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.
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