder whether Isaiah had stood on the Mount of Olives and watched eagles
soaring.  He certainly was thinking of this wonderful spectacle when he wrote
his wonderful God inspired promise:

    For even young people tire and drop out,
young folk in their prime stumble and fall.
31But those who wait upon GOD get fresh strength.
They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
They run and don't get tired,
they walk and don't lag behind.
(Isaiah 40: 30, 31. The Message).

Call on Jesus

I'm so very ordinary
Nothing special on my own
I have never walked on water
I have never calmed a storm
Sometimes I'm hiding away from the madness around me
Like a child who's afraid of the dark

But when I call on Jesus
All things are possible
I can mount on wings like eagles and soar
When I call on Jesus
Mountains are gonna fall
'Cause He'll move heaven and earth to come rescue me when I call

Weary brother
Broken daughter
Widowed, widowed lover
You're not alone
If you're tired and scared of the madness around you
If you can't find the strength to carry on

Call Him in the mornin'
In the afternoon time
Late in the evenin'
He'll be there
When your heart is broken
And you feel discouraged
You can just remember that He said
He'll be there
Author : Nicole C. Mullen
     from "Talk About It"

For they that wait upon the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings,
They shall mount up with wings as eagles;
They shall run and not be weary;
They shall walk and not faint:
They shall run and not be weary;
They shall walk and not faint:
They shall run and not be weary;
Shall walk and not faint.
	 The Salvation Army Song Book: Chorus Number:  66

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OzThoughts – Friday 7th November, 2008

Last Friday, I was in Sydney and stopped to take a photograph of Liverpool
Citadel. I remembered one occasion when the friendliness of this Corps was
demonstrated to others.

The Corps became aware one of it most faithful members was to celebrate her 40th
wedding anniversary on a coming Sunday. For much of this time, this lady had
attended the corps which she came to when she and her husband settled in
Australia as immigrants from England. Although she was not as well as she had
been, she was still one of the most faithful and active people in the Corps. Her
husband was also a very faithful Christian attending his Catholic Church on
Sunday and at least one day during the week, and on special days for worship and
the Mass.

The Church decided that a special morning tea before the Sunday worship was
appropriate to mark this milestone as no other celebration had been planned by
the couple. It was a lovely informal occasion when we congratulated this couple
on their many happy years together.

When I spoke to the wife privately afterwards she told me her husband was
absolutely delighted and completely overwhelmed. She said her husband could not
understand why his wife’s church would want to do this. She also said she
doubted whether her husband knew more than a handful of people at his church
although he has attended several times a week for more than 20 years. He was
amazed again at the friendliness of our people.

This special occasion was an outcome, I believe, of the real community that the
Church is. The Christian community is more than just a collection of saved
people sitting in the same building on Sunday morning. It is more than blending
our voices in hymns and spiritual songs.  It is more than a quick ritualistic
handshake.

The outcome of the coming of the Holy Spirit was that the 120 became a community
of more than 3,000. The story of the coming of the Holy Spirit is the beginning
of a new phase of community as they shared together. On this day the community
we call the church was born.

The Christian community is one for responding to and sharing the love of God. It
is the sharing of that love with each other as we worship, fellowship and serve.
It is community through love adopting and adapting our Spirit given gifts in
meeting the daily demands of God’s will. God chooses to use us in community.
He brings us to a community. He directs how that community should serve him in
living in the society where he has placed it. The Christian community is the
body of Christ. Christ is its head.

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, I thank you for the church community where you have placed me.
I thank you for each friend I interact with there. I pray that the community
might grow in its love for you and its care for each other and those who you
bring into community with us. Help me to be faithful to your will, today. Amen

MEDITATION:

A New Commandment
A new commandment I give unto you,
That you love one another as I have loved you,
That you love one another as I have loved you.
By this shall all men know that you are My disciples,
if you have love one for another.
By this shall all men know that you are My disciples,
if you have love one for another.
- John 13:34-35

Bind us together, Lord,
bind us together with cords
that cannot be broken.
Bind us together, Lord,
bind us together,
bind us together with love.

There is only one God.
There is only one King.
There is only one Body.
That is why we sing:

Made for the glory of God,
Purchased by his precious Son,
Born with the right to be clean,
For Jesus the victory has won.

You are the family of God,
You are the promise divine,
You are God's chosen desire,
You are the glorious new wine.

38Peter said, "Change your life. Turn to God and be baptized, each of you, in
the name of Jesus Christ, so your sins are forgiven. Receive the gift of the
Holy Spirit.
39The promise is targeted to you and your children, but also to all who are far
away--whomever, in fact, our Master God invites."
40He went on in this vein for a long time, urging them over and over, "Get out
while you can; get out of this sick and stupid culture!"
41That day about three thousand took him at his word, were baptized and were
signed up.
42They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together,
the common meal, and the prayers.

43Everyone around was in awe--all those wonders and signs done through the
apostles!
44And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in
common. 45They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each
person's need was met.
46They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at
home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful,
47as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their
number grew as God added those who were saved. (Acts 2 The Message)

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OzThoughts – Thursday 6th November 2008

Shortly after I awoke this morning, I heard one man say on radio “The election
is over. Let’s forget it, stop talking about it and get on with things”. If
only life was that simple. Many of us have prayed for this US election, that
God’s will be done. We must continue to pray for President Elect Barack Obama
in these days of transition, that God will guide him in the big decisions he has
to make.

I have listened in these past hours to many African Americans say they did not
think they would see a black man elected as President. Many have people have
referred to Martin Luther King’s speech. I heard one man say it was “only
half a life time ago”. He expressed that he had never dared to dream that this
was possible in his lifetime.

Way back in the first book of the Bible, long before Jesus lived there was a
young man named Joseph. We mostly remember him as the fellow with the colourful
coat.

  Anyway Joseph’s brothers hated him so much they sold him as a slave to be
taken to Egypt. Many years later Joseph is Prime Minister of Egypt and his
brothers come seeking help. Eventually, Joseph reveals he knows them and he is
their brother. He forgives them immediately. His faith shows through as he says:
	 “Don't you see, you planned evil against me but God used those same plans for
my good, as you see all around you right now--life for many people”. (Genesis
50:20 The Message)

	 Years later, the Disciple Peter, faces a huge crowd and reminds them of the
death and resurrection of Jesus. You people killed Jesus he says but you had no
idea what you were doing. You did not know it was God’s plan…

	 "And now, friends, I know you had no idea what you were doing when you killed
Jesus, and neither did your leaders.
18But God, who through the preaching of all the prophets had said all along that
his Messiah would be killed, knew exactly what you were doing and used it to
fulfill his plans.
19"Now it's time to change your ways! Turn to face God so he can wipe away your
sins, pour out showers of blessing to refresh you,
20and send you the Messiah he prepared for you, namely, Jesus”. (Acts 3: 17
– 20 The Message)

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, sometimes there is so much going on it seems confusing. Help me
to sort out my priorities and do the things you want me to do. Bless the people
of the United States who have elected their new leader. Please be with that new
leader as he makes the decisions about his team and the courses of action he
will take. Amen.


[Listen: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music3/mus_4443.mp3 ]

From the heart of Jesus flowing,
Cometh Heaven's peace to me,
Ever deeper, richer growing,
Through the cross of Calvary.
Passing mortal understanding,
Yet to seeking ones made known,
And, for all the race expanding,
Gift of God unto his own.

To the heart where strife was reigning,
Jesus spake, dissension ceased;
From the bonds, so long enchaining,
I was instantly released.
Pardon for all past transgression,
Grace for every time of need;
With such treasure in possession,
Happy is my lot indeed.

Undisturbed, throughout the ages,
Heaven's peace is in God's will,
Present though the conflict rages,
Blessing me through good or ill.
Jesus, source of calm unfailing,
With his peace my heart has filled,
He abides, o'er all prevailing,
And, in him, life's storms are stilled.
	 Charles Coller (1863-1935)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number:  539

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OzThoughts Wednesday 5th November 2008.

I listened to an interview some time ago with Tony Campolo who said he loved the
old hymns because in them we sang our Theology. He also said if he gets to
heaven and it is “praise and worship” he is out of there. I don’t agree
with that last bit. Well not entirely.

I thought of my youth when 20 to 35 bandsmen would sing the chorus “For God so
loved the world” in the bandroom before meetings and when the same bandsmen
sang it in open air meetings. The blending of the voices and the harmonies made
it something to remember.

It is a song that is a pure testimony based on Scripture. It may not be a
Scripture verse set to a tune but it certainly drips of Bible based faith.  The
thing is now to re-introduce it to our range of choruses we sing.

It is choruses like this that give us a basis for sharing our faith. It gives us
thanksgiving for God’s love and action in the past. It reminds of God’s
forgiveness and our salvation. It gives us hope for the future.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I thank you for your love for me. I look at the death of your
Son on Calvary and I try to understand something of the intense suffering but I
don’t. I do see it was for me that Jesus died and I thank you that because of
that my sins are forgiven. I pray today that I might live worthy of that
suffering. I pray that your Holy Spirit will keep me from sin. Amen.

MEDITATION:

John 3
16"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son.
And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone
can have a whole and lasting life. (The Message )

Romans 5
8But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial
death while we were of no use whatever to him. (The Message )

Romans 6
23Work hard for sin your whole life and your pension is death. But God's gift is
real life, eternal life, delivered by Jesus, our Master. (The Message )

John 14


1"Don't let this throw you. You trust God, don't you? Trust me. 2There is plenty
of room for you in my Father's home. If that weren't so, would I have told you
that I'm on my way to get a room ready for you? 3And if I'm on my way to get
your room ready, I'll come back and get you so you can live where I live.

```````````
6Jesus said, "I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life. No one gets to the
Father apart from me. (The Message )

For God so loved the world,
He gave His only Son
To die on Calvary's tree,
From sin to set me free;
Someday He's coming back,
What glory that will be!
Wonderful His love to me. –
	 Smith (c) Renewal 1966 Singspiration, Inc.

[Listen: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music3/mus_4115.mp3 ]

To God be the glory, great things he hath done!
So loved he the world that he gave us his Son;
Who yielded his life an atonement for sin,
And opened the life gate that all may go in.

Chorus
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
Let the earth hear his voice!
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
Let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father through Jesus the Son,
And give him the glory; great things he hath done!

O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood!
To every believer the promise of God;
The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.

Great things he hath taught us, great things he hath done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;
But purer and higher and greater will be
Our wonder, our rapture, when Jesus we see.
	 Authors:  Fanny Crosby (1820-1915)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 22

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OzThoughts. Tuesday 4th November 2008

Today, one nation will stop for a horse race. Another nation will elect the
leader of their nation and some say ‘the leader of the free world’.

Today, the first Tuesday in November Oz stops for a horse race. The Melbourne
Cup is said to be the premier horse race in Oz and the State of Victoria gets a
Public Holiday for the event. Even those who are not interested in horse racing
and abhor the gambling side of it can somehow get caught up in it. It is tragic
the amount of dollars that are invested and mostly lost in gambling on the day,
by a nation of 20 million people.  One report estimated that punters are
expected to bet more than $140 million at the nation's TABs (‘Government’
Betting Shops) and tens of millions of dollars more will be wagered with
bookmakers and online betting agencies.

Today, the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in the USA is
Election Day. At least it is the schedule that each 4 years registered voters
will elect a President. Some say it is the most important election in the world
because of the powerful position of the United States President in the politics
of the world. Some where in excess of 100 million registered voters will vote.
In the 2000 election, 111 million people voted out of an over 18 resident
population of 186 million people, of whom only 130 million were registered to
vote.

Today, we need to stop and pray. We need to pray for a nation in the grip of
gambling. We need to pray for this world. We need to pray for peace. Most of all
we need to pray for the United States of America that through the hands of the
people that God’s Will will be done.

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, I pray for the people s of this world. I pray that each will
look to you for the things of life. I pray for those who bet money they cannot
afford believing they will win and solve life’s problems. I pray that they
might look to you for guidance in the things of life. Father, I pray too for
those who have the responsibility of casting a vote. May you guide their heart
and mind to direct their and to do your will. I pray that your man, your people
for this hour will be victorious. Amen.

MEDITATION:

Psalm 118  (The Message®)

1Thank GOD because he's good, because his love never quits.
2Tell the world, Israel,
"His love never quits."
3And you, clan of Aaron, tell the world,
"His love never quits."
4And you who fear GOD, join in,
"His love never quits."

5Pushed to the wall, I called to GOD;
from the wide open spaces, he answered.
6GOD's now at my side and I'm not afraid;
who would dare lay a hand on me?
7GOD's my strong champion;
I flick off my enemies like flies.
8Far better to take refuge in GOD
than trust in people;
9Far better to take refuge in GOD
than trust in celebrities.
10Hemmed in by barbarians,
in GOD's name I rubbed their faces in the dirt;
11Hemmed in and with no way out,
in GOD's name I rubbed their faces in the dirt;
12Like swarming bees, like wild prairie fire, they hemmed me in;
in GOD's name I rubbed their faces in the dirt.
13I was right on the cliff-edge, ready to fall,
when GOD grabbed and held me.
14GOD's my strength, he's also my song,
and now he's my salvation.
15Hear the shouts, hear the triumph songs
in the camp of the saved?
"The hand of GOD has turned the tide!
16The hand of GOD is raised in victory!
The hand of GOD has turned the tide!"

17I didn't die. I lived!
And now I'm telling the world what GOD did.
18GOD tested me, he pushed me hard,
but he didn't hand me over to Death.
19Swing wide the city gates--the righteous gates!
I'll walk right through and thank GOD!
20This Temple Gate belongs to GOD,
so the victors can enter and praise.

21Thank you for responding to me;
you've truly become my salvation!
22The stone the masons discarded as flawed
is now the capstone!
23This is GOD's work.
We rub our eyes--we can hardly believe it!
24This is the very day GOD acted--
let's celebrate and be festive!
25Salvation now, GOD. Salvation now!
Oh yes, GOD-a free and full life!

26Blessed are you who enter in GOD's name--
from GOD's house we bless you!
27GOD is God,
he has bathed us in light.
Festoon the shrine with garlands,
hang coloured banners above the altar!
28You're my God, and I thank you.
O my God, I lift high your praise.
29Thank GOD-he's so good.

His love never quits!

[Listen: Tune ‘How great Thou Art’ to which this song is sung:
http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_703.mp3 ]

Though thunders roll and darkened be the sky,
I'll trust in thee!
Though joys may fade and prospects droop and die,
I'll trust in thee!
No light may shine upon life's rugged way,
Sufficient is thy grace from day to day.

I'm not outside thy providential care,
I'll trust in thee!
I'll walk by faith thy chosen cross to bear,
I'll trust in thee!
Thy will and wish I know are for the best,
This gives to me abundant peace and rest.

Thy word is sure, thy promise never fails,
I'll trust in thee!
A hiding place thou art when Hell assails,
I'll trust in thee!
I conquer all while hiding 'neath thy wing,
And in the storm sweet songs of triumph sing.

I'm pressing on towards my home in Heaven,
I'll trust in thee!
Where crowns of life to faithful ones are given,
I'll trust in thee!
This hope is mine, through Jesus crucified,
And all through grace I shall be glorified.
	 Author: John Lawley (1859-1922)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 761

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OzThoughts Monday 3rd November 2008


It is celebration time!

Daily OzThoughts has been in operation for exactly five years.  Hallelujah.

On Monday 3rd November 2003 I reflected on the previous weekend when the Sydney
Staff Songsters had been at our Corps, The Gold Coast Temple. It was a weekend
full of blessing as the many beautiful voices were lifted in praise and prayer
before God. I am sure God spoke to many. I know he spoke to me. I felt a
definite urge to move from the weekly Australian Thoughts at the Weekend which
had been going for just 10 months to a daily devotional piece. I felt God saying
he would be with me in it as the Songsters sang “He knows my name”. The
Chorus says “He knows my name
He knows my every thought” and I felt he was telling me to share those
thoughts to encourage others in their Christian walk.

Today, I praise God for the Holy Spirit filling me and using my words to bring
encouragement, comfort, assurance and peace to others. I believe too there has
been a sense of Christian Joy even in tough times and when love ones have been
Promoted to glory.

I praise God to for the many who have sent notes of encouragement and thanks.
Every time when I wondered if anyone was reading these messages, I would get a
note of thanks. I praise God for each of these people.

Today, I repeat the prayer I prayed on the 3 11 03:

Prayer:

O God, my Heavenly Father, I thank you for loving me. I thank you it is not a
blind love that just envelopes me like a spring fog.  It is a love that takes
notice of me and a love that cares about my thoughts and feelings. I thank you
that you hear me. Please hear my thanks and my prayer for guidance this week.
Thanks for walking before me in life’s uncertainty and blessings. In the name
of Jesus. Amen.


[Watch and Listen: http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=-j8nI-PFxKI ]

I have a maker
He formed my heart
Before even time began
My life was in his hand

Chorus
He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
And hears me when I call

I have a Father
He calls me his own
He'll never leave me
No matter where I go

Chorus
He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
And hears me when I call

(Tommy Walker)
Copyright ©1996 Doulos Publishing


Psalm 139: 1,2. (NIV)

1 O LORD , you have searched me
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.

Or from Eugene H Peterson’s The Message :

Psalm 139: 1, 2.  (The Message)
  1GOD, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand.
2I'm an open book to you;
even from a distance, you know what I'm thinking.

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Australian Thoughts at the Weekend 1st and 2nd November 2008

This weekend I am in Sydney for a nephew’s wedding, so I am publishing
Australian Thoughts at the Weekend early.  This ATAW is different. It is a radio
interview with a friend and fellow chaplain and he talks about his recently
published book.


“I WISH I WERE A LEPER”

I do not work on a Thursday, so this week I took the opportunity to listen to
one of our team of Chaplains at Greenslopes Private Hospital tell ‘his
story’ on radio in the Conversation Hour with Richard Fidler. Vince
O’Rourke’s story is of his journey with his wife and her early onset
Alzheimer’s disease.

I had hoped to be able to give you a website where you could listen to the
broadcast. However, at the time I write this it is not available. However, there
is another earlier broadcast where he is interviewed by another broadcaster on
the same radio station, ABC Radio 612 Brisbane.

Here is the introduction from the ABC radio network’s website:
Vince's story
Jun 18, 2008
How would you feel if your partner introduced you to their new best friend and
that new best friend happened to be themself....let me explain.
Vince O'Rouke's wife Margaret had alzheimers.
As the disease progressed she eventually didn't recognise anyone and strange as
it seems she found a very good friend and that was the reflection of herself in
her mirror.
One day she was so excited because she was able to introduce her husband Vince
to her best friend..... herself.
Can you possible imagine how he felt?
If it wasn't so sad you'd laugh.
Vince O'Rourke has written a diary about his and  Margaret's journey with
Alzheimers .
From the time of diagnosis Margaret lived for 8 years.  She passed away in
October of 2006.
Vince's book is called I WISH I WERE A LEPER.
We've had lots of requests from listeners to hear Vince's story again since it
went to air .
So here he is speaking with Madonna King:

http://blogs.abc.net.au/queensland/files/vince_orourke.mp3
Here is a review of Vince’s book which was published by the Catholic Weekly
(Sydney):

http://www.catholicweekly.com.au/article.php?classID=3&subclassID=20&articleID=4\
833&class=Features&subclass=Books
…………………………………………………

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OzThoughts Friday 31st October 2008

As you focused on the Suffering Servant and his cruel death on the cross, and
read again, and maybe listened to some appropriate hymns, did you hear the words
coming as a constant intrusion: “He is not here; he has risen!” Luke
24:6(NIV).

The Disciples were convinced Jesus was alive. They saw him. They talked with
him. They ate with him. They saw him ascend into heaven. Jesus had fulfilled his
promise and sent the Holy Spirit. They had felt and shown the power of the Holy
Spirit in many ways.

Paul, too, was preaching “Jesus and him crucified” but no one could think
that Paul’s message came to a dead halt at the cross. Paul’s message was
Jesus was alive and he was proof of that. Paul writes to t he Ephesians which
shows how “Jesus crucified” was God plan for us .
Ephesians 2:1-10 (The Message)
  1-6 It wasn't so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin.
You let the world, which doesn't know the first thing about living, tell you how
to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled
disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we
felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. It's a wonder God didn't lose
his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and
with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us
alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he
picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our
Messiah.
  7-10 Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the
next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his
idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It's
God's gift from start to finish! We don't play the major role. If we did, we'd
probably go around bragging that we'd done the whole thing! No, we neither make
nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us
by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten
ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.
[Listen: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_752.mp3 ]

O boundless salvation! deep ocean of love,
O fullness of mercy, Christ brought from above.
The whole world redeeming, so rich and so free,
Now flowing for all men, come, roll over me!

My sins they are many, their stains are so deep.
And bitter the tears of remorse that I weep;
But useless is weeping; thou great crimson sea,
Thy waters can cleanse me, come, roll over me I

My tempers are fitful, my passions are strong,
They bind my poor soul and they force me to wrong;
Beneath thy blest billows deliverance I see,
O come, mighty ocean, and roll over me!

Now tossed with temptation, then haunted with fears,
My life has been joyless and useless for years;
I feel something better most surely would be
If once thy pure waters would roll over me.

O ocean of mercy, oft longing I've stood
On the brink of thy wonderful, life-giving flood!
Once more I have reached this soul-cleansing sea,
I will not go back till it rolls over me.

The tide is now flowing, I'm touching the wave,
I hear the loud call of the mighty to save;
My faith's growing bolder, delivered I'll be;
I plunge 'neath the waters, they roll over me.

And now, hallelujah! the rest of my days
Shall gladly be spent in promoting his praise
Who opened his bosom to pour out this sea
Of boundless salvation for you and for me.
Author:  William Booth (1829-1912)
The Salvation  Army Song Book: Song Number: 298

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OzThoughts Thursday 30th October 2008

To meditate on the Suffering Servant, Jesus on the Cross of Calvary brings to my
mind a number of hymns. Isaac Watts must have either been meditating himself or
trying to get others to understand what he saw when he wrote:

See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down;
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Similarly, Stuart K. Hine, as he translated Carl Boberg’s wonderful hymn must
have had a vision of Calvary:

And when I think that God, his Son not sparing,
Sent him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin:

More recently Stuart Townend wrote:

[Listen: http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=Voawjjqg8zw&feature=related]
or:
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=UjD0lv8hx5o&feature=related

How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He would give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross
My guilt upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no powr's, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom
	 Written by: Stuart Townend

  It is Paul when writing to the Philippians who captures the essence of Jesus
suffering and tells us to apply it to our living:
Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status
with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the
advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set
aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human!
Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He
didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and
then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a
crucifixion. Philippians 2:5-8 (The Message).
[ Listen”: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music3/mus_4788.mp3 ]

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast
Save in the death of Christ, my God;
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.

See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down;
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.
Author:  Isaac Watts (1674-1748)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 136


[Listen:  http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_321.mp3 ]

O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds thy hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy pow'r throughout the universe displayed:

Chorus
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to thee;
How great thou art, how great thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to thee:
How great thou art, how great thou art!

When through the woods and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees,
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur,
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze:

And when I think that God, his Son not sparing,
Sent him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin:

When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration,
And there proclaim, my God, how great thou art!
Author:  Stuart K. Hine
The salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 37

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OzThoughts Tuesday 28th October 2008

Did you meditate yesterday on the prophecy from Isaiah 53 of the suffering
servant? Then meditate further on the old hymn, often associated with Easter,
“Man of Sorrows”?

As I read through the words again, I thought ‘how often do we sit and consider
an empty cross’?  I thought that most of my readers would worship, and
identify with, churches which use the symbol of an empty cross. A lesser number
would readily identify themselves as members of churches which use the cross
with Christ on it as a reminder of Jesus’ suffering and death for us.

I thought, too, that I have two copies of the movie “The Passion of the
Christ”(one on video and one on DVD) which I have never watched. Why? To be
honest I have no real desire to be confronted with a portrayal of the brutality
and suffering Jesus endured to the death.

But I remember the words of Paul:

  “You'll remember, friends, that when I first came to you to let you in on
God's master stroke, I didn't try to impress you with polished speeches and the
latest philosophy. I deliberately kept it plain and simple: first Jesus and who
he is; then Jesus and what he did—Jesus crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2: 1-2
The Message)

“Jesus crucified”.  What does that mean to us? Is that the message of our
church today? Maybe you’re thinking “Ah wait, there is more”.  Yes, but it
was enough for Paul.

[Listen:  http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_117.mp3]

Jesus, the name high over all,
In Hell or earth or sky;
Angels and men before him fall,
And devils fear and fly.

Chorus
We have no other argument,
We want no other plea;
It is enough that Jesus died,
And that he died for me.

Jesus, the name to sinners dear,
The name to sinners given;
He scatters all their guilty fear;
He turns their hell to Heaven.

Jesus the prisoner's fetters breaks,
And bruises Satan's head;
Power into strengthless souls he speaks,
And life into the dead.

O that the world would taste and see
The riches of his grace;
The arms of love that compass me
Would all mankind embrace.

His glorious righteousness I show,
His saving truth proclaim;
'Tis all my business here below
To cry: Behold the Lamb!

Happy, if with my latest breath
I may but gasp his name,
Preach him to all, and cry in death:
Behold, behold the Lamb!
Author:  Charles Wesley (1707-88) (verses)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 60

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OzThoughts Tuesday 28th October 2008

Allow God, the Holy Spirit to speak to you as you quietly meditate on these
words. If you find your mind wanders, read the words aloud.

Isaiah 53:4-12 (The Message)
  2-6  The servant grew up before God—a scrawny seedling,
    a scrubby plant in a parched field.
There was nothing attractive about him,
    nothing to cause us to take a second look.
He was looked down on and passed over,
    a man who suffered, who knew pain firsthand.
One look at him and people turned away.
    We looked down on him, thought he was scum.
But the fact is, it was our pains he carried—
    our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us.
We thought he brought it on himself,
    that God was punishing him for his own failures.
But it was our sins that did that to him,
    that ripped and tore and crushed him—our sins!
He took the punishment, and that made us whole.
    Through his bruises we get healed.
We're all like sheep who've wandered off and gotten lost.
    We've all done our own thing, gone our own way.
And God has piled all our sins, everything we've done wrong,
    on him, on him.
  7-9  He was beaten, he was tortured,
    but he didn't say a word.
Like a lamb taken to be slaughtered
    and like a sheep being sheared,
    he took it all in silence.
Justice miscarried, and he was led off—
    and did anyone really know what was happening?
He died without a thought for his own welfare,
    beaten bloody for the sins of my people.
They buried him with the wicked,
    threw him in a grave with a rich man,
Even though he'd never hurt a soul
    or said one word that wasn't true.
  10  Still, it's what God had in mind all along,
    to crush him with pain.
The plan was that he give himself as an offering for sin
    so that he'd see life come from it—life, life, and more life.
    And God's plan will deeply prosper through him.
  11-12  Out of that terrible travail of soul,
    he'll see that it's worth it and be glad he did it.
Through what he experienced, my righteous one, my servant,
    will make many "righteous ones,"
    as he himself carries the burden of their sins.
Therefore I'll reward him extravagantly—
    the best of everything, the highest honours—
Because he looked death in the face and didn't flinch,
    because he embraced the company of the lowest.
He took on his own shoulders the sin of the many,
    he took up the cause of all the black sheep.
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Man of sorrows! what a name
For the Son of God, who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim;
Hallelujah! What a Saviour!

Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned he stood,
Sealed my pardon with his blood;
Hallelujah! What a Saviour!

Guilty, vile and helpless we,
Spotless Lamb of God was he;
Full atonement--can it be?
Hallelujah! What a Saviour!

Lifted up was he to die;
It is finished was his cry;
Now in Heaven, exalted high;
Hallelujah! What a Saviour!

When he comes, our glorious King,
All his ransomed home to bring,
Then anew this song we'll sing:
Hallelujah! What a Saviour!
Author: Philip Paul Bliss(1838-76)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 118

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