A DAY AT THE TOPS

Today, we joined our MOBC friends at The Tops (www.thetops.com.au) for a great time of church camp getaway.

The venue is lovely. Well equipped for all conferencing needs and very homely too.

It was a weekend getaway but we only managed to do the Saturday. Around 100 MOBC Getawayers spent time together fellowshipping and having fun in Jesus' name.

Rev.Simon Arkapaw, Senior Minister of Wentworthville and Carlingford Presbyterian Churches, was our speaker. (www.wentworthville.org.au/minister.html) Simon is our asst.pastor Matthew's brother. 

Well prepared and Spirit-led, pastor Simon challenged the MOBC faithful to live in and by the Spirit as opposed to living by the law - in other words, living a legalistic Christian life. 

I liked his emphasis on the fruit, and not fruits, of the Spirit found in the New Testament book of Galatians chapter 5, verses 22 & 23 " But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."

According to the teaching of the Bible, the Holy Spirit can bear these qualities in us even though we may not naturally have them. We may be naturally unkind, but God can give us a change of heart and make us kind. 

One thing I noticed - people who have set themselves aside to the service of the Church are highly dedicated people, driven by the love of Christ and dedicated to the teaching of the Word of God in an increasingly hostile society filled with God-haters. Because they are also people like us not without human weaknesses and struggles, they need all the support we can give them as they continue to serve God and the church. I thank God for the Arkapaw brothers for giving their full-time service to the church.

The Tops has everything campers need in the 21st Century, including USB charge points.

The kids had fun. Not even the rain could stop them from going into the swimming pool!