Highfields Church of Christ

A Welcoming Place

Chris Gribble

Sacred Space

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John 8:12-30

Timing can be everything when it comes to truth. But, I don’t think that there ever would be a right time for the religious leaders to hear this next truth that was spoken by Jesus. His words were a direct confrontation to the lie. But, from what I know of Jesus he was never going to shy away from the truth.

He started with the words, “I am”. The same words used when the Voice had spoken to Moses in the Wilderness, “I am, who I am”.

Then he spoke about light and darkness and choosing between the two. In the midst of his response to the religious leaders he said this, “My truth lights up the world, darkness is its enemy. Follow me and the lie will be clearly seen and the truth will set your life free”.

The religious leaders went straight for the jugular when they heard Jesus say this. They had no time for Jesus because he was clearly directing his comments at them and the lies that they were leading the people into. Without saying it directly he had clearly identified that they were speaking lies.

The next challenge was about Jesus’ authority. But, Jesus again gave them the perfect response. He knew that true authority comes from who a person is and their character, both gifts from God. Authority is not from a self constructed version of truth that seeks only to hear its own perspective.

Jesus said to them in very clear terms, “My statements are true. I am the Flesh, speaking with the Voice and the Breath. This is more than enough to hear truth. Lies can seek to fabricate truth but the truth will always be evident in who a person is”.

This obviously confused the leaders. They asked a stupid question the answer that they of all people should have known the answer to. “Who is your Father?”

They clearly didn’t realise how much the lie had infiltrated every part of their thinking. They had stopped hearing the Voice for a long time. Even when the Voice had spoken in past ages they never obeyed. Now when in the presence of truth the way to truth was obscured. They were living in a prison of their own making.

Jesus was not afraid for himself when making these statements to the religious leaders. I could see that they wanted to punish him because his presence was challenging the very foundation of their beliefs about the Voice.

The Flesh’s perspective on their predicament was very different to their own understanding. Jesus very clearly was saying that they were missing the secret that the Voice wanted to reveal through the Flesh. This very serious because their refusal to believe the truth was jeopardizing their own lives.

The leader’s lack of understanding became more evident as they argued with Jesus. “Who are you?” was their perplexed question.

Jesus answer challenged several hundred years of accumulated understanding that had drifted further and further from the truth. The lie that they believe made them believe that they were the way. But, Jesus very quickly challenged this. “I am the Voice, speaking in the flesh,” was his response.

In hindsight I know that the lie’s pull would bring them to want to destroy the truth. Jesus knew this already. He knew that this journey could only end one way, that there would be a battle between the lie and the Flesh. This battle would take Jesus to a cross just outside Jerusalem.

One final thing…

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And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Philippians 4:8

“In difficult times carry something beautiful in your heart.”

Blaise Pascal

I just came across this quote and found it a great reminder of what God desires for our life. Sometimes there’s a weariness that comes with the relentless demands of life and relationships. Sometimes all I want to do is do nothing.

My day begins again and already so many things are rushing at me. I want to pause, to take in what’s beautiful. I want to stop to allow myself to be a little kinder to myself first – not selfishly but because I want to be with my God who is seeking out that beautiful part of me.Perhaps this is the cause of my weariness. I haven’t yet learned to stay long enough with what is beautiful.

Blessings Chris

The Good Shepherd

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The Good Shepherd

The Lord is my soul mate, who never loses sight of me.

He gives more than I ask, more than I can imagine.

The boundary lines He leads me to

Are pleasant, full of abundant goodness, generous provision.

Though He may lead me through places called ‘difficulty’ or ‘uncertainty’,

He is close by and leads me out into broad places of blessing again.

He strengthens my soul through this journey.

His comfort increases my trust in Him.

He gives me boldness and courage before adversity,

In the faces of all who torment me.

But I am not moved.

His goodness and mercy surround me on every side.

For all the days to come He will care for me.

I will remain together, forever with Him.

Nothing will separate me from His loving presence.

-Jennifer Woodley

Neil & the Team’s Mission Trip to PNG

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Neil Hall has been over in Papua New Guinea at a village called Kiru, a couple of hours from Port Moresby.  On this visit, their task was to repair blades on a wind turbine they erected on a previous visit.  The wind turbines provide power to aid the work of translating The Jesus Film into the many languages used in PNG.  The repair work was a major task considering the lack of equipment they had to work with, but by the photos we’ve been sent, it looks like it was a successful mission.  Great job guys!

Neil1Neil2

Keith’s Reflection on Psalm 24

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At our Planning & Discernment Day for the beginning of 2016 we had a time of reflection around Psalm 24.  The wide range of responses that came from people in our church in this time of reflection were truly inspiring.

This is what came out of Keith’s reflection on Psalm 24:

 

Everyone is precious to God,

No matter how ugly they may seem.

For God sent His only Son,

To Allow us all to fulfil His dream.

 

The gates are open to one and all,

To enter and prepare for this precious gift,

That God has sent in His heavens to declare.

 

May our hearts be open like a gate,

Where others can see what truly awaits.

May God’s love truly shine in His church,

Where all will find ‘His Amazing Grace’.

Dad’s Love

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The kids looked at the Parable of the Prodigal Son this morning.  This is a modern spin on the parable for the kids today.

-Luke

 

‘Dad’s Love’

There was a dad who had two kids, a daughter, and a son.  The dad loved his kids, and he liked to play fun games with them.  The son, who was the younger of the two, got pretty cranky sometimes when things didn’t go his way in some of these games.

One day, the dad was playing cricket with his two kids.  The son was batting when the dad bowled the ball right into the wickets.  When the dad cheered, and said it was his sister’s turn to bat, the son got really cranky at his dad.

He said to his dad, “I hate you!”.  And as he stormed off, he even swore at his dad.

The son went and found a place to hide around the other side of the house, because he thought he might get in big trouble for saying those things to his dad.  But the dad didn’t even chase after his son.  The dad was hurt by what the son said to him, so he let him go.

While the boy was hiding, he heard his dad and his sister having fun together.  They were laughing, and yelling.  It all sounded like so much fun.  The son began to realise how much fun he was missing out on with his dad, by getting so cranky all the time when things didn’t go his way.

He was sitting in the dirt, in his hiding place, getting bitten by ants and mossies, when he thought to himself;

“I don’t want to be here.  I want to be with my dad.  I know I’m going to get in big trouble when I go back around there.  But I’m going to go back anyway, because I’d rather get in trouble, than miss out on anymore with my dad.”

So, the son got up out of the dirt, and went back around to where his dad and sister were playing, ready to face the music.  As the son walked around the corner of the house, the dad looked over and saw his son coming.  The boy got ready to get in big trouble for saying the things he said.  He got a bit scared and began to cry, as his dad walked towards him.

He said, “I’m sorry dad,” and cringed his eyes shut.  But just as he did, his dad lifted his son into his arms and gave him a big hug.  The dad said, “I love you Son, and I’m glad you’ve come back to play.”

The boy was relieved, but he cried a bit anyway, because he couldn’t believe how much his dad loved him, even after the mean things he’d said to his dad.

When the daughter saw this but, she was furious!  Then it was her who stormed off.  The dad chased after her, and he said, “What’s wrong?”  She turned around, her face red with anger, and said;

“How could you let him get away with saying those mean things to you?  He swore at you, and you don’t even give him a smack.  You just let him back into our game.  That’s just not fair.  I’ve never done anything like that, but you don’t love me any more than you love him.”

The dad looked lovingly at his daughter, and said;

“My dear daughter, I love you with all the love I have.  And I love your brother the same.  I was hurt by what he said.  I was even more hurt that he didn’t want to play with us.  But he came back.  He wants to be back, and that makes me happy.  And because it makes me happy, it should make you happy too.”

The Kind Helper

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This is a spin on the parable of ‘The Good Samaritan’ (Luke 10:30-35), which was shared with the kids last week.  It was funny to hear the kids’ replies about who was the one that did what God wanted; “The naughty kid… Oh no, not the naughty kid… Was he the naughty kid?”

-Luke

 

The Kind Helper

Jessie and Lucy were really good friends.  They were the best of friends at church.  Jessie and Lucy looked forward to seeing each other at church, because they went to different schools, and didn’t get to see other until the weekend when they went to church.

One Sunday morning, Jessie had slept in too long, and he was running late for church.  And, more importantly, he was late for seeing Lucy.  That’s what he was more worried about.

So Jessie rushed out the door, and was quickly on his way to church, which was close enough for him to walk to from his house.  While he was on his way, another boy came around the corner on his bike.  The boy’s bike skidded on some loose gravel.  The boy fell off his bike, hurting himself badly on the rough road.  He was bleeding on his knee and on his elbow.

When Jessie saw this happen, he felt bad for the other boy.  But he was already late for church, and his friend, Lucy, would be waiting for him.  So he kept on going.

Something Jessie didn’t know but, was that his friend, Lucy, was also running late for church that day.  Lucy was running even later than Jessie.  Lucy was in hurry to get to church, when she came across the boy who had fallen off his bike, after Jessie had already gone on ahead.

Lucy saw the boy, and she knew she should probably help him.  But then she thought about Jessie who would be waiting for her at church.  And she thought, “Church is the more important thing”.  So she kept on going.

Now, while Jessie and Lucy were rushing to get to church, they passed another kid walking the other way.  This kid wasn’t on his way to church.  He didn’t even go to church.  The kid was in Lucy’s class at school.  He was always messing about in class, especially in religion.  Lucy thought he was pretty naughty, and he didn’t really know much about the Bible, like she did.

The kid passed both Jessie and Lucy on their way to church, and then he saw the boy who’d fallen off his bike.  Without thinking about anything else, the kid quickly ran over to the boy to help him.  He helped the boy with his bike.  And he even took off his own shirt to clean up the boy’s knee and elbow that were still bleeding.

After he had cleaned him up, the kid helped the boy up, and put the boys arm over his shoulder on one side, and held the boy’s bike with his other arm.  The kid then walked the boy back to boy’s house, where his mum and dad were.