I bet the next words you hear in your head are …the wondrous cross. Am I right? Or maybe it’s just me and you thought: When I survey…

…my backyard I realise it needs some serious T.L.C.

…this large stretch of land, I can determine its features and decide we can build a luxury swimming pool afterall.

…ten or more people I find I’m not the only one who likes to add jobs I’ve already done to my to-do list just so I can tick them off straight away and feel a satisfying sense of accomplishment.

Like many English words, ‘survey’ has various meanings. To investigate opinions/experiences of others, to examine/record an area so as to construct a map, plan or description, or to look closely at or examine someone or something. I think the old hymn about the cross of Jesus Christ was most likely referring to this latter definition. But we could look at it from these other angles too.

If I look closely at or examine the cross of Jesus, I don’t just observe the shape, the colour, the woodgrain. I do, however, examine what meanings it reveals. The cross reveals, above all, the character of God… His unconditional, sacrificial love for lost sinners. It reveals His perfect justice that ensures the fitting consequence has been actioned for the gross crime taken place against the God of universe. It reveals His great compassion and mercy shown by not allowing this consequence to fall on us. And is also reveals His great power – His capacity to pass this judgement and give this mercy. It reveals His healing power, His forgiveness, His sovereignty, His authority over all creation. How can a piece of wood reveal so much? I encourage you to look up the lyrics of the hymn When I Survey The Wondrous Cross and reflect on this meaning and capture the mind and heart of God.

But how can we ‘survey’ in other ways that will draw us closer to an understanding of God?

I think next of surveying an area of land. What real estate could we consider on a spiritual level? I think of my heart, of course. Perhaps I should also survey my heart – to record it, construct a map, a plan or description of it. Measure it. Is there indeed a ‘weed’ problem? Are things taking root in there that shouldn’t be? Is there enough space for the things that should be there? If we’re looking to ‘install’ or ‘build’ a long-lasting personal relationship, is there the right kind of soil, space and dimensions for the foundations we wish to build? Are the right attitudes there? Is there discipline there? Is there an adequate amount of openness to God’s word and voice in order to sustain the constructure that is to be developed? And what is the estimated cost of living that life? What resources do I have that I can give to this project?

Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were an offering far too small
Love so amazing so divine
Demands my soul my life my all

Every time you come to pray, worship or read the Bible, make a survey of your heart. Perhaps record it in a notebook for reflection and future reference. Then talk to the Land Developer and check that your heart is a suitable place for Him to dwell.

Now, how about taking another type of survey… Can we investigate the opinions and/or experiences of a group of people by asking them questions? We could survey 1000 people and find out how many of them believe in God, follow Him daily, have a personal understanding of Him. That will certainly give us some quantitative information. But I would encourage you to, on a regular basis, seek the more qualitative data in people around about us. Sit down over coffee and discuss in depth about how God has been working in their lives. How God has revealed Himself to them lately. What blessings or challenges has God given them and how has their personal relationship with Him changed over time. Allow their testimonies to build you up in faith. It will give us not only some understanding about God, but a deeper understanding about each other. Our brothers and sisters in Christ are placed around us so that we can do life together. Give and receive support. Share experiences, joys, and fears.

God and everything about Him requires surveying. So, survey creation. Survey the acts of love in people around you every day. Survey your responses to things that happen in life… We should become expert ‘God-surveyors’ to really grasp His love for us and the life we want to live in response to that.

The hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight…

I don’t think we’d get many people arguing when we say Christmas is about love. Perhaps not too many arguments if we say ‘God’s love’. But I think the complaints start coming when we say Christmas is about a Man. A Man who came to demonstrate God’s love in a completely real, tangible, relatable way. A Man not of this world, and so very special. So special in fact, that creation did some very peculiar things when He was born. So special that wind and waves obey Him, as well as the suns and planets of the universe. In fact, He spoke them into being in the first place.

He existed before He was born and lived after He died. The timelines of Earth point to Him. More than 300 ancient prophecies point to Him. Even other world religions point to Him. He is the most famous Man in history. No other man (or woman) even comes close. He, of course, is Jesus.

He caused such a stir upon Earth, right from the moment He was born. Countless people have suffered because of Him, beginning with several baby boys in Bethlehem.

When He came, He was not a Man, He was a Baby. And this confused many people, (still confuses people today). I wonder about the conversations among the Jewish people at the time.

‘But how is a baby going to deliver us from the Romans?’ says one.

‘I thought that perhaps some of the prophecies about a baby were a metaphor,’ says another.

‘Babies grow up.’

‘Yes, but… this is not what I was expecting. Are we to wait another thirty-odd years?’

‘We have waited thousands of generations. What is thirty more years?’

‘But this can’t be the Promised One. How will he have any influence when he’s from such a lowly family? So confined by the same Roman prison we are all in?’

But there were some who understood. Simeon, for example, eagerly waiting for the Messiah. When Jesus was brought to the Temple, Simeon was there, took the Baby in his arms and said,

“Sovereign Lord, now let Your servant die in peace, as You have promised. I have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and He is the glory of Your people Israel!”

The hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight…

Israel had been promised a Redeemer. A King with a Kingdom that would last forever (2 Sam 7:13 / Dan 7:14). A ruler Whose origins are from old (Mic 5:2). Someone to crush the enemy’s head (Gen 3:15). Someone to perform miraculous wonders (Is 35:5-6). A bringer of justice (Is 42:1-4). Someone who will set captives free (Is 61:1). And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. (Is 9:6-7)

God filled the spirits of these prophets with knowledge and praise for Him. God filled the hearts of those who would read those prophecies with hope. God filled the sky with blinding light and angel song on the night He was born. God filled Mary’s heart with burning joy as she cradled Him. God filled His followers with the Holy Spirit. He fills our lives with hope, peace, and joy everyday when we open up our hearts to Him.

For generations, the world waited in anticipation. Waited in hope… eager, yearning, longing, aching. And then… one night… He arrived. Most of the world didn’t quite understand it yet. But the angels knew, the stars knew, the shepherds, the wisemen, perhaps even the animals in that place knew. Mary, Joseph, and Simeon knew. And how much more ought we to ‘know’, that Jesus is the hope of this world. Through God’s Word, His big picture has been revealed to us – the whole plan from start to finish!

The world was weary. The world is weary. We are all weary at times. But are you rejoicing?

Hope is here! Rejoice! And again I say, “Rejoice!”

Burnside Family Church has responded to the new thing that God has been doing in Tanzania with Pastor Daniel and his work with the elderly Maasai in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area as a result of a visit by me back in 2017. As a church we were very encouraged and blessed to be able to step out in faith last year. We raised enough money for a 4WD. This vehicle is proving to be of substantial help in transporting people to medical help as well as transporting water and firewood to the elderly. Through the development of a partnership with HealthServe Australia (of Christian Medical and Dental Fellowship origins) money was provided at Christmas time to assist with supplies of insecticide, some vehicle repairs and picnic outings for the elderly. The most recent donation has provided some funds to build one Boma or grass hut which will serve as a day gathering shelter for the elderly of one village.

The Vision

Due to distance, low supplies but high cost of medicines, and virtually no medical services specific to the elderly, Pastor Daniel’s vision is to build a medical centre which will service the community and provide appropriate treatment, medicines and resources for the elderly. He has been given a place to build just outside of the conservation area and offers of assistance with stocking and running the facility. The building plans put the cost at around $140,000 AUD

We respect Pastor Daniel’s integrity and vision and once again have set about in faith to raise finance for this facility. This year’s target is seven times greater than last year.  As we pray, we don’t know how the Lord will provide this amount, but we can trust that our God, the Lord and maker of heaven and earth is up to the task!

“This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it—the Lord is his name: ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’ Jeremiah 33:2

Fund Raiser 2024

The fundraising event at Burnside City Uniting Church on Saturday 21st September was a Christian Concert hosted by Burnside Family Church.  A big thank you to our strong team of volunteers who helped with the myriad of tasks for the event. We are very grateful that due to the venue and the band being donated for our use, all the proceeds from the concert can go towards the fundraising goal. Thanks also to Ryan Reynolds for pulling together a team of Barista students to serve coffees and hot chocolates, helping to boost the proceeds. Besides the sales from the concert, many people who were invited but unable to attend have donated generously.

The Jesus Music Collective are a wonderfully talented band, who provided us with exquisite renditions of songs from the Jesus Music Pioneers era, sharing some of the personal stories of conversion of the song writers. Their music was both entertaining, uplifting and worshipful. My personal favourites were Put Your Hand in the Hand by Gene MacLellan, So you want to go back to Egypt by Keith and Melody Green, They’ll Know We are Christians by our Love by Fr. Peter Scholtes and Hear the Bells Ringing (the Easter Song) by 2nd Chapter of Acts.  These songs transported me back to my teachers college years and an anointed Christian Fellowship I was part of.

At the concert, I shared with the audience the journey that we are on with Pastor Daniel and the Maasai people in Tanzania. I wore a Maasai blanket, given to me by Daniel and his wife. I was given permission and told, ‘You’re Maasai now’. (By the way it was really comfy and warm to wear!)

New Website

It was a fitting occasion to launch the brand-new website created by Oliver Stephenson. This will help spread the message near and far about Pastor Daniel’s work and keep us updated with news and stories. Please take a look at:

www.careforelderlymaasai.org

There are links for donations on the website where people can choose to donate through Burnside Family Church, or Healthserve Australia for tax deductible gifts.

Going forward

Please pray for the miraculous provision of the $140,000 we need for the building of this medical centre/pharmacy. Also pray about how you might be able to be involved in support prayerfully and practically.

There are many creative possibilities but unless the Lord directs it, our labours may be in vain. Psalm 127:1

It was one of those rare phases I sometimes have where I actually manage to spend some time out in the garden. I couldn’t look at the size of those weeds anymore. Some of them were growing to a height of half my body! Well, no more! It was time to get rid of them. And not a moment too soon. (Although perhaps a few moments (months) too late!)

I came across one particular weed that was standing tall and proud, looking out over the rest of the garden like it owned the place. Its stem had to be a good centimetre in diameter. Its broad leaves luscious, thick and thriving. With my gardening-gloved hand, I reached in, low to the ground, around its stem. One gentle tug, and I felt not even an inkling of a movement. Most weeds in my garden, if the soil’s soft, tend to wriggle and lift when I apply the gentle tug, albeit reluctantly. But not this one. This little blighter was firmly cemented into the ground. It was part of the ground. It had built its house there and was set for a long happy life. It did own the place.

But I knew. I knew it had no place in my garden. So I did not give up. I wriggled and tugged a little more, gently heaving at different angles and of course bits of the soil around its stem had to move aside while I did so. (It has to be gentle, you see, because if you yank too hard and too fast, the stem will snap and then you have no hope of removal from pulling, since there’s now no longer anything above the surface to grab hold of.)

Anyway, this leafy invader was still not budging. It was time to involve some tools. I left and came back with my small garden fork. I proceeded to poke and prod at the surrounding ground near the base of the stem to break it up, expose a little more of the thick stem of the weed. Then I grabbed the stem again, gave a gentle wriggle and a tug. Still zero movement. And I mean zero. Not even the hint of a suggestion of a remote sense of movement.

I had to dig more. And more and more, until I had made a bit of a crater in the ground around the stem of the weed. Ahh… now some movement! But I could feel the stubborn grip the roots still had in the ground. I left, and came back with my trowel and dug more. Actual full digging this time, not just a little poking and prodding. I dug boldly into the soil, scooping great chunks of ground away from the site.

I tried pulling the weed with one hand, while prodding and digging with the other to release a few roots at a time. I scooped and scraped the loose soil away from the hole and tried pulling again. The weed was still hanging on. Still had a firm clutch on the depths of the soil. I dug more. And more and more until I had a huge ugly pit in my front garden. With a tall, strong, menacing weed standing tall in the centre of it.

I went in, both hands, clasped around the stem tightly, my feet and legs pushing against the earth, my arms fighting against these roots’ wicked hold they had on the ground. I could feel it, giving – slightly, let go, dug some more. More and more until part of the big bulk of the root system was exposed – out in the open air. It must have known now, that it was done for. I grabbed hold again and pulled and pulled. And pulled and pulled and pulled and pulled, and all of a sudden, I felt it give, my body fell backwards.

I’m lying on my back in the garden with the humungous monster of a weed in my hands. Grains of dirt sprinkling over me.  

I’m exhausted. My muscles are hurting. But I look at the weed in my hands, and I have it! Roots and all. I look at the place in the ground where it used to be. And there’s a huge ugly hole there. A giant cavity left open, gaping. If the ground was a living thing itself, it would surely be screaming in pain. I can’t help but think of that hole as a wound. A deep, nasty, painful wound. And all because I allowed that weed to grow so big.

I thought of wounds if our lives, and I thought of the weed as sin, growing and taking root in our lives. Taking over. Acting as though it owns the place. But while it’s there, there’s no visible wound yet. There is no pain just yet. No pulling, no tugging, no gaping holes… everything seems fine!

A weed is green. It’s leafy, it’s luscious. Can’t it just stay in the garden? What harm’s it actually doing? Well, it does four main things to harm your garden.

1. Weeds steel. They rob the nutrients and water from the ground that your desired plants need to grow to their full flourishing potential.
2. Weeds are a favoured home for garden pests. Nice little bug-sized Airbnb locations and your plants are the local ‘restaurants and cafes’!
3. Weeds take up space. They crowd out the healthy plants and so again, they can’t flourish to their full potential. They’re like an annoying houseguest who doesn’t have regular hygiene habits, as some weeds even secrete harmful chemicals!
4. Lastly, if weeds are allowed to grow big enough, they create shade for surrounding parts of the garden, and hog the sunlight.

So they may be green and leafy, giving off the impression of a garden-like environment. But they must go. Sin might give the impression of being okay, being good, being harmless. But if you want a flourishing, healthy, productive and fruitful life, it must go.

But who is the gardener? Who is the one with the fork and trowel? Digging away, scooping, scraping… Well, it’s God, to be frank. Only God can do that. Only an outside intervention can get rid of this weed. In the same way, only God can come and deal with your sin. Especially if it has been allowed to grow and take hold of the inner depths of the soil of your life.

Without a gardener, weeds will grow, spread, become more and more powerful. Without God, sin will run rampant. We may be able to make good decisions in certain moments to stop a sin creeping in in the first place, but it is only through the power of Jesus and His dominion over sin that we can do that. If you find you have left sin unchecked for a while, you will need to ask the Great Gardener to come and help you get it out. But be ready. It may cause a big wound at first. Where sin has been allowed to grip different areas of your life, there may be some gouging required. And then a hole left afterwards. And what do we do with that ugly wound? We can allow the Gardener to heal us.

Naturally, after I had removed the weed from my garden, I replaced all the soil into the hole, flatted it out, and interestingly, the soil then felt softer in that spot, and it was now more aerated, ready for planting something new and healthy. (Although we might need to mix in a bit of fertiliser or something.)

Another important thing to note, is that a day or so later, the weed looked like this –

Without being connected to the life and nutrients of the soil, it dies and is powerless. Without sin being latched onto your life, similarly, it dies, shrivels up, has no power anymore.

So what is an area of your life where sin might be growing? Do a metaphorical ‘walk’ around your garden and check for weeds. Don’t let it get a stronger hold and position in your life. Pray what David prayed, “Keep your servant also from wilful sins; may they not rule over me.” Psalm 19:13

Unfortunately, it may cause some pain of a kind, but just like a gardener cares for and wants the best for the garden, God deeply cares for us and wants us to have a flourishing life!