18 Jan Happy Hump Day!
Happy Hump Day Y’all!
Ok…so I know that Wednesday is not always & everywhere in Australia referred to as “hump day,” that middle of the week day where it’s “downhill” from here to the weekend…but I used to love laughing at the GEICO Insurance Company’s Camel…and old habits die hard…enjoy!
Now that that bit of silliness is out of the way…
- Bible Study Catch-up — Friday – 20th January 2023 @ 1:00 PM
Join Zoom Meeting — https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83586782734 — Meeting ID: 835 8678 2734
- As Leonie noted Sunday, Warrambui is hosting their annual Summer History Makers Camp. I’ve got 2 daughters there so let’s be praying for a great week for the 34 or so young people & their leaders that God would open some new doors into their hearts & lives and create in them the young disciples our world needs desperately. Pray for the camping ministry too…34 is not a big or financially sustainable camp trajectory.
- We’re just about a month out from Lent. Please note the 22nd of February is Ash Wednesday and we’re looking at a different sort of worship that evening that leads us toward genuine repentance & the joy of Christ’s forgiveness.
- Thursday-Saturday next week I’ll be at the CrossLink Annual Gathering in Sydney. CrossLink is our network of kingdom missional relationships like, but not at all really like, a denomination. CrossLink is a network of kingdom-oriented ministries. We’re not all local congregations, nor do we all find lockstep theological agreement on various matters. Some of us are very Pentecostal in orientation. Others, like me & us, are less so. Some are very sacramental in orientation…that’s us. Others…would never use the word sacrament at all in the way we do. We’re accountable to one another, and an elected board of “elder-like” leaders, as opposed to being overseen by a bishop and a highly top-down hierarchical structure from far away. We all take Jesus to heart & seek to see his kingdom made visible in our lives, ministries & communities so that more people are drawn into a saving relationship with the Father. CrossLink is growing in its connections to ministries in Southeast Asia & particularly in Korea. In fact, we’ll be at a predominantly Korean Church, HisStory Church in Granville. I am always challenged & encouraged by these yearly gatherings & missed them terribly during lockdowns over the past years. I’ll share some of my experience over the next few weeks once I’m back.
I trust as this new year is unfolding that you are back into a consistent plan of reading the Bible. I’m trying something different again this year. In 2022, I used the F260 that many of us tried & combined it with my regular plan of reading the whole of the Bible at least once through in the year. I enjoyed that and am turning up the degree of difficulty for 2023. I’ve got a Chronological Read-Through-the-Bible Plan that Charis suggested I try AND I’m pairing that with my regular plan. It’s a good bit of reading every day (between 3-5 chapters). So…we’ll see how it goes. Trust me…I’ll share!
I’m always going to recommend that folks spend more time reading the Bible and allowing it to speak to you as God’s Word. Having written the August section of ACR’s TimeOut devotional book, and having read lots of other devotions to get myself in the mindset of that style of writing…I did a good bit or preparation before writing…I’m more and more convinced that simply reading a chapter or a longer section of the Bible & sitting quietly & prayerfully with the Father is preferable. Devotional booklets are fine, but akin to skipping a rock across the surface of a lake. Reading, listening, reflecting & if you’re inclined like I am journaling…over time you’d be surprised. If you’d like some suggestions…talk to me or Leonie and we’ll show you some options. It’s never too late to try something different. It’s not about ticking an achievement off a list, but about allowing the Father to make your heart more like his. Nothing does that like the Scriptures.
Job spoke to me this past week…28:28
“‘The fear of the Lord is true wisdom;
to forsake evil is real understanding.’”
Be blessed this week!
See y’all Sunday
John
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.