Encouragement

RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP

Robert and Maureen McQuillan write:

You’ve heard it before – when one sees premiers, prime ministers, political figures, presidents and such slammed on the news by unhappy people, a general comment is ‘Who would want to be a leader?’

Forget about governmental leaders – what about church leaders, especially senior pastors? Government leaders may be highly paid to carry responsibility and verbal attacks but most ministers aren’t. Their compensation rarely reaches even the bottom of the bar of the heavy role pastors carry.

Carry? It is often demanded, let alone expected. The notion of ministry being a specific calling from God that should be honoured is overlooked, ignored and many times disrespected. (more…)

ANGER MANAGEMENT

Robert and Maureen McQuillan write:

Remember the Jack Nicholson movie, Anger Management? He plays a psychiatrist, Dr Buddy Rydell, who volunteers to help a guy with anger problems.

A judge asks him: ‘You think you can help him?’ His replies, ‘Yep. And if I can’t, I’ll tear him apart with my bare hands.’

Anger Management

 

 

 

(Google)
Sounds like a psych with his own anger management problem!

An LA journalist friend asks us: ‘Why are Christians so angry? Where is the love?’ A current, very appropriate question – the Holy Spirit is obviously trying to get something through to Christians.

Actually, the truth is that Christians shouldn’t display anger, yet so often we do. We’re supposed to exhibit the Galatians 5:22-23 fruit of the Spirit – the very nature of Jesus himself!

And, after all, if we Christians can control our actions, achieving positive results, surely we can also control our negative reactions! (more…)

NOAH, JESUS and NEW BEGINNINGS

Robert and Maureen McQuillan write:

Seen the movie Noah yet? It has attracted much attention everywhere. Good casting, very creative, well thought out, full of godly righteous principles and attention-gripping all the way.

But it’s Hollywood style and only a little biblical, like DeMille’s Bible-inspired The Ten Commandments. Diehard ‘black and white only Christians’ eyebrows have been raised and it’s felt that ‘far too much artistic licence has been taken.’ Any who dare suggest believers should see the movie have been slammed. (more…)

MOMENTUM

Robert and Maureen McQuillan, Life Focus Ministries, write:

Our good friend Steve was asked to run a men’s group night and the Lord put the key word ‘momentum’ on his heart.

He asked us to do a leaflet for him and a funny aspect immediately grabbed our attention – moMENtum!

It’s definitely an action word, meaning ‘force of a moving body; impetus gained from motion.’ A good word in respect of males who are normally considered as ‘men of action’ wanting to be moving ahead in all of life.

But sadly many men feel discouraged and helpless because of circumstances or some spiritual enemy. It can be in the work place, family life, even through poor health or lack of vision. Whatever the pressure they’re blocked, they’re motionless and just can’t move ahead. (more…)

LEADERS NEED A ‘FRIEND OF GOD!’

Robert and Maureen McQuillan write:

One of the big problems in church leadership over the past 20 years or so has been pastors ‘burning out.’

Oh there’s still controversy over what really is burnout, breakdown, overwork exhaustion, depression and such.

That’s just the technical side and one for the experts to decide on. Definitions such as found in SM-5 type manuals can fluctuate and be updated as further research and case studies arise.

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SEEING THINGS DIFFERENTLY

Robert and Maureen McQuillan write:

Recently we were invited by good friends to join them, their family and others on the special occasion of the dedication of their first child.

We had had the pleasure of marrying this young couple last year in a beautiful outdoor setting: now came this extra joy of seeing their son meaningfully blessed indoors – in a church by a special lady pastor with a great message and a challenge to guard his future spirituality.

But there was something else that caught our attention – prior to the service beginning, a warm welcome was extended to everyone on the three large auditorium screens – left, centre and right. We saw that church in a different light from how we see many that have little idea how to really welcome people.

How did we know the welcome was to everyone attending? The word Welcome kept repeating in a variety of languages. We doubt if any visitor or regular attender was missed.

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ANTINOMIANISM RESURGANCE

Robert and Maureen McQuillan write:

A seemingly dumb blonde, Eve, crashes into Adam’s car writing both vehicles off. As they’re all right themselves, she says, ‘God’s reminding us of his grace.’ Adam, a ‘Duh!’ guy, nods.

Eve adds, ‘Oh look… a bottle of expensive wine in my poor car isn’t damaged. God’s telling us that it’s okay to celebrate our safety by having a drink.’ Adam agrees as she hands him the wine. Adam drinks half the bottle, notices Eve hasn’t drunk any. When he queries why not, she says, ‘Oh, I’m just waiting for the cops.’

Some ‘Adams’ never learn! And neither do some Christians in respect to some common-sense matters!

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A Determined God of Love

Robert and Maureen McQuillan write:

Recently we attended the funeral of a friend who loved Jesus. Held in a local Uniting Church, we were impressed as the minister, Tony Johnson, shared from his heart.

Space doesn’t permit us to detail all that this soft-speaking Geelongite said but we’ll always recall the following– truths that are relevant to every Christian in their understanding of God, their following Jesus and living as he did. And in honouring God’s word and reaching out to everyone.

Tony’s welcome to the mixed gatherers – family, friends and those who were strangers to each other but had known the deceased through her lifetime daily exhibition of love, is a classic.

Quietly and simply but meaningfully, he said: ‘Welcome to all of you – to those who believe, those who do not believe, those who do not know what to believe and those who have been too hurt to believe anything.’ In his eulogy, Tony made it clear that God is the God of determination – that through Christ he showed that he is the God of reconciliation.

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The Power of Words

Robert and Maureen McQuillan write:

A good friend who delights in finding funnies emailed this:

A guy bought a new fridge and to get rid of his old one put it in his front yard with a sign saying: ‘Free to good home. Want it? Take it.’
For three days the fridge sat there without anyone looking twice. He eventually decided that people were too mistrustful of this deal. So he changed the sign to read: ‘Fridge for sale, $50.’ The next day someone stole it!
Words have power
You could say it was all in the way the words were framed. Words do indeed have power.

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The Power of Prayer

Robert and Maureen McQuillan write:

A good friend called asking us to pray for her sick husband and also regarding their need for a new rental accommodation. The first matter was of top priority as the future was looking bleak, the second would be a great homecoming blessing from hospital.

We prayed, knowing that this couple value prayer; that they know their God is interested in everything to do with his spiritual children’s daily life journey. Prayer immediately brought God’s miraculous touch into action and he continues to bless them one step at a time, one day at a time, one miracle at a time.

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