Monthly Archives: August 2020

Articles, Education, Faith, Prophecy, Teaching

From Meltdown to Mountaintop: Why Study the Book of Habakkuk Part 01?

INTRODUCTION TO HABAKKUK

 For students of history, and you can’t be future-ready until you understand it, the 20th Century was the most change-filled and crisis-riddled in history. There were two world wars that killed 10s of millions and completely altered the world order. In-between these two world wars was a Spanish flu pandemic that killed more people that the Great War. The Great Depression was possibly history’s greatest economic downturn to date. After World War II, the Cold War came on the scene, posed some ominous threats, and then quietly ended without a shot.

While the world heaved a sigh of relief, there were more shakings to come. The 21st Century began with the greatest terrorist attack on United States soil: September 11th. Hurricane Katrina was one of the greatest storms in history, virtually destroying the city of New Orleans. Then in 2008 came the Global Financial Crisis (GFC), where the world economy had a heart attack and there was no donor heart for the transplant.

In 2020, nations were reeling due to multiple challenges. Australia suffered from repeated drought, than widespread bush fires, then the Covid-19 lockdown. The United States was hit hard by Covid-19 and the lockdown, economic downturn with high unemployment, and followed by riots in various cities (partially related to the lock downs).

Many of these events can be described as a meltdown. And we need to ask the question why are these things happening? Is it the ‘judgement of God?’ ‘Is it merely a chastening? Is it an attack by Satan? Is it all or none of the above?

 In any case, we need a ‘word from the Lord.’ And in Habakkuk, we’ve got it!

This singular prophet lived through the tempestuous transition from the fierce, warlike Assyrian empire to ascendancy of the Babylonian Empire in the late 7th Century BC. His day was arguably more challenging than our own. In his own nation of Judah, there was a torrent of godlessness. This backslidden nation practiced immorality, corruption, and lowered standards. He was amazed that Almighty God, Whom he served, was so patient in the face of this brazen flaunting of His holy standards.

The prophet is so grieved and incensed at the spiritual laxness of his people that He sought the Lord for answers. While shocked and scandalised by God’s response, Habakkuk comes in for Round Two of questions. Why are you using that nation to punish Judah? God’s response, chronicled in Chapter 2, has changed history.

Habakkuk is the forerunner of the entire gospel of Jesus Christ: proud, unjust, unrighteous, condemned humanity can be made just and righteous through faith in the living God.

Yet there is more. During the 16th Century, a Catholic monk tried valiantly but in vain to drive out his sin. No matter what he did…be it prayers, fasting, asceticism, good works, religious ritual … nothing worked. Nothing. Then one day his eyes landed upon these seven words:

       …the just shall live by his faith (2:4)

Once he read this verse, the monk discovered the answer that eluded him for may months and years. No longer was the Christian life a matter of ‘trying’ but of ‘trusting.’ He was a free man. So central is this tenet that Habakkuk 2:4 is repeated three times in the New Testament (Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; and Hebrews 10:38).

The monk’s name was Martin Luther. The gentle breeze of Habakkuk 2:4, which blew like a mighty wind in the New Testament era, now became a tsunami called ‘The Protestant Reformation.’ Habakkuk, a ‘minor prophet,’ turned out to have a ‘major effect’ on church and human history. 

Begin to walk by faith and not by sight (II Corinthians 5:7) and watch those mountains move!

This passage is truly the key regarding the needful transition from meltdown to mountaintop. If you can take hold and apply what is being offered here, you will never be glued to a valley bottom again.

 TO BE CONTINUED

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

Roots of the Cultural Revolution

 

Roots of the Cultural Revolution (and Hope for the Future)

Some of America’s great cities, like Seattle, Portland, Chicago, and New York, are in turmoil. Riots, looting, flag burning and statue toppling have been the alarming hallmarks. But that’s not all: attacking churches, synagogues, and even burning Bibles is now part of the protest. What, if anything, does this have to do with the death of George Floyd in police custody on May 25, 2020?

As we learned last time, similar activities happened in the 1960s. Like now, the end goal was a Marxist revolution. While the 1960s was during the Cold War, with a Marxist superpower called the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe under communism. Today, in the post-Cold War world, we are seeing the seeds of sixties radicalism come to fruition.

Remember that while the average protestor / rioter may not be aware of the full picture, there is an evil logic behind these disturbing events. There are some very wealthy donors behind it all, as well as a compliant media and politicians who not only fail to condemn the violence, but even deny that it is even happening and/or tacitly support it.

 Introducing Saul Alinsky

To understand today, we need to introduce an important figure and cultural Marxist: Saul Alinsky (1909-1972). Born Jewish, Alinsky was an American disciple of Antonio Gramsci. As a revolutionary from within the United States, Alinsky learned methods of shake-down and subversion first-hand from the Chicago mafia itself. His book Rules for Radicals documents his methods. Tellingly, the book was dedicated to Lucifer, the first rebel. His shake-down methods helped him net much money and many disciples, including a former Democrat US President and a Presidential candidate. These methods included ‘divide and conquer,’ ‘spawn chaos,’ ‘identify scapegoats,’ ‘misinformation,’ ‘start a group,’ ‘alter the vocabulary,’ ‘decoys,’ and, when the time is right, grab power.

In his day, Alinsky methods were technically not illegal. For example, he sent his radicals into Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, where they went into the toilet cubicles, lock themselves in, and refuse to come out for hours. Imagine the frustration of air travellers! Airport’s response: What do we need to do to get you to leave? Or threaten city hall by unleashing rodents on the steps. The likelihood of giving Alinsky what he wanted was greatly enhanced.

 Today’s events are playing out according to Alinsky’s rules for radicals. For example:

1.        Use chaos: Let there be no rhyme or reason behind the violence. For example, confederate statues (who supported slavery), abolitionist statues (who opposed slavery), and even Lincoln statues (who ended slavery) are all targets for toppling. Keep the establishment guessing and confused.

2.        Violence: Be violent, riot, loot, and cause havoc. If the leader and police hesitate, they are weak. If they respond, they are oppressors.

3.        Mislead: While calling the establishment ‘liar, liar, liar,’ simultaneously create a campaign of disinformation;

4.        Ridicule: Like the flesh-eating piranhas, ridicule your opponent until they are completely dehumanised. If they try to defend themselves, slap them down.

5.        Scapegoats: The Jewish people are very familiar with this during their long history. Why are we in turmoil? Blame the scapegoats. Today’s version includes Donald Trump, white people, Russia, and Christians, particularly evangelicals, and Jews. Dictators enhance their power by scapegoating – ask Adolf Hitler.

6.        Division: While the West has been able to unite people of different backgrounds, the far left want to divide society. One particular weapon is identity politics, which pits women, ethnic, religious and sexual minorities against whites, heterosexual men, and Christians.

7.        The Issue: Using clever semantics, remember the issue at hand (e.g. police brutality, George Floyd, racism, equality) is not really the issue. The end-goal is create a movement, foment revolution, and seize power.

 EDUCATION

How is it that Cultural Marxism succeeded in capturing major organs of western culture, like the media, judiciary, and entertainment industry? The answer is the education system. Yesterday’s students have become today’s radicals. It is not just in the universities: Cultural Marxism has also seeped into the primary and secondary schools as well. In 2007, a very credible and incisive scholar said that today’s American and western universities are teaching the same ideology that was taught in Germany during the 1930s. No wonder Nazism took over: yesterday’s graduates became future radicals and operating the German killing machine of World War II. Is it any wonder we having Bolshevik and Nazi-style unrest today? Gramsci, Marcuse, and Alinsky would be very proud.

TOPPLING SPIRITUAL STRONGHOLD 

It is this author’s conviction that the best solution – perhaps the only solution – is a spiritual revival. In the 1960s, despite all the unrest, a revival broke out called the ‘Jesus Revolution.’ Dr. Michael Brown (USA) and Bill Muehlenberg (Australia) were yesterday’s radicals who have become important ministers of Christ today – thanks to this spiritual revolution.

God can do it again. For it to happen, we need to pray, intercede, repent where necessary, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. As we learn from another article in this month’s Issachar Teaching eLetter, we have potent spiritual weapons (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). As radicals are toppling statues, we can topple spiritual strongholds. Here’s 9 strongholds to demolish:

1.        Stronghold of hate;

2.        Stronghold of fear;

3.        Stronghold of division;

4.        Stronghold of violence;

5.        Stronghold of deception;

6.        Stronghold of cancel-culture;

7.        Stronghold of Marxism;

8.        Stronghold of anarchy & rebellion;

9.        Stronghold of Jezebel (Ahab’s queen: a controlling, manipulative, heathen, hateful and destructive person – the epitome of evil).

In the Book of Joshua, before going to battle, Joshua and the children of Israel did their spiritual preparation at Gilgal.

In order to see rebellion turned to revival, lets use our spiritual weapons, put on the whole armour of God (Ephesians 6:10-13), pray in the Spirit (Jude 20), and obey God’s clear commands.

Now that you have been commissioned and equipped with God’s solution, now is the time to put it into practice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baptist

Bushfire Relief Update 4: East Gippsland – Greetings from Orbost

G’day friends.   Greetings from rainy Orbost!

Much has happened since the first week of January, let me tell you some of the story.

I started the year watching the glow in the sky of an approaching fire which, in the hours that followed, narrowly missed my parents’ property where I was living and proceeded to obliterate much of the region I call home – I wasn’t really ready but was mostly willing and certainly available.

We were faced with a very present need and shortly thereafter I found myself with a mandate:  To find fire affected people, find out from them what they need and do my best to meet that need.

It’s fairly simple in words, unfortunately less so in action.  So, what have I achieved?

I have built fences, cut down fire affected trees and even rebuilt a bridge restoring primary access to a home, just in time to allow Grocon to clean up the sheds that had burnt. Oh, and drunk lots of tea.

These are all hands on, quantifiable things (except for the tea) – I’m a practical guy, I like to see what I’ve achieved – but I’m slowly learning that God sees things I don’t.

Over these months I have accumulated a total of 49 people/couples/families on my list of those I’ve sought to engage and of them have 22 ongoing relationships.

There have been evenings when I’ve sat in my 4wd on the side of the road and just prayed,

‘Lord, is that all You had for today?’

‘I’ve been out for 10 hours, driven 150kms and You’ve prompted me to stop in places that have led to 3 conversations. Jesus is that enough? Can I go home now?’

Yes.

In His eyes and economy spending time with people is time well spent even if the only thing I built was trust.

One guy whom I’ve had a dozen different interactions with since the start of February said the last time I saw him, ‘you’ll be back before then,’ speaking of a fencing job he might need a hand with. It may have taken a dozen visits and phone calls over months but he knows that sooner or later I’ll show up, ask him how he’s going and offer him a hand – and he appreciates it.

He’s not the only one who appreciates me dropping by semi-regularly. People generally seem to be getting tired and they’re lonely and COVID 19 isn’t helping.

I hadn’t spoken to this particular older lady for a number of weeks when a mutual friend called and said she was talking about leaving this world and they were worried for her. She answered my second call and spoke for over an hour. I visited the following day and she spoke for another 2 hours. She seems stable but really needed someone to talk to and again, I’ve visited or called her more than a dozen times since early February building a friendship where she’s comfortable to actually invite me in, offer me a cup of tea and just talk.

In response to the question, ‘what have I achieved?’ I could give many answers but I think the best answer is simply, ‘I have been there when people needed me,’

Lord willing, by the generosity of the Baptist family, I’ll continue to be.

Thank you!

 

Source: BUV News

Baptist

Bushfire Relief Update 4: Corryong

It’s now the end of July, 7 months since the first of the Upper Murray cluster fires that began an inferno of similar severity to the 1939 bushfires. One of the main differences, is that many larger properties have been subdivided into smaller properties, a large percentage of which do not support families on agriculture alone. These are either smaller farms where perhaps one partner works to put food on the table and provide funds for large capital expenses; or lifestyle blocks, where owners either rely solely on outside income or may be semi-retired and only generate a modest income from their land.

Whatever the situation, many of these properties lost livestock, pasture and fodder (stored hay, silage, and grain/pellets). Additionally, the loss of infrastructure in the way of fencing, yards, water systems, sheds, equipment and for some, houses, took a huge toll. Whilst some people had insurance, even those who thought they were well covered are finding huge gaps they are unable to meet.

Large grants have been made available to commercial scale farmers whose farming income exceeds their off-farm income, which has assisted with the shortfall. A huge number of fire affected people in the Upper Murray do not qualify for these grants.

Hence the importance of organisations such as Blaze Aid, Red Cross and many different church and philanthropic groups that are coming to give financial aid and help.

The Corryong Baptist Church with the backing of donations from generous Baptist folk has been in a position to help fire affected farmers across the board. From my perspective assisting Pastor Graeme van Brummelen, it is not the amount of financial aid that we are offering, but that we consider each and every person of equal worthiness, no matter whether they have 2 cows or 200 cows. This is the teaching of Jesus, which we demonstrate by our actions rather than our words in this situation.

Jesus also taught compassion. Because I don’t have his ability to see into people’s hearts I am learning to become a better listener. I can help the person a lot better if I understand where they’re at in their recovery journey. 

At this point in time, some folk have told their story often enough and don’t want to go through it again. For example they’ve been happy to receive a seed or freight subsidy from the BUV, but don’t want to accept a Relief and Stimulus Package as they feel this is “double dipping”. They are grateful but their head is full of the next steps they need to take to prepare for a fencing team arriving sometime in the next month and they only have headspace for that task.

Some folk have been lost for words when receiving a package or assistance. Having reason to follow up in the future, gives them the opportunity to tell their story if they wish to, or determine whether they have other needs where we can help or connect them.

Others have only just come up for breath from their task-focussed labours to contain their animals from wandering all over the district and keeping them alive. Or they’ve had their livestock away on agistment, have managed to replace some fencing, the stock have arrived home, it’s winter, they need hay to get them through, their hay shed has not been rebuilt and they don’t have any stored fodder. This is only one thought stream as the reality is juggling a myriad of thoughts and tasks.  They feel overwhelmed and are only now asking for help and perhaps, not feeling comfortable in having to ask. Their first and foremost need may be to tell their story.  Sometimes they are ready to receive assistance and we are in a position to offer them something or refer them to where they can get the help they need.

Others may be further down the track in their recovery, but have lost or never had social connectedness. They may not even want to receive any financial help from a church, but need someone to come alongside, listen, and perhaps connect or re-connect them back into the community.  One of the effects of a natural disaster can be to fragment existing relationships, both at individual and group level.  For these people, someone to assist them into easing back into community belonging is another role the church can offer.  Sometimes other community groups are already forming or in existence and local knowledge of this nature is invaluable. The church needs to be part of the overall community for this to happen.

Currently, Corryong Baptist Church has put together the 4th round of Relief and Stimulus Packages, which are a wonderful resource to have on offer when making the first connection or following up with fire-affected people. As many folk on properties also have off-farm income from a business they either work for or operate in town, these businesses have been whacked with a double-barrelled shot from both the bushfires and coronavirus. BUV donations have purchased vouchers from the bulk of these businesses, supporting their owners and employees as well as those receiving these packages.

Such is the heart of this community, that several businesses declined the offer to purchase vouchers for Round 4. Their story was identical. “We’d love to take your money, but we’ve only redeemed a few vouchers from the earlier round. Re-direct it towards groceries instead”. Not only are these businesses struggling from lack of custom, they often echo the words of property holders who decline our financial assistance with “I’m sure there’s somebody else who needs it more”. 

 

Sharon Roberts
Corryong Baptist Church

Source: BUV News

Baptist, News

How long Lord?

How long Lord?

Well, here we are Victorians. Isolation number 2 that we thought we were handling well and now find ourselves with another 6 weeks with even further restrictions.

During the first isolation I wrote about the three week mark and the importance of recognising the emotional impact as we experience challenging and traumatic situations.

Over the last week or so I have been reflecting on the latest challenge with the increased restrictions, the fear about the economic impact, hearing stories of people being made redundant, people becoming sick and the significant grief for families who have lost loved ones to COVID-19. How do we respond when things seem to be turning bad?

I have been considering two things as I travel through this uncertain time: maintaining a soft heart before God and the importance of lament.

Hebrews chapter 3 has been a helpful reminder to maintain a soft heart before God.

“Do not harden your hearts”

The word “harden” in this context literally means dried out, inflexible, obstinately stubborn, resisting what God says is right. The writer of Hebrews reminds us how the Israelites hardened their hearts as they wandered in the desert and implores us not to do the same. It can be hard not to dig in, put up barriers and just wait this out when life becomes tough. The danger in digging in, is to make sure we don’t check out from relationship with God. Perseverance is important but not in our own strength. So, this speaks to me about checking my emotional health and making sure I am maintaining a soft heart, an open heart to God.

In checking my emotional health, I have rediscovered the role of lament. Do you know that over a third of the Psalms are Psalms of lament? (I’m sure you did!) “How long Lord?” Psalm 13:1 cries out.

Lament gives voice to the deep cries of our heart. It gives a framework to put words around our despair, frustration, hurt and grief that is sitting in our souls. It places us within the kingdom of God as we bring our cries to Him. Jesus brought a lament as He was on the cross “My God, my God why do you forsake me?”

What would it look like for us to engage with lament in this season?

Recently I was with a small group of pastors and the observation was made that we are in danger of engaging in false positivity during this season. There is pressure to ignore the pain by bringing positive messages of hope all the time. I recently read about toxic positivity – the culture of portraying ourselves as happy or always encouraging people to see the bright side of life and not open up to anything bad. We recognised that encouragement is important and we are all bearers of good news but scriptures suggests it is important to recognise when we are in challenges and bring our cry to God.

So as a group, we engaged in the spiritual discipline of lament. We wrote our own psalms, prayers and petitions to God. It did not take long – I gave them ten minutes – but we all remarked on the power of writing our own heart cries and hearing each other’s laments. It gave voice to our hearts while recognising God in our midst.

We recognised that, as leaders, we often are holding other people’s emotions and feel like we need to have things together ourselves. There is power in giving voice to our lament as we anchor ourselves in God. As one pastor said “As a leader we are often there holding other people’s stuff. That is hard work. We need to ground ourselves in the perspective of eternity.”

We share the laments we wrote as examples of what they can look like. Take some time to write your own lament and connect with another leader to share and pray with each other.

It is so important in these times that we maintain a soft heart before God and we find the opportunities to connect our soul cries with the heart of God. Psalm 13 starts with the cry “How long, Lord?” but ends with the proclamation “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.” As we connect with God and release our heart cries, we find our perspective shifts as God reminds us of His presence with us each day.

 

A psalm of recognition.

You are bigger than me.
So you see a lot more. You understand.
I want to hear your words, but things which don’t stretch me bring me comfort right now.
You probably need to change that in me. I probably need your help in making that happen.

I am tasked with leading others during dark times. I wonder how Moses coped?
Ok, you have given me promises that you will help, support and walk with me.
Let me see how you are doing that in a clear light.
Then give me the strength to help others see the same in their life.
Wisdom and discernment are needed, along with a tender and light touch.
Lord bless me with this.

I have many hats to wear and many roles to fill, but my first in recognising that I am yours.
I am your child, your son, I am your treasured possession.
May the enemy know that I believe this to be true.
In this may he run from your Spirit which is found within me.

Lift my Spirits now. Give me hope that all is in your care.
Lift my energy that I can do the tasks before me
May my actions bring your name honour

Amen.

 

Psalm for COVID

Hear my cry Lord,
Listen to my prayer

From one end of this world to the other
People are suffering, their bodies burdened, their minds tormented
There is death and disease, and loss of income. 

We are feeling caged, shut off from our families and friends
Unable to enjoy the life we treasure.

Your church is under threat, 
Apathy, distraction, weariness and persecution
continue even behind closed doors.
Faith seeds planted are being threatened,
Our work feels like it’s being choked.

Yet you are there, above all and in the midst.
You have always been faithful and your word is true.

Eternal God, you were there before the beginning
you will be there long after the end.
Help me to press into your strength when I am weak,
Help me to press into your endless joy. 

 

Psalm for an Enclosed time

See me, God, hear me 
I am hidden, I am muffled 
I'm enclosed, trapped and surrounded 
I am limited, my arm has no reach 
From under a doona 
Behind the door 
Screened by a laptop 
Muted by a mask. 
See me, God, hear me 
For I cannot reach, stretch, explore 
Your world, your people, your adventure. 

God, you reach, then. 
You reach, from East to West 
From region to Metro 
From the world to Victoria 
God, reach in and out, and down and up 
Incarnate yourself
Through the mask, 
In the laptop, 
Behind the door, 
Even under the doona
For your steadfast love is great 
And your faithfulness reaches to the skies –
Reach in and down, too.

 

A Psalm for today

The walls are closing in day after day.
The hour outside seems too short.
Things are getting worse not better.
Sickness seems to be the closest enemy despite our best efforts, it is moving closer each day.
When we look to you God you voice seems absent, silence, no healing or saving from this war.
Our hands are tied close to our home.
Our options are limited.
Where O God is your abundance, your generosity, your unending grace as the grey continues?

Your breath fills my lungs as you cause my heart to beat. My life has closed in but it still continues.
Your kingdom is unending and your glory still fills the earth. You place the stars in the sky and know the hairs on my head.
Your love moves across the internet, connecting me to thousands with your hand on my heart reminding me this season will pass.
Your Spirit is close to me, within me settling my despair.
Although your hope still feels out of reach, your presence fills my soul.
That is enough, for today.

 

Christine Wanstall
BUV, Church Health Consultant

Baptist

How long Lord?

How long Lord?

Well, here we are Victorians. Isolation number 2 that we thought we were handling well and now find ourselves with another 6 weeks with even further restrictions.

During the first isolation I wrote about the three week mark and the importance of recognising the emotional impact as we experience challenging and traumatic situations.

Over the last week or so I have been reflecting on the latest challenge with the increased restrictions, the fear about the economic impact, hearing stories of people being made redundant, people becoming sick and the significant grief for families who have lost loved ones to COVID-19. How do we respond when things seem to be turning bad?

I have been considering two things as I travel through this uncertain time: maintaining a soft heart before God and the importance of lament.

Hebrews chapter 3 has been a helpful reminder to maintain a soft heart before God.

“Do not harden your hearts”

The word “harden” in this context literally means dried out, inflexible, obstinately stubborn, resisting what God says is right. The writer of Hebrews reminds us how the Israelites hardened their hearts as they wandered in the desert and implores us not to do the same. It can be hard not to dig in, put up barriers and just wait this out when life becomes tough. The danger in digging in, is to make sure we don’t check out from relationship with God. Perseverance is important but not in our own strength. So, this speaks to me about checking my emotional health and making sure I am maintaining a soft heart, an open heart to God.

In checking my emotional health, I have rediscovered the role of lament. Do you know that over a third of the Psalms are Psalms of lament? (I’m sure you did!) “How long Lord?” Psalm 13:1 cries out.

Lament gives voice to the deep cries of our heart. It gives a framework to put words around our despair, frustration, hurt and grief that is sitting in our souls. It places us within the kingdom of God as we bring our cries to Him. Jesus brought a lament as He was on the cross “My God, my God why do you forsake me?”

What would it look like for us to engage with lament in this season?

Recently I was with a small group of pastors and the observation was made that we are in danger of engaging in false positivity during this season. There is pressure to ignore the pain by bringing positive messages of hope all the time. I recently read about toxic positivity – the culture of portraying ourselves as happy or always encouraging people to see the bright side of life and not open up to anything bad. We recognised that encouragement is important and we are all bearers of good news but scriptures suggests it is important to recognise when we are in challenges and bring our cry to God.

So as a group, we engaged in the spiritual discipline of lament. We wrote our own psalms, prayers and petitions to God. It did not take long – I gave them ten minutes – but we all remarked on the power of writing our own heart cries and hearing each other’s laments. It gave voice to our hearts while recognising God in our midst.

We recognised that, as leaders, we often are holding other people’s emotions and feel like we need to have things together ourselves. There is power in giving voice to our lament as we anchor ourselves in God. As one pastor said “As a leader we are often there holding other people’s stuff. That is hard work. We need to ground ourselves in the perspective of eternity.”

We share the laments we wrote as examples of what they can look like. Take some time to write your own lament and connect with another leader to share and pray with each other.

It is so important in these times that we maintain a soft heart before God and we find the opportunities to connect our soul cries with the heart of God. Psalm 13 starts with the cry “How long, Lord?” but ends with the proclamation “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.” As we connect with God and release our heart cries, we find our perspective shifts as God reminds us of His presence with us each day.

 

A psalm of recognition.

You are bigger than me.
So you see a lot more. You understand.
I want to hear your words, but things which don’t stretch me bring me comfort right now.
You probably need to change that in me. I probably need your help in making that happen.

I am tasked with leading others during dark times. I wonder how Moses coped?
Ok, you have given me promises that you will help, support and walk with me.
Let me see how you are doing that in a clear light.
Then give me the strength to help others see the same in their life.
Wisdom and discernment are needed, along with a tender and light touch.
Lord bless me with this.

I have many hats to wear and many roles to fill, but my first in recognising that I am yours.
I am your child, your son, I am your treasured possession.
May the enemy know that I believe this to be true.
In this may he run from your Spirit which is found within me.

Lift my Spirits now. Give me hope that all is in your care.
Lift my energy that I can do the tasks before me
May my actions bring your name honour

Amen.

 

Psalm for COVID

Hear my cry Lord,
Listen to my prayer

From one end of this world to the other
People are suffering, their bodies burdened, their minds tormented
There is death and disease, and loss of income. 

We are feeling caged, shut off from our families and friends
Unable to enjoy the life we treasure.

Your church is under threat, 
Apathy, distraction, weariness and persecution
continue even behind closed doors.
Faith seeds planted are being threatened,
Our work feels like it’s being choked.

Yet you are there, above all and in the midst.
You have always been faithful and your word is true.

Eternal God, you were there before the beginning
you will be there long after the end.
Help me to press into your strength when I am weak,
Help me to press into your endless joy. 

 

Psalm for an Enclosed time

See me, God, hear me 
I am hidden, I am muffled 
I'm enclosed, trapped and surrounded 
I am limited, my arm has no reach 
From under a doona 
Behind the door 
Screened by a laptop 
Muted by a mask. 
See me, God, hear me 
For I cannot reach, stretch, explore 
Your world, your people, your adventure. 

God, you reach, then. 
You reach, from East to West 
From region to Metro 
From the world to Victoria 
God, reach in and out, and down and up 
Incarnate yourself
Through the mask, 
In the laptop, 
Behind the door, 
Even under the doona
For your steadfast love is great 
And your faithfulness reaches to the skies –
Reach in and down, too.

 

A Psalm for today

The walls are closing in day after day.
The hour outside seems too short.
Things are getting worse not better.
Sickness seems to be the closest enemy despite our best efforts, it is moving closer each day.
When we look to you God you voice seems absent, silence, no healing or saving from this war.
Our hands are tied close to our home.
Our options are limited.
Where O God is your abundance, your generosity, your unending grace as the grey continues?

Your breath fills my lungs as you cause my heart to beat. My life has closed in but it still continues.
Your kingdom is unending and your glory still fills the earth. You place the stars in the sky and know the hairs on my head.
Your love moves across the internet, connecting me to thousands with your hand on my heart reminding me this season will pass.
Your Spirit is close to me, within me settling my despair.
Although your hope still feels out of reach, your presence fills my soul.
That is enough, for today.

 

Christine Wanstall
BUV, Church Health Consultant

Source: BUV News

Baptist

Neighbourhood Church – coming soon to a street near you

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the initial COVID restrictions came into force earlier in the year, the team at Wodonga and District Baptist Church talked about how they could practically move forward.  Pastor David Hodgens explains that “as a large regional church we recognised that it would only be once restrictions were completely removed that we could function as a gathered community in the manner we were used to; so we looked for an alternative”.  Medium to larger gatherings, assuming 20, 50 or 100 people in the same space were going to be difficult for Wodonga to facilitate because of the contact recording and cleaning expectations. Sensing back then, what we know to be true now, David was also mindful that there might be a second wave of the virus, which could return them to a constrained environment, and so the church looked for a model of gathering that would sustain them for as long as needed.

So began Wodonga’s network of neighbourhood churches.  These churches were intentionally neighbourhood churches, not house churches – the language was important because they wanted to anchor the people in their own neighbourhood. Practically, this would mean church being hosted in a neighbourhood home that was hospitable and large enough to gather with groups of between 5-12 wish social distancing space and capacity to view the online material. It also meant not only finding the homes, but also the hosts.

The church went about this firstly by breaking the wider church up into geographical areas.  “Our congregation is spread across two states as well as the hinterland and so all regular attenders were nominally allocated to a particular neighbourhood church.”

The second step was to produce an online service for people to engage with in the various homes across the region.  “We started delivering our services online from day one of the Covid-19 restrictions and so we already had the perfect platform to engage the Neighbourhood churches with resources for adults and children.”
 

The online service had to be as interactive as possible – particularly around the message. “This remains a bit of an ideal, but small neighbourhood church has a greater capacity to engage with teaching material, conduct discussions and talk about life application and we want to encourage that by providing some discussion questions or activities that can be done by the neighbourhood church as they gather.”

Thirdly, the church had to focus on encouraging people to not just attend the service in the home but to stay for lunch or brunch following the service.  “We also wanted hosts and church members to consider how their neighbourhood church related to their actual geographical location – encouraging them to gather people from the area, connect with their neighbours and be ministers in their neighbourhoods.”

David recognises that the Wodonga network of neighbourhood churches is still a work in progress  and due to the tighter restrictions that have come into place in regional Victoria, the neighbourhood churches have had to shut down for the time being.  But the mission potential for the church to influence the community on a long-term basis is great and this model may continue to operate well beyond the current conditions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Source: BUV News

Baptist, News

Blessed to be a blessing

Pakenham’s Follow Bless Collective has received $5000 from the council to continue to support Cardinia residents who are struggling financially and have been affected by the coronavirus.  The $5000 grant will be put towards the cost of the charity’s care packs which are being distributed during the Covid-19 relief and recovery period.  The care packs contain essential non-perishable foods and toiletries and are available for individuals and families who are facing hardship.

“Receiving the grant means that, along with ongoing community donations, Follow Bless Collective will be able to continue to provide care packs until December to those who are struggling financially and have been affected by Covid-19,” Follow Bless Collective community care manager Leanne Griffiths said.

“People have been affected by Covid-19 in many ways, including loss of work, isolation, an inability to access programs and services.

“The grant will allow essential items to be purchased and provided to people who are currently needing practical support by way of food and toiletries.”

To date, 260 care packs have been distributed to individuals and families across the shire.

The Follow Bless Collective’s mission is to “strengthen the community by providing collective services, programs, support and genuine love to those who are undervalued, isolated and disadvantaged within the Cardinia shire and beyond”.

Its purpose is to care for the underprivileged, isolated and homeless; provide practical support for those in need; help make the community a better place though care, crisis assistance and social connection; collaborate with other organisations and individuals; provide opportunities for community members to serve and contribute to their community; and to redeem and transform gateway areas.

Follow has been spearheading this in conjunction with Cardinia Shire and the Church property is the drop off and pick up point for people in need in the community. Care packs are full of non-perishable food, toiletries, face masks and, of course, chocolate!  The local Sikhs have helped with the chocolate donations to be added into our care packs and many other organisations, churches and local community members have also helped provide food, knitted scarves and clothing during this time.

In addition to the care packs, there has been many other acts of kindness in the local community.  Local muslim lady, Shoheli Sunjida has provided the elderly, pregnant women, single parents, multicultural communities and small business owners with free masks.  Ms Sunjida first made masks for family and friends before extending the generous offer into the wider community.

“I had some fabrics and elastics and I have the skills to sew and a sewing machine at home, so I started making the masks … it felt good after completing about 12 masks and did not take a long time,” she explained.

“Then I thought there are people in our community who may not have access to reusable masks and single use masks are not financially feasible.”

Ms Sunjida took to social media to offer up the masks and made it clear that she wanted priority to be given to the most vulnerable community members.  Inspired by the support, Ms Sunjida will continue to create masks free of charge and will even offer Zoom training sessions so people can make their own masks from home.

“I was surprised and overwhelmed by the response that I received within 24 hours, I received hundreds of positive and encouraging comments,” she explained. “I was ready to cut my sarees to get enough fabrics for a few hundred masks.  Some people wanted to pay for the mask, but I am not taking money from anyone.  I am here to help my community in anyway possible in this difficult time and I am confident we will look after each other and come out as a stronger community on the other side because we are doing it together.”

Ms Sunjida hopes those in a position to, can donate to the Pakenham Sikh temple and the Follow Baptist Church in Officer. “They are our local heroes and are tirelessly helping people,” she said.

For more information about the care packs, donations and updates, contact the Follow Bless Collective at info@bless.org.au or check out their website at bless.org.au.