Dear Brethren,

This is the original letter I sent out to you in 2006, while I was a student at MSOBS.

"I'm putting together an Historical Paper, for the MSOBS Restoration class.

Because I love drawing (particularly those that God gives me) I decided to create a paper around all the sketches of brothers and sisters I've done in the church.

A portrait sketch of the church.

There is a sad lack of images in the school library, many very informative papers but few pictures. I learn better when the two are combined.

I have drawn about 60 of our brethren.

I have composed a questionnaire for each of the people I've drawn, to fill in, in the hope of compiling 60 or so images accompanied by their answers, so that we have a small illustration of the Spirit in the church today.

We usually read about the congregation or the church in general, but I've not read anything yet, about the mind of those of us walking in Jesus.

This appeals to me and I hope it will appeal to you and the others, and those who are far off.

Would you mind participating in this portrait?

In the service of Jesus, Col."

The purpose of this paper

This is an Historical Paper, for the MSOBS (Macquarie School Of Biblical Studies) Restoration class, 2006.

This paper strives to give a small voice to just a few of those of us who have discovered the truth about Jesus salvation from sin, and freedom from the power of Satan in the world.

My reason for choosing to produce a paper like this.

I love drawing, so I decided to create a paper around all the sketches of brothers and sisters I've done in the church. I have tried to use my drawing interest to glorify God. One of the ways of doing this that has evolved is drawing the men that preach, or brethren in moments of talking or eating, just whenever the Spirit moves me to draw.

It was in 1994 that I decided to become more seriously involved in painting and drawing, I had intended to make it my business. Sketching is usually something that is done by someone who wishes to produce greater works as a stimulation, to develop ideas that usually grow into paintings, for sale.

I decided after a few years to work mainly at drawing, because this is my strongest ability, it’s also simpler and cheaper.

Not long after this I decided not to sell anything, but simply to draw for God, so that I could not be drawn towards the area of competitive marketing, where I get very disturbed and stressed, and lose my focus on God's will.

I decided it would be much better to strive for the same goal I’d been working slowly at since 1967, to live by faith, allowing God to provide where I can’t manage, and dedicate in my mind, everything to Him.

I have accumulated thousands of drawings over the last eleven years. Since I had all these drawings and nothing to do with them, when Ted Paull, who runs the Macquarie School of Biblical Studies (MSOBS) told the students who were studying there in 2006 that we had to produce a paper on some aspect of the church, the first thing that came to mind was to use the drawings of brethren as a starting point for the paper. It wasn’t long after this that I could see that what I had was “A portrait sketch of the church.”

Since my year at MSOBS I have begun to appreciate the enormous value of the school library which has many very informative papers, but few pictures. There is a sad lack of images in the library. The papers that I have read are about the congregations or the church in general, but I've not read anything yet, about the mind of those of us walking in Jesus. I must confess that I haven't read very much of what is in the library.

I composed a simple questionnaire for each of the people I had drawn, to fill in.

Thinking about this working of the Spirit in the body of Jesus, I was given an idea about how a drawn image comes together on paper. This I believe was put in my mind as Judy my wife and I were driving to school one morning. I was able to remember what I’d thought, a small miracle in itself, and write it down. It’s about the rhythm of line and the rhythm of the Spirit. If you don’t agree with what I’ve said, I give in.

Line rhythm

The line in a drawing is like a dance, a rhythmic dance. It can be seen in it’s purity in a simple scribble line, except it can appear to some as something too simple and boring.

The beauty of the rhythm of the line is what makes a drawing (or the rhythm of the brush strokes in a painting) especially attractive. This line rhythm is unique in each artist.

The confidence of it, is it’s strength.

For example, when drawing a face it is natural to try to exaggerate or strengthen the shape or form of the features of the face in an “outline.”

A beautiful drawing, with gentle balance, something more appealing to a practised, appreciating eye, will let the outline detail almost disappear and allow the rhythm of the tonal “scribble” have full play, producing a confident scribble, somewhere between face and line rhythms.

The success of the line rhythm decides the visual satisfaction of the portrait sketch.

The Holy Spirit of God performs for God in a similar way. The seen image of life, the worldly reality we live in, is not what we are asked by God to look for, to “see.” We are asked by God, to keep our eyes on the unseen.

It seems to me that the unseen, the Spirit, is like the scribble line in terms of His freedom, His rhythm and the beauty and desirability of seeing this.

He is the one who establishes the true form of God.

To work with the seen image of the world, to work to please men, rather than work to glorify God, is to “over -work” and results in serving Satan.

To overwork a drawing causes the same unsatisfactory result. The work is not true. The subject and the creator are put down, not at all lifted up, to the things above that we all desperately need, as God knows. The end result of overworking a visual image is not, the fruit of the Spirit.

To work with the Spirit one must let go of the end result, have as little doubt as possible, have as little personal want, so that God can take control. So that His effort can be seen. So that God is Glorified, not the one who holds the pen.

Timing

Timing is also of great interest in a drawing. I believe it is shown in the form of what’s there and what’s not there.

We had been learning a lot, retaining a little, on the reproduction of songs, singing from a song book, lead by Ted Paull in our year at MSOBS. Timing was very important, pausing in the right place for the right amount of time, so that proper emphasis is given to the words that are being sung. That there is time for loving what we are saying about God, in the pauses provided, breathing easily, being content with what we have been given.

Timing is important when reading. Allowing slowness so that the peace of God comes into the words being spoken and heard.

The Holy Spirit produces in our lives God’s timing, if we work with Him internally, as He allows things to happen or not happen.

This is an appropriat time to think on the meaning of “unforced rhythm of grace.”

FOLLOWING; 29 responses to the questionnaire.

Name

Alan bottle

What was your life style when you decided to follow Jesus?

Separated from my wife and children, otherwise fairly normal.

What year were you baptized?

1984 at 37 years of age.

Where did you begin to worship and what was your first impression of the church?

Blacktown.

I was happy about it.

I liked the teaching and the informality compared to the Anglican church.

Roy and Nancy Courtney’s tutoring was extremely valuable.

What difficulties/challenges did you have in striving to be like Jesus?

Too many things get in the way of living like Jesus.

Would Jesus really accept me?

What challenges did you have in feeling part of the Lord’s body?

Would I be able to measure up to what I thought was required?

What principles of the Restoration Movement (restoring Christianity to be as it is in the new Testament) are important to you?

Loving each other the way Christ says in John 13:35. Trying to really understand and do what

Christ says.

What did you think about having no musical instruments in worship?

There is no evidence that God wants musical instruments in worship.

What spiritual interest did you have before becoming a Christian?

None.

What is important to you, in how you walk in Jesus today?

In applying Jesus’ words, and that means applying Jesus’ words, not what I think Jesus’ words are.

Where do you worship today? Approximately how many brethren?

Blacktown, 45.

What rolls do you carry out in the church?

Full-time worker.

Name

Beverley Mandalidis

What was your lifestyle when you decided to follow Jesus?

What year were you baptized? What age were you?

1981, 35.

Where did you begin to worship and what was your first impression of the church?

Eastside, lots of American students and very few Aussies.

What difficulties /challenges did you have in striving to be like Jesus?

Coping with family /friends’ opposition.

What challenges did you have in feeling a part of the Lord’s body?

Accepting others perception of how a Christian is to behave.

What principles of the Restoration Movement (restoring Christianity to be as it is in the New Testament) are important to you?

Using the Bible as the only guide.

What did you think about having no musical instruments in worship?

It allowed personal involvement in singing.

What spiritual interest did you have before becoming a Christian?

Why should we be good? Good Vs evil.

What is important to you, in how you walk in Jesus today?

Staying faithful.

Where do you worship today? Approximately how many brethren?

Eastside. 30?

What roles do you carry out in the church?

Teaching the babies on Sunday.

Name

Bob Marks

What was your life style like when you decided to follow Jesus?

Living in Canberra, working as a public servant.

What year were you baptized? What age were you?

1968. 22.

Where did you begin to worship and what was your first impression of the church?

Canberra.

Amazing attitude toward the Bible.

The church was in need of preachers.

There were problems in the church.

What difficulties / challenges did you have in striving to be like Jesus?

I was a young family man with lots of commitments.

What principles of the Restoration Movement (restoring Christianity to be as it is in the New Testament) are important to you?

A “thus saith the Lord” for things we do.

A respect for the silence of the scriptures.

What did you think about having no musical instruments in worship?

That is the way it was in NT times, and I don’t think we should alter that.

What spiritual interests did you have before becoming a Christian?

I was a highly committed member of a denomination.

I went to 3 church services each Sunday.

I was looking around at other churches.

What is important to you in how you walk in Jesus today?

The example I am leaving my children and grandchildren.

Where do you worship today? Approximately how many brethren?

Warringah. 25.

What rolls do you carry out in the church?

Preaching, teaching. Organizing, etc.

Name

Col Bebe

What was your life style like when you decided to follow Jesus?

I was a worldly individual with strong spiritual leanings, heading towards 40, living out of a small sholder bag, no money, praying for everything I needed, like a place to sleep each night, drinking, drugs, smoking, womanizing, but, trying to find out how to get closer to the God who, I had noticed, had been looking after me very well, for about 15 years.

What year were you baptized? How old were you?

1980. 39.

Where did you begin to worship and what was your first impression of the church?

Warringah church of Christ. They were sort of grey people, but I believed they had it right.

What difficulties / challenges did you have in striving to be like Jesus?

Before I was baptized my difficulty was finding the right church. After I was baptized my problem was stopping smoking. Everything else stopped, once I stopped smoking. After four months I left the church (gathering) for a woman. Four years later I returned (humbly), stopped smoking and got down to being at everything I could attend with brethren. I realized that I couldn’t trust me!

What challenges did you have in feeling part of the Lord’s body?

I couldn’t handle having to door knock, or just believing I had to do what ever I was told to do by any body who seemed to be in charge. I was older than most in a congregation full of enthusiastic 20 year old Uni students. I thought I didn’t fit in well. I’d discovered how to accept God's providence, and nobody seemed to believe it was this simple.

What principles of the Restoration Movement (restoring Christianity to be as it is in the New Testament) are important to you?

Knowing the history of the struggle of Christianity since Pentecost is helping me to appreciate the preciousness of walking in Jesus. How privileged I am. How necessary to strive for the truth of the Gospel. How necessary to be gentle in doing this, not trampling on others.

What did you think about having no musical instruments in worship?

It was part of what I was quietly hoping the nature of the church would be, when I was looking for the church. No instruments.

What spiritual interests did you have before becoming a Christian?

I’d spent 15 years of looking at and discussing every other form of religion other than Christianity, and striving in every way I could to be separate from falsehood.

I was seeking the truth.

What is important to you in how you walk in Jesus today?

To be as truthful as I can be before God. To dedicate everything I do to God in Jesus. To be as much like Jesus as I can be. To have no desire of my own. To be able to see what God’s will is as Jesus did. To see the Spirit of God working amongst us. To watch the way God is the authority in His Church, and to serve Him.

Where do you worship today? How many in your congregation?

Eastside, Bondi Junction, Waverley. About 59 including children.

What roles do you carry out in the church?

Announcements, songleading, prayerleading, Lord’s Supper talks, personal prayer for the church, an occasional lesson, general interest in every aspect of the Lord’s church.

Name

David Carr

What was your life style like when you decided to follow Jesus?

I was single, a bit of a loner, good values, non-smoker/non-drinker, first-grade cricketer, working in TAFE Metallurgy Department

What year were you baptized? What age were you?

1974. 27.

Where did you begin to worship and what was your first impression of the church?

Lambton church of Christ in Newcastle. This was where the truth was.

What difficulties / challenges did you have in striving to be like Jesus?

Temptations at work to compromise values.

What challenges did you have in feeling a part of the Lord’s body?

None as I recall. I always felt an accepted part of the body.

What principles of the restoration Movement (restoring Christianity to be as it is in the New Testament) are important to you?

Getting back to the original apostolic gospel with all that this entails.

What did you think about having no musical instruments in worship?

Never an issue with me. If it’s what the gospel teaches I agree with it.

What spiritual interest did you have before becoming a Christian?

8 or 9 years as an Anglican, including SS teaching till 17. No real Biblical conviction, though. Then 8-9 years later the Vietnam War caused me to think on the suffering question, the meaning of life, and to find something better than the unhappiness I was experiencing and which material pursuits didn’t solve. The Biblical concept of eternal life provided for me the answer to life’s difficulties for all people everywhere. I studied the bible and visited a few churches, then attended a religious debate which Jim Waldron was holding at the time in Newcastle for the Lambton Church of Christ. Within a few months of this I became a Christian.

What is important to you , in how you walk in Jesus today?

I believe therefore I speak. Inner transformation into the likeness of Christ.

Where do you worship today? Approximately how many brethren?

Hunter Valley Christians, East Maitland. 34 brethren.

What rolls do you carry out in the church?

Minister in the word (preaching and teaching).

Name

David Mowday

What was your lifestyle like when you decided to follow Jesus?

I was in the Navy, smoking, drank and chased every one in a skirt.

What year were you baptized? What age were you?

1976, I was 19.

Where did you begin to worship and what was your first impression of the church?

Gosford, they were like a family.

What difficulties / challenges did you have in striving to be like Jesus?

I struggled for a long time to give up smoking, to be honest with myself, and with lusts.

What challenges did you have in being a part of the Lord’s body?

None, the folks at Gosford included me, and had me doing things in worship once they thought I was ready.

What principles of the Restoration Movement (restoring Christianity to be as it is in the New Testament) are important to you?

Being true to God’s word. It is the standard that we live by and are held to.

What did you think about having no musical instruments in worship?

It didn’t appear unusual, and I became used to it very quickly.

What spiritual interest did you have before becoming a Christian?

Very little.

What is important to you, in how you walk in Jesus today?

Daily time with Him.

Where do you worship today? Approximately how many brethren?

Gosford, about 150.

What roles do you carry out in the church?

I shepherd the flock along with my fellow shepherds. Also a song leader and try to be hospitable.

Name

Elin Kress

What was your life style like when you decided to follow Jesus?

I’ve always been a follower of Christ because of my family and so when I got baptized I wanted to confirm my faith in God and be saved.

What year were you baptized? What age were you?

I was baptized in April 2005 at the age of 13.

Where did you begin to worship and what was your first impression of the church?

I’ve always belonged to the Eastside church and so honestly now I find it a bit discouraging that there are no teens my age there apart from my sister, I’d love to see more people come.

What difficulties / challenges did you have in striving to be like Jesus?

I have found it difficult to forgive people easily and turn the other cheek.

What challenges did you have in feeling a part of the Lord’s body?

I haven’t really had any challenges yet.

What principles of the restoration Movement (restoring Christianity to be as it is in the New Testament) are important to you?

That we use the Bible as our only guide, and we try to worship God as God intended.

What did you think about having no musical instruments in worship?

I am a real musician so it would be great to have instruments in worship, but then again, I think the focus would be drawn away from worshipping the Lord and it might all be about making it sound good for the people and not for God.

What spiritual interest did you have before becoming a Christian?

I have always loved being the girl who is different to everyone else my age and not conforming to the “world.” I also love knowing that there is always someone there looking after you and guiding you through life, even when everything feels worthless and pointless.

What is important to you, in how you walk in Jesus today?

I think that you must not conform to the, “appealing worldly life” and live for Jesus and God, and I think with that attitude you already are pleasing yourself and God. I also love the thought of loving everybody which I really enjoy doing and sometimes it is a challenge and it makes me grow as a person.

Where do you worship today? Approximately how many brethren?

Eastside, Bondi Junction, there is about 60 people. I also visit the Sydney church in Ryde.

What rolls do you carry out in the church?

I don’t carry out any rolls, but I would love to.