SHBC

Our vision in 2012…

Bob Rogers — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:47:43 +0000

This Sunday is “Vision 20-twelve” at SHBC. The Chambers dictionary defines vision as “the ability to perceive what is likely and plan for it.” This is largely task of our Pastors and leaders in the church – not to demand things be done a certain way, but under God’s guidance, to discern the ways we can move forward and seek to gently lead and guide others towards what we believe are God’s goals for His Church.
As you travel through the Australian outback, you will see drovers guiding their flocks of sheep down the “long paddock”. Long paddocks arethe very wide verges along the highway where the fences are set back some distance from the road. Anyone is free to drove their stock on these routes. It may, at first, appear the flocks of sheep are making no progress on their journey. But drovers are required to cover 10kms each day and, if we drove past them later in the day, you would indeed notice they had been moving all the time. The sheep are not aware of that they are moving – they’re just interested in the next patch of grass. But the drover has a vision of where he wants to be and slowly, gently he directs his flock to their destination.
As I see my Akubra hat hanging on its rack I am reminded of the ‘pastoral’ role of church leaders to lead in much the same way as a drover. We need to be gentle but deliberate, even firm at times, as we ‘equip the saints for works of service’ (Eph 4:12) among church folk and the wider community and encourage each other in the Christian faith. That’s my vision…
Pastor Bob

Back to school…

Bob Rogers — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 03:26:45 +0000

This week school is back. How do I know? The summer breeze of driving to the office on open roads is over! Now it’s back to the crawl past schools as mothers in four-wheel-drives devolve their children onto hapless teachers for the day. When I was a boy we used to walk a (whole) kilometre to school. It seemed further at the time, but often was the most interesting time of the day as we explored new building sites on the estate, dropped in to Mrs King’s for a biscuit, threw stones at the rats down at the waterfall, explored Mr Pedder’s farm or stole apples from Painey’s orchard. Somehow the class room did not have the same attraction…
I was delighted to see the comments of some young people returning to school: “Year 11. Bring it on!” and “Year 12 will be grand!” Maybe it’s the computers that brighten their day or so many study options from which to choose. Or maybe it’s just getting back together with good friends. Whatever the reason, life goes on and we look forward to seeing our young people growing through life this year.
It is exciting to see so many young children running around our church complex and to think of the potential within our Youth Group. It must gladden the heart of every adult in our church to see this wonderful legacy of faith. We do well to encourage our younger ones, to pray for them and do everything we can to see them grow into maturity in Jesus Christ. Let’s also remember in prayer our children and youth leaders as they commence another year of service within the church. Together this will be a great year! Bring it on! Pastor Bob

The great land of Oz

Bob Rogers — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 02:17:31 +0000

On 26th January we celebrate Australia Day commemorating the arrival of white settlement in this land. In his remarkable book, “A Commonwealth of Thieves”, Thomas Keneally tells the story of the birth of this nation through the arrival of the First, Second and Third Fleets. Most of those sent to a land 17,000km from England were simply so impoverished by the class system they were forced into stealing in order to eat. Keneally tells of the horrors of the sea trips, with over 30% of the convicts on the Second Fleet dying due to poor care during the sea voyage. Nonetheless, the convicts, and later free settlers, most from the cities of Britain, tamed much of the ‘Sunburnt Country’ with its contrasting ‘droughts and flooding rains’.
Today we live in the finest country in the world. Our government has been built on Judaic-Christian principles, with equality for all citizens and we welcome those from other lands seeking a new life free of persecution and war. We may not always get things right but one need only travel abroad to realise how fortunate we are to live as we do. This week take some time to reflect on God’s goodness to us in this great land of Australia. So, let’s hear it, “Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! Oi! Oi! Oi!”
Pastor Bob

TV Church?

Bob Rogers — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 23:48:45 +0000

I have recently heard a disturbing trend in the USA – many who claim a Christian faith are becoming addicted to ‘electronic’ church. The USA has almost 100 TV stations broadcasting exclusively Christian media. While this may seem at first a good thing, it seems to be producing a new type of Christian – one totally dependent on the medium of television to provide their ‘worship’ experience.
The problem is made worse as folk no longer venture out into the world of real people and things. ‘Live’ church cannot compete with the spectacular effects that vast amounts of TV money can provide. However, it is difficult to see the difference between an addiction for TV soaps and this new addiction as fact and fantasy narrows.
God encourages His children to remember we are part of a family. While it is not always easy to live together families enable growth as we share ideas and support one-another. We cannot make it on our own – we were made for one another (Eph 3:18; Heb 10:25). It may be easier to worship in the comfort of our living-rooms, but our community needs the Church to serve openly, encouraging one another and inviting people to Jesus by word and deed.
Pastor Bob

Life is like a…

Bob Rogers — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 22:44:50 +0000

Friends of ours have a tradition of giving us a jigsaw puzzle each Christmas. Normally the challenge with a jigsaw is to make the picture on the front of the box. On these gifts, however, the picture on the box is only a clue to the picture we are to make. The details are not on the picture we are given on the box!
Starting off is easy – simply find the four corners, then the sides and soon we have a frame. From then on it gets complicated as we collate colours and form ideas. Often we look for a piece of the jigsaw, calculating what it should look like, only to find the piece we need is quite different. Likewise we think we know where pieces go, but as the jigsaw progresses, we find out just how wrong we were! Eventually, however, we end up with the finished product.
Life can be like a jigsaw puzzle, at times. We make our plans believing we know what needs to be done, but often circumstances turn out to be quite different to what we expected. At the start of a New Year it is good to be reminded what God says, “For I know the plans I have for you, plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jer 29:11; see also Ps 3:4 & 5). Let’s commit our way to Him and trust Him for our future.
Pastor Bob

Happy New Year!

Bob Rogers — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 13:28:44 +0000

Welcome to 2012!
What a year it promises to be as we look forward to what God has in store following the recent departure of Ps Alan & Ros Grieve and Ps Troy & Kylie Urlichs. Each couple brought a special something to SHBC and we are all the richer for them having been among us.
But time moves on and I wonder what God has in store for us this year? I recently spoke briefly with one of the older lady’s in our church and was refreshed by her comments, “I know this next year will bring change and I know it will be for the better.” These changes will include a yet-to-be-named Pastor. The Search Committee are drawing closer to bringing a name before the church and we pray in anticipation for God’s provision.
During January we are presenting “Summer Church” – one hour morning services of songs, testimonies and Bible teaching from the Letter to the Colossian church; There will be lots in it for everyone. Our children will be meeting separately at their own “Kid’s Church” upstairs in the Loft – thanks to Ps Joshua and his team.

Pastor Bob

Christmas – bright hope for the future…

Bob Rogers — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 23:09:09 +0000

On the day we celebrate the arrival of our Lord Jesus Christ as Emmanuel, God with us, we find ourselves saying, “Farewell” to two people we have come to love, admire and respect as true representatives of Jesus – Pastor Alan and Mrs Ros Grieve.
Alan and Ros’ contribution over the past 15 years has been wonderful. They have led us to focus our thoughts and energies on the needs of others and to take our Christian witness into the wider community. Under Alan’s leadership many new ministries commenced including the Art & Craft Market, the Garage Sale, Blokes’ Bash, Christmas Lights, the First Impression group, the courtyard has been renovated (twice!) and Alan has laid the plans for the soon to commence Men’s Shed. Ros has contributed significantly in the Tuesday Ladies’ Bible Study, through the Courtyard Café and in many personal ways among the women.
But activities alone have not been the prime importance in Alan and Ros’ ministry. Rather it has been their desire to lead by example in what it means to be servants of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have seen their desire to follow Jesus in their love of others, their pursuit of excellence, their personal and spiritual integrity, in their strong and courageous Bible teaching and in Alan’s preaching. We pray God’s blessing on them as they commence new ministry at Caboolture.
We have much to thank God for this Christmas, a day which reminds us of bright hope for the future as together we live for Jesus. Pastor Bob

A very special day…

Bob Rogers — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 04:07:47 +0000

Some Church traditions conform to a system of liturgy which labels Sundays around significant Christian events – Epiphany, Pentecost, etc. At Stafford Heights Baptist we recognise the seasons of Lent and Advent as significant times of reflection in our faith.
This Sunday also a very special day in the life of our church as we participate in the ordination of Pastor Troy Urlichs and celebrate as he receives his commission as an officer in the Australian Army. We will also formally set aside Troy and Kylie as missionaries from this church as Troy takes up his new vocation as an Army Chaplain in Darwin.
Troy’s ordination is a ‘first’ for SHBC as Queensland Baptists now recognise the place of the local church within the wider fellowship of Christian churches and in the training and official recognition of our Pastors. Our General Superintendant, Rev Dr David Loder, will speak on behalf of Baptists across Queensland and Australia and, indeed, the Church universal as he conducts the ordination. Likewise, as we at SHBC set apart Troy and Kylie for service for God, we identify with the earliest Christian believers who sent out from among their own numbers those who would example Jesus Christ in a needy world (Acts 13:2-3). What a privilege to remember our heritage in such a close way.
We have been truly blessed in having the Urlichs family among us these past two years and pray every blessing on Troy, Kylie, Samuel and Jacob as they go from this place.
Pastor Bob

Christmas Lights – our gift to our community

Bob Rogers — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 04:14:24 +0000

We have had a busy week in preparation for our 2011 Christmas Lights. Bags have been filled with children’s goodies, gifts have been wrapped for the adults, food hampers have been delivered, the stage is built, the courtyard has been decorated and finishing touches have been made to the lights display. Over this weekend our rooms will be transformed with craft and cake stalls, a puppet theatre built, the animals will arrive for the nativity hall, and, of course, the model trains will be installed – there’s something for everyone! From Monday till Christmas Eve we will present our Christmas gift to the community as we celebrate God’s goodness to us in the gift of His Son, Jesus.
It is a busy time for all of us but I encourage you to make sure you take some time to sit and quietly reflect on God’s goodness to us in the presentation of His Son. We are familiar with Jesus’ story – of His growth in grace and favour with God and man (Luke 2:52), only to seemingly end his life ingloriously on a cross as a common criminal (Phil 2:8). But, wonder of wonders, it wasn’t a mistake – Jesus’ story does not end there. God raised Him from death to show our sins are truly forgiven (1 Cor 15:20). Jesus paid the price for our sins. We miss the point about Christmas if we miss the greatest gift God has given to us: forgiveness. In the shadow of every manger scene is the cross, but also the open grave. Yes, death was defeated through Jesus. Now that’s reason enough to celebrate Christmas and to reach out to receive this gift from God.
Pastor Bob

Christmas cards

Bob Rogers — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 02:56:04 +0000

Christmas is an exciting time in our household as I’m sure it is in yours. The tree is up, the lights are on, gifts are being placed under the tree and, of course, Christmas cards are arriving. Don’t get me wrong: I love receiving Christmas cards, I just don’t look forward to sending them – a “Facebook” letter would be so much easier. I don’t look forward to the hassle of revising last year’s list, writing the yearly letter, addressing the envelopes and buying the special stamps in time to get them to their destination before 25th December. In the rush before Christmas we only have time to check we have sent a card to those who have sent us one this year – we don’t want to leave anyone out. Reading the cards and the letters that often accompany them will have to wait till Boxing Day…
As you look through your cards this year, you may notice the words Hope, Peace, Love, Joy and Praise – the special words we are considering this Advent season. Each word indicates a special gift from God as they received a new, fresh and special meaning at the first Christmas. This Sunday we consider the word, “Peace”, made special by Jesus who said, “The peace I give is a gift the world cannot give…peace of mind and heart.” (John 14:27) During Advent I encourage you to take time to thank God for the peace through reconciliation with Him brought about through Jesus’ coming.
Pastor Bob