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From Ben – 19 February 2012

Written February 21st, 2012
Categories: Bulletins, From Ben's Desk

I have been watching the fascinating TV documentary series “Frozen Planet”. It documents the amazing survival of animals throughout the various seasons of the Polar regions.

One of the animals that fascinates me is the emperor penguin. The males survive through the freezing arctic winter by huddling together with hundreds of other penguins. They stand together against winds that are -20 C, for up to 3 months. Their secret is that they stand together and support one another.

It is the same for us in our world, which can be hostile, harsh and difficult for the Christian. God has given us his church and the Christian family. As we share our needs and lean on one another as the body of Christ, we will get through. To separate ourselves and try to go it alone will mean failure, just as it would mean death to a penguin that separates itself from the group.

Galatians 6:2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ

From Ben – 12 February 2012

Written February 14th, 2012
Categories: Bulletins, From Ben's Desk

In our passage today we will see that Jesus prays that his disciples would know the full measure of his joy. I think, as Christians, we just get too serious, worrying about not praying enough, or reading the Bible enough or speaking to others about the Lord enough, etc. While these things are important, they must not dominate our lives. God wants us to enjoy walking with Him, enjoy His companionship through life and to reflect on His goodness, which brings joy.

Remember those timeless words of the angels to the shepherds, that the message of Jesus is one of “great joy”. The apostle Paul, as directed by the Holy Spirit, made it quite clear that Christianity is not a new set of laws, but a relationship of trust and joy.

Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking (laws), but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Join with me as we express our delight in God’s salvation by becoming increasingly joyful!

We are meant to enjoy our salvation, not endure it!

From Ben – 5 February 2012

Written February 7th, 2012
Categories: Bulletins, From Ben's Desk

Welcome back!

This is our first bulletin for 2012. We pray that this year will be memorable and blessed for your family and our church.

This is a great time to set priorities for your home and spiritual life. May I encourage you firstly to do the basics well -

Start each day by praying and reading from God’s word before the daily rush begins.

Covenant to attend church whenever possible on the Lord’s day.

Join a small group in our church to study the Bible and fellowship with other Christians.

Take every opportunity to speak to others about what God is doing in your life and can do for them.

Praise God for the small things in life, which we so often take for granted, but we would miss if they were taken away.

As you prioritise in 2012, I pray that you and your family will experience God’s blessing in every way.

Psalm 37:4 Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

From Ben – 6 November 2011

Written November 9th, 2011
Categories: From Ben's Desk, News and Views

I am sure by now you will be aware that the debates/speeches/lobbying by the various political parties is hotting up. Wherever you go in Auckland you are confronted by posters and bill boards announcing the virtues of one political party over another.

As I have tried to hear some of them out, as they have made their policies known in the media, I have noticed a consistent trend. They all seem to be obsessed with the economy – pensions, jobs and spreading wealth around. What troubles me is that there is very little talk about values or being better people. Rather it is all about having more or making more money. I would agree that making ends meet is necessary, but there is more to life than what money can buy and there must be more to a leader than his ability to manage money.

Jesus was so clear on this that values are more important than valuables. Luke 12:15

Let us not fall into the materialism trap. Who we are is more important than what we have. How foolish to spend your life labouring for that which can all be lost in a moment. The writer of Ecclesiastes says it is just a chasing after the wind…..

We ought to be concerned for those things that matter most to God and for the things he values most.

From Ben – 30 October 2011

Written November 2nd, 2011
Categories: Bulletins, From Ben's Desk, Uncategorized

We are the champions – Yes, we won! Well eventually, after falling short a few times in the Rugby world cup, now after 24 years the New Zealand All Blacks hold the title – “World Champions”.

For those of us who followed the progress of our team through the pool phase, the ¼ finals, the semi finals and then the triumphant final, we breathe a deep sigh of relief. It was a closely contested game and we only just won!

As I consider that final game it can be compared to the Christian life. That game was hard, the players had to be disciplined, motivated, focused, committed, and work as a team. They had to give all they had and play hard to the end.

In many ways the Christian life is the same. It calls for discipline, it calls for us to run according to God’s rules, to be focused on Christ, and be faithful to the end. There is no consideration of giving up.

The biggest difference is that as Christians we do not participate for a prize that one day will be taken away. Our prize is Christ and he is permanent. Once we are in the race the end is guaranteed and the prize is eternal.

1 Cor 9:24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize

From Ben – 23 October 2011

Written October 25th, 2011
Categories: Bulletins, From Ben's Desk, News and Views, Uncategorized

As we come to the final of the World Cup this weekend, it is relieving to know that our team has made the finals. This is the biggest sporting event in the history of New Zealand, and it is so evident with all the flags and media hype that the nation has got behind this whole event.

We have possibly learned a lot more about rugby and it is mind boggling technicalities over the last weeks. For our boys to do well, and we hope to win tonight, they will have to play by the rules, and play well together. Rugby is not an individual sport, but a team sport. The media seem to love to select a player and try to focus on him as the star and hero – the key player. They love to emphasize his unique abilities, but in fact, he is at his best when he plays as part of a team, and plays by the rules. This principle has been seen with the loss of Dan Carter. Despite his absence, the team is still a winning combination.

It is the same in the church, we are part of a team and we perform best when we work together and play by the rules. What kind of player are you? Are you keeping fit spiritually? Do you encourage the team? Do you show up for team meetings? Are you keeping the rules?

To be part of the church is to be on Christ’s team. Let’s give our best for our team and our captain.

From Ben – 16 October 2011

Written October 18th, 2011
Categories: Bulletins, From Ben's Desk, News and Views

How sad it is to see the mess, devastation and pollution being caused by the ship Rena, which has collided into the reef off Mt Maunganui beach. I have seen images on TV of some of the locals in tears over the destruction of their once pristine beach environment.

It is however, heartening to see what a wonderful response there has been to address the carnage. To date about 2 000 people have registered as volunteers. One of the affected beaches has already been cleaned up and one report said that it was hard to believe that it had ever been so badly affected.

This is again proof of what can be achieved when people work together for a common purpose. The Lord calls us as a church to work hand in hand standing together as one people to tell our world of his love and saving grace. Let us do our part and add our voice to others, letting our community and world know that God has a plan and purpose through Christ for a lost and confused world.

Eph 4:16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

From Ben – 9 October

Written October 12th, 2011
Categories: Bulletins, From Ben's Desk, News and Views

This Sunday we will be joining together in focused prayer for one of our church families. As has been raised on the prayer chain, a young lady who turns 19 today, is about to start chemotherapy. Her family has asked for prayer by the elders in obedience to the instruction to pray in James 5:14-15
Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵ And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up.

We will pray for her as a church and by faith look to the Lord for healing. This is also an opportunity for you to pray with us, both in church and at home for her and her family. These are trying times for the whole family.One of the outstanding features of the early church is that it prayed together and cared for one another. Our church has a long history of loving support and sensitive care. Let us all step up, not only for this family, but also for others in our church community who find themselves in need of special help at this time.

John 13 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

From Ben – 2 October 2011

Written October 4th, 2011
Categories: Bulletins, From Ben's Desk, News and Views

This Sunday Tim Robert is to be ordained as an elder at Greenlane Presbyterian Church. At present we have 11 serving elders, who make up the leadership team in our church. Tim’s inclusion will bring the number to a good Biblical 12.

As Presbyterians our churches are run by a group of elders, each taking responsibility for an aspect of the church, with the minister being the teaching elder. All the elders are of equal status and work together as equals in a team.

Today, after careful prayer and reflection Tim joins our team. Please pray for him and the Roberts family. Tim brings with him gifts of leadership and a heart for children and families. He has already shown his skill and talents in developing our youth band and helping institute a better finance system for our church. We are grateful to God for Tim and his family and recognize God’s work in his larger family, as many years ago other family members were a part our church too.

May God help us as a church to work together well and be all He wants us to be in the years ahead.

Psalm 113:1 Praise the Lord, Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord.

From Ben – 25th September

Written September 27th, 2011
Categories: From Ben's Desk, News and Views, Uncategorized

In the gospels there is a remarkable incident where Jesus healed 10 lepers. Leprosy was a huge blight and a terrible disease, especially in the 1^st century. There was no known cure and no hope for the sufferers. Jesus, with a word, cured all 10, and then sent them to show themselves to the priest to confirm their healing.

Sadly, although all 10 must have been hugely grateful, only one, a foreigner at that, turned back to thank Jesus. Sadly, I find that same ungrateful spirit in my own heart sometimes, and I know that it is true of many other Christians.

Today, let us pause and thank the Lord for His many blessings, His gracious provision, His tender care for you and your family.

The mature Christian will also thank Him for the hard times, because they have come to see that God has a good purpose in the hard times too.

Give thanks with a grateful heart….

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