Weekly Column in Extra!

Hi, someone asked me last week if I could post my column somewhere on the web for them to access, now I think they meant just one in particular, but I thought it may be a decent idea to pop them up regularly - so watch this space, every Monday afternoon!

God bless, Ian Dredge.


12.02.08

http://www.lcmb.org/images/prayer.jpg

One of the most important things that our Chapel wardens, prefects and pretty much anyone in the school can be encouraged to do is to pray. Prayer can be light and joyous and song-full, yet it is not reserved for songwriters or those who do not experience hardship; it can be deep and mournful, but is never just for the weary of heart – it can be artful and beautiful in expression, but it is not reserved for the artistic...prayer, like forgiveness, is a gift – a gift that everyone has to offer. It is for everyone – and I want to encourage you to join us as a prayerful community. We have put together two simple ways of making this easier for you: the first is a simple email address: prayers@sthildas.qld.edu.au; a confidential email address. If you have a prayer request just send me an email, and be assured of my prayer. The 2nd is being managed and maintained by several students: sayalittleprayer.pbwiki.com, and will soon provide weekly meditations, a group prayer blog, and a service to keep you in touch with the school.

Who knows where a little prayer will take you: as Martin Luther King Jr said: “To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.” Maybe today is a good day to start breathing!

19.02.08

A time to meet

Making time to meet with friends and family can be very difficult. We live in a society and often have lifestyles which present challenges in maintaining close relationships with one another – the paradox of course is that in such a society it is all the more important to do just the opposite, and keep your relationships alive and healthy, for the sake of our very sanity! Of course we use technology as a life line, and with mobiles and skype, ims and sms making contact easier, and while a quick conversation may not be the face to face that we so often yearn for, it can certainly plug the gap until time is made for that all important catch-up.

From the Christian perspective, comes the question of: How do we keep our relationships with God alive...? Of course there are many ways, such as thumbing through your Bible regularly, and of course there is prayer (see last weeks column), which can be tough on your own, especially if it is something new to our lifestyle. It can be made easier of course by meeting with friends or family and praying together regularly, something we are hoping to be able to offer everyone in the community in time. Remember, even Jesus took time out for prayer, for connectivity with God, prayer is an expression of an intimate relationship with our heavenly creator, who makes love available to us all, anytime we need it. Don’t be afraid to touch base with God, and certainly don’t be afraid to ask for help doing it!

26.02.08

Several grade 12 girls asked that the Boarder’s Chapel this week be themed on family. Family is so important to us social beings, they are so often our source of guidance and help, love and acceptance, forgiveness and hope. Now sure, families can also be hard work, challenging, even unbearable sometimes; but this is not a new conundrum – dealing with family is as old as the hills, and dealing with it is important, because when we need them for the love, acceptance, guidance and so on, we had better make sure we have dealt with the niggles which may otherwise get in the way.

The challenge placed on us by Jesus is to question not the value of family, but why perhaps we do not apply these same values to our entire world.

The words of Jesus himself are that his commandment to us as “his friends” was to love one another, as he loved us (John Chapter 4), and that anyone who does this, is His brother and sister (Matthew 12). Little niggle or big argument, brother, sister, mother, father; neighbour, workmate, employee or boss ~ it is our prerogative as leaders in our community (because that is what you are when you come to St Hilda’s), to take the command of love first, and show it to everyone! Need help working out how to do this? I am more than happy to, if I can!

P.S. Don’t forget – any prayer requests that you might have, please don’t hesitate to email them to prayers@sthildas.qld.edu.au!