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Christmas time for Pastors

Love joy peace at Christmas time……..
I am just printing off 300 brochures for our Carols this Friday, after ringing around organing bouncy castles, sausages, buns, sauce and helpers for the same event.

I also am helping organise the sound gear, stage and lighting.

As well as Carols we are having special dinners, break ups and 2 Christmas Services this year.

To say there is a lot on for Pastors at Christmas time is an understatement. But we need to find time to reflect. The one message I am exhorting others too this Christmas is to stop and reflect on Jesus and the amazing story of His intersection with humanity and the story of this world. How can I do this myself amongst the business that a Pastor finds himself in? I must.

Other pastors and busy too, everyone I talk to is stressed out, flat and fatigued. My own team is really pushing themselves at the moment, pushing hard.
My prayer is that in the midst of the business, we will find Christ’s story once again reverberating within us, bringing a sense of hope, peace and joy into our lives,

Junky Car Club


I joined this a few weeks back, but Phil Bakers post reminded me of it, that and the sticker I just got in the mail.

Here is their blurb,
“The Junky Car Club is a car club whose members are learning to live with less so we can give more. We’re a bunch of happy drivers that are politely rebelling against consumerism by driving junky cars. We encourage our members to use their dough to support social justice causes instead of making fat car payments. Junky Car Club members sponsor kids who live in poverty through Compassion International and help other great organizations. We believe in environmental stewardship and hangin onto things a little longer. Click on the banner below to join! “

If, like me, your car is a little junky, and you support a sponsor child, you can become an “Elite Lemon Membership”.
I have just submitted my photo, so it should be up there soon!

www.junkycarclub.com

Sunday arvo thoughts

Great day in church today, I have started our new series…and took on the role of prosecutor and defence lawyer asking the question, does God exist. Got a lot of positive response..which is great.

Have you ever tried “Pana da Casa’ bread? Its great, chewy, and yeasty. I have just about finished my Fiori coffee…just opened my new Five Senses PNG blend….smells great.

The Perfect Christmas Tree

How much money will the Morley Galleria spend this year on Christmas decorations? Have you seen the size of their Christmas Trees? They are perfect.

Our humble tree will be erected in the next week or two, and that will be the start of the Christmas season in the Edwards house. It wont be a perfect tree, let me give you the hint. This year it will have homemade decorations, Jimmy Neutron on his spaceship, and a star made from scrap paper and masking tape. Any resemblance between it and what Centro Galleria do, will be purely coincidental. But it will be our family tree, and that’s what matters.

Can I encourage you that in the midst of Christmas, remember what is most important, your family, friends and your Lord Jesus. He is the one who decided to come to a less than perfect world, to a grubby stable, because He cares. Don’t let your family miss the true wonder of Christmas.

Also, keep in mind that Christmas isn’t always a joyous occasion for everyone. Some people will be haunted by loss, having no family, personal tragedy, not having the extra money to buy gifts for their family and other things. If you’ve ever made it through something like that yourself, remember that God wants us to encourage those who suffer at Christmas time, as it reminds them of what they don’t have. Even if you haven’t suffered a specific loss, you can still offer encouragement to others by sharing Christ.

Gary Ablett talks frankly about his demons

This is a fascinating article.
Gary Ablett (senior) tells his story, and his battle with his problems.

“I have battled with bouts of depression right throughout my life and it got to a point where I was so desperate to relieve it I started to experiment with drugs.

“Most people have no idea just how debilitating and painful depression is. It’s much worse than just feeling down, it’s mental anguish.

“You can’t describe it with words, and it robs you of so much. It has so many devastating symptoms.

“I started using cocaine thinking it was the answer, and for the first time in a long time I wasn’t depressed.

“So I continued to use cocaine and then ecstasy, not realising how destructive it was until later on.

“I began to use more cocaine and got caught up in the party scene over two or three years.

“It’s only because of my relationship with Jesus, and God’s unconditional love and acceptance of me in Christ, that I’m still here today – and I don’t say that lightly.
(Rest of article)

What an amazing testimony, there is a lot more he says, and it is well worth a read, particularly if you are dealing with people and issues revolving around depression.
It makes me think also, how many parallels are there with Gary’s story and Ben Cousins.