From the

Coalface

23rd October 2011

The NORTHLAKES Salvation Army Community Church

Most of us would like to be in some sort of control of our life. To manage circumstances, to anticipate and plan for the future. Most of us realise that this is not possible and we avoid much stress by facing up to the truth. Trying to be in charge of life is exhausting and ultimately fruitless. We just can’t bend the world to our will. Then again, we might argue that surrendering control is just as stressful. None of us wants a life that is out of control. But there is an alternative. We can surrender to the control of the God who made us and loves us. He truly is in charge of circumstances. He does know the future. So we are neither ‘in control’ or ‘out of con-trol’ when we place our life in the hands of God who loves us. The Psalmist describes this as a movement from the pit of despair to solid ground. We are neither helpless victims destined for the pit of despair, or self-sufficient controllers of our own destiny. We do walk along, but we are steadied as we do so. No wonder the Psalmist has a new song of praise to sing. Like him, we can cry out to God in our lostness or fear. Like him, we can be restored to solid ground. Like him, we can approach life with a new heart of thanks-giving rather than fear. Like him, we learn that God alone controls circumstances. In surrendering control, we find security. Blessings David Reay

Read Psalm 40:1-3 1 I waited patiently for the LORD to help me,

and he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the pit of despair,

out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground

and steadied me as I walked along. 3 He has given me a new song to sing,

a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed.

They will put their trust in the LORD. (NLT)

Solid Ground

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Northlakes Salvos

are now on

Twitter

follow us @NorthlakesSA

Can you help? Wanted: Volunteer/s

Pushing a trolley for an older lady on a scooter, helping her with the shopping. Once a fortnight,

Tues or Weds approx. 1 and 1/2 hours At: Jesmond Woolworths

Fortnightly =1x a month for 2 volunteers, 1x every 3 months for 6 volunteers

Please see or contact Cameron Smith to help 0400 531 434

Garage Sale

When: 26th November

Where: 46 Reservoir Rd, Glendale

Things

required: Books, clothes. Bric-a-brac,

appliances, plants, furniture,

and what ever you have to donate.

Phone Jeff 0414 583 224 or Lisa 0488 201 227 for pick ups.

Page 3 Northlakes Salvation Army

People Viewed as Scenery or Machinery I heard a friend say the other day that he was trying to make sure he didn’t reduce people in his life to either scenery or machinery. Isn’t that a great challenge! I have thought this over plenty of times since. It is easy to begin to reduce people to scenery - just part of the backdrop of life to amuse or entertain us. This is true of pornography, which ob-jectifies women, and reduces them to objects rather than people to know. Seeing people as machinery is just as destructive. Those people whose job it is to serve us at the checkout, service station or cafe. We can judge them by their efficiency and accuracy and completely miss that they are human as well. Jesus once challenged a group of community and religious leaders as to whether they had seen a particular person. I don’t think he was asking if they could physically see her - she could not have been missed! He was really asking them if they could see the person rather than just the scenery or machinery.

Men Under Pressure Thanks to gender equality, it now seems men are struggling under some of the same pressures that women have faced for years. British research shows that men are hitting mid life crisis in their mid twenties as they struggle with the expectation that they can have it all. Whatever happened to the easy going bloke? A newspaper report said "The challenges of modern living, including career issues, time pressure and financing de-sirable but costly lifestyles are combining to burden 25-44 year old men as never before." It seems that body image is also looming for men in the same way it has for women. Men's health magazine titles scream "Get a summer body! Your six pack starts here" and men are feeling the pressure. We are being sold a view of life which is unrealistic and incapable of delivering peace and joy. Do you seriously think that increased wealth and a six pack will fill up the hole in your life? Jesus said He had come to give us life and life to the full. Now that's a promise worth pursuing!

There is hope... You can turn back to God,

because He has not turned His back on you.

You can hold on to God,

because He has not released His hold on you.

You can love God again,

because He has never stopped loving you. I have formed you, you are My servant; O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me! I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, And like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you. Isaiah 44:21-22

Pampered Child Syndrome

Maggie Mamen, a Canadian clinical psychologist, has released a book to encourage all parents. It’s called "The Pampered Child Syndrome." For Mamen the problem with most kids is that they don’t understand the idea of bound-aries and get a warped view of life. When parents say they want their children to be happy and comfortable the spoilt kid thinks they should always be happy and comfortable. The spoilt child ends up with the attitude that when they experience loss or failure, feel upset or disappointed that someone should make them feel better. Mamen is seeking to help parents understand that failing to give your children firm and loving boundaries just pro-duces spoilt and pampered kids who grow up with all the wrong expectations of life. In some ways all of us are like children. We all need clear boundaries within which we should act and behave, and to know that we are loved. I believe that God gives us both of these. God's boundaries are not there to ruin our lives

SHARE A PRAYER

Check out our website

www.northlakessalvos.com.au

Every Sunday we have a prayer meeting 45 minutes before Church.

This is a wonderful opportunity to pray for the Sunday Celebration Service and also any urgent prayer needs.

For Our Church Family at

Northlakes

Pray Sale of house and wisdom for the

future.

Ryan—surgery

HSC Students exams, pray for

calm and trust in the Lord.

Year 10 students for trial exams.

For Emily Dunn as she travels to

Vietnam for Uni work.

Pray for our church family who

are overseas, for their safety.

Pray the message of the Lord will

strengthen our hearts.

Praise Healthy baby news for Ellen

Chris and boys new home.

New job for Peter

Northlakes Salvation Army

For the Salvo’s

Spiritual Life Development, THQ—Majors Peter & Kerrie Farthing, major Dr Alan Harley and Major Lynn Whittaker

Springwood Corps, NSW—Majors David & Catherine Rogerson

St Marys Corps, NSW—Majors Tony & Yan De Tommasco

Stafford Corps, QLD—Majors David & Beverley McMurray

Still Waters, QLD—Captains Andrew & Paula Hambleton and Team

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HAPPY

BIRTHDAY

Any information regardingAny information regardingAny information regarding the newsletter / the newsletter / the newsletter /

wanting to place an add..wanting to place an add..wanting to place an add.. Contact Fiona StigContact Fiona StigContact Fiona Stig 0423 033 318 or 0423 033 318 or 0423 033 318 or

fiona.stig@spcc.nsw.edu.aufiona.stig@spcc.nsw.edu.aufiona.stig@spcc.nsw.edu.au

Nothing tends more to cement the hearts of Christians

than praying together. Never do they love one another so

well as when they witness the outpouring of each other’s

hearts in prayer Charles Finney