Tim The Toolman

Believe it or not, I really was in tradesman mode yesterday ~ all in the name of assembling a personal computer work station. However, it should be more aptly titled "Tim The Toolman Assists Dad The Doer". Breaking code with the normal rule of manhood, we found ourselves constantly referencing the written instructions for assembly, which often ended in frustrating confusion. On more than one occasion we found ourselves questioning "Why is it that one needs to have an engineering degree simply to read most instruction manuals nowadays?"

In the end, as life reminds us all too often ~ persistence always pays off!

Here is the result:

Food For Thought

Here are a couple of quotations that have been Food For Thought to inspire and challenge us today.

"The spiritual meaning of love is measured by what it can do. Love is meant to heal. Love is meant to renew. Love is meant to bring us closer to God. "

Deepak Chopra ~ sourced from www.boogle.com

"We have loved our local churches too much. They will come and go, rise and fall, grow and die. What endures is the mission of God. God calls your church to mission. God calls your church not to be the center of people’s lives, but rather to be in the center of their lives."

Kennon Callahan ~ sourced from Westlink (Western Australia Divisonal newsletter)

Amusing Signs

You've probably all seen amusing signs or read of quirky quotes on noticeboards that leave you with a grin and somehow lighten up your day with a serious smile! Well, while paying a parking fee today outside the PR Department in Box Hill, I was confronted with a sign that made me smile ~ "Insert Coins Slowly". I knew what it meant, but then laughed as the 'slowly-inserted' coin fell fast with a loud crash into the machine deposit box, causing me to realize that the speed of the fall is really beyond one's control.
Here is a photo of a church sign I came across that was taken last May in Sydney while a local businessman was on lunch.And, here is another ~ this one was an amusing plaque attached to a bench seat that I snapped personally while on holiday in New Zealand recently. Obviously, you really need to be aware of the "history behind the local legend" to fully appreciate it. Wouldn't you agree?

Plugged Into Constant Power

Picture this scene ~ it's 4.00pm and I stop off at our local supermarket to collect a few household items. With basket in hand, I peruse the frozen food aisle in search of our regular vegetable mix purchase, reach for the door, slowly pull it open and ~ BANG! ~ off goes the electricity supply throughout the whole store. Emergency lights light up the aisle like those on an aircraft pointing the way to the nearest exit. In my case, the express aisle. I had to get out as quick as possible, embarassed that I had somehow tripped the store's power supply the moment I opened the freezer door. On my return trip home, I suddenly realized that all the other stores in the street were blacked out too ~ obviously from lack of power. WOW! Did I really cause this problem? Tuning into the radio the announcer declared: "We have a state-wide blackout!" No way, it couldn't be! Well, you can imagine my relief to discover that bush fires in Benalla had tripped the main line of the electricity supply shared between Victoria and New South Wales that resulted in the two-hour blackout.
With a 41oC temperature outside, we really missed the air-conditioner, phone access, computer access, TV, radio, etc. that awaited us upon our arrival at home. How dependent we have become upon power utilities in our high-tech society! This knowledge caused us to rejoice that when we are plugged into the true 'Power Source of Life' ~ Jesus Christ ~ there are certainly no Blackouts. For God's supply is constantly-empowering.
"We can only keep on going, after all, by the power of God, who first saved us and then called us to this holy work." (2 Timothy 1:8, The Message)

Look Up And Smile!

While driving our Grandad home this evening, we stopped at a set of lights on Springvale Road and spied a bright, colourful sign bearing the message: "Look Up And Smile". A quick glance at the rest of the sign revealed that it was advertising an event in connection with upcoming Australia Day celebrations.
Further investigation led us to discover that the organizers are commissioning high tech planes to fly over 3 specific locations in Australia and take photos of Australia’s most celebrated day of the year. Now you see why they’ve called it Look up and Smile!
Check out the details ~ http://www.lookupandsmile.com.au/

"Look Up And Smile" ~ As Christians we do that in faith everyday. We look up to God who is our joy and strength, assured that, as He guides us, we can smile at life's opportunities.
The Psalmist makes wise reference to God's interest in our world when he writes in Psalm 33 verses 12-14:

12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance.
13 From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind;
14 from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth...

Inspiring Worship And Wedding Bells

What a day of blessing we've enjoyed! This morning at our Inala Chapel worship service we were privileged to sense a special measure of God's encouragement. Much of the worship centred on Paul's confidence in God's ability to inspire us to be all He desires us to be. The impromptu choir message, "Standing on the promises of God", moved freely into a time of spontaneous, personal testimony recalling God's promises given to individuals through grace moments in their lives. And, believe me, that's awe-inspiring!
Later on, we were privileged to witness the marriage of Matthew and Debra O'Brien (son of our choir leader, Anita, and her husband, Alan). We've never been to a Sunday afternoon wedding before, and again, sensed the encouragement of God as these two young, committed Christians pledged their lives to love one other centred around their own relationship with Jesus Christ. Part of their personal vows to each other declared, "I promise to pray with you and make God the centre of our marriage...giving you the freedom to be who He wants you to be". Now, how inspirational is that? Committing to God-centred (married) lives, while at the same time, acknowledging the need to give each other the freedom and respect to fully develop their individuality in Christ.
Praise be to God for His personal encouragement and blessing through inspirational worship and wedding bells!

Appreciation Goes A Long Way

It's nice to be appreciated! Sadly, people today often fail to appreciate those they love and value. The busyness of life can leave little or no time to stop and express a little appreciation along the way.
Having commenced our twelth year of ministry recently, we are pleased to be able to say that we have always made it a priority to express appreciation to those who share alongside us in leadership support roles. Our experience has always shown that the impact of providing a word of encouragement and praise is like a stone being thrown into the water ~ the ripples of personal and corporate spiritual effect are both wide and far-reaching. And, more often than not, the rewards of appreciating others have a habit of returning to bless the giver.
Is there someone you need to really express your appreciation to? Someone who would benefit from a word of personal encouragement and praise? I'm sure there is. Don't wait ~ simply appreciate!