This month is my penultimate communication with you all in this manner so I am going to put before you a matter that I have pondered for quite some time.

 I continue to be perturbed when I learn that pastors or prospective pastors put up a number of conditions around where they are prepared to go, what sort of church they are wanting to serve within as their next or first pastoral appointment, and what sort of money they want.  I hear things such as “don’t want to move out of Auckland ......, need to be near ageing parents...., must have good school for children....., my spouse must be able to work in their vocation.....,” etc etc.  I wonder if we may be limiting our whole faith walk as followers of Jesus when we do this as it seems contrary to His example and approach to life.

 When I read bits of Jesus’ biography as found in the Gospels that say such things as “...the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head” .... “If anyone wishes to come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” .... “Anyone who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God” .... “take nothing for the journey, no staff, no bag, no food, no money, not even a second coat”.... then I have to ask of myself how protective, self serving, and self fulfilling am I being, and thereby countering what I am called to be, both in word and deed, as a servant-shepherd of God’s people?

 I have found and am still finding there is much freedom in being totally obedient to the promptings of Holy Spirit in regard to all of life and particularly the big issues such as family mentioned above. I know I have a relatively simple approach to life and faith but at essence I believe that if I try and keep controls to myself then if things stuff up it is my responsibility and that becomes a load too big to carry. Whereas if I am seeking to be obedient and leave to Heavenly Father the outcome of details such as provision for the best for my family then locality and such things do not matter, and even if there are some disappointments and difficulties the ultimate outcome is not my responsibility but God’s.

 And furthermore the opportunities and blessings that have been our experience along the way have far exceeded anything we might have dreamed of for ourselves.

We ourselves must be careful to exhibit faith in every area of our own lives when we are preaching and exhorting others to walk the journey according to the manner we discern from Scripture.

I pray your Easter experience will be one of challenge, joy and celebration. I know many people have put in tons of thinking and energy into providing all sorts of programs and experience for people within and without the local church. We are doing something of this ilk for the first time in Waihi so learning how much is involved. May there be much fruit and blessing from the prayer and effort.