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!

Monday, December 26, 2005

Christmas Downunder

Shawn, you wrote "what kind of witness is it to celebrate the sun-god holidays and say that it's God's Son holidays? That's called lying. And even people that don't worship God know that lying is wrong. So they just keep thinking, "what hypocrites" probably. I'm not opposed to xmas... I'm just opposed to calling it anything but a PAGAN holiday...since that's what it is."

Well, that's your view and I can respect it. However, thinking of my liberty in Christ, it's not my view (eg. Ro8:21 "in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God"). I feel I don't want to be bound by any rules of any type in regard to celebrating any special days that have some Christian significance and opportunity to witness before man in our society (Luke 12:8-9).

I just feel that Christmas is a time when the world pauses and does actually think of God the creator of all around us, and his Son. And his purpose in creation for our lives and provision in his Son for our redemption. It's all very well to piously say "we remember the gift of Jesus to the world every Sunday", but seems to me that this is a unique opportunity for Christian witness and to glorify God amongst unbelievers.

And maybe we'll catch up with some of you guys at Belgrave Heights convention later this week??

# posted by geoff @ 3:26 pm

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Saturday, December 24, 2005

A good witness

On any Sunday, this Sunday, Christmas Day included, the Christians will go to church to praise and worship God, while othere will go to their 'temples' of shopping malls and sporting grounds. The fact that Christmas Day orriginally was a celebration of improvements in the weather after the winter solstice doesn't bother me at all, in fact Shawn, why not Dec. 25. Mankind had a chance to improve because of the birth of Jesus. Maybe Jesus was born on December 25th, in our calendar.

Gary

# posted by Anonymous @ 5:30 am

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Tuesday, December 20, 2005

Christmas (1)

Ok Shawn, there is a lot wrong with Christmas as its celebrated in the community. BUT there are groups of Christians thanking God for sending His Son to us: they are thanking God with true hearts praising Him in prayer, Advent and Christmas songs, (called carols to add another word to the Christian language). The believers sing in parks, in churches, in streets, in car parks and hospitals, good for them and us all, keeping praise to God going amid the commercial aspects of Christmas.

Its also a time to try to reach others. Our church goes to the whole area giving a small calendar and a leaflet of our services. I think it says on the website for Michele's church they give pens, ok, probably a bit more costly and not as long lasting. Good on them anyway. Any other ideas.

Happy Christmas from Gary

# posted by Anonymous @ 8:46 pm

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Wednesday, December 14, 2005

O Come All Ye Stressful .........

I can't think of the rest, my aged mind has sunk back into the swamp. It ususally applies to me but I'm not letting the Christmas commericalism stuff get me down.

We are doing the Christmas things slowly, bit by bit, and what doesn't get done doesn't get done.

Don't let Christmas be a time of stress, or pain, or financial sufferening: it was meant to be a time of joy and praise to God for coming to us.

Find time to look at the website of the church where Michele's husband is the pastor. Its a good website, clear and simple and tells that the church is reaching out. Put some pics on it folks!

# posted by Anonymous @ 8:25 pm

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It's "That Time Of Year" again.

Rushing around, lack of money, lack of energy, lack of patience. Is this how Christmas is meant to be?
Of course not. But it seems that we can't celebrate the Birth of the Lord without all these added stresses.
But there are good times too. Singing carols to 'shut-ins' who never have the chance of going out. Seeing your child's face light up when opening their present. Catching up with old friends through letters and cards.
Last week, our little Church set out with a small band of people to do door knocking. We covered 300 homes. Each home got a leaflet inviting them to our carols in the Carpark this Saturday as well as a glossy print brochure wishing them a Blessed Christmas with a pen with our Church name, phone number and website - which by the way is - www.eccek.org.au - It was with trepidation that we set off on foot to start door knocking. A couple of hours later we all met up again at the church- weary, hot, thirsty, and excited. The response was very favourable with only a small handful of people not wanting to talk to us.
We are praying that some of these contacts will come along to the Carols on the saturday night, or on the Sunday Morning at church, where the singing and items usually sound better as it's inside.
We have more pens to give out and will probably do another door knock close to Easter and cover houses that we missed this time.

# posted by shellymac @ 6:19 pm

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In the News Again!

Well, once again Australia is in the world media for all the wrong reasons.
Shocking racial riots in Sydney have made the news world wide.
Now, if we had free use of guns, it would have been way worse I'm sure.
Overseas members - we are a multicultural country and we welcome the diversity it brings. These riots show what can happen with 'mob psychology'. I'm sure that there will be many people that will regret having taken part in such behaviour. Let's hope that commonsense will prevail soon.

# posted by shellymac @ 6:13 pm

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Sunday, December 11, 2005

Pre-Christmas again

The government of this State has encouraged schools to have teachings and displays about the birth of Jesus, marvellous for once and for once a turn in the right direction. The general trend seems to forget the Christ and to go the commercial spendiing and indulging aspects.
My church (us people) delivers to each home a free calendar and invite to our Christmas services, trying to get some attention in a huge community. Also outside we have a big board with the writing inviting all along to. Then there are advertisements in the local paper.
But one of the most effective things we can to is invite someone along. We all have neighbours.
Blessings on the churches and people that are doing all or some of the above.

Is there anything else being done, is there something we could do.

Yes, help people overcome the stress -- have therapy classes!

# posted by Anonymous @ 4:45 am

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Thursday, December 08, 2005

The Clergy and Nguyen

Gary, tell us if Nguyen's life and death, but more his apparent repentance and example of dying in faith, gets a mention in your church this weekend.

Seems the church can accept just about anybody's redemption (murderers, extortionists, tycoons who rip off little old ladies, child molesters - especially from amongst the clergy) except for drug-runners. They are hopeless cases, unworthy of any sympathy or hope of redemption apparently in eyes of much of the church establishment (and nation in general). Thank goodness God isn't like this (he's not, is he?) - but one gets the feeling that many in the church would like to mould God in this way (fitting their sense of right and proper judgement and who is worthy of mercy).

Here's the guy's last words, from today's Age:

LAST WORDS OF NGUYEN TUONG VAN

The last page of the prison diary of Caleb Nguyen Tuong Van, written two hours before his death.

It is now the 11th hour. My work here is done now. Pray, may I not have failed you completely and by the Grace of God may you find strength and comfort in these words my heart now speaks to you my brothers and sisters.

As I lay here listening to the prayers being said for me I take measure of all that has taken place and what is about to be. I am returning to the Lord now. He loves us all so much. He is in all of us. He's always been there. It is we who need to love Him.

I shall be looking down on you and shall be in all your hearts. I shall never cease to love you and can only promise I will never leave your side. To know that I am there you need only place your hands (on) your heart and I'll be there.

I now thank each and everyone for all that has been achieved by the love you all possess. Amazing Grace because that is what you are.

I smile now as I prepare myself to return to the Lord. You all are now in my prayers. Please don't be sorry but instead celebrate the life God has made possible through his love. These shall be my last words now. But I will see you again. Be of great faith; of greater courage and firm heart.

It is now my time. May God continue to bless you. May His light shine upon you. May He grant you peace and bring you everlasting life. Amen.

See you my brothers and sisters.

I love you ... and forever will.

Vale, brother Nguyen.

# posted by geoff @ 10:27 am

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Sunday, December 04, 2005

Universalism (1)

Those who missed John Fein's radio program from King Calid Islamic College, (its still on the ABC webside as a podcast), missed some fine radio. Shirley said the usual, that it was good but they are not Chirstian.

To that I replied that 3 faiths worship the one true God.

Of course I got the usual again, that Christianity is the only 'way', the Jews, Moslems and others stand comdemned.

And I had a simple reply, that 'I will leave it to another, to do the judgement on the judgement day, there are three faiths that worship the one true God'.

- - - - - -

I'm getting over being angy for not getting into the nursing course: I'm not angry at God, more at the fickle harsh system where so many miss out.

Gary

# posted by Anonymous @ 6:28 am

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Saturday, December 03, 2005

An eye for an eye, and a failure

Ghandi said,
"If you take an eye for an eye, then you have a blind person".

The exectution on Friday of the drug trafficker in Singapore has divided Australia including the churches. (for those who do not know the man of 22 was caught moving drugs through Singapore 3 years ago to pay for his brother's debts, both then long-term unemployed and no family in Australia to help).

Here he would have been given 10 to 15 years in prison, but he was hanged last Friday morning.

I would have thought that Christians would have some compassion and believe in giving every person a good chance at rehabilitation and repentance. That's what I understand we are to gather from the event recorded in chapter 8 of Johns gospel where Jesus didn't apply the Law!

The execution did not get a mention from the clergy at my church last Sunday and I'll be surprised if it does this week.

Does anyone know any clergy who will condemn capital punishment this week? Or even say something to half the church who think that the man got what he deserved as to all large quantity drug traffickers.

On another front I it seems that I have missed out on the nursing course. When I got to the interview and the frist question was "are you working in health care?" I thought that I have to stress my St. Johns experience to have any chance.

I admit to a couple of hours of sulking and anger, the whole process was fickle designed to get rid of good people for there were not enough places in the courses.

There is a lady at church who absolutely 'knew' I was going to get into the course -- middle class prig! I always knew that there was a big chance of missing out. How do I show her Christian kindness.

What is Christian kindness anyway: some people don't return my e-mails, or want to communicate with me. I hope, but I'm not sure, that I will get Christian kindness in Heaven. Comments?

Gary

# posted by Anonymous @ 6:33 am

2 comments

Friday, December 02, 2005

Vale, Nguyen Tuong Van

There's no joy in making a martyr of a drug-runner. Nor does anyone want to downplay the misery and death that drugs cause in our societies. But a young guy who's made a dreadful mistake, for understandable reasons? As Barabara Curzon-Siggers wrote, we are all in need of redemption:

The ability to change ourselves, to develop, to become better people, is the most consistent and compelling element of our humanity. We all do it every day in small ways. But it is those huge steps or movements that distinguish our humanity. We share this quality, this essential element, with Nguyen.

We'll just let these quotes speak for themselves.

"He's completely rehabilitated, completely reformed, completely focused on doing what is good - and now they're going to kill him" Julian McMahon, Nguyen's barrister.

"After considering John Howard's request carefully ... Mr Nguyen will be allowed to hold hands with his mother and brother" statement by the Singapore People's Government.

# posted by geoff @ 10:20 am

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