Interesting study

"Oxford University researchers are spending £1.9 million ($4 million) investigating why people believe in God, examining whether believing in a higher being is a result of nature or nurture."

http://www.theage.com.au/oddspot/

Now it will be interesting to see the result of that study because we all do have an inbuilt (nature) desire to worship something/someone.

Trip to Kenya now later this year

Hi all,

I apologise in advance of not informing you of news about my trip to Kenya but have been unable to provide a definite statement until now.

I was supposed to fly out on 7th Jan but due to the election turmoil there with violence, etc it was put back until the week after but that quickly changed to being Feb. So we then aimed at going Feb until March but that fell through and then there was the option of going for 2 weeks in Feb but due to several circumstances the decision has been made to cancel the trip until Dec/Jan (decided last night).

However the majority of our mission team (7 of 10) are still planning on going from mid-March to mid-April but I am unable to do that due to uni, work and other commitments.

This is disappointing but there is the hope of going later which makes it not so bad. Also Jeremiah 29:11-13 has been challenging and encouraging me through this whole process. I can already see reasons why He didn't want me to go now as somethings have happened, are happening and going to happen, which show His faithfulness and proves his promise in Romans 8:28. (Proverbs 16:1-3 as well)

So they are the reasons I was unable to inform you because what we were planning on doing changed nearly every week.

Please pray for Kenya that peace will be restored as there has been quite a lot of violence with over 600 people dead. Pray that God will elect the right guy for Prime Minister and that the people will get sick of the fighting, etc and start showing love - even for opposing tribal groups as God asks to love one another and even more so our enemies. Lots of innocent people are caught up in it too, pray for their safety.

Thank you for your prayers and may you give God glory for who He is,

God Bless, Aaron

Philippians 1:3

Procrastinate no more...

October 28, 2007

I Don’t Feel Like It

READ: Matthew 21:28-32

He answered and said, “I will not,” but afterward he regretted it and went. —Matthew 21:29

Have you ever faced an unwanted chore and felt as if it were the last thing on earth you wanted to do? Mowing the lawn, doing the wash, cleaning the house, or even preparing a Sunday school lesson after an exhausting week can make us feel like procrastinating.

When this happens, my wife and I have a motto we repeat to each other: "I don’t feel like it—but I’m going to do it anyway." There is something about recognizing our lack of motivation and then choosing to be responsible that helps us follow through.

God’s value on faith and obedience can be seen in the parables of Jesus. Christ spoke about two sons who were asked to work in the vineyard. The first said no, but "afterward he regretted it and went" (Matt. 21:29). The second said yes but did not follow through. Then the Lord asked His listeners, "Which of the two did the will of his father?" (v.31). The obvious answer is the one who finished the task.

Our Lord’s illustration underscores a key spiritual principle. God is interested in our faith and obedience—not just our good intentions. Next time you are tempted to shirk your duties, why not say, "I don’t feel like it," and then ask God for the grace to do it anyway. —Dennis Fisher

O help us, Lord, to heed Your Word,
Its precepts to obey;
And give us strength to quench the urge
To do things our own way. —Sper

Obedience is faith in action.

Towards Kenya

As it gets closer to my trip over to Kenya on a mission trip, I am getting more excited and looking forward to it even more. We have practically reached our target of $14,000 to build fish ponds and any more that is raised will contribute towards another project. Praise God for how it has all come together, He is at work!

I thought a good way in the lead up to my trip over to Kenya is to let you know a bit more about it. Here are a couple of the facts:

Capital: Nairobi
Official Language: Swahili, English
Government: Republic
Population: July 2005 estimate = 34,707,817
8 Feb 2007 census = 31,138,735
Currency: Kenyan Shilling


Here is the flag of Kenya...


and this is a map of Kenya...

Been busy

Over a month and I haven't made a post on here *shakes head* - not good.

In the last month a fair bit has happened including uni holidays coming and going. During these holidays I directed a kids holiday program in which we had 50 kids come along to by the last day. It went really well and the team of leaders was great. It was a growing time in our faith and a lot of fun was had.

Uni and work has definitely been taking a fair bit of my time as well.

I have been using facebook a fair bit lately too so my 'spare' time is used on it now rather than this.

Let me know if you want me to continue using this and having more worthwhile content than this post on here.

Listening to God

Gone are the days when a real person greets you on the other end of a phone call. It seems as though whenever we try to “reach out and touch someone,” we are greeted with a computerized voice.

I’m glad this isn’t true of our Father in heaven. He is always there. No voice-mail boxes, no “press 2 for more grace” and no “call waiting” interruptions. Thankfully, “Call to Me, and I will answer you” (Jer. 33:3) has not been replaced by, “All lines are now busy. Your call is important to Me. Please stay on the line.”

Yet I wonder what kind of access He has to us?

Communication with God is a two-way street. He speaks to us through His Word when we come attentively before Him in prayer and through the clear voice of the indwelling Spirit. He paid a great price to keep the lines open so that we can experience the joy of being still long enough to know that He is God (Ps. 46:10). As my grandmother’s favorite hymn “In the Garden” says:

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known. —Miles
© Renewal 1940 The Rodeheaver Co.

The joy of hearing His voice is a call you don’t want to miss! —Joe Stowell

Is God getting through to you?

http://www.rbc.org/odb/odb-09-05-07.shtml

My name

I got a key ring from a family friend and it was about my name and the meaning, etc. This is what it had:

On one side it has:

Aaron

• Meaning: "High Mountain or Exalted"
• Origin: Hebrew
  

On the other side it has:


~ Aaron ~

• generous
• understanding and wise
• gives of himself to all who need his help
• his openness and honesty lead to good friendships and lasting relationships
• can be counted on in a tough situation not to lose his cool or panic
• one of those lucky people
• things always seem to work out for the best

What do you think? Does that describe me well or not?