Don't be a rich fool

I was in Chermside shopping centre last week when a lady stepped out from one of the cosmetic kiosks and asked me about what after-shaving balm I used.  Now this was not the brightest question as I've let my beard go a bit since holidays started and it was quite obvious I hadn't shaved in a few weeks.

But then the actual meaning of her getting me to stop comes through as she asks if I'd like to 'get rid of those disturbing black marks under your eyes' (yep that's exactly what she said!)  Though I was a little offended I tried not to be rude as she proceeded to tell me all about this cucumber and Dead Sea salt goo that I could rub on my face and help rid me of this ugliness.  She then showed me the price... $110 for a 50g jar!!!!!! I promptly told her that as a student that was ludicrous and so she offered 50% off - to which I still said no that's too much for what I earn (let alone the fact I'm not spending $55 on some cucumber and salt!) She kept badgering me until I felt obligated to disclose to her exactly how much I currently earn each week - and that $55 would take more than half of that away.

The look of disgust and shock that a man of about 30 could be living with so little money was disturbingly evident on her face - again to the point of being quite insulting.  She promptly dismissed me and left me walking away feeling pretty low that I hadn't lived up to some preconceived idea of what it means to be an Aussie male in 2011.

I was walking home so had 45 minutes to let my mind wander over all the deep emotions the encounter with the sales lady had kicked off.  For a while I was wondering why I was living the life I was - but then God took me to this passage in his Word.

Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?' And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
(Luke 12:13-21 ESV)

The audacity of this rich man to say to his 'soul' - that life giving, salvific function of his life - 'you have no more need to worry because you have so much' struck me completely.  I think the ESV nails the Greek translation here using the word 'soul' - it carries much more meaning that the NIV's translation.  How many people today are putting their saving factors for their life into the possessions they have, or their looks, or their status?  The fact that people might spend $110 on a small jar of cream to try and look a little better just highlighted that fact to me greatly.

God reminded me by what means my soul is saved - and when I remembered Jesus, his loving actions on earth, his death on the cross and his power in his resurrection I forgot about the things I was missing out on because of the way I've followed him - and could really say (as the Apostle Paul did) that I can consider everything else rubbish, so that I might gain Christ.

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith — that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.
(Philippians 3:8-10 ESV)

My focus...

‎"If the Lord's bearing our sin for us is not the gospel, I have no gospel to preach" - C.H. Spurgeon

The toughest part of mentoring

Here's an exert of some of my lecture notes on Mentoring - so far in the little amount of mentoring I've done, this is by far the hardest part.  Especially as you're building a relationship and not sure if you have the respect or place to confront on certain issues - which I think can be highlighted when the mentoring relationship is with someone still of school age - where do the boundaries of your responsibility lie??  Anyway I found these notes helpful.

Confronting
The mentoring relationship is founded on genuine care and concern for the mentoree, but sometimes as Davis states, “a mentor is called upon to confront.” Wagner believes that a balance between the confrontation of issues and honest care for people will strengthen and lengthen a mentoring relationship. Mentors have a unique privilege and responsibility to confront inappropriate behavior and attitudes, and facilitate growth. As Wagner points out to his audience of Promise Keepers when speaking about the need to confront, “Only a mentor - one who has proved his faithfulness as a friend - will be trusted at those critical, teachable moments that make or break a man’s ministry.” 

Productive confrontation not only needs a foundation of earned trust, but also a careful wording of the confronting message. Shea suggests that the message should involve a neutral description of what one perceives the mentoree intends, a statement of the possible negative effects on the mentoree and other people, and the feelings or emotions one has about the mentoree’s plan or action. Other important skills in effective confrontation include assessing the psychological readiness of a mentoree to benefit from different perspectives, focusing on the behaviors most likely to change, using the least amount of feedback necessary for impact, and reinforcing throughout the confrontation one’s belief in the mentoree’s potential for growth.

Different ways... or the right way?

Spending time at the Winternationals this weekend, with a chaplain from another state coming and visiting.   We've always had a certain protocol of interaction with the race teams at Willowbank - and usually, as chaplains, stay out of their garages and camps sites figuring they are usually focused on getting their cars ready for racing.  As the chappies, we are there to serve them when they need us, and aren't so much an evangelistic force trying to get involved with them all through the weekend.

Though it seems the other chaplain works differently.  I was amazed at how many people this guy knows... how many say hello, and I wondered if actively going out into the teams was something we were missing in our ministry.   However, this guy had no qualms about jumping barriers and walking into garages, and though I felt uncomfortable he urged me to come with him.  Initially it always seems the team members' reactions were "who the hell are you and why are you in here?"  Most times I felt the team members then 'put up' with us in their garage more out of politeness than actually wanting to chat with the chaplains.

There was one team with whom we had a good chat, but at a point when some good Gospel input could have been injected a very worldly and superficial piece of advice was offered instead.  I felt as a evangelical Christian I missed an opportunity there, but this was mainly effected I think about the denomination of the other chaplain.

So I'm torn between giving the teams the professional space they need and developing better relationships with them. I think this other chaplain has many better relationships with some of the support staff on the teams because of his manner of chaplaincy, but has probably stepped on the toes of many of the mechanics and drivers to get there.

So close...

This is the first time I have had an assignment due after my final exams.  I had my last exam for the semester this morning and usually the feeling walking out of it is one of relief and calmness... but today I've had to come home and battle on with an assignment that is due tomorrow.

It is a strange feeling to know I'm so close... but not have a definite point of when I will be finished.  I simply just have to put my head down and I will be on holidays as soon as I print this assignment.

That makes the motivation hard.  I find exams provide their own source of motivation - knowing that you have 2 hours to sit and produce something.  Whereas assignments can take as long as you let them and so the motivation wanes...

I just want to be on holidays :-p...

Being in the vine...

John 15:1-17 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.  Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

This was a passage I had to exegete for my exam last Friday.  I was greatly encouraged by having a closer look at it.

So the vine was used a lot in the Old Testament as a depiction of Israel, and it was always to show how Israel was not producing fruit, or growing well - usually with the vinedresser finally pulling out the vine or burning it.  So John immediately shows Jesus as the true Israel in saying that he is the true vine.  Everything that the people of God should have been, Jesus is - very cool.

We then are attached to the vine (through 'remaining' in him) and we are to produce good fruit.  However, even if we produce fruit God still 'prunes' us - so not everything will be good times, but it will all help us produce more fruit.

God is glorified as we bear fruit, and then ask for whatever we wish and have it given to us - all this because we have become pure by hearing Jesus' words and a proved to be his disciples.

The result of us remaining in Jesus is keeping his commands.  It is not a case of us keeping his commands so that we remain in him.  This is seen because we do not choose him but he chose us and appointed us so that we might remain in him - the keeping of commands is a response to our appointment.

Such an encouragement.

Spare a thought for Queensland

We may still be the dominant force when it comes to the State of Origin, but I've noticed this past week that South East Queensland is still trying to recover from the January floods.  In Bowen Hills I noticed new buildings going up where old ones were ruined by flood waters, and today in Ipswich I saw so much road work as the council continues working to repair all the damage the water did.

So spare a thought for all those still rebuilding after the floods... where I live (about 20 minutes north of the river) not a single property was flooded and we've just been getting on with life as per usual, but just up the road there's still a lot of work that needs to be done.

It's very easy to forget.

The term 'hacking' should give it away.

Another observation of a new trend when it comes to social media.  Facebook 'hacking' appears the latest way to attempt to be funny and get laughs - basically if you find a friend's iPhone or laptop with Facebook signed in, you change stuff, status, birthday and info just to mess it all up and make it a bit embarrassing.  While I admit some of the status updates I've read have been humerous, and I know if the person could take the joke then I may even attempt a status 'hack' if the opportunity presented itself.

However!!!  However, the problem as always is when people go to far.  People think it's going to be hilariously funny, yet because it is at the expense of someone else, that someone else is left feeling hurt and embarrassed.  I have a mate who was hacked yesterday, his relationship status was changed from 'single' to 'in a relationship'. Obviously unsuspecting people jumped on this news with congratulations and different comments, creating a very embarrassing circumstance for my friend when he came to realise the 'hack'. The thing that disappointed me the most though was that my mate left his laptop unattended at Bible College, and it was other students who went through changing details on his account. Now again a simple status change may have been humerous (though after this I am wondering if it's just pushing the line too much as well), but to put someone in the embarrassing situation of having to explain no they still don't actually have a girlfriend, when heaps of people have reacted with joy to the fact that he appeared to, is plain mean... and something that you'd think people studying at a Bible College would grasp.

The term itself, 'hacking', has quite a derogatory connotation with it, and I would think that Christians, let alone those called to study at Bible College, would understand that it's dangerous ground for their Christian witness to go changing people's personal details on a public forum.   In fact I feel these people have sinned against my friend and should apologise and seek forgiveness... yet it seems (in their eyes at least) things done online should not be taken seriously and they aren't accountable for making someone feel like a bit of a fool, even another brother in Christ.

More Photos.

Reuben James.

New Nephew

Reuben James White was born last night at 10:54pm - weighing 8lb 5oz in Ipswich.   Congratulations to my sister and brother-in-law, as well as to big brother Nathanael, who is absolutely in awe of his new little bro.

Southport Sunset

Was down the coast the other week and took the opportunity to do some photography.  Here are two of them.

Little bit of boy left in this man.

Doesn't matter how much I grow up there are things that I am still mesmerised by now, just as much as I was as a boy.

One of those things is watching cranes.  There's lots of building going on around Brisbane, especially with some of the recovery work going on after the floods.  Today I was walking to the Mater Hospital to visit a friend, but I stopped for about five minutes to watch a crane moving what looks like an air conditioning component over the building site for the new Children's Hospital.

It was pretty cool...

It's the end of the world...

So all the hype about the cult which claims that the Bible guarantees that May 21st 2011 will consist of the Rapture and Judgement Day has really been seen in all facets of the media, and social media - both Christian and non-Christian friends on Facebook (in Australia, UK, USA and other parts of the world) are all commenting on the advertising that's been propagating our suburbs with the news that a giant worldwide earthquake is coming as a precedent to the return of Jesus.

And I'm sure just as much media hype will remain on the 22nd May when we're all still here and nothing happened.

It's sad that this brings such a bad image on the Bible and the church, just because some nutter wants some attention.  And though a lot of Christians are making jokes today (myself included) I also realise - and others need to as well - that the rapture and return of Christ is actually a very real thing!

Though probably not today - as the only thing the Bible guarantees about the second coming is that NOBODY will know the time - Jesus will return to earth.  It will be something no one will miss for every eye will see him coming, and it will also usher in the Throne Judgement of Christ where people will be dealt their final, eternal position.

So even though it feels like a joke today, ask yourself - what would happen if Jesus really did come back?  Would you be able to stand in front of him?  Or would you tremble and fall as you realised your life has been spitting in his face the entire time?

See I've realised that I basically spat in Jesus' face over and over - but he offers forgiveness through faith, and it's that faith that means on the day he returns I will be filled with joy, and will stand before him in humble reverence waiting for my eternity with him.

The rapture of the church

This is our topic for Theology class today.  Mind bending stuff.  Jim is pre-millennial and pre-tribulational but though I agree with the pre-millennial idea (That Jesus' return issues in the 1000 year reign of Christ), I tend to agree more with the textbook's interpretation of understanding a post-tribulational rapture.   This idea that the church will endure the tribulation, yet at Christ's return the church will be raptured to meet Jesus in the air and then return with him to earth to begin the 1000 year reign.

1 Thessalonians 4:17 gives a clear understanding that we will be 'caught up' in the air at Jesus' coming - ἁρπαγησόμεθα - this verb really does give the idea of being taken up, or to go up.  The word rapture comes from the Latin translation of this term I believe, so in that sense I do believe there will be a rapture.

But I think it's all part of the final coming of Jesus Christ - not a separate occurance removing the church before the tribulation.  I liked this in Erickson's textbook, in regards to the use of this verb ἀπάντησιν in a parable Jesus told...

One of these references is in the parable of the wise and foolish virgins, an explicitly eschatological parable.  When the bridegroom comes, the announcement is made, "Here's the bridegroom! Come out and meet [ἀπάντησιν] him!" (Matt 25:6).   What does the word signify in this situation? the virgins do not go out to meet the bridegroom and then depart with him.  Rather, they go out to meet him and then accompany him back to the wedding banquet. 

(Erickson, Christian Theology, p1229)

This idea of meeting Jesus shows that the rapture isn't Jesus simply coming in the sky, the Christians meeting him there and then he whisks them off to heaven to sit out a terrible period of tribulation on earth.  But instead, Jesus comes, Christians meet him in the sky and then follow him back to earth where all the other judgement stuff happens and then the wedding feast begins.

Conflict in Churches

Susek in his book FIRESTORM uses the illustration of a firestorm (or in the Australian context, a bushfire) to demonstrate the evolution of church conflict in six phases.

 The first phase is the Sparks which occur because of the natural dynamics of human relationship - managing these sparks well can prevent the occurrence of a firestorm, however ignoring or abusing them will allow conflict to evolve into the second phase Ignition. Here one or more of the sparks suddenly ignite a destructive conflict (figuratively a small blaze) which if left to itself will grow into a firestorm.

Phase three is the Firestorm in full fury. Destructive conflict causes pain and devastation to those involved. Phase four are the Consuming Winds which continue destruction as the blaze of conflict spread wider than the initial incident.

This in turn may lead to the fifth phase of a Final Burn which describes the possibility of litigation and official reprimand. The sixth phase recognises the need to recover from conflict and Rebuild on Burnt Timber.

Have you seen church conflict evolve through these levels?  Can the 'sparks' be handled in a constructive way to encourage growth and discourage the flash burns of destructive conflict?  What do we put in place in our churches to manage this conflict?

Dog Church

Needed a laugh... this provided.

http://sacredsandwich.com/page/4

Why is the Social Media response Newsworthy?

I find it funny that now on nearly all online newscasts they include articles on what's being said on social media feeds.  Suddenly everyday, uninformed, people's perceptions are being broadcast in a news presentation that people are reading to find the facts.

I think it discredits those news agencies.

Some of them are slightly humerous though.

Anti-social Media

Warning - if you're hanging out with people and haven't invited others who are usually part of the group, it makes things look very very exclusive when you post events, photos, statuses and comments about it all on Facebook.

I think some of the things we post on Facebook can highlight the cliques we create and make some people feel more excluded than included in our lives.

And to add to it, some status updates when read by certain people in context can be funny, witty or clever - but to everyone else, or people in specific situation they are a bit offensive.   Last night I was feeling a bit sensitive, and some of the things I read - though seeming pointed at certain contexts - made me feel even worse about where I am in my life right at this moment.

Largely it was a reminder to myself to be careful what I post on Facebook.

~~
P.S - I am very aware that this will also appear on Facebook.  Hopefully I was careful enough in what I said to keep things civil and would hope people would read it in kind.

Since when has being rude become funny?

It's probably due to the latest stand up comedians with their rude and abusing content during their shows, but I'm noticing more and more that in an attempt to 'be funny' people (mostly at church) are just being blatantly rude.  Other's then laugh and they feel they've produced a good time.   However I think the receiver of the rude remark hardly ever finds it funny at all (even though they may laugh - just to hide it and fit in).

I think as Christians we really need to think about what we say to other people.  Being rude is simply being unloving, it is not funny.  I find more and more that I am not laughing with people, but simply wanting to walk away when they start their 'comic' routines.  Maybe I should start saying something, because it's only getting worse.

Naturally 7 - Simply Awesome

After the Saturday night washout (literally) of Easterfest, a impromptu stage was set up in the Toowoomba City Centre.  Since Naturally 7's gig on the main stage was cancelled due to so much flood damage on site, they performed out in the open.  I wasn't there, but I'm glad someone took some video - cause how good is this!!!   Vocal instruments are flipping awesome!

Why do the dumb 'Christians' get quoted in the media?

Some American 'evangelist' has been quoted talking about Christ's second coming and social media...

IT'S played a part in celebrity slip-ups, scandals and revolutions.
Now social media has been pegged as a key component of the second coming of Jesus Christ... 

"The Bible says that every eye is going to see it" and that Christ will "come on the clouds", Graham told ABC News presenter Christiane Amanpour, host of This Week
"How is the whole world going to see him at one time? I don't know, unless all of a sudden everybody's taking pictures (with their cell phones) and it's on the media worldwide," he said in the interview which was on Easter Sunday in the US.

Why do people put themselves out there with these really dumb statements?  Do they really think it's going to forward the Christian message by trying to dumb down things so greatly?   It seems the only people the media quote about Christianity are those who are trying to explain away anything miraculous or spiritual to the mundane and human.

I truly believe 'every eye will see' but not because of twitter or youtube... All will see through the glory of God, every tongue then will also confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Full article here...

Another Photo from the Train Museum

Nathanael and I playing with the train sets

Easter Friday.

Your blood speaks a better word
Than all the empty claims I've heard upon this earth
Speaks righteousness for me
And stands in my defense
Jesus it's Your blood.

What can wash away our sins?
What can make us whole again?
Nothing but the blood
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
What can wash us pure as snow?
Welcomed as the friends of God
Nothing but Your blood
Nothing but Your blood King Jesus

Your cross testifies in grace
Tells of the Father's heart to make a way for us
Now boldly we approach
Not by earthly confidence
It's only by Your blood

What can wash away our sins?
What can make us whole again?
Nothing but the blood
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
What can wash us pure as snow?
Welcomed as the friends of God
Nothing but Your blood
Nothing but Your blood King Jesus

(Matt Redman)

Ipswich Rail Workshops Museum.

I took my nephew to the Rail Museum in Ipswich today.  It was an awesome time, and Nathanael absolutely loved it.  During the school holidays they have a special Thomas the Tank Engine display, including a life size Thomas to climb in and blow the whistle.

I was amazingly impressed with the thought gone in to the museum to entertain kids.  There's interactive displays and a whole room set up with Thomas and Friends train sets for kids to play with.  Nathanael got incredibly excited seeing all the toys and loved pushing Thomas and Percy around numerous different tracks.   There's also a toddler area with ride on Thomas bike things and rocking Thomas engines and other big play toys.  Nae was overwhelmed and didn't want to leave.

My sister bought herself an annual pass so she can take Nae back again and again - and I'm thinking I will probably buy one in the end too, especially cause it's walking distance from my sister's house, a great place just to go down and hang out.  Nathanael sure loves it (as seen by the gigantic smile on his face).

Devotional Greek.

In my first year of Bible college the 12 month Greek course almost killed me.  The amount of work I had to do just to keep up with the subject was ludicrous, the amount of information we had to learn was so intense that I didn't really enjoy it, and wondered if it was really worth it.

The last year I did an exegesis subject on Romans in Greek.  It was very theologically heavy, with hard translation work, and a lecturer I didn't quite click with.  I did alright though and began to see the extra meaning and insight you can pull from the text when you understand the original language.

This year I am doing an exegesis of John in Greek, the story of Jesus, the words of Jesus and I am really REALLY enjoying the translation.  I find sitting down every week to translate another chapter of John is more of a devotional time than a study time.  I find so much worth in the words, and keep having 'ahh haa' moments as the Greek text opens itself up to me.   The classes as well are good times as D expounds on the text with many insights which I am finding very rewarding.

I may be struggling to find motivation to do assignments, but each week when I sit down to translate I come out the other side feeling much better than when I started.

Encounter with the King

--I was asked to share a little of my testimony last night at City North, I always find it a very emotional and draining thing to do, no matter how short.   This was a 5 minute spot, and I worked hard to break down a part of my story into a short concise testimony, with its main influence highlighting my encounter with Jesus as the King.  I thought I'd post the transcript.
--------------------------------------

When I was young my mother became a Christian and I remember going to Sunday school from when I was about 5. From that point on I have always believed in God, known Jesus came to die for my sins and knew all the Bible stories which all point to God's love and power.   I can’t remember a point of ever doubting that – I was baptised when I was 9, I understood that Jesus was my Saviour, and to have my sins forgiven I needed to believe in him and become a Christian. I prayed and had faith, and I was a Christian. But there's one moment in my life, when I was 14, where God distinctly showed me that Jesus was not only Saviour, but the Lord – King – Ruler of my life as well. And I had to give my life to his plan, his will and not think of it as my own anymore. This in a very real sense was my encounter with the King.

As I said I was 14, and the church my family was going to had an annual church family camp – my whole family went, and there was a good group of teenagers on the camp. I was mates with most even though some were a few years older. I remember the first night of camp playing table tennis with some guys, this one guy Wade, was 17 and he was overly energetic, almost crazy in the enthusiasm he was putting into the games. For some reason I really took note of the energy, exuberance the life that this guy had.

The next day after the study session we were playing basketball, and again I remember Wade, who was the tallest guy round, totally dominating the game. But after a while he complained he had a headache – so he went and saw one of the adults, got some panadol and went for a sleep. We finished our game of basketball, cleaned up, had dinner and then after dinner we were having a bushdance. I’ll never forget seeing another mate of mine run up from the dorms grab one of the older guys who was a paramedic and race off together… shortly after that we cancelled the bushdance because my friend had found Wade in the dorm, not breathing and without a heartbeat.

 As a church we broke into groups and prayed… the ambulance came and took Wade away – the entire time Neil, the paramedic, was giving him CPR. Almost an hour after the ambulance left the camp, we got a phonecall to say that Wade had been pronounced dead after arriving at the hospital. It was shocking, and horrible – and I remember wanting to talk to my Dad, only to realise that as the youth leader, he’d actually gone in the ambulance with Wade.

I waited up for Dad to return. Another adult took some of us boys into a cabin to talk, but I remember feeling so overwhelmed I just had to get out. Standing outside, under a magnificent, incredibly sky filled with stars I encountered the King. I remember looking up to the stars and questioning God – why had the most energetic, full of life person I knew just died? Wade had been playing basketball with me in the afternoon and was in heaven right now. I asked God why. And I received this amazing sense of peace. God spoke to me and he said that his plan was perfect, Wade was in heaven now because God had called him home – and though I didn’t understand, I had to know and accept that God’s plan was perfect, and he is the King. My plan wasn’t to pass away one night on a church camp, and that meant that God had a specific plan for my life. And not only did I have to believe in him as Saviour, but I had to hand over every aspect of my life to him as the King, the commander, the perfect planner and ruler of the life I was to lead.

Since then I can’t say I’ve let God have his way in every moment, I still wrangle the reigns back at times. But since then I can say that when I have taken control again I’ve realised that I’m not making things better and sooner or later Jesus shows up again to show me my mess, and take control once again.

In times of unrest, or problem God’s given me a verse and I’ll just finish by reading it. It’s Psalm 121

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills-- where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot slip-- he who watches over you will not slumber; 4 indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The LORD watches over you-- the LORD is your shade at your right hand; 6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The LORD will keep you from all harm-- he will watch over your life;8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

If that’s the case, then why should I try and rule my life, when the one with the perfect plan is able to keep me within it?

Baby Dedications.

Are the baby dedications we do in church needed?  What significance do they have to the child?  To the parents?

Are they Biblical? If not, should we do away with them?

I'm interested to see what people think, and hear how they're done in your churches.?

What happens when we die?

Are we judged immediately?  Do we all go to the same place? Are we left waiting in some void until the end of time? Do we go to heaven but without a body until the resurrection where we are given a new body?  Or do we suddenly awake at the end of time, in front of the throne of God to be judged and either given a new body or sent to the lake of fire?

All the things to be considered during a 3 hour theology lecture.

Is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit an additional work or experience after conversion?

** extract from assignment I handed in yesterday

Philip Yancey when asked to give a definition of grace, replied;

Grace means there is nothing we can do to make God love us more – no amount of spiritual calisthenics and renunciations, no amount of knowledge gained from seminaries and divinity schools, no amount of crusading on behalf of righteous causes. And grace means there is nothing we can do to make God love us less – no amount of racism or pride or pornography or adultery or even murder. Grace means that God already loves us as much as an infinite God can possible love.

This pastoral application of grace in response to God’s love gives the impression that the initial work of grace through Jesus is enough. The perception that baptism of the Holy Spirit is a second work affects the completeness of God’s grace in his work through Jesus Christ. To determine the Spirit baptism as a subsequent work of sanctification is to try and find a way to ‘make God love us more’ by being ‘more holy’, or ‘perfect in love’. To say that it is a second work of empowerment is to demote Jesus’ work of redemption to only introductory, and the Spirit’s following work as definitive to salvation.

Schwertley agrees stating;

If one… makes Spirit-baptism an addendum to the work of Christ or some kind of spiritual bonus for elite Christians, one must logically assert one of two unbiblical ideas. One can argue that Jesus did not achieve a perfect redemption and therefore the Holy Spirit must come and finish what the Lord left unfinished… [or that] Spirit-baptism is based in part on human merit… Spirit-baptism comes only to those who have correct knowledge or seek the baptism in a proper way…

In this regard, if a biblical understanding of grace is to be held, one must see baptism of the Holy Spirit as part of the initial work of grace, given by Jesus as a gift of righteousness and regeneration.

Baptism in the Holy Spirit

Up late at in the library reading about differing views on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.  Is it something that happens instantaneously as we are converted to and regenerated in Christ, or is it a second work of God's grace which equips us for ministry?

What do you think?

Very Cool

Long ago, at many times and ain many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

Jesus is God!  Not a god, not a creation of God, not even simply God's son - but he IS GOD :-)

Calvin on why we are certain the Bible is true.

Calvin insisted that the testimony of the Holy Spirit is superior to reason. It is an inward work that captures the minds of those who hear or read Scripture, producing conviction or certainty that it is the Word of God with which they are dealing. This is a second work of the Holy Spirit with respect to the Scriptures. He who had originally inspired the prophets and apostles to write the Scriptures now penetrates our hearts, convincing us that these Scriptures are indeed the Word of God and thus truth.

Erickson, M J 1998, Christian Theology (2nd Ed), page 869

Long time ago...

Was looking through old blog posts the other day and came across this old photo.  That's my first car (a 1986 Ford Laser).  It had broken down, the alternator had died... we'd tried to push start it but it just wouldn't go.

So I left it there and called RACQ for help... and it still took 45 minutes for a guy to arrive :-p

3 Elements of a Healthy Pastoral Team

1. Understanding and striving for a common Godly vision.
The ultimate Lordship of the team lies with God. A vision – possibly as broad as ‘The Great Commission’ (Matt 29:19-20) or something specific regarding the local ministry – should be the defining point for which the team works. This vision is founded on prayer and communion with God as a team.

2. Each member is clear on their responsibilities and can work individually and together – within their role – to see the vision met
A clear pastoral team leader may be assigned, then there is a particular hierarchy of authority for the responsibilities of the team.  However, each member does have a level of authority to fulfil their individual responsibilities. Sometimes this will mean working on their own, or with their own team, as well as working with other members of the pastoral team at other times.

3. Members of the team are helping each other grow, and growing themselves in return.
Proverbs 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” The team recognises that as individuals they are responsible for helping each other grow. This facilitates encouragement and allows for constructive criticism. It also includes team study and prayer, knowing that this is the foundation for the practical output of the team.

Yet another interview with Rob Bell

I am not a Rob Bell hater - I am not out to destroy him.  But as a Bible College student I have been very interested in the reaction people have had to his most recent book.  I know with writing assignments and essays it can be very tempting to think you've found something new, apart from the scholars of history, and want to write this amazing new insight.  However, again, as a student I understand I'm probably not finding something new, just misunderstanding something old, so then I research and come to an understanding of the topic I'm studying.

I really feel Rob Bell has not done that, he's purposely wanted to move away from what people have accepted for years (mainly because those scholars are right) and present something new that is contextualised for a post-modern culture.

Here's what Bell says in this interview I've read today - I think to believe something so different, which is a personal view not held in agreement with the tradition of the apostles, is so arrogant and self seeking that it cannot be a notion of God.

One of the things I traced is that heaven and hell in the Bible are present realities, they are dimensions of existence, they are choices we can make every day. And I assume that those choices and those realities extend on after we die. I grew up like a lot of people, [thinking] heaven is somewhere else, sometime else, mainly after you die, and Jesus is how you go somewhere else, sometime else. And so all of this arises out of my studies of the Scriptures and my interactions with people from across the depth and breadth of the Christian conversation, and my growing awareness that Jesus, in the world that He lived in, the issue was not evacuation, the issue was not, “How can I get out of here?”

This article comes from RELEVANT Magazine's website.

Martin Bashir interviews Rob Bell

"You're amending the Gospel, the Christian message, so it's palatable to contemporary people who find, for example, the idea of hell and heaven very difficult to stomach."

Good interview!

Big week ahead - MA Intensive: Advanced Pastoral Relationships

Here's what we're going through in this intensive course this week - lots of good stuff in there... but there sure is a LOT of stuff to cover!!

UNIT OUTLINE


A. Ethical Pastoral Relationships
1. Pastoral Relationships
2. Emotional Intelligence and Pastoral Relationships
3. Ethics in Pastoral Relationships


B. Conflict Management
4. Biblical Conflict
5. Personal Conflict and Problem People
6. Conflict in Institutions
7. Conflict is Systems


C. Team Ministry
8. Working in Teams
9. Leading a Team
10. Pastoral Team Ministry


D. Mentoring
11. Biblical Mentoring
12. Mentoring Commitment and Competence

The Bell Debate

Does Rob Bell subscribe to universalism?

That seems to be the question rolling around and around on blogs worldwide at the moment.  With the release of his new book "Love Wins" it seems Bell has finally crossed the line where most reformed pastors and Christians want no more to do with him.

The book has not been released yet, and a lot of the argument has come from pre-conceived ideas about what it will contain (raised by questions put forward in a media video release by Bell himself).  Now, however, advanced reading copies have been published for some to review and it seems Bell is moving beyond what I am comfortable as being classed as a Christian belief and that Rob Bell does in fact subscribe to universalism.

Tim Challies has a review after reading the advanced copy on his blog - which you can read here.   I found it a very objective look at the book, which highlights the inaccuracy of Bell's beliefs and a good reflection on what the book provides.

Here's a little of it.

The reader will also find broad statements offered as fact. “At the center of the Christian tradition since the first church has been the insistence that history is not tragic, hell is not forever, and love, in the end, wins.” Is that true? It is easy to say, but can it be proven? Again and again Bell turns to the original languages but he quotes no commentaries, points to no sources. He says things like “‘forever’ is not really a category the biblical writers used.” But he offers no proof. Again, it is easy to say, but can it be proven? Can it be proven from a legitimate source?

I like Challies' summary of what seems to be coming out of Bell's position, and how it will relate to the church in general...

Christians do not need more confusion. They need clarity. They need teachers who are willing to deal honestly with what the Bible says, no matter how hard that truth is. And let’s be honest—many truths are very, very hard to swallow. 

Love does win, but not the kind of love that Bell talks about in this book. The love he describes is one that is founded solely on the idea that the primary object of God’s love is man; indeed, the whole story, he writes, can be summed up in these words: “For God so loved the world.” But this doesn’t hold a candle to the altogether amazing love of God as actually shown in the Bible. The God who “shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8), who acts on our behalf not so much because His love for us is great, but because He is great (Isaiah 48:9, Ezekiel 20:9,14,22,44, 36:22; John 17:1-5). 

That’s the kind of love that wins. That’s the kind of love that motivates us to love our neighbors enough to compel them to flee from the wrath to come. And our love for people means nothing if we do not first and foremost love God enough to be honest about Him.

City North Youth - reflection

I think some of the greatest things about these first few weeks of City North Youth for 2011 are the signs that it is becoming an active ministry.

We've seen the youth run a service on a Sunday night, we've seen them come to more of an understanding about what it means to be Christ Centred and from that have seen them asking was we can share that with other people.  The community at the Friday night events is fantastic, with new teens welcomed, deep discussions happening over supper and the senior youth taking an interest in what's happening in the younger youths lives.

It's also been great to see the parents take an active role in the ministry to their children.  We've had a pool party at one house and this week are visiting 3 more on a progressive dinner.  Parents also came along one night to join in and see what the ministry is all about - I think it's great to move beyond that 'babysitting' kind of idea and actually have the parents input into what's happening at youth.

All this and we're only half way through the first term... can't wait to see what happens next!

The Church as a Family.

Some more notes from my Advanced Pastoral Relationship course at college.  I'm really enjoying this subject

So the church can be viewed as a system, but which type of system does the church most reflect? Is it more like an organisational system (for example, a business or school or political party) or more like a family system? The biblical analogies would suggest the church functions more like a family and in fact there are considerable similarities between congregations and families. Let me offer some evidence.  

1. Families have deeply entrenched values that pervade the whole of life. So do congregations.
2. Families are in the ‘business of life’; supporting, giving purpose, loving, producing identity and significance. So are congregations.
3. Families provide identity and relationships (the needs of individuals). So do congregations.
4. Families are interconnected at a very deep level. So are many congregations.
5. Families provide support and directions for members who are struggling. So do congregations.

How do you handle pressure?

I don't know why but I always find I become incredibly logical and remain calm when things go badly wrong.

I don't understand it, I've not had any training, but in a crisis I seem to be the one to keep the clear head and figure a way out.

Like this afternoon I pulled out the lawn mower someone just gave us to mow the lawn.  Our old one died and apparently this one was found at the tip with the only thing wrong with it being a broken starter chord.

Somehow I now wonder if that's entirely true...

I filled it up and pulled the starter chord. The whole thing engulfed itself in flame, seems a fuel leak or some overflow had spilt fuel down under the engine which ignited when I started the engine.  It was a pretty decent little fire I had there on the driveway - well it looked pretty bad, but instead of running away, or grabbing a hose or calling 000, I stopped for a second, assessed the situation and realised that it was mainly just fuel fumes burning on the body of the mower.  I filled a bucket in the laundry (not too much water knowing I didn't want to soak the engine if I ever wanted the thing to start again) and from a fair way back I threw the water horizontal onto the mower so it dispersed the fumes extinguishing the fire.  Water isn't good for extinguishing fuel fires as fuel sits on top of water and contains oxygen which at fuel burn temps can fuel the fire if the water evaporates.  But I didn't have a foam extinguisher and I knew hosing it could have made it worse.

In hindsight though I look back and wonder how I came to the conclusion to use the quick horizontal sweep of a little bit of water (to essentially blow the fire out) so quickly.  I've seen other people under pressure in similar situations and wrong choices are made... so what happens with you?

PostScript: oh yeah - after letting it sit for 10 minutes, and with another little bucket of water on hand just in case, I started the mower, it didn't burn and I mowed the lawn :-)

The Body of Christ

A programmer friend created this ever changing and morphing image of Christ on the cross.  It is made up of photos of all the people at City North Baptist and highlights how as Christians we are all included in Jesus' death on the cross and because of that our sins are forgiven.

It also highlights how as the Church we are all one, part of the body.  If a person was missing from the image you would notice the spot.  At different times some people are brighter and more prominent than others, but that is constantly changing, and like the Church no one is less important cause even the darker images still make up the body.

I think it's a powerful image.

Mark Driscoll quotes a quote

I follow Driscoll of Facebook and this was his status update this morning.  I liked it.

“Our culture is doing to sex what people who chew with their mouths open do to food.” – Douglas Wilson

Wow

Galatians 4:6,7 

“And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”....Therefore you are no longer a servant but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”

We are not brought to God because we work for him and strive to have his Spirit.

We get the Holy Spirit because we are his sons (for the ladies, think of the Biblical context where the sons get all the inheritance... therefore you're included in this as well because you get the same deal!)

Youth Service

Last night the youth took over the PM service at City North Baptist Church.  It was incredible!  The way the youth ministered to the church through welcoming, taking up the offering, leading the service, leading the congregation in singing and music, facilitating worship, sharing testimonies and reading God's Word was amazingly encouraging.

I feel very humbled to be working with such passionate young people, in whom it is evident that the Holy Spirit is working.

I don't know if my sermon was on par with their effort - I felt under prepared and I'm not sure it flowed as well as my other sermons, but I had many people tell me that they heard God speak so I can simply attest that to his grace, taking my words and making them His.

Good Youth Interaction Resources

Dan and Suzie (Duzie) Potter were the main speakers on last year's Teen Street Camp.

They have some great resources for youth work and some good teaching and training ideas for leaders on their website ____________________ (which I will now post later as it seems their site has been hacked and is spreading viruses - I have contacted them so hopefully it will be fixed soon).

Tune in for more and the link later then I guess...

Being a Relevant Youth Bible Study Leader

**This is the workshop I facilitated in Townsville yesterday

Build a relationship

• Youth probably won’t just sit down and listen to you talk about the Bible. Youth Group isn’t school and you don’t have (nor do you really want) that authoritative role of their teachers.
• Get involved in other activities. Play the games, talk to them at church, grab an extra drink at supper time and take it to someone in your group. Build a relationship based on respect rather than work from a relationship of authority.

Have a plan

• Whether you’re writing your own studies or using a book, make sure you know the material that you’re going to try and communicate. Preparing for studies is vital. It takes time (I find usually at least an hour) but if you are well prepared then you should be confident even if there are some off topic questions

Be flexible

• Don’t let your plan get in the way of good discussion.
• Have boundaries (or maybe time limits for off topic discussion), but allow the thought processes of the group to move forward.

Don’t worry if it is short.

• As long as the main point of the study comes across and there’s some application to that point then don’t worry too much on time.
• Sometimes it’s great to have a whole story from the Bible to study, or a chunk of a letter with great application. But don’t be afraid to find one or two verses that are easy to understand and simply have a few application questions to draw out the essence of the text.
• Don’t keep talking and adding ideas just to fill out your time frame, because the group will probably loose the main point amongst everything else.

Use handouts.

• If you’re using a study book that’s great. If you’re writing your own then come up with a few application questions and put them on a handout. Having something physical will focus your point.
• Use pictures, comics, cartoons, puzzles to draw the youth into the topic.
• Someone an extra challenge handout, or something to take home can supplement and extend the ideas in study books.

Be interactive.

• Ask simple questions that require something more than a ‘yes/no’ answer.
• Find a physical activity that might highlight a point or application (especially with guys)
• Find a craft that creates something to highlight a point or application (especially with girls)

Don’t be afraid to teach theology

• Teens can handle deep Biblical doctrine. We shouldn't think them too young to process it – though we need to present it in a way they’ll understand
• Teens love learning big words.

Townsville tomorrow

Heading to Townsville with Queensland Baptist Youth for the day tomorrow.  Long way to go, but we're sharing with the Townsville Baptist youth leadership team.  It should be a good day.

I'll post some of the stuff I'm talking about when I get back.

Personal Code of Ethics

Here are some notes from a class I'm taking at college.  Integrity and ethics is something I'm dwelling on a bit lately, and as part of this course I have to write my own personal code of ethics, which is a very interesting task.

One of the essential aspects of a pastor’s relationships is to always relate with integrity. The character of pastors is fundamental to their leadership function. Paul emphasises the character qualifications of pastors in his instructions to Timothy and Titus on the selection of elders (1 Tim 3:1-7, Tit 1:6-9). He uses words like, “above reproach,” “respectable,” “good reputation,” “blameless,” “upright,” “holy,” and “disciplined,” to describe the character of the pastoral leaders in the church. Moral behaviour is paramount.

We live in an era in the West when opportunities for immoral behaviour have increased through the proliferation of overt temptation and the relatively recent possibility of complete privacy. Both the church and community are aware of the deeply flawed character of some pastoral leaders through the media attention that has been given to immorality among church leaders. It is essential that the church makes every effort to insist on and preserve the character of their pastoral leaders. Moral behaviour in pastoral relationships is vital.

So as a Pastor have you come up with your own personal code of ethics? Do you see it as an important task to fulfill? How do you go about actually abiding by that code?

Just some questions that I've had looking at this topic.

Good Sermon Illustrations

I'm wondering if God is using just a little of that mighty sovereign hand of his to place me in some incredibly embarrassing situations... solely for the fact that in years to come they will make great sermon illustrations.

Seriously, since I've begun acting on God's call to pastoral ministry I have found myself embarrassed over and over... much more than usual.  Though not too painful these things seem quite funny, and I can always see where they might be relevant in a sermon if I ever preach on certain topics.

This morning's situation was a doozie :-p (those who were at church know what I'm talking about)

Who says God doesn't have a sense of humour?

College 2011

Lectures started again this week, kicking off my final year of Bible College.  Must admit I'm a tad daunted by the amount of work I have to do, and praying that God gives me the determination to be disciplined and get it all done.

This was a path I started 2 years ago which I kind of never saw myself seeing through to the full three year completion.  I just wanted some knowledge and study.  Now I feel God leading me to full time pastoral ministry, but he still needs to change me so much before I'm ready for that.  The study focus and discipline is the start of that... and I want to see change.

But still hanging myself out there on the faith that God's plan is going to be seen to fruition.

Are people who don't have a faith in Christ still part of our churches?

Here's a confronting and challenging post from Joe Khan over on the City North Young Adult blog.  It's something I'd been thinking about recently in regards to our youth group and our 2011 vision to be a Christ Centred, Servant Hearted, Outward Focused Youth Community.   Are those who aren't saved still part of that community?  What then is the defining point of being in community (either youth group or Church)?  Is there a difference between the City North Baptist Community, and the City North Baptist Church?

Here's some of what Pastor Joe has to say

The main challenge is what to do with unsaved folk who are absorbed into the life and community of a church fellowship without actually converting to Christianity. The problem is that the longer they are part of the community, the harder it becomes to distinguish whether or not they have faith in Christ. It is natural for people to become like the communities they spend time in, so an unsaved person can through simple attendance begin to undergo a transformation of character and begin to have a lifestyle that resembles many of the other people in a church. But you can't get saved by osmosis! Every person needs to respond to the gospel of Jesus Christ... 

Therefore the question must be asked: Do people need faith in Christ to be considered part of a church community?

Read the rest on the Young Adults blog

Importance of good relationships in ministry.

This is the prime way we can encourage City North Youth to be a Christ Centred, Servant Hearted, Outward Focused Youth Community this year.

...transformation of the community comes principally through relationships. If relationships are not strong, then there is likely to be little development or change. For God’s church to be strong and God’s people to work effectively together, relationships must be healthy and intentional. Healthy relationships are actually a visible sign of God’s community (John 13:35: “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another").

New Paul Colman Trio Single.

PC3 is about to release it's new single 'I Don't Know Why' in Australia tomorrow. Click here to listen to it online now.

I think it's pretty rocking!

Actually Praying

I must admit that many times when I am 'in prayer' my mind is going 100 miles an hour organising and planning stuff coming up.  With youth group ramping up and college going back I find my mind is constantly dwelling on those things and any moment with my eyes closed is time to get some of that stuff sorted.

I find I have to really focus on prayer to pray.  That might seem weird, but I have to remember the privilege we have in being able to communicate with God, and I have to remember who I am talking to - someone who deserves our respect, to the point where He is someone we are not worthy to commune with; except for his allowing it.

I was taking prayer for granted - now I'm trying not to.  Any other tips?

Prayer for consistency

Should we regularly ask God to bring consistency to our prayer and Bible reading lives?  Does continually asking God for this, in some sense, assist us in actually bringing the consistency we need?

Or is it just a crutch to fall back on when we can't seem to get out of our rut and find the discipline to spend time in prayer and reading?

Alone in a crowd...

Have you ever found yourself completely surrounded by people you know, yet feeling completely lonely?

It's a strange situation - and one I'm not sure how to rectify.

City North Youth - Week 1

Well the first night of youth for the year went well.  We've had a heap of time planning this term and I'm so happy with the amazing bunch of leaders we have this year.   Everything feels quite organised and ready to flow. Yet still with a spontaneousness to allow for God to work through both the leaders and the program when He chooses.

We kicked off 2011 with some games and a time spent looking at our vision.  We hope to become a Christ Centred, Servant Hearted, Outward Focused Youth Community. I admit it's a vision we used at Whitehill but   after talking to Ben about it we thought it could be used elsewhere to focus a group on the community they should be striving to be.  I'm really looking forward to how this all pans out!

Youth Group 2011 Kick Off!!

http://www.citynorthbaptist.com/featured/youth-kick-off-night


In 2011 City North’s Youth Group is striving to be a Christ Centred, Servant Hearted, Outward Focused Youth Community. If you are in high school make sure you get involved in our Friday night activities.

Come along on the 4th of February to the church at 7.30pm for our Kick Off Night. Meet the leaders, make some friends and play some crazy games. You will also be able to pick up your calendar to find out all the awesome stuff happening throughout the rest of the term.

The youth leading team is committed to effectively ministering to young people so expect to have great times every Friday night, as well as learning more about what it means to be a part of our youth community through the ‘God Spots’ and practically living out of Christ Centred vision together!

Objective Truth

One of the young adults at City North put together this little video as part of our "The Gospel? Visual Arts project".   We have been asking people to provide forms of art that express what they understand to be the Gospel.

Katie's video is simply brilliant.  And a must share here on my blog!

Christ Centredness

Found this blog while looking up some stuff for youth group this term.  Take the time to read it, and look up some of the passages - you will be greatly encouraged!

Christ is the central figure and the central focus of the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation. He ought also to be the central figure and the central focus of our lives. To live otherwise and to call oneself a Christian is to be a living contradiction.

John the Baptist said it well, (John 3:30) "He must increase but I must decrease."

He must become increasingly more central in every area of my life, but I must become increasingly more peripheral in every area of my life.

Christ-Centeredness in life causes us to behold the glory of Christ, and in so doing to be changed into His likeness in ever-increasing degrees of glory. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

Christ-Centeredness in marriage enables husbands to love their wives as Christ has loved the church, and enables wives to submit to their husbands as unto the Lord. (Ephesians 5:22-26)

Christ-Centeredness in relationships enables us to love each other as Christ has loved us. (John 13:34)

Christ-Centeredness in the workplace enables us to do everything in the name of the Lord. (Colossians 3:17)

Christ-Centeredness in joy enables us to be completely filled with the very joy of Christ Himself, and in so doing to become increasingly freed from the poisonous pleasures of this world. (John 15:11)

Christ-Centeredness = Unbreakable Joy (Psalm 73:25, 27:4, 1 Peter 1:8-9)

(from Unbreakable Joy)

Heritage

‎"A flagstaff was erected at Sydney Cove and possession was taken for His Majesty. In the evening the whole of the party that came around in Supply were assembled at the point where they had landed and a Union Jack displayed, I and my officers drank the health of His Majesty and success to the new colony." 

Captain Phillip, Saturday, January 26th 1788

Happy Australia Day

I agree...

“I don't leave a lot of things open-ended theologically. I believe there's one God. I believe that Jesus is the only way to heaven. I believe we're all sinners. I believe in a real hell and a real heaven. So I'm a Bible guy, for sure. I don't make any apologies about that.”

Mark Driscoll

A Great Day

The last toast to a single man

Brett and Tori's wedding day was a fantastic time. I've never been a groomsman before and thoroughly enjoyed spending the entire day with Brett as we had a champaign breakfast and played a heap of X-Box before getting ready and going to the church.

The ceremony was exceptional. My nephew Nathanael was page boy, and at 16 months was just about the cutest thing you could ever see. He didn't make it down the aisle himself, but with much coaching from Mummy and Uncle Brett he got the rings to the front.

Brett was a mess as Tori came down the aisle. I've never seen him show that much emotion, so it was a special time indeed.

Signing the register

After the ceremony we piled into a huge limo for our trip into the Roma St Parklands for photos. It was a long limo ride, especially considering the air conditioning wasn't working properly. However this was the only thing that went wrong all day so no complaints really. We had a great time taking photos, the bride's maids were a lot of fun and we spent the afternoon walking through the park, talking with people, having photos taken and enjoying more champaign.

Brett's choice of reception location was spectacular. A hotel right on the edge of the Parklands (on Wickham Terrace), the reception hall was on the 10th story with 3 walls of glass to view the entire Brisbane City-scape. As the sun set over the city it was amazing to realise that a lot of it had been under water only a week ago.

Nathanael with Uncle Brett and Aunt Tori

The food was great, the speeches were all very touching and the whole day was just about perfect. The bride and groom have now headed to Fiji for their honeymoon and here's hoping that cyclone stays away!!

Bride and Groom

Performing my groomsman duty

The sun setting over Brisbane

Not a bad view for a reception

Woot Wooo!!!

Wedding Bells

My little brother gets married tomorrow.

I have to admit it's a tad strange and a little unnerving to be the groomsman at my brother's wedding, when he's 4 years younger than me.  Both my siblings will now be married while me, being the oldest, is still single.

It's strange how life works out that way.

Anyhow I am really looking forward to sharing with Brett and Tori on their special day tomorrow.

Bare Shelves

I tried to do some grocery shopping yesterday.

It's very eerie being in a shopping centre that has no bread or milk, as well as very little meat and fruit.  The consequences of the Qld floods are impacting everyone, whether directly impacted or through these supply issues.

The finality of the flood...

I wish I'd taken a photo... but the one thing that shocked and amazed me about the finality of the flood in Brisbane was the amount of dead worms we saw when cleaning up in Chelmer.

Every single worm... literally thousands of them... had drowned in the water soaked soil.  They'd obviously all tried to come to the surface as the soil was drenched, but because the ground was covered in water they then washed away and drowned.

It was simply incredible to see thousands of earth worms in gutters and up against paths.  Nature in all its reality.

Cleaning Up Brisbane

As a church, City North has made an effort to get out into the flood effected communities and be a presence as we all work together to clean up Brisbane.

On Friday I went out to Chelmer (a suburb right on the south side of the Brisbane River) which had water up to 2m deep inundate the suburb.  We helped an older couple clean out there house.  We ripped out carpet, threw out dirty furniture and finished off by washing out the house with a high pressure gurney and disinfecting the floors.

I never though I would spent 90 minutes on a water gurney blasting the inside of a house.  It was a very surreal feeling.   The silt was pretty gross.  In fact the smell reminded me very much of the Serekunda Markets in The Gambia, and that was my least favourite smell in all of Africa!  Add to that the sound of generators running throughout the suburb and I had a very reminiscent moment about my African experience.

Outside, inside, everywhere was covered in a sticky mud.  Only the gurney could move it off the wooden floor after the ruined carpet had been removed.

However in a sense it was a really good day.  It felt great to help this couple, and they were amazed at how many people walked into their house to help, and how hard we worked.  A team went back on Saturday to help with the cleaning outside - unfortunately I couldn't make it.






The people of Brisbane have been rocked this week, but from what I saw in Chelmer, they will survive and move on.  Human spirit is amazing - maybe a little bit of a reflection of our creation in God's image.

More photos of the affected areas at http://www.flickr.com/photos/deanoqld/

A Verse For Brisbane

Psalm 46

God is our refuge and strength,

a very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,

though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,

though its waters roar and foam,

though the mountains tremble at its swelling.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,

the holy habitation of the Most High.

God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;

God will help her when morning dawns.

The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;

he utters his voice, the earth melts.

The LORD of hosts is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Come, behold the works of the LORD,

how he has brought desolations on the earth.

He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;

he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;

he burns the chariots with fire.

"Be still, and know that I am God.

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth!"

The LORD of hosts is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Selah

My Old Classroom is a mess...

Mum just sent me a photo from the school she teaches at - and my old primary school.  This photo is taken in the classroom I actually had when I was in grade 6.   

The water got so high the Unifix maths blocks are embedded in the ceiling!!!!

Flood

I'm sure everyone is shocked and amazed by the footage of Brisbane's flood.  We haven't been affected at all in Zillemere apart from not having many supplies in the local shops and pretty much being confined to the house as to avoid any flooded roads.

We had all our problems last week when the rain was actually falling.  It seems we only flood when storm-water runs down through the suburb and most of it then comes through our backyard.  We dealt with that last week, saving ours and our neighbour's places from being inundated.  But with the rain gone this week we've just watched as other suburbs flood due to a rising river.

My family in Ipswich have had a few more troubles.  Mum and Dad's house is much higher than any water would ever reach, and we thought that Vanessa and Andy (my sister and brother-in-law)'s place would be the same.  However they had to evacuate Tuesday and went to stay with Mum and Dad.  They went back Wednesday and prepared the house as it looked like the water would possibly come high enough to get in.  Praise God the water only reached their street, and the steepness of their block meant the water didn't reach the house.  Unfortunately the houses on the other side of their street were not so lucky.

Mum and Dad's place has been without power since Tuesday.  I've just heard they have regained power in the last 20 minutes.  Now they are out helping friends and neighbours who have had flooding in their places.

I am now looking at the best way for me to help out with the clean up.  It's going to take a long time, with so much mud being left behind as the waters subside.  It really is an amazing thing to see the city I live in and love so devastated.  The video footage and photos are amazing, but nothing like seeing it in person.

Pray for us in Queensland.  God will need to bring peace to a multitude of people, and the church will need to help be the conveyor of that peace!

P.S ~ the photos throughout this post were taken by me at Breakfast Creek yesterday about 12 hours before the flood peaked.  The water would have raised another meter and a half.

Bracing for the worst...

We're having some pretty bad floods in Queensland.   What happened in Toowoomba yesterday was shockingly amazing, and that surge is slowly making its way closer to us in Brisbane.

My parents, brother and sister have been cut off in Ipswich - all three of their houses are fine (on high ground) but there's not getting out there to visit them.

We're doing alright in Zillmere.  We have problems with running water when it rains heavy, but I think we will be spared any damage from rising water.   We're preparing for a few days inside though, and seeing if we can help any people from out churches by providing a dry space to sleep.

Here's a photo from our backyard a few days ago in the worst of what we've seen running through our place.

Yesterday I turned 29

I'm now 29.  I don't have a family, no wife, kids, or even a girlfriend.  I have been single for years and have not had nearly a hint of a relationship in most of that time.  I don't own a house, a boat, a motorbike or a fast car - I do have a late model car but it is just your everyday run-around type of machine. I don't even have a full time job.  I live with two other guys (in a small 2 bedroom rental), neither of which have full time jobs, I live on a meager amount of money and have no great leisure items to speak of.

As far as the Western world would look at the above outline of my life, it would class me as a looser and a failure.

Luckily I can rest on the fact that I am right where God wants me.  I'll admit that at times I see what the world would see and I long for some of the things the world would expect me to have by this age.  Even some church-folk would judge me on my position in life - I know in Mark Driscoll's view I would not meet his 'definition' of a Godly man as I am not married and living with those responsibilities.  Being a Bible College student might save me there, but I still feel that even people at church might think my life is not really the life a 29 year old should be living.

I still stand on the fact I am walking God's path.  Hopefully he brings some of those things along in time, but as hard as it is not to fit in, I feel I can take strength from living in God's will.

I had some deep thoughts on my birthday yesterday...

Getting the band back together

After a successful reunion at Easterfest 2009, the Paul Colman Trio (PC3) are recording a new album.  They haven't lost any of the band dynamic they had when touring and this video is just a little insight into the craziness that must be invading Nashville at the moment as this great Aussie band does its thing!