Home > Online Magazine > Online Magazine: Edition 79 - Autumn (Mar-May) 2024

Online Magazine: Edition 79

Autumn (Mar-May) 2024

Welcome to the Seventy-ninth Edition of the Online Magazine of the Thornleigh Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Articles

Editorial - The Matildas

Welcome to the Autumn edition of our online magazine.

What an amazing journey the Matildas (The Australian Women's National Football Team) have taken us on with the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup Championships being held down under. (Joint hosted by Australia and New Zealand)

By the time our Matildas had made it to the quarter finals (12th August 2023), winning against France, in what seemed to be the longest penalty shootout ever, the whole country had been totally captivated by them and were well in the grip of soccer frenzy.

It seemed that the airwaves were full of little else.
Multiple huge outdoor screens were set up around the cities so that fans could come together to watch the game.
There was an influx of young girls showing interest in soccer clubs.
Even those of us who do not usually care that much about sport had been caught in the wave.
The prime minister was even touting a public holiday if Australia was to win the finals.

We do love a good competition and we love even more to be on the winning side. Unfortunately, the semi-finals saw Australia lose to England and the third-place match was to go in Sweden's favour.

The soccer competition fever has somewhat settled down, however, our lives are an ongoing part of a much more important match, and we can choose to be on the winning side.

In the beginning, the whole universe constituted the kingdom of God, governed by God's character or love. Lucifer, the head angel in the kingdom of God, chose to revolt against the laws of the Kingdom. His behaviour showed traits of selfishness, contradictory to the law of love, and he sought independence from its constraints. Lucifer mounted a takeover campaign for rulership. He, as the new monarch, offering a "better kingdom", with an alternate rule of government that flipped the existing rule of love on its head. His rulership being based on the principles of selfishness rather than love. (Ezekiel 28:13-17, Isaiah 14:12-14)

Lucifer was thrown out of heaven to the earth claiming one third of the angels who had been won over to his alternate values. (Revelation 12:4, 7-9) He now claims that everyone, on earth, who does not live up to the principles of the law of love, belong to him. Our behaviour being evidence of our allegiance to him and of the un-tenability of the law of love. Thus, he currently claims the earth as his kingdom, (2 Corinthians 4:3-4, Matthew 4:8-9, 1 John 5:19) which is now condemned to play out the effects of a self-centred value system and the deadly consequences of life without love.

Ever since, God has been at work to reassert His rightful rule over the earth and to rescue His people. God will re-establish his authority and Satan's authority over the earth will come to an end. (Zechariah 14:9)

The winning goal has already been played in this battle. It is just a matter of collecting the trophy. The gospel is the goal by which God wins.

The gospel is that Jesus came to this earth, lived a life full of love, died at the hands of Satan's alternate values. He then proceeded to conquer death and is in heaven preparing for the final destruction of Satan's authority and the removal of the consequences of his rulership.
This gospel reveals the integrity of God. Through what He did to save us, He selflessly dealt with evil, which is the answer to Lucifer's selfishness. He demonstrated to every sentient being in the universe the tenability and superiority of God's Kingdom rule of love.

In advance of the re-establishment of God's kingdom, our involvement is all about allegiance (Matthew 12:30, Ephesian 1:13-14) We get to choose the winning team after the final goal has been played. We get to share in the victory and claim eternal life.

In this Edition

Torch Relay - Stenoy (Steve) Stephenson

Stenoy, encourages us to successfully run the race of life by focusing our attention on the object of our affection, who is Jesus.

Hurry up, We're Late - Maryellen Hacko (writing for The Signs of The Times magazine)

Maryellen, shares with us the foolishness of activity as a terrible trade-off for intimacy.

Counting all the Blessings God has Given - Annette Stafford

Annette challenges us to find the real beauty in everything around us.

Book Review - The Impossible Mile by Author Johnny Agar

This inspirational story shows what it means to love unconditionally and demonstrates that nothing is impossible were love and inspiration are teamed with care.

Vegetarian and Vegan Recipes - Erica Green

Our recipe column for this edition takes us to the Middle East.

Home > Online Magazine > Online Magazine: Edition 79 - Autumn (Mar-May) 2024