It's all so good

.

"And God saw everything that he had made and behold it was very good."

When is the end to people inventing their own religions and gods to the exclusion of the one staring them in the eye?

Everything sings the praises of God. Everything paints the praises of God. Everything hums the praises of God. Everything writes the praises of God.

Horrible beetles and beautiful flowers. Disgusting bugs and delicious fruits. Torrential rains and burning deserts. Tiny moss and giant redgums. Black people's pink palms, white people's blue eyes, chinese people's almond eyes, Eskimos' flat noses , dogs' tails, cats' purrs, chimps' antics, elephants' trunks, baby's giggles.

I really don't know how someone can look at a sunflower, the blue sky and a child, a frond, a fern and a handful of compost and conclude beyond all argument to the contrary that it's all the result of nobody being interested enough to start it all with a design and a plan in mind. It has as far fetched to me that personal God doesn't exist and that He's not interested in you and me as to suggest that an Airbus 380 could be formed out of the North wind blowing rubbish across the Wingfield Tip.

Perhaps 'the universe' did it. Does 'universe' have a name by the way? Is it Bob or Betty? Is it a him or a her? And is it capitalised like 'Universe' or is it a hippie and has an all-lower case name like tiger-nevada-butterfly-yo-man? Wh-a-a-at? What's that you say? It can be anything you want it to be!  Puh-lease. And you say I'M  a dreamer!

When is the end to people inventing their own religions and gods to the exclusion of the one staring them in the eye?

Anyway, Happy 2012 to you.

To infinity and beyond.

Live long and prosper.

Colin Pearce

Just because people mess things up doesn't mean everything is messed up

Just because wars and mayhem (followed by junehem and julyhem if you will) doesn't mean peace and tranquility and order have ceased to exist. After the Nazis, the Japanese and Italians did WWII and the allies fixed 'em up good and proper, a few years passed and we are all driving Japanese cars and having holidays in Rome, and the Wall came down anyway. God's grace prevails.

Just because people overspend and borrow too much and lend too much and get greedy on the stock exchange doesn't mean that frugality, savings and judicious spending cease to exist. God's grace prevails.

Just because journalists hack phones and tell lies and write rubbish on every page of the newspaper  doesn't mean that truth ceases to mean anything. Journalists are not the bastions of truth even though one of their untruths is to tell you that they are the guardians of the world. God's grace prevails.


Just because people separate and divorce doesn't mean marriage is outmoded nor does it negate the existence of wisdom in pre-marriage choice and commitment. God's grace prevails.

Just because some "welfare desperados" who are just bright enough to rort the welfare system – they feed their dogs, buy their cigarettes, buy their lotto tickets and then come to the Salvos for a food basket or rent relief – doesn't mean charity toward the genuine poor people in Somalia need not exist. Hats off to K.Rudd and the Australian people for getting in there and making a dent. God's grace prevails.

Anyway

To infinity and beyond.

Live long and prosper.


Everyone's been talking about "the wedding"

P.S. If you don't see your first name above, please use this link and tell me what it is so I can alter the database.

Everyone's been talking about "the wedding".  I think most people only focussed on the dress and the veil and whether Harry has a chance with Pippa. Here's what I thought was worth writing about:



Firstly I have to say, any similarity between the Jesus, the Man of Galilee and the pomp of the Church of England seems to have escaped the chaps in charge. Nevertheless, it's quite a thing that they've got a costume and a hat and a ribbon and a gown and a set patter for everything. Quite amazing. Terribly British and most impressive. What about the voices and perfect diction of the officiating ministers? I could listen to them all day. 

Secondly, the service made a profound and simple statement to the watching world, "This is marriage. It's how things are set out for human society. It's between a man and a woman,  it's God's plan and it's forever." The orthodoxy and the power of its being so for hundreds of years was the star of the show for me.

Wasn't James Middleton's rendition of Romans 12 the most stunning thing you've heard in a long time? He was never going to appear before millions of people again and he made the most of it. He presented himself and the Holy Scriptures with perfect dignity.

And lastly, the prayer William and Catherine composed for the Bishop of London to read for them is worth printing out and sticky taping to the back of the bathroom door.

God our Father, we thank you for our families; for th elove that we share and for the joy of our marriage.

In the busyness of each day keep our eyes fixed on what is real and important  in life and help us to be generous with our time and love and energy.

Strengthened by our union, help us to serve and comfort those who suffer. We ask this in the Spirit of Jesus Christ, Amen

No, no, two more things. 

I loved how Catherine knew the words of the hymns and sang without looking at the program. I really did.

And I've never seen the likes of him saluting his colours, the cenotaphs and the regiments as they drove past them and her averting her eyes in respect as he did so – and with what natural ease she did it!

Granny used to say: "Goodness must be taught," and this was a wonderful lesson on what is right and good.

Anyway, live long and prosper.

To infinity and beyond.

Colin

Article 7 about what Jesus would Blog or Twitter: Not the usual gibberish, that's for sure.

Article 7 about what Jesus would Blog or Twitter: Not the usual gibberish, that's for sure.

Land here to catch up on the previous articles

And one more thing. I'd like to double the subscription numbers for this newsletter and you could help by recommending a friend subscribe. How about it? What abut forwarding this one now with a recommendation to go to The Subscription page of my website?

I don't think Jesus would blog or Twitter about the lousy deal he got on timber for some chairs he was making. Ask yourself,
Would he whine on Twitter about how his cloak itched?
or how his feet hurt?
or invite us to Compete on Facebook about movie stars or favourite songs?
or prattle on about a TV show?
or share snaps of his weekend walk on Lake Tiberias?

My guess is he'd blog and twitter about things that directly hooked up to the Kingdom of God.Commenting on something like this would be more his cup of tea.

It's a story from the BBC Online about how Chinese businesses are making more money because they are run by Christians who pray for the success of their business. On one hand Jesus would no doubt be pleased to have these guys in the Kingdom of God yet on the other he'd be sounding the cautionary note that making more money is not the sole aim of being a Godly person.

Regardless, he'd be more into commenting on news articles like this than the Collingwood/St.Kilda draw, Desperate Housewives, Leon Washington or Paris Hilton.

Anyway,

To infinity and beyond!
Live long and prosper

Disclaimer: My views are my own.

Thought 6 on what Jesus would Blog or Twitter about: The disenfranchised.

Read the lead-up to this here.

You can catch most of this in the oft misquoted Sermon on the Mount in Matthew's Gospel: "Blessed are the etceteras..."

I know...

In his famous Sermon on the Mount Jesus had a fair bit to say about how he understood the human condition. My guess is he'd be saying the same things today:

To more or less paraphrase, he said - 

I know you are hard done by, depressed, feel ordinary, live in a spiritual vacuum.

I know you are bullied and I know you are full of self doubts.

I know the world gives you a raw deal at times - maybe all the time.

I know people in authority can act like pompous self-interested despots and some of them seen hell-bent on making you miserable.

I know you get insulted, rubbished and criticised over nothing.

I know that just as the hurrier you go the behinder you get; sometimes the nicer you are the nastier the response.

I know in spite of everything, you love to show mercy and live in peace.

In fact I am here now looking for peacemakers. If you're one, good on you. Don't give up on being the best you that you can be. It will work out in the end.

To infinity and beyond, then.

Cheers

Colin Pearce

Thought 6 on what Jesus would Blog or Twitter about

The disenfranchised.

Get this in your email inbox -

You can catch most of this in the oft misquoted Sermon on the Mount in Matthew’s Gospel:
"Blessed are the etceteras...”

I know...

In his famous Sermon on the Mount Jesus had a fair bit to say about how he understood the human condition. My guess is he’d be saying the same things today:

To more or less paraphrase, he said –

I know you are hard done by, depressed, feel ordinary, live in a spiritual vacuum.

I know you are bullied and I know you are full of self doubts.

I know the world gives you a raw deal at times - maybe all the time.

I know people in authority can act like pompous self-interested despots and some of them seen hell-bent on making you miserable.

I know you get insulted, rubbished and criticised over nothing.

I know that just as the hurrier you go the behinder you get; sometimes the nicer you are the nastier the response.

I know in spite of everything, you love to show mercy and live in peace.

In fact I am here now looking for peacemakers. If you’re one, good on you. Don’t give up on being the best you that you can be. It will work out in the end.

To infinity and beyond, then.

Cheers
Colin Pearce
Speaker, Author, Coach

Disclaimer: My views are my own.

What would his message be?

You can catch most of this in the oft misquoted Sermon on the Mount in Matthew’s Gospel: 

"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.”  

Don’t be a bogus leader

There’s a church meeting in the Parish Hall to discuss the salaries of the church leaders.

The Bible School teacher stands up and says, “I have had another child since my last stipend review, my car is old, my eldest child is entering high school with more books and tuition fees and I need a new suit. Could I please have a $20 a month raise?”

The administrator submits, “I need new books for my library, my accountancy association fees have doubled, and I need to buy a new coat for winter. Could I please have a $10 a month raise?”

The children’s worker says much the same thing about the cost of living, the price of petrol and telephone calls and asks for a raise of $10 too. The same for the gardener.

Then the room darkens, a spotlight falls in a circle on the closed stage curtains and a head pops out. It’s the Senior Pastor. “Puh-raise Ju-yeezus folks!” he beams. “I want you to know I love my job. I love my new sports car in the parking lot, I love my new suit, I eat out 5 nights a week and I have breakfast with the visiting bands and performers that come through and I fly business class around the nation as I spread the good news. And I gotta tell ya (as he breaks into song) 'There’s no business like show business like no business I know... '”

**So...**

Only some pastors, priests and bishops are wolves in sheep’s clothing but it’s a condition not far from any of our doors. 

Just for example, if you’re a pastor there’s no need to tell people you’re the “senior” pastor unless you’re on the old age pension. Cancel your reserved parking space. Trust me. You’re not that important. You’re the servant of many. And while you’re on the subject of bogus titles, have you noticed that the latest trend is to adopt the title of “Apostle”.  Apparently that entitles you to con other “old aged” pastors to pay you to adopt them as followers. Ah dear! 

Titles like Music Pastor and Youth Director are so enticing. Funny thing is, Toilet Cleaning Administrator, Senior Chair Straightener, Chief Sick People Visitor and Master Poverty Reductionist don’t attract the same level of glory.

Beware Bogus Leadership: There’s a ferocious wolf in all of us just waiting for our moment in the limelight

To infinity and beyond.

Cheers

Colin Pearce

Speaker, Author, Coach

Disclaimer: My views are my own.