Reading: 2 Thessalonians, 2: 1-17.

Well, here we go - the last of the studies on spiritual warfare, and as always, they have saved the trickiest till last!

Here we have Paul writing to the Thessalonians for the second time; but this time it's because there have been a lot of people running around trying to confuse the new believers that Christ has already come again, and that this person or that person is the "Anti-Christ".

Paul did not get much time with the new church in Thessalonika. There were a lot of cranky Jews (see Acts 17) who made it their business to oppose him, and who set up good guys like Jason, who had offered Paul hospitality, and had them dragged off to the City Court, where they had to bail themselves out.

Paul wries to the believers, probably from Corinth, to try and settle them down and keep them focussed and on track.

Oh how we need a Paul today! We are still looking for someone to blame for the way the world is. We still try to "pin the tail" on some "donkey" or other - but let's look at just who is to blame.

We all know that we have a choice - every day to be on God's side, or to cop the sucker punches that Satan likes to throw our way!

As Paul says: "STAND FIRM! CHOOSE GOD! CHOOSE LIFE!

Sunday gatherings 9.30 a.m., 19 Gippsland St Jindabyne

Some Ministry news!

Well, I will get a little excited now!

Yesterday, at Presbytery, it was officially confirmed that I will be commissioned next Saturday, at 2 p.m.

Yah! Please invite anyone you think should be here, and please come along yourselves.

It will be a full day, with the opening of the Men's Shed, and the Garage Sale, and a visit from David Thiem, from Frontier Services, as well.

Thank you for all your patiance and support along the way. I hope that on the whole it has been worth it.

The other good news from yesterday is that Presbytery will give us $10,000 more to get us through to March next year.

In February we have give a thorough account of ourselves and our ministry to see if they can do any more - please pray about this!

Also this week we had two firm offers on the two properties, so we need to pray about that as well.

With regard to last week's meeting, I am sorry if anyone was offended or surprised at my attitude. There are vvery sound and biblical reasons, so I would be happy to share these with you if you need to hear them, or need me to the air or repair any damage to our relationship

God loves you, and so do I

Matthew