Monday 31 December 2007

God's Blessing

At our New Year's Eve BBQ and Praise Service following, we gave honour and glory to God for the many blessings experienced during 2007 and, in a spirit of anticipated thanksgiving, entrusted the yet unexplored opportunities and untapped possibilities of the New Year into God's hands.

In 2007, God provided ~ so we can be certain that throughout 2008 we will be well guided. As you 'open the gate on 2008', consider this biblical principle of God's personal blessing.

Jeremiah 29:11 (MSG) ~ This is God's Word on the subject:
"I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out ~ plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.”


May our Lord bless you more richly still!

Sunday 30 December 2007

Silent Witness

While waiting to meet friends at Forest Hill Chase this afternoon, Dabak and I sat around a table still dresssed in our uniforms from the morning's worship service. It goes without saying, that we were less than conspicuous.

Should we, then, have been surprised at the number of people who stopped and offered a word of appreciation to the Salvos? Or amazed at the many nearby who engaged us in a friendly chat? Certainly not!

The high regard with which the Army is held by the public of Australia is so evident.
Is this because they know we care?
Is this because they trust us to be "people of action"?
Is this because they value the work we do?

Perhaps it is! But I hope and pray that it is more a reflection of the fact that we demonstrate the love of God in action as we serve suffering humanity offering Christian understanding and hope.

Consider this ~ Uniform itself isn't the witness, it is always the one who wears it!

2 Corinthians 3:2 (MSG) ~ "Your very lives are a letter that anyone can read by just looking at you. Christ himself wrote it ~ not with ink, but with God's living Spirit; not chiseled into stone, but carved into human lives ~ and we publish it."

Friday 28 December 2007

Prayer Plea For Pakistan

Majors Geoff and Kalie Webb ~ Australian officers serving in Pakistan with their daughter, Khelsi ~ raise several urgent prayer points for our attention.

  • Please pray for Pakistan. Some newspaper analysts in the country are predicting civil war; pray for calm in the country.
  • Please pray for the many people mourning Benazir’s death.
  • Please pray for leadership within the country – of all political parties – to show statesman-like behaviour and call for calm and a measure of unity.
  • Please pray for our Salvationists, who have had to deal with the death of our Army leader Bo Brekke on 27th September, and now with the death of one of our political leaders Benazir Bhutto on 27th December.
  • Please also pray for our Chief Secretary, Lieut-Colonel Yousaf Ghulam, and his wife, Lieut-Colonel Rebecca Yousaf, who – as well as trying to lead our territory until our new territorial leaders arrive – are also faced with a major illness of their adult daughter Shahzia – married only in the last twelve months and now very ill in hospital.

Your faithfulness in prayer on behalf of the Webbs and the people of Pakistan is greatly valued.

"More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of" Lord Alfred Tennyson

Wednesday 26 December 2007

The Day After

Boxing Day is a traditional celebration, dating back to the middle ages, and consisted of the practice of giving out gifts to employees, the poor, or to people in a lower social class.

With this practice no longer practiced, perhaps it would be best to rename the day after Christmas.

Personally, it's been a 'boxing day' of sorts for me. For I've been returning to my boxed Christmas gifts time and again this morning to consult (and reconsult) the reference guide and service instructions for my newest [and most helpful] 'guy gadget'. Thanks to my darling wife, TimTim now owns his own TomTom. Another male reason not to have to ask for directions!

Tuesday 25 December 2007

Sharing As Family

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

We were reminded this morning that "Christmas Is A Time To Share". This proved true even before the service commenced as our spiritual family met joyously together and, to our surprising joy, members of our extended Lynn family arrived to worship.

The Lynn family is like liquorice ~ we consist of 'all-sorts'. Our paths tend to seldom cross throughout the course of each year, so when we meet annually at our Christmas evening family dinner it is a 'quality' occasion. It's an opportunity to share each other's journeys and offer encouragement to one another.

Contemplate God's filial message of Love to the world ~ and be personally encouraged.

Micah 5:2-4 (MSG) ~ "But you, Bethlehem, David's country, the runt of the litter ~ from you will come the leader who will shepherd-rule Israel.He'll be no upstart, no pretender. His family tree is ancient and distinguished... He will stand tall in his shepherd-rule by God's strength, centered in the majesty of God-Revealed. And the people will have a good and safe home, for the whole world will hold him in respect ~ Peacemaker of the world!"

Monday 24 December 2007

Community Carols

What a delight! We've just enjoyed watching this years Carols by Candlelight. An annual highlight is Marina Pryor, but our 2007 favourite song award goes to Anthony Callea for his heart-stirring rendition of O Holy Night!

Full marks to Ray Martin for his comment ~ "The reason that we get together each Christmas here in the Bowl is the celebration of Jesus' birth." It certainly set the scene for an inspiring community night that managed to achieve all its agendas.

John 1:14 (MSG) ~ "The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son. Generous inside and out, true from start to finish."

Sunday 23 December 2007

Blessings From Above

This morning we had a lovely time of inspirational worship that featured our Hallelujah! choir, vocal soloist Heather Clarke, organist Major Cedric Barker, and the Inala Chapel band ensemble who accompanied the carols.

Continuing on with our Christmas series, today's worship focussed on the theme "Christmas Is A Time...To Bless And Be Blessed!". We contemplated Mary's response to the angel's birth announcement, her visit with Elizabeth and her glory song to God, the Magnificat from Luke 1&2.

Luke 2:19 says that "Mary treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart"...a wonderful response for any blessed person and a reminder for each of us to pause and take the time to really enjoy the wonder of God's love again this year.

A closing thought from General John Gowans' poem, Incarnation, is worth noting.
I can't explain the ageless truth of Love expressed.
I only know ~ in Jesus all the world is blessed.
And when I look into his face
I'm glad God joined the human race.

Friday 21 December 2007

Message In Brass

Brass music is far from outdated. In fact, it communicates beyond the surface and reaches to the very soul. This was really evident today as the ISB (Inala Seniors Band) carolled in three nursing homes and two hostels. As the residents sang along to the music played by our brass ensemble and I listened to the words echo around the room, it dawned on me that the traditional Christmas carols are, in the truest sense, gospel music. The simple carols with their deep theology portray the gospel story in a nutshell.

With this in mind, at this time of the year we each have a wonderful privilege to spread the gospel with holy intent as we share the carols and the life-changing message they contain.
So keep up the carolling and spread the message of Christ's redeeming love. It's still a relevant message for all!

Romans 15:14 (MSG) ~ "I'm simply underlining how very much I need your help in carrying out this highly focused assignment God gave me, this priestly and gospel work of serving the spiritual needs of (others) so they can be presented as an acceptable offering to God, made whole and holy by God's Holy Spirit."

Tuesday 18 December 2007

Bethlehem Love

Today we attended our final Bible Discussion Group for 2007. It was a Christmas Bible Study with a difference. Led superbly by Major Lawrence Coleman, we followed the personal journeys of four OT women of faith who each were connected to David's Lineage of Love ~ Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba ~ all of whom bore children who were significant in God's chosen family line culminating, of course, with the glorious song of Mary, God's chosen earthly mother. Interestingly, these are the only 4 women who are mentioned in the Christmas narrative genealogies that set the scene for Jesus' birth.

While discussing Ruth, we discovered again that there was a 'love connection' with Bethlehem. Her second husband was Boaz of Bethlehem, and together they were blessed with a son.

Ruth 4:16-17 (NIV) ~ "Then Naomi took the child, laid him in her lap and cared for him. The women living there said, "Naomi has a son." And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David." ...and the rest is History! Coincidence? No. God-incidence? YES.

Roll on 5 February, when we recommence again for 2008.

Monday 17 December 2007

Hands Of Hope

Yesterday during our worship time at Inala Chapel, we had a special corporate intercession feature. Each worshipper was given a coloured cardboard cut-out of a Praying Hand and were encouraged to write down the name of a person or situation for which they would seek the grace of God to intervene with His Christmas love. These were then placed on our Christmas "Tree of Hope" as a decorative reminder of our personal pastoral concerns.

This simple act of worship made such a great impact in the lives of our congregation and was an inspirational conversation starter as folk fellowshipped together at the end.

God's Love is simply Divine! Wouldn't you agree?

Philemon 1:4 (MSG) ~ "Every time your name comes up in my prayers, I say, "Oh, thank you, God!"

Sunday 16 December 2007

Giving & Receiving

Most Christmas gifts are wrapped so that you can’t readily tell what’s inside until you open the package. In the same way, the Gift that started it all came “wrapped” in a surprising way.
Its true value remained “hidden” to the first recipients until they “opened” the package, and received the Gift.
It is still that way today: there’s no way to truly appreciate the gift of God's Love until you accept it, and open your heart to receive it.

LOVE WAS WRAPPED IN SWADDLING CLOTHES.
Luke 2:12 ~ “And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger.”


LOVE WAS CLOTHED IN HUMANITY.
A Christmas card by Dayspring cards says it well: “The Word did not become a philosophy, a theory, or a concept to be discussed, debated or pondered. Instead, the Word became FLESH...the Word became a PERSON to be followed, enjoyed, and loved.”

Jesus came and dwelt among us...God-Incarnate...God in the flesh...He’s God with skin on.

God the Father spared no expense. He’s like Hallmark motto: He cared enough to give the very best. He gave us His Son that He might become our salvation.

God gave...
that we might receive
, and in receiving, that we would give ourselves completely back to Him!

Saturday 15 December 2007

It's A Small, Small World

As we were lunching in the overcrowded foodcourt at Forest Hill Chase, a couple came and sat beside us at our table. After exchanging pleasantries, we continued on with our own lunches. Toward the end of the meal, the asian lady turned to Dabak and inquired as to where she was originally from. Upon hearing she was from Malaysia, we discovered just how small the world in which we live really is. Turns out the lady was Dabak's secondary school english teacher (Years 9-11) when she studied in Kuala Lumpur.

This unexpected 'surprise encounter' was a real boost to both parties ~ a teacher who was thrilled to know that her former student had made a success of her life, and a former student who, recognizing her teacher's voice, was amazed that she was (i) identified and (ii) reacquainted with a person who inspired her to be the best she could be during her formative years.

Christmas is a time of 'unexpected, surprise encounters' of God's love. The personal challenge is to be ready to receive the blessings as they arise and make the most of our faith-inspired lives.

Thursday 13 December 2007

ASAP

In these hectic and demanding days leading up to Christmas, take the ASAP challenge. It's bound to bring great reward, and even add a little surprise, to the routine of the everyday.

There's work to do, deadlines to meet;
You've got no time to spare,
But as you hurry and scurry
ASAP - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER

In the midst of family chaos,
"Quality time" is rare.
Do your best; let God do the rest
ASAP - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER.

It may seem like your worries
Are more than you can bear.
Slow down and take a breather
ASAP - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER

God knows how stressful life is;
He wants to ease our care,
And He'll respond to all your needs
ASAP - ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER.

Wednesday 12 December 2007

Musical Messengers

Local musical messengers ~Box Hill Citadel Band (Craig Downes), Box Hill YP Singing Company (Fiona Florance) and Waverley Temple Timbrel Brigade (Jo De Kleyn) ~ teamed up for our annual Christmas Festival this evening to present a feast of music that was both 'heavenly and divine'. Each section gave of their best to God and the audience, to the delight of both.

One of the YP Singing Company's songs is still resounding in my mind. Pause for a moment to reflect on the words.

Christmas is a time
Christmas is a time
Christmas is a time to love
We often start to worry and people get upset

When things don't go all right on Christmas day
What we should remember in all the push and shove
Is Christmas is a time to love.
Maybe things don't sound right or look the way they should

And maybe they're not perfectly in tune
It really doesn't matter, let's keep our eyes above
'Cause Christmas is a time to love.

What a timley reminder for us all in the middle of a busy yet blessed month!

Tuesday 11 December 2007

Christmas Praise To God's Glory

Inala Chapel Christmas Festival ~ plan to be there tomorrow!
Luke 2:7 (NIV) ~ "She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger..."

A New Road

What do you get when you cross dedicated volunteers, Army public relations staff and the spirit of Christmas? A PR Volunteers Appreciation Luncheon and a great reason to celebrate God's gifts.

Major Neil Venables (Territorial PR Secretary) took the opportunity to thank all volunteers for their personal efforts in assisting the Army to fulfil our Christian mission of expressing Love In Action. He then present a spiritual challenge to all present to seek the Saviour and find a 'new road' into the coming New Year, stating 'This is only possible when have a personal encounter with the Saviour'.

Yes, Lord, may it be so!

Matthew 2:12 (CEV) ~ "...they went back home by another road."

Signs Of Christmas

All around us we see advertising signs of one type or another promoting their products and creating public awareness. Signs can be informational, directional, instructional, and even challenging and inspirational.

It's much like Christmas for the Christian believer. God displayed His love to the world and gave us a clear sign to herald the arrival of the greatest Gift we have ever known. The sign was Jesus.
Christina Rossetti expressed this well in her lyrics, Love Came Down At Christmas.

Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, love divine;
Love was born at Christmas,
Star and angels gave the sign.

Worship we the Godhead,
Love incarnate, love divine;
Worship we our Jesus:
But wherewith for sacred sign?

Love shall be our token,
Love shall be yours and love be mine,
Love to God and to all men,
Love for plea and gift and sign."

PS. I'm happy now that I've got a Star and Angel to complement my fibre-optic tree.

Isaiah 7:14 (MSG) ~ "...the Master is going to give you a sign anyway. Watch for this: A girl who is presently a virgin will get pregnant. She'll bear a son and name him Immanuel (God-With-Us)."

Monday 10 December 2007

Christmas Is A Time

Today we commenced our Christmas series focussing on John's alternative Christmas narrative ~ "For God so loved the world...". We were reminded that Christmas is about worship. Christmas means the “Mass of Christ”, or more simply, the 'worship of Christ'.

God's expression of ‘Love’ is the key to the WONDER and JOYFUL CELEBRATION of Christmas. It is the very foundation of His actions toward us and our personal response toward Him.

Christmas is a time to remember that God shares his Heart Love with us, that we might
know the heart of God
experience the heart of God, and
grow in the love of God.

There is truth in the saying, “Christmas began in the heart of God. It is complete only when it reaches the heart of man.”

Song 114 (SASB)
"Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful love, coming to me from Heaven above.
Filling me, thrilling me through and through. O it was wonderful love!"

Thursday 6 December 2007

Star Seeking

Since we purchased a fibre-optic Christmas tree this year, it has been rather enjoyable to relax in the lounge room of an evening and simply watch the lights go through their routine. But I must confess that I am missing the star. I can handle doing away with the twisted tinsel, tangled lights and tiny decorative accessories, but I'm really missing the star.

The Scriptures record that the wise men followed the star in the east on their journey to encounter the King of Love. En route, they arrived in Jerusalem, met with King Herod and told him that they had observed the star and were on their way to worship the Child King. It was clear that the star signalled His birth and led them into His presence.

Christmas tree stars, then, are more than a mere decoration. They are a reminder that Jesus is the "Reason for the Season" and that we need to journey into His presence. They are a timely advent reminder that we 'come to worship Him'. I guess that's why stars are always found on top of Christmas trees ~ to remind us that we always need to look up to God and seek to worship Jesus, His 'gifted' Son.

Matthew 2:2b (NIV) ~ "We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."

Oh, and by the way, I'm going to seek for a star tomorrow to hang on the window above the tree!

Wednesday 5 December 2007

Politically-correct Christmas

Here's another composition by the famous author, Anonymous.

'Twas the night before Christmas, and Santa was a wreck.
How to live in a world that's politically correct?
His workers no longer would answer to "Elves".
"Vertically Challenged," they were calling themselves;

And labour conditions at the North Pole
Were alleged by the unions to stifle the soul.
The reindeer had vanished, without much propriety,
Released to the wilds by the Humane Society.

And equal employment had made it quite clear
That Santa had better not use just reindeer.
So Dancer and Donner, Comet and Cupid,
Were replaced by four pigs, and you know that looked stupid!

The runners had all been removed from his sleigh;
The ruts were termed dangerous by the EPA.
And people had started to call for the cops
When they heard sled noises on their roof-tops.

Smoke from his pipe had workers quite frightened.
His fur-trimmed suit was called, "unenlightened."
And to show you the strangeness of life's ebbs and flows,
Rudolph was suing over use of his nose.

He had gone to the courts in front of the nation,
Demanding millions in over-due compensation.
So, half of the reindeer were gone; and his wife,
Who suddenly said she'd enough of this life,

Joined a self-help group, packed and left in a whiz,
Demanding from now on her title was Ms.
And as for the gifts, he'd never had a notion
That making a choice could cause so much commotion.

Nothing of leather, nothing of fur,
Which meant nothing for him, and nothing for her.
Nothing that might be construed to pollute.
Nothing to aim, nothing to shoot.

Nothing that clamored or made lots of noise.
Nothing for just girls, or just for the boys.
Nothing that claimed to be gender specific,
Nothing that's warlike, or non-pacifistic.

No candy or sweets - they were bad for the tooth
Nothing that seemed to embellish a truth.
And fairy tales, while not yet forbidden,
Were like Ken and Barbie, better off hidden.

They raised the hackles of those psychological,
Who claimed the only good gift was ecological.
No cricket, no football, someone could get hurt;
Besides, playing sports exposed kids to dirt.

Dolls were said to be sexist, and should be passe.
Nintendo would rot your entire brain away.
So Santa just stood there, disheveled, perplexed;
He just could not figure out what to do next.

He tried to be merry, he tried to be gay,
But you've got to be careful with that word today.
His sack was quite empty, limp to the ground;
Nothing acceptable was to be found.

Something special was needed, a gift that he might
Give to all without angering the left or the right.
A gift that would satisfy, with no indecision,
Each group of people, every religion;

Every ethnicity, every skin hue;
Everyone, everywhere - even you.
So here is that gift, it's priced beyond worth -
"May you and your loved ones enjoy peace on earth."

Tuesday 4 December 2007

How Ironic!

It's amazing and incredible just how ironic experiences in life can be! Take for instance, the recent Teddy Bear fiasco in Sudan. This is a good example of an irony based on common cultural experience. Naming the teddy bear "Mohammed" is no worse a situation than giving a child the same name. It happens everyday in Islamic countries, so why a fiasco when a group of young students decide to act on the societal norm and name their bear?

I admit that irony exists even in the Bible. Jesus Himself said that we must 'die to self' in order to 'truly live'. We die to our self, but in Christ we live eternally. The Christian life is always an irony: we pick up an instrument of death (the cross) and it brings us eternal life. We give up our lives but gain immortal reward. We sacrifice all, but receive everything

I'm so grateful to God that the hope of my own personal Christian faith is clear and plain. "Jesus loves me, this I know" ~ there is nothing ironic about that spiritual truth. It not only sounds reasonable and logical; it is a experiential constant, everyday of my life.

John 3:16 (MSG) ~ "This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son."

Christmas Symbols

While there are numerous types of decorative symbols on display that capture our mind's eye during this celebration season, consider these 'Christmas' symbols.

The first is a Cradle. There, in Bethlehem, were cradled the hopes and dreams of a dying world. Those chubby little hands that clasped the straw in His manger crib were soon to reach out open blind eyes, unstop deaf ears and still the troubled seas. That cooing voice was soon to teach men of the Way and challenge the status quo. Those tiny feet were to take Him to the sick and needy and were to be pierced on Calvary's cross. That manger crib in remote Bethlehem became the link that bound a lost world to a loving God.

Next, the Cross. There was joy with overtones of sadness on that first Christmas for, unknown to others, Jesus was born to die. Jesus, approaching the cross, said, To this end I was born and to this cause I came into the world. To Christians the joy of Christmas is not limited to His birth. It was His death and resurrection that gave meaning to His birth. It is in the cross that the world can find a solution to its pressing problems.

Finally, the Crown. Jesus, the King of Love, was born into completely humble surroundings. Yes, Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords, and He is coming back someday. He will come not as a babe in Bethlehem's manager. The next time He comes it will be in a blaze of glory and He will be crowned Lord of all.

Cradle ~ cross ~ crown - Let these symbols speak to you as you reflect this Advent on Christ's coming. Let the power of Him who came to us grip you again this Christmas.

Luke 2:12 (MSG) ~ "This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger."

Monday 3 December 2007

Melbourne Staff Band

Matthew 1:23 (CEV) ~ "A virgin will have a baby boy, and he will be called Immanuel," which means "God is with us."

This morning's God-honouring worship led by the Melbourne Staff Band certainly reminded us of the Advent truth ~ "God with us". The band's executive officer, Major Len Turner, spoke candidly from God's Word, encouraging us to be constantly assured of God's omnipresence that purposes to draw us closer to His love, joy and peace.

"Here we come a-carolling among the leaves so green..." seems very applicable to describe the band's outreach to bring some real Christmas cheer to Inala's hostel and nursing home residents. The MSB's engaging music ministry was greatly appreciated by both residents and staff.

Our territory sure is blessed to have such a superb group of Christian musicians passionate about spreading the Good News of God's Love with their musical gifts. On a personal and reflcective note, we are each 'blessed beyond measure' when we claim the promises of God, not only for the past and future, but also for the present.

'Immanuel ~ God is with us', everyday.

Saturday 1 December 2007

Shining Lights

The first of December marks a turning point in our household, for the Christmas tree is put up and the decorations are laid out in readiness to celebrate the season of love, joy, peace and hope. A few weeks ago we purchased a fibre-optic tree and are now enjoying sitting in the dark lounge room simply watching the lights shine in their splendour.

One of our annual pleasures during December is to take a night drive around different neighbourhoods to check out the various Christmas light displays and rate their effectiveness in representing the true Reason for the Season. In the process of our pilgrimage, I am often encouraged in the knowledge that the Light shone in the darkness on the first Christmas night and ever since the darkness has not been able to put it out. As believers, we need to be intentional in living our lives so that they reflect the glory of God's Love-Light in a world where people are desperately seeking a personal experience of joy, peace and hope.

Doesn't Jesus command us to do just that everyday? Let our lights shine...so that others may see the glory of God's Love for themselves and know His promised Life-light.

Be a 'shining light' in your world, for that's what lights do best ~ shine!

Isaiah 60:1 (NIV) ~ "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you."

Keep Christ In Christmas

Now here's a challenge for us all! In a day and age where little focus is given to the true meaning of Christmas, we believers have a personal and spiritual responsibility to promote the real "Reason for the Season".

Dabak and I attended and participated in Ringwood Corp's Companion Club Christmas Breakup today, where Louise Teisberg's poem "When Jesus Called That Christmas Week" was shared in a closing devotional by Lieutenant Angela Locke as a challenge to keep Christ in Christmas.
Here are the words for your personal reflection.

When Jesus called that Christmas week I wasn't at my best;
And the house was much too cluttered to entertain a guest.
He seemed to notice everything, the cards still unaddressed;
The gifts piled high awaiting wraps, the baking and the rest.
His eyes fell on the evergreen and the presents 'neath the tree,
It's my birthday that you celebrate ~ what are you giving me?
'What am I giving him?' I thought; ashamed, no words I found.
So many costly things I'd bought, he looked at me and frowned.
I prayed he'd let the question pass, but when he did persist,
I blurted out the truth at last, "You were not on my list."