HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Adam Richardson - 2013-05-22 12:10:58
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:4)
We have now entered the church season of Pentecost, which is often viewed as the birthday of the Christian Church. At Pentecost, God sent his Holy Spirit to help us in our faith development. At that first Pentecost, people from different regions and countries were all able to hear the message of Jesus in their own languages at the same time. This heralded a substantial shift in who God’s message was for. It was no longer just the Jewish people from Israel but all people everywhere that the Good News of God’s salvation was for.
| FAREWELL PASTOR PUK
Adam Richardson - 2013-05-16 12:02:53
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,
a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly
handling the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)
When Pastor Puk first announced his intention to retire, it seemed so far away. And now I’m faced with the reality that, after this week, he will no longer be a regular part of our school and church communities. But it does give time to reflect upon the person he is; a wonderful disciple of God.
In the 4+ years that I have known Puk, it’s been clearly obvious that he lives what he preaches. He is firstly committed to his Lord and secondly loves his neighbour as himself. He has compassion and care, honesty and trustworthiness. Puk has led by example and ensured that the Good News community heard about the God in the Bible; the God who loves, forgives and shares in our pain and joys; the God who saves us from ourselves through the free gift of his Son’s death and resurrection.
I wish Puk all of God’s blessings in this next chapter for his life. May he enjoy many days of fishing and golf, many days of special moments with Becky and his grandchildren, and many days filled with those words he used so often with us - peace and joy.
| FORGIVENESS: The Door to Peace
Adam Richardson - 2013-05-8 13:13:40
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us,
so that in him we might become the righteousness
of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
This week is National Lutheran Schools Week. The focus theme for 2013 is Forgiveness: The door to peace. Forgiveness is an important understanding in Lutheran schools and churches. We talk often about the forgiveness that God extends to us through Christ’s death and resurrection. It’s his forgiveness, given as a free gift, that makes Christianity different to other religions. There is nothing we need to do in order to earn God’s forgiveness or favour. At Good News we also encourage our students to forgive one another when hurts are experienced and to rebuild the broken bridges in relationships. It doesn’t mean that the offending action is acceptable but forgiveness does allow the hurt to begin healing.
Prayers: Lord, we thank you for our school and that you are in the centre of all we do. During this week, may we focus on forgiveness and the special gift that you have given to us. We also pray for Joshua Cochrane who continues to be unwell in hospital. May your healing hand be upon him. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
| PAY IT FORWARD
Adam Richardson - 2013-05-2 10:35:26
Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (Colossians 3:13)
In Junior Chapel this week I shared the Old Testament story of Joseph. His brothers were mean to him and sold him to some travellers from Egypt. Although sad at the time because of what happened, Joseph eventually became quite powerful in Egypt; being second only to the king.
One day, during the famine, Joseph’s brothers came to buy food from him, not recognising who he was. He had the chance to turn them away out of revenge but instead he forgave them because they were sorry for what they had done to him.
And it is the same with our God. He forgives us over and over for the things we are truly sorry for and seek to make changes with. Even when we don’t deserve it. In the same way, we are instructed to pay it forward and forgive those who are sorry for hurting us.
| GO MICK AND MATT
Adam Richardson - 2013-04-24 14:33:28
Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy!
(Psalm 126:5)
If you’ve been watching MKR then you’ll know about Mick and Matt. After the disappointment of being eliminated, they cooked their way through Comeback Kitchen and earned a place in the semi-finals. Tonight we find out if they make it to the finals. I hope they do, as they are a great example of how to act. They haven’t run their competitors down, they sought to work cooperatively in difficult situations and at each stage they learnt new lessons and applied them to the next challenge or opportunity.
In the same way, God reminds us that if we keep acting in faith, even when things aren’t going so well, then we will share in the blessings he has waiting for us. Life will throw us challenges and sorrows but, when we join with our Lord in heaven, we will be filled with more joy than we can imagine. Sow now and rejoice in the days to come.
| NO DOUBT
Adam Richardson - 2013-04-17 14:05:03
After eight days his disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see my hands; and reach here your hand and put it into my side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.” (Luke 24:36-39)
After Jesus’ resurrection, he appeared many times to his disciples and others. Oddly, perhaps, it was the disciples who were most doubting that Jesus had risen. They wanted visual and physical proof before they would believe. Jesus’ words in the last sentence of the text above are strong. That’s what faith is about; believing in something you cannot see or prove. Jesus showed, without a doubt, that he had won the battle over sin and evil and was truly the promised Messiah. He was their Saviour and he is our Saviour.
| YOU CAN'T IGNORE THE RESURRECTION
Adam Richardson - 2013-03-27 14:33:46
As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”
(Luke 24:36-39)
The fact that Christ rose from the dead on Easter Sunday is significant. It shows us, without question, that he is the Saviour that God promised. If Jesus hadn’t risen again, then he would have been relegated into history as just a nice guy with some good advice on how to live our lives.
Jesus showed himself to the people in the days after his resurrection so they could be certain of his divinity. He showed them his wounds and he ate meals with them, so there was no mistake he was the risen Lord.
I pray that everyone in our community has a special and blessed Easter.
| ALWAYS WANTED
Adam Richardson - 2013-03-21 12:25:26
I will never turn away anyone who comes to me.
(John 6:37b)
Jesus tells us to love one another and to love our neighbour as ourselves, but how often do we really do that? Can we honestly say that if someone is different to us, or may not fit the usual social expectation, that we treat them the same as our dearest friends? It’s easier to associate with those we feel similar to. It makes us more comfortable. And, by default, we push out those we don’t connect with.
It has likely happened to you as well. It’s certainly happened to me. I know, I know, “Surely not,” I hear you calling out. But it’s true. Not everyone likes me or wants me in their group. I have learnt to accept that.
Thankfully, though, it is not the same for our God. We are all different to Jesus because of our sin, yet he never pushes us away. In fact, when we are at our most different, when we acknowledge that we need his love and grace more than ever, he his right there beside us and within us.
| CELEBRATION AND JOY
Adam Richardson - 2013-03-18 14:19:31
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. (John 15:11)
For the past few weeks the focus in our values program has been on Celebration and Joy. Joy is much more than happiness. Happiness comes and goes as circumstances change, whereas joy stems from an ongoing sense of hope and peace. This verse from John’s gospel is from Jesus’ “I am the True Vine” explanation of his relationship to us. When we (the branches) are connected to Jesus (the vine), we are able to share in all the goodness that he offers and provides to us. When joined with Jesus, we can live our lives in the knowledge that regardless of what happens here on earth, there is a brighter life of eternity with God waiting for us. Now that’s something to celebrate and be joyful about.
| THE GIFT OF GOD’S WORD
Adam Richardson - 2013-03-6 14:00:19
Jesus commented, “Even more blessed are those who hear God’s Word and guard it with their lives!” (Luke 11:28)
Last Sunday our Year 3 students, and those students new to Year 4-7, each received a Bible from the Good News Church congregation. This happened because they view the school as one of their mission arms and realise the importance of putting the Word of God into children’s hands. The students will use the Bibles in their Christian Studies lessons and during devotions and worship. I pray that they will also use them at home to continue along their spiritual journey.
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