"Escape From Egypt" Introduction Video to Preaching Theme

In life we are always journeying, even when we are sitting still.

For this next series at Hillside entitled “Escape from Egypt”, like the Israelites we will see life from their perspective, how was it for them to leave Egypt, their places of oppression and control. We will ask what was it like for Moses to lead these people and how do you know the call is from God? What events or signals are coincidences, and what are God signs?

Life seems to be determined by things / people beyond our control (by Egyptian rule). In life lots of things are out of our control but do you feel oppressed by them? In the midst of this oppression of God’s people Moses receives a call from God. Events in our lives are God signals, these signs intrigue, frighten and excite us, they appear on the periphery of our lives while we keep the sheep. Keeping sheep is monotonous, drudgery. It is at this point of bondage in the brickyard that Moses story and God’s story intersect.

Join us at Nobel Primary School on Sundays @ 9am for the next four weeks as we share the journey...

22nd Jan' Bondage in the Brickyard
29th Jan' At the Sea Shore
5th Feb' Wilderness Wanderings
12th Feb' Living in Canaan

IS A LICENSE TO DRIVE - A LICENSE TO KILL?

HERE'S A PIECE OF LEGISLATION TO CONSIDER:-

If Humphreys has been found quilty of murder,

then anyone who jumps a stop street or railway crossing

should be guilty of attempted murder.

YES? / NO?

WHERE WAS GOD?

Question: "Does God allow natural disasters,

i.e. earthquakes, hurricanes, and tsunamis?"

(Taken from: www.gotquestions.org/natural-disasters)

Their Answer: Why does God allow earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes, tsunamis, typhoons, cyclones, mudslides, and other natural disasters? Tragedies such as Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the 2008 cyclone in Myanmar, the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, and the 2011 earthquake/tsunami near Japan cause many people to question God’s goodness.

It is distressing that natural disasters are often termed “acts of God” while no “credit” is given to God for years, decades, or even centuries of peaceful weather. God created the whole universe and the laws of nature (Genesis 1:1). Most natural disasters are a result of these laws at work. Hurricanes, typhoons, and tornados are the results of divergent weather patterns colliding. Earthquakes are the result of the earth’s plate structure shifting. A tsunami is caused by an underwater earthquake.The Bible proclaims that Jesus Christ holds all of nature together (Colossians 1:16-17).

Could God prevent natural disasters? Absolutely! Does God sometimes influence the weather? Yes, as we see in Deuteronomy 11:17 and James 5:17. Numbers 16:30-34 shows us that God sometimes causes natural disasters as a judgment against sin. The book of Revelation describes many events which could definitely be described as natural disasters (Revelation chapters 6, 8, and 16).

Is every natural disaster a punishment from God? Absolutely not.

In much the same way that God allows evil people to commit evil acts, God allows the earth to reflect the consequences sin has had on creation. Romans 8:19-21 tells us, “The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.”

The fall of humanity into sin had effects on everything, including the world we inhabit. Everything in creation is subject to “frustration” and “decay.” Sin is the ultimate cause of natural disasters just as it is the cause of death, disease, and suffering.

We can understand why natural disasters occur. What we do not understand is why God allows them to occur. Why did God allow the tsunami to kill over 225,000 people in Asia? Why did God allow Hurricane Katrina to destroy the homes of thousands of people?

For one thing, such events shake our confidence in this life and force us to think about eternity. Churches are usually filled after disasters as people realize how tenuous their lives really are and how life can be taken away in an instant.

What we do know is this: God is good! Many amazing miracles occurred during the course of natural disasters that prevented even greater loss of life. Natural disasters cause millions of people to reevaluate their priorities in life. Hundreds of millions of dollars in aid is sent to help the people who are suffering. Christian ministries have the opportunity to help, minister, counsel, pray, and lead people to saving faith in Christ! God can, and does, bring great good out of terrible tragedies (Romans 8:28).

God of love,

Be with the people of Japan as they cope with this earthquake,

God of peace

Be with those in fear of aftershocks and tsunami,

God of hope

Be with those who grieve and those waiting for news

God of all

Be with the island nations at the mercy of the sea,

God of the Church

Be with your people as they show your love and care.

Deal tenderly now and be with these fragile people.

Amen

THE NEXT SURVIVOR SERIES

Six married men will be dropped on an island with one car and 3 kids each for six weeks. Each kid will play two sports and take either music or dance classes. There is no fast food. Each man must take care of his 3 kids; keep his assigned house clean, correct all homework, complete science projects, cook, do laundry, and pay a list of 'pretend' bills with not enough money.

In addition, each man will have to budget enough money for groceries each week. Each man must remember the birthdays of all their friends and relatives, and send cards out on time--no emailing. Each man must also take each child to a doctor's appointment, a dentist appointment and a haircut appointment. He must make one unscheduled and inconvenient visit per child to the Emergency Room. He must also make cookies or cupcakes for a school function. Each man will be responsible for decorating his own assigned house, planting flowers outside, and keeping it presentable at all times.

The men will only have access to television when the kids are asleep and all chores are done. The men must shave their legs, wear makeup daily, adorn themselves with jewelry, wear uncomfortable yet stylish shoes, keep fingernails polished, and eyebrows groomed During one of the six weeks, the men will have to endure severe abdominal cramps, backaches, headaches, have extreme, unexplained mood swings but never once complain or slow down from other duties.



They must attend weekly school meetings and church, and find time at least once to spend the afternoon at the park or a similar setting. They will need to read a book to the kids each night and in the morning, feed them, dress them, brush their teeth and comb their hair by 7:30 am.A test will be given at the end of the six weeks, and each father will be required to know all of the following information: each child's birthday, height, weight, shoe size, clothes size, doctor's name, the child's weight at birth, length, time of birth, and length of labor, each child's favorite color, middle name, favorite snack, favorite song, favorite drink, favorite toy, biggest fear, and what they want to be when they grow up.



The kids vote them off the island based on performance. The last man wins only if...he still has enough energy to be intimate with his spouse at a moment's notice.If the last man does win, he can play the game over and over and over again for the next 18-25 years, eventually earning the right to be called Mother!

What a Teacher Makes

Food for thought - an email making the rounds which is very relevant considering the public servants strike crippling SA at the moment.

The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life. One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued, "What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?" To stress his point he said to another guest; "You're a teacher, Bonnie. Be honest. What do you make?"

Before she could reply, he added : “It’s life’s experiences that teach the kids things”!

Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, "You want to know what I make? (She paused for a second, then began...)"Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't make them sit for 5 without an I Pod, Games or televisionYou want to know what I make?

(She paused again to look at each and every person at the table):I make kids wonder. I make them question.I make them apologize and mean it.I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions.I teach them how to write and then I make them write. Keyboarding isn't everything.I make them read, read, read and read some more.I make them show all their work in math. They use their God given brain, not the man-made calculator.I make my classroom a place where all my children feel safe.

Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life.

(Bonnie paused one last time and then continued.)

Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, with me knowing money isn't everything, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant.

You want to know what I make?I MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

What do you make Mr. CEO?

His jaw dropped; he went silent.