Urban Conversation: Binge Drinking

I was both disturbed and stirred to share in discussions on the topic of "Binge Drinking & Street Violence - how can we change the culture?" Urban Conversations is an social justice initiative of The Salvation Army Project 614 (Majors Brendan & Sandra Nottle) and tonight's panellists were both informed and informative.

The evening, facilitated by Seven News Journalist and 3AW radio personality, Nick McCallum, featured the following high profile personalities.

Dr Michael Carr-Gregg ~ Psychologist and Media Identity

Assistant Commissioner Stephen Fontana ~ Victoria Police & Corporate Sponsor for Drug & Alchohol portfolio
Dr Pippa Grange ~ AFL Players Association Psychologist
Nathan Buckley ~ Former Collingwood Captain & Sports Journalist
Paul Ramadge ~ Editor-in-chief of The Age newspaper

Binge drinking is a major community challenge in Australian society that affects our youth, in particular, and countless others in the process. How? Recent research has proved that around 3,000 people die every year because of alcohol abuse and annually it’s estimated 65,000 people are hospitalised because of alcohol abuse. Studies reveal a consistent link between heavy drinking and physical brain damage, in addition to the fact that 2,500 Australians are now treated annually for alcohol related brain damage.

Need more info? Start here: http://salvos.org.au/need-help/the-facts/binge-drinking.php

Most encouraging was the outcome of discussion resulting in committments from the various panellists to take a stand and do all they can to influence a culture of change. The strongest committment was voiced by Paul Ramadge, who declared that The Age would run a focussed campaign dedicated to binge drinking in the hope that tonight's words might be "put into action" to bring about transformational change in our society.

More Than Tolerance

I came across the following challenging ditty and quotation recently as I was sourcing reference material.

To dwell above with saints we love

That will be grace and glory

To live below with saints we know

Well, that’s another story!

G K Chesterton is quoted as saying, All [people] matter. You matter. I matter. It’s the hardest thing in theology to believe.

As I contemplate these words, I offer this personal prayer ~ "Lord, help us to not only be tolerant of others, but really love them."

John 13:34-35 (NIV)
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

GPS

Global Positioning System (GPS) is a widely used navigation and communication aid in today's techo-savvy society. Simply enter your destination details and your journey is planned. All one needs to do is follow the directions and you'll eventually arrive in good time...providing you don't make too many detours along the way!

As Christians, when we trust in Jesus as personal Saviour and Lord and respond obediently to the guidance of the Holy Spirit in our lives we, too, become GPS ~ GOD'S POSITIONED SERVANTS.

From the moment we come to faith until the moment that we stand "face to face" in God's eternal presence we are His communication aid and His navigational instrument in sharing the unconditional love of God with others.

Miriam Richards authored the following words which echo this calling and affirm our personal desire to be "God's Positioned Servants".

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.

(SASB 706, chorus)

It is my prayer that you will allow God to be your daily Guide as you seek to be God's Positioned Servant right where He has placed you ~ until you hear the Lord say, "Congratulations! You have reached your destination."

Isaiah 42:16 (MSG) ~ "But I'll take the hand of those who don't know the way, who can't see where they're going. I'll be a personal guide to them, directing them through unknown country. I'll be right there to show them what roads to take, make sure they don't fall into the ditch. These are the things I'll be doing for them — sticking with them, not leaving them for a minute."

Words Of Jesus

They are foundational to our faith. They give us an insight into the mission heart and mind of our Saviour. They are often controversial in nature and full of personal challenge. Yes, the words of Jesus!

In select Bibles they are in red, but seldom read. It's surprising to realize how little the Church focusses on the words of Jesus nowadays, opting to give priority to the experiential content of the Psalms, or the exhortative passages of the Apostle Paul or the like.

With this in mind, our weekly Bible discussion group have just commenced working through the words of Jesus as recorded in the Gospels and Revelation. The conversation and comments that arise week by week are both informative and inspiring ~ proving that the words of Jesus are still as effective now as they were then.

If you get an opportunity read them for yourself, ponder them...and then allow them to transform you!

Matthew 10:32 (NKJV) ~ "...whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven."

Reflection on Praise

Today has been a continuous expression of praise to God ranging from vibrant, melodious strains of a visiting gospel choir, to personal participation in a reflective ecumenical communion service, to the soul-inspiring talents of a group of Christ-motivated young musicians and the proven personal testimony of life-long, faithful followers.

At Rowville this morning, Brian Hogg mentioned that "praise is not worship; it is the completion of worship". This got me thinking and searching some thoughts based on the subject of praise.

C S Lewis, in his book Reflections on the Psalms, says that "all enjoyment spontaneously flows into praise". It's true that spouses praise their beloved, readers praise their favorite book, food-lovers their dish of choice, etc. We love to praise the things we enjoy because praise is not just the expression of that joy, but also the completion of it.

As people of faith, our praise for God needs to overflow out of our joy in God. To praise Him is to enjoy God to the fullest. Surely, it is in fully enjoying God that we glorify Him the best. Living lives of praise, then, means being saturated with joy in God.

Praise Him with melody; praise Him with song

Tell of His holiness, all the day long

Give Him all majesty earth can afford

Praise Him with melody; praise ye the LORD!

Friendships

The wise King Solomon once deducted that "a sweet friendship refreshes the soul". How right he was! After a rather challenging week, it was refreshing for us to touch base with one of our close friends and spend some quality time together.

Friendship offers us the opportunity to share on a deeper level than the common daily 'surface contacts' we make. Close friendships provide us with a comfortable environment in which to be open and upfront, enabling us to engage in ways that promote personal growth.

How much more rewarding, then, when close friends share a common faith in Jesus Christ! We're truly blessed when we interact on the spiritual level of God-friendships.

2 Corinthians 13:14 (MSG) ~ "The amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God, the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you."

An Exciting Opportunity

I was thrilled to receive news yesterday of my appointment to the Melbourne Staff Songsters as a member of the gospel choir's tenor section.

Having been an MSS member from 1989-1993, I am very aware of both the personal privilege and ministry responsibility of this additional appointment, and am determined to give of my personal best in this new, exciting endeavour.

I'm looking forward with anticipation to taking an active part in the MSS's vocal evangelism and am expecting a great personal blessing of fellowship in the process.

Isaiah 12:5 (MSG) ~ "Sing praise-songs to God. He's done it all! Let the whole earth know what he's done!"