Strange Ideas about Christians

People sometime have strange ideas about Christians. Too often the media wants to lump all Christians in the one basket. So do a lot of other people. The reality is Christians are a varied lot. What they do have in common is a saving faith in the work of Christ on the cross. Some Christians will not touch alcohol. They see alcohol as a major problem in society, which it is, and one that often causes other problems making people behave in a way that they would not normally do. So they choose to abstain from alcohol. The problem occurs … Continue reading

You are a PR person

Many businesses these days have PR or public relations people who are the visible face and voice of the business. They are the one who present a positive image to the world. They advertise it. But have you ever though that you are a PR person for your church firstly and for Jesus? I hadn’t thought if it quite like that until a friend recently said to me, ’You’d be a good PR person for your church. Oh hang on, I guess you already are.’ It’s true that those outside the church – our neighbors, friends, family and workmates are … Continue reading

Listening to God

The other day we looked at some helpful verses from Isaiah and what God says about the way to be saved, Isaiah 30:11. The key here is, like Israel, we need to be willing. They wanted to do their own thing, instead of listening to God, so He let them. It shows us the danger of switching off from God, because when we do that things don’t work out as we plan. Meanwhile God wanted and longed to be gracious, Isaiah 30:18. So often we too shut God out when He longs to be gracious to us. Yet when His … Continue reading

Hard Truths

Too often in society and even in many of today’s churches, we don’t hear all that much about judgment. It’s something people don’t want to think about much less hear about. But the bible is very clear that though God is a God of love and grace, He is also a god of judgment. We cannot ignore that fact. We can try, but it won’t change the facts. Isaiah is a book that has a lot about God’s judgment. Some of it is judgment of other nations. Some concerns judgment of His own people. Isaiah 30 is a passage that … Continue reading

Can You Forgive?

Forgiveness, it’s a word we often hear in church. In fact, we hear about forgiveness every time we say the Lord’s Prayer. But how much notice do we take of it? Or do we skim over that bit? Forgiveness sound good when we’re on the receiving end of it from God or from others but its not always so easy when we’re on the other end. It’s not always easy to do. Our minister gave a great talk last week and the theme was forgiveness. It is something that is sadly needed in our marriages, in our relationships with family … Continue reading

All About Attitude

So much depends on our attitude towards the people we meet and the circumstances in our lives, circumstances often over which we have no control. In Philippians 1 Paul has a lot to teach us about attitude. Though he was in prison at the time of writing this letter to the Philippians and might have bemoaned his fate, he did not. Instead he saw that it would turn out for his deliverance. He could have sat on his behind and did nothing while in prison. Instead he chose to write and encourage those in the church with his words of … Continue reading

Learning from the Bible

In the letter to the Philippians, Paul and Timothy labeled themselves as servants of Christ? Is this the way we would describe ourselves? Their message is to the Philippians but it applies equality as much to us Christians today. Paul thanked God for the church at Philippi and the company of believers, Philippians 1:3. How long since we remembered to thank God for our church and the people in it? Do we take time to thank God for those people who are special to us? Are we, like Paul and Timothy and the Philippians, participating in the spread of the … Continue reading

Is the Bible Irrelevant?

Is the Bible irrelevant? Apparently many people, and some of them those who claim to be Christians, think so. That’s the conclusion drawn from statistics produced recently which showed the staggering fact that ‘less than 2 of every 10 Christians in Australia are engaging with God on a daily basis through the Word.’ This is horrifying. How can our churches grow, how can Christians hope to grow in knowledge of God, in obedience in holiness unless they are reading His Word? As I read write this I am convicted that today I have not stopped and taken that prayer and … Continue reading

Watch Your Words

Whether we like it or not, our words define us. They reveal out thoughts and heart attitudes. Jesus knew this. See Matthew 12:34-37 and Mark 7:15-23.You know it too. Listen to someone you know talk. It is easy to pick up clues about the type of person they are from the words they say and the tone of voice in which it is said. Impatience stubbornness, anger, impatience, jealousy will all show up in a person’s words or tone. So will love, gentleness, generosity, patience. Before you jump in and add your thoughts to a conversation, can I suggest you … Continue reading

How to Put Christ back into Christmas

‘Christmas would be great if they didn’t try and bring religion in it,’ I heard someone say. Well I’m sorry, but you can’t have Christmas without Christ. That’s what Christmas is all about. Santa and presents, the tree and decorations, food and family and all those other things are peripheral. They are not what make Christmas. You can have all those things and it may be a celebration of some sort but it is not Christmas. Christmas is about Jesus. Too often though, He is pushed aside. So here are some ways to put Christ back into Christmas. Send out … Continue reading