Things I...

My beautiful wife has come up with a list of things that have shaped her life and things she wishes she cared more about. Here's my off-the-cuff equivalent list using her categories:

Things I think about a lot - and which have shaped my life

• Discovering new things from God through his word


• The underdog, the not-so-popular, the dysfunctional personality type, the 'worker bees' as opposed to the elite, the oppressed, the strugglers, the left behind, the marginalised


• Respect and dignity for those that fall within the above list


• A need for structure and order


• Researching anything and the process of learning new things


• Listening and giving space and time to people to present their true selves and shed their defensive layers


• Aesthetics (ie trying to make things look good!)


• Making systems work better

Things I think about a lot - but about which I haven't done very much

• Making people aware of the importance of overseas Christian mission
• Making my day more efficient
• Making friends with parents at my kids' school
• Walking more
• Fixing my rear bike tyre (8 months now)

Things I don't care much about - but they shape my life anyway

• Detail


• What I eat


• Housework


• Mobiles


• Getting kids in and out of cars

Things I wish I cared about a bit more

• Saving money


• Maintaining any kind of neat garden


• Housework of any kind


• Keeping in touch with people from the past

Things I thought I didn't care about, but it turns out I did

• Other people's manners


• What people think of me


• Baldness!


• Computers and cars


• Being interrupted


• 'Cave time'

Show Them Your Face Jubilee Man

I don't want to turn around...

This head was brought to you by the members of OASIS, the Bowral High lunchtime Christian group (for the Leukemia Foundation!).

East of Eden

At Mittagong we have just finished a series on Genesis 1-11.

Preparing for the last talk on Genesis 11/12, I noticed in passing some little detail I had passed over before:

The people keep moving east throughout Genesis (Adam and Eve are banished forever from Eden to the east; Cain is sent to wander east in the land of Nod; the people eventually keep moving eastwards to the plain of Shinar in Genesis 11; I grew up in the eastern suburbs?- joke here!) - it's a way of saying that the people are slowly moving further away from God's presence.

• There's constant reference to the ground and humanity's relationship to it - an interesting theme to survey in the Bible from Genesis onwards
• Genesis 12:1-3 is a real irony compared to Genesis 11. In Genesis 11 people want to be a great nation, make a name for themselves and be united - they do it without God and fail spectacularly! In Genesis 12:1-3, God chooses Abram and promises (you guessed it) to make Abram into a great nation, make his name great and make him a blessing for all peoples on Earth! And God's promises come to pass.
• It's the great I AM (God) behind the 'I am' (us)!

Dude on Horse

There's really no other way to describe this guy.

One morning I walked around Mt Alexandra in Mittagong with a friend. On the walk we found this man vigorously putting his horse through its paces.

Enjoy this 'dude on horse'.

The Water of Life

It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

Revelation 21:6-7

Virtually Over

The tour is nearly over for now...here's the view from my office window. Mittagong is changing colour now that autumn is upon us.

Turning the (Table Tennis) Tables

This is the focus of our Monday nights (our Senior High group, funnily enough called 'Senior High', is held at our place on Monday nights). The teens love using it.

Still Virtually Touring

I love having a back fence that is like a paddock gate.

Study This: A Virtual Tour

While my mind is not on deep things I thought I'd show you around parts of our house. So here's the study.

I keep lots of pictures in this room to remind me that it is for God's people that I do what I do ie read the books, pray, study, prepare lessons and sermons and dream future visions and dreams for people and services. Also they are nice memories of the past.

And yes - I got the angels at a trash and treasure sale at Vaucluse for $2.50 each ("A bargain!" I hear you say!). They appeal to my sense of kitsch. Also my better half will only let me show them in there.

Keepin' It Real

I thought you'd like this. When I first led the Sunday @ 6 service at Mittagong I mentioned that it is important to be real with God and tell him how we've fallen short of his standards. A young guy latched onto this idea, drew this on the back of a welcome form and gave it to me at the end of the service.

I keep it in my study.

Miles in Front: Christian Discipling

Continuing the sentimental reminiscing of below, I also have been fondly recollecting the weekly meetings with the bloke above. Each week we would meet in a coffee shop and discuss God together, how I was going in my faith, my highs and lows, how church was going, and many different ministry things (eg prayer, a theology of church, strategy, praying for those under our care, discussing books and other things). God got a lot bigger for me over those two years through our meetings and discussing the Bible. I am more committed to sharing and teaching the gospel of the Lord Jesus than ever before, thanks to his generosity in taking the time to meet with me each week where I was (50 minutes from him!) and encourage me in my Christian faith.

It was a fantastic time, and I am really looking forward to mentoring people from church one-on-one this year in the same way, if they let me, to share this great gift of encouragement and growth!

Thanks David Miles.

God Provides

Psalm 68:4-6

Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds--his name is the LORD-- and rejoice before him. A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing...

I was just now reflecting on the tremendous provision of the Lord. He has given me himself and the gift of salvation and reconciliation through Jesus, and his Spirit to keep me on the right path; great Christian mentors who have taught me and trained me in His way; great friends; and, of course, an incredible, wise, godly wife (she didn't pay me to say that) and three delightful kiddies.

Thank You Lord. Life with you is true life.

Lois

'I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.'

2 Timothy 1:5

My wife's grandmother, Mary Rowland, died today at 83. She was the youngest of 9 children. She had a Christian faith that seemed unshakeable. God blessed her life richly. She mothered a family dynasty, with her children and grandchildren all followers of Jesus.

I rang her only this morning. I was speaking to her husband Stan about some health problems with our 3 year old son and some of my own personal anxieties when she entered the conversation on another handset. She reassured me that God was sovereign and in control and I need not fear. I thanked her for her timely reassurance.

It was a privilege to have spoken to her in such a great way on the day she went to be with her Lord and Saviour.

Don't Laugh - Here Comes Chuck Norris

On the lighter side, click here for a taste of Chuck Norris humour from a good friend of mine.

A sample:

Chuck Norris doesn’t wear a watch, HE decides what time it is.
Chuck Norris does not sleep. He waits.

Uncle Andy

In the midst of taking my first baptism, preparing and kicking off FEAST (our junior high youth group), picking up four Capernwray Bible college students from Moss Vale who will be at Mittagong for 6 months, leading a 6pm service, dropping the students back to Moss Vale then attending their own service (incuding watching the Covenant Players) at Capernwray, then returning for Bible Study leaders' meeting...

my sister had her first baby - a healthy, as yet unnamed boy.

Congratulations sis.

Immediately

I've been reading through the Gospel of Mark of late. In Mark 5 is the story of Legion, the multi-possessed naked man who no-one was stong enough to subdue.

I noticed this time around this verse:

When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. Mark 5:6

There's an immediacy to Legion's reaction to the one person - Jesus - with the power to defeat him.

Not only does Legion recognize Jesus' power - from a distance - but Legion also immediately runs up to him in dramatic submission. It's a powerful recognition of Jesus' authority.

So - for those who would challenge Jesus' authority...as the picture above shows...

DUCK!

Latest News in Laundry List Format

• Our third bub has started taking his first steps (the magic of that never fades, even after three)


• Now over a month into being an assistant minister


• Have made a few gaffes already - my boss is patient and kind!


• Got ordained as a deacon at St Andrews Cathedral Sat Feb 3rd


• My first baptism is on Sunday - pray I remember the name of the bub (it is an exquisite African name...which I have already forgotten!)


• Have driven over 2000km already from Sydney to Mittagong and back


• Was given a car by a member of my church - such incredible generosity!

There's probably more but that's enough for now!

To Quench The Thirst of A UK Reader

Over a month ago an interested reader requested my thoughts on P T Forsyth's 'The Soul of Prayer'. Well, perhaps I can begin with a short quote from the book, with thoughts to come down the track.

Prayer is the highest use to which speech can be put. It is the highest meaning that can be put into words. Indeed, it breaks through language and escapes into action. We could never be told of what passed in Christ's mountain midnights.

Words fail us in prayer oftener than anywhere else; and the Spirit must come in aid of our infirmity, set out our case to God, and give to us an unspoken freedom in prayer, the possession of our central soul, the reality of our inmost personality in organic contact with His.

At Last! Back Again!

Can't believe it has been so long since my last blog! Dear readers, it is not that I was neglecting you! Our computer had a major virus issue and was summarily cleansed of its disease by the sweat and tears of my local Mittagong computer shop. A MAJOR blogging fest coming right up...

Firstly 'though, the photo above is my dedication (and clue) to a fellow blogger who has regularly contributed to this page. Your guesses?

Hint: double click on the picture...

A Child's Imagination

I've started walking around Mittagong with JJP after dinner...yesterday we walked around Lake Alexandra. We brought the camera down for fun - I can see how authors like Beatrix Potter got inspiration for their stories. JJ was telling me all sorts of imaginary stories based on just a few ducks, a lake and some trees.