God and You: God Keeps The World Together

When the earth totters, and all its inhabitants, it is I who keep steady its pillars. Psalm 75:3

It's been a big week for big names being affected in a big way.

Owen Wilson, star of Zoolander, Starsky and Hutch, Meet the Parents and a host of other hilarious Hollywood comedies, apparently tried to kill himself this week.

Andrew Johns, one of the great Rugby League footballers, confessed last night on Channel 9 that he has been a slave to drugs for 10 years to cope with the pressure of top-level football. He is still taking them in retirement. He also 'fessed up to having serious depression.

Let's remember to pray for these guys. Who hasn't enjoyed Owen Wilson? He is a great comedian and his movies with Ben Stiller have been hilarious and tremendously successful. And who hasn't enjoyed Andrew Johns at his best - he was a magnificent sight, scoring tries and winning games for Newcastle, NSW and Australia. We can pray for them to recuperate and recover from their illnesses, and to become Christians.

Sometimes I forget these guys are just people. Sometimes I forget and think they are hugely successful people on the outside and the inside. But I would be wrong - my Bible tells me something different:

As it is written: "There is no one righteous (right in God's eyes), not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God." Romans 3:10-11

But Jesus is perfectly right with his Father, and through Jesus - if we accept what he has done for us on the cross - we are made right with God:

For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man (Jesus) the many will be made righteous. Romans 5:19

Thanks Jesus! But what made Owen Wilson and Andrew Johns do what they did? Well, they each felt they couldn't cope with their situations - they needed help and couldn't get the help they needed.

God has something to say to us as Christians:

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 5:6-11

When the earth totters, and all its inhabitants, it is God who keeps steady its pillars.

Where is this picture taken? 50 points!!!

God and You: The Outsider

Have you ever felt like an outsider at a church before? One of our own church members has felt like this recently. Read about it here.

Everything is new. Everything is strange. Your first instinct is to leave the building. It feels too hard to talk to anyone. You don't often get what is happening in the service. People speak in some kind of different language.

You think to yourself, if no-one talks to me soon I'm outta here and never coming back. God can't make that much difference to people if they're not nice to me.

Believe it or not that is how someone new to church feels when they first come to a service. Do you remember the first time you came to church? I do, even 'though it was nearly 15 years ago! Try going to a church when you are away from Mittagong on holidays - you'll quickly remember what it is like!

Paul talks about the outsider in 1 Corinthians 14:13-25. Even 'though it seems to be all about 'speaking in tongues' and 'prophecy', if you read between the lines Paul is really concerned for the outsider.

He says to the people in church who are speaking in tongues (a weird language no-one can understand),

"if some who do not understand or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?"

He wants people to speak normally! Paul says if people just speak normally to new people with words from God, that is really helpful to a newcomer and it shows them Christ in a powerful way.

Next time you see someone new at church welcome them, understand the nervousness and awkwardness they may be feeling, greet them lovingly, introduce them to your friends, and speak of God's goodness to them.

After all, that is why they have come!

Make Sure you RALPH this Weekend

...Ralph Whitten that is!

Ralph and Kylie Whitten are CMS missionaries in Seville, Spain. They'll be talking to us at Sunday @ 6 this weekend about Spain and how God is working there. Hope you can join us for our mission theme this Sunday night.

CMS Youth

This week our youth groups FEAST and SENIOR HIGH are heading to the Northern Territory (NT)!

It's the CMS Youth Night (see details in 'what's coming up' on the sidebar).

We're going to do some fun NT stuff - including eating NT foods - and then hear from Ruth Brigden, a young new missionary soon to head out to the NT to serve God.

Points Quiz

Yes, more points up for grabs. Where is this for 10 points. Another 10 points for what happens here in July.

God And You: Youth

God has a lot to say especially to youth in the Bible. He says some marvellous, encouraging things. Look at these verses as a sample:

Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O LORD. Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.
Psalm 25:7-8

For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth. From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother's womb. I will ever praise you.
Psalm 71:5-6

Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come.
Psalm 71:17-18

Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Psalm 103:2-5

For the Christian youth God does not remember our youthful sins and our rebellion. He teaches us even from youth about following him despite our mistakes. He is our confidence in our youth - even if we don't have confidence in ourselves. He is our hope! David and other psalm writers - still in their youth in some of the psalms - show us the hope they have in God. It's fabulous!

God warns youth also in the Bible. He doesn't warn them for no reason 'though. Youth are encouraged to turn around their behaviour so that they do not fall forever from God's grace by their rebellion.

I warned you when you felt secure, but you said, 'I will not listen!' This has been your way from your youth; you have not obeyed me.
Jeremiah 22:21

Let us lie down in our shame, and let our disgrace cover us. We have sinned against the LORD our God, both we and our fathers; from our youth till this day we have not obeyed the LORD our God."
Jeremiah 3:25

Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
2 Timothy 2:22

God cares deeply for youth and wants them to know the joy, the hope, and the everlasting friendship he promises through Jesus.

Do you know that hope?

Book Your Tickets Early

It's official! Keep Saturday 29th September 2007 from 7pm (for 7.30 -9.30pm) free!

We have managed to snag one of Australia's premier jazz groups, the Steve Morrison Trio, for our opening night for youth and young adults!

Steve is a Christian who was formerly in the well-known Australian Christian band AROMA before moving into the jazz scene. He has played several gigs at Australia's premier jazz house, The Basement in Sydney (he is playing there again to launch his new CD this Thursday 16 August at 8pm).

The night is going to be really special with top-notch desserts and entertainment. During the night Steve will give a short account of his Christian life - so this will be great to invite your friends for good music, great location, good food and hearing about why a premier musician would follow Jesus.

Who's Playing: Steve Morrison Trio

Date: Sat 29 September 2007
Time: 7.00-9.30pm

Cost: $15.00 (includes swanky dessert)/$10.00 for 18 and under
Location: The new MAC Centre, cr Main St and Church Lane, Mittagong

Book tickets: from Sunday 12 August through Andrew Paterson

Love and Pizza at Sunday @ 6

Join us at Sunday @ 6 - Janelle's going to be telling us about true love in the Bible. We'll also be having pizza after the service. Can't wait to see you then!

Made by Senior High B: Wedding Attire

These outfits can be ordered upon request. You supply the paper.

Made by Senior High A: Gladiator

The latest in toilet paper fashion.

As modelled by Tony Parks (note what his initials are).

God and You: Disciple Makers

At Senior High we like to do things that lead us into the theme of the night! Can you guess our theme from last Monday from the above picture?? You'd be doing well!

On Monday we we made things: unique bubble gum sculptures like the one above (yes - it was truly gross!), a gladiator outfit and bride and groom wedding attire (both made from loo paper).

God graciously makes us his followers through Jesus. He also makes us disciple-makers. Have a look at some of these verses from the Bible:

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Matthew 28:18-20

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Jesus)

Matthew 5:14-16

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes...(Paul)

Romans 1:16

Some questions for you to post a comment on below:

Have you shared something of your Christian life with a friend who doesn't know Jesus? What do you find is the most scary thing about sharing Jesus with someone else?

However you answered those questions, know that you are not alone! You have all your Christian friends at church to get prayer, support and encouragement from.

And of course, when you share the gospel it is the power of God that changes people's hearts - we don't have to rely on our own power to convince our friends about Jesus! Hooray!