OzThoughts Monday 2nd February 2009

As we have read the first four Chapters of the Gospel of Mark, we have seen
Jesus teaching and preaching interrupted by opportunities to heal.  Today, we
have a much longer story where Jesus comes to a place where there is a mad man
and heals him.
Note particularly the last three verses which tel of the outcome of this act of
healing.

Mark 5: 1-20 (The Message)

  1-5  They arrived on the other side of the sea in the country of the Gerasenes.
As Jesus got out of the boat, a madman from the cemetery came up to him. He
lived there among the tombs and graves. No one could restrain him—he couldn't
be chained, couldn't be tied down. He had been tied up many times with chains
and ropes, but he broke the chains, snapped the ropes. No one was strong enough
to tame him. Night and day he roamed through the graves and the hills, screaming
out and slashing himself with sharp stones.
  6-8 When he saw Jesus a long way off, he ran and bowed in worship before
him—then bellowed in protest, "What business do you have, Jesus, Son of the
High God, messing with me? I swear to God, don't give me a hard time!" (Jesus
had just commanded the tormenting evil spirit, "Out! Get out of the man!")
  9-10 Jesus asked him, "Tell me your name."
    He replied, "My name is Mob. I'm a rioting mob." Then he desperately begged
Jesus not to banish them from the country.
  11-13 A large herd of pigs was browsing and rooting on a nearby hill. The
demons begged him, "Send us to the pigs so we can live in them." Jesus gave the
order. But it was even worse for the pigs than for the man. Crazed, they
stampeded over a cliff into the sea and drowned.
  14-15 Those tending the pigs, scared to death, bolted and told their story in
town and country. Everyone wanted to see what had happened. They came up to
Jesus and saw the madman sitting there wearing decent clothes and making sense,
no longer a walking madhouse of a man.
  16-17 Those who had seen it told the others what had happened to the
demon-possessed man and the pigs. At first they were in awe—and then they were
upset, upset over the drowned pigs. They demanded that Jesus leave and not come
back.
  18-20 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the demon-delivered man begged to go
along, but he wouldn't let him. Jesus said, "Go home to your own people. Tell
them your story—what the Master did, how he had mercy on you." The man went
back and began to preach in the Ten Towns area about what Jesus had done for
him. He was the talk of the town.

Did you notice the man decided he wanted to go with Jesus and begged to be
allowed to go with him. However, Jesus knew what was best. He sent the man to
face those who knew him well and to tell them what had happened. We read “He
was the talk of the town”.

Sometimes it is easier to witness to people we don’t have a relationship with.
It might be easier to preach in another village than to preach in the street
where we are known.  We must not be like the former madman who told Jesus what
he would do but listebn to Jesus and then do as he tells us.

PRAYER: (Using our Song Book as a Prayer Book):



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 neighbor'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

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Australian Thoughts at the Weekend.  31st January and 1st February, 2009

Messing Around in Boats

"There is nothing--absolutely nothing--half so much worth doing as simply
messing around in boats," says the obviously wise Water Rat in Kenneth Grahame's
book ‘Wind in the Willows’.

For me a great part of the messing around in boats is fishing. I love to have a
baited line or two over the side of the boat. Better still is to have a lively
fish fighting to stop me dragging him to my dinner plate via the boat.

Another great part of messing around in my boat is to be anchored just by the
main channel as we fish and watch the various boats go past. There is a huge
variety.

My boat is best described as a small aluminium dinghy (it is 3.4 metres  or 11
feet with an 18 hp outboard motor) so most boats that go past are bigger. So I
dream of being in one of the big ones (10 mtrs/30ft to 20mtrs/60ft is normal.)
with a boat about the size of mine hanging off the back as the tender. Bigger
boats are real heaven on water stuff. These dream boats are wider than mine is
long. As these bigger ones power past I am often waken from my daydreams by the
waves from their wake that make my ‘tinnie’ bob up and down.  These
luxurious boats probably cost as much as some of the basic churches where we
gather for worship.  I was a private luxury boat in July but more of that later.

Other boats that pass are carrying tourists. Some are going out to the ocean
reefs for a day’s fishing. Others will fish around the smooth water. A variety
of other boats give tours and day trips around the waterways with commentary as
they go. I have heard us being mentioned on the public address system as the
amphibious ‘ducks” which carry sightseers have passed. Sometimes we have
been fortunate enough to catch a fish as they pass just a few meters away.  It
is nice to be a tourist attraction. I smile as I am captured on a dozen Japanese
video cameras and countless still cameras.

Some boats take divers out for a diving lesson or adventure. Some have tourists
strapped in tightly and they get their thrills by speed as the driver spins the
boat and jumps the ocean waves. Other thrill seekers will try the parasails.
That is being lifted high on a parachute being towed behind a powerful speed
boat.

There are of course stately sail boats, tall ships and luxury yachts that could
sail any ocean. Of course, there are also the smaller ones made for the family
and even the kids alone to mess around in. Others will paddle canoes or kayaks
and sometimes a team of paddlers will pass in their dragon boat which looks like
it has come all the way from some South Seas tropical island.

There is every variety of boat. I haven’t mentioned houseboats, jet skis,
barbecue or party pontoons, water taxis, water police and rescue boats. There
are fishing trawlers, and various work barges, some transporting cars and trucks
to the islands. Small planes equipped to land and take off from the water are
noisy and scary as they come right towards you before taking off and going above
our heads. It is as the tourist advertisements say “Beautiful one day, perfect
the next”.

If Queensland is beautiful one day and perfect the next, it seemed more than
perfect when my wife and I stepped onto a 100 feet long private cruiser in Rome,
Italy as the guests of the owner. My brother-in-law who helped us organise our
itinerary for our shared time in England and Europe met the owner to discuss
business while we were in London.

After discussing business they got to talking about our itinerary and that we
were going to Rome and then to Naples to visit Pompeii. The business man asked
about the dates and then said “I will be there then. How would you like to go
from Rome to Naples on my boat”.  So as we stepped onto the boat we stepped
into a world of luxury that can only be imagined. Five of us joined the owner,
his wife and two other guest for the trip of a life-time.

The boat had a permanent crew of 4 comprising a Captain, a chef  (Hell’s
Kitchen winner Terry Miller) and two helpers. As we left Rome we faced wind
blown sea waves. The boat powered through them but the up and down movement made
some sick. The owner said to us that if it got worse, we would have to turn back
but he would confer with the skipper to see what eh recommended.

He came back with the news that at the skipper’s suggestion we would increase
speed and that should solve the problem. The sick ones would soon feel better
but the downside for him was that the big twin diesel engines would consume 1800
litres of fuel each hour.

It worked. The trip was now much smoother and the wake was spectacular. However,
it did attract the attention of the Italian Coast Patrol who stopped us and
wanted to know why we were travelling so quickly.

After an overnight stop alongside a jetty on the island of Ponza (Isola Di Ponza
– have a look at Google results for Ponza), we soon made it to Naples where we
lined up in the Marina with other not insignificant vessels.

I thought of the rough seas off Italy when I read today’s reading from
Mark’s Gospel.  The Disciples and Jesus were on a smaller boat and did not
have the power of big diesel engines. However, they had the amazing power of
Jesus.

Mark 4:35-41 (The Message)
  35-38  Late that day he said to them, "Let's go across to the other side." They
took him in the boat as he was. Other boats came along. A huge storm came up.
Waves poured into the boat, threatening to sink it. And Jesus was in the stern,
head on a pillow, sleeping! They roused him, saying, "Teacher, is it nothing to
you that we're going down?"
  39-40  Awake now, he told the wind to pipe down and said to the sea, "Quiet!
Settle down!" The wind ran out of breath; the sea became smooth as glass. Jesus
reprimanded the disciples: "Why are you such cowards? Don't you have any faith
at all?"
41 They were in absolute awe, staggered. "Who is this, anyway?" they asked.
"Wind and sea at his beck and call!"
Beautiful one day, perfect the next? With Jesus, it was life threatening one
moment an perfect peace the next.
[Listen: New York Staff Band Male Voice: 
http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music3/mus_4131.mp3

OR

Chelmsford Songsters:
http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_2420.mp3

Once I was lost, on the breakers tossed,
And far away from shore;
My drifting bark all in the dark,
No beacon light before.
I was sinking fast when the lifeboat passed
And the Captain took me in;
Now the storm is o'er and I fear no more,
I have perfect peace within.

Chorus
I'm bound for Canaan's shore,
I'm bound for Canaan's shore,
I'm off for a trip in the gospel ship,
To Canaan's happy shore.

Thank God! 'tis true, my heart's quite new,
Old things have passed away;
And now I know the cleansing flow
Rolls o'er my soul each day.
'Tis a glorious thing to know the sting
Of death has been destroyed,
And that Jesus lives in my heart, and gives
What can sweetly be enjoyed!

And when at last, all dangers past,
I join the blood-washed throng,
Though with the least at the heavenly feast,
I'll sing the glad new song.
O what bliss complete when my Lord I meet
In the banquet hall on high,
And with comrades there in love I share
The joys that never die!
	 William Giles Collins (1854-1931),alt
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 375

……………………………………………….


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OzThoughts Friday 30th January 2009

We are not even at the end of the fourth Chapter of Mark’s Gospel and one
thing is very apparent. Jesus was a great teacher and the crowds gathered to
hear him. Today’s reading tells us a little of the reason why he was so
successful.

Mark 4:26-34 (The Message)

  26-29  Then Jesus said, "God's kingdom is like seed thrown on a field by a man
who then goes to bed and forgets about it. The seed sprouts and grows—he has
no idea how it happens. The earth does it all without his help: first a green
stem of grass, then a bud, then the ripened grain. When the grain is fully
formed, he reaps—harvest time!
  30-32  "How can we picture God's kingdom? What kind of story can we use? It's
like a pine nut. When it lands on the ground it is quite small as seeds go, yet
once it is planted it grows into a huge pine tree with thick branches. Eagles
nest in it."
  33-34  With many stories like these, he presented his message to them, fitting
the stories to their experience and maturity. He was never without a story when
he spoke. When he was alone with his disciples, he went over everything, sorting
out the tangles, untying the knots.
What does this say to us and how we should share Jesus with the people we meet?
Can I suggest that Jesus was very aware of what was happening right where he
was. He described what he and everyone else could see or easily picture because
it was their experience. He did not rely on second hand stories or stories used
by others with effect. His stories were not to entertain or fill the time.
Notice, too, Jesus made himself available to those whom he most wanted to
influence.  “When he was alone with his disciples, he went over everything,
sorting out the tangles, untying the knots.”  Jesus was not only a teacher but
he was a personal tutor and a masterful mentor.
PRAYER: (Using the Song Book as a Prayer Book).
[Listen:  http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_1248.mp3 ]

I'm a soldier bound for Glory,
I'm a soldier going home;
Come and hear me tell my story,
All who love the Saviour, come.

Chorus
I love Jesus, hallelujah!
I love Jesus, yes, I do;
I love Jesus, he's my Saviour,
Jesus smiles and loves me too.

I will tell you what induced me
In the glorious fight to start;
'Twas the Saviour's loving kindness
Overcame and won my heart.

When I first commenced my warfare
Many said I'd run away;
But they all have been deceived,
In the fight I am today.

I'm a wonder unto many,
God alone the change has wrought;
Here I raise my Ebenezer,
Hither by his help I'm brought.

When to death's dark, swelling river,
Like a warrior I shall come,
Then I mean to shout salvation!
And go singing glory! home.
Author:  Richard Jukes (1804-67),alt
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 338

 
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OzThoughts Thursday 29th January 2009

Today’s short passage from Mark’s Gospel has the basis for two sermons. In
fact, there are at least three good sermons. No, this is not the place for a
sermon, so you won’t even get one. I will just say don’t miss the points
that Mark has written here for us.

Mark 4:21-25 (The Message)
21-22  Jesus went on: "Does anyone bring a lamp home and put it under a washtub
or beneath the bed? Don't you put it up on a table or on the mantel? We're not
keeping secrets, we're telling them; we're not hiding things, we're bringing
them out into the open.
  23 "Are you listening to this? Really listening?
  24-25 "Listen carefully to what I am saying—and be wary of the shrewd advice
that tells you how to get ahead in the world on your own. Giving, not getting,
is the way. Generosity begets generosity. Stinginess impoverishes."
Is there a link that can be made of the three points? Can we link not keeping
secrets, really listening and being generous?

Many years ago someone handed me an old copy of a Salvation Army youth magazine.
In it I read something like “We are not cisterns to store God’s blessings,
but conductors to pass them on.”  That spoke to me. While it was true to sing
“It was for me that Jesus died”, I had the responsibility to pass on the
good news that “God so loved the world he gave his only son that anyone who
believes in him might have eternal life’ (John 3:16).

I can say that that realization has led me on a life long journey.  I am still
listening and sharing what I learn.
PRAYER: (Using our Song Book as our Prayer Book).
[Listen:  http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_1764.mp3  ]

Lord, I pray that I may know thee,
Risen One, enthroned on high;
Empty hands I'm stretching to thee,
Show thyself to me, I cry.

Chorus
Show thyself to me, show thyself to me,
That I may reveal thy beauty;
Show thyself to me.

All that once I thought most worthy,
All of which I once did boast,
In thy light seems poor and passing,
'Tis thyself I covet most.

Give thyself to me, give thyself to me,
That I may show forth thy power;
Give thyself to me.

Only as I truly know thee
Can I make thee truly known;
Only bring the power to others
Which in my own life is shown.

Show thy power in me, show thy power in me,
That I may be used for others;
Show thy power in me.
Author:  Ruth Tracy (1870-1960)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 435

 
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OzThoughts Wednesday 28th January 2009

People love stories. They love to tell them. Probably several times a week, I
will simply say to people “Tell me your story”.  Then I try to be a good
listener.  Strangely, If I demonstrate good listening I also demonstrate I care.

I have a Canadian friend whom I met on the internet and she has been reading
OzThoughts since the beginning. She has said to me over the years “I love
reading the stories in OzThoughts about what you have done or are doing the
best.” (I won’t tell you her name but because it is her birthday today I
will say “Happy birthday, Janis”.)

The Christian Mission/ Salvation Army from its earliest days feature people to
tell the story of their “getting saved”.  They told how difficult and
wretched their life was before The Army brought Jesus to them. How they
surrendered their life to Jesus and what it has been like since. People gathered
to listened to these stories and saw people they knew whose lives had been
transformed. They heard the story and they saw the transformation that had taken
place. Many said “I need some of that”.

See what Jesus tells about reaching and teaching people by stories:
Mark 4:1-20 (The Message)
  1-2 He went back to teaching by the sea. A crowd built up to such a great size
that he had to get into an offshore boat, using the boat as a pulpit as the
people pushed to the water's edge. He taught by using stories, many stories.
  3-8"Listen. What do you make of this? A farmer planted seed. As he scattered
the seed, some of it fell on the road and birds ate it. Some fell in the gravel;
it sprouted quickly but didn't put down roots, so when the sun came up it
withered just as quickly. Some fell in the weeds; as it came up, it was
strangled among the weeds and nothing came of it. Some fell on good earth and
came up with a flourish, producing a harvest exceeding his wildest dreams.
  9"Are you listening to this? Really listening?"
  10-12When they were off by themselves, those who were close to him, along with
the Twelve, asked about the stories. He told them, "You've been given insight
into God's kingdom—you know how it works. But to those who can't see it yet,
everything comes in stories, creating readiness, nudging them toward receptive
insight. These are people—

    Whose eyes are open but don't see a thing,
    Whose ears are open but don't understand a word,
    Who avoid making an about-face and getting forgiven."
  13He continued, "Do you see how this story works? All my stories work this way.
  14-15"The farmer plants the Word. Some people are like the seed that falls on
the hardened soil of the road. No sooner do they hear the Word than Satan
snatches away what has been planted in them.
  16-17"And some are like the seed that lands in the gravel. When they first hear
the Word, they respond with great enthusiasm. But there is such shallow soil of
character that when the emotions wear off and some difficulty arrives, there is
nothing to show for it.
  18-19"The seed cast in the weeds represents the ones who hear the kingdom news
but are overwhelmed with worries about all the things they have to do and all
the things they want to get. The stress strangles what they heard, and nothing
comes of it.
  20"But the seed planted in the good earth represents those who hear the Word,
embrace it, and produce a harvest beyond their wildest dreams."
[Listen:  http://www.salvoaudio.com/miscellaneous_music/ballarat2.htm ]

Pleasures sought, dearly bought,
Leading only further from the light;
Blinded eyes, weary sighs,
Thus grief-laden did I wander in sin's night.

Chorus
Jesus came with peace to me,
His strong arm was stretched to me,
Then my burden took from me--
My Saviour.

Wasted years, doubts and fears,
I no treasure had in Heaven above;
Idle hours, misspent powers
Stained my heart, unmoved by Jesus' wondrous love.

Hollow joys, worldly toys,
Could not meet my spirit's deep desire;
Without rest, in my breast
Rose the yearning for the Spirit's hallowed fire.

Heaven's ray falls today
On my soul, and makes my pathway bright;
Struggles cease, I have peace,
Walking with my Saviour, trusting in his might.
Author:  Agnes Parker Heathcote (b 1862)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 379

 
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OzThoughts Tuesday 27th January 2009

There’s a chorus we used to sing. I was reminded of it as I read Psalm 40. It
went something like this:

Tell out the story,
Let all the people shout and sing
Glory to Jesus my Saviour Lord and King
For I’m the one to testify
He saves, he keeps, he satisfies.
Tell out the story,
Let all the people shout and sing
Glory to Jesus my Saviour Lord and King

I can’t remember when I learnt that chorus. My research assistant Mr Google
cannot locate it. However, I know that that is what God called me to do. For me,
to do God’s will is to tell about Jesus and the salvation that comes through
him and God keeps me and satisfies me daily.

While the Psalm was written many years before Jesus birth, death and
resurrection, he acknowledges the power of God in his life and how he is
compelled to tell about it.

Psalm 40  (The Message)

  1-3 I waited and waited and waited for God.
  At last he looked; finally he listened.
    He lifted me out of the ditch,
       pulled me from deep mud.
    He stood me up on a solid rock
       to make sure I wouldn't slip.
    He taught me how to sing the latest God-song,
       a praise-song to our God.
    More and more people are seeing this:
       they enter the mystery,
       abandoning themselves to God.

  4-5 Blessed are you who give yourselves over to God,
       turn your backs on the world's "sure thing,"
       ignore what the world worships;
    The world's a huge stockpile
       of God-wonders and God-thoughts.
    Nothing and no one
       comes close to you!
    I start talking about you, telling what I know,
       and quickly run out of words.
    Neither numbers nor words
       account for you.

  6 Doing something for you, bringing something to you—
       that's not what you're after.
    Being religious, acting pious—
       that's not what you're asking for.
    You've opened my ears
       so I can listen.

  7-8 So I answered, "I'm coming.
       I read in your letter what you wrote about me,
    And I'm coming to the party
       you're throwing for me."
    That's when God's Word entered my life,
       became part of my very being.

  9-10 I've preached you to the whole congregation,
       I've kept back nothing, God—you know that.
    I didn't keep the news of your ways
       a secret, didn't keep it to myself.
    I told it all, how dependable you are, how thorough.
       I didn't hold back pieces of love and truth
    For myself alone. I told it all,
       let the congregation know the whole story.

11-12 Now GOD, don't hold out on me,
       don't hold back your passion.
    Your love and truth
       are all that keeps me together.
    When troubles ganged up on me,
       a mob of sins past counting,
    I was so swamped by guilt
       I couldn't see my way clear.
    More guilt in my heart than hair on my head,
       so heavy the guilt that my heart gave out.

  13-15 Soften up, GOD, and intervene;
       hurry and get me some help,
    So those who are trying to kidnap my soul
       will be embarrassed and lose face,
    So anyone who gets a kick out of making me miserable
       will be heckled and disgraced,
    So those who pray for my ruin
       will be booed and jeered without mercy.

  16-17 But all who are hunting for you—
       oh, let them sing and be happy.
    Let those who know what you're all about
       tell the world you're great and not quitting.
    And me? I'm a mess. I'm nothing and have nothing:
       make something of me.
    You can do it; you've got what it takes—
       but God, don't put it off.

 
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OzThoughts Monday 26th January 2009 – AUSTRALIA DAY

Australia Day – Australia’s national day of celebration and reflection.

As I read today’s Psalm I notice the Psalmist says “God has made a world of
wonders!” Yet, he goes on to say “   The whole earth comes to attention.   
Look—God's work of salvation!” Then he calls everybody to sing their praises
to God! Its is all wonderful. It is absolutely marvelous what God has done.
However, he is not finished yet!

Psalm 98 (The Message)

  1 Sing to GOD a brand-new song. He's made a world of wonders!
    He rolled up his sleeves,
    He set things right.

  2 God made history with salvation,
    He showed the world what he could do.

  3 He remembered to love us, a bonus
    To his dear family, Israel—indefatigable love.
    The whole earth comes to attention.
    Look—God's work of salvation!

  4 Shout your praises to God, everybody!
    Let loose and sing! Strike up the band!

  5 Round up an orchestra to play for God,
    Add on a hundred-voice choir.

  6 Feature trumpets and big trombones,
    Fill the air with praises to King God.

  7 Let the sea and its fish give a round of applause,
    With everything living on earth joining in.

  8 Let ocean breakers call out, "Encore!"
    And mountains harmonize the finale—

  9 A tribute to God when he comes,
    When he comes to set the earth right.
    He'll straighten out the whole world,
    He'll put the world right, and everyone in it.

PRAYER:  (Using our Song Book as our Prayer Book).

Now thank we all our God
With hearts and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things hath done,
In whom his wold rejoices;
Who from our mothers' arms
Hath blessed on our way
With countless gifts of love,
And still is ours today.

O may this bounteous God
Through all our life be near us,
With ever-joyful hearts
And blessed peace to cheer us,
And keep us in his grace,
And guide us when perplexed,
And free us from all ills
In this world and the next.

All praise and thanks to God
The Father now be given,
The Son and him who reigns
With them in highest Heaven.
The one eternal God,
Whom earth and Heaven adore;
For thus it was, is now,
And shall be evermore.
	 Authors:  Martin Rinkart (1588-1649)
Translator:  Catherine Winkworth (1827-78)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number:  12

 
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Australian Thoughts at the Weekend.  24th and 25th January 2009

Australia Day.

This weekend is a holiday weekend in Australia with a public holiday on Monday
celebrating the first European settlement of Australia on 26th January,1788.
Australia has a long history of settlement. It seems that the indigenous race
which occupied the land at the coming of the British settlers had themselves
come to this land over 40, 000 years previously.

Obviously the country changed dramatically under the new settlers. The new
people had a very different agenda to those who already lived here. The agenda
of the British was to establish permanent dwelling places. Their agenda saw the
original settlement village grow to a town and then to a city with surrounding
farms established with the seeds and animals they had brought with them. They
would grow vegetables and wheat and meat would be supplied by breeding sheep and
cattle.

The original people were nomadic. They ate what was readily available. This
included animals, birds and seafood, they were able to capture. Kangaroos,
goanna, crocodile, crabs, fish, dugong, and shellfish appeared on their varied
menu. It included fruit and berries and roots of some plants. They moved to
where the food was available in season.  Oh, and it included some creepy and
crawly things including fat witchetty grubs and bogong moths.

Eventually, in various ways, a few ships of convicts from England and their
guards became the 20 million people who today are proud to call themselves
Australians. The story of that growth tells of conflict with the original
people. It also tells of many people who came from many lands each with their
own ideas and agendas. Some of my forebears came from Germany to settle in this,
to them, new land to escape the religious persecutions in their former home.
Others of my forebears came from Ireland, England and Scotland. Since World War
2, thousands of people coming from probably every nation on earth have made
their home here.

On this Australia Day, we might ask what is our agenda for this nation?  Each of
us, no matter our nationality and no matter where we live can ask the same
question: “What is my agenda for our nation?” Sometime later this year we
will vote in State elections. This year is also the 150th year since the
formation of our State as a separate entity. As we vote will we confirm our
personal agenda and wishes for this land?

There are many individuals and groups that work not only at election time but
day by day that their agenda may be done in this land. Are we working in our
small corner that God’s will might be done?

To do this we need to consider our personal agendas. How do we want to live? Do
we want to live our Christian lives in a way that conforms with God’s agenda
for us. Are we seeking in prayer not only God’s agenda for us as individuals
but are we seeking that truly that His will may “be done on earth as it is in
heaven”?

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.
	 Edward Henry Joy (1871-1949)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 451

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OzThoughts Friday 23rd January 2009

  “Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin
again the work of remaking America.” (From President Barak Obama’s Inaugural
speech)
I heard the above quote from the President’s speech on television and I
thought “that’s worth remembering”.  Now as I usually do when I came to
type it into my computer, I set my research assistant, Mr Google to work. He
quickly came up with the fact that this is a quote from a 1936 movie “Swing
Time” with the lyrics by Dorothy Fields and the music by Jerome Kern. The
stars were  Ginger Rogers and Fed Astaire. The lyrics are below. (You can see
the scene from the movie here: http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=AGUsRGuZb6k .

I marveled at the great crowd of, it is said two million who stood in freezing
weather to be a part of this great event. They will have many memories. What an
occasion! What a historic event! They looked, listened and cheered. I wonder how
many will “pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of
remaking America.”.

My mind goes to another crowd many, many years ago. It was the hour of prayer in
Jerusalem and Peter and John had just healed a crippled man. He would not stop
shouting, dancing, and praising God. We know the story well.

The crowd gathered and began praising Peter and John because of what happened.
We read that Peter address the crowd “"Oh, Israelites, why does this take you
by such complete surprise, and why stare at us as if our power or piety made him
walk? The God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has
glorified his Son Jesus.” (Acts 3: 12…).

Peter set the events of the past days concerning Jesus and although he was
crucified, God raised him up and it was through his power this man was healed.
He told that all this was according to the prophets.

Then Peter called them to repent and be converted : “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, and send you the Messiah he prepared for you, namely,
Jesus.” (Acts3: 19. The Message).

Did they repent, change their ways and face God?  Yes! For we read : “But many
of those who listened had already believed the Message—in round numbers about
five thousand!” (Acts 4: 4 The Message).

Prayer:
(Using the Song Book as a Prayer Book):

Have thine own way, Lord, have thine own way;
Thou art the potter, I am the clay;
Mold me and make me after thy will,
While I am waiting yielded and still.

Have thine own way, Lord, have thine own way;
Search me and try me, Master, today;
Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now,
As in thy presence humbly I bow.

Have thine own way, Lord, have thine own way;
Wounded and weary, help me I pray;
Power, all power, surely is thine,
Touch me and heal me, Saviour divine.

Have thine own way, Lord, have thine own way;
Hold o'er my being absolute sway;
Fill with thy Spirit till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me.
Author: Adelaide Addison Pollard (1862-1934)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 487

http://lyricsplayground.com/alpha/songs/p/pickyourselfup.shtml)

PICK YOURSELF UP
From the Film: Swing Time  1936
(Lyrics by: Dorothy Fields / Music by: Jerome Kern)
Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers

(He)
Please teacher, teach me something,
Nice teacher, teach me something.
I'm as awkward as a camel, that's not the worst,
My two feet haven't met yet,
But I'll be teacher's pet yet,
'Cause I'm gonna learn to dance or burst.

(She)
Nothing's impossible I have found,
For when my chin is on the ground,
I pick myself up,
Dust myself off,
Start All over again.


“So help me God!”  This phrase seemed to ring out on our television news
from the Inauguration of US President Barack Obama.  Maybe I was waiting for it.
I had heard that to use the words were a deliberate choice of the new President
and some had failed in their attempt to stop him using any reference to God.

I was reminded of the words of God recorded in the Old Testament book of Joshua:

I'll be with you. I won't give up on you; I won't leave you. Strength! Courage!
You are going to lead this people to inherit the land that I promised to give
their ancestors. Give it everything you have, heart and soul. (Joshua 1: 9 The
Message).

Moses the old leader at 120 had died. Joshua was now the leader of the people
and god reminded him that he would be with him. However, it wasn’t an open
cheque just being handed to Joshua. It is worth considering the verses which
come before this 9th verse. (Actually in The Message version which puts together
verses 1 to 9 they come after the above words):

“Make sure you carry out The Revelation that Moses commanded you, every bit of
it. Don't get off track, either left or right, so as to make sure you get to
where you're going. And don't for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be
out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice
everything written in it. Then you'll get where you're going; then you'll
succeed. Haven't I commanded you?”

Therefore: “Strength! Courage! Don't be timid; don't get discouraged. GOD,
your God, is with you every step you take”

PRAYER: (Using the Song Book as a Prayer Book)

[Listen: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/songs/songs_064.mp3 ]

God is with us, God is with us,
So our brave forefathers sang,
Far across the field of battle
Loud their holy war cry rang;
Though at times they feared and faltered,
Never once they ceased to sing:

Chorus
God is with us, God is with us,
Christ our Lord shall reign as King!

Great the heritage they left us,
Great the conquests to be won,
Armed hosts to meet and scatter,
Larger duties to be done.
Raise the song they nobly taught us,
Round the wide world let it ring:

Speed the cross through all the nations,
Speed the victories of love,
Preach the gospel of redemption
Wheresoever men may move;
Make the future in the present,
Strong of heart, toil on and sing:
Author: Walter John Mathams (1853-1931),alt
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 158


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OzThoughts Thursday 22nd January 2009

“So help me God!”  This phrase seemed to ring out on our television news
from the Inauguration of US President Barack Obama.  Maybe I was waiting for it.
I had heard that to use the words were a deliberate choice of the new President
and some had failed in their attempt to stop him using any reference to God.

I was reminded of the words of God recorded in the Old Testament book of Joshua:

I'll be with you. I won't give up on you; I won't leave you. Strength! Courage!
You are going to lead this people to inherit the land that I promised to give
their ancestors. Give it everything you have, heart and soul. (Joshua 1: 9 The
Message).

Moses the old leader at 120 had died. Joshua was now the leader of the people
and god reminded him that he would be with him. However, it wasn’t an open
cheque just being handed to Joshua. It is worth considering the verses which
come before this 9th verse. (Actually in The Message version which puts together
verses 1 to 9 they come after the above words):

“Make sure you carry out The Revelation that Moses commanded you, every bit of
it. Don't get off track, either left or right, so as to make sure you get to
where you're going. And don't for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be
out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice
everything written in it. Then you'll get where you're going; then you'll
succeed. Haven't I commanded you?”

Therefore: “Strength! Courage! Don't be timid; don't get discouraged. GOD,
your God, is with you every step you take”

PRAYER: (Using the Song Book as a Prayer Book)

[Listen: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/songs/songs_064.mp3 ]

God is with us, God is with us,
So our brave forefathers sang,
Far across the field of battle
Loud their holy war cry rang;
Though at times they feared and faltered,
Never once they ceased to sing:

Chorus
God is with us, God is with us,
Christ our Lord shall reign as King!

Great the heritage they left us,
Great the conquests to be won,
Armed hosts to meet and scatter,
Larger duties to be done.
Raise the song they nobly taught us,
Round the wide world let it ring:

Speed the cross through all the nations,
Speed the victories of love,
Preach the gospel of redemption
Wheresoever men may move;
Make the future in the present,
Strong of heart, toil on and sing:
Author: Walter John Mathams (1853-1931),alt
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 158


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OzThoughts Wednesday 21st January 2009

I am quite sure that everyone has noticed there is a new President in the United
States Of America. It happened about 3am, while we slept here in Australia.   I
remembered St Paul wrote something about being good citizens and I soon found it
in Romans Chapter 13.

Now, I assume Paul knew something about being a citizen. He was a Hebrew by
birth but also a Roman citizen. He knew the intrigues of Jerusalem and the
authority and power of Rome. So as we thinking about supreme power in one
country and undeniable influence in many others, what does Paul say about being
a good citizen and relating well to government?  Don’t miss what Paul says
about your personal finances and then, in the final verses of the chapter, how
we should live.

Romans 13 (The Message)

1-3 Be a good citizen. All governments are under God. Insofar as there is peace
and order, it's God's order. So live responsibly as a citizen. If you're
irresponsible to the state, then you're irresponsible with God, and God will
hold you responsible. Duly constituted authorities are only a threat if you're
trying to get by with something. Decent citizens should have nothing to fear.

  3-5  Do you want to be on good terms with the government? Be a responsible
citizen and you'll get on just fine, the government working to your advantage.
But if you're breaking the rules right and left, watch out. The police aren't
there just to be admired in their uniforms. God also has an interest in keeping
order, and he uses them to do it. That's why you must live responsibly—not
just to avoid punishment but also because it's the right way to live.

  6-7  That's also why you pay taxes—so that an orderly way of life can be
maintained. Fulfill your obligations as a citizen. Pay your taxes, pay your
bills, respect your leaders.

  8-10  Don't run up debts, except for the huge debt of love you owe each other.
When you love others, you complete what the law has been after all along. The
law code—don't sleep with another person's spouse, don't take someone's life,
don't take what isn't yours, don't always be wanting what you don't have, and
any other "don't" you can think of—finally adds up to this: Love other people
as well as you do yourself. You can't go wrong when you love others. When you
add up everything in the law code, the sum total is love.

  11-14 But make sure that you don't get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care
of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off,
oblivious to God. The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and
awake to what God is doing! God is putting the finishing touches on the
salvation work he began when we first believed. We can't afford to waste a
minute, must not squander these precious daylight hours in frivolity and
indulgence, in sleeping around and dissipation, in bickering and grabbing
everything in sight. Get out of bed and get dressed! Don't loiter and linger,
waiting until the very last minute. Dress yourselves in Christ, and be up and
about!
PRAYER:  (Using our Song Book as our Prayer Book).

[Listen : (Tune “Duke Street”:
http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_977.mp3 ]

Jesus shall reign where'er the sun
Doth his successive journeys run;
His Kingdom stretch from shore to shore,
Till suns shall rise and set no more.

People and realms of every tongue
Dwell on his love with sweetest song;
And infant voices shall proclaim
Their young hosannas to his name.

Blessings abound where'er he reigns,
The prisoner leaps to lose his chains,
The weary find eternal rest,
And all the sons of want are blest.

Where he displays his healing power,
Death and the curse are known no more;
In him the tribes of Adam boast
More blessings than their father lost.

Let every creature rise and bring
Peculiar honors to our King;
Angels descend with songs again
And earth prolong the joyful strain.
Author:  Isaac Watts (1674-1748)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 160

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OzThoughts Tuesday 20th January 2009

These are troubled days. Many people are suffering financial reverses. Someone
said to me, “the trouble is that loss of work and financial problems usually
happen to some but right now it is happening to many”.  For Christians it may
help us to focus again on our reliance on God. For others, maybe, it is a time
for reassessing life’s priorities and looking at the purpose of it all.

Psalm 111 helps us to focus not on powerful worldly leaders, or our own power,
position or native ability but to focus on God and realize his benefits to us.
Psalm 111 (The Message)

  1-10 Hallelujah! I give thanks to God with everything I've got—
    Wherever good people gather, and in the congregation.
    God's works are so great, worth
    A lifetime of study—endless enjoyment!

    Splendor and beauty mark his craft;
    His generosity never gives out.
    His miracles are his memorial—
    This God of Grace, this God of Love.

    He gave food to those who fear him,
    He remembered to keep his ancient promise.
    He proved to his people that he could do what he said:
    Hand them the nations on a platter—a gift!

    He manufactures truth and justice;
    All his products are guaranteed to last—
    Never out-of-date, never obsolete, rust-proof.

    All that he makes and does is honest and true:
    He paid the ransom for his people,
    He ordered his Covenant kept forever.
    He's so personal and holy, worthy of our respect.

    The good life begins in the fear of God—
    Do that and you'll know the blessing of God.
    His Hallelujah lasts forever!

PRAYER:  (Using the Song Book as our Prayer Book):

I do not ask thee, Lord,
That all my life may be
An easy, smooth and pleasant path;
'Twould not be good for me.
But O I ask today
That grace and strength be given
To keep me fighting all the way
That leads to God and Heaven!

I do not ask thee, Lord,
That tears may never flow,
Or that the world may always smile
Upon me as I go.
From thee fell drops of blood;
A thorn-crown pressed thy brow;
Thy suffering brought thee victory then,
And thou canst help me now.

And what if strength should fail,
And heart more deeply bleed?
Or what if dark and lonely days
Draw forth the cry of need?
That cry will bring thee down
My needy soul to fill,
And thou wilt teach my yearning heart
To know and do thy will.
Author:  Fannie Jolliffe (1862-1943)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 586

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OzThoughts Monday 19th January 2009

For a lot of people, the focus this week will be on Washington, for the
inauguration of the new President of the United States of America. I thought
about this as I read Psalm 46, one of the selected readings for today.  Many
would see the new President as the most powerful leader in the world. He needs
our prayers but we need to remember “God is still on his throne”.

As I read, I remembered the familiar version says “God is my refuge and
strength” and calls us to “Be still and know that I am God” before the
final reminders that He will be “exalted in all the earth” and that He is
with us and is our refuge.

I like the last part of verse 8 in The Message version. It says a lot about the
God we worship and serve: “above politics, above everything”.

Psalm 46
  1-3 God is a safe place to hide, ready to help when we need him.
    We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom,
       courageous in seastorm and earthquake,
    Before the rush and roar of oceans,
       the tremors that shift mountains.
    Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,
       God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.

  4-6 River fountains splash joy, cooling God's city,
       this sacred haunt of the Most High.
    God lives here, the streets are safe,
       God at your service from crack of dawn.
    Godless nations rant and rave, kings and kingdoms threaten,
       but Earth does anything he says.

  7 Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,
       God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.

  8-10 Attention, all! See the marvels of God!
       He plants flowers and trees all over the earth,
    Bans war from pole to pole,
       breaks all the weapons across his knee.
    "Step out of the traffic! Take a long,
       loving look at me, your High God,
       above politics, above everything."

  11 Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,
       God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.

Prayer: (Using our Song Book as our Book of Prayer).
[Listen: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_688.mp3  OR

Eric Ball’s “Fantasia on Lobe den Herren”:
http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_2924.mp3 ]

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation;
O my soul, praise him, for he is thy health and salvation;
All ye who hear,
Brothers and sisters draw near,
Praise him in glad adoration.

Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;
Surely his goodness and mercy here daily attend thee;
Ponder anew
What the Almighty can do,
He who with love doth befriend thee.

Praise to the Lord, who, when tempests their warfare are waging,
Who, when the elements madly around thee are raging,
Biddeth them cease,
Turneth their fury to peace,
Whirlwinds and waters assuaging.

Praise to the Lord, who, when darkness of sin is abounding,
Who, when the godless do triumph, all virtue confounding,
Sheddeth his light,
Chaseth the horrors of night,
Saints with his mercy surrounding.

Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore him!
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before him!
Let the amen
Sound from his people again;
Gladly for aye we adore him.
	 Authors:  Joachim Neander (1650-80),
Translators: Catherine Winkworth (1827-78) and others
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 19

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Australian Thoughts at the Weekend 17th and 18th January, 2009.

ANOTHER CHANCE

It was on the 18th January way back in 1788 that the first landing of “The
First Fleet” was made at Botany Bay. The First Fleet under the command of
Captain (Governor) Arthur Phillip brought convicts and their guards from
England. Botany Bay proved unsuitable for a settlement. Exploration to the north
and entry of Port Jackson, discovered but not entered by Captain James Cook in
1788, found an excellent deep harbour and la fresh water supply suitable for a
settlement.

On 26th January, 1788, Governor Phillip and the First fleet arrived in Port
Jackson, landed and began the first settlement at Sydney Cove.  The landing
place was between where the two well known landmarks, The Sydney Harbour Bridge
and The Sydney Opera House stand today.

Australia has been described as the “Land of the Second Chance”.  From the
time of its first white settlement in 1788, this land has provided a second
chance to many. Those early residents, many of them Irish prisoners of England
and sundry other residents of the British Isles who had broken the law, found a
land that was very different to their homeland. They found that their knowledge
and skills had to be adapted to fit with different seasons and climate in this
new land. They found that they had little to learn from the Aboriginal residents
who knew nothing of agriculture and living in solid structures arranged along
streets. In spite of very difficult beginnings, many of the convicts saw
opportunities and on concluding their sentences remained here to make most of a
second chance.

Since then many have taken hold of opportunities. Less than one hundred years
after the beginnings at Sydney Cove, gold was discovered in various locations
around the land, and many were attracted to opportunity to strike it rich and
find a new beginning. It was a tough life and many perished. Some found the
wealth to make a new beginning. It is said some of the Chinese miners who
arrived on the fields found it so tough to find payable gold they found it paid
better to grow vegetables and sell them to other miners.

Other earlier settlers were Germans seeking refuge from religious persecution
and who came seeking freedom to live without their previous concerns. Following
the Second World War, Australia encouraged people from the United Kingdom and
continental Europe to seek new opportunities in this land. Many took the
opportunity to leave that which was familiar to seek a new life for themselves
and their children. The numbers of new settlers were boosted soon by refugees
seeking escape from Communism which had taken over their cental and eastern
European homelands.

In more recent times Australia has been seen as a land of opportunity by
refugees from Asia. In the late 1970s people began arriving on our shores from
Vietnam. These refugees came crowded in fishing boats and other boats more at
home in the coastal waters and rivers of Vietnam. I had a personal encounter
with many of these people when I was in charge of The Salvation Army used
furniture warehouse which provided the families with basic furniture and other
essential household items. I found the Vietnamese people were courteous,
appreciative and friendly.  We did discuss whether student’s desks were basic
and essential items.  My manager said they were not. The Vietnamese said they
would leave the other items, if they could have the desks. The parents said
their children must study. It was the way to take hold of the second chance at
life they had been offered. I was not surprised when in 2 or 3 years these
refugee children were topping the state in
  examinations. (I also understood the joke that said “How do you know a
Vietnamese broke into your house? Answer: your homework is done!”).

I previously have told the stories of two women who gained a second chance
through the forgiveness of their sins.

Firstly there is the story of a young woman who sought God’s pardon.

It was a story told many years ago at a seminar by the (now late) Rev Roger
Bush, a Methodist Minister and Sydney radio personality.  Roger told us many
stories of life as a radio chaplain and broadcaster. I remember one story well.

He told us how late one Sunday night almost at the end of his broadcast a young
woman phoned him and spoke to him on air. He said as soon as she began to speak
he felt that this would be special, in a spiritual kind of way.  The woman told
him she was a raised as a Christian and that meant very much to her. However, as
the result of action which she regretted she had become pregnant. She decided to
have an abortion. She had sought God’s forgiveness many times but did not feel
forgiven. Roger told us as the conversation went on, he did not feel comfortable
discussing it further on the air. He told her to call back at 3 minutes past
midnight when he was finished and he would talk to her off air.

She phoned him as arranged and he made an appointment to see her the next day at
his office. After that call the phone rang again, and then again and then again.
He spent another hour talking to more than a dozen women, in similar
circumstances and making appointments to see them.

When she came to his office, he met a young well dressed and well educated
woman. He found, too, that she had a great understanding of the faith of her
youth. Roger said to put it our terms she loved the Lord and His church. She had
a huge load of guilt and although she prayed and sought pardon, she had no sense
of forgiveness. Her sin was overwhelming her. Roger said he scratched his head
and prayed for inspiration.

Roger asked her to go into the church next to his office, and wait for him. He
put on his robes and prepared some wine and bread. He walked into the church and
called her to the Altar. There in a very sacred moment they shared the bread and
wine, symbols of the body and blood of Christ. Then the priest of God and the
young woman knelt together and thanked God for his forgiveness. They stood and
embraced and Roger said he knew by her smile that the burden had lifted.

The second story is related to the first, in that God used it to give me
guidance in a situation I faced. I found when I went to one Corps, a lovely old
Salvationist lady who lived with her invalid sister. When I visited I found the
Salvationist lady a real gem in her Christian faith. She had never married but
told wonderful stories of her various involvements in various Corps.

Her sister had married but that had ended in separation but not divorce as she
could not afford the cost. She struggled to raise her two boys alone taking in
ironing to provide her only income. There was no pension for ‘single
parents’ in those days.

She told me she entered into a ‘de facto’ relationship with a man and he
provided for her and her boys. By the time I met her, she had buried her friend
many years before and the boys were grown men with their own families. However,
she was loaded with guilt.

She read the Bible alone and with her sister. They also prayed together and
separately. She told me she had asked other Officers and Christian friends about
whether God could forgive her but in spite of their Scriptural and experience
based answers she felt her deliberate sin had stained her.

I wonder whether her sister’s good life also gave her a reminder of her own
and like Isaiah standing before Holy God could only see her sinfulness. As I
thought and prayed about her situation   I remembered the story Roger Bush had
told us.

Now Salvationists, unlike Roger and the young woman don’t participate in
communion, so that was not a solution. However, eventually God gave me an
answer.

On the Thursday morning, when I next visited them. I told my friend in the
presence of her sister, that I had prayed and spoken to the Corps Census Board
(church elders) about her situation, and that we all believed God could and had
forgiven her.  I handed her a copy of  The Articles of War and said if she would
sign it, we would be happy to accept her as a Soldier of The Salvation Army.

Now, she knew exactly that the Articles of War was the covenant between a
would-be Soldier and God and contained a statement of the belief s and
commitment to appropriate conduct and involvement in The Salvation Army.  Both
sisters had tears as I prayed about the forgiveness and commitment that was
involved in this step.

I assumed that I would enrol her in her home but she said she would make the
effort to come to the Sunday Morning Meeting but did not know if she could stand
during the ceremony.  We arranged for her to remain seated as the SA Flag was
brought by the Corps Sergeant Major and the sacred ceremony proceeded.

She asked me if it would be okay if she said a few words and she stood and gave
a wonderful testimony which told that she now believed God had forgiven her and
she felt at peace with God, herself and the world.

I thought of the words which we considered in OzThoughts on Friday morning:

8-12 Jesus knew right away what they were thinking, and said, "Why are you so
skeptical? Which is simpler: to say to the paraplegic, 'I forgive your sins,' or
say, 'Get up, take your stretcher, and start walking'? Well, just so it's clear
that I'm the Son of Man and authorized to do either, or both . . ." (he looked
now at the paraplegic), "Get up. Pick up your stretcher and go home." And the
man did it—got up, grabbed his stretcher, and walked out, with everyone there
watching him. They rubbed their eyes, incredulous—and then praised God,
saying, "We've never seen anything like this!"

Praise God indeed!

O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer's praise;
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of his grace!

My gracious Master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,
To spread through all the earth abroad
The honours of thy name.

Jesus! The name that charms our fears,
That bids our sorrows cease;
'Tis music in the sinner's ears;
'Tis life and health and peace.

He breaks the power of cancelled sin,
He sets the prisoner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean,
His blood avails for me.
Author: Charles Wesley (1707-88)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 64

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OzThoughts Friday 16th January 2009

Mark 2: 1-12 (The Message)
  1-5   After a few days, Jesus returned to Capernaum, and word got around that
he was back home. A crowd gathered, jamming the entrance so no one could get in
or out. He was teaching the Word. They brought a paraplegic to him, carried by
four men. When they weren't able to get in because of the crowd, they removed
part of the roof and lowered the paraplegic on his stretcher. Impressed by their
bold belief, Jesus said to the paraplegic, "Son, I forgive your sins."
  6-7  Some religion scholars sitting there started whispering among themselves,
"He can't talk that way! That's blasphemy! God and only God can forgive sins."
  8-12  Jesus knew right away what they were thinking, and said, "Why are you so
skeptical? Which is simpler: to say to the paraplegic, 'I forgive your sins,' or
say, 'Get up, take your stretcher, and start walking'? Well, just so it's clear
that I'm the Son of Man and authorized to do either, or both . . ." (he looked
now at the paraplegic), "Get up. Pick up your stretcher and go home." And the
man did it—got up, grabbed his stretcher, and walked out, with everyone there
watching him. They rubbed their eyes, incredulous—and then praised God,
saying, "We've never seen anything like this!"

Today’s reading has two interruptions to Jesus ministry. The first is when he
is teaching a large crowd that had gathered at the home to hear him. We know the
story of this first interruption well. Four friends are so keen to get their
paralyzed friend to Jesus, they remove part of the roof and lower him to Jesus
feet.

The second interruption comes as Jesus begins to heal the man. We read:
“Impressed by their bold belief, Jesus said to the paraplegic, "Son, I forgive
your sins." ” He is interrupted by the whispering of religious scholars who
discuss among themselves a challenge to Jesus’s right to forgive sins. That is
the exclusive right of God. It is his work they claim.

Jesus accepts the challenge and tells them he is authorized to forgive sins and
heal, and says watch this. He then tells the man to pick up the bed and go home.
Then man does it right away.

They can’t believe what they have just seen but praise God for the healing.

  Prayer:  (Using the Song Book as our Prayer Book).

Lord, here today my great need I am feeling;
Wilt thou not visit my soul once again?
I long to feel thy sweet touch and its healing;
Wonderful Healer, touch me again.

Chorus
Touch me again, touch me again,
Wonderful Healer, touch me again.

Often I've pressed through the throng for the blessing
Which, through my doubting, I've failed to obtain;
Here once again to thy feet I am pressing;
Wonderful Healer, touch me again.

Only in thee can I find liberation,
Cleansing and freedom from sin's hidden stain;
Only in thee can I find full salvation,
Wonderful Healer, touch me again.
Author: William Henry Woulds (1874-1940)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 610
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OzThoughts Thursday 15th January 2009


Psalm 95:6-11 (The Message)

  6-7 So come, let us worship: bow before him,
       on your knees before God, who made us!
    Oh yes, he's our God,
       and we're the people he pastures, the flock he feeds.

  7-11 Drop everything and listen, listen as he speaks:
       "Don't turn a deaf ear as in the Bitter Uprising,
    As on the day of the Wilderness Test,
       when your ancestors turned and put me to the test.
    For forty years they watched me at work among them,
       as over and over they tried my patience.
    And I was provoked—oh, was I provoked!
       'Can't they keep their minds on God for five minutes?
       Do they simply refuse to walk down my road?'
    Exasperated, I exploded,
       'They'll never get where they're headed,
       never be able to sit down and rest.'"

We have considered in these last few days that Jesus welcomed interruptions and
turned them into an opportunity to minister as he met people’s requests and
needs for healing.

As I read the part of Psalm 95 above, I noticed a warning for us to concentrate
on worshiping and acknowledging God. We are to drop everything and listen to him
and not to let our mind wander with the distractions of this life. In other
words don’t interrupt God speaking to us.

Prayer: (Using our Song Book as our Prayer Book)

Master, speak: thy servant heareth,
Waiting for thy gracious word,
Longing for thy voice that cheereth;
Master, let it now be heard.
I am listening, Lord, for thee;
What hast thou to say to me?

Speak to me by name, O Master,
Let me know it is to me.
Speak, that I may follow faster,
With a step more firm and free,
Where the shepherd leads the flock
In the shadow of the rock.

Master, speak: though least and lowest,
Let me not unheard depart.
Master, speak! for O thou knowest
All the yearning of my heart,
Knowest all its truest need;
Speak! and make me blest indeed.

Master, speak: and make me ready,
When thy voice is truly heard,
With obedience glad and steady
Still to follow every word.
I am listening, Lord, for thee;
Master, speak: O speak to me!
Author:  Frances Ridley Havergal (1836-79)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 614

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OzThoughts Wednesday 14th January 2009

Sometimes people will ask where is the humor in the Bible? Maybe, there is some
in the first incident in today’s reading.  Simon and Andrew bring home Jesus
and James and John. However, Simon’s mother-in-law is sick in bed. So Jesus
heals her and she is able to go to the kitchen and prepare a meal for them.
Well, it seems Jesus saved the guys from having to cook.

Had Jesus planned a night of relaxation with his friends? If he had, it was to
be interrupted as we read: “they brought sick and evil-afflicted people to
him, the whole city lined up at his door!”  So much for a quiet evening with
friends!

I wonder if Jesus thought “How can I dodge these interruptions?” We read
that he got up well before dawn and found a quiet and private place to pray.
Even then was that his quiet time is interrupted by his new friends including
Simon.  He reveals to them they all must get on with their work by going to the
other villages to preach. In those village meeting places, he not only preached
but threw out demons.

In these few verses we see that Jesus remains focused on his preaching and
teaching and continues to heal those who are brought to him. However, the new
thing we see is that Jesus seizes the opportunity for prayer. He gives it
priority over sleep. The day will be filled with the busy-ness of preaching and
calls for healing, so he makes time when he can find a quiet place to talk to
his Heavenly Father.

PRAYER: (Using the Song Book as a Prayer Book)

`Mid all the traffic of the ways,
Turmoils without, within,
Make in my heart a quiet place,
And come and dwell therein:

A little shrine of quietness,
All sacred to thyself,
Where thou shalt all my soul possess,
And I may find myself:

A little place of mystic grace,
Of self and sin swept bare,
Where I may look into thy face,
And talk with thee in prayer.

Come, occupy my silent place,
And make thy dwelling there!
More grace is wrought in quietness
Than any is aware.
	 Author:  John Oxenham (1852-1941)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 615

Mark 1:29-39 (The Message)
  29-31  Directly on leaving the meeting place, they came to Simon and Andrew's
house, accompanied by James and John. Simon's mother-in-law was sick in bed,
burning up with fever. They told Jesus. He went to her, took her hand, and
raised her up. No sooner had the fever left than she was up fixing dinner for
them.
  32-34  That evening, after the sun was down, they brought sick and
evil-afflicted people to him, the whole city lined up at his door! He cured
their sick bodies and tormented spirits. Because the demons knew his true
identity, he didn't let them say a word.

  35-37  While it was still night, way before dawn, he got up and went out to a
secluded spot and prayed. Simon and those with him went looking for him. They
found him and said, "Everybody's looking for you."
  38-39Jesus said, "Let's go to the rest of the villages so I can preach there
also. This is why I've come." He went to their meeting places all through
Galilee, preaching and throwing out the demons.
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OzThoughts Tuesday 13th January 2009

I love Mark’s Gospel because he tells the stories so simply.  May I suggest
you read this incident and then think about it with me.

Mark 1:21-28 (The Message)
  21-22  Then they entered Capernaum. When the Sabbath arrived, Jesus lost no
time in getting to the meeting place. He spent the day there teaching. They were
surprised at his teaching—so forthright, so confident—not quibbling and
quoting like the religion scholars.
  23-24  Suddenly, while still in the meeting place, he was interrupted by a man
who was deeply disturbed and yelling out, "What business do you have here with
us, Jesus? Nazarene! I know what you're up to! You're the Holy One of God, and
you've come to destroy us!"
  25-26  Jesus shut him up: "Quiet! Get out of him!" The afflicting spirit threw
the man into spasms, protesting loudly—and got out.
  27-28  Everyone there was incredulous, buzzing with curiosity. "What's going on
here? A new teaching that does what it says? He shuts up defiling, demonic
spirits and sends them packing!" News of this traveled fast and was soon all
over Galilee.

How do you cope with interruptions? I once worked with a Fundraising Manager of
a very large charity with many, many volunteers. One day, he said to me “I
can’t stand these interruptions. I am sitting here working on my project and
the phone rings and it is some volunteer wanting to talk about fundraising. Then
I get back to my work and then a volunteer walks into my office as if she owns
it and just wants to say hello or discuss some idea she has for fundraising.
Can’t they see I have my work to do?”

I suggested to him that the volunteers saw him as the manager of fundraising for
the whole organization and as a mentor or expert in their local fundraising
efforts. I tried to suggest that he would have to take hold of these
interruptions and maybe suggest a better time to call or to make an appointment
rather than just walk in.

As we read through Mark’s Gospel we see that Jesus makes a ministry of
interruptions. Today, we have read of Jesus spending the day teaching, and he is
interrupted by someone who needs healing. This will happen time and time again.
Mark’s Gospel I have heard referred to as the “Action Gospel”.

This is not wrong but those of us who are inclined to want action and not listen
to  preaching and teaching (or have to preach and teach) should note that so
often the action comes as an interruption to Jesus teaching ministry.

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, so often I have a plan that I am working on or have set some
goals and something happens to disturb those plans. I ask you to show me if
those interruptions are a part of your plan for me. Help me not to show anger
and frustration at the intrusion but to welcome it as an opportunity to minister
for you as Jesus did. Amen.

[Listen: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_953.mp3
“Meditation on a Theme by Spohr” Eric Ball. This hymn can be sung to the
hymn tune “Spohr”.]

Father, I know that all my life
Is portioned out for me;
The changes that will surely come,
I do not fear to see;
I ask thee for a patient mind,
Intent on pleasing thee.

I ask thee for a thoughtful love,
Through constant watching, wise,
To meet the glad with joyful smiles,
And wipe the weeping eyes;
A heart at leisure from itself,
To soothe and sympathize.

I ask thee for the daily strength
To none that ask denied,
A mind to blend with outward life
While keeping at thy side;
Content to fill a little space
If thou be glorified.

In service which thy love appoints
There are no bonds for me;
My secret heart is taught the truth
That makes thy children free:
A life of self-renouncing love
Is one of liberty.

Wherever in the world I am,
In whatsoe'er estate,
I have a fellowship with hearts
To keep and cultivate,
A work of lowly love to do
For him on whom I wait.
Author:  Anna Laetitia Waring (1823-1910)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 485
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OzThoughts Monday 12th January 2009

There is something relaxing yet exciting about fishing. Two weeks ago, I had the
opportunity to take my son and one of my grandsons fishing. At fifteen, my
grandson is still a novice fisherman. I think he has been fishing only about 4
times and maybe taken home only one fish. I could understand his excitement.

His excitement rose when he said “I’ve got one”. It was a flathead and I
doubted it would be over the legal length. I measured it and it only went 34cm.
I then looked at the tail and it had black and white stripes. It was a bartail
not the dull brown with a black spot of a more common dusky flathead. The legal
length for a bar tail is only 30cm while the dusky is legal to keep only between
40cm and 70cm. His smile got wider as I told him, he could keep it.

Simon and his brother Andrew along with James and his brother John were
fishermen. As they did it for their livelihood, they without any doubt knew the
excitement and relaxation but also the frustration and disappointment of a day
or a nights fishing.

When Jesus came along, they heard his message: “Time's up! God's kingdom is
here. Change your life and believe the Message.”  I wonder if there was any
outward sign that they heard and believed the message, and changed their life.

In one sense that does not matter because Jesus came to them with a new message,
an invitation to follow him: “Come with me. I'll make a new kind of fisherman
out of you. I'll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and
bass.”

We don’t need to wonder any longer. We read “They didn't ask questions. They
dropped their nets and followed.”

There’s an example to follow. This week what is Jesus saying to us? Let our
response be immediate and complete.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, at the beginning of this week, tell us what you would have us
be or do for you. I pray that through our immediate submission to you, your Holy
Spirit will be enable to use us in a way that brings praise to you. Amen

Mark 1:14-20 (The Message)

  14-15After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee preaching the Message of
God: "Time's up! God's kingdom is here. Change your life and believe the
Message."
  16-18Passing along the beach of Lake Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother
Andrew net-fishing. Fishing was their regular work. Jesus said to them, "Come
with me. I'll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I'll show you how to
catch men and women instead of perch and bass." They didn't ask questions. They
dropped their nets and followed.
  19-20A dozen yards or so down the beach, he saw the brothers James and John,
Zebedee's sons. They were in the boat, mending their fishnets. Right off, he
made the same offer. Immediately, they left their father Zebedee, the boat, and
the hired hands, and followed.

[Listen: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/songs/songs_047.mp3

Mine to rise when thou dost call me,
Lifelong though the journey be;
Thine to measure all its windings,
Leading step by step to thee.

Chorus
I am thine, O Lord and Master,
Thine to follow to the end
Thou art mine, O Christ my Saviour.
Guide and helper, lover, friend!

Mine to follow, even blindly,
Thine, O Christ, to go before;
Mine to try and scale the barrier,
Thine to fling an open door.

Mine to smile in face of failure,
Thine to gladden my defeat;
Mine to kneel and drink of Marah,
Thine to make its waters sweet.

Thine the sealing and revealing
All the outcome of my vow,
As I give thee soul and body,
Mine no longer, thine just now.
Authors:  Susie Forrest Swift (1862-1916)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 510

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Australian Thoughts at the Weekend. 10th and 11th January, 2009.

“Even to the ends of the world” (First published 29th May, 2004).


There are many stories of the remote places on the surface of this earth which
may be considered the end of the world. However, the remoteness of many sheep
and cattle properties in central Australia must seem to most to be the end of
the earth.

There are many stories told of the endless battle with floods, droughts, dingoes
(Australia’s native wild dogs), rabbits (introduced into Australia for sport
and became a plague) and often conflicts between people.

One of the greatest difficulties was the complete remoteness and helplessness
when medical help was needed. A fall from a horse, a goring by a bull, an
accident with a saw or a gun, or snakebite needed urgent life saving attention.
Even a natural thing like childbirth had its casualties with the life of mother
and baby being lost without the attention of a doctor or qualified assistance.
There was loneliness in the outback which was accentuated by the hours or days
from medical assistance. Sometimes, it was weeks away by horseback to get help.

Australia is approximately the size of mainland United States of America.  At
the time of World War 1 in 1914 the total population in Australia was less than
5 million. Today the population is about 21 million. That’s about twice the
population of New York City and a bit less than 3 times the population of
Greater London. Many of these people were gathered in cities so the outback
population was very sparse.

It was into this remote end of the world that a newly ordained Presbyterian
(Church of Scotland) Minister the Reverend John Flynn came. In 1911 John was
appointed a Minister in remote northern part of South Australia. John had been
born on the Gold fields of Victoria. His mother died at childbirth when he was
two and  he was reared in Sydney by her eighteen year old sister. During his
training for Ordination, he acted as a Lay Preacher (someone who preaches the
Gospel without formal qualifications) in country Victoria. During this time he
published a comprehensive guide for people living in remote areas. It covered
many subjects including first aid, postal services and even instructions for
conducting a funeral.

It had been said that the many lonely and isolated bush graves caused John Flynn
great distress. He knew that each grave held not only a story of a loved person
but often the despair of medical help not being available. Flynn worried that
many of these people should not have died.

A year after arriving at the remote mission in northern South Australia as its
ordained Minister, Flynn was asked by his Presbyterian Church leaders to conduct
a survey of the needs of the aboriginal people and the white settlers in the
Northern Territory. The purpose of the survey was to see how the church could
help bush people. (For those not familiar with Australia, the west and east
boundaries of South Australian and Northern Territory run north south across the
whole continent. They share between them the central third of the continent. The
east west boundary between the two give each approximately half each of this
central third with each having appropriately a south or north coastline).

This survey resulted in the establishment of the Presbyterian Church’s
Australian Inland Mission with Flynn in charge. He established fifteen hospitals
which were scattered all over the outback. These hospitals were run by nurses
who cooperated closely with patrol padres.

When Flynn appointed padres, he knew the work would be tough. They had to work
to be accepted amongst the tough people of the bush and earn their respect.
Flynn told the padres to “Go out there and listen to people”.

Listen they did as they worked  along side the settlers giving them a day or
three free labour at the tasks of the property, listening to their stories and
concerns, and telling their own dreams of making the bush a safe place for a man
to settle, marry and raise a family. Flynn and ‘Flynn’s mob’ were soon
accepted.

Flynn knew that even with his growing number of hospitals, the main problem was
transport and communication.

The development and use of aircraft in World War 1 gave him the vision of
solution to transport problems. Why not use planes to fly medical help to where
it was needed?

It took time to persuade others and organise the flying medical service. His
dream to make the outback secure was slowly progressing. Between 1913 and 1927
Flynn used his magazine The Inlander as a vehicle to elicit financial support,
to publicise the Mission's achievements and to make known his plans for the
future. He believed that a 'mantle of safety' could be created for the isolated
communities of Northern Australia only with the establishment of an aerial
medical service and the introduction of radio communications.

Despite many setbacks and considerable opposition, Flynn's vision became a
reality. On 17 May 1928, Dr K St Vincent Welch with pilot Arthur Affleck at the
controls of Victory, a De Havilland 50 aircraft leased from QANTAS, flew from
Cloncurry to Julia Creek to answer the first call received by the AIM Aerial
Medical Service. Records show that in his first year, the world's first flying
doctor - Dr St Vincent Welch - saw two hundred and fifty-five patients suffering
everything from typhoid fever to gunshot wounds.

Flynn's idea had worked but people living far from telephone and telegraph wires
still had no way of calling for medical help. Flynn saw the development of radio
communications as an opportunity for people to call for help. These were days
when radio broadcast stations were still being established in many cities. Radio
was mostly considered experimental and was still more of a novelty than a fact
in Australia at this time.

Flynn knew there was another problem. Many of these remote properties did not
have an electricity supply of any kind and radio needed an electricity supply.
Flynn experimented with running generators for electricity from car engines. His
success was limited and not encouraging of an ongoing solution.

Encouraged by Flynn, a young inventor from Adelaide, Alfred Traeger, came up
with the solution, a pedal-powered wireless. This was a device pedalled like a
bicycle which turned the generator to produce the electricity to power the
radio. When in 1929, the first pedal wireless built by Alfred Traeger was
installed in Queensland, Flynn's quest for the more adequate protection of
isolated communities was fulfilled

Traeger’s pedal radio was to revolutionize life in outback Australia. By the
radio people were able to call for assistance from Flynn’s Aerial Medical
Service. Sometimes, the plane was not needed to transport doctor or patient but
reassurance and medical advice over the two-way radio system solved the problem
at much less cost.

In 1942, Flynn’s Aerial Medical Service became the Flying Doctor Service of
Australia, and in 1955 the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia or as it is
known the RFDS.

The story of the breaking of the isolation of the out back by Flynn’s two-way
radio system included the development of the “Schools of the Air” where
children are taught regularly by a teacher sitting in a school radio studio
teaching her students who maybe hundreds of miles from her and hundreds of miles
from each other.

Regular chat sessions became a feature too, when people, particularly the
isolated wives could chat to their neighbours just like their city cousins do.
It was also a way of discussing seasons and markets for the cattle on a thousand
hills. Importantly, it reduced the isolation many felt at their end of the
world.

Life back of beyond – the seeming end of the world -will never be so dangerous
or lonely again, thanks to the compassion and determination of 'Flynn of the
Inland’ and his ministry through the Presbyterian Church’s Australian Inland
Mission.
The burial service for Flynn on the 23rd, May, 1951 was linked up to the Flying
Doctor network and was heard at remote stations and settlements all over the
outback.
Flynn's work is perpetuated throughout the outback in many ways.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service and the Australian Inland Mission are still
working testimonials to his drive and vision.

Flynn once said. 'If you start something worthwhile - nothing can stop it.'
A former Governor General of Australia, Sir William Slim once said of Flynn:
'His hands are stretched out like a benediction over the Inland.'


Meditation:

Acts 1 (The Message – Selected Verses)

1 Dear Theophilus, in the first volume of this book I wrote on everything that
Jesus began to do and teach
2 until the day he said good-bye to the apostles, the ones he had chosen through
the Holy Spirit, and was taken up to heaven.
3 After his death, he presented himself alive to them in many different settings
over a period of forty days. In face-to-face meetings, he talked to them about
things concerning the kingdom of God.
4 As they met and ate meals together, he told them that they were on no account
to leave Jerusalem but "must wait for what the Father promised: the promise you
heard from me.

8 What you'll get is the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you
will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even
to the ends of the world."
9 These were his last words. As they watched, he was taken up and disappeared in
a cloud.
10 They stood there, staring into the empty sky…

Acts 2 (The Message)


A Sound Like a Strong Wind
1When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
2Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force--no one could
tell where it came from. It filled the whole building.
3Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks,
4and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit
prompted them.
5There were many Jews staying in Jerusalem just then, devout pilgrims from all
over the world.
6When they heard the sound, they came on the run. Then when they heard, one
after another, their own mother tongues being spoken, they were thunderstruck.
7They couldn't for the life of them figure out what was going on, and kept
saying, "Aren't these all Galileans?
8How come we're hearing them talk in our various mother tongues?

9Parthians, Medes, and Elamites;
Visitors from Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia,
Pontus and Asia,
10Phrygia and Pamphylia,
Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene;
Immigrants from Rome,
11both Jews and proselytes;
Even Cretans and Arabs!

"They're speaking our languages, describing God's mighty works!"
12Their heads were spinning; they couldn't make head or tail of any of it. They
talked back and forth, confused: "What's going on here?"
13Others joked, "They're drunk on cheap wine."

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

WEBSITES:

Rev. John Flynn:

http://www.abc.net.au/schoolstv/australians/flynn.htm

http://www.rba.gov.au/CurrencyNotes/NotesInCirculation/bio_rev_john_flynn.html


http://www.flyingdoctor.net/About-John-Flynn.html



Royal Flying Doctor Service:

http://www.flyingdoctor.org.au/



Traeger Radio

http://www.ebroadcast.com.au/ecars/News/1999/990210.Traeger.html

http://www.flyingdoctor.net/Communication.html

Schools Of the Air (Schools of Distance Education).

http://www.mtisasde.qld.edu.au/

http://www.longreacsde.qld.edu.au
````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
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OzThoughts Friday 8th January 2009


For to us a child is born,
        to us a son is given,
        and the government will be on his shoulders.
       ... And he will be called
       …Mighty God…
        (Isaiah 9: 6  New International Version).

For a child has been born—for us!
    the gift of a son—for us!
He'll take over
    the running of the world.
His names will be: …
    Strong God…
(Isaiah 9:6 (The Message)


Saul (later known by the Roman name Paul) was a young and highly educated
activist. Saul determined that he would do his part to put this nonsense about
Jesus being spread by his followers to a stop. These followers were saying
things like Jesus who everyone knew died on a cross was alive and God had raised
him up to that new life. They were saying he had come from God and now had
returned to his place with God, the Father in Heaven. In fact, Saul decided he
would do his best to put the followers to a stop just like they had done when
they stoned Stephen to death.

However, in an extraordinary roadside encounter, Saul meets with Jesus. There as
Saul lies on the ground, a conversation takes place:
5  He (Saul) said, "Who are you, Master?"
     "I am Jesus, the One you're hunting down.
6 I want you to get up and enter the city. In the city you'll be told what to do
next."
(Acts 9; 5-6 The Message)

Saul becomes a follower of Jesus and much later out of the revelations from God
and the understanding he has he declares:

Philippians 2:6-11 (The Message)
6 He (Jesus) 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.
7 Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took
on the status of a slave, became human!
8  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.
     9  Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond
anyone or anything, ever,
10 so that all created beings in heaven and on earth--even those long ago dead
and buried--will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ,
11 and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of
God the Father.

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, thank you that you have given your Son Jesus to us. Thank you,
too, for your revelation through your servants and your holy Word just who he
is. I pray that we might be more like Jesus in our attitudes and more worthy
followers of him announcing who he is clearly to all we meet. Amen.

MEDITATION:

John 20:26-28 (The Message)
26Eight days later, his disciples were again in the room. This time Thomas was
with them. Jesus came through the locked doors, stood among them, and said,
"Peace to you."
     27Then he focused his attention on Thomas. "Take your finger and examine my
hands. Take your hand and stick it in my side. Don't be unbelieving. Believe."
     28Thomas said, "My Master! My God!"

[This hymn is scripture in song based on Philippians 2 (above) ].

All praise to thee, for thou, O King divine,
Didst yield the glory that of right was thine,
That in our darkened hearts thy grace might shine:
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Thou cam'st to us in lowliness of thought;
By thee the outcast and the poor were sought;
And by thy death was God's salvation wrought:
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Let this mind be in us which was in thee,
Who wast a servant that we might be free,
Humbling thyself to death on Calvary:
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Wherefore, by God's eternal purpose, thou
Art high exalted o'er all creatures now,
And given the name to which all knees shall bow:
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Let every tongue confess with one accord
In Heaven and earth that Jesus Christ is Lord:
And God the Father be by all adored:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Author: Francis Bland Tucker (1895-1984)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 174

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OzThoughts Thursday 8th January 2009


For to us a child is born,
        to us a son is given,
        and the government will be on his shoulders.
       ... And he will be called
       …Mighty God…
        (Isaiah 9: 6  New International Version).

The conflict over whether Jesus was almighty God never ceased at the cross. It
did not cease with the resurrection. Thomas doubted whether it was Jesus who
appeared to the other Disciples. Yet his encounter with him brought him to the
declaration:

"My Master! My God!" (John 20:26-28. The Message)

PRAYER:

Heavenly Father, thank you that you have given your Son Jesus to us. Thank you,
too, for your revelation through your servants and your holy Word just who he
is. I pray that we might be more like Jesus in our attitudes and more worthy
followers of him. Amen.


John 20:26-28 (The Message)
26  Eight days later, his disciples were again in the room. This time Thomas was
with them. Jesus came through the locked doors, stood among them, and said,
"Peace to you."
     27  Then he focused his attention on Thomas. "Take your finger and examine
my hands. Take your hand and stick it in my side. Don't be unbelieving.
Believe."
     28  Thomas said, "My Master! My God!"

[ Look and Listen:  http://www.salvoaudio.com/video/video_035.WMV
  Listen:  http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music2/mus_3717.mp3 ]

O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer's praise;
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of his grace!

My gracious Master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,
To spread through all the earth abroad
The honors of thy name.

Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
That bids our sorrows cease;
'Tis music in the sinner's ears;
'Tis life and health and peace.

He breaks the power of canceled sin,
He sets the prisoner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean,
His blood avails for me.
	 Authors:  Charles Wesley (1707-88)
The salvation Army Song Book:  Song Number: 64

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OzThoughts Wednesday 7th January 2009



For to us a child is born,
        to us a son is given,
        and the government will be on his shoulders.
       ... And he will be called
       …Mighty God…
        (Isaiah 9: 6  New International Version).


“Was Jesus almighty God?” is the question asked about Jesus ‘from birth to
dying cry’.
In recent days, we have thought about his birth. We have thought far too
briefly, of the events in his life pointing to Jesus being God.

The conflict never ceased. Mark records the conflict as Jesus hung on the cross.
However, it is the words of the Roman soldier, a captain and a man hardened
against grief by the common scenes of men dying, that ring in my mind today:
"This has to be the Son of God!"

Prayer:

Father, thank you again for Jesus and his birth and death. Help me to understand
more fully all this means for me. Amen.

Mark 15:25-45 (The Message)
25 They nailed him up at nine o'clock in the morning.
26 The charge against him--THE KING OF THE JEWS-was printed on a poster.
27  Along with him, they crucified two criminals, one to his right, the other to
his left.
29  People passing along the road jeered, shaking their heads in mock lament:
"You bragged that you could tear down the Temple and then rebuild it in three
days—
30  so show us your stuff! Save yourself! If you're really God's Son, come down
from that cross!"
     31  The high priests, along with the religion scholars, were right there
mixing it up with the rest of them, having a great time poking fun at him: "He
saved others--but he can't save himself!
32  Messiah, is he? King of Israel? Then let him climb down from that cross.
We'll all become believers then!" Even the men crucified alongside him joined in
the mockery.
     33  At noon the sky became extremely dark.
34  The darkness lasted three hours. At three o'clock, Jesus groaned out of the
depths, crying loudly, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my
God, why have you abandoned me?"
     35  Some of the bystanders who heard him said, "Listen, he's calling for
Elijah."
36  Someone ran off, soaked a sponge in sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave
it to him to drink, saying, "Let's see if Elijah comes to take him down."
     37  But Jesus, with a loud cry, gave his last breath.
38 At that moment the Temple curtain ripped right down the middle.
39 When the Roman captain standing guard in front of him saw that he had quit
breathing, he said, "This has to be the Son of God!"
    A light came out of darkness;
No light, no hope had we,
Till Jesus came from Heaven
Our light and hope to be.
Oh, as I read the story
From birth to dying cry,
A longing fills my bosom
To meet him by and by.

Chorus
Shall you, shall I, meet Jesus by and by?
And when we reach the Glory Land,
We'll swell the song of the angel band.
Shall you, shall I, meet Jesus by and by?

How tender his compassion,
How loving was his call,
How earnest his entreaty
To sinners, one and all.
He wooed and won them to him
By love, and that is why
I long to be like Jesus,
And meet him by and by.

Yet deeper do I ponder,
His cross and sorrow see,
And ever gaze and wonder
Why Jesus died for me.
And shall I fear to own him?
Can I my Lord deny?
No, let me love him, serve him,
And meet him by and by.
	 Author: William A. Hawley (1870-1929)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 94
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OzThoughts Tuesday 6th January 2009


For to us a child is born,
        to us a son is given,
        and the government will be on his shoulders.
       ... And he will be called
       …Mighty God…
        (Isaiah 9: 6  New International Version).

Jesus challenges us to check our picture of God. We so often look at God sitting
on his throne high and lifted up. We see a God who strikes fear into us as we
think of his power and our weakness. We see him as the creator and therefore
possible destroyer of all things. We see his holiness and we see our own
unworthiness.

Jesus however, gives us a very different picture. Just let our mind’s eye
focus on a few scenes for a moment. We see Jesus with children. We see him with
rough fishermen. We see him as he talks about building and farming. We see his
strength as he argues with the Pharisees, Scribes and Sadducees, the influential
religious men of the nation.

We see him gently dealing with lepers, the lame, and the blind. We see dealing
gently with women who are thought to be less than the best by those around them.
We see him sternly warning some people while warmly embracing others.

Jesus was young, fit and strong. Men and women, boys and girls were attracted to
him.
In the country and the city, people flocked to him to hear him and to watch him
heal their friends and acquaintances.

Let your mind’s eye continue to rove over the events in Jesus life. Then
listen carefully as he says:

“To see me is to see the Father” (John 14:9 The Message) )and
“If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do
know him. You've even seen him!" (John 14:7 The Message).

PRAYER:

Father , thank you that as we see Jesus we se you. Help us to live according to
this vision and share it with others today. Amen.

[Look and Listen:  http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=Ly7AnIobgh0&feature=related ]

Who is he in yonder stall,
At whose feet the shepherds fall?

Chorus
'Tis the Lord! O wondrous story,
'Tis the Lord, the King of Glory!
At his feet we humbly fall,
Crown him, crown him Lord of all!

Who is he in deep distress,
Fasting in the wilderness?

Who is he to whom they bring
All the sick and sorrowing?

Who is he on yonder tree
Dies in grief and agony?

Who is he who from the grave
Comes to succor, help and save?

Who is he whom from his throne
Rules through all the worlds alone?
Author: Benjamin Russell Hanby (1833-97)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 104


John 14:6-15 (The Message)

6 Jesus said, "I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life. No one gets to the
Father apart from me.
7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do
know him. You've even seen him!"
     8  Philip said, "Master, show us the Father; then we'll be content."
     9  "You've been with me all this time, Philip, and you still don't
understand? To see me is to see the Father. So how can you ask, "Where is the
Father?'
10  Don't you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words
that I speak to you aren't mere words. I don't just make them up on my own. The
Father who resides in me crafts each word into a divine act.
     11  "Believe me: I am in my Father and my Father is in me. If you can't
believe that, believe what you see--these works.
12 The person who trusts me will not only do what I'm doing but even greater
things, because I, on my way to the Father, am giving you the same work to do
that I've been doing. You can count on it.
13 From now on, whatever you request along the lines of who I am and what I am
doing, I'll do it. That's how the Father will be seen for who he is in the Son.
I mean it.
14 Whatever you request in this way, I'll do.


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OzThoughts Monday 5th January 2009


For to us a child is born,
        to us a son is given,
        and the government will be on his shoulders.
       ... And he will be called
       …Mighty God…
        (Isaiah 9: 6  New International Version).

By now many of you know I like messing around in my boat. However, I do not get
to do it as often as you might imagine. Not only has time to be available but
also the weather needs to be right. In a small aluminium boat, wind and waves
mean too much water in the boat.

Some of Jesus disciples not only enjoyed messing around in boats but were
professional fishermen. Their lives and their income depended upon them
understanding the sea and not only its seasons but its moods. Mark tells the
story

36  They took him in the boat as he was. Other boats came along.
37  A huge storm came up. Waves poured into the boat, threatening to sink it.
38  And Jesus was in the stern, head on a pillow, sleeping! They roused him,
saying, "Teacher, is it nothing to you that we're going down?"
     39  Awake now, he told the wind to pipe down and said to the sea, "Quiet!
Settle down!" The wind ran out of breath; the sea became smooth as glass.
40  Jesus reprimanded the disciples: "Why are you such cowards? Don't you have
any faith at all?"
     41  They were in absolute awe, staggered. "Who is this, anyway?" they asked.
"Wind and sea at his beck and call!"  (Mark 4:36-45 The Message)

Who is this?  As the last verse of a song which has well known early verses
says:

O, well we know it was the Lord,
Our Saviour and our Friend,
Whose care of those who trust His word
Will never, never end.

Yes, it is Jesus, Mighty God, even the wind and sea obey him.

PRAYER;

Father God, thank you for the power we see demonstrated in your Son, Jesus. We
have a confidence in him as we face this new year. Help us in the storms to have
a confidence, in you our almighty God and in your son, Jesus. Amen.


A little ship was on the sea,
It was a pretty sight;
It sailed along so pleasantly,
And all was calm and bright.


When lo! a storm began to rise,
The wind grew loud and strong;
It blew the clouds across the skies,
It blew the waves along.

And all, but One, were sore afraid
Of sinking in the deep:
His head was on a pillow laid,
And He was fast asleep.

"Master, we perish! -- Master, save!"
They cried, -- their Master heard;
He rose, rebuked the wind and wave,
And stilled them with a word.

He to the storm says, "Peace, be still,"
The raging billows cease;
The mighty winds obey His will,
And all are hushed to peace.

O, well we know it was the Lord,
Our Saviour and our Friend,
Whose care of those who trust His word
Will never, never end.
Author : Anonymous


Psalm 107:23-30 (The Message)
  23  Some of you set sail in big ships;
     you put to sea to do business in faraway ports.
     24  Out at sea you saw GOD in action,
     saw his breathtaking ways with the ocean:
     25  With a word he called up the wind--
     an ocean storm, towering waves!
     26  You shot high in the sky, then the bottom dropped out;
     your hearts were stuck in your throats.
     27  You were spun like a top, you reeled like a drunk,
     you didn't know which end was up.
     28  Then you called out to GOD in your desperate condition;
     he got you out in the nick of time.
     29  He quieted the wind down to a whisper,
     put a muzzle on all the big waves.
     30  And you were so glad when the storm died down,
     and he led you safely back to harbor.

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Australian Thoughts at the Weekend 3rd and 4th January, 2009.

RE-RUNS

If you are a Television viewer, at this time of the year you are probably used
to re-runs. At least here in Australia, it is a non-rating period when the
number of viewers is not counted and so the television channels tend to choose
not to use product which will attract a bumper number of viewers.

Those new programs are saved for the rating period because good ratings attract
more paying advertisers. Therefore some of the more popular shows from the past
year are shown again. Some of the shows are from years well past.

I have noticed that although the programs are marked with an “(R )” for
repeat, the television channels are tending to call them “encore programs”. 
It is as if the viewers are demanding to see them again and they well maybe,
going by the number of sets of TV programs which are being sold on DVD.

Newspapers and radio as well as television are also taking the opportunity of
quiet news time when Australia is on summer holidays to review the year past. We
are reminded of political, tragic and celebration moments as well as the quirky
events of the past year as old tapes, pictures and stories are re-visited.

On New Year’s Eve at the end of the regular television news program, there was
a collage of vision from events over the past twelve months. It was amazing what
we had forgotten. Many of these forgotten events were ones that had seemed
important at the time.

We just coming towards the end of the Christmas Season and of course, it is a
whole season of re-runs. We probably don’t call them “re-runs” but rather
call them “traditions”. You are probably like us and have some family
traditions. After our various Christmas Day services as many of us as possible
gather to enjoy a traditional hot lunch. My mum makes the Christmas pudding. My
sister makes a delicious cherry cheesecake and my wife makes a trifle.

Of course that is not all. Our traditional menu says we will have turkey, ham
and roast pork and all the vegetables so that too is allocated as to who will
bring what. Some will be allocated the task of bringing salads and fruit for the
evening meal.  Snacks for throughout the day and drinks are also contributed by
those attending as well as being supplemented by the host household.

Tradition dictates our gift opening happens before lunch when everyone is
present. Anyone extra who joins us for the evening meal will receive and
distribute their gifts again when everyone is present. One of the bachelor
uncles gives everyone a bag of lollies/sweets/candies. Another bachelor uncle
has for many years given everyone a bottle of his homemade tomato chutney. This
year he broke tradition and some jokingly asked him where were their bottles of
tomato chutney?

Another traditions which seemed to disappear for us this year was the after
lunch cricket. The air conditioner in the house was much more comfortable than
the over 30c /86f temperatures outside. Also it seemed the younger ones were
already occupied with electronic games. I don’t think it has anything to do
with the state of Australian cricket at the moment.

Christmas itself has many traditions and we enjoy the re-runs and repeats of the
best from past years. We love reading and hearing the same Scripture portions
from the prophecies of the Old Testament to the good news of the birth story in
the New Testament. While new Christmas songs have their place, there is
something special about singing the best known of the ones from previous
Christmases. The traditional carols for most people are a part of the welcome
ritual of the season.

Sometimes there are good reasons for traditions. I was part of an internet
discussion where some church ministers were saying that we must separate the
seasons of Advent and Christmas. There argument was that it is Advent until the
Sunday before Christmas and that Christmas does not start until Christmas Eve.
What they were saying is that we should not sing Christmas carols until
Christmas Eve and sing them through the Twelve Days of Christmas until Epiphany.
Epiphany (January 6th) is the day, by tradition, on which the Wise Men brought
gifts of myrrh, gold, and frankincense to Christ at His birth. This is the day
after "Twelfth Night".  I guess they found the reason why we sing Christmas
carols through Advent when they said that after Christmas Day everyone
disappears on holidays. They were in Canada so you can imagine it would be a
bigger problem here in Australia where Christmas coincides with summer holidays.

I am sure as individuals, families and even communities as well as church
congregations, we have our annual repeats of favourite seasonal events. Even
those events have their special and traditional inclusions. I wonder just how
many communities act our a nativity scene with Mary Joseph, and the baby Jesus
in a manger in a stable being worshipped by angels, shepherds and wise men?

In 1937 a radio announcer in Melbourne got an idea for a “Carols by
Candlelight” and in 1938 the first one was held in a city park with an
attendance of 10,000. Carols by Candlelight are held in various communities ,
the biggest being in Sydney where about 100,000 people attend. The beneficiary
of that one is the Salvation Army Oasis Youth Service. (See:
http://www.santaswarehouse.com.au/favorite/carols_by_candlelight/ ).

The Carols by Candlelight has become an Australian tradition and as it is summer
it is possible for thousands in cities or hundreds in small villages to gather
in a park on a hot summer night to sing carols and in other ways carry out the
rituals of the Christmas season.

Many Australians have family roots in other lands and some still carry
traditional rituals and foods into their Australian Christmas. Most Australians,
I think, love to hear how Christmas is celebrated in other lands and some of us
can only imagine Christmas when the outside temperature is always ‘minus
degrees’ and the landscape is covered in snow and ice.

Christmas, of course, is followed very closely by New Year and that is another
time of traditions. A tradition which has grown in recent years is the New Years
Eve fireworks displays.  Like the gathering for carol singing even bigger crowds
seem to gather to watch the city fireworks. In Sydney the huge fireworks display
is centred around the Harbour and the Harbour Bridge. Here on the Gold Coast,
the focal point is Surfers Paradise Beach where this year from barges on the
ocean and in the river, thousands of dollars of noisy and spectacular fireworks
were sent skyward.

As I think of traditions of Christmas and New Year, I think how there are
gradual changes that take place. One example is that in addition to the
traditional carols sung at Christmas new Christmas songs are introduced. This
means that maybe one or two traditional carols are deleted from the program.

Another example is that this year the fireworks at Surfers were from on a barge
on the ocean rather than on the beach. This meant that people could gather on
the beach and not be kept off part of the beach for safety reasons.

I think we need to be aware that sometimes even with traditions there needs to
be changes. While for 70 years the Carols By Candlelight in Melbourne has drawn
huge crowds, the event has changed. Originally the focus was the live event and
it was broadcast on radio. Now, while the live audience is essential to the
event, it is now also very much a television event and watched by millions in
the comfort of their homes. It is probably healthy to debate whether the changes
have made it better but the fact is it is enjoyed by the gathered crowd and
viewers each year.
I can't think of the word "tradition" without thinking of one of my favourite
movies "Fiddler on the Roof." In the opening song Tevye tells us:  "A fiddler on
the roof, sounds crazy, heh?
"But in our little village of Anatevka, you might say everyone is a fiddler on
the roof trying to scratch out a pleasant simple tune without breaking his neck.
"It isn't easy . . . you may ask, 'Why do we stay up there if it is so
dangerous?' We stay because it is our home.
"How do we keep our balance? That I can tell you in one word--tradition!
"Because of our tradition we have kept our balance for many, many years.
"Because of our tradition everyone knows who he is and what God expects him to
do.
"For without tradition our lives would be as shaky as a fiddler on the roof!"
I am also reminded that another person commented we can have 10 years’
experience or one year’s experience 10 times. I remember this was a problem
with an organisation I worked for where in the local branches, the volunteer
President would have a good year and then  repeat the events of that year every
year until the group became bored and found themselves another President.

I remember, too, what is written in the Letter to the Hebrews. The writer talked
about places and rituals set up and observed by the people of the Old Testament
and the annual rituals of the High Priests and then told us Christ did it one
time and that once for all time.:

For Christ didn't enter the earthly version of the Holy Place; he entered the
Place Itself, and offered himself to God as the sacrifice for our sins. He
doesn't do this every year as the high priests did under the old plan with blood
that was not their own; if that had been the case, he would have to sacrifice
himself repeatedly throughout the course of history. But instead he sacrificed
himself once and for all, summing up all the other sacrifices in this sacrifice
of himself, the final solution of sin. (Hebrews 9.The Message)
[ You can read the whole chapter here:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%209&version=65 ]

[Listen:   http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/songs/songs_063.mp3 ]

Yet once again, by God's abundant mercy,
We join our song of thankfulness and praise;
Ever the light of our redeemer's victory
Shineth before us in the world's dark ways.

Chorus
Jesus shall conquer, lift up the strain!
Evil shall perish and righteousness shall reign.

0 for the time of Christ's completed mission!
Throbs of its rapture reach us as we pray;
Gleams of its glory bursting on our vision
Speed us to labor, urge us on our way.

Stretch out thy hand, O God, and let the nations
Feel through thine host the thrill of life divine;
Grant us, we pray, still greater revelations,
Make of these days an everlasting sign.
Author: Albert Orsborn (1886-1967)
The Salvation Army:  Song Number: 173

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OzThoughts Friday 2nd January 2009

Have you ever said “if only…” ?  I have. I remember having to run a 100
metre race right after lunch. I did not run my best. Now, if only I had not had
two meat pies and a drink of water before I ran, I might have got a better place
than last.

I imagine there are many people who are saying the equivalent of “if only”
when they face the tragedy of personal loss in the various tragedies of 2008.

Some of our “if only” statements might be trivial like my pies after lunch.
Others will be said in much more serious circumstances. It sort of recognizes
that choices have been made and the consequences give us cause to reflect on
those choices.

As they faced the death of their brother, Lazarus, both Martha and Mary said to
Jesus “If only you had been here…”  Jesus felt for them in their grief and
he too wept.

Previously when Jesus heard of Lazarus sickness, he had said to his disciples
“It will become an occasion to show God's glory by glorifying God's Son.”

Although Lazarus had been dead for four days, Jesus raised him to life.  He was
an acted emphasis to words that Jesus had said to Martha “"You don't have to
wait for the End. I am, right now, Resurrection and Life. The one who believes
in me, even though he or she dies, will live.  And everyone who lives believing
in me does not ultimately die at all. Do you believe this?"

Jesus adds his own “if only” on this occasion. If only... “The one who
believes in me, even though he or she dies, will live”. If only we believe we
will live.

PRAYER:

Father God, I am often tempted to look for the “if only” of situations. Help
to look to you today. May my peace today be found in your love.  May I look
beyond the present, knowing that the present is a part of the eternity you have
planned. Amen.

John 11 (The Message)

1 A man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
2 This was the same Mary who massaged the Lord's feet with aromatic oils and
then wiped them with her hair. It was her brother Lazarus who was sick.
3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Master, the one you love so very much is
sick."
     4 When Jesus got the message, he said, "This sickness is not fatal. It will
become an occasion to show God's glory by glorifying God's Son."
     5 Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus,
6 but oddly, when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed on where he was for
two more days.
7 After the two days, he said to his disciples, "Let's go back to Judea."
     8 They said, "Rabbi, you can't do that. The Jews are out to kill you, and
you're going back?"
     9 Jesus replied, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks
in daylight doesn't stumble because there's plenty of light from the sun.
10 Walking at night, he might very well stumble because he can't see where he's
going."
     11 He said these things, and then announced, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen
asleep. I'm going to wake him up."
     12 The disciples said, "Master, if he's gone to sleep, he'll get a good rest
and wake up feeling fine."
13 Jesus was talking about death, while his disciples thought he was talking
about taking a nap.
     14 Then Jesus became explicit: "Lazarus died.
15 And I am glad for your sakes that I wasn't there. You're about to be given
new grounds for believing. Now let's go to him."
     16 That's when Thomas, the one called the Twin, said to his companions,
"Come along. We might as well die with him."
     17 When Jesus finally got there, he found Lazarus already four days dead.
18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, only a couple of miles away,
19 and many of the Jews were visiting Martha and Mary, sympathizing with them
over their brother.
20 Martha heard Jesus was coming and went out to meet him. Mary remained in the
house.
     21 Martha said, "Master, if you'd been here, my brother wouldn't have died.
22 Even now, I know that whatever you ask God he will give you."
     23 Jesus said, "Your brother will be raised up."
     24 Martha replied, "I know that he will be raised up in the resurrection at
the end of time."
     25 "You don't have to wait for the End. I am, right now, Resurrection and
Life. The one who believes in me, even though he or she dies, will live.
26 And everyone who lives believing in me does not ultimately die at all. Do you
believe this?"
     27 "Yes, Master. All along I have believed that you are the Messiah, the Son
of God who comes into the world."
     28 After saying this, she went to her sister Mary and whispered in her ear,
"The Teacher is here and is asking for you."
     29 The moment she heard that, she jumped up and ran out to him.
30 Jesus had not yet entered the town but was still at the place where Martha
had met him.
31 When her sympathizing Jewish friends saw Mary run off, they followed her,
thinking she was on her way to the tomb to weep there.
32 Mary came to where Jesus was waiting and fell at his feet, saying, "Master,
if only you had been here, my brother would not have died."
     33  When Jesus saw her sobbing and the Jews with her sobbing, a deep anger
welled up within him.
34  He said, "Where did you put him?"
     "Master, come and see," they said.
35  Now Jesus wept.
     36  The Jews said, "Look how deeply he loved him."
     37  Others among them said, "Well, if he loved him so much, why didn't he do
something to keep him from dying? After all, he opened the eyes of a blind man."
     38  Then Jesus, the anger again welling up within him, arrived at the tomb.
It was a simple cave in the hillside with a slab of stone laid against it.
39  Jesus said, "Remove the stone."
     The sister of the dead man, Martha, said, "Master, by this time there's a
stench. He's been dead four days!"
     40  Jesus looked her in the eye. "Didn't I tell you that if you believed,
you would see the glory of God?"
     41  Then, to the others, "Go ahead, take away the stone."
     They removed the stone. Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and prayed, "Father,
I'm grateful that you have listened to me.
42  I know you always do listen, but on account of this crowd standing here I've
spoken so that they might believe that you sent me."
     43  Then he shouted, "Lazarus, come out!"
44  And he came out, a cadaver, wrapped from head to toe, and with a kerchief
over his face.
     Jesus told them, "Unwrap him and let him loose."

I kneel beside thy sacred cross,
And count for thee my life as dross;
O satisfy my soul this hour
With thy dear love, my healing power.

Chorus
Thou art enough for me,
Thou art enough for me;
O precious, living, loving Lord,
Yes, thou art enough for me!

My helpless soul, rest thou in God
And lean upon his faithful word,
So in my heart, Lord, thou shalt find
That I am to thy will resigned.

At times 'tis hard for flesh and blood
To say: Thy will be done. my God;
But if my grief means others' gain,
O what to me are loss and pain!

Through every fear my soul doth climb
Above the things of passing time,
And to my eyes the sight is given
Which makes my earth a present Heaven.

Author: William Elwin Oliphant (1860-1941)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 729

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OzThoughts New Year’s Day 1st January 2009

The New Year calls for personal affirmation of our faith.

How blessed is God!
And what a blessing he is!
He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of
blessing in him.
Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on
us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love.
Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ.
(What pleasure he took in planning this!)
He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand
of his beloved Son. Ephesians 1:3-6 (The Message)

You are God (Te Deum laudamus)

You are God: we praise you;
You are the Lord; we acclaim you;
You are the eternal Father:
All creation worships you.

To you all angels, all the powers of heaven,
Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise:
"Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory."

The glorious company of apostles praise you.
The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.
The white-robed army of martyrs praise you.
Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you;

Father, of majesty unbounded,
your true and only Son, worthy of all worship,
and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.
You, Christ, are the king of glory,
the eternal Son of the Father.

When you became man to set us free
you did not shun the Virgin's womb.
You overcame the sting of death
and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
You are seated at God's right hand in glory.

We believe that you will come and be our judge.
Come then, Lord, and help your people,
bought with the price of your own blood,
and bring us with your saints to glory everlasting.

````````
[Listen: (Male Voice): http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_1594.mp3 ]

Thou art the way, none other dare I follow;
Thou art the truth, and thou hast made me free;
Thou art the life, the hope of my tomorrow;
Thou art the Christ who died for me.
This is my creed, that 'mid earth's sin and sorrow,
My life may guide men unto thee.

Hold thou my feet, let there be no returning
Along the path which thou hast bid me tread;
Train thou my mind, I would be ever learning
The better way thy fame to spread;
Keep thou my heart ablaze with holy burning
That love for souls may ne'er be dead.

I would bring peace to lives now torn asunder,
Ease aching hearts with words that soothe and heal;
I would bring peace when, breaking like the thunder,
Men rise in war, and hatred feel.
Peacemaker, Lord! Now I am stirred to wonder;
O take me, and my calling seal!
Author:  Arch R. Wiggins (1893-1976)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number:  529
````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````\
```
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OzThoughts New Year’s Eve (Wednesday 31st December, 2008)

An Australian department store had the motto "While I Live I'll Grow”. People
who have lived in Sydney would have known already that the store was "Anthony
Hordern's", their symbol "an acorn and a mighty oak". The motto is said to have
been inspired by a huge English Oak near Picton, outside Sydney.  I am told the
tree died long ago. So did the department store.

Have we lived and grown in this past year? As we come to the end of another year
I have been thinking about this past year. How will I assess it? Was it just
another year, repeating the things of other years or was it a year in which I
grew in knowledge and spiritually?

Each of us have to do our own assessment. We stand before a mirror looking at
ourselves. We also stand before others and they assess their relationship with
us in each encounter. Most of all we stand before God.

It is in standing before God that the externals, and the excuses are stripped
away and He looks right at the heart of our life.

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

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

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

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

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

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

  10 Who is this King-Glory?
       GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies:
       he is King-Glory.

[Look and listen: http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=dBfEGETyGjs ]

So This Is Christmas

So this is Christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young

A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear

And so this is Christmas
For weak and for strong
For rich and the poor ones
The world is so wrong
And so happy Christmas
For black and for white
For yellow and red ones
Let's stop all the fight

A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear

And so this is Christmas
And what have we done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
Ans so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young

A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear

War is over over
If you want it
War is over
Now...

Origin by J.Lennon
………………………
……………………………………….
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OzThoughts Tuesday 30th December 2008

I have seen many references to the Christmas New Year period as the silly
season. That may be just an Australian thing. I noticed there are website
references to the political campaign season as the silly season in the United
States. I guess that is fair enough, too.

I began to think of the silly season last night when I reflected on the range of
subjects, I had spoken about to people during the day. People spoke about
cricket, the war on the Gaza Strip, violence by drunken people leaving night
clubs, family gatherings for Christmas, personal financial loss caused by the
recession, the heat and storms, and so the list could go on.

I find it is almost useless watching current affair television this time of the
year as the shows go from the more serious to the trivial. Last night two
segments were about expects guessing which beer was which by taste and how to
look good in a bikini.

I remember the silly season some years ago and I looked back to comments I wrote
about television commentary on the tragic tsunami then.  I wrote:

“There needed to be also, I think, some understanding of the human reaction to
tragedy. What I think convinced me it was the silly season was the close up
shots of a tearful and distressed mother and sister who put the blame on the
Australian Government for not telling them where their son and his friend were.
All they wanted was, they said, news as to whether they were dead or alive. The
Government, they said was uncaring and had failed them. It seems their son and
his friend were in Sri Lanka which has a population of 20 million and had lost
more than 10,000 of its citizens and visitors in the tragedy. I think it was
understandable that the Australian Government said they would have to wait for
contact. At the end of the show, it was stated that the missing son and daughter
had made contact. They had not before as they were in the mountains and knew
nothing about the tsunami”.

I am sure there is nothing silly about the loss and suffering of people. It is
very real. I am just wondering about the media response to it. I imagine in
every country there are appeals for cash, skilled personnel and special
equipment. For ten years, I stood before people and made appeals on behalf of
Red Cross in the face of great human tragedy in other nations and our own. For
years before that I sat and prayed with individuals who were facing tragedy in
their personal circumstances.

I can’t explain human suffering. However, I know that in the face of tragedy
there is love. Love reaches out and holds a hand. Love wipes away a tear. Love
gives an embrace. Love often says nothing but is a caring presence. Love does
say its prayers. Above all God is love. There is nothing silly about God’s
love.

PRAYER:

Father God, thank you for your love. I pray that your love may surround those
who have lost so much. Father you know the many who have lost family, others
have lost property and others have lost their employment. Some have lost
everything. Father I pray that you will be real to all just now. Father, we know
too that ministry in these circumstances is difficult. I pray that you will
assure those who minister of your sufficiency in this task. Amen.


Unto thee will I cry,
Shepherd, hear my prayer!
Poor and needy am 1,
Shepherd, hear my prayer!
Deep is calling unto deep.
Rugged are the heights, and steep;
Guide my steps and keep;
Hear, O hear my prayer!
Hear, O hear my prayer!

Where the tempest is loud,
Shepherd, hear my prayer!
'Mid the darkness and cloud,
Shepherd, hear my prayer
Let me hear thy voice afar,
Coming with the morning star;
True thy mercies are!
Hear, O hear my prayer!
Hear, O hear my prayer!

Let the foe not prevail,
Shepherd, hear my prayer!
My resources would fail,
Shepherd, hear my prayer!
Order all my steps aright,
Carry me from height to height;
Yonder shines the light!
Shepherd, lead me there!
Lead me safely there!
Author: Albert Orsborn (1886-1967)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number:  641

Psalm 5 (The Message)

1Listen, GOD! Please, pay attention!
Can you make sense of these ramblings,
     2my groans and cries?
     King-God, I need your help.
     3Every morning
     you'll hear me at it again.
     Every morning
     I lay out the pieces of my life
     on your altar
     and watch for fire to descend.

    4You don't socialize with Wicked,
     or invite Evil over as your houseguest.
     5Hot-Air-Boaster collapses in front of you;
     you shake your head over Mischief-Maker.
     6GOD destroys Lie-Speaker;
     Blood-Thirsty and Truth-Bender disgust you.

    7And here I am, your invited guest--
     it's incredible!
     I enter your house; here I am,
     prostrate in your inner sanctum,
     8Waiting for directions
     to get me safely through enemy lines.

    9Every word they speak is a land mine;
     their lungs breathe out poison gas.
     Their throats are gaping graves,
     their tongues slick as mudslides.

    10Pile on the guilt, God!
     Let their so-called wisdom wreck them.
     Kick them out! They've had their chance.

    11But you'll welcome us with open arms
     when we run for cover to you.
     Let the party last all night!
     Stand guard over our celebration.
     12You are famous, GOD, for welcoming God--seekers,
     for decking us out in delight.

……………………………………….

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