What Matters

Overwhelmed by the Holiness of God

Graham Leo preached the fourth theme, Overwhelmed by the Holiness of God in our 'Our Amazing God' series this morning.  It was a very challenging message that, ahem, we did not record - most unfortunately.  We will try to get Graham to put it down on mp3 as soon as possible - so watch this space.  And, yes, we will try to remember to hit the record button next time...

Amazed by the Grace of God

What a wonderful morning!  It was our church's 12th anniversary and to 'celebrate' Evie was baptised and Andy and Harley reaffirmed their baptism - all by immersion in our 10am service.  Before all of this, Renae gave thanks for the gift of her child Mia.  And of course we continued our series on the character of God, this week's theme being 'Amazed by the Grace of God'.  Listen in for the message...Download recording_21052006_084401.mp3

Blessed by the Creativity of God

We continued our series on 'Our Amazing God', today looking at how we are 'Blessed by the Creativity of God.' I used Ephesians 2:1-10 as my text.  Great service - drama, music, video and some baptisms.  Listen in for the message...Download recording_14052006_084647.mp3

DaVinci Code

I've decided not to address in a major way the juggernaut that is the DaVinci Code.  Apart from anything else, I thought it was pretty poorly written anyway as far as thrillers go - a genre I read a lot.  Having said this, you may find this article by Graham Leo helpful.  Graham preaches in our congregation and is Principal at Emmanuel College...Download webarticle_Da_Vinci.doc

Awestruck by the Glory of God (The Recording!)

I had to 'preach' this message again in an empty church as earlier attempts to record it last week failed (see earlier post).  Unavoidably the delivery may be a little flatter than normal, but hopefully you get the point...Download recording_12052006_150450.mp3

About God

Last week we commenced a new season in our church examining the character of God.  We've called it 'Our Amazing God'.  I shared a bit of wisdom from the past.  Here are some quotable quotes about the mystery that is God:

Outside of God, there is nothing but nothing - Meister Eckhart

A god understood, a god comprehended, is no god - German mystic

God turns shoes upside down - Arabian proverb

O thou before whom all words recoil - Ancient prayer

Man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him for ever - Westminster Catechism

In commanding us to glorify him, God is inviting us to enjoy him - C.S. Lewis

The favorite place of man is in the heart of man - Jewish Proverb

The glory of God is man fully alive - Irenaeus

God doesn't reveal his grand design.  He reveals himself. - Frederick Buechner

God is beauty - St Francis

God is he without whom one cannot live - Leo Tolstoy

A comprehended God is no God at all - Gerhard Tersteegen

Only to our intellect is God incomprehensible, not to our love - The Cloud of Unknowing

Parable of the Geese

Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard is the 'author' of the following parable.  This version I stumbled across many years ago in a book by Australian author and theologian, Athol Gill.  It spoke to me then, and still does now:

A certain flock of geese lived together in a barnyard with high walls around it.  Because the corn was good and the barnyard was secure, these geese would never take a risk. One day a philosopher goose came among them. He was a very good philosopher and every week they listened quietly and attentively to his learned discourses. 'My fellow travellers on the way of life,' he would say, 'can  you seriously imagine that this barnyard, with great high walls around it, is all there is to existence?

'I tell you, there is another and a greater world outside, a world of which we are only dimly aware. Our forefathers knew of this outside world. For did they not stretch their wings and fly across the trackless wastes of desert and ocean, of green valley and wooded hill? But alas, here we remain in this barnyard, our wings folded and tucked into our sides, as we are content to puddle in the mud, never lifting our eyes to the heavens which should be our home.

The geese thought this was very fine lecturing. 'How poetical,' they thought. 'How profoundly existential. What a flawless summary of the mystery of existence.' Often the philosopher spoke of the advantages of flight, calling on the geese to be what they were. After all, they had wings, he pointed out. What were wings for, but to fly with? Often he reflected on the beauty and the wonder of life outside the barnyard, and the freedom of the skies.

And every week the geese were uplifted, inspired, moved by the philosophers message.  They hung on his every word.  They devoted hours, weeks, months to a throughgoing analysis and critical evaluation of his doctrines.  They produced learned treatises on the ethical and spritual implicatiions of flight.  All this they did. 

But one thing they never did. They did not fly! For the corn was good, and the barnyard was secure!

No Wasted Word

'The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground...The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word.  And Samuel's word came to all Israel.' (1 Sam 3: 19,21)

Words come and go.  Most disappear into the air.  Most have little or no substance; nothing memorable, insightful or useful to commend them.  This was not the case for Samuel.  None of his words melted into the air like vapor.  None of them fell to the ground with a thud - dead and lifeless.  Instead, Samuel's words 'came to all Israel.'  As Samuel spoke, so God spoke.  The God who revealed himself to Samuel through his word was now revealed to all Israel through the words of this boy-prophet.  Not one frivolous or wasted word was spoken by Samuel.

Prayer

I like to speak - a lot!  I like the beauty of words - the passion, ideas, convictions and images they can convey.  But words, even beautiful words, can be empty and devoid of any real life.  May my words Lord reflect your living Word - that Word that brings life and meaning - Words that never fall to the ground wasted.

Awestruck by the Glory of God

We commenced our series entitled 'Our Amazing God this morning.  We focussed on God's Glory, using Exodus 33:12-23 as the text.  Unfortunately it was not recorded straight to mp3.  We are attempting to retrieve a recording from tape.  Failing that, I will preach again!  Watch this space...