Where else would you like to put up this sign...

What's your purpose?...

God gives...

Psalm 127
A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon.

1Unless the LORD builds the house,

those who build it labor in vain.

Unless the LORDwatches over the city,

the watchman stays awake in vain.

2It is in vain that you rise up early

and go late to rest,eating the bread of anxious toil;

for he gives to his beloved sleep.

3Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,

the fruit of the womb a reward.

4Like arrows in the hand of a warrior

are the children of one’s youth.

5Blessed is the man

who fills his quiver with them!

He shall not be put to shame

when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

I went to SaturdayEV tonight with my brother, my sister-in-law and my niece. I really enjoyed! Nice music, friendly people, yum food and generally a good feel about the place! I especially liked the sermon. It's school holidays so they were doing a one off sermon on the above Psalm, which was especially fitting as they had a thanksgiving for a child in their church family!

The sermon was a much needed reminder that in everything, yes everything, it is God who gives. It is He who gives success, sleep, children, life and our glorious Saviour! While soaking in these truths as the preacher spoke, I couldn't help but notice the richness of this text...

( Iwill blog more later, when I can pin down some of the thoughts flying around in my head)

I know I like shoes but...

not so sure of these ones... apparently the latest craze in Japan!

I think the word got out...

THAT I LIKE TEA???

May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you’re dead...

83-year-old Sidney Lumet's new movie is out: Before the Devil Knows You're Dead...

The advertised premise for the movie is:
When two brothers organise the robbery of their parents' jewellery store the job goes horribly wrong...

Margaret and David both gave it 4 stars!
I'd give it hmmm... 2 or 4 stars... not really sure!

The fractured sequence of events allowed for the building up of ethical tension in the viewers mind. The storyboard provoked me to think about the nature of the events being payed out in front of me... I kept asking myself "do desperate times call for desperate measures?" "how far would I go?" " why would you kill for $60,000?" I think the layers of scenes, flashbacks, although at times seemed to overlap, it provided time for my mind to ponder and grapple with the theme. I think the fragments and going back in the plot also raises the question of "if I could do it over, what might I do different?"

It was a bit slow because of what seemed repetition... but it was confronting, intense and thought provoking. My friend asked me after "what did you think? intense hey?" I replied "Do you reckon desperate times call for desperate measures? He replied "do you really reckon their situations were desperate?" Interesting question!

The other intensity was the nudity throughout and the explicit sex scene that opens the movie and pretty much smacks you in the face. My friend who I went with, he whispered to me "ohh this is a bit full on"... which at that point I didn't know how to respond so I just shrugged and kept watching! Don't think that was the best response at the time but still don't know what the best response would have been.
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Can I leave you with 2 questions:

1. What would make you walk out of a movie? sex scene, boredom, drug taking, blasphemy...
   
   
2. Desperate times calls for desperate measures... how do you get to the gospel from that?
   

Moore2Life...

I went on my Moore College Mission to the parish of ULLADULLA - which consists of St Martins Ulladulla (8:30am & 5:30pm services); St Peters & St Pauls Milton (11:30am service) and Sussex Inlet (9:30am? & 6pm?).

I think the highlight of the week was Val Israel, (picture above) my host/billet. She is 80+, been a Christian for 40 years, is a devoted lover of our Lord Jesus Christ, is a thinker, keen learner, gentle, generous, creative and loving. Sarah and I enjoyed endless cups of tea and chats, board games, jewelery making with Val. It was so encouraging to hear how much Jesus is her true Joy, her Hope in grieving the loss of her husband, and hear how she is keener than ever to learn more about Him and share his Love!

The rest of the week was good fun too. The program wasn't too hectic so we were able to make visits to cafes, the beach, a winery, lolly shop, shops...

I was involved in preaching the gospel:

• to kids in running the Sunday School for St Martins 5:30pm church both Sundays;
• to mums @ the Mums N Bubs group - I ran a discussion on FEAR!
• to kids @ local primary schools.
  
• to the youth on Friday night @ Sussex.
  
• to a group of ladies at a bible study group.
  

Other things the team did was preach on Sundays, Skate Park Youth Meet, Christian Surfers Breakfast and Movie Night, Women's Pamper Night, other bible study groups, High School stuff and Men's breakfast!

Please be praying for Ulladulla Parish. Pray for the ministers Geoff and Marty, that God would grant them wisdom as they continue to lead the flock He has entrusted into their care and for the church community to be thinking how they can reach the lost of the Shoalhaven.