Genesis 2 – NOT GARDENING!

Genesis 2 – NOT GARDENING!

Gardening!

There’s an ugly looking weed that persists in growing in our garden and we are enemies. It has thorns. I have weed killer with a trigger that spurts out poison so I don’t even have to get near it.

I have always hated (my grandson says you shouldn’t say “hate”)…. I have always DETESTED gardening. Love the natural look but my wife doesn’t agree. Apparently God doesn’t either.

“Early in the first light of Saturday morning a man appeared, lying naked in the dust. His form is perfect in every way except there is no movement to animate his strong arms and legs, or smile to please his handsome face. Around him in every direction the sounds and smells of the forest in early spring fill the air with life, but here they fall upon senses that remain untouched.

“Oh God, He’s … dead!”

“No, not dead.” My senses rush at the sound of His strong clear voice and I am suddenly alert to every sound. “He has never been alive and he is not dead.”

The forest becomes silent as if in anticipation, and you draw back. Creation seems to be waiting for something momentous to take place. I can feel my face draining of colour. The world around me fades. His Breath floods through the trees and encompasses the strange figure in the dust with it’s touch.

My mind is still reeling with the first rays of understanding as Adam’s eyes open to the One who gives him life. His first moment is wrapped in the glory, love and spendour of His Maker. His first touch – the embrace of heaven’s welcome. The first words he speaks are those of worship and praise. And now the heavens respond with angelic voices echoing their shouts of pure joy that shakes the whole of creation with a tumultuous roar. At least, that’s how I think it might have happened. I wasn’t there, but reading about it stirs my imagination.

No sooner is he breathing and looking around and he is given a PURPOSE. Even before he is created from the dust of the ground, it says,

“no shrub of the field had yet appeared on the earth and no plant of the field had yet sprung up, for the LORD God had not sent rain on the earth and there was NO MAN TO WORK THE GROUND,” (Genesis 2:5 NLT)

He enters into the purposes of God. And I also have a purpose on this earth. It is clear from Genesis 1 and this passage that I am created to REPRESENT GOD on the earth – in His image (1:27), to EXERCISE RULERSHIP over God’s creation (1:28), TO SERVE AND WORK where God has placed me (2:8), to have a personal relationship with God and LISTEN AND OBEY what He has to say (2:16,17). I am also created with a need for COMPANIONSHIP (2:18-25). DISTINCTIVES of the Christian life. Things that give my life significance and identity. Things that Christ my Creator intended from the beginning, but which have been thrown out as religious wimp rubbish. Things like worship, companionship, discipleship, ministry. It is all here!

What does God do?…Adam and Eve are made RESPONSIBLE from day one of their existence. They are to “keep” (shamar) the Garden. This word means to watch over, to guard, to keep, to look after, to take care of.

No escaping it. I am created to be responsible – personally responsible – for the World in which I live and the way in which I live. Even the perfect, beautiful Garden of Eden has to be looked after and cared for. Adam and his helper Eve were…to cultivate the land and keep the garden from growing out of control (1:5), to feed and provide for themselves (1:16), to look after and care for the animals (1:19), to worship God and obey His commands (2:15), to share companionship and have children (1:28) and that’s an awesome responsibility in itself.

One thing is sure…God has given me a PURPOSE in life to fulfill. I am not made to be inactive and lazy. And somehow it relates well to gardening, as unfortunate as I may think that is.

“Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.” (Romans 12:11 NLT).

“Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.”"  (2 Thessalonians 3:10 NLT).

The invitation is here for you choose to live in His purposes today. Like Adam and Eve, to have every need met by God physically and spiritually, to respond positively to Him and serve Him. To receive what He offers, to reject what He withholds or bear the consequences. An incredible opportunity to respond, worship, love and come under the authority of Christ. Chosen for a purpose (Now I’m starting to sound like the Blues Brothers – on a mission from God!). OK, OK, and to mow the lawn and keep the garden looking nice.

Pastor Ross

Job 29 – TODAY, WITH GOD’S HELP, I WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Job 29 – TODAY, WITH GOD’S HELP, I WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE

With God’s Help, I Can Make a Difference!

She wonders why there is a rat on the ceiling. Her brain tumour causes her to hallucinate and feel insecure. I visit Joan (not her real name) in the palliative care room, but she is lost, isolated, rejected, distraught and unable to cope without the presence of her children. She is distressed until they can be there for her again.

Her old wrinkled, weather worn face breaks into a smile and faded eyes light up with the sparkle that only love can reveal as her FAMILY comes to visit her. They make a huge difference to her quality of life, since she is unable to live at home. Dementia seems to decrease remarkably as they communicate freely and share together normally. Their influence is making a difference. Even the rat on the ceiling goes away.

The palliative care that Joan receives focuses on relieving her suffering as she dies. It is designed to improve the quality of her life PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY AND SPIRITUALLY.

Job has also lost the comforts of HOME but he is relegated to a palliative care wasteland to sit in dust all day and wait to die. There is no morphine prescribed for his pain and he has outlived his children. He says in Job 29:2,5 “I long for the years gone by when God took care of me,… and my children were around me.” This is not so surprising because the palliative care of his friends is extremely WANTING.

Job longs to find a way through the stabbing darkness of his pain, and for the healing warmth and light of God’s care and direction. He yearns for the good old days, and in his reminiscing I can see the principles of a Godly life. Job 29 is an opportunity for me to make some DECLARATIONS that can mark my life and make a difference in the lives of others.

1.         I WILL HELP THE HOPELESS

Perhaps Job 29 is an opportunity to rethink the VALUE OF A PERSON’S LIFE and to love without any expectation of return. Job speaks of this kind of love. Today, let my declaration be the declaration of Job’s life. In Job 29:12, he says “I helped those without hope,…”

2.         I WILL ADVOCATE FOR CHANGE

Job was actively involved in SOCIAL JUSTICE issues. He fought for the rights of those being oppressed. He was an ADVOCATE. In his words he “broke the jaws of godless oppressors and plucked their victims (or prey) from their teeth.” He is a social justice Rambo! Today I refuse to be contaminated or intimidated by injustice. I will advocate for change.

3.         I WILL EXPRESS THE LOVE OF CHRIST

Job describes his life as a tent. When the tent of someone’s life is propped up with sticks and a storm is coming, and they no longer feel the security of God’s presence (Job 29:4), God calls me to tell them of the HOPE there is in Christ, of the friendship and protective covering of God that will give them the stability they need each day?

Job has lost his MARRIAGE relationship. His wife sees him as being as good as dead already. She says “Curse God and die!” My call is to let people know that they can BELIEVE IN CHRIST AND LIVE!

4.         I WILL REMIND PEOPLE OF THEIR VALUE

Everyday I meet people like Job who have lost their place in the community, who can no longer WORK and do things that are recognised as VALUABLE by others, and who, unless they are reminded of their value, can begin to feel unwanted. They can no longer use their abilities, skills, gifts and talents, and have no motivating strength to CONTRIBUTE to others. Life seems to be stagnated and curdled and smelly because it is beyond it’s use-by date. They can’t speak loud enough or fast enough and they are not so beautiful anymore? They have a sense of worthlessness and long for the GOOD OLD DAYS. Yet Jesus thinks they are so VALUABLE that He died for their sins and today I have the opportunity to remind them of their value. Today I will see people through THE EYES OF THE CROSS and tell them of God’s love.

5.         I WILL SHOW HONOUR AND TREAT PEOPLE WITH RESPECT

Job has become an object of ridicule and pity, a victim, and even in the eyes of his friends – suffering because he deserves it, labelled as evil. He remembers when young and old honoured him (Job 29:8-10). Today I will treat people with respect. I will not LABEL them or mark them as being somehow less human, and less deserving of respect because they are bedridden, slow, or have dementia or even because of their sin. They do not have to earn my respect, because they are unable to do so. I will think more highly of others and freely give my love and respect anyway (Philippians 2:3, 1 Corinthians 12:24).

6.         I WILL BE GENEROUS WITH THE RESOURCES GOD HAS GIVEN TO ME

Job wants fresh milk times again. He paints a nice picture of “Steps bathed in milk or butter” (Job 29:6). A little slippery perhaps, but a beautiful picture of blessing and generosity. Job used his wealth to contribute to his community. He says in Job 29:12 “For I assisted the poor in their need and the orphans who required help.” I will be generous with the resources God has given to me.

7.         I WILL USE MY WORDS AND INFLUENCE TO REFRESH PEOPLE’S LIVES

In Job 29:21-25 Job says “Everyone listened to my advice (or my counsel). He was obviously well respected and people wanted to hear what he had to say. “they had nothing to add, for my counsel satisfied them” he says, “They drank my words like a refreshing spring rain. When they were discouraged, I smiled at them. My look of approval was precious to them.” Unlike his friends, Job didn’t seek to bring others down. His approval was sought after. He was not intimidated by their unbelief or intimidating to others.

8.         I WILL HAVE INTEGRITY AND LEAD BY EXAMPLE

Job says (Job 29:14 NLT) Those were the days when I went to the city gate and took my place among the honoured leaders (Job 29:7 NLT) “Everything I did was honest. Righteousness covered me like a robe,” (Job 29:14 NLT) ….”Like a chief, I told them what to do (He was a leader) …and comforted those who mourned.” (Job 29:25 NLT). Today, I will show leadership by my example. 

9.         I WILL LIVE A CHRIST CENTRED LIFE AND GIVE PERSON CENTRED CARE.

We have a mandate at the Shalom Centre where I work as a Chaplain. It is “To express Christ’s love as we serve individuals, families and people in the community who have unmet spiritual, emotional or physical needs”. We seek to give Person Centred Care.

Job used his faith, wealth, words and abilities to help those in need. Job’s friends needed to express God’s love to him when he was left in need spiritually, emotionally and physically, but they refused to learn from the example of his life and heaped condemnation on him instead. Today I determine not to make that mistake. Today, I will live a Christ centred life and give person centred care. TODAY, WITH GOD’S HELP, I WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE. What about you?

Pastor Ross

Matthew 13:36-43 – HELL, GOD’S WASTE MANAGEMENT CENTRE – Part 11

Matthew 13:36-43 – HELL, GOD’S WASTE MANAGEMENT CENTRE – Part 11

Hell

I watch as hell is washed inland with the momentum of an earthquake behind it, a wave of burning cars, buildings and debri. And in its wake the devastation of thousands lost. Earthquake, tsunami, nuclear explosion.

In the Valley of Hinnom, outside Jerusalem, refuse was burned continually day and night. It was called Gehenna, the city dump. Jesus uses it as a picture of HELL. I know that Hell is regarded as a foolish ploy of religious people to instill fear, or a metaphor of retribution, but the Bible is very clear about it being a LITERAL AND DEFINITE place, originally prepared for the devil and his angels and not us (Matthew 25:41).

We are concerned for the lives lost in Japan. What is even worse is the thought of people being separated from God for ETERNITY. As reluctant as I am to speak about hell, Jesus isn’t. Perhaps today, rather than pointing to Gehenna, Jesus would point to the smoldering, twisted rubbish dump, like a lake of fire and smoke that once was Northern Japan, and say that it is a portrait of hell. It’s an incredible waste. But Imagine God thinking that my life is a waste such as this, not only on earth but also for eternity. No wonder hell is described as “THE SECOND DEATH”.

Imagine in Japan a helicopter offering to lift someone from the path of the Tsnami. Imagine them saying “I don’t need your help”. Lots of people do that with Jesus. They say “Well, I’ve lived a pretty good life. I don’t need Jesus. I don’t need to be saved!” The arrogance that deceives me into thinking that somehow I DESERVE heaven rather than accept that Christ died for my sins to keep me from hell may be a prevalent concept today, but it is totally ego centric and highlights how spiritually blind I am. I am choosing to live on a waste dump. Or as we choose to call it a Waste Management Recycling Centre.

As I speak on this day 14th March 2011, Hell walks through the battered remains of New Zealand, Japan and threatens people at Gunpoint in Libya, but Matthew 10:28 (NLT) says “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”

The Bible says God is life. Those who choose to separate themselves from God separate themselves from that life for eternity, an unimaginable existence.

When Jesus gives an explanation of the parable of the WHEAT AND WEEDS being separated at the harvest, He uses strong terms. He says in Matthew 13:41-42 (NLT) “The Son of Man will send His angels, and they will remove from His Kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. And the angels will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” A comedian said if you don’t have teeth then teeth will be provided, but somehow it doesn’t seem so funny when you think that teeth gnashing describes the terrifying torment and anguish of such retribution.

Jesus is looking at some very religious people as He speaks and says “There will come a time when it will be sorted out”. The day of judgment is coming! He is simply stating it as a fact, and He is not trying to be some street preacher wearing a placard saying “Turn or burn!” Far from it. He is saying “NO-ONE ELSE has come to save you.”

John 3:17-21 (NLT) says “God sent His Son into the world NOT TO JUDGE the world, BUT TO SAVE the world through Him. There is NO JUDGMENT against anyone who BELIEVES IN HIM. But anyone who does NOT believe in Him has ALREADY been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light…”

These are words of life, not death. God loves you. He IS love. The invitation is clear. God offers us life in Christ. Jesus is the only way, truth and life. Choose life.

Pastor Ross

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Genesis 2 – BUT WHY GARDENING!

Genesis 2 – BUT WHY GARDENING!

But Why Gardening!

There’s an ugly looking weed that persists in growing in our garden and we are enemies. It has thorns. I have weed killer with a trigger that spurts out poison so I don’t even have to get near it.

I have always hated (my grandson says you shouldn’t say “hate”)…. I have always DETESTED gardening. Love the wild look of the garden, but my wife doesn’t agree. She likes the smell of newly cut grass and a well kept garden. Apparently God does too.

“Early in the first light of Saturday morning a man appeared, lying naked in the dust. His form is perfect in every way except there is no movement to animate his strong arms and legs, or smile to please his handsome face. Around him in every direction the sounds and smells of the forest in early spring fill the air with life, but here they fall upon senses that remain untouched.

“Oh God, He’s … dead!”

“No, not dead.” My senses rush at the sound of His strong clear voice and I am suddenly alert to every sound. “He has never been alive and he is not dead.”

The forest becomes silent as if in anticipation, and I draw back. Creation seems to be waiting for something momentous to take place. I can feel my face draining of colour. The world around me fades. His Breath floods through the trees and encompasses the strange figure in the dust with it’s touch.

My mind is still reeling with the first rays of understanding as Adam’s eyes open to the One who gives him life. His first moment is wrapped in the glory, love and spendour of His Maker. His first touch – the embrace of heaven’s welcome. The first words he speaks are those of worship and praise. And now the heavens respond with angelic voices echoing their shouts of pure joy that shakes the whole of creation with a tumultuous roar. At least, that’s how I think it might have happened. I know, I wasn’t there, but reading about it stirs my imagination.

No sooner is he breathing and looking around and he is given a PURPOSE. Even before he is created from the dust of the ground, it says,

“no shrub of the field had yet appeared on the earth and no plant of the field had yet sprung up, for the LORD God had not sent rain on the earth and there was NO MAN TO WORK THE GROUND,” (Genesis 2:5 NLT)

He enters into the purposes of God. And I also have a purpose on this earth. It is clear from Genesis 1 and this passage that I am created to REPRESENT GOD on the earth – in His image (1:27), to EXERCISE RULERSHIP over God’s creation (1:28), TO SERVE AND WORK where God has placed me (2:8), to have a personal relationship with God and LISTEN AND OBEY what He has to say (2:16,17). I am also created with a need for COMPANIONSHIP (2:18-25). DISTINCTIVES of the Christian life. Things that give my life significance and identity. Things that Christ my Creator intended from the beginning, but which have been thrown out as religious wimp rubbish. Things like worship, companionship, discipleship, ministry. It is all here!

What does God do?…Adam and Eve are made RESPONSIBLE from day one of their existence. They are to “keep” (shamar) the Garden. This word means to watch over, to guard, to keep, to look after, to take care of.

No escaping it. I am created to be responsible – personally responsible – for the World in which I live and the way in which I live. Even the perfect, beautiful Garden of Eden has to be looked after and cared for. Adam and his helper Eve were…to cultivate the land and keep the garden from growing out of control (1:5), to feed and provide for themselves (1:16), to look after and care for the animals (1:19), to worship God and obey His commands (2:15), to share companionship and have children (1:28) and that’s an awesome responsibility in itself.

One thing is sure…God has given me a PURPOSE in life to fulfill. I am not made to be inactive and lazy. And somehow it relates well to gardening, as unfortunate as I may think that is.

“Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.” (Romans 12:11 NLT).

“Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.”"  (2 Thessalonians 3:10 NLT).

The invitation is here for you choose to live in His purposes today. Like Adam and Eve, to have every need met by God physically and spiritually, to respond positively to Him and serve Him. To receive what He offers, to reject what He withholds or bear the consequences. An incredible opportunity to respond, worship, love and come under the authority of Christ. Chosen for a purpose (Now I’m starting to sound like the Blues Brothers – on a mission from God!). OK, OK, and to mow the lawn and keep the garden looking nice.

Pastor Ross

Part 10 – Matthew 12:24-30 – GOD, YOU ARE SO NARROW MINDED AND INFLEXIBLE!

Part 10 – Matthew 12:24-30 – GOD, YOU ARE SO NARROW MINDED AND INFLEXIBLE!

Narrow Minded and Inflexible?

There’s a fictional story of the soldier in the American civil war who did not want to fight with anyone. In an attempt to remain NEUTRAL, he dressed in Union pants and a Confederate jacket. Unfortunately BOTH SIDES shot at him.

Jesus says “Anyone who isn’t WITH Me OPPOSES Me, and anyone who isn’t working WITH Me is actually working AGAINST Me”(Matthew 12:30 NLT). There is no room for COMPROMISE or equivocation here. When Jesus says in John 14:6 (NLT) “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me”, He means it! No other way! No other truth! No other life! At first glance this is such an exclusive, elite, INFLEXIBLE kind of statement.

No wonder people see Christians as uncaring when they hear these words used like a sledge hammer against any OTHER RELIGION or against anyone who does not believe in Christ. It implies that God is UNLOVING and rigidly bent on sending people to hell.

If God is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9), why won’t He accept those who don’t believe in Jesus alone? What about BUDDHISM? What about HINDUISM? What about ISLAM? What about OTHER RELIGIONS? Half the world doesn’t want anything to do with Christ? Isn’t God rather ARROGANT AND EXCLUSIVE? Narrow minded! WHAT IS JESUS SAYING HERE?

On examination of the Bible, Jesus statement is not emphasising EXCLUSIVISM so much as it is defining a REALITY. God so LOVED the world that He has to tell us that there is NO-ONE ELSE there to SAVE us! (see John 3:16). He is saying “I love you and I came to pay the price of sin for you personally so you could experience God’s love.” No-one else did that. No-one else will do that! No-one else could! No other gods are real! BUDDHA didn’t come to save us. MOHAMMED didn’t come to die for us or come back to life for us. SUICIDE BOMBERS don’t die to save us but to kill us.

All the founders of modern day religions are either dead themselves or they are non-existent. The only good thing about all religions is that they are an attempt by us to reach out to God but they will not save us. At best they will lead us to Jesus. At worst they will distract us from the only rescue mission that we have available.

Jesus found a way for you and me to come back to God and enter into relationship with Him. It wasn’t going to happen unless He came and died for us! Jesus is saying, “There is NO OTHER way, truth or life. Life is found in Me. Love is found in Me. The truth is that without Me, you are LOST!”

He draws a line in the sand. There is no SYNCRETISM with Jesus. No room for DOUBLEMINDEDNESS. Syncretism is the attempt to reconcile opposing beliefs by combining and merging different traditions and beliefs in “a great big melting pot” to have them come out in all pretty rainbow colours of equal proportion.

Jesus is saying in effect, “Make up your mind about Me, one way or another. Respond to Me! Stop vacillating!” And He loves you enough to give you a choice. As Joshua said of old “… CHOOSE today whom you will serve. … But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15 NLT)

In 1 Kings 18:21 (NLT) Elijah said, “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” But the people were completely silent.” Jesus doesn’t want us to remain dumb about what we believe.

When Jesus heals a demon possessed man, Jesus makes it clear that He is stronger than Satan, not on equal in terms of power and status. He says “the Kingdom of God has arrived” (Matthew 12:26-30). He is not only speaking of His heavenly kingdom (Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven) but of His authority as a King to rule over my life today and always. He is speaking of His victorious power over sin and Satan. And He is speaking of His love for us because there is no other kingdom of God in which we can trust in order to be saved.

God bless you Church as you refuse to compromise concerning your trust in Jesus Christ alone as your Lord and Saviour. Allow heaven’s authority to be a reality in your life and experience Christ’s love for you today. In Him God launched the only rescue mission that will ever be able to save you from your sin.

Pastor Ross