Shark Attack!

On Saturday I was swimming at Bondi Beach and the shark alarms went off. At first I couldn't hear them, but people were telling me to swim to shore. Thousands of people clammered out of the water while we watched a helicopter and 2 jet skis attempt to scare the sharks away. The SMH reported that there were in fact 2 sharks.

Not many were willing to go swimming after that. Trust a couple of sharks to ruin a perfectly good day at the beach!

I guess gospel preaching is a bit like that- warning people to swim to shore in order to escape the impending danger. Preach it!

Bludging on God's Grace

Today my neighbour saw me at the local Orange Blossom festival, a huge community event in our shire, and he asked me to explain to him what it means to be a Christian.

He said 'I was reading your article in the local newspaper and you said that to be a Christian you have to be a bludger (do nothing)...my understanding is that God helps those who help themselves...so I would like to understand why you say you must do nothing!'

I was basically describing that the way of salvation is by faith, not works...by God's grace, not our own efforts. Tomorrow I plan to share the gospel with him after lunch, via Ephesians 2:8-9

'For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.' (ESV)

So please pray for me as I share the gospel, and for him as he listens and understands. God can even grant repentance to 80-something-year-old-Romanian-men! I don't share this to parade this opportunity, just to humbly ask for your prayers for my next door neighbour. And rejoice that God doesn't help those who help themselves. He helps those who allow Him to do ALL the work in saving us. All we can do is bludge on his generosity.

In Christ

You are IN CHRIST.
Seriously- think about what this means this week.
It will amaze you.

More on Self-Esteem

Blogging Builds Self-Esteem

While we are on the topic, apparently blogging builds self esteem. Or so they say.

I have to be honest- its SO true! When my site meter gets higher and I get lots of comments on my posts I feel so good about myself.

The Work of the Trinity in Self Esteem

Our self esteem must come from the fact that the Father made us, the Son died for us, and the Holy Spirit indwells us.

Attachment to Stuff...

While we were hearing an excellent sermon on generosity, someone was breaking into JT's car and stealing his laptop.

Theft makes me angry. Why do people think that they can take that which is not theirs? Its human selfishness at its worst.

But at the same time, it is a constant reminder not to get too attached to the things of this world. They are passing and fading. Our true inheritance is in heaven.

All this happened while we were reminded from 2 Cor 9 that we are stewards of what belongs to God. He chooses to give to others through our generosity. And theft reminds me in a fallen kind of way that I haven't really worked for it. Its all because God allows me to be the manager of it. We don't own anything. Its all God's.