Digging Deeper Print
Written by Kez Ashby   
Sunday, 25 July 2010 20:45
Trinity Hills is partnering with TEAR a Christian development, relief and advocacy organisation responding to global poverty and injustice. Therefore at Basement we are spending some time in the Bible looking at what God has to say about different social justice issues. However, we don't just want to be people who know what God says but we want to be people who put God's word into action. As James 1:22 says "Do not merely listen to the word and deceive yourself, do what it says." So Basement and Top Story are going to take part in a slum survivor to experience a bit of what it is like to live in a third world country and the following night we are going to be putting on a Banquet and here is where you can put what you have been learning into action. 
 
We want to encourage you to think of ways in which you might be able to raise money for Tear. The first is obviously come to Slum Survivor and the Banquet. But the next step is thinking of something to do either at the Banquet or before and here are some suggestions:
 
a) a musical or other item to perform at the Banquet
b) make cards, clothing, art, woodwork, anything else to sell at the Banquet
c) give up buying a certain type of food, magazine, cd, book over the next month and give the money you save to TEAR
d) Do something and get people to sponsor you to do it
e) offer to action yourself off with a leader at the Banquet
 f) anything else you can think of!
 
If you have thought of something that you would like to do. Please encourage your brothers and sisters and share at Basement what you are going to do. Also if you could take video or photos of things you might choose to do before hand we would love to make a video and slide show to show at the Banquet. 
(If you would like to make a video but don't have one, have a chat to Kez)
 
 
We have so much but at times can give so little check out Luke 21:1-4. A lady who had so little but gave so much. 
We in Australia have so much, how can we give out of our wealth?
 
War and Peace Study #1
 
1. Read the following Old Testament passages. What do they say about War?
Deuteronomy 20:1-4, Ecclesiastes 3:8. 
2. Compare these to the following: Deuteronomy 2:4-5, Isaiah 2:2-4
3. Now consider these New Testament passages relating to war: Matthew 5:9, 5:39, 5:43-48
4. Does Jesus ever rebuke soldiers for serving in the Military? Lk 3:14, 7:1-10. (Note: Centurion = Soldier).
5. Read Romans 13:1-4. What are the responsibilities of leaders as they make decisions about war?
6. Read 1 Timothy 2:1-2. What is the responsibility of Christians in dealing with those in authority?
 
War and Peace Study #2
War and Peace Study #3
1.The Prime Minister is aware that a neighbouring country is killing large sections of its population. The other countries in the region want to ignore the problem. To intervene would likely lead to war and the cost of young lives, billions of dollars and political popularity. 
What decision should he make?
2. Mike is a soldier in the war in Iraq. He has been ordered in to a village known to be harbouring leading terrorists, with the instructions to kill everyone there. The village has been the source of much carnage, but destroying it will involve killing civilians, which he thinks is completely wrong. He is a reliable soldier but doesn't agree with the war he is fighting. He is under orders to obey his commanding officer. 
What should he do?
 
 
Hotel Rwanda is based on a true story, this movie takes up events from the Rwandan Genocide of 1994. The bloodbath began after the Rwandan president was killed in a plane crash and the majority Hutus attacked the Tutsis and their sympathisers. The Tutsis had been politically and economically powerful in the country despite making up only 15% of the population.
Paul Rusesabinga manages a luxury hotel that he turns into a safe haven for refugees fleeing the bloodshed. Rusesabinga is a Hutu, married to a Tutsi, and the film tracks his effort to save the lives of not only her and his friends but many others who find their way to the hotel.
 
Watch the movie.
 
1. What does this story reveal about the nature of international conflict?
2. Why do you think the Rwandan situation was ignored by the international community?
What role does the UN commander have in the narrative of the movie?
How does the director use this character?
Would armed intervention have been justified in this instance? Why or why not?
 
 
 
 
Environment Study
 
Some people say that we are to worship nature as something spiritual or call it 'mother nature' suggesting it is something to be worshipped. Does Isaiah 40:21-23 support this idea? Why or why not?
 
Do Psalm 24:1 and 115:16 compliment or contradict each other? Why?
 
Read Romans 8:8:19-21. What is creation waiting for?
 
Lets get Practical!
Consider your own family and lifestyle. Give your household a rating out of 10 for each of the following items in terms of environmental impact, where 10 is a positive effect and 1 a negative. 
 
Use of Petrol (think of number and size of cars)
Electricity consumption (think of heating, air-conditioners, lighting, washing machines, dryers etc)
Water usage
Plastic and other non-biodegradable products
Chemical and pesticides
Garbage (do you have compost?)
The number of consumer goods in your home (look around your home, how many things have you not used or worn in the last month)
How much stuff you throw out at council pick up time. 
 
We are to be Christians who care about creation and take our environmental responsibilities seriously. This means we choose sustainable forms of energy where possible. We switch off unneeded appliances at the powerpoint. We buy food, goods and services as far as possible from companies with ethically sound environmental policies. We avoid over-consumption and unnecessary waste and recycle as much as possible.
 
What can you start doing to care for creation as a steward of God?
 
Last Updated ( Sunday, 08 August 2010 22:31 )