Aptiva

A recent spiritual task was to write a letter beginning with Dear God, the life I most want for myself is,... I choose to answer as a Haiku Truth is pervading I Fearlessly Surrendered Knowing the Spirit

The ABC’s new comedy “The Good place”, sets its characters in the afterlife. The stars of the show have died and found themselves in “The Good place”, according to the first episode, they have achieved this position by “having a positive balance of points for actions done while alive”, only the best get to come to “The Good place”, the rest go to “the bad place”, but the host of the show tells the new residents in a cheerful voice “don’t think about that”. As believers in Jesus, we realise that nothing we do is ever good enough to warrant getting into heaven. Perfection demands exactly that, being Perfect. The bible tells us that all but Jesus have fallen short. Romans 3:10-11 (NIV) There is no one righteous, not even one; 11 there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God….. Romans 3:20 (NIV) Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin. Only Jesus is wit...

By the time you read this, we may have a new Victorian government, or a re-elected one. One person once said, “Democracy is a stupid idea until you consider the alternatives”. We are blessed to exist in a country with freedom to exercise our right to vote. Not all are so lucky, and through our own history, Australia has regrettable not always made wise choices in these matters.  This election many monetary promises were made, it will be interesting to see how many are followed through. This election many changes to cultural norms have been made, it will be interesting to see how many are followed through. The point we all acknowledge is Governments are fallible. This month we recognise the birth of Jesus. The prophet Isaiah tells us, (NLT)  "For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders.”- (Isa 9:6a) To the nation of Israel, who had a despotic Federal government in the Romans, and a complicit...

We cannot tell how we are being used by God. One act on our part, insignificant from our point of view may have eternal consequences from God’s perspective. Mary brings Oil to anoint Jesus, John 12:3 (NLT) "Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance." This act is remembered through the ages as one of love, and humility. How did this lift Jesus and prepare his body and soul for the upcoming trial he was to face? Oswald Chambers says “ I f we believe in Jesus, it is not what we gain, but what He pours through us that counts. It is not that God makes us beautifully rounded grapes, but that He squeezes the sweetness out of us. Spiritually, we cannot measure our life by success, but only by what God pours through us, and we cannot measure that at all."    We can spend time judging ourselves by the world’s ...

Those who have a shared affinity should desire to be together. To gather in some format or another. In pubs, for those who wish to share a drink, in sporting events for those who wish to support their favoured team, and in Christian communities for those who follow Christ. We know these Christian communities as "church", but the image of a small steepled property can be very misleading. The building itself is not important, those who gather are. It may be at a regular meeting in someone's house. Before a work engagement, prayer may be had. Bible study one evening. Regardless of its format, a few things need to take place. Worship of the carpenter.- We meet to worship our God, all else falls under this, but worship must be seen as the whole gamut of the body meeting. Accountability- One needs in the pressures of this world to be willing to be held accountable by other like-minded believers. Mutual support- All will face trials, and in these times having the suppo...

Proverbs 27:10 (ESV) Do not forsake your friend and your father's friend, and do not go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity. Better is a neighbour who is near than a brother who is far away. The Carpenter found that during his earthly existence his family of half-brothers and sisters choose not to believe in who he revealed himself to be. It was only after his resurrection we find James and Jude coming to the position of belief. During his ministry, Jesus himself calls those who believe in him, his family. Matthew 12:48-50 (NLT) Jesus asked, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” 49 Then he pointed to his disciples and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers. 50 Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!” Thus we should realise that the family of God given to us in the ecclesia, the Church, is the one which we should turn to for help when it is needed. When the body of believers functions correct...

God's word tells us many things about his character. Two are his Holiness and his Goodness. Jesus claimed that "no-one is good except God alone" (Luke 18:19). God set the definition of what "Good" is. His character defines it, his character reveals it. In his goodness, he witnesses to a fallen world, unwilling to condemn it the judgement it deserves without first offering it a way out from its fate. In his goodness, he shows that he is "just" by dealing with the consequence of humanities sin and rebellion, by Jesus death on the cross. In his goodness, he applies the Holiness of his character to those who would repent and allows us to be righteous in his sight, for he sees us in the risen Christ.