The Salvo's new territorial youth initiative is called 2Love. You may have heard me speak about it and have probably seen the logo on a few of the posters i have put together for publicity.
The 2Love strategy is based on Jesus response to the lawyers question, "What is the greatest commanment?"
The story goes like this:
Mark 12: 28- 33: One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Then the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that ‘he is one, and besides him there is no other’; and ‘to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength,’ and ‘to love one’s neighbor as oneself,’—this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” (bold mine)
In Western Vic i have adopted this strategy as part of my strategy for the division.
As is mentioned in my earlier blog, on the 23rd of June we will be launching the 2Love strategy for the division. Without giving much away, the strategy is based around equipping the young people of the division with ways to love God and others as they go back to their curches and communities, in order to impact the world.
But the real reason i wrote this blog wasnt to launch 2Love in WVD on cyberspace, but to ask you what do you love.
I'm looking for the less than obvious answers of "God" and "Jesus". In fact the odder the better. I would like to use some of these examples as part of the launch on the 23rd.
Anonymity is guaranteed on the night, i promise. Remember that if you don't want to be identified on the blog, you will need to hide your name when you post a comment.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Lots n Lots of Stuff Happening!!!
Wow!!
I just looked at my calendar and realised that there is so much stuff happening over the next two months!!
Coming up we have the divisional youth 2Love Grand Prix (2Love G.P for short) on the 23rd of June where we will be going go karting here in Ballarat followed by a worship event at the Forrest Gardens (Wendouree) corps hall. We are planning on having a guest band join us for this, so stay tuned for more info!!
Creative Kids Camp begins on the last day of June, and runs until the 2 of July. The theme for this year is Transformers, based around the concept of Romans 12:2- "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God - what is good and acceptable and perfect." Transformers '07 will be a time of fun for 7 to 15 year olds where they can learn about what it means to be transformed and changed!!
During the second week of the school holidays the Salvo's hold their national netball and basketball carnival. From the 8th to the 15th at the Gawler Starplex stadium in South Oz the Western Vic teams will be competing against other Salvo teams from around the country. we could use a few players for mens basketball and womens netball, so if you're interested, let me know.
Also, the dates for Candidates Weekend have been announced. This year Candidates Weekend will be on from the 13th to the 15th of July, while I'm in Adelaide, unfortunately!! Candidates Weekend is an opportunity for all of those people who are interested in officership or lieutenancy (that is full time ministry) within The Salvation Army to gather together and explore their calling and find out what is involved in becoming and officer/lieutenant. If you are interested, let me know and I will get back to you.
Well that's about it for now,
Adios Amigos.
I just looked at my calendar and realised that there is so much stuff happening over the next two months!!
Coming up we have the divisional youth 2Love Grand Prix (2Love G.P for short) on the 23rd of June where we will be going go karting here in Ballarat followed by a worship event at the Forrest Gardens (Wendouree) corps hall. We are planning on having a guest band join us for this, so stay tuned for more info!!
Creative Kids Camp begins on the last day of June, and runs until the 2 of July. The theme for this year is Transformers, based around the concept of Romans 12:2- "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God - what is good and acceptable and perfect." Transformers '07 will be a time of fun for 7 to 15 year olds where they can learn about what it means to be transformed and changed!!
During the second week of the school holidays the Salvo's hold their national netball and basketball carnival. From the 8th to the 15th at the Gawler Starplex stadium in South Oz the Western Vic teams will be competing against other Salvo teams from around the country. we could use a few players for mens basketball and womens netball, so if you're interested, let me know.
Also, the dates for Candidates Weekend have been announced. This year Candidates Weekend will be on from the 13th to the 15th of July, while I'm in Adelaide, unfortunately!! Candidates Weekend is an opportunity for all of those people who are interested in officership or lieutenancy (that is full time ministry) within The Salvation Army to gather together and explore their calling and find out what is involved in becoming and officer/lieutenant. If you are interested, let me know and I will get back to you.
Well that's about it for now,
Adios Amigos.
Monday, May 14, 2007
The Dead Sea
Recently, while i was travelling around the division, someone asked me why they call the Dead Sea the Dead Sea. For the life of me i can't remember who it was though, so if you're reading this post, and it was you who asked me the question, here is the answer:
After some discussion with others and a quick check of that encyclopedia that has info on just about everything, Wikepedia, it turns out that the Dead Sea has an incredibly high salinity level, approximately 30% making it the second most salty body of water and almost impossible for life to exist in it's waters. The shores of the Dead Sea are the lowest place on the planet not covered by water or ice at 418 metres below sea level. The Dead Sea is also the terminus for several rivers, the most significant being the Jordan River. The Dead Sea does not flow out to any thing, it is the final destination for the water from the rivers and their tributaries.
Coincidentally, while in a meeting yesterday i heard the dead sea used in an interesting analogy. We were talking about the role of the church, and how in some places the church is much like the Dead Sea. Some churches appear to be the final resting place for much activity. People come to church, come to faith and come to do nothing in the church. It appears there is a mentality that once you are a member of the church there is no further need for activity. It was suggested to those of us gathered that, perhaps, instead of our churches being like the Dead Sea, our churches should be like a spring or catchment area instead. That instead of the church being the final destination, the church should act like a catchment that collects water and focuses it and sends it out to the sea/ocean. The new people we see coming to our churches are like the rain, sent from God, which the church collects and channels into doing things. And as these people are sent into the world we see change coming, areas once barren and dry are reinvigorated with new life, life is given and change occurs.
It's an interesting thought isn't it.
It's amazing what happens when a thought process is changed.
After some discussion with others and a quick check of that encyclopedia that has info on just about everything, Wikepedia, it turns out that the Dead Sea has an incredibly high salinity level, approximately 30% making it the second most salty body of water and almost impossible for life to exist in it's waters. The shores of the Dead Sea are the lowest place on the planet not covered by water or ice at 418 metres below sea level. The Dead Sea is also the terminus for several rivers, the most significant being the Jordan River. The Dead Sea does not flow out to any thing, it is the final destination for the water from the rivers and their tributaries.
Coincidentally, while in a meeting yesterday i heard the dead sea used in an interesting analogy. We were talking about the role of the church, and how in some places the church is much like the Dead Sea. Some churches appear to be the final resting place for much activity. People come to church, come to faith and come to do nothing in the church. It appears there is a mentality that once you are a member of the church there is no further need for activity. It was suggested to those of us gathered that, perhaps, instead of our churches being like the Dead Sea, our churches should be like a spring or catchment area instead. That instead of the church being the final destination, the church should act like a catchment that collects water and focuses it and sends it out to the sea/ocean. The new people we see coming to our churches are like the rain, sent from God, which the church collects and channels into doing things. And as these people are sent into the world we see change coming, areas once barren and dry are reinvigorated with new life, life is given and change occurs.
It's an interesting thought isn't it.
It's amazing what happens when a thought process is changed.
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