Jono Miller

AFTER CAMP BLUES

Sometimes being involved in “doing God’s work” so beautifully brings us to a place of relying totally on Him; that when it’s all over, and we come back home, we discover a big let-down. At camp we try to keep the big goal in mind. We love and support, we encourage and lift up, we self-sacrifice and work hard, we have a cheerful attitude, we pray, we enjoy mutual spiritual encouragement.

WHAT'S A BIBLE?

Ruth asked all the kids to go and get their Bibles and come back ready for devotions.

One of the boys asked, "What's a Bible?"

Ruth replied that if they don't have one she'd give one to them.

This little boy wanted to know if perhaps he did have what was needed.

"What's it like, is it some kind of torch?"

Another child tried to help out. "It's the book that Christians read."

To which the boy replied, "What's a Christian?"

Two things stand out to me from that conversation.

We live in a post Christian society. We cannot assume that people know about God and His ways.

Psalm 119:105 says that God's Word is like a torch to light our way.

Our society will continue to flounder in darkness if we are not luminated by God's truth.

A PLETHORA OF THOUGHTS

What will 2012 hold for me? For you? What does God want for me? How should I live in this world? Where should I live in this world? What is the greatest need? What should a Christian look like to those on the outside? What about poverty? What about corruption? What about war? What about greed? What is my responsibility to the earth’s ecology? What does God think about climate change? Why do people work so hard to get so much money to spend it on a place to live? How should I earn my money?

LOOK BOTH WAYS

‎Thankfulness and Anticipation

I want to look back on 2011 with thankfulness. Try it. Try listing all the things you can be thankful for last year.

I thank God for a place to live, a car, a job, a wonderful school of staff and students, a church family, my family in various parts of the world, visiting and visits from friends, rugby, Gollans, Weldons, Turners, Kids Club, coffee, Skype, NZ, Ukraine, Australia, mountains, Millers, Pirinis, van Ballegooys, Walkers, Kirkegards, Bryants, Watkins, Facebook, cricket, health, table-tennis, good food, and there is so much more I could add. I notice how richly God has blessed me with good people in my life. Thank you to everyone reading this who has been a part of my life this year. That’s looking back.

“LOOK AT ALL THE PRESENTS UNDERNEATH THE TREE . . . “

What do you want for Christmas?

Today Jeff talked to the kids at our annual carols in the park (in the church) event. The number one thing most kids were looking forward to about Christmas is presents.

I have never ever believed in Santa Claus. In our family we didn’t hang out a stocking because it was not right to ask or expect a present. Now as an adult I downplay presents. You probably know that. You probably don’t get anything from me.

“It was granted to me to carry away from my prison years on my bent back, which nearly broke beneath its load, this essential experience: how a human being becomes evil and how good.

In the intoxication of youthful successes I had felt myself to be infallible, and I was therefore cruel.

In the surfeit of power I was a murderer and an oppressor.

In my most evil moments I was convinced that I was doing good, and I was well supplied with systematic arguments.

It was only when I lay there on rotting prison straw that I sensed within myself the first stirrings of good.

Gradually it was disclosed to me that the line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between classes, nor between political parties either—but right through every human heart—and through all human hearts. . . .

IF YOU BREAK THE LAW, YOU BREAK THE LAW

It’s not very often that I get mail. The other day I was surprised to get a letter from the NSW government. I had been driving 81 kms/hr in a 70 zone and consequently was being requested the pleasure of contributing $93 to the State’s coffers. I regularly go to pains to obey the speed limit. I often set my cruise control to make sure I don’t speed. Other cars regularly pass me even though I am doing the speed limit. But this time I had gone too fast, been photographed, and must now pay. I want to say, what about the other people who drive faster than me? What about all the times I get it right?