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.)

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.)

It is a great relief to see a resolution in the lengthy dispute between Israel Folau and Rugby Australia.

Folau has been given an apology by RA, as well as a confidential financial payout.

It all stemmed from Folau’s post on Instagram of a paraphrased quote from the Bible that warned people to repent of their sins and turn to Jesus Christ.

The specific reference to homosexual acts was the comment that brought the offence that led to his dismissal and the termination of his contract.

Thankfully, the outcome of this dispute is a recognition that it is important for individuals to be able to speak freely about issues that really matter to them, even if it is not necessarily aligned with some views in government and corporations.

I stand with Israel in wanting everyone, everywhere to turn away from their past lives and turn to Jesus as loving ruler and rescuer.

I stand with Israel in calling all people to repent and believe the good news about Jesus.

And this call to ‘repent’ will naturally cause offence.

Jesus offended people everywhere when he called out their rebellious acts and their sinful hearts.

But Jesus gave people a way to be fully forgiven of everything in their past, and to offer a fresh start in his safe arms.

It will be a tragedy for our nation if individuals are not free to say what they like about matters of religion and belief.

We need to be able to hear every opinion, and be ready to debate what is right and wrong.

We need to be free to have ‘dangerous’ ideas heard, so that we can respectfully listen, and where needed, powerfully discuss and refute.

And we should follow the call of the Apostle Paul to “speak the truth, in love” in every sphere in which we live.

JODIE McNEILL

(Photo credit: Georgie Pauwels via Flickr.com)

The drought is getting worse and the fire emergency is escalating: our weather is causing grief to us all, and some far more than others.

The Bible has recorded some events in history when God brought about severe weather incidents as a way of punishing people.

Yet, when Jesus was questioned about a natural disaster that happened during his life on earth, he quickly pointed out that God doesn’t bring about these kinds of events in order to punish specific sins in specific people.

Jesus said, “Do you think those Galileans were worse sinners than all the other people from Galilee?” Jesus asked. “Is that why they suffered? Not at all! And you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God.” (Luke 13:2-3)

This means that it’s wrong and insensitive to suggest that the current bushfire and drought emergency is a special punishment from God for any recent community actions.

For, whilst God is in control of everything in his creation, he does not use these kinds of disasters to specifically punish people for particular sins.

In fact, Jesus said that God “gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.” (Matthew 5:45).

However it is also true that every time tragedy or hardship affects us, we should stop and think about the coming judgement of every one of us.

This means that every tragedy is a wake-up call from God to make sure we’ve taken refuge in Jesus, who promises to protect us from judgement when we trust in him as our loving ruler and rescuer.

At this time of fire and drought we should pray for those who are suffering and use this moment to make sure we’ve each, personally made peace with God.

JODIE McNEILL

Have you noticed how often Jesus tells people in his kingdom to be like children?

Until recently, I’ve thought that he was only talking about how we are unable to earn our salvation in any way.

But as I’ve read Paul E. Miller’s book, ‘A Praying Life’, I’ve now seen that the childlikeness Jesus refers to should also include the way that we approach him in prayer.

We are tempted to think that we need to present prayers to him that are all ‘grown up’, with everything neat and tidy.

Yet, when a child speaks to a parent, they just speak the first thing that comes into their mind, and they don’t really worry about having a polished presentation.

What’s more, a child is happy to ask over and over again for what they want, showing little restraint with their requests, almost to the point of rudeness.

These child-like behaviours would normally be discouraged in mature, grownups, and yet this is exactly the kind of way that God wants us to approach him in prayer.

So, if you’re feeling distant from God and finding it difficult to pray, then just start talking to God with the first thing that comes into your mind.

It may not be eloquent, and it might end up sounding a bit repetitive and insistent, but that’s exactly the way that kids talk to mum and dad… and the way that Jesus wants us to talk to our Father.

This should come as a great relief if you’re finding it hard to know where to start in your prayers.

You just need to start talking to God like a child talks to his parent, and humbly bring your requests to him.

And we can know with confidence that he will hear us and answer us as is best for us… what a relief!

JODIE McNEILL