Hear ye, Hear ye!

New poem and new Bible study added to their respective pages.
Check them out.
Hope you enjoy them

Fancy Fins

Fancy Fins

Saturday September 22^nd I was involved with a new venture. I only had a very small part to play in it, as did Mary, but we were there! Craig and Rachelle Hawkins opened a new venture associated with Seahorse Australia.  This was in their shed on Inspection head Wharf, Beauty Point Tasmania.

Fancy Fins is the name of their fresh water aquarium shop and on the day was officially opened. Included were a garage sale and sausage sizzle. Four of our six grandchildren helped out by selling books and videos or cooking and selling sausages.

It was a beautiful sunny day and drew lots and lots of people. There are still facets of the shop still to be finalised, still the people who came gave it the thumbs up, especially the local fish lovers.

God seems to delight in taking His disciples into new and challenging dimensions so as to make Himself known in a deeper way. For Craig, who is a professional forester with many years leadership in the area, the Lord has literally given him a ‘sea-change’. Our son is the first to admit the change-over was hard to adjust to.

Our Lord sometimes requires us to trust Him with new ventures of faith and obedience. Often it requires perseverance and determination, confident in the call of God. That fragrance permeates their whole business and has produced a testimony to the Lord’s faithfulness, especially through demanding days.

Mary and I are thrilled that Jesus Christ allowed us to be part of this new faith venture. It was a small part but a privilege to share in it.

 

Ray (watching the fishes) Hawkins.

Missionary Friends

It has been 30 plus years since they last dropped by. What a delight it was to have them share three days of their holiday with us in Tasmania. Sure we have maintained contact through letters and new email but there is nothing quite as good as a personal visit.

Ken and Helen MacNaughtan are retired missionaries who worked in the Samberigi area of P.N.G. Even in retirement they maintain a close and sometimes hands on relationship with thier missionary organisation. As pioneer workers they experienced the tough times in remote areas of New Guinea. They also knew the faithfulness of God and the value of faithful, supportive co-workers.

On their return to Australia Helen realised  a need. Many missionaries returning after long or short service found it hard to settle down into former routines. Family and friends had developed new areas of interest and churches were unsure as to how to  assist returning workers from the various fields. Out of this came a simple and very practical hand-book called 'Re-Entry'.  It has proven so very, very popular and helpful to missionaries and churches.

You can contact me for information about receiving a copy $4 plus postage.

Adjustments can be hard in any period of life.It is important to realise difficulties even before they arise, have supportive family and friends and be patient with yourself and others through what is a stressful time. Being assured of the grace and over-ruling presence of our Lord does create some relief through a confusing period.

May God use us as 'stress relief' for those going through a 're-entry' experience.

Ray (enjoying stress relief) Hawkins

Vitamin D for Good health

The Need for Vitamin D.

I went to the doctor’s recently. He gave me a good pass considering my age. However he did write a script for me to purchase some vitamin D. I wasn’t sure if it was because of my being indoors too much or simply Tasmania’s weather through Autumn and Winter.

This vitamin is essential for producing calcium and sound bones which in turn prevents rickets. So a tablet a day keeps rickets and other nasties at bay.

Being a preacher I thought how good it would be if I could prescribe vitamin D in its spiritual form. Too many Christians suffer from a deficiency of being in the Son-light and suffer from a lack of stamina in their faith. Their spiritual strength and motivation suffers from the spiritual equivalent of rickets. Their Christian life, worship and enthusiasm is disjointed and unable to stand the strain of an ungodly society.

The most efficient manner for spending time in the Son-light is by a daily dose of Scripture and prayer. The Bible society has become alarmed at the poor spiritual health of church goers. To assist in their recovery of strength to handle life and motivation to obey the Lord it has produced a great ‘vitamin kit’. It’s called ‘Live Light in 25 words’. The idea is to take the time to read approximately 25 words from the Bible daily. This will bring the Light of God’s grace into your life. In return it will counter the spiritual ailments of living in the shadows of ignorance and unbelief.

Do you want to know where to begin this ‘treatment? Genesis is best. Next I’d recommend Gospel of Mark followed by the Psalms.  Doing this will help you enjoy the promise of the Lord Jesus in John 8:12:’I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life’.

So in the words of the Apostle John in 3 John 2 ‘Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul’.

Ray (vitamin D enthusiast) Hawkins

I wish you a "G'day"!

As I write this I have to admit to wondering whether or not anyone will find it and read it. That’s the strange yet fascinating thing about blogging and its ‘kin’.

So, in the hope that someone, you, will read this I’d like to say “G’day”! This is our Australian way of greeting folk.

In a sense “G’day” could be saying “Have a good day”  on your own on in company. However it could also encourage you to allow God to be in your day. Then whatever comes you have a confidence that things will work out fine.

There are times when you are confronted with a ‘B’day’! The unexpected, unwanted and unpleasant strikes out of the blue and forces you to change your well crafted plans.

Recently that happened to my wife and I. On Sunday night Mary wasn’t feeling very well. Her sleep was spasmodic and restless. Monday a phone call got her an appointment with a doctor. Mary’s regular one was away and she had a  young locum. She was very thorough and picked up the problem. It was around the kidney and was also infected. Ambulance called and the journey to Launceston General Hospital underway. I was sent home to collect the necessary things for Mary’s stay in hospital.

You know that was a ‘G’day’ in disguise. Our whole day was turned on its head. In fact the whole week had to be re-orientated. However under the care and professionalism of doctors and nurses what could have been very serious was kept in check. In a little while an operation is scheduled to deal with the kidney stone.

So Mary and I consider that Monday to actually be a good day overseen by God. I’m reminded of Proverbs 3:6: ‘In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths’.

What looked like being for us a ‘B’day’ was prevented by competent people and our Lord’s overruling in our everyday affairs.

So, may I close by wishing you a “G’day”!

Ray (it’ll be right) Hawkins.