I read during the week that Mexico had cancelled all their weekend soccer games. They are trying to stop the spread of ‘swine flu’. All week there has been speculation concerning whether cases have been identified in Australia and New Zealand. Following close on the heels of a world financial crisis it is easy to long for the good old days when Australia felt a bit more insulated from the problems of the rest of the world.

It is a very good thing that God did not insulate himself from the troubles of this world. Jesus came down to personally deal with our fundamental problem. Our world is infected with disease and struggle because each person is infected by sin. He bore the outcome of our ”disease” so that we can enter heaven as “vaccinated” disciples.

As we enter into the world of the Biblical Judges over this next term, we will be challenged to stop following the attitudes of our world and to seek God and His ways. We can’t cut off our contact with the world but we can avoid being infected by its values.

Stephen Semenchuk
Senior Minister