Do you have any food here?

Today has been a busy day. Our Community Support Service Worker called in sick, also one of our volunteers called in sick as well. The upshot of all this is that most of the Officers work planned for today will be done tomorrow. It just so happened that today, the Emergency Relief Clients came in a continual stream throughout the day.

Well, it was a good day!


Luke 24:40-43 (Msg.)
As he said this, he (Jesus) showed them his hands and feet. They still couldn't believe what they were seeing. It was too much; it seemed too good to be true. He asked, "Do you have any food here?" They gave him a piece of leftover fish they had cooked. He took it and ate it right before their eyes.

Today's Worship

Two good worship meetings today.

This morning we shared in our Self Denial Altar Service, plus our normal worship. Although numbers were a little down today, with people on holidays, and having operations etc. it was a great morning. The challenge presented from the Word is to be Witnesses of Jesus’ Resurrection and Redemptive Sacrifice. People leaving worship for morning tea were not in any hurry, and spent time with each other. Also we had some further positive feedback from Easter, in relation to their spiritual journey. It is God glorifying when this is a genuine expression from the heart.

Tonight we looked at ‘The Feast of Purim’. We have been through the book of Esther in morning worship in January, now this was a great time of challenge to reflect the Glory of God in the world.


Luke 24:48-49 (NIV)
“You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

Family Tree

Have you ever been frustrated reading the scriptures, and you get into the generations, and the repetitiveness of all the begat information. Well, we have been investigating our family trees over the past few years. This morning Gwyn has informed me, that my family tree now has 5,590 names registered.


“Plant a Seed and Watch It Grow”

Ephesians 3:14-19 (NIV)
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Verysalvo

Check out, verysalvo.blogspot.com

Proud Dad, suggests.

Holy Spirit's Stirring

I recall many occasions in my youth, where God the Holy Spirit was stirring my heart to have a deeper relationship with Him. This stirring also encompassed the requirement to work for Him. The choice that I made was to reject these stirrings of the Holy Spirit, and follow a path that seemed appropriate to me. I enjoyed life, had security, and lived my life as I wanted to. Although the Holy Spirit’s stirrings were suppressed, it did not cease.
Along my life journey, God has provided some incredible people, who in their own way have assisted me to be obedient and respond to the stirring of the Holy Spirit and fulfil the call that was on my life. To name each of them would do injustice to others who also had significant influences, but may remain unnamed. Further to my journey, there have been the times of protection that in retrospect, were amazing. I have fallen from heights, been caught in machinery, played sport, crashed two cars, been in a car rollover with a mate, almost drowned, without breaking any major bones that I know of, or suffering any significant injuries, all prior to answering the stirring of the Holy Spirit.
The “YES” finally came, much like Isaiah, “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” (Isaiah 6:8 KJV)
It is one thing to hear and understand what the Holy Spirit is saying, and another to respond in obedience to the leading of the same Holy Spirit. It is very similar to moving from agitation to peace deep within your spirit. It is a life response that has no end. Failure to answer with an obedient “YES” is also a continuing state of being.
Each one of us, are responsible for our own obedience to the stirring of the Holy Spirit, and the Lord’s call to share our life with others. Jesus said, “You're the first to hear and see it. You're the witnesses.” (Luke 24:48 Msg.)

Soo Little Time

Retirement is not that far away. Just a few short years till September 2016. Not that I think about retirement very often, or desire the time to come quickly, or even think that my work will cease when the time comes when (R) will be added to my title. It is just that in practical terms, there are necessarily functional choices to be made when purchasing personal items. Always having an eye to the future, and easing the possible trauma and pain of to many decisions, and costs.

Where has all the years gone?
It seems just a few years since our Commissioning in 1980. There have been extreme joys over these years, as our people developed in their relationship with our Lord Jesus. You simply can’t get anything better than that!


1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 (NIV)

We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Freedom

It was a pleasant surprise on Sunday to see one of our people taking photos of the platform arrangement prior to most of the congregation arriving. In different ways this Easter has been an important time for our people. Some barriers have been broken down, and most of our people are finding a genuine freedom, and excitement about their worship.
We thank God for the ministry of His Holy Spirit in their lives.


Luke 24:32 (NIV)

They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"

Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday is the celebration of an empty tomb, and a risen Lord.

Luke 24:27 (Msg)
Then he (risen Jesus) started at the beginning, with the Books of Moses, and went on through all the Prophets, pointing out everything in the Scriptures that referred to him.

F1 Round 2

Kuala Lumpur F1

Ferrari ~ Massa & Raikkonen start on the front row of the grid.
Lewis Hamilton 9th on grid.

The first pit stop is a disaster for Hamilton.

Lap 31, Massa spins out into gravel trap.

1 Raikkonen (Ferrari)
2 Kubica (BMW)
3 Kovalainen (McLaren Mercedes)
4 Trulli (Toyota)
5 Hamilton (McLaren Mercedes)
6 Heidfeld (BMW)
7 Webber (Red Bull Renault)
8 Alonso (Renault)

Dawn Service

DAWN SERVICE

Isaiah 53: 1-9.

Hymn: I Know That My Redeemer Lives.

John 20: 1-9.

Hymn: Thine Is The Glory

Ephesians 2: 1-10.

PRAYERS

Hymn: O Joyful Sound!



John 20:15-18 (NIV)

"Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him." Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher). Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"

Good Friday

Good Friday theme was the Colours of Easter.
Featuring an array of Colours in a Processional down the centre of the Hall.

Green ~ Creation
Brown ~ Worldliness
Yellow ~ Jesus
Silver ~ Judas choice
Violet ~ Bruised
Red ~ Shed Blood
Black ~ Death


Matthew 27:50 (Msg)
But Jesus, again crying out loudly, breathed his last.

A Week of Preparations

Preparations are continuing.

Good Friday will be the Colours of Easter.
Featuring an array of Colours in a Processional down the centre of the Hall.



Luke 9:51 (Msg)
When it came close to the time for his Ascension, he gathered up his courage and steeled himself for the journey to Jerusalem.

Prepare

We have had some amazing feedback from yesterday’s Palm Sunday meeting, and the structure of the hall setup. People were mostly very relaxed and enjoyed the surroundings.
Also, as the whole congregation moved into the youth hall for the last section of the meeting, hardly anybody noticed that some of the band had gone to another engagement. No disruptive influence to worship.

Preparations have begun for Good Friday, and materials are being procured for our meditation.


1 Chron. 22:5 (Msg)
David was thinking, "My son Solomon is too young to plan ahead for this. But the sanctuary that is to be built for God has to be the greatest, the talk of all the nations; so I'll get the construction materials together." That's why David prepared this huge stockpile of building materials before he died.

Palm Sunday

Wow! What a great morning!

Today we had the hall set up differently for Palm Sunday. Rather than two aisles, with rigidly straight setting, we had two small side aisles near the walls and a main aisle right down the centre. The setting was set in a semi circular fashion, with a softer feel.
The centre aisle had clothes strewn around, for our Palm Sunday celebration.
Today was also the Swearing in Ceremony of a young Senior Soldier. Family and friends were present to witness her commitment as a Soldier of Christ.
Next we left the main hall to finish our meeting in the Youth Hall (Upper Room) where we focused on the Last Supper, and also had a celebration morning tea with the Corps newest Soldier.


Luke 19:36-38 (Msg)
As he rode, the people gave him a grand welcome, throwing their coats on the street.
Right at the crest, where Mount Olives begins its descent, the whole crowd of disciples burst into enthusiastic praise over all the mighty works they had witnessed:

F1

Hamilton & Kabica are on the front row of the grid.

Solutions

The grassed area at the rear of our quarters has been very uneven, with some small holes where children and pets have enjoyed themselves. I sought to remedy this situation with some earth from a mound at the Corps site. It seemed an appropriate solution, and to a large degree to transition has been successful. Within the mound of earth, were some small basalt stones, and some small crushed concrete. As the earth is washed from these, they become visible, and require collection and disposal. This reminds me of the continuing work of the Holy Spirit, who reveals the problem areas and administers the solution, if we listen to Him.



Psalms 139:23-24 (NIV)

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Advert

The brand name of my personal computer is Toshiba. I am very satisfied with it’s functions, and speed, particularly after adding an extra Gig. of RAM.
As a (weird) person who enjoys commercials on TV, but who is largely unaffected by they messages. I have wondered about Apple computers. It isn’t that I need a new computer. It is simply the massively successful advertisements that seem to appear in many shows, and soaps. It is simply that in many scenes, a laptop is open with the Apple brand in full view.
It should call us to wonder, are our lives having the same or better impact in advertising that we are Jesus Folk.


Zech. 8:23 (Msg)
A Message from God-of-the-Angel-Armies:
"At that time, ten men speaking a variety of languages will grab the sleeve of one Jew, hold tight, and say, 'Let us go with you. We've heard that God is with you.' "

The King Comes!

As the Jerusalem people were not all that enthralled with Jesus, particularly the establishment, it would seem that the branch waving, disrobing crowd, were in fact festival visitors from Galilee who knew Jesus.

Luke 19:37-40 (Msg)
Right at the crest, where Mount Olives begins its descent, the whole crowd of disciples burst into enthusiastic praise over all the mighty works they had witnessed:

Blessed is he who comes,
the king in God's name!
All's well in heaven!
Glory in the high places!

Some Pharisees from the crowd told him, "Teacher, get your disciples under control!"
But he said, "If they kept quiet, the stones would do it for them, shouting praise."

What will you do?

What will you do with Jesus?
Neutral you cannot be;
Someday your heart will be asking,
“What will He do with me?”
(Rev. A. B. Simpson)



Matthew 27:22 (NIV)

"What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?" Pilate asked. They all answered, "Crucify him!"

O Sacred Head

O sacred head once wounded,
With grief and pain weighed down,
How scornfully surrounded
With thorns, thine only crown!
How pale art thou with anguish,
With sore abuse and scorn!
How does that visage languish
Which once was bright as morn!
Paulus Gerhardt


How can I possibly understand the agony of a crucifixion, and a person bearing the heavy burden of the world’s sin!


Isaiah 53:3 (NIV)

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Encouragement

What a joy it is to receive an unexpected surprise note of encouragement. It lifts your spirits, and acknowledges your appointed ministry as God’s child.


Romans 15:5-6 (Msg)
May our dependably steady and warmly personal God develop maturity in you so that you get along with each other as well as Jesus gets along with us all. Then we'll be a choir—not our voices only, but our very lives singing in harmony in a stunning anthem to the God and Father of our Master Jesus!

Elimination

Today’s elimination final was a great game, and Willow Grove, were the victors. We won the toss and elected to bat first. Many of our team had good starts, but, nobody really capatilized on their innings by making a big score. We were dismissed with 3 balls remaining, for 155.
Willow Grove passed our score, by only loosing 7 wickets.
Well, that’s it for this season!!!

T-Bone

Cricket training was quite short last night. After arriving later than normal, I had to leave early to get home for a shower before singers and band rehearsal. As we are commencing the finals campaign for the A grade, C grade (me), and Colts, the Club had a T-Bone Steak night before reading out the teams for Saturday, and Sunday if we win (I will be replaced with a Junior for Sunday’s game). I must admit that towards the end of singer’s rehearsal, the thought of missing a T-Bone was probably not the right thought process at that time.

The (C grade 50 over) Games are as follows.
Saturday:
(3) Moe v (6) Mirboo Nth
(4) Morwell v (5) Willow Grove

Sunday:
(1) Latrobe v (lowest ranked winner)
(2) Hazelwood Nth v (highest ranked winner)




Hebrews 12:1 (Msg)
Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins.

Easter

In just a short while we will celebrate Good Friday and Easter Sunday. I do not know how you feel about Easter, but for me it is the most significant celebration of the whole year. I pray that as you celebrate Easter that it will be the best Easter ever, for you.

The abundantly extravagant, love of God, poured out through His Son, Jesus.

Revelation 5:6 (NIV)

Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

Surprise

On arriving at the office this morning, there was a surprise pushed under the door. It was an envelope that contained a letter, to the Majors. “….. you and The Salvation Army are not my mentors but you both took an interest in me. Satan has tried twice in the last month to get me to suicide but I’m not in to that, I’d sooner bow both knees to God …..”

What a privilege we have as God’s children in this world!


Jude 1:20-23 (Msg)
But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, staying right at the center of God's love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life!
Go easy on those who hesitate in the faith. Go after those who take the wrong way. Be tender with sinners, but not soft on sin. The sin itself stinks to high heaven.

FINALS

The last two weeks I have not been available to play cricket. My team is placed fourth on the ladder at the end of the home & away games. This means that we are part of the finals series that will start next Saturday. We play Saturday, and if we win we then play one of the top two teams on the Sunday (I am not available for Sunday games), if we win that game it will be a Grand Final on the following Saturday.

I am really looking forward to the finals games, as this is the very first time I will be able to play in a finals series. In my past Clubs, and Cricket Associations, the games were two days in duration and were played over a Saturday & Sunday. So although my teams have played finals, this will be a first for me.



Philip. 4:8 (KJV)
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.