power

RECOILING DARK ‘ICEBERG’ EXPERIENCES

(April 08, 2024) Robert McQuillan shares…

Last month’s news about Australian billionaire Clive Palmer refloating his dream to build a replica of the Titanic caught my attention.

His company, the Blue Star Line, intends the replica – Titanic II – to set sail in June 2027, the billionaire claiming that this ship would be ‘far, far superior to the original.’ 

Although the replica will have four funnels as had the original, this 21st century ship will be powered by a diesel engine. Modernisations will include upgrades to navigation technology and modern safety procedures – including sufficient lifeboats!

Recalling
My mind immediately recalled a little romantic 19th century novella. It’s by Morgan Robertson and I found myself digging it out to reread. Originally called Futility, it was renamed The Wreck of the Titan.

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POP POP POWER MEMORIES

(October 03, 2023) Norman and Margaret Moss reflect…

As a schoolboy I (Norman) was accustomed to an hour’s walk to school each day. However in teenage years I began to cycle to school instead. Then as I entered my early twenties power entered my cycling career.

Someone invented a small kind of outboard engine which could be fitted to bicycles. It worked by connecting to the rubber tyre and so long as there was no rain it was a great success. In wet weather the drive wheel was changed to one made of carborundum, which rapidly tore tyres to pieces.

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DON’T MISS LIVING A LIFE LESS ORDINARY

(January 23, 2023) Robert McQuillan reflects…

Recently I found myself recalling bandleader Billy Cotton’s rousing catchphrase intro to his BBC radio and television shows – ‘Wakey, Wake-aaaay!’

Now I’m going back! Cotton’s popular band shows ran from 1949 to1968! But beyond his successful musical career – Billy Cotton lived life to the full!

Cotton had seen action in World War 1 even before he was 19! He became a pilot and had his own Gypsy Moth, worked at several jobs and, even though he couldn’t play an instrument or read a word of music, started his own orchestra. He had been a footie player, a boxer, a presenter, and an accomplished racing car driver.

Billy Cotton’s life was regarded by many as ‘a life less ordinary.’

Don’t miss God’s calling
Our monthly Onliner doesn’t always have a particular theme, but this month it’s mainly about responding to God’s current call on our life.

When I link this with what I’m picking up from Skype, emails, ministers,  telecasts, podcasts and so-called ‘ordinary’ Christians it seems that God is a sending wakey, wake-aaaay! call to the church – and to Christians!

In this connection, have you considered living a life less ordinary for Jesus? Or are you content with things as they are, even if dull and boring? Have you missed out on daring to be an achiever for God.

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WORDS OF LIFE (#G5) AMAZING GRACE – CHARIS (Part 1)

(August 29, 2017) Dr Jim McClure noted theologian, continues his series on selected Greek words… 

‘Amazing grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.’

These are familiar and well-loved words from the hymn written by John Newton.  What else did Newton say about grace in that hymn?  He wrote,

‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.  …
Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.’

A transforming life-changing experience
Newton knew what he was talking about.  As a young man he was the ruthless and brutal captain of a slave ship.  But one night he discovered the reality of God, experienced his grace and was transformed from a cruel slave-ship captain into a preacher of the good news about Jesus Christ. Grace had made a dynamic impact on his life.

I believe that Newton understood something about the grace of God that we today largely fail to grasp.  We are confused about the meanings of the words love, mercy and grace in relation to the gospel.  We tend to think they all mean the same basic thing; but love leads to our acceptance by God,  mercy leads to our forgiveness by God, and grace, I believe, leads to a life-changing experience through God. (more…)

PENTECOST – CHANGED, CHARGED, CHALLENGED, COMMITTED, COMMISSIONED!

(June 1, 2017) Robert and Maureen McQuillan comment on some Pentecost realities…

Acts 2:2-4 Message records an amazing breakthrough that the frightened, uncertain early church experienced on the Day of Pentecost – ‘Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force—no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them.’

Wow! This was out of the blue! But it was something more than just worshipping God in new languages! It mightily changed those first disciples and they became daring men and women of faith who immediately witnessed the gospel and saw many converts genuinely repent of sin and turn to Jesus for salvation!

This Sunday, June 4 – is Pentecost Sunday this year and many churches ( not just Pentecostal) will be celebrating it as the…

  • Fulfilment of Jesus’ promise to everyone who follows him (Luke 24:49 and Acts 1:45)
  • Supernatural occurrences of how that promise was fulfilled – flames of fire resting on everyone and a mighty wind (Acts 2:2)
  • Additional manifestation of the Spirit causing Jesus’ followers to speak in tongues that not only centred on declaring the wonderful works of God but so confounded unsaved people outside that it led to many salvations! (Acts 2:5-13)
  • First ever public pronouncement of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead (Acts 2:31, 32, 36)
  • Confirmation that the promise of the Holy Spirit is for every born-again believer, not just a chosen few or a particular church group or only leaders! (Acts 2:38b)
  • Ground-breaking declaration that repentance is the only way to forgiveness of sin and to gaining salvation – not like many of today’s weak pleas of ‘All you have to do is just give your heart to Jesus, nothing else’! (Acts 2:38a).

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THE POWER OF HOPE

peggy-kannaday(January 9, 2017) Peggy Kannaday reflects on a great biblical truth… 

Hebrews is a very informative New Testament book. For example Hebrews 11:6 makes it clear that it is impossible to please God if we do not have ‘faith.’

What is faith? The writer of Hebrews tells us that faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen (Heb. 11:1). In short, without hope; there could be no faith. Why? Because faith is based on the content of what the person is hoping to experience or attain.

Hope deferred makes the heart sick (Proverbs 13:12), and a hopeless person is very sad, depressed and ill. We must keep our hope strong at all costs because hope is a key to a healthy mind and life! It is a required prerequisite to activate God’s power in your life. (more…)

COMMIT YOUR 2016 PLANS TO GOD

Carol Round 2016Carol Round shares meaningfully re 2016 resolutions…

The apostle gives good advice in 3 John 2: ‘Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.’

A New Year has arrived and with it the usual resolutions to lose weight, get in shape and quit smoking. Some look for quick fixes through crash diets, new exercise crazes or so-called ‘magical’ pills while others seek a solution through surgery, bringing with it a host of possible complications and side effects.
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THEBUZZ

Disclaimer: Articles and links, as well as the source articles linked to, do not necessarily reflect the opinion of ConnectingwithYou! Our thanks mainly to Dan Wooding and ASSIST News Service link: www.assistnews.net (and to other news sources)
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MOUNT HERMON, CA
Peanuts movie: Good grief…plus fun…in 3D!
Rusty Wright
Rusty Wright, Special to ASSIST, suggests… Fasten your seat belts, Peanuts fans. It’s a wild ride as the beloved comic strip characters hit the big screen in 3D. Charles Schulz‘s whole gang’s in this one.

Will Snoopy shoot down the Red Baron? Will Charlie Brown introduce himself to the Little Red-Haired girl? Will Lucy pull the football? You’ll have to see for yourself. But it’s fun. Lots of fun. (more…)

PENTECOST – ‘TONGUES’ AND MORE!

Dr-Robert-&-Maureen-McQuillan_PhotoRobert and Maureen McQuillan share:

It’s Pentecost Sunday this weekend!

This used to be a yearly highlight in most denominations, let alone Pentecostal ones – a celebration of when the Holy Spirit fell on the first Christians as described in Acts 2. That was when Christians were filled with the Spirit and joyfully worshipped God in ‘new tongues’ – untaught languages or glossolalia (V8-11). (more…)

RESPONDING TO PENTECOST

Murray Capill

Murray Capill, author and Reformed Theology College’s principal, challenges…

There are three ways we can respond to the central themes of the narrative in Acts and especially its focus on the Holy Spirit.

1. Seeking repetitions
One way is to continually seek repetitions of the day of Pentecost. Charismatics and Pentecostals treat the events of that day as normative and so they look for spectacular signs as manifestations of the Spirit today and for the baptism of the Spirit as an experience subsequent to conversion. (more…)