Trying out new blog platforms

I have just seen one of my kids go through his first year of school.  In the first week of school he received an award for meeting the expectations of the school. We used a magnetic clip to hold that award onto the fridge, every time he went to the fridge, there was a reminder of the thrill of receiving a reward. By the end of the year, that clip was so heavy with awards received that it would fall off the fridge at random times (often when we were asleep).  Walk into an athletes home and you will find trophies, photos and momentos from past victories. These objects evoke memories of the past that inspire hope for the future.  Using something common as a reminder of the extraordinary is nothing new. Throughout the bible, both God, and his chosen nation used everything from songs to holy days to remember the wonderful things God had done for them.  After 40 years of wandering the desert, waiting to enter the land God had promised to them, God's chosen people (Israel) wer

Many sermons (or TED talks, motivational speeches, etc) use dot points. These are great at equipping ourselves to grow as people and move forward in our lives, but without a reference point, you could be moving anywhere.  This is Point Zero, the reference point for all the other points you hear. Let's go straight to scripture: ‘Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?’  Jesus replied: ‘ “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: “Love your neighbour as yourself.”  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.’ Matt. 22:36‭-‬40 NIVUK Every dot point that came before Jesus (all the law and the prophets), was covered by  0. Love God Even the second, Love each other, is a natural consequence of Point Zero. So then, what is love? Every person has a different idea of what love means for them. This meaning has been shaped by our