I read this the other day, and I liked it!  I thought I’d share it with you …

 Freed From Taking Ourselves Too Seriously

Those who live in grace are freed from the necessity of taking themselves, their circumstances, their morality and opinions, their piety and beliefs, too seriously. They are free to laugh and play as children of God. As important as repentance is, we are not saved by our much weeping, any more than we are saved by acts of penitence. And the expression of salvation freely given and received is not weeping but laughter, or at least a weeping become laughter. Laughter and light-heartedness, at their fullest and freest, are the gift of divine grace.                         (Conrad Hyers)

On the day of His resurrection, the Bible records that Jesus joined two of His followers as they walked from Jerusalem towards the nearby village of Emmaus. They didn’t recognise Him, and as they walked He chatted with them about the events of the last couple of days, and their response to the death of the one they had followed.

 The Message translation expresses the final part of this story like this …

They came to the edge of the village where they were headed. He acted as if He were going on, but they pressed Him: “Stay and have supper with us. It’s nearly evening; the day is done.” So He went in with them. And here is what happened: He sat down at the table with them. Taking the bread, He blessed and broke and gave it to them. At that moment, open-eyed, wide-eyed, they recognised Him. And then He disappeared. Back and forth they talked. “Didn’t we feel on fire as He conversed with us on the road, as He opened up the Scriptures for us? (Luke 24:28-32)

 May we who know this story so well discover that the risen Jesus opens the Scriptures for us in a fresh way this Easter; may we too be wide-eyed with wonder at the events of Easter, and “on fire” as we encounter our living Lord, as we worship Him in spirit and in truth.

 Have a very blessed Easter!

I’ve been thinking a bit about baptism this week – primarily because one of the young women in our church, is going to be baptised here this evening.  She will get down into the pool at the front of the church, and be fully immersed in the water – because she wants to publicly proclaim that she has entrusted her life to Jesus, and is committed to being His follower. 

To be honest, I find what the Bible says about baptism somewhat mysterious – but it’s also profound, and powerful!  It says that when we are baptised, we are baptised “into” Christ Jesus – into His death, and burial, and resurrection life (Romans 6).  As I said, there’s mystery here – but it’s also a powerful statement, and a wonderful promise, something to continue to reflect on, and to grow in understanding and experience of.

 Is baptism just a “religious ritual”, merely an outward expression of an inward reality – and it’s the inward that matters?  I think it’s more than that – and this is where the mystery comes in.  “Baptised into Christ Jesus” – what a stunning statement!  If you are a follower of Jesus, but have never been baptised, I invite you to say to Jesus that you are willing to be baptised if this is what He wants you to do – and then invite Him to make it clear to you if He does.

Today is the first Sunday of LENT, the period of 40 days (not counting Sundays) leading up to Easter.  Lent is traditionally a time for serious reflection on what it means to follow Jesus, and of committing afresh to living as His disciple in the world.  Traditionally also, Lent is a sombre time, a time of fasting and self-denial, because it is a time of preparing to once again go through the events of Easter, and identify with Jesus in His suffering and death.

Have you given any thought to how you might make this Lenten period a significant and formative time for you?  Choosing to deny yourself of something and to make time for serious reflection and recommitment is a very helpful way to prepare yourself to celebrate Easter meaningfully – remembering that we are called to worship God by offering ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to Him (Romans 12:1).

I’m not sure who decides such things, but my diary says that today (March 6^th) is Children’s Day in New Zealand. Sadly, there are many children in our country who are not cared for and protected as they deserve to be. Let’s use today as anopportunity to recommit ourselves, as a church community, and as individualfamilies, to cherishing and loving the children entrusted to us by God – remembering they are extremely precious to Him.

I am also “reliably informed” that the last weekend of this month (March 26^th and 27^th) is officially Neighbours’ Weekend Aotearoa. (Check out the website, www.neighboursday.org.nz) The theme is “turning streets into neighbourhoods”. In view of recent events in Christchurch, this would be a great time to develop links with neighbours, and discuss how you would care for each other in an emergency, look at civil defence issues, etc. And of course, show the love of Jesus in the process. Wouldn’t it be great if KBCers became the catalysts for turning streets into neighbourhoods throughout our community?

A group of 4-8 year olds were asked: “What does love mean?”  Here are some of their answers …

 “When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn’t bend over and paint her toenails anymore so my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got

arthritis too. That’s love.” Rebecca, aged 8.

“Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries

without making them give you any of theirs.” Chrissy, aged 6.

“Love is what makes you smile when you’re tired.” Terri, aged 4.

“Love is when my mummy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is okay.” Danny, aged 7.

“Love is what’s in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.” Bobby, aged 7.

“If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate.” Nikka, aged 6.

“Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it every day.” Noelle, aged 7.

“Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.” Tommy, aged 6.

“Love is when Mummy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.” Elaine, aged 5.

“You really shouldn’t say ‘I love you’ unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot, because people forget.” Jessica, aged 8.

Today we celebrate Waitangi Day, a very important day in the history of our nation – and in the present and future also.  A lot of the recent discussion around Waitangi Day has been about whether we should get a holiday when it falls on a weekend … but there are more important issues!

It’s a great pleasure to welcome Keith Newman to speak at our services today, along with his wife, artist Paula Novak.  I have recently read Keith’s book “BIBLE & TREATY: Missionaries Among The Maori – A New Perspective”.  I found it fascinating!  Not to mention inspiring, enlightening, and encouraging.  I’m really looking forward to hearing what Keith has to share with us today, on a subject that is so significant for us as we seek to understand our past, and what it means for our present and our future.

If you are not at Night Church this evening, you may be interested to listen to Keith being interviewed at about 8.30pm on NewsTalk ZB.  He’ll be doing a phone interview from KBC.

It can be hard coming back from holidays!  The thought of getting back into another year of routines and regularity can seem somewhat unappealing when you’ve just got into relaxed vacation mode.  As I started back at work this week, I read something which got me reflecting once again on the monumental significance of Christmas, which we have so recently celebrated, and what it means for us as we move into another year of worship and mission together …    

 It is often said at Christmas that Jesus is born into every family and every heart. But these “births” must not make us forget the primordial, massive fact that Jesus was born of Mary among a people that at the time were dominated by the greatest empire of the age. If we forget that fact, the birth of Jesus becomes an abstraction, a symbol, a cipher. Apart from its historical coordinates the event loses its meaning. To the eyes of Christians the incarnation is the irruption of God into human history: anincarnation into littleness and service in the midst of overbearing power exercised by the mighty of this world; an irruption that smells of the stable.    

(Gustavo Gutierrez)

 Holidays are great, and it’s good and important to be renewed and refreshed and revitalised.  But our calling is to keep on going with our Saviour into the routine and regular aspects of our lives, and to be the incarnation of His love in humble service.

I read these words this week …

When people tell me they are Christians, my first response is a question, “Really? Already?” It seems to me that it’s a lifelong endeavour to try to live the life of a Christian.

 Food for thought! Certainly, “becoming like Jesus” – having His character, His nature formed in us – IS an endeavour we will be engaged in our whole lives, and I’m sure none of us would say we are anywhere near having “arrived” yet. But SETTING OUT on that journey is REALLY IMPORTANT … making the choice that this is the direction you want to head in, and opening your life to the Spirit of God to allow and invite Him to begin to transform you into a “new creation” – this is of immense significance. And at that point, it is appropriate to call yourself a Christian, a “Christ-one” … a person who has made the choice to BEGIN to follow.

 The biblical sign of making that beginning is BAPTISM. This morning we are celebrating with Jenny as she publicly proclaims her personal faith in Jesus by being baptised. By being baptised, she is not saying: “I am Super-Christian! I’ve got this Christian thing all sorted.” Rather, she is saying, “I am beginning. I have decided to be a follower of Jesus, and to put my trust in Him … the journey has begun.”

This has been a very sad week in our nation.  It has felt like there’s been a shadow over the whole country.  The name Pike River will go down in our collective memory alongside such names as Cave Creek and Mt. Erebus.  It makes you realise that we are a small country (in a good way), as everyone feels and shares in the grief to some extent. 

Today, as we begin Advent, we light the Candle of Hope.  It is good to be reminded that because of the coming of Jesus – Immanuel, GOD WITH US – there is hope, even in the midst of grief, whether that grief is personal or national.

 But also today, it is important that we stand with those whose grief is the deepest – that we pray for them, and acknowledge their pain and heartache.  As a church community today, our prayers, our thoughts, our love and our support are with the people of the West Coast.