Tuesday, March 19

Tag: Philippians

Commentary, Personal Life

That’s Ridiculous

Read below or listen to the full message here. In boxing there is a combination of 3 power punches, used especially in close confinement, where your opponent is 'getting in your face'.  It is the right cross - left hook - right cross.   Paul ends his letter to the Philippians leaving us impacted with 3 power punches to our lives.  Locked in close confinement, in prison, yet keeping a good attitude Paul has more than enough authority to speak on these topics we will touch on today! The first right cross is revolutionise your life through your attitude.  He then comes in with the left hook - be utterly transformed by what you think on.  His final punch, leaving his audience reeling with new life is the right cross of 'ridiculous faith'.  In fact all 3 naturally speaking could be perceived
Commentary

Unashamed!

  For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. Philippians 1:20 Some years ago I was sitting in a meeting in which there was a disagreement in the room.  I remember beginning to get agitated and I eventually walked out. Right at that moment I lost my boldness to act on behalf of that group, because I had lost my ‘cool’ in front of them.  A rash act, a loss of self-control, a silly decision, can leave us without courage. We feel guilty, ashamed, we have to work at repairing the situation (which is what I did immediately in the days following that event). Once there is repair, there is courage again. Paul has just
Uncategorized

Message in a Bottle

Read blog below or listen to the podcast. In 1999 Kevin Costner starred in a movie called 'Message in a Bottle'.  Garret Blake (Kevin Costner) writes a love letter and puts it in a bottle.  It was his way of sharing his heart that had been broken by a previous relationship.  Some time later the bottle washes up on a beach and a curious passer by, Theresa Osborne, a journalist finds it and finds the romance of the situation news-worthy.  In the hunt for Garret in order to write a news article, she instead finds herself in love!  Highly romantic, and for Valentines, probably highly appropriate. In a much deeper and life changing significant story, this time for real, God has sent His message in a bottle, for anyone curious enough to pick it up and be transformed by it. The Gospel is the me
Personal Life

Nothing Really Really Matters!

Read blog below or listen to the podcast. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. Philippians 1:10 Asking "what really matters?" helps us live meaningful lives from a different perspective. Otherwise we only live from a perspective of the here & now, and from our past experiences, and not from heavenly values.  In the letter to the Philippians Paul makes some serious perspective statements: 1:21 For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. He knew by dying he would be with Jesus, and by living he could keep preaching the gospel, and establishing the Church - the things that really matter.  So he was happy either way. Perspective!  Nothing else really really matte