OzThoughts. Monday 30th June 2008

I am mindful that this is the last OzThoughts until the 28^th July, as I will be holidaying mostly away from a computer. I am grateful to those who have sent their best wishes and assured Denice and I of your prayers as we travel.

Can I give you the reminder of a thought that comes from St Paul that we can carry with us?  It is a wonderful assurance, even an affirmation, that each of us, you and me, can hold onto not only for now but for eternity:

God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.

   Glory to God in the church!
   Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus!
   Glory down all the generations!
   Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!  ……(Ephesians 3:20-21 The Message)

O for a thousand tongues to sing

My great Redeemer's praise;

The glories of my God and King,

The triumphs of his grace!

My gracious Master and my God,

Assist me to proclaim,

To spread through all the earth abroad

The honours of thy name.

Jesus! the name that charms our fears,

That bids our sorrows cease;

'Tis music in the sinner's ears;

'Tis life and health and peace.

He breaks the power of cancelled sin,

He sets the prisoner free;

His blood can make the foulest clean,

His blood avails for me.

Author:  Charles Wesley (1707-88)

The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 64

Australian Thoughts at the Weekend. 28th and 29th June, 2008

This will be the last Australian Thoughts at the Weekend until the 2^nd August. Also there will be no OzThoughts until the 28^th July. As many know my wife Denice and I are travelling to London so we can attend a “family gathering” of Denice’s family (Tearle) at the village of Stanbridge near Luton. We will have about 2 weeks in London and also spend about 4 days each in Paris, Rome and Hong Kong on the way home.

I love going to new places, exploring and tasking in the history and sights and meeting the local people. My only disappointment is that I will not have time to travel in the UK and visit fiends I have made on the internet over the last eight years.

The only overseas trips we have done before is twice to New Zealand, so this is all a great adventure for us. My brother-in-law is hiring a car and he asked me how do I go as a navigator. I assured hi that I could read a map and that all would be okay. 

Some time ago I wrote about how I learnt to read a road map, a skill which has  been most useful for both business and pleasure.

 Lost and Found

Almost fifty years later I still remember the experience of most of my school holidays which were spent riding along side my father in his truck. Dad had his own business and he delivered parcels and other small items to various places around the city of Brisbane. I enjoyed the mornings when we would go from place to place picking up the morning’s deliveries. At each place there was a brief chat with the people there and a quick look around the various places. We would repeat it all again each afternoon.

The variety of goods was huge. It was a very diverse range of goods that ended up in the back of the truck. There were parts for cars, trucks and machinery. There were items made of various plastics, from kitchen sinks to plastic wallets and folders. There would be framed pictures and empty frames and various cartons of food products and other well wrapped items. The variety over the years included popcorn, furniture, tobacco curing equipment, chainsaws, petrol and diesel engines. When Perspex was popular in the late 1950s we had every perspex item imaginable from sunvisors for cars to shelving and toilet seats.

The places we went to were just as varied. We delivered to rail stations and rail sheds, the airport and many truck depots and bus terminals. Shops, factories and houses were also on the list. As we went from place to place there were people and many other interesting things to be seen. I really enjoyed learning about the city and its life.

One of the lessons I have never forgotten was map reading. There must have been times when dad could tell I was not too excited about what was happening and he could tell I was getting bored. It was then I learnt something I have never forgotten. It could not have been very long after I began to read that dad introduced me to the “Refidex”. I soon learnt as every Brisbanite knows that a Refidex is the book of maps of the city. It is the street directory. In other places in Australia it is the UBD or Gregory’s or Melway but in Brisbane it is the Refidex. Even when UBD (Universal Business Directory’s) bought out Refidex, they continued to put Refidex on the front cover.  Actually any street directory to a Brisbanite is a “refidex”.

Dad showed me to read it in a practical way. He would tell me the name of the next street we were going to and by using the index I would find the page and cross reference and then locate the street we wanted. The ritual was then that I would tell dad the name of the two streets before it on the same side of the road. I, of course, would tell him whether it was on the right or left side. Dad would then tell me to watch for the streets I had told him and let him know when we were passing them and then to get ready to turn.

Map reading has been a very useful skill. Since about 1966 all my work has involved a lot of driving, not only in the city I grew up in but in many other cities and towns. It enabled me to find my way quickly to strange places, as long as I had the Refidex or other street directory in the car.

However, my map reading skills may be becoming obsolete. I rode in a car recently that had an electronic system that after the destination was set told you street by street and turn by turn how to get there. On one occasion, when the driver took a different route to the instruction, he was told when he was able to do a U turn. When he ignored this the voice then readjusted and began to give correct instructions from where the car now was.   I later heard an advertisement on the radio that these fixed or hand held systems can be purchased for under $500 Australian. Maybe the next Refidex I buy will be the last as I imagine these systems will become standard in cars soon.

If I think there has been change in my life time, there is a much bigger change if I look back through the pages of the Bible. I see Abraham being told where to go. Moses is told to lead God’s people from Egypt to the Promised Land and God leads them with a cloud by day and a sky fire at night. To others the place where God wanted them was much more apparent.

Much later, David could reflect on God being his Shepherd. We can gather from the Biblical story of David’s life that there was a little more to it than the familiar:

  The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
²   He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
³   He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
⁴   Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. (Psalm 23 King James Version).

David was not always a saint. If God was his Shepherd, then there was not only a need for the gentle comforting rod but I am sure a touch up or two with the rod got the sheep David back on track. God was not always a “sheep whisperer” with his “still small voice”.

I am reminded too of the words of Jesus when he spoke to the Disciples about their future of making more disciples for him “I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age." (Matthew 28.20 The Message)

He leadeth me! O blessed thought!

O words with heavenly comfort fraught!

Whate'er I do, where'er I be,

Still 'tis God's hand that leadeth me.

Chorus

He leadeth me, he leadeth me!

By his own hand he leadeth me;

His faithful follower I will be,

For by his hand he leadeth me.

Sometimes 'mid scenes of deepest gloom,

Sometimes where Eden's bowers bloom,

By waters still, o'er troubled sea,

Still 'tis his hand that leadeth me.

Lord, I would clasp thy hand in mine,

Nor ever murmur or repine,

Content, whatever lot I see,

Since 'tis my God that leadeth me.

And when my task on earth is done,

When by thy grace the victory's won,

E'en death's cold wave I will not flee,

Since God through Jordan leadeth me.

            Authors:  Joseph Henry Gilmore (1834-1918)

The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 725

OzThoughts Friday 27th June 2008

Have you ever watched a cat walking along a fence? As you watched what did you see? Maybe, your mind went back to the times when as a child you tried the same thing. You will probably remember that you did it very carefully. You carefully placed one foot in front of the other and struggled to maintain your balance.

The cat does not seem to have any problem with balance and we can assume having four feet have something to do with that. However, the cat seems to be very alert. It looks around continually scanning all sides. Is it looking for prey or is it watching for danger? It is certainly “aware of all circumstances; considerate of all that is pertinent; cautious, prudent, thoughtful, or wary”

That list is a definition of “circumspect” (en.wiktionary.org/wiki/circumspect) and is certainly the type of thing Paul had in mind when he wrote to the Ephesians:

Eugene H Peterson puts it this way:

So we must live carefully and turn our mind to the praise of God through words and music.

I'll go in the strength of the Lord,

In paths he has marked for my feet;

I'll follow the light of his word,

Nor shrink from the dangers I meet,

His presence my steps shall attend,

His fulness my wants shall supply;

On him, till my journey shall end,

My unwavering faith shall rely.

Chorus

I'll go, I'll go in the strength,

I'll go in the strength of the Lord

I'll go, I'll go in the strength,

I'll go in the strength of the Lord.

I'll go in the strength of the Lord

To work he appoints me to do;

In joy which his smile doth afford

My soul shall her vigor renew.

His wisdom shall guard me from harm.

His power my sufficiency prove;

I'll trust his omnipotent arm,

And prove his unchangeable love.

I'll go in the strength of the Lord

To conflicts which faith will require,

His grace as my shield and reward,

My courage and zeal shall inspire.

Since he gives the word of command.

To meet and encounter the foe,

With his sword of truth in my hand.

To suffer and triumph I'll go.

Author:  Edward Turney (1816-72)

The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 734

OzThoughts Thursday 26th June 2008

As I turn to the 5^th Chapter of Ephesians (KJV), I find at least three verses with instructions on how to “walk”.  The first is in verse 2 “Walk in Love” and the second is in verse 8 “Walk as children of light”.

Now to get the sense of these two instructions we need to read what Paul says in the surrounding verses. Both the King James Version and the Message are printed below.

It will only take a minute or two to read the context.

I see a link between these verses and 1 John Chapter 1 and particularly verse 7:

Jesus is my light and song.

Author:  Emma Johnson

Ephesians 5:1-10 (King James Version)

 1Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

 2And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

 3But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

 4Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

 5For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

 6Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

 7Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

 8For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

 10Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

Ephesians 5:1-10 (The Message)

 1-2  Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn't love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.

 3-4  Don't allow love to turn into lust, setting off a downhill slide into sexual promiscuity, filthy practices, or bullying greed. Though some tongues just love the taste of gossip, those who follow Jesus have better uses for language than that. Don't talk dirty or silly. That kind of talk doesn't fit our style. Thanksgiving is our dialect.

 5  You can be sure that using people or religion or things just for what you can get out of them—the usual variations on idolatry—will get you nowhere, and certainly nowhere near the kingdom of Christ, the kingdom of God.

 6-7  Don't let yourselves get taken in by religious smooth talk. God gets furious with people who are full of religious sales talk but want nothing to do with him. Don't even hang around people like that.

 8-10 You groped your way through that murk once, but no longer. You're out in the open now. The bright light of Christ makes your way plain. So no more stumbling around. Get on with it! The good, the right, the true—these are the actions appropriate for daylight hours. Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it.

OzThoughts Wednesday 25th June 2008

As I set the theme for OzThoughts this week of our Christian walk, my mind went to Ephesians where Paul speaks of our life as Christians as our walk. At least that is the way I learnt the verses are in the Authorised Version. New versions give the same meaning but use different language.

I of course turned to The Message and found this:

Ephesians 4:1-3 (The Message)

 1-3  In light of all this, here's what I want you to do. While I'm locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don't want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don't want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.

As I wondered what I might write about this, I thought well this is not a personal confessional. But do you notice that The Message deals with the negatives, not like some people who only want to dwell on the positive? I can see the writer of the Message Version, Eugene H Peterson, understands it is a very positive thing to deal with the negatives. Deal with the negatives and then the positives can be given even more attention.

As I thought about these verses, Anne, a member of Salvationarmy3 internet group asked for the words of Howard Davies’ song “Lord, you know that we love you”.  As I typed out the words to send, I found them a perfect commentary on the verses from Ephesians Chapter 4. They are more than that, they are a personal prayer: