Moved site to http://mallee2010.comlu.com/index.html

Anglican Parish of Northern Mallee	St Luke's Irymple 10am Koorlong Ave east of the crossing	St John's Merbein 10 am Corner of Box St and Smith St	St Margaret's Mildura - 8am, 10am Corner of Deakin Ave and Eleventh St	All Saints, Meringur, Annual service 1st Sunday in October Please join us in praying for the person God has called to be our new Parish Priest, being Welcomed on 5 Nov 2009
Anglican Parish of Sunraysia South	St Marks Red Cliffs 10.30am,	15 kms south of Mildura	Nangiloc, 7.30 during summer	30 kms south of Red Cliffs

Please Email   if you would like me to relocate the pages

Mallee2001 site plan
Recall Notice, Grandma's Hands, Where was Campaspie Inn?, Is Seventy a Milestone?, Do we use Teamwork?, Being a fool for God

What is Man, that You are mindful of us? Bishop Andrew Curnow had a quote in his Annual address to Synod from French philosopher and Jesuit priest Pierre Teilhard de Chardin ... "We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.". and that led me to The web site Defining Spiritual Intelligence There are three types of intelligence that determine our inner and outer success in life. IQ ( intellectual or rational intelligence) Usually equated with having high logical, strategic, mathematical and linguistic talents. Good for solving problems. EQ (emotional intelligence) Equally important as IQ in determining success. People with a high EQ relate well with others, have high self-esteem and respond appropriately to situations. SQ (Spiritual Intelligence): Essential to our well being - SQ puts our individual lives in larger context. It provides meaning and purpose in life and allows us to create new possibilities. Other web sites 2. Jane Roder - In the early 1990’s a neurologist at the University of California demonstrated scientifically and concluded that there was a spiritual centre in the human brain, as the temporal lobes lit up whenever research subjects were asked questions on spiritual subjects. This has been called “The God Spot". In 1905 Alfred Binet and Theodore Simon developed the first modern intelligence test. Since that time we have been debating what "intelligence" is, where it comes from, and how to develop it. In 1995 Daniel Goleman popularized the phrase "Emotional Intelligence" with the publication of his book by the same title. 3. The web site Spiritual Growth has an explanation of "Emotional Intelligence" - using the quadrants Self Awareness, Other Awareness, Sepf Management and Social Skills 4. Living Status of the Senior Citizens Spirituality exists in the heart and the mind of men and women everywhere, with in religious traditions and independently of tradition. 5.From web site How To Develop Spiritual Intelligence Develop self-awareness (inner-life skills, relationships, art and reflection, nature, music and emotional expression, self-analysis but not paralysis, journal/diary and habitual responses, reflection upon dreams, end-of-the-day). Get comfortable with paradox. Feel strongly that I want to change. Reflect on what my own centre is and on what my deepest motivations are. Ponder the problem of pain. Discover and dissolve obstacles (reframing). Explore many possibilities to go forward. Commit to a path but be prepared to change it. Cultivate spiritual practices. Live to serve.

Email, sent with a prayer, by Cousin Dulcie. Recall Notice The Maker of all human beings (GOD) is recalling all units manufactured, regardless of make or year, due to a serious defect in the primary and central component of the heart. This is due to a malfunction in the original prototype units code named Adam and Eve, resulting in the reproduction of the same defect in all subsequent units. This defect has been technically termed "Sub-sequential Internal Non-Morality," or more commonly known as S.I.N., as it is primarily expressed. Some of the symptoms include: 1. Loss of direction 2. Foul vocal emissions 3. Amnesia of origin 4. Lack of peace and joy 5. Selfish or violent behavior 6. Depression or confusion in the mental component 7. Fearfulness 8. Idolatry 9. Rebellion The Manufacturer, who is neither liable nor at fault for this defect, is providing factory-authorized repair and service free of charge to correct this defect. The Repair Technician, JESUS, has most generously offered to bear the entire burden of the staggering cost of these repairs. There is no additional fee required. The number to call for repair in all areas is: P-R-A-Y-E-R. Once connected, please upload your burden of SIN through the REPENTANCE procedure. Next, download ATONEMENT from the Repair Technician, Jesus, into the heart component. No matter how big or small the SIN defect is, Jesus will replace it with: 1. Love 2. Joy 3. Peace 4. Patience 5. Kindness 6. Goodness 7. Faithfulness 8. Gentleness 9. Self control Please see the operating manual, the B.I.B.L.E. (Believers' Instructions Before Leaving Earth) for further details on the use of these fixes. WARNING: Continuing to operate the human being unit without correction voids any manufacturer warranties, exposing the unit to dangers and problems too numerous to list and will result in the human unit being permanently impounded. For free emergency service, call on Jesus. DANGER: The human being units not responding to this recall action will have to be scrapped in the furnace. The SIN defect will not be permitted to enter Heaven so as to prevent contamination of that facility. Thank you for your attention! - GOD P.S. Please assist where possible by notifying others of this important recall notice, and you may contact the Father any time by 'Knee mail'.

Grandma's Hands This came as an email on Tues, 30 June 2009. The image is a popular one from the Internet.

Grandma, some ninety plus years, sat feebly on the garden bench.. She didn't move, just sat with her head down staring at her hands. When I sat down beside her she didn't acknowledge my presence and the longer I sat I wondered if she was OK. Finally, not really wanting to disturb her but wanting to check on her at the same time, I asked her if she was OK. She raised her head and looked at me and smiled. 'Yes, I'm fine, thank you for asking,' she said in a clear strong voice. 'I didn't mean to disturb you, Grandma, but you were just sitting here staring at your hands and I wanted to make sure you were OK,' I explained to her. 'Have you ever looked at your hands,' she asked. 'I mean really looked at your hands?' I slowly opened my hands and stared down at them. I turned them over, palms up and then palms down. No, I had never really looked at my hands as I tried to figure out the point she was making. Grandma smiled and related this story: Stop and think for a moment about the hands you have, how they have served you well throughout your years. These hands, though wrinkled shriveled and weak have been the tools I have used all my life to reach out and grab and embrace life. They braced and caught my fall when as a toddler I crashed upon the floor. They put food in my mouth and clothes on my back. As a child, my mother taught me to fold them in prayer. They tied my shoes and pulled on my boots. They held my husband and wiped my tears when he went off to war. They have been dirty, scraped and raw, swollen and bent. They were uneasy and clumsy when I tried to hold my newborn daughter. Decorated with my wedding band they showed the world that I was married and loved someone special. They wrote my letters to him and trembled and shook when I buried my parents and spouse. They have held my children and grandchildren, consoled neighbors, and shook in fists of anger when I didn't understand. They have covered my face, combed my hair, and washed and cleaned the rest of my body. They have been sticky and wet, bent and broken, dried and raw. And to this day when not much of anything else of me works, these hands hold me up, lay me down, and again continue to fold in prayer. These hands are the mark of where I've been and the ruggedness of life. But more importantly it will be these hands that God will reach out and take when he leads me home. And with my hands He will lift me to His side and there I will use these hands to touch the face of God.' I will never look at my hands the same again. But I remember God reached out and took my grandma's hands and led her home. When my hands are hurt or sore or when I stroke the face of my children and husband I think of grandma. I know she has been stroked and caressed and held by the hands of God. I, too, want to touch the face of God and feel His hands upon my face. When you read this, say a prayer for the person who copied it for you, and watch God's answer to prayer work in your life. Let's continue praying for one another.

Where was Campaspie Inn? Family history provided some baptism records Rev. J.H. Gregory was at Campaspie Inn on 13 Sep 1850 and baptised Alice Barrow, and John, Sarah and Mary McCorkill, at Maiden's Punt 16 Sep 1850 and baptised Louisa Dolman and William Parr, and then on 27 Sep 1850 at Tathelia, Murray River where Edward Ainsworth, John and James Dawson, John and Joseph Potter, and Emma Weston were baptised.

I found the bankruptcy of Bertram, who started the Campaspie Inn, and got money problems - On 29 Sep 1849 William Bertram, of Campaspie River, Labourer become Insolvent The first church service in Dandenong was held on 21 July 1850 in Dunbar's Hotel and conducted by Rev. J.H. Gregory, a bush missionary. A local meeting was held soon after to discuss obtaining a permanent church building and a local committee was formed to coordinate its organisation. And Alice Barrow's father gets mentioned by Rev Mereweather May 18.1851 — Lunched at Mr. E 's station, and by nightfall arrived, after a forty-mile ride, at an excellent inn, called the Campaspie inn, kept by a most respectable man of the name of Barrow. On the table in the sitting-room were a quantity of books, among which I noticed the " Penny Magazine," some of Chambers' Works, and Bulvver's. A few yards from the doors were savages sleeping around their watchfires. Strange mixture of barbarism and civilisation ! St Matthew's Anglican Church, Cheltenham has among its treasures, placed in the chapel, a small silver communion set originally given by 44 residents ‘in or near Cheltenham’ to the Rev J H Gregory in 1859 in recognition of his ministry in the very early days of the district’s European settlement.

The Diary of a Working Clergyman, recounts the memories of Rev. John Davies Mereweather, who came to Melbourne, in 1850, took a post for 6 months around Launceston during which he records a Cricket match between the locals and a team from Melbourne, then returned to six months around the Black Forest in central northern Victoria, Page 90 May 18. — Lunched at Mr. E 's station, and by nightfall arrived, after a forty-mile ride, at an excellent inn, called the Campaspie inn, kept by a most respectable man of the name of Barrow. Next he decided to try a stint on the Edward River between the Murray and the Murrumbidgee, then came south again - on Oct. 8. — Swam my horse over the swollen Murray and reached Kilmore on Oct 10. (page 151), By Page 257 he is in Sydney and on Aug. 6. — Rode on horseback to Botany Bay and La Perouse's monument. I was out three hours altogether, and I was charged fifteen shillings for the hire of the horse. On Aug. 25. — Sailed out of Sydney Heads in a ship bound for Singapore. Page 368, on Feb. 4. — Landed in the Southampton Docks amid a drizzling rain, thus revisiting my country after an absence of four years and four days. Another web site records the story of Rev. John Davies Mereweather who on 28 June 1850 embarked on the "Sea Queen" and eventually arrived at Hobson's Bay, Melbourne on 7 July 1850. A visit to Geelong was made from 5 to 10 August 1850. Following his appointment to a government chaplaincy in Van Diemen's Land he departed Melbourne on 10 October 1850 per "Shamrock" for Launceston, V.D.L. He arrived back in Melbourne on 20 March 1851 per "Shamrock" and on 1 May 1851 received word that he had been licenced by the Lord Bishop of Sydney to the charge of the Edward River District in New South Wales. Overlanded to the Moolamein area where he established a headquarters. His diary says he baptised a couple of children along the way and though it doesn't record their names he says that the details were recorded in a book at his headquarters on 24 July 1851. During January to March 1852 he made a return visit to Melbourne, overlanding both ways. His stay in Australia was relatively short for he departed Sydney, N.S.W. by ship on 25 August 1853 on the first leg of his return journey to England. After visits to Batavia; Singapore; Colombo, Ceylon and Egypt he arrived at Southampton, Hampshire, England on 4 February 1854. He published a second book "Diary of a working Clergyman in Australia and Tasmania, kept during the years 1850-53" (London, 1859) which commences on 17 June 1850 while he was in Adelaide waiting for a ship to Melbourne. From 1855 he was the English Chaplain at Venice which was then under Austrian rule and was within the Anglican Diocese of Gibraltar. As there was no English Church in Venice services were held in his own home. He was born in Bristol on the 7th day of September 1816 and died in Venice the 18th day of June 1896.

Is Seventy a Milestone?

As we near the end of Epiphany - of the time in our church year when we focus on God making people see Him, my thoughts are circling around the growth of early Christianity. Part of the reason for this involves the major changes in practiced Anglicanism during my own 70 years. Becoming the Anglican Church in Australia, developing our own Prayer Book, waiting for the next revision as church life changes, accepting each other's contributions ... the list goes on. We accept that Jesus died about 33AD - date unknown, or He was crucified on what we now call 'Good Friday' in the year 36, this era. Ask the Internet using Google and at least 137 million web pages address this question. The Nazarene Way" comments - Based on inferences from Gospel accounts, Jesus was executed by crucifixion on a Friday, and on the 14th day of the Jewish month of Nisan under the administration of Pontius Pilate. Pontius Pilate held his position from 26-36 and the only years in which Nisan 14 fell on a Friday are 27, 33, and 36 and possibly in 30 depending on when the new moon would have been visible in Jerusalem. Scholars have defended all of the dates. WikiAnswers The traditional date is 33AD, but more-up-to-date and biblically-impartial scholarship taking into account (i) the Passover dates (ii) that there were two sabbaths that week (not just 1) and (iii) Daniel's 70-weeks prophecy seem to put it at 32AD or 31AD, so take your pick:- on 18 March 29 C.E, 28th March 31 AD, April 6th 32 AD - the choice comes down to personal preferences, but it really doesn't matter which year it was. If God had wanted us to know, then the Holy Spirit would have had it recorded for us - He hasn't, so it's unimportant. What is important are the consequences of Jesus Christ's atoning death for all, either one way or the other. Whatever the date, the Apostles and the believers added by Pentecost quickly faced challenges that made them scatter. Their church and its teaching led to the idea that it posed a serious danger to the Jewish community. Saul was converted within 5 years, was renamed Paul and entered a community that already affirmed certain things about Jesus — things he had formerly found objectionable. Paul did not create Christian doctrine, although he was the first to write letters trying to explain various aspects to communities of believers a long way from Jerusalem. Jerry L. Sumney does not give his credentials, but his very long essay 'The Place of Jesus’ Death Among First-Generation Believers in Christ: Evidence From Paul's Letters' ends with the observation 'His (Paul's) surprisingly numerous citations of earlier tradition indicate that he expects his churches to recognize these statements as allusions to the tradition and suggest that he belongs within the mainstream of the first-century church in much that he teaches. Such extensive dependence discredits any claim that Paul was the founder of Christianity or the one who invented the Christ-cult idea or the idea that Jesus’ death was vicarious.' Nero (15 December 37 – 9 June 68) was adopted by his great uncle Claudius to become heir to the throne. Nero was proclaimed an adult in 51 at the age of 14. In 53, he married his stepsister Claudia Octavia. As Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, he succeeded to the throne on 13 October, 54, following Claudius' death. Rome had a hot summer in 64 AD and on 18 July a fire started among the shops clustered around the Circus Maximus. As many Romans lived in wood houses without masonry, the fire spread quickly through these areas. The fire was almost contained after five days before regaining strength and burning another 2 days. It even destroyed part of Emperor Nero's palace. It was probably started by accident - just two days after a full moon, a time which presumably would not have been chosen by arsonists who did not want to be seen. According to Tacitus, the population searched for a scapegoat and rumors held Nero responsible. To diffuse blame, Nero targeted a sect called the Christians. He ordered Christians to be thrown to dogs, while others were crucified and burned. Saint Paul established Christian communities on Cyprus and in Syria, Anatolia, and Greece. He was arrested in Jerusalem and deported to Rome, where tradition says he was executed some time between 62 and 67 AD (during Nero's reign, so possibly after the Great Fire of 64 AD). Hostility to the Roman occupation of Judaea lead to a revolt. In 70 AD the emperor Vespasian dispatches his son Titus to crush the rebellion. Jerusalem is besieged and captured, and the Temple was destroyed. Jerusalem and Judea were left desolate, most of the people either killed or being held in captivity, or had become refugees fleeing to remote lands.

A point to ponder Paul's first Epistle to the Thessalonians is the earliest text in the New Testament. Written on a scroll of papyrus in Greek, the language of the people he is writing to, the letter is intended for reading aloud to congregations in and around Thessalonica. But A recent page in Anglicans Online, 25 Jan 2009 challenges the word 'Scroll'. The young churches kept a low profile to avoid persecution by the authorities, both Jewish and Roman, so sending and receiving those letters was a daring act requiring as little outside notice as possible. Sharing Paul's letters using scrolls would have been problematic for the early Christians. On the 'pro' side, scrolls were comparatively durable and designed for repeat reading. Cons? They were big, bulky, expensive — and obvious. On the principle that smaller is better, the codex appeared as an answer to the 'big-and-bulky' problem. Formed of papyrus sheets, both sides could be used for writing. And a codex was folded and bound on one edge, making it a sort of proto-book. The homely codex was used for everyday accounts and business transactions, for rough drafts and note-taking. In the first century, it wasn't readily associated with literature or religious texts in the Greco-Roman world. But it solved a problem. And it worked, on the time-honoured basis of smaller, cheaper, better.

Do we use Teamwork?

Achieving an effective level of management is a fairly universal aim, whatever business or group we work in or run. Take a church or club meeting regularly, or a restaurant - each is in the business of picky members/clients and tight deadlines. Gordon Ramsay, in the TV program about revitalising restaurants, has some guidelines to bring new life to the fading dream, be it a business or a club loosing members. Dare we also think of our congregations in a similar way? After all, the God business we are trying to support is the road to our future

1. Who is the Boss? One to be in charge. 2. Keep it simple. Avoid too many choices. 3. Have passion and pride. Give your best. 4. Know your market. Do not copy the neighbours. 5. Say what you mean. Give clear guidelines. 6. Listen properly to your clients and staff. 7. Work as a team. All have useful gifts to contribute.     Why do we appoint a Clergyman to our parish? Modern language, and careful choice of songs Speak from the heart, with careful preparation We are not ashamed to be clearly Anglican. Find out the rules, and use them carefully. Where problems exist, seek solutions within the group. Teamwork is very difficult to achieve, takes effort. The best feedback is negative, because you learn the most from it. Sugary, kind comments are like lollies -they lead to tooth decay. "There is only one Christ, Jesus, one faith. All else is a dispute over trifles." - Elizabeth I And from a different angle, Ship of Fools has a page that begins with a reference to David Murrow and his book 'Why Men Hate Going to Church', and another one on the question 'Do you want the world to be Christian?' which begins the discussion with - Of course I want the whole world to be Christian. After all, each day I pray, "Thy kingdom come." Can we cope - 'In my ideal world, everyone would be Christian in the sense that everyone would love and worship God, and God's Son Jesus Christ. But there would be tremendous diversity within that "Christianity" as it was adopted by various cultural groups, as well as different forms of worship and even different beliefs about how best to serve God. And in my ideal world, these six billion wildly diverse Christians would enjoy, respect and celebrate their differences rather than being divided over them, and would honour the fact that they are all one in Christ Jesus even while worshipping Him in very different ways. So, I'm pretty much thinking it will take the Second Coming to make that happen.

Has Christianity changed? The Port Phillip Herald for Thursday 3 Apr 1845 would not have commented on the triplets, but Melbourne was new, and the streets were bad.
Miraculous Escape This day week, the lady of a Mr Barney O'Leary, of the Merri Creek, presented her loving lord a triplicate testimony of married blessedness in the shapes of three children, to wit, twin daughters and a boy; and Barney having thought proper on Monday last to have them conveyed in a cart to Melbourne in order that they should be "cleansed from original sin," when upon returning from the baptismal font via Little Bourke-street, the coachey of the vehicle being a little groggy, succeeded by the aid of an unlucky stump, in ejecting from their moveable habitation the three babes, with their three nurses, and had not the Goddess Lucina been over anxious for the preservation of her infant charge, an unoffending Hecatomb on a small scale might have been offered up to the divinities of dirty streets and uneven ways. By considerable exertions, and the assistance of the neighbourhood, the little innocents and their guardians were picked up, and safely placed beyond harm's reach. Had this occurred before the last Council meeting, it would have supplied an irrefragable argument in favor of one of the motions there passed.	In 1845 there were about 2000 dwelling places recorded in the part of Port Phillip regarded as Melbourne, with an estimated population of 10,000 souls. The Roman Catholic church was led by the Irish-born Franciscan, Rev Geoghegan, the Church of England was served by Rev Adam Compton Thompson and the third church man was Independent minister Rev Waterfield who arrived in 1838. The three set a standard of co-operation, and were often seen walking arm-in-arm along the streets. Baptising babies under a week old was a common request. See my Chapman page for transcripts of 3 pages from the St Francis Baptismal Register Barney's infants were recorded as Ellen, John and Mary Anne, children of Mathew Leary and Johanna Lumbard, born at Merri Creek. Mathew and Johanna Leary arrived from Limerick 4 Oct 1841 on the Enmore with two daughters, Johanna 5 and infant Betty. They also baptised Cath 1843, and Mary 1846. Mathew came as an indentured labourer, and in 1847 was established in a house off Bourke St.
For more families, see my Vic 1847 arrivals web site	For more on the leaders see Churches in Vic to 1847
Found in Courier (Hobart, Tas.) Friday 9 April 1841, Page 2, 'News for Miss Martineau' - on Thursday last, the wife of a man named Fitzgerald, a labourer, residing on the Eastern Hill, was safely delivered of three children, a girl and two boys, one of them still-born and the others have since died. The husband is, of course, an Irishman. Advance Australia Felix.

Being a fool for God One of the most consistent features in the portraits of Saul of Tarsus in the Acts of the Apostles and in the letters accredited to Paul, is the fervent zeal of his youth. So - What did a young man in Tarsus study, to get his Honours? Debating, and speech making were an Art form with the Greek intelligensia of the first century. Paul's first letter to the Corinthians is a popular read for many Christians, especially 1 Cor 13, on Love. But how many of us like to start with Chapter 1 of a book - and get sidetracked by the first 4 chapters. Paul appears to be in a contest with Apollo, who had also baptised some of their members - so Paul sets out to show that personal charisma is not important. He then uses the first 4 chapters to display his debating skills, each time saying it is better to be a fool for Christ, so the work of Christ is remembered, an followed, instead of being a follower of Paul. I found several web sites discussing Paul's phrase 'Fool for Christ' - and have copied some notes from the basic lessons Paul and his friends are thought to have studied.

Joop F.M. SMIT, «Epideictic Rhetoric in Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians 1–4» , Vol. 84(2003) 184-201. In the discussion as to whether Paul uses Classical rhetoric First Corinthians 1–4 plays a key-role. In this article an overview is given of the main characteristics of the epideictic genre and in the light of this it is argued that in 1 Cor 1–4 Paul presents the four types of this genre: a paradoxical encomium in 1,18-31; an honorable encomium in 2,6-16; an ambivalent encomium in 3,5-23 and a dishonorable encomium in 4,6-13. In this manner he gives a deliberate proof of his rhetorical ability so as to restore his image, damaged by the impressive performance of Apollos who visited the city after him and apparently took the prize. So, after all, there seems to be Classical rhetoric in Paul.

Commonplace A preparation for the following two exercises, the commonplace differed from these by taking up a general virtue or vice, rather than the specific qualities of a single person. Subjects included gambling, theft, adultery, etc. Sometimes it took up the virtues/vices of specific kinds of persons; e.g., tyrants. Directions for Composition Argue for or against a general (common) fault or virtue of human nature (or a type of person), using these steps: 1. Begin with the contrary or a contradiction 2. Introduce a comparison, comparing something better to what is attacked 3. Introduce a proverb that upbraids the motivation of the doer of the deed 4. Employ a digression with a defamatory conjecture as to the past life of the person accused 5. Repudiate the idea of taking pity on such a person 6. Consider the following headings in discussing this virtue or vice: o legality o justice o expediency o practicability o decency o consequences Source rhetoric

Encomium "a composition expository of attendant excellencies." Subjects include persons, things (such as abstract ideas), times (as the seasons), places, animals, and growing things, either general or specific. Directions for Composition Praise a person or thing for being virtuous. After composing an exordium (introduction), follow these steps: 1. Describe the stock a person comes from: o what people o what country o what ancestors o what parents 2. Describe the person's upbringing o education o instruction in art o training in laws 3. Describe the person's deeds, which should be described as the results of o his/her excellencies of mind (such as fortitude or prudence) o his/her excellencies of body (such as beauty, speed, or vigor) o his/her excellencies of fortune (as high position, power, wealth, friends) 4. Make a favorable comparison to someone else to escalate your praise 5. Conclude with an epilogue including either an exhortation to your hearers to emulate this person, or a prayer.

Vituperation "a composition expository of attendant evils includes as subjects chiefly persons, but also can take up things (such as abstract ideas), times (as the seasons), places, or animals. Directions for Composition Attack a person or thing for being vicious. After composing an exordium (introduction), follow these steps: 1. Describe the stock a person comes from: o what people o what country o what ancestors o what parents 2. Describe the person's upbringing o education o instruction in art o training in laws 3. Describe the person's deeds, which should be described as the results of o his/her evils of mind (such as weakness or indiscretion) o his/her evils of body (such as plainness, lethargy, or lack of vigor) o his/her evils of fortune (as lack of or corruption of high position, power, wealth, friends) 4. Make a disfavorable comparison to someone else to escalate your vituperation 5. Conclude with an epilogue including either an exhortation to your hearers not to emulate this person, or a prayer.

Baptism is a major step for Christians. Our small congregation has had three members baptised in the last year, the first a baby, the second a child and now an adult, the first by total immersion in the river, and the third in a specially set up tank in church. The Vanderbilt Library web pages on Art in the Christian Tradition, set me thinking, and using the Google Image search for 'John baptizing Jesus' led to Isaac's page Searching the Depths where he uses an Eastern Icon to illustrate his sermon. It is easy to slip into superficial trivia - quote "there’s John on the rough terrain of the left bank, baptizing Jesus. His right arm points us to Jesus’ head, while his eyes look toward the dove, and then there’s that left hand." (Oops John's back is towards us) It is easy to take the first step, to turn to God, and ask for forgiveness, to allow God to begin in us His work of making sinners into saints. But how do we respond when the challenges come? Is it me who is important? To quote from Page 34, Myron Augsburger's 'Quench not the Spirit', The baptism with the Spirit is the crisis experience when He is given to the believer, while the filling of the Spirit is the continual experience of His possessing the believer. There is one baptism with the Spirit, but many fillings. ... The Spirit filled life is contingent on our active response to His will.

Check it out = Archbishop Rowan Williams reminding us that when we are finding ourselves full of foolish mistakes, still, as we read in Hebrews 11.16: God ‘is not ashamed to be called our God’. Read it for yourself - Bishop writes - The writer is talking about the history of God’s people. When they have been faithful to God, faithful in keeping on moving onwards in faith rather than settling down in self-satisfaction, when they are true pilgrims, then God is content to be known as their God. He declares himself to be the God of pilgrims, of people who know that their lives are incomplete and that they are still journeying towards the fullness of God’s promises. Thankyou, Cousin Dulcie, for this THE BELL I KNOW WHO I AM I am God's child (John 1:12) I am Christ's friend (John 15:15) I am united with the Lord (1 Cor. 6:17) I am bought with a price (1 Cor. 6:19-20) I am a saint (set apart for God) (Eph. 1:1) I am a personal witness of Christ (Acts 1:8) I am the salt & light of the earth (Matt.5:13-14) I am a member of the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27) I am free forever from condemnation (Rom. 8: 1-2) I am a citizen of Heaven. I am significant (Phil.3:20) I am free from any charge against me (Rom. 8:31-34) I am a minister of reconciliation for God (2 Cor.5:17-21) I have access to God through the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:18) I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph. 2:6) I cannot be separated from the love of God(Rom.8:35-39) I am established, anointed, sealed by God (2 Cor.1:21-22) I am assured all things work together for good (Rom. 8: 28) I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16) I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph. 3: 12) I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil 4:13) I am the branch of the true vine, a channel of His life (John 15: 1-5) I am God's temple (1 Cor. 3: 16). I am complete in Christ (Col. 2: 10) I am hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3). I have been justified (Romans 5:1) I am God's co-worker ( 1 Cor. 3:9; 2 Cor 6:1). I am God's workmanship (Eph. 2:10) I am confident that the good works God has begun in me will be perfected (Phil 1: 5) I have been redeemed and forgiven (Col. 1:14). I have been adopted as God's child (Eph 1:5) I belong to God Do you know Who you are!? Keep this bell ringing...pass it on. "The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you And be gracious to you; The LORD turn His face toward you And give you peace." Numbers 6:24-26

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