I attended the funeral today of someone I deeply respected. We did not always agree, but he supported me at a very difficult time in my life, and treated me with respect and honour. I always appreciated his influence and leadership in my life.

His funeral was very well attended and many people spoke of his sense of humour and love. It appeared to me that he finished his race very well. In fact, without knowing all the details, it seemed the last 7 years of his life was a ‘Kairos’ time. That is…a time when God divinely chose to use him to care for and love many people and children. Those who are approaching their senior years should take note, God has not finished with you yet!

It got me thinking, what will people say of us when we are gone? It is a important question I think. Not that we seek people’s approval, but we all live in relationship, and how we treat others is the most important aspect of our lives along with how we treat our Creator. I want to think the best of people, love them, and treat them with respect. That is not always what I do, but it is my intent. I also want to be known as someone who passionately cared about the destiny of those who do not yet know the joy of knowing Jesus as I do. It is why I do what I do. I don’t always get it right, that is for sure. And often I find myself doubting myself.

But then I remember that word, Kairos. It is a Greek word which means ‘divine time’. There have been times when God has chosen to use me, despite the fact I often find attitudes and behaviours within myself that disappoint me. . At those times, when God’s grace and favour shine through, I think, this is what I was made for.

May people say of me, he loved Jesus, he loved his family, he persevered and loved the church, he loved people.

Excellent and very interesting review of his book by Sarah….
Go over and have a read!

http://sedshed.blogspot.com.au/2012/11/ben-cousins.html

Had a good discussion on politics last night at blokes group.

There is a lot of discussion on politics, particularly amongst American Christians, at the moment. Some will vehemently say that a Christian should not vote for Obama. Others, in smaller numbers, will give reasons why a Christian should vote against Romney.

But it is the dogmatic assertions of these Christians that concerns me. There is something unsettling about a minister, someone who preaches the word of God, in the next breathe give his view on who you should vote for. Because who you should vote for is not the gospel. It may be a considered view taken after prayer, reading the bible and checking out the candidates views….but it is not the gospel.

Equally prayerful and reflective people may find compelling reasons why they are voting for the alternative candidate….and who is anyone to say they are wrong?

A Minister must preach the word, in season and out. When he uses the same platform to espouse political views, it is dangerous ground….in my view.

That’s why we have a clear policy at my Church, no politicians in the pulpit, no endorsement of any candidate publicly.

Pastor Dale Stephenson from Crossway Baptist Church spoke at our Annual Baptist Celebration Service on Friday.

The message he gave was a challenging one enriched with real life stories. The main idea was that we need to be open to ‘hearing the voice of God’. It was a message that we need to hear. As Baptists we can be accused of being proud of our Biblical heritage. One very interesting point Dale brought our was that the original Baptists refused to sign up to any creeds because they believed that God can continue to reveal things from the Word, and so no creed should be said to be final and authoritative. This quote from Wikipedia is informative, ” The Baptists have been non-creedal “in that they have not sought to establish binding authoritative confessions of faith on one another”.^[9]:p.111 While many Baptists are not opposed to the ancient creeds, they regard them as “not so final that they cannot be revised and re-expressed. At best, creeds have a penultimacy about them and, of themselves, could never be the basis of Christian fellowship”.^[9]:p.112″

In other words, its in our Baptist DNA to be open to what God is saying today, which may differ in application to what He said yesterday.

I wonder what God is saying to me…and to you….today. Or has it been some time since you heard anything fresh from God?