A Man of Faith

Richard Holland has been a spiritual father, mentor and friend over many years. His daughter Hilary and I go way back, and he was the founder of my home church, CityLife Church in Melbourne, Australia. When Richard started the church 40 yrs back this year, it was called Waverley Mission, then Waverley Christian Fellowship and now City Life. As you see from the photo, Sue Carpenter is back in town as of yesterday, and the first person she wants to see is Richard. A tremendous man of faith, Richard has seen many thousands of miracles, healings and lives changed and renewed by the power of God. He is also a man of great vision - when my father (who served as an elder in the church) found the land that the current church in on, Richard immediately saw it all: the church built in several stages, a school, community centre and a retirement village. In 1981 when the land was purchased there were 350 in the church but now almost all of that vision has come to pass - a church of more than 6000 in attendance every week, a school with over 1000 students, a community care centre with qualified counsellors, medical services, social workers and more. Only the retirement village did not eventuate [many of us older members of the church may regret that!] We thank the Lord for the "fathers" in the church today - godly men who can be trusted to walk the way they talk! We love you Richard!

NIGHT BEAUTY

Some years back I was walking through the botanical gardens in Singapore late at night, enjoying the cooler air after a hot and steamy day. Pausing by a pond, I admired the water lilies which seemed to float on the water. Some were competely open while others were in various stages of opening. Now the majority of flowering plants open wider in the sunlight, but there are some that are at their best in times of darkness. These particular water lilies were such plants. Makes me think - dark times [grief, disappointment, rejection, the challenges of illness or a broken relationship, all the struggles of life] can bring out the best in us. As a Christian I know that there are resources I have not always drawn on [how often I try to solve problems in my own strength). Resources such as pressing into God's presence as never before, asking Him for direction, for strength, searching His word for insights and sometimes just comfort. And all these are there - they are always there because HE is always there. I love they way David puts it in Psalm 116 "I love the Lord because He has heard my voice..." Jeremiah puts it this way (God says) "Call on me and I will answer you."
But the onus is on us to call....not half-hearted but with desperation, truly wanting God to respond and willing to listen to the way in which He chooses to respond. I sat beside one water-lily waiting for that last petal to open...it was like watching the hour hand on a clock - you CAN see it move if you look intently enough - and after about 40 minutes there it was...the last petal fully extended completing the perfect flower just the way it was created to be.

Fruit which remains....

While in Idaho we had breakfast with two of Sue's 'kids' [sorry guys!] Dena Cambra and Terry White were part of Sue's Super Sundayschool when she was Children's Pastor at Central Assembly. Now Dena is a college basketball coach back east and Terry is a professional singer living in Nashville. It is always exciting to see where GOd takes those we minister to and grow to love, and to know that the truths taught and the personal encounters with God through family and church will bear 'fruit that remains'. Sue is so proud of these two - in the best possible way! We pray '07 will be a great year for both Terry and Dena on every level - spiritually, physically and relationally.
Bible reference: John 15:16

Photo album

1. Sue, Dad and Mom on Christmas morning
2. John with Oatie
3. Larry with Sue on the "Oops" program for public access TV
4.Sue and De Ann at Terrace Lakes, Idaho.

Family and Friends

When it comes down to it, Christmas is really about family and friends, and whilst I have some great extended family and many loyal friends, usually on Christmas morning I wake up and wander out to the tree in the living room, put on my Christmas music and sit down to open my gifts. This is the one time in the year when I feel alone ...and then the phone rings. Sue and her family are always the first to call, and so it was such a blessing to be able to be with them this time.

Christmas in Idaho

I can't believe Christmas has come and gone! For the first time in 12 years I had the joy of returning to Boise for a white Christmas. As we flew down over the foothills I was dismayed to find brown, not white! Later in the afternoon I stood outside in the cold and asked God to smile on me and send me snow! Can you believe that several flakes immediately landed on me - no snowstorm, but enough to show up on my black coat! It was a SIGN I told everyone. After that I was caught up in the busyness of the season - shopping, visiting, eating, preparing, shopping...and on it went. I loved the cold, the lights, the Christmas music (after all Chestnuts Roasting by an Open Fire does nothing to me on a typical hot Christmas Day in Melbourne, Australia!) And then it happened....about four days before Christmas it snowed...and snowed again...and the ground was still white on Christmas morning. That's all I needed - not mounds of snow, but a soft, even cover to complete my Christmas dream. It reminds me of the simple things in life - I was satisfied with what I got in terms of snow - Lord, let me be satisfied with what I have in other areas too.