Easter is here

Easter is on our door steps again for another year. Have you been thinking about it. We are in the time of Lent - which is a 40 day period that remembers the 40 days Jesus fasted in the desert.  People have traditionally fasted during this time in preperation for Easter - the crucial point in the christina calendar.

How are you preparing for easter this year? Are you going to go without something to help you focus on Jesus and his death and ressurection.

In the hustle and bust of the begining of the year - let us now plan to take some time out to focus on Easter.
Why not set a target to read through the different gospel accounts of the easter story. Take some time out to reflect and meditate on these truths.

"finally the disciple who reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed"  John 20:8

Family Fun

The Wesminster Shorter Chatechisim asks the question "what is the chief end of man?"  and answers, "To glorify God and enjoy Him forever"  


So I have been thinking about that lately - How do I enjoy God in my family? When families work well - they are so enjoyable to be part of.  As a father I continue to ask myself the question of what am I doing to make my family an enjoyable place to be? Is our home characterised by joy, fun and laughter? Is it a place where my children and wife want to be?


What activities or spaces are we creating to have us enjoy eachother and enjoy God together?  For us getting out into nature is one of those places - familiy holidays, where we get away from the routine and enjoy the wonder of creation together.  Playing sport has been another of those - backyard cricket, basketball, tennis are all places where we can enjoy life - recognising who has made it all possible.


Sometimes I think as christian families we can be all a bit serious. Glorifying God in our enjoyment of life as families is an interesting concept to graple with?   How is your family doing this?


Do you enjoy reading and praying together - or is it seen as a drag??   
Do you enjoy church togehter?    Do you talk about it discuss it before, after, during?
Do you enjoy family time together?     Do you invite others in to be part of it?


Remember - "Your family displays God to the world" - how is it Glorifying God??

Life In the family

I am writing you these instructions so that if I am delayed you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth.      1 Tim 3:14-14

As Paul writes his two letters to Timothy he spells out how people should live in the household of God.
As you read through these two letters I think 3 things become evident:

     1.   Living in the church means protecting the truth of the Gospel of Christ Jesus
     2.   Living in the church means that family units are vitally important
     3.   Living in the church means living a holy and godly life.

Why not have a read through these letters to Timothy and reflect on how you have been living in the Family of Families compared to what Paul instructs Timothy.

Joining the Fam

How do you become a child  in a family? Well you are either born into it or adoptend into it!  When Jesus talks with Nicodeamus in John 3 he tells him that he needs to be born again. This was to one who knew himself to be an apoted son of God - through the promise made to Abraham and the nation of Israel. Jesus says a that just being part of the family of Israel was not enough - he need to be spiritually born again. Born of the spirit of God that comes through a faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and savior.

Are you part of Christs family?  Have a read of John 3 to find out how
Read vs 16 in particular......


This week at WCCC we will witness people become members of the family, some by professing their faith others by signing the partnership covenant why not join us in this celebration.

Family of Families

The Bible calls the Church - the household of God (Eph 2:19, 1 Tim 3:15 Gal 6:10 Heb 3:6) and much of our understanding of our relationships in this household are family terms, Father, Son, Brothers, Sisters, Children. We must then consider how to live in such relationships.

What confronts me in 1 Tim 3 :15 - is that it discribes this house as being the 'foundation and pillar of truth' and elswhere the Bible talks about the church as abuilding whose architec and builder is God and even more this house is the dwelling place of the living God. So if we are to to be the expression of God to the world, if we are to be proclaimers and protectors of the truth then I would like to be the Church Family that God wants us to be.

This family is to be one where there are relationships of love, mercy, grace, forgiveness, gentleness, paitence, self control, joy, service - imagine a family where these things were lived out every day. Imagine people having a supernatural experiance of these attributes in our family at Wantirna?

Let us work hard at being the household of God - His dwelling place.
How will you do that this week???

God Life

A couple of weeks ago we asked the question of whether our lives reflected the enorimity of what has happened to us through Jesus Christ?  Have you had time to reflect and consider your salvation?  that once you were dead - and dow you have life, once you were lost but now are found, once blind but now can see.
If you haven't yet take some time this week to think about when you were saved - what was it about it that made you want to follow Jesus -     can you recollect the change of life style?

The God Life:

Be clear minded so you can pray
Love each other deeply
Offer Hospitality
Use your gifts
Speak as if you were speaking God words
Serve - In God's strength

Why? so that your God life may bring glory to your savior 

-  Have a read of 1 Peter 4:1-11 again

Test of Leadership

In Nehemiah 7 Hananiah is appointed to govern Jerusalem. The quality that set him apart was his proven character; "he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most men do."
By revealing the reason for his choice Nehemiah reveals the qualities of a godly leader. These qualities are still essential for us as a church as we think about the people we chose as leaders, and the leaders into which we ourselves are developing.

Hananiah's appointment was based on more than skill (although he had proven ability as a "commander of the citadel.") Hananiah was chosen mainly for his outstanding spiritual qualities. No matter how qualified or gifted a person is in their chosen field, their spiritual capacity should be seen as paramount to their leadership in the body. The abilities evident in Spiritual gifts may be related to natural talents, but the way they are applied for the good of the body sets them apart from worldly talents. Leaders need Spiritual discernment and spiritual principles to govern their leadership, such as leading by serving, rather than leading by dominating (Matt.20:25-28).

It was clear that he was more than a novice, because he had proven faithfulness (integrity.) Sometimes we choose leaders who are unproven, or untested. It is a strange thing to consider people for leadership because 'they are not doing much,' or 'haven't yet had a go' and to disqualify capable men because they are already busy and already leading. Leaders in the church ought to be those who are engaged, active and have a proven track record of leadership.

Finally, his spiritual qualities stood out, 'more than most men.' The church ought to choose its best men as leaders.
I don't believe these qualities came about by accident. They are God's grace and can be developed through consistent and dedicated spiritual disciplines, mutual accountability and faithful service over time.
May God grant many such leaders to his church today and in the future.