Saturday 16th May 2009 Brag time again

Ain't they cute? OK I know that photo is a wee bit old, but... well... who cares? And tonight Cathy is sleeping in the same room as her sister for the first time, ever. I have no doubt that at some time during the night she will be back in our bed. That's OK.
I like blogs. One can put their thoughts up there for people to see without being worried about what their church might think. I would normally maybe not hesitate to put my thoughts with regard to the daily Bible Reading Plan on St Luke's forum. However, just now our Vicar is away. And so there is no one there to censer my posts. So anything controversial does make it there. It makes it here but not there. When our Vicar returns I will go back to posting there again.
Why did I say that? Especially since today's Bible Reading is anything but controversial? Because I thought it was necessary. to clarify that small detail.
What am I listening to right now at 2200EST? I am listening to Cornerstone Gospel Church over here on 3RPP which is a local community radio station.

Friday 15th May 2009 The Balance Sheet of Life.

This was sent to me in an email by my Uncle. It was sent to him and has probably done the rounds.
But.... read on

I think this is a pretty good and accurate description of us;

BALANCE SHEET OF LIFE

Our Birth is our Opening Balance!

Our Death is our Closing Balance!

Our Prejudiced Views are our Liabilities

Our Creative Ideas are our Assets

Heart is our Current Asset

Soul is our Fixed Asset

Brain is our Fixed Deposit

Thinking is our Current Account

Achievements are our Capital

Character & Morals, our Stock-in-Trade

Friends are our General Reserves

Values & Behaviour are our Goodwill

Patience is our Interest Earned

Love is our Dividend

Children are our Bonus Issues

Education is Brands / Patents

Knowledge is our Investment

Experience is our Premium Account

The Aim is to Tally the Balance Sheet Accurately.

The Goal is to get the Best Presented Accounts Award.


Some very Good and Very bad things ...

The most destructive habit.......................Worry

The greatest Joy................................Giving

The greatest loss.......Loss of self-respect

The most satisfying work................Helping others

The ugliest personality trait.............Selfishness

The most endangered species.........Dedicated leaders

Our greatest natural resource...............Our youth

The greatest 'shot in the arm'..........Encouragement

The greatest problem to overcome..................Fear

The most effective sleeping pill........Peace of mind

The most crippling failure disease............Excuses

The most powerful force in life...................Love

The most dangerous pariah........A gossip

The world's most incredible computer........The brain

The worst thing to be without................... Hope

The deadliest weapon.......................The tongue

The two most power-filled words.................'I Can'

The greatest asset.................................Faith

The most worthless emotion...................Self-pity

The most beautiful attire.......................SMILE!

The most prized possession..................Integrity

The most powerful channel of communication.....Prayer

The most contagious spirit..................Enthusiasm

The most important thing in life

Life ends; when you stop Dreaming,
Hope ends; when you stop Believing,
Love ends; when you stop Caring,
And Friendship ends; when you stop Sharing....!!!

Wednesday 13th May 2009 Too hot to touch

Ezekiel 34 is the Bible reading from St Luke's Anglican Church at Frankston for today Wednesday 13Th May 2009.
My Title for this one is "Too Hot to Handle." Why? Because I do have thoughts, but our Vicar is away and so I wont put them in St Luke's forum as I might do on another time.
Today's Bible Reading is a timely reminder to all shepherds. It is a carry on from yesterday's reading which was on the Watchman. Ezekiel is commanded to be a Watchman. In today's reading, I think, Ezekiel is declaring to us, God's judgement on all shepherds. Spiritual one's that is. The pastors and deacons and elders in today's church. God says what He means and means what He says.
Look at this: "Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves!" And this: "but you do not take care of the flock.". And this: "You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost." Ouch. That's bad. Real bad!
What am I saying? We, the sheep, are shepherding ourselves. We are looking out for ourselves. This is not good. It is bad. Unless the shepherd tells the whole counsel of God, the sheep stray. Homosexuality, lesbianism, the list goes on. All these flourish in the house of the Lord. Ouch, double ouch. This is not good. I am reminded we are created in the image of God. Does God love himself in the way that a homosexual will love? God forbid. Absolutely not! Then why are the shepherds in the so-called house of God sanctioning this disgusting and evil behaviour?
I told you this was too hot to put in St Luke's forum.
What will God do with these shepherds? 10 "This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them."
This is how serious God looks at it. Two places He makes His declaration. Verse 7 " 'Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD : 8a As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD," And verse 10 "This is what the Sovereign LORD says". Now when God declares a matter twice, listen up real good.
Are you a shepherd? Then take heed. Repent, turn around.
Christ is not happy when His sheep go astray. Even less so when those who are supposed to guide them abdicate their responsibility.

Saturday 2nd May 2009 It's "that" word.

The dreaded "S" word. Oh, you have no idea what I am talking about? Well, if you go here to St Luke's Bible reading plan you will see what I am on about. Yesterdays Bible reading is from 1 Corinthians 12. Spiritual gifts is what it is all about. There are two schools of thought regarding spiritual gifts. One says that the gifts, here after called ministries, are finished with. It would have one believe they were only for the early church. The second insists that the ministries are alive and well and that unless one speaks in tongues one is not saved, born again and most certainly not baptised in the Holy Spirit.
I, of course, in my usual fence sitting fashion, believe both. They were given for the early church and are still ion operation today. After all, you can't take Christ out of the church, can you. And aren't the gifts or ministries the manifestation of Christ.
However, I don't hold to the extreme view that unless one is speaking in tongues one is not saved. It certainly doesn't say that in my Bible.