Almost without fail, at this time of year, fireworks become a part of my life... and I have noticed a distinct increase in large fireworks displays in this 20th Century.  Rugby World Cup, A&P Showgrounds, Millenium celebrations - all very spectacular!  However, I can't help but think that the small boxes of fireworks with the family in the back yard are the best kind of all. I guess that comes from my childhood where I remember us all gathering around and Dad letting off the little box of rockets, and us kids having sparkler sword fights late into the night.  

I reckon there are a couple of things about backyard fireworks that can encourage us today:

1. It's intimate and interactive.
Everyone can play some part and we all laugh together when the bottle accidentally tips over and the rocket whizzes around and hits dad on the backside. It's a bit like that for us as a church. There is something great about being able to know one another and to share in fellowship and friendship as we seek to be "living faith from the inside out" - even when things don't go exactly as planned.

2. We all have a backyard.
One thing I like to do is invite neighbours around when we let off fireworks - I got that from my childhood too! Putting that into our church context: it's nice that we can gather together as a church and share fellowship and friendship in faith, but it's also great that we don't just have one meeting place - we all have a metaphorical back yard. We all have the opportunity to engage with and get to know our neighbours. In the end this can be one of the best and most natural ways for us to share our faith - through hospitality and just sharing life with the people around us.

I hope you enjoy the fireworks this year!

Blessings,
Pastor David Auty

OK, I know it reads a little like a newspaper headline, but believe it or not
it's true. Don't get me wrong, I loved being at the final and sharing in the joy of winning our first Rugby World Cup in 24 years, but now...well, it's over. It's time to move on and there is so much good that we can move on to.
 
As a church we have a mission statement. Do you remember what it is? "HBC exists to: Honour God; Build the Kingdom of God; Connect with our
community."

We also have a brand new vision statement. How does it go again?  "Living faith from the inside out"

As the hype of Richie's boys and the Webb Ellis Cup starts to die down, it's important for us as a church to remember what we're all about. These two statements above give us a glimpse of that. We're about life and faith; we're about people in relationship with God; we're about love and hope.  No matter how excited we might get (and I get a little more excited than most) about Rugby, the plain truth is that there is nothing more exciting than having a living, breathing, deep and meaningful relationship with the creator of the Universe.

So this week as you "bask" in the glow of being Rugby World Cup champions, let's take time to remember the REALLY important things of life, and our life as a community of faith...and let's keep moving together towards being more and more what God wants us to be.

For the glory of God!

Arohanui,
Pastor David Auty

Hope is an interesting word. We use it for all sort of things:
 • I hope the weather stays clear so my washing can dry.
 • I hope that shop is still open.
 • I hope to see my friends during the holidays
 • WE hope the All Blacks win the Webb Ellis trophy this weekend!

Of course this is a legitimate way of using the word "hope". It conveys a sense of longing or desire, but cannot be quite sure of the outcome - basically we "hope for the best"...more akin to "wishful thinking" than "confident assurance".

The English translations of the Bible use the word hope in this way too. However, there are other uses of the word, and one in particular that we need to get our heads around. It is the "hope" that we have in Christ.

Romans 5:3-5 (NLT) "We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love."

This is not a passive hope that "wishes for the best". This hope is confident and sure. This hope is found in the very nature and character of God and is the result of Him transforming us - this is the hope of salvation!

2 Corinthians 3:12 "Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold."

Sometimes we may forget the hope that we have in Christ and think that it is more akin to the "wishful thinking" of predicting the outcome of a Rugby game. But our hope in Christ is far more than that. It is dependable and reliable, and for this reason we can be bold - bold in our confidence, and bold in our witness for Jesus.

Let me encourage you today: Hope beyond hope. Have a hope in your salvation that will make you bold and confident - a hope that comes from a transformed life.

Blessings
Pastor David Auty

I have been enjoying the Rugby World Cup immensely! I know that's not news to many of you, but it is true. What's more I know that many of you have been enjoying it too (apart from last weekend for our English and South African friends sadly). The reality with knock-out Rugby is just that - only one team can win! This weekend will provide another couple of nail biters before the big final in just over a weeks time. Actually, that's what makes it so exciting isn't it? The thrill of the win and the agony of losing is all part of what makes us human and motivates us to get up and do it all again.

How about the huge number of injuries that have impacted many of the teams - particularly those going into the knock-out rounds. Should it really be any surprise? It seems obvious to me that when you get 100+kg men to barge into one another at huge speed, then something is going to give; or when you get a player to do the same motion over-and-over again (like kicking) then the odd strain is inevitable. Add to that the bodies remarkable way of forcing you to slow down in response to stress and it seems quite normal. Even I was knocked out of rugby through injury and that injury still affects me a little today (I have a couple of "Ritchie McCaw" screws in my right foot - I bet you didn't know that!).

So what is the best thing for a Rugby player to do when they're down because of injury?  Rest, recuperate, take stock of your life and make positive decisions for the future - even if that won't include another World Cup or winning the Webb Ellis Trophy.

When it comes to our spiritual lives it is no different. Sometimes we do get "taken out of the game" for a period of time. Sometimes we sustain emotional or spiritual "injury". Sometimes we feel like we can't go on and it's all happening around us with no need for us at all. If you feel that way then take courage from a saying that a Pastor friend of mine often says: "If you take a leap of faith and you fall flat on your face, then that's a great place to worship". The Christian life can be hard, it can be painful at times and it can raise a whole lot of questions for us. Instead of letting it take you completely out of "the game", use it as an opportunity to rest; to recuperate; to take stock of your life and to make positive decisions for the future!

Arohanui,
Pastor David Auty

What do you think of when you see a rainbow? I think that they are one of the most beautiful things in the world. They're beautiful for a bunch of reasons too:
- the full spectrum of colour that they show off
- their wonderful elliptical curve
- the way they can offset a landscape vista.
- their ability to cut in and out of clouds
- that they often come in pairs
- the pot of gold at the end (has anyone found that yet?)

But the most stunning thing about rainbows for me is the dynamic nature of their existence. No two rainbows are alike...but even more amazingly, no two people can see the very same rainbow. This happens because of the way that light refracts through a raindrop making everyone, even two people standing side-by-side, see something slightly different.

It occurs to me that sometimes having a relationship with God can be a little bit like seeing a rainbow. Sometimes our spiritual lives can feel like nothing more than rain - overcast and gloomy! Then, out of no-where it seems, we catch a glimpse of a rainbow and it is wonderful. We see the hope and glory of God that fills our hearts with joy. At these times it can be hard to understand why everyone else can't see exactly what we see, why everyone else doesn't experience God in the same way that we have. The encouraging thing is that we can all see the rainbow, but some of us experience it in different ways.

God is not trying to hide from us, but he does come to us in different ways. He does engage with us in a dynamic and personal way that not everyone will understand. Let's take encouragement from the rainbow...no wonder God used this as a picture of hope and promise to Noah all those years ago.  Find your way to see the rainbow and keep pointing it out to others even if they can't see exactly what you can see.

Pastor David Auty

As if the RWC wasn't enough excitement for our Rugby mad nation, now we have the NZ Warriors competing on Sunday night in the NRL Grand Final! It's a bit of a miracle that the Warriors are in the Grand Final at all really. But they do have a habit of playing patches of brilliance during the competition and the last couple of weeks they have displayed that brilliance against some of the best teams to overcome huge odds and have a shot at the ultimate prize. As Kiwi's we love the underdog, and there's nothing better than a Kiwi underdog taking on the giants.

In life you could say that we are all underdogs. We are surrounded by obstacles that threaten to trip us up; we live with the constant reminder of the barrier that sin has put between people and God; we struggle to overcome our own temptations and to "master" our own sinful nature; we have an enemy that wants to see us fail.  However, unlike the Warriors, we have a certainty in the outcome. We know that Jesus has won the victory over sin and death, and we can live with confidence in that knowledge.

When you're feeling like a bit of an underdog; when you're struggling with the challenges and temptations of life, remember this truth found in Romans 6:6 "We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin".

Isn't that amazing! We are free, we are forgiven, we are able to have access to God through his grace even though we don't deserve it. God takes us as the underdog and let's us win the glorious prize of eternity with him. Now that's a real prize - far better than the NRL Grand Final, or the Webb Ellis Trophy. Let's rejoice, as Jesus reminds us in Luke 10:20, that our names are written in heaven.

Blessings
Pastor David Auty

Todays Self Denial appeal topic is "Partnering for the Harvest". I think that this is a helpful topic for us to look at as we seek to express our desire for local and global mission as a church. Partnering, however, is not restricted to our mission endeavors. In many ways partnering is really an intrinsic part of our normal day-to-day lives. We form a partnership whenever we buy or sell something; whenever we strike up a friendship; even when we enter into a romantic relationship. So what makes it partnership? The understanding that we are relating to one another with something in common - it's the common goal or direction that defines partnership.

Sometimes we'll use different words to describe it: relationships; networking; public relations; sponsorship; unity; even LOVE...but it's all based on a set of agreed outcomes or values that hold us together.

Partnership is the idea that was behind the recommendation that the Elders made at the AGM about changing the words "Member's pledge" to "Member's agreement" in our constitution. Such a change acknowledges that it's not just the individual making a commitment to a set of statements, but all members collectively agreeing to those statements. It takes membership away from being an individual commitment to the Church, to being something that we agree to do together. It is possible for one person to make a pledge, but you need everyone to make an agreement.

Actually, I'm not so concerned about the words, but I am committed to the concept of partnership. Whether we call it "Membership" or "Partnership"; whether we make a "pledge" or an "agreement" - it can all get a bit semantic at the end of the day. However, it is important that we understand that we are a "community of faith" and that together we are building the Kingdom of God. The exciting part is that we not only partner with each another, we also partner with other Christians all over the world; and ultimately with God.

Now that's what I call partnership!

Blessings
Pastor David Auty

As I write this the American "Eagles" are preparing to take on the Russian "Bears" in a Rugby game that is being dubbed the "Cold War clash". Apparently 25,000 people are going to pack out Stadium Taranaki for this game - I guess we'll see if the rain keeps them away or not. But does this all seem a little strange to anyone? It seems strange to me...just think about it for a moment...it really is strange right?!

OK, I'll put it into perspective for you. Russia is very new to the game of Rugby, particularly on the world scene, and with this as their first World Cup you'd have to say that 19th ranking is fair enough (at least they're ahead of Namibia!). America on the other hand have played Rugby for a long time, but frankly they're not very good, as their 18th place world ranking confirms. So why are so many people from "the 'Naki" so excited about THIS game? Perhaps it really does have something to do with "Miss Russia" going to the game - but I won't go there.

Seriously though, it is an odd phenomena and it's exciting to see how committed and enthusiastic we can get about Rugby - even when it's two minnows of the game playing each other.

The truth is: Enthusiasm is contagious! This is an important thing for us to recognize as a Church. This week we start Tranzsend's "Self Denial" appeal and it would be easy to say, "we've done the 'self denial' thing before", or "things are tight at home and there's nothing we can give up". In some circumstances these comments may be valid, but for the vast majority of us, if we're honest, there are surpluses in our lives - things which if we wanted to deny ourselves of, for the sake of "sowing the seeds of love" in our community and beyond, we would/could/should.

This week as we continue to enjoy the festival that is RWC 2011, show the same kind of enthusiasm for the building of the Kingdom of God, because building his Kingdom is greater than any sports event ever! Do we really believe it?!

Blessings,
Pastor David Auty

In case you hadn't worked it out already - I love rugby!  I'm sure that throughout the tri-nations and regular rugby season it became obvious to you.  Not to mention the eight Rugby World Cup matches I will be attending over the next 7 weeks.  So the question occurs to me: why do I love rugby so much?

I guess I was a typical Kiwi boy growing up.  My dad was a rugby fan and was elated when I started playing rugby for a club at around eight years old.  Prior to that my mum had convinced dad that I should play soccer ("poor thing might get hurt"), but dad never got into that the same as when I played rugby.  I played as Prop for the Massey Rugby Football Union's JB teams (along with ex-All Blacks Troy Flavell and Ron Cribb). Dad would come and keep my aftermatch jersey warm under his jacket.  We would have pies & chips after the game, which was free if you won "Player of the day" (that only happened once...doh!). Rugby was a special part of my formative years.

Then a decisive moment happened.  For me, like many others, the 1987 All Blacks winning the first Rugby World Cup was a turning point.  It was so exciting and in many ways cemented my love for rugby forever.  JK, Michael Jones, David Kirk...they became legends in my eyes and by the time I was in my late teens I suppose I'd become a little obsessed with the game - and the All Blacks in particular.  If you doubt it then one day ask me for a look at my collection of 1995 All Black world cup player cards with signatures from every player, and the stories about chasing the team around (I think they call that stalking these days..hehe).  Had we won that Cup I was planning on making a fortune out of that series of cards (sigh). Alas, it never happened. Then there were the Ranfurly Shield matches that I traipsed around the country attending. I will never forget Bull Allen and the Taranaki boys dashing North Harbour's Shield hopes, and mine, the last time Taranaki held the shield about 15 years ago.  Now I'm here in Taranaki I have a whole new perspective on Taranaki holding the Shield - go you good thing!

For the past 15 years or so the rugby cards have sat in a box and my obsession has subsided somewhat. I still watch some games, but only having "poor mans TV" has limited that somewhat.  I guess I've grown up and had time to put rugby in a more proper place in my life. In an interesting way, my rugby journey has parallels with my Christian journey, so this week I will be preaching on "Why I love Jesus more than rugby" - should be good.

Blessings to all...and "enjoy the games"!
Pastor David Auty

I could have sworn that a couple of weeks ago we had snow here in Hawera!  This morning my eldest daughter Hannah came into my room and declared, "Daddy it's spring today - it's the 1st of September, that means it's spring". She was so right because as I look out my window now the sun is streaming in and there is a definite "springy-ness" in the air. I guess that means that pretty soon I'll have to think about mowing the lawns again (sigh).

Isn't it amazing how seasons change, and how quickly it happens. I have no doubt you've heard every cliche under the sun about life and seasons, but it's actually quite important that we remember these things.  Sometimes in life we feel that nothing is going right, everything is upside down or on top of us. Other times we feel "on top of the world" and able to conquer any challenge. Often we're somewhere in between.

Whatever season we may be in; whatever challenges we may face, we must learn to worship God through it all. Yes it can be difficult, and we may not always "feel" particularly effective, but we are sons and daughters of the Almighty God. With our identity found in HIm we start to find Him in the strangest places - and that's where we should bow our heads and worship God.

Blessings
Pastor David Auty