Encouragement

GREAT SINNERS – BUT A GREATER SAVIOUR!

Robert and Maureen McQuillan share gospel good news…

Recently we watched that classic Amazing Grace, the story of William Wilberforce, an evangelical Christian, at personal cost dedicating himself for 18 tough years lobbying the British parliament for the abolition of the slave trade.

In 1807 the slave trade was finally abolished. But the fight went on to free those who were already slaves and it wasn’t until 1833 that an act was passed giving freedom to all slaves in the British Empire.

One scene from this great movie filled with Christian principles sticks in our mind as we approach Easter this month. It is when Wilberforce (actor Ioan Gruffudd) calls on his old mentor old preacher, John Newton (played by the inimitable Albert Finney). (more…)

FEELING HELPLESS? KEEP PRESSING ON – BUT NOTE…

Robert and Maureen McQuillan share…

February already! If God were to judge our 2016 life achievements by a row of 12 candles that had been lit in anticipation, he’d be reminding us that one is already snuffed out and we’ve only eleven more before the year is gone.

It’s the proverbial case of tempus fugit (line 284 of book 3 of Virgil’s Georgics, where it appears as fugit inreparabile tempus: ‘It escapes, irretrievable time’). We usually say ‘time is on the wing!’ (more…)

‘DID GOD REALLY SAY?’ – THE BIG LIE, DECEPTION AND THE BRAIN LIZARD

(January 16, 2016) Robert and Maureen McQuillan share something old, something new…

No one likes lies and being lied to. Lying indicates trickery and deception. We teach children the value of truth and that one’s word is to be regarded as a person’s bond. We teach them never to lie and as parents we set examples.

Unfortunately because of sin, lying and lies are part of the human nature resulting in broken or unfulfilled promises. Parents have to warn their kids about this too.

Lying is not of God!
Lying is not in God’s character. The Bible is the word of the God who never lies (Psalm 33:4; John 17:17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 John 2:27; Hebrews 6:18) and has several warnings and important things to say about lies and lying. For example, the Bible speaks against lying – (more…)

CHRISTMASTIME: EVERYONE, EVEN SANTA, NEEDS SAVING!

Robert and Maureen McQuillan remind readers of the real reason for the season – lost people need to be saved!

‘Jesus is the real reason for the season,’ Oh that phrase sounds a cliché these days – after all it’s been around for decades in Christmas cards. We can recall first adding it to blank cards some 30 years ago, as well as reminding congregations.

But it’s still a reality! For years Christmas has been regarded as merely a festive season, a holiday break for many in the workforce…tradies particularly love this seasonal closedown time. ‘Happy Christmas’ has been substituted by ‘Happy Holidays’ on many cards. (more…)

BEING AVAILABLE

Robert and Maureen McQuillan remind readers that ability is good but that availability is more useful to God.

In Galatians 5, Paul speaks very strongly regarding our freedom in and through Christ. The Message Bible version uses some down-to-earth wording in urging us to get rid of ‘stuff’ – such as ‘a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage…trinket gods; magic-show religion … small-minded and lopsided pursuits’ (v19-20). (more…)

RESPONSIBILITY: FREE WILL AND CHOICES

Robert and Maureen McQuillan share:

One of our ways of relaxing is to watch old movies and selected engaging TV series. Every now and then we hear an actor profoundly share a (whether the script writer realised it or not) great biblical principle or life principle. Such as one we heard recently in a Person of Interest episode.

Without going into details regarding this hit TV mystery action series, let’s just say that repeatedly the dialogue carried some great life truths, such as this one.

‘We all have free will – and with that comes great responsibility’ explains billionaire software genius Harold Finch (Michael Emerson), creator of ‘the machine’ (a secret government Big Brother surveillance system that watches everyone, everywhere) to his top operative, former CIA agent John Reese (Jim Caviezel, who played Jesus in The Passion). He adds, ‘Sometimes great loss.’ (more…)

ENCOURAGING

Robert and Maureen McQuillan encourage readers…with some more encouragements:

Encouragement! We all need to hear from time to time words that inspire us. Life is life and throws challenging curves at us (even the best of people) that can easily throw us if we’re not trusting the Lord.

One great advantage Christians have – beyond committing every potential upset to Jesus, is to have good friends with whom we confidently trust to share things and seek their counsel and prayer support and encouragement. (more…)

FAITH AND DOUBT

Robert and Maureen McQuillan raise a relevant nitty-gritty point:

Two interesting words – faith and doubt…they come up again and again in scripture, church life, conversations between Christians. And they’re used in a number of ways in sermons, especially ones intent on challenging where we really are as ‘faithful non-doubting’ followers of Jesus.

Both are action words – faith speaks of positive action, doubt of negative activity.

In general chatting with some Christians or in counselling, one can so easily wonder ‘Where are they at? Where are they coming from? They don’t seem to be able to really trust Jesus let alone his word. With all this negativity, where is their faith?’ (more…)

WHAT POWER STANDS BEHIND YOU?

Robert and Maureen McQuillan ask some relevant questions:

Amazing photo, isn’t it? Cunard’s Captain Kevin Oprey standing on the bulbous bow (what helps stabilise movement) of the Queen Mary 2, the world’s largest ocean liner, Photographer James Morgan took several photographs to mark the ocean liner’s tenth anniversary and Australia’s Daily Mail ran with the caption, ‘Welcome aboard my little boat.’

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2575169/Adrift-sea-Extraordinary-photos-captain-Queen-Mary-II-standing

Although small of stature Captain Oprey looks so confident with all that mighty power that he commands behind him! (more…)

CONNECT

Robert and Maureen McQuillan concernedly challenge:

A little while back we felt to quietly and unannounced visit for the first time a church claimed by many to be great, growing and full of life and love. Filled with anticipation and expectation we slipped in, sitting only three rows from the platform some 15 minutes prior to the service starting.

Admittedly we had been welcomed, although rather shyly by a young person in the foyer, but not one of the several people chatting nearby or were in the front aisle or even passed us by came over to welcome these two strangers. Nor did any those who finally seated themselves around us as the service started. (more…)

Connecting with You!

words of encouragement from us