How can we cope? We now have to wait another year to see the next Eurovision Song Contest.
Singer Ruslana, a cult figure in the former Soviet republic, was accompanied by a group of dancers in warrior costumes intended to evoke the Carpathian mountains.
Posted by Rodney Olsen
Our pastor is currently preaching a series called No More Lonely Night – Befriending People for God.
Today we looked at being a part of groups outside the church and getting to know people who need Christ. We talked about sporting, hobby and other groups that put us in touch with non-churched people.
The following is part of an article I found which seemed to fit in well with the theme. I added it to our church newsletter today.
Casting the NET
Some people think: “Oh no! I’m not sure I could ever learn to share my story effectively, much less lead someone to Jesus.” While feelings of inadequacy are common, allowing them to keep us silent is not biblical. Of course it is true that we cannot save anyone through our own wisdom or efforts. However, Jesus can and will do it through us.
Sharing Jesus is a natural expression of walking with Him. Our evangelistic lifestyle flows out of our daily and life-changing relationship with Him.
Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Christians already possess everything we need to effectively share with someone how they too can personally experience the life-changing power of God-our story.
Your story has authority. A personal story is difficult to refute. The experience has happened to you. You are a specialist on your own story. The antagonistic Pharisees had no defense for the simple, forthright testimony of the blind man who had been healed.
Your story communicates. People enjoy hearing other people’s stories. A concise and well-thought-out description of your own journey to faith can have a powerful effect on your listeners.
Your story relates. The people with whom you are sharing may be experiencing the same feelings, struggles and temptations you have, without the benefit of Jesus in their lives. They will be able to relate to your life experiences, especially the difficulties and challenges of your quest for true meaning and joy in life.
Your story is powerful. It enables the presentation of the gospel to be both unique and personal. Jesus told stories, and we have stories to tell too. The whole Bible is a story of how God has loved and sought the love of His human creation. The life, death and resurrection of Jesus deserves to be retold over and over. And we have our stories to tell about how God has reshaped who we are.
Sharing the truth of Jesus Christ with others doesn’t have to be the difficult task we’ve been fooled into believing it is.
Posted by Rodney Olsen
The surprise defeat of the Hindu Nationalist BJP-ruled alliance has sent shock waves across the nation. One national newspaper headlined the election results as “Shock and Awesome”. This was a result no one expected. Most opinion polls predicted victory for the BJP alliance, while the exit polls predicted at the worst a hung parliament where the BJP would be able to gobble up an alliance once more.
At the bi-annual All India Christian Council conference in March 2004, in Hyderabad, we declared to the over 1,000 Christian leaders gathered from different parts of the nation that this election was going to be a make or break election. We urged the Christian leaders to pray and act. Around India much prayer went up for the nation. I was at a meeting in Chennai for 2,000 Christian leaders gathered for a day of prayer and fasting.
This is an excerpt from an article at Christianity Today. It will be interesting to see what happens from this point onwards.
Posted by Rodney Olsen
I mentioned previously that one of the most entertaining sites on the net is BONWAG, which stands for Bits Of Net What Are Good. I suggested you have a look and I’m hoping you haven’t missed out.
Unfortunately, BONWAG is taking an enforced holiday.
When I’ve dropped in over the last few days I’ve found all sorts of errors on the page and I’ve been wondering what’s been going
I visited the site today to find the following.
Hello and welcome to BONWAD – Bits Of Net What Are DELETED
Many thanks to my ISP for deleting my site and for not backing it up like they told me they would.
I’m not happy right now. Site back soon; once I’ve found all the pieces.
I hope that David can get BONWAG back up and running again soon.
Anyway ….. I can’t stay chatting. I think I need to go and backup the-journey.tk.
Posted by Rodney Olsen
The official Friday Five is officially dead. With that in mind I thought I’d have a go at posting The Journey Five, especially for those of us who have only discovered the idea recently.
Feel free to answer the questions here or on your own blog, leave your link in the comments section and let others know that they can participate too.
Here is this week’s questions.
If you could change one thing about your . . .
1. . . . own appearance what would it be?
2. . . . past what would it be?
3. . . . country what would it be?
4. . . . current job/study what would it be?
5. . . . family what would it be?
My Answers:
1. I’d remove the spare tyre around my middle.
2. I’d meet my wife Pauline about 10 or so years earlier. We didn’t meet until we were 28.
3. When I read in the Bible about whole nations turning to God I reckon it’s pretty exciting. I’d love to see that in Australia.
4. I’d love it if the job was big enough for an extra person to be employed in my area. I really enjoy working together with another person. I’m not always as thorough as I’d like to be and another person would help keep me accountable and let me bounce ideas off them. In past jobs when I have worked closely with one other person I have found the job a lot more satisfying and we can produce more than twice as much.
5. Mum died in 1987 and dad died a couple of years ago. I wish they were both around to see my own family grow. I find it especially hard that mum never even met Pauline or our kids. I’m thankful that dad got to meet all his grandchildren though I don’t know how much our kids will remember of him in later years.
Posted by Rodney Olsen
Rodney is a husband, father, cyclist, blogger and podcaster from Perth Western Australia.
He previously worked in radio for about 25 years but these days he spends his time at Compassion Australia, working towards releasing children from poverty in Jesus' name.
The views he expresses here are his own.
