God Spot

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God Spot
This Christian Resource Blog has been created by a group of friends from around the world. Our purpose is to provide links to useful resources, some commentary on topical or doctrinal issues, a place where anyone can come with questions and a means whereby we can share our faith. And above all, to grow and encourage each other. As Christians, we believe we bear God's image in this world, and seek to glorify God's name in this endeavour. Any Christian who wants to join with us is very welcome!

Saturday, January 31, 2004

Jonah - Dead How Many Times?

Gary, what are your thoughts on the suggestion this morning at leader's mtg that Jonah actually died before he was swallowed by that big fish, and that God truly resurrected him? (somehow, I can hear you mumbling under your breath "heresy" - or was I just dreaming???).

I must admit, I have always felt that this experience to Jonah would have been like death to him, without him actually dying.

# posted by geoff @ 10:49 am

0 comments

Friday, January 30, 2004

Caroline - On Being Thankful

Enjoyed your post on "thankfulness to God", Caro. At BSF, we start each leader's meeting with group prayer (at the unearthly hour of 06.30 am Sat mornings - first one after summer hol's is tomorrow, spare us a thought - it will be 08.30 in NZ which is civilised time to be starting Saturdays!). It's slightly structured, in that it begins with a time of worship - praising God for who He is; then a time to thank God, both in general for being such a wonderful and marvellous Fellow to us all, but also specifically for answers to past prayer requests; and then we move into this week's petitions - all in the name of Jesus.

I think that's not a bad format for our prayer - praise, thanks, petitons. There are many sample prayers in scripture that more or less follow this pattern. There are some acronyms for prayer formats, which I can't recall just now. Someone may be able to help out? It's good to remember all the things we can be thankful for, but so often just take for granted.

# posted by geoff @ 10:46 am

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Thursday, January 29, 2004

Forewarning - Trinity is Coming!

Or, as the leaflet says, Trinity on Trinity! Again at Gary's church (Holy Trinity Anglican, Church Rd, Doncaster, Victoria - info@holytrinitydoncaster.org.au), a seminar series over 3 nights celebrating the 150th anniversary of Holy Trinity Doncaster.

Tuesday 2 March
- 7.30 pm Paul Barker - bible study (Rev 4)
- 8.10 Andrew Moody - The Trinity in the Bible
- 8.50 Questions

Wednesday 3 March
- 7.30 Paul Barker - bible study (Rev 5)
- 8.10 Rhys Bezzant - What the Trinity Is and Isn't
- 8.50 Questions

Thursday 4 March
- 7.30 Paul Barker - bible study (Jn 14-16)
- 8.10 Peter Adam - What Difference does the Trinity Make?
- 8.50 Questions

# posted by geoff @ 10:21 pm

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Paul Barker's last talk on Mark

Went with Dave & Gary last night to Holy Trinity to hear Paul Barker talking on the last 4 ch's of Mark's gospel. Excellent teaching! Sadly, Gary hasn't gotten around to summarising here the middle two talks, so there's a great slab of teaching from Mark that I've missed. Oh well, will have to find time to borrow and listen to the tapes! Anyway, last night was good.

As Paul B said in his first talk (see post of 8th Jan), one of the questions that Mark poses for us is just who exactly is this visitor on the world scene? A question we must all answer personally. And that Mark's gospel is book-ended by two great answers to this question, the first by God himself in ch.1 "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased" and then the Roman Centurion's pronouncement in ch.15 "Surely this man was the Son of God!" This latter being a truly amazing statement when you think about it, made by a Roman gentile, not someone who knew all the OT scriptures prophesying of the coming Messiah. And yet a man who presumably had witnessed many crucifixions. Surely attesting to the fact that from that moment on, God was revealing himself to gentiles and Jews alike.

Here's some other points from Paul's talk (Gary, Dave; add any bits you remember or particularly enjoyed):
- Ch.13 is centred around the temple in Jerusalem, now that Jesus has come to Jerusalem rather provocatively mounted as a king on a donkey. Each night, he walks the couple of km's over the Mount of Olives to Mary and Martha's house in Bethany, where he spends the night. The temple, the most important building, and centre of worship and power for many who derived their status from its importance, is the focus of much that happens in these last few days. Paul commented that the temple was even more significant to that society than the MCG is to Melbourne life (that's pretty important!), or the Sydney Opera House to Sydney for instance.
- It was the huge stones of this revamped (by Herod the Great) temple (which had already been built by Solomon and then rebuilt) which led to the disciples' double-barrelled question about the end-times (when, and what will be the signs?)
- Paul suggested that the "abomination of desolation standing where it ought not to be (let the reader understand)" comment by Jesus almost certainly referred to the desecration of the temple by the Romans in about 70 AD (Jesus said "when YOU see" implying those listening, many of whom would have still been around at that time; whereas in the following section clearly referring to the end of this age, Jesus says "then THEY will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory".
- And Paul gave his view in regard to the current fad of wondering whether we're in the "end times" or not - eg. is the Iraq war, or the regathering of Israel in '48 the significant sign that the end times have arrived? - Paul suggested that really the end-times began with the crucixion of Christ (ie. these last 2000 years are in reality the end-times, or days of grace - days after the world has already been judged but the dreadful climax of that judgement has been deferred to give us opportunity).
- In answering the disciples, Jesus gives a number of warnings (against deception, of false teachers, of persecution - which we know little of in our countries just now, but this may quickly change - and to be alert, to watch).
- A useful illustration of how we should take Jesus' warnings to watch was how Paul when teaching in bible college would like to say to his students "sometime this year, you will have an exam" but to give no further clues as to whether the exam will be tomorrow or at end of the year, or anytime in-between. As he said, it would radically change study habits!
- Ch.14; The passover had to be eaten within the city, so Jesus and his disciples had to find an available room.
- Re timing, probably Jesus and disciples ate the passover a day early, or maybe the gospel writers didn't exactly clarify the times, but it is certain that Jesus was crucified on the Friday of passover, symbolising Jesus as our Passover Lamb. Bringing freedom to those enslaved.
- In Mk14:21, Jesus gives a dreadful indictment of Judas Iscariot "the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born." Clearly Judas did not find forgiveness for his despicable sin, even though his evil actions brought about God's purpose. And we need to see that all through, Jesus was actually in control, he gave his life (it wasn't taken from him)!
- In v.24, Jesus said "this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many", the word many suggesting gentiles as well as Jews - but not for all (ie. not for those who don't accept God's gift).
- In v.35, Jesus prayed that if possible, all the coming events would not happen; but it wasn't possible, clearly there was no other way!
- In hastily arranged "courts", Jesus was tried twice - once by the religious law and (eventually) convicted of blasphemy which, to the Jews, deserved death but being under Roman rule they couldn't pass the death sentence, so they then needed to charge him with treason before the Romans (which was punishable by death, whereas the Romans weren't too concerned about a bit of blasphemy).
- Jesus died in the place of Barabbas - the latter deserved to be hanging on that cross, but Jesus (who didn't deserve to be there) took his place, and Barabbas went free (the gospel from Barabbas' perspective!).
- We see the cosmic scale of this event in the darkness for those three hours between the sixth and ninth hours. Throughout, we note that Jesus is always in control, giving his life in his time - in his answers to the high priest (14:62), and when he breathed his last breath on the cross (15:37). Man took nothing from him; Jesus gave.
- And the great curtain that veiled the holy of holies, upon which man couldn't look or approach, was torn from top to bottom. Afterwards, there was a question of what did the Jews do about this torn curtain? As Paul said, we don't know, but presumably they repaired it by somehow stitching it by standing on a ladder working behind their backs so as not to look! (poor guys, they missed the great significance of the new freedom to relate personally to holy God, in just the same direct way that Jesus lived in communion with the Father in heaven).

We finished with a hymn that said it all "I stand amazed in the presence" (chorus "how marvellous, how wonderful").

When Jesus called out on the cross the first verse of Ps22 "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?", he and many onlookers who knew the scriptures would have known the end of that psalm was words of hope and victory; at v.22 the theme of the psalm changes from crucifixion to resurrection, and Jesus' words spoken in anguish were nevertheless anticipating the victory and vindication of the Son by the Father in the resurrection.

# posted by geoff @ 4:57 pm

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Wednesday, January 28, 2004

Learning Thankfulness to God

Lately my thoughts have been turning to praising and worshipping God. I analysed my prayers and realised how much I ask. There is an imbalance in my communion with God, and it weighs heavily on the selfish side!

I pondered this awhile and did a little bit of reading and then praying on the matter. I asked God to teach me how to praise Him!!!!

Well, my thoughts have been directed to the Psalms a lot, and when I walked today, I sat under a gorgeous leafy shady tree and read a Psalm. I read it as though I was praying this to God, not the psalmist! I felt so happy and filled with Christ when reading it ..... feeling that overwhelming feeling of Thanking Jesus for all He did in the cross... so we can have this perfect peace. This made me thank and thank Him.

Later when walking home, and thinking about all this, and apologising to God for wasting years of thankfulness towards Him .... I suddenly realised, it could be paralleled to raising children.

Babies are hungry and are fed, and cared for. Are they thankful? No!

When they are born, they are only conscious of their own needs and those being met. However as they begin to grow, their parents have to start to teach them to say "Thank You". They then learn, through a painful process of lots of continual reminders, to say this without being prompted. This might take years!!!!

Gradually, there comes a time, when they say Thank You because they MEAN it! They see the value of saying Thankyou, and actually see it as a necessary thing, and they do this genuinely.
Finally, they realise how a "Thank you" can really make another person happy. It can open doors! A Thankyou will make people happy to do things for them! A Thankyou creates warmth between two people! There can become a real bond!

Well, these were my thoughts this afternoon as I contemplated how I am learning to show Thankfulness to God. Without Him, without Jesus, we have nothing.

In Thankfulness and in the joy of having a loving Father, now and forever!

# posted by Caroline @ 3:17 pm

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Friday, January 23, 2004

What do we do?

I heard a preacher on a television show last night. One comment stood out to me: He said, many christians know what they want or want to do, and then look through the scriptures and work out how to justify what they want.

We should read the scriptures and then work out we can fit them, not them to fit us and our desires and wants!

I reckon we can find a verse or piece of scripture to support us in almost anything if we wish to! This reminds me to keep up a personal relationship with God so that HE can show me the right thing!

Good counsel, I feel!

# posted by Caroline @ 8:59 pm

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the church is for all

Well the comments are flying! The discussion on lesbians and homosexuals always is in the tone that they arew wrong. I'm not so sure or so convinced.

Anyway they should examine the scriptures and see what they understand from the morality there. And they like us all may have to answer on Judgement Day. I'll be too busy answering for my many wrongs.

My church is for all people!

# posted by Anonymous @ 7:33 pm

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Wednesday, January 21, 2004

Geoff the Postman

Hi Geoff
Just wish to tell you the notes you sent me are happily in our home! I sat down and looked through them and got quite excited.
I am going to leave it a week or two till things settle down if you dont mind before I read them more fully and make some comments to you!
Thanks so much for your effort in this!

# posted by Caroline @ 8:39 pm

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Friday, January 16, 2004

corrections and comments

The church, Carol, from the very beginning wrote letters, discussed and argued, in fact in the fragment of writing from Gary's letter to the Christians, Ad 1990(thankfully most of it lost) it states that where two or three are gathered together there is theological arguement!

Doesn't 'catholic' mean all embracing. The church is for all, (unless you are a Calvanist).

If the curch is for all it then is for lesbians, and George's cousin too who got some publicity. I saw them on tv.

And it is for all to serve, as well as be served there for women clergy.

Geoff I think Paul Barker's talks are taped. It was very good last Wednesday night. More good news re Andrew and saw the boat leave last night at 6. Gary

# posted by Anonymous @ 9:28 pm

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Thursday, January 15, 2004

Thanks for all the interesting articles and thoughts in here. Some deep reading for me to do! I skimmed and found I need to go back and read with a bit more depth.

Debate or discuss: This is the question.

Discuss sounds a more christian word, doesn't it? It evokes thoughts of the bonds of togetherness!

Been reading a couple of great books on holiday ..... will get back here later in the day and tell you.

# posted by Caroline @ 6:39 am

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Tuesday, January 13, 2004

Lesbian Church Furore

Just trying my hand at creating eye-catching headlines! But it's pretty close to what has become an interesting fracas within the Roman Catholic church here in Melbourne (I always get into trouble with my RC colleague at work by referring to his church as Roman Catholic - he constantly reminds me it's the Catholic church. Full stop! But more about my RC colleague in a moment.)

Essentially what's happened is that a cousin of the Australian Cardinal George Pell has publicly challenged him over the Catholic Church's hardline stance against homosexuality. In response to his cousin's goading, Pell has responded with a short statement, saying: "The Church's views are well known and will not change. I support them. In these situations the first 11 verses of Chapter 8 of St John's Gospel give food for thought. I wish Monica well and acknowledge the contribution she has made. I continue to regret the path she has chosen."

Monica, btw, is a lesbian former nun (a Mercy nun), and her partner of 19 years was a Franciscan nun.

Monica's response to the Archbishop's statement was "I wanted him to make some statement about who I am as a person to him," she said. "It's very disappointing that I got no response other than scripture."

(Interesting human reaction; so easy to believe that we are "good caring people", and hence it can't matter what our sexuality is, and that any scripture to the contrary just can't apply to us, I think!?)

In her open "Dear George" letter, Monica makes the statement:

The Vatican document also says that recognition of homosexual unions would "obscure basic values which belong to the common inheritance of humanity". In terms of my relationship with my partner, what could that possibly mean? The society at large would consider our lives to be grounded in basic Christian values.

I think (judging by the tone of letters to the Age today, in response to these articles) that she's right - society at large does consider Monica and partner's lives to be grounded in basic Christian values. Which I find sad and alarming!

Finally, in discussions with my RC colleague, he tells me that there are 3 planks of RC theology - scripture, church tradition, and something grandly called the Magisterium of the Catholic Church (CC). Tomorrow we're consulting his catechism to find out more about this Magisterium - but I gather they regard it as the teaching authority granted to the CC by Jesus Christ himself when he gave them power to bind things on earth and heaven, in other words it's the authority given to the church to teach and to make authoritative statements on dogma.

# posted by geoff @ 4:48 pm

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Thursday, January 08, 2004

Last Night

For all you who missed Paul Barker's first talk on Mark's gospel last night (you know who you are!!). It was worthwhile, and there's three more (next three Wed nights at Holy Trinity, Doncaster at 8 pm). Four chapters each talk.

But first, the venue. This is Gary's 'home' church. It's a beautifully renovated building, built around a very quaint old stone church (which would seat about 80 max) with the most lovely old stained glass and used by Channel 10 twice a year to film all their Neighbours' and other soapies' wedding and funeral scenes. The church has one quaint custom which had tricked us in the past, but having forgotten, got us again! When it comes to sing a hymn, Paul Barker announces "we'll stand and sing no..." and the organ thunders out the opening bars and the whole congregation... stays seated! Now, this isn't a mass display of defiance. It's their quaint custom. And a "visitor's trap". All unaware visitors start to jump to their feet, and immediately reveal who and where they are!

Eventually, they do get to stand, just in time for the first words... sang (amongst others) "Oh, for a thousand tongues..." (another great Wesley hymn).

One of the good things about listening to a gifted teacher (like Paul Barker) is the way familiar chapters and stories come alive, and there's almost like a new depth both to our understanding but more importantly to our inspiration to relate to God our Father, and to Jesus, Son of God.

This little summary won't do the talk (on the first 4 chapters of Mark) justice, but Paul mentioned how there was anticipation of the coming of Jesus (starting way back in the OT, eg. with Isaiah), and various announcements of his arrival (just as happens when an important dignitary is coming to visit, and finally arrives). The gospel is book-ended by God's pronouncement in ch.1 "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased" and the centurion's pronouncement in ch.15 "Surely this man was the Son of God!" Both attesting to who this visitor is.

This person who came did not, in general, meet expectations, however. He did not overthrow Roman rule and establish an earthly Jewish king to sit on David's throne. Nor did he mix with the important and powerful people of society; quite the opposite. His disciples were a motley crew. But he came with authority (eg. he called the disciples and they dropped all and followed him - remarkable in itself; he ordered evil spirits around; and he taught with an authority that the scribes lacked "What is this? A new teaching - and with authority!" Mk1:27). And one of the central questions that Mark in his gospel poses for us to find the answer to is, who exactly is this Jesus?

When Jesus said "your sins are forgiven", in a sense this is an easy statement to make (where's the proof? - there's no visible manifestation). But to the Jews it was clear that, in making this statement, Jesus was claimimg divinity for himself (and hence the jealousy at his authoritative teaching grew quickly into opposition). But Jesus backed up this statement (sins forgiven) by the very obvious sign for all to see of physical healing (interesting that the two went together!).

There's more, but time is gone. Will add as it comes to mind. Ciao.

Addendum: another instance of the authority with which this visitor Jesus came onto centre-stage is in the calming of the storm (end of Mark ch.4). This was no ordinary storm, these disciples were experienced fishermen yet they were afraid that they were going to perish in that boat. Mark tells that it was a "great" windstorm that arose. Presumably like a once-in-a-hundred-year event. When Jesus acted to calm the storm, not only did the wind stop but Mark says there was a great calm on the sea. Amazing evidence of the authority (over nature) of this visitor Jesus (of course, showing the power of the creator over his creation!).

Paul told of a scenic lake in Wales that he visited several times. One day, he was about to photograph the perfectly still lake and the reflections of the Welsh hills in the background. When a boat sailed across the lake, and disturbed the mirror-calm surface. It took half an hour for the ripples caused by that small boat to die away and enable the photo! Yet Jesus stopped the wind, and calmed the sea presumably both simultaneously and instantly. Remarkable authority!

# posted by geoff @ 5:15 pm

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Wednesday, January 07, 2004

Paul Barker Tonite

OK, here's the details of tonight's first talk in a series on Mark's gospel by Paul Barker (gifted bible teacher) at Holy Trinity, cnr Doncaster & Church Rds, Doncaster, Vic. The talk starts at 8 pm. Supper follows. Gary and I will see any of you there!

The series runs over four Wednesday evenings, starting tonight.

And Gary, speaking of "ignorant Melbourne FC supporters", you're the only turncoat I know who jumped ship from Collingwood to Fitzroy (now Brisbane Lions). A wise move, as it turned out. Yesterday I visited my hairdresser, Sarah. When you see me, I'll be sporting a new-look Shane Crawford-lookalike haircut! But the point of this is, on the wall she has this little plaque commemmorating Collingwood's feats of the past few years. Surprising, really, as Sarah's the truest bluest Carlton supporter you'll ever find. The plaque says "COLLINGWOOD - BACK TO BACK; 2002, 2003"!

# posted by geoff @ 9:22 am

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Tuesday, January 06, 2004

Great Guy!

Gary, you're truly a GREAT GUY - one of the (few) living treasures (Gough's another!). Anybody who can try to cheer an "ignorant Melbourne FC supporter" at 06:30 on Saturday mornings is truly in the "GREAT" category!

BTW, what time does Paul Barker start his talk on Mark's gospel at Holy Trinity (cnr Doncaster & Church Rds, Vic) tomorrow night?

Now, because I think you'll enjoy this, here's a link to a very well-written and amusing article in the Guardian on the royal pets. I've picked a few bits out of it below, but there's much more in the complete article - very amusing, but maybe Betty Britain isn't too amused!?

Florence the bull terrier with a penchant for housemaids is, like her owner, living on borrowed time
The monarchy begins 2004 on a reformist note. Florence, one of Princess Anne's English bull terriers, is to go into therapy after biting a maid. But for her status, the royal dog would already be as moribund as the Beagle space probe. Instead, she played a starring role in the end-of-year royal 'scandal,' which began with Pharos, the Queen's oldest corgi, being mauled to death at Sandringham. The culprit was initially named as one of Anne's other dogs, Dotty, whose previous attack on two small boys cycling in Windsor Great Park resulted in a modest £500 fine.

This time, an inquiry, which reminded one servant of a 'murder investigation', came up with evidence that a different miscreant had ignored the Orwellian sixth commandment that no animal shall kill another. Exhaustive internal questioning of the kind not undertaken when George Smith, a valet to the Prince of Wales, claimed he had been raped in his master's household, revealed the corgi-cruncher to be Florence.

The lucky verdict that the Princess Royal had two nasty dogs instead of one psychopath was shaken shortly afterwards when Florence savaged (or 'nipped', in Palace-speak) the knee of a housemaid called Ruby, who reportedly begged that the dog be spared. To wonder why this saga should have shuffled the Bam earthquake, the Parmalat débacle and the seaweed detox diet off newspaper front pages is to miss the point.

Anyone wishing to understand the modern monarchy should study how it treats its pets. On the whole, rulers have always preferred dogs to subjects. The papillons loved by Marie Antoinette, the sacred Pekingese of the Chinese emperors and the spaniel discovered, by her executioner, in the skirts of the dead Mary, Queen of Scots, all underpin that taste. But even Victoria's habit of running her court along the lines of Rolf Harris's Animal Hospital cannot match the dog mania of her successors.

The Buckingham Palace corgi makes Caligula's horse look under-promoted. No visiting head of state or triumphant rugby player can enter Her Majesty's staterooms without being ankle deep in a writhing scrimmage of dogs which never defer to dignitaries. Elizabeth's biographer, Sarah Bradford, describes how one nervous bishop, baffled by the lunchtime feeding ritual, took a dog biscuit from a footman's salver and ate it.

The same goes for lesser royals and their pets. Where else can they find companions who never fawn or curtsy and whose filthy tempers mesh so neatly with their own?

Just picture that bishop, munching on the dog biscuit from the butler's tray! Another line from the Guardian article "there's another, more widespread, current of opinion that thinks the real scandal of the Windsor's winter holiday is that of an aimless, self-indulgent, over-rewarded clan, cooped up with their dysfunctional dogs in a publicly subsidised, privately owned palace, tax-exempt and used once a year". But we're not going to judge them, are we?

# posted by geoff @ 10:03 am

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Monday, January 05, 2004

other people

Well Geoff you raised a big issue -- what should be our attitude to other people. let me throw in some ideas.

In our society people have had plenty of opportunities ot know of God, some repond and some don't. Their non-response is not our fault, its theirs.

To Christians we should care for then, encourage them, correct them gently when wrong, and show a sense of community with them all despite differences between churches and understandings.

To all people we should do good and seek to be at peace with them.

Yes Geoff even at 6:30 on Saturday mornings, and to ingnorant Melbourne FC supporters.

Gary By the way, I try to be cheery to all people all of the week, Geoff Williams!

# posted by Anonymous @ 9:47 pm

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Sunday, January 04, 2004

Belgrave Heights

My inspiration from BHC this year came from two talks by Robert Coyle who is Executive Director of Youth Dimension. First talk was based on the elderly prophet Jeremiah when he was cast into a pit and left to die (Jer38:1-13) - talk was called "Alone with only God" and the take-home message, in response to the question why Jeremiah, who was having a miserable life, didn't just give up, was "the greater the sense of call, the stronger the hold". If we know God's clear call to our heart in what we're doing, nothing will cause us to give up! Jeremiah knew that God had called him to his unpopular ministry, and he was never going to let the pits he found himself in throughout his rather wretched life cause him to let go of God (as well as the physical pit, there were pits of opposition to his unpopular message, and relationship pits including rejection by family and friends).

Second talk was of a much younger Jeremiah, and was called "The Aching Heart of God for the Lost" (Jer20:7-18). The gist was that God had passed judgement on Judah and their evil king Manasseh - God said that he would wipe them as you wipe filth from off a bowl and Robert painted this (familiar to some of us!) picture of a long-forgotten bowl of green mould from the back of the fridge. Utter useless filth!! And this was unconditional judgement, it was going to happen, the bowl would be wiped clean - so why did God allow seven (I think) more kings of Judah, and the prophet Jeremiah (who had a rather unsuccessful and naturally miserable ministry amongst this filth) to be raised up? Why Jeremiah's anguished and depressed life? Robert suggested one reason - that we see reflected in Jeremiah's broken heart the feelings in the heart of God as he loved these people of His who were nothing more than filth and who were destined for eternal damnation and torment. This was breaking God's heart, just as we see the broken heart of Jeremiah. We were left with the question - what is our attitude to the lost sinner? Does our heart reflect the heart of God towards that individual?

God loves the sinner, while he hates the sin. Is this really our attitude? To all sinners?? Judgement has already been passed on the
world at the cross, yet God in these days of grace offers all a way back to Him. We need to recognise that he loves us - full stop! Just like Robert's little brown-eyed grand-child (6 months old) - "no grandchild could be loved more - but why?" What has he done to earn a grandfather's love? Nothing; he's simply loved because he's family. Equally, we've done nothing to deserve or earn God's love. But he loves us dearly, sinners and all.

# posted by geoff @ 10:57 pm

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I'm Back!

Boy, you guys have kept things rolling along nicely while I've had the feet up! Well done and thanks, Carol & Gary. Glad to hear that you "tried to be cheery to all" Gary, was this a Christmas-day special (book my cab, get the Christmas message and free cheer thrown in)? Anyway, now you've had the practice, you can try being cheerful to me at 06.30 Saturday mornings (but I won't guarantee to respond in kind!); 06.30 Saturday morning is not cheerful territory in my book. And BTW, good that you brushed up your singing voice too at the carols service, we can use that Saturday mornings also.

Now, here's an ad for Gary's church; his minister Paul Barker (a particularly gifted bible teacher) is starting a summer study series on Mark's gospel (Wednesday evenings, starting this Wednesday 7th at Holy Trinity, cnr Doncaster & Church Rd, Vic). As Gary says, will definitely be good!

Appreciated your post-Christmas post too Gary, definitely a need for genuine cheerfulness (as probably only Christian hope can give) on the day after as many reflect on the futility of what passes as fun in modern life.

Carol, did you get much of a break from computers???!? Would we be better off without them? (I've got Luddite tendencies!) But I'm not ready to kick the habit, just yet. Thanks too for your efforts to get some responses to our blog; I promise to do more recruiting in the next few months, we need more like you & Gary who find this a worthwhile distraction (whether anyone else reads us, I feel we benefit from sorting out a few ideas in our minds and having to write them down reasonably clearly). And it's good to have a friend like Gary, to tell me when I'm being plain silly (be warned - I'll get even!)

So Carol, do we debate or discuss? Where it says "iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend" (Prov28:17) - is this by debating or discussing? And how's the twilight bike-rides going? Sounds romantic, as well as miraculous! (not sure about the daggy basket tho' :-) Thanks for your encouraging good wishes for the Christmas period, it was safe and happy for me, just as you hoped for all.

And next I'll try to write a little of something that's inspired me (not just the sparkling burgundy!).

# posted by geoff @ 9:19 pm

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Saturday, January 03, 2004

post Christmas

Well I worked the day after Christmas in the morning, and it was the ususal esperiences. There were plenty of people going home through the morning tired and drunk. Many told me that they had a good night, but no one said that it was a great night. A few people seemed 'down'.

A few young people were going to the all day dance/concert at the Music Bowl, sold out 15,000 tickets at $80), a few went to shopping centres, a few went out to lunch with friends, and there was a big race meeting at Flemington.

Apart from visiting friends none of the above seem a good way to spend New Years Day to me, but we here are failures as consumers, and I haven't been to a race meeting in 31 years since we lived in Warnambool and got a holiday for the Warnambool Cup.

Carol those who know say that the Christmas - New Year time is a great time for depression and suicide. Eldest son, Nigel, who works at the casino in the first aid section says that there are very few suicides there in the complex including the hotel, but they believe a good number on the way home, expecially people jumping off the West Gate Bridge. I lined up in the taxi on Boxing Day there at once stage, only 40 in front of me when I got there, and the line was moving: there were plenty of people coming and going, the place was booming.

# posted by Anonymous @ 9:40 pm

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Cheery

Gary, it must be a nice feeling to know that your friendliness and cheer can bring something to calm the hearts of stressed out folks.... and even lonely hearts?

I was so sad to hear recently of a person at our christian convention we attended say he was lonlier than he had ever been in his whole life (40 yrs) even though he was amongst so many.

We must reach out....

Thanks for the inspiration again.

# posted by Caroline @ 4:53 pm

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