Each time I read this Passage I'm astounded of what Jesus did for us when he didn't have to. I'm am just so grateful and thankful and i just want to worship Him

 Isaiah 53 (Contemporary English Version)

What God's Servant Did for Us

Has anyone believed us or seen the mighty power of the LORD in action?     ²Like a young plant or a root that sprouts in dry ground, the servant grew up obeying the LORD He wasn't some handsome king. Nothing about the way he looked made him attractive to us. ³He was hated and rejected; his life was filled with sorrow and terrible suffering. No one wanted to look at him. We despised him and said" He is a nobody!" ⁴He suffered and endured great pain for us, but we thought his suffering was punishment from God. ⁵He was wounded and crushed because of our sins; by taking our punishment, he made us completely well ^.6All of us were like sheep that had wandered off.  We had each gone our own way, but the LORD gave him the punishment    we deserved ^.7He was painfully abused, but he did not complain. He was silent like a lamb being led to the butcher, as quiet as a sheep having its wool cut off. ⁸He was condemned to death without a fair trial. Who could have imagined what would happen to him? His life was taken away because of the sinful things my people ^[a] had done. ⁹He wasn't dishonest or violent, but he was buried in a tomb of cruel and rich people.  ¹⁰The LORD decided his servant would suffer as a sacrifice to take away the sin and guilt of others. Now the servant will live to see his own descendants. ^[c] He did everything the LORD had planned. ¹By suffering, the servant will learn the true meaning of obeying the LORD. Although he is innocent, he will take the punishment for the sins of others so that many of them will no longer be guilty.¹²The LORD will reward him with honor and power for sacrificing his life. Others thought he was a sinner, but he suffered for our sins and asked God to forgive us.

 

Hey everyone

Last week was a significant moment in the life and history of Riverview Church. At all services and all campuses, we had three members of the Board of Trustees – Steve Fraser (at Burswood campus), Jill Snell (at Joondalup campus) and John Sharpe (at Cockburn Central campus) - communicate live to the Church the decision that Phil Baker was stepping down as Senior Minister.

Although both the Board and Phil and Heather are agreed that this is the right decision – and acknowledge that it will enable Phil to focus on his rehabilitation and the Church to plan forward with more certainty – we are all of course saddened by the fact of it.

In case any partners were not able to be present – and on behalf of the Board of Trustees – I have included below the full text of the announcement that was made ...
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Riverview Announcement – from Board of Trustees on 17/18th July 2010

We have experienced an amazing and challenging 14 months since we first heard of Phil’s illness last May. We have seen the Leadership Team and the people of Riverview Church step up and continue to experience the blessings of God. We are enjoying a continued level of church growth, a secure financial position and an increasing number of people are coming to know God. This is truly the blessing and favour of God.
 
As you would have seen or heard from the interview with Phil and Heather at the Gathering last month, Phil has made incredible progress; he is full of faith, as well as joy and hope for the future. However, it is also clear that Phil has a lot more work to do to reach full recovery.
 
As we look to the future we realize that some important decisions have to be made. After significant discussion with Phil and Heather, it has been decided that Phil will step down from the position of Senior Minister.  Philip and Heather are in agreement with this decision and whilst Phil is stepping down from this role, he will remain a staff member of Riverview Church.
 
1.   So, what does this mean for Phil and Heather?  

·     This decision allows them to totally focus on Phil’s rehabilitation and recovery.

·     Whilst Phil and Heather will remain on staff, it is not envisaged that either of them will return to work for at least another 12 months. Phil and Heather will be paid a financial package that includes their accrued entitlements during this period.

·     We as a church are praying and believing for continuing recovery for Phil.  At the point where Phil and Heather feel that they are able to return to work, they will continue their journey in partnership with Riverview in a new and different capacity. What that looks like remains to be seen, however, we believe that God has an exciting future for Phil and Heather. This journey will be significant and they will continue to be an integral part of Riverview Church.  

·     Phil and Heather have been faithful servants of God and the Church. In the weeks ahead we will all have the opportunity to thank them for their contribution as the senior ministers. But for as long as it takes, we will continue to travel this journey of recovery with them.  

2.   So what does this mean for Riverview Church?

·     We will continue under the current leadership structure with Haydn Nelson as th ... Continue reading.

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our Attitudes.”  Charles R. Swindoll

 "There is no refuge from God - refuge is found in God."

 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)

 

 

Hey everyone!

Well, what an incredible month we have just had – full of faith and expectation – and it has prepared us well for this month’s theme: “Gifted? Empowered to Serve.” You see, faith has sometimes been defined as “truth in action” – since we believe great truths about God, we demonstrate this belief by our actions. In other words, faith includes both truth and trust – both conviction and conduct – both what we believe and what we do. And one of the great truths about the Christian faith is that when God transforms our lives, his Holy Spirit brings empowerment and gifting to bring blessing to others – to serve others. Throughout this month we will be unpacking all of the ways in which faith is lived out for the benefit of others.

To help us do that, this month we are thrilled to welcome two great friends of our church as guest speakers. Ash Barker, along with his wife Anji and two children, live and serve Jesus Christ in the largest slum in Bangkok – known as Klong Toey slum. Ash’s stories will not only move us but they will motivate us never to forget the poor of this world and that each one of us can make a difference. Later in the month, Paul McGee – known as the SUMO guy (“Shut Up and Move On”) – will be with here bringing his unique blend of humour and insight to our theme. Both are simply wonderful speakers who will speak inspiration and challenge to us all (with an great deal of humour thrown in!), and of course, our own preaching team are praying and working hard now so that God may bring insight and inspiration to us all.

So, let me encourage you to be here – ready for God to speak to you and willing to go where he points.

Warmly,

 

Haydn. 

For those of you that laughed and cried tears of sympathy when you read about the great witches hat debacle during my race debut I thought I would give you an update on the most watched injury in history.

 

After x-rays, MRI scans and various Specialist and Physiotherapy appointments the diagnosis is in. I have torn the main tendon in my ankle and bruised a couple of the bones down there just for good measure. It seems that running for 9.5 kilometres after the initial impact perhaps didn’t help things. Hindsight is a wonderful gift for doctors to have on your behalf.

 

Since the injury I haven’t run at all – both Specialist and Physiotherapist said to me that the injury is indeed very rare and unique AND they still can’t understand how I managed to injure myself so badly. They are calling my injury the ‘Witches Hat Syndrome’ – albeit when they stopped laughing out loud.

 

My sense of frustration has been high to say the least – not helped by, again, both Specialist and Physiotherapist indicating to me that this injury takes time to heal ‘for a person of my age’. Oh please – let’s just rub it in! You know that it is a long time when every staff member of the Physiotherapist practice knows you by name and asks how the injury is.

 

At my last visit to my physio – something happened which changed my attitude completely. There had been a suggestion that surgery may be needed and to be honest that may still happen but my physio said something to me that really changed things. I have known my physio for longer than 20 years and really trust him and I think he saw a tad of frustration rising in me.

 

He said that his aim is to get me 100% well not 90% well because if I run again at 90% - the injury will return and that’s what often happens because most people are just too impatient.

 

I suspect that most of us think 90% is OK in anything!

 

At that moment I thought – how many times do I attempt things in life when I am only 90% well? Then when things go wrong I blame everyone else or circumstances when really it was my fault for attempting something at 90% capacity?

 

Perhaps in the future I should be patient and let the final 10 % heal so I can operate at a full 100%. So no running for me yet – the final 10% is taking some time BUT it will be worth it when I can run at 100%.

 

I can still remember the moment as I and millions of people held their breath as one nameless, faceless man stood before a column of 18 tanks in Tiananmen Square China on June 5, 1989 some 22 years ago almost to the day of this blog appearing.

 

Almost nobody knew his name at least nobody outside his immediate friends and to this day despite numerous attempts to identity him nobody knows who he was or what happened to him even one hour after what he did appeared in the world's living rooms.

 

Yet for those of us who saw it on the TV news it was spellbinding.  A small, unexceptional figure in long pants and white shirt, carrying what looks to be his shopping, puts himself before an approaching tank, with a line of 17 more tanks behind it. The tank swerves right; he, to block it, moves left. The tank swerves left; he moves right. Then this anonymous bystander clambers up onto the vehicle of war and says something to its driver.

He jumps off and is gathered by his friends never to be seen or heard from again.

 

Recently I watched the TV footage again and realized that history is littered by single individuals who, prepared to give their all, made an astonishing difference. This man known only as ‘the tank man’ made a difference – he draw attention to China and what was happening there. No media outlet did as much nor any politician, activist or diplomat – he did it. Our Prime Minister at the time, Bob Hawke, cried but the tank man made a difference.

 

I doubt if any of us will stand before a row of tanks yet I was prompted to think once again of making a difference. It all sounds so humdrum – heard it all before – ‘yeah making a difference’ yet my heart was stirred to think again about it.

 

I have discovered that making a difference is usually spontaneous, sudden, comes upon us in a flash, instantaneous and happens so quickly. I am sure the tank man didn’t plan for days his appearance before the tanks. If asked I wonder if he would say – ‘it just happened!’

 

The opportunities to make a difference are always before us – the door opens just a little and the moment is there to be seized. Its up to you but as for me I am looking for my tank man moment – albeit without the tanks.

      

 

Last weekend we as a church hosted Nancy Beach from Willow Creek Community Church Chicago USA. Nancy spoke at our weekend services. Yet that one sentence does not in any way do justice to the impact of Nancy Beach upon the church here in Ipswich.

 

I have often thought that as a speaker we actually are the message to some extent. One cannot speak with any degree of integrity on something that is not consistent with who we are. Nancy Beach spoke to us from the heart. Her grace and humility shone through in what she said and how she said it. I was able to spend time with her over the weekend – Nancy Beach is indeed the real deal – ‘fair dinkum’ as we Aussies would say.

 

Genuinely interested in you – she took the time to listen and respond with thoughtfulness and wisdom.

 

For me there were many highlights over the weekend but perhaps a memorable moment was when Nancy addressed the Pastors and Leaders of the local Australian Christian Churches district of which I am part and in fact lead.

 

She spoke on weekend church services and towards the end encouraged us as pastors and leaders to create transcending moments. Nancy then showed us on DVD one of the moments that she had experienced when she spoke in Chicago.

 

The theme was forgiveness – there was a beautiful song during which there was a very moving scene from the service being shown on DVD for us to see. Nancy told us how this moment had been part of a series of events which saw a family in the church restored, how a couple’s life was brought back together.

 

There was silence – no one moved – tears flowed – God smiled as a faithful servant being lead by the Holy Spirit allowed God to work through her. It was at that moment that I realized what had happened. This was a transcending moment – Nancy had practically demonstrated what a transcending moment actually looks like - a moment where all of us in that room were brought to a point of thinking about how a weekend service has the potential through these moments to transform lives.

 

It was in this moment that I thought about something else. How many times because of the busyness of life, the pace I do life at and the constant demands upon me do I miss those wonderful moments? Times when I stop, listen, respond and act. As a result I am transformed in some area of my life or someone else is changed.

 

Nancy Beach taught me a life lesson that morning – I hope that I don’t forget it!     

 

 "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together."

It was a suggestion, that upon thinking about it, I remain convinced was physically impossible and slightly dangerous to my health. Well, that’s the tail end of the story – what happened that caused someone to make such a suggestion to a nice bloke like me?

 

My family believe that I am extremely navigationally challenged whilst driving – something I strenuously deny and I don’t think this flaw on my part caused the incident. I was executing a U-Turn and apparently the lady in the car behind me didn’t think I should have been doing so. So down came her car window and a torrent of abuse was hurled my way. Her delay, even if I was doing the wrong thing, was no more than 20 seconds. Yet her reaction was unbelievable.

 

This morning on the radio two politicians on opposite sides of the political fence hurled personal abuse at each other until I changed stations sickened by what I was hearing.

 

Now believe me I am no gilded lily – yet is it me or is there an increase in people treating each other badly? What used to be a shrug of the shoulders for some idiot attempting a U-Turn is now reason for a torrent of abuse. Can a debate between politicians be held without resorting to personal attacks?

 

Jim Wallis from Sojourners is so concerned at the level of abuse between political leaders that he proposed a charter for civility. Have we really got to this?

 

Without leadership from the majority of those in political office on this issue – let a revolution of niceness rise up from the grass roots – that’s you and me.

 

Instead of abuse be civil, replace insults with politeness, substitute reaction with courtesy, exchange rudeness with encouragement or just turn the other cheek.

 

I have always discovered that more is accomplished through kindness than abuse and rudeness. So let’s all give niceness a go – who knows it may catch on!

Was reading about Edmund Burke today, the famous statesman and politician in the UK of the 1700s (he's the one reputed to have said, "The only thing necessary to the triumph of evil, is that good men do nothing") and came across this beauty in a speech he gave on the notion of representative democracy ...

... it ought to be the happiness and glory of a representative to live in the strictest union, the closest correspondence, and the most unreserved communication with his constituents. Their wishes ought to have great weight with him; their opinion, high respect; their business, unremitted attention. It is his duty to sacrifice his repose, his pleasures, his satisfactions, to theirs; and above all, ever, and in all cases, to prefer their interest to his own. But his unbiased opinion, his mature judgment, his enlightened conscience, he ought not to sacrifice to you, to any man, or to any set of men living. These he does not derive from your pleasure; no, nor from the law and the constitution. They are a trust from Providence, for the abuse of which he is deeply answerable. Your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgment; and he betrays, instead of serving you, if he sacrifices it to your opinion.

 

Julia Ward Howe lived in an era when a nation was tearing itself apart in civil war. She was a poet and writer – perhaps most well known for her penning of the great hymn ‘Battle Hymn of the Republic’. However she was also a ferocious advocate for other causes – including the equal rights of woman.
 
Yet something that struck me about this passionate woman was her advocacy for peace. She personally witnessed the worst effects of the war when she volunteered with her husband in the hospitals that treated wounded soldiers. The death and disease, which killed and maimed soldiers, would have a lasting effect upon her.
 
She helped widows and orphans of soldiers on both sides of the war, and realized that the effects of the war go beyond the killing of soldiers in battle. A deep thinker Julia Howe also saw the economic devastation of the Civil War, the economic crises that followed the war, the restructuring of the economies of both North and South and realized that there must be an alternative to war.
 
Her passion and desire was for women to come together across national lines and to lead efforts to find peaceful resolutions to conflicts. Her proposal was to adopt an international ‘Mother’s Day of Peace’. This was in fact one of the early forerunners to our current Mother’s Day.
 
In 1870 Julia Howe wrote a declaration for peace which when read even today stirs one’s soul with the zeal of her words. I thought the declaration would interest those with a heart for peaceful resolutions to the world’s problems.

“Arise, then, women of this day! Arise all women who have hearts, whether your baptism be of water or of tears! Say firmly: "We will not have questions decided by irrelevant agencies. Our husbands shall not come to us reeking of carnage for caresses and applause. Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn all that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy, and patience. We women of one country will be too tender to those of another country to allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs.

From the bosom of a devastated Earth a voice goes up with our own. It says ‘Disarm! Disarm!’ The sword of murder is not the balance of justice. Blood does not wipe out dishonour, nor violence indicate possession.

As men have forsaken the plough and the anvil at the summons of war, let women now leave all that may be left of home for a great and earnest day of counsel. Let them meet first as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead. Let them solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means whereby the great human family can live in peace, each bearing after his time the sacred impress not of Caesar, but of God.

In the name of womanhood and humanity, I earnestly ask that a general congress of women without limit of nationality be appointed and held at some place deemed most convenient and at the earliest period consistent with its objects, to promote the alliance of the different nationalities, the amicable settlement of international questions, the great and general interests of peace.”

Have a wonderful Mother’s Day this Sunday!

 Saw this one today ...

“Fortune lost, nothing lost; courage lost, much lost; honour lost, most lost; soul lost, all lost” (Anonymous).

The ankle is now pretty sore but well over half way nothing is going to stop me yet I am now limping and can’t seem to put much pressure on the ankle. I see a sign but as I approach I run through a sprinkler that has been placed to douse us with water by a friendly householder along the race route. It is beautiful to feel the spray on my face until I realize that my glasses have fogged up. Who cares the water was fantastic as it is so hot.

I see a sign – it is what I think is the 9 km mark. One km to go I take off – sore foot and all – I am going to finish and as I look at my watch the time is really fast. The pace increased, the pain in the ankle increased but I am loving this race. I want to finish with nothing left.

Then I see it – the 8 km mark sign. As the half marathon is run at the same time as 10 km I must have seen the 19 km marker and because of the fogged up glasses I only saw the 9 and not the 19.

I have just sprinted nearly a kilometre – out of breath, sweat pouring out of me, dying to go to the toilet and gradually increasing pain in the ankle I still have two km left. This is a race to remember.

My thoughts at this point are centred on ‘just finishing’. I see the athletic track and the finish. My family are there as I enter the oval – they are cheering but later tell me I looked ‘awful’. To be honest I felt awful. A runner that I had been behind all race was just ahead of me. If only I could pass – I put everything I had into the last 400 meters. Fifty meters to go and I pass that runner. I limp/run through the timing gate – someone runs to me and swipes my bib to record my time. Later I find out it is 51.30 minutes for the ten km. I wanted to get under 50 minutes. My body aches, my ankle is killing me, I am struggling for breath but the feeling of finishing is indescribable – racing is in my blood. I love it!

I walk around – my family comes and they are so proud of me. I had finished albeit with a limp but I finished. I didn’t stop – I actually finished. As I cooled down the pain in my ankle increased to biblical proportions to the point where I could hardly walk but I had finished.

That day I learnt a lesson that I think about every day. I had finished the race – not just started but finished. I had finished not running as fast as at the start of the race but with a limp but I had finished. That day I realized that many injuries are obtained through the journey of life but keep going. Jacob the Old Testament patriarch at the end of his life leaned on a staff still suffering the effects of the battle with the angel all those years before but he finished well although limping.

It is OK to limp to the finish rather than not finish the race that was set before you to run. God is beside you every moment of your life race – he loves you even with the limp. In fact I think God is attracted to those who carry a limp but finish anyway.

The postscript – serious injury to the ankle – the dreaded witches hat had taken it's toll - five weeks now and haven’t been able to run. Perhaps next week – then training for my next race AND I can’t wait!

As the race pack thins the runners seem to be a little friendlier – well at least on the outside because I was to have my first experience at a drink station. Now why I need a drink is beyond me really because I run 10 km in training sometimes and no drink required plus there is the little matter that I really do need a toilet stop but just the sight of a drink station attracts me like a moth to a light. I just can’t help myself.

I am on the right hand side of the track and the drink station is on the other side. I attempt to move towards it but no one moves out of the way – in fact people make no attempt to allow me to move left. I attempt to indicate with my hand as a cyclist might do turning a corner but that is met with comments that are unprintable in this blog or to be honest unprintable anywhere. I miss the first drink station.

Lesson learnt – run to the left side of the road for the next drink station so that is what I do. Slowly but surely I move to the left and two km later I see the next drink station. Again why I need a drink is beyond me really but perhaps no blood is flowing to the brain and I am not thinking that well – who knows but I just have to get a drink.

I get to the station, a person attempts to hand me a plastic cup but I miss her hand. I reach for a cup on the table and get one. By the time I get it in my hand it is only half full but as I attempt to drink another competitor bumps me and there goes the drink. There must be an easier way.

At the six km mark I am over half way – my ankle is sore but not too bad. Then I remember the gel. This is the famous ‘during the race’ gel. The one that you take and it boosts your performance, gives you energy and kicks you to the finish. I get it from my running belt – I must take it, well that’s what I think! I rip the top off then realize it is a gooey thick substance like toothpaste. I attempt to squeeze it into my mouth. It is so thick I immediately gag on it. Here I am running – gagging, can’t breath, coughing and choking all at the same time then I see another drink station. This is just unbelievable – I may be the only runner in history that choked during a race.

This time I grab the cup from the helper – a quarter left in it but enough to wash my mouth and unstick the roof of my mouth from my tongue due to the goo.

Breathe – breathe – I must start breathing again as during all this I have forgotten to breathe. I have learnt heaps during this race but the biggest lesson of all is yet to be learnt.

Tomorrow the final two kilometres, the finish AND the greatest lesson learnt!

I couldn’t sleep the night before – I was slightly excited to say the least. The day had finally arrived. Race day – a 10 km twilight run – my first real competitive race. Before I had been in a 5 km run and giggle affair but this was the real deal. My training regime had been tough following a definite coaching routine – up early pounding the roads sometimes before light but loving every minute of it.

The last few days had been challenging as I was carrying a number of niggling injuries. However as those who trained with me said, “All runners carry a few niggles”.

Like a cat on a hot tin roof – I arrived at the track for the start of the race. First lesson learnt – go to the toilet at a service station up the road as the line ups to the portable toilets were long, really long and when you get to the front of the queue 50 runners behind you moving from one leg to the other doesn’t help your concentration I can tell you. So I leave the waiting line!

Then it dawned on me – there were some serious runners here – in fact 2500 serious runners. The call to the start – now I wish I had persevered in the toilet line. I smiled at the people around me – none really smiled back – they pushed me however. Second lesson – position at the start of the race is everything. You have no friends at the start line. The gun goes off – well not really a gun but a dull roar. No one moves – you sort of edge forward. The reason is clear. All 2500 runners have to go through a timing gate only as wide as the 8 lane athletic track reduced to only 6 lanes. Past the gate everyone takes off – the pace is sprint pace – no slowing down you are just caught up in the pack. Then the person in front of me stops dead. I crash into her and the person behind me hits me – it is complete and utter chaos. We have to go through a small gate the width of a driveway to leave the track and go to the road – 2500 through this small opening. People are falling – I think ‘this is bad’. Then we take off again at sprint pace.

The pushing and shoving gets worse – THEN it happened. 500 meters into the 10 km race in a very crowded pack something happens in front of me. People are going everywhere – it appears someone has tripped over one of the ‘witches hats’ along the course. The man in front jumps over the hat now lying sideways on the ground but too late for me – I hit it full on. I lose my footing and my right foot takes a huge hit as it takes my full weight as I try not to fall.

There is immediate pain in my right ankle but it seems alright. Adrenaline and the fact that I am warmed up plus the fact that I have trained hard for this race dulls the discomfort. No thought of stopping as I regather my stride and I am off. Nine and a half kilometres to go and now after 2 km I have run at 4.15 min per km pace – this is bad, really bad as I have trained to run at 5 min per km pace – this is too fast but the pack just pushes you as there is no room to slow down. Yet gradually the pack thins and my pace slows to what I think is about right. Ankle sore but I am running my first race and this is really fantastic.

What happens next is the subject of tomorrows blog!

  Here's another ay to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colours in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill."  Matthew 5:14 (Message translation)

Hey everyone and welcome to our new monthly theme, “Going Public – Not Ashamed.”

The apostle Paul wrote that he is “not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16a). I’ve always thought Eugene Peterson’s expression of this verse in The Message was done well - “It’s news I’m most proud to proclaim, this extraordinary Message of God’s powerful plan to rescue everyone who trusts him.” The overwhelming sense that we get from scripture is that God’s heart is for all of us to take part in this his “powerful plan to rescue everyone.”

So, our hope is that we will be enthused and equipped to be and to do exactly that – to unashamedly and publicly proclaim, defend and live the Good News – in essence, to be “Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us” (2 Cor 5:20). “Going Public” in this way is both our responsibility and great privilege. Looking forward to seeing you there,

Warmly

Haydn
 

Getting up before dark usually tests the mettle of our family – quite a few of them have no appreciation for the early hours of morning preferring to go to bed late and get up late. Yet there is one day each year that all our family gets up before dawn and seems to not complain. The occasion is ANZAC day and for years now my family has a tradition of attending the dawn service at the RAAF base Amberley.

This year was no different – there is something about gathering as the sun rises, hearing the Gallipoli story of 25^th April 1915, listening to the ode and Last Post and seeing the laying of the wreaths to honour and remember the 100000 service men and women who have died for our country in wars and conflicts around the world. This year the crowd was estimated at about 3000 people – the biggest one yet for this particular ANZAC Day dawn service.

Yet something happened at this years service that caused others and myself who witnessed what happened to shed a tear.

Towards the end of the service the RAAF padre asked if there were anyone else who would like to come forward and lay a wreath or flowers at the memorial wall. Already the official guests had been forward – a truly moving occasion witnessed by all.

And then it happened. Out of the crowd came a lady and two young boys – obviously a mum and her two sons. The boys were aged between eight and twelve I suspect. She held the hand of the youngest boy and in the other hand she held a wreath of flowers. Gently she placed the wreath at the wall – spoke to the boys softly gathered them in her arms and hugged them. Then for a moment she just stood there – arms tightly around her sons. Again she whispered something to the boys, hugged them again then with heads bowed they made their way back into the crowd. The mother’s arms still wrapped around them.

I looked around at those standing with me and people were so moved – tears flowed freely. SBS one of our National TV broadcasters have a promotional theme – “Six billion stories and counting …” The meaning is clear – everyone on planet earth has a story. This woman had a story – what was behind such a moving tribute? Perhaps a lost husband, father or relative – who knows?

All I know is that I was moved to tears by the simple yet profound actions of a mother and her sons. One of those six billion stories – one action that made ANZAC Day 2010 special and memorable for me and all who witnessed what happened. Everyone indeed has a story and I had just witnessed part of just one of those six billion stories in action!

 Am preparing a message for this weekend and, to illustrate a point, am tempted to use this clip - it was when this lovely young lady vying for the Miss Teen USA had a bit of a "brain fade" in response to the question, "Recent polls have shown that a fifth of Americans cannot locate the US on a world map. Why do you think this is?"

You probably have seen it already - it has had over 41 million hits on You Tube. But, something keeps stopping me - is it because I can't bear to watch a train wreck like this unfold in front of me? Does it smack of voyeurism? Anyway, my kids love it - in fact, my 13 year old daughter has memorised it and can do a remarkable imitation of it. Just in case you haven't seen it ...

Miss Teen USA brain fade. 

This is not a political announcement or in fact a political endorsement – so when I mention the name Tony Abbott don’t for a minute think I am taking some political sides.

However I just can’t help but comment on the iron man performance of the Opposition Leader. Tony Abbott completed what is regarded as one of the toughest races in the Southern Hemisphere – the Macquarie Triathlon is not for the faint hearted. It is a qualifying race for the famous Hawaiian Triathlon – such is the prestige of this race.

A 3.5 km swim, 180 km bike ride and then just for the fun of it – a full 42 km marathon. Now that is some day out!

Yet Iron Man Tony finds himself being criticised by Government Ministers including the Federal Health Minister. To be fair the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd wished him all the best on twitter – I know because I am a twitter follower of the PM.

Some of the criticism was that he would have to spend at least 10-12 hours per week training and he should be ‘working on policies’. Please what is going on?

It is obvious that Abbott wants to keep fit AND I for one am glad he does. He spends some time each week away from politics getting fit and doing something that obviously refreshes his body and soul – what a terrible crime for a politician? Tony Abbott has a life outside of politics – the shame of it!

It seems to me that the ‘tall poppy syndrome’ is still alive and well. Criticism and negativity is still easier then encouragement and building up someone. Why can’t people in the corridors of power see the positive rather than always attempting to score political points and tear each other apart?

Congratulations Tony for getting fit!

Congratulations for having something you love doing outside of your job!

Congratulations for setting a goal and achieving it against all the odds!

AND for all of us – let’s be mindful of the negative things that come from our mouths and replace them with words that are healing, restorative, encouraging, edifying, gentle, kind, loving and honouring. Reject negative and destructive talk – speak as you would want to be spoken to.

Who knows the positive and encouraging words that you speak may come back to you many times over – wouldn’t that be fantastic?

To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you - Philip Yancey

He who cannot forgive breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass.--George Herbert

One forgives to the degree that one loves. --Francois de La Rochefoucauld

 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
(Psalm 103:11,12)

“Life is short – Have an affair!” At first I honestly thought it was a joke but when the newsreader seemed as shocked as I was, I realized this news report was no joke. An American company have opened an on line dating website for Australia with the caveat that you have to be married to register.

The promoter openly and quite brazenly spoke about this new venture as being for married people who want an affair. ‘Forty thousand hits on the website’ he says, ‘indicates that the venture is much needed and sought after’

As I said it is not often that you see a visibly shocked newsreader but clearly she was but not shocked enough to ask a beautifully crafted and probing question of the promoter. “Are you married?” she asked. “Yes – very happily”, he replied. “Then”, the newsreader asked, “How does your wife fell about this?”

Wait for it – here’s the reply! “Well she’s quite OK about it provided I keep my business and personal life separate!” Yes why don’t you do that – have a completely different set of values for your personal life and your business life. That seems to be an integrity filled lifestyle doesn’t it?

The newsreader’s stunned look said it all – no words needed just a look of disbelief. The newsreader and I agreed.

Yet it was my reaction after the story that court me off guard. Shouldn’t I be angry that something like this was on a national news bulletin – the company name plastered over the TV screen for anyone to go to the website? Shouldn’t I be livid, annoyed, irate, furious and downright enraged at this completely outrageous promotion and encouragement of people having an affair? Why wasn’t I up in arms?

To be honest I just wasn’t – instead I was deeply saddened by it. Not mad just very sad! I wondered if I, like many others, although deeply saddened by this report, have now become accustomed and desensitised to such blatant immoral behaviour?

Too many TV shows, movies, books and real life stories that resonate this behaviour as being the ‘norm’. Without me realizing it – my senses have been dulled. No longer does a righteous anger rise up but now just a dull sadness. I’m glad I saw this report on the news – I needed a wake up call. There are some things that are wrong – very wrong AND ‘Life is short – have an affair’ WILL always be wrong – very wrong. I need to be more than sad about it!

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”   Isa 26:3

 

The Holy Scriptures are our letters from home -    Augustine