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 8 W i n t e r E d i t i o n 2 0 1 3

M E SSENGER

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The Messenger

EDITORIAL

Volume 158 Winter Edition 2013 Features Church News Missions Youth & Family

Contents

We Welcome Feedback
Its good to get feedback from readers of The Messenger. We appreciate both positive and negative comments. We are glad to say that most of the comments are very positive but constructive criticism is always good to consider. Two criticisms of the Magazine have been that we dont have front page pictures that will attract young people and that the editorials need to brighten up. On the first matter we try to use a good photo to do with an article inside the magazine. This we hope will make the reader inquisitive to find the article and read it. We also need to have high quality photos with good resolution for the front page. Not all photos we receive are suitable to use in this way. However, they are usually ok to use in the body of the magazine. So keep sending them in and if you have any bright ideas about how to attract young people to read The Messenger please let me know about them. Regarding the suggestion that the editorial needs to be more positive, we have reflected the denominations struggles over the past year or so. Two congregations have left us or are in the process of doing so and there have been other difficulties with which we have had to grapple. On the positive side we have an independent congregation eager to join with WPC. These are testing times for us as a church in the last times. These are times when we need to be serious about our core beliefs and our church life. But at the same time we must keep looking by faith to Jesus who is the author and finisher of our salvation. At the same time in the midst of our gloom and doom we had a wonderful Synod. I went there feeling a little jaded but came away walking on air. I was greatly encouraged by the devotional talks each morning, by the presentations of John McRae on prayer and evangelism, by the positive news from our various congregations, and not least of all by friendly conversations with our brothers and sisters in the Lord. So while we are going through testing times we should remember Pauls experiences which were far worse than ours and see how he coped with hard times. We read in 2 Corinthians 4:810, We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of the Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. In the meantime please keep supporting The Messenger - its yours - an in-house, grass roots magazine.

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AIMS
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.

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

SUBSCRIPTION DETaILS
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)

PLEASE NOTE: ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS DUE IN ADVANCE.

C LEM W HITE

Opinions expressed are those of the contributor and not necessarily those of WPC, the editor or the committee. Submitted articles are welcome. You can help make your denominational journal a success by subscribing and contributing to it. We cordially invite you to do both.

THE MESSENGER ON
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PHOTO ON COVER: Pg 17: WPC Sports Day

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BOOK REVIEW: The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert: An English Professors Journey into Christian Faith by Rosaria Champagne Butterfield
BY

Parenting And Being Parented

BY

C HErYL W ALDrON

R IcHArD B AILEY
A Compass. That is what you give your child. They may rebel, run away, be forced out, and break your heart. But deep down in their hearts we hope we have placed a compass that points back home. They must know that no matter how bad things get. There is a home where they will be loved. Luke 15:11 FOR TEENS God has not made a mistake. He put you in the right family. His goal is to shape and mould your character. You are perfect in every way for the purpose God has for you in His world. Your looks, abilities, and talents are just right. God does not make mistakes and He is just getting going in your life. Authority is a good thing. God has placed your parents over you as a protection from the world. You are to submit to their authority for your own good. You will fight this. We all do. Show your parents some grace as you would want them to show to you. They are learning how to be parents and will make mistakes. You are not the most important one in the house. Everyone else is to be more important than you. Be a servant. Everything always looks better in someone elses house. It is not. They have the same struggles. Have fun! Dont let school or any other pressure take your joy away. If your parents are demanding As and you cant make As, talk to them about it. God thinks you are great. He really really does. He is so fond of you. Grace means you are free to fall and mess up without fear of Gods anger. Avoid deep emotional relationships with the opposite sex until you are ready for marriage. Good is good if nobody is doing it. Wrong is still wrong if everyone is doing it. Read Psalm 73. It is hard to be a Christian Teen in Australia. Others are having so much fun. But are they really? You have to decide to live for Jesus or not. U I hope this is helpful. It is not exhaustive and I have not put in many Bible references. If you have any questions or want to interact on any of this you may email me at baileyfam.au@gmail.com
Richard Bailey is an Ordained pastor in the Presbyterian Church in America. He and his wife TC and their sixteen year old son Duncan are here with MTW and working with Canning Vale Community Church WPC.
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rom 1988 to 2005 I was involved in Youth, Uni and family ministry. I worked with all types of kids and many different family situations. I observed that Parent Teen/Child relationships can be difficult, but do not have to be (difficult). Below are some observations, advice, and words of encouragement. Space does not allow for me to elaborate on these bullet points and this is in no way exhaustive. I ask that you read my observations and think about how each may relate to you and your family. FOR PARENTS: The most important thing you can do for your children is to love each other. A strong marriage gives security and models Christ love. Yours is the most important relationship in the house. Parenting will not just happen. You must be purposeful in raising your children. You will tend to parent the way you were parented. Good or bad you will lean that way because that is what you know. Cultivate the good and lose the bad. How much are cultural influences guiding you? Use Scripture as your guide. Seek to parent as God parents you. Explore His unconditional love and how He forgives. Does your child know that he/she is free to fail at anything and still be loved. Really? Ask them what they think. Do you parent with and by grace? Does your child think your love depends upon grades in school? Parenting demands sacrifice. You may or may not be appreciated for your sacrifice. You must yield all of your rights to God. If you think you have a right to anything then you will get angry when that right is violated. There are no guarantees. We parent as best we can and leave the results to God. Our children belong to Him. By the time you figure it out they are gone. God calls all creatures to live under authority. The purpose for your authority in the lives of your children is not to hold them under your power, but to empower them to be self-controlled people living freely under the authority of God. Tedd Tripp Parents are to be shepherds. Meditate upon that word and concept. The heart of the matter is the heart. Proverbs 4:3 Above all else guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life. The basic issue is whats going on in the heart of your child (and you), not what you see on the outside. Seek to understand the world your child lives in today. It is not like what you grew up in. Remember that the Lord is using parenting to shape your character too.

osaria Butterfield was an English Professor, left-wing political thinker, radical feminist and lesbian until she was traumatically converted to Christianity. The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert is the story of her conversion and the subsequent impact Christ has had on her life. As the title says, the book shares her thoughts. Rosaria just doesnt tell us the before and after of her life with Christ, she also shares her convictions and theology about a range of topics. Sin, evangelism, the primacy of Gods Word, homeschooling, worship and sexuality are just some of the subjects she covers. I didnt agree with all she had to say Rosaria is from a more conservative Presbyterian tradition than WPC - but I appreciated the fact that she had talked about her convictions and I was very encouraged by her persuasion of Gods word as the rule for life and faith.

Rosaria Butterfield is a gifted communicator and teacher. This book is a pleasure to read in many ways it is very easy but it can also be very dense. You will need to read and re-read some of her theological discussions to catch all the nuances of her arguments. If you are expecting a simple, straightforward story of conversion, then this is not the book for you. And if you are looking for easy answers about homosexuality and Christianity, then you will be disappointed. However, if you are prepared to hear the story of another persons experience of Gods grace; think deeply about some weighty Christian issues; be convicted about your understanding of Gods word and work; and be challenged to love and pray for those in our community who are utterly opposed to Christ, then I thoroughly recommend reading this book. U

Available as an eBook and at Reformers Bookshop (http://reformers.org.au) Recommended Links: http://rosariabutterfield.com/ 4

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Our adoption begins with God the Fathers eternal choice to adopt, In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will, Ephesians. 1:5. In this 1 sentence, we are taken right into Gods heart! We are adopted purely by His choice to make us His Own children. He willingly and with pleasure, decided to select us to receive the highest privilege any one could ever receive: the right to be given the status of children of God. Our adoption papers were signed by Jesus when He gave His righteousness to us. While the Fathers love is the source of our adoption process, for it to be legal, someone had to pay our debts accumulated from our past family life! Only God could organize the payment of that debt and He did so by putting His Son in our place on the cross. 1 John 4:10 sums it up: This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice (propitiation, ESV) for our sins. That is the gospel of our sonship! All Gods righteous anger generated by our sin was poured on His Own Son and just as importantly, all Jesus righteousness was credited to our account so that legally we are set free! Our adoption was sealed when the Holy Spirit began His work in us. The Holy Spirit has the very personal task of changing us and cleaning us and transforming us and assuring us and finally bringing us to the full experience of our sonship at the end of time as we know it. 2. Orphans live like they do not have a Family to call home. Adoption is a family word. If you go out and adopt a child they become part of your family, taking on your family name, taking on family responsibilities and getting their name on the family will! We have a family, 1:3. Adoption is all about new family relationships, 4:20, 21. My Fathers people are now my people the family to which I now belong! But an orphan has no family. They dont have a place to call home. Christians have a place to call home and it is called the church the community of the adopted! But some people who call themselves Christians act like they dont have a family. They seldom come to family events, they take on no responsibilities in the family, they dont pray together or express their needs to each other, they try to be self-sufficient at best, they enjoy one or two of the benefits but prefer to stand on the sideline which is so wrong because they hurt themselves and the family! Adopted children of our Heavenly Father receive the largest and best family on earth the church of Jesus! 3. Orphans live like they do not have a Future to give them hope. John points us to our future when he takes us from our current situation, now we are, verse. 2a, to our future hope, 2b. This is where the difference between an orphan and an adopted child really stands out! An orphan lives day by day with very little to look forward to but an adopted child has everything to look forward to. So I am going to ask you this question: Are you convinced in your mind and heart that God loves you with a fatherly love and that He loves you deeply and will always love you? The Bible not only addresses the origin of our adoption but also the consequences of our adoption. We can personalize this by asking: is there any evidence in my life of my sonship? To say it another way, the logic of our sonship implies a new birth from above which is prior to our adoption and at the same time creates a new lifestyle in the child of God! Lets remind ourselves of what the Bible says about our adoption: All those that are justified, God graciously grants, in and for his only son Jesus Christ, to make partakers of the grace of adoption, by which they are taken into the number, and enjoy the liberties and privileges of the children of God, have his name put down upon them, receive the Spirit of adoption, have access to the throne of grace with boldness, are enabled to cry, Abba, Father, are pitied, protected, provided for, and chastened by him, as by a father: yet never cast off, but sealed to the day of redemption; and inherit the promises, as heirs of everlasting salvation. (Westminster Confession of Faith) Our adoption is a change of status: I once was not a child of God but now I am a child with all the rights and benefits of a son or daughter of my Father in Heaven. But while the Word of God puts great emphasis on our adoption as a privilege, it also puts great emphasis on how an adopted child of God behaves.
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ADOPTION: THE HIGHEST PRIVILEGE OF OUR SALVATION

B Y S TEVE S cHOOF
A consideration of chapter 12 of the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF); part of a series of articles written by various elders of WPC.
re you Living like an Orphan or like an Adopted Child of God? There is a world of difference between an orphan and an adopted child. An adopted child is willingly and legally taken into a new family where they are loved and provided for and given all the rights and privileges of natural born children. But an orphan is a child deprived of parental love due to their parents death or disappearance or desertion. What I want to do for you is to contrast the life of an orphan with the life of an adopted child of God! I am asking you: which best describes you? I know for myself, sometimes I live like an orphan and sometimes I live like I have a wonderful Father in Heaven. There is a world of difference! To be more specific, you either live like 1 John 3:1 is your greatest encouragement: I am an adopted child of God my Father, or you live like you have no Father. in their lives. To help us identify whether or not we are living like orphans instead of adopted sons and daughters of God, it would be helpful to highlight some of the common signals that tell us we are living like orphans. The 1st signal is this: 1. Orphans live like they do not have a Father Who loves them. 1 John 3:1 is an invitation to enjoy the greatest relationship a person can ever have. I say invitation because the sentence begins, How great, actually see (ESV), realize, experience how great! It is an invitation to open our eyes, open our minds, open our hearts to perceive something only a few ever get to experience. What do we see? That our Fathers love is so great that He adopted us as His own sons and daughters! But an orphan, by definition, has no father who cares for them! How can you tell if you acting like an orphan? There are some The Bible not only addresses are common traits. An orphan lacks security. They easily get anxious about how their the origin of our adoption needs will be met. They tend to feel all but also the consequences of alone. They find they make decisions out of fear. They try harder instead of trusting our adoption. more. They view their lives from a success When Jesus was here, He was concerned that or failure viewpoint. They tend to be ungrateful, we might think He was leaving us as orphans, so complaining and critical. They feel defeated in He stated: I will not leave you as orphans, John living as God wants them to. They try to control 14:18. Jesus describes an orphan as someone who everything so that nothing bad happens. They lives their lives in isolation from the promises of take criticism poorly but do whatever they can to a loving Father! In isolation from the promises, get praise and affirmation. They can be defensive an orphan develops a small view of Jesus and a and are not very teachable. They are good at small view of the power of the gospel in their blaming everyone and everything but themselves. lives. In contrast, a believer is living as a son or What cures this orphan-like behaviour? What daughter of their Father when they are walking does an orphan need more than anything else? in faith and living according to Jesus promises. Orphans need adoption and the best adoption Adopted sons and daughters have a large view of agency is the Trinity! How does Gods adoption Jesus and a large view of the power of the gospel agency work?
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Let me illustrate. If you were to decide to adopt a child, you would go through a legal process resulting in that child becoming a full legal member of your family. As that child began to develop, you would never allow that child to behave any way they wanted to behave. If that child said, Well, in my natural family, we rebelled against everything our parents said, we stayed out all night, we screamed and threw things at each other when we were angry and we never cleaned up after ourselves or did any chores. You would never respond, Thats OK, your old family traits are acceptable so go ahead and behave any way you like and you can still get all the rights and benefits of being in this new family. No way! You would explain that by adopting them, they now bear your family name and being part of this new family, they behave like a family member with all the traits and behaviours of their new family. When you become a child of God, a new lifestyle follows. 1. We learn to talk to God confidently and regularly. Instead of trying to live independently, we live dependent lives, moment by moment. See 1 John 3:21, 22, 5:14, 15. As we talk to God, the Holy Spirit is stirring inside of us to assure us of who we are because of the cross and as a result, we cry Abba Father because while we may struggle in our prayers, we know God is our Father and that He loves us. This makes prayer easier now for our adoption allows us to speak to our Father directly and simply no special language is required just view prayer as a child speaking to a parent. 2. We increasingly resemble the Son of our Father. 1 John 3: 2, 3. Lets see how this works. 3:6, 9, 5:18. John is not teaching us that we will never sin again just because of our adoption, no see 1:8. John sums it up for us in 2:1! But because our adoption is preceded by regeneration, which creates a new heart in us and therefore a renewed ability to respond to God, sin no longer is the main characteristic of our lives. Before our adoption, we walked in darkness, 3:10! But now we have a new life characteristic we begin to resemble our big Brother, Jesus, 2:29! What evidence should there be of our heavenly adoption? The best evidence of our sonship is our love for each other! It makes sense that now that we are family, we love our family. 3. We progressively develop a sonship mindset. Once we know the truth of our sonship, we submit our emotions to the reality that we have a Father that knows our weaknesses and needs and has promised to care for us. We alter our responses to problems and trials so that we react in a way that gives evidence to our status as adopted children of God, no longer responding as an orphan would. We develop a life purpose that is driven by our sonship. We become deliberate in our living. Our sonship frees us from the meaningless and ultimately deadly cycle of living for ourselves. We become missional in all we do because we want to imitate our Elder Brother! U

ALL NATIONS NEWS FOR THE MESSENGER Simon van Bruchem May 2013 As many of you know, All Nations Presbyterian Church is a multiethnic church situated in the middle of Perth city. God has been blessing us in different ways in recent times, and the Messenger is a good opportunity for us to encourage our brothers and sisters in other places with what God has been doing. Our church is very keen to reach our community with the gospel. We have started two English classes in the past year, one on Thursday nights and one on Friday afternoons. These classes give us the opportunity to have contact with people we otherwise would not get to know, and have led to some of these people showing interest in the gospel and the church. We also recently ran our annual Cultural Night, where we showcase the range of cultures in our church with songs and cultural performances followed by a short gospel talk. We then ate a meal together the ultimate way to unite cultures. Many brought their family members and friends along, and for some it was their first exposure to Christianity. We recently voted to call a second pastor for our congregation. Gordon Waghorn will start serving our church in mid-July. Gordon has much experience in Christian organizations and cross-cultural evangelism in a church setting, and we are excited to have him join us. We pray that Gordon will help us to expand our evangelistic efforts

while also helping with other needs of the church family.

Celeste and Gordon

It has been wonderful for our church (and for the kingdom of God) to see two conversions in recent months. Teruya, a Japanese businessman, came to Jesus after investigating Christianity through our church for over a year. Darren, a traveller from Canada, came to Jesus after searching for some meaning beyond what he had been living for. In both cases many church people were involved in friendship and conversations, and God was exceedingly kind to these men. Darren has now returned to Canada and is being discipled by a church in Alberta, while Teruya was recently baptized and became a member of All Nations. As with all of our churches, we would love your prayers as we try to glorify God. We have had many babies born to our people in the past year, we are all sinners with problems and doubts and concerns, and we always have many visitors to follow up. Please pray that we might proclaim the gospel clearly and show Gods love to those we have the privilege of coming into contact with. U

Steve Schoof was the pastor of Bull Creek WPC for many years. Steve and his wife Beth, are now living in America.

HUMOUR

A Challenge Can you answer all six questions with the same seven letter word?
1. 2. 3. What preceded God? What is greater than God? What is more evil than the devil? 4. 5. 6. What do very poor people have? What do all the wealthy people need? If you eat it, you will die. What is it?
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Church News THE 19TH SYNOD OF WPC, 2013 by Clem White THE 19TH Synod of WPC opened with a rousing worship service at Maida Vale WPC on Sunday May 12. We were challenged by a message about Gideon brought to us by Rev Dr John McRae. During the next three days we enjoyed one anothers company while attending to the business of our church. Each day was opened with a devotional message which set the tone for the day. Monday morning was a special time when we all gathered around the Table of our Lord Jesus. We then discussed the denominational magazine, The Messenger. The Synod agreed to continue subsidising the magazine rather than increasing the subscriptions. An appeal was made for congregations to submit the latest church news for all to read. The MTW representative, Steven Rarig brought us up to date about the future goals set by MTW when working in conjunction with WPC. We were told by the elders from Belconnen about plans for the development of a ministry Centre in Canberra and NSW. Don DeVries enlightened us about the Easy To Read Bible distributed by the Bible League in Australia. That evening we enjoyed a luscious three
Synod reps hard at work

The Angklung Choir play their Indonesian instruments

Peter Plumb and Mark Vivian kept us all in order

course meal at the RAAF restaurant at Bull Creek. On Tuesday morning John McRae gave us an inspiring talk about prayer after which we broke into groups and spent time in prayer on our knees. Craig Newill gave us an interesting explanation of the Apprenticeship programme running at Bull Creek. The two young men involved in this training scheme told us about how helpful it is to them. We heard from Simon van Bruchem and Don DeVries about the latest developments between WPC and the Brazil Presbyterian Church. There are plans afoot to exchange theological students. That evening we again enjoyed a scrumptious meal together. This time it was at the home of the Hunter family of Maida Vale WPC. We were especially thankful to the ladies (and there might have been some men!) who so generously gave of their time and effort to care for our needs. On Wednesday we again heard from John McRae. This time he spoke about evangelism which was followed by discussion on how to spread the gospel in Australia. We all agreed that the Synod was a particularly encouraging and uplifting time especially in the light of some recent difficult experiences we have faced as a church. U
No shortage of food

John McRae preaches from Judges chapters 6-9

Singing heartily to the Lord

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Synod Clerks Report to 19th WPC Synod 13 May 15 May 2013 Synod
B Y M ArK V IVIAN
his will be the fifth Synod that I have attended and my third as Clerk. I wish to express great appreciation to Peter Plumb, Maureen Southgate and Marie Markham. Marie and Maureen did a tremendous amount of work to make this Synod happen; organising the venue, accommodations and sussing out meal locations all the logistics that allow Synod delegates and visitors to meet and fellowship. We welcomed and thanked Dr John MacRae and his wife Signe for the time they have taken to visit our churches in WA. For those who dont know, John and Signe visited the churches in the WA Presbytery to investigate how the Lord might use them to help us plant churches. They are not with any mission-board. They are just praying and seeking Gods guidance on how they can use the gifts, talents and ministry experience the Lord has given them. John spoke on the topics of Prayer (Tues 14 May) and Evangelism (Wed 15 May). I am glad for the delegates who took the time to attend and represent their WPC church families here at this 19th Synod. The theme of this Synod, Back to Basics was chosen to encourage all our leaders to engage their congregations with the essentials of Gospel ministry. We enjoyed time spent at this Synod to spur one another on to love and good deeds as we work to proclaim and live the Gospel of Jesus Christ in this broken and rebellious world. Past Motions Discussed: Adequacy of WPC Constitution: Motion 2010/04 that we set up a committee [Constitution Research Committee] to: a) investigate the intent and adequacy of our constitution b) investigate other vehicles for legal recognition and assess the pros and cons of each type c) prepare a report and recommendations to the next Synod [18th 2011] The work is still in process. The Transparency Re: Finances: Motion 2006/08 that we establish a 12
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meeting of Synod made up of two representatives of each Presbytery, and the synod officers, to take place within four months of the end of the financial year [1 July 30 June re: S2006/05], to receive, examine and approve the audited accounts of Synod, and that this meeting may be held by electronic means. Motion 2006/08 will be addressed as the work on our constitution is done. To keep in line with Incorporated Associations under WA Law we will also need to update Motion 2006/08 nominees. The former nominees might not be available or suitable. The above two motions arose out of concerns that as a denomination we were not properly fulfilling our obligations as an incorporated entity under the WA Incorporations Act. We need to consider how we put arrangements in place to ensure that we are able to meet these obligations. The Website Committee proposed a number of initiatives/motions in the 17th Synod under 1.11. Funds for an Administrative Assistant were approved at the 17th Synod. However, no Assistant has been found. The Clerk has once again enlisted the help of Maureen Southgate and in addition Marie Markham was a huge help from Maida Vale. I would like to suggest that both these ladies receive a suitably generous amount of the money made available at the 17th Synod. I would ask that Synod suggest the amounts. Book of Church Order (BCO) updating somewhat related to the administrative assistant - amendments to the BCO should be the duty of any Admin Assistant. Roger Wilson was traditionally the custodian of the BCO keeping the master copy and ensuring that it remained up to date. However, with Rogers departure this work has fallen into abeyance. South Eastern Australian Presbytery (SEAP) joined the WA Presbytery - Belconnen WPC has come under the care of the WA Presbytery. The Presbytery regularly employs video-conferencing technology to make this work. Please be in prayer

both now and in the future for all those concerned. The Belconnen elders join with WA Presbytery until quite late, so their commitment to attend Presbytery has really raised the bar thanks brothers! Current Issues: Treasurer: Position filled - Teaching Elder (TE) Anton Noppers became Synod Treasurer at the last Synod. Hes doing good work and we all expressed our appreciation to him and those hes enlisted to keep Synod books straight. Moderator required: According to our practice, RE Peter Plumb will become vice-moderator after this Synod. Don deVries was nominated and elected to this position. Thanks Don. Clerk: TE Mark Vivian must receive help as Synod Clerk. Following the 18th Synod he has only been able to

put minimal effort into the Clerk duties. The Clerk is allowed to hire an Administrative Assistant. However, finding one is just one more task at this point. Pending another person nominating for the position, the current Clerk will continue, but does ask that if someone (particularly in WA) knows who might help with administrative duties, please let the Clerk know. Recording of Synod: As your previous Clerk developed the practice of recording Synod solely for his use in keeping accurate minutes your current Clerk will keep that practice as well. Such recordings will be for the use of the Clerk only and not available for circulation unless the Synod itself moves to release certain parts of the recordings. Along this line, the Clerk has received a request that all sermons/devotions at the opening of each sitting and various talks by our speakers be recorded and made available. U

Church Membership Classes, Mandurah, WA. By Clem white Over the past several months Clem has enjoyed conducting Church Membership classes with Joyce Wild, David, Patricia and Luke and Isabella, Tony and Conner and Scarlet. U

You say: Its impossible God says: All things are possible. (Luke 18:27) You say: Im too tired God says: I will give you rest. (Matthew 11 :28-30) You say: Nobody loves me God says: I love you. (John 3:16 & John 3:34) You say: I cant go on God says: My grace is sufficient. (2nd Corinns 12:9) You say: I cant figure things out God says: I will direct your steps. (Proverbs 3:5-6) You say: I cant do it God says: You can do all things. (Philippians 4: 13) You say: Its not worth it God says: It will be worth it. (Romans 8:28) You say: I cant forgive myself God says: I forgive you. CI John 1:9 & Romans 8: 1) You say: I cant manage God says: I will supply all your needs. (Philns 4: 19) You say: Im not smart enough God says: I give you wisdom. (I Corinthians 1 :30) You say: Im always worried God says: Cast all your cares on me. (I Peter 5:7) You say: I feel all alone God says: I will never leave you or forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5)
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Church News Grace Christian Church Buderim By Clint Lombard pastor of Grace Christian Church, Buderim So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are Gods fellow workers. You are Gods field, Gods building. (1 Corinthians 3:79 ESV) The last twelve months have been a time of enormous change for Grace. Pastor Bob Burnett, our pastor of almost 25 years, retired in September 2012. Bob is now assisting as caretaker pastor at Grace Presbyterian Church Morayfield, QLD. Richard MacDougal, our pastoral administrator also retired from formal responsibilities during the course of the year; Nathan Runham (licentiate pastor) left in February 2013 to pursue church planting in Tasmania; Matt Stodart, our international students worker, has been cutting back his responsibilities as he and his wife, Rashell, pursue a call to the mission field in Africa. Callum Lewis completed his MTS (Ministry Training Strategy) apprenticeship last year, and began full-time studies at Sunshine Coast Theological College this year, with a view to entering pastoral ministry in the future. All of this has meant that Grace has had to change and adapt its ministry as it looks at the future, and what God may bring. We currently have one pastor, assisted by our college student (Callum) and our administrator (Janne Evans) and are in the process of rebuilding our ministry staff team. On 3 March 2013, the congregation voted in favour of calling Clint Lombard as a pastor at Grace, and he was ordained on 16 March 2013. Pastor Dan Bosshard, of Christian Community Church Pacific Paradise, has
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Church News

graciously given some of his time to act as session moderator for Grace, and to mentor Clint in his new role as pastor. Pastor Bob had established a firm foundation of gospel-focussed ministry, built with faithful teaching from the word of God and an active pastoring ministry. It is a privilege to have such a foundation to build on, and God has been faithfully blessing Grace Church with new families, renewed interest in membership, a growing youth and young adults ministry and a deepening fellowship. Our eldership has also taken a more active role in the leadership of the church. We trust God for the future of Grace, and we pray that he would continue to bless the work here, and particularly as the area around the church is developed, that Grace would become more and more a beacon of the gospel in the community of Buderim. We value your prayers. U Three Crosses Pays Pastor! Three Crosses is now self-funding the employment of Teaching Elder Matt Waldron. It was reported at the General Meeting of Three Crosses on 22 April, that the financial collection from the church is now covering the cost of employing Matt full time. He said, While ministry is not about money, this is a concrete milestone that shows that more people are part of the church, and committed enough to contribute financially. Three Crosses is thanking God for all who are partnering in prayer and financial support, praying that continued growth will see the church able to cover its other expenses, and looking to God for guidance in continuing to plan for growth. U

WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES ATHLETICS CARNIVAL, WA by Clem white, pastor of CPC It was a pleasant warm day when our WA congregations fielded their athletes and non-athletes in an Athletics Carnival earlier this year. About 200 turned up to this smoothly run event. The carnival was organized by Brian David and helpers of Bull Creek WPC. There were races for all ages with ribbons for the place getters. We had relay races, short and long distance races and pram races. Mark Vivian apparently thought there were bike races when he turned up on his bike! Hot dogs and cool drinks were in plentiful supply for all to enjoy. It was a great day when we all got to know one another better. Thanks Brian. U

Brian David, our

organiser

Mark Vivian, bike race?

What no
Proudly

Pram race
on the d ais

The not so yo

ung

Arthur and Fay wo uld rather just watch

Ordination to the Christian Ministry By Clem White On Sunday March 24 Tony Walker was ordained by the Presbytery of WA to the Christian ministry to work in the prisons of WA as a chaplain. Tony has also been appointed as a teaching elder on loan to the session of Mandurah WPC. U

The elders lay hands on Tony walker during his ordination into the Christian ministry. Tony has been called by Presbytery of WA to minister in prisons as a Chaplain.

Tony looks a little apprehensive but Lynda looks fine! T h e M e s s e n g e r W i n t er 2013

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QUOTE:
June-July 2013

MARSHALL MUSINGS
Another year gone... ANOTHER YEAR GONE...

Serving with OMF in Japan

God has communicated to man, the infinite to the finite. The One who made man capable of language in the first place has communicated to man in language about both spiritual reality and physical reality, about the nature of God and the nature of man. ~ Francis Schaeffer
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 GRACE THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE c/- 30A Montilla Place, Manurewa, Auckland, 2102 New Zealand Contact: Revd Andrew Young GRACE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH PO Box 31-210, Ilam, Christchurch 8444, NEW ZEALAND Contact: Trevor Webb Email: 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: 52 Herries Street - TOOWOOMBA, QLD. Time: 10am Contact: Dave Kiewiet (07) 4636 5438 Web: 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 JUNE 2013 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.
T h e M e s s e n g e r W i n t er 2013

of the way through our third term! 34 of way through third term! we went away to the beach for a Shop. Davids student October teacher began Here arethe some highlights from our our last Our Uluru trip is one of the work. Wendy ran a Writers Workshop. twelve months: couple of days and Callum changed sports best memories of the year. Here are some highlights from our last twelve July/August we spent about six weeks in November David attended a physics seasons into wrestling. Wendy attended a Brain February included Science Expo, workshop and Wendy ran a planning Australia last year, on holidays and months: Bowl andhelped another Writers coaching workshop and out at Workshop. CAJs t. We received catching up with family and some friends. meeting for Japan Harves David taught science to home schoolers July/August we spent six weeks in at parentThrift good reports -teacher Shop. interviews, We also drove nearly 8,000 kmabout in a Davids student teacher began one day. went camping Mt Fuji. motorhome last to Uluru from Brisbane. Australia year, on holidays andand catching up near work. Wendy ran a Writers Workshop. March was possibly the craziest month December had many school related August we returned to Tokyo with with family and some friends. We also drove with a family schedule that looked like events before Christmas and then we David attended a physics Davids mum and took her camping, then November musical chairs. Retreats, camps, Senior nearly 8,000 km in aended motorhome Uluru from went away for a week in the mountains. soon after our adventures as school to workshop and Wendy a planning meeting trip to ran Thailand and we topped it all o January we began started again.August we returned to Tokyo with Brisbane. with a family camping trip. for Japan Harvest. We received good reports at the new year at a September saw us at cross-country April included track meets, Doug and Davids mum and took her 10 camping, then soon special Japanese meets every Saturday. Doug turned parent-teacher interviews, and went camping Jamie starting karate, and CAJs Thrift public and David year older. It wasas a school started after ouranother adventures ended nearbath Mtcomplex. Fuji. Shop. Wendy turned 40 and Jamie turned Most of our busy month getting back into the swing again. 8. Saturdays we spent of school-life again. We also celebrated December had many school related events May concluded the Track and Field supporting Callum at our 15th wedding anniversary this September saw us at cross-country meets before Christmas season and then we went away for a and Callum joined a Japanese month. wrestling meets. wrestling club. He also turned 14 this week in the mountains. every Saturday. Doug October we went away to turned 10 and David month. David attended an OMF training the beach for a couple of It was a busy month getting another year older. January we began the new year at a special week. days and Callum changed back into the swing of school-life again. We June is yet to come, but will the end Japanese public bath complex. Most of see our sports seasons into The Writing of this school yearCallum and us heading Workshops that we spent also celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary Saturdays supporting at up to wrestling. Wendy attended a Wendys run for Hokkaido for an OMF Japan conference coaching workshop and other missionaries this month. wrestling meets. and U a camping holiday. have been growing
helped out at CAJs Thrift
in popularity.

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: Email:

Many of you will remember Jeremy from our last home assignment. We used his photo at many churches and

photo at many churches groups, as we butare nearly 200 children from missions and of his lifeandsmall here. He still loves science his dreams have talked about what I (David) do. Christian ministries at CAJ. Another 250 moved to studying international relations in the UK. Jeremy ishe aisthird culture parents are children from other types of families are in our Now graduating fromkid. high His school. As one of his teachers it has from he was born Japan and careGod and in isneed of growing in Christs grace. been Singapore, a privilege to but watch him grow into in a young man who loves and has lived most offaithfully. his lifePlease here.pray Hefor still loves Pray that CAJ will serve them faithfully in the willing to serve him him, as his next steps do not Jeremy, as you saw him 3-4 years ago. science but his dreams have moved to studying next school year, after a good break! U involve university. Being a Singapore citizen, he will have to undertake two international relations in the Now he from is everything he has years of military service, which will UK. be very dierent David and Wendy Marshall graduating from high school. As one of his 1-19-10 Shinkawa-cho, known to date! Pray especially that he will show the love of Jesus to others Higashikurume-shi, Tokyo 203-0013 teachers it has been a privilege to watch him David and Wendy Marshall served in his unit. Phone: +81 42have 479 4493 growI into a young man who loves God and is as missionaries in Japan with OMF Email: TheMarshalls@omfmail.com continue to serve missionary families. There are nearly 200 children www.ido.com.au/marshalls.php willing to serve him faithfully. Please pray for International since 2000. Wendy writes from missions and Christian ministries at CAJ. Another 250 children from Blog: www.mmuser.blogspot.com him, as his next steps do not involve university. almost daily on her blog about ordinary other types of families are in our care and in need of growing in Christs Skype: marshall7173 Being a Singapore citizen, he will have to life as an Australian family in Japan: www. OMF Australia website grace. Pray that CAJ will serve them faithfully in the next school year, after www.omf.org/australia undertake two years of military service, which mmuser.blogspot.com. a good break! will be very different from everything he has E: themarshalls@omfmail.com known to date! Pray especially that he will show
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Spotlight small groups, as we talked about what I (David) do. any of you will remember Jeremy from the are love of Jesus to others in his unit. Jeremy is a third culture kid. His parents from on ourCAJ last home assignment. We used his I continue to serve missionary families. There
Singapore, but he was born in Japan and has lived most

SPOTLIGHT ON CAJ

Revd Bill Ham (07) 5428 1797 billham@powerup.com.au

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MISSIONARY KIDS DONT LEAD DEPRIVED LIVES

BY

W ENDY M ArsHALL
the new vocabulary weve needed to learn. However, its been an enjoyable journey, and not just because we enjoy watching sports. To see our son discover a passion for something hes naturally talented in and watch him learn new skills has been amazing. Its been tremendous to see his character develop as he faced the challenges of the sport.

hen we first applied to go overseas as missionaries we were DINKS, Double Income No Kids. During the time we were preparing to go, I became pregnant with our first child, Callum. When people quietly asked if that changed our plans to go as missionaries, we were shocked. Having children made our lives more complicated, but it didnt change the plans that God had for us to serve Him overseas. Now our boys have spent more time in Japan than theyve spent in Australia. People still ask them, So, how do you like Japan? This question doesnt make sense to them. Japan is the place theyve grown up in. Japan is home, but they also identify strongly with Australia. It isnt easy for us whove grown up in the country our parents grew up in to understand how children like ours feel about their lives. However, they have a rich diversity to their lives that we couldnt imagine when we were growing up. One example of this is our eldest son, Callum. Hes 13 and attends the school where David teaches, the Christian Academy in Japan. The schools curriculum and extra-curricular activities reflect the American origin of many of the founders of the school. Callums had an opportunity there to learn a sport he probably never would have encountered in an Australian school. Mum, Ill be wrestling in my singlet and shoes. Our New Zealand friend was shocked when she heard this from her son when he joined the CAJ wrestling team several years ago. She soon found out that a wrestling singlet was the name for the onepiece suit that wrestlers wear. Thankfully my friend warned me about the clothing terminology when our son Callum joined the CAJ international freestyle wrestling team two years ago. I was shocked, however, to see some of the neck strengthening exercises he did during training. I wondered if Id enjoy watching this sport Id never seen before. Getting involved with the sport of wrestling has been a steep learning curve for us, and not just with 20
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Wrestling demands perseverance, tenacity, and intense concentration, even at a beginning level. And surprisingly, its a sport that requires the participant to think a lot. You might think, Wrestling - lots of brawn, not much brains, but actually that isnt true. As the wrestlers pit themselves against their opponent, they have to problem-solve constantly. Wrestlers can get into some awkward positions and have to try to pull themselves out of those positions, without getting pinned. Most of the time they are working attack and defence simultaneously. At the end of his first season I wrote a blog post noting qualities Id seen developing in our son. I saw sportsmanship, not taking a loss personally. Wrestling is an intensely personal, one-on-one event. Yet, the sport, as Ive seen it, encourages the tussle to remain solely on the mat. The wrestlers shake hands at the start and at the end of each bout. They shake hands with the referees before and the opposing coaches at the end of the bout. Once the whistle blows at the end, it is all over. This season weve seen Callum become friends with some of his toughest opponents. That is a great skill to learn to play hard, yet become friends.

Learning to persevere is another skill weve seen our son acquiring. On one occasion we watched him almost pinned, then muster the strength to get out of that and go on to win a bout. One of his bouts this year went on for almost the full six minutes (three two-minute rounds). It was a mighty tussle, and either wrestler could have won. The video we took of it shows that at the end, it was our sons perseverance that won the bout. They were both exhausted, staggering around as if theyd been drinking, but Callum persisted and won. Seeing a noble characteristic like perseverance developing in our teenager is thrilling. Patience and the ability to overcome frustration are also characteristics weve seen growing in our son as he wrestles. These arent qualities our son has always displayed, so seeing them emerge during wrestling stirs my mothers heart. Our son has discovered this year that he often learns more from a loss than from a win. Easy wins arent very helpful in ones development as a wrestler. Out of a total of 14 bouts this season, Callum lost only three times, but each loss spurred him on to learn more. Through his passion for this one sport, weve seen him grow in other ways, including assertiveness and compassion. Weve also seen him grow in his ability to analysenot just how he wrestledbut how he was feeling at the time and how that affected his wrestling. Another example of the rich diversity in our boys lives is the friends theyve made. Last year our middle son, Douglas, invited two friends over for his 10th birthday party sleepover. One of his friends has a Japanese dad and an American mum. The other friends dad is Singaporean, and his mum is Japanese. At school Douglas has also learnt a lot about Korea from one of his classmates whos passionate about his home country. Jamie, 7, our youngest, also has friends from around the world. In first grade during the weeks leading up to Christmas they had parents and staff from

different countries come to their classroom to talk about Christmas celebrations in each of their home countries. After I talked about Australia, one of his female classmates was playing with her Barbie in a swimsuit around the Christmas tree. They all have a keener sense of world geography than many of their peers in Australia, and they love to keep a tally of the number of planes theyve been on. Theyre all striving to learn Japanese from their Japanese-American teacher who grew up at CAJ as a missionary kid himself. All of these opportunities and experiences have come their way because theyre not just visiting another country, but theyre growing up there. Yes, our kids have had their strugglesit is easier for me to find examples of difficulties theyve had, than joys. But theyve also gained much. None of them can imagine what life might have been like if wed remained in Australia. U

David and Wendy Marshall have served as missionaries in Japan with OMF International since 2000. Wendy writes almost daily on her blog about ordinary life as an Australian family in Japan: www. mmuser.blogspot.com. E: themarshalls@omfmail.com

FOOD FOR THOUGHT (IS BIBLE STUDY IMPORTANT?) The whole point of studying Scripture is that we might love God more. The better we know Him, the easier it is for our hearts to be inflamed with affection for Him. It is difficult, nay impossible, to love an unknown quantity. Love is something that takes place between subjects, not objects, and is the personal quality on which Christianity is based. The bottom line of what we are trying to develop in our Christian growth is a deeper affection for God. Thats what worship and Bible study are all about.
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Partnership, privilege and retirement

B Y D AVID & E LEANOr F IOL

ur last prayer letter was about longevity and memories. Yesterday I was on an early morning shuffle (old mans version of an exercise jog) on a littleused trail up a mountain above the Childrens Home. I had first hiked it more than 45 years ago. The air was crisp and clear. Stars were giving way to the glow David and Eleanor of dawn. Birds were waking up a peacocks piercing meeow on the opposite hillside, a tree-pies melodious melody below and a male black partridges territorial claim over there. A leopard called in the jungle across the dry river-bed. Eleanor and I were back for the annual Childrens Home board meeting and I had much to think, praise and pray about. As I crested the mountain with its panoramic view of the peaks, jungles, villages and the Childrens Home way below the memories of past years flooded in. I then thought of the board meeting in which we were about to participate. I was overcome with the joyful sense of privilege in Gods allowing Eleanor and me to partner with so many wonderful people here over all these years in several institutions and churches in order to do our little part to help build into the lives of so many of these our brothers and sisters. And the work continues by His grace under godly, committed leadership. Praise Him! It was a time of praise and thanksgiving that I will not soon forget. But then there are you folks too our partners around the world. It has been a privilege to know you and to help you connect with what
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God is doing here. Some of you have heard us use the illustration of one of this countrys favorite sports badminton in order to describe this partnership. There are two sides where the action takes place, separated by a net. There is great effort put into the game on both sides but also much joy and pleasure. Eleanor and I get the privilege (pleasure?) of being the shuttlecock banged around on both sides of the net but representing you to these folks over here and they to you over there, but necessary for the partnership. But now, after 49 years of this, come June, it is time for us to sit out a match and let others

play or perhaps more aptly, to have a change of shuttlecocks. Thus, God willing we expect to finally officially retire from active service with MTW on May 31, 2013. We will then call the western corner of North Carolina home. We are in joyful expectation of what God has for us next as we look forward to continuing our service to the Great King in whatever capacity He wants to use us. MTW has graciously allowed us to keep our account open with them and continue to draw on that for needs in the work of God here as well as any future trips we might take on their behalf. With much love and appreciation, David & Eleanor David and Eleanor Home Address: 66 Grace Haven Lane Penrose NC, 28766, USA U

Praise & prayer for: 1. successful and encouraging Board meetings of both the Childrens Home and Grace Academy (with the seminary and another major schools board meetings still to come). 2. the privilege of working alongside so many national partners with Kingdom focus and who are now in positions of responsibility. 3. the privilege of seeing, learning from and building into the lives of 25 godly and committed village pastors who came for a four-day extension course in the local language on the Book of Acts which the seminary asked me to teach. Many of the men have come to Christ from and are ministering in the same areas where my father and the men in the city church went year after year a day each week for perhaps 35 years without visible fruit. Now these men report remarkable answers to prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit reminiscent of the Book of Acts. 4. the privilege of being involved with others in the start and on-going ministry of the church which has rented the seminarys campus on Sundays for the past 25 years. 5. the privilege of being able to know, partner with and call friends so many of you to whom this letter goes. 6. the privilege of working with the PCA and MTWs associates in the home office and on the field. Note: for those of you who get this letter only through the postal service but would like to continue to receive our occasional updates by email, please send your email address to Eleanor at: eleanor@swissmail.org U

Principal Newton & David at Grace Academy

Principa l Martin at Home A cademy

Valley Bible Fellow ship with Pastor Phil & colleague meeting in a hotel s marriage hall

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SELFIES
By Sandra Wilson albums. They were a luxury for many. Over time, photos have become cheaper and more easily obtained. Photos that are taken now are able to be seen and distributed to others instantly. This has great appeal to those who want to share exciting and special moments with others as events happen. I wonder though, about what many of these photos are really showing about those who post them. Many selfies appear to be insignificant and trite. Many are far from flattering. Why are people posting them? Is it simply just because they can be, or because other people are, or that doing so provides another entertaining thing to do? Maybe such photos are being used to brag about something that has been done or to draw attention to the one in the photo. If this is true, has this trend become a new form of exhibitionism? Are those who post selfies displaying concerning narcissistic traits? These are tough questions that I hope will stimulate much thought and discussion as well as encourage all those who enjoy posting selfies to think about their motivation for doing so. U
Clues to Crossword Puzzle Across Down 4. Ephraim and Manasseh 1. David 5. Rehoboam 2. Jonathan, Merab, and 7. Hezekiah Michal 9. Moab 3. Cain and Abel 11. Nimrod 4. Simeon Peter 12. Obed 6. Samuel 15. Joshua 8. John the Baptist 16. Esau and Jacob 10. Absalom and Solomon 17. Jesus 13. Rachel and Leah 18. Isaac and Ishmael 14. Shem, Ham, and Japeth 19. Samson 20. Jehoshaphat 21. Joseph and Benjamin 22. Jesse U 23. James and John, The sons of thunder

PUZZLES
Bible Incomplete: Fill in the missing letters to complete the passage. Solution below. R_j_i_e _v_r_o_e. _r_y w_t_o_t _e_s_n_. I_ e_e_y_h_n_ g_v_ t_a_k_: f_r _h_s _s _h_ w_l_ o_ G_d _n _h_i_t _e_u_ c_n_e_n_n_ y_u. Bible Treasure Hunt: Solve the clue to discover the treasure, a Bible person, place, or thing. Solution below. This man had many gallant sons, And most were fully grown: Abinadab, and Eliab, And one whos better known.

WESTMINSTER SHORTER CATECHISM

WITH THE SCRIPTURE PROOF

For the uninitiated a selfie is a self portrait photo that is typically taken with a digital camera or phone at arms length or with the use of a mirror. Such photos are often posted on social networking sites, most regularly by the under 30s. Photographs have been used for some time to mark or record special events. Typically even the oldest of us has photos of weddings, children at various ages, and special places that were visited. Photos used to be expensive and were carefully cared for and displayed in frames or

Q. 48. What do the words before me in the first commandment teach us? A. The words before me in the first commandment teach us that God, who sees all things, takes notice of, and is much displeased with the sin of having any other God. [a]. [a]. Deut. 30:17-18; Ps. 44:20-21; Ezek. 8:12 Q. 49. Which is the second commandment? A. The second commandment is: You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me, but showing love to thousands who love me and keep my commandments. [a] [a]. Ex. 20:4-6; Deut. 5:8-10
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SOLUTIONS
Solution to Bible Incomplete: Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Thessalonians 5:16-18 Solution to Bible Treasure Hunt: Jesse - I Samuel 17:12-14 More puzzles like this can be found on-line at www.bible-puzzles.com

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: 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 Mob: 0400 798 151 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 Postal: Contact: Email: (08) 9228 4956 PO Box 8693, Perth BC WA 6849 Revd Simon van Bruchem simon_vb@optusnet.com.au 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 Contact: Rev Tony Walker Telephone: (08) 9534 4145 Email: tonywalker1@hotmail.com.au 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 19

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 Email: wpck@iinet.net.au

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LEEDERVILLE, PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Need to be better equipped for Bible teaching or mission?

3 Come and investigate study opportunities for 2012 contact 08 9228 9067 or info@ttc.wa.edu.au
www.ttc.wa.edu.au Preparing People for Effective Christian Service
Bachelor Degrees . Graduate Diploma . Masters and Research Degrees Certificate Courses . Pastors Days . Annual Public Lecture

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