Christian Faith

It’s amazing the T shirts you see these days states our guest blogger, Bruce Winter. Emblazoned sometimes with witty words, they send a message to the world. And they send a message as well about the person who’s brave enough (or sometimes stupid enough) to wear it.

There’s the one that says in bold letters: “He who dies with the most toys, wins!” When you see that, you know the wearer isn’t the reflective type. They don’t go to many funerals. Much better is the one that says: “He who dies with the most toys … dies.” At least that’s starkly realistic! Even Biblical.

We are all looking for ways to make our services more people friendly. Not many I can think of would have a problem allowing a seeing-eye dog to enter and I know of services for the blessing of animals, but never have I heard of a dog who was allowed to participate in communion. Until now.

Like many of you, I have read through the Bible in 1 year. And like you, it was a mixture of good and bad experiences, upon sober reflection.

Good to read the whole of the Bible, in context; not avoiding any ‘bits’ e.g. Numbers 7. Good to discover so many new things missed in previous readings. Good to have a set, habitual, goal to read the Bible – avoiding the time honoured, but lazy option – the dreaded “open and plonk method”!

Bad, in the sense that it’s sometimes too easy to tune out mentally on some long readings when tired – how much did I really read? Am I a goal driven maniac? On no, I better not get too far behind! Read on, there is hope ...

This is a ‘Christian’ website … or is it? Is it only people who can be described as ‘Christian’ or can objects (and technology) be described as ‘Christian’? After all, a book (the Bible) can be described as ‘holy’.

And what about the term ‘Christianity’? It may surprise some of you but you will never find the term ‘Christianity’ in the Bible. What is ‘Christianity’? Is it a term we should use? Does it really matter? Does anybody really know what ‘Christianity’ actually is?

Australia's new Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, has been either refreshingly honest or disturbingly frank, depending on your viewpoint. But however you see the events in Australian politics over the past week, one thing is for sure: we are in a new era.

One which requires a dedicated and determined Christian response.

Read any good books lately? Try this on for size: the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE). This is not a new book ('books' actually) but it is definitely one every Christian should have.

Is it expensive? Yes, but thanks to the world wide web, it is available to all free. How can you resist putting this one  in your favourites?

"MENTORING". What is it and what does it mean to us? Recently, Debbie White spoke about 'mentoring' to a group of women in Coffs Harbour, NSW, Australia. It was warmly received, and Debbie has agreed to share her thoughts on the subject with us. Firstly, a definition:

men•tor
–noun
1. a wise and trusted counselor or teacher.
–verb (used without object)
2. to act as a mentor: She spent years mentoring younger women in her church.

Our third reason for agreeing that Christians should be in regular fellowship with other believers has to do with spiritual gifts: the Church is where they are primarily used. We know this because the Bible teaches the gifts are given by God to build up the body.

Why, then, do so many remove themselves from this very body?

The ‘body’ metaphor only works if Christians remain connected to other believers in fellowship (1 Cor 12). There is surely no greater reason for going to Church than this. Church correctly expresses body life.