NEW LIFE

Acts 10:34-43 

Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
1 Corinthians 15:19-26 

John 20:1-18 (or Luke 24:1-12)

If you've ever watched an action film, you’ll know the basic plotline: Life is fine, bad guy turns up, hero saves the world, life is fine again. These stories always feature spectacular near misses. When everything is hopeless for the good guys, the hero arrives, dodges a bullet and saves the day.

The story of Jesus’ death and resurrection however, is not about an heroic near miss. Jesus doesn't dodge a bullet, he dies.

Jesus’ death is the end of a world, the end of a story. It is an ending that had to happen, in order to make way for the ‘new thing’ God had in store for Creation. (1 Corinthians 15:22) So in order to make space for the new life that God is gifting us in Jesus, we must be willing to let the old life die. Instead of near misses and last minute rescues, during Lent God calls us into surrender and obedience. It is a holy ‘letting go’, the end of life as we know it.

And this death is not without grief. We hear in Mary Magdalene’s words at the tomb that she has lost everything that mattered. “Why are you crying?” they ask her. “They have taken my Lord away...” (John 18:13-14)

Surrounded by her discarded dreams, she doesn't even know where to find God anymore. It is the end of her world. And it’s an ending that needs to happen for all of us too, an ending that Lent invites us to greet so that God’s new life might have room to grow in us.

And when we have let go of everything the bringer of life will come and find us, just like he found Mary in that garden, and nothing will ever be the same again.

Rev Malcolm Gordon

MANY VOICES

Liturgy of the Palms - Luke 19:28-40, Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
Liturgy of the Passion - Luke 23:1-49

This account of Jesus’ final hours describes an utterly chaotic mess marked by a feverish din of voices. Pilate, Herod, religious leaders, the mob – all raising their voices in increasing anger and frustration in an attempt to get their way. Pilate’s voice is heard as he becomes deeply disturbed by the obvious injustice of it all and increasingly worried by the growing power of the crowd. Herod’s voice is heard as he becomes excited by it all in that he finally has an audience with Jesus but frustrated that Jesus doesn't entertain him. The religious leaders’ voices become desperate in demanding that Jesus is sentenced to death. The crowd’s voice becomes ever louder as they call for Barabbas’ release and Jesus’ crucifixion. Then as Jesus hangs on the Cross, the voices continue to mock and taunt him; the leaders, the soldiers and one of the criminals on the cross.

Yet through the tumult of voices – as Luke’s account comes nearer to the moment of Jesus’ death – the violent voices seem to be drowned out by one Voice. Through all the evil static an astounding clear Voice can be heard. Comforting the grieving women (Luke 23:28-41); forgiving the offender (Luke 23:34); promising the condemned (Luke 23:43); demonstrating unbelievable trust (Luke 23:46).

What are the voices surrounding and deafening your world today? What violence and injustice are being called for? What taunts are wounding your soul? What are the destructive voices that are so extraordinarily powerful around you?

Listen.

Read Luke 23:1-49 again and listen to the voice of Jesus in this account. Listen as his suffering, death and love silence them!

Rev Dr Geoff New

WALK WITH JESUS

Isaiah 43:16-21 

Psalm 126
Philippians 3:4b-14 

John 12:1-8

“A tale of two hearts”

There is a stark contrast in this story – two hearts demonstrating two opposing reactions.  Imagine the scene, full of tension. A dinner party with one woman – Martha, working hard, serving the guests. All would have seemed quite normal until another woman – Mary literally “let her hair down” (quite an inappropriate action for a woman of that day), and Judas’s reaction. What he said was true, righteous, and hard to disagree with.  Can you imagine the atmosphere? Awkward…

Now we have met Mary and Martha before. Luke describes Martha as busy while Mary sits listening to Jesus (Jesus describes this as “the better way” - Luke 10:42).  Their brother Lazarus was raised to life (John 11). She walked with Jesus, and displayed remarkable faith, hope, and love. She is easy to admire.

Of course we know Judas and his famous betrayal – which John reminds us of in case we’re not sure, and goes on to expose Judas’s true motives. “ I'm pleased I'm not like him” I think smugly. Often you find more out about people when there is money around.  Curious the reactions of each heart: one extravagant, humble, expressive, and loving.  The other cold, selfish, and mean.

How did their hearts end up this way? Dallas Willard asks “Why are Christians so mean?” and concludes “Christians are routinely taught by example and word that it is more important to be right than it is to be Christ-like”.

Both Judas and Mary walked with Jesus. We walk with Jesus. How is my heart? Is it growing or shrinking? How do I react to others and treat them, or talk about them?  Where are we walking to? Towards Friday. After Sunday we continue to walk with him - may our hearts grow as we do.

Rev Darryl Tempero

FORGIVEN

Joshua 5:9-12 

Psalm 32
2 Corinthians 5:16-21 

Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

Forgiveness lies at the heart of the good news of Jesus Christ. It’s what our Christian faith is all about. And yet only some of us really desire to be forgiven because only some of us are humble.

Our reading from Joshua indicates that the people had been shamed and disgraced.  They needed a new start. The Promised Land was not theirs until they were all in covenant relationship with the Lord, and for that they needed to submit to the knife of circumcision. It takes humility to submit. Mostly we would prefer to exempt ourselves from acknowledging who we really are. But as Psalm 32 tells us: once we have humbled ourselves and confessed our need, then we are truly happy and our strength that has been expended in denial is renewed.

Forgiveness is a profound experience. It alters our entire perspective on life. We view people differently; we view ourselves differently; we view Christ differently. Everything is now understood through the lens of reconciliation, and as we see the father in Luke 15 running to greet the son who had been lost, and as we listen in to him begging the stay-at-home son to join in with the festivities we start to realise that life will never be the same again.

Forgiven, we arrive home. Forgiven, we are free to forgive. And forgiven, we are enabled to do justice in a world that desperately needs it.

Rev Helen Martin

HUNGRY

Isaiah 55:1-9 

Psalm 63:1-8
1 Corinthians 10:1-13 

Luke 13:1-9

As I begin to write this reflection (Sept 2012), my family and I are in the middle of New Zealand’s attempt to “live below the line”. Living on $2.25 for food per day isn't really fasting in the rigorist Lenten traditions of some of our Christian ancestors, but like them, our family’s “fast” serves to focus attention on important things that can get over looked in everyday living. Our ‘normal’ can leave us spiritually hungry, yet what we consume fails to satisfy (Isa 55.2). Or, like the Psalmist, we know only too well how much our souls thirst for God (63.1). “There must be something more to life than this” is a common complaint, even (or especially?) in relatively affluent societies like New Zealand. What can be done to overcome such a deep spiritual hunger among us?

The Lenten tradition connects fasting with repentance. “Repent or perish” are Jesus’ stark words to those who were questioning him about an atrocity carried out by Pilate’s soldiers on Galilean worshippers (presumably) in Jerusalem (Luke 13.1, 5). He follows this with a parable of a fig tree, its lack of fruit invites the farmer’s axe. “If you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall” is Paul’s advice to the charismatic Corinthians (1 Corinthians 10.12).

I think of the “ruler” who came to Jesus hungry for eternal life, but who left sad because he wouldn't put Jesus’ words into practice (Luke 18.23). The point of Lent isn't to feel hungry, but to find joy in obedience.

Rev Dr Paul Prestidge

BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING

Deuteronomy 26:1-11 

Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16
Romans 10:8b-13 

Luke 4:1-13

The conversation in Luke is a spiritual debate. The suggestions were legitimate suggestions! Earthly sustenance; making sure that God loves you; material satisfaction and using all this power to care for others.

But the instant fix is not going to be part of the toolkit of the newly baptised Jesus. Jesus is led by the Spirit into the wilderness. He is hungry, he has fasted for 40 days, and the rocks around him start to look like loaves of bread. And he is tempted - we can only be tempted by what we see as possible for us to have and good people are tempted by good things - to turn a stone into a loaf of bread.

Why not do it for himself and for others? What a gift to bless a hungry world! There were plenty of people on the breadline in Jesus’ world.

But was this his task? He turns and challenges the tempter, “one does not live by bread alone”. Jesus is hungry and lives among people who are in need, yet he says there is something even more essential than food for life.

Food is basic for our survival, but the temptation to only deal with the physical needs and ignore our deep spiritual needs is great.

When I was active in Women’s Refuge we provided a place of safety. Emergency food, shelter and clothing were the first needs. But those who came needed to deal with the constant fear which was not going to vanish overnight. This is a spiritual struggle and those who could not trust anymore had to learn to trust again to live. Often everyone in their lives had let them down.

So where could they find the bread which fed their emptiness?

And where have we found it and what have we shared?

Rev Margaret Anne Low

Wednesdays Word of the Week - To Know the Heart of the Pilot

Three passengers share a row of seats in an airplane. As the plane is taxiing for takeoff, their conversation turns to the topic of the airplane pilot.

Stunningly, passenger 'A' doesn't believe one exists. 'No one flies the plane. We are guided by a computer system in the terminal. This plane is an occupied drone. Why should I believe otherwise? The cockpit door is closed. Who can know? There is no pilot.'

Passenger 'B' disagrees. 'Oh, there is a pilot. Someone sits at the controls of the plane. But, once we take off, he takes a nap. He gets the plane in the air and then goes to sleep.'

The third passenger is shocked by what she hears. 'You don't know what you are talking about. First, there is a pilot. Second, the pilot is alert, competent and kind. I know; he is my husband. He is seasoned and sensitive and has every intention of a successful flight. We are in good hands.'

Three passengers. Three opinions. A plane with no pilot. A plane with a disengaged pilot. A plane with a seasoned and concerned pilot. Fast forward a few minutes. Turbulence shakes the plane like popcorn in a paper bag. Will the three passengers experience the flight in the same way? Of the three travelers, which is most prone to stay calm?

Nothing is more important than the right view of God. Nothing. I've seen the wealthy and highly educated crumple like cowards at the face of death. I've seen the simple and humble take their final breath with a smile and a song. The difference? They knew the Pilot.

You need to know the heart of the pilot. That is why the story of Jesus is in the Bible. He is the only picture of God ever taken. To know Jesus, is to know God. To know God is to know: this flight gets bumpy, but the Pilot? He knows how to get us home.

Max Lucado

Wednesdays Word of the Week - Always Praying

Early Christians were urged by the apostle Paul to 'pray without ceasing.' In Romans 12:12, Paul said: 'always be prayerful'. And in Ephesians 6:18, to 'pray at all times and on every occasion.'

Unceasing prayer may sound complicated, but it needn't be!

As you stand in line to register your car, think, 'Thank you, Lord, for being here.' In the grocery store as you shop. As you load the dishwasher, worship your Maker.

Brother Lawrence was a well-known saint who called himself the 'lord of pots and pans.' He wrote: 'The time of business does not with me differ from the time of prayer; and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were upon my knees at the blessed sacrament.'

Though a rookie in the League of Unceasing Prayer, I sure enjoy the result! I think you will too.

From 'Come Thirsty' by Max Lucado

Wedesdays Word of the Week - Acknowledge His Presence

Do you desire power for your life? It'll come as Romans 12:18 instructs: 'As you do your part to live in peace with everyone, as much as possible.'

It'll also come as you pray!

For ten days Jesus' disciples prayed. Ten days of prayer plus a few minutes of preaching led to three thousand saved souls.

We're prone to pray for a few minutes and then preach for ten days! Not the apostles. They lingered in Jesus' presence. They never left the place of prayer.

Sound burdensome? Are you wondering, my business needs attention, my children need dinner, my bills need paying. How can I stay in one place of prayer?

Do this. Change your definition of prayer. Think of it less as an activity for God and more as an awareness of God.

Acknowledge His presence everywhere you go!

From 'Come Thirsty' by Max Lucado

Wednesdays Word of the Week - One Scary Place

Here's a test. How far do you have to go to hear the reminder, 'Be afraid'

How near is your next; You're in trouble memo. A flip of the newspaper page? A turn of the radio dial? A glance at the Internet? According to the media the world is one scary place!

There's a stampede of fear out there. Let's not get caught in it. Let's be among those who stay calm. Acknowledge threats but refuse to be defined by them. Let's be numbered among those who hear a difference voice: God's!

Courage doesn't panic, it prays. Courage doesn't bemoan, it believes. Courage listens to the voice of God calling through Scripture, 'When reports come in of wars and rumored wars, keep your head and don't panic.'

Let not your heart be troubled.

Trust these and other words from God.

Trust God and fear less!

From 'Fearless' by Max Lucado

Wednesdays Word of the Week - Life Stinks

Yes, life stinks. But it won't forever!

As one of my friends likes to say 'Everything will work out in the end. If it's not working out, it's not the end.'

In the meantime, don't over-react! Psalm 37:7 reminds us, 'Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for Him to act. Don't worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.'

Avoid Pollyanna optimism. But neither do we join the Chicken Little chorus of gloom and doom. 'The sky is falling.' 'The sky is falling!'

Somewhere between Pollyanna and Chicken Little, between denial and blatant panic, stands the follower of Christ.

Psalm 27:3 says, 'My heart shall not fear, though war arise against me, yes, I will be confident!?'

Confident in Him.

Max Lucado

 



Wednesday's Word of the Week - A Good, Healthy Struggle

God is using your struggles to toughen you up!

It’s like viewing a movie after you’ve read the book. When something bad happens, everyone else gasps at the crisis on the screen. Not you. Why? You’ve read the book. You know how the good guy gets out of the tight spot.

God views your life with the same confidence. He’s not only read your story, he wrote it. His perspective is different, and his purpose is clear. One of God’s cures for weak faith? A good, healthy struggle.

Consider it a gift when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. Under pressure, your faith-life is forced into open and shows its true colors. Scripture says, let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. (James 1:2-3)

Join with the Old Testament prophet Isaiah who resolved, “I will trust in him and not be afraid!” (Isaiah 12:2)

From Come Thirsty by Max Lucado

Wednesday's Word of the Week - Taking Out the Trash

Who wants to live with yesterday’s rubble? Who wants to hoard the trash of the past? You don’t, do you? Or do you?

I’m not talking about the trash in your house, but in your heart. Not the junk of papers and boxes but the remnants of anger and hurt. Do you rat-pack your pain? Amass offenses? Record slights?

A tour of your heart might be telling. A pile of rejections. Accumulated insults. No one can blame you. They’re innocence takers, promise breakers, and wound makers. They’re everywhere and you’ve had your share.

Jesus answered Peter’s question in Matthew 18:21 and 22 when he asked: “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” Jesus said. “Seventy times seven!”

Do you want to give every day a chance? Jesus says to get rid of the trash. Give the grace you’ve been given!

From Great Day Every Day by Max Lucado

Wednesday's Word of the Week - God is Enough

Let’s face it–anxiety or worry have no advantages! They ruin our health, rob us of joy, and change nothing! Our day stands no chance against the terrorists of the Land of Anxiety.

But Christ offers a worry-bazooka. Remember how He taught us to pray? “Give us this day our daily bread. Matthew 6:11” This simple sentence unveils God’s provision plan: live one day at a time.

Worry gives small problems big shadows. Corrie ten Boom said, “Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows; it empties today of its strength.” And Romans 8:28 affirms: “Every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.”

Most anxiety stems, not from what we need, but from what we want. Philippians 4:4 says, “delight yourselves in the Lord, yes, find your joy in Him at all times!”

If God is enough, you’ll always have enough!

From Great Day Every Day by Max Lucado

Theme Thursday - World of Friends Africa - Amazing Race

Girls’ Brigade Africa Amazing Race

Week 2:

• Get girls back into teams from previous week 
• Explain rules of the game 

1. No running 
2. Work as a team 
3. No put down comments 
4. Detour – choose between 2 activities (do only 1) 
5. Roadblock – only one person from team does activity, different person from the team each week. 
6. Idea of the game is to make it to the end, not about winning prizes. 

Africa

• ‘Water’ Relays 
• Line up in teams 
• First relay – bucket balance, girls balance bucket on head to chair and back again 
• Second relay – Camel relay race, girls on all fours with upside down bucket on their back, balance bucket on back to chair and back. 
• Team with most points gets their TANZANIA – DETOUR clue. 

Tanzania

• All members in team travel to Tanzania leap frog style 
• Detour – choose between cooking or singing 
• Cooking – girls to cook Tanzanian Baked Bananas, and eat 
• Singing – girls to learn words to Toto off by heart and sing 
• Once complete give NIGERIA clue 

Nigeria

• Travel as a human knot to Nigeria 
• One person is chosen to have their face painted, another person is the painter 
• The rest of the team is to tell the painter how to paint the persons face 
• Once finished, give DEVOTION clue 

Devotions

• Find the cross 
• Complete the activity using the instructions on the sheet 
• Give KENYA clue 

Kenya

• Girls to travel acting and sounding like monkeys to Kenya 
• Girls to make one bracelet each using beads. 
• Once complete, team can go to the pitstop. 

PIT STOP!

Wednesday's Word of the Week - The Secret of Success

An accomplished Ironman triathlete told me the secret of his success. He said, “You last the long race by running short ones.” Don’t swim 2.4 miles; just swim to the next buoy. Rather than bike 112 miles, ride 10, take a break, and bike 10 more. Never tackle more than the challenge ahead.

Didn’t Jesus offer the same counsel? He said in Matthew 6:34, “So don’t ever worry about tomorrow. After all, tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

When asked how he managed to write so many books, the author explained that he’d never written a book. All he did was write one page a day.

Face challenges in stages. You can’t control your temper forever, but you can control it for the next hour.

Remember, you last the long race by running the short ones!

From Great Day Every Day by Max Lucado

Theme Thursday - World of Friends Africa - Amazing Race

Girls Brigade Africa Amazing Race

Week 1:

• Line up oldest to youngest and number off to form teams of 4/5 girls.
• 5 minutes to choose team name and write it down.
• Explain rules of the game / get girls to suggest rules

1. No running
2. Work as a team
3. No put down comments
4. Detour – choose between 2 activities (do only 1)
5. Roadblock – only one person from team does activity, different person from the team each week.
6. Idea of the game is to make it to the end, not about winning prizes.

Africa

• Animal Alphabet game
• Give each team plenty of letters of the alphabet.
• Leader calls out the name of an animal and each team must spell the animals name and put their hands up when completed.
• Soccer relay – with balloons
• Team with most points gets their KENYA – DETOUR clue.

Kenya

• All members in team to crawl to Kenya
• Detour – choose between words or wisdom
• Words – find all animals in word search (must work as a team)
• Wisdom – work out the animals in the crossword (must work as a team)
• Put team name on sheets when finished, give SOUTH AFRICA – ROAD BLOCK clue

South Africa

• Travel blind holding hands, one person in team leading the way to the kitchen.
• Team to make maize meal and a cup of tea.
• One person to eat maize meal and drink tea.
• Once finished, give BOTSWANA clue

Botswana

• Hope holding hands to Botswana
• Using 1 sheet of sand paper each and crayons, each team member to make a rock cave painting, stick on the walls.
• Give CREATION DEVOTION clue

Creation

• Find the cross
• Look up and read together as a team Genesis chapter 1:1 – chapter 2:3
• Use template to create origami

PIT STOP!

Wednesday's Word of the Week - He Is Able

If your Father is God and you have a problem on your hands, what do you do? Scripture tells us what to do.

Is your problem too large? Ephesians 3:20 says, “God is able to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”

Is your need too great? 2 Corinthians 9:8 reminds us, “God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance.”

Is your temptation too severe? Hebrews 2:18 says, “God is able to help us when we are being tested.”

Is your future too frightening? Jude 24 tells us, “God is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault.”

Make these verses part of your daily diet. God is able to accomplish, provide, help, save, keep, subdue. He is able to do what you can’t. Go to Him!

From Great Day Every Day by Max Lucado

Wednesday's Word of the Week - Seeing You

Why does God love you so much?

For the same reason the artist loves his paintings. You are His idea!

Ephesians 2:10 confirms that we are “God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

In the movie Hook, Peter Pan had become old and looked nothing like the Peter the lost boys knew. In the midst of the boys shouting that this was NOT Peter, one of the smallest boys pulled him down to his level. He places his hands on Peter’s face, moved the skin around and reshaped his face. The boy looked into Peter’s eyes and said, “There you are, Peter!”

Shh. Listen. Do you hear?

God is saying the same words to you. There you are! There you are!

He’s seeing you and loving the you he sees.

From Fearless by Max Lucado

Wednesday's Word of the Week - Important But Not Essential

Do you want to snatch a day from the grip of boredom? Do overly generous deeds, acts beyond reimbursement. Kindness without compensation. Here’s another idea…Get over yourself!

Sound too harsh?

Well, Moses did. Numbers 12:3 says, he was a “very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.”

Mary did. When Jesus called her womb His home, she did not boast; she simple confessed: “I am the Lord’s maid, ready to serve.”

Most of all–Jesus did. Jesus chose the servants’ quarters. Can’t we?

We’re important but not essential, valuable but not indispensable. We have a song to sing, but we’re not the featured act. God is!

He did well before our births; he’ll do fine after our deaths. He started it all, sustains it all, and will bring it all to a glorious climax!

From Great Day Every Day by Max Lucado