Edition 30, July 2011 Connecting Christadelphian Young People

The Vine is published quarterly by the Sydney Christadelphian Young People (SCYP)

COORDINATOR Tim Mogg

EDITORIAL TEAM Tim Mogg, Chrissy Mogg, Samee Lapham, Georgia Muir, Dan Blackwood and Suz O'Toole

LAYOUT/DESIGNSamee LaphamBen Hurn

MASTHEAD DESIGNAlisa Thompson

CONTRIBUTORS

WRITERS (in order of appearance): Suz O'Toole, Stuart Muir, Tim Mogg, Chrissy Mogg, Phil Rosser, Des Partridge, Elise Mogg, Michael Gould, Naomi Thurlow (QLD), Ben Grace, Courtney Peden, Steph Jamieson, Nathan Coad, India Watson, Benjamin Murphy (SA), Angus Lawrie, Jordan Cubbin, Nick Morgan, Cristine Spall, Abi Catchlove (SA), Briony Milverton (SA).

PHOTOGRAPHY: Tim Mogg (p7), Simon Peel (UK; p13, 26), Mel Pogson (p16)

EASTER CAMP PHOTOSPREAD p14-15: Jodie Errington, Shelly O'Toole, Jess Collins, Emma Collins, Laura Dowling (SA).

ILLUSTRATION: Ellie Bilton (UK; p2), Samee Lapham (p4, 11, 21)

COVER DESIGN: Rolly Johns (SA)

The Vine is published to the Glory of our Heavenly Father, through whom all things are made possible.Opinions expressed in The Vine are the authors’ and are not neccessarily held by the Editorial Team or the SCYP.

All Bible quotations are from the New International Version (1978) unless otherwise stated.

e: thevine@scyp.netweb: www.scyp.net/thevine/issues

The Vine's most recent editions are now availabe to view online at issuu.com/scyp

This editions theme of ‘Living, Moving, Being’ wasis inspired by Acts 17. In Acts 17:28 Paul said, ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ Interestingly, Paul did not coin this

now famous phrase. Paul was referencing a popular Greek poet*. He was using Greek pop-culture to help correct and clarify the ideas of the Greeks.

'The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.'

As you look at ‘Living, Moving, Being’ from the different perspectives in this edition I pray that you see how God can be involved in every aspect of our lives, even pop culture, if we let him.

God is the Lord of heaven and earth. He gives life and breath. God hopes that we will seek him out and he is not far from any one of us.

Happy reading,

Tim

*Kudos to Jacob Pogson for his insight into this topic

from the editor

4 Part of Everything You Do

6 Plant of Great Price

8 Nup...nuthin...I dunno... huh?

10 What Goes into the Mouth

12 Sydney Youth Conference

13 Human Being Not Human Doing

14 Easter Camp Photos

16 Never Would Have Thought

18 Music Reviews

22 Ecclesial Profile

24 We Ask You...

25 Outreach Inspiration

26 Baptism Watch

27 Grapevine

contents

livingmovingbeing

04

God is part of everything we do. Cool, huh? He’s deeply involved in every single aspect of our lives: the good, the bad and the ugly. It’s been a long journey for me to come to

terms with the fact that although God bestows all the blessings and happiness that we experience in our lives, he’s also responsible and fully aware of all the difficult times. To deny that is to deny God’s ever-present, all-powerful nature.

This fact can bring many people to grief: how could a good and righteous God allow suffering and hurt in our lives? It can seem to a lot of people to be such a massive contradiction that they doubt that God is with them, and whether He loves them at all. I sure did. We can become bitter, saying that in the hard times God has deserted us; we struggle to feel the presence of God when things are rough, and we feel trapped in negative circumstances.

In the Bible, God doesn’t even try to deny that we will have tough times. Instead, he shows us that even though we are guaranteed to suffer in life, and to sometimes feel utterly hopeless in our circumstances, he will stay with us, and guide us through. Isaiah 43: 1 in the Message says 'Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you. I’ve called your name. You’re mine. When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you. When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down. When you’re between a rock and a hard place, it won’t be a dead end – Because I am GOD, your personal God.'

Our personal God. God doesn’t just press the ‘play’ button in our lives and watch it all unfold. Neither does he treat us as puppets; instead he allows us the free will to make decisions, and make mistakes. We have control of our own minds, of our own decisions.

BY SUZ O'TOOLE

05

God knows what decisions we’ll make, and becomes deeply involved in working with our decisions. Acts 17: 26-27 in the Message says 'Starting from scratch, [God] made the entire human race and made the earth hospitable, with plenty of time and space for living so we could seek after God, and not just grope around in the dark but actually find him…' God wishes for us to find him, to seek him out. That was his intent when he created the world! He wanted humanity to love him by choice, from the depths of their hearts.

In the same way, God will only get involved in our lives and our decisions if we deeply, truly want him to. A couple of years ago I noticed that I was trying to block God out of my decision-making; that I was trying to direct my own paths to get what I desired in life. I didn’t want to tell God about the things that were happening in my life, because, deep down, I knew that I was probably going down the wrong track towards selfish gain, but I didn’t want God to meddle with this direction. I realised that I was becoming increasingly frustrated and depressed that things weren’t working out, or that my wishes came true, but left me disappointed and disillusioned. One bleak afternoon, I finally said an honest prayer to God, telling him all about my goals and lifestyle choices, and begging him to intervene. I finally realised that God, whether I liked it or not, was fully aware of all my actions, and my motives behind them. David knew the fullness of God’s knowledge of his children, writing in Psalm 139:2-3 'You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.' At the end of my prayer, I asked God to release me from the burden of thinking that my life was my own to direct and control. After that prayer, my life turned completely upside-down, and all the things that I’d established for myself fell into insignificance. I took God’s hand as He led me blindly into the adventure of my life with Him, and it’s been an incredible journey.

That’s not to say that there haven’t been hard times. Since then my faith has been

tested to its absolute limits. It’s so easy in those times to feel alone, and to feel that you can’t approach God about what’s happening. However, we’re told repetitively in the Bible that trials and hard times will help us to develop into the characters that God wants us to be. He works with our situations and circumstances, utilising them to help us develop our characters, strengthen and purify our faith, and ultimately bring us closer to Him. James 1:2 invites us to 'Count it all joy… when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness…that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.' 1 Peter 1:6 extends on this idea; 'In this you rejoice, though now…you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith – more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire – may be found to result in praise and glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ.' I personally find this concept incredibly exhilarating. We’re promised that if we endure the hard times in our lives, (a) God will see us through and (b) they will result in our faith being perfected in preparation for the Kingdom.

So what do we do with this knowledge? When things are tough, do we just sit back and let God sort everything out for us? When everything is working out, do we ignore God’s work in our lives that allowed this to be so? Absolutely not! We need to take an active role, by acknowledging God’s work at every stage of our lives, and by making decisions that will bring us closer to God’s will in our lives. We mustn’t take God’s work for granted, but rather endeavour to be the best Christians we can be. Romans 12: 11-12 says 'Do not be slothful…be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.' These instructions call us to action, to both rely fully on God, and to live lives reflective of Jesus.

In The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, when all seemed hopeless and darkness was overwhelming people’s hearts, some very familiar words were spoken: “I wish none of this had happened,” which was met with the response “So do all

who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us…” God has provided us with life, and the promise of support and love if we ask it of Him, but we are left to decide what to do with our lives; whether to devote them to God and to strive for righteousness, or not. God does allow tough times to occur, but we are left to decide whether we will let the darkness overwhelm us, or to approach God for help.

We are blessed. We are given the freedom to approach God, our Father, and our Creator, who 'was and is and is to come' (Revelation 4:8), to ask Him for the strength and direction to live lives that bring Him glory, and that bring us fulfilment and hope. “My heart and my soul, Lord I give you control.” These are lyrics taken out of Hillsong’s From the Inside Out, and it is one of my most common prayers. It reveals a decision to let God into our lives, to be fully involved in our living, moving and being.

May we not be afraid of bad news and hard times, but let our hearts be firm, trusting in our Lord. Let us 'Rejoice in the Lord always…The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer…let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus' (Philippians 4:4-7).

'Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you…And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.' 1 Peter 5:6

I asked God to release me from the burden of

thinking that my life was my own to direct and control. After that prayer, my life turned

completely upside-down

06

Some say they are the most stunning or elegant family they know. Certainly they are among the families with the most members. They are found living on every continent except

Antarctica (although some live on Macquarie Island), and in every climate except arid deserts and glaciers. More locally, you can see them huddled together in the corners of supermarkets and hardware stores, and sometimes find them in gardening centres.

Are they youth group members? Maybe. But for this article, they are the orchids.

There are more than 25,000 known species of orchids, and another 100,000 hybrids that have been bred for the commercial plant market. They range in size from miniature plants best seen with a magnifying glass, to giant vines over 35 metres long. Aside from decorative attraction, orchids have no commercial value other than Vanilla planifolia, from which the vanilla flavouring used for cooking is made. Orchids grow in mountains, swamps, rainforests and grasslands; on the branches of trees, on rocks, and in various soils. Some grow almost entirely under the ground, with only their flowers emerging. The flowers on Asian orchids are bright and multi-coloured, while those from Africa are usually white. Some flower once each year, others more often.

The distinctive shapes of orchids make them quite easy to distinguish from other plants. The flowers of an orchid have only one plane of symmetry. Orchids are different to many other plants in that they have a symbiotic relationship with fungi that live around their roots. The fungi are called mycorrhiza, literally “root mushroom”. Mycorrhiza break down dead organic matter near the roots of the orchid, and supply the orchid with the nutrients it needs. These fungi also need access to air and water, which is one reason the potting mix for most orchids will allow water to run through it, and will remain fairly open. All orchids need mycorrhiza, and some orchids will not live without these fungi constantly near them. The seed pod of an orchid can contain millions of seeds, but each seed will depend on close contact with mycorrhiza to germinate.

In the early 1800s, William Swainson, an English naturalist, was collecting tropical plants in northern Brazil to send to botanical gardens and private collectors in Scotland. An orchid was among the plants he collected. He sent it to William Cattley, who successfully flowered this plant in his greenhouse. The size and colour of the flowers drew great interest. A 21-year-old man named John Lindley (who had recently lost his job in the library of Sir Joseph Banks when Banks died) was employed by Cattley to draw and catalogue his plant collection. It was Lindley who named the orchid ‘Cattleya’, and this is the name we still use for it today.

So great was the interest in the Cattleya orchid that many people wanted their own plant. But Swainson had not told anyone where he had collected it. He had left Brazil and moved to Australia via New Zealand, and was unable to be contacted. Major orchid companies in England, France and Belgium sent

their best and most experienced plant collectors to Brazil from 1830 through to the 1880s to look for this Cattleya orchid. They found other orchids, and sent them back to Europe. The orchids that survived the journey were sold for thousands of dollars. So many plants were collected from Brazil that many orchids were soon on the endangered species list. But the collectors were not able to find the one orchid that had caused such a sensation. Some of the searchers felt that the Brazilians were destroying the natural habitats of orchids to plant coffee and other crops, and this news led European collectors to work harder at finding the missing plant before coffee plantations overwhelmed it.

In 1889, seventy-one years after the first plant had flowered in England, the orchid was found again in the wild by someone who was collecting insects. The man who found it (and did not recognise it) sent it to a friend who liked orchids. A friend of this friend recognised the plant as the missing Cattleya, and soon thousands of orchids were also being sent from Brazil to Europe.

Germination of orchid seed by growers was very difficult until 1922, when Lewis Knudsen found out how to grow the seeds in an artificial culture. This increased germination rates to over 90%. The next development was a form of cloning of orchids, and this again reduced the cost of single plants to the consumer. Orchids are now quite common, and do not cost thousands of dollars each plant.

Among the many meanings for the word “living” is “the action of maintaining life”. For an orchid, this means living with good fungi, in a place that has the correct amount of light, heat, air and water. It is the same for us, seeking to maintain our life with God. Consider these quotes, from the NKJV:

• He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed. (Proverbs 13:20)

• The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray. (Proverbs 12:26)

• Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit. (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

The word “moving” can mean “arousing deep emotion”. Orchids aroused such emotion in Europe in the 1800s that people were prepared to travel around the world and spend thousands of dollars just to collect or to own one. Even today, the sight of the brilliantly coloured and intricate flowers arising from seemingly insignificant plants still move people to collect, to grow, to photograph and to admire orchids. What is it that moves us? Meditate on these suggestions, again from the NKJV:

• The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. The kingdom of heaven is like a

BY STUART MUIR

07

merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it. (Matthew 13:44-46)

• . . . Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:7-9)

• Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples! (1 Chronicles 16:8)

• Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

The word “being” can be used to mean “one’s basic or essential nature and personality”. An orchid is essentially different to any other plant. Its differences mean that it is immediately recognisable. How different are we to those who do not know our Lord? Are we also immediately recognisable?

• My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. If they say, "Come

with us . . . do not walk in the way with them, Keep your foot from their path. (Proverbs 1:10, 11, 15)

• Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. ...For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people." Therefore “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. “Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters”, says the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:14, 16-18)

08

BY TIM MOGG

Two-Oh-One-One AD. I bet that our grandparents never thought that Jesus would stay away as long as he has. Due to the conflict and uncertainty of the 20th century our

grandparents probably never thought that they would grow up to have children. Every generation, including the current generation has had a unique challenge.

The 20th century started with World War One, and was quickly followed by the Great Depression, World War Two and then the Cold War. These horrific events killed millions and shaped the world we live in today.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 90’s the last few decades have been characterized by a lack of defining features. Some say that the defining feature for those under 30, and probably their most used sentence at the breakfast table is, “Nup… nuthin …I dunno… …huh?”

An interesting point was raised in a scene in the TV show, X-Files;

KERSH: You ever hear of King George the Third? DOGGETT: (Turning back toward KERSH) You answer MY question! KERSH: He was King of England when America declared Independence in 1776. King George the Third kept a diary. On July 4th 1776, he made an entry in it: "Nothing Important Happened Today". DOGGETT: What the hell has that got to do with me? KERSH: Revolutions start, things that change the world forever, and even Kings can miss them if they're not paying attention.

In the last 100 years a lot has changed. The last century started with horses and ended with the space shuttle. Scientific understanding has accelerated at an incredible rate. There have been gigantic changes in communication, transport, agriculture, economics, medicine and every other facet of life.

One hundred years ago the worldwide average life expectancy was about 30 years and today it is almost 70 years.

These advancements, however, have not been without cost. The disparity between rich and poor is bigger than at any other time in history. Advancements in warfare have reached unprecedented levels of destruction. World War Two eventually resulted in a total victory for the Allies at a cost of over 60 million

people and the complete devastation of many nations. Nuclear weapons have given humankind the means to annihilate itself in a very short period of time.

During the 20th century newspapers were filled with news of Mussolini, Stalin, Idi Amin and Pol Pot. More recently the media has reported on leaders such as Saddam Hussein, Kim Jong Il and Moammar Gadafi. Dictators continue to rise and fall. The Middle East continues to be in turmoil.

Important things are happening today. That King George ‘missed’ the revolution is understandable, as

he was on the other side of the world and it was the 18th century, but the irony remains. X-Files was right; Kings can miss things that change the world if they are not paying attention.

For the last 20 years we have sat in our lounge rooms as access to information via print media, radio, TV, and the internet has become cheap and ubiquitous. Today we are drowning in media. This relentless riot of information has conditioned us to ignore the sirens going on around us.

Is “Nup… I dunno… nuthin…huh?” a true reflection of the current generation? Did ‘nothing important happen today’? As Christians we are called to be part of a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. Jesus’ love, and the forgiveness he offers calls us to become kings and priests. We are waiting for the day when Jesus will return to set up a kingdom; where he will rule the world. Unlike King George we have access to information about what is happening on the other side of the world. Do we care about the other people living in this world?

King George obviously didn’t get the ‘World News’ section in his morning paper on the 4th July 1776.

09

Each generation has had faithful people eagerly awaiting the return of Jesus. Yet Jesus has not returned. The faithful that have fallen asleep in Christ knew that their next waking moment would be with Jesus. Perhaps your grandparents or someone close to you has already fallen asleep in Christ.

Jesus encouraged his disciples to not fall asleep in the garden, but to stay awake and pray with him. This generation has a unique challenge as we wait for the kingdom of heaven. There has been no major defining event for the last 20 years that has galvanized the world like the World Wars and the Cold War. However, if you look around there are signs of the times everywhere. In memory of those who died waiting it is our unique challenge to stay awake through the featureless and dark night, and to remain watchful for Jesus’ return.

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. To Jesus who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 2:9-10)

BY TIM MOGG

10

If you are not sick, then you are healthy. Correct? As young people we’ve all got some concept of healthy eating. To most; having a ‘healthy’ diet means eating the peas on your plate,

not smoking, not drinking excessively, or eating too much fast food. However, this is not health. As someone who’s travelled along the spectrum of fitness and nutrition in my teenage years I’ve come to realise that health is more than the absence of disease. Healthy eating requires conscious effort. This effort brings many unseen benefits. There are connections between physical health and spiritual life which are important for every young person to consider.

Eating healthy is something we all know we should do, but we don’t tend to take too seriously. We’re young, our metabolisms are at their peak, and we can indulge in whatever we like without much short term consequence. Eating in Christadelphia, nay in Western society, is such a social event – almost all our activities have food as a major focus. The healthy eating habits we have tend to go out the door whenever we do; meeting with friends for coffee, gorging yourself on buttery popcorn at the movies, eating a delicious supper at SCYP (wink wink), or tucking into the shared lunch on Sunday afternoon. So although we might not realise it, it’s hard to escape making unhealthy food choices, and especially hard not to over-indulge.

We have an over-abundance of food. It is so cheap and so convenient to unwrap, heat and serve that we don’t think twice about throwing away left-overs (if there are any). The only downside of trashing food is that you might hear someone say, ‘think of all the starving kids in third world countries that could

eat that 1/3 of a Big Mac you’re about to throw away’. You can respond with, ‘...well, how am I supposed to get this to them anyway?’ and proceed to throw the burger away with a clear conscience. Although this person is undoubtedly annoying, they do have a point. Have you ever been out at dinner, stuffed full from the mouth-watering main meal you ate after your entree and bruschetta and two ice-cold drinks, looked at the dessert menu and all of the sudden felt sick? Not because you’ve eaten so much food that thinking of dessert makes you queasy; I mean sick with the guilt of being part of a minority that can afford to indulge, while the other 90% of the worlds’ population struggles to feed their family. We’re incredibly blessed in this country; and we over-indulge in our blessings. While the challenge for those in the third world is to find enough food to meet their daily requirements, isn’t it ironic that we complain and struggle with the reverse situation?

In Matthew 15:11, Jesus said, “It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” Jesus said this because the Pharisees and the disciples were worried about traditions to do with eating. Jesus’ primary concern is not whether you have washed your hands or if you have had enough omega 3 today. Jesus cares about our attitudes,

and the actions that flow from them. 1 Corinthians 6:19 tells us that our bodies are temples. 'You are not your own, you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.'

It is not wrong to enjoy the rich blessings and variety of food available to us. It is important, as it is in all other areas of our life, to keep God at the forefront of our minds. Yes, even when we’re eating. What we eat may not make us unclean, but it does affect how we function. Even if your unhealthy choices do not show on the outside, the health of your body on the inside will reflect exactly what you put in there. The spiritual metaphor extends from this; you only get out what you put in. Eat rubbish and your health will be rubbish. Read, watch and experience rubbish and you will only be able to share rubbish with others.

I am not advocating a diet of soy, broccoli, pomegranate juice and flaxseed oil. Life can contain the occasional burger or square of dark chocolate or handful of fries. Just remember to care about what you put into the body that God gave you; to have a conscience about what you eat and to practise self-control. If you don’t care what you put into your body, what does that say to God?

Instead of torturing yourself by never eating any ‘special’ food that you like, one helpful strategy is to operate on an 80-20 plan. Basically this means 80% of the time (during the week, when you have more control), have a reasonable conscience about what you eat. Two pieces of chocolate is enough. Eat the guideline of 5 serves of fresh vegetables and 2 pieces of fruit every day. Limit the junk food. Save ‘special’ food for special occasions. As for the

other 20% of the time; don’t be overly concerned about feeling guilty for eating what is offered. Make sure you get the nutrients you need and remember not to go into full-blown gluttony mode. Many of you probably sniggered out loud when you read this, thinking, ‘only crazy people care about how many squares of chocolate they eat!’ Just because someone is in the minority, it doesn’t mean they’re crazy. People who follow Jesus are a minority.

Food is a part of life. Make it a healthy and meaningful part of yours.

BY CHRISSY MOGG

What we eat may not make us unclean, but it does affect how we function. Even if your choices do not show on

the outside, the health of your body on the inside

will reflect exactly what you put in.

11

12

The theme for SYC2011 was "Real Love: Live Christ, Live Forever". This theme was an adaptation of the message of 1 John.

Nathan Schipper from Perth was asked to lead studies that used 1 John as a platform to launch into challenges and practical lessons that are relevant to us in the 21st C.

For his 5 studies he focused on 5 key passages from 1 John as "confidence conditioners". These confidence conditioners were to help us focus on the reason why John was writing.

'I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.' 1 John 5:13

In other words - John is writing to us ‘cause he wants us to believe that we will be in the Father's kingdom.

To help us remember the 5 key ideas or “confidence conditioners” from 1 John, Nathan gave us all a post card for each study with an image that captured the essence of the message and a personal letter from Nathan to us.

The first conditioner was based from 1 Jn 1:8-9 – Confess your sin and forsake them. The postcard had a picture of a bird with a fish in its mouth sitting on a sign saying “no fishing” (in German). God wants us to believe that sins that are confessed are forgiven and forgotten. He doesn’t want to go fishing for them. He wants us to truly believe that they will not be held against us. So don't go fishing.

The second conditioner was based on 1 Jn 2:3-4 – by this we know we know God, if we keep His commandments. Nathan gave a story about a ruthless business man from Boston who met Mark Twain and boasted that no one would get in his way when he decided he was going to do something. He boasted that before he died he would travel to the top of Mount Sinai and shout out the 10 commandments. Mark Twain replied, “How about you stay in Boston and keep them.” God doesn’t want us to memorize his commandments; he wants us to keep them. This shows that we truly love him.

The third conditioner was based on

1 Jn 2:9-11 – ‘whoever loves his brother abides in the light...’. We should never put a limit on our love for others. Nathan gave us all a small wash towel to remind us of the new product which Apple will never release - “iServe”. Our service is a product of our love and walking in the light with Christ our Master.

The forth conditioner was based on 1 Jn 4 v15 – 'whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God'. "Confessing that Jesus is the Son of God is acknowledging with your mind and embracing with your heart that Jesus Christ came to cleanse you from your sin. It takes head knowledge to heartfelt application.” He gave us a postcard with an image of Jesus Christ with a nail punched through the postcard. This was to make us think about the personal aspect of the sacrifice Christ made – for me.

The fifth conditioner was based on 1 Jn 5:4 – 'for everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world'. ‘Impossible’ is not in God’s dictionary. He wants us to get out of the boat. To stop being boat potatos. Peter got out of the boat and walked on water. We need to step out in faith, keeping our eyes on Jesus, but with the reassurance that if we fall, he is right there ready to pick us out of the troubled water.

PHIL ROSSER

April 2011 saw hundreds of Christadelphian young people descend on Sydney for the Australasian Youth

Conference, two amazing weeks spent together focusing our minds on John’s first epistle and the power it has to change our daily lives.

The conference was held in the beautiful Collaroy Conference Centre in Sydney’s north, a spacious and modern venue a short walk from the beach. For most of the week we were blessed with sunny weather meaning we could get out and enjoy everything on offer.

Brother Nathan Schipper from the Eastern Suburbs ecclesia in Perth, WA, entertained and uplifted us every morning (and got us choking

on the occasional tear) before we headed off to the daily workshops where 1 John became less of an ancient letter and more of a reality to be lived in our everyday walk.

The venue itself offered a range of activities from tennis, beach volleyball, the usual footy games on the oval and a quick trip to the beach for the early-morning surfing aficionados. As well as this, the committee had gone all-out in preparing a huge amount of activities to keep us busy during the day, and the added threat of the two Samoan security guards stalking the campsite after dark was more than enough to get everyone under the covers before lights out.

One particular highlight for all was the Olympics afternoon which, as always, brought out the most competitive side in Christadelphians. All attendees were split up into themed groups for the main Conference week, meaning the sports afternoon was a colourful and noisy event involving farmers, clowns, fire fighters, doctors, IT workers, personal trainers and the odd blood-splattered cleaver-carrying butcher running amok. In the end the Clowns (clearly the most superior side) didn’t win, but despite this radical injustice a fantastic afternoon was enjoyed by everyone.

Later during the week we had a variety afternoon where a number of workshops were held with a range of activities from sushi making to car engine maintenance, and just about every other topic imaginable in between. As well as this, a few groups really got to put the Real Love we’d been learning about from John into practice, as they got out into the community. One group headed into the city to preach and hand out flyers, another joined them in giving sandwiches to the homeless, and a third group visited the Christadelphian run aged-care home to sing hymns and chat to the oldies. For these three groups in particular it was a powerful reminder that love is not only something we feel, but something we must actually do.

We also found time during the week to visit the impressive iMax theatre in Darling Harbour, wander over Sydney’s world-famous bridge and spend the afternoon in Luna Park reliving childhood days.

Post Conference was held back in Sydney itself at the Christadelphian Heritage College in Kemps Creek, where brother David Mansfield led us in a consideration of “My Brother’s Keeper”, a further look into how we can apply the Real Love as shown in John’s epistle. Highlights of this second week involved an all-day outing to the Jamberoo Water Theme Park and a trip around Sydney’s various aquariums and zoos, finally topped off by a fantastic dinner atop the Sydney Sky Tower.

All up, it was a memorable and uplifting two weeks both spiritually and socially, and the heartfelt thanks of over 300 young people goes to the committee and everyone involved in putting together such an epic conference. Above all, however, we thank our Heavenly Father, who has given us this amazing hope to celebrate together, blessed us to live in such a wonderful country, and promised us even greater things to come.

DES PARTRIDGE

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Are you a Human Being? What a silly question for me to ask. I'm assuming you are all thinking, ‘Of course I am’, because you obviously are. I, personally, have never doubted my

status as human. But are you a Godly Being? It’s not quite so easy to say ‘Of course I am’ is it?

Human Being Not Human Doing. This is a modern day quote that attempts to inspire people to live every day as it comes. Not getting caught up in the actions of our lives but rather evaluating our lives from a ‘who am I?’ perspective. The more I think about it the more it seems to encourage people to live a self-centred life. If that’s the case I no longer want to be a human being I want to be a Godly being.

How do you tell a Godly Being from a Godly doing? Galatians 5:22-26 ‘love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control’. I have heard this passage so many times that sometimes I forget to really listen to it. However, notice that Paul doesn’t say be kind, do good things and act patient. Rather the Fruit of the Spirit are characteristics. These are what you want to paint the walls of your life with and build the frame of your heart from. You can decide to have them as part of who you are and in doing so God becomes part of you.

The bible is full of passages about what we should do. It’s the ultimate life-manual. James 1:22-24 says ‘Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in the mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.’ Do what the word says. However God doesn’t just want action he wants a changed heart.

We have to have Godly motivation or our deeds are worthless. ‘Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.’ Proverbs 3:3. To have your actions and thoughts come from a Godly heart.

Think about Cain and Abel. They both did the physical act God wanted from them but Cain missed the whole purpose of sacrifice by his warped attitude. ‘But on Cain and his offering he did not look with favour’ (Genesis 4:5). Cain thought he could hide his real thoughts from God. That if he was doing what was right God would be pleased. However on the inside he was building up resentment towards his brother. He divided God from the rest of his thoughts.

This is a mentality I find myself in often and it troubles me. I think ‘I’ve done what you want, God, now I will go and do what I want’. This is acting as if we can put the part God plays in our life back into its neat little box when we have fulfilled today’s quota. This is not living a Godly life. It is making Christianity another task to fulfil.

This compartmentalising of the role of our Creator in our lives is not necessarily evident to those around us. A person may show all the outward signs of their Christianity but on the inside have no real relationship with God. Being Godly shows in our actions but it is also hidden in our thoughts and our hearts. God has given us everything we need and has shown us, in Jesus, what Godliness is.

What it comes down to is having a God centred life. ‘Let us fix our eyes in Jesus the author and perfector of our faith’ Hebrews 12:2. Doing the will of God from the heart is following our saviour’s example. Love and expect nothing in return. Show compassion for your neighbour even when no one is looking for God sees your heart and what he wants to see there is a striving for Godliness.

Imagine being able to look at yourself and think ‘Of course I’m a Godly being’ because obviously God is at the centre of my life. Imagine if you could think it just as easily as knowing your human. Now keep on your journey towards this end. ‘This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.’ Roman 3:22.

Human Being Not Human Doing BY ELISE MOGG

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The oldest person living in Australia is a lady named Miriam Schmierer. She will be 112 on the 20th August

2011. She is the last Australian left alive that was born before the foundation of the Commonwealth of Australia. Mrs. Schmierer has witnessed horse and carts be replaced with motor cars, she has lived through the development and use of the atomic bomb, the introduction of TV’s into almost every house in the country, and she used her TV to watch man walk on the moon. And now she has lived long enough to be immortalized on Wikipedia.

Miriam Schmierer has seen great change in her lifetime. She has outlived all of her siblings, including her older sister who lived to be 103.

Imagine outliving all of your siblings.It may or may not come as a surprise to

you, but everyone in this world, whether they admit it or not, will eventually die. It is a defining feature of ours. We are ‘human’.

As a physiotherapist, working in the different departments of hospitals and more recently in a nursing home I have witnessed many different peoples perspectives on death.

Despite the common knowledge of our mortality we never expect that death will happen to us, or to those close to us. We

mourn when people die in their prime; too young, with too many good years left to live. A distraught friend may say, ‘There was nothing even wrong with them. They were in perfect health.’

In the nursing home I work with people who have to deal with the only alternative to death. It is the other defining feature of being human; disease. It seems that if you live past the age of 70 you can almost certainly be expected to take your pick of cancer, heart problems, arthritis, stroke or dementia.

Solomon understood that death has its place. He tells us that, ‘for everything there is a season…, a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to pluck up what is planted.’ (Ecc 3:1-2, ESV). Yet what are we supposed to do when someone dies or becomes very sick?

There is no single answer to this question. At the Queen Mother’s funeral, the Queen quoted an anonymous poet that suggests one way of thinking about death. “You can shed tears that she is gone, or you can smile because she has lived.” In other words don’t focus on death. Death is inevitable. What is helpful is to be thankful that you had a relationship that may have never happened at all, except for the circumstances of your lives. It is good to

Never Would Have Thought BY TIM MOGG

talk with friends and family, and remember the good things that have been shared in your life.

Having an attitude like the one just described may make dealing with loss a lot easier, but many people go through the grieving process with a positive attitude yet continue to feel empty and cheated. This is a normal and natural reaction. The world is an imperfect place. It is not fair. People continue to die and suffer loss unfairly every day.

This imperfect situation points to perfect Jesus.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

There is a reason why John 3:16 is so well quoted. It deals with the only universal inevitability; Death. God gave Jesus that we might have life. As Christians we are comforted that the dead know nothing, it is like they are in a deep sleep, and we know that one day a resurrection is coming. The imperfections of this world highlight the need for the Kingdom.

Those who are asleep in Christ are not gone forever. You will see them again; you just don’t know when it will be.

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Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him,

rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as

you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and

empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the

elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For

in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have

been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made

without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the

circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism,

in which you were also raised with him through faith in the

powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And

you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision

of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven

us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood

against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to

the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them

to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of

food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a

Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the

substance belongs to Christ. Let no one disqualify you, insisting

on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about

visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and

not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body,

nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments,

grows with a growth that is from God.

If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world,

why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to

regulations— "Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch" –

(referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according

to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an

appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and

asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in

stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that

are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set

your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on

earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in

God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will

appear with him in glory. – Colossians 2:6 – 3:4 (ESV)

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MUSIC REVIEWS

It has taken Skillet quite some time since their humble beginnings in 1996 to gain Christian mainstream popularity,

earning them the title as one of the leading Christian hard-rock bands in the world and no doubt, ‘Comatose’ is Skillet’s best release to date, kick-starting their current orchestral rock sound and keeping you on the edge of your seat with each quality track.

The album opens in superb fashion with ‘Rebirthing’; an excellent introductory pump-up tune with a powerful strings section and catchy chorus. This song symbolically represents how often we feel trapped in our sinful bodies and if we call on God, He WILL ‘breathe’ his forgiveness into us. The next track, ‘The Last Night’ is an extremely personal song for lead singer, John Cooper. The motivation behind this song is the suicide of one of his friends and he communicates his message to her throughout the song, highlighting the power of friendship. Following this is the track: ‘Yours to Hold’; a slight change in tone - a softer, more rock-ballad sound with lyrics focusing on how God and Jesus are constantly at our side all day, every day; but sometimes we forget this and don’t turn to them for support and guidance. The album title track: ‘Comatose’ tells us of how we have a need and should have a desire to live each day with God. The opening of this song is AWEsome! With meaty guitar riffs garnished with an intense strings overlay and a catchy chorus thrown on top, this is definitely one of the best songs of the album. The following track is ‘The Older I Get;’ a song that challenges the statement "time heals all wounds" with the persona in an emotional state we can all relate to, “Will the bad times in my life ever end?” ‘Those Nights’ is next; a softer song emphasizing the importance of friendship and its

extraordinary benefits during hard times in our lives. With a blend of distorted guitars and piano, this song has a rock-ballad sound that complements the ‘heavier’ songs on the album. ‘Whispers in the Dark’ is another ‘heavy’ and fast-paced song found on this collection of brilliance known as ‘Comatose.’ Its message reinforces the overall theme of the album in spectacular fashion of how God’s love is never too far away, all we have to do is reach out for it. The subsequent track: ‘Say Goodbye’ is a song that dwells on the emotional turmoil of a relationship break-up and the pain of not wanting to let that special someone go, a topic that can often be related to our lives as young people. The tenth song on the album, ‘Falling Inside the Black,’ is another fast-paced hard-rock work-of-art with great strings backing and lyrics that follow the album theme of our desperate need for God in our life, especially in hard times. The final track on the album is ‘Looking for Angels’. This song may not be the most memorable of the album, yet don’t be fooled, its catchy chorus and powerful message of how, in this chaotic and self-destructive world, we can find hope by looking for God’s love in His ‘angels’, definitely earns its place as the finale of this epic album.

This album is a must, no matter what your music tastes may be. Whether you’re in need of your daily pump-up, a reflective moment, comfort for life’s difficulties or you’re suffering withdrawals from the lack of rock-out sessions in your life, ‘Comatose’ has you covered with a strong Christian message thrown in on top. This masterpiece is definitely one you’ll listen to the whole way through over and over and never grow ‘tired’ of it.

BY MICHEAL GOULD

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MUSIC REVIEWS

Stu Larsen as a musician is not easily defined – his music is complex and

raw, mixing melody with lyrics to capture an essence he feels is necessary to share. Is he a Christian artist you ask? I’m not sure I could place him in either the Christian or mainstream market particularly; he doesn’t write for either market, but he does write music for a sole purpose – so that others can learn about his experiences and about the twists and turns of life.

As an upcoming artist who is mainly known in Christian circles, Stu Larsen has 4 major albums; Already Late (2006), Lies will keep you out (2008), The Black Tree (2009) and most recently, Ryeford (2011). The first time I heard his music at The Australian Music Gospel Festival, I was immediately captured by the raw quality in which he portrayed his music. There wasn’t anything particularly profound or religious about his lyrics or tone, but it was evident

that he played his music with soul. As I listened to more of his songs, I realised that they were written from either experiences or concepts in which he viewed life. A favourite of mine, from his third album ‘Black Tree’ is the single ‘The Black Tree’ with Lydia Cole. The lyrics could be taken from an abstract point of view, and when asked, Stu claimed that the song wasn’t meant to hold any particular meaning. However, he also mentioned that the song had been interpreted by many who viewed the ‘Black Tree’ as a symbol that represented Jesus. The main lyric ‘Black tree, remember me, hold me by your side….remember me for eternity on the other side of that old hill..’ indicates a plea for Jesus to remember him in his coming return. I enjoy the cryptic essence of those songs, but I also appreciate the depth that one could glean from his music and lyrics. The subtle meaning is enjoyable in a way that doesn’t force

Christian ideologies, but rather causes the listener to dwell on certain concepts in a gentle, unobtrusive way.

Stu Larsen has some admirable qualities; he believes Christians should love and live through their music. He feels that Christian music can be made too exclusive in its Christian jargon and ideologies of love and the way a Christian lives should flow through the music created in a language accessible to everyone. He enjoys writing music that can be sung in a pub or in a church; songs about life. He is not in search of fame, but rather creates and sings his music from a desire to help others and live life from a humble perspective; music is simply the talent he has been given and he seeks to allow God to show him where that talent will lead him.

BY NAOMI THURLOW

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BY BEN GRACE

c.a.t (Christadelphian Art Trust) was founded in 1995 with the purpose of supporting performing, visual, musical and dramatic arts within the Christadelphian community. 2003 saw a change in direction for the Art Trust with the purchase of music recording equipment enabling c.a.t to release 3 of its own albums and be involved with other recording projects for ecclesias and youth groups. Since that time an amazing amount of original music has been uncovered and the support this continues to receive from the community is overwhelming.

Visit: www.catonline.org

The Story begins at the turn of the century; the year 2000. That may sound epic but it’s true. I started

attending SCYP classes and quickly found myself in the band and in 2001 I began coordinating the music for the class.

We’d always cop flack for new songs especially if they were Hillsong. Daniel (Danul) Stewart was playing in the band and we got it into our heads that we needed to do start writing our own songs. At the time I knew less than 10 songwriters in the community.

I met Ari Pickering at SCYP Easter camp 2001. When he showed me the song he'd written as the theme song for youth conference 2001 I was so excited and began getting even more determined about growing an original music culture. The song was 'Yahweh's Youth' which went on to be the first track on c.a.t's first album and an instant classic that we're still singing ten years later.

As a result of the success of this song Danul and I decided we’d write a theme song for the whole year of SCYP 2002 and ‘We Won’t Be Conformed’ was born.

I got married just before Easter 2002 and I left Easter camp in Danul’s capable hands. He introduced reworked hymns on guitar in folky styles: ‘We Shall Be Like Him’, ‘Our Living Head’ and ‘Bread of the World’ amongst others. Danul quickly built trust with the youth group and a few months later he wrote ‘Praise Him’ they loved it so much we sang it 6 classes in a row.

Round this time Bek Morgan reconnected with SCYP. She had been running the music when I arrived at SCYP

and she'd been involved with recording both the 'Shout' and 'Fruit of our Lips' CD's. She came up after a class and said we should record an album. We laughed and then she said she knew where we could find the money.

So we wound up in a lounge room; a bunch of nervous muso’s in front of a panel of people who wanted to hear what the album would sound like. Four people: piano, acoustic guitar and voices. It didn’t go well. They didn’t think the community was ready for guitar or reworked hymns. Thankfully Johny and Bec Schifferli were there. In our rather subdued post performance meeting we could see the passion to bring the project to life. By the next morning Johny rang to tell me that he’d found the money to continue.

We bought equipment instead of going into a studio and with the generosity of people’s homes we recorded the album in three months. My brother-in-law-to-be (Luke Jurevicius) mixed it and added some gloss to the project and we launched it at Melbourne youth conference 2003 to a divided audience. Overnight the internet lit up with Christadelphians on discussion boards debating the album.

8 years and 5 albums later you’re probably wondering what the fuss was all about. Music has become such a fundamental part of our community but c.a.t still doesn’t have all the answers, the resources or a solid team. There’s a lot still to be done and learnt. If you want to be part of the conversation about the future of c.a.t then I suggest chatting to myself (Ben Grace) or Josh Hughes.

MUSIC CONT.

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FOR THE DIRECTOR OF MUSIC.

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Every Sunday morning at 9:15am, around 60 people, ranging in age

from 3 to 83, divide into 12 Sunday school classes, to discuss many different topics, but all involving the amazing things God has given, done and offered us. We start with basic bible stories for the littlies, first principles for the teenagers and studies of Revelation for the oldest. After Sunday School we all enjoy morning tea on the grass, where the multitude of little kids play fun games, the favourite being ‘stacks on’.

We are then joined by many more members (around 100 in total) of the ecclesia and hold the memorial meeting where we remember Christ’s amazing sacrifice. We occasionally have lunch at the hall, where everyone is encouraged to stay and chat. Once every 6 months we also have a ‘Get to know you lunch’ where each family invites other members of the ecclesia that they may not know so well

Riverwood Ecclesial Profile BY COURTNEY PEDEN

back to their home for lunch and get to know them better, so we can bond together and really help each other on the difficult road to the Kingdom.

The young people at Riverwood attend the fortnightly Sydney CYC classes as well as the Riverwood Young People’s class held on the alternate Friday. This is held at the Della’s home. We have been discussing different topics, under the heading, ‘What God says about….” So far we have talked about, what God says about alcohol, drugs, jobs and money. This has been very practical and helpful to all of us because our own opinions can so easily cloud our judgement, we need to take a step back and seek out what God says is best. The young people also enjoy an annual weekend away where we stay in cabins near the beach.

So far this year we have had one baptism of an interested friend. When it is Riverwood’s turn to be involved in the Padstow Nursing Home

Memorial Meeting, all the young people go and get involved in different activities or show support by being there and talking to the residents.

We hold weekly seminars on How to read the Bible and Bible Basics which are also useful tools for young people.

Sisters classes are held monthly on a Tuesday morning and occasionally all the girls get together on a Saturday and have a yummy morning tea and discuss how we can help each other in practical ways, like making dinners for the sick or elderly, or for new mothers, as well as building each other up spiritually.

We would all love to see you there sometime if Jesus hasn’t returned to set up the kingdom. ‘Even so come Lord Jesus’.

Music is a gift from God through which we can connect with Him, lift our thoughts and deepen our appreciation and understanding of our Maker.. WOW. And the good news is there's about to be

9 new songs released into the airwaves which will hopefully help us to do these very things. Here are the details:

Name: In your light we see lightWhere the name came from: Psalm 36v9Release Date: July 2011 Songs inspired by: Creation, kids, Psalms, India, outreach projects, Bible verses, the hope of a spectacular futureGenre: Modern Classical / Power ballad / Christian / World Instruments/sounds: Pianos, Guitars, Organs, Strings, Tin whistles, Bongos, other weird soundsComposed by: Ellie Bilton, Steph JamiesonProduction/Mixing/Instrumentation: Timon Burney People who sang: Ellie Bilton, Steph Jamieson, Keturah Thurlow, Aletheia Burney, Chris Gilmore, Marionhill Gospel Choir

After covering costs, all profit from this CD will be donated to outreach and mission fields such as the Ignite2020 project in South Africa (check out www.ignite2020.com to see the outreach they're up to there)

CD's will be available to buy online at www.theseventhday.com.au and you can head there for a sneak preview of the tracks, or watch http://www.youtube.com/user/StephJamo

Praise God!

ALBUM RELEASEJULY 2011

WE ASK YOU...

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India WatsonA much happier lifestyle

Christine SpallBalance. Physically,

emotionally and spirtiually.

Benjamin Murphy (SA)Maintaining a good level of physical health through regular exercise, eating properly and sleeping well, so that the body can perform everyday tasks and physical activity with ease whenever it is required.

Nathan CoadFitness to me is an ideal state,

something I should be working on but often don't. Something that requires

expenditure of effort, and investment of time.

Jordan CubbinYou can be fat and still be fit and healthy.

Angus LawrieFitness is very important because it helps you to endure tough situations.

Nick MorganCherishing the life &

the body that God has given me.

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It was an invigorating day; driving down a busy main road north of the city, forever spying for the next bus stop and accompanying side street that we could plaster with LOST, FOUND, MISSING and WANTED posters. These announcements

weren’t seeking lost pets or advertising for babysitters, they were simply proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom of God!

The idea didn’t grow from the ‘lost parables’ initially, but it can definitely relate to that context. What struck me more, though, was the innate and driving desire in all of us, to seek goodness, righteousness, meaning, purpose, direction. When we discover these beautiful qualities which are in and from the one true God, we are enveloped by deep comfort, contagious joy, heartfelt compassion and a fulfilling and passionate life.

It is in God that we live and move and have our being, and these posters celebrate this truth in an eye-catching and relevant way, inviting our neighbours to share our faith and love for God.

I pray that through these posters, pedestrians, bus drivers, road-ragers, wanderers and fellow Christians may eagerly respond to the eternity that God has blessed in their hearts.

Enjoy sharing the love of the Kingdom!

ABI CATCHLOVE has started an initiative to print and plaster some simple yet bold posters around her everyday environment. We hope this idea will spread and inspire you to do the same or similar!

If you would like a copy of these posters to print and post around your area – think: work, school, uni, community – send Abi an email at deep.peace@live.com.au

OUTREACH

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When I was 18 I chose to remove myself from church, youth group, the people there, and God and for years I spent my life exploring new places and relationships outside of this life that had always

been a chore. I didn’t know God and I didn’t know Jesus. So I left. I learnt a lot about myself in four years. I pushed boundaries, I had fun,

and I got lost. I was constantly challenging my conscience and God. But the further I took myself consciously away from God the more I realised He was constantly on my mind. I admitted to myself after four years that He existed.

Deciding to be baptised was the hardest decision of my life. It meant ridding my pride, admitting I made a mistake, saying sorry and making a life-long commitment. But my need to apologise to God and my need to thank God for his patience, for his respect, for his support, for his love, for his son, was too big to ignore.

So much has changed. I go to church and youth group again and am now part of the most beautiful family who I love and need, and who love all of me and need me. I have happiness in every day and I am strengthened by the constant challenges set aside for me. I now know God is my Father and he loves me. I know Jesus is my best friend and he saved my life. I am so happy and am at peace. And this is forever.

I am not sure what God needs from me yet or where he wants me to be, but I continue to pray for guidance. For now though I am here with Him listening and waiting patiently for the biggest surprise party of all.

I was baptised on the night of the 18th of April, 2011. I was surrounded by God and Jesus, family and friends.

Thankyou God.Isaiah 30:21 – 'Whether you turn to the right or the left, your ears will hear a

voice behind you saying, “This is the way; walk in it”'Briony Milverton

BAPTISM WATCH

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BIRTHSEden Grace Errington (Beth & Andy)

Amaya Sage Hindmarsh (Mic & Shosh)

BAPTISMSBriony Milverton (Glandore, SA)

ENGAGEMENTSAshleigh Saxon & Marc HarrisMel Wigzell & Jason Gore (SA)

WEDDINGSRosie Lawrie & Martin Russell

Ali Verdich & Josh DrakeAbi Mansfield & Sam McGeorge