Jesus is the Real Deal

Reading an interesting book: "The Case for the Real Jesus" by Lee Strobel. Takes me back to Uni days and mixing it with the liberal theologians and thinkers in the church. My view, what a sad lot.... My explanation..... it all started in the Garden of Eden.
Adam and Eve had the choice to eat of every tree in the garden except for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Gen 2:9 tells us that the Tree of Life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil were in the centre of the garden. Adam and Eve were free to eat from the tree of life, but choose to eat from the other tree..... Nothing has changed...... The liberal academic world would rather eat from the tree of knowledge than from the tree of life. In fact they openly reject, with their proudly displayed knowledge, the true tree of life (the cross) as a myth and the resurrection as a theological construct of the early church. The penalty for that choice is still the same. These people are dead to God. The sad thing (that Strobel highlights) alongside this trend in universities across America, is that there appear to be many disillusioned "Christians" in the western world who are buying into the argument that Jesus and Christianity are indeed a fraud. (This may be more pronounced and obvious in the American Church)

So i have mixed feelings as i read..... sadness that there are such misguided "academics" who are determined to cast doubt on the gospel and gladness that from that sadness I have a strengthened belief that Jesus is who he said he is, (Son of God) and did rise from the dead, and did send the Holy Spirit to give us power to be His witnesses.

What an awesome God we love and worship. He is still giving men and women the total freedom to choose Him or reject Him. Gotta love that.

Come on let's turn to the tree of life and by faith eat it's fruit..... eternal life....
Jesus is the real deal

It Must Be Love

It Must Be Love. Our church theme for 2009

On iTunes a search for this song title comes up with over 150 artists and versions.

The popular version of the song is really making a statement and asking a rhetorical question - The way i am feeling, it must be love? right?.....

We could certainly pick up that theme in the context of our relationship with God, but it is not the only way to understand the phrase. I would suggest there is a more fruitful way to express the phrase. "It Must Be Love" as an imperative. In other words my response to whatever is happening in my world MUST BE LOVE.....

God does not give those of us who claim to know Him any space to respond any other way than with love. wow what a challenge that is...... Try reading 1 John 3 & 4 without being challenged about the way you live out a life of love.

When i am hurting ...... It MUST be love
When i am angry .......It MUST be love
When i am happy....... It MUST be love
When i am feeling selfish .... it MUST be love
When i am being strong..... it MUST be love
When i an being a wimp ..... it MUST be love
When i am being spiritual..... it MUST be love
When i am preaching..... it MUST be love
When i am speaking..... it MUST be love
When i am listening..... it MUST be love
When i am being corrected or chastised..... it MUST be love
When i am being a jerk..... it MUST be love
When i am caring..... it MUST be love
When i couldn't care less.....it MUST be love
When i am over it...... it MUST be love.
When i am being the best i can be.... it MUST be love

The challenge for 09 will be to not only talk love but to act love, be love, promote love, think and breath love.... Lord help us and be with us as we give it our best shot.....

Happy New Year
Bruce & Julie

I love encountering a "can do" attitude

Ever been to a restaurant where the staff treat you like they are doing you a favour by serving you? Or worse the staff make you feel like you just asked for their family inheritance when all you want is a variation of something on the menu? They proceed to lecture you on why it can't be done..... Not here to name names or open a shame file, but there are some places that deserve it. At the other extreme there have been occasions where we have encountered exceptional service and attitudes from restaurant/cafe staff. The 'can do' attitude not only allows delivery of what one has asked for, but the atmosphere in the restaurant is so different to the one where there is a "can't do" attitude.

Same thing can happen on a commercial flight. When you have even one member of the cabin crew with a "can do" attitude the atmosphere on the whole plane is different than when there is not one. Some flights are plain horrid not because of weather conditions, but the atmosphere in the cabin created by the crew who are all "can't doers".

So it seems a can do attitude gives room to create a great atmosphere that anyone around the "can doer" can feel and enjoy. It is infectious. Go on try it and look for the smiles on people's faces appearing in a widening circle around your life.....

can do.

Things I Love

Seeing people connect with God is the best experience for me as a Christian. Its one of the things I love. Last week we baptised 12 people in our 11 am service. Young and old. The presence of God and His effect on those being baptised was incredible..... If you are a Christian and you have not been baptised by full immersion, can I suggest you do. Get on to it......

Love from

Bruce & Julie

I love flying and watching aircraft

I have always been fascinated with aircraft and flying. Julie & I had not flown anywhere together until we went to Sydney for our first C3i conference in 1995. God has blessed us with many opportunities to fly together (even around the world in 2007) as part of our ministry life since then. How amazing is God!!! Last week however we flew home from Canberra via Melbourne and for the first time in my life I uttered the words "I am over flying". Never thought I would feel like that, and I know I will fly again and love it.... just not for a while.

Thought you might enjoy this clip as an encouragement about the joys of flying!!!! Some of them are unbelievable.
Scary landings

Catch you soon with "Things I Love" Bruce

October - Getting to know Jesus

Do attitudes arise out of character or do they shape character????

It's a bit like which comes first - the chicken or the egg???

Phil 2:5 "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus...."

What a great start to the month & looking at what we do!!!! So confronting...our attitudes!!!!!

They set us up for all that lies ahead - so work on them, get a great attitude to everything!!!

"To build character that supports the weight of life, you need to sustain good attitudes" .....Bruce

Come on you can do it...let's help each other

Check out C3AH this Sunday with John Finkelde &

WATCH THIS SPACE.... live your best life!!!!

.....B & J.....