Building for Eternity
Bulletin
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Breaking out of the Twilight Zone
1 month ago
It is reported that by age forty 90% of every thought, word & action is rooted in a habitual reflex. Before we envy the ‘freedom’ of youthfulness, it is also becoming clear that our habits and attitudes are becoming fixed from the age of 25.
Of course some habits are helpful and some of our relational tendencies are positive. The challenge of spiritual maturity is to discern which habits we need to ‘break’ and which ones we should nurture.
This is something most people seem to explore each new year. Many of us make ‘new year resolutions’ which generally do not survive as long as the January sales. Such failures can often lead to guilt and feelings of hopelessness.
The test of true Christianity is that when we stumble and fall we grasp hold of God’s grace and get up, secure in the forgiveness available in Christ. We then need to become aware of those times, people and places that take us out of the ‘light’ of Christ and into a murky twilight zone of worldly pursuits and desires.
Keeping a diary and recording the thoughts and feelings that accompany our slips into ‘sin’ are a useful first step. We need to identify the areas of our personal temptations so that we can bring the light of God’s gospel and love to bear.
Stephen Semenchuk
Senior Pastor
To see this week’s bulletin Click on this link: 2012 JAN 08
Start the New Year Well!
1 month ago
Go back as far as you can in history and you will find God. He was there before the beginning of our world and He will be there at the end. It is impossible to hide from God. If you want 2012 to be the best year possible, then you need to settle God’s place in your life, first and foremost.
The apostle John in his l
etters, weds God’s truths to everyday life. The basis of our fellowship (relationship) with each other and with Him is the reality of the person and work of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the eternal Son of God who is the source and substance of all life.
The essence of Jesus, as represented by John, is light and love.
Light gives life. It was where the creation started and plants need light to grow. It is also the means we see and understand everything else.
Love, which originates and flows from God, is the basis of all relationships.
To live an authentic Christian life requires us …
* to know who Christ is,
* trust what Christ did,
* and do what Christ commands.
If we want to get our lives right we must first get Jesus’ position in our life right.
Stephen Semenchuk,
Senior Pastor.
To see this week’s bulletin Click on this link: 01 JAN 2012
2011 Christmas Celebrations in Dapto
1 month ago
Christmas
in Dapto was great! And we celebrated Christ’s birth in many various ways with our community.
Our Annual Community Carols in the Showground had to quickly find another place as the Showground and its surrounds was so wet under foot. A bit of a logistical headache for a few, but their work meant we all enjoyed a wonderful celebration of Christmas.
The week before Christmas saw DAC members providing a gift wrapping service to Dapto Mall’s shopping customers at the Mall’s invitation. Each day saw in
teresting shapes providing new challengers for the wrappers!
It is a privilege to partner with the Dapto Mall in this service.
Dapto Mall invited us to entertain the shoppers on Thursday 15th December. Our dance group ’Rockstars’ were fantastic, we had some Christmas songs, face painting and crafts for any who needed a break from shopping.
One shopper asking lots of questions about our dance group, could his children join, as it was very obvious how much fun the children had. What a great testimony to Karoleena & her team.
Our Young Adults Group were out and about in the streets of Dapto, Carolling in the evenings.
This has become such a popular event. Our community are quick to book in their street for a visit as soon as the announcement is made.
Our Young Adults made a visit to St. Luke’s Village for a Carolling session too.
Then there was the Ch
ristmas Star. I could go on for ages about this spectacular! You were promised one and you got one! A show to beat all shows, with Jesus being revealed as the true star of Christmas, much to the bemusement of other great stars! Then there was a Christmas feast, chicken & ham & baked veges followed by pavlova. I think Jill and her team feed 400 of us! And for the little ones, a petting farm, Christmas crafts and face painting and more. It was fantastic and a great way to celebrate Jesus birth.