Musings from the wilderness

Having neglected to organise a musing for this week, since we only returned from Tasy yesterday, I'm coming to you from the Pieman River at Corinna inside the Tarkine wilderness of Western Tasmania.This holiday has been a testimony to what is called, "God's general revelation". The idea is summed up in Romans 1 verse 20 where Paul says, "..since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.Paul's argument is that God reveals himself in the natural world; his divine character and nature can be perceived this way. Interesting how many nature lovers worship the creation but fail to see the creator. We have to be open to God to see Him it seems? So faith in God becomes a self fulfilling thing; we see God because we want to, we don't see God because we don't want to - it's partially up to us, Jesus says, but largely up to God who will always honour our openess.God is well aware that He's set it up this way. The longer I walk this faith journey the more clearly I see that faith is a step that is completely reasonable but still requires a leap.Anyway, enough philosophy. Cheryl and I have been to places most people never see and by faith have seen God everywhere! We've walked and camped for six days in pristine wilderness, climbed the highest and fourth highest peaks in Tasy, seen trees thousands of years old and this is written from one of the oldest forests on the planet - woops! There goes a thousand year old huon pine!For Cheryl and I it's been a privilege to join Paul and see God in the things he has made. Seeing and appreciating God in life and in the world is one thing we are designed to do.Welcome to our baptism families and we love and honour you Jenny Maclean for the gift you are to us and to our children. Welcome Elizabeth, may you grow as an "oak of righteousness" (Isaiah 61:3) amongst us as you take over from Jenny and reveal Gods nature and character through your life.Blessings in the Adventure from deepest, darkest Tarkine Tasy.