Pray for Thailand

Posted by on October 27, 2011 Comments Off

Here are some things to pray for (from a friend who is a missionary in Thailand)

  • Please pray for the people suffering from one of the worst floods in Thailand’s history.
  • Please pray that the government will be able to better handle the crisis and aid will get to the flooding victims in time.
  • Please pray that people will turn to God in their time of crisis.
  • Please pray for Thai Christians and missionaries that we won’t respond in fear but will be reaching out to help those affected by the flooding.

Myth busting

Posted by on October 11, 2011 Comments Off

This series of talks are currently happening at church in the hope that we will bust some of the myths surrounding Christianity and set the record straight. We’d love you to come listen to any or all of them, examine the Bible with us, ask questions, and hopefully get meaningful, satisfying, and even life-changing answers from God and His word.

On our part, we promise to respect where you’re coming from, and not demand anything from you. And we promise free dinners after church! We sincerely hope you’ll check us, the Bible, Jesus, and Christianity out.

09/10 – Christianity is for mindless morons
16/10 – Christianity does more harm than good
23/10 – Christianity is for wimps
30/10 – Christians hate homosexuals
06/11 – Christians are all hypocrites
13/11 – All religions are the same
20/11 – You can’t take the Bible literally
27/11 – …so what does all this mean for me?

Christians offer hope in Japan

Posted by on September 21, 2011 Comments Off

In all our busyness, especially leading up to the SMBC team joining us next week, let’s not forget about Japan, and their continued need for our prayers. See here for the ongoing work post-earthquake / tsunami, and the prayer points are at the bottom of the page

Piper in Brisbane, revisited

Posted by on August 29, 2011 1 comment

A number of 5:17ers were able to go to see and hear John Piper speak last Thursday evening at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre – wasn’t it a great wake up call to not waste your life?

In case you missed out, or you want to hear his message again, it’s now available on youtube:

There’s also a textual summary of his message as live blogged by Nathan Campbell – read it here.

Watch/listen/read, and be reminded of what it means to live an unwasted life.

“I will wait for you”

Posted by on August 23, 2011 Comments Off

A great message for Christian girls (and guys) who are seeking a marriage partner

Not sure about the finger clicking though!

HT: TA

A prayer when feeling tired and weary

Posted by on August 18, 2011 1 comment

With lots of 5:17ers feeling sick and quite fatigued at the moment, I thought I’d share a prayer that I’ve found helpful. It’s from Pastor Scotty Smith’s blog (I highly recommend it!).

A Prayer When Feeling Tired and Weary

The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isa. 40:28–31

Gracious Father, this was one of the first Scriptures I memorized as a young believer, yet reading it today is like finding a new treasure in an old field. That’s one of the things I most love about your Word. It’s never antiquated or redundant but always vintage and ever new. You’re the God who speaks in specifics and without stuttering. You’re the Father who knows what we need even before we ask, and you provide before we ask.

This passage from Isaiah is underlined multiple times in my favorite Bible, and for good reason. It reminds me that you’re not like me, in so many ways. You never get tired or weary. I do and I am. Accepting limitations, finiteness, and weakness has never been one of my strengths. But I must. Since youths grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall, why do I think I’m exempt from “running on empty” and hitting a wall?

Father, I’m not asking to soar like an eagle, as cool as that might be, and I’m not seeking to run like a marathoner, though I’d love the legs and lungs to do so. Just walking upright with a renewed heart, a steady gait and replenished energy will be enough.

My hope is in you, Abba, Father, for you promise daily mercies, steadfast love and sufficient grace. I’m not depleted, though I’m heading in that direction. I’m not medicating in destructive ways, though tempted at times. I’m not depressed, but have enough of the blues and blahs to take my condition seriously. I look to you for all the spiritual, emotional, mental and physical strength I need. The next few months are going to really busy. Send your Spirit. Please grant me good sleep and real Sabbath.

Because Jesus embraced the ultimate weakness and weariness of the cross, I’m confident of your burden-bearing love. You are the perfect, present and persistent Father. I may be weary in my servanthood, but I’m secure in my sonship. Nothing can separate me from your love. So very Amen I pray in Jesus’ tender and triumphant name.

August 13, 2011

Source: http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/scottysmith/2011/08/13/a-prayer-when-feeling-tired-and-weary/

5 Reasons Anders Breivik was Dreadfully Wrong

Posted by on July 28, 2011 Comments Off

Over at the Mitchelton Presbyterian Church website, Phil Campbell has written a short article responding to the claim (from certain parts of the media) that Anders Breivik acted as a Christian when committing the horrendous Norway massacre. I’ve found the article a helpful read. Here is the introduction and link:

As investigations continue into Friday’s ‘terror attack’ in Norway, disturbing details have emerged. The shooting, which has killed 92, happened shortly after a huge car bomb exploded outside government offices in Oslo, the capital of Norway. Seven were killed, and at least 15 injured in the blast. After initial claims that the attacks were the work of Al-Quaida, reports now reveal the suspect, Anders Breivik, as a right-wing Christian Zionist of Norwegian descent.The question is, how could any kind of Christian, Zionist or not, see an act like this as being consistent with the Kingdom of Jesus Christ? Here are five reasons he’s terribly wrong.

Click here to read the 5 reasons.

TWIST 2011

Posted by on July 28, 2011 Comments Off

Coming up on October 5 is the annual TWIST (The Word in Song Together) music conference. TWIST2011 is about encouraging all Christians to celebrate, share and remember the gospel in song. So this evening is for everyone, and will be packed with awesome teaching, singing and heartfelt response to the Word of Christ.

The main speaker will be Bob Kauflin – he’s the Director of Worship Development for Sovereign Grace Ministries, US. His influence in contemporary church music across the world is characterised by a deep commitment to Biblical truth and desire to see Christians sing that truth with passion. He wrote quite a few 5:17 church song favourites: “Receive the Glory, Let Your Kingdom Come etc”, and wrote a very helpful book called “Worship Matters” (highly recommended to all our muso’s).

When is it? Wednesday, 5th October (7pm – 9:30pm)
Where will it be? Creek Road Presbyterian Church (cnr Creek and Fursden Roads, Carina)
How much will it cost? $20

To register, go here

K me and BobHere’s a shameless photo of Bob, Keiyeng and I – when we were at the Worship God 09 conference at Bob’s home church (in Maryland, U.S). We had lunch with Bob and his family, and were incredibly encouraged by his love for Jesus, and his honest other-person centredness. He was a great model for me as a Christian man.

Am I ashamed of the Gospel?

Posted by on July 27, 2011 Comments Off

Sometimes I feel scared of sharing the gospel. People might think, “but you’re a pastor, it’s part of your job”. But sharing the gospel with my friends and family can be hard. I’m scared of being rejected. It is easy to think “how can my words change their lives?” I’ve always felt that I’m not a good speaker, or a clever debater.

It’s easy to think lowly of myself. I’ve always had a fairly low view of my abilities. It’s part of my family genes I think. Although I love reading Christian biographies, many of them make me feel so small, especially when I read of the amazing things that God did through people like the Apostle Paul. Paul is deservedly one of my heroes. It’s easy to put Paul up on a pedestal – thinking that he was super human. But I have found so much encouragement that Paul felt the same as me in many ways. He said in 1 Corinthians 2:3-4 – And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom.

How did Paul become such a great evangelist when he struggled with weakness and fear and much trembling? Paul answered this question in Romans 1:16 where he said, For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Paul wasn’t ashamed of the gospel.

What is the gospel? – For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. Why wasn’t Paul ashamed of the gospel? Because he knew that the gospel is the power of God to change human lives. The power was not in Paul. Paul’s eloquence of speech and his way of arguing did not change people’s lives. It is the gospel which is the power of God to turn hopelessness into hope. Paul knew we Christians are never called to convert people – only God can do that. But we are told to share the life-changing message of the cross. I may sometimes feel weak, fearful, trembling at the thought of evangelism. But Paul reminds me that I have no reason to be ashamed of the gospel. It changed my life. It can change others also.

A prayer for the timid gospel messenger: “Father, help me to trust in your empowering, and help me to declare your salvation to all, boldly and unashamadly, as I should. Please be strong amidst my weakness so that many may believe in your Son, the Lord Jesus, and have new hope and life. Amen”

CMS Rooftop Chillout

Posted by on July 26, 2011 Comments Off

Roof Top Chill Out! Sat Aug 6th
You haven’t been to a fundraiser like this one before! It’s kinda like a café, on the roof, in the Valley, in winter!?! The Rooftop Chillout is a fundraiser with a goal of raising $5000 to help us send Dene and Rachel Hughes to spread the good news of Jesus Christ in Japan. You can pop in at any time between 10 am to 10 pm and stay for as long as you want. A great atmosphere, with real coffee, live music, café style food and dessert, Japanese food (I promise it won’t be ‘live’).