“If you will be a realist, ask yourself as you walk down the street how many horrible things in one hour do you meet? Let these things later come back into your prayer time. You realize that there is always something you can do about them when you get near God, and begin to think His thoughts after him. These things which frighten you do not frighten God.” – Muriel Lester

Flocking together
Sunday, 13 April, John 10:1-10
I am convinced that the flock that Jesus so lovingly describes in the Gospel of John is the same flock that is divided today. There is no other true church behind, above or inside the legion of Christian communities scattered across the earth.  The Good Shepherd calls on Christians of all stripes to follow him, not out of fear of bandits or from frustration with hirelings, but out of love.
http://www.christiancentury.org/article.lasso?id=2611

Sydney Event: Tom Sine - renowned author, theologian and futurist
TEAR, The Evangelical Alliance, and the Anabaptist Association of Australia and New Zealand invite you to hear renowned author, theologian and futurist, Tom Sine at Trinity Chapel, Macquarie University (136 Herring Rd North Ryde) at 7.30pm on Monday 21st April.  Tom’s new book, The New Conspirators: Creating the Future One Mustard Seed at a Time, describes a new generation of innovators, all imagining new ways, in these uncertain times, to give creative expression to that new world that Jesus told us is already here. These new conspirators are not only creating new models but they are also raising important questions about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus, be the church and do mission that need to be discussed by the entire church.  Come and be inspired to be a difference and make a difference that reflects something of God’s kingdom. Cost $10, Students and unwaged $5.  RSVP to John McKinnon: nsw@tear.org.au

One World ready or Not! -Tom and Christine Sine Event
Melbourne, Friday 11 April / Sydney, Friday 17 April
http://www.evangelicalalliance.org.au/Default.aspx

Living the Resurrection
As we live beyond Easter it is worth remembering that each of the central days of that festival has particular themes that we could reflect on as a way of shaping our lives as disciples…To walk in the resurrection is to walk in the path of the Resurrected Crucified Jesus. The one who was resurrected is the same Jesus who healed the sick, who affirmed the value of those caste out from society, who partied with those of dubious reputation, who challenged the religiously comfortable and confronted the Roman Empire with a non-violent witness to God as the true ruler. The Jesus who was resurrected, in whose resurrection we are called to walk, is the Jesus who suffered capital punishment at the hands of the Roman Empire. Walking in the resurrection is to live as those for whom violence and injustice do not have the last word…
http://doug-subversivevoices.blogspot.com/2008/04/living-resurrection.html

[Please continue to pray for the people of Zimbabwe.]
Mugabe can save himself by stepping down, says Tutu
Johannesburg (ENI). South African churches have urged President Thabo Mbeki to work vigorously to get Zimbabwe to release full election results without delay, while Nobel Peace Prize laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu says Robert Mugabe can still redeem himself by stepping down as president. "The delayed release of the results creates unnecessary tension and insecurity for millions of voters and may undermine their faith in democratic processes," the South African Council of Churches said in a statement released on 8 April.

Contrasting narratives of the Iraq war
Americans and Iraqis tell two different stories about the war in Iraq. Most Iraqis say that the US-led invasion and occupation have fuelled violence. The dominant American story is that US forces are curbing sectarian violence and making things better in Iraq. This gap in perception severely undermines public diplomacy efforts throughout the Muslim world, necessitating a much greater effort toward understanding the Iraqi point of view.
http://www.commongroundnews.org/article.php?id=22926&lan=en&sid=1&sp=0&isNew=1

Deeply Rooted in God
Trees that grow tall have deep roots. Great height without great depth is dangerous. The great leaders of this world - like St. Francis, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King, Jr., - were all people who could live with public notoriety, influence, and power in a humble way because of their deep spiritual rootedness.  Without deep roots we easily let others determine who we are. But as we cling to our popularity, we may lose our true sense of self. Our clinging to the opinion of others reveals how superficial we are. We have little to stand on. We have to be kept alive by adulation and praise. Those who are deeply rooted in the love of God can enjoy human praise without being attached to it.
http://www.henrinouwen.org/

Anabaptist Story:. When I Learned What It Means to be a Peace Chief
Lawrence Hart is a Cheyenne peace chief who has wrestled with how to forgive the murder and massacre of his ancestors. Does forgiving mean forgetting?
http://thirdway.com/peace/?Page=2029|When+I+Learned+What+It+Means+to+be+a+Peace+Chief

John 10: 1-10
Jesus said: “What I am telling you is the dead-set truth: anyone who gets into the dairy yard by climbing over the back fence instead of walking in through the front gate is obviously up to no good. Call the cops! The farmer who looks after the herd uses the gate. The security guard will always open the gate and let him through, and the cows will recognise his voice as he approaches. His own cows will come to him when he calls their names. He can lead them out just by calling them and walking ahead, and they will follow him, because his voice is familiar to them. They will not follow a stranger. They will back off and not let him near, because they do not recognise the unfamiliar voice.”
Jesus used this image to illustrate his point, but the people listening still could not make head nor tail of it. So Jesus tried another angle:
 “I kid you not when I say; I am the gate for the herd. Those who were here before are a pack of crooks, but the herd didn’t trust them for a minute. I am the gate, and all will be well for whoever enters through this gate. They will be able to come and go as required to graze the wide open paddocks. The crook only comes to steal and kill and destroy. I came so that everyone can have life — life that exceeds all their expectations.”
©2002 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net