“The Jesus Message”

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene—2 during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: 

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness, 

‘Prepare the way for the Lord, 

make straight paths for him. 

Every valley shall be filled in, 

every mountain and hill made low. 

The crooked roads shall become straight, 

the rough ways smooth. 

And all people will see God’s salvation.’ 

Luke 3:1-6

Contextual Application: The Luke 3: 1-6 Passage: 

The Luke 3 passage starts with those that rule and govern for the care and benefit of others, 

Roman Political and Military Rule 

• Tiberius Caesar – Supreme Ruler and Emperor who Was in coalition with Augustus Caesar, they Co-ruled together for a while. 
• Pontius Pilate – Military Ruler and the Collector of Taxes 

Jewish Political Rule 

• Herod, Philip, and Lysanias. 
• Herod – Antipas – Son of Herod the great, a Jewish leader, not a King as he ruled a quarter of Herod the great's kingdom after his death. 
• Philip – Son of Herod the great and Half brother to Antipas, and again not a King, but a Jewish leader who again divided a quarter of Herod's original kingdom. 
• Lysanias – Little known Jewish Leader. 

Jewish Religious Rule

• Annas who was removed from office as high priest. - Was a severe High priest and was removed from office by Roman authority. 
• Caiaphas who official high priest. (High priests only left office usually when they died) this is why both are stated as high priest at the same time. 

Luke who writes the gospel has an unstated dig at the failures of such impotent political and religious authorities. Impotent because the social situation was still in decline. The land of the first century Palestine was directly or indirectly under the control of Caesar or the people of the Rome. 

The Roman taxation on the colonies plundered the economy of the native population, Under the colonial powers the privileges and the rights of the native population were negated, however, the elite groups who supported the colonial powers enjoyed certain amount of rights and privileges. It's only Luke that takes the time to mention leaders in power at various political levels when John the Baptizer appeared 

It is into this situation that the Jesus message comes to John in the wilderness and he becomes that message from the margins of that rule and power. A message of hope amid distress of political turmoil. For Luke this message is a Jesus message of “A RADICAL NEW WAY TO LIVE” as well as a Message of “HOPE IN THE HERE AND NOW” 

Contemporary Application: The Luke 3: 1-6 Passage: 

We too start with those that rule or govern for the care and benefit of others. We too know the failings and the successes of those who fill political and religious office. This week in the chancellors autumn statement spending cuts, benefits slashed, cuts to housing allowance was announced. A lot of ordinary families on low incomes are going to feel the pain and none of the gain over the next 6 years as austerity plans are extended to 2018. We hear the squabbling of political commentators as well as politicians themselves as we face the future. It's into this arena that we hear “the Jesus message” of Isaiah. 

Make straight paths for him. 

Every valley shall be filled in, 

every mountain and hill made low. 

The crooked roads shall become straight, 

the rough ways smooth. 

And all people will see God’s salvation.’ 

This is what Luke is getting and this surely is the promise of Advent. We too hear this Jesus message of Isaiah. a message that comes from God today, perhaps like John the baptist it is heard from the wilderness or the margins of rule and power, It's a message of “TURNING” as well as “HOPE” and we like John the Baptizer have the opportunity to become that Jesus message and embody that “HOPE”, and live as an example of that “TURNING” before the community in which we live. 

Conclusion:

In the sixtith year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, when Prime Minister David Cameron, and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg governed England, Councillor Ann Castle was The Lord Mayor of Leeds, when Fabian Hamilton was MP for North Leeds and the leader of Leeds council is Keith Wakefield. During the the days of the one hundred and fourth Archbishop of Canterbury Rev Dr Rowan Williams the word of God came to the sons and daughters of the church, exiled in the wilderness. They went into all the community and became the Jesus message of “HOPE” in the here and now and of a “RADICAL NEW WAY TO LIVE” that was all written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet. 

A son finds faith and a father........

It Must Be Small

When he left Rivendell, Frodo didn't head out with a thousand Elves. He had eight companions. Jesus didn't march around backed by legions of angels, either. He had twelve men - knuckleheads, every last one of them, but they were a band of brothers. This is the way of the kingdom of God. Though we are part of a great company, we are meant to live in little platoons. The little companies we form must be small enough for each of the members to know one another as friends and allies.

Who will fight for your heart?

How can we offer the stream of counseling to one another, unless we actually know one another, know each other's stories? The reason counseling became a hired relationship between two people was largely because we couldn't find it anywhere else; we haven't formed the sort of small fellowships that would allow the stream to flow quite naturally. Is it possible to offer rich and penetrating words to someone you barely know, in the lobby of your church, as you dash to pick up the kids?

Where will you find the Four Streams?

The Four Streams are something we learn, and grow into, and offer one another, within a small fellowship. We hear each other's stories. We discover each other's glories. We learn to walk with God together. We pray for each other's healing. We cover each other's back. This small core fellowship is the essential ingredient for the Christian life. Jesus modeled it for us for a reason. Sure, he spoke to the masses. But he lived in a little platoon, a small fellowship of friends and allies. His followers took his example and lived this way, too. "They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts" (2:46). "Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house" (1 Cor 16:19). "Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house" (Col 4:15).

Taken from John Eldridge - Waking the Dead.

Waiting at the airport......

I have styed with Cath and Micro in Rose Street Melbourne for the last few days. I'm now at Melbourne Tullamarine waiting for the flight back to blighty. This morning I preached at St Martins in Collingwood. (The Home of God's Squad Melbourne Chapter) and then went out to lunch with the Saliba's and a few others. Amazing Hospitality. Looking forward to getting home. Thanks to those who have travelled with me via the blog and for those who have prayed. I'll be updating the blog with more photo's after the jetlag has worn off.

Time in Glenrowan........

I arrived at Wangaratta on Sunday night and this is the first time i have been able to get to a computer with internet access. I'm staying with a wonderful family in Glenrowan.

It's a hillbilly lifestyle and it's wonderful. Monday was taken up with me helping to repair a "Hotrod" and just get used to the heat, as it's been baking hot here since I arrived. The weather inland is much hotter then that of Melbourne as there is no sea wind.

On Monday morning I went into explore the rural city of Wangaratta and look round the town. Monday night was taken up with sharing around the dinner table with people popping in from the community that Renea and Di lead. People just popped in to say hello.

Tuesday we went to an american motor vehicle wreckers yard on the on the other side of Shepperton, which is about two hours from Glenrowan. Renea my host said "Shepperton is only up the road" The reason we were their was that Renea has a passion for American cars. (He owns a V8 1960 Pontiac Parissiene, which runs on LPG) Everything is so "BIG" in Australia inluding the cars.

Monday night was the community fellowship time over a meal. 25 people came together and I shared about the life story of John the Apostle and his vision of the "True Jesus" Yesterday Andy and Kate Harrison popped in on the way back to Melbourne (Andy and Kate came across from the UK on the same flight as me) It was good to have a meal and catch up with their adventures. They return to Melbourne today. Today I'll be exploring the small town of Glenrowan which is the town where Ned Kelly took his last stand.

Tommorrow I'll be returning to Melbourne for the last of the God's Squad 40th Anniversary Gatherings.

 Saturday will be a day of picking up some last minute presents for my family. Sunday I'm preaching at The Home Church of God's Squad in Australia "St Martins Collingwood which is at the corner of Otter street and Wellington. I fly home at midnight on Sunday.

Onward journey to Wangaratta..........

Yesterday morning it was a Mens breakfast at Pakenham Baptist Church. I was the main speaker. We had 60 men present. Quite a few came on bikes, It was great to be there with brothers from the Eastern Victoria chapter of God's Squad. I spoke on my own story, "It took only one man" and the story of Jack Kelly, who took me in. 

This morning I was the speaker at Melbourne Welsh Church which is right in the heart of the city sandwiched between two multistory car parks. (A strange sight to see)

I spoke on Philippians 2:1-11 "OTHERS" This was about the Others-ness of God. People were glad to have heard the sermon, or so they said. One 17 yr old girl said "Graeme, your COOL" 

I'm now sitting at Melbourne Southern Cross railway station waiting for a train to Wangeratta, from there I'll be going to Glenrowan until Friday. I'll keep you posted.

Christmas Trees and 28 Degrees.....

Its a strange thing seeing Christmas trees in the shops and it's 28 degrees, the sun is hot and it's only 9.00am in the morning.

According to the Australian news its going to get hotter still over the weekend.  I was able to work on two sermons yesterday sitting out on the veranda of Docs house in Healsville. What a treat. This coming sunday im going to preach Phil 2:1-11 on the subject of "OTHERS" and Im taking devotions on Friday night in the city of Melbourne, in going to share about John the Apostle and his life. Today after lunch i'll be riding to Marysville. Marysville was one of the places that the bush fires tore through leaving the town and nearby houses in flames, tragic loss of lives. It will be interesting to see the progress that people have made in trying to rebuild there lives in this area. Healsville (Where im staying) is a town that neighbours the Yarra Valley which is famous for it's wines. It's a very lovely part of Victoria, made even more so by the good weather. 

Casey Chambers......I still pray

I was shown this during my visit to Hobart. I really like the Australian Hillbilly feel to it.
Kasey Chambers website HERE

Postcard from Australia......

After arriving back in Melbourne, I stayed the night with Bubba and Ruth in Croydon Hills, just outside in the suburbs of Melbourne. Yesterday was hot and Ive got sunburn on the top of my head. Last night i picked up a Harley Davidson Softail and headed out to Healsville to stay with "Doc" this is the brother who put me up on my first visit to Australia in 2011. We sat out on Doc's decking and had a good ol chat. Today it's down to some study as im speaking at a men's breakfast at Packenham Baptist Church on Saturday and then im preaching at the Welsh church in Melbourne on Sunday. On Monday im hoping to head out on the Harley to Glenrowan which is 3 hours ride from Melbourne. Glenrowan is famous for "Ned Kelly" so there will be opportunity to see some  sights. Im leading a study on Tuesday 20th in Glenrowan in one ofthe communities of faith that I was able to visit in 2011 when i was passing through to go to Yass -NSW. Please continue to pray.

Harley, Triumph, Ducati, Buell........

The sun has been fantastic we rode to Cygnet for lunch. A town on the very south coast of Tasmania. Any further south and it is the Antartic. The scenery on the ride was breathtaking a road full of tight bends so cornering was exillirating. I was riding a Buell for most of the journey,, although I had started out on a Harley Davidson Custom Twin Cam. Tassie is a wonderful state and combining  this with the sun it was a great day of riding. After lunch we headed  back on the highway to Hobart, which was a different kind of riding altogether. We have just got back its 3.27pm on Sunday afternoon (4.27 am UK time) Tonight Howie will be giving a presentation on the history and ethos of Gods Garage in Manchester. There will be sharing of testimonies and time to discuss together around Gods word.

Last day in Hobart......

Today the sun is out, not a cloud in the sky....it going to be a hot one. Going out on a bike ride this morning with the guys. Riding up the coast in Tas and having lunch at a tourist spot. Then back for God's Garage Hobart style...with food and bible study, sharing and praying together. Tommorow i return to Melbourne before heading up country. Melbourne will be good the brothers from uk return tommorow to Manchester and then i'll be going solo. 2 weeks of preaching and teaching coming up, it,s not full on, ive got some space in between to reflect and also to catch up with people. I'm really looking forward to speaking at the Welsh church in Melboune and also at St Martins.

Tornado in Hobart............

Today in Hobart we had a tornado, and the weather here was heavy rain and big winds. Tonight we are going out on mission visits to a few clubs. I give thanks for the opportunities that we have been given. Tonight will be a late one, we will be getting back in the early hours of the morning. Im missing my family, you dont realise the sacrifice it has been for them to have enabled me to go to the other side of the world. Thanks to my lovely wife Rachel, My oldest son James who I miss, my daughter who is growing up so fast, and my younger son, who is so full of life. We will be having a lie in in the morning and then going on some more visits. On Sunday we will be attending the community evening that Dale and Claire have started in Hobart, Howie will be speaking and there will be opportunities for people to share.  Im praying that our visit to Hobart will bring blessing to the guys down here.

In Hobart at the sametime as Camilla and Charles

Hi Everyone

I'm now in Hobart in Tasmania. I arrived today. Staying with friends, we will be here for a week.  Chilling out this evening, after a great chicken dinner. Be good to get some rest after a hectic week in  Melbourne. I'm here till Monday the 12th of November.  Hobart is an amazing city, if you trace a line to the left, the next island is the south island of New Zealand.  It was 24 degree when we got here. Charles and Camilla arrived as well today.

Melbourne cup day.

Hi and Happy Melbourne Cup Day.  It's been good weather so far, 25 degrees at the moment. Today is the last of the party days for the GSCMC International run. We had a great party which went well.  Many conversations and opportunities to share with brothers and friends. I'm going to Hobart in Tasmania tomorrow to spend some time with good friends. I'll be there till the 12th of November.  Then I'll be returning to Melbourne. I'm speaking at a men's group on Saturday 17th, preaching at the Melbourne Welsh church on Sunday 18th. On the 19th I'll be traveling to Glen Rowan to see other friends and to speak at a Community Bible Study on Tuesday the 20th. I'm traveling back to Melbourne on the 24th and then preaching at St Martins on th's 25th.

Sunday Worship as an international community...

Sunday worship today was electric. We heard some preaching from God's Word, some wonderful worship leading and a full band. A number of styles of music were part  of our worship, Blues, Bluegrass, Rock....It was good to have communion as an international community, with people from all ages, traditions, genders etc.... serving communion to the GSCMC community.  Today we ridde back to Collingwood for some tea and then we will be returning to Mitcham for a rest.

Listening, Story telling and Giving Thanks.

Today has been a day of celebration for 40 years of God Squad ministry. We had some great sessions from our international president Rev Dr John Smith. The history of GSCMC was highlighted, pain spoken of,  and succeses marked.  We heard from various presidents world wide from Finland to New Zealand and we able to catch up  with progress worldwide, we were also treated by people who came and took the staff in order to tell a story or two.

Heading for Mt Evelyn Christian Centre.....

Today we headed out for the International run site at Mt Evelyn. We rode there from Collingwood in the city. We stopped for a break at Bayswater. There was 70-80 bikes in convoy. This was a great sight and was a head turner as well. We arrived at the run site just after 8.00pm and were shown to our rooms. Mt Evelyn Christian centre is a lovely place and is very peaceful. Tonight is a social night for caatching up with people and an opportunity to purchase GSCMC merchandise.

A World Away.....

Well here I am...in OZ. It's been a tiring few days. I'm hopefully now beyond the jetlag and looking forward to some famous australian hospitality. I'm missing my family. The weather here is good (ish) 24 degrees today, but with sun on the way.  I've already met some people who I met when i was here in 2011. Also met some new friends and through the next few days will get to meet a whole lot more. I'm going to try and get some photos up here on the next short while. One disaster happened my ipad has stopped working, but im sure i can get it going again, i just need to hook it up to itunes and respring it.

I'm heading to St Martin's today to meet up with the rest of the folks from all over the world. I'll keep you posted on the progress of my trip over the coming few days. We arrived and were shortly on the road again with the rest of worldwide squad.

Arrival in Australia.....

Well here we are in Australia via a one hour stop over in Doha. It's eleven o'clock at night and  we have  been picked up at the airport and are staying in Mitcham for the next few days with "Magoo" we are going to get some bikes in the morning so that we can ride. I'm here with two other UK brothers and for the next two weeks i'll share their company. On friday we will be riding to the GSCMC International run and 40th Anniversary. Tommorow we will be out and about visiting people.

When love crosses the great divide

Photographs of OZ

Just been looking through the photographs of my sabbatical trip to OZ in 2011. Lots of great memories and good fellowship on the journey with a variety of people. Enjoyed great hospitality from people I did not know that well, but who were willing to go the extra mile for this POM. Here are just a few of my most vivid memories.

Great memories with some great people. I'll be posting photo's from my "walkabout" in Australia this time round check them out here from 31 October to 27 November 2012. I'll be blogging right through my trip, so you can keep up to date with all that I'm doing.

Travelling Again

Well It's time to think about travelling again. In over 8 weeks I'll be flying to the other side of the world again. In 2011 I took a sabbatical from church ministry to pursue some world travel. Ukraine, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Australia. This year I'm returning to Australia for just under a month. 

The plan is to "Go walk about" as they don't say in Australia. I'll be planning to visit Tasmania as well as Northern Victoria, Melbourne and few other places as well. The trip will take just about 3-4 weeks. I'll be blogging the trip on my blog www.revgraeme.net for those back home to follow.

Saints and Sinners - July Gathering

The Saints and Sinners Monthly Gathering will be on Wednesday the 18th July 2012 at 7.30 pm at the Manse. We will be watching NOOMA -Kickball.

 Jesus lived with the awareness that God is doing something, right here, right now, and anybody can be a part of it. He encouraged his listeners to search, to question, to wrestle with the implications of what he was saying and doing. He inspired, challenged, provoked, comforted, and invited people to be open to God’s work in this world. Wherever he went, whatever he did, Jesus started discussions about what matters most, because for Jesus, God is always inviting us to open our eyes and join in. 

NOOMA is a series of short films that explore our world from a perspective of Jesus. NOOMA is an invitation to search, question, and join the discussion.

Bring a few beers, food will be served, have a chat, Good fellowship, Good night.

Machine Gun Preacher

Wednesday 20th June 2012 

Gathering Night & BBQ 7.30pm at the Manse.

We will be having a BBQ and watching Machine Gun Preacher.

Machine Gun Preacher is the inspirational true story of Sam Childers, a former drug-dealing criminal who undergoes an astonishing transformation and finds an unexpected calling as the savior of hundreds of kidnapped and orphaned children. Gerard Butler (300) delivers a searing performance as Childers, the impassioned founder of the Angels of East Africa rescue organization in Golden Globe-nominated director Marc Forster’s (Monster’s Ball, Finding Neverland) moving story of violence and redemption. When ex-biker-gang member Sam Childers (Butler) makes the life-changing decision to go to East Africa to help repair homes destroyed by civil war, he is outraged by the unspeakable horrors faced by the region’s vulnerable populace, especially the children. Ignoring the warnings of more experienced aide workers, Sam breaks ground for an orphanage where it’s most needed in the middle of territory controlled by the brutal Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), a renegade militia that forces youngsters to become soldiers before they even reach their teens.

http://www.machinegunpreacher.org/movie/index.html

Images of God

Last night at God's Garage - Manchester we were looking at the parable of the prodigal sons. I was inspired by the father in the parable and began to think about the image of the father in the story. The parable is told by Jesus among other things to challenge the Pharisee's view of God and his actions.There is a strong image of God in this parable. A God who does not act like we think he should act. This led me to reflect on my own image of God and how others think about God too. So this post is going to be an ongoing post that may well last for some months. I'm also thinking about reflecting on this with my own congregation somehow. I'll be posting some contemporary and historical art along with poetry and other creative writing that I may come come across in the days and weeks ahead. I may even attempt to write something my self. I'm not sure how this will look or what resources I may find, but I'm going to collect them on here for all to see. So here goes..........

Icon of the Trinity

The icon of the Trinity was painted around 1410 by Andrei Rublev. It depicts the three angels who visited Abraham at the Oak of Mamre - but is often interpreted as an icon of the Trinity.It is sometimes called the icon of the Old Testament Trinity.The image is full of symbolism - designed to take the viewer into the Mystery of the Trinity.

James B. Janknegt - 1990

"Man of Sorrows"

"Man of Sorrows" Painted by James B. Janknegt in 1990

One of the passages that James B. Janknegt took for his inspiration was the passage below

Luke 19:41-44

As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace-but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you.”

"Outcast on the Margins"

This image of God really needs no explanation. The in this scene Jesus is at home with the outcasts, the marginalised, the misunderstood, and the people who occupy the edgelands of life. Often this Jesus is not welcome in the church as he gives too much of a challenge. This image reminds me of so many stories in the gospels, the most prominent one is the woman caught in adultery 

John 8:1-11

1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Cherry Winkle More

"The Feminine God"

This painting by Cherry Winkle More was originally drawn on retreat and then painted afterwards. 

It was drawn and painted out of an experience that highlighted the feminine characteristics of God

Matthew 23:37

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.

Léon Frédéric

1856 - 1940

Belgian painter and draughtsman and member of the group of Realist painters known as L’ESSOR. 

"God The Father"

The Beginning

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. Genesis 1:1-2

William Blake 1794

"The Ancient of Days"

Daniel 7:9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.

Daniel 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.

Daniel 7:22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.

"The Passion of Jesus"

Contemporary Art

John 19:30

When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." 

With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.


The Baptism of Jesus 

Matthew 3:13-17

¹³ Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. ¹⁴ But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”

¹⁵ Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.

¹⁶ As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.¹⁷ And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Presented with Colours

Birds flying high

You know how I feel

Sun in the sky

You know how I feel

Breeze driftin' on by

You know how I feel

It's a new dawn

It's a new day

It's a new life

For me

And I'm feeling good

I'm feeling good

“BOLD CLAIMS”

We live in a society that feeds and is fulfilled by consumerism. We are confronted by the bold claims of marketing strategies. These “BOLD CLAIM’s”, whether successful or not, somehow become ‘hard-wired’ into our very consciousness.


Gillette  - “The Best a Man Can Get “, Carlsberg – “Probably the best beer in the world”, Mastercard – “There are some things money can’t buy. For everything else, there’s MasterCard”, Lotto – “Don’t live a little, live a lotto.”, Orange – “The future’s bright. The future’s Orange”, Hamlet – “Happiness is a cigar called Hamlet“, Peugeot  “The ride of your life”, British Airways  “The world's favourite airline”, Castlemaine XXXX  “Australians wouldn't give a XXXX for anything else”, Pepsi. - “Lipsmackin' thirstquenchin' acetastin' motivatin' goodbuzzin' cooltalkin' highwalkin' fastlivin' evergivin' coolfizzin Pepsi”

These marketing strategies have even sought to provide spiritual experiences.


Religion Clothing Paris – has the figure of a skeleton on it’s knees praying., Disarono – offers “Eternal Life”, BMW – “The Soul of Performance”, Jesus  Jeans– Is a high quality clothing brand – Offering “Freedom Inside” with the strap line “Follow Me”, Toyota Cars – Offers the feeling of being “Born Again” when you drive their cars.

Where ever we look we are confronted by “Bold Claims and “Big Promises” They are part of life, and we respond to them, or buy into the promise of the “BOLD CLAIM” Somehow we become ‘hard-wired’ into our very consciousness. To these “BOLD CLAIMW” We give ourselves wholeheartedly we trust in them  and we at worse all too often give ourselves to the promises of a better way of life and at best sell out to the idea that somehow they will fulfil our spiritual desires through them.

The gospels tell a story of “BOLD CLAIMS” as well. We find in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John the accounts of the last week of Jesus’ life (Known in the Christian Church as Holy Week) We find “BOLD CLAIMS” 

1.       “BOLD CLAIMS” of the crowd scenes in Jerusalem.

2.       “BOLD CLAIMS” of the religious leaders

3.       “BOLD CLAIMS” of the Roman authorities

4.       “BOLD CLAIMS” of the disciples

5.       “BOLD CLAIMS” of Jesus.

We turn to one of those “Bold Claims” of Holy Week in John 14:6 we find Jesus speaking with his closest friends and he makes a “BOLD CLAIM”  (Read John 14:6) Is it far fetched, Is it just a “BOLD CLAIM” with no substance, Is it a lie? Is this the biggest “CON TRICK” in History? What do you think?

I agree with C.S Lewis who writes in his book Mere Christianity   

“A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic -- on a level with a man who says he is a poached egg -- or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse .... You can shut him up for fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon; or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God.

Have you made a choice about JESUS and his “BOLD CLAIMS”?

God's Heart for Relationship

The vast desire and capacity a woman has for intimate relationships tells us of God's vast desire and capacity for intimate relationships. In fact, this may be the most important thing we ever learn about God-that he yearns for relationship with us. "Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God" (John 17:3). The whole story of the Bible is a love story between God and his people. He yearns for us. He cares. He has a tender heart. Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me." Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! (Isa. 49:14-15) I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart. (Jer. 24:7) O Jerusalem, Jerusalem . . . how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. (Matt. 23:37) What a comfort to know that this universe we live in is relational at its core, that our God is a tenderhearted God who yearns for relationship with us. If you have any doubt about that, simply look at the message he sent us in Woman. Amazing. Not only does God long for us, but he longs to be loved by us. Oh, how we've missed this. How many of you see God as longing to be loved by you? We see him as strong and powerful, but not as needing us, vulnerable to us, yearning to be desired.

Psalms for today - Psalm 8 - People

Psalm 8
For the director of music. According to gittith. A psalm of David.

1 LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory
in the heavens.
2 Through the praise of children and infants
you have established a stronghold against your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.
3 When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them?

5 You have made them a little lower than the angels
and crowned them with glory and honor.
6 You made them rulers over the works of your hands;
you put everything under their feet:
7 all flocks and herds,
and the animals of the wild,
8 the birds in the sky,
and the fish in the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.

9 LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Comments from McGurgle:

One human being could not create a giant pyramid in Egypt alone. God created the heavens with a word. The psalmist is very aware of the insignificance of human beings when compared to God, like an ant compared o a person. Yet God cares for each of us, and Jesus said that God even cares for the birds of the air. Imagine the difference between an ant and a person. Imagine a person caring for just one ant moment-by-moment, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Now, remember that God, Who is far greater than the people he created, is caring for us as individual persons moment by moment, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. God is that loving and magnificent.We are insignificant in our own eyes when we compare ourselves to our sovereign God, the King of the universe. Yet, God did not make any person insignificant. Each person has value and worth because they are created in the image of God – only a little lower than God himself. We have many, if not most, of God’s attributes in finite miniature. Whereas our existence depends on God, God is so great that God’s existence does not depend on anything or anyone. Now, remember that this God has crowned people with glory and honor. We need to live humbly, yet in a way deserving the glory and honor that God has crowned us with.

What difference does it make to remember that God has created human beings different in kind to animals? What are some of the consequences when people do not view others as having been created in the image of God? How can disbelieving in, or not teaching the true value of human beings as are created in the image of God, lead to the dehumanising and demonising of other people? How might we as disciples teach others the true value of all human life? How might this change society?

Psalms For Today - Psalm 7 "Integrity"

Psalm 7
 A shiggaion of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning Cush, a Benjamite

1 LORD my God, I take refuge in you;
save and deliver me from all who pursue me,
2 or they will tear me apart like a lion
and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me.

3 LORD my God, if I have done this
and there is guilt on my hands—
4 if I have repaid my ally with evil
or without cause have robbed my foe—
5 then let my enemy pursue and overtake me;
let him trample my life to the ground
and make me sleep in the dust.[c]

6 Arise, LORD, in your anger;
rise up against the rage of my enemies.
Awake, my God; decree justice.
7 Let the assembled peoples gather around you,
while you sit enthroned over them on high.
8 Let the LORD judge the peoples.
Vindicate me, LORD, according to my righteousness,
according to my integrity, O Most High.
9 Bring to an end the violence of the wicked
and make the righteous secure—
you, the righteous God
who probes minds and hearts.

10 My shield[d] is God Most High,
who saves the upright in heart.
11 God is a righteous judge,
a God who displays his wrath every day.
12 If he does not relent,
he[e] will sharpen his sword;
he will bend and string his bow.
13 He has prepared his deadly weapons;
he makes ready his flaming arrows.

14 Whoever is pregnant with evil
conceives trouble and gives birth to disillusionment.
15 Whoever digs a hole and scoops it out
falls into the pit they have made.
16 The trouble they cause recoils on them;
their violence comes down on their own heads.

17 I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness;
I will sing the praises of the name of the LORD Most High.

Comments from McGurgle:
Here, David is asking God to judge him according to his righteousness and his integrity. Ask yourself this question, if you were standing before God today, and you asked God to judge you according to your righteousness and your integrity, how would you do? Would God be proud of you, would you be proud of yourself, or would you be ashamed, you might think that you have a great deal of work left to build your integrity?

The definition of integrity – in the Hebrew, means completeness, moral innocence, or perfection. The exact opposite of compromise. For disciples integrity is important. It defines to others who you are. When someone thinks of you, inevitably, they will think about whether or not you have integrity. People want to know if you’re "for real". Integrity determines how you will react in certain situations. When you are faced with circumstances where you have choice to either do right or do wrong, your integrity, or lack of it, will determine what you do. Integrity demonstrates your spiritual condition. If you have no integrity, then you have a spiritual problem, because God wants us to have integrity. If you lack integrity, it can damage your testimony. If someone knows that you have no integrity, they will certainly not listen to you when you share the Gospel with them. So, Imagine your standing before God and have an honest look, Is integrity in your heart and life or is it lacking?