Glenn Townend | Public figure
Glenn Townend
Address: 148 Fox Valley Road 2076 Wahroonga, NSW, Australia
Website: http://www.adventistchurch.com
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25.01.2022 Week of Prayer - Day 5 "Every one of Christ's deeds reflected His identity, thus depicting the way of life of those who would follow Him and constitute His church." Access WOP readings here: https://bit.ly/332Mlih
24.01.2022 The Bible discussion SS lessons have challenged each of us to talk about Jesus and how He has impacted our lives. Here is a short example of when and why I decided to follow Jesus. I hope it encourages you to reflect on your story with Jesus and tell someone else this week.
24.01.2022 We've come to the end of our week of prayer. I hope you have been blessed by the readings this week. May God's love and grace continue to shine through us as we live out our hope in Jesus. Access today's reading here: https://bit.ly/332Mlih Sabbath blessings church family.
21.01.2022 This is the final video for our Bible study series on "making friends for God". I hope it will inspire and encourage you to follow in the footsteps of Jesus and take a leap of faith this week.
20.01.2022 Morphett Vale Church. First time for me to travel since early March. First time for congregational singing since then as well. Now I’m no singer, in fact I was asked to mime in a choir, but being able to sing praise to God with other believers was an amazing privilege. One that I took for granted. However I’m now looking forward even more to singing praise to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit with all of you and millions of others around the heavenly throne.
20.01.2022 Our SPD year-end meetings are looking very different this year. They are being run out of the old Division warehouse where a few of us have gathered. But because of the COVID-19 travel restrictions and social distancing requirements, most delegates are joining the meetings via Zoom. It’s going to be a busy two days of reviewing reports and voting policies, and I would encourage you to uphold these important meetings in your prayers.
18.01.2022 I do not like hospitals. When I was 10 years old, my fit and healthy dad, in his early 30s, was a passenger in a small plane crash where four people were killed and four others, including my dad, survived. I remember going to see him after the crash in hospital. He had wires, tubes and bandages all over him and his face was barely recognisable. This picture is still vivid in my mind, and the reason I don’t like hospitals. I also love hospitals. Although I don’t understand a...ll the technology used in modern surgery or the various medications, I love the fact that hospitals are there to care for the injured, treat the sick and give hope and healing. Having been a patient in a hospital a few times I know the anxiety injury and illness brings. Humans need comfort and support during these stressful times. We think of the real and deep issues of life and what it means to be humanour purpose and mortality. This is where volunteer hospital visitation can have impact. Chaplains can also provide spiritual care and support when it is needed most. God is a God of comfort. He understands our anxieties and is there to support us. That support often comes in the form of other humans. The apostle Paul wrote to the people of Corinth, For when we came into Macedonia, this body of ours had not rest . . . conflicts on the outside, fears within. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him . . . (2 Corinthians 7:5-7 NIV). Are you and I like Titus? Have we experienced God’s comfort in our time of need so we can comfort others in their time of need? Disciples of Jesus can minister comfort wherever they go.
16.01.2022 The introduction to the Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide for this quarter asks, what does it mean to have a Christian education? It’s a question that not only impacts the way weas a Churchrun our schools, but also how weas individuals, Christians and Adventistsapproach learning in general. I’m looking forward to taking a biblically-based look at education as part of this quarter’s Bible study. This videothe first of a new seriestakes us back to the original classroom instituted here on Earth: the Garden of Eden. I hope you will be inspired by the discussion and your own exploration of God’s Word this week. Behold, God is exalted by His power; who teaches like Him? (Job 36:22, NKJV).
15.01.2022 Week of Prayer - Day 7 Access WOP readings here: https://bit.ly/332Mlih
14.01.2022 Make sure you tune into next week's #weRtheCHURCH live program. It's going to feature inspiring stories, a devotional, live interviews and beautiful music. Hope you can join me! Head to adventistchurch.com/werthechurch for more details.
14.01.2022 My family wouldn’t be where we are today if it wasn’t for the faithful work of literature evangelists. A simple book, shared with my great-grandparents, didn’t just influence two people, in influenced four generations of Townends (and counting). I will be serving as one of the guest speakers at the Live His Calling Literature Ministry Online Summit from October 9-11. I encourage you to join us as we learn more about the power of literature ministry to change lives. Register online for free at https://literature.adventistchurch.com/summit/.
12.01.2022 Ever since I was six I knew the power of the gospel. I’d been caught by my parents doing something I knew was wrongthe guilt and shame were real; the punishment deserved. That Sabbath we had people over to our house for lunch. As a bundle of energy I was entertaining the guests. Someone then suggested I get a book and a teenage boy would read it to me. I returned with the story of Jesus’ death on the cross. I sat and listened. For the first time in my life, I knew that Jesus... had died for me and took the punishment for my sins. The gospel or good news of Jesus had impacted my life. I took the book back to my room forgiven and cried because I had grasped incredible love. Since that time I have sensed the power of Jesus’ good news in my life. Most of us in the Seventh-day Adventist Church have been impacted by Jesus. I’ve heard of those raised in the Church who thought that obedience gained favour with Godit wasn’t until they heard a gospel preacher or teacher that they realised it was faith in the grace of Jesus which brings them close to God forever. I’ve heard amazing testimonies of those who lived lives of complete rebellion against God and yet God’s message of love got through. We all have a unique experience with Jesus, however the most important thing is that we allow Jesus’ good news to change us. The gospel . . . is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes (Romans 1:16, ESV). The gospel of Jesus is the heart, centre and basis of being a disciple of Jesus. Jesus changed lives in the past and He is still changing lives now. I pray the power of the gospel continues to change me and those around me.
10.01.2022 Had the pleasure of sitting down with the #RecordLive team to discuss some of the news and developments to come out of last week's Division Executive Committee meetings. I hope you enjoy the discussion.
10.01.2022 If you have received an email or letter from me over the past 15 years you will know that I nearly always have the word "Blessings" in the salutation or final greeting. Here is a current sample: "Blessings as we, with God, transform the Pacific"; "Blessings as we become a thriving disciple-making movement"; or "Christian blessings". According to various business schools, there are appropriate and inappropriate ways of signing off a letter or emailblessings is rarely used. Ho...Continue reading
09.01.2022 "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16, NKJV).
05.01.2022 A simple question from someone who is really willing to listen can make a difference in people’s lives. If you ask, Are you OK?, be prepared to give time to support the person you asked whether friend, work colleague or family member. Being quick to listen is a characteristic of a disciple of Jesus James 1:19. https://signsofthetimes.org.au/r-u-ok-day-2020/ https://www.facebook.com/signsmag/posts/10158911771009917
03.01.2022 Week of Prayer - Day 6 When it comes to God working in our lives, expect the unexpected. Access WOP readings here: https://bit.ly/332Mlih
01.01.2022 Meditation retreats, chanting rituals, time alone in nature. These are ways people try to connect with God. The quest of every honest spiritual seeker is to see and understand Godour ultimate purpose. King Uzziah, the longest-serving king of Judah (52 years), "set himself to seek God" (2 Chronicles 26:5 ESV). Uzziah was successful in farming, war, building and manufacturing as a blessing from God, but he felt something was still missing. The central focus of the Israelite r...eligion was the temple in JerusalemGod's glorious presence was in the Most Holy Place. Uzziah had to see it. However, only priests could go into the temple. As a proud and successful king, Uzziah went into the Holy Place to offer incense before God. 81 priests apprehended Uzziah. In a rage, he tried to get past and leprosy appeared on his head. In horror, he left the temple and palace and lived in quarantine for the rest of his life. In the year that King Uzziah died, Isaiah saw the Lord sitting on a throne, the train of His robe filling the temple (Isaiah 6:1). There were six winged angels all around the smoky glory. Isaiah, an average human, knew he was doomed. However, an angel took a coal from the altar and cleansed Isaiah. It was in this experience with God that Isaiah was called to be a prophet. Uzziah forced himself upon God; Isaiah was invited to see God. Uzziah had the blessings of God; Isaiah had the calling of God. Uzziah saw God in history; Isaiah saw God in glory. It seems that God reveals Himself to each one in appropriate ways. We have to trust God's personal revelations. We cannot dictate to God, but we can seek God while there is the opportunity, and help others to seek the God of compassion and forgiveness too (Isaiah 51, 55:6,7).
