SUNDAY SERMON ON THE BLOG – LIFE THROUGH JESUS.

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. -1 Peter 3:18. TNIV

Having stood over the open graves of friends, family members, and strangers, I know the appearance and feel of death's finality, and our human frailty.

But Christ's death is that great reminder that death is a matter of perspective and faith. I believe God raised Jesus from the dead and that He is the first fruits of those of us who believe in Him.

He is alive, not just in Spirit, but in bodily form, and because of this, we will be too!

Loving Father, thank you for the gifts of your grace, Spirit, forgiveness and life. Most of all, thank you for the gift of your Son, who brought life and immortality to me through His death and resurrection. While I have no great desire to die, I know I can by the power of the Holy Spirit, look through death to you, and your victory in me through Jesus. Give me the courage to live for you every day, until that day when you take me home. In the wonderful Name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Be encouraged!
GBYAY

WORLD CUP SOCCER: KEWL HARRY!

Australia has qualified for the knockout stage of the 2006 World Cup with a 2-2 draw to Croatia in its final Group F match today.

Harry Kewell struck a late equaliser in the 79th minute to put Australia into the last 16 of the World Cup where it will meet Italy.Croatia led 1-0 after Darijo Srna scored from a free kick in the third minute.

Australia equalised with a Craig Moore penalty shot after 38 minutes.Croatia's second goal was scored by Niko Kovac in the 56th minute.

In a tense final 10 minutes both teams were left with 10 men as Brett Emerton and Dario Simic were both marched for second bookable offences.

Croatian defender Josip Simunic was sent off on the final whistle for his third bookable offence, referee Graham Poll forgetting to march him a few minutes earlier.

Australia play Italy in a second round fixture in Kaiserslautern on Monday.

SUNDAY SERMON ON THE BLOG – CHRISTIAN COMPASSION.

"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' in front of others, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. - Matthew 6:1. TNIV

Compassion is not for personal glory, just as it is not a private internal emotion.

Christian compassion must always motivate us to act in the best interest, and for the greater good of those that are disadvantaged, without calling attention to ourselves or our sacrifices.

God provides what we need to bless others, and takes care of the reward when our goal is to please Him, and to be used by Him to bless others who are disadvantaged.

Loving Father, by the power of the Holy Spirit, use me each day to be a blessing to someone in need. Please open my eyes and ears to see those around me who need emotional or physical support, or financial help. Please give me the courage to bless them, and lead them closer to you. In the wonderful Name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Be encouraged!
GBYAY

SUNDAY SERMON ON THE BLOG – A CALL TO HOLINESS!

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. - James 4:7-8. TNIV

James always packs a lot into a small space, but let us focus on the centre of this call to holiness: let's draw ourselves closer to God.

When we come into God's presence and draw close to Him, we know our thoughts, our motives, and our behaviours, will be seen for what they are in the light of His holiness and righteousness. At the same time, we know that the devil is forced out by the radiance of our Father's holy life.

Let us seek after God, let us long to draw near to Him. Let's ask Him to cleanse us and make us wholly His, and make us completely holy!

Loving Father, I thank you for your love and forgiveness. By the power of the Holy Spirit, help me as I seek to draw closer to you, and as I seek to know you better. Purify my heart of any duplicity or secret sin. Cleanse my conscience, and empower me to be an example of your grace and holiness. I ask this in the wonderful Name of Jesus. Amen.

Be encouraged!
GBYAY

SAINTS SINK SYDNEY SWANS!!!

ST KILDA 7.10 (52) SYDNEY 7.8 (50)

What a game this was! This is whyI love Australian Football! This game was played in pouring rain, and the most courageous won in the end!

Luke ball was carried off in a stretcher after colliding with one of his own teamates, he was rushed to hospital, with blood flowing from his mouth, but when the Saints sung the victory song, there was Ball who rushed back from hospital, his face swollen and bruised, to rejoice with his teamates!
Nick Riewoldt was the man of the match. He played out of his skin tonight, absolutely marvellous!

That's us back in 5th place in the ladder, and next week we play the form team, Adelaide Crows.

Well done sainters! Carn the Saints! Oh when the Saints go marching in, oh when the Saints go marchin in...

WORLD CUP DILEMMA!

I liked the quote from a Church of England spokesman, commenting on the number of hits on its website after a prayer for the England team was posted: "You don't find many atheists during penalty shoot-outs."

True, very true. But it has to be said that at any given shoot-out, most of us, (especially Scots) become decidedly un-Christian: "Go on, miss you b******, miss, miss, miss..."

Be encouraged!
GBYAY

FRIDAY SCREAMER!

Three men were hiking through a forest when they came upon a large raging violent river. Needing to get on the other side, the first man prayed,"God, please give me the strength to cross the river."

Poof! God gave him big arms and strong legs and he was able to swim across in about 2 hours, having almost drowned twice.

After witnessing that, the second man prayed,"God, please give me strength and the tools to cross the river."

Poof! God gave him a rowboat and strong arms and strong legs and he was able to row across in about an hour after almost capsizing once.

Seeing what happened to the first two men, the third man prayed, "God, please give me the strength, the tools and the intelligence to cross the river."

Poof! He was turned into a woman. She checked the map, hiked one hundred yards up stream and walked across the bridge.
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The two thousand member Baptist church was filled to overflowing capacity one Sunday morning.

The preacher was ready to start the sermon when two men, dressed in long black coats and black hats entered thru the rear of the church.One of the two men walked to the middle of the church while the other stayed at the back of the church. They both then reached under their coats and withdrew automatic weapons.

The one in the middle announced, "Everyone willing to take a bullet for Jesus stay in your seats!" Naturally, the pews emptied, followed by the choir. The deacons ran out the door, followed by the choir director and the assistant pastor.

After a few moments, there were about twenty people left sitting in the church. The preacher was holding steady in the pulpit.The men put their weapons away and said, gently, to the preacher, "All right, pastor, the hypocrites are gone now. You may begin the service."

Be encouraged!
GBYAY

ABUNDANT LIFE!

A little boy who lived far out in the country in the late 1800s had reached the age of twelve and had never in all his life seen a circus. You can imagine his excitement, when one day a poster went up at school announcing that on the next Saturday a traveling circus was coming to the nearby town.

He ran home with the glad news and the question, "Daddy, can I go?" Although the family was poor, the father sensed how important this was to the lad. "If you do your Saturday chores ahead of time," he said, "I'll see to it that you have the money to go."'

Come Saturday morning, the chores were done and the little boy stood by the breakfast table, dressed in his Sunday best. His father reached down into the pocket of his overalls and pulled out a dollar bill-the most money the little boy had possessed at one time in all his life. The father cautioned him to be careful and then sent him on his way to town.

The boy was so excited, his feet hardly seemed to touch the ground all the way. As he neared the outskirts of the village, he noticed people lining the streets, and he worked his way through the crowd until he could see what was happening. Lo and behold, it was the approaching spectacle of a circus parade! The parade was the grandest thing this lad had ever seen. Caged animals snarled as they passed, bands beat their rhythms and sounded shining horns, midgets performed acrobatics while flags and ribbons swirled overhead.

Finally, after everything had passed where he was standing, the traditional circus clown, with floppy shoes, baggy pants, and a brightly painted face, brought up the rear. As the clown passed by, the little boy reached into his pocket and took out that precious dollar bill. Handing the money to the clown, the boy turned around and went home. What had happened? The boy thought he had seen the circus when he had only seen the parade!

Are you experiencing all that God has for you? The Christian life is a marvelous adventure, an exciting journey. Many people-including Christians-seem to be content to float in a sea of mediocrity, settling for second best. Do you want the abundant life that Jesus promised? Do you want to live life to its fullest?

Then aim higher. Don't set your sights too low. Determine to become all that God created you to be. Give yourself to Christ, follow Him completely, and allow the Holy Spirit to work in you and through you.

Be encouraged!
GBYAY

SUNDAY SERMON ON THE BLOG – SINGING WITH GRATITUDE!

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. - Colossians 3:16. TNIV

We sing when we are happy, we sing when we are heartbroken, but today we sing out of gratitude.

God is not only worthy of all of our praise, He is worthy of all of our thankfulness. And the origin of all our songs is Jesus, and the declaration of the good news that brings life to us, through Him.

As that message, the word of Christ fills our hearts, we are tuned to be thankful children of the Most High.

Loving Father, I am so thankful today, for all the many blessings you have poured into my life. Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness give me hope for the future. Your gift of Jesus gives me life today, and promises life tomorrow. The incredible physical blessings, as well as the blessings of family and friends, are wonderful. But the greatest of all blessings, Lord, is the assurance that I will one day see you face- to-face, and share your glorious presence forever. In the wonderful and mighty Name Jesus I pray. Amen.

Be encouraged!
GBYAY