Wednesday, December 26, 2007

RSA

a Jesus thought...
I'm telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you're not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God's kingdom. What's more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it's the same as receiving me. (Matthew 18:3-5)

a Godly thought...
The temple is the place where the glorious presence of God condescends to dwell among men, and also the place where God receives his people. (p222 Bonhoeffer)

a leading thought...
Great leaders who have turned the tide of national and spiritual decline have likewise been men who could be aroused to anger at the social and moral injustices that were current in their day. (p175 Barber)

a Dave thought...from The Age
According to the 2006 census, Australia has 8 million Catholics and Anglicans alone, but on any given Sunday only a million or so are in church. That changes at Easter, which is Christianity's holiest day, and even more at Christmas, its best loved.
There are more than 1500 churches in Melbourne, and many began early with family services on Christmas Eve, designed particularly for children.

St Francis' in Lonsdale Street in the city is Australia's busiest church, with more than 13,000 at its services every week. Yesterday was busier still: the Catholic church had a video screen in the foyer to cope with the overflow, plus a tent with a giant video screen in the car park.

It is interesting to note that only about 12% of Catholics and Anglicans attend church any given Sunday. Although some of us Salvos have thrived ourselves on being a church of action and service we somehow seem to becoming similar in our attendances. I remember an old man once saying 'there are no spectators in the Army' and that was one of our strengths. Well maybe we are becoming like many other churches as we seem to have many who now come occasionally and then we are happy to spectate rather than participate. Maybe like the RSL it is time to launch the RSA the Retired Services Army, a place where you can just turn up whenever you want and hang out and enjoy each others company with those that used to fight.

Just a thought.

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