Highfields Church of Christ

A Welcoming Place

Blogs

Unexpected Detours

· ·

I have been thinking lately about our journeys through life and the Unexpected Detours that change our direction. If you have ever had one of these detours that force or give you an ability to change directions, you are left asking yourself a question…… This is a question that repeats like a trending pop song you just cannot get out of your head, and only contains 6 words…

“Did I make the RIGHT choice?”

This question is asked because often in these detour moments we are left to choose the direction forward. If we are followers of Christ, we lean into God…. Attempting to find the direction God wants us to go, and very rarely do we hear a voice from heaven guiding our steps. This leads to us making the best decision we can and trusting it is in step with what God wants for us. Coming to this decision after countless hours of prayer and reflection with God. We sometimes know shortly after if the decision we made was correct but often we are left with a 6-word question.

“Did I make the RIGHT choice?”

              I know this question has repeated in my head numerous times, and I have often struggled with knowing if I made the right decision throughout my life in these Unexpected Detours. If we are honest this question rings louder at times when what we expected does not happen. We wonder if our life journey would be greener if we made a different choice, so we ask ourselves…….

“Did I make the RIGHT choice?”

              What if this is the wrong question to ask ourselves? In the story of Jonah, we read of a prophet who consistently rebelled against God. When he did listen to God, he only does the bare minimum required. Throughout his journey though we read of God meeting him and those around him. Pagan sailors turn to God and are welcomed by God’s divine grace. A city called Nineveh, known for its dominance and violence, turns to God and are embraced by his divine grace. God consistently meets Jonah on this journey regardless of his decision making. Jonah creates detour after detour and God simply continues to move and show more people his divine grace. We should not ask ourselves the question that repeats in our head about these Unexpected Detour moments, and instead ask ourselves another 6-word question.

“Do I lean into God’s grace?”

by Pastor Matt George

How to be kinder….

· ·

by Pastor Chris Gribble

This is the dilemma that I face. I know how to be selfish. This seems to be automatic. I know how to see what’s wrong with others. This is obvious. I know words that can make someone feel bad about themselves. These words seem to roll easily off my tongue.But, how to be kinder? This is something I need to consider because it’s not automatic. And, it’s not always easy in every circumstance for kindness to be evident.My job is about looking after our people in Destiny Rescue. Sometimes I am asked to enforce some not so easy things. Like helping someone who isn’t working as they should see ways to improve. Or, when we have to make tough decisions as an organisation and helping to manage that.I have asked myself, “How can you be kind in these situations?”I know what it feels like to not be on the brunt of unkindness in the workplace. It leaves a deep uncertainty about my worth, my identity and even some brokenness in the relationships that I believed were important.My question then is how can I be kinder. I don’t want to take the easy path and be selfish and just let others know what’s wrong about them.I desire to see the goodness in that person, to find what keeps them alive. If they are feeling less than alive to help them discover that spark again. I want to choose my words and tone to find a way to help my conversations reflect conversations with God’s beloved.And the day begins with this challenge … How to be kinder?

Pastor Chris works for Destiny Rescue in a self-funded position. If you would like to support him in his work and also read more blog post like this please contact him on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/chris.gibble

Way of Shalom

· ·

Set aside some time and find a spot to be still and listen to this contemplative reading of Isaiah 11:1-9

After listening to this podcast spend some time writing your thoughts around how you can be part of God’s Way of Shalom, and feel free to share some in a comment below.

Generosity

· ·

I find this video extremely thought provoking for myself especially given our circumstance. In our world we to often get stuck in a MINDSET OF DISTRUST AND SCARCITY. Often using our power or privilege to ensure WE have more than enough.

This video points at something truly revolutionary and foundational found in the teachings of Jesus Christ. Jesus lived with a MINDSET OF ABUNDANCE which enabled him to live generously. Jesus even generously sacrifices his own life to show us how God’s generosity has the power to turn DEATH into LIFE!

How much different would our communities be if we were able to live with a MINDSET OF ABUNDANCE? Unfortunately, we live far to often in the MINDSET OF DISTRUST AND SCARCITY.

What if as followers of Christ we aimed to do our best to live out of the MINDSET OF ABUNDANCE trusting that their is enough for everyone? Could this bring immeasurable healing to God’s creation? Reflecting on these kinds of questions is vital for us as we seek to follow Christ and live as God has called us to.

Reflection from Pastor Matt

Sacred Space

· ·

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.