Thoughts

Put It On Repeat

in Thoughts  by Bronwyn 0 comments

I hear a lot of people say, “Kids pick up languages so much faster than adults.” Now that I have a small child, I think one of the reasons why is because of their tendency toward repetition.

How fast would anyone learn a language if they were repeating the new words over and over and listening to the same thing a hundred times? Little kids can watch the same video 317 times and still want to watch it again. [FYI, this works really well for kids’ Youtube channels!] You can read them the same book every day for a month and they will still want you to read it again. I have to sing the same song over and over and over.

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The Epic Rescue

in Thoughts  by Shane 0 comments

My childhood friend, Thian, who I knew since elementary school in Bangkok, visited me from Canberra recently. We had some good catching up to do and spent much of our time in our usual light-hearted talks. It is such a blessing to have genuine friends who you can catch up with after a long period and still feel like you’ve never spent years apart. 

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Working for God

in Thoughts  by Ben 0 comments

Attention all parents: Please take comfort in the fact the the Victorian Government is investing in the state’s teachers. The days of mandatory Professional Development for government school teachers are steadily increasing each year. I have recently been enrolled in a professional development program that spans eight unspeakably gruelling days.

As a beginning teacher I would relish the prospect of the latest research-based approach to teaching, learning or school operation. I would also look with disdain upon the more experienced, some would say jaded, teachers. They’d seen it all before and knew that this new whizz bang theory wouldn’t change their practice one iota (there’s my mandatory Greek for the week).

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Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

in Thoughts  by Maggie 0 comments

I remember three sisters who attended my primary school growing up. Sadly they were victims of horrendous bullying and I shudder to think of the long term psychological scars. I don’t know the exact trigger for the bullying, but I guess they came from a poorer family and spoke and dressed differently.

The youngest sister, Mary, was in my class. On one occasion, I remember the mother of the girls having an angry outburst at a school BBQ and running across the playground. Many of the children and their parents were pointing and laughing, some exclaiming, “She isn’t even wearing a bra!”

I recall feeling bewildered, and thinking “I am not perfect, will they laugh at me too?”

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In His Name

in Thoughts  by Jinha Kim 0 comments

I recently had fraudulent activity on one of my credit cards.  The person went on a shopping spree, purchasing at various cell phone stores, online stores, grocery stores, etc. All in all, over $2500 worth.

I had to call my credit card company and explain that I had not authorised those transactions; they had been purchased “in my name” without my consent.

Have you ever wondered about the meaning of the third commandment, “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain” (Exodus 20:7 NKJV)?

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The “Done” List

in Thoughts  by Jinha Kim 0 comments

I’ve been going through a weight-loss program called “Noom.”  Truth be told, I did really well the first 2 weeks (lost 2 kgs) but then it was my birthday weekend, we had our father-in-law with us for 3 weeks, and many more excuses later I’ve gained back everything and then some.  But while I haven’t been 100% committed to the nutrition, exercise, and sleep recommendations on the program, I have been reading the daily tips pretty faithfully.

“Noom” provides psychological, scientific and practical tips each day to help you modify your thinking & behaviour.

Today, it told me the physiological effects of stress (that includes weight gain) and reminded me to start each day with a smile and enjoy JOMO (joy of missing out).  It also told me to forget my to-do list and start the day with a “done” list.  Huh?

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Remembering to Rejoice

in Thoughts  by Jinha Kim 0 comments

I was driving when Joshua cried out, “Rain!” I sighed, anticipating tugging two wet children through the streets.  But Micah said, “Mummy, the rain is good!  It makes the flowers grow.”

And so it does.

I’ve been reading the Book of Ezra for my personal devotions and was struck by the dual reaction of the Jewish exiles when they returned to Jerusalem and rebuilt the foundation of the Temple.

The first temple built by King Solomon had been destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC and the Jewish people taken captive.  When God moved King Cyrus of Persia (who had conquered Babylon as prophesied) to empower the Jewish exiles to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem in 538 BC, nearly 50,000 people fulfilled that call.

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Refined by Fire

in Thoughts  by Shane 0 comments

I play for a futsal team regularly on Tuesday nights. Apart from being my favourite type of cardio, it is also a great way to build good friendships with teammates that are outside of the church circle. Everyone in the team is courteous and most of the time show excellent sportsmanship. Most of the other teams we play against show a similar attitude.

But there is always bound to be a team that does not adhere to the shared code of sportsmanship. And our league has one such team. The players have very limited skills and try to make up for it by playing dirty and rough. It gets even worse when they are trailing on the scoreboard. They resort to elbowing, kicking of legs more than kicking of the ball, and constantly complain to the referee.

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True Religion

in Thoughts  by Jinha Kim 0 comments

Brr, it’s cold outside.

As we head into the winter season, I am reminded of how lucky I am to have a warm shelter to call home.

For many, that is not the case.

There are 22,773 homeless individuals in Victoria alone.  Perhaps they are facing financial difficulties such as unemployment or experiencing domestic violence.  They could be having mental health issues or family breakdown.  Whatever the cause, they are vulnerable and need our help.

While there are supported accomodations available for the homeless, these are limited in number and still cost money (minimum $14 a night).

In the last 5 years, more than 500 beds have been taken off the emergency accomodation market in Melbourne as rooming houses are redeveloped to cash in on the housing boom.  As a result, the number of people sleeping rough (in the streets, without any shelter) in Melbourne has increased by 70% since 2014.  A survey of rough sleepers in 2016 found there were more than 250 people sleeping rough on the streets of Melbourne.  That number increases each year.

So what can we do to help?

Backpack Bed for Homeless (swags.org.au) is a nationally accredited charity in Australia and the winner of 2011 Australian Human Rights award for best Community Organisation.  They distribute backpack beds that are designed specifically for the homeless (light-weight, waterproof, fire resistant, mildew resistant) for $95 each.

Last year we distributed 5 backpack beds and will always remember the tears that rolled down one man’s face when we gave him his shelter for the cold Melbourne night.

This year, someone donated 12 backpack beds and the boxes are sitting in our lobby, waiting to go out to the homeless.  Won’t you help us walk around Melbourne CBD one Saturday afternoon after church in June to distribute them and give them vital information about soup kitchens and support centres in their area?  Perhaps we can even pack lunch bags to pass out with the backpack beds.  

Isaiah 58

“Shout with the voice of a trumpet blast.

Shout aloud! Don’t be timid.

Tell my people Israel of their sins!

2

Yet they act so pious!

They come to the Temple every day

and seem delighted to learn all about me.

They act like a righteous nation

that would never abandon the laws of its God.

They ask me to take action on their behalf,

pretending they want to be near me.

[…]

Is this what you call fasting?

Do you really think this will please the Lord?

6

“No, this is the kind of fasting I want:

Free those who are wrongly imprisoned;

lighten the burden of those who work for you.

Let the oppressed go free,

and remove the chains that bind people.

7

Share your food with the hungry,

and give shelter to the homeless.

Give clothes to those who need them,

and do not hide from relatives who need your help.

8

“Then your salvation will come like the dawn,

and your wounds will quickly heal.

Your godliness will lead you forward,

and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind.

9

Then when you call, the Lord will answer.

‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply.

“Remove the heavy yoke of oppression.

Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors!

10

Feed the hungry,

and help those in trouble.

Then your light will shine out from the darkness,

and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.

11

The Lord will guide you continually,

giving you water when you are dry

and restoring your strength.

You will be like a well-watered garden,

like an ever-flowing spring.

Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities.

Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls

and a restorer of homes.

13

“Keep the Sabbath day holy.

Don’t pursue your own interests on that day,

but enjoy the Sabbath

and speak of it with delight as the Lord’s holy day.

Honor the Sabbath in everything you do on that day,

and don’t follow your own desires or talk idly.

14

Then the Lord will be your delight.

I will give you great honor

and satisfy you with the inheritance I promised to your ancestor Jacob.

I, the Lord, have spoken!”

True and genuine religion in the sight of God means caring for the most vulnerable people in our community (James 1:27, paraphrased).  So if you have warm clothes to donate, put them aside and get in touch with us.  There is also an ADRA Victoria team that serves food for the homeless every Friday evening at the Queen Victoria markets from 7:30 pm onwards.  Perhaps you can donate your time or talent/skill in empowering these individuals to get the support that they need.  Please join us in prayer as we seek not just to be a church in the city, but a church for the City.