I remember my dad scratching my back and singing a lullaby when I was just a toddler snuggled up in his lap – yes that was a fairly long time ago, but he hit my love languages dead right and so that’s etched on my memory banks for life.

I wasn’t a perfect teenager, but if my dad was hurt by my actions, I felt it and modified – I loved him and he loved me and I didn’t want anything to mess with that.

Love’s like that. You are happiest when you give and receive love because you are made in the image of God and He IS love.

Christianity is not so hard. Value God being in your life and your values carry you through. Even when you mess up, you don’t stay messed up because love is too important to lose.

For your best life,

Ps. Steve and Gail

Gotta love that Luke! He’s the one who recorded the interchange between Zechariah (John the Baptist’s father) and the angel Gabriel, as the angel told Zech that he was going to be a daddy in his dotage.

Gabriel’s response to old Zech’s staggered unbelief was to mute him – before remote controls and everything!

Seems a bit harsh till you realise that Zech could have undermined God’s purposes by mouthing off his unbelief, doubts etc. So, all he could do was go home to his wife and imagine what could be…the rest is history!

We too need to lean towards the optimistic, not the pessimistic. The world around us conspires to undermine our faith too. We do what we can to keep our house in order, then we keep telling God our needs and speaking faith.

For your best life,

Ps. Steve and Gail

I have been asked whether the earthquakes suffered by Christchurch might perhaps be God’s judgment on that city for letting the Christchurch Wizard speak in the Anglican Cathedral and so on in similar vein.

I don’t believe so. Jesus looked into the future and prophesied about the days in which we live (which are commonly believed to be the end times) saying: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.” (Luke 21:10-11).

He was simply foreseeing conditions on our planet in our days and telling us they are all signs pointing to the winding down of the church age. Actual judgment will come as listed in Revelations 6 to 11, but that will be clearly signaled by the rapture of the church world-wide first. That sign will be impossible to miss!

So, no this is not God’s judgment, this is a terrible tragedy that comes from living on a fallen planet. The role of the church is to shine, to show the love of Jesus to those in need. Our offering this Sunday will go to C3 Christchurch to fund them giving food parcels and other practical helps to their neighbours.

That’s God’s love in action – through His people!

For your best life,

Ps Steve and Gail

Great word from Ps Graeme Lauridsen last Sunday – can’t go back – it’s a sordid scene; can’t go forward -  it’s looking uncertain. And where’s God in all this anyhow?

We sometimes face times in life like this. Jacob had awesome encounters with God so knew Him, but he’d messed up in family life and worst of all, he had an identity that he couldn’t hide anymore.

You know God too. Perhaps you’ve made mistakes too. But as to where’s God..? He’s right where He’s always been – right there with you!

Confession of how you really feel, repentance as it’s required and changing direction towards righteousness sets the wheels in motion again.

God loves you!

For your best life

Ps. Steve and Gail

Jesus was a man with a mission. It is recorded that, “he set his face like flint towards Jerusalem”. It’s not that Jerusalem is a bad place – we’ve been there – pretty nice actually! It’s that he knew what was waiting for him there.

The truly impressive thing is, that in spite of all that, he went anyway – because it was a part of his mission.

A person with a sense of mission knows why they’re here and what they want to accomplish, regardless of any odds against them. They won’t be delayed or sidetracked. Without a sense of mission, people lack energy and resolve.

Do you know what spins your wheels? That’s your mission – eventually, you are going to have to find a way to do it!

For your best life,

Ps. Steve and Gail

The disciples asked Jesus about the end times. He gave them a very detailed answer and in the middle of it came up with this startling statement: “I tell you, on that night, two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left.” (Luke 17:34-35)

The church will be “snatched away” just before God’s judgments start being poured out upon the earth. Those left behind will be filled with regret, but many will form churches to minister to people who get saved during the years of those judgments.

God’s remedy has never changed – Jesus’ death on the cross for our sins is still the passport to peace with God. I’m very grateful to have received God’s grace and forgiveness for my many sins. How about you?

For your best life,

Ps. Steve and Gail

We’ve enjoyed a feast of outside preachers this January (as well as our own talented Ps Geoff and Bishop Moetu). Don Corban talked about “Fortitude” – one of the Christian virtues with that memorable line from his son when Don was complaining about something: “Dad! Take a teaspoon of cement and harden up!”

Then Alan Vink with his passion for the church to be intentional about connecting to the “not yet Christians” in our world – great stuff!

Scripture prophesies concerning the time before the return of Jesus: “While people are saying ‘Peace and safety!’ destruction will come on them suddenly, as labour pains on a pregnant woman and they will not escape.” This world is getting more unstable and the signs of his return appear to be increasing. All the more reason to be connecting people to God, getting them reconciled, giving them hope. Let’s get intentional!

For your best life,

Ps. Steve and Gail

I love the concept Peter illuminates for us about our past and our present.

Here’s the past, “For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. God chose him as your ransom long before the world began” (1 Peter 1:18-20). Get that? God chose Jesus to be our ransom BEFORE our world began! Your rescue was part of the plan. God wasn’t taken by surprise by our fall – He planned our redemption as He planned the world.

What about that “empty life inherited from your ancestors”. The only life worth anything is a life lived in God’s love.

Lastly, our part, “You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart” (1 Peter 1:22).

Love people in your church, love people in your world. Do no harm, do good.

For your best life,

Ps. Steve and Gail