“The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.”

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Jesus’ words in the parable of the sower remind us of the many small things which can call on our attention, diverting our eyes from eternal glory. It’s interesting that the “good” things in life (riches and pleasures) can stop us from maturing, but around exam time I don’t think that riches and pleasures will be our main distraction! Most of us will be bunkering down for the next week or three, trying to cram in thirteen weeks worth of knowledge. Whilst it’s good to work hard, and we ought to be studying diligently in order to learn our various trades, we need to be careful that our study patterns don’t grow thorns. Don’t let them choke your life!

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Since lectures and tutes are over, you may have more time to decide upon your own routine. Why not use the next three weeks to develop a great quiet-time routine alongside your study patterns? Perhaps you could start each day by reading and reflecting on God’s Word, before opening up your textbook?

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On the other hand, if you’re one of those lucky student’s who has no exams, or you finish early, beware the pull and distraction of life’s pleasures. Enjoy your time off and use your holidays – make them a great time of refreshment, and a reminder of God’s great promises in Jesus.

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“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

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photo credit: Tatters:)

I have great privilege of teaching two scripture classed each Tuesday. I just got home from them now. I love scripture. If you’re a Uni Student and have time to take a class I commend it to you highly. (Especially if you’re a teaching student, good GREAT practice!) This week I taught them about the establishment of the Israelite Monarchy from 1 Samuel. As I was prepping for it I came across an oddity. Let me explain.

The Prophet Samuel who has led Israel as God’s spokesman all his life is old and the people are afraid of what will happen after he dies. So they ask for a king. More like demand. They reject God as their rightful king and demand a king like all the other nations have… (1 Sam 8:5)

Surprisingly God gives them one even though they’re rejecting & replacing him.
This struck me as really strange. Why does God do that? Why does God give in to their demands? He gives them all the reasons why they don’t actually want a king (they”ll have to pay taxes, their sons will  have to join the army & work in his fields, their daughters will become his cooks and servants & the whole nation will end up being his slaves). But Israel don’t want to listen and so God gives in. He gives them what they want. WHY?

As I pondered this suddenly the AWEfull truth struck me. As Paul points out (Romans 1:24-28) sometimes when people reject God, he gives them what they want and all the consequences that go with it. In Israel’s case they wanted a human king and all the horrible things that will entail. So God gave them a king. And they had to live with it.

I can’t help but think how it’s just like today. All around our world people reject God and despise him. So God gives them what they want, a life without him. And he’ll continue giving them what they want for all eternity. That’s Hell. Life without God and all the good things he gives.

Father please protect us from sinfully demanding from you things that will harm us.
Father please do not grant our sinful requests.

photo credit: frankblacknoir ]]> http://www.newcastlechristianstudents.org/2010/05/18/we-want-a-king/feed/ 1 http://www.newcastlechristianstudents.org/2010/04/14/the-jesus-alternative-to-modern-democracy-gnw-talk/ http://www.newcastlechristianstudents.org/2010/04/14/the-jesus-alternative-to-modern-democracy-gnw-talk/#comments Tue, 13 Apr 2010 23:04:56 +0000 Sam Broadfoot http://www.newcastlechristianstudents.org/?p=825

Image credit: Rachael Ainsworth

As a child, I lol’ed, rofl’ed and rdrr’d at the ABC program “Good News Week”. The quick wits, sharp punchlines and thinly veiled obscenities were too much for such a tender funny-bone. However, since growing up, I have become disillusioned with the said telecast. The quick wits and sharp punchlines seem to not only orbit around, but all to regularly crash through the sphere of things which attract the response “Did he just say that?!?” It also turns out that the crassness isn’t as thinly veiled as I once thought either… But the biggest problem with “Good News Week” is that it doesn’t deliver on it’s promise: WHERE IS THE GOOD NEWS?

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Well, having read this far you’ll be glad to welcome a breath of fresh air, because the NCS GOOD NEWS WEEK delivers, and delivers BIG-TIME. We won’t be telling people about what’s going on in the celebrity world of relationships or problems with public transport. We will be holding out the WORD OF LIFE! We will be presenting people with the chance to know their Creator; to cross over from Death to Life, and experience the incomparable riches of God’s grace to them in Jesus Christ.

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Find out more, and how you can get involved at the Good News Week page.

photo credit: jmillerdp

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This is exactly what it sounds like.

We ate breakfast and we prayed.

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I thought you might like to hear some of the things that we are praying for and that you might like to pray for them too.

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* The India Gospel League are running Children’s gospel clubs in May this year. They need to train 40,000 teachers in April. Please pray that God will have his hand on this and that many children will come to know Jesus.

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* Good News Week is coming up in week 7. Please pray that God will give us wisdom as we prepare to make lots of noise on campus about Jesus.

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* Thank God that so many came along to our Easter Event and heard about the evidence for the Resurrection (for the notes from the talk click here)

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* Praise God that so many small groups have started. Pray that these groups will be an encouragement to all those involved as the meet around God’s word.

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* Pray that all our members will have a good holiday and come back refreshed and ready for a new term of Uni!

photo credit: sizumaru

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The easiest way to let people know about great up and coming events is by the 5 W’s:

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What: Stalls in the Bar on the Hill – for all the clubs and societies on campus (like NCS!)

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Why: To let students know about NCS (and through this, Jesus!)

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When: Week 4 of Semester (22nd – 26th March)

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Which time: 11am – 2pm, each day of the week

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Whow can I help? We need 2 – 3 volunteers  per day, so if you can help out on any of the days, send Sam an email.
photo credit: Kecko

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You may not know it, but NCS is not the only AFES group at Newcastle Uni…

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Down at the Ourimbah campus there’s another group of students who are seeking to make Jesus known at Uni. They’re known as the Ourimbah Christian Students.

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To my great excitement; I discovered this morning that they’ve just launched a new website! You can check it out here. I plan to keep checking it regularly to know to pray for them.

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OCS are partners with us in the gospel. They’re our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Please keep them in your prayers as the new year gets underway.

We need YOU!

NCS relies entirely upon God – in preaching the gospel, in welcoming and following up new students, in maturing in Christ. There is nothing we do which is not completely in the hands of the LORD Almighty (who we call ‘Dad’), and so we need YOU to be praying daily for His help with NCS; that He will work through our efforts to bring many to know Jesus personally.

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With NCS Big Day Out flying low over the horizon there is much we can joyously petition our Father for:

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So join us in the trenches – devote yourself to prayer because it is GOD who is at work!

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photo credit: The New Idiom

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What a great night!! – it was awesome to see so many new faces and heaps of new people come along to check out NCS. Top food from the chefs, awesome weather from God and uber welcoming all round! Almost a shame it has come and gone, but there is more on the horizon to be excited and prayerful about…

photo credit: JoshuaDavisPhotography.COM

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