No Imitations- No substitutes for the Real Thing!

The Real Thing was Coca Cola’s slogan, plastered across bill boards for many years. The meaning was clear- everyone wants the authentic article, there’s no substitute for quality (to use another slogan), don’t waste your time and money on second best. Well some of those myths have been exposed lately. So what is the real thing today?

Remember the Christian slogan presenting Jesus as the Real Thing – that may be our experience. But for many knowing Jesus as the real thing is an illusive myth.

Many people don’t believe they have a choice, settling for second best, rather than the real thing. Lack of money, the dregs all their life, hand me downs, left over or no time, poor food, little affection and attention, even betrayal and abuse.

So the hope of finding the real thing in life becomes a lifelong search, looking here, there, anywhere for something, someone to rely on, to meet the longings for relationship…

Nevertheless God has planted in every human being the need for relationship, with God and with others, the need for deep connection, belonging in community, genuine and real relationships.

Relationships with others may become the way to discovering the real Jesus. A friend described to me the support and encouragement of an elderly woman who eventually invited her to her Church. She hesitantly thought she would give it a go, and was delighted on the first Sunday being surrounded by caring elderly people who are “like grandparents”. The authentic love and care, genuine interest and support are helping her discover God’s love and care.

There are no imitations for love-it either is or isn’t. People know when it’s the real thing, genuine quality, accepting and understanding, expressing dignity and respect. Real love is God with skin on. That’s the reason Jesus came to be the real thing!

Connect with a new person in your life. You may well discover Jesus in the other person, and they may well discover Jesus in you!

Grace and peace,
Julie Simpson,
Executive Officer, CareWorks

No Imitations - RRT

With our overall theme being Diamonds and gems for 2009, this month’s theme is “No Imitations”. This started me thinking about the differences there are between real and imitation.

Take for instance a real diamond and a manufactured diamond. With advances in manufacture it is often difficult to detect them with the naked eye, but once under the microscope the flaws in the imitation are clearly seen.

Recently while listening to the radio, a gem collector spoke about the number of fake rubies that are being sold to the unwary in markets in Asia, they are being sold as being real and are almost worthless as they are merely a type of coloured glass.

For a diamond to shine it must be able to refract light through it and come out the other side, bright and clear.

Think about the difference when cooking between vanilla essence and using imitation vanilla essence. When compared with each other, the flavour is quite different.

When we take a closer look at what the Bible says we find in Ephesians the command to be imtors of Christ Himself.

It is stated many times that He came as an example and, over 30 times the New Testament uses some tense of the phrase "follow me", "follow Him" or "followers of Christ." The word "followers" can be traced back to the Greek word "mimos" which means "to imitate." From the word "mimos", we can easily see origins of the English words "mime" and "mimic."

Scripture is loaded with examples revealing how and what one must do in order to be an imitator of Christ: Love your enemies; Forgive those who have sinned against you; Heal the sick; Cast out devils; Set captives free; Make disciples; Visit the imprisoned, the infirmed and feed the hungry. All are actions that we can usually find something else to do when we are approached to help.

So do we have a conflict between our theme and what Christ calls us to be? In a world where we have imitation this and imitation that, we are called to imitate Christ only. It has been said that if someone imitates you, it should be taken as a compliment, so we need to choose carefully who we start trying to imitate.

Therefore, if we are called to be imitators of Christ and Him only, but God wants “No Imitations,” what does this mean? He wants people who are committed to walk the Christian walk and follow the example that Christ has set, being the best reproduction of Christ we can be—God helping us.

An Ornament - Are you hanging in or just hanging on?

Yes believe or not, it is not Christmas yet, I know the year has been flying but yes it is only June and Yes! The theme is “Ornaments—made to hang around.”

What do you picture in your mind when the word ornament is mentioned or read? Something shiny, bright, glittery, and decorative.

In looking at this theme I have had some differing thoughts. Hmmm … ornaments -useless things that I have to dust but then on reflection, ornaments … beautiful decorative additions that give sparkle to the area around them.

"The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)

In 1st Samuel it is talking about how we judge the outward appearance but pay no attention to the condition of the heart. Here we are being warned not to worry about how we/others look on the outside, but to be more careful about our “heart condition”.

Outward appearance wasn't the issue here. It was how we adorn our hearts. Don't be so concerned about the external, because our family, friends, and the people we meet will be looking at our hearts - how we act, live, and behave. That is the adornment they see. Everything we say and do comes from our heart.

Just like a Christmas ornament hanging on a tree, our lives are dangling out there for others to see. How well do we embellish, adorn, and serve the body of Christ?

There are many types of ornaments we can be.

A Brittle Ornament—Like one of those Ornaments that appear beautiful, but when touched, the paint and glitter comes off on the hand. Are you like that? Have you been rubbed up the wrong way, or someone’s said something that’s upset you and you’ve haven’t forgiven them?

A Broken Ornaments. How do you cope with your problems—are they your “badge of honor” and need to be shared with all so others can never see the beauty of Jesus in You? All of us go thru trials but it is how we use them to make us grow that gives us the victory. We can be broken and brittle but we need to allow God to be the glue that holds us together.

A Forgotten Ornament—Are you one of those that doesn’t look as good as it used to. Got a chip here or there? Your Christian walk is not on track as it used to be—stopped reading your Bible, praying, not going to church as often, you consider yourself a Christian but that’s not what your heart is reflecting? All of us come up against all manner of situations that cause us not to be the person that God wants of us.

A Christ-like Ornament—One who radiates the beauty of Christ in everything we do and say?

May we each be “An ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price".

We can choose how we make the body of Christ more beautiful by how we act as a reflection of what's in our hearts. As Christians, we are each some kind of ornament, whether it be broken, forgotten, brittle or beautiful.

How are you hanging?

Adapted from thoughts by J Beftencourt

Memories to Cherish - RRT

Everyday we are in the process of making memories and hopefully most of them are memorable. How do we make memories?

• By storytelling – this allows us to relive the moment and think about the emotions that went along with the memory. Ever sat there telling your intended “in law” stories about what their fiancee did as a small child? Or heard stories in a eulogy about the loved one just departed? Written a journal of happenings on a trip or just life in general so you can remember? Whilst in hospital one time the patient in the other bed had been involved in an accident and had been unconscious for over 3 months. Every day her mother would visit and read from her journal of a trip she had had overseas so she might remember it when she regained consciousness. I learned a lot at that time about her travels also I cherish the memory of a loving mother reading to her daughter. 
  
• Through looking at photographs and videos of events. These capture the moments and we can re‐live them as we either view the video of look through our albums. Sometimes there is written journaling in the albums or commentary on the video that helps us remember.
  

This year for Mothers Day at church are using the reading of 2 Timothy where Paul writes about the faith of Lois and Eunice and how they passed it on to Timothy by the example that they had lived and been to him.

As I looked at it in preparation for our service, I suddenly saw the Bible in a new light. It is a collection of journals, prepared for us to relive the happenings in people’s lives to learn, cherish and reminisce over, and realize anew our heritage in Christ. What example will we pass on to our families?

We must cherish the moments we have now. We cannot get back a moment wasted, or a hash word said. We live in the Now but we can look back and remember the past, and things said and done in the heat of the moment cannot be taken back but can be etched in memories forever. We need to be mindful of how and what we say to one another always. 

When looking at Mother’s Day is can be quite painful. The memories can be happy but can be bittersweet— Relinquishing mothers, grandparents separated from their grandchildren due to marriage breakup, mothers of stillborn children, women who have never married and/or women have never been a mother, those with communication breakdown between themselves and their mother. Consequently for them it is painful and lonely.

We not only have memories to cherish but memories to pass on. 2Timothy 1:8 calls us to tell and live out our story regarding what Christ has done for us. Remember the only Bible some people will read is us, so our life needs to be lived with that in mind.

RRT

Page 2 of WISELink May 2009 

The Middle Wife

I've been teaching now for about fifteen years. I have two kids myself, but the best birth story I know is the one I saw in my own second grade classroom a few years back.

When I was a kid, I loved show-and-tell. So I always have a few sessions with my students. It helps them get over shyness and usually, show-and-tell is pretty tame. Kids bring in pet turtles, model airplanes, pictures of fish they catch, stuff like that. And I never, ever place any boundaries or limitations on them. If they want to lug it in to school and talk about it, they're welcome.

Well, one day this little girl, Erica, a very bright, very outgoing kid, takes her turn and waddles up to the front of the class with a pillow stuffed under her sweater.

She holds up a snapshot of an infant. 'This is Luke, my baby brother, and I'm going to tell you about his birthday.'

'First, Mom and Dad made him as a symbol of their love, and then Dad put a seed in my Mom's stomach, and Luke grew in there. He ate for nine months through an umbrella cord.'

She's standing there with her hands on the pillow, and I'm trying not to laugh and wishing I had my camcorder with me. The kids are watching her in amazement.

'Then, about two Saturdays ago, my Mom starts saying and going, 'Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh!' Erica puts a hand behind her back and groans. 'She walked around the house for, like an hour, 'Oh, oh, oh!' (Now this kid is doing a hysterical duck walk and groaning.)

'My Dad called the middle wife. She delivers babies, but she doesn't have a sign on the car like the Domino's man. They got my Mom to lie down in bed like this.' (Then Erica lies down with her back against the wall.)

'And then, pop! My Mom had this bag of water she kept in there in case he got thirsty, and it just blew up and spilled all over the bed, like psshhheew!' (This kid has her legs spread with her little hands miming water flowing away. It was too much!)

'Then the middle wife starts saying 'push, push,' and 'breathe, breathe. They started counting, but never even got past ten. Then,

all of a sudden, out comes my brother. He was covered in yucky stuff that they all said it was from Mom's play-center, (placenta) so

there must be a lot of toys inside there. When he got out, the middle wife spanked him for crawling up in there.'

Then Erica stood up, took a big theatrical bow and returned to her seat. I'm sure I applauded the loudest. Ever since then, when it's show-and-tell day, I bring my camcorder, just in case another 'Middle Wife' comes along.

This was sent to me on email and can be found on the internet via Google. I trust you have had a laugh as you have imagined the antics of Erica.

From page 8 of WISELink May 2009

Living God

I was contemplating the Spirit the other day, reflecting how important He is to our enabling, to our empowering, and to our enrichment as Christian women. This is very important to me as I have been taking on my new calling in life as EO of CareWorks. I know I couldn’t do this in my own strength, capacity or competency‐ all a bit beyond me if it was left just up to me!
So often we may think we are doing things in our own strength. But Jesus has left us a crucial reminder, a wonderful going away present, the presence of Christ living within us and all around us (see John 14:16‐17). I have been reminded of this in a number of conversations over the last week. Firstly with a dear friend in ministry leadership, and then again in a conversation with Maurie, one of our CareWorks managers. Aa third time, in case I didn’t get it the first or the second time, was when Val Zerna spoke on Sunday night at the Mile End Centenary, about Global Mission Partners. (By the way if you want a truly inspiring and passionate speaker Val is for you).
These conversations were all focused on a particular image or metaphor that Frank Beale, an elder statesman of Churches of Christ, and formerly a pioneering missionary in Papua New
Guinea, used once in his writing. He was quoted by Jeff May when he wrote the forward for the OMB centenary commemorative book.
‘I spent fifteen years being scared and out of my depth. Then when the growth took place it was like body surfing. Working with the Holy Spirit means that you are being carried along with your head only just above water and if you don't ride with it you get dumped and left behind. It was the greatest fifteen years of my life.’ Frank Beale
Not being much of a body surfer myself, and yet having experienced the exhilaration of being held up and carried on a wave to shore, I believe this is a very appropriate image. However, I’m sure that Frank’s experience is not so different from many of us. We take so long to learn to let go and let God by the Spirit take hold of our lives. Then it is truly like body surfing, being taken along by the wave of God’s enabling, empowering, enriching presence. Maurie used a similar image describing our Christian life as being like a cork keeping afloat on a stormy sea, tossed about but not overcome. And it is exactly that. The mystery of God has taken hold of us and it is no longer I, but the presence of God living in and around me, being and doing!
I am constantly marvelling at how God is alive and active amongst us here at CareWorks. As people come needing assistance in the midst of their crisis I discern that God is somehow transporting them beyond their present circumstances into a new dimension of being. They are becoming all God has created them to be by the power of God’s Spirit at work in our midst, and in them. When someone comes just at the right time to us in our need, and gives generously of themselves in some voluntary capacity, I again say thanks to God for the many ways The Spirit is at work, often imperceptibly.
Whatever God has called us to be and do, whatever God is calling us to be and to do, be assured God provides the wave of the Spirit. This wave drenches us, refreshes us, and miraculously holds us up. It guides and directs us. It brings us to the safety of the shore and then takes us out again into the depths. When we succumb to God’s Spirit to carry us wherever and whenever, we’re in for an incredible ride!
Grace and peace, Julie, Executive Officer, CareWorks

God is Spirit - RRT

This month the attribute of God we are looking at is, “God—the Spirit”.
Yes we all are probably quite aware of the work of the Holy Spirit, and may take its presence with us for granted. Each one of us who has accepted the call of Christ on their lives and owned Him as Lord and Saviour, has the Spirit of God living within.
In May we celebrated Pentecost, the birthday of the church, but also the anniversary of the coming of the Spirit of God to the world. When God recalled Christ back to heaven to be with Him, He left us with His Holy Spirit to indwell His people and give guidance to us.
This wonderful gift was freely given to us by God, just as He freely gave His Son to redeem us. The Spirit of God is another love gift from God.
It is this promise of God, this promise of having His Spirit with us and in us, that gives us the ability to accomplish much in His Name. God knows that we need His help as we can not do it on our own and be able to resist the many temptations that will come our way on a daily basis.
God knows us through and through. He knows our every thought and feeling. In 1st Corinthians 2:12, we read; “And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.” (NLT)
All of us were created with a “God void” in our lives that needs to be filled in some way. Without it filled, there is an emptiness that yearns to be filled by something. Many seek in different ways to fill the void and want to feel a spirit’s presence within.
In Adelaide recently there was a “Mystic Fair” where people flocked to the Showgrounds looking for answers to fill this “God void” in their lives.
Sadly, they will not have found the Spirit of God ‐ the one who would bring life and peace to their lives, but they went seeking in the wrong place! God’s Spirit is the only one who can fill this void and set us on a path of freedom and fulfillment. It is His presence and His only who fills this void. It is at these Fairs that we are Christians need to have a presence to share the good news of God’s Spirit being alive and active in this world.
How awesome it is to know that we can have the Spirit of God as our constant companion and never be alone. May you know this presence in your life today.

Living God - RRT

What a theme I chose for this month! Yes I know that God is Living, I experience His presence with me constantly, but ... As I sat and tried to write something, I started and stopped and then tried again another day. And still didn’t get very far, until today. I receive lots of emails and many of them are quite funny and it was one of these that set me thinking.

The story goes that an atheist was out in the forest admiring the trees and the rivers and the scenery generally around him when he is confronted with a bear. A huge bear … like a 7 foot Grizzly! Now as atheists don't believe in God, what could he do, well he couldn’t pray now could he!

Anyway, he has a conversation with God about him ignoring God all these years and now when his life is in danger, he suddenly believes? Realising that he would be hypocritical to expect God to accept him now, he asks God to make the bear a Christian instead.
The bear then thanks God for the meal set before him and the email ends.

This got me thinking. We Christians purport to belong to the living God. We attend worship and say with our mouths that we believe in the Living God, but our day‐to‐day lives do not show that we are Christians. In Julie’s article in this issue she talks about a guy who says that He can feel the love all around at CareWorks. This is amazing that He can feel God’s love
surrounding Him. This love can only be felt from a Living God.

As Christians who want to share the saving grace of God with our friends and family, we need to take hold of the Living God and let Him live in and through us. I know that I let what is happening all around me pull me down and I don’t let the Living God shine in and through me. It is a daily challenge that I confront head on.

A friend of mine went to work in a business and decided that if they knew she was a Christian they may treat her differently from what they might otherwise do. So she decided not to use the “God talk” that she was so used to using with her Christian friends. After she had been at the place a while, one of the workers asked her what was different about her? She answered that she didn’t know. Then her workmate said, “There is something different about you, you are calm, and serene against all the odds, you’re a Christian, aren’t you? My Grandma was a Christian and she behaved just like you.”

The old song that we used to sing years ago springs to mind, “And they will know we are Christians by our love”.

Belief in the Living God is not enough, it must be evident in how we live. Serving the Living God enables us to live out His love and exhibit it to the world around ‐ to our family, friends, workmates and indeed to the people we meet where ever we go. This is our challenge to live by constantly and show the world the Living God.

James 2:18 says: But someone will say, “One person has faith and another actions.” My answer is, “Show me how anyone can have faith without actions, and I will show you my faith by my actions.” (GNB)

Living God - JS

What is the evidence of life, of God being alive? How do we know? Can we use the usual criteria - can we see, touch and feel God?

The letter to the Romans says a resounding ‘Yes’- the basic reality of God is plain enough in all that God has created. Creation reveals the eternal power and divine mystery of God (Romans 1:20). The complexity and interwoven design of nature expresses the living God. Many of us would say ‘Yes’ to that - looking out across the landscape, looking down on a panoramic view, looking back along a beach - we capture a glimpse of Living God.

Jesus enters our world and we are invited to meet God come as a man, Living God as a visible and tangible human being. To me this is an even greater mystery than what we glimpse of God in the pattern of creation. The Gospel of John leads us to encounter Jesus as God living with us. Jesus identifies himself with life in many of his sayings. One that springs to mind is “I am the way, the truth and the life.” (14:6)

Jesus goes even further, however. Not only do we encounter Living God in Jesus but also we are offered the gift of being filled with this life. “I have come that they might have life, life in all its fullness.” (10:10) As has been expressed profoundly, “The glory of God is a [person] fully alive!”

Being attentive to God living with us, opens us up to the life of God that God is breathing into us. At times in our fast paced, over stimulated, noise filled, materially crowded existence we can shut down to recognizing the reality of Living God in the small, everyday of life. Living God is in the people, the goodness, the aspirations, the activities and events, the love that we meet each day.

We have many friends at CareWorks who regularly visit us. Bruce rides his bike and comes first thing before the day gets busy. He sits in the Café with a hot cuppa made by Maurie and has a chat. He says “I can feel the love, it’s all around, in the faces of people here… Can’t you just feel it.” Over the months Bruce has been meeting God living amongst us, and I sense it has done his soul a power of good. Living God enables, empowers, enriches and enlivens us too!

Grace and peace,
Julie (Exec. Officer— CareWorks)

To err is Human, to Forgive, Divine …

“To err is human, to forgive divine” is a true saying for me because honestly I don’t find it easy to forgive, myself and those closest to me. If I did I know I wouldn’t be finding it so hard to write to you! But I wrote to Ruth (our editor) recently to offer to write a regular column in WISE. So here I am, thankful to Ruth for the great topics she has set for 2008, but wishing I hadn’t been so eager because this issue focuses on forgiveness. There’s nothing like writing a piece or preparing for a Bible study to hone our understanding, is there? So back to the topic at hand.

Forgiving God is actually the topic, and I’m real glad because forgiveness is what God is good at, although we forget this at times.

I was sitting with a woman the other day. Her fridge had just blown up in the over‐whelming heat wave. All her food had gone off and she needed assistance. She pointed to her head as if she were to blame for her predicament. We reminded her that fridges, especially older ones, have a habit of conking out when you need them the most. No, it wasn’t her fault.

Often people come to CareWorks with some sense of shame and failure for seeking help. We seek to reassure people that their situation is a result of a whole host of reasons, and failure is a human reality we all face. Rather than being blamed they are supported in finding a way through the maze of failings they are experiencing. At the heart of our approach is the awareness of our God who is so compassionate and forgiving, who expresses extreme acceptance, and doesn’t come down on us like a ton of bricks to condemn. The cycles of resentment and revenge, bitterness and back‐stabbing, and self‐condemnation are so prevalent in our community, and we are not above them. Forgiveness is continually needed by all people.

God affirms that an act of loving forgiveness is what reconnects each of us with God, others and ourselves. How crucial is the word of Jesus who has become the forgiveness of God for all people. This is for me the astounding message of Easter that after and in spite of death, defeat and devastation, God freely forgives us, keeping no account of our failings and proclaiming us “not guilty”. He gives us the opportunity to begin again. In Jesus, God makes forgiveness human in this world of relationships where forgiveness can seem impossible.

We are called to be Women of Crucifixion‐Resurrection, breaking the cycles that would destroy us and others, and proclaiming a new beginning. At the worst of times, when Jesus was condemned, he cried out to God profoundly, “Forgive them, they don’t know what they are doing.” How can anyone unless they experience another way in us, divinely enabled?

Grace and Peace, Julie

Julie Simpson is the newly appointed Executive Officer of CareWorks. A Churches of Christ Pastor and qualified social worker she has shared ministries with husband Grant in the Southern Circuit and Mt Barker.Julie has also been an aged care and hospital Chaplain. Julie is a mum and grandma, and a member of the Prospect Church at Blair Athol‐Kilburn

Seize the Moment

Over the last few weeks I have been made to think of making the most of the moment put before me. My life has been in a state of change, something I don’t like and find hard to cope with. Many hours I have laid awake at night contemplating the “could have beens,” the “should have beens”, and the “maybe if I had done something different I may have been able change the outcome.”

All of this is a waste of time if I take to heart the fact that God is in control. I know this is so, but I like to think that I am in control, and there are times when I want to BE in control and not leave it to God.

I have been doing some research on the Internet. There has been one reoccurring theme that has been jumping out at me over and over during these past few days. That theme is “To make every moment with our loved ones count.”

This has set me thinking, “How can I best make today count for my family? Tell them I love them everyday, create an environment for them that is loving and enjoyable and accept them at all times!”

There were at least 5 articles I have read that were on this theme, totally different from what I was looking for. So I decided that this was not “co‐incidence” but “God ‐incidence” and I stopped and took stock of what I was doing.

The last article I read was in a digital scrapbooking site that I receive emails from daily. They always have a thought for the day as part of their email. I find this is the most interesting section of the email, apart from showing me more about one of my chosen crafts. But this one challenged me even more than usual as I realised that maybe God was trying to get my attention.

To précis the story, a lady was sharing that she had sent some photos of her children to her father who was gravely ill because she didn’t have time to go and see him. So instead of taking the photos to show him and to show off her newly acquired ability of digital scrapping which he was interested in, she posted the photos. She never phoned either, just posted them across town to him.

Within a couple of days she received a call to let her know that her father had passed away during the night. Yes he had received her photos and had cried as he looked at them the night before. He knew his time was very short. But the daughter’s moment to share with her father had gone! She would never have the opportunity to show him what she had been doing, to tell him that she loved him, and to share many other things she realised she should have done.

Her message to me is to seize the moment, live in the now, get rid of regrets that hold me back, and to show my family and friends that they mean everything to me.

What can this mean for all of us? We all can live in regret and allow it to hold us back from doing what God has called us to do and be. We need to live today as though it was our last. To leave behind our regrets and hurts, and allow those we love and care for to know that they are our world and mean everything to us.

There is a saying that goes “Seize the Day,” but I think for me it is, “Seize the moment and live it in triumph for Him.” God gives us each moment, and what we do with it is our gift to Him.

Let there be no “what ifs” or “could haves” in your life. Clear out the regrets and live your life to the full in and for God. In so doing we will give Him all the glory and honour due to Him.

The Old has gone and behold I make all things new

2007 has gone and 2008 is here.

I sit here and contemplate 2007. It has gone along with its joys and sorrows. The memories remain but the year is spent.

While watching the New Year Celebrations in Sydney on the Television, I thought about the difference a second makes. It changed from 2007 into 2008. I watched people party and make resolutions for their lives in 2008. Many made these resolutions that they knew they wouldn’t keep. They thought about the changes they may have to make to in their lives from what they are at present.

Most of us are driven to set goals for ourselves. We want to improve. We know in our hearts that we should improve. Thinking back to Christmas, we know we have eaten too much Christmas fare, so we think a diet is the way to go. Or there’s an ambition that we want to achieve so why not now. Unfortunately, we often set goals so lofty that we are set up for failure before we begin.

One lady’s list showed the changes she would like to make in her life, and goes like this:

During 2008, I would like to...

• Not take myself so seriously
• Find some time each day to laugh
• Plan time to learn new things
• Journal more often about the blessings I have received
• Look at myself in the mirror everyday and say, “You’re okay”
• Tell more people more often that I appreciate what they do for me
• Throw or give away things I haven’t used in the past year
• Exercise more regularly
• Eat more vegetables and fruits because this helps me to be more healthy and I refuse to go on a diet and forget the chocolate, though it is vegetable!!!
• Plant some flowers in my backyard

An achievable list but still needs work to achieve.

So as we have seen one month of the New Year of 2008, how can we make a difference in the world in which we live?

With God’s help we can achieve much in our lives before Him if we ensure we put His will and way for us first in our lives. God makes all things new and it is He who gives our life meaning and purpose.

Perhaps as 2008 unfolds, let’s make a New Year’s Resolution to:

• Not only know who God is but BE the person that He calls us to be.
• Thank God daily for the blessings He gives us.
• Encourage the people around you - family, work colleagues and Church family. Encouragement
  is a very special gift that costs us nothing but when given enables people to go that bit further in the work for the Lord.
• Take time out and be refreshed in Him to know Him more, and above all listen to Him and His will for us in 2008.
• Be the change in your church/home/area/workplace that will make an effect for God that’s everlasting.
• Appreciate those around you for who they are.
• Be prepared to go when He calls and do things you can hear Him prompt you to do.

Let’s allow Him to RENEW us in 2008!

The X Factor

What is the X factor for you at the moment? Is it the unknown of your present and future; is it Mr X – Nick Xenophon; is it about the direction of Christmas?

We have recently had a Federal Election, and for South Australia there was the X factor in the form of Nick Xenophon who was standing for a seat in the Senate. What will that mean for SA and Australia now that he is in? We shall soon find out.

At Christmas time we focus on another X factor – Xmas, as some write it, and so I wish to reflect on this X factor for a few minutes.

There are two things that come to my mind in this context. The first is that X is the unknown, and the second is that the X in the Greek language is the equivalent of “Ch” in English.

The Unknown
In maths X is the unknown. Using it instead of Christ in the word Christmas seems to infer that Christ is likewise the unknown, even unknowable, maybe even the distant unknown.

Perhaps it is convenient for some to take the name of Christ out of the word Christmas because of their unbelief in Christ as the Son of God who came to be the Saviour of the world. Maybe it reflects an ignorance of the origins of the Christian faith – that the Christmas account is integral to Christianity.

This is reflected in the following story: “Just a few days before Christmas two ladies stood looking into a department store window at a large display of the manger scene with clay figures of the baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the wise men, and the animals. Disgustedly, one lady said, “Look at that, the church trying to hone in on Christmas!”

But then I think of Paul in Athens discovering numerous altars with the inscription, “To an Unknown God.” Because what they thought of as unknown was intimately known to Paul, he proceeded to preach Christ to them (Acts 17:22-31). This is a tremendous example to all Christ followers this Christmas.

A Letter in the Greek Alphabet
When the word “Christ” is written in the Greek language, their letter representing “Ch” is written as an “X.” So it is that X may well represent an abbreviation of the name “Christ,” and instead of Him being the unknown, He is truly known and knowable.

So we see that X marks “the spot,” who in this case is Christ Himself, the known God who lived among us in human flesh. In this He was God with skin on; God in Christ come to earth to give humanity the understanding that God does understand and identify with our human plight – our suffering, our sickness, our sinfulness and our selfishness.

May we at this Christmas celebrate the God who has made Himself known through Jesus, the one who is both known and knowable. May Christ to us be the one we preach to those who have built their altars to their own, “Unknown God.” May the X factor in your Christmas truly be Christ, the Son of the Living God, the one who is the Saviour of the world – eternally!

DWT

A Gift to Change You...

As we enter the Advent season. When we focus on the coming of Jesus into our world, I would encourage you to look for those unexpected moments when God breaks into your consciousness in a new and challenging way.

The Jews had prayed long and hard for a saviour who would free them from oppressive Roman occupation. They had their own ideas of what that would be like, but God had a different idea. God sent a Saviour!

Not a warrior King who would raise up an army and by force free them from their oppression- but rather a tiny babe-symbol of amazing love. Fragile and weak but yet with the potential to change the world--not with the sword but with a message of peace and hope.

God is a God of surprises and God's ways are not our ways. Who would ever have imagined as they gazed on that sleeping child that he would inspire people through many generations to live lives of selfless love.

God continues to break into human lives in unexpected and life changing ways. I would encourage you, in the midst of all your Christmas busyness, to experience God in all His gracious fullness as you recognize those moments when God offers you yet another gift that will change your life.

Shalom,

Marj. Dredge
National Coordinator of Churches of Christ
Women’s Ministries Australia

Time to Listen

A couple of weeks ago I was listening to the Sports Programme on the radio and heard an interview with Kevin Gosper from the International Olympic Committee regarding the revelations of Marion Jones and the doping issue that she had revealed. Many have stood in judgement of her and journalists and members of the Olympic committee due to the fact that Marion Jones has revealed that she took performance enhancing drugs during her time as an elite athlete. She was held in high regard by her peers and she had been at the pinnacle of her career. She won 5 medals at the Sydney Olympics as well as countless medals at world championships. But she won them by cheating.

In a media conference outside a court in the USA, Jones admitted to taking drugs. At this conference she thanked her close family and friends and asked them to forgive her. She apologised to the world for what she did.

All her achievements are now nothing, all her medals are meaningless and all she had strived for is finished. She is now left with nothing. They were achieved not on her own strength but from outside influences. It’s a heartbreaking story and hard to imagine what she must be feeling, as she sees her world crumbling around her. She has lived a lie, all her dreams have turned into a nightmare.

“There, but for the grace of God go I”? We, too, could find ourselves in a similar predicament. Think about this. We have died and now stand before God, to find that everything we had been doing was pointless. The race of life we had lived has counted for nothing. The things we thought were important for Him, weren’t. They were our choices for us not God’s. We had replaced His will for our lives with our own will and had done what we wanted to do, and not followed God’s way.

When we forget God and go on our own wilful way with our work, pleasure, family or friends—we are essentially running in circles. Our priorities in life change and everything is a mess. We are doing just what Marion Jones did, cheat. Except we have cheated God! Not just the people around us. If we have lived under the guise of Christianity, and not lived our lives as God has called us too, we are cheats.

What race are you and I competing in. The race to please those around us and most of all ourselves? Or are we living God-centred and driven lives that will bring honour and glory to God?
It is necessary for us to take a good hard look at ourselves and see what we are doing. Yes we can all have an opinion on what Marion Jones has done, but while I don’t condone it, I cannot judge her as I in my life have things that I am not proud of either. I need to ask God’s forgiveness on these, as does Marion Jones. God is the only One whose forgiveness counts.

We all need to stop and examine ourselves, so, get out a check list, sit down and spend time with your Coach (God) and take a good hard look at how you are performing in the race of life.
Is our training the type that God wants of us ... Are there things that we need to change? We need to concentrate on what He is wanting us to do. It’s time out to listen to our Coach, study the notes he has left for us to guide us in our training and most of all to do something about what we learn from His Word and our relationship with Him.

Take the time now to examine yourself as I am of myself. Ask yourself the BIG question “Is what I am doing in this life making a difference in the world?

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27

New Life

It is Spring. and in spite of the lack of rain, many gardens are bursting into bloom. Everywhere I go, gardens have thrown off there winter drabness- and brilliant blues and lavenders, oranges and yellows greet the eye.

Just recently I was reflecting on God’s grace and mercy and recognised that we take so much for granted and do not really appreciate that God’s mercies are new every day. It is so because we spend an inordinate amount of time looking backwards! What a waste! The reality is that our God is a God of new beginnings so is always out in front of us, inviting us to follow new paths and new opportunities.

Humans are strange creatures, though. We find it very difficult to let the past go and venture into the unknown. The “past” even if it has not been a good experience, is still a “safe” place to be. Rather than moving forward, we spend a lot of time reflecting on the “what might have
been”! We look back and ponder how different things might have been had we just said this or done that, or, indeed, chosen a different path.

The reality, however, is that what is done cannot be changed. What has been said can never be taken back. The moment is passed and gone and regrets are of no value. It seems to me that life is faced most positively and to best advantage when we learn to let go and let God lead us into the places God has already prepared for us. Those places are places of growth and inspiration and challenge. God does not ever take us to a place for which God has not already prepared us—
even if we have yet to realise that is so!

When we seize the moment and give it our best shot, inspired by God’s Holy Spirit and acting with integrity and grace, we discover ourselves to be blessed beyond imagination. If we open ourselves, daily, to the possibility that God might actually choose to use this day to reveal God’s self to another through us, we can embrace the day with certainty and anticipation. We will find
ourselves being able to forget what is behind and move into that which is yet to come.

I would encourage you that if you MUST look back, then do so only to see how much God has already done in your life and draw confidence and assurance that there is nothing that you and God together can not handle and appreciate that every day with God is the beginning of Spring.

MD

one flaw in women

Women have strengths that amaze men.
They bear hardships and they carry burdens, but they
hold happiness, love and joy.
They smile when they want to scream.
They sing when they want to cry.
They cry when they are happy
and laugh when they are nervous.
They fight for what they believe in.
They stand up to injustice.
They don't take "no" for an answer when they believe
there is a better solution.
They go without so their family can have.
They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.
They love unconditionally.
They cry when their children excel and cheer when their friends get awards.
They are happy when they hear about a birth or a wedding.
Their hearts break when a friend dies.
They grieve at the loss of a family member, yet they are strong when they
think there is no strength left.
They know that a hug and a kiss can heal a broken heart.
Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.
They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you to show how much they care about
you. The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning.
They bring joy, hope and love.
They have compassion and ideas.
They give moral support to their family and friends.
Women have vital things to say and everything to give.
HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN,
IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.

Passion:

Pronunciation: 'pash & n (n) from Latin pati to suffer –1: the sufferings of Christ between the night of the Last Supper and his death –2: the state or capacity of being acted on by external agents or forces; –3: the emotions as distinguished from reason –4: intense, driving, or overmastering feeling or conviction –5: an outbreak of anger; ardent affection –6: a strong liking or desire for or devotion to some activity, object, or concept –7: an object of desire or deep interest.

Just recently, I have been thinking about the effect of passionate feelings on our lives and the way we live them out. We can be passionate about anything we choose, and sometimes we will throw our every waking moment into pursuing it.

Recently I went with my family to an AFL game at Telstra Dome in Melbourne to see St Kilda play West Coast. Apart from some passionate West Coast supporters who had travelled from Perth to see the game (there were many on our flight across to Melbourne) by far the most were there to support St Kilda. We couldn’t miss the true blue supporters who showed proudly their team colours and paraphernalia. (I know one ardent supporter who proudly has worn their colours for years even when they were at the bottom of the ladder!)

Back to the game though. We were surrounded by a continual out pouring of passion throughout the game. There were some there that I thought were going to have a coronary or such like in the way they reacted to the umpiring decisions or opposing teams players. Then there was one man who got up from his seat and ran down the concourse to give the umpires a real serve when he didn’t agree with their decision.

I, not having any particular care on who won the match, sat back, watched and wondered. “What difference would it make to the church today (as we know it) if we were as passionate for the Lord’s team if we followed the Christian life as passionately as the AFL team supporters do, or whatever sporting team or interests that you follow.

It is not just football fans who follow their interest so intently – there are those who are passionate about their hobbies, their craft, their car, their garden, their fishing, their music, etc. and many of us put a great deal of effort into having the necessary tools and items needed to follow our passion.

So where is this going? No, its not an excuse to talk about football but a way to look at how we respond to our passions, and line up how passionate we may be about the Lord and His impact on our lives.

To be the person Christ called us to be, we need to be passionate about Christ and the difference He has made in our life, and therefore show and tell it to the world. It is easy for us to be closet Christians because then we don't have to stand out and wear our team colours. We can just go along with the crowd or we can be passionate about the team – that we are not just supporters but members, and we need to Stand Up for Christ in all we do, say and act as it is the mission we have in life.

Christ stood up for us and was willing to go all the way to the Cross for us. How much then do we owe to Him for what He has done for us.

Let’s nail our colours to the Cross and really Follow Him.

We all need a Tree

I hired a plumber to help me restore an old farmhouse, and after he had just finished a rough first day on the job: a flat tire made him lose an hour of work, his electric drill quit and his ancient one ton truck refused to start While I drove him home, he sat in stony silence.

On arriving, he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands.

When opening the door he underwent an amazing transformation. His face was wreathed in smiles and he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss.

Afterward he walked me to the car. We passed the tree and my curiosity got the better of me. I asked him about what I had seen him do earlier.

Oh, that's my trouble tree," he replied "I know I can't help having troubles on the job, but one thing's for sure, those troubles don't belong in the house with my wife and the children…

So I just hang them up on the tree every night when I come home and ask God to take care of them. Then in the morning I pick them up again." "Funny thing is," he smiled," when I come out in the morning to pick 'em up, there aren't nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before."

Mission— A Calling for you and me!

The theme for this month is Mission and what it means for us. This year we have seen the renaming of our Overseas Mission Board from Churches of Christ renamed to Global Mission Partners. This is a real step forward into integrating their role and place in the way we do mission.
What is mission? The encyclopaedia defines mission as being “groups and organizations arising within a particular religious tradition whose concern is to witness by word and deed, at home and abroad, to the beliefs of their religion, so that others may come to know and live the truth as they understand it.”

Ask your friend or neighbour what mission is and I am sure that the first thing they say is working overseas to tell the third world countries about the Gospel.

While I am a firm believer in spreading the Good News across the seas, I am a very firm believer that mission is where ever we are at any given time when we are with other people. Mission is people.

As I have said before when sharing with you, most businesses and churches have their Mission and Vision Statement which is often displayed for all to see. It is paramount as they search for meaning and a purpose for how and why they exist.

This is what mission is also for us. We have a mission and vision to be! In the Discipleship Development Program that is organised by GMP (Global Mission Partners) for young adults to participate in, the emphasis is on Being not doing mission. In others words being the Mission of life and not doing the mission of life. I find the “being” quite confronting, but it is only as we live mission that we will be the church in the world today.

One of our suburban churches has on the inside of its front door a poster displaying the words “You are now entering the mission field”.

Our neighbourhood and also our homes can be the mission field that we are involved in more than the going overseas. Yes we can serve also by supporting GMP and ACCIM which are very active parts of the mission work of Churches of Christ, but so should the local church, which is in fact not the church that we might attend, but each one of us who claim to be Christians. On Sundays, or when ever we meet, we are the church gathered, but when we leave the building we are the church scattered for service.

Each one of us is a missionary called to serve where we live and work.

A few years ago, my husband and I felt the call of God to overseas mission service, but so far we have not gone there. However the call to serve has not diminished. We serve Him right where we are in our life and work. Actually we have now contact with 3 distinct but separate groups in our community and church which enable us to serve Him. Our overseas mission field came to us!

Our communities are our mission field! “How will they hear without a preacher?” My friend we mustn’t leave the telling of the message to chance for our neighbourhood. We must listen to the call of Christ on our lives to “Be” His witness in our homes, communities and the world. We need to be willing to be home missionaries wherever we live and work. Going into to all the world means sharing the message starting at our back door. For some it starts before the back door as they witness and live at home.