Migrants to Australia arrive with hopes and dreams; they aspire to a better life for themselves and their families. But the reality can be challenging, a new language and culture to learn and understand, different seasons and weather patterns, and unfamiliar infrastructure and processes. The vision of a new life full of opportunities can be tarnished by the reality of living in a new and unfamiliar country. The members of the early church had joined the movement because they had seen or heard something in Jesus’ ministry and message that they found attractive. The promises of mercy and abundant life, and an alternative kingdom, and the inclusion of the poor and marginalized, attracted many people. But it was not always easy being part of this fledgling movement, all of life’s problems were not instantly resolved, there were pressures from authorities outside the church and conflicts within. Some expected Jesus to return and the kingdom to be realised soon, but time stretched on, and he did not return. Paul, an important leader in the early church visited and wrote letters to encourage the people, he challenged them to remember why they had joined the movement in the first place, to remember why they came to believe in Jesus as Saviour, and how they experienced their new life. In our own time we can become disheartened about the decline of the church, or have times of doubt, we too are challenged to remember and celebrate our own transformation and experience of abundant life, through our faith in Christ Jesus. (fb)

Reminiscent of a scene from an apocalyptic movie, the psalmist describes a city in ruins, its leaders’ bodies left for the birds and wild animals to pick over. It is a grim image, sadly an image we see on the evening news of cities bombarded by invading armies, or the aftermath of earthquakes, floods and bushfires. A lone figure, surrounded by rubble, unsure about their safety and future, is a powerful image. It is a metaphor for how life can feel sometimes, when anxiety and fear threaten to overwhelm; when the pain of grief, change or illness become too much, we can feel alone and hopeless. The character in the psalm looks around them, unsure what to do next, and then cries out to God. Why has this happened, why is God angry, where can we turn, what will happen next? The poet asks God for forgiveness and calls for God’s compassion to flow. The prayerful cry is for help and salvation. A glimmer of hope enters the heart of the survivor; God will not abandon me or my people. Our history and traditions tell of God’s presence, provision and protection in times of hardship, in times of uncertainty and when the people of God cry out for help. (fb)