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Members of the LCA/NZ are being urged to pray for peace in Myanmar, where the military staged a coup d’etat and took control of the country last month. LCA International Mission works closely with four churches in Myanmar through the Federation of Lutheran Churches in Myanmar.
If you’ve ever belonged to an amateur sporting team, cultural society, arts or environment body, service club or charity, or if you’ve been part of a school or church community, you’ll undoubtedly be familiar with fundraising.
I know what it’s like, working hard to stage that quiz night, gala dinner, high tea, concert, wine and cheese tasting, movie screening or strawberry fair and pleading with friends and family to attend and buy or sell raffle tickets. And what your club or community makes in return can hardly seem worth the effort.
But we contribute physically and financially because we care about the cause. And there are always good causes to support, both within our home churches, our LCA/NZ and our wider communities.
In 2020 the COVID-19 lockdowns and changing restrictions on gatherings made fundraising more difficult than ever. But as a result we saw some fresh and inspiring ideas come to life. And members of our Lutheran family gave generously.
When, due to COVID, ALWS couldn’t hold large Walk My Way events around the country to support schooling for refugee kids, people walked alone or with family around the yard, the block or the local park, or committed to other challenges.
When Lutheran pastors in the Philippines were left without financial support due to church closures and no government safety net, their brothers in the LCA/NZ (and some Lutheran congregations) sent financial support for several months.
As it wasn’t possible to have a room full of trivia buffs ready to take on the toughest questions, the folk at Our Saviour Rochedale in Queensland hosted an online quiz night and raised thousands for a community project in Africa.
Lutheran Women of Australia have continued their wonderful support of a wide range of local and international mission and service projects throughout COVID, holding innovative fundraisers such as ‘cakeless stalls’.
And there are many more examples. In this issue we share some reflections on fundraising for the kingdom – and come to see that God multiplies our gifts. Watch out for more of these encouraging tales in coming issues, too, as these pages are so full of resources and information we couldn’t fit everything in this time.
Another exciting development is that our new digital edition of The Lutheran is now available. All our regular features are online as well as in print, and print subscribers can access the digital version at no extra cost! To subscribe, give the new digital version as a gift, or to register for free digital access, go to www.thelutheran.com.au/subscribe
God bless your reading.
–Lisa
Despite a COVID-19 lockdown forcing a last-minute change of plans, Stanley Roberts was ordained in unique circumstances as a Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) at Papunya in the Northern Territory late last year.
LCA/NZ Bishop John Henderson had planned to conduct the ordination on 22 November at the Indigenous community 240 kilometres west of Alice Springs, but a snap lockdown announced in South Australia a few days earlier prevented him leaving Adelaide.
However, local leaders decided to proceed, with Finke River Mission (FRM) fieldworker Pastor Paul Traeger ordaining and installing Stanley to his new roles. Pastor Stanley will serve as SMP for Papunya and the Pintupi-Luritja language area. It is believed to be the first time in the LCA that an SMP has ordained another SMP. More than 200 people attended the service held at the local school basketball court due to the church having been damaged by a fire. After a procession of pastors and evangelists, Papunya Pastor Graham Poulson opened the service, conducted a baptism and preached, while Pastor Stanley led the communion liturgy after his ordination.
Pastor Stanley, 45, is the son of the late Pastor Murphy Roberts, who 38 years ago became one of the first Pintupi-Luritja pastors ordained. While his father did not live to see Stanley ordained, one relative who did was a local pastor, who sadly died suddenly just four days later. Pastor Stanley said later: ‘He must have been waiting for me’.
Pastor Stanley was also presented with the late Pastor Max Stollznow’s robe. Pastor Max was serving as FRM Support Worker and pastor at Papunya when Murphy Roberts was ordained.
A former community night patrol worker, Pastor Stanley finished that role in 2019 to concentrate on ministry duties, having completed the FRM pastors’ curriculum. He is married to Sheila and has four children.
– reporting by Pastor Paul Traeger
by Wendy Habel
‘Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered’ (Proverbs 11:25).
How do you motivate yourself? How do you do something day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year?
It may not be exactly the same, but as I have found over the years since becoming a member of Lutheran Women of Australia (LWA), women have become very adept at fundraising for projects across the Lutheran Church.
Time is a God-given privilege; it is measured out in seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks and years by the grace of God. He alone knows how much time we have and when he will call us to our heavenly home.
There is a catchcry among some women: ‘I’ll help. If I find time to help with the Lord’s work, I can be pretty sure he’ll give me the time to finish what I have to do!’ This is the motivation I see in the faces of beautiful ladies as I have travelled in my role on the LWA executive.
Each state serves on the executive for a three-year term and we have 11 projects to support through fundraising. These include Aboriginal Missions; Australian Lutheran World Service; LCA International Mission programs and partnerships in Papua New Guinea, Cambodia, Malaysia and Thailand; support for overseas students studying at Australian Lutheran College (ALC); the ALC Women’s Auxiliary and the ALC Pastoral Ministry Assistance Fund.
Between January 2019 and December 2020 an inspirational total of $251,924.15 was raised. Even during COVID-19 LWA women have continued in their support. Innovative fundraising activities have included ‘cakeless stalls’, brown-wrapped auctions, catering for fellowship luncheons and high teas, and giving through knitted or crocheted rugs, toys, children’s clothing and beanies for all ages.
We are privileged to serve and when each women’s fellowship gives – no matter how much or little – God multiplies our gifts and these monetary amounts are used to support many needs. Each state has projects, too, and these are also supported generously.
Leonie from the Bethlehem Ladies Fellowship in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, sums up the women’s attitude to serving and giving in a quote from the Lutheran Women magazine article ‘Busy hands and thankful hearts’: ‘Being able to give so many items to those in need … is a double blessing. Our prayer is that we can continue to do our “work” in his name.’
It’s important to remember we are all special in God’s sight, not because of our talents and skills but because we are filled with the Spirit, which is how we serve God’s purpose.
Wendy Habel is Lutheran Women of Australia President.
LWA is an auxiliary of the LCA. Lutheran Women magazine is issued bi-monthly in print and digital editions and is available at https://lutheranwomenofaustralia.org/ or through LCA Subscriptions via phone 08 8360 7270 or email: lutheranwomen.subs@lca.org.au
A long-held hope of the Lutheran churches of Indonesia was realised late last year with the opening of the Luther Study Centre (LSC) in Pemetangsiantar in North Sumatra.
The centre was opened on 1 December with members of the Indonesian churches joined online by friends and partners from around the world. While COVID robbed participants of the chance to celebrate this milestone in person, the LCA/NZ’s Assistant to the Bishop – International Mission, Pastor Matt Anker, said it didn’t hinder the sense of enthusiasm and joy for what the new centre represents.
‘In recent years there has been an awakening among the churches we partner within Indonesia’, he said. ‘Key leaders have come to realise that, despite their historic connections to the Lutheran confession, their church bodies have often strayed from distinctive Lutheran teachings on sin and grace.
‘Recognising that this has the potential to rob people of the comfort of the gospel and the certainty of salvation through faith in Christ, they called out for help and LCA International Mission is privileged to be one of the partners who has been able to respond. The LSC is primarily about strengthening their understanding and practice of theology that rightly distinguishes law and gospel, and that points people to the completed work of Christ on the cross.’
Rev Basa Hutabarat, the executive secretary of the National Committee of LWF churches in Indonesia said, ‘Our expectation is that the LSC will offer a program in Lutheran doctrine that will be compulsory for all theological students. Even teachers in Lutheran schools should take this program. From this doctrine we understand and know the relevance of Lutheran theology for our Christian life.’
In addition to providing financial support for the LSC, LCA International Mission is partnering with Australian Lutheran College (ALC) to provide both in-person and online seminars led by ALC faculty which will be offered through the LSC.
These Australian Lutheran College pastoral ministry graduates come from a wide range of backgrounds but will all be stepping out in faith to begin their first assignments as General Ministry Pastors in 2021. Read on to discover more about their ministry journeys.
PHILIP BENTLEY
AGE: 57
FAMILY: Wife Narelle
HOME CONGREGATION: St Paul’s Mount Isa Qld
ASSIGNED TO: Greenock Parish SA
Who were the most influential people in your life as you were growing up? Too numerous to mention, but Jesus has been the most influential.
Who are the most influential people for you now? Jesus.
Before ALC? I have had numerous occupations along my life’s journey. The most significant would be 20 years’ service as a design and technology teacher.
Who or what encouraged you towards pastoral studies? The Holy Spirit.
What is your most relied upon Bible verse and why? ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls’ (Matthew 11:28–29 – NLT). I find it most comforting.
The most important thing people need to know about God is … your Father loves you! You can know him and have a relationship with him through Jesus. You can trust his Spirit to teach and guide you. You can believe that he is who he says he is. You can count on him to keep his promises.
Which privilege of being a pastor are you most looking forward to? Serving our living God. Being able to bring others to an encounter with our God who is revealed as a God of love; also being able to administer God’s gifts through the sacraments and the preaching and teaching of the gospel through God’s word.
What is your favourite leisure activity? I like to run and play the guitar.
JAMES LUK
AGE: 56
FAMILY: Wife Sarah, seven children and five grandchildren
HOME CONGREGATION: St Peter’s Frankston Vic
ASSIGNED TO: Bethlehem Morley WA
Who were the most influential people in your life as you were growing up? I was
born in South Sudan. God called me through my older brother Philip. Then I was catechised by Peter Kay, who was the evangelist in the evangelical Presbyterian Church of Sudan.
Who are the most influential people for you now? Dr Ken Bartel and Dr Greg Lockwood – both have supported me in one way or another during my studies at ALC and even when I was doing my Diploma of Theology 10 years ago.
Before ALC? I was serving the Sudanese community for six years as Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) at St Peter’s Frankston in Victoria.
What is your most relied upon Bible verse and why? One of my favourite Bible verses is: ‘Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come’ (2 Corinthians 5:17 – ESV).
Which privilege of being a pastor are you most looking forward to? I look forward to serving the people of God for years to come in my new role as General Ministry Pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Morley, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
What is your favourite leisure activity? I enjoy reading stories in my leisure time. I also like to take a nice walk.
If you could chat with any famous person, living or dead, who would it be and why? I would chat with Martin Luther if he was still alive because he rediscovered the truth of the gospel in the Scriptures, that we are justified through faith and not by our good works.
STEPHEN NOBLETT
AGE: 48
FAMILY: Single
HOME CONGREGATION: Calvary Glandore SA
ASSIGNED TO: Southern Flinders Parish SA
Who were the most influential people in your life as you were growing up? From a spiritual perspective my mother Dawn – she made sure that I was at church and Sunday school each week – which in turn allowed my pastor and teachers to have their influence on me.
Before ALC? I worked in the finance industry writing financial plans.
Who or what encouraged you towards pastoral studies? Until a few years ago I never thought that it would be a path that I would take. However, various things happened that led me to realise that God was wanting me to make a change in direction.
What is your most relied upon Bible verse and why? My most relied on Bible verse is John 3:16, there you have the gospel summed up in a single verse.
The most important thing people need to know about God is … Jesus died for you, he took on your sins and through his work you are restored into a right relationship with God. That is how much God loves you.
Which privilege of being a pastor are you most looking forward to? Sharing the message of Christ and what he has done for us with all people.
What is your favourite leisure activity? I enjoy a game of golf, but most of the time I am happy tending my fruit trees.
What is your favourite movie? If I had to select one as a representative of the movies I prefer perhaps The Titchfield Thunderbolt.
If you could chat with any famous person, living or dead, who would it be and why? I would like to have a chat with Archimedes – he was a great problem solver who could come up with very innovative solutions to problems.
CHRISTOPHER JOHNSON
AGE: 34
FAMILY: Wife Melissa and daughter Phoebe
HOME CONGREGATION: St John’s Southgate Vic
ASSIGNED TO: Nazareth Woolloongabba Qld
Who were the most influential people in your life as you were growing up? My family, my minister and my third-grade teacher. I learned a lot from Pastor Jarvis’s gentle and caring manner, and Mr Bussink challenged me to think critically and hear all the sides of a story.
Before ALC? I travelled a fair bit. I’ve done a number of labouring jobs, from warehouses to picking fruit. My last major occupation before study was managing a tea shop.
Who or what encouraged you towards pastoral studies? God put a retired pastor, [the late] Neil Hampel, in my path. Neil encouraged me to consider studying for ordination.
What is your most relied upon Bible verse and why? I rely daily on the Psalms. For one specific verse, Jeremiah 29:11. This verse and the context around it are a constant reminder that God does have a plan for his creation, me included.
The most important thing people need to know about God is … who God is: the creator of heaven and earth, the all-powerful being who sustains all life and creation. But far from being distantly high above, God condescends to us. God formed Adam with his hands. God knit us together in the womb. God humbled himself to become flesh and blood. God is all powerful, and yet he would and did die to bring us back into relationship with him.
Which privilege of being a pastor are you most looking forward to? The special ways the pastoral office proclaims the gospel; absolving the sins of the congregation; proclaiming God’s grace and peace in sermons; serving fellow Christians the meal of Christ’s body and blood for the forgiveness of their sins.
What is your favourite leisure activity? I love to ride my pushbike.
What is your favourite movie? The Princess Bride
JOSEPH THEODORSEN
AGE: 38
FAMILY: Wife Maricel, and children Aaron, Elijah and Abigail.
HOME CONGREGATION: Hope Geraldton WA
ASSIGNED TO: Top End Parish NT
Who were the most influential people in your life as you were growing up? My family, particularly my mother. She has been a solid Christian inspiration throughout my life.
Who are the most influential people for you now? My mother is still such a great example of the faith. Also, many of the lecturers [at ALC], and congregational members and pastors that I have encountered.
Before ALC? I was a taxi driver; prior to that a recruitment consultant, an accounts clerk, general clerk, and a service station attendant and manager.
Who or what encouraged you towards pastoral studies? The congregation in Geraldton, as well as Pastor Dieter Dell’Antonio and his wife Monica.
What is your most relied upon Bible verse and why? The whole of 1 Corinthians 13. Everything I want to do and be as a Christian and a minister in God’s church is centred around love.
The most important thing people need to know about God is … that he loves you – so much that he gave his only Son to die for you.
Which privilege of being a pastor are you most looking forward to? To minister to the sick and dying is something that I have found very humbling and honoured to be a part of.
What is your favourite leisure activity? My family and I are avid campers, we love to get out and about in God’s wonderful creation.
What is your favourite movie? The Matrix or Die Hard.
If you could chat with any famous person, living or dead, who would it be and why? The Apostle Paul. He has been an inspirational character for me. To chew the fat with him about his experiences would be something else!
ROLAND ADAMS
AGE: 34
FAMILY: Single
HOME CONGREGATION: St Luke’s Parkwood WA
ASSIGNED TO: St John’s Trinity Renmark and Holy Cross Paringa SA
Who were the most influential people in your life as you were growing up? My family has had a massive influence on me, along with teachers, sports coaches, and many other people that I have looked up to over the years.
Who are the most influential people for you now? There are many people – from other pastors to people that I have interacted with, to some more famous people who serve as an example for me.
Before ALC? I worked on the docks at Henderson in Western Australia in naval construction for BAE Systems.
Who or what encouraged you towards pastoral studies? St Luke’s Parkwood congregation were among the most supportive, along with leaders of Lutheran Youth of WA, several pastors, and my family and friends.
What is your most relied upon Bible verse and why? Romans 8:35 is a reminder that no matter what happens in the world, God’s love is all-encompassing.
The most important thing people need to know about God is … God loves you, to the extent that Christ died for you.
What privilege of being a pastor are you most looking forward to? Bringing people the forgiveness of God, along with the body and blood of Jesus in holy communion.
What is your favourite leisure activity? This depends on how I am feeling, from spending time with friends or with a book to gardening, or computer games.
If you could chat with any famous person, living or dead who would it be and why? If I had the opportunity and language was not an issue, Jesus would be a good option.
by Matt Anker
In recent years I have witnessed the generosity of God’s people again and again. I’ve been blessed to see the LLL forgive a $75,000 loan to a congregation; humbled by a child sending the contents of her piggy bank to help build a much-needed church, along with an older couple donating more than $1 million to the same cause.
I’ve been astonished to see churches built in Africa with money that was donated with joy and seen the long-term blessings of gifts that fund theological education in Papua New Guinea and across South-East Asia. This all reminds me of a very generous widow in Luke’s gospel.
Read Luke 21:1-4.
What is your response to such generosity?
While I’m certain we would all give thanks to God for the generosity of his saints, how does this make you feel deep down? As you search your heart is there any sense of guilt or shame that you haven’t acted similarly? Or does it encourage a sense of pride in how generous you have been? Do you despair because you feel unable to respond with such generosity due to life’s circumstances?
Talk of giving inevitably raises all these reactions and more. So I want to say that your sins of pride, of stinginess toward the Lord, of trusting in yourself and not in the Lord, and of begrudgingly trying to please God through your giving – all these sins are forgiven and you are free because God did not hold back his only Son, but generously gave him up for us all.
I proclaim this good news to you because it is intimately connected with faithful giving, and unless you receive the forgiveness Christ won for you, it is impossible to give in a way that pleases the Lord.
Read Philippians 4:14–19.
What motivated the Philippians to support Paul and his ministry? (Chapter 1 gives you more insights.)
Paul is also acutely aware of their physical needs – how does he encourage them to continue in their generosity even in the face of such realities (v19)? How did God use their gifts to multiply the blessing they received?
Read 2 Corinthians 9:6–15.
What keywords does Paul use to describe Christian giving – both what it is and what it is not?
What makes a Christian giver cheerful?
According to verse 10, who is the ultimate owner of things we give?
We are but stewards of God’s resources, tasked with the responsibility of managing what we have to bring glory to God and his mercy to our neighbour. As we give, God blesses us by drawing us deeper into his mission to forgive and save.
Giving also helps us prioritise what is truly important and discourages us from laying up treasures on earth (See Matthew 6:19–20).
The impressive thing about the gifts I mentioned at the beginning is not their magnitude, but rather that they were given so that others could receive God’s grace through the ministry of the gospel. The gifts were inspired by the act of a generous God who did not hold back his own Son but willingly gave him up that we might have life in his name.
How are your gifts blessing others, so that they may know the hope to which you have been called?
The answer may be apparent to you, or perhaps not seen this side of eternity. But be encouraged that your giving, in response to Jesus’ gift to you, is being used by him for a work that will last for all eternity.
Pastor Matt Anker serves as Assistant to the Bishop – LCA International Mission.
Going GREYT! 1 Peter 4:10
In Going GREYT! we feature stories of some of our ‘more experienced’ people within the LCA, who have been called to make a positive contribution in their retirement. We pray their examples of service will be an inspiration and encouragement to us all as we look to be Christ’s hands and feet wherever we are, with whatever gifts and opportunities we’ve been given.
by Helen Beringen
Who would have thought the once-popular children’s pastime of stamp collecting was still alive?
Well, not only is stamp collecting still going strong, but it continues to make a world of difference to communities around the globe through the Lutheran Church of Australia’s (LCA) Stamps for Mission program.
Since its inception more than 80 years ago, almost $446,000 has been raised for mission causes, says Peter Nitschke, Stamps for Mission national project director.
The process of collecting, cleaning and sorting stamps has been an activity in many Lutheran youth groups across the country for decades. Funnily enough, it is often still those same people who are helping to keep the program going today.
‘It was still a youth activity as late as 2006 and we realised the youth who were involved in stamps for mission were now in their 80s and 90s’, says Peter, a retired teacher.
‘There would have to have been literally hundreds of people involved from all around the country. Even the youth at Lameroo [in South Australia] are still cleaning stamps and there would be many more congregations still collecting them.’
Stamps for Mission, a fundraising arm of LCA International Mission, was established in 1938 through the efforts of Pastor Ted Koch and Mr Ern Unger, who spent 65 years collecting stamps and building a national team of helpers.
Peter began following Ern’s footsteps after a chance meeting in Parkes in 2003 when Peter and his wife Margaret were travelling back to South Australia after living in Queensland for 15 years.
Peter had been an avid stamp collector since the age of seven when his aunt gave him stamps and an album for his birthday. As a carer to Margaret, who was ill with multiple myeloma, it was a job with the flexible hours that Peter felt he could help with.
‘It was something I could do any time day or night while caring for my wife’, he recalls.
And so began almost two decades of support for an industrious team which gathers, cleans and sorts stamps.
‘I have one chap who is 96 and still sorting stamps’, says Peter. He is talking of Clarrie Schutz and his wife Marj from Campbelltown, South Australia. ‘Clarrie sorts the stamps and Marj groups them into bundles of 103.’
Why 103 stamps in each bundle? They always put in a few extra to ensure each bundle is never short of 100 good stamps.
‘I’ve only had one complaint, and that was someone who complained they were given too many in the bundle!’ he recalls.
While millions of stamps go through Peter’s hands each year, occasionally he finds a high-value gem, such as a post-marked envelope worth $2500.
‘Anything philatelic is saleable’, says Peter. ‘Whether it is mint stamps, used stamps, or stamps from overseas.’
Peter reminds us all not to forget about Stamps for Mission when you are having your next spring clean!
‘I am now starting to get collections from families clearing out their cupboards or from deceased estates’, he says.
The stamps are boxed up and sold to local collectors and larger philatelic businesses. An A4 paper box of stamps can be worth between $300 and $1100, depending on the stamps.
With all this work, you’d think Peter would be dreaming of stamps. He doesn’t – but knows clearly what good they can do.
Peter has seen firsthand the world of difference the funds raised from Stamps for Mission have made through a 10-day trip to Papua New Guinea in 2018. The trip included a visit to the Lutheran Highlands Seminary at Ogelbeng, near Mount Hagen, where seminary students grow food to support themselves while studying.
‘When you see the limited resources these people have and yet you see their love for Christ and wanting to serve him, it is mind-blowing’, Peter says.
‘We saw where they live, and their commitment, and boy it made me determined to continue our work … it’s made a lasting impression on me. If we can support them in small ways, they can do great things with it.’
The seminary is one of six $2000 projects Stamps for Missions provides to each year.
‘When I think what an Australian dollar does in places like these, we get eight to 10 times the value’, he says. ‘To me, these people have very little but they still have a real heart for the Lord, and that’s what motivates me. It’s about God’s love for us and what he has done for us.’
That is reflected in one of Peter’s favourite Bible verses, John 1:14: ‘The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.’
Thankfully, Peter says there are no signs of stamp collecting dying out, with annual fundraising levels remaining consistent. And finding helpers became even easier during a year of COVID lockdowns!
‘When COVID first hit, I had three people come and ask for stamps as they didn’t know what they were going to do during lockdown’, he says. ‘I think we’ll be going for a long time yet, and while the post office keeps issuing more stamps year by year, we’ll carry on.’
Helen Beringen is a Brisbane-based writer who is inspired by the many GREYT people who serve tirelessly and humbly in our community. By sharing stories of how God shines his light through his people, she hopes others are encouraged to explore how they can use their gifts to share his light in the world.
Know of any other GREYT stories in your local community? Email the editor lisa.mcintosh@lca.org.au
CHURCH@HOME www.lca.org.au/churchhome
Nurturing faith through home worship
An active home-worship life helps nurture faith – including across generations. We pray that you will receive blessings from the devotional materials contained here and in the Church@Home resources collection collated and shared on the special webpage at www.lca.org.au/churchhome. There are also other faith-building and practical resources available through this webpage. If you have internet access and a printer, why not print some and mail or deliver them to those who may otherwise miss out?
–Lisa
Deuteronomy 33:27
The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.
DEVOTIONS FOR HOME WORSHIP
These reflections are from a fresh set of devotions written for our LCA/NZ family and friends to help us to keep our eyes on Jesus. They can be used by families and individuals as part of the Church@Home resources. You can find these and more on the LCA website at www.lca.org.au/daily-devotion
Don’t look back by Verena Johnson
‘But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt’
(Genesis 19:26).
Read Genesis 19:15–29.
We know very little about Lot’s wife. We don’t know her name, but she has been called ‘Ado’ or ‘Edith’ in some Jewish traditions. We don’t know where she was from. What we do know is that despite the angel’s very specific instruction not to look back, she did.
There are a lot of varying theories out there on why she looked back. Some say it was a punishment and that when she looked back at the cities that were so evil, she betrayed her secret longing for that way of life. Other much kinder theories speculate she was looking to see if her daughters were following. Regardless of the reason, Lot’s wife became an instant pillar of salt when she looked back. It seems very harsh.
We can spend a lot of our lives looking backward for a whole range of reasons. Wondering ‘what if’, replaying actions and conversations, and regretting things we’ve done or not done, to name a few. The new one for last year was, ‘If only I’d used all that time I had at home more wisely!’
We can spend so much time looking back that we don’t live in the moment and embrace all the joy and possibilities God gives us in the present.
Thank God that he doesn’t turn us all into pillars of salt but forgives us every day. Thank him that because of his grace, we don’t have to live with what-ifs, replays and regrets. In him, each day is a new beginning with new potential (Lamentations 3:22,23).
Dear God, I thank you that you are a God of forgiveness and new beginnings. Help me not to look back. Help me to give you all my what-ifs, replays and regrets, and leave them with you. Help me to walk into each new day with you and embrace all the moments, joys and possibilities you give me. Amen.
The right time by Neville Grieger
‘I can’t keep my mouth shut’ (Isaiah 62:1).
Read Isaiah 62:1–5.
Speaking of finding the moments and the right words, I am reminded of the well-known Aussie expression ‘to put a sock in it’. Most of us can probably recall occasions when we wished we had kept our mouth shut (or we regret having clicked Send on an email in frustration and haste). Once words are spurted out, they cannot be recalled, and the damage is done.
On the other hand, there may be times when in hindsight, we wished we had said something when a small window of opportunity arose to influence or respond to a situation. Sometimes this may involve standing up and being counted, even if we are standing alone.
Do we find it hard to keep our mouths shut in relation to the God stuff? Or have we missed an opportunity this week to initiate a spiritual conversation that may ignite a burning fire of spiritual growth for someone? For most of us, it’s probably having the courage to speak up, rather than struggling to keep our mouths shut.
Let’s remember that we may be the only copy of the Bible that some people will ever see!
Lord, grant us the gift of discernment, which gives us the wisdom to know when to stay silent and when to speak out. Give us the courage to speak out for you when the moment arises, and always show people Jesus by our actions. Amen.
No lie comes from the truth by Annie Duarte
‘I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth’ (1 John 2:21).
Read 1 John 2:18–23.
In this last hour, it is so vital that we cling to the truth so that we might recognise a falsehood when we encounter one. We know that the truth we cling to is more than a set of ideas. We follow Jesus, who himself is the truth. No lie comes from the truth. Nothing false, misleading, manipulative, or deceitful comes from Jesus. As the Good Shepherd, he will not lead you astray.
Consider all the promises God makes in his word. He will never leave or forsake you. He will keep you in perfect peace. He has overcome the world. He will counsel you with his loving eye on you. He will bind up the broken-hearted, proclaim freedom to the captives, and release prisoners from darkness. He will bring justice swiftly to the oppressed. Nothing can separate you from his love. These are just a few of the promises God makes.
Praise the Lord that we can trust what he says to be true. He does not speak in vain. None of his promises are empty. He cannot lie because he is the definition of truth. Take a moment to recall your favourite promise from the Lord, and then rejoice because it is not a fairytale or a nice poem – it is the truth.
Father, I thank you that your words are not empty. Your word always accomplishes what it sets out to do. I ask that your promises would come alive to me today. Please give me a renewed passion for your word. Amen.
Hebrews 11:1
Faith makes us sure of what we hope for and gives us proof of what we cannot see.
Care of the new believer by Tom Brennen
‘I have baptised you with water; but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit’ (Mark 1:8).
Read Mark 1:4–11.
I came to faith as an adult. The first Christian community I encountered was welcoming, understanding, encouraging and supportive. However, not all of them were like that. I have a clear memory of a time before I was baptised. I was part of a travelling music group that was visiting a congregation when one church member told me: ‘Wrong, wrong, you have it wrong! You can’t be a Christian and be a part of a church until you repent properly and are baptised.’ Even many years later, I feel the cut of those words.
Baptism is an integral part of being a Christian. In baptism, we receive the gift of faith. We join the community of believers that reaches back into the generations.
We join our church mothers and fathers in declaring the glory of God.
Let us never forget that ultimately baptism isn’t our doing – God is at work. As John 15:16 reminds us, we do not choose God; he chooses us.
As God’s people, may we act and speak carefully and lovingly as we mentor those new to the faith. May we be that welcoming community where people can safely explore faith as guided by the Spirit. Let us never cease praying for the gospel to bring forth great fruit.
Lord, we give thanks for your Spirit who works in all people to bring about faith. May we see the world through your eyes and support those new to the faith. Amen.
Put on Jesus by Pastor Mark Gierus
‘Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ’
(Romans 13:14a).
Read Romans 13:11–14.
When you wake up in the morning and put your clothes on for the day, how often do you stop to put Jesus on? Do you take the time each morning to clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ? Perhaps like so many people, there is just so little time to clothe yourself in your Lord Jesus, or perhaps you don’t even think of him when you are waking up in the morning.
What a wonderful gift Jesus is to the whole church (not the buildings, but the people of God), and what a wonderful gift Jesus is to you. God sent his only Son to suffer and die for your sins and offer you forgiveness, eternal life and salvation, simply to be received in faith.
When it comes to clothing yourself with Jesus, you don’t have to put on Jesus or God will not love you anymore. You don’t have to put on Jesus or you will be punished. You get to put on Jesus, clothing yourself in the Lord Jesus Christ for your benefit. You can do this not only in the morning but in the middle of the day, in the evening, and even during those 4.00am wake-up times when you just can’t sleep because of worry or fear.
But how do you clothe yourself with Jesus? Praying, reading his word and spending time with others in fellowship united by the Holy Spirit in love. As you are clothed in Christ Jesus, you are protected from all evil, and you are safe in his love.
Do you know the best sermon you will ever preach is your life? Clothing yourself with Jesus means he is living in you. Jesus is for you, behind you, beside you and above you. Jesus is always with you, and when someone meets you, they will see Jesus.
Dear Lord Jesus, cover me this day with your love, grace and mercy. Guard my heart and my mind so that in all my thoughts and actions, I may serve you. Grow your word deep in my soul so that I bear fruit, living as one who lives in the light of day. Amen.
by Richard Fox
Bringing the good news of Jesus Christ to people is not a solo exercise. As a church, we have opportunities to partner together to make a big difference in many lives.
Your support enables the mission of Lutheran Media. This work shares Jesus’ message of hope through many resources – from radio spots, videos, booklets and online children’s ministry, to live-streamed church services, worship life CDs and DVDs, study guides, Scripture calendars and cards. Together we reach many more people than we could do on our own. Partnering with you through your prayers, encouragement and donations helps bring the gospel to millions of people. Some whose lives have been changed are now supporting Lutheran Media so that more people can hear this life-giving news. God calls us to give generously to the mission of his kingdom.
Support Lutheran Media and access life-changing resources at www.lutheranmedia.org.au or by calling 1800 353 350.
Pastor Richard Fox is Director of Lutheran Media.
Ministries ‘encourage, challenge and bless’
‘We listened to Pastor Richard’s message broadcast by our local radio station and thank him for his encouraging and challenging words.’ – Ken and Danuta
‘Keep up the wonderful work in the digital space, providing confessional/biblical truths to a post-modern Australian society!’ – Nathan
‘We thank you for the [worship] service provided and pray that you can continue to reach many people for Christ.’ – Rodney
‘Thank you for the blessings you bring to so many every day … Would you kindly forward the Chronic Pain booklet to my daughter as I hope it will help her.’ – Kaye
‘Thank you for the CDs. I am not computer-literate. I pray this pandemic will turn the people to Jesus. Keep up the good work you are doing.’ – Joy
‘I really appreciated your newsletter, you are doing amazing work.’ – Peter
New video deals with grief and hope
When Annette’s daughter died tragically, she felt trapped and lost in her grief. ‘The first year after Elise died was bad enough, but the second year was worse. I was bitter and I was twisted. I knew that I needed to do something’, she says. Watch Annette’s story and her struggle to find hope and freedom in the new video ‘Healing the Jagged Edges’ at www.youtube.com/messagesofhope
For more about dealing with grief, go to www.messagesofhope.org.au/grief
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