Messenger Autumn 2013 Scribd

P u b l i s h e d b y We s t m i n s t e r P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u r c h | Vo l u m e 1 5 7 A u t u m n E d i t i o n 2 0 1 3
M E SSENGER
The
The Messenger
Volume 157 Autumn Edition 2013 Features Church News Missions Youth & Family
Contents
5-18
Aims
19
20-22 24-25
Contributions, Letters, etc.
All materials for the editor, such as contributions, letters and comments about The Messenger should be directed to: Revd Clem White, 10 Melaleuca Terrace, HALLS HEAD, W.A. 6210 Phone: (08) 9535 3301 Email: candpwhite@bigpond.com.au
To uphold the teachings of Scripture as summed up in the Westminster Confession of Faith. To assist the WPC churches in their congregational life and witness. To foster a spirit of unity amongst WPC churches.
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The 2013 subscription rates are as follows: 1. 2. 3. 4. If posted directly to your address, $4.25 per copy, or $16.00 p.a. Bulk mailed to your churchs Messenger representative for $14.00 p.a. $4.50 for single issues. Please send payments to: The Westminster Messenger via Sandra Wilson 105 Regency Drive, THORNLIE W.A. 6108 Email: sandrawilson@iinet.net.au otherwise Ph: (08) 9452 1830 or Mob: 0417 944 138
Deadlines for each Issue

Articles of Church News, Letters to the Editor and contributions for each of the 4 issues are to be in the Editors hand no later than: Feb 14 for Autumn issue May 16 for Winter issue Aug 15 for Spring issue Nov 14 for Summer issue
and addressed to Rev. Clem White at the contact address or email above.
The Messenger Committee

Clem White (Editor) Sandra Wilson (Treasurer) Pam White (Secretary) Ray Wilson (Proofing) Roy Lim (Designer)
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PHOTO ON COVER: Pg 20: dark, cheerless & unpromising..
T h e M es s eng er A utumn 2013
EDITORIAL
WPC is Still Relevant Today

In the early 1970s a small group of enthusiastic Christians from various denominational backgrounds were drawn together under God, to establish the Westminster Presbyterian Church (WPC). They wanted this church to be firmly grounded on the Word of God and a bulwark against all the unbelief of the day. To clarify their position as a relevant church for the day they published A Brief Statement of Principles. This statement included the following information: MINISTRY In common with all true churches Westminster Presbyterian Church endeavours to glorify God by obeying His Word, the Bible. The churchs obedience to God involves it in: Worship - adoring and praising God, especially on the Lords Day. Evangelism - making Christ known in and beyond Australia. Edification - building up believers in faith, life and understanding. Caring - ministry to human needs. Apologetics - intellectually defending and justifying the Christian Faith and asserting the truth of the biblical revelation. DOCTRINE The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the inspired Word of God, 2 Timothy 3:16. They are the supreme, and the only inerrant, infallible rule for faith and life. The church holds to the Westminster Confession of Faith as its subordinate standard, embodying the system of doctrine taught in Scripture and always subject to Scripture. MEMBERSHIP Those who profess faith in Christ and whose profession is not contradicted by belief or life indicative of disobedience to Christ are eligible for membership. OFFICERS The officers of the church must be converted men who know and believe the Scriptures and assent to the churchs doctrine and practice. Elders and deacons are chosen by the congregations in which they are to serve. GOVERNMENT Congregations are governed by a plurality of elders of whom at least one is ordained as a teaching elder who may generally be known as a pastor or minister. The other elders are called ruling elders. All elders are also known as presbyters, from the Greek word presbuteros. Presbyters from the several local congregations in a given area meet from time to time in presbytery to consider matters affecting the congregations. Membership of the local churches in the presbytery is voluntary. The emphasis is on cooperation. The congregations agree to work together in the presbyterial structure according to the provisions of the Book of Church Order but no local church is bound to presbytery in any legal sense. Although local churches make financial contributions to the wider works of the presbytery there is no imposition of centrally determined budget and no enforcement of payments.
Contd on next page
T h e Me sse n ge r Au t u m n 2 0 1 3
EDITORIAL
Contd from editorial
CHRISTIAN UNITY This church holds to the truth that all believers are united with Christ and with each other by the Holy Spirit. There are faithful churches from which we differ on points of doctrine or government. Organisational unity is hindered by these differences: nevertheless, we hope for fullest possible co-operation with such churches. Some churches no longer submit themselves to the authority of the Scriptures. Their officers are not required to believe and obey the Word of God. It is not possible to correct error in doctrine and life in them. It is our sad but profound conviction that true Christians should separate from such bodies and unite themselves with believers. Frequently Asked Questions. 1. What is your position on baptism? Although our congregations have several members who differ from our understanding of baptism, our official position is that of covenant baptism. We baptize those who profess faith, and their children. We see baptism not primarily as an affirmation of faith
but as the initiatory sign of the Covenant of Grace. Baptism does not save or regenerate the child or the adult but it testifies that, as the body is washed with water, so must the human being receive the Spirits washing of regeneration if he or she is to enter the kingdom of God. We regard pouring, sprinkling and immersion as forms of baptism but prefer sprinkling or pouring as more symbolic of the baptizing work of the poured Holy Spirit, Acts 10:45-48. 2. Are you pre-millennial? We permit a degree of eschatological liberty but we do not teach the pre-tribulation dispensationalist position. 3. Are you charismatic? Although we have no links with the charismatic movement we urge our people to persist in praying that God the Holy Spirit will do His great work of glorifying Christ in us and through us. This Statement of Principles is as relevant today as it was back in the 1970s - even more so! U
C lem W hite
I am a Christian
When I say, I am a Christian, I am shouting, I am clean living. Im whispering, I was lost, but now Im found and forgiven. When I say, I am a Christian, I dont speak with pride. Im confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide. When I say, I am a Christian, Im professing that Im weak and need His strength to carry on. When I say, I am a Christian, Im not bragging of success. Im admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess. When I say, I am a Christian, Im not claiming to be perfect. My flaws are far too visible, but God believes I am worth it. When I say, I am a Christian, I still feel the sting of pain. I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His Name. When I say, I am a Christian, Im not holier than thou. Im just a simple sinner who received Gods good grace somehow! ~ Anonymous.
THE MESSENGER ON
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Th e
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Faith in Action
B y I an S pence
Is the Bible silent on abortion?

I dont think the Bible is silent on the personhood of the unborn ~ Piper.
t is hard to believe that there is a growing lobby in Australia seeking to legalise abortion, not only in the first trimester, but up to full term... and the safeguard? The signature of the abortionist and his anaesthetist! They have been successful in changing the legislation in Victoria and narrowly failed to gain the required votes in Queensland. How did we come to this? Well the Feminists have successfully claimed full rights over their own bodies, including over the baby within; at the same time they have managed to dehumanise the unborn child, arguing that it only becomes human when it takes its first breath. But we, as Christians, are also complicit in that we have done little to oppose this great travesty of justice. I attended a Rally for Life
the other day and evangelical Christians were conspicuous by their absence. I have no doubt that the majority of us would be horrified at the idea of aborting a healthy, thumb sucking, playful, little child in the womb and would not want to see legislation legalising such an intervention, but when it comes to action... we say and do nothing. I am reminded of the words of Jesus: When you did it not to the least of these, you did it not to me.... U
Ian Spence is the pastor of Mertrowest Community Church, Queensland
Fe a t u re s
Mind your language!

by
S andra W ilson
their mouths. This may happen with the use of a euphemism (one word being substituted for another) where the listener comprehends the meaning as relating to the unsaid word that has been filled with a substitute. This usually only becomes evident when they are questioned about what has been uttered. In other cases, individuals say things and wonder why those listening are offended. They have no understanding that the words they are choosing to use could ever be offensive to anyone. My greatest disappointment is that I observe so much of the above from Christians that I talk with. Certainly there is the avoidance of what people consider the worst words or phrases, but the use of poor language is still very evident. As Christians we are to be a people living in the world, but not of the world. Surely the language that we choose should reflect our position. We are given guidelines in various places in the Bible (eg James 1; Colossians 4:6; Ephesians 4:29; Proverbs 21:23) about how to temper our language and speech. What we say to others is important. What we dont say may be equally valuable, or even more potent in our efforts to encourage each other or in reaching out to the lost. I did some work a few years back collecting census information. The work lasted for a few weeks and involved interacting with a group of other collectors. At a social gathering at the conclusion of our work, one person noted that there was something different about me that they couldnt pin point. Another was quick to point out I havent heard her swear!. This statement provided a wonderful opportunity to talk about what really made me different to all of the others faith in Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. Im certainly far from perfect in guarding my tongue. I falter daily and need to ask for forgiveness for the many slip-ups that I make in my speech. I need to pray constantly for guidance and help to be made more like Jesus each day. Do you need to think through the things that you say and hear as I have? U
Sandra Wilson is a member of Kelmscott WPC, WA
y interest has been tweaked in recent times by listening to the language used by those around me. My concerns revolve around the amount of swearing: cursing and the use of profanities that I hear. So what am I hearing, and why am I sometimes disturbed by it? Is there some consistency to what I am hearing, and are my Christian friends any different to the pagans we live amongst? I started doing some research in order to find some empirical information to provide support for my observations. The amount that has been written on this subject by so called experts in the field is amazing. Unfortunately, as youve possibly already guessed, much of it is subjective. Theres also plenty that has been written by Christians relating to this subject. Ive noted a tendency to speak very fast. Those that are slow to speak and slow in their speech are noticeably different to others around them. It appears that it is very normal to speak as you think and quite abnormal to think and consider something before talking. When the mind is blank, or hasnt quite put the next thought together, there seems to be a tendency to fill these gaps with words that have no relevance to the topic of conversation. Some people use insidious words like like and others insert a profanity. Why is this so? Are we so lacking in vocabulary that we use the same words again and again? Swear words often appear to be used to provide emphasis in sentences. Have we lost the ability to use body language, tonal emphases and appropriate descriptive words to do this? Are we so afraid that our words wont be heard and understood without the addition of expletives? I fear that some people use the words/language that they do in order to be accepted by a particular peer group that they are part of. Is fitting in with those within our work place or educational environment so important that we need to mould our language use to be accepted? Ive also noted that some people say things and are totally unaware of what has come out of
T h e M es s eng er Summe A utumnr 2013 2012
Fe a t u re s
Colossians 3:8 Matthew 12:34 Ephesians 5:4 James 1:26 Proverbs 21:23 Ephesians 4:29 Matthew 12:36 James 3:10 2 Timothy 2:16 Psalm 141:3
Why #%&@* ?
Do you gain power or credibility by using foul language amongst certain people? Are they really the kind of people you want to impress? Do you feel weak and insecure, so flavour your language to cover up your weakness? Are you lazy - using swear words to fill in for other more appropriate descriptive words because youve not taken the time and care that you should have in choosing words to speak? Do you only swear when you are angry? Do you need to find better, more appropriate ways to express your anger? Do you know the meaning (actual or implied) of the words you are using? Many words are used as euphemisms (where one word is substituted for another). Are you unwittingly saying things that you didnt mean? Do the words that you choose to use fit with being one of Gods chosen ones, holy and beloved? (Colossians 3:12)
Prison Profanity and the Meaning of Advent

by
J ohn P iper
Now why is there this bondage to braggadocio? Interestingly, in Ephesians the alternative to foul talk is not clean talk, but talk that builds up and ministers grace to those who hear (4:29). Another name for that is love. And the alternative to coarse joking is not clean joking but thanksgiving (5:3-4). A spirit of thankfulness is so at odds with a spirit of coarse jesting that when one rises the other falls. And a spirit that yearns to edify is so at odds with foul talk that when one rises the other falls. What hit me as I sat there and listened, was that the foul talk and the coarse jesting were a pitiful attempt to fill a void which God meant to be filled with gratitude to him and love to others. Both of these vacancies relate to the bondage to braggadocio. Gratitude to God is a response to being cared for by a great God. It signifies that God is the source of our safety and meaning in life. Its the mark of a secure, healthy, mature person. Bragging is excluded because our strength comes from God. Love for others is the overflow of Godgiven security for the good of others. It signifies that we have the resources to care about others because God cares about us. Bragging is excluded because our overflow comes from God. The crying need at Hennepin County Correctional Facility is for God. You can hear it in every raunchy word. This is what Advent is about. As the Father has sent me, so send I you. Pastor John
2013 Desiring God Foundation. Used by Permission.
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While spending two days in jail for trespassing to save life, I read Pauls prison epistles. This helped me understand what I heard. What I heard coming from the cells around me and above me was raunchy. Almost all the talk was dirty and harsh. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34). Which means that these mens hearts were overflowing with filth and venom. I sat there in cell 143 trying to figure out why the only form of discourse was nasty, harsh, lewd, and lecherous. Even in friendly conversation, the mood was mean-spirited. Why? And why was everything from wives to waffles labeled with fourletter words? Of course this is habit now for most of these menlike saying um when you talk. But where did the habit come from? If a husband beats his wife nobody would be content with the explanation: O thats just a habit. It doesnt mean anything. This habitual filth begs for an answer. Heres one suggestion: there is a kind of macho ego-satisfaction that comes from pointless swearing and foul, sacrilegious talk. The thing that makes it macho is that offensive language feels assertive and virile. So if you are weak and insecure, one way to camouflage it is to pepper your conversation with social no-nos. Using verbal no-nos is like playing with switch-blades and brass knuckles. It feels tough and gutsy. It gives an insecure person a sense of swagger. Its the verbal form of spiked hair and torn jeans.
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MUSIC IN WORSHIP
PART 5 OF 7
R obert C lements
Synopsis: This is a 7-part series looking at the role of music in worship. In part 1 of this series we looked at governing principles of worship. Part 2 examined how we have traditionally organised these principles in practise. Part 3 looked at the role of the Regulative Principle in worship. In part 4 we had a brief look at the WCF. In part 5 we open up eight principles to assist us in our thinking of music in worship. Eight Principles. Circumstances, elements and forms. Remember, the three divisions in corporate worship are: 1. circumstances (for example the time our worship starts) 2. elements (such as sermon, prayer, songs) 3. forms. That is the form each of the elements takes. Shall we consider the third area, forms and ask questions like, what form of sermon? what form of prayer? what form of song? Using the Psalms as our template we can extract various operating principles which can serve to help us frame our thinking on what deems a song to be appropriate for worship. Or, to put it inspired hymns as we understand them today, then how do we measure our hymns? Surely, a comparison with the Psalms is the logical next step. Just as we measure sermons by the rest of Scripture, and our prayer by the Lords prayer, so we measure our hymns by their proximity and likeness to Scripture and in particular, the Psalms. A little thought will show that there are certain principles being observed in great hymns, certain principles that mark them out as timeless classics which never seem to age. I am a fan of Amy Grants early material, tunes that remind of good times in the 80s when a lot of music was distinctly forgettable (not that I have forgotten it!). But a lot of Amys music, and pop songs in general, havent really survived from Age to Age (not even Amys great song with that title!) Great hymns by contrast tend to capture the Our style of music in worship attention of the universal church needs to be appropriate for the and stay around for a long time. There are certain qualities purpose at hand, this means we that mark certain songs out as need to think about what style we timeless classics. The following use and why we choose to use it. are eight suggested principles we could use to distil guidelines which would help us in another way, to help us measure how spiritual measuring the qualities that go in to making a worship song. our spiritual songs are. Remember, we justify having man-made songs Governing Principles. by referring to the quote on having Psalms, Much depends on what we understand of the hymns and spiritual songs (Col 3:16, Eph 5:19). sort of principles which govern our worship. If we are to regard these as separate entities; that The arch-principle we see in Scripture are: is Psalms as literal Psalms, and hymns as non- worship in Spirit and truth.
8
This is closely followed by: worship in awe and reverence. The outworking of these principles in our local church context will vary. Western worship will look stylistically different to, say, worship in African nations, which would be different again to worship in China or the Balkans. We are involved in Western worship, so that context shapes non-essential circumstances in our worship to do with style considerations. Here are eight important principles or characteristics of hymnody in the context of corporate worship for us in Australia in the early 21st century. 1. God-centred. A hymn, for it to qualify as a suitable song for worship must be God-centred. This sounds obvious enough, but some songs can tend to focus on what man does / feels rather than on what God has done in Christ. The Psalms run the full gamut of human emotion yet stay Godcentred. This is the model we can emulate. 2. Historical Balance. Our songs in worship should not come from just one era of Christian history. Some hymn song books have an over-concentration from certain eras of Christian history. So we have to be considerate in our selection of songs such that we include examples from various eras of Christian history. Keith Gettys modern classic O Church Arise has the helpful line: saints of old are lining the way. Thats a good picture of what our hymns are; commentaries by saints of old on the big questions of their day, some of which will help us in our time. The Psalms, we must remember, were not all written by David. Other saints had their thoughts too, and a lot of ancient Israeli history is commented on in a prophetic manner foreshadowing Christs advent throughout the Psalms. 3. Theologically rich. Even the shortest Psalm is packed with theology. So too, our songs should be packed with good theology. Amazing Grace is a classic example of a universally accepted song. So too, is the more recent song, In Christ Alone. Given current evangelical difficulties in the area of New Perspective theology, this is a hymn for our times which meets the criteria we are looking for in determining what is a suitable hymn.
4. Reverence and awe in music. What is it that would make Coke and Pizza improper emblems for the Lords Supper in our cultural context in the affluent West? We could say that they are irreverent; possibly disrespectful to the God of the Bible Who is sovereign and holy. How then do we avoid irreverent and possibly disrespectful music in worship? We need to think out what is stylistically appropriate for corporate worship. 5. Stylistically appropriate. What is stylistically appropriate in corporate worship? This is a hard question to answer. Is there an appropriate style for worship? For those who know the song, House of the Rising Sun, try singing it to the text of Amazing Grace. Theoretically you could sing the lyrics of Amazing Grace to the tune for House of the Rising Sun, but would you at church? No, that would not be appropriate. Why? Rising Sun is one of those guilt by association songs that is just too closely locked into its famous lyrics to allow it to be used reverently in worship. Or, try singing Amazing Grace to the tune of Advance Australia Fair and it works. But would it be appropriate in worship? No. True, it is after all a fairly reverent sounding tune as opposed to The House of the Rising Sun tune, but the problem once again lies in association AAF is a national anthem describing Gods creation (though not really explicitly going by the first verse). Its not about God as such and the tune is too closely associated with the lyrics. So, reverent yes, appropriate for worship, no. A band teacher I know was once asked to play appropriate music for the Principal and School Board at their end of year presentation night. As it was my friends last assembly at the school, and he hadnt had a particularly happy time there, he had the band strike up a mighty uptempo version of the Mickey Mouse march! (Needless to say, he didnt stay there). Our style of music in worship needs to be appropriate for the purpose at hand, this means we need to think about what style we use and why we choose to use it. Though not as obvious as lyrics, the style we use in our worship music does tell a story of its own. Ideally, the story of the lyrics should be in tandem with the story of the musical accompaniment.
T Th he e Me Messe ssen nge ger r S Au um tu m m en r 2012 3
6. Stylistically varied. Now, this is a tricky one to deal with too. Style after all is a pretty open sort of an area, and one subject to all sorts of definitions. We tend to dwell on the song we like, which surely is natural. But this can lead to a sameness of style, or a sticking to a formula that works. For example, modern evangelical Presys tend not to go down the strict liturgical line, possibly owing to bad press from Roman Catholicism. However, using the same old songs all the time, or the same new songs all the time for that matter, can become a little wooden and decrease the hearty contribution we would like to see from everyone in our worship. In effect, the same style of song all the time can become a de facto liturgy which can lead to a wooden approach in worship which is not desirable. (Not that I am suggesting that liturgies are automatically wooden there is just something about spontaneity in worship which seems to be hard-wired in to evangelicals). 7. Worshipful style. Should worship music be classical or pop style? Is there a worship style? Unfortunately, snobbery can be a big problem in dealing with questions of style in worship music. Classical music is not automatically more godly music and therefore more appropriate for worship; so classical folk have no cause to peer down their collective noses at their pop music counterparts. On the other hand, pop music is not automatically the only way to properly worship in the Modern Era in which we live. So pop musos have no cause to sneeringly disapprove of Old Peoples music. Pop music afficionados are just as snobby as classical music
boffins when they sneeringly regard the other as either too high brow (pop towards classical) or too commercial (classical towards pop). We must remember our lessons from history. Man-centred music can just as easily be classical in style as pop in style, or, the bells and smells problem of classical music style can easily morph into the lasers and lattes problem of pop music style. If we lose sight of Godcentred worship, we will get bogged down in the iWorship debates on both sides of the Classical / Pop divide. This leads on to another major principle. 8. The music we use in worship is subservient to the Word. If our music is to serve the Word, it will be closely allied to the sermon and the Bible readings used. Music that draws attention to God rather than itself will determine the sort of style we adopt. Musical style should follow theological content, not determine content. Here then is real liberty for Christian congregations to fully utilise their God-given musical ministries to work out their own style. Those in positions of authority and making decisions each week about music in worship, need to take care of the basics by knowing where the substantial areas are, and where the unimportant areas are. In the next article we will examine a few practical questions on how to apply these principles. U
Robert Clements is a member of Belconnen WPC ACT
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Fourth Writers Workshop
Wendy ran her fourth Writers Workshop up in Sendai during with OMF inmore Japan February. It was the longest and largestServing yet, including informal teaching and interaction between writers about their writing. God was good to them in keeping snow away and they were The 40-page Wendy driving edits, Japan has a Wendy ran her fourth Writers Workshop up in Sendai during able to travel up magazine and back without on it Harvest at all. It ,was been to made significant progress in quality of production in February. It was the longest and largest yet, including more stretch plan this, plus lead and teach, but God gave strength the last year. Every element of the magazine has moved informal teaching and interaction between writers about their and grace. He also provided April Mack (extreme right of photo) forward: from how it looks, todesigner/production the quality of the content, writing. who is the magazines part-time editor/art Wendy fourth Writers Workshop up in writing and publishing, sowriters, was a help in from how well we work with to great a smoother God was ran goodher to them in keeping snow away and they were director. Shes had experience in the commercial world of writing Sendai during February. It driving was the longest anda working with the attendees. U working teamso that puts it together. None of our editors or able to travel up and back without on it at all. It was and publishing, was a great help in working with the attendees. writers are paid and we stretch to plan plus lead and teach, but God gave strength largest yet,this, including more informal teaching have few resources to work and grace. He also provided April Mack (extreme right of photo) andis the interaction writers abouteditor/art their with, but we do our best who magazines between part-time designer/production writing. director. Shes had experience in the commercial world of writing and the magazine is and publishing, so was a great help in working with the attendees. looking good. God was good to them in keeping snow away This year weve begun setting themes for each and they were able to travel up and back without issue. The next issue is driving on it at all. It was a stretch to plan this, Evangelism and it is plus lead and teach, but God gave strength and exciting to see the variety of articles weve gathered grace. He also provided April Mack (extreme for publishing. right of photo) who is the magazines part-time Were looking for Writers Workshop attendees eating dinner at a restaurant in Sendai. designer/production editor/art director. Shes someone to coordinate the News that we publish. Pray had experience in the commercial world of that well find the right Writers Workshop attendees eating dinner at a restaurant in Sendai. Page 10 of the most recent person to do this.
MARSHALL MUS MARSHALL MUSINGS

March 2013
March 2013
Fourth Writers Workshop

Japan Harvest Magazine
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Writers Workshop attendees eating dinner at a restaurant in Sendai.
We will be leaving on a Friday this year. We will a different airline, but arriving a little sooner th last year, God willing. Six teachers and forty-n 12 students are heading to Thailand for anothe We will leaving this on a Friday year.chance We will be We will be leaving on abe Friday year. this We totaking serve, but ministry the centre where we stay and leadership training. a different airline, but arriving a little than we did will be taking a different airline, but arriving a sooner offers a few days of This leadership training through year we will participate in a sports outreach year, God willing. Six teachers and forty-nineeducation grade orphanage, play with kids from a tribal village schoo little sooner than welast did last year, God willing. outdoor activities like rockclimbing 12 studentsgrade are heading to Thailand for another round ofthe help to lay foundation for a new computer room for the school. Six teachers and forty-nine 12 students and mountain biking. ministry and leadership training. The students are already trying to learn a few phrases in Thai, b are heading to Thailand for another round of Please pray this experience will strengthen This year we will participate in a sports outreach at a local having fun with the tones! They are doing better than I am, though! ministry and leadership training. faith for many of our students, but also be the orphanage, play with kids from a tribal village school, and for in progress games that we will play with the kids and what gifts This year wethe will participate a sports outreach beginning of faith for those who are steadfastly help to lay foundation for a in new computer room for the school. like to give them. No, they at a local orphanage, play with kids from a tribal holding Jesus at bay. U arent praying. This is The students are already trying to learn a few phrases in Thai, but not Students are really to all that the trip promises. Callum looking (light forward grey hoodie) with village school, and to lay are thedoing foundation for having fun with thehelp tones! They better than I am, though! Plans are middle schoolers fromwhere other not only have asome chance to serve, but the centre we stay offers schools participating in an a new computer room for in progress for games that wethe willschool. play with the kids and what gifts we would days of leadership training through outdoor education activities like interschool trivia competition like to give them. The students are already trying to learn a few calledMarshall Brain climbing and Wendy mountain biking. Bowl. David and have served Students are really forwardfun to allwith that the trip promises. They willpray this experience will strengthen faith for many of our Please phrases in Thai, but looking not having the as missionaries in Japan with OMF David and Wendy Marshall not only have a doing chance to serve, than but the where we stay offers a few but also be the 1-19-10 beginning of faith for those who are steadfastly holdi Shinkawa-cho, tones! They are better I centre am, though! International since 2000. Wendy writes Higashikurume-shi, Tokyo 203-0013 days of in leadership training through outdoor education activities like rockat bay. daily on Plans are progress for games that we will play almost her+81 blog ordinary Phone: 42about 479 4493 climbing and mountain biking. Email: TheMarshalls@omfmail.com with the kids and what gifts we would like to life as an Australian family in Japan: www. Please pray this experience will strengthen faith for many of our students, www.ido.com.au/marshalls.php give them. mmuser.blogspot.com. Blog: www.mmuser.blogspot.com but also be the beginning of faith for those who are steadfastly holding Jesus E: themarshalls@omfmail.com Skype: marshall7173 Students at bay. are really looking forward to all that
SPOTLIGHTSpotlight ON CAJ on CAJ
Spotlight on CAJ
the trip promises. They will not only have a
OMF Australia website www.omf.org/australia
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GOLDEN RULES FOR EDIFYING WORSHIP SERVICES

(Or Getting the most out of your church involvement.)
S ubmitted
by
J ulian B ull
providence of God. Was it God that prevented you from going? 1st Thess 2: 18 6. Participate in Worship in every way you can arrive on time, stay around afterwards, think about where you sit in church, follow in your Bible, sing the hymns & songs, say Amen to the prayers, give to the offering, dont sleep or pretend to sleep during the preaching. Persevere with introducing your beautiful children to corporate Worship - for they themselves, God willing, will one day be converted & will want to get all there is to be gained from it. Worship as a family as much as possible or practical. Be careful what you say in front of your children about church! They will pick up on your criticisms & your comments, either positive or negative. 7. Lose yourself in the overflow of a forgiving spirit. Bear, bear, bear. Forbear, forbear, forbear. Love the brother or sister until he or she is loveable. Esteem others better than yourselves. You have your preferences, your particular likes & dislikes, your distinctives, your habits & your pet hates things that have little if anything to do with the great essentials of hearing & receiving the Gospel of Gods grace. Treat unnecessary disunity & division like the plague, like the malignancy that it is in a fellowship. Eph 4: 32 & Col 3: 13 8. By Gods grace move from being a fringe dweller to being a core member, not the other way. Take up some service, some responsibility, just one or two & do it regularly, reliably & responsibly. Persevere in it AND try to bring another person with you on your journey of Christian growth. 1 Cor 15: 58 U
1. Do whatever is necessary to realize a continual sense of awareness of both the privilege & responsibility that comes with being converted. Try to keep in view at all times the 3 great ends or aims for which you were saved To glorify God, to edify believers, to evangelise the lost. You also are now among those chosen & commanded. Acts 1:2. 2. Find & keep a local church where God is truly feared & truly loved. For where God is truly feared the Bible will be upheld & where God is truly loved you will also be loved. 1st Cor 14: 25 3. Pray for the Preacher & the hearer (thats you) & the other hearers. So much is spoken about church, so many words are exchanged among us, comments, grumbles, gripes, suggestions, criticisms. Pray more for your church than you do talk about your church. Romans 15: 30 4. Prioritise Sunday as the Lords Day. Remember the things for which it was given to you Rest, Worship, Service, Family, Fellowship, and Ministry. Sanctify Sunday as the Christians Sabbath. Resist the worldly trends toward obliterating the distinctions between it & every other day of the week. Take a leaf out of Johns book Rev 1: 10. 5. Acknowledge to yourself regularly that satan doesnt want you to attend church. Allow this way of thinking to explain the difficulties & hindrances that seem to so inevitably occur around Sunday mornings. Think this way before you dishonestly attribute non-attendance to the 12
Julian Bull is the pastor of Grace Fellowship, Maylands, WA
THOUGHT What our Lord said about cross bearing and obedience is not in fine print. It is in bold print on the face of the contract. ~ Vance Havner
OTHER CONTACTS: CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27 TRINITY THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE WESTERN AUSTRALIA Postal add: PO Box 115, Leederville, Perth, WA 6902 Add: Level 2, 632-634 Newcastle Street, Leederville, WA 6007 Telephone: +61 8 9228 9067 Email: reception@ttc.wa.edu.au Website: www.ttc.wa.edu.au AUSTRALIAN INDIGENOUS MINISTRIES ALICE SPRINGS Postal: PO Box 31, Alice Springs, NT 0871 Telephone: (08) 8955 5271 Contact: Rev. Phil & Cathy Stuart Church Service (winter): Meets: 20 Parke Cres, Alice Springs Time: 10.30am Email: stuartmob@stuarts.id.au Stuarts web: www.stuarts.id.au AMERICA Revd David and Barbara Cross Email: d.cross1942@gmail.com PROVIDENCE REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Pastor Christopher Seah Mob: +65 9139 4654 Meets: 350 Alexandra Road, Level 3 (Next to Princess House) SINGAPORE 159946. Time: 9.30am Bible Study/Sunday School: 11.30am Postal: c/o Apt Block 1D, Pine Grove, #0815, Singapore 593001 Email: provrpc@gmail.com Website: http:www.providencerpc.org GRACE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BELLMERE, QLD 4510 Contact: Revd Bill Ham (07) 5428 1797 Email: billham@powerup.com.au GRACE THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE c/- 30A Montilla Place, Manurewa, Auckland, 2102 New Zealand Contact: Revd Andrew Young GRACE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Contact: Email: PO Box 31-210, Ilam, Christchurch 8444, NEW ZEALAND Trevor Webb webbt@paradise.net.nz
CHURCHFREO the gathering 5:15 pm Sunday 408 South Terrace SOUTH FREMANTLE, WA Contact: Chuck & Jimmie-Lynn Linkston Email: churchfreo@live.com.au Address: 32 View Terrace East Fremantle, WA 6158 Home: 9319.8800 Jim 614.0011.0514 Chuck 614.0011.0516 EASTGATE BIBLE CHURCH Meets: Time: Contact: Web: 52 Herries Street - TOOWOOMBA, QLD. 10am Dave Kiewiet (07) 4636 5438 www.eastgatebiblechurch.net
GRACE FELLOWSHIP Address: The RISE, 28 Eighth Ave, Maylands WA 6051 Meets: Sundays 10 a.m. Mob: + 61 402 433 320 Pastor: Rev Julian Bull Postal add: 141 Joel Terrace Mt Lawley WA 6050 E mail: julianbull@optusnet.com.au Web: www.gracefellowshipperth.com Home: +61 89471 1433 DECEMBER 2012 Please note: While every care is taken to ensure the information on these pages are accurate, it is the responsibility of each church or organisation to inform the editor of any changes.
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Fe a t u re s
THE IDOL OF HAPPINESS PHILIPPIANS 4:4-13

by
S imon V an B ruchem
This is the slightly modified transcript of a sermon delivered at All Nations Presbyterian Church by Simon van Bruchem. This follows on from two previous articles on The Idolatry factory and The Idol of Family.
hat makes you happy? What is it, that when you think about it, makes you smile? You might get some idea by thinking about the kind of things that are recorded in your photo albums, whether physical or digital. Photo albums are full of happy memories. We dont tend to document the bad times in our photos. Most of us dont have photos of people crying and family tragedies in them. We want to remember the good times, not the bad times. The things we want to remember are birthday parties, holidays, children, weddings. We want pictures of smiling, happy people enjoying life. We all want to feel good and happy with our lives. We just look for this in different places from one another. Many of the people in Perth look for it in friends and in alcohol; that is what they choose to spend their weekends on. Advertising that is intended to make a product look like it will make you happy is often set on a beach, with friends and good music. Maybe travel makes it all worthwhile for you: if you have enough good experiences then you will be happy, you could have been described as someone who lived a full and happy life. For some, they look for happiness in relationships with others, or perhaps even in sex and physical pleasure. And if you ask most parents what they want for their children, their answer is I just want them to be happy. We associate happiness with being young and beautiful and healthy. So we are afraid of getting older, and we try hard to prevent us looking older, and any discussion about death is rare. The big goal of many people is to work hard until they have the opportunity to retire, whereby they can really be happy and do whatever they want. Their whole working lives are simply leading up to this glorious 14
period of happiness, holidays and relaxation. Happiness is one of our great goals in life. What is it that we mean by happiness? Normally, it means that we are comfortable and that bad things dont happen to us. We are happy when we get to do what we like doing, and not too many things that we dont like doing. Maybe that is why the Dalai Lama is so popular - after all, he is clearly a happy chap! He wrote a book called the Art of Happiness in 1998 telling people how he thought they could be happy. According to this book, your happiness is the aim in life. He said if you choose the right thing to do with your life, if you choose to be content with what you have, and you choose to do good to others, then you will be happy. That is an attractive message to a city and a country where our enjoyment and happiness is so important to us. However, I dont think God would agree with this focus. The problem is not so much that we are looking to be happy; the problem is that we are looking for happiness in all the wrong places. Lets think hard today about what God would want for us when it comes to happiness. Happiness and comfort and leisure interest us immensely; people even say that they live for the weekend, or the next holiday, or for retirement. What does God say about this?
God commands you to be happy! I think if I told the average Aussie that God wants people to be happy, they would laugh at me. After all, Christians often only get time in the media if they are complaining about something. It is easy for people to come to the conclusion that God is some kind of mean-spirited god who wants everyone to be miserable. If you follow God, the general feeling is that you dont get to do all the fun things in life! Christians dont tend to get drunk or go to nightclubs much or go gambling or have sex before marriage. Comedians often poke fun at Christians for being boring. I hope to convince you that this is a very long way from the truth. God wants you to be happy! It is a stated purpose of life in the Bible, over and over again. Lets take a look. When God set up the pattern for how the Old Testament people of God were to live, it included plenty of space for celebration. We read a book like Leviticus, where God outlines the law, and we think it is so harsh and restrictive. But I think we are not looking at it closely enough. The law is not just a list of what you cannot do; in fact, the Jewish people were the party people of the ancient world! Every week they were to take a day off to enjoy God and rest. This was very odd most people in other countries didnt do this. Even the slaves and animals got the day off! And once every 50 years they got a year off, in the year of Jubilee (Lev 25:8) And six times a year there were festivals, which were huge parties. Most of the festivals lasted seven days with feasts included, and wine. Some of these festivals required travel to Jerusalem, so they needed to stop work and go on holidays to have a party.
done for them, and they are encouraged to praise God in many ways in response. And this is not just in those happy psalms. Even when the psalmist is having a hard time, he normally still reflects on his God and calls for us find joy in praising God. Ps 16:11 is just one of a thousand examples: You have made known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Did you hear that? Fulness of joy can be found in God! Pleasures forever more in God as well! It would seem that the popular idea of God being out to make us miserable is wrong; God has been getting some bad press. And when we turn to the New Testament, we again find the concept of joy being very common. In fact, various words for joy are used 326 times in the NT! We are even commanded to rejoice! Look at Philippians 4:4. This is a well-known verse, where Paul is writing to the early church in Philippi. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! It is very interesting to notice where this verse fits in the book of Philippians, what its context is. In the two verses immediately before this one, Paul is asking two women who are arguing to agree. And in the two verses after this one, Paul is telling them not to be anxious, implying that there are things you could well be anxious about. It is not as if he is writing to people for whom everything is going wonderfully. But he says: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! He must mean something deeper than just being happy in your life circumstances, for their life circumstances are less than perfect. He knows that they might find it unusual, so he says it twice. Repeating it makes us understand that this is important. Notice that Paul calls them to rejoice whatever We all love to be happy, and God loves their circumstances they are to do it always. But it is one us to be happy, so the problem is not phrase here that is especially with happiness or joy or satisfaction. important. It is the three words in the Lord. Paul The problem is that we think we can find does not simply say, rejoice! happiness in simply doing what we like. He says, Rejoice in the Lord! We are to find joy and They celebrated Gods rescuing them from Egypt, deep happiness and satisfaction in the Lord, not in the first fruits , the harvest, the Day of Atonement other things. and more (see Lev 23 for a list). Gods people were See, this is where happiness can be an idol for us. commanded to have fun! To be happy in God! We all love to be happy, and God loves us to be And if you look through the songbook of the people happy, so the problem is not with happiness or joy of God, the Psalms, you notice how often psalmists or satisfaction. The problem is that we think we can call on people to rejoice. They tell of what God has find happiness in simply doing what we like.
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We can pursue happiness in family and friends, to find that everyone is sinful and people disappoint us. We can pursue happiness in experiences, to find that they fade. We can pursue happiness in health and strength, to find that it doesnt last forever. We can pursue happiness in lifes little luxuries and comforts, yet always realizing that we are never really satisfied with them. God made us to find our ultimate joy in Him. Think back to what we saw in the Old Testament. The OT people of God had constant Sabbaths and festivals which were all about God and what He had done for them. They rejoiced that God had rescued them, given them the harvest, and rested after His labour. The Psalms reflect on Gods wonderful acts of creation and redemption and rejoice because of those things. And now Paul says the same rejoice in the Lord! Whatever your circumstances are like, you can rejoice in God. Gods love for his children is not dependent on what is happening in our lives. We can rejoice in Gods goodness and mercy whatever
three big reasons for why this is true; one is who our joy is based on, one is to do with coping with the hard times in life, and one is about how long our joy lasts. (a) Joy in the Lord is based on Someone reliable (Rom 8) We look for happiness in the world around us. And God, in His grace, has given us many things to enjoy! He made this world to be good, and even though it is tainted by sin there are many things around us that we can find some happiness in. We have already seen in previous sermons that work is a gift from God we can enjoy, as is money, as is family. The problem though is that all these things are finite and unreliable. Money, as we have seen so clearly in recent years, is unreliable. Yes, you can live a more comfortable life with money. But research consistently shows that having money doesnt really make you happier. People are always remembering simpler times in the past when they had fewer possessions but they were happier. Right now we should be reasonable, Family is also unreliable. People have good intentions, but we are gracious people who look to God for all sinful. We hurt one another, happiness rather than our possessions we argue; being in a family doesnt guarantee happiness by any means. or family or work. Work too can bring you joy, but else is going on. Which is why Paul can tell people honestly it doesnt happen every day. Some days are to rejoice always! hard, some are downright evil. The people of God should be happy people! Party The only reliable foundation for our joy is in God, people! People who are markedly different from who doesnt change like all these other things do. everyone else because they can rejoice all the time. This is the problem with the Dalai Lamas teaching, by the way. He tells us to look to ourselves for Happiness is something God wants for us; after all, happiness; that it is in us if we make the right the arrival of his Son was good news of great joy decisions to be happy. But I know myself that I for all the world. So why should we look to God am unreliable and will not always make the right for our joy instead of somewhere else? decisions or be happy if it depends on me. HAPPINESS IN GOD IS FAR BETTER But God is reliable when I am not. He sent his THAN LOOKING SOMEWHERE ELSE Son to die, to be a sacrifice for the sins of all I dont just want to tell you that loving God will who believe, so that we might be saved and be his make you happy. I dont expect that you would children. If we rely on the rest of our lives going believe me anyway! It is so deeply ingrained in us right to be happy and joyful, we will not really be that we have a happy life if we are healthy and enjoying life, for our lives never go completely right. comfortable and can do whatever we want that we But if you rely on God and what he has done for find it hard to really hear this great truth. you in Jesus, nothing can take that away. As Romans In His kindness to us, God has given us wonderful 8 says, nothing can separate you from the love of proofs that this is true. He doesnt want us to be God. Rejoice in the Lord! He has done something unthinking in how we follow Him, but to use our for you worth rejoicing in! minds to understand how happiness is found. I But thats not the only reason to look to God for want to show you how finding joy in the Lord is far happiness better than finding joy somewhere else. There are 16
(b) Joy in the Lord means you deal better with difficult times (Phil 4:10-13) If you flip back to Philippians 4 with me for a while you will discover that Paul doesnt just tell the Philippians to rejoice. He gives them an example of what it means to find your happiness in God. He uses his own life as an example in v10-13. In v10 he says that he rejoiced in the Lord when he heard of the generosity of the Philippians. Notice he didnt just thank them; he praised his God. He was happy because he saw them in practice living out what it meant to serve God. A change in their character brought him joy. And then in v11-13 he wrote about being content in whatever situation he is in. And if you know anything of Pauls life, he had more downs than ups, including shipwrecks, stonings, public protests calling for his life, and imprisonment. Yet he says that he is content in all of this! We would say he is mad; and if he based his joy and contentment in his life circumstances, he would be. But he didnt. Verse13 says I can do all things through him who strengthens me. His focus is God, who is reliable, and in whom he can find strength even when he is facing tough times. That is true for you as well. When things dont go well for you, when you lose your job, or your relationships are breaking down, or you struggle with money, you will never be happy and rejoice if these things are your reason for living. But if God is more important to you than these things, if you love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, then you can be content. God is there. God cares. And nothing can change that. So joy in God is better because it is based on Someone reliable, and because it continues in bad times and good times. And there is one more reason (c) Joy in the Lord lasts forever (Phil 4:5) After Paul tells the Philippians to rejoice in the Lord always, he says that as a result we should be reasonable or gentle or kind people. We should not be only interested in putting ourselves ahead, but in trusting God. And why is this? Because, according to v5, the Lord is at hand. Jesus is coming back, and it can happen anytime. When that happens, our selfish ambitions, our desire for the things of this life and our hope that they will make us happy will all seem a little foolish. Heaven will be the people of God glorifying and praising God for what He has done. It is happiness that will last forever. And it is happiness that we can experience, to a limited level,
here in this life. Right now we should be reasonable, gracious people who look to God for happiness rather than our possessions or family or work. As Psalm 16:11 says, at Gods right hand there are pleasures forevermore. I cant think of anywhere else I could find that. So, joy in the Lord is better than joy in other things. So how can we find joy in the Lord? HOW CAN YOU BE HAPPY? PRAY, THINK AND PRACTICE C.S. Lewis, in The Weight of Glory writes: Our Lord finds our desires, not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased. Do you see what C.S. Lewis is saying here? We think the pleasures of this world are fantastic, and they are! But compared to the pleasures to be found in loving God, they are nothing. We are too easily pleased with things that are secondary, and we dont actively pursue the thing that can bring us greatest pleasure. Remember God wants you to be happy! The reality is that we can never find true happiness anywhere else but God; that is how we are made. We trade infinite joy for making mud pies in a slum; this is the tragedy of the idol of happiness. The passage in Philippians 4 is full of great direction on how to be happy and rejoice in the Lord. It is a most useful passage when it comes to joy; in fact, it is a most useful book for this overall. In this passage we see that we are pray, we are to think, and we are to practice. (a) Pray (v6-7) If we are rejoicing in the Lord, then according to v6, we should not be anxious about anything. It is similar to the teaching of Jesus when he told his disciples not to worry about the things of this life. Instead of being anxious, Paul encourages us to pray. In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Prayer is us showing God that we are looking to him for contentment and fulfilment and joy. Notice that we are told to pray in everything, and that these prayers include asking for things as well as thankfulness. In other words, We are to pray in the good times and the bad times. God should be where our hope and happiness is to be found. If we love
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Immersing yourself in the Bible is a great start, for it will mean that you often discuss God and think about Him because He is in your mind all the time. When the Psalmists struggled, they thought of their God making the world, parting the sea, and they rejoiced in their struggles. When Paul struggled, he reflected on the God who strengthens Him. What do you think about? And finally, we can find more joy in God through (c) Practice (v9) Paul says in v9: What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me - practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. What do you think they had seen in Paul, and heard from Paul? Well, we know Paul devoted his life to telling people about God. I imagine he spoke about God a lot, and his character reflected Gods character to a significant degree. I dont think Paul is telling them to make tents. He wants them to practice, to do Immersing yourself in the Bible is a things in line with loving God! This will lead to them rejoicing in great start, for it will mean that you the Lord always, in being content often discuss God and think about Him like Paul was. because He is in your mind all the time. Serving God practically will bring you happiness. We think that being involved with church ministries, or even joy and happiness in the wrong places, because you showing hospitality or helping one another takes have already found it in God alone. away from our personal time. We think it will make So praying will mean you are constantly reminded us less happy, because we value our space and of God and are looking to him for your joy and recreation so highly as what makes us happy. But contentment. We are also told to Paul says that practicing the things of God actually (b) Think (v8) brings peace! Serving God will make you happy in a I love Phil 4:8. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, way you hadnt expected. whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is So who is it that you love, and serve, and worship? pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, So many of us love happiness and the idea of if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy serving ourselves and doing whatever we want to of praise, think about these things. In the context, I do. God says that true joy can only be found in dont think Paul is saying think hard about the latest him. Dont waste your life chasing things that will song you like, your new mobile phone, that car you disappoint; pray, think, and practice the things of are looking at buying, or that house extension. We God, and your life will be more joyful than you are to think about things God thinks are pure, and could ever think, both now and forever. U just, and lovely. What we think about will change our actions. Do you think about God much? During the week, do you think about what God is like, and what He has done for you? Or is it something of a side issue, a pleasant thought on a Sunday but not something Simon Van Bruchem is the Pastor at All you think about often? How are we supposed to Nations Presbyterian Church find joy in something we dont make the effort to consider, and think about, and pray about? 18
God, and we are looking to God and reminding ourselves that He is where our joy is to be found, we will pray a lot more than we do. A lack of prayer means we are too reliant on ourselves. So often we pray only for God to make our physical circumstances better to heal our sicknesses and to give us what we want. We almost never see Paul pray like that. We should pray for contentment, for perseverance, and to see clearly the love of God in Christ Jesus. And if we pray like this, we are told in v7 that we will have peace. And this peace of God will surpass all understanding. It will make no sense to those who are looking to their circumstances for happiness, but it will make sense to Christians. Your joy and contentment in God will increase as you pray and rely on Him more. Whats more, this peace will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Guarded from what? Perhaps from finding your
Church News Calvary Presbyterian Church, Brookton, WA by Clem white, pastor of CPC Our folks at Brookton are giving thanks to God and are very proud to tell you that Mrs Susan Bennell was presented with a Community Service Award on Australia Day earlier this year. It was given to Sue in recognition of her outstanding and dedicated service to the community of Brookton. Sue is a long standing member of our church and a very dedicated Christian. In spite of the many troubles she has encountered through life Sue continues to press on toward the goal and is a great example to us all. Grace Church Buderim, Queensland Pastor Bob Burnett has retired as senior pastor of GCB, and is now the caretaker pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church, Morayfield. Bill Ham, who has been pastor of this church for a number of years has mesothelioma (asbestos cancer) and is doing it tough. Bob has committed himself to help out there for six months. Editors note: May the God of all grace give everyone concerned much grace in these difficult times.
OH LITTLE TONGUE, O LITTLE TONGUE...

Oh little tongue, oh little tongue, not many are as small as you Residing in a persons mouth, what are the varied things that you do? I can sing praises to the Lord! Wondrous hymns, you see I can encourage others, and lift the spirits of those around me I can reconcile conflicts through the wise things that I say Share Bible truths and bring Gods comfort to make a persons day! Oh little tongue, oh little tongue, the joy that all brings! Though you are very small, I see you do so many things! But wait; thats not all! Let me tell you... I can do so much more. If I am upset, I can say nasty things that will knock you to the floor! Ill share juicy news and gossip about those who would be my rival I can even twist the words of truth that come straight from the Bible!! Oh little tongue, oh little tongue, now you are giving me a fright Something so small that can also cause hurt doesnt seem quite right! Words that have once been spoken, cannot be taken back A moment said in anger, will be something regretted down the track If you look in James chapter 3, you can see what God wrote; The tongue has great power, like a rudder that steers a huge boat Oh little tongue, oh little tongue, so which way will you go? How can you stop causing hurt, just what way will you know? I need the wisdom that comes from God. Firstly... it is pure Peace-loving, considerate, exercising restraint; this is the cure Theres good fruit in that wisdom, it does not cause distress. Ill sow words of Gods peace and raise a harvest of righteousness! Oh little tongue, oh little tongue, thank you for telling me of James 3 Gods Word brings good news for all the boys and girls - and mums and dads and for little me.
Written by Jason & Yvonne King ( 2012) Delivered 7 Oct 2012 at WPC Bull Creek as a Childrens Talk
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Missions
dark, cheerless & unpromising..

B y J ulian B ull
uly 2013 marks the 200th Anniversary of the commencement of one of the most remarkable and stirring stories of Christian heroism imaginable. On the morning of July 13 1813 the brig Georgiana finally made landfall. She had sailed across the Bay of Bengal from Calcutta. Among her passengers was a young European couple who just a year or two earlier had devoted themselves, without reservation, to the service of Christ and the spread of the glorious Gospel. Adoniram and Nancy Judson had left New England, America, many months before with an unwavering vision to take Christ to the Burman Empire. The voyage had been long, difficult and tragic, Adoniram Judson - first but now at last they missionary to Burma had arrived Rangoon was certainly no Calcutta. It was a dirty bedraggled over grown village of 10, 00 people at most it was dusk when the Georgiana dropped anchor near the wharves. Adoniram was determined to take a look at it. But he did not stay on shore long. Everything looked so dark, cheerless & unpromising, that he soon returned to the ship to tell Nancy what he had seen. Still exhausted, sick & suffering from the anguish of losing her child, Nancy had lost her usual optimism. She could read Adonirams impressions on his gloomy face and hear them in the tone of his voice. They alone were enough to describe Rangoon. It was the unhappiest evening they had ever spent. At last they had arrived at the destination Adoniram had aimed at for 3 years, the place they had dreamed of, the goal of his ambition: and they had never regretted anything more in their lives. (1) So began the ministry of Adoniram Judson, first missionary to Burma, some 200 years ago
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this July. Judson would labour for the next 30 years in the land of Burma amidst the greatest disadvantages, deprivations and domestic trials imaginable. By the time of his death he had translated the Bible from the original Greek and Hebrew into the Burmese language, a feat which involved him not only learning Burmese but also mastering Pali script. Opposition to Christianity in Burma has never ceased since that day to the present. However in spite of all this, today, 200 years since the Judsons arrived, there exists a vibrant and courageous church spread across the land. I came across the story recently of the visit two years ago of some American Baptists who were determined to visit the site of one of the imprisonments Judson suffered. The prison in question was located in the ancient city of Ava, just outside modern day Mandalay. The site of the ancient city can still be visited by tourists but little if anything remains to tell of the unflinching heroism of Judson. The prison was known in Burmese as Let-Ma-Yoon which literally translated from the Burmese means hand shrink not which is a reference to the reputation the prison guards had that they would stop at nothing when it came to barbarity and cruelty. Judson was imprisoned for almost a year in a building 10 metres square and less than 1.5 metres high, with no windows and only vents to allow any air to enter or circulate. Sometimes as many as 100 inmates were crammed in together. Every evening the prisoners would be hoisted by their ankles until only their head and shoulders rested on the rough prison floor and there they would remain for up to eight hours. Judson endured this for 11 months, emerging finally as an emaciated, wasted, shell of a human but still with his faith in Christ intact. Nor did this suffering spell the end of his ministry. He recovered to the point where he could continue to spread the glorious gospel and the living Saviour that had sustained him through all the years of affliction and disappointment.
In 1913, to mark the centenary of Judsons arrival in Rangoon some Christians had placed a large granite stone at the site of his imprisonment in Ava. The current government, determined to erase any memory of Judson or his legacy, set about getting rid of the stone. The first plan was to push it into the nearby Irrawaddy River and sink it to the depths forever. But this proved too difficult. So instead they buried it deep underground in an unmarked location. I have seen a photo of this stone. You can make out the inscription on it. The photograph I found occupying pride of place in a little Baptist chapel on the outskirts of Mandalay in an area called Oung Pen La. I was directed there by a Burmese Christian I met who had heard of its existence. The Deacons of the church told me that following the imprisonment at Ava Judson & the other prisoners were forced to march to this new location in Oung Pen La where a new prison was constructed. For the last 200 years a little chapel has stood on the site. Anyway, back to the story of the American visitors and their search for the buried Judson memorial stones. I will let them tell it in their own words: Once we arrived I walked out into a nearby field to survey the scene while my translator and the elderly man
stayed under three large trees talking in their native tongue. Standing in the field were weeds taller than my shoulders which grew wildly all around for several acres. As I took video footage and a few photographs on a very windy day it took me a moment to realise that the elderly man and my translators conversation had grown in volume and intensity. The old man kept pointing to the ground under the trees and repeated some phrases again and again. My translator had tears in his eyes and turned to explain. This man knows the memorial stone that is buried here. He says he lived in this area his entire life and remembers the time when the stone was visible for all to see. Now that it is buried he knows there is a generation that knows nothing of Judson and what Judson did for Burma. He told me that he knows he is old and will soon die. He said to me that I am young and he would like me to make him a promise. He said that should the political situation ever change in this country he wants me to promise him that I will come again and dig up the stone and restore it so people will once again know Judson. And then he started pleading and saying Please come and dig. Please come and dig. Please come and dig. As I write this, the call of an elderly Burmese man to please come and dig still rings in my ears. Just as Paul heard the Macedonian call in Acts 16 to go and preach the gospel, whether he knows it or not, such is the real substance of the elderly mans call to go and dig.
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Memorial stones and missionary legacies are important but one day they too will fade. The call to please come and dig is the call Adoniram Judson first answered when he left America for Burma 200 years ago. It is the call that still goes outto go to the places where the name of Christ is suppressed, buried or not known. There are peoples from every tribe, tongue and nation ready to hear of the Lord Jesus that Judson proclaimed, but how will they hear unless a new generation of Judsons is sent? Romans 10; 15. (2)
Following my last visit in November 2012 the next visit is planned for July 2013. God willing, we will be able to organise and conduct a number of preaching and teaching opportunities to promote and proclaim the gospel legacy of Judson. Please remember this report contains sensitive material which could attract unwanted and unhelpful attention to the work of Christ in Myanmar. Despite the recent apparent loosening of restrictions in the country there still remains a largely anti-Christian and repressive regime in power there. Under no circumstances is this article to be posted on any websites. Thank you. For further information about the ministry of Mustard Seed Foundation please dont hesitate to contact me on +61 402 433 320 or e mail me julianbull@optusnet.com.au References: (1) To the Golden shore by Courtney Anderson (2) Jason G Duesing U
Please continue to pray for the land of Myanmar, the ministry of Pastor Timothy and myself, Johanna Sanders, the Mustard Seed Orphanages and the Hosanna Bible Seminary. Many of you have prayed and given generously to these endeavours. For this the Burmese Christians are eternally grateful to you and wish you all to know that they have the deepest love and gratitude both to our Lord and to you.
Julian Bull is the pastor of Grace Fellowship, Maylands, WA
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Westminster Presbyterian Church Presbytery of Western Australia
19th Synod
Host church: Maida Vale WPC Opening worship: Sun PM 12 May 2013 (5:30 pm service) Sittings: Mon 13 May Wed 15 May 2013 The new Synod officers for the 19th Synod are: Moderator Peter Plumb Clerk Mark Vivian Treasurer Anton Noppers All are welcome to come to any of our gatherings. Please contact Mark Vivian, see details under contacts at the back of The Messenger, for further details.
US
JOIN
The Story of the Bible

The message of Jesus Christ, our Saviour, is the story of the Bible - it is the story of salvation. The story of Jesus Christ is traced from the beginning of the Old testament, for He is the true theme of the Old as well as the New Testament. He appears in Genesis as the Seed of the woman. In Exodus, He is the Passover Lamb. In Leviticus, He is the atoning sacrifice. In Numbers, He is the Smitten Rock. In Deuteronomy, He is the Prophet. In Joshua, He is the Captain of the Lords Host. In Judges, He is the Deliverer. In Ruth, He is the Heavenly Kinsman. In the books of Kings, He is the promised King. In Nehemiah, He is the Restorer of the Nation. In Esther, He is the Advocate. In Job, He is my Redeemer. In Psalms, He is my All in All. In Proverbs, He is my pattern. In Ecclesiastes, He is my Goal. In the Song of Solomon, He is my Satisfier. In the Prophets, He is the Coming Prince of Peace. In the Gospels, He is Christ, coming to seek and to save. In Acts, He is Christ Risen. In the Epistles, He is Christ at the Fathers Right Hand. In Revelation, He is Christ returning and reigning. This is the eternal message of the gospel: it is the story of life, peace, eternity and heaven. It has a single, clear and bold message for every living being - the message of Christ and His offer of peace to us with God.
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Youth & Family Pages

BOOK REVIEW
Title/s: Mr. Pipes and the British Hymn Makers/ Mr. Pipes and Psalms and Hymns of the Reformation/ Mr. Pipes Comes to America/ The Accidental Voyage
Author: Douglas Bond Publisher: Christian Liberty Press/P & R Publishing Printed: 2000 - 2007 Number of Pages: 194-258 Can be purchased at: www.bookdepository.com for $10 (free shipping) or at www.amazon.com for $7 - $11 Douglas Bond, who is a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), inspired by his love for church history and his deep respect and appreciation for hymns and hymn writers, has produced the charming Mr. Pipes series. Written for children, but enjoyable for anyone over the age of twelve, his Mr. Pipes books are a collection of biographies skilfully woven into the exciting and amusing adventures of the fictional characters, Annie, Drew, and their dear friend Mr. Pipes. Living in Washington State USA with his wife and four children, Douglas Bond is not only a teacher of history and literature at Covenant High School, but he also guides church history tours in Europe. He has written twenty books
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and has used his experience and his remarkable power of description to make the European settings of his books come alive. Using masterful characterization, Douglas Bond portrays his characters so vividly that they become like friends. In the first book of his Mr. Pipes series, Annie and Drew are sent to Olney, a small country town in England, for what they believe can only be an extremely boring summer holiday. That, of course, is before they meet Mr. Pipes, a friendly, elderly organist. It isnt long before the children discover Mr. Pipes love for old hymns and hymn writers. He delights the children with the stories of many well-known British hymn writers while they enjoy many experiences of England as it is today. Through the message of the Gospel so clearly conveyed in the hymns they learn, and through Mr. Pipes friendship, Annie and Drew come to know Christ as their Saviour. In the other books in the series, Annie and Drew again meet up with Mr. Pipes and he continues to teach them about the writers of well-known hymns as they tour Europe and as he visits their homeland, America. These books are a delightful and unique way to discover the stories behind many of our hymns and carols. In the words of Mr. Pipes, hymns are abounding with timeless grandeur and it is a wonderful experience to get to know them through these fun and engaging books. They are excellent books for parents or teachers to read aloud to their children/students or for children to enjoy on their own. Because of the rich historical content, it enhances the books if the reader has a general knowledge of history. For video clips, more information about Douglas Bonds other books and also to purchase his books, visit www.bondbooks.net. U
Amy Ullrich attends Bull Creek WPC and is 13 years of age.
A FIERY SERMON
Submitted by Hetty McVey You may have heard the story about the man who stopped attending church and was visited by his pastor. According to the story it was a chilly evening and the pastor found the man alone,sitting by a fire. The pastor made himself at home, but said nothing. After some minutes, the pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picking up a bright burning ember and placed it to one side on the hearth all alone. Then he sat back in his chair, all silent. The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead. Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The pastor glanced at his watch and realised it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately, it began to glow once more with light and warmth of the burning coals around it. As the pastor reached the door to leave, the host said, Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church nest Sunday. Consider the words of Hebrews 10:24. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching. U
WESTMINSTER SHORTER CATECHISM

WITH THE SCRIPTURE PROOF
Q. 46. What is required in the first commandment? A. The first commandment requires us to know and acknowledge God to be the only true God, and our God; and to worship and glorify him accordingly [a]. [a]. I Chron. 28:9; Isa. 45:20-25; Matt. 4:10 Q. 47. What is forbidden in the first commandment? A. The first commandment forbids the denying [a], or not worshipping and glorifying the true God as God [b], and our God [c]; and the giving of that worship and glory to any other, which is due to him alone [d]. [a]. Ps. 14:1 [b]. Rom. 1:20-21 [c]. Ps. 81:10-11 [d]. Ezek. 8:16-18; Rom. 1:25
PLEASE SEND US SNIPPETS FOR OUR MAG THAT YOU THINK ARE RELEVANT TO OUR YOUNGER READERS!
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Contacts
Westminster Presbyterian Church

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY BELCONNEN WPC Meets: 61 Templeton Street, (cnr Rowan St.) COOK, ACT 2614 Time: 9.30am and 6.30pm (every Sunday) Address: 61 Templeton Street, COOK, ACT 2614 Office Ph: (02) 6251 7727 Fax: (02) 6251 7737 Email: pastor@wpc-belconnen.org.au Contact: Revd Geoff Findlay Telephone: 0435 557 117 NEW SOUTH WALES S.E. AUSTRALIA PRESBYTERY Moderator: Revd Geoff Findlay Email: geoff@wpc-belconnen.org.au Clerk: Elder Perry Blackmore Email: Perry.Blackmore@optusnet.com.au QUEENSLAND CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY CHURCH PACIFIC PARADISE Meets: North Shore Community Centre, David Low Way, PACIFIC PARADISE Time: 9.30am Postal: 119 Glenview Rd, GLENVIEW QLD 4553 Contact: Revd Dan Bosshard Mob: 0439 708 092 Email: danbosshard@bigpond.com GRACE CHRISTIAN CHURCH (BUDERIM WPC) Meets: Corner Stringybark Rd & Toral Dr, Sippy Downs, SUNSHINE COAST, QLD Times: 7.45am, 9.30am, 6.00pm Chinese Church (Mandarin) meets 1.30pm English language class 4pm Postal: P.O. Box 7292, Sippy Downs Qld 4556 Phone: (07) 5445 8933 Contact: Acting pastor Clint Lombard 0478 578 152 Email: gracechurch@westnet.com.au Web site: www.gracechurchbuderim.com.au METROWEST COMMUNITY CHURCH (MT OMMANEY WPC) Meets: Mt Ommaney Special School, 94 Capitol Drive, MT OMMANEY Times: 9:30am & 5pm Website: http://www.metrowest.cc Postal: 2/101 Harts Rd, INDOOROOPILLY, QLD 4068 Contact: Revd Ian Spence Email: spence01@optusnet.com.au GRACE CHRISTIAN CHURCH (REDBANK WPC) Meets: School Road, REDBANK PLAINS Time: 9.30am Postal: P.O. Box 347, GOODNA, QLD 4300 Contact: Revd David Smith Telephone: (07) 3495 7051 Email: david@gracecc.com.au GRACE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, MORAYFIELD QLD Time: 10am Venue: Morayfield Community Centre, Morayfield Road, MORAYFIELD QLD (next to Bunnings) Contact: Pr Bob Burnett (07) 5442 1783 Email: bobandwendy1175@bigpond.com Web site: www.gpcm.net.au PRESBYTERY OF QUEENSLAND Moderator: John Hamilton Clerk: Ian Spence Postal: 2/101 Harts Road, INDOOROOPILLY, QLD 4068 Telephone: (07) 3371 2512 Email: john.h@bigpond.net.au WESTMINSTER THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE QUEENSLAND Principal: Revd Terry Clarke 10 Hollings Close, KURABY, QUEENSLAND 4112 Postal: PO Box 346, BUDERIM, QLD 4556 Telephone: (07) 5445 8501 Email: information@@sctc.org.au Web: www.sctc.org.au WESTERN AUSTRALIA ALL NATIONS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Meets: The Beaufort Centre, 74-82 Beaufort Street (2nd Floor), PERTH. Time: 10.00am Email: churchoffice@allnations.org.au Web site: www.allnations.org.au Telephone: (08) 9228 4951 Fax (08) 9228 4956
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Postal: Contact: Email:
PO Box 8693, Perth BC WA 6849 Revd Simon van Bruchem simon_vb@optusnet.com.au
Email:
wpck@iinet.net.au
BROOKTON (CALVARY PRESBYTERIAN) Meets: Richardson St., BROOKTON Time: 10.30am. Postal: PO Box 99, BROOKTON, WA 6306 Contact: Revd Clem White (08) 9535 3301 Email: candpwhite@bigpond.com OR elder Arthur Slater (08) 9642 1231 BULL CREEK WPC Meets: 32 Bull Creek Drive, BULL CREEK Times: 9.30am, 6.30pm. Postal: 32 Bull Creek Drive, BULL CREEK, WA 6149 Email: wpcbc@iinet.net.au Telephone: (08) 9332 6300 Fax: (08) 9332 1991 Contact: Revd Mark Vivian (08) 9455 3919 Email: pastormark@iinet.net.au Contact: Revd Craig Newill (08) 6161 0525 Email: craignewill@gmail.com Website: www.wpc.net Bull Creek WPC Indonesian Services Time: 4.00pm Meets: 32 Bull Creek Drive, BULL CREEK, WA 6149 Revd Paulus Surya Tel: (08) 6465 8763 Mobile: 0412 441 341 CANNING VALE COMMUNITY CHURCH (CANNING VALE WPC) Meets: Canning Vale Community Centre, Cnr Waratah Blvd. and Eucalyptus Blvd., CANNING VALE Time: 10.30am Postal: PO Box 5153, CANNING VALE SOUTH, WA 6155 Telephone: (08) 9256 4776 Contact: Revd Alex Nathan Email: alexandernathan@iinet.net.au KELMSCOTT WPC Meets: Lot 60 Centre Rd, (Cnr Railway Ave) KELMSCOTT, WA 6111 Times: Prayer 9.15am. Service 10.00am Postal: PO Box 305 THORNLIE WA 6988 Telephone: (08) 94954220 Contact: Revd Anton Noppers (08) 9498 3306
MAIDA VALE WPC Meets: 4 Old Maida Vale Rd, MAIDA VALE Times: 10.00am and 6.00pm Postal: 4 Old Maida Vale Rd, MAIDA VALE, WA 6057 Telephone: (08) 9454 7401 Fax: (08) 9454 4307 Contact: Revd Roger Palmer Email: wpcmv@myoffice.net.au MANDURAH WPC Meets: The Nellie Reagan Hall, Peel St, MANDURAH Time: 10.00am Postal: PO Box 5875 Mandurah, WA 6210 See Kelmscott WPC for contact details of pastoral team. MURDOCH THREE CROSSES CHURCH Morning: 10am Mandala Hall, Mandala Crescent, Bateman at 10am Evening: 6pm Murdoch University, Murdoch Postal: 9 Johansen Promenade MURDOCH WA 6150 Contact: Revd Matthew Waldron Mob: 0438 021 286 Email: mattwaldron@bigpond.com Website: www.threecrosseschurch.com PRESBYTERY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA Moderator: Revd Simon van Bruchem Email: simon_bc@optusnet.com.au Telephone: (08) 9228 4951 Work: (08) 9457 0107 Clerk: Elder Steve Heathcote Postal: 21 Carcoo Court BECKENHAM 6107 Email: heathcote.steve@gmail.com Telephone: (08) 9458 5449 SYNOD OF WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Moderator: Simon van Bruchem Clerk: Mark Vivian Email: pastormark@iinet.net.au Treasurer: Elder Dirk Soet Telephone: (08) 9444 7506 Continued on page 13
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