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Thursday Tune Up
Plastic Religion?
Godly faith for God's World - Studies in the Book of Amos
Imagine a society that is just growing in wealth. Resource stocks are up, inflation is not too bad, the majority of people own their own home, many are even thinking of a second home - just because they can. Then image that just about everyone in this society is religious. They go to church, they sing their hearts out, they attend Bible studies, they give to the cause of the church. This society has everything that it needs, peace, prosperity, culture, religion, leadership, everything they could imagine, everything that indicated that the blessing of God was on them.
So imagine Israel's surprise, when 3000 years ago God sends them the prophet Amos and says, "Your Religion is plastic, your past is an abomination and your future is destruction." Not a message that gets well received. The prophet Amos hits hard, he calls it as it is. He shows us that below the surface, the plastis veneer of religion, Israelite society was sick. The poor are abused, the wealth is horded by the rich, the religion is merely for show. And he makes God's promise clear - if you go this way you have defiled the promises of God, used them for your own benefit and are going to be destroyed.
Amos calls us, today, to examine our lives, our hearts and our church. God calls us, and invites us into change, real change. God's call, through Amos is for a Godly faith, founded and built on Jesus. Because this is God's world, and his church has a role to play in making the greatness and the goodness of God known.
Starting on Sunday 27th April, for 6 weeks in the PM services, Dan and Clinton will be preaching through this book. We want to really encourage you to read through the book in the coming week, individually, as families, and in Small Groups. As you read, if you come up with anything that sounds strange, out of place, or you just don't get, email us (kroony@mac.com; clinton@redlandscrc.org.au) and we'll endeavor to address those issues through the series.
Small Group study material will also be made available. If you would like to make use of this email clinton@redlandscrc.org.au
Sunday PM - What's the big deal?
This is the question we ask when we really want to get to the bottom of something: the missing money, the broken window, the stain on the carpet. Our hope is that there is an acceptable explanation. What about life? Can we ask that question about life? About being a follower of Jesus? About the church? Sunday night we ask this question from God's perspective. When you understand the answer, it may just change your life. Want to read ahead? Go to Eph 2:11-3:21
New Elders
Marcel Doedens and Cameron Nugent will be installed as elders on May 11, 2008 in the AM service
Outreach @ Redlands CRC: Let's go!
We are seeking to make the value of outreach, and our actual involvement in this ministry, more prominent n every area of church life. For that reason Dan Neville has been welcomed into the Ministry Team as Outreach Coordinator. Dan and Gayle are keen to see this critical area of ministry gain a real lift. To that end, they would like to hear from any people interested in discussing how this can be done. This is not a sneaky way to ‘put you on a committee' - it really an opportunity to develop some exciting ideas and gain some common vision for outreach.
Dan & Gayle would love to hear from all you interested people: please contact them on 3824-4084 or dnev@bigpond.net.au
Prayer
* Carlee Spiers' operation (retina transplant) went very well. Please pray that the Lord will work through this and beyond it to bring healing and recovery to Carlee
* Please keep those older people in mind who are suffering reduced mental faculties in old age: Alf Tasman, Aad Mostert, Wia Bos, Tood le Clercq. Keep asking that even as their mind unravel they may know the nearness and goodness of the Lord in the land of the living
* Remember the people currently in Burma: Frank and Janette Hemelaar, Rowena Forno, Allete Visser, Bev Heazelwood. Give thanks for the safe return of Eddie Bos last Tuesday. Pray for peace in Burma and for freedom to carry on the work at the orphanage
* Clinton's parents arrive in the next few days. They will be staying for a week or so. Give thanks that they can celebrate the wonderful goodness of God in Clinton's recovery
Feedback: dave@redlandscrc.org.au