Each pastor in our church has a Bible verse printed on the reverse side of our business cards. We hope the verse may lead a person to think about their response to God. I have chosen two verses from Proverbs, “Trust in God with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do and he will show you which path you should take.” (3:5, 6)
These verses give a snapshot of what our relationship with God should be. It is always our decision to trust God – he does not force us to do anything against our will. God, our Creator, has a plan for each of us and it does us well to seek out that plan and live it. Unfortunately we often prefer our own ‘take’ on a situation, and end up regretting where our judgement has led us. The wonderful thing is, God not only promises direction, he leads us to his son, Jesus Christ, through whom all this is possible.
How easy it is to seek a religion where we try to make ourselves good enough for God. Bruce Winter makes the comment, “There are only two types of religion in the world, one where we seek to do the work of our salvation and one where God has done the work. Christianity is truly unique as it the only faith where the ‘work’ has been done by Jesus Christ, God’s son.” We do well to remember this when we are tempted to strive to gain God’s approval. Instead, by what Jesus has done, we can spend our time living in harmony with God, knowing His plans and purposes for our lives will be only for the best.
Pastor Bob

“Before daybreak, Jesus got up and went to an isolated place to pray.” (Mark 1:35) Why does God tell us this? Now I am a pastor I think I know. During the past couple of weeks I have explained the way of Jesus to two ladies, counselled a recently separated couple, prayed over a home where there has been evidence of a spirit, picked up two bags of rubbish around the church car-park, moved countless chairs and tables, made phone calls organising church events and ordering consumables, and monitored a man’s progress after an emergency dash to hospital. None of this was planned, but all of it is part of my every-day pastoral duties.
This illustrates just how unpredictable pastoral ministry can be. In much the same way a farmer makes his plans only to see them change because a pump has broken, a fence has fallen over or an animal has died, so this happens in our lives. Plans can be made but a sudden emergency can quickly change our priorities.
I think Jesus may well have spoken about these things when He met with His Father each morning. Jesus was never taken unawares by the change of events in his day. Maybe He saw every situation in which He found Himself as having been allowed by His Father? If we spent the first part of our day with God would we have the same attitude to the unforeseen that Jesus had? Maybe then we would “roll with the punches” a little better and see God’s hand in every situation, even the unexpected.
Pastor Bob

This week has come the news of the recent passing of Chuck Colson. An aggressive advisor and political ‘strong man’ to President Nixon, Colson’s name came to prominence through his involvement in the Watergate Affair of 1973. Sentenced to seven month’s jail for the affair and attempted cover-up, Chuck Colson surrendered his life to Jesus Christ while in prison. Since then he has become a respected evangelical leader and a co-founder of Prison Fellowship, truly an example of God’s amazing grace.
I am sure folk within our church fellowship have read his story, “Born Again” and maybe some of his many other writings. I had the privilege of hearing Mr Colson at Amsterdam2000 and for many years read his weekly column presented in the ‘New Life’ Christian newspaper. Always current, relevant and Bible-centred, Colson offered a strong Christian apologetic on the issues of the day. More recently he was an advisor to US presidents and world leaders on issues such as human rights, prison reform, sex-trafficking, AIDs in Africa and abortion.
A deputy of past US President, George W Bush, stated, “I found Chuck Colson to be one of the most kind, gentle and thoughtful human beings I’ve ever met. His life was a witness to his deep faith which nurtured the faith of others in deep and profound ways.”
Charles Colson will be greatly missed. He has gone to his reward through Christ Jesus. I have admired him for many years and look forward to meeting him in glory.

Pastor Bob

“RAAF Spitfire pilot finally buried in France”
A tearful farewell, almost 70 years overdue, has been given to Australian Spitfire pilot, Sgt William James Smith in France. Believed to have been shot down over the English Channel in 1942, Sgt Smith’s remains were found by accident buried within his crashed aircraft near the village of Cassel, 30km from Dunkirk.
What tragedy has dogged Sgt Smith’s family these many years as, first his mother, then other family members, have sought to uncover details of his death. At the burial Sgt Smith’s younger brother, Bert, the only immediate family member alive, paid a beautiful tribute to his brother –
“Bill, you were always to me a loving brother and somebody who was a role model to me, who I tried so hard to fill his shoes when I was growing up. You will always be to us that dashing, handsome fighter pilot who gave his life for us, for his family, for his country and for the people of France. Return now Bill to the soil of France which has held you to her bosom and hidden you from us for all these years. We shall never forget.”
This is a particularly moving story as, in a few days, we remember the sacrifice of men and women in all wars. ANZAC Day should cause us to thank God for the many freedoms we enjoy and to pray for the safety of those who are currently serving our country on operations overseas.
LEST WE FORGET
Pastor Bob

This weekend we commence a new series on one of the most dangerous books in the Bible, the Book of Revelation. The many and varied interpretations placed on its imagery and script have made Revelation so controversial – I know some pastors who will not dare preach this book on a Sunday morning!
Many years ago when I was a student I eagerly awaited what our lecturer had to offer when we first sat in his class. Surely he would solve all the issues and give us ‘the good oil’ on what the book was really all about. I remember him staggering into the room with a HUGE box of books which he dropped onto the desk. “Well” he said, “That’s all the books I own on Revelation. You are welcome to look through them to your heart’s content. I will teach you what is in this book (he held up his Bible) – you will have to make up your own mind how you interpret it!” We will be taking much the same path.
The revelation to the Apostle John was given to fill his readers, the followers of Jesus in the early Church, with hope and certainty of a positive future despite the apparent uncertainties of their present. Likewise a clear understanding of the book of Revelation will fill Jesus’ followers of today with the clear understanding that, no matter how difficult the future may seem, God is still in control.
I am looking forward to our studies together as we see what this mysterious letter/book, written so long ago, can say to us today.
Pastor Bob