What defines you?

This question is not necessarily one that comes to mind on a daily basis but it is a question that rises up from time to time as you do life as you read the scriptures asking Holy Spirit to reveal new treasures with the the old. At least that is what I have discovered.

This week gone by has been just such a week. It began with the funeral of our friend and sister in Christ – Beth Strako who didn’t want a eulogy at her funeral. She didn’t want a eulogy to define her life – those who would attend would already know her story and what mattered to her. The week proceeded, it was busy with all sorts of things – moment by moment choices needed to be made on what mattered. Friday was the Gospel concert offered to us by the Johnstone River Singers – we had made a choice to let life, joy, song, and community define us and not fear, death, lose and isolation. The funeral was more than a funeral – the concert more than a concert. Continue reading “What defines you?”

Creeping Fear

Earlier this week I found myself feeling more and more anxious. Those of us tuned into anxiety or have a history with being motivated or manipulated by fear can and should notice anxiety or fear creeping in. The trigger for me was the complex and deadly situation unfolding in Victoria and bleeding out into surrounding states, with the all to real possibility of that transmission creeping northward. One consolation was that at least I would know what to do if we had a second phase. Nevertheless, even with that small consolation I noticed, thank you Jesus, that fear was creeping in. Where there is fear love goes. So I found myself looking at every number plate and passing judgement if they were the wrong flavour. Instead of ‘we are all in this together’ it was becoming ‘us and them’. The ‘them’ were for me our modern day lepers! We all know the best thing to do with lepers – identify them as ‘unclean’ , quarantine, isolation, and rejection. Continue reading “Creeping Fear”

Bruce Armstrong – Bethel Church redding