Archive for May, 2006

This week the pre-Development Application meeting for our building project occurred at the Wollongong City Council. It was a very friendly and positive meeting and few objections were raised. The planning manager summed up by saying that our development was certainly within the zoning of the property. There are still a number of official steps to receiving final approval, but we felt encouraged that our project is moving in the right direction.

Today’s reading from Revelation 2 indicates that the Ephesian church was once in the zone. However they have drifted away from their “first love”. John rebukes them because their church is heading in the wrong direction. They have lost focus on Christ and the salvation he provides. The passion for sharing the good news about Jesus has drained away.

An essential part of living a Christian life is staying in the zone. Living so that others can see and hear about the love of Christ is fundamental to a vital spiritual life.

Stephen Semenchuk

Last week’s Saturday Herald carried a story about school scripture in public schools. One parent complained that her child had come home from school and suggested they pray at dinner time. The parents were “appalled” that their child would pick up “that sort of vibe”. All they wanted was for their child to hear “some Bible stories and maybe some Christian background”.

The story troubles me on three counts.

1. What sort of Christianity had these parents encountered in the past. They were obviously convinced that Bible stories and a Christian background had little relevance to real life. My prayer is that they and many others like them would encounter some Christians conspicuously living out the radical claims of Jesus in their lives.
2. How far the secular would has drifted away from God. When a child suggesting prayer becomes an offensive act you know God is really out of the life equation.
3. The NSW Federation of P & C Associations are now investigating the gap for children who opt out of school scripture. They want to develop an “ethics” course to teach children “What ought one to do”. My concern is who will write such a course. Once you take God out of the equation, ethics becomes a matter of opinion.

We need to be living our Christian lives in such a way that people are attracted to the message of Jesus sacrifice for each person, and the salvation He provides. The world needs to see how that truth affects our ethics, relationships and priorities. Please pray.

Stephen Semenchuk

Today we especially honour mothers and give thanks for their special place in our lives. Next month we have a “National Thanksgiving Day”. Later in the year we will have “Anti-poverty Week”. We’ve had an “International Day of Prayer” and this year is the “International Year of Deserts and Desertification”.

Paul approaches the issues of thanksgiving, remembrance and prayer in slightly different terms. Philippians 1:3,4 “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy…” Ephesians 1:16 “I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.”

The pace of our world and the distractions of home entertainment systems and computers, invade our time spent in reflection and prayer. The retailers need to flood the shops with Mother’s Day slippers and specials to remind us to take some time out to honour one of the extra special people in our lives.

Thank God for Mum’s every day!

Stephen Semenchuk

One of the young people confirming their faith today, observed that it was great to hear the Christian stories of the other confirmees. We often don’t take the time to share our stories. Particularly, we tend to file away the stories of how we came to follow Jesus or how He is currently working in our life.

We are reminded in Ephesians, that the world which ignores God has really lost the plot. They are darkened in their understanding, ignorant, hard of heart, callous, greedy, impure and corrupt. It sounds like an edition of Today Tonight or the Jerry Springer Show.

Into this world we need to follow the examples of our Confirmees;

• Alex B
• Emily B
• Karina L
• Esther P
• Liam S

… and step up to speak the truth. We need to walk in God‚Äôs ways and live lives of integrity, love and forgiveness. We need to tell the stories of how God forgives us in Christ. We need to live tender hearted, forgiving lives based on Christ. Such lives will make a difference! Praise God!

Stephen Semenchuk