31st July 2005 Intro Let me give you snapshots about the people I met this week on the train- Monday- Thai student (19)- Studying cookery from Parramatta o Her parents sent her from their village to Bangkok when she was twelve o She learnt to fend for herself. She doesn't miss her parents as she doesn't really know them. Her two sisters live in Britain and Germany o Lives with her boyfriend o Doesn't know what to do when her study visa expires- she hopes to stay in Australia o She doesn't expect to marry the guy she lives with Tuesday- Ryan's Mum (30)- Part time legal secretary from Riverstone o Worried about Ryan at 2.5 years -he doesn't speak o Tested for deafness o Her parents are a help, but I don't think her husband is o She 'escapes' the house three days per fortnight. She loves her days at work. o She says she is catholic but has never been to mass as an adult o She always worries about Ryan Wednesday There was the young prostitute sitting on a chair in front of a brothel in Kings Cross o She looked about 17 going on 40 o She looked sick and vacant o Her eyes were empty and she looked very, very sad. o I didn't speak with her, but I couldn't forget her Thursday David (20) from Narromine o David is from a farm, but is working with the NAB in Sydney o He misses home. He rents a room and gets quite lonely. He doesn't know too many people in Sydney o He hopes to go back to Narromine soon with the bank Friday Kevin (22) is Northern Irish and is on a tourist visa o He is doing a bit of work on the side with Greenpeace o He feels strongly about environmental issues, poverty hunger and wants to do something about it. o He wants his life to count for something o He boards with a family. One of the daughters studies theology at college o He thinks he'd like to do that too, but admits that he's not interested in church Isaiah 55: 1-5 Come, all you who are thirsty- o Familiar words, repeated by Christ o An invitation to all and sundry to come and participate at the table set by God o The table of God is not heaven, it is not the church- It is the day-to-day, moment-by-moment experience of Christ now. o Why eat at a table that is poorly spread? o Why eat food that will not satisfy? o No money is needed- the bill has already been paid for o How will the invitations go out? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good Give ear and come to me; Hear me, that your soul may live! Our message has the following ingredients- Forgiveness, Salvation, security , peace, purpose, acceptance, love, confidence and joy. We can stand on the street corner and preach forgiveness and salvation, o but I think Kevin would like to hear about purpose. o Ryan's mum would like to hear about peace, o the young Thai student wants to know security when she has never experienced this ever o And David just wants to go home and feel the acceptance of being with his Mum and Dad. o The young girl in front of the brothel needed just about the lot, but most of all, love, joy forgiveness and peace The message of Christ has all the answers for each of these people. Who is the messenger to bring the good news to these people in need? How will these people be invited to the table of Christ? See, I have made him ( and her) a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander of the peoples, Surely YOU will summon nations you -know -not. And nations that do not know you, will hasten to you Why would these people rush to us seeking answers to the questions they have? Because we have the answers to life You may not feel that you have all the answers, and you may feel that you are seeking too, But the facts of the matter are o that if we are Christians, o If we confess Jesus Christ, God the Son as Lord, o If we seek to trust and obey Then we are God's messengers. We are inviting the people to the table. And how are we equipped for this task? Because of the Lord YOUR God, The Holy One of Israel, For He has endowed YOU with splendor God has equipped you for a task. This splendor is the spirit of God given to you when you confessed Jesus Christ as Lord. You have the answers that the people around you desperately seek. Come, all you who are thirsty- Amen Message by David Riethmuller