This is the latest blurb that is published on the front of our weekly bulletin

kNOw domestic abuse

It is tragic that one of the most beautiful concepts within the Bible is so easily distorted and used to harm others.

This concept is the equal and complementary roles within marriage that help us understand the glorious service of Jesus for the church, and his self-sacrificial love for Christians.

Yet sadly, we live in a world where sin and selfishness lead us to disobey God and to harm others for our own benefit.

This is why domestic abuse is a reality amongst people in our society, including Christians in the church.

Domestic abuse can happen to anyone, including women, children and men, no matter where you live, your culture or religion, or your level of education.

But as we consider this, we must remember that domestic abuse is not just about getting angry or being in a bad relationship.

Instead, domestic abuse is a “pattern of behaviour, based on exerting power and control over another, causing fear and intimidation” (www.knowdomesticabuse.church).

The Anglican Church Diocese of Sydney has recently produced an excellent website, with printed support material, to help promote and support safer environments “that recognise equality between all people, including husbands and wives and promote a culture of healthy relationships of mutual responsibility and respect in marriages, families and congregations”.

Please visit the www.knowdomesticabuse.church website to read more about how to respond to domestic abuse in your home or in the lives of others you know.

And as this website reminds us, we must remember that the Bible “rejects all abuse, whether physical, verbal, or otherwise expressed from one person towards another and always condemns the misuse of power to control or exploit others. Therefore domestic abuse is evil.”

Are you or someone you know living with domestic abuse? Talk to someone at church you trust, or visit the www.knowdomesticabuse.church website.

JODIE McNEILL

Will you wear a ‘Jesus Is___’ t-shirt?

During March and April, Anglican Christians throughout Wollongong and beyond will be wearing ‘Jesus is___’ t-shirts and other merchandise.

We’re praying that it will get lots of people talking and thinking about the identity of Jesus.

You might think that it’s a bit ‘out there’ wearing it, but a really good reason to put it on is because you want to show that you’re not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus!

As we read in 1 Peter 4:16, “…if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name”

So the first reason to wear a “Jesus Is___” t-shirt is to go public for Jesus, to be unashamed that you’re connected to Christ.

For we know it’s only by calling on the name of Jesus that people can be saved (Acts 4:10, 12), and that means we need to get people talking about Jesus.

The second big reason to go public this way is to harness the power of synergy… that we can achieve more together than the sum of our individual efforts.

One person wearing a ‘Jesus is___’ t-shirt won’t be noticed for long, but if hundreds of people from across the region do, then it will create an impact.

Or, instead of a t-shirt, you could try a small badge on your lapel, or wear a wrist-band, or a “Jesus is ___” coffee keep cup, or a bumper sticker for your car or pencil case.

You could even just change your Facebook profile picture to temporarily include the ‘Jesus is ___’ artwork.

The third big reason is that when you wear it, someone might ask you, “what’s the deal with all those T-shirts… I keep seeing them everywhere!”

And you can be ready to answer: “We’re interested in people’s opinions. How would you complete that sentence?”

Let’s pray for lots of great conversations about Jesus.

SANDY GRANT with JODIE McNEILL

What’s Glorious about Judgement?

When people talk about ‘judgement’, it normally seems to be pretty negative, because a judgement divides people, with winners and losers, and the whole idea of one person judging another just seems downright uncomfortable.

Yet in some circumstances, a judgement is a positive and welcome result.

If your wellbeing or reputation has been harmed because of someone’s harmful actions towards you, then you will welcome justice if you receive compensation or if your name is cleared from false allegations or claims.

And if the act of injustice is against someone you know and love, then you will celebrate the judgement and acquittal of the person who has been harmed.

In this case, a ‘judgement’ is a good thing, and something to be celebrated.

With this in mind, the Bible speaks over and over about God’s judgement against people who reject him and harm his good reputation.

It’s in the context of God’s judgement and punishment that we see his gracious and glorious mercy to all of us who don’t deserve his kindness and love.

Over the next four weekends we’re going be looking at four episodes in human history where God showed and will show his glorious judgement against all those who stand against him in anger and rebellion.

We’ll see his glorious judgement at Eden, as we witness the rebellion by Adam and Eve, and God’s grace through his judgement.

We’ll see God’s glorious judgement in Egypt, as he judged the blatant rebellion of Pharaoh, which led to the glorious salvation of God’s people in the Exodus.

We’ll see the glorious judgement at Easter, where the cross of Christ demonstrates God’s extraordinary love and mercy.

And we’ll see the glorious judgement at the End Time, when the definitive punishment of all rebels against God will show his love for justice and his justice in love.

JODIE McNEILL

(Image credit: Ken Teegardin via Flickr.com at www.SeniorLiving.Org)

What’s Needed on Australia Day?

There are legitimate reasons why many people feel they cannot support the celebration of Australia Day on 26 January, the anniversary of the arrival of the First Fleet in Sydney Cove.

They have to do not only with the devastation experienced by indigenous people following European colonisation – dispossession of lands, mass slaughter, epidemics of illness and the spread of alcohol – but the continuing disparity in education and health outcomes, for example, between indigenous and non-indigenous people, and the widespread ignorance of indigenous history and experience.

There is so much of Australia to give thanks for, to celebrate and to enjoy, but there is no ‘day’ over which the long shadow of sin and selfishness and greed and violence is not cast.

Any celebration of Australia – or any nation or culture – must reckon with historical and present-day expressions of rejection of God and neglect of people.

The suggestion that Australia Day celebrations should begin with a time of mourning in acknowledgement of the suffering caused to indigenous people through European settlement reflects the Christian pattern of frank admission or confession of sin, humbly and thankfully recognising that the gospel of Jesus offers a way of forgiveness, reconciliation and transforming hope.

It is right to celebrate Australia and to give thanks to God for our country and to pray that we may be a blessing to others; but such a celebration is hollow and self-serving if it fails to acknowledge the sins of our nation and history.

We will love Australia best when we live with another ‘day’, the date of which has been fixed by God, foremost in our minds:

God commands all people everywhere to repent, for he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead. Acts 17:30b-31

KANISHKA RAFFEL, Dean of Sydney.

(This is an edited version of an article by Kanishka Raffel that originally appeared as ‘From the Dean’ at St Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney. Photo by Campbelltown City Council via Flickr.com)

Sticks and Stones

Whoever first said “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never harm me” was obviously unaware of modern-day social media.

Whether it’s Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, there seems to be a keyboard courage that leads people to write things online that they’d be far-less-likely to say face-to-face to their victims.

That’s why cyber-bullying is such a problem in our midst, and it seems that our authorities seem unwilling or unable to do anything to stop it.

Our political leaders are often the target of ‘mean tweets’, the kind of bullying that is condoned and encouraged by the general populace.

It must be hard for the politicians and public figures to endure the direct attacks themselves, but the cost for their families is too great.

Words are powerful, and can have a genuinely physical impact on those who hear them.

Tragically, we saw another example this week when Wilson Gavin, a 21-year-old activist, was so brutally attacked online that he chose to take his own life.

Words of hate are felt like daggers in the heart.

This is why James wrote that, “among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.” (James 3:6).

It is a sober warning to all people that we must be wise and loving with how we speak and what we write online.

For as we read in the Psalms:

Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous? Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. (Psalm 34:12-14)

JODIE McNEILL

(Photo credit: Leo Hidalgo via Flickr)

Praying for our Servos

In this time of national disaster, it’s very important that we pray for the many people who serve us in our emergency services and other associated organisations. To help you pray, here is the prayer I wrote for our Tuesday ‘Bushfire Emergency Prayer Service’:

Heavenly Father, we bring before you the many people who lead and serve in our emergency services, and ask that you would protect and strengthen them in this time of crisis.

We pray for the members of the Ambulance service, who render help to firefighters and victims, and for the health and medical staff who provide first aid and long-term care.

We pray for the volunteers in the Rural Fire Service, who continue to battle tirelessly and sacrificially, and for Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons, who with his team, has showed such leadership in keeping everyone informed and safe, as he manages this disaster.

We pray for the police force, and their assistance in helping evacuate and direct traffic and respond to incidents, as well as maintain law and order in this challenging time.

We pray for the defence force, who have supported all agencies from air, land and sea in many roles and capabilities.

We pray for NSW Fire and Rescue, who battle to protect and save people, animals and buildings, and for their executive management team and incident controllers.

We pray for those in the National Parks and Wildlife Service who help care for animals and assist with fighting fires.

We pray for the SES workers who restore safety to communities and clear hazardous debris.

We pray for the forestry corporation, fighting fires and managing millions of hectares of state forest.

We pray for the many people who have pushed for donations and have given time, equipment and money to assist those in need.

We pray for the many people who work behind the scenes in communication centres, who have the difficult job of determining where valuable resources need to go.

We pray for the people who update apps, warning and Facebook pages, and for the people in the media, who together work to keep information coming in times of need.

We thank you for the service of all who have travelled afar from interstate and from Canada, the USA, New Zealand, to assist us in this time of disaster.

We pray also for our Prime Minister, our Premier, our Mayor, and for all those who serve with them at this time, as they make important decisions to coordinate the firefighting and relief efforts.

And we also pray for the family and friends of all firefighters who have to say ‘farewell’ with fear and pride to a loved one, and hold down the fort while they are gone.

We pray for protection and strength for all who lead and serve us in this bushfire emergency.

In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

JODIE McNEILL

(Photo credit: ‘Highway Patrol Images’ via Flickr.com)

What’s in your Grab Bag?

One of the smartest things you can do if you’re in a bushfire prone area is to get a ‘grab bag’.

In my bag I’ve got our passports, other important documents, and our wedding photos.

And when I go to grab that bag, I’ll also get my favourite ukulele, Mandy’s cello, and a few other photo albums… and, of course, the dogs and cats.

It would be very sad if everything else burned to the ground, but to be honest, it can all be replaced with money from insurance.

It’s an interesting exercise to work out what to put in that ‘grab bag’ when it’s time to evacuate.

Back in 2002 this hypothetical scenario was a reality when we had to evacuate our home as fires moved closer to us.

And in the back seat of our car was a collection of the most valuable things we owned.

What would you take if you had to evacuate, and why?

It’s a timely reminder that the time is coming when everything will eventually be destroyed, and the only thing that will truly matter will be relationships.

Jesus said, “Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:20)

Jesus made it clear to us that we should store up our treasures in heaven, for “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” (6:21)

The most valuable thing of all is your relationship with Jesus, and everything else is a distant, second-place.

Which means that if you lose all your possessions in a disaster, then it doesn’t, ultimately matter if you’re safe in the arms of Jesus.

The most important insurance policy of all is making sure you’re friends with Jesus before you face him as judge.

Is Jesus your ultimate grab bag?

JODIE McNEILL 

(Photo credit: MIKI Yoshihito via Flickr.)

Is it Time for a Fresh Start?

Whilst New Year’s Day is just the same as any of the other 365 days of the year, there is something cleansing and healing about starting afresh on ‘Day One’.

It gives us a chance to try and begin a new, good habit, or maybe try and stop an old, bad habit.

As we start the new year, we can forgive ourselves for unhealthy and unwise living, and permit ourselves to wipe the slate clean in our frequently-failed attempts at doing life ‘right’.

When Jesus spoke to a man called Nicodemus, he offered the man a fresh start when he invited him to be ‘born again’.

We’ve heard that expression so many times that we don’t notice how strange and odd it is for a fully-grown person to experience the journey of a brand-newborn child.

So he said to Jesus, “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?” (John 3:4)

Jesus replied by explaining how it is possible to have this fresh start in life, and then he shared with Nicodemus the Bible’s most famous verse:

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

Eternal life comes from being born again, and the way to be born again is to believe in Jesus who died for us.

If you want a true, fresh start in 2020, then say “sorry” to Jesus for rejecting him, and turn to him and tell him you trust him as your king.

Because whether or not you eat less sugar or walk more steps, the most important New Year’s Resolution for every person is to be born again.

Is it time for you to have a genuine, fresh start?

JODIE McNEILL

(Photo credit: John Mayer via Flickr)

Flags at Half Mast

We woke this morning to hear the tragic news of the deaths of two RFS volunteers from Horsley Park Brigade, who perished in a vehicle accident whilst firefighting near Bargo.

For me it was particularly sobering, given that only four days ago I was on the same stretch of road, in the same uniform, in the same type of fire truck, serving in an out-of-area deployment to fight the same Green Wattle Creek fire that continues to rage.

Even though I felt somewhat powerless this morning, I knew that I could still pray that God would bring comfort to the many people who are grieving the loss of family, friends, and fellow brigade members.

This kind of tragic incident reminds us of the shortness of life, and that any day might be our last.

Whether you’re responding to a fire with lights and sirens, or simply crossing the road outside the shops, every activity brings risks that can lead to death.

When I conduct a funeral service, I read these words of comfort and assurance from the Bible:

The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.
Our life is like grass, we flourish like a flower of the field; the wind goes over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.
But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children. (Psalm 103:8, 13-17)

At at time like this we pray for the comfort of those who mourn, and we also pause to reflect on our own mortality as we know that one day every person will stand before Jesus to give a personal account for their life.

The good news in this time of sadness is that Jesus has promised to give each of us certainty for eternity if we simply trust and obey him as our loving ruler and rescuer.

Today all RFS brigades will fly their flags at half mast as a mark of respect for the firefighters.

As you see the flags, pray for comfort for those who are grieving, and reflect on the fragility of life this side of eternity.

JODIE McNEILL

(I took this photo on Monday on a firetrail between Balmoral and Buxton, only a short distance from where the tragedy occurred last night.)

More Than a Meal

As yuletide arrives in full force, we receive a fresh reminder that food and festivities go together like pork and crackling… or turkey and stuffing!

It’s hard to imagine Christmas without excesses of fancy fare, with plates full of food to enjoy.

At a recent event at which I was saying ‘grace’, I thanked God for creating food with such a variety of tastes to enjoy.

Like so many aspects of his creation, God could have given us limited colours or sounds or smells… but instead he lavishly poured out for us a smorgasbord of sensory experiences.

Yet whilst there is pleasure in fine food, the greatest joy is the experience of eating with others, in the same time and place, enjoying a break from the busyness of life to share a meal.

It should come as no surprise for us to note how many times Jesus ate meals with his disciples.

Throughout the New Testament he ‘broke bread’ with people, marking out moments in time when he would make an announcement or share a significant occasion together.

The most famous meal of the Bible was the Lord’s Supper, which was based on the second-most famous meal of the Bible, the Passover.

These meals recounted extraordinary moments of salvation, which found full fulfilment in Jesus’ resurrection from the tomb.

Meals were a special time to be absorbed in a moment of remembrance, and to enjoy a multi-sensory experience of food and fellowship, in the framework of faith.

As you enjoy the season of festal food, give thanks to God for the joy of experiencing the wonder of his lavish creation… but above all, for the greatest gift of Christmas, the birth of a son who would die for our salvation.

JODIE McNEILL

(Photo credit Ruth Hartnum via Flickr.com)