Sunday, March 31, 2013

Sunrise service @ Eastside Community Church

Sunrise service @ Eastside Community Church
Children's Pastor - Robyn Ball

How close are you walking to the Rose of Life?

The rose, is known for one of its most symbolic aspects, being a symbol of Love! Many people saw Jesus the rose. The two Mary's saw Jesus, but others along the way denied and were not willing to 'see' him - they were blinded by their feelings that Jesus could not have risen. Many people could see and experienced the Love of Christ and Jesus.

But Jesus did rise. 'He has risen, he has risen indeed!'
The ultimate symbol of Jesus' love was that He was willing to die for us, but more so the fact that God and Jesus went through with his promises - He rose from the dead to conquer sin!

One of the other significant aspects of a rose is it amazing aroma and smell. That being said, those who has seen the Rose, smell it but ultimately choose to acknowledge the smell and specifically live close to the Rose.

Can people smell the Rose, the aroma of the Rose, the Aroma of Christ, in You?
How close am I and you living to the Rose so that others can see its beauty and smell its Aroma?

For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. (2 Corinthians 2:15 NIV)

So how close am I and you walking and living to the Rose of life? Am I that sweet smelling aroma of Christ!?!




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Friday, March 29, 2013

Being Good is not enough - the X of life!

Being Good is not enough - the cross of life!
Easter Service Good Friday
29 March 2013

Why is it that Jesus had to actually die?

God was and is offended by the way we lived and live our lives. So he needed to do something about it. Something radical needed to happen to help us on our spiritual journey.

We believe we live a 'good' life so we should be allowed. But being good is not enough!

The sacrifice in some way made atonement for the sins. Previously the slaughtering and sacrificing of an animal was a symbolic moment to get rid of our sins.

However the bible states that blood had to be spilled for the sacrifice to be an atonement. The blood which symbolizes life, had to be splattered and spilt.

We should not be romanticizing the act. It was not pleasant but had to take place.

Death by crucifixion is seen as one of the worst ways to die. An animal was not good enough to be sacrificed for a man, as we then see in the new covenant. Man had to die and the new covenant is seen through Jesus being crucified for our sins on the cross!

God's dilemma is that someone had to be sacrificed for each of us! He had to make a plan - the plan was Jesus Christ. Jesus, a real man became a real man to die for each of us, WILLINGLY!
He was willing to hold nothing back for each one of us!

By this we can have our relationship with God healed.
This sacrifice was made ONCE for ALL!




Thank you Lord Jesus!

Sunday, March 24, 2013

No eye has seen - Bruce Collins

No eye has seen - Bruce Collins
@Eastside community Church

What can truly describe God and Lord Jesus - nothing!
The amazing things God has prepared for those who love him ... We can't describe and explain. It's just so Amazing

We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we declare God's wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written: "What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived" — the things God has prepared for those who love him— these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. (1 Corinthians 2:6-10 NIV)

The world is a desperate place. The world values temporary pleasures but forget the root of our problems.
God is the root of correcting what we experience currently.
We are currently a spec on the rope of eternity! So if we get wrapped up on the specs of this world we forget the promise of eternity. By living in God we live through a real Hope, a hope that we know is real, a hope that does get fulfilled because we know it WILL happen!

However we are being prepared for this, this eternity. However through this promise of eternal life, we must make the choice the choice to follow.
This HOPE is a present reality. The promise in action and is secure!

However the promise of heaven impacts our lives as we live it right now. The hope we have in Jesus impacts on our present way we living. How
1. God looks after us, Now. He cares about the smallest things about me right now.
2. Gods love. It's relentless and steadfast. We miss the mark all the time as we live our lives as a spec, but God shows us grace for everything. There is consequences of our actions, yes, but there's grace. You can come back to The Lord and ask his forgiveness.
3. Christian community is a picture of the future. If you willing to live in community.

Our present reality is linked to our eternal hope. Our promise of eternity makes our calling on earth crystal clear. However if we don't believe in the awesomeness of eternity and what to come and it's set in our heart, then the great commission is meaningless and heavens truth pointless.
Heaven is real. It's not a secret. If you RSVP your in!

So do you live with this promise of eternity in your heart and life it out through our daily callings?!?

It's about loving Jesus! Heaven is the restored relationship between Man and GOD!
If we believe e amazing promises of heaven then it must affect our current reality!

If my life's work is based on the great commission, we can and will live full lives!!!









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There's Life after Life

There's Life after Life -sermon Pastor Mark Eastside Community church

2 places exist after this life.
... There's a heaven and a hell
... We assume that most Christians believe there is a heaven and a hell. But is this really true. It's very easy to believe Heaven - well we serve a loving caring God - so surely if our God is this loving, can't create a hell - something bad, awful and a place we don't want to go to?!?

Question thus is ... Why were Heaven and hell created?
... Heaven to be a place where God and man can remain in contact and intimate.
... Heaven will be a place where nothing will and can stand in your way for perfect intimacy.
... Hell however was created for the devil and his demons! Nothing else. God created a place where they could be separated from Gods presence. It's a choice to be separated from God!

As soon as we start deciding who is going where, we have crossed a line where we tend to be trying to play God. However, I / we / you will know where you are going!?!
The example is the crucifixion. If we were just watching it from the sideline we would have thought the other thief would end up in hell, however we would not have know about the intimate conversation that the thief and God / Jesus had on the cross, where Jesus ends by saying to him ... Today I will see you in my house ... God provided salvation to him, salvation that is a special thing chosen by you and given to you by God!

Eternity has only two options! We are invited to attend the great party in Heaven.
Matthew 12:30 "whoever is not for me, is against me!" It's our choice, God gives each of us the choice - our loving and caring God! We are all chosen and predestined to Heaven, but we still have e choice to get there!

The worst thing about hell is that it's a place so separation. Hell is a place is death. It's a separation from anything good. But while we are on earth we have an option still and a choice. There is still the potential of salvation! God is still gracious. However in hell, there is nothing like this, there is no potential.

Heaven is a place of transformation!
...1 Corinthians 15 verse 5 onwards
... For the new body to live, the old body must die!
... The plant that rises from the soil has a different body from the dead seed.
... Even Jesus Christ went through the same process. He had to die to give life and give life to us in abundance. Jesus the ultimate vessel of our salvation.

The new body is glorious in unique splendor! No eye can see no ear can hear what God has in store for us ...


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Challenging Thought

How do I commit to spending time in God's precsence, even when i am 'busy'? What am I doing to live up to God's expectation of me?

Prayer Requests

  • Spiritually lead & focused coaches who have a critical role in the development of their athletes.
  • Athletes participating around the world in various sporting feats. That they do it not for personal clory but for glory of God
  • All soccer / football players coming to South Africa in just over a month's time for the FIFA 2010 World Cup
  • Focused Godly Athletes
  • Guidance and Grace to all Athletes on all levels in their training
  • MORE ATHLETES THROUGH THIS BLOG CAN SHARE THEIR TESTIMONIES
  • Praise God for the unbelievable performances, the dedication & perserverance of our Paralympians

Book Review Corner

We will be soon reviewing books read and share any key thoughts found and identified.

So watch this space!