Politics

Politics this year has been amazing.

We have a new government and yet we still manage to see the politicians acting like the little kids they are.

I want to see some politicians that are prepared to take responsibility for their own actions not try and pass the blame on to others.

I don't want to see any more of this cat fighting that seems to be happening a lot this year.

I don't like the government we have.

However since we don't have much of a choice, we need to hope and pray that the one we do have can make decisions responsibly.

The thing that did interest me this year with the decisions that this Government has currently made is that they are trying to bring in ethics classes along side scripture classes.

This doesn't surprise me as Julia Gillard is definitely an atheist and so why should she want the great teaching that inevitably comes out of Scripture classes? I just hope that we never lose those classes as I have many friends who have come to know God through these scripture classes and developed friendships with their teachers that last for long times.

But we'll see and we shall continue to pray, for our God is a mighty God. I have seen things in my short-ish life. (After all I'm only 32) that have amazed me and that continue to amaze me.

I look forward to the year/s ahead and to seeing what plans God has for my life as well as the lives of my friends.

May God bless you the rest of the year and into the year ahead.

Signing off

B.J Shepherd

Walking through life with your head on backwards

Today I had one of those really interesting days.
You know the ones, where you wake up, go to the train station. The trains are down and so you take a bus thinking that you will catch it to the stop you're meant to get off (north wollongong.) and then winding up in Waterfall instead....

On a different Topic.

What have I learnt today. (Other than look up and get your nose out of that really interesting book...)

"There's no place like home, there's no place like home"

I guess as a Christian we live in this world, wondering why we get sick, why we have to suffer through illness, tragedy, loss however what we never realise, (usually because we are thinking about so many other issues that happen in the average day. ) That this isn't our home, This earth is a halfway house, we weren't made for the world as it is now, we were meant to be in a perfect world however, once Sin entered the picture things started to go down hill fast. Living in the world now is like Visiting a place for 80 or so years and then going where we were meant to be in the first place. (to live with our Lord.) but to get there, we really need to accept the gift he has given, His son died on the cross to pay our way to Eternal life, all we need to do is admit that we can't get to Heaven on our own, Admit that we need our Lord, Repent for our sins, accept what he's offering and then in the end reap the benefits. (The chance to live in Heaven with my Creator is something I am not going to pass up.) I hope that I see you all there When I go back home. Until then Let us be a good witness to others so they may know and get a chance to experience the Eternal rest that we who have accepted Him have received.

Family

Welcome to the family lyrics by Cliff Richard

Welcome to the family
We’re glad that you have come
To share your life with us
As we grow in love
And may we always be to you
What God would have us be
A family always there
To be strong and to lean on

May we learn to love each other
More with each new day
May words of love be on our lips
In everything we say
May the Spirit melt our hearts
And teach us how to pray
That we might be, a true family

Sitting at home today I have found that life is great, I have really good friends and a great family. I can't believe God has given me so many blessings in my life. (Including the fact that I get to be an uncle to a great Niece and Nephew.) But you know what? My Church family is also something I have come to appreciate. I think one of the best things about being a Christian is not only do you have your own personal family but you get a wider family under our heavenly Father. As born again Christians we now have more brothers and sisters than we can count and in the end, no matter where God sends us, or what He has us do with our lives. We know will all be together in the end.

Friends

" Friends will go anywhere with you
Friends share the good and the bad
The times that I share with my Best Friends
Are the best times that I've ever had" (Kenny marks.)

We have friends, both good and bad, those who are there for us and those who let us down, but then again that's life.
However that being said I have a friend that never lets me down, a friend whose there for me always, who never betrays me and who loves me enough that he actually sent his son to a wooden cross to die for me.
Do you want to know His name? (if you haven't guessed already.) His name is God, he has been there for me all my life, even in my darkest hour where I didn't think anyone could possibly be there with me. He was, Even when I was running away from him, trying to find my own religion. He was there calmly pulling be back and showing me why He was the only true God, the only who cares for me. And that's why my faith is strong, that's why I am glad I am a Christian, because when all is said and done, at the end of the night. I know that when I go to sleep he will continue to watch over me, protecting me and guiding me into the man that I am meant to be, the good this is however you have a chance to know my friend to. All you need to do is repent and turn to him, trust me it's the best and wisest decision I've ever made. Now I know when I die I will get to see my friend face to face and that is what I'm really looking forward to.
Godbless
Ben

Death

So where do I start off my blog for the day.
How about the fact that I saw Iron man 2 WOW!!!! I thought I liked Iron Man 1 the movie was absolutely brilliant, from beginning to end. And the fact that they played Highway to Hell got me thinking about what I also read in the paper today.
"Carl Williams buried in Gold plated coffin."
I guess when it comes down to it, it's not about whether you actually deserve to be buried in a Gold plated coffin, but rather whether you have enough money to be buried in one....
However Then today I also read in my study about Lazarus and the Rich man. You know when it comes down to it, it doesn't matter how you're buried or how much money you have, fact is if you're not a christian there really is only one place you would be going.
So please, before it's too late. Turn to Christ, that way no matter what happens in this world. You're eternal future is secured.

rocking in the free world

Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey....
Sorry just singing along to my radio Which I like to do quite often. (I promised my family I'd buy them some Earmuffs. It's the least I can do.)

So What is on my agenda today.....

I think I'd like to talk about conservation.
The fact is we live in a world that was created by our loving God and what are we doing with it. We're definitely not taking care of it. What does that say, I imagine If I made something and someone trashed it I wouldn't be very happy about and so I can only imagine What God thinks every time He looks at His creation and sees what we are doing with it. Please, let's try and take care of this world.
It's the only one we've got.
Godbless
Ben

Big things are happening to me

I am being challenged everyday by the book I am currently reading.
It's called practical religion by J.C Ryle and It has me thinking of many things that I never thought of before, like the reason why I go to church, the reason why I pray and The fact that I should have Zeal but for the right things. Plus what Love really is. I feel that God is bringing people into my life who challenge me and who God speaks through to help me grow deeper in my relationship with Him. He is incredible. And the more I learn about Him, the more I want to learn.
Tonight was especially challenging. It was what really makes you Rich and the fact that it doesn't lie in money or fame, but in Worshipping God, in using His provisions, about selfless love and about caring for others. God has really blessed us with all our Pastors.
The other thing I learnt today through ministry training is that as much as we hate to admit it. We know what's right, it's just following what's right no matter how hard it is is the difficult bit. Our Christian Walk like our lives is all about choices, so it's important that we get the Courage to make the right decisions and that when we make the wrong ones, that we are prepare to admit it, stop, rethink where we're going and start again.
Godbless
B.J