Reflect

a Jesus thought...
Don't let people do that to you, put you on a pedestal like that. You all have a single Teacher, and you are all classmates. Don't set people up as experts over your life, letting them tell you what to do. Save that authority for God; let him tell you what to do. No one else should carry the title of 'Father'; you have only one Father, and he's in heaven. And don't let people maneuver you into taking charge of them. There is only one Life-Leader for you and them—Christ. (Matthew 23:8-10)

a Godly thought...
If we would bear the image of his glory, we must first bear the image of his shame. (p272 Bonhoeffer)

a leading thought...
Jesus did not want his disciples to be leaders first; he wanted them to become servants first. (p171 Blanchard)

a Dave thought...
Sociologist Tony Campolo told about a study in which fifty people over the age of 90 were asked to reflect upon their lives. “If you had it to do over again,” they were asked, “what would you do differently?” Though there were many answers, three responses dominated. Here they are:First, many respondents answered, “I would reflect more.” Do you ever feel that too much time is spent in “doing” and not enough spent thinking about what you are doing and why you are doing it?
Second, they said, “I would risk more.” Do you think that important opportunities either have been or might be forfeited because of your fear to take a necessary risk?
Finally, they said, “I would do more things that would live on after I died.” Do you feel that you are immersed in something bigger and more enduring than your own existence?


So as we REFLECT on 2007 ask yourself...

• What was the greatest thing God did in your life in 07?
• What are some new relationships you made this year?
• What was the biggest challenge you faced this year?
• What was our greatest personal achievement?
• What was the biggest surprise of the year?
• What was the biggest risk you took?
• If you could live 2007 over again what would you do differently?

So as you enter 2008...

Reflect more. Risk more. Leave a legacy.

Just a thought.

The Aussie Bible

a Jesus thought...
"'Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.' This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: 'Love others as well as you love yourself.' These two commands are pegs; everything in God's Law and the Prophets hangs from them." (Matthew 22:37-40)

a Godly thought...
Discipline in a congregation is a servant of the precious grace of God. (p260 Bonhoeffer)

a leading thought... Leadership by the Book by Blanchard, Hybels & Hodges
True leadership starts on the inside with a servant heart, then moves outward to serve others. (p171)

a Dave thought...

Written by Aussie author and journalist Kel Richards, The Aussie Bible is a re-telling of the story of Jesus' life from His birth to resurrection in the Australian vernacular. The 90 page book is aimed at those who may not normally pick up a New Testament or a Bible.

Last Sunday at Box Hill during an internationally flavoured service I heard the scripture for the Aussie Bible for the first time. It was refreshing so here is part of the reading from Luke...

The angel said to her, 'G'day Mary. You are a pretty special sheila. God has his eye on you.'
Mary went weak at the knees, and wondered what was going on.
But the angel said to her, 'Don't panic, don't chuck a wobbly. God thinks you're okay. You're about to become pregnant, and you'll have a son, and you're to call him Jesus. He will be a very big wheel, and will be called the Son of God Most High. God will give him the throne of his father, your ancestor, King David, and he will be in charge of the whole show forever.'

Sure not everyone is going to appreciate it or understand it but every new attempt in getting the scriptures to those to whom it makes no sense is truly worth it. So well done Kel in spreading the word of God in a fresh way.

Just a thought.

Cycling

a Jesus thought...
"Yes—and if you embrace this kingdom life and don't doubt God, you'll not only do minor feats like I did to the fig tree, but also triumph over huge obstacles. This mountain, for instance, you'll tell, 'Go jump in the lake,' and it will jump. Absolutely everything, ranging from small to large, as you make it a part of your believing prayer, gets included as you lay hold of God." (Matthew 21:21-22)

a Godly thought...
The church can never tolerate any limits set to the love and service of the brethren. (p232 Bonhoeffer)

a leading thought...
A leader must lead by example, this takes dedication, stamina, courage, fairness, honesty, patience, and persistence. (p185 Barber)
a Dave thought...

This week I have taken up an invite by Dave Barker (Camberwell Salvos) to join some cycling groups. The first group I went with is called the Mailing Room Ride they leave at 6am Tuesdays & Thursdays & the second group the Red Rooster Ride leaves at 7am on Saturdays they are both named by the starting points on Canterbury Road.

After completing the two 30km+ rides I realise once again the value of training in community. As we chat along the way we not only learn heaps about bike gear, technique, and training tips but we also get a glimpse of each others lives.

I'm sure JC did the whole discipleship thing with 12 for this very purpose not only for learning and supporting but when things go bad or you get a flat tyre at the back of the pack you are not left alone.

Just a thought.

Traditions

a Jesus thought...
"Here it is again, the Great Reversal: many of the first ending up last, and the last first." (Matthew 20:17)

a Godly thought...
Church order is divine both in origin and character, though of course it is meant to serve and not to rule. (p227 Bonhoeffer)

a leading thought...
While an intimate knowledge of ourselves is indispensable to sound leadership, so is a thorough knowledge of those with whom we work. (p183 Barber)

a Dave thought...
Last night we spent the evening at Southbank with Kylie's extended family. Over the last 15 years this has become one of our favourite places to visit as we walk, chat, drink coffee or eat ice creams together. This tradition began when we were dating and then extended to a place where we took our friends as married couples and now it has become a favourite hang out for our son Noah. So although our time together at Southbank looks different now with more picnics and bikes the place we visit is still the same.
This tradition is something we enjoy as it has been with us for a generation and as we pass on the experiences we value to our children they too associate the time at Southbank with relaxation, fun and food. Tradition is often seen as a negative thing in the church but like all experiences if we pass on our positive activities together and modify them to suit the next generation I'm sure they will last the test of time.

Just a thought.

Goals

a Jesus thought...
"Why do you question me about what's good? God is the One who is good. If you want to enter the life of God, just do what he tells you." (Matthew 19:7)

a Godly thought...
The Word moves of its own accord, and all the preacher has to do is to assist that movement and try to put no obstacles in its path. (p225 Bonhoeffer)

a leading thought...
A leader whose dedication to the task at hand is balanced by his concern for others, will be able to view the whole situation with proper discernment. (p180 Barber)

a Dave thought...

Yesterday I played golf with Major Winton Knop my corps officer. We have playing golf together weekly now for over 5 years and know each others games pretty well. As he has a handicap of 11 he hits the ball very well and often scores around 80. Well yesterday he hit his best score ever - 71! Winton's goal for the year was to have a single-figure handicap and as a result of his round yesterday his new handicap is 9.4 so he did it with 5 days to spare. For him to achieve this goal was huge and he was absolutely rapt!
I am a big one for setting goals and so as we are about to approach the new year I write 3 goals in these 8 different categories...

• spiritual
• physical
• educational
• family
• home
• financial
• relational
• ministry

Sure you don't always achieve them all but I like to have direction in my life and have something to aim at. For those that find this way too programmed just make sure you achieve something along the way.

Just a thought.

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.

JC's Birthday

Dave thought...

I know this sounds shallow but one of the best things about Christmas for me is the food! My wife is a wonderful cook & being a wonderful eater myself, we make a great combination.

As we have attended numerous family celebrations and parties to over these last few weeks I am thankful for all great people we have around us and relationships that help us through life.

Unfortunately after chatting with a policeman friend he said that Christmas night is one of the busiest in the calender for them. He went on to explain that there are so many domestic abuse and violent altercations at homes on this night as broken families try and put the past behind them and spend time together. What normally results is as the alcohol kicks in family members start saying what they really think and the disputes begin. It is ironic really as the reason we get together is to party for the man who brought peace on earth, but for many it ends us being just the opposite.

Just a thought.