Entrusted with the Gospel

Here are the audio links for some excellent talks on 2 Timothy
by John Piper, Tim Keller, Don Carson and friends.
Audio and video files of the main talks at last week’s The Gospel Coalition 2009 Conference in Chicago are now online.

Good listening

Gavin

Countdown to the Autumn Session

This week is a good week to invite someone to the Autumn Session. These are seminars for our friends and neighbours so we can have some education and discussion on important life issues:

Register you and your friend as soon as you can Cost $5

(for our seating and catering information )

By calling 93812640 or emailing the office

office@stmattsshentonpark.org.au

1. Raising resilient kids, Thurs 7th May,

Dr. David Michie Skills for parents

2. Surviving work/life stress, Weds 13th May,

Dr. Daniel MorkellSkills for the stressed

3. Helping Families avoid addictions, Thurs 14th May,

Dr. George O’Neil, Director of Fresh Start recovery programme.
Skills for drug proofing your family

4. Make Poverty History, Weds 20th May,

Steve McKinnon, Tear Fund WA Poverty awareness raising

5. Living Together, Black & White, Thurs 21st May,

David Michie chairing an indigenous panel.

Awareness raising of indigenous issues in Perth

6. Issues about Dying, Weds 27th May,

Dr. Doug BridgeHead of palliative care at Royal Perth Hospital.
Skills in Facing Death

7. Fathers and Daughters, Thurs 28th May,

Dr. Bruce Robinson, Skills in family relationships

See you there

GP

Join us for a busy Bee

We invite you to join us to help us keep our church and grounds in good order at two working Bees.

Gardening: Saturday 2nd May, 9am.

General Maintenance: Saturday, 23rd May, 9am

Please bring your favourite tools.

Rob Lydon & Russell Hall

Buildings & Grounds Committee

All congregations prayer meeting

Just a reminder
of our all congregations prayer meeting.

4th May
7.45pm till 9.00pmish

Please join us as we pray for second term events, The Autumn Session, church planning, and national and international issues.
Don't feel the pressure to pray aloud but come and add your Amen to ours as we give commit our plans to God.

When Paul writes to the collosians, He writes:

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.  And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Join us for prayer !
It is the best thing you will do all week!
Gavin

Anzac Weekend : A good day to pray for peace

The Apostle Paul instructs Timothy that prayers be made for peace on a regular basis in the church."I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness." 1 Timothy 2:1-3

Anzac Day reminds us men and women serve in our armed forces with a view to bring peace in the troubled spots of the world. The Australian Army currently has significant forces deployed on four major operations :

1. Operation Catalyst - Australia's commitment to the Coalition forces in Iraq. Overwatch Battle Group (West Iraq); this is a battlegroup consisting of a headquarters, infantry company, armoured squadron and training team, with a total of 450 personnel. This has two tasks: Provide support to local Iraqi security forces Assist in the training of local Iraqi Army units so that they are able to take over the internal and external defence of their country.

2. Operation Slipper - Australia's commitment to the War on Terror. The army contribution is primarily concentrated in Afghanistan:

3. Operation Astute - Australia's commitment to Timor-Leste. This constitutes the largest overseas deployment of Australian forces, with around 925 troops deployed. These are primarily formed into a single battlegroup.

4. Operation Anode - Australia's commitment to the Regional Assistance Mission Solomon Islands (RAMSI) has changed over the years, with an initial influx of over 2000 troops to one Platoon of Australians, New Zealanders and Pacific Islanderers just before the riots of April 2006.Australians are also involved in other peacekeeping operations:

A. Operation Mazurka - Australia's commitment to Multinational Force and Observers (MFO). From 1982-1986, the RAAF provided rotory wing aviation support.

B. Operation Paladin - is the Army's longest ongoing operation, where Australian personnel have served since 1956. Operation Paladin is Australia's contribution to the UN Truce Arab/Israeli War.Pray for our armed forces as they seek to bring peace in the world,often in places were violence rules and there is no peace.Paul prays for earthly peace that we might have an opportunity to find peace with God through Jesus. Paul prays that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness For..."This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time".Pray for peace on earth.Pray for the armed forces of our country as they seek to bring peace in difficult places.Pray for peace with God that comes through knowing Jesus.

"Lest We Forget"

GP

Foolishness to Greeks

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On Good friday I mentioned an early piece of anti Christian graffiti from the second century was discovered in 1857 in a guardroom on Palatine Hill near the Circus Maximus in Rome, and is now in the Palatine Antiquarian Museum.
The graffitti shows a man with a donkey’s head being crucified, to which a youth is raising his hand as if in prayer. The text in Greek reads: ALEXAMENOS SEBETE THEON which means, "Alexamenos worships his god."

It is an oddity of history that christians embrace the cross, an instrument of capital punishment, as their symbol of their faith.

Minicius Felix wrote in those days "the religion of the Christians is foolish, in asmuch as they worship a crucified man, and even the instrument itself of his punishment. They are said to worship the head of a donkey , and even the nature of their father"

Christianity was "foolishness to Greeks" then and foolishness to most Aussies now.

GP

Church and State reunited

Here is an interesting Article in the Australian about Christians in government:

SIX months after being elected, a god-squad of devout Liberals preaching morality and Christian values in a parliament better known for misconduct and lewd behaviour is shaping as a new force in West Australian politics. While their views are not unique - other state politicians such as Liberal David Clarke, Christian Democrats Fred Nile and Gordon Moyes in NSW, and Family First's Robert Brokenshire and Dennis Hood in South Australia, have pushed similar themes for years - the new MPs in Western Australia potentially pack a bigger punch.

They're in government, not Opposition, and they have the numbers. The group is being closely watched after putting Premier Colin Barnett on notice that integrity and moral certainties would guide their votes.

Chief among the Bible-belters, Peter Abetz, an ordained minister of the Christian Reformed Church and the brother of right-wing Liberal senator Eric Abetz, makes no bones about his intention to put his Christian values first, even if it means breaking ranks. Outspoken against abortion, euthanasia and legalised prostitution, which he says legitimises the sexual abuse of women, he claims WA has been under attack from politicians reshaping it in ways that harm the most vulnerable.

"I think, broadly speaking, people regard politicians as pretty low on the integrity scale. I can only chip away trying to reform it," Abetz tells Inquirer. "If there was some element that I thought was unconscionable, then I would say to Colin Barnett: 'I'm either going to have to cross the floor or I'm going to wag parliament that day."'

Click here for full article


Paul calls us to pray for those in government,

"I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." 1 Tim 2:1-3

Pray for those who serve us in government that they may reflect the truth and justice of God in all their decisions.

GP