Sydney Christian Outreach Centre

What turns you on?

2010-06-10T09:30:00.000+10:00

Sorry to disappoint you but I’m not going to write about what you thought. I know one of those provocative titles again that suck you in then talk about something different. Not this one cause I do have an important question…..

‘what turns you on to God’

Not in any strange way but what actions, environments or mediums create that intense hunger and excitement for the things of God?

In Romans chapter 6 verse 11 it says “therefore reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin but alive to God through Christ Jesus our Lord” NKJV. The bible calls us to be dead to sin but alive to God however many times I see people that are the opposite, dead to God – alive to sin. Sometimes we know what turns us to sin better than we know what turns us to God.

For my own life I know what things make me alive to God. I love worship, I love new songs. I can be feeling down or discouraged but I know that when I listen to a song that declares the greatness of God or His love for us that it will pull me right out of that soulful living. I know that one sounds obvious but another thing that gets me dreaming big, thinking the way God wants me to think is the internet. Now I know that usually we just think of all the dodgy stuff that the web brings but it brings great things as well. I love reading blogs from great men of faith (I bit like this one actually ….. ha ha…. joking), listening to podcasts or just generally looking at what other churches and great ministries are doing. There is something about it that inspires me to do great things for the kingdom, to become all that God has called me to be.

However for you it could be totally different. Some love to be out in nature while praying, they are inspired by God’s creation. For me I get far too distracted, give me a closed room by myself any day. Others love listening to sermons and the word while sleeping. Once again I get too distracted or tangled up in the head phone cord. The deal is that there is no right or wrong way. No environment is better than another. It is what works for you.

So can you identify ‘what turns you on to God’. What environment; quiet and closed off, or open space filled with people? What time; early morning, late at night or on the way to work?

The question is not how you spend time with God. It is do you set aside time out of your busy schedule to meet with your saviour. The message bible says of this passage ‘sin speaks a dead language ... God speaks your mother tongue’. What is speaking to you right now?

Ps Marty I’Anson

Because.....

2010-05-25T17:04:00.001+10:00

Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because...”

“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;

We are entering a season in our church when we focus on serving God. I find it always helps to ask the question, “What has God anointed me for?” You always need to know the ‘because’. You need to know the why. If you can answer that question, it will tell you what your most fruitful service will be.

Is it for the poor? There are some people who are incredibly gifted and anointed for the causes of social justice. There are those that are passionate about helping people who can’t help themselves. Or the broken hearted? This is an area that really requires an anointing. Across our Sydney circuit we have appointed people who are anointed for this and can run targeted programs and walk beside people who are on a journey from brokenness to wholeness in Christ. There are different courses that can be run to help people on their journey, such as; grief care, divorce care, parenting courses, drug-proof-your kids.

Proclaiming liberty to the captives. Now personally, I can get a little more excited about proclaiming liberty to the captives. I get excited about preaching freedom and deliverance to those who are bound. See the power of the gospel setting people free. I love to see those thousands in the valley of decision making a decision to follow Christ. Then there is recovery of sight to the blind... There is an anointing for miracles, to literally see blind eyes open, deaf ears unblocked and healings of sicknesses and disease. There is also breaking unbelief and seeing people open their eyes to the truth of the gospel.

Of course there are many service areas, and many are particularly anointed to facilitate, and we have a great need of these people as we transition into the Hills Centre.

So my challenge this season – seek God and find out what He has anointed you for.... What is your ‘because’? Find this and you will find your most fruitful area of ministry.

God Bless,

David McDonald

Enlarging Ourselves

2010-04-08T12:22:00.000+10:00

While we are transitioning into a new phase and area of vision in our church life, and we are being challenged to grow, it is important for us not to be diminished in our own eyes.

There is a great excitement about what God is doing in our church, but opportunities for growth can expose the dysfunctions of our life. It’s not so much about whether we are doing things well or not, but it can show where we need to keep getting bigger. Let’s continually challenge our vision and ourselves to be bigger.

Isaiah 54:2 says, “Enlarge the borders of your tent.” The pegs of our own mind need to be pulled up and pushed out to new holes and new areas of impact.

In Numbers 13, twelve spies went out and brought back a report of the land. There was nothing wrong with the land. It flowed with milk and honey, which means it was lush and green for cows to pasture and it bloomed and blossomed for bees to make honey. The grapes were so huge, there is no doubt the land was fertile. The problem was not with the land. The problem was that ten of the twelve could only see the opposition. They couldn’t pull up the stakes in their own mind and push them out to enlarge their thinking. They were diminished in their own eyes.

Do we know our potential, or are we caught up in a mystical prophecy? What is our promised land and what stops us getting there? As an example, we could say, “I don’t really want to go and get a degree to grow bigger.” But the Bible says, study to show yourself approved. There are degrees in life as well as degrees on paper. We can’t shy away from increasing our capacity. Our potential grows every time we place another leader around us and give them responsibility. We need to partner with people.

The Pharisees killed the prophets and any adversary who challenged them to grow bigger in their thinking.

There are always adverse winds; even when skies are clear. The degree to which the wind is blowing against us, is the degree to which we must adjust to stay on course. Winds can be variable; even winds of happiness and familiarity could blow us off course. So we need to ask, “how can I be more accurate in assessing myself to hit the mark that God wants for me?” Where might we need to readjust, so we are not off course?

I’ve found two things to be true in life:
Negativity is always the first thing attacks your mind.
Secondly - You will always dramatise the negatives.
Leave the drama to the actors presenting the gospel on the stage. It should not be in the pew, not backstage, not in the worshippers, or anywhere. Don’t allow the negative any room to speak.

So let’s ask from a positive perspective – “how do I change myself?”

1. Write down the things that will help us to grow.
We need a plan. What do we do when the negatives come up? Passive resistance can be a curse. It’s not a sin to agree to disagree, but when a final decision is made, you may need to adjust your heart to support that decision.
What journey are we on? And what do we need to change? Do we have written down, what we expect of our prayer life? If not, we are probably not praying enough. Prayer doesn’t always change things, but it always changes us. If we don’t seek after God , it is easy for our minds to become negative. If we bring matters to God in prayer, then we can bring answers to people’s lives.

2. Check the growth patterns around our life. Not just in our personal life, but in our areas of influence or leadership. If we just celebrate the big days, we are not being realistic about the patterns of growth in our life or church.
We need to ask “how are we going to change?” Then we need to ask, “how are we going to implement the change to influence others?”

3. Speak declaration. The spirit of faith believes then speaks. Always be declaring. What do we speak out about where we are going?
I love how Daniel prayed for 21 days, and when the messenger finally came with an answer, he asked “where were you?” That is declaring. That is an attitude of ‘Your Kingdom come’.
Declaring is Creating. It is the creativity of God flowing through us. Declare a thing and it will be established.

How long will it take to change? Have we written it down? Keep enlarging. Write the journey. Have someone stand and agree with us.

By transitioning, it’s important to remember, we have not diminished our influence, we have increased it!

God Bless,

David McDonald

Allow God's love to flow

2010-03-10T10:06:00.001+11:00

Have you ever been snorkelling? I love it. I haven’t done it much but the opportunity it presents to look at sea creatures and marine life that is normally hidden from view is absolutely amazing. At times I’ve got so wrapped up and engulfed in the underwater world that I’ve taken a deep breath, not realising that my snorkel was now under water with me, and needless to say, I don’t have gills.

But a snorkel has 2 functions; obviously it allows you to breathe air in but it also allows you to breathe air out, and it all happens through the same plastic tube.

In Matthew 6:14-15 (NKJV) it says:

¹⁴ “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Now this verse instantly has that kind of transaction feel..... If you do this, God will do this, if you don't, then God won’t. But perhaps it's less of a transaction and more of a statement about the reality of God.

Imagine for a moment that you were snorkelling but the tube was unable to perform its 2 functions, air in & air out.... what would happen?

In this scripture, instead of it being about a transaction, is Jesus saying that the love of God that flows to you is actually flowing through the same tube that the love of God flows through you to others. And if the snorkel becomes blocked, if you refuse to forgive others then you have shut off the tube and are unable to receive love from God.

So often I’ve tried to split them; God I love you so much, forgive my sin. Give me your love. But as for that person, they really offended me. Did you see what they did to me, I got shafted. There's no way I can give them love.

If that is our attitude than perhaps we’ve shut the tube and are inhibiting the flow of God’s love to us. It’s not us and them…… and us and God.

It's us and them and God.

Is there anyone you need to forgive? Wife, husband, parent, child, old friend, work colleague, neighbour.

Take a moment right now & allow forgiveness to flow, allow the love of God to flow out of you.

Sometimes it may appear too hard, ask the Holy Spirit to help you, I know He will.

Gary Evenden

Where does your identity come from?

2010-01-30T11:57:00.000+11:00

Sometime last year a read of a horrific murder of a super model in the United States. In an attempt to conceal her identity the killer had cut all of his victim’s fingers off and knocked all of her teeth out. The only way that the police were able to indentify her was via the serial number on her breast implants.

Now my brain works in strange ways, but as I read this article I had this thought ‘how am I indentified?’ Is it by something fake or authentic? Something of substance or is it light-weight, easily forgotten.

I believe that God has called us to live real authentic lives. To live life not behind masks of insecurity or self-doubt but to show our real selves. For many of us that is a great challenge. It is very easy to go to work, school or university and put on a fake mask, not really let people into our world. However I have found that those around us are looking for authentic relationships. Here are some thoughts;

Where does your identity come from?

Who knows ‘the real you’?

Who do you look to for acceptance?

‘Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun’ 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)

Marty I'Anson

Bad Habits

2009-11-25T09:41:00.002+11:00

Ashya and I have just got back from Europe and there was one thing that really made an impression on me!! It was a little incident that happened on the train while we were in London. It was about a 45min trip and at the 4^th stop a guy who was a similar age to us hopped on the train and sat down next to me eating McDonald’s.  After a couple more stops, he had finished his macca’s when I sprung him picking his nose. He didn’t know what to do so he just looked at me and paused with his finger still up his nose. At the time I  thought that was a bit odd but tried to keep my laugh to myself. Within 2 minutes of me seeing him I get a nudge from Ashya, who pointed at the window opposite us and through the reflection we could both see this guy flat out picking a winner!! Than one of the most disgusting things I have ever seen happened; after picking his nose for a good minute he pulls his  finger out, looks at it, smells it and than sucks on the end of his finger. He then proceeded to start the whole process again.

By this time Ashya and I are trying our best not to laugh out loud. This went on for the next 5 minutes.

In Hebrews 5:11-14 it reads:

“I have a lot more to say about this, but it is hard to get it across to you since you've picked up this bad habit of not listening. By this time you ought to be teachers yourselves, yet here I find you need someone to sit  down with you and go over the basics on God again, starting from square  one—baby's milk, when you should have been on solid food long ago! Milk  is for beginners, inexperienced in God's ways; solid food is for the mature,  who have some practice in telling right from wrong”.

Just like the guy on the train, Many Christians still struggle with the fundamental basic of a powerful Christian life instead of walking in destiny and victory. They struggle with some silly old sinful habit that keeps them feeling unworthy or not righteous.

I wonder how old this guy was when he first ever picked his nose and ate it. I think every young child did it once upon a time, but the truth is that normally your parents, friends or siblings help you to stop it.

It’s the same in Gods Kingdom; you can’t do life alone. Find someone you can trust that can help you be accountable to changing the old habits so you can keep growing stronger and richer in

God and the destiny he has for you.

Jack McDonald

The Local Church

2009-11-18T09:10:00.001+11:00

On the first Sunday after I was born I was carried into my parent’s Local Church in my mother’s arms. I have been incredibly blessed to have been given a rich heritage, due to previous generations loving and serving in the House of God. My church congregation also became my extended family and the place for encouragement, friendship and development of who I was and what I could achieve in my life. Most days of my childhood included relationship with friends from my Church and opportunity to discover relationship with Jesus. I totally love the Church and its impact on mankind. It certainly is the Hope of the World!

Jesus said ‘I will build my Church and the gates of Hades won’t prevail against it.’ This is a seriously encouraging statement, because you and I are the Church. It’s not a building, its people like you and I connected together in this living, pulsating, organism called The Church!! A vibrant healthy church creates the opportunities for destinies to be unlocked, lives to be transformed, and hearts to be set on fire and a purpose to exist on planet earth! No wonder Satan is in fear and trembling, because when believers are filled with faith and the Holy Ghost, anything can happen!!!!

Here in Sydney, the Church is continuing to grow weekly. One of the most fulfilling experiences of my life is seeing the salvation of men, women, teenagers and children. My five year old grandson responded to the opportunity to give his life to Jesus, last Sunday night. His precious life is already being shaped in the most amazing way by the preaching of the Gospel. Generational transfer is happening before my eyes, as I see Isaiah loving Church and particularly impacted by worship. He goes to sleep most nights listening to the ipod playing his favourite worship songs.

There has been a saying for many years ‘the family that prays together stays together.’ The Local Church creates the environment for families to build this habit in their home. It’s the place where hearts are nurtured towards God and each other, and a spirit of unity established, that creates faith in the hearts of everyone in the home.

Be a contributor to the Church with your time, talents and tithe and you will be a recipient of abundance, grace and incredible blessings.

Psalm 92:13 ‘Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.’

Blessings to you,your family,home and Church

Tricia McDonald

Faith, Grace, and Victory!

2009-09-15T11:33:00.002+10:00

STRESS. ANXIETY. WORRY. These words describe where many of us live every day. In fact we live today, stressing about tomorrow, next week, next month, and next year. How many of us lie awake at 3:00am in the morning with tight chests - unable to breathe, hot and cold sweats, and feeling hopelessly trapped? Stress has become an unwanted companion. He reminds us about unpaid bills, failed relationships, impending crisis, lack of performance, and just how hopeless and purposeless we are. As Christians, we talk about faith and we trust God. How is it then that we worry so much, usually about stuff we cannot fix anyway? It seems like a contradiction. The opposite of Fear is Faith, right? Wrong! The opposite of Fear is PEACE! The opposite of Faith is UNBELIEF!

In Hebrews 4, Paul talks about how the nation of Israel did not enter into God's rest, and therefore did not enter into the Promised Land for 40 years! Essentially, they lived in unbelief which was not the REST of God!

For those of us who seem to be in the 'wilderness' - ENTER into the REST of God! Speak PEACE! Confess PEACE! Live in PEACE!

"How can I"? you might say.

Live from moment to moment, minute to minute, hour to hour, and day to day. Can you have FAITH for one moment? How about GRACE for one moment? Well, if you can take a step in Faith and then another step of Grace, you can have the VICTORY! That's how you do it. Faith, Grace, Victory! Three moments. Do you reckon you can walk in Faith, Grace and Victory for 1 minute? If you can - AWESOME! Try stringing moments, and minutes together of Faith, Grace and Victory and before you know it - you have had the Victory for a whole day! You get the picture.

To enter into the Promises of God and to live a stress free life is to live in the moment...I know I'm there...

Faith, Grace, Victory!...Faith, Grace, Victory!...

Ps Justin Lippiatt

Snakes

2009-09-07T14:34:00.000+10:00

I hate snakes, especially when there’s a close call. Thinking about them makes me feel sick in the stomach. Recently, my family arrived home from Jacob’s soccer presentation and break up lunch. It was a lovely warm day and the children ran straight out into our back yard. As I walked through the back door, I was alarmed by a scream from my little girl as she scampered up our tree. Directly after I heard that awful sound of something rushing off into the bush just across from the tree. I’m not sure if it was a snake or lizard sunning itself but one thing was for sure. The bush that was harboring it had to go. I took to the bush with a pair of secateurs and cut it back so that it could no longer could any creepy animals hide from my family and I.

Sometimes we can allow bushes to grow and get out of control in our lives. It may be the television that we watch or the relationships that we allow to influence our lives. I find that there are many different things that can allow the enemy to harbor, places where he can hide. He often waits until we are weak or distracted and finds the most opportune time to strike and take us out.

How is the garden of your life? Do you have any areas where the enemy might find a place to hide. If you are prepared to remove the risky environment, you will most likely remove the threat. Make sure you book a time to chat with one of our amazing pastors about areas in your life that you think might be causing you some strife. Bring things out in the open, allow someone to help remove the wrong habitats and come into agreement for the promises that God has for you and your future.

Tim Howard

Losing weight

2009-08-13T17:39:00.002+10:00

If you have a metabolism like me than more than likely you have tried all the different ways of losing weight; joining the gym and going hard at it for a couple of weeks, then you realise you’re got a really busy week and you don’t get to go. Before you know it a month has past and a friend (wife for me) reminds you that you haven't been for a while. Or what about the low carbs diet, weight fell of me in that one (it also went back on just as fast). How about this one... you convince yourself you’re going to ride everywhere to lose weight, so you go and buy a bike until winter hits and its cold and dark (so you piked it like I did). Others I know: calorie counting, pilates, The Cabbage Soup diet (Mum and Dad tried that one, it smells like spew) and the list goes on.

All this reminds me of the scripture in Hebrews 12:1-2 "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight that so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of your faith". I turn thirty this month and I have been planning to be at a certain weight by my 30th, but more than that I thank God that I’ve looked to Jesus who takes the weights of life.

What weight are you carrying now that you shouldn't be, throw them onto Jesus, cause his word says in 1 Peter 5:7 "Cast your cares on him for he cares for you". Don’t live another day carrying weight emotionally or spiritually that u don’t have to because losing that weight is the most important thing.

Change your world today

Ps Jack

A Father's heart...

2009-08-11T10:53:00.000+10:00

It was an overcast day, not really cold, but drizzling. I was about 7 or 8 years old, and I had gone fishing for "Shad" (Taylor fish in Australia) with my Dad on Margate Pier (on the Kwa-Zulu Natal south coast in South Africa). I remember the frenetic activity, huge, burly men, in oilskins and raincoats. The most wonderful smell of bait sardines still lingers in my nostrils. I remember feeling really small, and tiny amongst these 'giants'. My Dad told me to 'bait up" under the baiting tables, because I couldn't reach. Hands shaking excitedly I slit the sardine down the middle, placed the hook and trace down the spine, and bound it in cotton thread. I was ready!

As I stood up, I realised that my little bamboo fishing rod was really bent, with the weight of the bait and the lead 'sinker'. Never mind, I'd still be able to catch a huge Shad! My Dad just smiled at me, and led me to the front 'kiddies' section of the pier. I looked at my Dad as he waited patiently for me, and then with a mighty, calculated heave I cast my 'load' out to sea. As the line became taut I peered over the side to see my line hanging directly below me, in the water about 2m out from the rocks below.

"Aw no! I'll never catch anything there! I better cast again!"
"No, don't", replied my Dad, "You'll catch something - just be patient."
"Okay" I mumbled, not really convinced.

I saw my Dad weave his way through the fishermen, and the rods, which looked like reeds waving in the wind. Time dragged on..and on...and on. I peered over the side from time to time. Not even a bite! I often thought about reeling in, re-baiting, and casting again, but I trusted my Dad.

Suddenly, the tip of my rod 'dived' down towards the sea. A bite! A big one!

"Dad!" I screamed.
"Dad!" I was besides myself with excitement, shouting, jumping up and down!

I looked frantically from side to side for my Dad, and also noticed (with pride) how fisherman were looking at me, as I battled this monster Shad from the deep. I wound in the wriggling fish, and as I started to panic about how I was going to lift it over the side, a pair of strong hands covered mine, and hauled the beautiful green and silver fish over the rails.

"Dad!"
"Dad!""Dad!" I screamed, and laughed, and wanted to cry.

I 'wrestled' my fingers into the gills (with a great deal of effort) and carried my catch and my rod back to the baiting tables. I was so proud! My cheeks were cramping from the smiling! I kept looking at my Dad, and beaming. He had a huge grin on his face.

"Well done", "It's massive!", "It's the biggest one today!" - my Dad kept saying. I thought my heart would burst with pride, and love for my Dad.
It is a very special memory...

Shortly after my Dad's funeral, I was talking to my mother, and I reminisced about that special day. My mother laughed! "Oh yes! I forgot about that! Your Dad caught a big Shad, and he snuck down under the pier, nearly killing himself. He grabbed your line and re-hooked the fish on to your line."

At first I was shocked, then disappointed, and then angry! It was a lie! I had been tricked!

A while after that I saw it from a different perspective. I saw things through my father's eyes, and I learned some lessons about my Heavenly Father:

My Heavenly Father protects me, shields me, and shelters me from my worst enemy - myself.
No matter what 'tools', abilities, and talents I have, my Father stands over me - guiding and encouraging me against all odds.
My Father is doing things behind the scenes, that I am not aware of. To make things happen...to fulfil His will...and to give pleasure to His child, for His Glory.
The lack of patience in stressful times, and against logic, can bring about doubt, which in turn could lead to making poor decisions, and hurtful consequences.
Trust in God the Father, He always has our best interests at heart. He is an encourager, a 'grower', and a father. He knows what's best, and he see the big picture.
My Father in Heaven doesn't reveal all to me at once. He is Truth. His promises are Yes! and Amen! He wants me trust in Him!

So was I deceived? Was one of my fondest childhood memories broken and stained? No...it was enriched by the fact that a father tried to save his son from embarrassment, humiliation, frustration, and defeat. I learned that a fathers love for his son can be unconditional, and that he would endanger himself to provide a moment joy and pride for his son. I learned that my fathers heart on that day...was the Father's heart!

Thanks Dad...

Justin Lippiatt

Environmental Assessment?

2009-08-04T10:14:00.002+10:00

If you read the paper, watch the news or interact with any form of the mass media you will understand that “the environment” is a hot topic. Whether it is carbon trading, global warming or water conservation everyone seems to have put a lot of time and effort into their theories for fixing the problem. We know that we don’t want to live in a polluted, filthy environment yet so many people live their lives in that state. Of course I’m not talking about “physical pollution” but pollution of the heart, soul, mind and spirit. Many times we let negativity; doubt, anger and bitterness fill our minds and mouths. Christ said that He came “to bring life and life to the full” yet that life can be choked out by pollution.

In Genesis chapter one we see God creating the universe and one phrase appears eight times “God said”. Why? Why did God create the universe, this environment, by speaking? He is Almighty, All powerful God, the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the end. Surely He could have come up with a more spectacular, creative way to form the universe. However I believe that there is an amazing principle that God wants to communicate to us. Just as He created the environment by His spoken word, we create our environment by the words we speak. God did say “let us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. So just as when “God said” something was created, every time we speak we are creating.

So then the question is; what environment are your words creating? Are they words that bring that crystal clean mountain air, the type that when you breathe it in you feel as if anything is possible? Or do your words hang over you like a cloud of smog, choking life, bringing defeat, failure and disappointment? Proverbs 18:21 says “death and life are in the power of the tongue”.

For your family, business, home or ministry the words spoken in conversation, in prayer even in solitude create your world. Let’s commit to being people who let the Word fill our hearts. Then out of that abundance will flow words which create a positive, hope filled environment wherever we are.

Ps Marty I’Anson

Family

2009-07-29T09:17:00.000+10:00

There have been many quotations written about home life and probably enough to fill a small book.” Home is where the heart is”, “The family that prays together stays together”,” Christ is the unseen guest at every meal the silent listener to every conversation,” to name but a few. Throughout my life there is one thing significant that I’ve discovered, that is family life and relationships are to be treasured, nurtured, nourished and continually enriched.

My home has just recently been filled with my three oldest grandsons. From daylight to dark the sound of young boys full of energy has permeated my home! This was the best noise and included much giggling in the bedroom till late at night, which also initiated some flashbacks to when my two sons were a similar age. When the curtains of the day are drawn, the ‘home fire’ burns brightly if we stoke it with the tinder of love. Nothing in life fulfils more than the love that’s experienced in the home. The fragrances of a home cooked meal linger in your heart longer then in the kitchen. The modelling of a dad and mum cuddling each other that is then carried on into the son and daughters marriages!

Recently I read this quotation by Mother Teresa. “Love begins at home. Everything depends on how we love each other. Do not be afraid to love until it hurts, for this is how Jesus loved us.”

We need each other and our lives would be empty without each other. They say ‘charity begins at home’ so lets get good at it. The Bible also says that ‘God puts the solitary in families.’ I have been totally blessed with the experience of having two gorgeous young women from our Church living with us for a season. We have been able to bless them, but we are also recipients of being blessed by their youthfulness and vitality which has been activated into our home.

The design of 2009 families is seen in many diverse models. Whatever the context of yours might be, treasure it; don’t take it for granted. Keep all the relationships sweet, deal with and remove conflict by going through the tunnel of honesty. Create a safe and welcoming environment to all who enter. Also open your heart to embrace others into your immediate family.” God so love the world that He gave His only Son” that you could belong to His Family.

Tricia McDonald

Senior Minister

Sydney Christian Outreach Centre

Time.......

2009-07-03T13:50:00.000+10:00

So when is the right time to share your faith?

A friend of mine from high school died just this Monday, my first thought was did he have a relationship with his creator. Malachi addresses the church in such a way he says why have you withheld the tithe, ( Malachi 3:8 Amplified bible) thus robbing the house of God.

In my studies I have found in Jewish culture the commandment 'You should not steal' is not simply don't take what is not yours. I know what you’re thinking what does this have to do with my friends passing... Well I'm glad that you are still reading. You see within the Jewish culture having something and withholding it or not being generous with what you have is also thought of as stealing.

So along this line of thinking if you have a something that you know would be a blessing to someone and it is in your means to be able to give it and you withhold it then that is also stealing.

Think about it a culture where for 480 years of slavery the Israelites were treated by their oppressors as less than human if the Egyptians wanted something that was yours they took it.... God had to transform a culture and thinking, the commandment that you should not steal for the Israelite they did not think ‘oh man I shouldn't steal’, the freedom in this commandment was they would not have to worry about someone stealing from them.

Jesus said I have come to fulfill the law not to abolish it.... This speaks so loudly to me in that the Ten Commandments being freedom to the Israelite slave so much more is Jesus Christ freedom to every man.

Have you withheld a word of encouragement, or helping a co-worker even when it's not your responsibility, or even more with-held or held back when the opportunity to speak to someone about their salvation? You are the light to the world. Matthew 5:14

Ps. Jake Matthews

on our way

2009-06-04T14:02:00.001+10:00

Okay, well we are on our way!!! I think we have it all sorted now. Stay tuned for future blogs

New to Blogging

2009-06-04T13:28:00.001+10:00

Hey,

Sydney COC has just started blogging so subscribe and stay up to date on what our team of pastors have to share