I Serve The Man With The Plan

LIFE'S TOUGHTEST QUESTIONS

2009-09-20T17:03:00.000-07:00

How is your life going at the moment??

Are things great, good, mediocre, bad or terrible???

What sort of questions and issues are you struggling with right now??

Life can throw us lots of tricky questions, things that puzzle and perplex us and tie us up in knots. How do we find answers to these questions? Can we find answers to these questions?

This year, at Spring Celebration, our theme for the Saturday night Youth Event will be Life's Toughest Questions. Here, along with the opportunity for awesome worship with a great band and fun times with your friends as we play some games, you will also have the opportunity to ask a panel some the toughest questions you have thought of. There will be a box at Spring Celebration to drop questions into, there may even be opportunity to ask questions of the panel that night, but to be sure that you get a question in to be answered, respond to this post in the comments section. If we get a lot of questions, we may not be able to answer them all, but we will attempt to do our best. Questions can be about faith, relationships. the Bible, God, life circumstances, what ever you can think of. We may not have the answers yet, we may not have the answers later, but we will do our best to answer your questions.

So, what is the toughest question in your life at the moment??

It would be great to hear from you.

LIFE'S TOUGHTEST QUESTIONS (A)

2009-09-20T16:58:00.000-07:00

Sooooo,

Firstly, apologies for not blogging for such a long time. Things have been pretty busy for quite a while now, and to be honest, blogging hasnt really been a priority for me for a little bit. But things should change soon. Stay tuned for new posts soon.

Also, stay tuned for a post concerning lifes toughest questions and the Spring Clebration Youth Event.

EASTER CAMP 2009

2009-03-01T19:41:00.000-08:00

This years Easter Camp is called Reconstruct. During the camp we will explore Jesus' challenge to destroy the temple and his promise of raising it up three days later.

Reconstruct kicks off at 6 P.M. Good Friday night and will be full of action, fun and revelation until 1 P.M. Easter Monday when we head home.

Camp will cost $140.00 if you get your registration form and $50.00 deposit in before the 27/03/2009 and $160.00 if you enter your form after the 27/03/2009. In addition to this we have been able to organise a sliding discount of 20% increments for families sending more than one child (i.e. 2o% for child number 2, 40% for child number 3, 60% for child number 4, etc).

Forms are out this week, see your corps officer (minister) for one, fill it out, get your corps officer to sign it, and get the form and your deposit back to me at DHQ (P.O. Box 342 Ballarat VIC 3353) ASAP!!!

Hope to see you there!!!

Joel

WHO ARE WE? WHOSE ARE WE??

2009-02-08T20:25:00.000-08:00

Have you seen the movie Gladiator, it surely has to rate as one of the epic movies of the century so far. After Maximus, played by Russel Crowe, leads his band of gladiators to victory in a huge battle at the colosseum before the emperor, he is asked by the emperor what his name is. At first he replies flatly; “I am gladiator.” After being pressed for a more accurate description of who he his, Maximus replies: “I am Maximus Decimus Meridus, commander of the armies of the north, general of the Felix Legions, loyal servant to the true emperor Marcus Aurelius, father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife and I will have my vengeance in this life or the next”

Maximus describes himself first by what he did, what his job was, then by who he served then by what he had lost and finally by what he was going to do.

I wonder, how would you define yourself?

Who do you tell people you are?

What in your life defines who you are?

It seems today that many people are facing a crisis of identity. It seems that sometimes we don’t exactly know who we are. You hear of people needing to take time off to find themselves, as if they have misplaced their identity somewhere.

What would happen to you if what you said defined who you are as a person changed or was taken away?

Would you still know who you are?

Have you seen the movie wanted? In Wanted, we are introduced to Wesley. Now, Wesley is a nice enough sort of bloke, he is working as an accounts manager at a large company, and to be honest, he could be a lot happier.

Wesley’s life is far from what he imagined it would be. His girlfriend is cheating on him with his best mate, his boss is a tyrant, he suffers from debilitating panic attacks that require constant medication to control and truth be told, there is actually very little anywhere that Wesley really cares about at all.

But one night everything changes.

While picking up a few things from the corner shop, Wesley meets Fox, a member of the Fraternity, a group of elite assassins, working undercover in the world around him. Fox introduces Wesley to Frost, the soft spoken, wise leader of the fraternity, who reveals to Wesley that his father, the man who abandoned he and his mother while he was still a baby, was also a member of the Fraternity.

That is, until he was killed just days previous to their encounter by a rogue assasin. Wesley is recruited into the Fraternity and begins his training in order to find the killer of his father.

Part of the training Wesley under goes, requires him to understand why he is where he is, and why he is doing what he is doing.

It is during one of his sessions of self-discovery that Wesley reaches his breaking point and cries out: “I don’t know who I am!!!”

It is here that Frost takes Wesley back to his room, and tells him that the room, was in fact, his father’s room. Frost tells Wesley: “Everything in this room, books, weapons, clothes, belonged to him, now they belong to you. Find a connection in this room Wesley. It may be the only way of finding out who you are.”

Wesley felt lost, he didn’t really know who or what he was. Wesley needed to discover who he was. And in order to know the who and what of his existence, it was important for him to find a connection to who his father was.

In the Bible we find another man, Paul, a man who had once hunted down and persecuted Christians until experiencing a radically life changing meeting with Jesus Christ Himself, writes and tells us: “For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords"), yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live. (1 Corinthians 8:5-6 New International Version)

Today, we can identify ourselves by so many different titles and labels. Who we are can get so wrapped up in what we wear, how we look or what we do, that when this is taken away from us we can sometimes lose our own sense of identity, we lose who we feel we are.

In this passage of the Bible Paul talks about how there are different gods and lords in heaven and on earth. I want to suggest that these gods and lords might be the things that we use to define who we are, the things that we have decided to let define the purpose of our lives.

The problem is, that false gods and false lords, idols, the identities we create for ourselves, like the identity Maximus the one time general, and now gladiator searching for vengeance, created, can never be relied upon to help us or define us when we need to truly know who we are.

When these false gods and lords, these temporary things that we use to determine our identity and purpose cease to do that, we are left searching for who we are, searching for the real God and the real Lord in whom our real identity and our real purpose for living is found.

In the bible Paul tells us that God is our Father, that everything has come from Him and that He is the purpose of our lives, and that Jesus Christ is our Lord, who makes all things possible, and is the reason we have life.

Just like Wesley needed to find a connection to his father in order to discover who he was, we need to find a connection to God the father to discover who we are. When we find that connection to God the Father we discover who it was that created us and whose image we were created in.

Upon discovering our Creator and that we have been created in His image, we are able to discover the purpose of our creation. If we bear the image of God as a result of our creation, then it stands to reason that our purpose can be found in the image of He who has created us.

We are told in the Bible that God is love. So, if God, our creator, loves us unconditionally, then surely part of our purpose is to love God unconditionally, and also to love others in the same unconditional way that God loves them.

If God, whose very image we are created in, cares passionately about the poor and the marginalised and the oppressed, then surely part of our purpose is to care passionately about those who are poor and marginalised and oppressed. If God wants to see the whole world reconciled not only to Himself, but to each other also, then surely part of our purpose is to make possible reconciliation between not only us and God, but between each other.

In fact, God has already made the reconciliation process between Him and us and others easier.

Through Jesus’ death and resurrection God began the process of reconciling the world to Him and to each other. It is through Jesus Christ crucified and resurrected that we find life, a life in abundance. If God gives us our source and purpose, then it is Jesus who makes it possible for us to live and fulfil our purpose abundantly.

Jesus’ teaching is so counter intuitive to all that the world tells us is logical. Who would ever believe that the best way to find out who we are is to abandon our search for self completely and search for God instead?

And the thing is, that no search for God ever goes unfulfilled. God has promised us that when we search for Him with all of our heart we will be able to find Him. Irrespective of who we are, what we are doing or the circumstances that we find our selves in, God has promised to reveal Himself to us when we look for Him with all of our effort.

When we stop trying to define who and what we are by what we own or do or look like and begin to define ourselves by whose we are and what His purpose is, then we can truly find ourselves and the meaning of our lives.

VENGANCE OR JUSTICE???

2008-12-14T19:15:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I will admit that this isn't a very Christmassy sort of blog, but it is something that I have been thinking about for a while.

I was watching the news a month or so ago, and while I now can no longer remember the details about the article, I still clearly remember questioning whether or not the person being interviewed was seeking vengeance or justice.

As I thought about that I wondered how many times in my own life had I confused the short term feeling of me getting satisfaction from revenge with a desire to see justice prevail. I have heard other talk about how they want to see justice in a situation and questioned whether this was truly the case, or whether they were just looking for an opportunity to extract their pound of flesh from the person who they feel has wronged them

So, I guess my first question is what is the difference between justice and vengeance?

Justice can be defined as: The ideal of fairness, esp. with regard to the punishment of wrongdoing or punishment of a person who has wronged someone.*

Revenge is similar, it can be defined as: Any form of personal retaliatory action against an individual, institution, or group for some perceived harm or injustice. *

So you can see how it is easy to get confused between justice and revenge. When we indulge in revenge, we see ourselves as punishing the person who has offended us by causing some kind of perceived harm or injustice, and equalising the score, thus making things fair again.

But one question I have is; when we seek revenge, do we aim only to equalise things again, thus making it 'fair' or do we seek to 'one up' the person who we perceived to have wronged us, thus making our punishment 'un-fair'??!!!

So what do we do, how do we see justice served to all parties involved in a situation, and not seek revenge for perceived insults, harms or damages.

I think the best way to see justice served and not just revenge dealt is to ensure that an impartial third party first determines whether an injustice has in fact occurred and them to apportion the correct punishment that fits the severity of the affore mentioned injustice.

Isaiah 1:17 tells us: "Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow." It seems to me that the instructions that follow the command describe what justice should look like. When we are just we stand up for those who are being walked over, who are at a disadvantage and are suffering.

The best judge of a perceived injustice is often someone else. One of the key words in this definition is 'perceived'. What we perceive to be a major injustice, may actually be rather minor when we look at the cold hard facts and remove all of the emotion around the issue. When we take something personally (and lets be honest, there are some things that are almost impossible not to take personally) we naturally want to dispense our own justice or revenge to assuage our hurt or anger at the perceived offense. This then can lead to the person we exact our revenge upon, on the basis of dispensing justice, to feel a perceived injustice and retaliate, seeking vengeance and/or justice on their own behalf. And so the cycle continues and even escalates. When we allow a third party to determine the damage done and the required compensation/punishment required to restore fairness, the personal nature of the situation is removed and hopefully all parties are treated with dignity and respect and the balance of fairness is achieved. In Zechariah 7:9 we are told; "This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another." This helps us to remember to ensure that the punishment fits the offense and the we do not oppress the unjust oppressor unfairly and thus become oppressive and unjust ourselves.

Leviticus 19:18 tells us: "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD." So the next time you feel as though you have been wronged or offended, ask someone impartial if what has happened to you is fair, and instead of seeking revenge to even the score, allow someone else, maybe even God, to sort it out.

Actually, when I think about it, we have all been unjustly treated...

Except in this instance this injustice has worked in our favour, unjustly requiring an innocent party to take punishment that they did not deserve.

Jesus died for us, He took the punishment that was rightfully ours. God has given us His grace as unjust as it is (not that I am complaining mind you). We don't deserve it, that's why its called grace, and that's why it's amazing!!

*Wiktionary

How God is better than Santa

2008-12-02T21:32:00.000-08:00

The countdown is on, less than a month to go until Christmas. Christmas Carols are being sung, trees and decorations are going up, people are shopping for presents and that large jolly man in a red suit is visiting shopping centres and meeting children in the lead up to the big night when he will come around to deliver toys to all of the good boys and girls. As the song goes, “He knows when you are sleeping, he knows when you’re awake, he knows if you’ve been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake.” The song also tells us that Santa is“Making a list and checking it twice, he’s going to find out who’s naughty and nice. Santa Claus is coming to town.”

I wonder; how often do we confuse God with Santa Claus??

I mean, there are some aspects of God that sort of overlap with our understanding of Santa. For instance, we know that God knows our every move. In Psalm 139 David tells us of God: O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. While Santa may know when we are sleeping or awake, God knows far, far more about us, probably even more than we think we know about ourselves.

And while Santa may know when our behaviour has been good or bad, the psalm tells us that God even knows our thoughts, both the good ones, and the bad ones.

And like Santa God has a list. The bible tells us that the Book of Life contains the names of all of those who believe in and follow Jesus. Revelation tells us of those who choose to follow Jesus: “He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.” God knows us, he knows all about us, he even records our names in the book of life when we chose to follow Jesus, but unlike Santa, God keeps no record of our wrongs. Unlike Santa’s workshop at the North Pole, there is no naughty list in heaven. When writing 1 Corinthians Paul spoke of the unconditional nature of love, and how true love keeps no record of wrongs. In Isaiah God tells us of Himself; "I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.”

And so while Santa may be able to tell us what we have done wrong and why we are on the naughty list, God neither keeps a naughty list nor does he remember what we might have done to qualify us for the naughty list.

On December 24th each year billions of children go to bed and lie awake for hours in anticipation of the arrival of the large jolly man in the red suit, Santa, who brings with him a red sack transported by 9 reindeer, one of which has an extraordinarily shiny nose. This red sack hopefully contains the toys that were on a list that was sent to Santa many weeks, even months before. The receipt of these presents is conditional on the quality and quantity of good things you have done over the past 12 months outweighing the quantity and lack of quality of the bad things you have done in the same 12 months. Lucky for us God is far more gracious.

The gifts we receive from God have very little to do with the quality or quantity of our good or bad deeds. In fact, irrespective of whether we even choose to acknowledge God’s existence he gives us gifts. Each and everyone of us have received the gift of life, we have the sun, and moon and the stars to look at, we receive the gift of the warmth of the sun and the refreshing of the rain, even if that one seems to be doled out a little unevenly at times. And before any of us were born God delivered His ultimate gift to a couple of young teenagers in a stable in a backwater of the Roman Empire and trusted them to nurture and care for it until it was ready to be shared with the entire world. Indeed, each Christmas we remember the arrival of the gift that is Jesus, the baby who grew into the man who would die in order for us to be restored into a right relationship with God. We received this gift long before we were even capable of distinguishing right from wrong, with God’s full knowledge that some of us will choose wrong. When we choose to follow Jesus we receive the gift of eternal life, a life spent in relationship with God. This gift surpasses anything that might be stuffed into a stocking hung by any chimney in the world with care.

So yes, God and Santa are similar. Not everyone believes in them, they both have lists, they both give presents and they both know what we are up to, but God surpasses Santa in every way. So this year, as you put up you tree, as you visit the large jolly man in the red suit and as you search for the perfect gifts to give your loved ones, may you remember that God loves you, that He has some amazing gifts to give you and that His love is not conditional on your goodness, but on His.

One Night Stands With Jesus

2008-11-26T17:06:00.000-08:00

I tend to talk a lot of rubbish at times> Those who know me well would understand that at times I put my brain into neutral and just let whatever come into my head flow out my mouth.

I was almost having one of those moments yesterday. Although I was thinking about what I was saying, I was just going with the flow of the conversation when I may possibly have coined a new phrase. I was talking with a friend about evangelism and the different ways that people communicate the gospel to others. I was saying how important it is that we help people to be discipled and become disciples after they have made the initial choice to follow Jesus as their saviour.

As we talked about the pro's and con's of various evangelistic strategies, we started talking about how Christianity is meant to be a relationship with God and how the first commitment for some people in their relationship with God is about as far as things go. It was here I likened it to a one night stand.

I'm sure you know what a one night stand is, even if you have never had one, you may know someone who has or have at least seen it on T.V. One night stands are brief (usually lasting only one night - hence the name), are emotional but at the same time not exactly intimate, and rarely ever lead to a significant relationship. Like real life one night stands, after a one night stand with Jesus, there is the possibility that you may catch something that will change your life, but maybe you can see someone about that.

Our lives shouldn't just be a series of one night stands with Jesus, where we hook up with him at some big event when our emotions are running high, but then forget all about Him the next day. I think God wants to be closer to us than that. I think God desires to know us intimately ( Check out Psalm 139) and to spend quality time with us, even when we aren't in an emotionally hyped state, perhaps especially when we aren't in an emotionally hyped state. Have a look at Genesis 3, we can see here that God, is walking in the Garden of Eden, searching for Adam and Eve, wanting to spend time with them. God desires to be in relationship with us, not an emotional, yet un-intimate (possibly another new word) relationship, but the kind of relationship that grows closer and more intimate as you travel through life together, through the good times and the bad times.

What sort of relationship do you have with Jesus, is it emotional, physical, intimate, consistent or a combination of all of the above?

Bravely Going Where God Has Clearly Gone Before

2008-11-18T16:27:00.000-08:00

One of the Ballarat radio stations have segments throughout the day where they play short segments of stand up comedians. Some of these are really quite funny, some are just funny and some are not. I remember hearing one comedian remark that they always found it interesting when they watched the original Star Trek that despite claiming to "Boldly go where no man has gone before" everywhere Kirk, Spock and the rest of them went, there always appeared to be men (and women) there already.

I remembered this point the other night as I was driving home listening to a podcast from one of my favourite authors and speakers, Erwin McManus at Mosaic. It was kind of a side point to his message, but Erwin was talking about how he thought it a bit odd for people to say that they are taking God to a place, because God is already in that place and is moving there already.

This got me thinking a bit.

It never ceases to amaze me how God has moved in my life. On the rarest occasion I am very aware of God directing me specifically in certain ways, ways that require me to make specific conscious decisions and changes. At other times, I am aware of God being active and involved in my life, but my response needs to be one of continued obedience, keeping on doing what I know God wants and being patient and allowing God to work the rest of it out. And then there are times where I look back and am amazed at how incredibly involved God has been in my life, even at times where I wasn't overly aware of it.

If in my own life God has been active without me being aware of it, how much more is he active in the world without many, many more being aware of it??!!

Christian theology talks about preceding or preveninent grace, the grace that God has prepared far in advance that allows us to enter into relationship with Him. Thomas Oden of Drew University defines prevenient grace as, "...the grace that begins to enable one to choose further to cooperate with saving grace. By offering the will the restored capacity to respond to grace, the person then may freely and increasingly become an active, willing participant in receiving the conditions for justification. (thanks to wikipedia)" So even before we choose to accept, believe or even acknowledge Gods existence, God is going before us and preparing the way for us to enter into a relationship with Him.
Throughout the book of Acts, we see many instances where God had prepared the ground for the apostles to reveal Him to others. I think of Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch, Peter with Cornelius and his household, the conversion of Saul who changed his name to Paul and how this Paul revealed to the Athenians the true God through a statue in their city dedicated to an unknown God.

I am without a doubt that God has prepared the way for us to share with others our faith and allow God to reveal Himself to them. And if God has gone before us, and is preparing the way, who are we to sit back and not go??

What could possibly stop us?

INTERESTING CONVERSATIONS

2008-11-10T16:11:00.000-08:00

For those of you who have been following this blog over the last week or so, you would be aware that my last post, initially about bullying and the responsibility we have to care for others, not oppress them, sparked quite an interesting debate.

This debate, centred much around the divinity/deity of Jesus; as in, is Jesus God or was he just a human servant of God. I love a good discussion as much as the next bloke, so was happy to enter into the debate with this person for a while. As the debate went on though, it became apparent to me that neither of us were likely to change our minds, and so discussing it further would really prove to be of little value on this blog. I have since received an email from the blogger to which I will respond once I have some time.

This discussion got me thinking though. I thought of all of the places that I have had the opportunity to speak to people about matters of faith and God and religion. One I distinctly remember was while on holidays on the Gold Coast a couple of years ago. I was staying at a backpackers near the beach, and on my last night there a group of people that I had met while I was there had decided to go out to a night club and invited me. being a sociable sort of person and always up for a night out, I tagged along. At some stage during the night I found myself in a deep conversation about grace and God's forgiveness in the middle of the night club with one of the bloke I had met at the backpackers, it was an awesome privilege to be a part of that conversation!!

I have had long conversations with people in Pubs about what it means to talk with God and to hear His voice, and many other places you would not normally associate with talking about God. Although I have never had the conversation that nearly every pastor/minister/preacher seems to have had on a plane where they talk matters of God and faith, I hope that the conversations I have had with people have planted seeds in peoples lives that one day will bear fruit.

BULLYING

2008-10-30T15:04:00.000-07:00

It may surprise some of you to know that I was never cool or popular in high school (then again, it may be no shock at all). In fact, in stark contrast to my current size and shape, in high school I was short, scrawny, and a bit awkward looking.

Looking back, it occurs to me that high school is not always the greatest place if you are a little different from the 'normal' of the school you attend. Clearly, I was not 'normal' in high school and as a result was the target of some quite significant bullying at times. As a result of this bullying I have developed a real compassion for others who are picked on and targeted for bullying in whatever form it may take.

As you might imagine, when I read the story about the Xavier College boy who was hospitalised after a muck up day rugbyesque game and how a friend of his claimed that he had been the target of systemic bullying at the school (read the article here: http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=651791). Later in the week I was shocked to read in the newspaper that children in prep class at primary school are reporting cases of being bullied.

Bullying should not be accepted as being a 'normal' part of growing up. Yes it happens, and yes, I am a much stronger person today because of the things I have experienced growing up, but this in no way makes it right or acceptable. As I read the bible I see a God who has a passion for those who are oppressed, harassed and bullied by the more powerful. I see God continually call His people to take a stand against the oppression and harassment of others and to promote a society where all are accepted and cared for.

In Amos we see the "Fat cows of Bashan" condemned for their oppression of the poor and the crushing of the needy, James 1:27 says: "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God , the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world. (NRSV)" The Message puts it this way: "Anyone who sets himself up as "religious" by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world."

This week, I would encourage you to look out for those who are subjected to harassment or bullying and reach out to them with the grace and love that God has shown us.

EXPERIENCING GOD

2008-10-19T15:19:00.000-07:00

Before I start, let me say that this is by no means a definitive answer on the above subject, just a collection of some of my thoughts on the subject, and I would be happy to hear your thoughts also.

Lately I have been travelling around Western Victoria a bit. As I have travelled around I have had the privilege of sharing with people about worshipping and meeting with God. Recently as I was travelling I was thinking about this concept of meeting with God and experiencing His presence.

After reading a few blogs I began thinking about how we have become such an experiential society. Everything from food to cars to toilet paper is marketed to us as an experience. We seek out experiences and consume them just as we would any other commodity. This led me to thinking about our experiences of intimacy with God.

Do we treat those times when we experience God's presence in some special tangible way as a consumable commodity?? What should our expectation of experiencing God's presence in a tangible way be??

I know that God is omnipresent, that he is in all places at all times, but I also believe that there are times when He makes Himself more present to us at other times. Think the regularity and depth of these times has more to do with us than it has to do with God though. I know that things like sin and disobedience make it harder to hear and experience God. I also know that we can consciously choose to reject God and avoid His presence also.

My real question is: As Christians, how often should we be seeking that tangible experience of God's presence, should we be some kind of Holy Spirit junkie continually seeking our next 'hit' of intimacy with God, or is it OK to go years or even decades without feeling the intimate presence of God in our lives???!!!

I heard a while ago that Mother Theresa stated that for the last 50 years of her life she had not experienced God's presence in a tangible way. digitaljournal.com discusses some of Mother Theresa's letters and says this in summary: "Mother Mary Teresa spent 17 years in Calcutta, teaching with a group of uncloistered Sisters, before traveling to Darjeeling in 1946, at the age of 36. During that trip, she believed that Christ spoke to her and called her to work with the sick, the poor, and the dying. Mother Teresa was able to recount conversations she had with Christ, and even recounted her visions of him. Based on her revelations to her Mother General, her confessor, and even the Pope, she was granted permission to begin her one-woman crusade. It was then that Mother Teresa felt Jesus leave her and stop speaking to her...

...According to her letters, Mother Teresa felt Christ did not communicate with her for the next ten years. It wasn't until after the death of Pope Pius XII in 1958, when Teresa prayed that God would give her some proof that he was "pleased with Society", that she felt the long years of darkness end. It was only to be for a brief time, no more than five weeks, before her period of spiritual darkness returned, and continued until her death on Sept. 5, 1997."

I think we all go through periods where we feel like God is distant or even absent. I know that even Jesus felt this way on the cross, crying out "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me." But to go for 50 years without feeling a tangible presence of God or hearing His voice, what must that be like??!!!

And this brings me into conflict. How can I reconcile a woman who is seen as being so Christlike and spiritual, and yet seemingly devoid of any real experience of Christ Himself for half a century, and the promise that God has made to us that when we search for Him with all of our heart, that we will be able to find Him?

As I look at the bible I see God as an experiential God, not a god to be believed in but never intimately connected with. Isn't the whole point of our creation to be in relationship with Him??!! As I read through the Bible I see God 'turn up' in amazing way and unexpected places. I read stories of people having amazing, intimate encounters with the Creator of all things, of being rescued and delivered, of being given messages and signs. I see God as a God that reveals Himself to humanity, not just though creation, but in intimate, personal, tangible, ways!!!

Not that I am assuming that God will just turn up when and where we want Him to necessarily. I think that sometimes we need to persist in prayer before that moment when God arrives in some amazing tangible way. I am happy to be corrected in this, but I think it was Commissioner Samule Logan Brengle who recounted a story of a time when he was seeking God and after praying and fasting all day, still had not encountered God. It was not until well into the night, after much prayer, fasting and waiting on the Holy Spirit that God revealed himself in a tangible way which Brengle (I think) described it as "Fire, amazing Holy Fire." I think that sometimes we miss out on those moments of special intimacy with God because we bail out too early, because we cease to persist.

Sometimes we miss out on those moments with God because we refuse to listen to what God has already told us. William Booth said: "Before we go to our knees to receive the Baptism of Fire, let me beg of you to see to it that your souls are in harmony with the will and purpose of the Holy Spirit whom you seek."

Can you remember the last time you had an intimate personal, tangible experience of God's presence in you life?

I am keen to hear your thoughts on the matter, maybe this will stimulate some interesting discussion.

And let me know if I have misquoted Brengle.

What Will Your Headstone Say??

2008-09-29T21:58:00.001-07:00

I was watchin T.V. the other night and while channel surfing came across a program that got me thinking. I cant remember what the program was, but it got me thinking about the different things you read on peoples headstones' epitaphs at the cemetery.

For example Spike Milligan's headstone is rumoured to read: "I told them I was ill". Others that I found after a short search with Google include: Karl Marx (founder of communism); "Workers of all lands unite. The philosophers have only interpreted the world in various ways; the point is to change it." - Wyatt and Josephine Earp (Sherrif of Tombstone- cowboy era); "Nothing's so sacred as honour, and nothing's so loyal as love." Dean Martin (Actor Singer and member of the Rat Pack); "Everybody loves somebody sometime." Isaac Newton; "Nature and Nature's laws lay hid in night: God said, 'Let Newton be!' and all was light." Benjamin Frankin; "The body of Benjamin Franklin, printer (like the cover of an old book, its contents worn out, and stript of its lettering and gilding) lies here, food for worms. Yet the work itself shall not lost, for it will, as he believed, appear once more In a new and more beautiful edition, corrected and amended by its Author." Epitaph for the Unknown Soldier by W. H. Auden; "To save your world you asked this man to die: Would this man, could he see you now, ask why?"

As you can see, some are amusing, some are clever and some are truly profound. Each epitaph says much about the person who lies beneath the stone and dirt. I particularly like the epitaph for the unknown soldier.

What sort of impact will you leave?

What will people say about you when you are gone?

What would you like your epitaph to say on your headstone?

A Hardened Heart

2008-09-10T18:09:00.000-07:00

This is a copy of a sermon I shared a few weeks ago. It is a little long for a blog, but I thought it might be a good reminder to us to be a little more compassionate at times, I know I need reminding of that at times.

Before moving to Melbourne to go to the Training College, I worked as an Operating Theatre Technician at the Hobart Private Hospital. My job there was to set up operating theatres for different operations, assist the doctors and nurses to position patients for various operations, ensure that there was an adequate supply of things like Saline and other fluids given by I.V. drips kept warm, help get the patient off the operating table, clean up the mess and get the theatre set up for the next operation.

During this time I had the privilege to observe a number of operations at various degrees of proximity. The closest I got was about 30cm (1 foot) from the operative site as I held a patient in place while they inserted a pacemaker into their heart.

A heart has 4 chambers, the left and right ventricle, and the left and right atrium. The right atrium receives oxygen-depleted blood from the body via the superior vena cava and the inferior vena cava and pumps it through the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle.
The right ventricle receives oxygen-depleted blood from the right atrium and pumps it through the pulmonary valve into the lungs via the pulmonary artery.
Then the left atrium receives oxygen-rich blood from the lungs via the pulmonary veins and pumps it through the mitral valve into the left ventricle.
The left ventricle then receives oxygen-rich blood from the left atrium and pumps it through the aortic valve to the entire body via the aorta, including to the heart muscle itself through the coronary arteries.
That’s the way our heart works and why our heart beat is a lub lub sound.

What happens in some people though, is that one of the chambers fibrillates or flutters. When this happens the blood is not pumped around the body properly and the patient starts to get into some pretty serious trouble. To restore a normal or sinus rhythm to the heart something is needed to be done. The first preference is to use drugs like adrenalin to jolt the heart back into a normal rhythm, but in serious cases an electric current is needed to jolt the heart back into normal rhythm. That is why you see defibrillators used on people having a heart attack. A pace maker is like a mini defibrillator, it senses when the heart is getting out of rhythm, and it sends a little jolt into the heart to fix it, most of the time the patient will never know it happened.

As I read the bible I see how God often shocks people to get them to change their heart. In Exodus we see that the Pharaoh needed some serious shocking to change a very hard heart.

Pharaoh was holding the Hebrew people prisoner, and using them as slaves to complete his building projects. Overwhelmed by the enormity of the task and their terrible treatment they cried out to God to save them.

So God sends Moses, who lets be honest wouldn’t exactly be most people’s top choice (he had a speech impediment, he had killed an Egyptian slave master and was a shepherd, a less than prestigious occupation) to shock the pharaoh into a change of heart and bring freedom to the Hebrew people.

As a result of the pharaoh’s hardened heart and unwillingness to release the Hebrew people, God uses a series of plagues that cover Egypt to try and change the pharaoh’s heart.

Today we are looking at the plague of the Frogs. Now if ever there was a good reason to change your heart, a pile of stinking, rotting frogs has to be high on the list.

On of the most interesting things about the whole plagues of Egypt saga has to be the pharaoh’s response. Each time, after a plague was stopped the Bible tells us that the Pharaoh hardened his heart. Despite the shock of the plague, the pharaoh’s heart remained unchanged.

Three things struck my about the hardening of the pharaoh’s heart. The first was that he made a choice to harden his heart. The Second was that when the pharaoh hardened his heart, he ignored the warning signs around him. And finally the pharaohs heart need to be softened again before he would let the Hebrew people go.

I think it is interesting that the pharaoh chose to harden his heart. He had the choice to allow it to remain soft and release the Hebrew people, but instead after each plague the pharaoh hardened his heart a little more.

While sometimes circumstances around us force us to harden our hearts, I think more often the choices we make slowly harden our hearts, often without us ever really noticing it. At first maybe we just ignore the little things, but after a while as our hearts start to harden bigger and more significant things start to have less and less of an impact on us, until one day we become incapable of feeling much at all. If we are lucky we realise this lack of feeling, but the truth is that there may be times where we do not realise just how hard our hearts have become.

The hardening of a heart can be caused by one of two things; ignoring those around us, or ignoring God. And the truth be told, one usually leads to the other.

When we start ignoring those around us, we begin to switch off to their feelings, to their dreams, and to their needs, and we begin to see people as a commodity to be used and consumed and disposed of. Our hearts begin to dry out and become harder when qualities like compassion and kindness begin to evaporate

When this attitude starts creeping in it is often not long before we start ignoring God.

Rob Bell (the Nooma dude) says that the way we view the creation says a lot about the way we view the creator. When we start turning off to the issues of this world, we start turning off to God.

When we stop caring about others, we stop caring about what God cares about, and slowly this puts us in a position where we begin to block God out of our lives. As we block God out of our lives our hearts begin to harden. The more we choose block God out and ignore that which is important to Him, the harder it is for us to hear God. And as it becomes harder to hear God and communicate with Him, we begin to lose contact with what is important to Him and as our values shift, often ever so imperceptibly to us, our relationship with Him begins to suffer and as a result our relationship with His creations can begin to suffer also.

Take for example the Pharaoh. He cut himself off from God. The more he hardened his heart, the more he started to mistreat the Hebrew people. And the more he mistreated the Hebrew people, the more he cut himself off from God.

Another thing that indicated the hardness of the pharaoh’s heart was that he failed to notice the stink.

We see in 7 that the pharaoh’s magicians were able to use their secret arts to duplicate the plague of frogs that God had sent through Moses, but they could not eradicate the problem, only God could do that.

So Pharaoh begs Moses to get God to remove the plague, and Moses prays and the frogs die. Verse 14 tells us that because of the piles of rotting frogs the land stank. Somehow, even with the stench of rotting frogs all around him, the Pharaoh ignored the warning and hardened his heart once more, blocking God and the things God cares most about out of pharaoh’s concerns.

There are things going on in our world that truly stink. People are oppressed, heartbroken and suffering, and yet much of the world remains uncaring.

Is it possible, that as a group of people humanity has hardened our hearts toward the plight of others?

In failing to notice the stink caused by the rotting frogs, the pharaoh’s hardened heart failed to recognise anything other than the immediate situation at hand.

In the bible passage we see that the pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and asked them to pray for the plague to be removed, but never dealt with the reason for the plague (the enslavement of the Hebrew people).

When we harden our hearts, we become interested in only fixing the problem at hand, not finding the real cause and dealing with that.

Imagine for a moment a child comes to you complaining of a sore arm, in fact it is so sore that they are sobbing with the pain. If all we do is give them some Panadol and send them on their way again, we may have dealt with the immediate issue of the pain, but have not dealt with the thing that is causing the pain, that is the fracture in the bone of the arm. If the arm is broken, X-rays are needed and the correct treatment needs to be performed. By only masking the pain of the situation the arm will never properly heal and will only cause more pain and future problems.

So the pharaoh refused to deal with the real cause of the plagues, instead continuing in his enslavement and abuse of the Hebrew people. Pharaoh continued to refuse to allow the people to leave Egypt and worship God.

The pharaoh’s heart was so hard that no shock alone could correct it. Pharaohs heart needed to be shocked so hard that it had to be broken to be repaired in order to be capable of caring about what God cared about.

In fact it wasn’t until the final plague killed off the firstborn of every Egyptian, including the pharaoh’s own son, a huge shock I am sure, that the pharaoh’s heart was broken enough to allow the Hebrew people to leave.

It occurs to me that a hardened heart is much like an arthritic joint, it is stiff and inflexible.

Sometimes an arthritic joint can be soothed and softened by taking fish oil, maybe it just needed a bit of lubrication.

Other times arthritis requires physical or occupational therapy to loosen it up.

And other times, in the case of really stiff and inflexible joints, the arthritic joint needs replacing all together.

Sometimes I think our hearts become a little hardened and we just need to add a little lubrication to soften it by remembering the plight of others. When we are confronted face to face with hopelessness, and despair, the tears of those we are confronted with can lubricate our hardened hearts and soften them up.

Sometimes we need to undertake a little physical or occupational therapy by actually going out and doing something creative or practical for another person to soften our hardened hearts towards others.

When we do something for another person we begin to invest something of ourselves in them. When we begin to do something for God we begin to invest in Him and as we invest something of ourselves, we begin to make it a priority in our lives, and as things take priority in our lives our hearts begin to soften towards them.

In severe cases of hardened hearts, it may be necessary for God to break our hardened hearts and replace them with a new heart of His own creation in order for us to feel again.

While I worked at the hospital, one operation that was performed with amazing regularity was a hip replacement. I would say that we averaged about 2 a week most of the time, sometimes more.

In a hip replacement the arthritic joint is cut out and replaced by a substitute joint, made from a high strength ceramic or titanium body with synthetic coating created by another company.

This process involves some significant pain and discomfort for the patient in the short term, but the removal of the old joint and the institution of a new joint ultimately leads to more manoeuvrability and a far better quality of life.

When it becomes necessary for God to break our own hardened hearts and replace it with one of His own creating, we may have to endure some short-term pain and discomfort. It is not the most pleasant of things to be suddenly confronted with pain that we have left undealt with in our own lives, and the pain that others experience in their lives, but as we begin to heal and our hearts are softened once again, we find that we have an increased emotional mobility and the quality of our lives will improve.

What choices are you making? Are you choosing to open yourself up to God and those God cares about, or are you choosing to block them off.

Do you notice the stink around you? Can you see the warning signs that things may not be quite right?

How much do you think it would take to soften your heart? Is it already soft? Does it require some lubrication or physical or occupational therapy? Or will your heart need some major reconstructive surgery to be soft again?

When I hear people talking about heart issues, I think of King David in the Old Testament. He was described as a man after Gods own heart, I guess you could say that his heartbeat to the same rhythm as God’s.

David wasn’t perfect, he made some pretty major mistakes when he ignored the priorities of God’s heart and got out of synch, but God would shock him and he when David realised his heart was out of synch he again committed to make God’s priorities his priorities.

Most of the time David’s heart longed for the things God’s heart longed for. And that is the sort of heart I want, a heart that beats to the rhythm of God’s heart, I want to have a heart that longs for the things God longs for.

How is the rhythm of your heart today?

Is it beating in tune with God’s or does it need a little shocking to get back on the right track? Has God shocked you recently?

The Mercy Seat

2008-08-11T19:51:00.000-07:00

Are you ever surprised by what you read in the Bible?

Often the biggest surprises are come from reading some of the least interesting bits of the bible. For example who would have thought that there was anything interesting about the ancestry of Jesus, yet upon closer inspection we find children produced from incest, a series of kings, the son of an adulterous relationship, a prostitute, and several non-Jewish ancestors (not something you would have bragged about in that culture).

While reading through one of the very detailed sections of Exodus recently, although I was searching for something else, I discovered this passage and it grabbed my attention:

Exodus 25: 17-22: 17Then you shall make a mercy seat of pure gold; two cubits and a half shall be its length, and a cubit and a half its width. 18You shall make two cherubim of gold; you shall make them of hammered work, at the two ends of the mercy seat. 19Make one cherub at the one end, and one cherub at the other; of one piece with the mercy seat you shall make the cherubim at its two ends. 20The cherubim shall spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings. They shall face one to another; the faces of the cherubim shall be turned toward the mercy seat. 21You shall put the mercy seat on the top of the ark; and in the ark you shall put the covenant that I shall give you. 22There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the covenant, I will deliver to you all my commands for the Israelites.

Truth be told I very nearly skipped right over the passage.

It was the reference to the mercy seat that grabbed my attention. In The Salvation Army we often refer to the Mercy Seat as the pew looking thing at front of the hall. It is here that we call people to step forward to and pray at as a sign of their response to what God is calling them to do.

I don’t know if I was just mucking around and making too much noise with my mate Andrew that day in Junior Soldiers where this was explained to me, but I now have a new appreciation for what the Mercy Seat is.

To me this passage speaks of God coming to us, of how God meets with us somewhere special and shares some of himself with us.

The first thing that I notice is that the angels are facing toward the Mercy Seat and their wings are overshadowing the Mercy Seat as though they are watching over the proceedings that take place there and providing protection for those who approach it.

I also notice that the Mercy Seat covers the covenant that God made with the Israelites. I think of the covenants that I have made with God, as a Junior Soldier, a senior Soldier and most recently as an officer of The Salvation Army, they were all made at the Mercy Seat, in the very clear presence of God. This passage reminded me that every time I meet with God, I can renew the covenants that I have made with Him, and he will renew the covenants that He has made with me.

But what I love the most is the last verse in this passage: 22There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the covenant, I will deliver to you all my commands for the Israelites.

God speaks to us in a variety of ways and places, but there is something very special that happens when we kneel at the Mercy Seat and open ourselves up to God. One of the most significant moments in my Christian faith occurred because I knelt and opened myself fully to God. It changed my life and I have never been the same since. At the Mercy Seat, when we open ourselves up to God we clear away all of the clutter that seems to fill our life and we can hear God more clearly.

For the Israelites the Mercy Seat was in the most Holy of Holy places, accessible to only the very select few. Only this select few were able to meet with God like this. The good news is that after the crucifixion of Jesus, the heavy curtain that separated the masses from this Holy of Holy places was torn in two from top to bottom, allowing us all access to God and to hearing His commands for our lives.

This week, I encourage you to find your own Mercy Seat. It doesn’t have to be the one at the front of the church, it could be a quiet place outside in nature, or a place you set aside in your home to retreat to and meet with God, but I encourage you to open yourself up to God and listen to His voice in your life. You never know it may change your life forever!!!

Who Is God To You???

2008-08-03T18:43:00.000-07:00

I've been reading this book lately called Divine Nobodies by Jim Palmer. I think it has become my new favourite book. Basically it is semi-autobiographical and recounts various stories from the authors life and shows how everyday people can impact and transform lives.

In one Chapter Jim talks about his traumatic childhood and the severe depression he suffered during and because of that. it is quite a provoking chapter and really forced me to consider a few things I had not really thought of before.

One thing that really stood out to me was when Jim started talking about how he pictured God. Jim spoke about how he slowly learned to see God in a different light, a shift from a condemning God who was waiting in judgement to deal with him, to a God who loved him deeply, who grieved over the pain and tragedy in Jim's life and wanted so deeply to show Jim His love.

This got me thinking, I wondered what my picture of God is.

I think that I have had different pictures or ideas of God's identity at different stages in my life. I guess at times I have seen God as some kind of Super-Santa, there to fulfil my every wish - just as long as I am a good boy. At other times I guess that I have seen God as a Judge balancing my life against a set of rules and regulations. And at other times I have seen God as the supreme Creator, loving merciful and faithful to His creations.

More and more now though, I am beginning to see God in a new light. I am beginning to understand that God cannot be pigeon-holed into one thing. Yes god gives blessings and gifts to us, yes God judges us, yes God created us, is merciful and loves us beyond anything we could comprehend. But I think God is much more than that.

As we approach Youth Event and look at the theme of Guess Who, maybe it is a good time to consider who we see God as. The bible presents God in so many ways, and I am sure God has more characteristics than we can fully comprehend at any one time. But maybe it would be good for us to examine who we think God is and then maybe take a bit of time to consider if this is who God really is??!!

I wonder if sometimes we get who God is a bit distorted by our own experiences and situations.

I would be interested to hear from you who God is to you?

What characteristics of God especially appeal to you?

Just a Little Bit at a Time

2008-07-24T18:24:00.000-07:00

Over the last few weeks the bags under my eyes seem to have grown somewhat.

This has to do with a certain little bike race they run during July every year in France. You may have heard of it, The tour De France.

For 21 days or so the worlds best cyclists ride around France. On average they will cover 150 to 200 kilometres a day, day after day after day. Sure they get rest days; 2 of them in 21 days. and as if riding 200 kilometres in a day isn't bad enough, there are some stages of the race where not only do they cover 200 kilometres but they also have to climb up huge mountains, mountains that are over 1500 metres high!!!

On Wednesday night I stayed up until after 2:30 AM to watch one of the most famous mountain stages of the Tour De France. this stage had 3 mountain climbs in it with some down hill sections where riders reached speeds in excess of 80km/h!!! But this wasn't the bit that I was really looking forward to, I was hanging out for the last climb, the climb up the mountain known as L'Alp d'Huez. this climb is only 14 km long, but goes up a staggering 1650 metres in that 14km!!!!

As I watched this stage and cheered on Aussie cyclist Cadel Evans, I thought about how hard mentally is must be to climb a mountain like that.

Imagine standing at the bottom looking up at the road ahead, the 21 switchback turns, the steep gradient, the final destination, and realising how tired your legs are now and how much further you still have to go!!!

As I though about this I remembered an article I read about how elite cyclists overcome this psychological obstacle. According to the cyclist who wrote the article they very rarely look to the very top of the mountain, the look to the next check point ( a corner, a tree, a post, whatever marks a smaller distance) every so often, but mostly they focus on the 5 or so metres in front of their wheel. They just keep looking at the next 5 metres and then the next 5 metres after that, and then the next 5 metres after that and so on and so forth, looking up at the goal posts they have set along the way and occasionally glancing at the final destination.

As I thought about this I thought about my journey with God and realised that there were some similarities there with climbing a mountain.

I wonder if sometimes God gives us a view of the top, the final destination, but understands that if we were to focus on this to much we would psych ourselves out and give up. So instead God shows us goal posts, things to aim for that are closer and more achievable in shorter times, and then asks us to focus on the next little bit, and then the next little bit after that and so on until we reach the goal and then re-set for the next goal.

As I look back over my life I can see times where God has revealed big plans to me, but then has shown me ways to reach them. I can also see other times where I have just been focusing on the next step, and then the next step after that, and then having looked back have seen how far I have travelled and seen what God has done in my life.

I guess my prayer for you this week is that God will reveal the next step to you and lead you to it, that He will help you to cover the ground in front of you and that you will keep going.

The hill may seem steep and high and a long way off, but God will get you there if that is where he wants you to be. Your task at the moment is to be obedient and just keep moving.

Remember the destination is important, but how you make the journey there counts too.

I Know It's Been A While

2008-07-13T18:53:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven't blogged for a while, things have been a little hectic here.

First of all, Kids Camp went off like a frog in a sock (note; it is inhumane to put a frog in a sock). By all accounts everyone had a great time and all went home completely exhausted. I will try to get some photo's up in the near future.

Second, the Leading Youth Scholarship Camp was great. We covered a whole range of different stuff, from what makes a good leader, to how we can become better leaders, to doing some things that will stretch us personally (like the high ropes course and jumping from the top of a power pole to a trapeze suspended in mid air in front of you!!).

Then I got back and had to get through the emails, mail and other stuff that had been piling up while I was away.

So now here I am, almost fully recovered from squeezing 2 camps into the same week, and ready to head off tho the next thing, officers fellowship.

Planning for Guess Who is coming along well. We will be joined by our T.Y, Capt. David Collinson for the event. Saturday night will be a great time of fun, with some giant games to play, people sized guess who, battleship and even trouble are on the cards!!!

Sunday will be a time of worship where we are going to explore more about who God is and who we are because of that!!!

Forms will be out very soon, see your corps officer for one.

Cost is $40, and age is high school +.

Hope to see you there.

Guess Who??!!

2008-06-15T16:52:00.000-07:00

Have you aver played the game Guess Who?

For those who may not have, Guess Who is a game where you ask a series of questions to eliminate possibilites and identify the character on the card your opponent is holding.

Do you ever feel like you have to play this game for real?

Do you sometimes feel like you have to ask a million questions just to really find out who someone really is?

Have you ever felt like you have had to do this to work out who you really are?

Have you ever felt like you have had to do this to work out who God is?

I guess the reality is that God is so big and amazing that we will never be able to fully comprehend Him completely, but we can know who God is and grow to know him as well as we can understand this side of eternity.

Guess Who is the theme for this years Youth event. More details will be released over the next couple of weeks, but for now, book in the 23rd and 24th of August for Youth Event and stay tuned for more details.

Would The Real Leader Please Stand Up

2008-05-22T16:23:00.000-07:00

This is a subject that I have been reading and thinking about a bit lately, I would be interested to hear what others think.

It seems that a lot of people have a lot of different ideas about what leadership really is, and this is cool, I respect that, but I would like to share some of what I think leadership is about.

Some people ascribe to leadership as written, spoken, taught by people like Borden, Maxwell, and Hybels. Others prefer a view of leadership which seems to be at the opposite end of the scale to the teachings of people like John C. Maxwell, Bill Hybels and Paul Borden.

Personally I think I sit somewhere in between.

The reality is that everywhere in nature and society you will see one individual stand out above the rest and take on a role of leadership. We see it in pack animals with the Alpha male and female, we see it in social situations where one person takes the lead and coordinates with the others to achieve an outcome, we see it on the sporting field where one player is chosen as the team captain to encourage, motivate and direct the team. I think that anyone who denies that leadership is unnecessary or unnatural will struggle to support their supposition.

I think the real issue people have with leadership has a lot to do with what they have seen modelled to them. Of course, if people have been hurt by leaders then this will lead to a negative perception of leadership by them. In the same way, if you have had good models of leadership shown to you then your attitude and opinion of leadership will be much better.

So here is what I think makes a good leader, feel free to agree or disagree with me, let me know, I would be interested to hear what you think.

I truly believe that a leaders job is to seek the common purpose of a group and to co-ordinate, encourage, equip and resource those around them to move towards the goal. A good leader does not lead from the front, or the rear, or the middle, or from the top, or from the bottom. A good leader will lead from all of these positions at various times; sometimes leading the way and taking others with them, at other times empowering others to strive toward the vision, at other times holding the group up and together, and at other times allowing the group to take the lead for a time.

While a group may seek and decide upon a vision together I believe that it is the leaders job to keep this vision in focus and the group moving toward it. Occasionally it becomes the leaders job to say the hard words to some of those they are leading; while this is not something that either party is likely to particularly enjoy, it is necessary for both that this is done. For the one having the hard words spoken to them it is important for their growth and development, for the leader it is important that they do it for the well being of the team and the vision they are striving toward.

Leadership should never be about exerting power over others and seeking position for one's self, this style of leadership will always ultimately fail.

I don't believe that leaders are supposed to be some far off person out of range of those they lead. Good leaders need to be able to relate to the people they are leading. Leaders can only lead effectively if those they are leading are able to come to them and discuss questions, concerns, troubles and successes. But at the same time leaders need to be open about them selves, to a point. I believe that at some point, a leader being too open can affect the ability of the group to continue moving forward. People need to see that their leader is fallible and human, and has experienced much of what they are experiencing, but at the same time, a leader who is too open can lose the confidence of the group around them.

This may be an unpopular view, but I would like to suggest that not everyone is meant to be a leader. Have you heard the sayings "Too many cooks spoil the broth" or Too many Chiefs, not enough Indians"???

It is my experience that not everyone has the ability to be a leader, that is just the way it is. Many people will argue that leadership is not something that you are born with, but learn. I am not totally convinced that this is true. I think that leadership ability is something that comes naturally to some people, and while it can be taught, there are some who naturally will be better at it than others, just like in every area of life.

the reality is that leaders should be a minority. It is very hard to lead if no one is following, and if more than a small number are trying to lead, often in several different directions, the group, the goals and the vision will suffer.

Leadership is no picnic, it is hard, at times unpopular, incredibly demanding, and should not be lusted after. There is no shame in being a follower. Followers are vitally important, there is no condemnation, or shame, or lack of value in not being a leader.

My encouragement to you is this: If you feel called to be a leader, stop and think and pray about this. Leadership is incredibly rewarding at times, but it can be painful and unpleasant too. Decide if you are prepared to make the sometimes hard, and sometimes enormous sacrifices that a leader needs to make at times. If you are able to do this, then proceed, because it will be worth it in the end.

Get Smart

2008-05-15T18:03:00.001-07:00

It's that time of year again. Kids camp is quickly approaching.

The theme for this year is Get Smart. Many of the readers of this blog will remember the original Get Smart, where Agent 86, Maxwell Smart was played by the comical Don Adams. But this camp really has very little to do with that.

While we have borrowed some of the terminology from Get Smart; the name, Kaos and Control, the Shoephone concept, the theme for this years Camp is really about Getting Smart about God!!

The camp is going to be a great time of fun for our young people, please encourage those you know to attend.

Cost will be $90.00 at the earlybird rate (forms and deposit must be received by the 10th of June) or $110.00 at the standard rate after then.

Stay tuned for more info and some thoughts about Getting Smart about God.

Captivity and Freedom

2008-04-30T18:56:00.000-07:00

Firstly, the Prodigal iPod has returned!!! The story of it's disappearance and reappearance is a complicated one, but let's just say that it wasn't my fault and that I am stoked that it has returned and life has gotten back to normal.

Lately I have been working my way through 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 and 2 Kings as a part of my devotional time. It is an interesting read, to see how the leadership of Israel and Judah affected the people. But as I read the account of how Israel was led off into captivity by the Assyrians because of their sin, and as I begin to read the early stages of Judah's descent to the point where they are taken into captivity by the Babylonians, it occurred to me how people today are still being taken captive by sin.

Although today, most people are not imprisoned or deported to another country because of their sin, although in some cases this is a consequence of sin, I couldn't help but wonder how many people were captive to fear, and guilt and shame because of the mistakes that they have made in their pasts? We see it on T.V so frequently, some high profile person has a secret that they fear could ruin them if it ever became public knowledge does whatever is necessary to keep that secret, well, secret. This fear of exposure renders them a prisoner to their mistake and forces them to do things they don't want to do to keep things the way they are.

As I thought and discussed this with God, it occurred to me that even the people of Judah didn't remain captives forever. After a while (70 years if I remember correctly) god sent King Cyrus of Persia to liberate His people and allow them to return to the land that He had promised to their ancestors Abraham Isaac and Jacob. As i continued in this discussion with God about this I was reminded of Jesus, who came again to set people free from captivity, this time not from a physical captivity, but a captivity of fear, shame, guilt, injustice and poverty.

We have been freed by Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, now we no longer need to be held captive by those feelings of fear and guilt and shame. All we need to do is come before Jesus in repentance (basically changing our lives so that we do not make the same mistakes again), pray and ask Jesus for forgiveness.

We also, as followers of Jesus have a responsibility to live up to His words "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." This wasn't just Jesus' mission, it is the mission of all of those who follow Him. There are many ways to do this, but I might go into that in another blog.

This week, may you too preach the good news to the poor, proclaim freedom to the prisoners, work for the recover of sight to the blind, release the oppressed and proclaim the year of the Lord's favour!!!

WORSHIP STUFF

2008-04-16T16:43:00.000-07:00

What do you find is the best way to spend time with God??

A little while ago my iPod vanished, despite searching high and low and practically tearing the last place I saw it apart, I as yet have been still unable to find it.

Now I dont know about you, but for me my iPod is no luxury, it is an essential part of my life. I listen to it in the car, in the office, and while I am travelling it is a great way to spend time waiting, or to unwind while away from home. I also use music frequently as a way to spend some time with God, I find that the right songs are able to help me enter a worshipful attitude and tune into God.

I never realised just how much I used my iPod until last week, while I was away at a conference and wanted to spend some time chilling out with God, and went to reach for my iPod and realised that I didnt have it!!

What is it about music that seems to lift the human soul and spirit?

I understand that music doesnt do it for everyone, in fact I know a few people who can think of very little worse than having to sing as a part of worship. But for me, and for many others I imagine, while I may not be a great singer, or even a good one, music has this way of lifting me to a higher plane and allowing me to really feel God's presence in a special way.

So this week, pray that my iPod turns up, and maybe even try searching for an alternative way to worship God yourself.

Also, it would be great if you could share about what ways you worship God!!!

Easter Camp

2008-04-02T20:46:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven't posted for a while, things have been pretty hectic here.

Easter camp, judging from all of the reports that I have heard, both directly and indirectly, was awesome!!!

It was a great time of fun, friendship and faith, where we got to look at the Easter experience from the last supper all the way through to the resurrection.

For those who missed out, plan to come next year, it is one event that is definitely worth the cost.

Stephen and Danielle were fantastic. Some of the exercises they led us through were great, I know that the listening/imaginative prayer was a huge hit with many of the youth at camp. Stephen's amazing dive on the dung riddled hill was a great demonstration. The stories they told to illustrate their points will not be easily forgotten.

Let me know what you thought of camp, and maybe some ideas you would like to see included next year!!

On Sunday we watched a DVD about Fair trade, and heard about how Jesus came not only to redeem us as individuals, but to redeem the world corporately also. As a result of this Danielle challenged us to come up with 3 things that we would do to promote redemption of our communities and even the world.

So here are the 3 groups lists, this is so that we can all hold each other accountable:
GEELONG:
1 Find out more about Fair Trade products and encourage the church and individuals to use them.
2 See what Local coffee shops and schools are using for coffee etc. and educate them about Fair Trade.
3 Start a fundraiser with fair trade products.

TORQUAY/ARARAT:
1 Promote the coffee shops who already sell fair trade.
2 Contact local press to be in on the fair trade campaign.
3 make our churches, homes and lives fair trade.

DELACOMBE:
1 make a conscious effort to support Fair Trade products.
2 Campaign at Starbucks for more Fair Trade products.
3 Educate others by handing out flyer's about Fair Trade and it's alternative.

I hope that these are correct, let me know if I got something wrong.

Have a great time and make a difference, because as we learnt at camp; God has not forsaken us and Jesus died on the cross not only to bring redemption to our lives but to the whole world!!

Favourite Characters

2008-03-12T17:55:00.000-07:00

What is your favourite Bible story?

Who is your favourite bible character?

My favourite bible story prabably has to be about Gideon. I love the way God takes the smallest man from the smallest family, from the smallest clan from the smallest tribe in Israel and uses him to bring about freedom and a renewal in the faith of Israel.

My favourite character though is probably Josiah. I find Josiah's character quite inspiring. Despite growning up with godlessness all around him, somehow Josiah manages to become a grat king and a great man of God. I love what 1 Kings 22: 1-2 says:

"Josiah was eight years old when he bagan to reign; he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mothers name was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. He did what was was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the way of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right or the left."

Josiah was completely obedient to God, right up until the battle when he was killed, a battle that God had advised Josiah to not go into. Josiah cleared out all of the idolatry of Judah and led them back to following God.

Can you imagine what it must have been like to be the king at age 8!!!

Josiah inspires me to walk closely with God, to lead others to walk closely with Him and to lead others even if they think that I'm too young.

Who are your favourite Bible characters?

What is your favourite Bible story?

What do they teach you about God, about you, about life???

UN-CHURCH

2008-02-25T21:09:00.000-08:00

The very first Un-Church event was held at Delacombe on Sunday night. I thought that the event went well, let me know what you thought if you were there.

For those not fortunate enough to have been able to attend this unique event allow me to explain the concept of "Un-Church".

A few months ago I was reading our T.Y's (the bloke in charge of the youth stuff for the Salvo's in Australia - for the non-Salvo acronym speakers out there) blog. Dave (that's his name) was talking about the concept of an un-conference. The basic idea of an un-conference was that those attending recognise that we can all teach each other something and that we can all learn from each other. So, instead of having a keynote speaker stand up the front and talk at the crowd as so often happens at a conference, there are perhaps a few people selected to talk specifically about what they have been doing and the strengths, weaknesses and outcomes of this, and then the rest of the time is spent sharing and helping each other.

So, a few weeks ago as I travelled back from the rained out Summer Celebration in Torquay, I began to think about this un-conference concept and whether or not we could apply it in any way to church.

In The Salvation Army we believe in the concept of the priesthood of all believers. This basically means that we believe that God is at work within each believer and that we are able to minister to each other regardless of sex, age, or culture. With this in mind I began to explore what church would be like if we all were able to participate in the worship and teaching.

The idea that I came up with was that the event would start off with a pre-chosen song and then I would get up and introduce the idea of the event and the theme for the night, including reading the verse of scripture that the theme was based around. From this point on the night would be guided by the congregation. Songs would be chosen by suggestion and popular consensus and the teaching part of the evening would come from how members of the congregation interpreted what the bible verse was saying to them. The only real leadership involved in this was a little direction in terms of when what might happen, although this could be left up to the congregation also.

This style of worship depends a lot upon the participation of the congregation and so may not work with all groups, but I think that everyone enjoyed our first un-chuch event and found it a great time of worship.

For me personally, there was a moment during the song 'Jesus Lover of My Soul' that I real felt the Holy Spirit moving. During this moment I felt God say to me; "Forget what you had planned to do tonight, ask if anyone has a verse from the Bible that they want to share." So I did. It was great then to hear Ross share with us a passage that had spoken to him recently.

So, Un-Church, a new way of worship, where we all minister to each other. What do you think??

"He's living the dream... he didnt even know what the dream was until I told him."

2008-02-13T16:40:00.000-08:00

I went to help at a Fusion Breakfast Club held at one of the Ballarat highschools this morning. After Breakfast club finished I went home again to change out of the jeans and hoodie I was wearing into my 'corporate attire' that is more appropriate for someone who works at DHQ.

When I got home I swithced on the TV to add a bit of noise while I had a drink and began to get ready. As I flicked through the channels I caught the end of an Ellen show segment and she was talking about what was coming up. When I heard the words 'Superbowl Ad', I decided not to switch channels and waited the ads out. When the show returned I saw the video clip above.

The ad shows how one American footballer recognised the potential ability in a grocery bag packer at his local supermarket and encouraged him to try out for the team. This young man, Chester Pitts, who previously played only the oboe, a member of the woodwind family, now is a highly paid NFL player.

All of this happened because another footballer, Ephraim Salaam, recognised his potential and encouraged him to become the best he could be.

This got me thinking, how many people are there in our world who are metaphorically packing groceries and playing the oboe when they should be playing in the NFL?

As I thought about this I wondered where the people are who are like Ephraim Salaam who are recognising the potential of others and calling them to a better thing?

Do you see the potential in people you meet and encourage them to reach out and achieve it?

I love the line in this clip: "He's living the dream... he didnt even know what the dream was until I told him."

Who are you telling about the dream, and who is missing out on the dream because you havent told them?

Do you know what the dream is?

Do you have a dream at all?

I think we all have dreams, or at least we had them at one stage or another.

My dream is that I will see the Kingdom of God come on earth. I dream that people will be in passionate, vibrant relationship with their God. I dream that people will fight for the poor and oppressed and bring freedom to those captives held captive by sin and circumstance. I dream that one day there will be peace and love and forgiveness in abundace and that hate and greed and evil will be gone. Thats my dream.

Today I want to encourage to share your dream with someone else. You never know what the outcome might be. But, more importantly, share God's dream, because the outcome of that can be revoloutionary.

Lent

2008-02-04T21:09:00.000-08:00

I made the mistake of waking up ridiculously early this morning, and then I couldnt get back to sleep!! After some effort and no reward I decided that if I was awake at this foul time of the day, then I might as well do something unproductive, like put the T.V. on.

So I got up and switched on the T.V. After channel surfing across infomercials, the American version of the Today Show/Sunrise, and some of those early morning religious programs, Sunrise came on and I was greeted by Kochie informing us that it was, and I quote, "Pancake Tuesday".

My response directed at the T.V. screen, possibly less Christlike than normal give the fact that I much prefer to be sleeping at this time of day, was the correction "It's Shrove Tuesday!!!"

But as consciousness and cognitive ability began to warm up a bit I began thinking about the concept of Shrove Tuesday and Lent, something I had been thinking about since last week when I received a reminder from my local Pancake Kitchen informing me of $5 short stacks all day.

It's kind of funny really, traditionally during Lent people will give something up for the 40 days from Ash Wednesday through to Palm Sunday, in memory of the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross. Often we give up luxuries like T.V. or chocolate or the like, but in the 'olden' days the people would give up much more, even staples like eggs, milk and sugar!!

Shrove Tuesday then was a day of permissable gluttony where people would cook pancakes and other delicious foods to use up the last of the stores before entering the Lenten period.

So today there are probably people out there gutsing down their last chocolates, watching the last of the T.V. and doing the last whatever before they give it up for lent.

This got me thinking though, is it really sacrifice when we fully plan to restart whatever it is as soon as this whole Easter thing is over and done with??

So this year I'm revolting, although some would argue that I have been revolting for years. Instead of giving up some token thing for the next 40 odd days, this year I am choosing to rededicate my life to God, and offering my whole life as an act of Sacrifice.

Will you join me this year and instead of giving up something for lent, will you give up your life to God??

Created In The Image Of God

2008-01-29T18:47:00.000-08:00

Soooo, I'm back from New Zealand; the birth place of many "Australian" movie stars and the alleged creators of the good old Australian Pavlova.

The trip was absolutely awesome, I'm pretty sure it's safe to say everyone had a great time and that we have all made friendships that will last forever!!

While I was in New Zealand I had the privilege of preaching at the Manukau Salvos. I spoke on the concept of being created in the image of God as is found in Genesis 1.

As I looked at this passage I saw 4 things that speak to being created in God's image.

First, I saw in this passage that we are each created. God actually took the time and deliberately made us. If God has created us this means that we are intimately known by God, check out Jeremiah 1:5. If God has taken the time to create us it means that we are no cosmic accident and that there must be some reason for our creation. This feeds into my second point

Second, I saw that we are created on purpose for a purpose. Have a look at the creation story in Genesis. Creation was deliberate and ordered, first cam night and day, then sky then land and sea, then the plants, the the sun and moon and stars, then came the sea creatures then animals and birds and finally, after all of this had been put in place came Humans. As I look at this I see that God was preparing creation for humanity, everything necessary for supporting life was put into place before God created us. As far as being created for a purpose, look at Genesis 1: . As I look at this passage I see that as humans we are tasked with taking care of the planet. But perhaps this is not the primary reason for creation. As I read the bible I am convinced that the true reason for our creation is to be in relationship with God. Read Joshua 24: 14 - 15, here we see God reaching out to the nation of Israel and calling them to choose life in relationship with Him. Our primary purpose in life should be to be in relationship with our creator.

Third, I see that we are created in the image of God. Each and every one of us have the potential to share the characteristics of God, characteristics such as justice, mercy, grace, forgiveness, and most importantly; LOVE!!! But, while we have the potential and capacity to share the characteristics of God, we also have the opportunity to reject these characteristics and choose other characteristics such as hate, greed, malice, and selfishness; characteristics that are in sharp contrast with those of God. These characteristics can also have a significant effect on how we see others. If we adopt the character of God, we will begin to see others as being created in His image also. Read Matthew 25: 34 - 40, you can see here that Jesus is calling us to see each and every person as being created in the image of God. As I read the gospels I see many circumstances where Jesus saw people created in the image of His Father and treated them accordingly; there was the Samaritan woman, the Woman caught in adultery, the blind man, the paralytic lowered through the roof, the lame man near the pool and many, many more. In each of these circumstances Jesus saw the image of God in these people and treated them accordingly. Perhaps there is much we can learn from this??

The fourth thing that I noticed was that it is only after humans were created that God says that creation is very good, perhaps it is not too big a stretch to say that we are each very good.

Because of these 4 factors; that we are Created, On Purpose, For a Purpose, In the Image Of God, and that God sees us as being Very Good, is it too much to believe that we are each infinitely valuable in the eyes of God?

Look at John 3:16, it clearly states how valuable we are to God. We are so valuable to God that He became human and then died on the cross in one of the most excruciating deaths imaginable. Look at Acts 2 and 1st Corinthians 6:19, we are so valuable that God has chose us to be His temple, the place where He chooses to live.

Remember, in the Old Testament, God commanded that the Hebrew people create a giant tent where Gods presence could dwell among the people in a tangible sense. Then after the establishment of the nation of Israel God commanded Solomon to build the Temple as a place for Him to live among the people. But as the bible reminds us, the people of Israel abandoned God and as a result God's presence left the Temple, although God was never far away from those who would seek Him (check out Jeremiah 29: 12 - 13). But then in Acts 2, God's Spirit descends and dwells in the hearts of the Disciples and others as the Disciples spread the gospel. Surely, if God has chosen us over some ornate building, then we all must be of more value to God than most of us comprehend.

So I encourage you to see those around you as beings created in the image of the Creator. See their value, see your value and live lives as beings of infinite value to God!!!

UN4SAKEN

2008-01-10T14:07:00.000-08:00

Only 6 more sleeps until I leave for New Zealand!!!

As I sit in my office and try to figure out when I can take my holidays this year, I see all of the events that are planned for this year. Summer Celebration is on again an will be held regionally in Torquay, Warrnambool and Kaniva. Fun for all of the family with some unique activities to be held at each event. Some of these activities are yet to be announced, but I can reveal that the innaugural Matthew 14:29 challenge will be held in Kaniva this year!! The basic idea of the Matthew 14:29 cahllenge is this: Each corps is to come to Summer Celebration at the Kaniva pool equipped with their device that will enable them to be like Peter in Matt. 14:29 and walk upon the water. The winner will be the person with the most 'faith', that is the person able to walk the farthest distance on the water down the pool. Competitiors will be considered 'sinking' when the water reaches a point above their knees or when their faith based walking appartus touches the bottom to the pool, or they require assistance from Jesus or any other form of rescue. Anybody who can make it the entire distance walking on the water from deep end to shallow end will win the opportunity to throw their much beloved DY, fully uniformed (Hat, Jacket, Shirt, Tie, Pants and Shoes), into the pool.

Challenges for the remaining Summer Celebrations are in their early formulative stages and more info will be out soon!!

Easter comes early this year, and that means that there isnt long to go until easter Camp is here also. The theme for this year is UN4SAKEN, and reminds us of Jesus' cry from the cross: "My god, my God, why have you forsaken me?" But also reminds us of the fact that God has promised to never leave or forsake us. Check out Psalm 22 when have the chance, the first line of the psalm is "My God, my God, why have you forskaen me?" But as you read on, something changes and towards the end we see that; "The poor shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the LORD..."

Sometimes, even when it feels like God isn't present or is a long way off, we need to remember that He is always with us, even if we cant feel His presence, and that even the poor in spirit will inherit the Kingdom of God!!

Something to think about before camp maybe??

God Is Nothing Like Santa

2008-01-06T15:26:00.000-08:00

Well, today is my first official day back in the office for 2008.

Over the last few weeks I have been lucky enough to take some time off and spend it generally relaxing and doing very little. During this time a thought occured to me, I began thinking about how so many people see God as a Santa like figure.

As tradition goes, Santa is a jolly fat old man with a big white beard. Tradition also holds that Santa "... is making a list and checking it twice..." and is going to "...find out if you're naughty or nice." And it is based on this assessment of behaviour over the preceeding 12 months and your status on the 'Naughty' or 'Nice' lists that determines your suitability for presents at the coming Christmas delivery.

As I thought about this I realised that many people often view God as a Santa like figure. People see God as having a naughty and nice list that determines our rewards not only in eternity but also in this life.

People see God as the big bloke who brings you good stuff if you ask him and behave well enough to deserve what ever it is you're currently chasing after. But I'm not too sure that that is really the God that I know.

The God I know doesnt give out gifts based on worthiness, because if that were the case, we would all have nothing.

The God I know gives out gifts based on Love. God loves all of us, irrespective of whether we love, hate, or ignore Him, and because of this He has given us some of the greatest gifts anyone could ever offer. God has given us life, the first and possibly greatest gift we may ever receive. After that God gives us the gift of His Son Jesus. Through the gift of Jesus we receive further gifts of forgiveness and redemption. And from this point the gifts continue to grow and multiply. And the good news; the gifts of life, forgiveness and redemption are guaranteed to all of us, its just up to us to accept them!!

God has no list of naughty or nice, His love and gifts are not conditional on our listed status, and He actually forgets the 'naughty' stuff we do the moment we ask Him to.

So God is no Santa, but thats a good thing.

Who do you put your hope in; God or a fat jolly bloke with a long list??

The Young and The Hopeful

2007-12-04T16:10:00.000-08:00

I originally posted this blog on the 2 Love Territorial blog I write for most Tuesdays, but i thought that it was worth posting here too:

I am constantly amazed at how God chooses to use the less than obvious choices of people to change the world!!

I had the privilege of travelling to Bendigo on Sunday night to preach at their Divisional Youth Service Fuel. As i was preparing what it was that I felt God wanted me to say to these young people, I realised again the number of times God used teenagers to transform the world.

Look at David, he was probably only 12 or 13 when he killed and decapitated the giant Goliath.

Think of Jesus' parents; both only teenagers and trusted to raise the Messiah (makes you think about unwed teenage mums a bit different huh??)!!

Think of the disciples, still only 16 or so when Jesus called them to take up their cross and follow Him (was Jesus the first full-time youth minister?).

Remember back to the early days of The Salvation Army... Back to when a young Bramwell Booth was taken into the pubs and shown the drunken hopelessness of those there, then taken to the bridge under which many homeless people spent the night and was told by his father to do something.

Do you remember the story of the 2 teenagers who decided to take the entire country of New Zealand for Jesus, 1 starting at the southern end the other at the northern end and planning to meet in the middle with over 10,000 people!!!

It occurs to me that God has often used the young, passionate, Spirit filled people of a generation to change their world.

Is this because these young people have not yet become jaded and cynical, because young people are still capable of seeing possibilities and opportunities where the more 'mature' person sees only problems and obstacles.

I leave you with the words of Paul to Timothy in 1 Timothy 2: 12 - 16:
"Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers and example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I arrive, give attention to the public reading of scripture, to exhorting, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands by the council of elders. Put these things into practice, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress. Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; continue in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers."

Potent Potential

2007-11-28T13:48:00.000-08:00

I have been reading the book Uprising, a Revolution of the Soul by Erwin Raphael McManus recently, and I was challenged when I read the chapter on potential. McManus talks about how so often we focus on sin being the stuff we did that we shouldn't have, and continues on to say that sin should also include the stuff we should have done that we didn't do.

To this end McManus talks about how God has gifted each of us differently and how we all have a unique potential inside of us that is completely different to anyone else.

In demonstrating this McManus points to Jesus' telling of the Parable of the talents in Matthew 25:
"It's also like a man going off on an extended trip. He called his servants together and delegated responsibilities. To one he gave five thousand dollars, to another two thousand, to a third one thousand, depending on their abilities. Then he left. Right off, the first servant went to work and doubled his master's investment. The second did the same. But the man with the single thousand dug a hole and carefully buried his master's money.

"After a long absence, the master of those three servants came back and settled up with them. The one given five thousand dollars showed him how he had doubled his investment. His master commended him: 'Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.'

"The servant with the two thousand showed how he also had doubled his master's investment. His master commended him: 'Good work! You did your job well. From now on be my partner.'

"The servant given one thousand said, 'Master, I know you have high standards and hate careless ways, that you demand the best and make no allowances for error. I was afraid I might disappoint you, so I found a good hiding place and secured your money. Here it is, safe and sound down to the last cent.'

"The master was furious. 'That's a terrible way to live! It's criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least? The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest. Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most. And get rid of this "play-it-safe" who won't go out on a limb. Throw him out into utter darkness.'

McManus then goes on to say in the book:
There's so much talk about potential in our culture, as if it's the end-all of success. Has anyone ever said about you, "He has so much potential"? If you're under twenty - let's give you twenty-five - consider it a compliment. Potential your untapped or unlocked capacity. Potential- the hint of greatness not yet developed. "He has so much potential" - a statement of praise and maybe even adoration. And then you're thirty and still have all this potential. Pressing forty, and you're still full of potential. If you're forty five and someone looks at you and says, "You have so much potential," pause, excuse yourself, step into a closet, and have a good cry.
What once was a statement of praise is now an assessment of lost opportunity. There is a point where you're not supposed to be full of potential; you're supposed to be full of talent, capacity, product. Potential is a glimpse of what could be, yet there must be a shift from where we have potential to where we are potent
You're not supposed to die with your potential. A life well lived squeezes all the potential places within and does something with it. When potential is harnessed, we become potent. Potential, when it becomes potent, always produces results. We are born with potential, but we are called to live productive lives. The fool squanders his potential. He is not faithful with what has been given him. (p187)

So I guess that my prayer for you today is that you will see your potential fulfilled and I leave you with the question: "What are you going to do with the potential that is with in you, and when will you become potent?"

Connections

2007-11-19T13:42:00.000-08:00

Thursday will mark the beginning of a very big weekend for The Salvation Army, not just in Melbourne, but right around the Australia Southern Territory!!

This year, in addition to the regular commissioning, ordination, appointment and sending out ceremonies, the Salvos are holding a big conference with lots of speakers covering a broard range of topics all related to The Salvation Army connecting with the communities around us.

This whole connections theme got me thinking...

Humans are social beings, admittedly some are more or less social than others, but we all depend on each other in some way or another.

We are all looking for ways to feel connected to others, some are positive ways, while others ways of seeking connection seem to do more damage or harm than they do good.

In the same way, I wonder whether some of our searching for connections with others is really a means of searching for a connection with God?

In Genesis 1: 18 we see that God acknowledges that it is not good for Adam to be alone, so He creates Eve to be Adam's companion. This is the first community, the first connection.

Later in Genesis chapter three we see the first in a long series of disconnections when Adam and Eve eat the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

We see Adam and Eve and consequently all of humanity become disconnected from God from each other and from the earth they live on.

From this point on humanity has been seeking to reconnect. We have been seeking to reconnect of a spiritual level, we have been seeking to reconnect on a relational level and we have been seeking to reconnect on an environmental level.

Now admittedly not all people are seeking reconnection on all of these levels at the same time, but, if we are honest, we are all seeking connection in one way or another.

The good news is that God has made reconnection possible!!!

God became human, in the form of Jesus. God walked the earth as a human, grew up, went through all of the things that regular humans of His day went through, taught us the best way to live in connection with others, and then died inone of the most torturous barabic ways imaginable so that we might be able to connect with God in a personal way, without the need to present him animal sacrifices or go through a third party to speak and hear Him.

In what ways in your life are you seeking connection?

How connected are you?

How connected are you ready to be with God?

Something to think about.

I also just want to take the time to say good luck to the cadets and lieutennants who are being commissioned this weekend and let you know that you are being prayed for.

God Bless You All

The Desires Of Your Heart

2007-11-15T13:58:00.001-08:00

What do you want?

Is there something that you really, really want??

What does your heart desire for??

I am reading the Psalms as part of my devotions at the moment (I think it might take me a while to get through them, God is teaching and speaking to me a lot through them) and as I read Psalm 21 I came across a concept that I have often heard Christians speak about, but wasn't sure exactly where it came from.

Verse 2 of Psalm 21 says: "You have given him his heart's desire, and have not withheld the request of his lips."

This reminded me of a conversation I had last week while catching up with the team that went to the National Youth Ministry Conference with.

We were talking about whether God really does give us the 'desires of our heart'.

So I wonder, does God actually give everyone the desires of their heart? And if God did give everyone the desires of their heart, what would the world be like?

(I'm thinking maybe something like in Bruce Almighty when Jim Carey's character say yes to every prayer he gets)

But as I looked at the Psalm and the verse again I realised something.

Look at verse 1: "In your strength the king rejoices. O LORD, and in your help how greatly he exults!"

Before God grants any of the desires of this mans heart, first this man has accepted the strength of God and His help.

And then as I look in the fine print above the psalm I notice that this is recorded as being a Psalm of David.

You know the dude, King David, of David and Goliath fame, the man the bible calls "A Man After God's Own Heart".

So if God is granting the desires of David's heart, I wonder if they are really the desires of God's own heart??

Could this explain why not everyone get their hearts desire given to them??

Do you still trust in God even when you don't get exactly what it is that you want??

Check out verse 7 of Psalm 21: "For the king trusts the LORD, and through the steadfast love of the Most High shall not be moved."

What occurs to me here is that even if David didn't get the 'desires of his heart' he would trust in God because David understood that god loved Him and that this love would not change.

There is still much that I am unsure of as far as the 'desires of your heart' thing goes, but this I am sure of: God loves me, and He died for me so that I can have a close relationship with Him, and that's enough.

What is it that your heart really desires for?

What is it that God desires for you to desire for?

Are they the same?

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on this subject, leave a comment, tell me what you think.

A Great Ordinary Life

2007-11-05T16:55:00.000-08:00

Have I confused anyone yet??

Last week I posted 2 blogs. The first was on how I am ordinary and not really great at anything in particular, and how most of us will go on to live lives devoid of any sort of celebrityness (its a new word I just made up). The second blog was about how we are called to live a dangerous life that is great in God's eyes.

It seems that I have contradicted my self (perhaps I should be in politics??)

Or have I??

What if we are called to live extraordinarily in the midst of our ordinary lives??

What if we are meant to live dangerously in the midst of our safety??

The reality is that most of us will probably never have to choose between loving Jesus and living, most of us will probably never be sent to jail for indeterminate periods of time for loving Jesus, most of us will probably never have to choose to give up everything that we know and love in order to follow Jesus.

But...

Does that mean that we have to live a life of safety??

I think not!!!

I have been challenged to live a dangerous life in the midst of my ordinaryness (another word i just made up). I can be dangerous to the Devil and his demons by committing to pray, read the Bible and telling others about Jesus.

This is dangerous for me too, as I have to put my pride, dignity and image on the line. Am I prepared to have my ego banged up a bit, am I prepared to feel undignified, am I prepared to be seen by others as weird, or uncool or a Jesus Freak??

Are you???

I may not be spectacular at anything in particular, but maybe one day I will be, or maybe I wont...

But I can think of a number of people, who you probably have never heard of, that have had spectacular influences in my life.

I think of my parents, to whom much of the credit for who I am today is due.

I think of Kathy, my Sunday School teacher who helped build in the foundations of my faith.

I think of Zorina, one of my best mates mum, who was also my Junior Soldier Sergeant and encouraged me to grow in my faith.

I think of Craig, now an officer of The Salvation Army, who lead my youth group and bible study group, who took time to teach me biblical principles, the exact details of which I cant remember, but they are a part of me now, and also took the time to make bible study fun with games like indoor markings up and cricket using a 1.25L drink bottle as a bat, a soft Macca's footy as a ball and a chair as the wickets. Those times of fellowship with my mates were great!!

None of these people were extraordinary by any of the worlds standards, but they were extraordinary in my life.

They did dangerous things in the Spiritual dimension, and possibly dangerous things in a social dimension, that have shaped my life today.

I am sure that most of us would love to be great at just one thing, but the reality is that most of us are going to be ordinary. BUT. We're in great company. Let us not forget the ordinary people who have had extraordinary influences on our lives. Praise God for them!!

This week I challenge you to do something dangerous...

Talk to someone about Jesus, perform a random act of kindness (even if it might make you uncool), take up a social justice cause - even if it does cost you something!!

Be extraordinary in your ordinaryness!!

And just quietly, even in the Western World people suffer for their faith...

Spare a thought and a prayer for the kids in the school yards across Australia who are bullied and bashed up because they're a Christian, that was me not so long ago. To those who are there today, I don't know exactly what you're going through, but I understand and am praying for you!! Don't give up, it's worth hanging in there!!! God bless you!!!

Safety Is Boring

2007-11-01T17:55:00.000-07:00

Being safe is boring.

I'm sure that I have probably mentioned it before, but I am a bit of an adrenalin junkie. I like extreme sports. The best surf that I have ever had was out in waves that were nearly twice as tall as I am. The most fun I have ever had on a mountain bike was a) burning through a set of blind 'S' bends on a narrow dirt track (as it turned out only moments before crashing and destroying my bike, owch) and b) clocking a personal best of 70km/h down a hill (but being frustrated because I couldn't get the bike into a low enough gear to go faster).

I like to go fast, I like driving fast on bendy roads (I obey the speed limit though, and only ever put myself at risk - but that is another blog), I love my new motorbike, it's great fun to ride!!

I'm not a big fan of routine, I like doing different and new stuff, but understand that routine is helpful at times.

I like it best when my faith in God challenges and pushes me to do new and different stuff.

This week I have been reading a book by Erwin Raphael McManus titled the Barbarian Way. This book is about rejecting a civilised, religious Christianity and embracing a Christianity which is untamed, uncivilised, barbaric faith.

One thing that Mcmanus said that stood out so much I wrote it down was this: "God asks: 'Are you willing to lose everything on my behalf to gain everything I desire for you? Rather than living a long life are you willing to live a life worth living?"'

Or in other words; Are you here for a Long Time or a Great Time?????

Sometimes I wonder whether we have made our lives to safe?

Look around, we now have fridges that purify the air around us, new houses come with regulators on the hot water so that we cant scald ourselves in the shower, we even try to make our faith in Jesus Christ safe, by re-interpreting what He said so as not to cause offence!!

Safety is good, it keeps us alive. Cars with air bags, seat belts etc are good. Driving in a safe manner is good too. Taking adequate precautions before getting on a bike is logical. But sometimes, it is nice to let loose, let go and have some fun.

I have never felt more alive than when I have had adrenaline coursing through my veins while out in a big swell or belting through the bush on a mountain bike. AND, I have never felt more spiritually connected to God than when my faith is raw and untamed and I am doing exactly what He wants me to do!!!!

God never promises to keep us safe!! If He did that, why are people killed for their faith?? God never promises safety but He does promise that He will always be with us, even when we are in danger.

Check the bible if you don't believe me.

Look at all of the prophets and the crazy stuff they did; married a prostitute, cooked their food over flaming cow poo, built a boat in the desert during a drought, marched around a city in silence for 6 days then on the 7th marched around it making a whole lot of noise, lived in the wilderness, wore clothes made out of sheep skins goat skins, Camel skins, ate locusts and wild honey, the list goes on!!! These mighty men of God were probably seen as crazy in their day, now we see them as hero's!!

Check out John 21:

17 The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. 18 I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." 19Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!"

And look at 2 Corinthians 11:

23Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. 27I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.

Christianity is not about being safe, it is about being obedient to God and following His leading in your life.

Dare to do the different, dare to do the scary, dare to do the crazy, just dare!!

God doesn't promise you safety when you choose to follow Him, in fact McManus suggests that danger may be a sign that you are being obedient to God rather than being disobedient to God!!!

So next time you pray, instead of talking to God, try listening...

It might lead you down a dangerous path.

Are you here for a Long Time or are you here for a Great Time???

"I'LL BE HAPPY WHEN..."

2007-10-29T21:50:00.000-07:00

"I'll be happy when..."

Have you ever caught yourself thinking this?

You know the thoughts, "I'll be happy when I've got $100,000.00 in the bank," or "I'll be happy when I'm older," or "I'll be happy when I've lost another 8 kilograms," the list goes on how often do we make our happiness contingent on when or if something happens??

Why cant we just be happy now??

What got me thinking about this was the roadworks on my way to work one morning. I had to slow down while driving through a road works zone and I thought to myself, "I'll be happy when they get these roadworks finished so I don't have to slow down through here." And then with that thought barely out, I began to think; "...and I'll be happy when they finish doing the roadworks on the freeway down to Melbourne and on the road down to Geelong."

It was as the list of "I'll be happy when...s" started to pile up that I realised that I was was making my happiness dependant on circumstances, like the construction of a road!!!

At this point God challenged me on why I could only be happy when all of this stuff was done, and why couldn't I be happy here and now??

As I began to process this thought I tried to bock all of the "I'll be happy when..." thoughts out of my mind. I realised then, and maybe it's just me, but when I had my attention drawn to it, that the "I'll be happy when..." thoughts were a fairly common theme in so much stuff around me.

It seems where we live in a society where we are being constantly told that we need this product or that thing to be truly happy. But, then when we get whatever it is that we are told we must have to be happy, we are then told that we now need something else to go with it to be truly happy. This process never seems to end, every time we seem to get near the goal posts, they get moved again.

So how can I be happy before...???

As I struggled with this question i realised that there is much to be happy about. For a start, I'm alive and well, which is more than some people can say. Secondly, I have friends and family who live, care and appreciate me.

But as I thought about this I thought of those who weren't alive and well.

The ones who weren't alive, depending on where they go after death, either have everything or nothing at all to complain about; and those who aren't well may not be able to find joy in their state of health all that easy. And I thought of those people out there who feel alone and isolated without friends and family around them.

So, is there a way to be happy without depending on someone or something??

As I thought this through, I realised that no, there was no way for joy or happiness to be achieve without dependence on someone or something. There is temporary joy when we depend on things for happiness, there is temporary joy when we depend on other people for our happiness, BUT, when we depend on God we can experience a joy that surpasses all understanding.

We can experience joy in our relationship with God even when we are unhappy because we know Him. What else do we need other than to know that God loves us and cares both about and for us? i can feel my levels of joy rising within me even as i write this blog as I remember this once again!!!

God says to us: "Don't worry, be happy, I love you."

So I guess my challenge to you this week is to try and avoid those "I'll be happy when..." thoughts and try to seek joy in the everyday, knowing that God loves you.

And if you haven't experienced that love maybe you should try talking with Him...

I'm Mediocre, And Thats O.K.

2007-10-24T15:59:00.000-07:00

There is a line in a Monty Python movie that goes; "You're all individuals." To which the massed crowd chants back; "Yes, we're all individuals." And I remember another story that I heard at the National Youth Ministry Conference where a person was telling someone how special they were and how everyone is special, and it was pointed out that if we are all special, then we are all the same.

I have been thinking about this concept of us all being special and how it relates to my faith and relationship with Jesus lately. I'm not sure that I have really come up with any real conclusive or concrete conclusions, but I do find it an interesting thing to think about.

The reality is that I'm mediocre, I'm just average. I'm not really great at any particular sport, I can do ok in many sports, but I'm not exactly the most valuable player in any team really. I'm not incredibly smart, the last time I took an IQ test it was above 100 (which is the average score of the entire worlds population), but it wasnt a long way above it. I'm normal (although some may disagree) and I'm ok with that.

When I think about it, is normal really all that bad? I'm in good company, there are a lot of people who are normal or average, and a lot of 'normal' people have had an impact on my life, and on yours too, I reckon. But what does being 'normal' and 'average' mean in relationship to our faith?

Let's take a look at how life is shown on T.V first though:

I was at a conference earlier this year where the concept of 'Hyper-reality', especailly in relation to Generation Y was raised by Mark Sayers. This Hyper-reality is evident no more clearly than on TV.

My generation (gen Y) have been constantly bombarded with this concept where things have to be realer than real, where everything has to be exciting or interesting or unique or special or whatever, and so as a result, if we are normal or average we feel less important. Have a look at TV or movies, how often are things like going to the toilet or just sitting down infront of the TV or doing the dishes mentioned. Take the show 24 for example. Now, I'm no 24 expert, in fact i rarely watch it, but when was the last time Jack Bauer went to the loo or had something to eat? That bloke seems to go 24 hours without eating, drinking or going to the toilet!!!!

And, NOT that I watch Home and Away AT ALL or Neighbours more than very INfrequently, but, seriously, would you want to live in those towns?? There always seems to be some stalker/natural disaster/evil scheme going on. Where are the days of the smae routine things followed by more days of routine things??

We are constantly bombarded by messages that seem to say, "normal is boring, look for excitement whereever you can."

So where does this leave me and my faith??

I know Jesus died for my sins, but he died for yours as well. I know that I have been called by God to be an officer in The Salvation Army, but so are many others (if you're called and havent answered what are you waiting for?? Come on, we need more officers), God has a plan for my, my community, and the world, but He also has a plan for you and your community; they may not be the same, but He does have a plan for our lives. So the details may differ, but in the bigger picture you and I are not all that different.

What if you're not called to be an officer or anything like that? Does that mean anything? Maybe you're called to be a local officer, or maybe your called to simply be a member of the church who lives in a community and quietly goes about telling your friends about Jesus and reforming society from the unseen background, thats still important (remember we're all part of a body, we need all of the parts to be effective)!!!

The reality is that I am mediocre, average, normal, plain, whatever...

BUT God can use me!!! When I am mediocre, average, normal, etc, I leave room for God to be great.

I know I have probably rambled a bit in this post, but it's something that I have been thinking about for a while. Let me know what you think.

I leave you with the words of the apostle Paul:
1 Corinthians 4:6-8 (New International Version)
Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, "Do not go beyond what is written." Then you will not take pride in one man over against another. For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have become kings—and that without us! How I wish that you really had become kings so that we might be kings with you!

Vulnerable

2007-10-21T16:15:00.000-07:00

I was thinking about this on the way home from Torquay's 1st birthday bash last night:

I dont like feeling vulnerable, it makes me feel weak, which I kinda know is silly, but i guess it is a learned behaviour (they call it a life commandment in counselling terms). The funny thing is though, that i respect vulnerability in others and see it as a good thing, not weakness.

For those of you who may not know, I was not always the size and shape that i am today. For a long time, while I was in school, I was a short, scrawny kid who wore glasses, was a Christian, and didn't just follow the crowd.

As a result of this I got picked on quite a lot while in school. As a method of protection and defence I learnt not to show anything that resembled weakness and vulnerability, because it only seemed to provide more ammunition to the bullies.

Skip forward some 9 years or so to now, and I am much bigger and stronger (both mentally and physically) and far, far more confident in who I am. But, sometimes I still struggle with allowing others to see me vulnerable, I guess that I like to be seen as strong and in control, after being seen as weak in the past.

But last night as I drove home from Torquay, an Hour and a halfs drive with nothing else to really do, I was spending some time chatting with God about some stuff and God kind of challenged me about this.

The book that I am reading at the moment about Youth Leadership talks about letting others see that you are vulnerable too.

As i thought about this, I realised that the way I act and show my emotions also has an influence on what people see and think a Christian should be. I realised that if I show no vulnerability, I am in effect saying that Christians are not allowed to be vulnerable, or sad, or worried, or things like that.

As I processed this God reminded me of Jesus and His life, a life that while at most times showed a man of strength and courage and grace beyond anything ever seen, Jesus was at times vulnerable also. I think of the the example of where Jesus found out that Lazarus was dead and as the shortest verse in the bible records; "Jesus wept." And I think of Garden of Gethsamane, where Jesus cried and begged God to let Him out of what had to be done, and then, understanding the necessity of what was to come, displayed even more vulnerablility in allowing God to be incontrol. And finally, I see Jesus in the most vulnerable position I can think of when He is nailed to the cross for our sins.

As I rediscovered last night, vulnerability is vital to the Christians walk of faith. If our heart does not break when we see people in trouble or despair, then how Christ-like are we really? I'm not saying that we should all be some sort of super-emotional person who walks around crying all the time, just that we shouldn't be cold and disconnected from what is happening around us either.

When was the last time you had your heart broken?

CROSSING OVER (without Johnathon Edwards)

2007-10-15T21:26:00.000-07:00

I'm currently preparing a sermon based on Joshua 1: 1-9, about moving forward, and how God told the Hebrew people how to move forward in to the Promised Land.

While preparing for this sermon I remembered the times Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee from Israel over to the gentile lands.

Every time Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee, the disciples were faced with a challenge on the sea and had to overcome it before reaching the gentile side. but the thing is that when Jesus and the disciples got passed the challenge, and reached the gentile side of the Sea of Galilee, something amazing or miraculous happened.

It was in these times of challenge that the disciples learnt something about Jesus or faith that took them to the next level.

This got me to thinking...

A dangerous thing i know, but...

Isn't this the same in our lives?

So often we are faced with challenges as we try to move from on thing to something new, and i wonder how many times we give up, and go back, not persevering, and miss out on not only learning something new about ourselves, or about God or about our faith in Him, but miss out on something totally amazing at the other side of the challenge?

In Mark Chapter 4 and 5 we see Jesus and the disciples crossing over the Sea of Galilee, to the Gerasenes region.

While crossing over we see Jesus taking a nap in the back of the boat while the disciples panicking in the boat as waves crashed over it and threaten to swamp it. Understandably distressed the disciple wake Jesus up (possibly to see if he can swim??) and ask Him whether he cares that they are about to die. Jesus rebukes the wind and waves and asks the disciples why they were afraid, and asks them what level of faith they really have. The disciples are amazed at what Jesus has done. Then when they reach the Gerasenes Jesus casts out a whole heap of demons from a bloke who had been wandering around a cemetery for years, completely under the control of these demons.

Then in Mark chapter 6, we see the disciples set out on the Sea of Galilee alone, leaving Jesus to pray by himself on the mountain. As night began to settle around them we find the disciples being battered by the wind and the waves in their boat on the Sea of Galilee. The bible tells us that in the early hours of the morning Jesus walked across the water to the disciples in their boat. Peter got out of the boat at the call of Jesus and began to walk toward Him. It was only when Peter began to look around him (taking his focus off Jesus) and focus on the wind and waves that he began to sink. This is where Jesus reaches out to save Peter. Then, once back on the boat, the wind and waves calm down and Jesus and the disciples head for Genesaret where many sick people are healed.

So what can we learn from these disciples?

First: don't get into a boat without Jesus, and make sure He is awake. Or alternatively change can be difficult if Jesus isn't on board.

Second: keep focused on Jesus, otherwise sinking is a very real possibility.

Third: if you do think that your sinking, call out to Jesus for help; he wont let you drown.

Fourth: make the effort to get through the hard times to discover the good stuff at the other end.

In both of these stories we see the disciples trying to go it alone, and failing miserably, we see the disciples calling out for Jesus to help, we see Jesus intervene, we see things get better and then we see miraculous events on the other side of the sea of Galilee.

What are you going through at the moment?

Are you trying to do it by yourself?

Is Jesus on board, or is this not where you are meant to be going?

Have you called out to Jesus and asked Him to help you?

Are you ready for the miracles on the other side?

Planting Caring Harvesting

2007-10-08T18:48:00.000-07:00

I've done a fair bit of travelling over the last few weeks, and as I have travelled i have noticed that there a a few crops approaching readiness for harvest. It doesn't seem to be all that long ago that i saw news reports of farmers working day and night after some good rain trying to get the ground prepared and seeds sown in the hope of a good crop and some more rain.

Now as i am travelling around is can see fields of what i think is barley, wheat and canola all approaching readiness for harvest. Now I am certainly no farmer, and i don't really know how long is left until these crops will be harvested, but i do know that when the time comes, the farmers will be flat out getting that crop in, this is what they have been waiting for.

As I was doing my devotions last night i re-read the story of Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well. It is the latter part of this passage in John chapter 4 that got me thinking about these paddocks again.

As i look back over my life i can see people who have planted seeds in my life, i can see people who have watered those seeds and tended the new shoots as they have grown from a seed. I can also see that there were people who recognised my readiness and harvested the product of those seeds. I also hope that i am now watering, tending and harvesting the results of seed planted in my life and in the life of others.

While it took people to plant tend and harvest, it is God that has really done much of the work; prompting, challenging and helping me to grow and much of the credit of who I have become today goes to Him.

John 4: 35 - 38 says:
Jesus said, "The food that keeps me going is that I do the will of the One who sent me, finishing the work he started. As you look around right now, wouldn't you say that in about four months it will be time to harvest? Well, I'm telling you to open your eyes and take a good look at what's right in front of you. These Samaritan fields are ripe. It's harvest time!

"The Harvester isn't waiting. He's taking his pay, gathering in this grain that's ripe for eternal life. Now the Sower is arm in arm with the Harvester, triumphant. That's the truth of the saying, 'This one sows, that one harvests.' I sent you to harvest a field you never worked. Without lifting a finger, you have walked in on a field worked long and hard by others."

The same is true today, lets get out there, plant the seeds of the good news of Jesus Christ in peoples lives, lets care for those who are growing in their faith and lets harvest that which is ready and put it to use for the Kingdom of God.

It is my prayer that there will always be seeds being sown, growth being tended to, and harvests being yielded. Is this your prayer? And if so, what are you doing about it?

Learning Old Stuff In New Ways

2007-10-01T20:59:00.000-07:00

Have you ever heard someone talking about something that you have heard at least a dozen times before, but for some reason this time it has really struck you as important or profound??

The reason i haven't blogged in the last couple of weeks is that for one week i was away on holidays and for the second week i was at the National Youth Ministry Conference.

The holiday was good, i definitely needed the break, and the NYMC was really good too. The days were long and there was a lot of info to process, something that is going to take a bit of time to do, but at the same time it was fun as well.

I guess the one thing that has really triggered some thought in my own mind is a theme that seemed to reoccur a few times last week, and now this week as i try to do some post conference reading, is that it is not so much what we do for God (eg. programmes and activities) that matters as much as who we are in God.

Now before i upset anyone, i am most definitely not saying that we should not do mission or ministry. I am not saying that we shouldn't reach out to the lost, last or least, or anything like that. All i am saying is that before we do any of this we need to make sure that we are plugged into God's power.

As I have been reminded over the last week or so, and to be honest, this has challenged me because of how busy i have been recently, that there is no point rushing here and there in a huge hurry doing all of this stuff, the 'work of God' so to speak, if i am not being a man of God.

I need to remember to take quality time with God, to hook up to His power and stop trying to do things by my power, because the reality is that there is always more work to do, i could always find more things to do, but i need to do what God wants me to do. And part of that is to spend time with Him in His Spirit.

I know that i don't want to be one of those people who Jesus talks about in Matthew 7: 21-23 who say "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?" and then hear Jesus response; "I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!"

Clearly, getting into Heaven is not so much a matter of what you have done and what you know as Who you know.

Are you taking time to know God??

2007-09-09T22:06:00.000-07:00

I shared this with the youth at Youth Event over the weekend; I thought is was probably blog worthy.

While i was at a conference the other month the bloke speaking started to talk about the purpose of the church and referred to Mt. 16: 18, where Jesus says that he will build His church and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it.

As the bloke continued to talk about this i realised that i had always thought of the church being under attack from hell, but God showed me that it was the other way around. As the speaker continued to talk God placed a vision of sorts in my mind. I thought i would share it with you.

God showed me a picture of a vast army gathered and ready to wage battle outside a heavily fortified city. They were all wearing armour like they did way back in medieval times. There were siege towers, catapults, battering rams. There were people with bows and arrows, people with huge swords, and others were riding horses with spears and swords. And then god showed me the inside of the city. There was an army massed inside the city, but they were no match for the soldiers on the outside of the walls. Then I saw the dungeons with many, many people being held prisoner inside.

As I watched I saw the army mobilize, prepare, and attack the fortified city. I saw the gates of the city crumble as the army surged forward. I saw the army inside the city being defeated and retreating. And I saw people who had been held as captives inside the city for a long time, being set free and as this great victory was won.

As God showed me this I realized that the fortified city was Hell, the soldiers in the city were demons and sin and other powers, I realized that the chains and cells that held the captives were not made of steel but rather made of sin and addiction and fear and despair.

And as I looked at the outside of the walls and the massed army of soldiers out there waging war against this fortified city I began to understand that it was Christians who were out there fighting and winning the battle, breaking down the walls and releasing prisoners from captivity.

The weapons these Christians were using were not conventional weapons. These were not bow and arrow or sword or spear, or guns or rockets or missiles.

Instead I saw the Christians praying, caring, and actively engaged in transforming lives and society. I saw people telling others about Jesus and the difference that He could make in their lives. I saw people moving from place to place starting different groups that allowed people to explore their faith.

And I realised that it was because of this stuff that they were winning the battle, because the Gates of Hell could not stand against a church, against an army such as this.

And as I watched this vision I saw the captives being released and streaming out from the city being channelled into boot camps where they learnt how to fight against what once held them prisoner and then being moved back into the front lines to strengthen the attack and help free more captives.

As I saw this vision of a mighty church breaking down the walls that held the prisoners captive I was reminded of Jesus’ words in the synagogue in Nazareth, the Message says it like this; “God’s Spirit is on me; He’s chosen me to preach the message of good news to the poor, sent me to announce pardon to the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to set the burdened and battered free, to announce, “This is God’s year to act!”

I was also reminded of God's promise to the prophet Joel in the old testament and a promise fulfilled by God and recorded by Luke in Acts chapter 2: “And Afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people, Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days."

God has poured out His Spirit, and now His Spirit is upon us, He has appointed us to preach the message of good news to the poor, sent us to announce pardon to the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to set the burdened and battered free, to announce, “This is God’s year to act!”

Will You???

OFFENSIVE CHRISTIANITY (and other events)

2007-08-21T22:20:00.000-07:00

Youth Event is nearly here!!!

On the 8th and 9th of September the Western Victoria Divisional Youth Event; OFFENSIVE CHRISTIANITY will run.

We have a really cool mission challenge, sorry no more details will be released until you arrive at the Forest Gardens Hall in Norman Street Wendouree at 12 PM Saturday arvo, secrecy is vital to this challenges success.

We are going to also have a great social type night where you can get dressed up in your fancy clothes and come along for a great night. Bring some cash if you can for a charity auction of some mystery items. All proceeds will go to Naranna, an Aboriginal centre that is doing some excellent work in the community.

Sunday is going to be a great day of awesome worship in the morning and a special event in the afternoon thats not to be missed.

There are Offensive Christianity T-Shirts available (check out the picture, they will have the 2Love symbol on the sleeve) to be ordered for pick up on the weekend, orders must be in by the 3rd of September so i can get them printed. The cost is $20.00 with all profits going to fundraising for the MakeChange Conference Trip

MAKECHANGE is coming up too. Stay tuned for some more info in the very near future. We are looking at joining up with some of the Salvos from Tassie and doing some cool adventure stuff in New Zealand before the Conference. Details of this will be released very soon.

THEOS is a Scripture Union Beach Mission being run in Torquay. It starts on Boxing Day and runs into the New Year. If you are interested let me know and we will organise an information night for you to find out what this is all about. If you are interested in mission or developing your leadership skills, then this is something you need to think about.

Keep this site in your favourites list, more info will be here very soon.

Yours Because I Am His,

Joel

Deep Wells

2007-08-14T22:06:00.000-07:00

I cleaned up my office on Monday!!!

Now this might not seem like much, but my office was a complete mess!! It took the best part of the mornings work to clean up more than 5 weeks worth of clutter, a clutter that seemed to grow through my infrequent visits to the office interspersed with periods of more than a week away from aforementioned office.

Upon cleaning my office i discovered that i had no less than half a dozen books sitting on my desk that needed my attention. Some of these books should have been read sooner, some will wait longer before needing any serious attention, but none the less there were 6 books on my desk that needed to be at least glanced at.

So yesterday afternoon i picked up on book, and decided to start reading it.

The author used this story to illustrate a point:

A tourist takes a holiday to a working Sheep Station in out-back Australia, while in this holiday he follows the farmer around on his rounds one day as he checks the sheep. As they drive around the station the tourist notices that there are no fences in sight. Perplexed by this realisation the tourist eventually asks the farmer "Where are your fences, aren't you worried that the sheep will wander away and get lost?" The farmer, a laid back sort of bloke, points towards the windmill over the way and says "I find that if you dig a decent well that produces good water, the sheep don't wander too far."

As i read this story i was reminded of a story in the bible. The Message version puts it like this:

A woman, a Samaritan, came to draw water. Jesus said, "Would you give me a drink of water?" (His disciples had gone to the village to buy food for lunch.)

The Samaritan woman, taken aback, asked, "How come you, a Jew, are asking me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?" (Jews in those days wouldn't be caught dead talking to Samaritans.)

Jesus answered, "If you knew the generosity of God and who I am, you would be asking me for a drink, and I would give you fresh, living water."

The woman said, "Sir, you don't even have a bucket to draw with, and this well is deep. So how are you going to get this 'living water'? Are you a better man than our ancestor Jacob, who dug this well and drank from it, he and his sons and livestock, and passed it down to us?"

Jesus said, "Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again. Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst—not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life."

The woman said, "Sir, give me this water so I won't ever get thirsty, won't ever have to come back to this well again!"

As i read these stories i began to think about the well of living water in my life and the wells that i am helping God to plant as i travel around the division.

If i invest in my life, plant a deep well of living water in my life, full of 'God water' then as i follow in Jesus' footsteps i will not wander too far from His path. In the same way, if i can clearly communicate the gospel to others, to share with them what God is doing in my life and what He is capable of doing in their lives, then a deep well with good water will be sunk into their lives and will sustain them as they try to follow in Jesus footsteps.

And if this well is good and deep then when we lose sight of God and wander away, we will not wander too far for the well and will return once again to drink of the life giving waters.

The other thing that occurred to me is that where there is water there is abundant life. When the well is producing a good supply of good water, life is abundant. Think of an oasis in the desert, there are trees and plants, there are animals, and people come by the oasis to refresh their supplies of water and to relax. Life happens at an oasis.

If our well is deep and producing plenty of living water in our own lives, then this will be visible to others and they will want to get some of this water too. Initially we can share some of this living water with them, but the real blessing would be to help people dig their own well, where they can have their own supply of living water.

Here are a few questions for you to ponder:

How deep is your well today?

What is the quality of water that is being produced from it?

Have you drank from the well recently?

Are you being generous with the water that springs from the well of living water, or are you restricting or rationing your living water?

The Full Gospel Of Jesus Christ

2007-08-09T23:23:00.000-07:00

Almost every week (those that i'm actually around for) i write a segment for the Divisional Newsletter that goes out to all of the Salvation Army officers and to some other people in the division and around the territory. In this article i talk about what is going on in Youth and Childrens Ministry and also cover any relevant Candidates info that i feel needs to be passed on.

This week i revealed the name of this years Youth Event; Offensive Christianity (see my previous blog). To be honest, part of the reason i liked this name was because it was a little controversial, the plan was to get people talking. But in my little speil in the newsletter i refferred to offensive Christianity as, and i quote myself here for contextual reasons:

"...not the sort of offensive you think of when you see those obnoxious street preachers in Melbourne."

Now i have had conversations, discussions and slightly heated debates with various friends and acquiantances in the past over this issue, but i still think my position is justified.

First of all, let me say how much i admire the courage of these people who are willing to go out there and speak the gospel, irrespective of what others think. My issue is not that thye are presenting the gospel, in the street or otherwise, but my issue is in the way that it is done.

The Salvation Army has a long history of presenting the gosple to the lost, least and last in public places, and i think that that is great!! I personally would love to hold an event in the public space where i could share the FULL gospel to those gathered around. The key here is the 'FULL' word.

Jesus taught that we should speak the truth. Jesus said the He is the Truth, the Way and the Life. Jesus also taught that we should act with grace and compassion. In fact, i believe that most of Jesus' harshest criticism was reserved for the Pharrisees, Sadducees and Scribes, those that already considdered themselves 'saved'. As i recall, Jesus spoke forgiveness and compassion to the outcast of society. When the Jewish leaders dragged a woman caught in adultery before Jesus asking Him to pronounce judgement over her, Jesus' response was "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." And when they all left because they were not able to condemn her, Jesus, the only one to have never sinned, didn't pick up a stone, but told her the He didn't condemn her but encouraged her to "Go and sin no more."

Maybe in this post-modern, post-Christian world people aren't aware that they have sinned, perhaps people dont care about sin, but i still believe that each person is aware, at least on some level, that they have made decisions that they wish they hadn't. We don't need to be convinced of our unworthiness in most situations, most of us are all to keenly aware of that, we just don't want anyone else to find it out.

My argument continues that instead of preaching the wrath of God and condemning people as i have seen at least once on the street in melbourne on a Friday night for example: the one million dollar note with the $1,000,000 question; where will you go when you die? with the tag line, and i almost quote verbatim; "Basically you're a lying, cheating, theiving, murderous adulterer at heart." Let us preach the love of God, that Jesus died for us irrespective of whether we love him, that God loves us irrespective of what we have don or what we will do, that eternal life isn't just about going to heaven when we die, but about seeing God's Kingdom here on earth now as we live and breathe. Let's try preaching acceptance, not exclusion; love, not hatred; let's return good for bad. instead of being one of those 'fundamental' Christians that hate homosexuals, abortionists, etc, lets be one of those fundamentally Christ-like people who love the sinner, hate the sin and do what we can for these people.

By all means, go into the world and preach the gospel, just make sure it is the full gospel!!!

OFFENSIVE CHRISTIANITY

2007-08-07T22:00:00.000-07:00

I was away all last week, again.

This time I had 2 conferences to attend. The first was a Paul Borden Growing Health Corps conference, and the second was a Candidates Secretaries conference.

Leading up to these conferences has been a busy time, I haven't had a lot of time in the office to do stuff, and the little time I did have was used catching up on what had come in while i was away.

So there I was at the Paul Borden conference thinking about how much I still had to do over the next few months, especially how i still hadn't had the chance to get any Youth Event info out to anyone yet, when I heard Paul Borden talking about the church and the gates of Hell.

Paul referred to the passage in the bible where Jesus turns to Peter and says "You are Peter and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it." (Joel Clifford paraphrase version)

And as I sat there it occurred to me that the way I had been thinking about the church in relation to this passage wasn't the way Jesus intended it to be. I always thought that this passage meant that the church would be able to withstand the attacks from hell, when the reality is that hell can not withstand the attacks of the church.

As I already had much of the planning for Youth Event sorted, I was amazed at how this fitted in with my theme. So with this new (to me anyway) revelation in mind i prayed about it and decided to tweak the theme a bit.

So i can now boldly say that the theme for this years Youth Event is:
Offensive Christianity

Now I'm not talking about the offense as in offending someone by saying something rude, but offense as in the opposite to defense.

Youth Event this year will be about Offending Poverty, Offending Sin, Offending Apathy and, Offending Hell.

This year Youth Event will be held in Ballarat, and will include:
A Missional Event Saturday afternoon
A Social Event Saturday night (a good chance to get dressed up!!!)
A Worship Event Sunday morning and;
A Special Event Sunday afternoon.

Posters are out this week, check them out and stay tuned for more details very soon.

A Right Relationship

2007-07-24T18:17:00.000-07:00

I facilitate a bible study/small group here in Ballarat on Sunday nights when I'm not out and about around the division. This bible study is based on the Nooma DVD's (which are great by the way) but the DVD is really just a starting point and the conversation can go anywhere after that.

While thinking about some of the stuff in my prep. for the study/group i began to think about what it meant to be in a right relationship with God, and also what it meant to be in a right relationship in general.

The more i thought about this the more i felt led back to where it all began; the garden of Eden.

When Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden, before the whole Apple incident (not the computer, for those who don't know the story grab a Bible and check out Genesis chapter 1), they had a right relationship with God. Genesis 3: 8 says that Adam and Eve heard God walking through the Garden at the time of the evening breeze. Imagine what that would have been like to walk through creation with the creator at your side. Adam and Eve spent time with God naming the animals, they knew what it was like to hear God directly, to actually be in his physical presence!!!

Adam and Eve had a right relationship with the animals. They did not have to fear any of the animals because they all ate plants (see Genesis 1: 30) and the animals didn't have to fear Adam and Eve because they too were vegetarians (as much as i hate to admit that, being firmly against not eating meat) (see Genesis 1:29). It was only after they ate the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, realised that they were naked, hid from and were found out by God that this changed. Because Edam and Eve ate the fruit (not necessarily and apple, but it will do for the example) God had to kill an animal to provide them with clothes (so a vegetarian caused the first animal to die!!!).

Before the 'Apple Incident' Adam and Eve had a right relationship with nature, not having to work so hard to cultivate the food that grew from the earth. After their expulsion from Eden this changed (check out Genesis 3: 17-19)

Before the 'Apple Incident' Adam and Eve had right relationships with each other. They understood each other, in fact the bible tells us that they were as one (check out Genesis 2:24). Now no one really understands each other, and peace is far from a reality in our world.

So how do we as Christians restore ourselves and our world to right relationships??

Here are a few of my ideas:

Right with God:
This side of eternity what Adam and Eve had is impossible, but, anything that vaguely resembles that would be awesome!! The best way to get right with God is to stop sinning. Christians often call this Holiness. I dont know about you, but I know that I'm not perfect, I still make mistakes, but I'm trying to make those mistakes less frequently. Also, lets try to seek God more intentionally, because the bible tells us that when we seek Him we will find Him (Jeremiah 29: 12-13). Lets try to spend quality time in devotion prayer and bible reading with God.

Right with others:
This one should be easy, Jesus taught us so much about how to be right with others (check out Matthew chapters 5, 6, and 7). Love those who hate us, care for the poor and oppressed, go the extra mile, don't retaliate, return good for evil, etc,etc.

Right with animals:
Probably not really possible this side of eternity, but lets care for them, stop cruelty towards them (it is still ok to eat them, just kill them cleanly), care for their habitat, which leads me to my next point...

Right with nature:
Let me preface this by saying that I don't consider my self to be a "Greenie" but I do think we need to be careful in what we do. I hope to have kids one day, and would like to leave them and their kids a planet to live on (assuming Jesus hasn't already come back!!). So lets look after the resources we have. The ozone hole is a perfect example of us being out of a right relationship with nature; we pollute, disrupt the natural balance and then get skin cancer because of it. Lets try to use renewable energy, reduce the energy we are using, blah, blah, blah. I'm sure you get the idea.

Being in right relationships is not going to be easy, but it will be beneficial.

Remember the right thing to do isn't usually the easiest thing to do, in fact, the right thing to do is often the hardest.

"The popular thing isn't always right, and the right thing isn't always popular."
-Someone very wise, I just cant remember who (is it in the Bible??)

The Team and The Coach

2007-07-19T17:24:00.000-07:00

First of all, oops!!

Somehow when i wrote this post on friday somewhere between me finishing the writing, finding a you tube clip and posting the blog, all of the text vanished into cyberspace.

So here is a very similar post to what i had written:

The last few weeks have been a very hectic time. There was kids camp, then basketball carnival and then officers fellowship. At onw stage i think i had spent one night at home out of a total of 12 or something like that.

The Salvo national basketball carnival was good. I had a great time, met lots of new people and learnt a lot too.

The first thing i learnt was that will power can only hold a cold at bay for so long.

Just before kids camp i started to feel that rough sore feeling at the back of my throat that so often precedes a cold.

All the way through camp and then carnival i willed myself to stay well and not get sick. I also prayd to God "Please dont let me get sick while I'm away, i need to stay well." Well God answered my prayer, and i satyed well until i got back. In hindsight i guess that i should have just prayed that i wouldnt get sick and left it at that. Now i have a cold, and although i am starting to feel better, it is really frustrating. I hate being sick.

The second, and probably far more interesting thing that i learnt, though it actually is more like i had it re-revealed to me by God was the importance of working together as a team in Christ.

It may surprise some of you to know that i am not a great basketballer. For those of you who saw me this you would already know. As far as hitting baskets and scoring points went, some games i wondered if i could have hit water if i fell out of a boat, not a single shot would go in!!

Fortunately for my team mates, i wasn't completely rubbish at every aspect of the game, and i did improve as the carnival progressed. It turns out that im not to bad at boxing out (the term used to describe keeping opposition players away from the rebounding ball after a shot) and i can take the odd rebound or two.

This is like us in the church. Not all of us are meant to be the pastor, not all of us are meant to be in the welcoming group at the front door, not all of us are meant to be yout or childrens workers. We all have a different role to play in our local church, and our local churches all have a role to play in our city/town/neighbourhood.

So if your job is making sure that the hall is clean for church on Sunday, don't feel discouraged, because your job is very important, just because everyone doent see you doing it, doesnt make it unimportant. If the church was dirty, who would want to come into it??

It's up to us to make a difference, none of us are exempt form telling our friends about Jesus, but we all do that in different ways, which is important, so that we can reach different people.

In 1 Corinthians 12: 14-20 Paul says:
Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body

Lets all work together for the benefit of the Kingdom of God, and if that means scrubbing a toilet or two, im ok with that.

Transformers

2007-07-05T19:01:00.000-07:00

When i was a kid i loved the Transformers cartoons. Throughout the years the Transformers concept has changed, with different series using new and different characters. But this year i was excited to hear that there would be a new Transformers movie released. I found this out at about the same time that i was beginning to plan Kids Camp. When someone suggested the idea of using the Transformers theme for kids camp it really appealed to me. Transformation is one of the major themes in the bible, salvation obviously the major theme, but transformation is related to that.

Little did i realise that the new Transformers movie was targeted at us nostalgic 20 somethings who grew up watching Transformers on Saturday mornings and not at the kids who now watch cartoons on Saturday mornings.

All of that aside though, Camp was FANTASTIC!!!

The kids all seemed to have a really good time. And a BIG THANKS to the leaders who were a great help to me and the kids also.

Check out the photos from camp, hopefully we will be able to release a dvd from camp once we are able to work out a few technical difficulties.

Romans 12: 2 says: "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."

Transformation can be a 2 stage process. There is the initial instantaneous transformation that happens when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour and then there is the continuing process of transformation that occurs as we walk with Jesus and try to become more Christ like. If i were talking in Christianese (the language those really religious people always seem to be talking in) i would call this redemption and sanctification.

Redemption is the first transformation where we chose to no longer conform to this world but to transform ourselves in to followers of Jesus.

Sanctification is the second transformation where we constantly ask the Holy Spirit to help us change our thinking from that of the way the world thinks, to the way God thinks, often vastly contradicting thought processes.

How are you going in your transformation experience, how transformed are you??

What Are You Hiding Behind???

2007-06-27T17:50:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had one of those weeks where you wake up Monday morning and instantly wish that a) you were still asleep and b) it was Friday night?

I've had one of those weeks.

The problem is, even when the proverbial hits the fan and all you want to do is crawl back into bed, pull the covers over your head and pretend that the rest of the world doesn't exist, life continues to go on around you.

As a result of this many of us have to take a deep breath, pull ourselves together and move on. But how?

Many of us put on a mask, or veneer of normality on the outside when we are around others, while on the inside we are a mess, with so many thoughts and emotions rolling around just wanting to escape.

And so we feel exhausted at the end of the day when we finally get home and can take that mask off and be exactly how we are feeling.

Masks can be good. In Ice Hockey people wear masks to protect their face from serious injury/disfigurement. Superheroes wear masks to protect their identity and those they care about.

Sometimes masks are fun, they allow us to pretend we are someone or something different and we can let our hair down without fear of what people think of us.

But masks can be bad. Sometimes we wear a mask (figuratively speaking) so that people don't see who we really are or what we are really thinking.

This week, as i have struggled to deal with the stuff going on in my own life, i have found myself reaching for a mask to cover my inner feelings and maintain the character i usually portray to those around me, strong, confident, energetic, joyful.

The thing is, even though this is what i am trying to look like, there are some people that still noticed that things weren't right and asked me if i was ok; to which if i was honest, the answer was no!

As i was thinking about this stuff last night on the way home from a meeting in Melbourne, i began to wonder if this is what we sometimes do when it comes to God stuff.

We pretend that we are ok, we keep doing things on the outside, hoping that no one will notice that things are not ok inside.

But the thing is, that even though people may only see what is on the outside, God can see whats going on on the inside. God knows our deepest thoughts, dreams, hopes, desires, fears and failings. And He loves us anyway.

While i struggled to deal with all that has been going on over the last week, God has been there. When i've screamed out WHY? He was there. When all i wanted to do was get away from everyone around me and retreat to the safety of solitude, and couldn't, God gave me the strength i needed to push on.

Now, my problems, while hugely significant in my life, didn't rally rate on the scale of the world around me. This week countless people have died in wars and from famine, I heard this morning of over 100 babies in Kazakhstan that were infected with HIV because doctors, nurses, and hospital officials were negligent in their jobs. We have global warming, floods, droughts and countless other problems that occur around us every day. But it is so easy to get caught up in our own problems that the rest of the world seems to fade away.

Sometimes we need to take off our mask, admit that things are not ok (some people call this confession), make the necessary changes (sometimes this is called repentance) and walk towards our future, trusting God to go ahead of us and prepare the way, one step at a time.

As I overheard someone say yesterday; "Life sucks, and it's not funny."

Bad stuff happens, even to good people, but God is faithful. Even when we don't know why stuff happens, we need to trust that God will work all things for the good of those who love Him, and follow Him into our future!!

As my old high school motto says: "In Faith and Hope and Love."

I say: "Amen"

Tell The World

2007-06-18T18:11:00.000-07:00

In the final chapter of the Matthew's Gospel Jesus tells the disciple to: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Mt. 28: 19 - 20)

So we know what Jesus said, but how we do it is still the subject of much conjecture.

Some say that it is best to take time to get to know someone, build a relationship, and then to share the gospel. Others prefer the smack 'em in the face with the gospel message every chance you get approach. And many others sit somewhere in between the two.

I recently purchased a book from Word titled; How To Talk About Jesus Without Freaking Out. It is described as a practical, challenging and compelling read.

While i have only just started reading this the book makes some good points. Like that the danger we in western countries fear when we talk about God or Jesus is mostly imagined, because in reality, if we present the gospel message clearly, concisely and without prejudice, most people will respect our thoughts.

I love the clip above, it speaks of an upside down world. Just like the Kingdom of God that Jesus proclaimed. Lets: Aim Lower; Think Smaller; Give Up and Go Have A Cup Of Coffee.

Lets build relationships with people, and show them the gospel in our lives, BUT, never stop telling the gospel. Take every opportunity to share the message of Jesus and the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom where to be first, we must put ourselves last, where the least are the greatest, where you love those who hate you and bless those who persecute you. Let's give up our "Empires" and do what is needed for the kingdom, not what is needed for the health of our own egos.

I say: To God be the Glory, not anyone else!!

Kids Camp Promo, & other stuff

2007-06-13T19:31:00.000-07:00

Well, I've finally done it, the Kids Camp Promo is on You Tube, Expect more videos to follow.

Things have been pretty busy lately, the division has a few events coming up; the 2 Love G.P. and launch is a little over a week away, I'm really looking forward to that, it's going to be lots of fun!! I mean, who doesn't love Go Karting?? Also Kids Camp is just over a fortnight away. This camp is going to be soo much fun, I wish I was a Kid and not a leader so that I could get in on all of the fun!! And basketball carnival isn't far away either, I'm really looking forward to that. It's going to be great to play sport full on and also see a bit of Adelaide when we get the time!! We have had a few cancellations from the Mens B Team, so in you're interested in playing, or know someone else who might be, let me know and we will get them registered.

I was sitting at home last night, before i went to basketball, and i saw a bit of Heroes, and the time travelling thing got me to thinking...

Bad stuff happens to good people; we all know that. Why is a bit harder to figure out. My thoughts are that much of this is a consequence of God's gift of Free Will and the laws of physics, you know; "For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction." I also know that "...all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8: 28. So God works his plan in the good and the bad times, and even though Satan might mean something for his evil purposes, God can take that and use it for His good purposes. BUT. What if we had the capacity to go back and change the past, not that I think we ever will (unlike TV, reality has no reset button) but what if we did. Would changing the bad stuff in the past really affect the future in a serious way??

Maybe it all comes down to how powerful we really think God is. If God is All Powerful, All Knowing and Ever Present, surely He can adapt his plans to what ever we may do. Alternatively, where and when does our responsibility come in to actually do something in order to see the world changed??

I know what I think, what about you??

I leave you with the words of Chuck Holton, a former U.S Army Ranger, author and Christian: "Whatever happens in my life is either God's plan or my mistake." -or something to that effect

Whose God Is He Anyway??

2007-06-05T23:07:00.000-07:00

Recently I have been working through the minor prophets of the bible during my devotional time. For those who don't know, the minor prophets are the shorter prophetic books of the Old Testament like Micah, Habakuk, Hosea, Zechariah, etc. Now, despite their funny names, these minor (because they're small books, not 'cos they were under 18) prophets aren't afraid to tell people what God thinks. And it's not all good news.

One of the biggest themes in these books is the problem of Idolatry.

At that time the people of Israel weren't worshipping God, they were following after other gods that were images that someone had carved into wood or stone. And, to make matters worse, some of the few that claimed to actually follow Yahweh (what the Israelites called God) were only using it as a cover for some even shadier business stuff than the idolaters!!!

Reading these prophets words set me to thinking.

I have just finished Hosea (I'm not reading them in the exact order that they are in the Bible) and the last few chapters have gotten me to thinking.

Typically an idol is an image of an animal, person or mythical/supernatural being that has been drawn, painted, carved or sculpted by another person and then worshipped.

Sometimes these idols are big and hard to move, but they can also be small and easy to carry around with you. In bible times each house had their own idols and people would often carry them around with them.

Hosea 14: 3 says: "Assyria shall save us; we will not ride upon horses; we will say no more 'Our God' to the work of our hands. In you the orphan finds mercy." (Italics and bold mine)

This set me to thinking.

When we say "Our God" what do we mean.

Do we mean that God is Our god, a thing that we carry around with us to bail us out when things get tough, to pray to like Santa to get what we want when we want it? Are we trying to control God, shrink Him down to size so that we can control and manipulate him for our own plans?

OR

Do we mean that God is the God we follow, that we are His not that he is ours? If this is the case are we willing to listen to Him when he asks us to do something? We need to remember that God is infinite. He is so much bigger than our human minds can comprehend.

Let's not try and shrink God down to our size, but open our minds to the enormity of God and allow Him to move us where we need to go.

Remember that we are a work of Gods Hands, not that God is a work of our hands.

Idol or God, you choose!!

Whats Love Got To Do With It Anyway???

2007-05-24T16:53:00.000-07:00

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.

Lots n Lots of Stuff Happening!!!

2007-05-23T15:53:00.000-07:00

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.

The Dead Sea

2007-05-14T16:08:00.000-07:00

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.

Generation Y, the Unsatisfied Consumers

2007-04-22T15:51:00.000-07:00

Part of my job involves spending hours at a stretch driving my car to various places around western Victoria. This has a number of results. Firstly i am single handedly keeping some drink manufacturers in business as i purchase beverages to consume during my travels. Second, i may wear my iPod out before it runs out of warranty due to it's providing me with many and assorted tunes whilst on the road. Thirdly, i get plenty of time to think and contemplate and pray about many different things as i drive.

One such thing that has been on my mind recently is something that i heard Mark Sayers talk about at the youth workers conference a while back. much of my thoughts are a result of Mark's information so much of the credit goes to him, but here is what i have been thinking about:

Generation Y are pretty much everyone aged 25 and under. this means that i just fall into this category. Gen. Y have been described as an A.D.D generation, and when you think about it, this is a fair and true statement. Just watch any gen. Y person during their daily life. Think of the teenager doing their homework in front of the TV with the stereo on, texting their friends on their mobile with msn on their computers in case any of their friends are on there too.

For gen. Y life is all about experience. Think about it, when you are introduced to people you are told about some of the experiences that a person has had. Look at the new ads for the Xbox 360, slogans like "Space travel for only $499" or "Visit new places for only $499."

Now look at the increase in use of substances like Ice and Ecstasy and other so called "Party Drugs."

Mark Sayers labels this sort of marketing and lifestyle as Hyper-reality.

Mark Sayers sites people like Paris Hilton, one of the few people who are really only famous for being famous, as examples of this Hyper real world.

Hyper Reality is a culture where everything must be realer than real. Look at some at these so called reality TV shows like survivor, the amazing race and the biggest looser that invade our homes through the TV every night.

When was the last time you heard of someone really being stranded on a deserted island and then getting to vote members off? Reality is that if you are stranded on a desert island the only way off is by rescue or death.

Why would you want to race through so many countries, sometimes only being there for a day at the most, when you miss what a holiday is all about; visiting a new place, seeing the sights, soaking up the atmosphere and learning a new culture?

Loosing huge amounts of weight is easy in short periods of time when you do nothing all day except exercise for four hours with your own personal trainer, have healthy food cooked for you or are shown how to cook healthy food and manage a good diet. Now try doing that in the real world, you show me where i can find four hours to exercise with the personal trainer that i can't afford? Show me how to maintain a healthy diet when you're on the road travelling up to 2 or three nights a week.

But the Hyper real world doesn't stop there.

When was the last time you saw someone express a need to go to the toilet on Home and Away or McLeod's Daughters?

When was the last time something disastrous didn't happen or wasn't just about to happen on one of these shows.

Generation Y is the first generation to be marketed to since they were old enough to understand the TV.

Is it any wonder that so many young people around the world are suffering depression when they realise that their life has none of the experiences that TV and other influences promised them they would?

Can you blame them for turning to Ice or Ecstasy or whatever to find a new 'experience'?

Do the youth of today see God as just another experience that will work for some, but not for them?

Perhaps we need to show people that although God can be experienced in the High times of life, God is also in the mundane parts of life; the dragging of one's self out of bed on a Monday morning to shuffle off to work or school again; eating the same food again and again; doing the dishes yet again 'cos they're dirty yet again; etc. etc.

I believe that Jesus offers a reality completely different to the hyper real world, and even to the real world.

Jesus offers a reality where we love our neighbours, AND care about them, a reality where we bless those who curse us, love those who hate us, offer more when much is demanded of us, simply turn the other cheek when we are struck, perhaps even provide aid to countries that are hotbeds of unrest and anti-west sentiment, not so that we can trade or use it as leverage for our own gain, but simply because they need it and we have it.

Imagine what the world might be like if this was the reality in our lives?

2007-03-25T16:19:00.000-07:00

Only 10 sleeps 'til Easter Camp!!!

Easter is fast approaching, the chocolate eggs that have been in the shops since what feels like Boxing Day, are selling; people are making preparations for going on holiday and I'm putting the finishing touches on the Easter Camp programme. It's so easy to get busy at this time of year, but while we continue to rush around doing 'stuff' it is important to remember why it is that we celebrate Easter.

This year as you look at the Cross on Good Friday and think of the price Jesus paid for our mistakes and disobedience, and as you look at the Cross on Easter Sunday and think of the eternal life we now can have in relationship with God remember this:

The Cross is like an arrow; it shows us the way to God: JESUS

The Cross is looks like a 't'; it reminds us of the Truth: That while we were still sinners Jesus died for us.

The Cross is the Life; it cost Jesus His life but gave us ours.

John 14: 6 - 7: Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except through me. if you know me, you will know my father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him." (NRSV)

2007-03-19T15:04:00.000-07:00

Occasionally i spend some time reading other peoples blogs, i like to see what other people are thinking and why. Recently i read a blog about the structure of the church and whether or not it was effective.

While i think the blog had some valid points about how church was done (the example given of a standard church meeting lead went something like this: Call to worship, Songs, Prayer, Songs, Sermon, Songs) it think that the proble with some worship services is not so much the structure but the content. I heard it said once that "a good sermon will not get people into a church, but a bad sermon will certainly stop people from coming back." I think that this is very true. Worship services should serve to guide the congregation into a place where they experience God in spirit and in truth. I am as gulty as any one of having preached a sermon whilst feeling and being underprepared, and i know that it was a lame excuse on my part, but i have learnt from these experiences.

The blog i read suggested that reproducing small groups were a better alternative to 'church'. Ii think the key word with the small groups is 'reproduce'. So often these small groups become little cliques that an 'outsider' is excluded from.

While i believe that small groups are vital, i also believe that 'church' is important. the passage in Acts 2 that was included spoke about the things that the believers did. The passage showed that ALL of the believers met together in the temple courts IN ADDITION to meeting in their small groups.

Small groups should be a place of fellowship, teaching BIBLICALLY SOUND TRUTHS, as it appears some groups are not so great on this, preferring instead to teach their post-modern interpretaion onf what they think the bible says to them. Small groups should also provide accountability to its members. I think church should build on this, providing a celebration of faith, teaching, challenging and providing opportunities for people to commit or recommit their lives to the LORD. While this can happen in small groups i believe opportunities in bigger meetings should provide an atmosphere for people to make a decisions.

In conclusion i leave you with Paul's words "And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching." from Heb. 10: 24 -25.

And one final thought:

Is it that the model of church as we know it is not working, or is it that the people who go to church aren't doing the required leg work before they bring thier friends to church, are people even brining their friends to church???

Adios Amigos

P.S I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on this.

20 Sleeps 'til Easter Camp

2007-03-15T16:43:00.000-07:00

Not long now!!! Easter Camp isn't far away. I've got some forms back, but please don't hold out too long in getting them back to me, I don't want you to miss out.

Stop The Traffik:
Did you know that even though the Trans-Atlantic Slave Act was reppealed 200 years ago, making slavery illegal, people are still brought and sold into slavery every day, many of them are women and children!!!

The Salvos are holding a concert at Queensbridge square on Sunday 25th of March to Celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Act being reppealed and also we want to raise the profile of current human traffiking and put pressure on to have it stopped. No-one should be enslaved to another person these days. We can put people into space, why can't we ensure all people are free from slavery. Is it because we just don't care enough??

This is only a short blog, I've got lots to do at the moment.

Stay tuned sometime next week for an Easter Camp promo video clip!!

Adios Amigos

2007-03-06T20:47:00.000-08:00

Easter is fast approaching and this means that The Salvation Army Western Victoria Divisional Easter Camp is to. This year the name of the camp is Boundless Salvation, and yes, it is based on the song book song, but no it wont be boring. I truly believe that God has some awsome stuff instore for us on this camp.

Some of the stuff we are looking at running include canoeing and maybe even a trip to the beach.

I need names and deposits by the end of this month so please see your Corps officers to get a form and get them back in ASAP!!!

2007-03-04T19:48:00.000-08:00

Hi, welcome to my new blog site as DYCS.

My plan is to post my thoughts and questions here for you to think and comment on. I also thought i might post some of my sermons on here in a slightly edited form.

I also though that this could be a good place to post some of the upcoming events in Western Vic for Salvo Youth and Childrens ministry and also some stuff for people to think about if they feel called to become an officer in The Salvation Army.

Well, gotta go.

Adios!!!