Camp Out

This past week, we had the privilege

of camping out with a bunch of Yanks,

our girls and the Bauer Family.

A missions team from the state of Delaware, USA

(yeah, I didn't know where it was either),

had come to help out in the work

the Bauers are doing in the community

of Barunga and also in Katherine.

It turned out that Dave and I were able

to go up to Darwin on Saturday night

and pick them all up from the airport

as their original ride was down with a tummy bug.

We managed to get home at 1 AM

safe and sound, with no buffalo

sized imprints in the front of the bus.

(just a whole lot of weary passengers)

So, they had to make do with me,

walking up to them in the airport,

looking them up and down,

and saying, "Yep, that's them! I'm your ride!

Follow me!"

Which, like the Pied Piper, they kindly did.

Our family was invited along to camp out

with them on a friends block out of town.

It was a real blessing for all involved

and it was the first time in our 4 years here,

that the girls were able to get together with

a bunch of like minded teens and just

have fun and do what teenagers do!

(which I think is, talk, and talk some more,

throw around a half empty water bottle as a football,

play noughts and crosses in the dust,

go croc spotting in the dark

along the river,

go snake catching with Pastor Bauer

and so on and so forth)

Emilee acted as the ferry for carting

people and gear to and from the camp.

She managed NOT to lose any passengers.

Our set up was simple but effective.

Of course, I think Dave and I had the best spot

being up above in our rooftop tent.

(Oh, and should I be worried that each

one of our girls is playing with a knife??)

We ate well and the yanks taught us

how to eat hot dogs properly, by roasting

them over the fire.

We served up pavlova and billy tea

and roast potatoes.

(Liberally coated with ash and dust)

Dave drove our 22 seater and took all

of us out to Cutta Cutta Caves to see

the 'underground' sights.

It is always a blessing that no matter

what race you are or what accent you have,

when you are brothers and sisters in Christ,

these differences soon disappear.

What an encouragement to know that

there are others, on the other side of the world,

willing to make sacrifices and

serve the Lord, even in our out of the

way town of Katherine, NT.

I've put together a short video of

the last couple of days.

Sorry it won't be super clear,

being resized to fit.

You get the drift anyway.

What Fits the Bill?

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

In reading over this verse this morning,

I realised that there is only ONE thing that truly meets the high

standards of this verse. Only ONE thing that is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, praiseworthy. And that ONE thing, is the Word of God and God Himself.

(or is that 2 things?)

I have been trying to memorize this verse for a long time, but I always get my

just, pure and lovelies out of order. This verse has been a help to me when I find

myself with unwanted thoughts in my head. When I'm tempted to say that sarcastic

remark to that person who's 'got it coming', or I'm wanting to share that bit of gossip,

or speak that unkind word or serve my own biased justice onto someone.

This verse tells us what to think on instead. It gives us an alternative.

And what an alternative it gives us!

Our minds are very powerful things.

God has blessed us with a free will and a mind that

can think and make decisions. But, oh,

how easy it is to slip into

the negative and the sinful and the prideful.

Here, Paul exhorts the brethren

to think on Godly things.

When you're struggling with your thought life, what

better thing to turn your mind to,

than the Word of God!

What is more true, more pure, more lovely, more just,

more honest, more full of good reports,

more virtuous, more praiseworthy,

than the Word of God.

If we fill our minds and our hearts with God's Word,

His Word will drive away those ungodly thoughts

and fill us with His thoughts and His truths instead.

But how can we expect to have those Godly thoughts in our heads

when we neglect to be in the Word daily.

If we neglect the study of

God's Word and don't hide it in our

hearts by continual

reading and studying and memorizing,

how is it going to be there to call

upon in time of need?

It won't happen by osmosis!

It won't happen by attending

one church service a week,

with our Bible under our arm that

conveniently falls open to

where the Pastor is preaching his

current series of messages from,

because it hasn't been opened to any other passage for such a long time.

No! We have to be IN the Word

to gain benefit from it.

To be able to 'think on these things'

as our verse states,

we have to have put some of these Godly thoughts

into the memory banks of our hearts

and minds, beforehand.

Yes, there are lovely things and

true things to dwell on

other than the Word of God. And often we will

look at creation

and the amazing scenery around us and

use these things as

'good' things to think on. And yes, God

put them there for

our enjoyment. But, even viewing a

majestic scene from

a lofty mountaintop should bring us

to our knees in praise and worship

of the God of creation. These 'things'

should drive us to

reflection upon God and His goodness.

His glory. His righteousness.

His loveliness. His virtue.

So, while I am in need of this verse

and encouraged to think on things of a higher nature,

God's Word should be the goal of my thoughts.

Not just the lovely things around me that distract

me from my wicked thoughts.

But God's Holy Word that leads me to

repentance and reveals the darkness

that lies within me.

His Word and ONLY His Word can really fit the bill

of this verse. It is the only reliable source of all

these Godly 'things' to think upon.

Read it.

Meditate upon it.

Memorize it.

Study it.

Live it.

Psalms 119:11

Thy word have I hid in mine heart,

that I might not sin against thee.

4 Years in the Territory!

Yes, you read that right.

On June the 1st, it was 4 years

since we moved to the Territory!

The photo above was taken the day we left.

Time has flown by and the girls have

grown up so quickly in those

short 4 years.

We've gone from parents of 5 girls at home,

to the oldest married and gone,

the second oldest married and now a mum,

us now being grandparents,

with only 3 girls at home,

the 3rd with a license and a job,

and the 2 youngest the only ones left at school,

with the 2nd youngest ready to get her learners

in August!

Eek!

So, if you're feeling old, just look at

us for an example and you'll suddenly feel

young again!

Life changes so fast that its hard to keep up,

but God has been so good

and showered us with so many blessings.

"God has been good, so good,

I have been blessed"

Can't Help Myself

Memory Lane

Okay, so this is Dave and I, with Abbi

when she was a few hours old.

The photos are not very clear,

being photos of a photo,

but wow! how similar little Miriam

and little Abbi look:)

 Miriam Grace McKenna

First Pics

5 hours old

Awwwww!

Absolutely perfect

The Sound of Silence

Tuesday night, we took a 12 hour holiday.

Needing a piece of quiet from the noise

of town, we headed out for some

campfire smoke and billy tea.

There was only the sound of silence.

Ah.

There were some dingoes howling nearby,

during the night

and the occasional truck passing by

a few hundred meters away.

But mostly silence.

Blessed silence.

I managed to find a few little creatures

to photograph. This lizard was a favourite.

Check out his 'dragon' tail.

I enjoyed a beautiful Territory sunset

from the roof rack of the cruiser.

The girls were too busy being pyromaniacs!

And Dave was just chillin'

And of course, billy tea and bikkies.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to do any

star photography because of the cloud cover,

but just being out there in the silence

and away from the busyness of

everyday life, was worth missing a few good pictures.

Psalm 46:10a

Be still, and know that I am God

Sometimes, I think, God gives us

the busyness of our lives

so that it forces us to take time out,

to sit and be still and be silent

and listen for His still, small voice.

He longs for us to spend time with Him.

Reflecting on His great love.

His amazing creation.

His protection and providence.

Time to remember what we have to be

grateful for. To take a moment to thank

Him for the blessings He showers upon us.

Don't miss those opportunities to

slow down and see what He has

to teach us in the silence.

Remember to listen for His voice

in the raging storm.

No storm is too big or too loud

that we can't hear Him speak.

We only have to listen.

Get Dressed

Often during my Bible reading, or listening to a sermon, a thought, a phrase, or a verse will jump out at me and start the wheels turning in my mind and make me dig deeper in the Word of God, searching for more light on the subject.

This weekend was one of those times. I heard the phrase “get dressed spiritually”, and I began to muse over this phrase and it's full meaning.

Every morning, as we wake up and begin our day, we give some thought as to what we are going to wear for the day. We think about what we'll be doing that day and it determines what clothes we'll wear. Is it a work day? Is it a church day? Is it a cold day? A hot day? Will we be getting dirty? Will we be sitting in an office? Will we be meeting with a friend for coffee? Our mind runs those scenarios over in our heads, and we plan accordingly.

But now to crunch time, and the point of my writing.

How often do we get up and “get dressed spiritually”? Do we rise every morning and plan what to wear spiritually? We read in Ephesians 6:10-17 about the clothes that God wants us to wear.

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

The whole armour of God! God tells us what we are to wear spiritually. He gives us clear instructions.

We would never, even on our most brain dead days, get up to start our day, without stopping to get dressed. No! We put at least a little bit of effort into clothing ourselves.

Why then, do we neglect to clothe ourselves spiritually? Why do we think we can make it through the day spiritually naked!

Some people think they can get by with a spiritual clothing once a week. On Sunday, they soak up the Word, read and pray, then for the rest of the week, they get about without their armour (spiritual clothes) on. And yet, they take care to get dressed physically each and every day.

The Bible clearly tells us why it's important to be clothed with His armour. We will be able to “stand against the wiles of the devil”. We will “be able to withstand in the evil day”.

I don't know about you, but I feel like we're living in the 'evil day'. Unless you live under a rock (like my 12^th grade geography teacher thought of me because we didn't have a television), or you are in denial about the wickedness in the world today, you too know that we live in evil days. All the more reason to put on God's armour.

The Bible also tells us in verse 16 that we'll be able to “quench all the fiery darts of the wicked”. I know I don't want to take on a fiery dart without some protection.

So often we're guilty of taking care of the physical and neglecting the spiritual. We need to be in God's Word, daily, continually, wholeheartedly, to be able to find the armour we need.

One of my sister's used to tell me in my teenage years, that it looked liked I'd rolled around in my drawer and got out (due to my wrinkled state). Well, it's not enough to 'roll around in the drawer' of God's Word, metaphorically speaking, and expect to come out with your armour on. You can't expect to be clothed right if all you do is read your Bible on Sunday, and maybe a little verse along with a nice story every other day.

As you dig deeper, God's Word comes alive. As you memorize scripture, God's Word, God's truth, is hidden in your heart and is there ready for the enemy's attack.

We need protection against the devil's tricks and manipulative methods. And only by mediating on God's Word and obeying God's Word, and living God's truth, are we going to be able to stand against the devil, prepared for the battle.

The Bible is full of promises that we can claim. We can trust in God's protection, but He expects us to clothes ourselves, with His help, and be ready.

So get serious and get dressed!

Psalms 28:7

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

Psalms 84:11

For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

A Lion from a Thicket

Dad wrote this article in the church

bulletin this week and it was so

good I wanted to post it here.

Sometimes, as I read my Bible, a verse

leaps out at me that I never noticed

before, but often to me, it's like

a brick in the face!

I really like Dad's 'Lion from a Thicket'

analogy so much better.

If you haven't already read it,

please take the time to read it now.

Here it is:

19^th century pastor Charles Spurgeon once wrote of preaching in the dark at Metropolitan Tabernacle when the gaslights failed. Interestingly, he told that during the last hymn before he preached he was looking over his sermon notes, and 'from across the page a text leaped upon me like a lion from a thicket.' He said it seized him in its teeth and pierced him deeply. So obvious were its truths, so pointed its message and so clear were the headings of its outline that he felt led to lay aside the sermon he had prepared and to change his sermon. So he preached from the LIONLIKE TEXT.

No sooner had he begun to speak than the lights in the auditorium went out. People and preacher were plunged into darkness, but he had no need of sermon notes. He knew the new text from memory. The outline was fresh in his mind, so he calmed the people and preached with great power. In the dark. He recounted that he was sure that God had directed him to the new text.

It is that saying of his that keeps coming back to me, 'a text leaped upon me like a lion from a thicket!'

Have you ever had that happen to you in your devotions, in your Bible reading? I gather that it is almost unknown among the Lord's people. Very seldom do we see (or even hear of) a brother being broken, torn, rent in pieces by a LION OF A TEXT OF SCRIPTURE. Rather, neo-evangelicalism has conditioned us to study only the 'safe texts' and avoid all thickets of Holy Scripture where LION TEXTS lurk. We've absorbed the soft lies of the neo-theologians who smilingly whisper to us that all LION TEXTS have been retranslated so that they are now tame tabbycats, purring on our laps. Modern culture teaches us that being mauled be a Bible verse is an alien experience for modern day pastors. Brokenness is out of date and baptistically incorrect.

Ah, but if our hearts are tender, if we lay aside our worldly wise armour we may fall under the onslaught of a mighty text, torn limb from limb, rent in pieces by the ferocity of truth, helpless in its jaws. How long is it since that has been our experience? Not for a long time. In fact, I sometimes despair of experiencing again that blessed crushing of my stubborn will, that breaking of my hardened heart, that wounding of my arrogant pride.

It is not that God has lost His power or that His Word has no teeth. Rather it is that Christians keep their distance from LIONLIKE TEXTS. They ride in air conditioned comfort through lion parks where they can observe at a distance the great Bible truths that used to devour men.

I have decided that I need to hark back to Spurgeon's description of 'the text leaping upon him like a lion from a thicket.' I am convicted of being overcautious in my reading of God's Word. The Lord is challenging me to risk my soul, to hazard my all, and to prowl all the thickets of God's Word. I need to probe every bush, and to follow every game trail I find in hope of springing a LIONLIKE TEXT.

As time passes I find I am becoming more adventurous, and even beginning to leave my cardboard armour at home. In fact, I noticed the other day that it is gathering a lot of dust. I cannot yet boast of great numbers of LIONLIKE TEXTS found, but I can give thanks for some small progress. I am occasionally being torn by the Lion of Truth. Is it fearful? Yes and no. It was terribly frightening at first to be seized and dragged off to the lair of the Lion of the tribe of Judah. But I am discovering that His deepest wounds are for my good. Like Jacob, I am finding that all God's valiant men limp from the wounds of LIONTEXTS. Jacob was only a supplanter, a trickster, until God crippled him, and then he became Israel the prince of God. I am coming to believe that LIONLIKE TEXTS are the best kind. In fact, one of my friends suggested to me that most texts of Scripture will be found to be ravenous, if I read them in faith.

I suspect that the Christian who lays aside his armour of self will and intellectual pride and then prowls among the thickets of Scripture will find many hungry LIONTEXTS there. There is surely nothing better for God's people than for their pastor to limp to the pulpit with many a scar from having wrestled with a LIONLIKE of Scripture until it did its work in him. And nothing brings joy to a pastor's heart like looking out over his congregation on a Sunday morning and seeing many whose hearts have been chewed by texts that leaped upon them like lions from a thicket!

May they leap upon us as they did upon Spurgeon!

Pastor Buddy