Be Fruitful, Fill The Earth, Subdue It

Genesis 1:27-28 (NIV)
²⁷So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
²⁸God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

Adam and Eve were placed in the Garden of Eden, a place of beauty and peace. They were place there with a mission; to be fruitful and to multiply, to fill the earth and subdue it, that is, to be master over the fish and birds and all the animals.

Adam's children and their children's children were to live under God's rule. They will extend the boundaries of His garden, His Kingdom with kingdom values, to the rest of earth simply by their devotion to Him.

This was God's Original Commission through the first Adam at the time of Genesis and still is today through the last Adam, Jesus in the Great Commission to his disciples.

Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)
¹⁸Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

The Original Commission at the Garden of Eden was never abandoned even after Adam sinned. When sin entered the world, creation has been infected by darkness; manifesting itself as diseases, sickness, poverty, natural disasters, afflicting spirits, demonic influences, etc.

However, in redeeming man at the cross, Jesus retrieved what man (in Adam) had given away. In the process, the Original Commission was fully realized in the resurrection and ascension of Jesus and we, the church as disciples of Christ Jesus, were restored to God's plan as a people made in His image to rule over creation and over darkness.

We do this by preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God, by being fruitful in making disciples of all nations in all the four corners of the earth, subduing it by having the nations replace their earthly values with the Kingdom of God, kingdom values. This is done as prescribed in Matthew 28:19-20.

By fulfilling the Great Commission, we rule over creation but it is now focused on exposing and undoing the works of the evil one.

Matthew 10:7-8 (NIV)
⁷As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.’
⁸Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely
you have received, freely give.

Mt Macedon Memorial Cross - Snow, Foggy and Cold

This posting is last weekend outing, just to do something different from every other weekends and to do it with an overseas friend visiting us. We opted for a day out at Mount Macedon, a small township 64 kilometres northwest of Melbourne. Just about an hour drive.

The Mount Macedon Township was largely established by Melbourne's wealthy elite in the post gold rush era of the mid to late 19th century who used it as a summer retreat.

We've been to this township a year or two ago, but we never did make it to the summit. This time we did.

At the summit of Mount Macedon is a car park and a cafe called the Top of the Range, Tea Rooms and Gallery. About 200 meters from the car park and out of sight from the cafe, is a 21 meter high Memorial Cross which was erected to commemorate Australia’s war fallen. The Memorial Cross is considered to be Victoria’s next significant war memorial after the Shrine of Remembrance. Surrounding it is an extensive native forest of a variety of gum trees which cover the mountain and also surrounds the town.

The view at the cross is said to take in Melbourne city, the Dandenong Ranges, the You Yangs near Geelong, that is, the entire southern plain towards Port Philip Bay. Entry to the Memorial Cross is free.

The day however was not a day for such a view. It was a cold wet foggy wintery day. Nothing of the much talked about view can be seen.

I guess the lesson here is; check the weekend weather forecast before making any plans for the weekend, especially one with the intend of seeing the country landscape, get to a local farmers market, shopping and dining to sample the local produces. Well we did plan to pack the day with activities.

All was not lost however, for we saw our first snow for the year as we were having lunch at the Top of the Range tea room, much to our joy and others at the cafe, especially the children.

For a wet cold snowing and foggy day, it was surprising that the car park was fully parked with a steady stream of people walking to and back from the memorial cross. For more images of the Mt Macedon Memorial Cross, click here.

This video is a short clip showing people enjoying the snow just outside the cafe enterance. On loading this clip onto You Tube, I found that snow has already fallen at Mt Macedon as early as the 24th May.

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Beechworth - Honey and Beer

Beechworth is located in the north-east part of Victoria. It is a well-preserved historical town, a former gold mining town in the mid-1850s, with a history that includes the infamous Ned Kelly.

However for me, Beechworth brings to my mind a 1.5kg tub of Pure Beechworth Honey. Yes, I do like my honey.

Located on the main street of Beechworth is the Beechworth Honey Experience Centre. Beechworth honey history started with Benjamin Robinson, back in the 1880's. After failing to find gold, he realise that there was better living to be made supplying liquid gold, honey, to the mining colony in exchange for solid gold. Benjamin soon became an expert apiarist, a fancy name for a beekeeper.

Today, Jodie and Steven Goldworthy's represent the fourth generation of this unique family tradition. Benjamin is Jodie's great grandfather. The Beechworth Honey factory and offices however, have relocated to the town of Corowa, the hub of a huge Australian honey gathering network.

The centre offers a wide variety of products ranging from honey based gourmet type food, drinks, beauty products, beeswax candles, gifts and hampers. We got to taste some of the honey products on display and watch a live bee colony between two glass sheets. Live because the bees can travel from inside their hive to the outside world via the clear viewing tube.

We took a 25 minutes free educational honey tour.  We learnt about the history of honey, beekeeping and watched a video on how honey is extracted before being packed. We also learnt about the importance of food security, in particular about why Australia's food security needs bee security.

We stumble across the Bridge Road Brewers, rather than went looking for it.

It is located just across the street from the Beechworth Honey Experience Centre, about 20 meters towards the town centre, in a 150 year old Coach House and stables. It also doubles as a pizzeria and so makes it a good place to enjoy lunch or dinner.

The laneway entrance, leads into the breweries large beer garden and children's play area. Inside, the brewery has an open fire place ideal for the winter months. The beer garden also doubles as Beechworth's outdoor cinema in the warmer months of the year.

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God's Gift and Your Gift to God

"What you are is God's gift to you; what you do with yourself is your gift to God."

- Danish Proverb

Psalms 119:73
⁷³You made me; you created me.
Now give me the sense to follow your commands.

1 Peter 2:4-6 (NLT)
⁴Come to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God's temple. He was rejected by the people, but he is precious to God who chose him. ⁵And now God is building you, as living stones, into his spiritual temple. What's more, you are God's holy priests, who offer the spiritual sacrifices that please him because of Jesus Christ.

Luke 13:18-19 (NLT)
¹⁸Then Jesus said, "What is the Kingdom of God like? How can I illustrate it? ¹⁹It is like a tiny mustard seed planted in a garden; it grows and becomes a tree, and the birds come and find shelter among its branches."

Rutherglen - Stop For Lunch

Rutherglen is a small town, at the north eastern parts of country Victoria, 10 kilometers from the nearby Murray River border with New South Wales. It was named after the Scottish town of Rutherglen, just outside of Glasgow.

This old gold rush township was established in the 1850's. Today, Rutherglen is a major and the oldest wine producing region in Australia, with wineries all within a short drive from the town of Rutherglen. This wine region is particularly noted for its sweet fortified wines.

Passing through Rutherglen on our way back to Melbourne, we stopped over for some lunch. The main street of the town has an old historical charm about it, with most of the shop fronts retaining the same look they had a century ago.

I have heard much about this place but we will have to come back another time to explore this region history, sights, its soul, character, food and wine at our leisure. Autumn is recommended as the best time of the year to visit this region for this is the time after the harvest, when exciting festival and events happens.

We stopped at the Rutherglen Wine Experience Visitor Information Centre, located in the town centre on 57 Main Street.

The centre offers a display of the town's rich history, how wines are made and also provides comprehensive tourist information of the region, from information of local businesses, activities and events, bike hire, internet access, a gift shop offering great local wines, local produce and souvenirs, a cafe with delicious breakfast and lunch offerings, art gallery and lots more.

Yes, this place is packed with information of the region and a good place to start when planning your stay here.

Walking about along the Main Street of the town, looking for a place to have some lunch, we came across this odd named cafe, "Forks n Corks", serving Modern Australian cafe food, on 82 Main Street. Seafood Pasta, Fish and Chips were our selection for the day.

Just a couple of shops away, there is "The Home of Parker Pies". Just could not resist the temptation to pack a couple of them pies too .....for supper!

There is also an artistic flair to the town, judging by the arrangement of the bicycles. They were on display along Main Street. The railway line suggest a strong history of the place, but the line has long since been closed.

GOD Has A Positive Answer

Internal monologue. Have you heard of these words before? It basically means an inner voice, internal speech or a verbal stream of words as one thinks. Much of one's thinking is a conversation with oneself.

Now, how often does your "conversation with oneself" comes to a negative conclusion or a negative perspective of a situation.

However, God's monologue to our situation has a positive answer to it.

The following are some examples:

You say : It's impossible.
God says: All things are possible.

Luke 18:27 (NLT)
²⁷He replied, "What is impossible from a human perspective is possible with God."

You say : I'm too tired
God says: I will give you rest

Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)
²⁸Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light."

You say : Nobody really loves me
God says: I love you

John 3:16 (NLT)
¹⁶"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:34 (NLT)
³⁴For he is sent by God. He speaks God's words, for God's Spirit is upon him without measure or limit.

You say : I can't go on
God says: My grace is sufficient

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT)
⁹Each time he said, "My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me.

Psalm 91:15 (NLT)
¹⁵ When they call on me, I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue them and honor them.

You say : I can't figure things out
God says: I will direct your steps

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)
⁵Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. ⁶Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.

You say : I can't do it
God says: You can do all things

Philippians 4:13 (NLT)
¹³For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.

You say : I'm not able
God says: I am able

2 Corinthians 9:8
⁸And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.

You say : It's not worth it
God says: It will be worth it

Roman 8:28 (NLT)
²⁸And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

You say : I can't forgive myself
God says: I Forgive you

1 John 1:9 (NLT)
⁹But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.

Romans 8:1 (NLT)
¹So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

You say : I can't manage
God says: I will supply all your needs

Philippians 4:19 (NLT)
¹⁹And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

You say : I'm afraid
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear

2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT)
⁷For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

You say : I'm always worried and frustrated
God says: Cast all your cares on ME

1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)
⁷Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you.

You say : I'm not smart enough
God says: I give you wisdom

1 Corinthians 1:30 (NLT)
³⁰God alone made it possible for you to be in Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made Christ to be wisdom itself. He is the one who made us acceptable to God. He made us pure and holy, and he gave himself to purchase our freedom.

You say : I feel all alone
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you

Deuteronomy 31:6 (NLT)
⁶Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid of them! The LORD your God will go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor forsake you."

Deuteronomy 31:8 (NLT)
⁸Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD is the one who goes before you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor forsake you."

Hebrews 13:5 (NLT)
⁵Stay away from the love of money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said,
"I will never fail you.
I will never forsake you."

Contributor – Anonymous

Jesus Be The Centre Of My Heart @ City Harvest Church

Matthew 6:21 (NLT)
²¹Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be.

Matthew 22:37-40 (NLT)
³⁷Jesus replied, "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' ³⁸This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' ⁴⁰All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments."

Matthew 6:33 (NIV)
³³But seek first His kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

Luke 11: 9-10 (NLT)
⁹And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened. ¹⁰For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And the door is opened to everyone who knocks.

Luke 19:10 (NLT)
¹⁰“And I, the Son of Man, have come to seek and save those like him who are lost."