Another day with Jesus

  Rejected–and loved by another   The year was 1966, my first high school year. My primary school friend was enrolled at a school within walking distance of home, but since my brother went to Henley High, my parents sent me there, and like every student at a new school, I wanted to make friends, particularly with the ‘in’ group. They had the most fun and everyone liked them. They wore miniskirts, free flowing hair, raved about the Beatles, and watched television.   As I look back, I realize I was a misfit with false expectations. My family never played competitive sport, visited the cinema, or read any book on a Sunday unrelated to the Bible. We went to the Sunday Meeting (our worship service with extended family), sang hymns, relaxed on family drives, went walking in our best clothes, or took an afternoon rest. I wore over the knee dresses, hats, my hair in pigtails, and no cosmetics.     During those early high school days, I struck up a conversati...

  Psalm 24 God versu s the dictators  What is your favorite destination? If you’re a traveler, the Jamison and Megalong Valleys where you’ll discover the Three Sisters in Australia’s Blue Mountains, or the iridescent blue of Lake Louise in Alberta, Canada may have captured your imagination. Can you doubt God’s majesty when such magnificence grabs your attention? King David had wandered the rugged hills of Israel and rested beside crystal clear pools. I wonder where he was when he wrote Psalm 24.     The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it . Psalm 24:1a Was David spellbound by the vast expanse of the countryside, humbled by God’s exceptional creative power? When he received Samuel’s anointing and later ascended Israel’s throne, he already knew he ruled under God’s highest authority. But how does God’s power apply today in our teeming cities where leaders of myriad persuasions pursue authority? Nothing has changed, for, in King David’s words, “The w...

                                                                   The Shepherd                                                                            Psalm 23   As the orange sunset cast its parting glow over the brow of the hill, the shepherd counted his flock on the hillside. He cupped his hands and called each sheep by name. They raised their woolly...

                God, my Rock and my Deliverer  His name is Jesus   David hid in a cave with his men, fleeing from King Saul. Yet they were confident God would help them defeat this jealous king. On that same day, Saul entered the cave. David crept unnoticed and sliced off a corner of Saul’s robe. But he regretted this daring act, and he left the safety of the cave to confront Saul.   “My lord, the king! … You have seen how the Lord delivered you into my hands. Some urged me to kill you, but I will not lift my hand against the Lord’s anointed. I am not guilty of rebellion, nor have I wronged you, but you have hunted me down to take my life. Am I a dead dog or a flea? May the Lord judge between us, and may he uphold my cause.” “Is that your voice, David, my son? The Lord delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me. I know you will be Israel’s king, but promise me you will not destroy my descendants.” ( Paraphras...

  FROM:    martin@***.com TO:         meg@***.com Hiya Sis,    Haven’t emailed you of late, because I’ve been occupied with the builders and my business meetings. Our new apartments are going up fast. The inspector signed it off without a second glance after I offered him a week at our Coffs Harbour beach house. Of course, he didn’t question those wall cracks because we patched them before he arrived.  We’re contributing to society and I’m darned proud of our achievements. The block will provide housing for single mothers and strugglers. These bums appreciate having a roof over their heads. Once they’re all settled, we’ll up the rent, and if they leave, I can the stock to the highest bidder. City location and all that.  I'm a prominent operator in the building trade, and I can’t afford to let our lifestyle slip. The kid’s college fees are an excellent investment in their futures, and we’ll broaden their social educ...

                                                                           2025- A Fresh Start   WIZZ, zeeeeeee, BOOM!           Just before midnight, dazzling, spectacular New Year’s Eve fireworks fan across the Sydney Harbour Bridge, painting the night sky with color and excitement. Hong Kong, Paris, London, New York, and Las Vegas, each hoping to surpass their counterparts, showcase equally dazzling displays.          But wars, cyclones, floods, and earthquakes have shattered countless lives in 2024, and the world yearns for peace and safety. Will there be any relief and restoration in 2025? What do the fireworks symbolize? Our survival as a race in 2024 or represent our yearning for peace and safety in 2025?  H ow will we nav...

                                                                                                         What lingers  under  the Christmas Tree?                                                                                                                              ...