OzThoughts Thursday 1st October 2009
My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you've been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. You're deeply rooted in him. You're well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you've been taught. School's out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving. (Colossians 2:1-7. The Message)
Many of us would have been in that place where we have done a training course or some course of study and then had those feeling of inadequacy when we have had to apply that knowledge in the workplace. Paul tackles these type of feelings head on in today’s portion of his letter.
It seems also that there were not only personal feelings of inadequacy being felt by the Colossians but that these feelings were being exploited by others who came with “answers” or the “key” to further knowledge of the ways or mystery of God.
Paul says they have all the answers already to the ways of God. “4I want you woven into a tapestry of love, in touch with everything there is to know of God. Then you will have minds confident and at rest, focused on Christ, God's great mystery. All the richest treasures of wisdom and knowledge are embedded in that mystery and nowhere else. And we've been shown the mystery!”
Paul says that “School's out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving.”
In the words of the well known advertising slogan “Just Do It !”
[Listen: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/songs/songs_059.mp3]
Praise him! Praise him! Jesus, our blessed redeemer!
Sing, O earth. his wonderful love proclaim!
Hail him! Hail him, highest archangels in glory;
Strength and honor give to his holy name!
Like a shepherd. Jesus will guard his children,
In his arms he carries them all day long.
Chorus
Praise him! Praise him!
Tell of his excellent greatness;
Praise him! Praise him!
Ever in joyful song.
Praise him! Praise him! Jesus, our blessed redeemer!
For our sins he suffered and bled and died;
He our rock, our hope of eternal salvation.
Hail him! Hail him! Jesus. the crucified!
Sound his praises! Jesus who bore our sorrows,
Love unbounded, wonderful, deep and strong.
Praise him! Praise him! Jesus, our blessed redeemer!
Heavenly portals loud with hosannas ring!
Jesus, Saviour, reigneth for ever and ever;
Crown him! Crown him! Prophet and priest and King!
Christ is coming, over the world victorious;
Power and glory unto the Lord belong.
Author: Fanny Crosby (1820-1915)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 184
Colossians 2:1-7 (The Message)
1 I want you to realize that I continue to work as hard as I know how for you, and also for the Christians over at Laodicea. Not many of you have met me face-to-face, but that doesn't make any difference. Know that I'm on your side, right alongside you. You're not in this alone.
2-4I want you woven into a tapestry of love, in touch with everything there is to know of God. Then you will have minds confident and at rest, focused on Christ, God's great mystery. All the richest treasures of wisdom and knowledge are embedded in that mystery and nowhere else. And we've been shown the mystery! I'm telling you this because I don't want anyone leading you off on some wild-goose chase, after other so-called mysteries, or "the Secret."
5I'm a long way off, true, and you may never lay eyes on me, but believe me, I'm on your side, right beside you. I am delighted to hear of the careful and orderly ways you conduct your affairs, and impressed with the solid substance of your faith in Christ.
6-7My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you've been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. You're deeply rooted in him. You're well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you've been taught. School's out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Admin Notice: Copyright is not and has never been claimed for the original work (comments) in OzThoughts. Where material has been sourced from other places the reference is always given. If you find OzThoughts helpful, you may use it in your ministry or elsewhere. It would be kind if you acknowledged OzThoughts as your source, and even better if you suggested people subscribe to OzThoughts].
Thank you for your prayers and support for OzThoughts Internet Ministry.
If you invite friends to subscribe they do it by sending an email (without a message) to :
OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au (Tell them to check their junk box for the reply if it does not seem to come).
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
You can also receive OzThoughts from the following group which you are welcome to join:
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Writer (Only): OzThoughts@yahoo.com.au
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
OzThoughts Wednesday 30th September 2009
OzThoughts Wednesday 30th September 2009
When I looked at today’s passage from Colossians (1:15-29), the first thing I thought was “it is long”. My next thought was “How do I shorten it?”
It is a wonderful description of God’s Son, Jesus and what he did to become our Saviour. Jesus went to the cross and died there but that is not the end. It is the end of our old life but it is also a new beginning.
Although yourself to soak in Paul’s message and give God the praise as you reap the benefits of all this today.
Colossians 1:15-29 (The Message)
15-18We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God's original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body.
18-20He was supreme in the beginning and—leading the resurrection parade—he is supreme in the end. From beginning to end he's there, towering far above everything, everyone. So spacious is he, so roomy, that everything of God finds its proper place in him without crowding. Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe—people and things, animals and atoms—get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the cross.
21-23You yourselves are a case study of what he does. At one time you all had your backs turned to God, thinking rebellious thoughts of him, giving him trouble every chance you got. But now, by giving himself completely at the Cross, actually dying for you, Christ brought you over to God's side and put your lives together, whole and holy in his presence. You don't walk away from a gift like that! You stay grounded and steady in that bond of trust, constantly tuned in to the Message, careful not to be distracted or diverted. There is no other Message—just this one. Every creature under heaven gets this same Message. I, Paul, am a messenger of this Message.
24-25I want you to know how glad I am that it's me sitting here in this jail and not you. There's a lot of suffering to be entered into in this world—the kind of suffering Christ takes on. I welcome the chance to take my share in the church's part of that suffering. When I became a servant in this church, I experienced this suffering as a sheer gift, God's way of helping me serve you, laying out the whole truth.
26-29This mystery has been kept in the dark for a long time, but now it's out in the open. God wanted everyone, not just Jews, to know this rich and glorious secret inside and out, regardless of their background, regardless of their religious standing. The mystery in a nutshell is just this: Christ is in you, so therefore you can look forward to sharing in God's glory. It's that simple. That is the substance of our Message. We preach Christ, warning people not to add to the Message. We teach in a spirit of profound common sense so that we can bring each person to maturity. To be mature is to be basic. Christ! No more, no less. That's what I'm working so hard at day after day, year after year, doing my best with the energy God so generously gives me.
[Listen: Male Voice: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_2116.mp3
or
Band: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music3/mus_4035.mp3
or
Piano: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_1755.mp3 ]
I bring to thee my heart to fill;
I feel how weak I am, but still
To thee for help I call.
In joy or grief, to live or die,
For earth or Heaven, this is my cry,
Be thou my all in all.
Chorus
Christ is all, yes, all in all.
My Christ is all in all.
Around me in the world I see
No joy that turns my soul from thee;
Its honors fade and fall;
But with thee, though I mount the cross,
I count it gain to suffer loss,
For thou art all in all.
I've little strength to call my own,
And what I've done, before thy throne
I here confess, is small;
But on thy strength. O God, I lean,
And through the blood that makes me clean,
Thou art my all in all.
No tempest can my courage shake,
My love from thee no pain can take,
No fear my heart appall;
And where I cannot see I'll trust,
For then I know thou surely must
Be still my all in all.
Author: Herbert Howard Booth (1862-1926) (verses), W.H. Williams (chorus)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 489
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Admin Notice: Copyright is not and has never been claimed for the original work (comments) in OzThoughts. Where material has been sourced from other places the reference is always given. If you find OzThoughts helpful, you may use it in your ministry or elsewhere. It would be kind if you acknowledged OzThoughts as your source, and even better if you suggested people subscribe to OzThoughts].
Thank you for your prayers and support for OzThoughts Internet Ministry.
If you invite friends to subscribe they do it by sending an email (without a message) to :
OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au (Tell them to check their junk box for the reply if it does not seem to come).
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
You can also receive OzThoughts from the following group which you are welcome to join:
SalvationArmy3: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/salvationarmy3/
Subscribe: OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au
Unsubscribe: OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com.au
OzThoughts
Writer (Only): OzThoughts@yahoo.com.au
When I looked at today’s passage from Colossians (1:15-29), the first thing I thought was “it is long”. My next thought was “How do I shorten it?”
It is a wonderful description of God’s Son, Jesus and what he did to become our Saviour. Jesus went to the cross and died there but that is not the end. It is the end of our old life but it is also a new beginning.
Although yourself to soak in Paul’s message and give God the praise as you reap the benefits of all this today.
Colossians 1:15-29 (The Message)
15-18We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God's original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body.
18-20He was supreme in the beginning and—leading the resurrection parade—he is supreme in the end. From beginning to end he's there, towering far above everything, everyone. So spacious is he, so roomy, that everything of God finds its proper place in him without crowding. Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe—people and things, animals and atoms—get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the cross.
21-23You yourselves are a case study of what he does. At one time you all had your backs turned to God, thinking rebellious thoughts of him, giving him trouble every chance you got. But now, by giving himself completely at the Cross, actually dying for you, Christ brought you over to God's side and put your lives together, whole and holy in his presence. You don't walk away from a gift like that! You stay grounded and steady in that bond of trust, constantly tuned in to the Message, careful not to be distracted or diverted. There is no other Message—just this one. Every creature under heaven gets this same Message. I, Paul, am a messenger of this Message.
24-25I want you to know how glad I am that it's me sitting here in this jail and not you. There's a lot of suffering to be entered into in this world—the kind of suffering Christ takes on. I welcome the chance to take my share in the church's part of that suffering. When I became a servant in this church, I experienced this suffering as a sheer gift, God's way of helping me serve you, laying out the whole truth.
26-29This mystery has been kept in the dark for a long time, but now it's out in the open. God wanted everyone, not just Jews, to know this rich and glorious secret inside and out, regardless of their background, regardless of their religious standing. The mystery in a nutshell is just this: Christ is in you, so therefore you can look forward to sharing in God's glory. It's that simple. That is the substance of our Message. We preach Christ, warning people not to add to the Message. We teach in a spirit of profound common sense so that we can bring each person to maturity. To be mature is to be basic. Christ! No more, no less. That's what I'm working so hard at day after day, year after year, doing my best with the energy God so generously gives me.
[Listen: Male Voice: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_2116.mp3
or
Band: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music3/mus_4035.mp3
or
Piano: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_1755.mp3 ]
I bring to thee my heart to fill;
I feel how weak I am, but still
To thee for help I call.
In joy or grief, to live or die,
For earth or Heaven, this is my cry,
Be thou my all in all.
Chorus
Christ is all, yes, all in all.
My Christ is all in all.
Around me in the world I see
No joy that turns my soul from thee;
Its honors fade and fall;
But with thee, though I mount the cross,
I count it gain to suffer loss,
For thou art all in all.
I've little strength to call my own,
And what I've done, before thy throne
I here confess, is small;
But on thy strength. O God, I lean,
And through the blood that makes me clean,
Thou art my all in all.
No tempest can my courage shake,
My love from thee no pain can take,
No fear my heart appall;
And where I cannot see I'll trust,
For then I know thou surely must
Be still my all in all.
Author: Herbert Howard Booth (1862-1926) (verses), W.H. Williams (chorus)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 489
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Admin Notice: Copyright is not and has never been claimed for the original work (comments) in OzThoughts. Where material has been sourced from other places the reference is always given. If you find OzThoughts helpful, you may use it in your ministry or elsewhere. It would be kind if you acknowledged OzThoughts as your source, and even better if you suggested people subscribe to OzThoughts].
Thank you for your prayers and support for OzThoughts Internet Ministry.
If you invite friends to subscribe they do it by sending an email (without a message) to :
OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au (Tell them to check their junk box for the reply if it does not seem to come).
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
You can also receive OzThoughts from the following group which you are welcome to join:
SalvationArmy3: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/salvationarmy3/
Subscribe: OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au
Unsubscribe: OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com.au
OzThoughts
Writer (Only): OzThoughts@yahoo.com.au
Monday, September 28, 2009
OzThoughts Tuesday 29th September 2009
OzThoughts Tuesday 29th September 2009
If prayer releases the riches of God’s grace and glory for us, then surely the greatest thing we can do for others is to pray for them.
Paul tells the Colossians he hasn’t stopped praying for them. What does he ask for? He tells them exactly what he prays for them. He asks:
• God to give you wise minds and spirits attuned to his will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which God works.
• That you'll live well for the Master … as you work hard in his orchard
• That you'll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us.
Paul then reminds the Colossians that it is God who has rescued them and set them up in the kingdom of the Son who got them out of the pit they were in, got rid of the sins they were doomed to keep repeating.
[Listen: Band: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_2971.mp3 ]
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice,
All ye that are upright in heart;
And ye that have made him your choice,
Bid sadness and sorrow depart.
Chorus
Rejoice, rejoice! Be glad in the Lord and rejoice!
What though in the conflict for right
Your enemies almost prevail,
God's armies, just hid from your sight,
Are more than the foes which assail.
Though darkness surround you by day,
Your sky by the night be o'ercast,
Let nothing your spirit dismay,
But trust till the danger is past.
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice,
His praises proclaiming in song;
Acclaim him with trumpet and voice,
The loud hallelujahs prolong.
Author: Mary Elizabeth Servoss (b 1849)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 537
Colossians 1:9-14 (The Message)
9-12Be assured that from the first day we heard of you, we haven't stopped praying for you, asking God to give you wise minds and spirits attuned to his will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which God works. We pray that you'll live well for the Master, making him proud of you as you work hard in his orchard. As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. We pray that you'll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us.
13-14God rescued us from dead-end alleys and dark dungeons. He's set us up in the kingdom of the Son he loves so much, the Son who got us out of the pit we were in, got rid of the sins we were doomed to keep repeating.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Admin Notice: Copyright is not and has never been claimed for the original work (comments) in OzThoughts. Where material has been sourced from other places the reference is always given. If you find OzThoughts helpful, you may use it in your ministry or elsewhere. It would be kind if you acknowledged OzThoughts as your source, and even better if you suggested people subscribe to OzThoughts].
Thank you for your prayers and support for OzThoughts Internet Ministry.
If you invite friends to subscribe they do it by sending an email (without a message) to :
OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au (Tell them to check their junk box for the reply if it does not seem to come).
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
You can also receive OzThoughts from the following group which you are welcome to join:
SalvationArmy3: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/salvationarmy3/
Subscribe: OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au
Unsubscribe: OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com.au
OzThoughts
Writer (Only): OzThoughts@yahoo.com.au
If prayer releases the riches of God’s grace and glory for us, then surely the greatest thing we can do for others is to pray for them.
Paul tells the Colossians he hasn’t stopped praying for them. What does he ask for? He tells them exactly what he prays for them. He asks:
• God to give you wise minds and spirits attuned to his will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which God works.
• That you'll live well for the Master … as you work hard in his orchard
• That you'll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us.
Paul then reminds the Colossians that it is God who has rescued them and set them up in the kingdom of the Son who got them out of the pit they were in, got rid of the sins they were doomed to keep repeating.
[Listen: Band: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_2971.mp3 ]
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice,
All ye that are upright in heart;
And ye that have made him your choice,
Bid sadness and sorrow depart.
Chorus
Rejoice, rejoice! Be glad in the Lord and rejoice!
What though in the conflict for right
Your enemies almost prevail,
God's armies, just hid from your sight,
Are more than the foes which assail.
Though darkness surround you by day,
Your sky by the night be o'ercast,
Let nothing your spirit dismay,
But trust till the danger is past.
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice,
His praises proclaiming in song;
Acclaim him with trumpet and voice,
The loud hallelujahs prolong.
Author: Mary Elizabeth Servoss (b 1849)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 537
Colossians 1:9-14 (The Message)
9-12Be assured that from the first day we heard of you, we haven't stopped praying for you, asking God to give you wise minds and spirits attuned to his will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which God works. We pray that you'll live well for the Master, making him proud of you as you work hard in his orchard. As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. We pray that you'll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us.
13-14God rescued us from dead-end alleys and dark dungeons. He's set us up in the kingdom of the Son he loves so much, the Son who got us out of the pit we were in, got rid of the sins we were doomed to keep repeating.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Admin Notice: Copyright is not and has never been claimed for the original work (comments) in OzThoughts. Where material has been sourced from other places the reference is always given. If you find OzThoughts helpful, you may use it in your ministry or elsewhere. It would be kind if you acknowledged OzThoughts as your source, and even better if you suggested people subscribe to OzThoughts].
Thank you for your prayers and support for OzThoughts Internet Ministry.
If you invite friends to subscribe they do it by sending an email (without a message) to :
OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au (Tell them to check their junk box for the reply if it does not seem to come).
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
You can also receive OzThoughts from the following group which you are welcome to join:
SalvationArmy3: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/salvationarmy3/
Subscribe: OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au
Unsubscribe: OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com.au
OzThoughts
Writer (Only): OzThoughts@yahoo.com.au
Sunday, September 27, 2009
OzThoughts Monday 28th September 2009
OzThoughts Monday 28th September 2009
“May everything good from God our Father be yours!” That is Paul’s prayer for the Christians at Colosae. I imagine at the commencement of this week it is our prayer for ourselves, and our loved ones, too.
Paul does not stop with that prayer. As he prays, he thanks God for a number of things about the Colossians. It seems as if Paul is praying for “additional blessings” not “initial blessings” for the Colossians. Also, it seems to me the “additional blessings” are not rewards, they are just a part of the ongoing relationship with God.
Paul gives thanks to God for the following reasons he finds in the Colossians faith:
• Their steady faith in Christ, our Jesus
• The love they continuously extend to all Christians
• The lines of purpose in your lives never grow slack
• The Message bears fruit and gets larger and stronger… in you.
[Listen: Band: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music2/mus_3633.mp3
or
Band and Congregation: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_766.mp3 ]
Now thank we all our God
With hearts and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things hath done,
In whom his wold rejoices;
Who from our mothers' arms
Hath blessed on our way
With countless gifts of love,
And still is ours today.
2.
O may this bounteous God
Through all our life be near us,
With ever-joyful hearts
And blessed peace to cheer us,
And keep us in his grace,
And guide us when perplexed,
And free us from all ills
In this world and the next.
3.
All praise and thanks to God
The Father now be given,
The Son and him who reigns
With them in highest Heaven.
The one eternal God,
Whom earth and Heaven adore;
For thus it was, is now,
And shall be evermore.
Authors: Martin Rinkart (1588-1649)
Translator: Catherine Winkworth (1827-78)
Colossians 1:1-5 (The Message)
1-2I, Paul, have been sent on special assignment by Christ as part of God's master plan. Together with my friend Timothy, I greet the Christians and stalwart followers of Christ who live in Colosse. May everything good from God our Father be yours!
Working in His Orchard
3-5Our prayers for you are always spilling over into thanksgivings. We can't quit thanking God our Father and Jesus our Messiah for you! We keep getting reports on your steady faith in Christ, our Jesus, and the love you continuously extend to all Christians. The lines of purpose in your lives never grow slack, tightly tied as they are to your future in heaven, kept taut by hope. The Message is as true among you today as when you first heard it. It doesn't diminish or weaken over time. It's the same all over the world. The Message bears fruit and gets larger and stronger, just as it has in you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Admin Notice: Copyright is not and has never been claimed for the original work (comments) in OzThoughts. Where material has been sourced from other places the reference is always given. If you find OzThoughts helpful, you may use it in your ministry or elsewhere. It would be kind if you acknowledged OzThoughts as your source, and even better if you suggested people subscribe to OzThoughts].
Thank you for your prayers and support for OzThoughts Internet Ministry.
If you invite friends to subscribe they do it by sending an email (without a message) to :
OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au (Tell them to check their junk box for the reply if it does not seem to come).
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
You can also receive OzThoughts from the following group which you are welcome to join:
SalvationArmy3: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/salvationarmy3/
Subscribe: OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au
Unsubscribe: OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com.au
OzThoughts
Writer (Only): OzThoughts@yahoo.com.au
“May everything good from God our Father be yours!” That is Paul’s prayer for the Christians at Colosae. I imagine at the commencement of this week it is our prayer for ourselves, and our loved ones, too.
Paul does not stop with that prayer. As he prays, he thanks God for a number of things about the Colossians. It seems as if Paul is praying for “additional blessings” not “initial blessings” for the Colossians. Also, it seems to me the “additional blessings” are not rewards, they are just a part of the ongoing relationship with God.
Paul gives thanks to God for the following reasons he finds in the Colossians faith:
• Their steady faith in Christ, our Jesus
• The love they continuously extend to all Christians
• The lines of purpose in your lives never grow slack
• The Message bears fruit and gets larger and stronger… in you.
[Listen: Band: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music2/mus_3633.mp3
or
Band and Congregation: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_766.mp3 ]
Now thank we all our God
With hearts and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things hath done,
In whom his wold rejoices;
Who from our mothers' arms
Hath blessed on our way
With countless gifts of love,
And still is ours today.
2.
O may this bounteous God
Through all our life be near us,
With ever-joyful hearts
And blessed peace to cheer us,
And keep us in his grace,
And guide us when perplexed,
And free us from all ills
In this world and the next.
3.
All praise and thanks to God
The Father now be given,
The Son and him who reigns
With them in highest Heaven.
The one eternal God,
Whom earth and Heaven adore;
For thus it was, is now,
And shall be evermore.
Authors: Martin Rinkart (1588-1649)
Translator: Catherine Winkworth (1827-78)
Colossians 1:1-5 (The Message)
1-2I, Paul, have been sent on special assignment by Christ as part of God's master plan. Together with my friend Timothy, I greet the Christians and stalwart followers of Christ who live in Colosse. May everything good from God our Father be yours!
Working in His Orchard
3-5Our prayers for you are always spilling over into thanksgivings. We can't quit thanking God our Father and Jesus our Messiah for you! We keep getting reports on your steady faith in Christ, our Jesus, and the love you continuously extend to all Christians. The lines of purpose in your lives never grow slack, tightly tied as they are to your future in heaven, kept taut by hope. The Message is as true among you today as when you first heard it. It doesn't diminish or weaken over time. It's the same all over the world. The Message bears fruit and gets larger and stronger, just as it has in you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Admin Notice: Copyright is not and has never been claimed for the original work (comments) in OzThoughts. Where material has been sourced from other places the reference is always given. If you find OzThoughts helpful, you may use it in your ministry or elsewhere. It would be kind if you acknowledged OzThoughts as your source, and even better if you suggested people subscribe to OzThoughts].
Thank you for your prayers and support for OzThoughts Internet Ministry.
If you invite friends to subscribe they do it by sending an email (without a message) to :
OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au (Tell them to check their junk box for the reply if it does not seem to come).
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
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Saturday, September 26, 2009
OzThoughts - Sunday Hymns and Psalms. Sunday 27th September 2009
OzThoughts - Sunday Hymns and Psalms. Sunday 27th September 2009
This day belongs to the LORD!
Let's celebrate
and be glad today.
(Psalm 118:24 Contemporary English Version)
So, friends, we can now—without hesitation—walk right up to God, into "the Holy Place." Jesus has cleared the way by the blood of his sacrifice, acting as our priest before God. The "curtain" into God's presence is his body.
So let's do it—full of belief, confident that we're presentable inside and out. Let's keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let's see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:19-25. The Message)
How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is!
He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him.
Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love.
Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son. (Ephesians 1:3-6 The Message)
Psalm 124 (The Message)
A Pilgrim Song of David
1-5 If GOD hadn't been for us —
all together now, Israel, sing out!—
If GOD hadn't been for us
when everyone went against us,
We would have been swallowed alive
by their violent anger,
Swept away by the flood of rage,
drowned in the torrent;
We would have lost our lives
in the wild, raging water.
6 Oh, blessed be GOD!
He didn't go off and leave us.
He didn't abandon us defenseless,
helpless as a rabbit in a pack of snarling dogs.
7 We've flown free from their fangs,
free of their traps, free as a bird.
Their grip is broken;
we're free as a bird in flight.
8 GOD's strong name is our help,
the same GOD who made heaven and earth.
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 158
Authors: Walter John Mathams (1853-1931),alt
God is with us, God is with us,
So our brave forefathers sang,
Far across the field of battle
Loud their holy war cry rang;
Though at times they feared and faltered,
Never once they ceased to sing:
Chorus
God is with us, God is with us,
Christ our Lord shall reign as King!
2.
Great the heritage they left us,
Great the conquests to be won,
Armed hosts to meet and scatter,
Larger duties to be done.
Raise the song they nobly taught us,
Round the wide world let it ring:
3.
Speed the cross through all the nations,
Speed the victories of love,
Preach the gospel of redemption
Wheresoever men may move;
Make the future in the present,
Strong of heart, toil on and sing:
Psalm 99 (The Message)
1-3 God rules. On your toes, everybody!
He rules from his angel throne—take notice!
God looms majestic in Zion,
He towers in splendor over all the big names.
Great and terrible your beauty: let everyone praise you!
Holy. Yes, holy.
4-5 Strong King, lover of justice,
You laid things out fair and square;
You set down the foundations in Jacob,
Foundation stones of just and right ways.
Honor God, our God; worship his rule!
Holy. Yes, holy.
6-9 Moses and Aaron were his priests,
Samuel among those who prayed to him.
They prayed to God and he answered them;
He spoke from the pillar of cloud.
And they did what he said; they kept the law he gave them.
And then God, our God, answered them
(But you were never soft on their sins).
Lift high God, our God; worship at his holy mountain.
Holy. Yes, holy is God our God.
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 220
Authors: Reginald Heber (1783-1826)
Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee;
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!
2.
Holy, holy, holy; all the saints adore thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
Who wert, and art, and evermore shalt be!
3.
Holy, holy, holy; though the darkness hide thee,
Though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see,
Only thou art holy; there is none beside thee
Perfect in power, in love and purity!
4.
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name in earth and sky and sea;
Holy holy, holy, merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!
Prayer:
Gracious God and Father, we give you thanks
for the cross of Christ at the heart of creation,
the presence of Christ in our weakness and strength,
the power of Christ to transform our suffering . . .
for all ministries of healing,
all agencies of relief,
all that sets men free from pain, fear and distress . . .
for the assurance that your mercy knows no limit,
and for the privilege of sharing
your work of renewal through prayer. Amen.
Holy God, through your beloved Son you reconciled all things to yourself, making peace by the blood of his cross, fill us and those for whom we pray with your peace and love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(http://www.belfastcathedral.org/resources/prayer-source/item/35 )
Meditation:
Birmingham Songsters: O Disclose Thy Lovely Face http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_497.mp3
[If you have enjoyed this OzThoughts Sunday Hymns and Psalms – please pass it to others who may enjoy it. It is prepared particularly for those who cannot get to Sunday Worship as they loved to do.]
```````````````````````````````
Thank you for your prayers and support for OzThoughts Internet Ministry.
If you invite friends to subscribe they do it by sending an email (without a message) to :
OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au (Tell them to check their junk box for the reply if it does not seem to come).
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
You can also receive OzThoughts from the following group which you are welcome to join:
SalvationArmy3: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/salvationarmy3/
Subscribe: OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au
Unsubscribe: OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com.au
OzThoughts
Writer (Only): OzThoughts@yahoo.com.au
This day belongs to the LORD!
Let's celebrate
and be glad today.
(Psalm 118:24 Contemporary English Version)
So, friends, we can now—without hesitation—walk right up to God, into "the Holy Place." Jesus has cleared the way by the blood of his sacrifice, acting as our priest before God. The "curtain" into God's presence is his body.
So let's do it—full of belief, confident that we're presentable inside and out. Let's keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let's see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:19-25. The Message)
How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is!
He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him.
Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love.
Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son. (Ephesians 1:3-6 The Message)
Psalm 124 (The Message)
A Pilgrim Song of David
1-5 If GOD hadn't been for us —
all together now, Israel, sing out!—
If GOD hadn't been for us
when everyone went against us,
We would have been swallowed alive
by their violent anger,
Swept away by the flood of rage,
drowned in the torrent;
We would have lost our lives
in the wild, raging water.
6 Oh, blessed be GOD!
He didn't go off and leave us.
He didn't abandon us defenseless,
helpless as a rabbit in a pack of snarling dogs.
7 We've flown free from their fangs,
free of their traps, free as a bird.
Their grip is broken;
we're free as a bird in flight.
8 GOD's strong name is our help,
the same GOD who made heaven and earth.
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 158
Authors: Walter John Mathams (1853-1931),alt
God is with us, God is with us,
So our brave forefathers sang,
Far across the field of battle
Loud their holy war cry rang;
Though at times they feared and faltered,
Never once they ceased to sing:
Chorus
God is with us, God is with us,
Christ our Lord shall reign as King!
2.
Great the heritage they left us,
Great the conquests to be won,
Armed hosts to meet and scatter,
Larger duties to be done.
Raise the song they nobly taught us,
Round the wide world let it ring:
3.
Speed the cross through all the nations,
Speed the victories of love,
Preach the gospel of redemption
Wheresoever men may move;
Make the future in the present,
Strong of heart, toil on and sing:
Psalm 99 (The Message)
1-3 God rules. On your toes, everybody!
He rules from his angel throne—take notice!
God looms majestic in Zion,
He towers in splendor over all the big names.
Great and terrible your beauty: let everyone praise you!
Holy. Yes, holy.
4-5 Strong King, lover of justice,
You laid things out fair and square;
You set down the foundations in Jacob,
Foundation stones of just and right ways.
Honor God, our God; worship his rule!
Holy. Yes, holy.
6-9 Moses and Aaron were his priests,
Samuel among those who prayed to him.
They prayed to God and he answered them;
He spoke from the pillar of cloud.
And they did what he said; they kept the law he gave them.
And then God, our God, answered them
(But you were never soft on their sins).
Lift high God, our God; worship at his holy mountain.
Holy. Yes, holy is God our God.
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 220
Authors: Reginald Heber (1783-1826)
Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee;
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!
2.
Holy, holy, holy; all the saints adore thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
Who wert, and art, and evermore shalt be!
3.
Holy, holy, holy; though the darkness hide thee,
Though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see,
Only thou art holy; there is none beside thee
Perfect in power, in love and purity!
4.
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name in earth and sky and sea;
Holy holy, holy, merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!
Prayer:
Gracious God and Father, we give you thanks
for the cross of Christ at the heart of creation,
the presence of Christ in our weakness and strength,
the power of Christ to transform our suffering . . .
for all ministries of healing,
all agencies of relief,
all that sets men free from pain, fear and distress . . .
for the assurance that your mercy knows no limit,
and for the privilege of sharing
your work of renewal through prayer. Amen.
Holy God, through your beloved Son you reconciled all things to yourself, making peace by the blood of his cross, fill us and those for whom we pray with your peace and love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(http://www.belfastcathedral.org/resources/prayer-source/item/35 )
Meditation:
Birmingham Songsters: O Disclose Thy Lovely Face http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_497.mp3
[If you have enjoyed this OzThoughts Sunday Hymns and Psalms – please pass it to others who may enjoy it. It is prepared particularly for those who cannot get to Sunday Worship as they loved to do.]
```````````````````````````````
Thank you for your prayers and support for OzThoughts Internet Ministry.
If you invite friends to subscribe they do it by sending an email (without a message) to :
OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au (Tell them to check their junk box for the reply if it does not seem to come).
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
You can also receive OzThoughts from the following group which you are welcome to join:
SalvationArmy3: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/salvationarmy3/
Subscribe: OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au
Unsubscribe: OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com.au
OzThoughts
Writer (Only): OzThoughts@yahoo.com.au
Australian Thoughts at the Weekend 26th September, 2009.
Australian Thoughts at the Weekend 26th September, 2009.
(Contains some elements of ATAW 24th September 2005)
The Week Long Festival of the Boot.
Someone has called this week in Australia “The Festival of the Boot”. It is the week of the Grand Finals of our two greatest football competitions. Melbourne will host the final of the Australian Football League (AFL) competition today and next Sunday night Sydney will host the final of the Australian National Rugby League (NRL) competition.
In fact as I write it is Saturday night and the Melbourne grand final has been played. The victory went to Geelong who had a very close battle all through the match to beat St Kilda. The final semi- final has also been played in the NRL and Melbourne Storm easily beat the team I had tipped to win the Brisbane Broncos. 40 to 10 was the final score. The other semi-final was won by the Parramatta Eels over the Canterbury Bulldogs.
Next Sunday night, it will be the Rugby League National Competition Grand Final. Sydney is the home of Rugby League and this year it will be Sydney (represented by the Eels) versus Melbourne Storm.. The Melbourne Storm is a club created in Melbourne to attract followers from the home of Aussie Rules.
I cheer for the Brisbane Broncos and have done for many years. My keenness has been sharpened by the fact one of my Salvationist friends is the team’s chaplain.
In Melbourne, the Footy Grand Final Day in Melbourne is also known as “THE Day in September”. As I think about this day, I think about a conversation, I was involved in some years ago. It went something like this:
The conversation lulled as we sat around the table having dinner. Then one of my dinner companions said “Anyone going on Saturday?”
The answers were a variation of no and I don’t follow the team and I would love to go but I don’t have a ticket. I told them that I was going to my cousin’s wedding. Then the question was turned onto the questioner “are you going?”
The questioner gave his answer and it is one that I have wondered about ever since. He said “Well, I haven’t got a ticket but this is what I do”. He then went on to say he went down to the ground on the Saturday morning and enjoyed the atmosphere and the spectacle of all the fans arriving.
He told how he watched the antics of the supporters of both teams as they arrived, all full of hope for a victory. That they could lose was never given a moments thought. There were the fanatical and the ridiculous and those for whom this day was a very serious ritual. He told of how he listened to and watched ‘The Coodabeens’ who have broadcast their
football program from outside the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) on Grand Final Day for more than 16 years (www.coodabeens.com.au). Then as the teams ran onto the ground, he would head home to watch the game on television.
One of the others at the table said “Do you have a pie?” When the answer was “yes!” he agreed that he would come too and they made times to meet.
It is probably of no importance to tell you that these two guys were well known Salvation Army Officers but I do tell you that they are typical of those in Melbourne who gat caught up in the atmosphere of the Footy Final at the “G” (MCG) on that last Saturday in September.
The Footy is that purely Australian game “Australian Football” which used to be known as Australian Rules Football. Its closest relative is Gaelic football and at times international games are arranged with previously agreed rules and conditions to embrace both codes. Australian Football is played on an oval (like cricket and mostly on grounds shared with cricket). It has four upright posts (no cross bars) at each end of the field. A goal is the ball kicked between the centre two (goal) posts and scores 6 points. The outside posts are the “Behind Posts” and a ball passing between them and the goal posts ( a near miss) is termed a “behind” and adds one point to the score.
The score for each team is read as: goals; behinds; total score . So at the end of today’s game the score read: Geelong 12.8 (80) to St Kilda 9.14 (68) . The game is played in 4 quarters of equal length and uses an elongated ball something like a Rugby ball.
Now in the States and Territories where Australian Rules is the main game of footy (strangely enough it is the same boundaries as The Salvation Army’s Australia Southern Territory they do not know much about Rugby and to most both codes of Rugby are just
Rugby. Many would not even know that there are two codes: the former amateur game Rugby Union and the Professional (at senior levels only) Game Rugby League. Also Rugby Union has 15 players on the field on each side while Rugby League only has 13. Rugby League is the main game in New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and Queensland (The SA’s Australia Eastern Territory).
Australian Football not only draws the biggest crowds (99, 251 at today’s match) but has the largest number of registered players at about 444,000. It would be a surprise to most Australians that Soccer, now called Football in line with the rest of the world, has the second most registered players at slightly less than 400,000.
Another surprise is Touch (a minimal contact form of rugby) has 210,000 registered players but this includes both men and women.. These last two sports are proving popular with their minimal contact. Soccer has many, many junior players as many parents are choosing soccer for their children for the safety reasons.
Rugby League is the largest of the two rugby codes with about 142,000 registered players. This does not include thousands of school boys who play League in school competitions. Rugby Union in Australia has just on 130,000 registered players and its main base in schools is the more elite private and church schools. In New Zealand registered Rugby Union players grew from 129,253 in 2004 to 137,960 in 2005.
Kiwis (New Zealanders - who have Rugby Union as their National Sport and self admitted national obsession) like to beat Australia in Rugby Union. They find it difficult to understand why Ozzies are so unenthusiastic about Rugby Union. They seem to think that Ozzies disinterest is because New Zealand sometimes wins. But it is genuine as the above figures show. Rugby Union is not a main stream game and only at the very top level does it gain much interest. This top level Rugby Union is played by Australia’s Profession Rugby Union players and they number about 120.
To Australians sport is something special. We love a huge variety of sport and will watch it all day and all night, if necessary. The Salvation Army Australian Eastern Territory website features sport: http://www.salvos.org.au/get-involved/other-church-based-activities/sporting-activities.php
I wonder, though, how many people will be in Church in our city of 400, 000 people this weekend? There could be 10,000 or even 20,000 (that’s 100 churches with 200 people each). That’s pretty special.
Jesus was pretty special because wherever he went the crowds followed. We even read of him escaping from the press of the crowd by using a boat! Jesus was the main event in town. Sadly for some his crucifixion was the main event they witnessed and surely the horror of that atmosphere would stay with them.
Even after Jesus was crucified, his Disciples remained the big event. They healed a crippled beggar and demonstrated the power of Jesus. What silence there must have been as they listened carefully to the words of Peter as he explained the events of the time and called them to repent. There was great rejoicing from that day on as hundreds and thousands joined the Believers.
Much, much later in history, another tall bearded man became the main event in town. William Booth attracted many and in meeting after meeting the atmosphere was less than reverent churchliness as men and women listened to the Word of God, sang songs of praise and of Christian warfare and gave their lives to Jesus.
I pray that Jesus might be the main event in my life and that you too may find in him all you need. I pray , too , that people will wish to soak up the atmosphere of people who are living for Jesus.
[Admin Notice: Copyright is not and has never been claimed for the original work (comments) in OzThoughts. Where material has been sourced from other places the reference is always given. If you find OzThoughts helpful, you may use it in your ministry or elsewhere. It would be kind if you acknowledged OzThoughts as your source, and even better if you suggested people subscribe to OzThoughts].
Thank you for your prayers and support for OzThoughts Internet Ministry.
If you invite friends to subscribe they do it by sending an email (without a message) to :
OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au (Tell them to check their junk box for the reply if it does not seem to come).
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
You can also receive OzThoughts from the following group which you are welcome to join:
SalvationArmy3: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/salvationarmy3/
Subscribe: OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au
Unsubscribe: OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com.au
OzThoughts
Writer (Only): OzThoughts@yahoo.com.au
(Contains some elements of ATAW 24th September 2005)
The Week Long Festival of the Boot.
Someone has called this week in Australia “The Festival of the Boot”. It is the week of the Grand Finals of our two greatest football competitions. Melbourne will host the final of the Australian Football League (AFL) competition today and next Sunday night Sydney will host the final of the Australian National Rugby League (NRL) competition.
In fact as I write it is Saturday night and the Melbourne grand final has been played. The victory went to Geelong who had a very close battle all through the match to beat St Kilda. The final semi- final has also been played in the NRL and Melbourne Storm easily beat the team I had tipped to win the Brisbane Broncos. 40 to 10 was the final score. The other semi-final was won by the Parramatta Eels over the Canterbury Bulldogs.
Next Sunday night, it will be the Rugby League National Competition Grand Final. Sydney is the home of Rugby League and this year it will be Sydney (represented by the Eels) versus Melbourne Storm.. The Melbourne Storm is a club created in Melbourne to attract followers from the home of Aussie Rules.
I cheer for the Brisbane Broncos and have done for many years. My keenness has been sharpened by the fact one of my Salvationist friends is the team’s chaplain.
In Melbourne, the Footy Grand Final Day in Melbourne is also known as “THE Day in September”. As I think about this day, I think about a conversation, I was involved in some years ago. It went something like this:
The conversation lulled as we sat around the table having dinner. Then one of my dinner companions said “Anyone going on Saturday?”
The answers were a variation of no and I don’t follow the team and I would love to go but I don’t have a ticket. I told them that I was going to my cousin’s wedding. Then the question was turned onto the questioner “are you going?”
The questioner gave his answer and it is one that I have wondered about ever since. He said “Well, I haven’t got a ticket but this is what I do”. He then went on to say he went down to the ground on the Saturday morning and enjoyed the atmosphere and the spectacle of all the fans arriving.
He told how he watched the antics of the supporters of both teams as they arrived, all full of hope for a victory. That they could lose was never given a moments thought. There were the fanatical and the ridiculous and those for whom this day was a very serious ritual. He told of how he listened to and watched ‘The Coodabeens’ who have broadcast their
football program from outside the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) on Grand Final Day for more than 16 years (www.coodabeens.com.au). Then as the teams ran onto the ground, he would head home to watch the game on television.
One of the others at the table said “Do you have a pie?” When the answer was “yes!” he agreed that he would come too and they made times to meet.
It is probably of no importance to tell you that these two guys were well known Salvation Army Officers but I do tell you that they are typical of those in Melbourne who gat caught up in the atmosphere of the Footy Final at the “G” (MCG) on that last Saturday in September.
The Footy is that purely Australian game “Australian Football” which used to be known as Australian Rules Football. Its closest relative is Gaelic football and at times international games are arranged with previously agreed rules and conditions to embrace both codes. Australian Football is played on an oval (like cricket and mostly on grounds shared with cricket). It has four upright posts (no cross bars) at each end of the field. A goal is the ball kicked between the centre two (goal) posts and scores 6 points. The outside posts are the “Behind Posts” and a ball passing between them and the goal posts ( a near miss) is termed a “behind” and adds one point to the score.
The score for each team is read as: goals; behinds; total score . So at the end of today’s game the score read: Geelong 12.8 (80) to St Kilda 9.14 (68) . The game is played in 4 quarters of equal length and uses an elongated ball something like a Rugby ball.
Now in the States and Territories where Australian Rules is the main game of footy (strangely enough it is the same boundaries as The Salvation Army’s Australia Southern Territory they do not know much about Rugby and to most both codes of Rugby are just
Rugby. Many would not even know that there are two codes: the former amateur game Rugby Union and the Professional (at senior levels only) Game Rugby League. Also Rugby Union has 15 players on the field on each side while Rugby League only has 13. Rugby League is the main game in New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and Queensland (The SA’s Australia Eastern Territory).
Australian Football not only draws the biggest crowds (99, 251 at today’s match) but has the largest number of registered players at about 444,000. It would be a surprise to most Australians that Soccer, now called Football in line with the rest of the world, has the second most registered players at slightly less than 400,000.
Another surprise is Touch (a minimal contact form of rugby) has 210,000 registered players but this includes both men and women.. These last two sports are proving popular with their minimal contact. Soccer has many, many junior players as many parents are choosing soccer for their children for the safety reasons.
Rugby League is the largest of the two rugby codes with about 142,000 registered players. This does not include thousands of school boys who play League in school competitions. Rugby Union in Australia has just on 130,000 registered players and its main base in schools is the more elite private and church schools. In New Zealand registered Rugby Union players grew from 129,253 in 2004 to 137,960 in 2005.
Kiwis (New Zealanders - who have Rugby Union as their National Sport and self admitted national obsession) like to beat Australia in Rugby Union. They find it difficult to understand why Ozzies are so unenthusiastic about Rugby Union. They seem to think that Ozzies disinterest is because New Zealand sometimes wins. But it is genuine as the above figures show. Rugby Union is not a main stream game and only at the very top level does it gain much interest. This top level Rugby Union is played by Australia’s Profession Rugby Union players and they number about 120.
To Australians sport is something special. We love a huge variety of sport and will watch it all day and all night, if necessary. The Salvation Army Australian Eastern Territory website features sport: http://www.salvos.org.au/get-involved/other-church-based-activities/sporting-activities.php
I wonder, though, how many people will be in Church in our city of 400, 000 people this weekend? There could be 10,000 or even 20,000 (that’s 100 churches with 200 people each). That’s pretty special.
Jesus was pretty special because wherever he went the crowds followed. We even read of him escaping from the press of the crowd by using a boat! Jesus was the main event in town. Sadly for some his crucifixion was the main event they witnessed and surely the horror of that atmosphere would stay with them.
Even after Jesus was crucified, his Disciples remained the big event. They healed a crippled beggar and demonstrated the power of Jesus. What silence there must have been as they listened carefully to the words of Peter as he explained the events of the time and called them to repent. There was great rejoicing from that day on as hundreds and thousands joined the Believers.
Much, much later in history, another tall bearded man became the main event in town. William Booth attracted many and in meeting after meeting the atmosphere was less than reverent churchliness as men and women listened to the Word of God, sang songs of praise and of Christian warfare and gave their lives to Jesus.
I pray that Jesus might be the main event in my life and that you too may find in him all you need. I pray , too , that people will wish to soak up the atmosphere of people who are living for Jesus.
[Admin Notice: Copyright is not and has never been claimed for the original work (comments) in OzThoughts. Where material has been sourced from other places the reference is always given. If you find OzThoughts helpful, you may use it in your ministry or elsewhere. It would be kind if you acknowledged OzThoughts as your source, and even better if you suggested people subscribe to OzThoughts].
Thank you for your prayers and support for OzThoughts Internet Ministry.
If you invite friends to subscribe they do it by sending an email (without a message) to :
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Thursday, September 24, 2009
OzThoughts Friday 25th September 2009
OzThoughts Friday 25th September 2009
Luke 9:18-22 (The Message)
18One time when Jesus was off praying by himself, his disciples nearby, he asked them, "What are the crowds saying about me, about who I am?"
19They said, "John the Baptizer. Others say Elijah. Still others say that one of the prophets from long ago has come back."
20-21He then asked, "And you—what are you saying about me? Who am I?"
Peter answered, "The Messiah of God." Jesus then warned them to keep it quiet. They were to tell no one what Peter had said.
22He went on, "It is necessary that the Son of Man proceed to an ordeal of suffering, be tried and found guilty by the religious leaders, high priests, and religion scholars, be killed, and on the third day be raised up alive."
Did you notice how Jesus asks a general question about what people were saying and then quickly focuses on the disciples and asks them a very direct question? So often as we live our lives, we will find various challenges to our faith in Christ.
Sometimes the challenge will come from the mouth of others. Sometimes it will be in a situation we face. At other times, it may come in the words of a book or the words of a song. It may also come in the choice of a movie, a place for an outing or even the choice of friends. Sometimes the challenge may seem to come direct from Jesus himself.
Jesus challenged his Disciples very directly "And you—what are you saying about me? Who am I?"
Peter answers and it seems very quickly "You are the Christ, the Messiah."
We cannot escape answering the same question. We must answer it for ourselves. I believe we must also answer it for others who question us.
David Pawson says that god all-matey has replaced God Almighty. Others have suggested that in none of all the “I am” statements in the Gospel does Jesus say “I am your best friend”. Even others have suggested that the “Jesus is my (boy/girl?) friend theology in some choruses is no theology but just another song apeing popular culture.
Even Peter’s statement "You are the Christ, the Messiah." needed development by Jesus and Jesus outlines what being the Christ would mean. When Peter challenges that development, Jesus does not hesitate in saying “"Get behind me, Satan!" he said. "You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." (NIV).
How do we answer Jesus question "And you—what are you saying about me? Who am I?" Does our answer reflect our thoughts are the things of God, or the things of men?
[Listen: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music2/mus_3888.mp3 ]
I know thee who thou art,
And what thy healing name;
For when my fainting heart
The burden nigh o'ercame,
I saw thy footprints on my road
Where lately passed the Son of God.
Thy name is joined with mine
By every human tie,
And my new name is thine,
A child of God am I;
And never more alone, since thou
Art on the road beside me now.
Beside thee as I walk,
I will delight in thee
In sweet communion talk
Of all thou art to me;
The beauty of thy face behold
And know thy mercies manifold.
Let nothing draw me back
Or turn my heart from thee,
But by the Calvary track
Bring me at last to see
The courts of God, that city fair,
And find my name is written there.
Author: Albert Orsborn (1886-1967)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 59
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Admin Notice: Copyright is not and has never been claimed for the original work (comments) in OzThoughts. Where material has been sourced from other places the reference is always given. If you find OzThoughts helpful, you may use it in your ministry or elsewhere. It would be kind if you acknowledged OzThoughts as your source, and even better if you suggested people subscribe to OzThoughts].
Thank you for your prayers and support for OzThoughts Internet Ministry.
If you invite friends to subscribe they do it by sending an email (without a message) to :
OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au (Tell them to check their junk box for the reply if it does not seem to come).
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
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Writer (Only): OzThoughts@yahoo.com.au
Luke 9:18-22 (The Message)
18One time when Jesus was off praying by himself, his disciples nearby, he asked them, "What are the crowds saying about me, about who I am?"
19They said, "John the Baptizer. Others say Elijah. Still others say that one of the prophets from long ago has come back."
20-21He then asked, "And you—what are you saying about me? Who am I?"
Peter answered, "The Messiah of God." Jesus then warned them to keep it quiet. They were to tell no one what Peter had said.
22He went on, "It is necessary that the Son of Man proceed to an ordeal of suffering, be tried and found guilty by the religious leaders, high priests, and religion scholars, be killed, and on the third day be raised up alive."
Did you notice how Jesus asks a general question about what people were saying and then quickly focuses on the disciples and asks them a very direct question? So often as we live our lives, we will find various challenges to our faith in Christ.
Sometimes the challenge will come from the mouth of others. Sometimes it will be in a situation we face. At other times, it may come in the words of a book or the words of a song. It may also come in the choice of a movie, a place for an outing or even the choice of friends. Sometimes the challenge may seem to come direct from Jesus himself.
Jesus challenged his Disciples very directly "And you—what are you saying about me? Who am I?"
Peter answers and it seems very quickly "You are the Christ, the Messiah."
We cannot escape answering the same question. We must answer it for ourselves. I believe we must also answer it for others who question us.
David Pawson says that god all-matey has replaced God Almighty. Others have suggested that in none of all the “I am” statements in the Gospel does Jesus say “I am your best friend”. Even others have suggested that the “Jesus is my (boy/girl?) friend theology in some choruses is no theology but just another song apeing popular culture.
Even Peter’s statement "You are the Christ, the Messiah." needed development by Jesus and Jesus outlines what being the Christ would mean. When Peter challenges that development, Jesus does not hesitate in saying “"Get behind me, Satan!" he said. "You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." (NIV).
How do we answer Jesus question "And you—what are you saying about me? Who am I?" Does our answer reflect our thoughts are the things of God, or the things of men?
[Listen: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music2/mus_3888.mp3 ]
I know thee who thou art,
And what thy healing name;
For when my fainting heart
The burden nigh o'ercame,
I saw thy footprints on my road
Where lately passed the Son of God.
Thy name is joined with mine
By every human tie,
And my new name is thine,
A child of God am I;
And never more alone, since thou
Art on the road beside me now.
Beside thee as I walk,
I will delight in thee
In sweet communion talk
Of all thou art to me;
The beauty of thy face behold
And know thy mercies manifold.
Let nothing draw me back
Or turn my heart from thee,
But by the Calvary track
Bring me at last to see
The courts of God, that city fair,
And find my name is written there.
Author: Albert Orsborn (1886-1967)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 59
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Admin Notice: Copyright is not and has never been claimed for the original work (comments) in OzThoughts. Where material has been sourced from other places the reference is always given. If you find OzThoughts helpful, you may use it in your ministry or elsewhere. It would be kind if you acknowledged OzThoughts as your source, and even better if you suggested people subscribe to OzThoughts].
Thank you for your prayers and support for OzThoughts Internet Ministry.
If you invite friends to subscribe they do it by sending an email (without a message) to :
OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au (Tell them to check their junk box for the reply if it does not seem to come).
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
You can also receive OzThoughts from the following group which you are welcome to join:
SalvationArmy3: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/salvationarmy3/
Subscribe: OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au
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Writer (Only): OzThoughts@yahoo.com.au
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
OzThoughts. Thursday 24th September 2009
OzThoughts. Thursday 24th September 2009
In recent weeks, I have been looking at a “first steps” training course for would be hospital chaplains. My task is to write and then teach a course of about 6 hours duration spread over 4 days. At the end of the course, my aim is to have some people who can move into hospital wards alongside experienced and qualified chaplains and “minister “ to people who have indicated some allegiance with a (any) Christian church.
Balanced against this is that there is already courses by a number of providers which run for quite a number of hours spread over many weeks and for which the student Chaplains pay a significant fee (About $1,000 Aus). Now, my plan is that any people who do my course will be made aware of their opportunity to continue their studies with one of these more complete courses.
I thought of this when we read today’s passage from Luke’s Gospel in the hospital chapel yesterday. I also thought what a challenge it is not only to Chaplains but all Christians. I particularly noted the words which in the Message say: “Don't load yourselves up with equipment. Keep it simple; you are the equipment”.
The Twelve had been with Jesus. They had listened carefully to him. Now, they were to go out and share that message. Jesus knew how they (and we) would be wanting to complicate it, so Jesus deliberately reminds them to keep it simple. I notice they are only to tell the message to those who are willing to listen.
[The following two choruses can be sung to the tune Lloyd or Fewster. They compliment each other when sung together as two verses.]
[Listen: Lloyd: http://www.regalzonophone.com/audio/VP20%20-%2012%20-%20Hymn%20-%20Lloyd.mp3
or
Fewster: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_962.mp3 ]
Spirit of God, O hear us pray;
We would be wholly thine.
Now unto thee our souls aspire;
Fill us with life divine.
The Salvation Army Song Book: Chorus Number: 101
Lord, lay some soul upon my heart,
And love that soul through me;
And may I humbly do my part
To win that soul for thee.
The Salvation Army Song Book: Chorus Number: 79
Luke 9:1-6 (The Message)
1-5Jesus now called the Twelve and gave them authority and power to deal with all the demons and cure diseases. He commissioned them to preach the news of God's kingdom and heal the sick. He said, "Don't load yourselves up with equipment. Keep it simple; you are the equipment. And no luxury inns—get a modest place and be content there until you leave. If you're not welcomed, leave town. Don't make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and move on."
6Commissioned, they left. They travelled from town to town telling the latest news of God, the Message, and curing people everywhere they went.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Admin Notice: Copyright is not and has never been claimed for the original work (comments) in OzThoughts. Where material has been sourced from other places the reference is always given. If you find OzThoughts helpful, you may use it in your ministry or elsewhere. It would be kind if you acknowledged OzThoughts as your source, and even better if you suggested people subscribe to OzThoughts].
Thank you for your prayers and support for OzThoughts Internet Ministry.
If you invite friends to subscribe they do it by sending an email (without a message) to :
OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au (Tell them to check their junk box for the reply if it does not seem to come).
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
You can also receive OzThoughts from the following group which you are welcome to join:
SalvationArmy3: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/salvationarmy3/
Subscribe: OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au
Unsubscribe: OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com.au
OzThoughts
Writer (Only): OzThoughts@yahoo.com.au
In recent weeks, I have been looking at a “first steps” training course for would be hospital chaplains. My task is to write and then teach a course of about 6 hours duration spread over 4 days. At the end of the course, my aim is to have some people who can move into hospital wards alongside experienced and qualified chaplains and “minister “ to people who have indicated some allegiance with a (any) Christian church.
Balanced against this is that there is already courses by a number of providers which run for quite a number of hours spread over many weeks and for which the student Chaplains pay a significant fee (About $1,000 Aus). Now, my plan is that any people who do my course will be made aware of their opportunity to continue their studies with one of these more complete courses.
I thought of this when we read today’s passage from Luke’s Gospel in the hospital chapel yesterday. I also thought what a challenge it is not only to Chaplains but all Christians. I particularly noted the words which in the Message say: “Don't load yourselves up with equipment. Keep it simple; you are the equipment”.
The Twelve had been with Jesus. They had listened carefully to him. Now, they were to go out and share that message. Jesus knew how they (and we) would be wanting to complicate it, so Jesus deliberately reminds them to keep it simple. I notice they are only to tell the message to those who are willing to listen.
[The following two choruses can be sung to the tune Lloyd or Fewster. They compliment each other when sung together as two verses.]
[Listen: Lloyd: http://www.regalzonophone.com/audio/VP20%20-%2012%20-%20Hymn%20-%20Lloyd.mp3
or
Fewster: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_962.mp3 ]
Spirit of God, O hear us pray;
We would be wholly thine.
Now unto thee our souls aspire;
Fill us with life divine.
The Salvation Army Song Book: Chorus Number: 101
Lord, lay some soul upon my heart,
And love that soul through me;
And may I humbly do my part
To win that soul for thee.
The Salvation Army Song Book: Chorus Number: 79
Luke 9:1-6 (The Message)
1-5Jesus now called the Twelve and gave them authority and power to deal with all the demons and cure diseases. He commissioned them to preach the news of God's kingdom and heal the sick. He said, "Don't load yourselves up with equipment. Keep it simple; you are the equipment. And no luxury inns—get a modest place and be content there until you leave. If you're not welcomed, leave town. Don't make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and move on."
6Commissioned, they left. They travelled from town to town telling the latest news of God, the Message, and curing people everywhere they went.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Admin Notice: Copyright is not and has never been claimed for the original work (comments) in OzThoughts. Where material has been sourced from other places the reference is always given. If you find OzThoughts helpful, you may use it in your ministry or elsewhere. It would be kind if you acknowledged OzThoughts as your source, and even better if you suggested people subscribe to OzThoughts].
Thank you for your prayers and support for OzThoughts Internet Ministry.
If you invite friends to subscribe they do it by sending an email (without a message) to :
OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au (Tell them to check their junk box for the reply if it does not seem to come).
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
You can also receive OzThoughts from the following group which you are welcome to join:
SalvationArmy3: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/salvationarmy3/
Subscribe: OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au
Unsubscribe: OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com.au
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Writer (Only): OzThoughts@yahoo.com.au
Monday, September 21, 2009
OzThoughts Tuesday 22nd September 2009.
OzThoughts Tuesday 22nd September 2009.
I have had people ask me where is the humour in the Bible? I think that Jesus would have had a sparkle of laughter in his eyes as he drew on the ridiculous idea of lighting a candle and putting it under a washtub or under a bed. His laughter would have been echoing through the crowd as he turned his humour into a challenge.
The challenge to all the people was not take what they were hearing from him and to share it with others. It was not for quiet personal reflection or seemingly meaningful meditation, It is stuff to be shared. “So be careful that you don't become misers of what you hear. Generosity begets generosity. Stinginess impoverishes”
Luke 8:16-18 (The Message)
16-18"No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a washtub or shoves it under the bed. No, you set it up on a lamp stand so those who enter the room can see their way. We're not keeping secrets; we're telling them. We're not hiding things; we're bringing everything out into the open. So be careful that you don't become misers of what you hear. Generosity begets generosity. Stinginess impoverishes."
[Listen: Band and Male Chorus: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_1248.mp3
I'm a soldier bound for Glory,
I'm a soldier going home;
Come and hear me tell my story,
All who love the Saviour, come.
Chorus
I love Jesus, hallelujah!
I love Jesus, yes, I do;
I love Jesus, he's my Saviour,
Jesus smiles and loves me too.
I will tell you what induced me
In the glorious fight to start;
'Twas the Saviour's loving kindness
Overcame and won my heart.
When I first commenced my warfare
Many said I'd run away;
But they all have been deceived,
In the fight I am today.
I'm a wonder unto many,
God alone the change has wrought;
Here I raise my Ebenezer,
Hither by his help I'm brought.
When to death's dark, swelling river,
Like a warrior I shall come,
Then I mean to shout salvation!
And go singing glory! home.
Author: Richard Jukes (1804-67),alt
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 338
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Admin Notice: Copyright is not and has never been claimed for the original work (comments) in OzThoughts. Where material has been sourced from other places the reference is always given. If you find OzThoughts helpful, you may use it in your ministry or elsewhere. It would be kind if you acknowledged OzThoughts as your source, and even better if you suggested people subscribe to OzThoughts].
Thank you for your prayers and support for OzThoughts Internet Ministry.
If you invite friends to subscribe they do it by sending an email (without a message) to :
OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au (Tell them to check their junk box for the reply if it does not seem to come).
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
You can also receive OzThoughts from the following group which you are welcome to join:
SalvationArmy3: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/salvationarmy3/
Subscribe: OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au
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Writer (Only): OzThoughts@yahoo.com.au
I have had people ask me where is the humour in the Bible? I think that Jesus would have had a sparkle of laughter in his eyes as he drew on the ridiculous idea of lighting a candle and putting it under a washtub or under a bed. His laughter would have been echoing through the crowd as he turned his humour into a challenge.
The challenge to all the people was not take what they were hearing from him and to share it with others. It was not for quiet personal reflection or seemingly meaningful meditation, It is stuff to be shared. “So be careful that you don't become misers of what you hear. Generosity begets generosity. Stinginess impoverishes”
Luke 8:16-18 (The Message)
16-18"No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a washtub or shoves it under the bed. No, you set it up on a lamp stand so those who enter the room can see their way. We're not keeping secrets; we're telling them. We're not hiding things; we're bringing everything out into the open. So be careful that you don't become misers of what you hear. Generosity begets generosity. Stinginess impoverishes."
[Listen: Band and Male Chorus: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_1248.mp3
I'm a soldier bound for Glory,
I'm a soldier going home;
Come and hear me tell my story,
All who love the Saviour, come.
Chorus
I love Jesus, hallelujah!
I love Jesus, yes, I do;
I love Jesus, he's my Saviour,
Jesus smiles and loves me too.
I will tell you what induced me
In the glorious fight to start;
'Twas the Saviour's loving kindness
Overcame and won my heart.
When I first commenced my warfare
Many said I'd run away;
But they all have been deceived,
In the fight I am today.
I'm a wonder unto many,
God alone the change has wrought;
Here I raise my Ebenezer,
Hither by his help I'm brought.
When to death's dark, swelling river,
Like a warrior I shall come,
Then I mean to shout salvation!
And go singing glory! home.
Author: Richard Jukes (1804-67),alt
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 338
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Admin Notice: Copyright is not and has never been claimed for the original work (comments) in OzThoughts. Where material has been sourced from other places the reference is always given. If you find OzThoughts helpful, you may use it in your ministry or elsewhere. It would be kind if you acknowledged OzThoughts as your source, and even better if you suggested people subscribe to OzThoughts].
Thank you for your prayers and support for OzThoughts Internet Ministry.
If you invite friends to subscribe they do it by sending an email (without a message) to :
OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au (Tell them to check their junk box for the reply if it does not seem to come).
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
You can also receive OzThoughts from the following group which you are welcome to join:
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Subscribe: OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au
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Sunday, September 20, 2009
OzThoughts Monday 21st September 2009.
OzThoughts Monday 21st September 2009.
[Admin notice: There was no OzThoughts this weekend as I was on the sick list.]
Colossians 4:2-6 (The Message)
Pray for Open Doors
Pray diligently. Stay alert, with your eyes wide open in gratitude.
Don't forget to pray for us, that God will open doors for telling the mystery of Christ, even while I'm locked up in this jail.
Pray that every time I open my mouth I'll be able to make Christ plain as day to them.
Use your heads as you live and work among outsiders. Don't miss a trick. Make the most of every opportunity.
Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out.
Today we can look at another modern version, the New Life Version:
Colossians 4:2-7 (New Life Version)
Some Things To Do
2 You must keep praying. Keep watching! Be thankful always.
3 As you pray, be sure to pray for us also. Pray that God will open the door for us to preach the Word. We want to tell the secret of Christ. And this is the reason I am in prison.
4 Pray that I will be able to preach so everyone can understand. This is the way I should speak.
5 Be wise in the way you live around those who are not Christians. Make good use of your time.
6 Speak with them in such a way they will want to listen to you. Do
not let your talk sound foolish. Know how to give the right answer to anyone.
I see two clear messages here in these passionate verses Paul wrote from prison. The first thing is to pray. What does god want of me today? It’s simple! We must keep praying!
What else does Paul say.is on the agenda for today and everyday? He suggests that we be wise and use our heads as we live among non-Christians. We can not avoid them. Paul tells us to be smart about the way we speak so they will want to listen to what we say.
I had better pray that God will help me to do that.
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, I am happy to come to you in prayer at anytime. It is great you are so willing to hear my prayers. Today, I need to mix with non-Christians, I pray that you will give me wisdom and the words to talk to them that can be used by you. Amen.
[Listen: Intrada on Regent Square, the hymn tune associated with these words:
http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_3446.mp3
God of grace and God of glory,
On thy people pour thy power;
Now fulfil thy Church's story,
Bring her bud to glorious flower.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
For the facing of this hour.
Lo, the hosts of evil round us
Scorn thy Christ, assail his ways;
From the fears that long have bound us
Free our hearts to faith and praise.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
For the living of these days.
Cure thy children's warring madness,
Bend our pride to thy control;
Shame our wanton, selfish gladness,
Rich in goods and poor in soul.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
Lest we miss thy Kingdom's goal.
Set our feet on lofty places,
Gird our lives that they may be
Armoured with all Christlike graces
In the fight to set men free.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
That we fail not man nor thee..
Authors: Harry Emerson Fosdick (1878-1969)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 577
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Admin Notice: Copyright is not and has never been claimed for the original work (comments) in OzThoughts. Where material has been sourced from other places the reference is always given. If you find OzThoughts helpful, you may use it in your ministry or elsewhere. It would be kind if you acknowledged OzThoughts as your source, and even better if you suggested people subscribe to OzThoughts].
Thank you for your prayers and support for OzThoughts Internet Ministry.
If you invite friends to subscribe they do it by sending an email (without a message) to :
OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au (Tell them to check their junk box for the reply if it does not seem to come).
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
You can also receive OzThoughts from the following group which you are welcome to join:
SalvationArmy3: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/salvationarmy3/
Subscribe: OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au
Unsubscribe: OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com.au
OzThoughts
Writer (Only): OzThoughts@yahoo.com.au
[Admin notice: There was no OzThoughts this weekend as I was on the sick list.]
Colossians 4:2-6 (The Message)
Pray for Open Doors
Pray diligently. Stay alert, with your eyes wide open in gratitude.
Don't forget to pray for us, that God will open doors for telling the mystery of Christ, even while I'm locked up in this jail.
Pray that every time I open my mouth I'll be able to make Christ plain as day to them.
Use your heads as you live and work among outsiders. Don't miss a trick. Make the most of every opportunity.
Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out.
Today we can look at another modern version, the New Life Version:
Colossians 4:2-7 (New Life Version)
Some Things To Do
2 You must keep praying. Keep watching! Be thankful always.
3 As you pray, be sure to pray for us also. Pray that God will open the door for us to preach the Word. We want to tell the secret of Christ. And this is the reason I am in prison.
4 Pray that I will be able to preach so everyone can understand. This is the way I should speak.
5 Be wise in the way you live around those who are not Christians. Make good use of your time.
6 Speak with them in such a way they will want to listen to you. Do
not let your talk sound foolish. Know how to give the right answer to anyone.
I see two clear messages here in these passionate verses Paul wrote from prison. The first thing is to pray. What does god want of me today? It’s simple! We must keep praying!
What else does Paul say.is on the agenda for today and everyday? He suggests that we be wise and use our heads as we live among non-Christians. We can not avoid them. Paul tells us to be smart about the way we speak so they will want to listen to what we say.
I had better pray that God will help me to do that.
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, I am happy to come to you in prayer at anytime. It is great you are so willing to hear my prayers. Today, I need to mix with non-Christians, I pray that you will give me wisdom and the words to talk to them that can be used by you. Amen.
[Listen: Intrada on Regent Square, the hymn tune associated with these words:
http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_3446.mp3
God of grace and God of glory,
On thy people pour thy power;
Now fulfil thy Church's story,
Bring her bud to glorious flower.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
For the facing of this hour.
Lo, the hosts of evil round us
Scorn thy Christ, assail his ways;
From the fears that long have bound us
Free our hearts to faith and praise.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
For the living of these days.
Cure thy children's warring madness,
Bend our pride to thy control;
Shame our wanton, selfish gladness,
Rich in goods and poor in soul.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
Lest we miss thy Kingdom's goal.
Set our feet on lofty places,
Gird our lives that they may be
Armoured with all Christlike graces
In the fight to set men free.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
That we fail not man nor thee..
Authors: Harry Emerson Fosdick (1878-1969)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 577
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Admin Notice: Copyright is not and has never been claimed for the original work (comments) in OzThoughts. Where material has been sourced from other places the reference is always given. If you find OzThoughts helpful, you may use it in your ministry or elsewhere. It would be kind if you acknowledged OzThoughts as your source, and even better if you suggested people subscribe to OzThoughts].
Thank you for your prayers and support for OzThoughts Internet Ministry.
If you invite friends to subscribe they do it by sending an email (without a message) to :
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Thursday, September 17, 2009
OzThoughts – Friday 18th September 2009
OzThoughts – Friday 18th September 2009
When Paul writes to Timothy, he could be writing to us today. We could be facing the same problems around us as Timothy faced. Paul reminds Timothy of the essential things of the Christian faith and says to run from dangers and chase after a righteous life.
1 Timothy 6:2-12 (The Message)
2-5These are the things I want you to teach and preach. If you have leaders there who teach otherwise, who refuse the solid words of our Master Jesus and this godly instruction, tag them for what they are: ignorant windbags who infect the air with germs of envy, controversy, bad-mouthing, suspicious rumours. Eventually there's an epidemic of backstabbing, and truth is but a distant memory. They think religion is a way to make a fast buck.
6-8A devout life does bring wealth, but it's the rich simplicity of being yourself before God. Since we entered the world penniless and will leave it penniless, if we have bread on the table and shoes on our feet, that's enough.
9-10But if it's only money these leaders are after, they'll self-destruct in no time. Lust for money brings trouble and nothing but trouble. Going down that path, some lose their footing in the faith completely and live to regret it bitterly ever after.
11-12But you, Timothy, man of God: Run for your life from all this. Pursue a righteous life—a life of wonder, faith, love, steadiness, courtesy. Run hard and fast in the faith. Seize the eternal life, the life you were called to, the life you so fervently embraced in the presence of so many witnesses.
[Listen: 1932 78rpm recording: http://www.regalzonophone.com/audio/MF218%20-%20(G21681)%20-%20Song%20-%20Keep%20on%20Believing.mp3
When you feel weakest, dangers surround,
Subtle temptations, troubles abound,
Nothing seems hopeful, nothing seems glad,
All is despairing, everything sad:
Chorus
Keep on believing, Jesus is near;
Keep on believing, there's nothing to fear;
Keep on believing, this is the way;
Faith in the night as well as the day.
If all were easy, if all were bright,
Where would the cross be, and where the fight?
But in the hardness, God gives to you
Chances of proving that you are true.
God is your wisdom, God is your might,
God's ever near you, guiding aright;
He understands you, knows all you need;
Trusting in him you'll surely succeed.
Let us press on then, never despair,
Live above feeling, victory's there;
Jesus can keep us so near to him
That nevermore our faith shall grow dim.
Author: Lucy Milward Booth-Hellberg (1868-1953)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 773
```````````````````````````````
[Admin Notice: Copyright is not and has never been claimed for the original work (comments) in OzThoughts. Where material has been sourced from other places the reference is always given. If you find OzThoughts helpful, you may use it in your ministry or elsewhere. It would be kind if you acknowledged OzThoughts as your source, and even better if you suggested people subscribe to OzThoughts].
Thank you for your prayers and support for OzThoughts Internet Ministry.
If you invite friends to subscribe they do it by sending an email (without a message) to :
OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au (Tell them to check their junk box for the reply if it does not seem to come).
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
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When Paul writes to Timothy, he could be writing to us today. We could be facing the same problems around us as Timothy faced. Paul reminds Timothy of the essential things of the Christian faith and says to run from dangers and chase after a righteous life.
1 Timothy 6:2-12 (The Message)
2-5These are the things I want you to teach and preach. If you have leaders there who teach otherwise, who refuse the solid words of our Master Jesus and this godly instruction, tag them for what they are: ignorant windbags who infect the air with germs of envy, controversy, bad-mouthing, suspicious rumours. Eventually there's an epidemic of backstabbing, and truth is but a distant memory. They think religion is a way to make a fast buck.
6-8A devout life does bring wealth, but it's the rich simplicity of being yourself before God. Since we entered the world penniless and will leave it penniless, if we have bread on the table and shoes on our feet, that's enough.
9-10But if it's only money these leaders are after, they'll self-destruct in no time. Lust for money brings trouble and nothing but trouble. Going down that path, some lose their footing in the faith completely and live to regret it bitterly ever after.
11-12But you, Timothy, man of God: Run for your life from all this. Pursue a righteous life—a life of wonder, faith, love, steadiness, courtesy. Run hard and fast in the faith. Seize the eternal life, the life you were called to, the life you so fervently embraced in the presence of so many witnesses.
[Listen: 1932 78rpm recording: http://www.regalzonophone.com/audio/MF218%20-%20(G21681)%20-%20Song%20-%20Keep%20on%20Believing.mp3
When you feel weakest, dangers surround,
Subtle temptations, troubles abound,
Nothing seems hopeful, nothing seems glad,
All is despairing, everything sad:
Chorus
Keep on believing, Jesus is near;
Keep on believing, there's nothing to fear;
Keep on believing, this is the way;
Faith in the night as well as the day.
If all were easy, if all were bright,
Where would the cross be, and where the fight?
But in the hardness, God gives to you
Chances of proving that you are true.
God is your wisdom, God is your might,
God's ever near you, guiding aright;
He understands you, knows all you need;
Trusting in him you'll surely succeed.
Let us press on then, never despair,
Live above feeling, victory's there;
Jesus can keep us so near to him
That nevermore our faith shall grow dim.
Author: Lucy Milward Booth-Hellberg (1868-1953)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 773
```````````````````````````````
[Admin Notice: Copyright is not and has never been claimed for the original work (comments) in OzThoughts. Where material has been sourced from other places the reference is always given. If you find OzThoughts helpful, you may use it in your ministry or elsewhere. It would be kind if you acknowledged OzThoughts as your source, and even better if you suggested people subscribe to OzThoughts].
Thank you for your prayers and support for OzThoughts Internet Ministry.
If you invite friends to subscribe they do it by sending an email (without a message) to :
OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au (Tell them to check their junk box for the reply if it does not seem to come).
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
You can also receive OzThoughts from the following group which you are welcome to join:
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Wednesday, September 16, 2009
OzThoughts – Thursday 17th September 2009
OzThoughts – Thursday 17th September 2009
Today’s story is one where we can focus on the action. It is such an extraordinary thing to do and would be even more extraordinary if it happened at a dinner party today. This extraordinary action is an extraordinary act of devotion and worship.
In getting caught up in the activity and reflecting on that, we must be careful not to lose sight of the communication and the teaching imbedded in it that follows. Here is Jesus declaring he can forgive event he greatest sinner. To use the words of the hymn writer, he “can make the foulest clean”.
Jesus is certainly worthy of extraordinary acts of worship. However, even in the deepest moment of worship, we must move beyond what we are doing, or what others are doing around us to listen to Jesus and his words to us.
[Listen: Songsters: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music3/mus_4402.mp3
or
Band and congregation: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/songs/songs_087.mp3
O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer's praise;
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of his grace!
My gracious Master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,
To spread through all the earth abroad
The honours of thy name.
Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
That bids our sorrows cease;
'Tis music in the sinner's ears;
'Tis life and health and peace.
He breaks the power of cancelled sin,
He sets the prisoner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean,
His blood avails for me.
Author: Charles Wesley (1707-88)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 64
Luke 7:36-50 (The Message)
36-39One of the Pharisees asked him over for a meal. He went to the Pharisee's house and sat down at the dinner table. Just then a woman of the village, the town harlot, having learned that Jesus was a guest in the home of the Pharisee, came with a bottle of very expensive perfume and stood at his feet, weeping, raining tears on his feet. Letting down her hair, she dried his feet, kissed them, and anointed them with the perfume. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man was the prophet I thought he was, he would have known what kind of woman this is who is falling all over him."
40Jesus said to him, "Simon, I have something to tell you."
"Oh? Tell me."
41-42"Two men were in debt to a banker. One owed five hundred silver pieces, the other fifty. Neither of them could pay up, and so the banker cancelled both debts. Which of the two would be more grateful?"
43-47Simon answered, "I suppose the one who was forgiven the most."
"That's right," said Jesus. Then turning to the woman, but speaking to Simon, he said, "Do you see this woman? I came to your home; you provided no water for my feet, but she rained tears on my feet and dried them with her hair. You gave me no greeting, but from the time I arrived she hasn't quit kissing my feet. You provided nothing for freshening up, but she has soothed my feet with perfume. Impressive, isn't it? She was forgiven many, many sins, and so she is very, very grateful. If the forgiveness is minimal, the gratitude is minimal."
48Then he spoke to her: "I forgive your sins."
49That set the dinner guests talking behind his back: "Who does he think he is, forgiving sins!"
50He ignored them and said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace."
```````````````````````````````
[Admin Notice: Copyright is not and has never been claimed for the original work (comments) in OzThoughts. Where material has been sourced from other places the reference is always given. If you find OzThoughts helpful, you may use it in your ministry or elsewhere. It would be kind if you acknowledged OzThoughts as your source, and even better if you suggested people subscribe to OzThoughts].
Thank you for your prayers and support for OzThoughts Internet Ministry.
If you invite friends to subscribe they do it by sending an email (without a message) to :
OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au (Tell them to check their junk box for the reply if it does not seem to come).
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
You can also receive OzThoughts from the following group which you are welcome to join:
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Subscribe: OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au
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Today’s story is one where we can focus on the action. It is such an extraordinary thing to do and would be even more extraordinary if it happened at a dinner party today. This extraordinary action is an extraordinary act of devotion and worship.
In getting caught up in the activity and reflecting on that, we must be careful not to lose sight of the communication and the teaching imbedded in it that follows. Here is Jesus declaring he can forgive event he greatest sinner. To use the words of the hymn writer, he “can make the foulest clean”.
Jesus is certainly worthy of extraordinary acts of worship. However, even in the deepest moment of worship, we must move beyond what we are doing, or what others are doing around us to listen to Jesus and his words to us.
[Listen: Songsters: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music3/mus_4402.mp3
or
Band and congregation: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/songs/songs_087.mp3
O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer's praise;
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of his grace!
My gracious Master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,
To spread through all the earth abroad
The honours of thy name.
Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
That bids our sorrows cease;
'Tis music in the sinner's ears;
'Tis life and health and peace.
He breaks the power of cancelled sin,
He sets the prisoner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean,
His blood avails for me.
Author: Charles Wesley (1707-88)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 64
Luke 7:36-50 (The Message)
36-39One of the Pharisees asked him over for a meal. He went to the Pharisee's house and sat down at the dinner table. Just then a woman of the village, the town harlot, having learned that Jesus was a guest in the home of the Pharisee, came with a bottle of very expensive perfume and stood at his feet, weeping, raining tears on his feet. Letting down her hair, she dried his feet, kissed them, and anointed them with the perfume. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man was the prophet I thought he was, he would have known what kind of woman this is who is falling all over him."
40Jesus said to him, "Simon, I have something to tell you."
"Oh? Tell me."
41-42"Two men were in debt to a banker. One owed five hundred silver pieces, the other fifty. Neither of them could pay up, and so the banker cancelled both debts. Which of the two would be more grateful?"
43-47Simon answered, "I suppose the one who was forgiven the most."
"That's right," said Jesus. Then turning to the woman, but speaking to Simon, he said, "Do you see this woman? I came to your home; you provided no water for my feet, but she rained tears on my feet and dried them with her hair. You gave me no greeting, but from the time I arrived she hasn't quit kissing my feet. You provided nothing for freshening up, but she has soothed my feet with perfume. Impressive, isn't it? She was forgiven many, many sins, and so she is very, very grateful. If the forgiveness is minimal, the gratitude is minimal."
48Then he spoke to her: "I forgive your sins."
49That set the dinner guests talking behind his back: "Who does he think he is, forgiving sins!"
50He ignored them and said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace."
```````````````````````````````
[Admin Notice: Copyright is not and has never been claimed for the original work (comments) in OzThoughts. Where material has been sourced from other places the reference is always given. If you find OzThoughts helpful, you may use it in your ministry or elsewhere. It would be kind if you acknowledged OzThoughts as your source, and even better if you suggested people subscribe to OzThoughts].
Thank you for your prayers and support for OzThoughts Internet Ministry.
If you invite friends to subscribe they do it by sending an email (without a message) to :
OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au (Tell them to check their junk box for the reply if it does not seem to come).
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
You can also receive OzThoughts from the following group which you are welcome to join:
SalvationArmy3: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/salvationarmy3/
Subscribe: OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au
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Writer (Only): OzThoughts@yahoo.com.au
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
OzThoughts – Wednesday 16th September 2009
OzThoughts – Wednesday 16th September 2009
What are the essential things of our faith?
Paul writes to Timothy:
1 Timothy 3:14-16 (The Message)
14-16I hope to visit you soon, but just in case I'm delayed, I'm writing this letter so you'll know how things ought to go in God's household, this God-alive church, bastion of truth. This Christian life is a great mystery, far exceeding our understanding, but some things are clear enough:
He appeared in a human body,
was proved right by the invisible Spirit,
was seen by angels.
He was proclaimed among all kinds of peoples,
believed in all over the world,
taken up into heavenly glory.
Now, I am sure that Paul has given a longer list than this on other occasions. I remember, too, when Paul’s list was much shorter. Remember what he wrote to the Corinthians and reminded them of his simple and focused theme in his preaching and teaching.
1 Corinthians 2:1-5 (The Message)
1-2You'll remember, friends, that when I first came to you to let you in on God's master stroke, I didn't try to impress you with polished speeches and the latest philosophy. I deliberately kept it plain and simple: first Jesus and who he is; then Jesus and what he did—Jesus crucified.
3-5I was unsure of how to go about this, and felt totally inadequate—I was scared to death, if you want the truth of it—and so nothing I said could have impressed you or anyone else. But the Message came through anyway. God's Spirit and God's power did it, which made it clear that your life of faith is a response to God's power, not to some fancy mental or emotional footwork by me or anyone else.
[Listen: Male Voice: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music3/mus_4521.mp3
or
Songsters: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_117.mp3 ]
Jesus, the name high over all,
In Hell or earth or sky;
Angels and men before him fall,
And devils fear and fly.
Chorus
We have no other argument,
We want no other plea;
It is enough that Jesus died,
And that he died for me.
Jesus, the name to sinners dear,
The name to sinners given;
He scatters all their guilty fear;
He turns their hell to Heaven.
Jesus the prisoner's fetters breaks,
And bruises Satan's head;
Power into strengthless souls he speaks,
And life into the dead.
O that the world would taste and see
The riches of his grace;
The arms of love that compass me
Would all mankind embrace.
His glorious righteousness I show,
His saving truth proclaim;
'Tis all my business here below
To cry: Behold the Lamb!
Happy, if with my latest breath
I may but gasp his name,
Preach him to all, and cry in death:
Behold, behold the Lamb!
Author: Charles Wesley (1707-88) (verses)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 60
```````````````````````````````
[Admin Notice: Copyright is not and has never been claimed for the original work (comments) in OzThoughts. Where material has been sourced from other places the reference is always given. If you find OzThoughts helpful, you may use it in your ministry or elsewhere. It would be kind if you acknowledged OzThoughts as your source, and even better if you suggested people subscribe to OzThoughts].
Thank you for your prayers and support for OzThoughts Internet Ministry.
If you invite friends to subscribe they do it by sending an email (without a message) to :
OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au (Tell them to check their junk box for the reply if it does not seem to come).
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
You can also receive OzThoughts from the following group which you are welcome to join:
SalvationArmy3: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/salvationarmy3/
Subscribe: OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au
Unsubscribe: OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com.au
OzThoughts
Writer (Only): OzThoughts@yahoo.com.au
What are the essential things of our faith?
Paul writes to Timothy:
1 Timothy 3:14-16 (The Message)
14-16I hope to visit you soon, but just in case I'm delayed, I'm writing this letter so you'll know how things ought to go in God's household, this God-alive church, bastion of truth. This Christian life is a great mystery, far exceeding our understanding, but some things are clear enough:
He appeared in a human body,
was proved right by the invisible Spirit,
was seen by angels.
He was proclaimed among all kinds of peoples,
believed in all over the world,
taken up into heavenly glory.
Now, I am sure that Paul has given a longer list than this on other occasions. I remember, too, when Paul’s list was much shorter. Remember what he wrote to the Corinthians and reminded them of his simple and focused theme in his preaching and teaching.
1 Corinthians 2:1-5 (The Message)
1-2You'll remember, friends, that when I first came to you to let you in on God's master stroke, I didn't try to impress you with polished speeches and the latest philosophy. I deliberately kept it plain and simple: first Jesus and who he is; then Jesus and what he did—Jesus crucified.
3-5I was unsure of how to go about this, and felt totally inadequate—I was scared to death, if you want the truth of it—and so nothing I said could have impressed you or anyone else. But the Message came through anyway. God's Spirit and God's power did it, which made it clear that your life of faith is a response to God's power, not to some fancy mental or emotional footwork by me or anyone else.
[Listen: Male Voice: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music3/mus_4521.mp3
or
Songsters: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_117.mp3 ]
Jesus, the name high over all,
In Hell or earth or sky;
Angels and men before him fall,
And devils fear and fly.
Chorus
We have no other argument,
We want no other plea;
It is enough that Jesus died,
And that he died for me.
Jesus, the name to sinners dear,
The name to sinners given;
He scatters all their guilty fear;
He turns their hell to Heaven.
Jesus the prisoner's fetters breaks,
And bruises Satan's head;
Power into strengthless souls he speaks,
And life into the dead.
O that the world would taste and see
The riches of his grace;
The arms of love that compass me
Would all mankind embrace.
His glorious righteousness I show,
His saving truth proclaim;
'Tis all my business here below
To cry: Behold the Lamb!
Happy, if with my latest breath
I may but gasp his name,
Preach him to all, and cry in death:
Behold, behold the Lamb!
Author: Charles Wesley (1707-88) (verses)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 60
```````````````````````````````
[Admin Notice: Copyright is not and has never been claimed for the original work (comments) in OzThoughts. Where material has been sourced from other places the reference is always given. If you find OzThoughts helpful, you may use it in your ministry or elsewhere. It would be kind if you acknowledged OzThoughts as your source, and even better if you suggested people subscribe to OzThoughts].
Thank you for your prayers and support for OzThoughts Internet Ministry.
If you invite friends to subscribe they do it by sending an email (without a message) to :
OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au (Tell them to check their junk box for the reply if it does not seem to come).
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
You can also receive OzThoughts from the following group which you are welcome to join:
SalvationArmy3: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/salvationarmy3/
Subscribe: OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au
Unsubscribe: OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com.au
OzThoughts
Writer (Only): OzThoughts@yahoo.com.au
Monday, September 14, 2009
OzThoughts –Tuesday 15th September 2009
OzThoughts –Tuesday 15th September 2009
I wonder what would move us today to act just like this:
16-17”They all realized they were in a place of holy mystery, that God was at work among them. They were quietly worshipful—and then noisily grateful, calling out among themselves, "God is back, looking to the needs of his people!" The news of Jesus spread all through the country” ?
It was not a usual event. Jesus had just interrupted a funeral procession and raised a young man to life.
Do we look for the “place of holy mystery”? Do we readily acknowledge that God is at work among us? Are we ready to proclaim "God is back, looking to the needs of his people!"?
Luke 7:11-17 (The Message)
11-15Not long after that, Jesus went to the village Nain. His disciples were with him, along with quite a large crowd. As they approached the village gate, they met a funeral procession—a woman's only son was being carried out for burial. And the mother was a widow. When Jesus saw her, his heart broke. He said to her, "Don't cry." Then he went over and touched the coffin. The pallbearers stopped. He said, "Young man, I tell you: Get up." The dead son sat up and began talking. Jesus presented him to his mother.
16-17They all realized they were in a place of holy mystery, that God was at work among them. They were quietly worshipful—and then noisily grateful, calling out among themselves, "God is back, looking to the needs of his people!" The news of Jesus spread all through the country.
[Listen: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_1197.mp3
Have you ever stopped to think how God loves you?
It sounds quite incredible, and yet it's true.
Nothing on this earth or in the heavens above
Is as sure and certain as God's love.
Chorus
O it's as high as the sky and it's as deep as the sea,
And it's as wide as the world, God's love for you and for me.
We can't escape his love, or take ourselves out of his care,
So where could we hide from his love?
His love is everywhere.
Everything is changing in the world today,
There's one thing reliable in every way,
Other things may alter but it's clear and plain
That the love of God is just the same.
Wider than the human mind can realize,
His love is unlimited and never dies;
Though we don't deserve it, every day it's new;
That's the love of God for me and you.
Author: John Gowans
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 49
[Listen: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_1200.mp3 ]
When the glory gets into your soul, my brother;
When the glory gets into your soul, my friend;
Then you'll shout the praises of your heavenly Father,
When the glory gets into your soul.
Author: John Gowans
The Salvation Army Song Book; Chorus section: 223.
(This song and this chorus are from the Gowans and Larsson musical “Glory”. )
```````````````````````````````
[Admin Notice: Copyright is not and has never been claimed for the original work (comments) in OzThoughts. Where material has been sourced from other places the reference is always given. If you find OzThoughts helpful, you may use it in your ministry or elsewhere. It would be kind if you acknowledged OzThoughts as your source, and even better if you suggested people subscribe to OzThoughts].
Thank you for your prayers and support for OzThoughts Internet Ministry.
If you invite friends to subscribe they do it by sending an email (without a message) to :
OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au (Tell them to check their junk box for the reply if it does not seem to come).
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
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I wonder what would move us today to act just like this:
16-17”They all realized they were in a place of holy mystery, that God was at work among them. They were quietly worshipful—and then noisily grateful, calling out among themselves, "God is back, looking to the needs of his people!" The news of Jesus spread all through the country” ?
It was not a usual event. Jesus had just interrupted a funeral procession and raised a young man to life.
Do we look for the “place of holy mystery”? Do we readily acknowledge that God is at work among us? Are we ready to proclaim "God is back, looking to the needs of his people!"?
Luke 7:11-17 (The Message)
11-15Not long after that, Jesus went to the village Nain. His disciples were with him, along with quite a large crowd. As they approached the village gate, they met a funeral procession—a woman's only son was being carried out for burial. And the mother was a widow. When Jesus saw her, his heart broke. He said to her, "Don't cry." Then he went over and touched the coffin. The pallbearers stopped. He said, "Young man, I tell you: Get up." The dead son sat up and began talking. Jesus presented him to his mother.
16-17They all realized they were in a place of holy mystery, that God was at work among them. They were quietly worshipful—and then noisily grateful, calling out among themselves, "God is back, looking to the needs of his people!" The news of Jesus spread all through the country.
[Listen: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_1197.mp3
Have you ever stopped to think how God loves you?
It sounds quite incredible, and yet it's true.
Nothing on this earth or in the heavens above
Is as sure and certain as God's love.
Chorus
O it's as high as the sky and it's as deep as the sea,
And it's as wide as the world, God's love for you and for me.
We can't escape his love, or take ourselves out of his care,
So where could we hide from his love?
His love is everywhere.
Everything is changing in the world today,
There's one thing reliable in every way,
Other things may alter but it's clear and plain
That the love of God is just the same.
Wider than the human mind can realize,
His love is unlimited and never dies;
Though we don't deserve it, every day it's new;
That's the love of God for me and you.
Author: John Gowans
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 49
[Listen: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_1200.mp3 ]
When the glory gets into your soul, my brother;
When the glory gets into your soul, my friend;
Then you'll shout the praises of your heavenly Father,
When the glory gets into your soul.
Author: John Gowans
The Salvation Army Song Book; Chorus section: 223.
(This song and this chorus are from the Gowans and Larsson musical “Glory”. )
```````````````````````````````
[Admin Notice: Copyright is not and has never been claimed for the original work (comments) in OzThoughts. Where material has been sourced from other places the reference is always given. If you find OzThoughts helpful, you may use it in your ministry or elsewhere. It would be kind if you acknowledged OzThoughts as your source, and even better if you suggested people subscribe to OzThoughts].
Thank you for your prayers and support for OzThoughts Internet Ministry.
If you invite friends to subscribe they do it by sending an email (without a message) to :
OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au (Tell them to check their junk box for the reply if it does not seem to come).
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Saturday, September 12, 2009
OzThoughts - Sunday Hymns and Psalms. Sunday 13th September 2009
OzThoughts - Sunday Hymns and Psalms. Sunday 13th September 2009
This day belongs to the LORD!
Let's celebrate
and be glad today.
(Psalm 118:24 Contemporary English Version)
How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is!
He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him.
Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love.
Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son. (Ephesians 1:3-6 The Message)
Psalm 19:1-6 (The Message)
A David Psalm
1-2 God's glory is on tour in the skies,
God-craft on exhibit across the horizon.
Madame Day holds classes every morning,
Professor Night lectures each evening.
3-4 Their words aren't heard,
their voices aren't recorded,
But their silence fills the earth:
unspoken truth is spoken everywhere.
4-5 God makes a huge dome
for the sun—a superdome!
The morning sun's a new husband
leaping from his honeymoon bed,
The daybreaking sun an athlete
racing to the tape.
6 That's how God's Word vaults across the skies
from sunrise to sunset,
Melting ice, scorching deserts,
warming hearts to faith.
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 160
Authors: Isaac Watts (1674-1748)
[Listen: Band : http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_977.mp3
Jesus shall reign where'er the sun
Doth his successive journeys run;
His Kingdom stretch from shore to shore,
Till suns shall rise and set no more.
2.
People and realms of every tongue
Dwell on his love with sweetest song;
And infant voices shall proclaim
Their young hosannas to his name.
3.
Blessings abound where'er he reigns,
The prisoner leaps to lose his chains,
The weary find eternal rest,
And all the sons of want are blest.
4.
Where he displays his healing power,
Death and the curse are known no more;
In him the tribes of Adam boast
More blessings than their father lost.
5.
Let every creature rise and bring
Peculiar honors to our King;
Angels descend with songs again
And earth prolong the joyful strain.
Psalm 19:7-14 (The Message)
7-9 The revelation of GOD is whole
and pulls our lives together.
The signposts of GOD are clear
and point out the right road.
The life-maps of GOD are right,
showing the way to joy.
The directions of GOD are plain
and easy on the eyes.
GOD's reputation is twenty-four-carat gold,
with a lifetime guarantee.
The decisions of GOD are accurate
down to the nth degree.
10 God's Word is better than a diamond,
better than a diamond set between emeralds.
You'll like it better than strawberries in spring,
better than red, ripe strawberries.
11-14 There's more: God's Word warns us of danger
and directs us to hidden treasure.
Otherwise how will we find our way?
Or know when we play the fool?
Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh!
Keep me from stupid sins,
from thinking I can take over your work;
Then I can start this day sun-washed,
scrubbed clean of the grime of sin.
These are the words in my mouth;
these are what I chew on and pray.
Accept them when I place them
on the morning altar,
O God, my Altar-Rock,
God, Priest-of-My-Altar.
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 653
Authors: Anon
[Listen: St Denio: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_3064.mp3 ]
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in his excellent word!
What more can he say than to you he hath said,
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled:
Chorus
No, never alone, no, never alone,
He promised he never would leave me,
Never, no never, alone.
2.
Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God, I will still give thee aid!
I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by my gracious, omnipotent hand.
When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of grief shall not thee overflow,
For I will be with thee thy trials to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
4.
When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace all-sufficient shall be thy supply;
The flames shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.
5.
The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not, desert to its foes;
That soul, though all Hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no never, no never forsake.
Prayer:
Gracious God and Father, we give you thanks
for the cross of Christ at the heart of creation,
the presence of Christ in our weakness and strength,
the power of Christ to transform our suffering . . .
for all ministries of healing,
all agencies of relief,
all that sets men free from pain, fear and distress . . .
for the assurance that your mercy knows no limit,
and for the privilege of sharing
your work of renewal through prayer. Amen.
Holy God, through your beloved Son you reconciled all things to yourself, making peace by the blood of his cross, fill us and those for whom we pray with your peace and love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(http://www.belfastcathedral.org/resources/prayer-source/item/35 )
Meditation:
[ Listen: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_2975.mp3
SUITE FOR BRASS - THREE HYMNS (Stephen Bulla)
O Worship the King
Amazing Grace
How Firm A Foundation
```````````````````````````````
Thank you for your prayers and support for OzThoughts Internet Ministry.
If you invite friends to subscribe they do it by sending an email (without a message) to :
OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au (Tell them to check their junk box for the reply if it does not seem to come).
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
You can also receive OzThoughts from the following group which you are welcome to join:
SalvationArmy3: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/salvationarmy3/
Subscribe: OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au
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Writer (Only): OzThoughts@yahoo.com.au
This day belongs to the LORD!
Let's celebrate
and be glad today.
(Psalm 118:24 Contemporary English Version)
How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is!
He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him.
Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love.
Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son. (Ephesians 1:3-6 The Message)
Psalm 19:1-6 (The Message)
A David Psalm
1-2 God's glory is on tour in the skies,
God-craft on exhibit across the horizon.
Madame Day holds classes every morning,
Professor Night lectures each evening.
3-4 Their words aren't heard,
their voices aren't recorded,
But their silence fills the earth:
unspoken truth is spoken everywhere.
4-5 God makes a huge dome
for the sun—a superdome!
The morning sun's a new husband
leaping from his honeymoon bed,
The daybreaking sun an athlete
racing to the tape.
6 That's how God's Word vaults across the skies
from sunrise to sunset,
Melting ice, scorching deserts,
warming hearts to faith.
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 160
Authors: Isaac Watts (1674-1748)
[Listen: Band : http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_977.mp3
Jesus shall reign where'er the sun
Doth his successive journeys run;
His Kingdom stretch from shore to shore,
Till suns shall rise and set no more.
2.
People and realms of every tongue
Dwell on his love with sweetest song;
And infant voices shall proclaim
Their young hosannas to his name.
3.
Blessings abound where'er he reigns,
The prisoner leaps to lose his chains,
The weary find eternal rest,
And all the sons of want are blest.
4.
Where he displays his healing power,
Death and the curse are known no more;
In him the tribes of Adam boast
More blessings than their father lost.
5.
Let every creature rise and bring
Peculiar honors to our King;
Angels descend with songs again
And earth prolong the joyful strain.
Psalm 19:7-14 (The Message)
7-9 The revelation of GOD is whole
and pulls our lives together.
The signposts of GOD are clear
and point out the right road.
The life-maps of GOD are right,
showing the way to joy.
The directions of GOD are plain
and easy on the eyes.
GOD's reputation is twenty-four-carat gold,
with a lifetime guarantee.
The decisions of GOD are accurate
down to the nth degree.
10 God's Word is better than a diamond,
better than a diamond set between emeralds.
You'll like it better than strawberries in spring,
better than red, ripe strawberries.
11-14 There's more: God's Word warns us of danger
and directs us to hidden treasure.
Otherwise how will we find our way?
Or know when we play the fool?
Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh!
Keep me from stupid sins,
from thinking I can take over your work;
Then I can start this day sun-washed,
scrubbed clean of the grime of sin.
These are the words in my mouth;
these are what I chew on and pray.
Accept them when I place them
on the morning altar,
O God, my Altar-Rock,
God, Priest-of-My-Altar.
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 653
Authors: Anon
[Listen: St Denio: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_3064.mp3 ]
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in his excellent word!
What more can he say than to you he hath said,
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled:
Chorus
No, never alone, no, never alone,
He promised he never would leave me,
Never, no never, alone.
2.
Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God, I will still give thee aid!
I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by my gracious, omnipotent hand.
When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of grief shall not thee overflow,
For I will be with thee thy trials to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
4.
When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace all-sufficient shall be thy supply;
The flames shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.
5.
The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not, desert to its foes;
That soul, though all Hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no never, no never forsake.
Prayer:
Gracious God and Father, we give you thanks
for the cross of Christ at the heart of creation,
the presence of Christ in our weakness and strength,
the power of Christ to transform our suffering . . .
for all ministries of healing,
all agencies of relief,
all that sets men free from pain, fear and distress . . .
for the assurance that your mercy knows no limit,
and for the privilege of sharing
your work of renewal through prayer. Amen.
Holy God, through your beloved Son you reconciled all things to yourself, making peace by the blood of his cross, fill us and those for whom we pray with your peace and love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(http://www.belfastcathedral.org/resources/prayer-source/item/35 )
Meditation:
[ Listen: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_2975.mp3
SUITE FOR BRASS - THREE HYMNS (Stephen Bulla)
O Worship the King
Amazing Grace
How Firm A Foundation
```````````````````````````````
Thank you for your prayers and support for OzThoughts Internet Ministry.
If you invite friends to subscribe they do it by sending an email (without a message) to :
OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au (Tell them to check their junk box for the reply if it does not seem to come).
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
You can also receive OzThoughts from the following group which you are welcome to join:
SalvationArmy3: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/salvationarmy3/
Subscribe: OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au
Unsubscribe: OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com.au
OzThoughts
Writer (Only): OzThoughts@yahoo.com.au
Australian Thoughts at the Weekend. 12th September 2009
Australian Thoughts at the Weekend. 12th September 2009
It’s Time.
Have you ever seen someone look at their watch and then almost immediately asked them “what is the time?” Almost without fail they will look at their watch again before answering you.
May that is what St Augustine meant when he said “What then is time? If no one asks me, I know what it is. If I wish to explain it to him who asks, I do not know."
It is that time of the year where I live in Australia where the debate rages on whether our State or part of it should have daylight saving. We did have some trial of daylight saving in the early 1970s. It was tried again in the early 1990s, but it was abandoned after a majority of Queenslanders voted against it in a 1992 referendum.
It continues to be a source of controversy, particularly in the highly populated south-eastern corner of the state which borders New South Wales, where daylight saving is observed. The effect of New South Wales having daylight is felt accutely on the Gold Coast which had its southern suburbs right on the border.
One of the problems Queensland faces is that it is a large State and with quite a difference between the tropical north and the populous south. The northern city of Cairns is as far from the State capital of Brisbane as Hobart, in Tasmania is. However a quick look at a map of Queensland shows that Cairns is not only north off Brisbane but is as far west as Charleville which most people would say is a western Queensland town.
Before I went to Charleville, which is 745 kilometres (460 miles) west of Brisbane, people used to look strangely at me when I said the most western town I had been to in Queensland was Cairns. They would tell me that Cairns is north of Brisbane not west. In fact, it is both. Cairns already has a sunrise and sunset later than Brisbane. Here are the sunrise and sunset times for today: Brisbane 5.49am and 5.39pm; Charleville 6.16am and 6.07pm and Cairns 6.15an and 6.12pm. Here is a map of Queensland: http://www.nrw.qld.gov.au/property/mapping/pdf/qld_a4_map_free.pdf
Many people remember the debate which raged in the early 1970s. There were many who claimed the extra hour of sunlight would fade the curtains. Others claimed, maybe with their tongue firmly in their cheek, that it would upset the cows who would not know when to come in for milking. Even others claimed that the extra hour of sunshine would make it even hotter in our already hot summer.
I was not living in Queensland when the trial of daylight saving was in place in the early 1970s as I was in Sydney where the trial also was held. I do not remember much about it other than the debate. However, I had moved to the country town of Forbes by the time permanent daylight saving was adopted in 1972 in New South Wales along with Victorria and South Australia who joined Tasmania which already had it.
The people of Forbes were divided in their opinions of daylight saving. Some loved it and took every advantage it offered. Others proclaimed they hated it and tried to maintain a dual time system in their head. Some kept their watches and clocks on what they called “proper time”.
Our Corps Sergeant Major, a lovely older lady, was very clear when she gave her announcements. She gave times in both daylight saving time and proper time. So her announcemet went sometthing like “We have a special meeting on Tuesday night with the Divisional Commander. It will start at 7pm daylight time and 6pm proper time.”
These were the days before Corps newsletters and announcement sheets, so it was not unusual for people to come an hour early for meetings because they could not remember whether it was 6pm daylight or proper time. On a couple of occasions people arrived two hours early bcause they were totally confused.
I read somewhere that people use old fashioned clocks and watches because there is something about watching hands sweep around the face marking off the seconds, minutes and hours rather than a digital clock just flicking over as the seconds or minutes pass. I thinmk there is somethimng special about old style clock cases and they seem to fit into all ytypes of décor, modern as well as heritage.
Years ago, a Major who is now a retired Commissioner decided to give us a lecture on the relationship of time and eternity. I don’t remember who ended up the most confused, himself or his listeners. One of the listeners, when the opportunity was given for questions, suggested that time was only a cailbration of a section of eternity. When he was asked to clarify what he meant, he said that a watch, a clock, or even a calendar was man made and just a device for counting of a part of eternity in which the person was living. The Major decided it was tiem to sing a song and close in prayer.
Back in 1972, the year that permanent Daylight Saving was adopted by four States, The Australian Labor Party adopted the theme “It’s Time” for its national election campaign. It was time for change, they maintained from the conservative government who had been in power for many years. “It’s time” became a well known phrase and is probably one campaign slogan which is easily brought to mind from the history of elections.
The Leader of the ALP, Mr Gough Whitlam pushed the phradse wherever he went and at every oportunity. While on the campaign he visted one town, where the crowds had gathered to hear him. A group of Scouts appeared out of the crowd and one of them handed Gough a bunch of plants. Gough looked puzzled and said “what’s this?”
The Scouts in unison replied “It’s Thyme”.
Ecclesiastes 3 (The Message)
There's a Right Time for Everything
1 There's an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth:
2-8 A right time for birth and another for death,
A right time to plant and another to reap,
A right time to kill and another to heal,
A right time to destroy and another to construct,
A right time to cry and another to laugh,
A right time to lament and another to cheer,
A right time to make love and another to abstain,
A right time to embrace and another to part,
A right time to search and another to count your losses,
A right time to hold on and another to let go,
A right time to rip out and another to mend,
A right time to shut up and another to speak up,
A right time to love and another to hate,
A right time to wage war and another to make peace.
9-13 But in the end, does it really make a difference what anyone does? I've had a good look at what God has given us to do—busywork, mostly. True, God made everything beautiful in itself and in its time—but he's left us in the dark, so we can never know what God is up to, whether he's coming or going. I've decided that there's nothing better to do than go ahead and have a good time and get the most we can out of life. That's it—eat, drink, and make the most of your job. It's God's gift.
14 I've also concluded that whatever God does, that's the way it's going to be, always. No addition, no subtraction. God's done it and that's it. That's so we'll quit asking questions and simply worship in holy fear.
15 Whatever was, is.
Whatever will be, is.
That's how it always is with God.
```````````````````````````````
Thank you for your prayers and support for OzThoughts Internet Ministry.
If you invite friends to subscribe they do it by sending an email (without a message) to :
OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au (Tell them to check their junk box for the reply if it does not seem to come).
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
You can also receive OzThoughts from the following group which you are welcome to join:
SalvationArmy3: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/salvationarmy3/
Subscribe: OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au
Unsubscribe: OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com.au
OzThoughts
Writer (Only): OzThoughts@yahoo.com.au
It’s Time.
Have you ever seen someone look at their watch and then almost immediately asked them “what is the time?” Almost without fail they will look at their watch again before answering you.
May that is what St Augustine meant when he said “What then is time? If no one asks me, I know what it is. If I wish to explain it to him who asks, I do not know."
It is that time of the year where I live in Australia where the debate rages on whether our State or part of it should have daylight saving. We did have some trial of daylight saving in the early 1970s. It was tried again in the early 1990s, but it was abandoned after a majority of Queenslanders voted against it in a 1992 referendum.
It continues to be a source of controversy, particularly in the highly populated south-eastern corner of the state which borders New South Wales, where daylight saving is observed. The effect of New South Wales having daylight is felt accutely on the Gold Coast which had its southern suburbs right on the border.
One of the problems Queensland faces is that it is a large State and with quite a difference between the tropical north and the populous south. The northern city of Cairns is as far from the State capital of Brisbane as Hobart, in Tasmania is. However a quick look at a map of Queensland shows that Cairns is not only north off Brisbane but is as far west as Charleville which most people would say is a western Queensland town.
Before I went to Charleville, which is 745 kilometres (460 miles) west of Brisbane, people used to look strangely at me when I said the most western town I had been to in Queensland was Cairns. They would tell me that Cairns is north of Brisbane not west. In fact, it is both. Cairns already has a sunrise and sunset later than Brisbane. Here are the sunrise and sunset times for today: Brisbane 5.49am and 5.39pm; Charleville 6.16am and 6.07pm and Cairns 6.15an and 6.12pm. Here is a map of Queensland: http://www.nrw.qld.gov.au/property/mapping/pdf/qld_a4_map_free.pdf
Many people remember the debate which raged in the early 1970s. There were many who claimed the extra hour of sunlight would fade the curtains. Others claimed, maybe with their tongue firmly in their cheek, that it would upset the cows who would not know when to come in for milking. Even others claimed that the extra hour of sunshine would make it even hotter in our already hot summer.
I was not living in Queensland when the trial of daylight saving was in place in the early 1970s as I was in Sydney where the trial also was held. I do not remember much about it other than the debate. However, I had moved to the country town of Forbes by the time permanent daylight saving was adopted in 1972 in New South Wales along with Victorria and South Australia who joined Tasmania which already had it.
The people of Forbes were divided in their opinions of daylight saving. Some loved it and took every advantage it offered. Others proclaimed they hated it and tried to maintain a dual time system in their head. Some kept their watches and clocks on what they called “proper time”.
Our Corps Sergeant Major, a lovely older lady, was very clear when she gave her announcements. She gave times in both daylight saving time and proper time. So her announcemet went sometthing like “We have a special meeting on Tuesday night with the Divisional Commander. It will start at 7pm daylight time and 6pm proper time.”
These were the days before Corps newsletters and announcement sheets, so it was not unusual for people to come an hour early for meetings because they could not remember whether it was 6pm daylight or proper time. On a couple of occasions people arrived two hours early bcause they were totally confused.
I read somewhere that people use old fashioned clocks and watches because there is something about watching hands sweep around the face marking off the seconds, minutes and hours rather than a digital clock just flicking over as the seconds or minutes pass. I thinmk there is somethimng special about old style clock cases and they seem to fit into all ytypes of décor, modern as well as heritage.
Years ago, a Major who is now a retired Commissioner decided to give us a lecture on the relationship of time and eternity. I don’t remember who ended up the most confused, himself or his listeners. One of the listeners, when the opportunity was given for questions, suggested that time was only a cailbration of a section of eternity. When he was asked to clarify what he meant, he said that a watch, a clock, or even a calendar was man made and just a device for counting of a part of eternity in which the person was living. The Major decided it was tiem to sing a song and close in prayer.
Back in 1972, the year that permanent Daylight Saving was adopted by four States, The Australian Labor Party adopted the theme “It’s Time” for its national election campaign. It was time for change, they maintained from the conservative government who had been in power for many years. “It’s time” became a well known phrase and is probably one campaign slogan which is easily brought to mind from the history of elections.
The Leader of the ALP, Mr Gough Whitlam pushed the phradse wherever he went and at every oportunity. While on the campaign he visted one town, where the crowds had gathered to hear him. A group of Scouts appeared out of the crowd and one of them handed Gough a bunch of plants. Gough looked puzzled and said “what’s this?”
The Scouts in unison replied “It’s Thyme”.
Ecclesiastes 3 (The Message)
There's a Right Time for Everything
1 There's an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth:
2-8 A right time for birth and another for death,
A right time to plant and another to reap,
A right time to kill and another to heal,
A right time to destroy and another to construct,
A right time to cry and another to laugh,
A right time to lament and another to cheer,
A right time to make love and another to abstain,
A right time to embrace and another to part,
A right time to search and another to count your losses,
A right time to hold on and another to let go,
A right time to rip out and another to mend,
A right time to shut up and another to speak up,
A right time to love and another to hate,
A right time to wage war and another to make peace.
9-13 But in the end, does it really make a difference what anyone does? I've had a good look at what God has given us to do—busywork, mostly. True, God made everything beautiful in itself and in its time—but he's left us in the dark, so we can never know what God is up to, whether he's coming or going. I've decided that there's nothing better to do than go ahead and have a good time and get the most we can out of life. That's it—eat, drink, and make the most of your job. It's God's gift.
14 I've also concluded that whatever God does, that's the way it's going to be, always. No addition, no subtraction. God's done it and that's it. That's so we'll quit asking questions and simply worship in holy fear.
15 Whatever was, is.
Whatever will be, is.
That's how it always is with God.
```````````````````````````````
Thank you for your prayers and support for OzThoughts Internet Ministry.
If you invite friends to subscribe they do it by sending an email (without a message) to :
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Friday, September 11, 2009
OzThoughts –Friday 11th September 2009
OzThoughts –Friday 11th September 2009
[Admin Notice: Copyright is not and has never been claimed for the original work (comments) in OzThoughts. Where material has been sourced from other places the reference is always given. If you find OzThoughts helpful, you may use it in your ministry or elsewhere. It would be kind if you acknowledged OzThoughts as your source, and even better if you suggested they subscribe to OzThoughts].
Recently I again travelled in a car with one of those navigation devices. It showed the road on a small screen in front of the driver and marked just where we were on the road. The driver turned down the voice so we occasionally watched the screen as we went down the well marked highway.
It was when we were travelling on a new piece of road that someone noticed that the mark showing the car’s position on the screen was way off the road. We realised that the road on the screen was the old road and the new road we were travelling was not on the screen.
There was no problem as in the bright sunshine the new road could be clearly seen. I remembered then that twice recently fishing boats had been wrecked on a new rock wall at the mouth of the Brisbane River which was not being shown on the navigation device on the boat.
In today’s Psalm, David expresses his confidence in God. God is not like some device that can be bought. God never fails. His leadership never fails. Our destination with him is sure.
Psalm 16:1-11 (The Message)
1-2 Keep me safe, O God, I've run for dear life to you.
I say to GOD, "Be my Lord!"
Without you, nothing makes sense.
3 And these God-chosen lives all around—
what splendid friends they make!
4 Don't just go shopping for a god.
Gods are not for sale.
I swear I'll never treat god-names
like brand-names.
5-6 My choice is you, GOD, first and only.
And now I find I'm your choice!
You set me up with a house and yard.
And then you made me your heir!
7-8 The wise counsel GOD gives when I'm awake
is confirmed by my sleeping heart.
Day and night I'll stick with GOD;
I've got a good thing going and I'm not letting go.
9-10 I'm happy from the inside out,
and from the outside in, I'm firmly formed.
You cancelled my ticket to hell—
that's not my destination!
11 Now you've got my feet on the life path,
all radiant from the shining of your face.
Ever since you took my hand,
I'm on the right way.
[Listen: Male Voice: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_1594.mp3
or
Band: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_592.mp3 ]
Thou art the way, none other dare I follow;
Thou art the truth, and thou hast made me free;
Thou art the life, the hope of my tomorrow;
Thou art the Christ who died for me.
This is my creed, that 'mid earth's sin and sorrow,
My life may guide men unto thee.
Hold thou my feet, let there be no returning
Along the path which thou hast bid me tread;
Train thou my mind, I would be ever learning
The better way thy fame to spread;
Keep thou my heart ablaze with holy burning
That love for souls may ne'er be dead.
I would bring peace to lives now torn asunder,
Ease aching hearts with words that soothe and heal;
I would bring peace when, breaking like the thunder,
Men rise in war, and hatred feel.
Peacemaker, Lord! Now I am stirred to wonder;
O take me, and my calling seal!
Author: Arch R. Wiggins (1893-1976)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 529
```````````````````````````````
Thank you for your prayers and support for OzThoughts Internet Ministry.
If you invite friends to subscribe they do it by sending an email (without a message) to :
OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au (Tell them to check their junk box for the reply if it does not seem to come).
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Writer (Only): OzThoughts@yahoo.com.au
[Admin Notice: Copyright is not and has never been claimed for the original work (comments) in OzThoughts. Where material has been sourced from other places the reference is always given. If you find OzThoughts helpful, you may use it in your ministry or elsewhere. It would be kind if you acknowledged OzThoughts as your source, and even better if you suggested they subscribe to OzThoughts].
Recently I again travelled in a car with one of those navigation devices. It showed the road on a small screen in front of the driver and marked just where we were on the road. The driver turned down the voice so we occasionally watched the screen as we went down the well marked highway.
It was when we were travelling on a new piece of road that someone noticed that the mark showing the car’s position on the screen was way off the road. We realised that the road on the screen was the old road and the new road we were travelling was not on the screen.
There was no problem as in the bright sunshine the new road could be clearly seen. I remembered then that twice recently fishing boats had been wrecked on a new rock wall at the mouth of the Brisbane River which was not being shown on the navigation device on the boat.
In today’s Psalm, David expresses his confidence in God. God is not like some device that can be bought. God never fails. His leadership never fails. Our destination with him is sure.
Psalm 16:1-11 (The Message)
1-2 Keep me safe, O God, I've run for dear life to you.
I say to GOD, "Be my Lord!"
Without you, nothing makes sense.
3 And these God-chosen lives all around—
what splendid friends they make!
4 Don't just go shopping for a god.
Gods are not for sale.
I swear I'll never treat god-names
like brand-names.
5-6 My choice is you, GOD, first and only.
And now I find I'm your choice!
You set me up with a house and yard.
And then you made me your heir!
7-8 The wise counsel GOD gives when I'm awake
is confirmed by my sleeping heart.
Day and night I'll stick with GOD;
I've got a good thing going and I'm not letting go.
9-10 I'm happy from the inside out,
and from the outside in, I'm firmly formed.
You cancelled my ticket to hell—
that's not my destination!
11 Now you've got my feet on the life path,
all radiant from the shining of your face.
Ever since you took my hand,
I'm on the right way.
[Listen: Male Voice: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_1594.mp3
or
Band: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_592.mp3 ]
Thou art the way, none other dare I follow;
Thou art the truth, and thou hast made me free;
Thou art the life, the hope of my tomorrow;
Thou art the Christ who died for me.
This is my creed, that 'mid earth's sin and sorrow,
My life may guide men unto thee.
Hold thou my feet, let there be no returning
Along the path which thou hast bid me tread;
Train thou my mind, I would be ever learning
The better way thy fame to spread;
Keep thou my heart ablaze with holy burning
That love for souls may ne'er be dead.
I would bring peace to lives now torn asunder,
Ease aching hearts with words that soothe and heal;
I would bring peace when, breaking like the thunder,
Men rise in war, and hatred feel.
Peacemaker, Lord! Now I am stirred to wonder;
O take me, and my calling seal!
Author: Arch R. Wiggins (1893-1976)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 529
```````````````````````````````
Thank you for your prayers and support for OzThoughts Internet Ministry.
If you invite friends to subscribe they do it by sending an email (without a message) to :
OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au (Tell them to check their junk box for the reply if it does not seem to come).
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
You can also receive OzThoughts from the following group which you are welcome to join:
SalvationArmy3: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/salvationarmy3/
Subscribe: OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au
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Writer (Only): OzThoughts@yahoo.com.au
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
OzThoughts – Thursday 10th September 2009
OzThoughts – Thursday 10th September 2009
Today’s Psalm encourages us in worship. There is no need for any comment just us response from deep within us.
Psalm 150 (The Message)
1-6 Hallelujah! Praise God in his holy house of worship,
praise him under the open skies;
Praise him for his acts of power,
praise him for his magnificent greatness;
Praise with a blast on the trumpet,
praise by strumming soft strings;
Praise him with castanets and dance,
praise him with banjo and flute;
Praise him with cymbals and a big bass drum,
praise him with fiddles and mandolin.
Let every living, breathing creature praise GOD!
Hallelujah!
[Listen: Choir: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music3/mus_4785.mp3
or
Look and Listen: Band in the Park: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_pIC8C72tY
Praise, my soul, the King the Heaven,
To his feet thy tribute bring;
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
Who like thee his praise should sing?
Praise Him!
Praise the everlasting King.
Praise him for this grace and favor
To our fathers in distress;
Praise him still the same as ever,
Slow to chide and swift to bless;
Praise him!
Glorious in his faithfulness.
Father-like he tends and spares us;
Well our feeble frame he knows,
In his hands he gently bears us,
Rescues us from all our foes.
Praise him!
Widely as his mercy flows.
Angels in the heights adore him,
Ye behold him face to face;
Sun and moon bow down before him:
Dwellers all in time and space,
Praise him!
Praise with us the God of grace.
Author: Henry Francis Lyte (1793-1847)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 17
```````````````````````````````
Thank you for your prayers and support for OzThoughts Internet Ministry.
If you invite friends to subscribe they do it by sending an email (without a message) to :
OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au (Tell them to check their junk box for the reply if it does not seem to come).
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
You can also receive OzThoughts from the following group which you are welcome to join:
SalvationArmy3: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/salvationarmy3/
Subscribe: OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au
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OzThoughts
Writer (Only): OzThoughts@yahoo.com.au
Today’s Psalm encourages us in worship. There is no need for any comment just us response from deep within us.
Psalm 150 (The Message)
1-6 Hallelujah! Praise God in his holy house of worship,
praise him under the open skies;
Praise him for his acts of power,
praise him for his magnificent greatness;
Praise with a blast on the trumpet,
praise by strumming soft strings;
Praise him with castanets and dance,
praise him with banjo and flute;
Praise him with cymbals and a big bass drum,
praise him with fiddles and mandolin.
Let every living, breathing creature praise GOD!
Hallelujah!
[Listen: Choir: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music3/mus_4785.mp3
or
Look and Listen: Band in the Park: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_pIC8C72tY
Praise, my soul, the King the Heaven,
To his feet thy tribute bring;
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
Who like thee his praise should sing?
Praise Him!
Praise the everlasting King.
Praise him for this grace and favor
To our fathers in distress;
Praise him still the same as ever,
Slow to chide and swift to bless;
Praise him!
Glorious in his faithfulness.
Father-like he tends and spares us;
Well our feeble frame he knows,
In his hands he gently bears us,
Rescues us from all our foes.
Praise him!
Widely as his mercy flows.
Angels in the heights adore him,
Ye behold him face to face;
Sun and moon bow down before him:
Dwellers all in time and space,
Praise him!
Praise with us the God of grace.
Author: Henry Francis Lyte (1793-1847)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 17
```````````````````````````````
Thank you for your prayers and support for OzThoughts Internet Ministry.
If you invite friends to subscribe they do it by sending an email (without a message) to :
OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au (Tell them to check their junk box for the reply if it does not seem to come).
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
You can also receive OzThoughts from the following group which you are welcome to join:
SalvationArmy3: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/salvationarmy3/
Subscribe: OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au
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Writer (Only): OzThoughts@yahoo.com.au
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
OzThoughts – Wednesday 9th September 2009
OzThoughts – Wednesday 9th September 2009
We are all very familiar with the Sermon on the Mount but today’s reading from Luke’s Gospel is the beginning of the Sermon on the Level Place or as the Message has it as the Sermon on the Plain.
Luke 6:17-21 (The Message)
17-21 Coming down off the mountain with them, he stood on a plain surrounded by disciples, and was soon joined by a huge congregation from all over Judea and Jerusalem, even from the seaside towns of Tyre and Sidon. They had come both to hear him and to be cured of their ailments. Those disturbed by evil spirits were healed. Everyone was trying to touch him—so much energy surging from him, so many people healed! Then he spoke:
You're blessed when you've lost it all.
God's kingdom is there for the finding.
You're blessed when you're ravenously hungry.
Then you're ready for the Messianic meal.
You're blessed when the tears flow freely.
Joy comes with the morning.
As I read these last six lines, which are but the beginning of the Sermon, I thought we have a whole industry of people including psychiatrists and psychologists, counsellors and social workers who seek to read and interpret people’s thinking, emotions and feelings. Yet, Jesus here seems to turn it all on its head.
However, its not just earthly results which comes from how you feel. It is eternal things like God’s Kingdom, the fullness of the Messiah and real joy.
How do you feel? Seek eternal things!
Prayer (Using our Song Book as our Prayer Book):
[Listen: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_1600.mp3 ]
I bring to thee my heart to fill;
I feel how weak I am, but still
To thee for help I call.
In joy or grief, to live or die,
For earth or Heaven, this is my cry,
Be thou my all in all.
Chorus
Christ is all, yes, all in all.
My Christ is all in all.
Around me in the world I see
No joy that turns my soul from thee;
Its honors fade and fall;
But with thee, though I mount the cross,
I count it gain to suffer loss,
For thou art all in all.
I've little strength to call my own,
And what I've done, before thy throne
I here confess, is small;
But on thy strength. O God, I lean,
And through the blood that makes me clean,
Thou art my all in all.
No tempest can my courage shake,
My love from thee no pain can take,
No fear my heart appall;
And where I cannot see I'll trust,
For then I know thou surely must
Be still my all in all.
Authors: Herbert Howard Booth (1862-1926) (verses),
W.H. Williams (chorus)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 489
```````````````````````````````
Thank you for your prayers and support for OzThoughts Internet Ministry.
If you invite friends to subscribe they do it by sending an email (without a message) to :
OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au (Tell them to check their junk box for the reply if it does not seem to come).
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
You can also receive OzThoughts from the following group which you are welcome to join:
SalvationArmy3: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/salvationarmy3/
Subscribe: OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au
Unsubscribe: OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com.au
OzThoughts
Writer (Only): OzThoughts@yahoo.com.au
We are all very familiar with the Sermon on the Mount but today’s reading from Luke’s Gospel is the beginning of the Sermon on the Level Place or as the Message has it as the Sermon on the Plain.
Luke 6:17-21 (The Message)
17-21 Coming down off the mountain with them, he stood on a plain surrounded by disciples, and was soon joined by a huge congregation from all over Judea and Jerusalem, even from the seaside towns of Tyre and Sidon. They had come both to hear him and to be cured of their ailments. Those disturbed by evil spirits were healed. Everyone was trying to touch him—so much energy surging from him, so many people healed! Then he spoke:
You're blessed when you've lost it all.
God's kingdom is there for the finding.
You're blessed when you're ravenously hungry.
Then you're ready for the Messianic meal.
You're blessed when the tears flow freely.
Joy comes with the morning.
As I read these last six lines, which are but the beginning of the Sermon, I thought we have a whole industry of people including psychiatrists and psychologists, counsellors and social workers who seek to read and interpret people’s thinking, emotions and feelings. Yet, Jesus here seems to turn it all on its head.
However, its not just earthly results which comes from how you feel. It is eternal things like God’s Kingdom, the fullness of the Messiah and real joy.
How do you feel? Seek eternal things!
Prayer (Using our Song Book as our Prayer Book):
[Listen: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_1600.mp3 ]
I bring to thee my heart to fill;
I feel how weak I am, but still
To thee for help I call.
In joy or grief, to live or die,
For earth or Heaven, this is my cry,
Be thou my all in all.
Chorus
Christ is all, yes, all in all.
My Christ is all in all.
Around me in the world I see
No joy that turns my soul from thee;
Its honors fade and fall;
But with thee, though I mount the cross,
I count it gain to suffer loss,
For thou art all in all.
I've little strength to call my own,
And what I've done, before thy throne
I here confess, is small;
But on thy strength. O God, I lean,
And through the blood that makes me clean,
Thou art my all in all.
No tempest can my courage shake,
My love from thee no pain can take,
No fear my heart appall;
And where I cannot see I'll trust,
For then I know thou surely must
Be still my all in all.
Authors: Herbert Howard Booth (1862-1926) (verses),
W.H. Williams (chorus)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 489
```````````````````````````````
Thank you for your prayers and support for OzThoughts Internet Ministry.
If you invite friends to subscribe they do it by sending an email (without a message) to :
OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au (Tell them to check their junk box for the reply if it does not seem to come).
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
You can also receive OzThoughts from the following group which you are welcome to join:
SalvationArmy3: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/salvationarmy3/
Subscribe: OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au
Unsubscribe: OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com.au
OzThoughts
Writer (Only): OzThoughts@yahoo.com.au
Sunday, September 6, 2009
OzThoughts – Monday 7th September 2009
OzThoughts – Monday 7th September 2009
As I read today’s passage from Luke it seemed it would be good to do a Bible study of Jesus in the synagogue and the temple. Maybe someone will have already done it and we can benefit from their work.
One off the things that we can do is picture Jesus coming to our “meeting place” whether it be a Chapel, Church, Cathedral or Citadel. Let’s read the following extract and imagine we watched what’s happening right in our meeting place. For the “religious scholars and Pharisees” read it as our “church leadership team.”
Luke 6:6-11 (The Message)
6-8 On another Sabbath he (Jesus) went to the meeting place and taught. There was a man there with a crippled right hand. The religion scholars and Pharisees had their eye on Jesus to see if he would heal the man, hoping to catch him in a Sabbath infraction. He knew what they were up to and spoke to the man with the crippled hand: "Get up and stand here before us." He did.
9 Then Jesus addressed them, "Let me ask you something: What kind of action suits the Sabbath best? Doing good or doing evil? Helping people or leaving them helpless?"
10-11 He looked around, looked each one in the eye. He said to the man, "Hold out your hand." He held it out—it was as good as new! They were beside themselves with anger, and started plotting how they might get even with him.
Now, how would we answer such a disruption and disregard for things as they has always been or even as we desire them to be?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, help me to be ready for the disruption to things as I see them in this week. Father, you plan to meet people’s needs, and I pray I might be a part of that plan if it is your will. Give me both courage and obedient faith. Amen.
[Listen: Male Voice: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_1716.mp3 ]
He walks with God who speaks to God in prayer,
And daily brings to him his daily care;
Possessing inward peace, he truly knows
A heart's refreshment and a soul's repose.
He walks with God who, as he onward moves,
Follows the footsteps of the Lord he loves,
And keeping him forever in his view,
His Saviour sees and his example too.
He walks with God who turns his face to Heaven,
And keeps the blest commands by Jesus given;
His life upright, his end untroubled peace,
Whom God will crown when all his labors cease.
Authors: Dorothy Ann Thrupp (1779-1847), alt
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 580
```````````````````````````````
Thank you for your prayers and support for OzThoughts Internet Ministry.
If you invite friends to subscribe they do it by sending an email (without a message) to :
OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au (Tell them to check their junk box for the reply if it does not seem to come).
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
You can also receive OzThoughts from the following group which you are welcome to join:
SalvationArmy3: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/salvationarmy3/
Subscribe: OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au
Unsubscribe: OzThoughtsInternetMinistry-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com.au
OzThoughts
Writer (Only): OzThoughts@yahoo.com.au
As I read today’s passage from Luke it seemed it would be good to do a Bible study of Jesus in the synagogue and the temple. Maybe someone will have already done it and we can benefit from their work.
One off the things that we can do is picture Jesus coming to our “meeting place” whether it be a Chapel, Church, Cathedral or Citadel. Let’s read the following extract and imagine we watched what’s happening right in our meeting place. For the “religious scholars and Pharisees” read it as our “church leadership team.”
Luke 6:6-11 (The Message)
6-8 On another Sabbath he (Jesus) went to the meeting place and taught. There was a man there with a crippled right hand. The religion scholars and Pharisees had their eye on Jesus to see if he would heal the man, hoping to catch him in a Sabbath infraction. He knew what they were up to and spoke to the man with the crippled hand: "Get up and stand here before us." He did.
9 Then Jesus addressed them, "Let me ask you something: What kind of action suits the Sabbath best? Doing good or doing evil? Helping people or leaving them helpless?"
10-11 He looked around, looked each one in the eye. He said to the man, "Hold out your hand." He held it out—it was as good as new! They were beside themselves with anger, and started plotting how they might get even with him.
Now, how would we answer such a disruption and disregard for things as they has always been or even as we desire them to be?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, help me to be ready for the disruption to things as I see them in this week. Father, you plan to meet people’s needs, and I pray I might be a part of that plan if it is your will. Give me both courage and obedient faith. Amen.
[Listen: Male Voice: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_1716.mp3 ]
He walks with God who speaks to God in prayer,
And daily brings to him his daily care;
Possessing inward peace, he truly knows
A heart's refreshment and a soul's repose.
He walks with God who, as he onward moves,
Follows the footsteps of the Lord he loves,
And keeping him forever in his view,
His Saviour sees and his example too.
He walks with God who turns his face to Heaven,
And keeps the blest commands by Jesus given;
His life upright, his end untroubled peace,
Whom God will crown when all his labors cease.
Authors: Dorothy Ann Thrupp (1779-1847), alt
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 580
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