Thoughts from the Desk

Our current Bible Challenge is to read James, half a chapter per week. See Here Today’s reading (2:14-26) is all about faith and its evidence. Faith without works is dead. Does this deny the truth of being saved by faith alone? No, not if you see the good works as being the measuring stick of faith. I should be able to tell if you have faith, and you me, based on our good works. The good works aren’t those of a boy scout, but they are those practical things we do with our life that are aligned with the kingdom of God, which is our eternal destiny.  This isn’t a guilt trip (though some think that guilt is a pastor’s best friend!), it’s an encouragement to find real faith and stop treating God as if he’s directing which lane you travel in on the freeway of your life which you have already mapped out! 

The question then becomes, “How does our church measure up on the faith measuring stick?”

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This year we have a great opportunity to host a Carols by Candlelight event at the Parkside Primary School oval. I’m sure that this privilege is the fruit of our efforts to build a positive relationship with the school.  Offerring LAP volunteers, the free use of our facilities and various other services has had a good relational effect with the school. Now the challenge is to run a good carols service, with games for the kids, BBQ and drinks along with great music, that will be enjoyed by all.  This is a chance for all of our mission areas to converge in on eevent.  Our own children and youth will be involved, and the invitation will be extended to the school, our immediate neighbours and our WAG community (skilled migrants see here)

It will be “All hands on deck” for this great event on Sunday 20th December at 6pm at the parkside Primary School oval.

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It was great to be down at Brighton for Tamara’s baptism. There were about thirty or so spectators from the church, and a few interested passers-by.  Tamara gave her testimony at church and spoke powerfully about her journey into Christ.  After the service, we reconvened at Brighton on a day when it seemed the right thing to do to go to the beach (36C!!)  Garry led us in prayer and a procession out into the water. A declaration of faith, baptism and more prayer followed. Congratulations to Tamara and all involved.

More photos here…

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Welcome to members that are now able to post comments! Why not say G’day and see who responds? Just look for the “read/comment” link and click on it, then you can write a comment.  If you are not able to write a comment, then you may not be logged in.  Check this link… Become a Member

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This weekend, the elders are going to Middleton for a retreat from Friday to Saturday afternoon. It will be a chance for us to hear from God concerning our vision and future. We will be taking all of our ministries and filtering them through our calling to see what should be emphasised and what might have run its course.  It will be a fruitful time and we are expectant that God will birth newness among us.

Please pray for us and members, please make any relevant comments that might feed into our retreat….

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Now we’ve got our sermons being podcast. You can access them through itunes.
Have a look here… http://parksidebaptist.org.au/Media/sermon_audio/

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Every part of the tree is designed to keep the rest of it alive. The roots draw nourishment from the soil and provide a strong structural base. The trunk holds the leaves and branches in the sun. The leaves take the gases from the air and mix it with the water from the roots and makes food, with light as the energy source.  Every part of the tree is designed to keep the rest alive.  Except the fruit.  The purpose of the fruit is to create more trees.  It doesn’t exist for self, but is given for the sake of others.

May your life be fuitful.

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This weekend around 55 women went away to enjoy some rest, relationships and renewal.Women together. Mothers, daughters, sisters and friends. Young women - and not so young women.

It was a time to stop - to pause.
There was time to be in solitude and time to be in community.
Time to talk and to listen.
Time to walk and pray.
Time to sing and write.
Time to paint and sew.
Time to sleep and plenty of time to eat. 
Time listening to stories full of laughter and tears.
Time listening for that still, small voice - a time of unexpected words, kind words.
.
It was a sacred space - and God filled it with his presence.

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I holidayed in the Croajingalong National Park in far east Victoria. Some of the walks we did were beautiful. On a walk to Quanby Point, I remarked at how quiet it was. There was no wind, no lapping of water in the lake, no rustling of branches or leaves - just silence. Some birds sang, but the silence was enormous.
I commented to my 15 year old daughter, “How amazing is this place, it’s so quiet?”
She said, “Would you like me to fix that?”
I said, “I don’t even think you could break this silence.”
Giving it a go, she gave a yelp. What seemed like many seconds later, an echo came back from across the lake, seemingly from the forest. It’s like the forest swallowed the yelp and answered back.
This was a powerful place and it felt like I was invited by God into the silence and that he would protect that silence. That is a place I can easily go again in my mind - and find God. Silence has invited me, I have accepted.

I was surprised at how much I noticed the wildflowers on this trip. I’ve seen them before and people have pointed them out to me, but I hadn’t been taken with them until now. I stopped, noticed, photographed and enjoyed them. I believe that to be a metaphor for my current spiritual journey. God is showing me more.

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I was walking in the Belair National Park a few weeks ago on a somewhat damp day. As I walked I kept my eyes on the ground to avoid slipping in muddy puddles. I’d been walking for some time when I heard an odd noise in front of me. I looked up and a few metres ahead on the track was an emu hovering over 3 young chicks. She eye-balled me and said, (if Balaam’s donkey can talk, so can an Aussie emu), “There is no way you are coming any further than that. These are MY chicks, and no-one -  certainly not some dripping wet, fitness wannabe -  is going to harm my babies!” I was happy to let her have her way on this one, and with my right arm held high over my head (hoping to look very tall and intimidating) took a broad circuit around her and continued my walk. Echoing in my ears as I continued down the track were these words, “I am safe beneath the shelter of your wings”.

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