Gary Grant

Red Shield Appeal is nearly done for 2014. I stood on intersections, at the shopping centre, in the counting room, at the local Bunnings and watched as people responded to us, in many ways. We had people doorknocking, in the streets, at the train station, sports centres, intersections.... even telemarketting. I want to express myself in a few ways about those that helped, you are all total legends, retired people working tirelessly, - we had retired commissoners, colonels and majors all working very hard and many others who have done this year after year. Thankyou one and all. especially those who have never been thanked, thankyou... To those in the kitchen, cleaning, preparing food, counting money, banking, couriers of cash, you are all highly valued and appreciated. To those who did hours of collecting (hour after hour)....you are inspiring. To those who didnt help .... I wish you would help next year, we could so do with more support. To the public who donated, thankyou... many li...

A few things happened today which messed with my head. Firstly, I spent some time with a respiratory doctor, who was talking to me about some breathing issues I am having. That was quickly followed by a CT scan where they wanted to inject something into me to help the scan, and that caused me grief. Yeah I know I am a wuss..... weak, pathetic... but I hate needles, never alone the thought of some kind of stuff causing my head to warm up... so I nearly feinted.... sad I know. Got the through the scan after that injection idea was aborted..... 2 more tests to go. And then a very good friend shared with me tonight, and some blessings were once again imparted. Life and Ministry are interesting things. ....so... here's my amazing insights.... Without breath,(oxygen) we are dead. ( I thought I was going to die today...) but seriously..... Without the breath of God, as Christians we are not in that good a shape also. " Breathe on me breath of God, fill me with life anew "...

According to Henry Blackaby, a great modern day pastor and preacher, Author, people often go through this "Crisis of Belief". I would add, maybe we need to have many Crisis', before we can actually grow into the people God wants us to be. Quote from the book " Experiencing God " (Blackaby): " An encounter with God requires faith. Encounters with God are God sized. What you do in response to God's revelation (invitation) reveals what you believe about God. True faith requires action " The crisis often comes when we are challenged beyond our comfort zone or pesonal perspective or world view. Someone will challenge what you believe and you will be caused to go back to what it is you actually believe. Many Christians never seem to go through these Crisis' because there is not much, or very little challenge coming their way. a few other thoughts from Blackaby ( and Scripture ) you might need to grab this book for yourself and take a read for ...

( this is the transcript of last Sundays message at Ringwood, obvioulsy apart from the ad lib words spoken, for those who wanted to read it or hear it, we didnt podcast last week, happy for my notes to be read)   El Shaddai... our all sufficient God, our almightyGod, He is our Lord, we are His people, we are called here for His purposes, we are His children and He is our Father.   I felt led to start the message today with this beautiful song to help us focus on Him as we open His word today and listen out to what He wants to say to us here at Ringwood today.     And He [the Lord Jesus Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things have been created by Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also the head of the body, the church; an...