timdyer

Japan

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Mar 202011
 


I was thinking for a few days on what I would share concerning the situation in Japan. With so many images and stories I felt there was not much more I could say to describe my hurt. Maybe the best way to portray the situation is through the words of my sister’s family who live in Japan:

March 11 2011- Just before 3pm our time a quake began, of 8.8 magnitude.  We have experienced many before so weren’t too worried at first but it kept going and getting stronger.  It was stronger than anything we’ve ever experienced.  Our neighbour is 80 and said she never experienced anything like it.  Pictures were falling off shelves, books flying out of bookshelves, our TV crashed to the ground, our printer fell down, heaters shut down and our gas is still out.  We currently have no hotwater and cant use our oven.  Josh was asleep and we grabbed him and went outside.  The streets were fall of neighbours rushing outside.  Huge aftershocks have continued for a couple of hours.
The scariest thing for us was that we couldn’t contact the girls for 2 hours as the phone system was overloaded and the trains were stopped because of the quakes.  When we eventually got news they were OK it took me 2 hours to drive to the school and back, because of the terrible traffic.
The café seems to have only sustained minor damage, the microwave falling down, the oven being moved and a lot of crafts falling to the floor with some breakages.
There has been significant flooding and a number of fires caused by the quake as well as tsunami warnings.
We value your prayers for ongoing safety, for those who have lost lives and properties and for the clean up process.
Thanks for your prayers and concerns we value them enormously.

March 19 2011: At the urging of the Dept of Foreign Affairs and Trade, our home church and our sending mission, OM, we are now being evacuated from Tokyo on Sunday night.  This is not an easy thing as its hard to leave behind our Japanese church and friends as well as our N.American co-workers.

If you would like to contact my sister or find out the work they are doing they have a facebook page, just type in: Sonrise Cafe Tokyo

Christmas Cheer

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Dec 152010
 

Merry Christmas to everyone who reads my blog from time to time, I will be back posting in February 2011. Enjoy  the poem. Tim

T’was The Day After Christmas

Twas the day after Christmas, and all through the house,
every creature was sleeping, even the mouse.

The toys were all broken, their batteries dead,
Santa passed out with some ice on his head.

Wrapping and ribbons covered the floor,
while upstairs the family continued to snore.

And I in my T-shirt, new Reeboks and jeans,
went into the kitchen and started to clean.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the sink to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,
tore open the curtains and threw up the sash.

When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
but a little red motor-bike with oversized mirrors.

The driver was smiling, so lively and grand,
the patch on his jacket said Australia POSTMAN.

With a handful of bills, he grinned like a fox,
then quickly stuffed them into our box.

Bill after bill and still they all came,
whistling and counting he called them by name.

Now K-Mart, now Myer, now David Jones,
here’s Big W and Target and Dick Smith….all here.

To the top of your limit, every store, every mall,
now chargeaway, chargeaway, chargeaway all!!

He chuckled and whistled as he finished his work,
he filled up the box, then turned with a jerk.

He sprang back on his bike as he drove down the road,
driving much faster with just half of a load.

Then I heard him exclaim with great holiday cheer,
“ENJOY WHAT YOU GOT….YOU”LL BE PAYING ALL YEAR!!”

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

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Dec 082010
 


Saw a good movie recently – The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Trader, the 3rd in the series of The Chronicles of Narnia series.
In this new installment Edmund and Lucy Pevensie, along with their cousin Eustace and their royal friend King Caspian, find themselves swallowed into a painting and on to the Dawn Treader. As they embark on an incredible adventure of destiny and discovery, they confront obstacles beyond imagination before reaching the edge of the world.
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader was an entertaining character-centered movie with humor sprinkled throughout the film. The movie had a perfect pace that was able to include all of the key parts of the book in a much shorter amount of time.
If you have a spare 2 hours take the time to see the movie for yourself while it is still in the theater and experience it in 3D.
http://www.narnia.com/

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Oct 262010
 

Now that we have a new Australian government which has been in office for only a short time, it’s important to stay aware and involved. It is important that we don’t withdraw from the political process once an election is over, many of us fall into this trap. There are many things we can do on an ongoing basis. We can pray daily for our Prime Minister and our nation’s influencers. We can respond to various issues and debates talking place, keep an eye on the news to hear and see what our political leaders are doing, letting our local MPs know our thoughts and concerns. An excellent way to keep in touch with what is taking place in Canberra is via the Australian Christian Lobby newsletter- http://australianchristianlobby.org.au/. I believe as Christians it is important we are aware of what is taking place in the political arena and when we see good or bad things happening we respond appropriately. Take the time each day to pray for our political leaders.

Be a Decent DAD!

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Sep 062010
 

Well Fathers Day has come and gone, know doubt with lots of dad’s feeling pretty important for at least one day of the year! I believe being a dad (or a mum) is no easy work, below are just a few tips on how to go about being a DECENT DAD in the life of your child(ren). Let me say that Dads, your kids need you and its never to late to start being a better father. Fathering is a vital, honorable, and essential part of the fabric of human life.

In his book Five Signs of a Loving Family, author Gary Chapman outlines a few signs of a good father. Here they are:

  1. A good father is active in his fathering. He actively seeks to be involved in his child’s life and initiates such involvement. Don’t leave it to chance.
  2. A good father makes time to be with his children. He doesn’t give them the leftovers. Don’t spend time with your children out of a sense of guilt or obligation, but because it feeds your soul and is a job you are proud of doing well. Where we spend out time is a reflection of our priorities – what is important to us.
  3. A good father engages his children in conversation. He builds intimacy through two-way communication. Share your life with your children and ask them good questions about what is happening in their world.
  4. A good father plays with his children. He creates laughter, fun, and pleasure.
  5. A good father teaches his values. He teaches about what is important in life. Train your child in the way he or she should go (Proverbs 22:6). This involves modeling values and character to your children. Discipline your children lovingly when necessary. Don’t be a wimpish father who leaves the discipline to the mother or worse yet, undermines her discipline. Be an equal partner in discipline. If a father is doing his bit, the mother relaxes, feels supported, and is less cold and harsh as a result. Get involved!
  6. A good father provides for and protects his children.
  7. A good father loves his children unconditionally. Boys and girls need affirmation and admiration from their fathers. They needs lots of encouragement – it’s like oxygen to the soul. They also need forgiveness when they fail. Treat them with respect. Honour and value them. Treat them as precious.

Steering in the right direction

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Aug 312010
 

Like it or not the world tries to steer us in certain direction. What TV show to watch, what TV to buy, where to go on our holiday, what clothes to wear, how we should treat others, how we need to treat ourselves, facebook or twitter, eat meat or avoid meat, what we should or should not believe in, how much money we should be aiming to have and how we should give it away…… and the list goes on and on. It gets confusing at times and frustrating because we are not so sure what is the right way and what is the wrong way and we can find ourselves asking, “Where in fact am I going in this life”.
Some 20 years ago I felt as though I was getting pulled in all sorts of directions but never feeling I was heading the right way, everything the world was tossing up that looked pretty good to start with ended up making me feel empty. I found myself heading in different directions all the time. Then one direction I eventually headed down was exploring the life of Christianity and I came across a verse in the bible that said this (these are the words of Jesus), “I am the WAY the TRUTH and the LIFE”(John 14:6). I liked the sound of that verse and the more I looked into Christianity the more I began to realise that unlike the world and all it’s different (and dead end) directions, following the direction of Christ was a life giving direction. Having been following the way of Jesus for over 20 years has not always been easy but I can assure you it is no dead end!

Enjoy the video:
2 steering wheels

Australian’s Vote

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Aug 232010
 
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I read early this morning the thoughts of Mark Conner (Pastor at City Life Church in Wantirna South, Victoria) concerning the outcome of last weekends election. I agree with what he has said and felt it would be good to share them with you.
MARK CONNER
The voting is over and the 2010 Australian federal election has turned out to be the closest election result in our short history as a nation. No out-right leader has emerged yet and we may end up with a hung parliament.

A few observations are clear:

1. The Labor Party has had a large swing against them right across the nation, with many seats falling to the Liberals. Maybe the de-throning of Kevin Rudd has come back to haunt them after all. Julia Gillard looks a little shaken, to say the least.

2. The Liberal Party has made a remarkable comeback, after losing the nation’s leadership a few years ago. Who would have thought that this would have occurred so quickly after Kevin Rudd’s historic win over John Howard and his resultant high popularity rating even up to just twelve months ago. Tony Abbott has pulled off quite an achievement.

3. Like it or not, the Greens Party have emerged as a legitimate third party in our nation. They will hold the balance of power in the Senate and will be a force to be reckoned with in the years to come. Their appeal to the younger generation and to swinging voters disillusioned with the major parties is only growing.

4. If a government can be formed, there will only be a slight majority. Maybe this isn’t such a bad result after all, as governing will require a greater degree of partnership and collaboration OR maybe it will just be difficult to get much done at all. Only time will tell.

5. Finally, at times like these, it is good to remind ourselves that God rules in the daily aspects of our human lives, including politics. He puts one leader up and takes another one down. Everything and every one is under his ultimate authority and power. His will will be done. I can sleep on that.

Prayer

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Aug 172010
 


Christians at times can fall into the trap of believing that we live in a huge universe and have faith in a small God who can do a few things but He is limited. It is the other way around- we live in a small universe and a God we believe in who is a mighty and powerful God. The reality the bible describes is a great big God with a tiny little universe.
Last Sunday at KSBC I spoke about prayer and in particular that the living God we pray to is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). So knowing this we should have great confidence when we pray knowing God is able.
Able to do what you might ask?
Able to do whatever needs to be done in this world and in your life.
No problem can stop Him.
No obstacle can thwart Him.
No circumstance can worry Him.
No outcome can confuse Him.

Throughout the bible we are given a glimpse of what God can do:
He is able to make the walls of Jericho come tumbling down.
He is able to make a boy named David defeat a giant named Goliath.
He is able to make a drought.
He is able to make a flood.
He is able to make a rainbow as a reminder of His promise.
He is able to deliver Daniel from a lion’s den.
He is able to deliver Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from a fiery furnace.
He is able to deliver a boy named Joseph from Pharaoh’s prison.
He is able to protect a boy named David from Saul’s anger.
He is able to deliver Israel from Egyptian slavery.
He is able to release Paul from a Philippian jail.
He is able to give manna to feed His people every day for 40 years.
He is able to bring water out of a dry rock.
He is able to order ravens to bring food to a man named Elijah by a little brook.
He is able to take two fish and five loaves and feed 5,000 people, and have 12 baskets left over.
He is able to strengthen the frightened heart of a man named Gideon to defend His people.

He is able to forgive sin.
He is able to change the hearts of men and women.
He is able to bring deliverance from what we think are impossible situations.
He is able to heal brokenness.
He is able to reconcile relationships.
He is able to give wisdom.
He is able to provide meaning.
He is able to breathe hope.
He is able to raise Jesus Christ from the dead and promise a resurrection to this sorry, dark, dying world.

There is nothing that is logically possible and consistent with God’s character that our God cannot do.

Can I encourage to pray (Pray Continually – 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says!), there is no special code you need to be allowed to pray or any special language needed but speak to God knowing he is able. Does God answer our prayers yes, does he answer them how we would like, no not all the time but he hears your prayers and longs to answer them in his perfect way.

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine…to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus…for ever and ever! Amen.”  (Ephesians 3:20-21)

Living Life

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Aug 112010
 

Over time I am asked to promote events, attend events or even take part in certain seminars due to the fact I am a pastor of a church. It is impossible to be at everything or accept all the invitations but one invitation I did accept a number of years ago to attend, lead and promote was an organsation that was starting up called LIVING LIFE. Looking back I am so glad I did, through LIVING LIFE so many people’s lives have been helped, amazing support given and relationships strengthened.
LIVING LIFE run seminars that deal with issues such as: understanding anxiety, anger management, building healthy relationship and building families that can grow together. LIVING LIFE also has support groups for those living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) or Fibromyalgia.

Here is an overview that those who run LIVING LIFE give:
The goal of LIVING LIFE Groups and Workshops is to enable you to live life to the best of your ability. We believe that education is empowerment, and so we are passionate about providing you with knowledge, understanding, skills and support to help you reach this goal. Our workshops are interactive, practical and informative, with time for discussion and time to practise the skills you are learning. We aim not just to provide you with ‘head knowledge’ but to provide you with the tools that can help you learn, grow and make real changes in the way you live your life every day. Our greatest reward is seeing people get ‘unstuck’ from difficult and painful situations, and develop the skills to make changes and unlock a new future.

Feel free to log onto the LIVING LIFE website http://www.livinglife.net.au/index.html to learn more.

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