Reading the book of Proverbs is very helpful. Re-reading it even more so. Proverbs provides wisdom for living life well. Not rules, but wisdom. The whole book needs to be digested and weighed as an entirety. For example, take the teaching on money

• On the one hand, we will probably acquire more money if we work hard and have wisdom. But, if all we care about is getting more money, we are the biggest fools.
• On the one hand, money is a blessing from God. On the other, we are more blessed if we give it away.
• On the one hand, it is wise to save our money. On the other, don’t think that money can ever provide real security.
• On the one hand, wealth is more desirable than poverty. On the other, wealth is not as good as righteousness or humility or wisdom or the fear of the Lord.

These proverbs must be weighed and compared. That takes wisdom!

Good morning and welcome to church,
Bucket lists. They’ve become the rage in the last few years. Along with YOLO (You Only Live Once). YOLO coupled with bucket lists are a symptom of our selfishness. It’s always been there, but we are just more willing to express it. Now we make a point of ticking off as many items on our bucket list, before we kick the bucket. I hate to ask, because it promotes the idea that we must fit everything in before we die, but what are some of the items on your bucket list? Say you knew you would die tomorrow, what would you do today? Would you try and mark off as many bucket list items as possible? Jump out of the plane over Wollongong with a parachute attached ? Maybe the High Ropes course in Nowra? Maybe a party with friends—good food and wine?
Jesus, on the night before he died, didn’t have bucket list. He had a bucket with water. He washed his disciples’ feet, he served them, he ministered to them. He knew he was going to die, and he served, and served and served, right up to the last, including the last. Reverend Michael Turner.

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I read an interesting story with week about Artificial Intelligence (AI). A bunch of computer programmers created an AI machine that could play Tetris—it’s a computer game of fitting in pieces like a jigsaw, that gets faster the longer you play. The longer the game goes, the more points earned.

The AI learnt the game and played it for some time, before realising that if it paused the game just before the screen filled up, then the AI didn’t lose. Unpausing the game meant the game continued, and the screen filled up, meaning the AI lost, so to speak.

Isn’t it telling that the spirit of the Pharisee (and indeed all humanity) is alive and well, even in AI bots. Just as humans game the system, looking for loopholes and caveats, so too AI bots that humans have created. It’s a fallen world.

Good morning and welcome to church,

I read about a social experiment this week. The experiment involved seminary students of at an American seminary (a theological college). 

They were given instructions to preach a sermon on campus. They had to go to another building on campus to deliver the sermon. Along the way, someone was planted as having collapsed. The experiment was to see how the seminarians would react to this collapsed person—would they respond as a good Samaritan, whilst on their way to preach a sermon.

 A number of variables were used in the experiment, including the subject of the sermon – some were told to preach on the Good Samaritan. However the most telling variable that affected whether the seminarian would stop to help the person in distress was time. Those who were given their final instruction telling them that they were late and needed to hurry demonstrated least likelihood to stop and help – even those preaching on the Good Samaritan!

The lesson is that the busyness of life can shut out the needs right in front of our very eyes. It’s important that we prime our hearts regularly so that we are ready to see.

Reverend Michael Turner