Supporting Chaplains in Schools

Posted on February 23, 2013 by Neil Stott

I received this short article which I reproduce in full. We have two great Chaplains in our church and their work is invaluable. Hopefully this article will help reinforce the message of “Save Our Chaplains”.

Friend,
Last year, countless thousands of friends like you helped ‘Save Our Chaplains’ after the High Court ruled the existing model of Federal funding was obsolete. Because of your voice, politicians on both sides resolved to find a new way to fund this great program – and they did!

Today, I want you to know why we saved our chaplains.
Can you imagine what it’s like for a 6-year old to watch their home disappear under a torrent of water? To see their toys, their clothes, their bedroom and their books buried in mud and sludge? When the floodwaters rose in Rockhampton, Maryborough, Ipswich, Gympie, the Lockyer Valley and – even more devastatingly – in Bundaberg, that horrible thought became a reality for thousands of Queensland families.

A huge number of aid organisations and community groups have pitched in for those families most affected, and of course we’ve done what we can to help, with a $50,000 relief package aimed at providing books, school supplies, shoes and uniforms to children who lost everything at the start of the school year. So far we have been able to help hundreds of families send their children back to school with the essentials they need.
But the greatest strength of school chaplaincy is found in the long road to recovery. Chappies are connected to their community. They know the needs because they experience them right alongside the families they serve. I am so grateful that, thanks to you, many of these young people will have a caring, compassionate person in their school who they can trust, who can listen to their fears and their heartaches and let them know they are not alone.

In fact, right now we’re looking for ways to increase the number of days we can employ chaplains in each of those flood-affected schools. It’s so important that families’ material needs are met, as well as offering a chance for children to be heard and supported. I’m grateful that so many schools have welcomed a chaplain into their community.
That is why we saved our chaplains. That is why your support matters, and why you can be proud of what we achieved together. We saved our chaplains for a purpose – to be a source of compassion and strength to children, their families, and their community when they need it the most.
Thank you!

Peter James
CEO, SU QLD

http://saveourchaplains.com.au/

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The Challenge of Attitude 1: Arrogance

Posted on November 24, 2012 by Neil Stott

Real Men Challenge is just that … a challenge. The best learned challenges are the hard ones that come out of personal experience. And the lessons for other men are best talked about from personal experience.

So it has been with me … I have learned something about myself in recent times. When tough times come along, that is God’s teacher … as long as we are able ask the question … God what are you trying to teach me?

In my personal experience, a streak of arrogance has now been tempered with a strong dose of humble pie as I faced up to an error that I should have seen but in my arrogance did not see. And in my arrogance, did not ask for the help that was there but of course, like many men, we know what to do and how to do it and don’t like asking for help or advice. Ahh the teachings of tough times.

So what unexpected failure in your life is actually God teaching us a lesson. If you can share your story, write a comment here.

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A Challenge from 3000 years ago

Posted on November 4, 2012 by Neil Stott
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.http://bible.us/Mic6.8.NIV
I was reading this passage in my Daily Readings from YouVersion and it struck a chord with me in terms of the Real Men Challenge. Let’s consider some of the parts:
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
In today’s modern society, the plurality of values, beliefs and directions that pull at a man often gives us all difficulties in how we should live our life. Yet, in this statement, God has quite clearly said:
1. I know what is good
2. I reveal what is good to you
If you have been struggling with life, with relationship, with faith this is a great beginning to getting ourselves on track. God was there in the beginning, He made heaven and Earth. He made ME, YOU, everyone. He knows what is good. He TELLS us what is good.
And what does The Lord require of you?
This is part of the challenge of life. We are accountable to God. We are not an accident of birth. We belong to God, are made by God and been given a purpose by God. We can try and live our lives like God does not exist. We can try and live life that WE are in charge, we rule, we make decisions, but ultimately, we must give an account to God for our life.
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
This a short list, it is not complete in that it doesn’t cover every aspect of our life, but gee … if we lived life this way, how much would our world be a better place.
1. To act justly
Justice is a constant theme in the Bible, both old and new testament. It begins with the concept that God is Just. That God acts Justly and expects his people to act justly. The concept of acting justly also deals with our responses to good and evil in our lives. That despite our desire to strike out, seek revenge, hold grudges … we need to act justly. Perhaps that means surrendering our rights to personal revenge to the authority of the land, the Police and the Courts. It can also mean that when we see injustice  that we take steps to deal with the injustice. Ignoring evil, ignoring injustice makes us as compliceant as those who are doing the wrong acts.
2. To love mercy
Mercy is about power. The power to act or do nothing. To respond or to ignore.  We find people, situations and circumstances in which we have the power  to act then mercy requires us to put aside our personal prejudices, bias and political perspectives and show mercy. 
3. walk humbly with your God
Men, we don’t really do this well. I think of it this way. Men are driven, achievers, task focussed people usually. What that means is that we tend to be a bit selfish (striker out bit and write a lot selfish). To walk humbly with your God strikes at the core of us men who want to be always in control, always striving, always competing. It doesn’t mean we should not try and do our best and be high achievers, but this is about putting ourselves into a right perspective. Remember the bit about being accountable to God, this is the bit about being in right relationship with God. It is also about taking a walk with God. Not running down the road and expecting God to follow. No, it is actually a walk in the park together, just chewing the fat. Walking in relationship in a way that we hear from Him, learn from Him and ultimately obey Him.
Neil Stott
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A strong word on values and evil

Posted on September 20, 2012 by Neil Stott

I was inspired by this from David McCracken’s daily email.

Psalm 12:8 The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honored among men.

I don’t want to be one who sees everything as “evil” – I don’t. But I believe far too much of what is accepted is not pleasing to the Lord. I also believe it is detrimental to us as people who want to honour our wonderful God.

I believe that this verse is a sign of our times. Evil is accepted by the majority. It is packaged “nicely”. It is entertaining. It’s just a movie. It’s just music. It’s just a conversation. It’s not like I would do that. It’s just a bit of fun…but it is still what it is.

Packaging doesn’t change the content of the package.

And the problem is we swallow it hook, line and sinker. It erodes our sense of morality over time. It erodes our sense of covenant commitments. It erodes our sense of right and wrong. The lines are blurred. The goal posts are moved. The bar is lowered…

…all the while we wonder why society is the way that it is.

It’s time for men and women of God to raise the bar. It’s not about condemning everything wrong. It’s not about preaching judgement and condemnation. It’s not about calling others out.

It is however time for us to ask the HOLY Spirit if He is happy with the standards we have. It’s time to apply the standards of the Word of God to every aspect of our lives…including entertainment, because this is often where the wicked freely strut about…it’s also where what is vile is honoured by people.

Let’s honour the Lord today.

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More from the 2012 Men’s conference

Posted on August 15, 2012 by Neil Stott

Keith Craft dropped lots of one liners and short statements that linger on. Here is one:

I am a son of God
I am responsible for how I think, what I be, what I do. As a son of God

  • Go through difficulties in life
  • Grow through difficulties in life
  • Break through difficulties in life

Very profound. Thanks Keith

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