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, March 25, 2006

Thorns = troubles and trials.

Recently our church had our Annual Camp. Each year we have a visiting speaker come and share with us. Some are great, some not so great. This year the speaker could only come on the Saturday, so we had other church members take part for the rest of the time.
I wasn't too taken with the speaker this year, but one thing got me thinking.
He spoke on the Parable of The Sower (Mat 13) and his theme was "Rootfullness produces Fruitfulness". Now having been brought up in a Christian home and having gone to church my entire life, I've always felt that I pretty much understood this parable.
Being somewhat 'pious' I've always thought that I was the classic christian example of the seed that fell on the good ground, where it produces a crop which continually yields more good produce.
I think most of us Christians who have travelled the straight and narrow for many years, would think this way. But my wandering thoughts that morning at camp were arrested by what the guest speaker said. He said that most Christians are actually amoung the thorns! That we lose our first love and vitality for the Lord because the worries of this world get us down. The worries of finance, the worries of family, the worries of vocation, temptations, tiredness,busyness, etc.
Hmm, maybe I'm not that righteous after all, because these different things do get me down and they affect the way I live my Christian life.
How do other people see me? As a person who lives a victorious christian life, or one that is constantly defeated because I worry over the mundane necessities of life? I know I'm very human, and I would rather be seen that way. But do people see the "real me" or what I want them to see? Do I want them to see the 'thorns' that surround me.
Of course, we have to be realistic - there's nothing worse than meeting someone who seems to be perpetually 'happy', as it is usually a coverup. But let us acknowledge that life is a struggle at times and the 'thorns' do tend to choke us.
Thankfully, we do have the Lord to help us through these 'thorny' times.

# posted by shellymac @ 7:49 pm

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Obesessions, Shawn, Geoff etc

Ah now Geoff, you know that the Anglican Church is one true Church, albeit with just a few minor faults, mainly in Sydney over equality and ordination of women where Melbourne is just about completely right. The new women minister at our church is good.

Alas, there are a few egos involved in the Sydney church and everywhere, (more than a few, more like truck loads of ego), and the Gary maxim 'Don't trust anyone who has been in a position too long' certainly applies to the church-- all those important people robed, dressed up and glorious, parading up and down, up front taking the service, oh marvelous!

And 'too long' really is not a very long time at all for important people to become important.

Being a bsf LEADER you would understand Geoffery.

Now Shawn, reader of the bible and taking it to be litterally true, please explain that Jesus on a few occasions called himself 'the good shepherd' and even 'the gate' and 'the way', I thought from reading the scriptures that before his minister he was a carpenter!

Please tell me what role a woman should have in a church, anything more than making the coffee? Is playing the piano or organ ok, is having a piano ok? Can a woman carry the cross in a proper procession, you people do have proper processions, how do you help the egos of the important people otherwise? And is any of it important as long as we believe the truth.

Gary

# posted by Anonymous @ 7:16 am

1 comments

Tuesday, March 14, 2006

Sydney Anglicans

More huffing and puffing from Muriel Porter in yesterday's Age "Queen tests Sydney's Anglican boys' club".

But close observers of the increasingly narrow ideology of Sydney Anglicanism will note some interesting ironies in the dynamics of the royal occasion. For despite all the pomp and ceremony, there can be no escaping that this sovereign, who is also "Supreme Governor of the Church of England", is a woman. And in Sydney Diocese, women are "equal but different".

The Queen, it might be argued, is more equal than other women and certainly rather different in terms of her high status and unique authority. But biologically, a mere woman she remains. As such, in the terms of the teaching of Sydney Diocese, she must submit to the "headship" (leadership) of men both in the church and in her marriage.

And predictably, in today's Age there are some letters in response:

Nor is she Jesus
MURIEL Porter's "gotcha Sydney" article tells us more about her own obsessions than those of Sydney's Anglicans. Christians have always held that duly appointed civil leaders must be honoured no matter how they measure up according to Biblical standards and no matter how unsuitable they would be for Christian leadership. The Queen's gender is completely irrelevant.

A far more significant question would have been whether the Sydney diocese is receiving her as Head of State or Head of the Church. I suspect those sneaky fundamentalists might reserve the latter role for Jesus.
Andrew Moody, Blackburn South

Nice try, Muriel
MURIEL Porter calls submission of a wife to her husband a "very dangerous" and "ungodly" doctrine. How can something God has instituted in the Bible be "ungodly"? By definition it must be "godly", because God has ordained it. Nice try Muriel, but once again your fascinating leaps in logic make your argument invalid.
Zac Veron, Carlton, NSW

# posted by geoff @ 4:41 pm

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Sunday, March 12, 2006

the sling exercise

For the nite school course in aged care I have to wear a sling for 24 hours on my writing arn and not use it at all, a task usually done on student nurses and health care people to increase awareness of the difficulties of a disability. And, naturally i picked the easiest day, and did some preparation. Before I took the lid off the coffee jar by putting the jar between my knees and unscrewing it one handed. There will be difficulties during the day, but almost everything will be so much harder and time comsuming; both arms and my neck will get sore. Its a god thing I can wear shorts, sandals and a shirt for most of the day, this could be a lot harder in winter, much harder. A good exercise for us all to do, on a sat. or a sunday, probably easiest on a public holiday. Breakfast has to be weeties and milk, I think i can do and undo the buttons on my shirt one handed.

# posted by Anonymous @ 5:27 am

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Wednesday, March 01, 2006

Worship

Recently my husband and I had some time over in Adelaide with family. On Sunday we visited a Baptist Church. There was no particular message that morning, but rather a Video presentation by Rick Warren on the "Forty Days Of Purpose". It was interesting and presented well.

There are many people that do not approve of some of the things that he says in his booklet, but over all it is well written. I have been busy typing up segments for our own church, and although I don't go to the studies, I am of course aware of the content. Not all of it I appreciate, but it is still a good study. The people who have been going have enjoyed it and have been touched and ministered to, through it.

We were amazed at the size of the church building along with the surrounding buildings used for units etc. Our whole church would have fit into the foyer!
I mentioned to one gentleman that our church was very similar in our approach as this particular one, but was only 10% of the size of his. He laughed and said that our debts would be only 10% of what theirs is! Actually it's even less that 10% as we do not have any debts except for the on going 'normal' things like gas, electricity etc. and for that I'm grateful, there can be benefits in small fellowships...

# posted by shellymac @ 7:35 pm

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