There seems to be so much conflict around these days, and I don't mean in war-torn areas like the Ukraine, Gaza and Lebanon, but between people, whether it is about politics or the care for the environment or religion....

Pondering this might help you both understand your own anger, see where you are drawing your identify from and help you be able cope more compassionately with other people's positions....

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Sermon

Easter 2A, Sunday 16th April, 2023.

The Treasure We Live and Leave

1 Peter 1:3-9

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Peter breaks into praise years after those heady days of the resurrection as he writes to encourage his people.

 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 

 He speaks of a trusted inheritance that reaches back into the present struggle of life to give joy and hope in that struggle. 

 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us ….. an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 

Peter begins with that great event – the Resurrection from death by Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah. 

Everything he says and everything good and worth struggling for is founded on that resurrection of Jesus. 

I think a lot of people who do any serious thinking about Christianity soon bump into the news of this resurrection. They then realize that because Christian faith is founded on the resurrection, it is an all or nothing faith and life. Accordingly so many choose the ‘nothing’. It is easier and safer. 

 The close circle of people around Jesus got that truth right up close and personal when the resurrected Jesus appeared and greeted them with the all- encompassing peace of God for their new life with him.

This faith we live is not something you manufacture on your terms. It comes by the grace of God on his terms and for his purposes in your life. 

Jesus is a matter of the heart, not just of your thinking or your will. 

I reckon a lot of people know this and stay away. They don’t really want a Saviour because that would overtake your heart and that would shape your thinking and your will, your decisions, your choices, your decisions – and that is a direct challenge to your very self and your whole life. 

Jesus always knew this. Do you remember that day on the grassy slopes by the Sea of Galilee when he launched into a description of how things would eventually be in this new creation he was here to inaugurate? It is called the ‘Sermon on the Mount. 

 “You’ve heard it said…… But I say….”.

“You have heard it said (by your parents, your synagogue leaders, your legal people, your priests and your whole community all your life) that th

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I know a lot if us winge about 'the media', and how it seems to blurt out so much stuff that is silly, useless or damaging. But now and again, I am reminded that people also use the media to do some good things. 

I take my hat off to the good people at Triple M radio who have been doing this 'No Talk Day' for four years. They give over a whole day of advertising revenue and play mostly music interspersed with some really good short encouragements to blokes to use the day to check in with themselves and/or a mate. The quieter day without ads blaring is meant to help blokes in particular talk about important stuff - to seek and find connection. 

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Stick and sones may break my bones but names will never hurt me.

Mum would say that sometimes. I think she knew it wasn't true, but said it to help be get through.

Nick names and other names can be healing and encouraging, and shaming names just shame. 

There is a lot in names. 

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I suspect it hard being a boy in these times of confusion about what bein male can be at is best. There sees to be a general belief that ASLL men are possessive, domineering, weak, and etc.... What does this do to our young boys (and girls) as they grow up trying to navigate their way into adulthood?

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Funny how 'the next stage' of life just sees to arrive. Whether you are ready or not, you have to go. 
For me, that stage is being a grandparent. I wonder if this stage, like most others is a universal thing for human beings. I also am wondering how it is to be lived well. 

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We journey through the little letter of the Apostle John and learn how to let love live in our relationships.
Let us love each other for love comes from God, says John (1John 4:7).

We have shortened this home text to ‘Let Love Live’. We are doing a week-by-week deep dive into this letter to hear what the Spirit says to each of us and us as a whole Body about Letting Love Live in our lives. Lord knows, we all need more love as does our community.

We are praying that as we engage in listening to what the Spirit says in 1 John, we are renewed in our trust in the Lord and how much each of us are love by him in Jesus. We know that his love drives out all fears and gives renewed sense of how his love is better than life itself and worth giving your life to.

We all experience strong feelings, particularly when life is full of suffering. I guess it all depends on what God kind of God you have as to whether you could tell him everything, and even in the strongest words and highest emotions you have. The prophet Jeremiah does this and invites us to do the same to God of the Bible. There is joy in the prayer of sorrow.

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The new Australian PM is saying his government are going to do some serious work on this statement seeking a listening ear and action for our indigenous people. I hope it happens....

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It happened again in the USA. What a tragedy that does not seem to be able to be stopped.  Our hearts go out to the grieving and a nation divided on those guns....

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