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Great is Thy Faithfulness

The most beautiful memory I have of our time at Hope Christian Community Church was after short prayer and worship service after a family fun day outreach. Our Samoan church family led us in singing the hymn Great is Thy Faithfulness. We sang it in gratitude for God’s great grace that day. The words come from Lamentations 3:19-26 ESV - 19 Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! 20 My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. 21 But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: 22 The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” 25 The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. 26 It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. The Unfailing Compassions of God. The Source -the steadfast love of the Lord ...
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Trivialities and immensities

Sometimes we mistake the trivial for the immense.   It wasn’t the rain put him there it was the tree falling on him.  Likewise sometimes we forget the immense in the face of the trivial.   Philippians 4:1-9 ESV - Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. 2 I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 3 Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. 4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds...
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Mistaking the trivial for the immense

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The watchmakers eulogy

St Petrock, Lydford, Devon - The gravestone is inscribed as follows:- Here lies in the horizontal position The outside case of George Routleigh, Watchmaker, Whose abilities in that line were an honour To his profession: Integrity was the main-spring, And prudence the regulator Of all the actions of his life: Humane, generous and liberal, His hand never stopped Till he had relieved distress; So nicely regulated were all his movements That he never went wrong Except when set-a-going By people Who did not know his key; Even then, he was easily Set right again: He had the art of disposing of his time So well That his hours glided away In one continual round Of pleasure and delight, Till an unlucky moment put a period to His existence; He departed this life November 14, 1802 Wound up, in hopes of being taken in hand By his Maker, And of being Thoroughly cleaned, repaired and set-a-going In the World to come.
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Pride and Power by Steven Willing (shortened version)

Every generation produces its version of the holy tyrant. The names change but not the pattern. Even the titles can vary: senior pastor, ruling elder, or influential layman with the loudest voice in the room. What they share is a widening circle of personal authority and the slow accumulation of wreckage that follows them: broken relationships, silenced dissent, fleeing members, shattered congregations.  This pattern should not surprise us. Augustine identified this impulse 16 centuries ago and gave it a name: the  libido dominandi  — the lust to dominate.  In “The City of God” (14:28), Augustine drew the defining contrast between two cities, two loves, two images of self. The earthly city is built on love of self and contempt for God. The heavenly city, on the other hand, is built on love of God and contempt for self. In the earthly city, men are ruled by  libido dominandi . In the heavenly city, by the love of serving. Augustine added a twist t...
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 It has been said that what we are in private is what we really are. C. S. Lewis noted if that if you have rats in your cellar, “You are most likely to see them if you go in very suddenly. But the suddenness does not create the rats: it only prevents them from hiding.” When worrying circumstances disturb our peace they are like the rats in the cellar. When something surprises us such as an unwelcome circumstance, then the problem of worry and anxiety suddenly surfaces. The issue is whether we view the Lord as near or the crisis as near. Here we find one of the ways Christianity is unique among the world’s religions: It claims that Jesus lives inside us by his Spirit and remakes us into his character (Romans 8:29). When he promises peace that is “not as the world gives” (John 14:27), he means that his peace transforms us despite our circumstances. Philippians 4:1-7 ESV Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. [...
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Accreditation questions for ministers

The primary assessment areas and the exact types of questions asked during this panel interview include: 1. Theological Convictions and denominational Distinctives Candidates must explicitly affirm and articulate core doctrines. Believer’s Baptism:  How do you biblically defend believer's baptism over infant baptism? Autonomy & Interdependence:  How do you balance the autonomy of the local church with a commitment to the wider Association  Priesthood of all Believers:  How does this doctrine practically shape your leadership and empowerment of volunteers? Scriptural Authority:  In what ways do you protect the supremacy of Scripture in your preaching and teaching amidst modern cultural pressures?   2. Character, Calling, and Spiritual Formation The committee tests the candidate’s personal spiritual health and emotional resilience. Dis...
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When all is said and done do you know God

Dr. Lewis A. Drummond (1927-2004) stated, “When everything else is over and said and done, only one thing ultimately matters: Do you know God? Can you face eternity with Him?” Lewis A. Drummond, Pulpit Digest, 60 (March -April, 1983)
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With Thee

Psalm 23:4 The nearness of God is my good "Nevertheless I am continually with thee." — Psalms 73:23 "Nevertheless,"-As if, notwithstanding all the foolishness and ignorance which David had just been confessing to God, not one atom the less was it true and certain that David was saved and accepted, and that the blessing of being constantly in God's presence was undoubtedly his. Fully conscious of his own lost estate, and of the deceitfulness and vileness of his nature, yet, by a glorious outburst of faith, he sings "nevertheless I am continually with thee." Believer, you are forced to enter into Asaph's confession and acknowledgment, endeavour in like spirit to say "nevertheless, since I belong to Christ I am continually with God!" By this is meant continually upon his mind, he is always thinking of me for my good. -- C. H. Spurgeon ( excerpt)
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The Lord is Near

Devotional thoughts Thursday, July 30, 2026 Philippians 4 the Lord is near. It has been said that what we are in private is what we really are. C. S. Lewis noted if that if you have rats in your cellar, “You are most likely to see them if you go in very suddenly. But the suddenness does not create the rats: it only prevents them from hiding.” When worrying circumstances disturb our peace they are like the rats in the cellar. When something surprises us such as an unwelcome circumstance, then the problem of worry and anxiety suddenly surfaces. The issue is whether we view the Lord as near or the crisis as nearer. Lorelle and I went to bed. Very soon after there was unmistakable shotgun shots. Two of them. To me it sounded like they were from our front driveway. Very close. I looked out the front windows carefully but couldn’t see anyone. Five cars went past in a close convoy. But still nothing. I expected police but there were none. No strange cars parked 🚗 in t...
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