Introduction to Exodus

We're beginning preaching through the book of Exodus this week at dBay Baptist.  I've been reading up, and here's an interesting introduction to the book from Alec Motyer.

Abraham and his ever-expanding family were uniquely favoured people. He had known the call of God (Gen 12:1), the divine promise of innumerable descendants and land to live in (Gen 17:5, 8).  His family, too, had enjoyed this favoured spiritual status with its good earthly prospects (Gen 17:7-8).

At the opening of the book of Exodus, Abraham himself was, of course, long dead (Gen 25:8), and his family, now organized under the names of the twelve sons of Abraham's grandson Jacob, was resident in Egypt.  Over the years it had expanded considerable and enjoyed the good life under the patronage of Joseph, Pharaoh's deputy (Gen 41:39-46).  With the death of Joseph and a change of government, however,  the good times we over (Exod 1:6, 8).  The Egyptian authorities had become pathologically nervous about this increase in the immigrant population and determined, first, on a policy of persecution and then ethnic cleansing and genocide (Exod 1:9-11, 22).

What had become, then, we might ask ourselves, of Israel's uniqueness, their favoured position before God, the promises made to Abraham and the prospect of their own land?

These are good questions to ask, and exciting ones to explore.  For we learn God is always good for the promises he makes. Yet we have responsibilities which we don't always keep. But, as in the case of the Hebrews in the start of Exodus, sometimes we find ourselves in tough situations through no fault of our own. Where is God in those times?  What can we do?

I'm looking forward to expanding all this through our sermon series.

TeenStreet Review Video

I think this video from day 3 really gives you a good idea of what goes on throughout TeenStreet.



Excellent.

TeenStreet Reflections

It is always a tough week for a cabin leader.  You're always on the go, always considering how things are impacting the continuity of your group, and always wondering how you might communicate the Gospel just that little bit better.

I'll admit I don't feel I did as well as a cabin leader as I have in the past.  I struggled to build relationships with the boys in my cabin.  I hadn't really met any of them before and found it hard to connect with them.  It was hard to motivate them to do much at all.  I feel the WEC camps of old had a much better structure to motivate cabin unity and action - maybe I just haven't found the right technique moving over to the TeenStreet camp structure.

Then halfway through I got sick... really sick! And my cabin had to function without me (since I was shaking and shivering under a mountain of blankets in my bed) and my co-leader had to take over all responsibilities. I think that really started to pull the group together - I had constant offers of help from all the boys, and when I finally got myself out of bed they were always there ready and willing to carry things or just help me get from one place to another.  They then started doing those things for each other as well, then conversations started going deeper and we were really able to nut out some of the issues facing 16 year old guys in the world today.

Then on the last day (seemingly from nowhere) came the motivation to perform a memory verse - the boys worked hard and that night I think we delivered the best verse of the camp.  Again I need to be honest and say I was quite surprised by this group of boys.

Maybe it had something to go with the messages given over the week. This idea that God will use us if we offer ourselves to him. That he's given us passions, and that it's those passions he will use for his work. They were good concepts.  I just don't know how well they were grounded to the Scripture we were using. Yet the message seemed to be received by the young people well so I pray it provides a harvest of Gospel work.

As far as dBay goes, I think it's too early to see the effect on our youth.  I know those who went had a great time, and over the next few weeks I'm hoping to catch up with each personally to see what God did in their life on camp, and how that's changed the way they look at things now they are back home.

Shhhh time

Something that has become quite an integral part of TeenStreet is Shhhh time. After the main meeting each morning there is half an hour where no one talks to each other. There is no noise at all as everyone - campers, leaders and service team - all find a place on their own, sit, and reflect on what God has been saying to them.

Leslie Dam is secluded enough that for this entire time all you hear is the sounds of nature. It is amazing 200 people can be so silent. It is a testiment to the power and intimacy of God that he can interact with each of us so individually and personally.

Wherever you are today, maybe you need some Shhh time. Don't plan anything... or take a devotional book... just sit in quiet and ask God to speak to you. He may give you a passage to read or just want to you take the time resting in him.

Learn from the 200 people on this camp... God speaks to each of us.

(posted from Samsung Galaxy SII)

TeenStreet 2012 Podcast 4 - Duzie are on their way

Friday morning focus

"And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul."

Deuteronomy 10:12

Share your personal Bible readings...

People obsessed with Jesus are Risk Takers

Haven't we all prayed the following prayer? Lord, we pray for safety as we travel. We ask no one gets hurt on this trip. Please keep everyone safe until we return, and bring us back safely. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.  The exact wording may vary a bit, but that is the standard prayer we recite before leaving on mission trips, retreats, vacations and business trips.

We are consumed by safety.  Obsessed with it actually.  Now, I'm not saying it is wrong to pray for God's protection, but I am questioning how we've made safety our highest priority.  We've elevated safety to the neglect of whatever God's best is, whatever would bring God the most glory, or whatever would accomplish His purposes in our lives and in the world.

Would you be willing to pray this prayer? God, bring me closer to You during this trip, whatever it takes...

Francis Chan "Crazy Love" 

Wow that's a thought provoking idea.  What's even harder is thinking about someone you love and praying that for them. Keith Green wrote a song called "Pledge My Head to Heaven" and his wife pleaded with him to change the third verse - check it out.

Well, I pledge my head to heaven for the gospel,

And I ask no man on earth to fill my needs.

Like the sparrow up above, I am enveloped in his love,

And I trust him like those little ones, he feeds.

Well I pledge my wife to heaven, for the gospel,

Though our love each passing day just seems to grow.

As I told her when we wed, I'd surely rather be found dead,

Than to love her more than the one who saved my soul.

I'm your child, and I want to be in your family forever.

I'm your child, and I'm going to follow you,

No matter the cost, I'm gonna count all things lost.

Well I pledge my son to heaven for the gospel.

Though hes kicked and beaten, ridiculed and scorn.

I will teach him to rejoice, and lift a thankful praising voice,

And to be like him who bore the nails and crown of thorns.

She was fine with the bit about her, but she couldn't fathom letting her son suffer for the Gospel.  However, Keith Green consumed by the passion he's famous for wouldn't be swayed stating that Jesus' will is the most important thing no matter what.

What a challenge for us to have as an example.

God's love...

How He Loves (John Mark McMillan)

He is jealous for me loves like a hurricane
I am a tree bending beneath
The weight of His wind and mercy
When all of a sudden I am unaware of
These afflictions eclipsed by glory
I realize just how beautiful You are
And how great Your affections are for me

Oh how He loves us so
Oh how He loves us
How He loves us so

(Yeah) He loves us
Oh how He loves us
Oh how He loves us
Oh how He loves

We are His portion and He is our prize
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes
If grace is an ocean we're all sinking
So Heaven meets earth
Like an unforeseen kiss
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest
I don't have time to maintain these regrets
When I think about the way that

He loves us
Oh how He loves us
Oh how He loves us
Oh how He loves

TeenStreet 2012 - Sneek Peek

They're back, and it's gonna be good.

(if you weren't there last year this may not make much sense - but you'll understand by the end of camp I am sure!)

Facebook take two...

I'm learning a bit more about these church pages on Facebook.

You can now find Deception Bay Baptist Church at www.facebook.com/dbaybap

That makes it a bit easier.

Just Stop

Sometimes you just need to stop and admire the beauty of God's creation.

I have had a couple of opportunities to do that these past few weeks and thought I would share one.  This is Coolangatta, looking over Rainbow Bay - the southern most coast point of Queensland. The other side of the point is NSW.

   

 It was a beautiful sunrise

dBay Baptist on Facebook

The Deception Bay Baptist Church Facebook page has come up online.  Previously you could see Deception Bay Baptist Church as a location, but now it is linked to an actual Facebook page.  Once the church website is up and running we will link the two and generate more information for both advertising and uplifting our congregation.

Depending on how we end up branding the church online we might change the name of the Facebook page.  But for now it's the best place online to find out what is happening with the church.

If you are a member then go and 'like' the page so you can keep up to date with all that is happening in the church.  If you're just interested in seeing what we get up to then feel free to check it out as well.

Friday morning focus

“For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the LORD loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations, and repays to their face those who hate him, by destroying them. He will not be slack with one who hates him. He will repay him to his face. You shall therefore be careful to do the commandment and the statutes and the rules that I command you today. 

(Deuteronomy 7:6-11 ESV)

The church is now God's holy people. Not because we are better than others, or smarter, or more worthy... but because he loves us. We've been freed from the slavery of sin and now need to live a righteous life worthy of the sacrifice Jesus made.

Anyone else reading stuff from the Old Testament that speaks the Gospel boldly?

"Bible on My Phone"

This is funny, yet somehow I can relate to it.  We live in a digital age and we need to get use to people using technology rather than books.

Awe of God is our Motivation

Great article over on The Gospel Coalition about what the pure focus of our lives and ministry should be

"Every human being has been hardwired by God to live in daily awe of him. This means the awe of God was designed to be the deepest, most life-shaping practical daily motivation of every human being. This is the calling of every person. This is the umbrella of protection over every person. This is the reality that defines and gives shape to every other reality."

Basing on Psalm 145, Paul Trip gives you a very succinct interpretation of the motivation for the mission of the Church - and the essence of our very lives.

Go have a look.

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/06/17/the-motivation-behind-everything-we-do-and-say/

Facebook for the Kingdom...

Facebook is an incredible tool for ministry.  It can also be a distraction and even become an addiction which could implode your ministry.

I have come to use Facebook quite intentionally.  I still have the random status update about how good my coffee was this morning, but I do stop and think before anything I post.   As a youth pastor I know that the majority of my youth group and other ministries are all on Facebook, and will most probably see everything that goes up on my 'timeline'. One of the benefits of Facebook is that people can get an insight into my life.  I'm not just the 'pastor' - that figure who is somewhat disconnected in a leadership role.

Yet as I said, even my personal posts have become more 'intentional', giving an insight into a specific part of my life, or beginning a thought process I might be able to delve into later by showing a snippet of what's going on with me.

The key tool I use though is the 'chat' feature.  As a youth pastor I keep that online nearly all the time. It's an instant, easy and accessible means of communication for the youth of today.  They know that if Dean has that little green circle next to his name they can send a message and I will see it and respond - I'm not saying it's an overly meaningful form of communication, or is equivalent to face to face conversations or even phone contact.  But it is immediate and a comfortable form of initial contact - and in that it is invaluable!

The private group feature allows you to build your own online community.  For youth groups it's best to have private and closed groups - taking into account risk assessments and Child Safe stuff.   Photos, events, invitations, ads... can all be seen in one focused centre for the entire group.  You can get quick feedback through comments - and even 'likes' may give you an idea of how well certain events or even sermons were accepted.

Finally I have numerous other websites and tools that link into my Facebook.  This blog posts an automatic link to both my timeline and the dBay Baptist Group timeline.  I've found that though few people comment on this actual blog, it can generate some discussion over on Facebook.

I think as pastors we should be thinking about how we can utalise Facebook better.  It not only connects us to our church, but to the whole world.  Somehow we must use it to forward the Kingdom of God.

TeenStreet Podcast 3

Introducing Darren, and the book of Joshua - which will be the focus of camp this year.

Illustration of Materialism

And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’

“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

Luke 12:16-21

When you are given much and the people around you have so little it is a sin to keep it to yourself and not help those worse off than you.  This man had plenty, and he'd gained it through righteous means, he wasn't a crook, he wasn't a dodgy business man... his fields had simply produced a bumper crop.  Where this guy goes wrong is that he sees the wealth and think only about how it can assist him.  The communal communities of the period would have meant the people hearing the story would have instantly understood this man was probably the land keeper while an entire village lived on his land, worked on his land, and made their living working for him.  Not for a second does this man think of blessing those who live and work for him - who probably did most of the work collecting his bumper crop.

We are given so much in Australia.  We cannot deny that we are rich (even if we're not driving a Mercedes). And these days we live in a global community.  The majority of our goods are made by people in third world countries who live in poverty.  Yet it seems we exploit them more than we help or bless them.  Our materialism contributes to the continuation of poverty in other countries.

I used this following illustration in a sermon yesterday.  I had one of the young boys sit up on stage with me, and I asked him if he liked M&Ms - you can safely assume the correct answer I am sure.  Now the children had been quite involved in the service that morning so I asked him if he thought he deserved some M&Ms for his contributions (again you are already assuming the correct answer).  So I told him I thought he was a pretty top bloke, and he'd worked hard - so I put this bowl of M&Ms in front of him.

His eyes lit up (his mother's grew wide in the fear I was going to let him eat all of them) and I asked him if it was fair that he got to sit and eat all the M&Ms while everyone else just watched him.  I reminded him that I thought every one in the church worked pretty hard, and I cared for them all as much as I cared for him, and I would like them to get M&Ms as well... but I had given them all to him.  I asked him what his response to that should be - and thankfully he replied that he should give most of them away so others could have some too.  We put them out at morning tea and it was a great reminder that we've been given so much, and that God loves everyone so much and he wants everyone to live well.  So our responsibility is to give away most, so others can have some too.

Jesus calls the rich man in the story a fool.  Are we fools in Australia?

Friday morning focus

We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks, for your name is near. We recount your wondrous deeds.

 “At the set time that I appoint I will judge with equity. When the earth totters, and all its inhabitants, it is I who keep steady its pillars. 

 I say to the boastful, ‘Do not boast,’ and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horn; do not lift up your horn on high, or speak with haughty neck.’”

 For not from the east or from the west and not from the wilderness comes lifting up, but it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another. 

 For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup with foaming wine, well mixed, and he pours out from it, and all the wicked of the earth shall drain it down to the dregs. 

 But I will declare it forever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. All the horns of the wicked I will cut off, but the horns of the righteous shall be lifted up.

 (Psalm 75 ESV)

Have you had a Psalm encourage, challenge or lift you up this week?

Examining our Expectations

"WHEN GOD DOESN'T DO WHAT WE WANT, IT'S NOT EASY. NEVER HAS BEEN. NEVER WILL BE. BUT FAITH IS THE CONVICTION THAT GOD KNOWS MORE THAN WE DO ABOUT THIS LIFE AND HE WILL GET US THROUGH IT."

"Remember, disappointing is cured by revamped expectations. I like the story about the fellow who went to the pet store in search of a singing parakeet. Seems he was a bachelor and his house was too quiet. The store owner had just the bird for him, so the man bought it.

The next day the bachelor came home from work to a house full of music. He went to the cage to feed the bird and noticed for the first time that the parakeet had only one leg. He felt cheated that he'd been sold a one-legged bird so he called and complained.

"What do you want," the store owner responded, "a bird who can sing or a bird who can dance?"

(Max Ludo - Let the Journey Begin)

When we feel we've gotten the rough end of the deal from God I can pretty much guarantee that it is us who needs to reevaluate our expectations.  God's plan is good.  And we know that he works for the good of those who love him (Rom 8:28).  So we should think carefully when we feel disappointed with God.  This should also play into the way we look at some of the governing of our church, it's finances, our roles, ministries and work. God may be doing things in our church which we are uncomfortable with.  Before we try and change that back to what we want we should see if it's our expectations that might need a revamp.

TeenStreet Podcast 2

Important info about what to bring, and Interact times.

Hopefully you can find the important information among all the silliness.

 

Friday morning focus

“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else."

Acts 17:24-25

Share something you've read today.

When God gives you a word...

Was praying through the book of Philippians yesterday, and God hit me with this prayer Paul prayed for the church.  It needs to be my prayer for Deception Bay Baptist, and really all my friends and family.

And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. 

(Philippians 1:9-11 ESV)

Noble Characters

As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. Many of the Jews believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men. When the Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God at Berea, they went there too, agitating the crowds and stirring them up. The brothers immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed at Berea. The men who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible. 

(Acts 17:10-15)

Interesting little story on my way through reading Acts.  Paul, Silas and Timothy have just been in Thessalonica where the Jews got pretty angry at them.  That's why they were sent off to Berea at night.  Yet when they get there they go straight to the synagogue - they're so focused on the mission Jesus is sending them on to preach the Gospel that even though they've just had a negative experience in Thessalonica, it doesn't phase them in trying again, exactly the same way in Berea.

And the Jews here react differently.  They go to the Scriptures to test what Paul is saying.  I think this is one of the only accounts where the Jews take the Gospel and think "if this is the Word of God then it will line up with the Word we already have, if it does we should listen to God." Usually the Jews have looked at their own traditions first and not cared about what God might actually be doing.  I'm thinking that's why Luke refers to them as "of more noble character".

We need to be the same with the church.  Examining the Scriptures every day to see if what the people in our churches and denominations and cities are saying is true.  If it is then we should receive it 'with great eagerness'.  If not we need to then be preaching a truer Gospel.

But also to note - we should be of noble character and not dismissing something that's different because it's not the way we usually do things.  That's what all the other Jews had been doing, that's why the Thessalonian Jews came and caused trouble in Berea.  Let's always examine the Scriptures, even if we think it may change the way we have always done something.

TeenStreet 2012 - getting close. Pre Camp Podcast

For those heading to TeenStreet in Warwick this year check out the first pre-camp podcast from Dan and Sam, released last weekend.

If you're not heading to camp, check it out anyway for a laugh.

Like the TeenStreet Aus Facebook page to follow along with the rest of the podcasts.

Gospel at Depth

When I think of sin I shouldn't b moved 2 judge others. I must look 2 the kindness of God & b moved 2 repentance (Rom 2:1-11) #gospelatdepth (Joe Khan)

See more tweets about #gospelatdepth

Some good tweets to make you think on this hash tag.  Check it out.

Ok to be Small

"Sitting here, I feel so small - and small feels surprisingly good. So good I begin to wonder why it's so surprising that feeling small feels so good. 

The truth is, feeling small may not be so bad if in recognising our smallness we come to realise the wonder of God - a God who is beyond our ability to fully describe or imagine, yet someone we are privileged to know, love, and embrace. Looking up from our tiny estate we are faced with the supremacy of a God who not only is fully capable of running the entire cosmos today - a task that doesn't tax Him in the slightest - but of sustaining the affairs of our lives as well. 

You would think getting a glimpse of God's true size would have us happily lining up to embrace our little-bitty lives, especially given we are loved so dearly by the One who gives them to us in the first place.  But then again, human history is not exactly the record of man's unquenchable quest for smallness.  More accurately, our history is a stark reminder of our insatiable quest to make our names, our fortunes, our fame and our kingdom as vast and enduring as possible."

Louie Giglio "I Am Not But I Know I Am" (p21-22) 

That's a humbling read, yet it's also a reassuring read.  It's humbling to realise that I'm suppose to act small - that I'm not suppose to be exalting myself in a quest for fame or fortune.

But it is also reassuring that we don't have to be big.  Being small is ok, because we are loved so much by the one who's bigness we will never completely comprehend. 

Friday morning focus...

Part of my Bible reading this morning

“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.

(1 Corinthians 6:12-13 ESV)

What's something you read?

Real Christian Unity

"A politician once made a very interesting remark in a campaign speech. I quote: "Wherever I have gone in this country, I have found Americans." Well, this would have been an astute observation if he had been in another nation, but he was referring to America! It's one of those things that makes you go hmmm...

When I read that, it reminded me of an amazing aspect of the Christian life. Did you know that the minute you became a believer, you joined a worldwide family? It's true- you have spiritual brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers all around the globe."

It shouldn't be out of place for us to go anywhere in the world, and look around to find Christians.  People who we instantly have a intimate connection with.  Why? Well because of the unity that having the Holy Spirit dwell inside each of us brings.

"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."   (Ephesians 3:14-21 ESV)

"...from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named..." we are all 'named' in the name of the Father.  It doesn't matter if we're Australians or Africans, Queenslanders or New South Welshmen, male or female, young or old... we are all named for God because we all have God dwelling within us.  We are grounded in love!! Together, from the ends of the earth, we all attempt to comprehend the breadth, length, height and depth of the love of God which we ultimately know surpasses our comprehension.  Yet what we do know brings us together in true Christian unity.

Wherever we go in the world, when we meet Christians there, then that should be enough to know we have a true sense of unity with those people.  On the grand scale that sounds refreshing, encouraging and supportive, but bring it back to a local concept.  How well do we handle this notion within our own congregations? What about across denominations in our own suburbs?  This again is a thought that provides both inspiration and challenge.  The global idea seems inspirational, but maybe beyond our reach (which by being a bit disconnected allows us to feel inspired not threatened), but when we look at the real life scenario and we see the challenge, maybe we get just a little bit threatened.

Maybe we need to realise true unity in our own congregations better?

The Mission of the Church

I used some clips from this video by The Gospel Coalition a few weeks back in one of our sermons in the Acts series.  I think it shows us the true mission of the Church and how sometimes we mix up the meaning of the word 'missional'.

 

Crazy Love

The very fact that a holy, eternal, all-knowing, all-powerful, merciful, fair, and just God loves you and me is nothing short of astonishing.
The wildest part is that Jesus doesn't have  to love us.  His being is utterly complete and perfect, apart from humanity.  He doesn't need me or you. Yet He wants us, chooses us, even considers us His inheritance (Eph. 1:18).  The greatest knowledge we can ever have is knowing God treasures us.
That really is amazing beyond description.  The holy Creator sees you as His 'glorious inheritance.'
The irony is that while God doesn't need us but still wants us, we desperately need God but don't really want Him most of the time. He treasures us and anticipates our departure from this earth to be with Him - and we wonder, indifferently, how much we have to do for Him to get by.

(Francis Chan - Crazy Love p61) 

Before we even begin to figure out how we can individually (and as a local congregation) live out the mission Jesus calls us to I think we need to stop and realise the love Jesus has for us.  We are not slaves driven against our will to fulfill His plan.  We are cherished creation, bought as the greatest of all prices.  I'm about halfway through Francis Chan's book 'Crazy Love' and it is both inspiring and challenging.  The inspiring side is realising once again how unfathomable a capacity God has to love us.  His power and might is so huge - looking at creation shows us this time and time again - yet he loves each of us individually to an immeasurable extent. That's mind blowing.  Each time I hear about it and realise it's truth once again I am mesmorised by the enormity of God's love.

The challenging angle is the question of what we do with our lives in the light of this never ending love.  Like it says above, Jesus is complete and perfect within his own being.  The Trinity is perfect and God needs nothing outside of the relationship he has with himself.  Yet he chooses to love us with a love we will never fully comprehend.  A supernatural love - and it's because of this chosen emotion that Jesus hung on a cross.  Jesus doesn't need us, but he chose us, and chose to die for us.  Yet we desperately need him and most times choose to look at ourselves, what's best for us, how we can get ahead, or how we can stand on our own two feet.   The simple fact is that no matter how hard we try, or look for our own way, we desperately need God - and God is just waiting for us to turn to him.

So today simply try that - turn to God and ask him to help you through your day.  You may feel you've got today under control and can do it all yourself - that's not the right attitude to have.  In everything we do, whether we feel we can or not - let's rely on God - because he loves us and chooses us.  That's amazing!

Who Am I...

Hi.

Most people call me Deano, I'm the Associate Pastor at dBay Baptist Church in Deception Bay, Queensland, Australia. This is my personal blog and though my main role at the church is looking after the Young Adults, Youth and Children's ministries; I, like all Christians, am resolute in the forwarding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

In Matthew 16:18 Jesus says "I will build my church..." and he continues to do so today, however Jesus also gave his church a mission, to go into all the word making disciples. This blog's major focus is how we can together stand on Jesus' promise that he will build his church, and also how we can better work on the mission he gave us.

I studied I.T and worked in the industry for 7 years as a computer technician and network support officer. After completing university and before starting my full time employment I spent 6 months working on the mission field in The Gambia, West Africa with WEC International. While there I did some computer support but mainly focused on work setting up a Christian Union on a local Technical Training Institute; leading Bible studies, hosting student events and other exciting things. I also assisted with the work of the Omega Evangelical Church of The Gambia with preaching, teaching Sunday School and music.

In 2009 I left the I.T world and went to Bible College - I spent 3 years at Malyon (Qld Baptist Bible College) completing my Masters of Divinity before starting my role as Associate Pastor here at dBay.  I have also worked as a Motorsports chaplain with Motor Racing Ministries (a part of Sports Chaplaincy Australia) since 2005.  I have mainly been involved with ANDRA drag racing events at Willowbank Raceway, but more recently have been working with the V8 Supercar series at their Queensland rounds in Ipswich and on the Gold Coast.

My personal passions are cars and motorsport as well as photography and coffee.  These things will probably be reflected throughout the blog as I explore my many wandering thoughts on how we as The Church (universal and worldwide) get our act together and work on this mission Christ gave us.

Welcome to my blog.

Welcome to 'Working on the Mission'

Well the relaunch of this blog is a complete transformation, both in style, title and focus.  Gone is the old 'My Jarrol Spot' which was a blog I've written for the past seven years.  It was mostly a personal blog which gave friends and family from all over the world a chance to keep up with what I was doing.  That kind of blog is pretty much made redundant these days by social media like Facebook.

With that in mind I was searching for a viable reason to continue contributing to a blog.  I have found it quite worthwhile these past seven years, yet needed a distinct focus to keep my motivation up.  At the beginning of this year I graduated my Masters of Divinity from Malyon College in Brisbane and began a call at dBay Baptist Church as their Associate Pastor: Youth and Young Adults.  I can see this blog being an additional tool to my ministry, providing a place where people can go deeper into the discussion of the church and faith ideas.   Practically working full time for the Gospel has highlighted to me the constant encouragement, challenge and prompting people need to work on the mission Jesus gave his church.

In Matthew 16:18 Jesus says "I will build my church..." and he continues to do so today, however Jesus also gave his church a mission, to go into all the word making disciples. This blog's major focus is how we can together stand on Jesus' promise - that he will build his church - and also how we can better work on the mission he gave us.

If you look back through the last seven years of posts you will see that this was somewhat a focus of my old blog, as I have always had a passion for taking the Gospel into all the world.  In 2004 I spent 5 months working for WEC in The Gambia as a missionary. I have seen first hand what the untouched ends of the earth looks like, and I am passionate about sending more people there to preach God's Word.

So please join me as we together work on the mission of the church, and share ideas on what we can be doing better.

The final "My Jarrol Spot" post

Hey there everyone.

I thought I'd put this post up for all those who have followed My Jarrol Spot over the last few years. I haven't posted here since October 2011 - and I've been thinking recently about what to do with this blog.

This year I have begun working as the Youth and Young Adults Pastor at dBay Baptist Church in Deception Bay Queensland. I want to use this blog to enhance my ministry so I'm going to move it from being a personal 'life' blog to a more focused ministry blog.  With that in mind I'm also going to change the title of the blog (and consequently the URL) so if you want to keep following you'll have to update your RSS feeds.  We're currently preaching through the book of Acts at dBay and all my sermons have seemed to focus on the mission that Jesus gave his Church.  He told the disciples "I will build my church" (Matt 16:18), however in Acts 1:8 he gives the church it's mission - " But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

So with that in mind I am going to relaunch this blog as "Working on the Mission"

Thanks for the interaction over the years, I've enjoyed sharing bits of my life with you all and I hope that you'll continue to interact with this new direction I'm heading.

Cheers

Deano...

I'm hopeless

Jesus' brother James, who ended up an elder of the church in Jerusalem during the period of the book of Acts, was so gifted at what he did he was given the surname 'the Just', and it is recorded in the tradition of the church that his "knees had become callous like a camel's" from praying.

I wish I could live up to a point where people could attribute something half as amazing to me.

How do Churches really know what the right decision is?

I'm writing a theology essay on Church Governance at the moment.  It raises a few questions to my traditional ideas on how we make decisions in our congregations.

Here's a quote from Page Patterson's paper in "Who Runs The Church?"

Even regenerate congregants are still not infallible in discerning the direction of the Holy Spirit. Worse still, some churches such as Corinth in the New Testament era exhibit more than a little carnality among infantile saints. Even more debilitating, everyone knows that unregenerate people hold membership in churches, and this paradigm gives less than mature Christians and even unbelievers a voice in the affairs of the church.

How do you think we get around this?

Bathurst 2011 Race Day

With much eager anticipation I awoke at 5:45am this morning to begin the live telecast from Mt Panorama.  I wasn't disappointed.  The Touring Car Masters race was great, so many historical US and Australian Muscle cars roaring around the track.  Plus Glen Seaton won, giving him his first ever win on a Sunday at Bathurst (kind of corny but funny and warm hearted knowing the history Glen has at the mountain).

Then after a few more support races it was time for the big one.  Garry Coleman's prayer before the race brought a tear to my eye in the simplicity and completeness in which he presented the Gospel.

The race itself was the closest, most intense and hard fought I think I can remember.  For the entire 161 laps there was no clear leader, always two or three fighting it out for first place.  There was the customary big crash (David Besnard in the #17 Dick Johnson Racing Falcon), the customary co-driver mistake (Luke Youlden crashing the #6 FPR Falcon at the end of a safety car period), the customary hard luck failure (Jamie Whincup's alternator then flat battery - costing him the race win), the customary unlucky fortune (Mark Winterbottom being caught out by the safe car for Jamie Whincup and missing the pits being pushed from 2nd to 6th), and the customary come from no where lucky buggers (Greg Murphy's third place finish).

The race had it all.  With a clincher of a finish, Craig Lowndes hunting down Garth Tander in the dying laps, only to finish 0.2 of a second apart.  Such a great fight - and I never thought I'd be sitting there cheering on a HRT car, but I wanted Garth and his rookie co-driver Nick Percat to come out over Triple 8 Racing (I don't like seeing T8 win anything these days, let alone when Mark Skaife is part of the driver line up).

The biggest talking point is obviously the crash of David Besnard.  Firstly it shouldn't have happened. These guys should know by now to pump the brake pistons back out in the pits after a pad change, but also the dramatic fuel fire, and the speed and ability of the fire marshals to get that fire out so efficiently.   David was fine, the most discomfort he had was from fire extinguisher powder getting in his eyes.

Well that's another year of the Great Race done with, I enjoyed every moment, even with a Holden victory.  The sport and the track make it such a great event - I'm already hanging out for next years.

Bathurst 2011 Day 3

Exciting day at the Mountain today.

For the V8s it was all about the Top Ten shootout, leading up to that though were a few support races that were pretty intense.

For the shootout though all eyes were on Will Davidson as he headed out first, being elevated from 11th to 10th due to a penalty being handed to Lee Holdsworth yesterday.  Will posted a really quick time that was unbeaten until Greg Murphy came out fourth last.  As Jamie Whincup warmed up for his lap the rain fell and that was it.  He, Mark Winterbottom and Garth Tander had no hope of posting a fast lap as the track got wet.  So the surprise of the day was seeing Murph get pole... the disappointment was seeing Frosty unable to post a time and end up 10th... and the joy of the day was seeing Will come through to end up on the front row in second spot.

So Mark Winterbottom and Steve Richards will start from 10th, but it's a long race and they are still my pick for the victory tomorrow.

Bathurst 2011 Day 2

I had to work all day today, but luckily I remembered to set the recorder for the televised support race and V8 Supercar qualifying that happened today at Mt Panorama.

It was an exciting qualifying session.  40 minutes long, which is double the usual session.  The track was dry, so normal slick tyres were back in play, and the lap times came down real quick.  It ended with Garth Tander from HRT on provisional pole (decided tomorrow after the top 10 shootout), with Mark Winterbottom in the FPR Falcon .05 of a second behind him (so close!) - Mark's final lap was beauty and it was exciting to watch, hoping that he would take the top spot.

The final lap also saw Jason Bargwanna hit the wall quite hard.  Looks like a lot of work for the mechanics to do to get his car back on the track tomorrow.

It's also not Bathurst without some controversy.  It seems Lee Holdsworth, who qualified 8th, has been pushed back 5 places as a penalty for not going to the weigh area when told.  This brings Will Davidson from FPR into the top 10 for the Shootout tomorrow.

Ahhh I love it!

Bathurst 2011 Day 1

The V8s are hitting the track in Bathurst, and I am still in Brisbane.  Things didn't pan out the way I planned this year.  Dad is in Bathurst with his caravan set up in the pits at Mt Panorama.  I would have loved to have been there with him, but being in my last 4 weeks of my Masters Degree I couldn't really get away.

However I have managed to keep up with everything going on at the track, I've even found a website that live streams the Race Control radio frequency - which is a novel way to keep tabs on what's happening.

The big talking point this week is weather... it looks like it will be wet for the entire event.  This has put huge pressure on Dunlop and their supply of wet-weather tyres.  It will make for some interesting test, qualifying and race sessions I am sure.

Many teams are running alternate liveries for the weekend, some for special promotions of their sponsor's product, others for special team, driver or sponsor milestones.  All-in-all it makes a very fresh looking field.

And James Moffat may now have the best looking car on the grid!!

Today saw three practice sessions, with the third one cancelled due to fog on top of the mountain.  The first two sessions were dominated by Fords, which is great to see - hopefully they can keep that up all weekend.

Genuine Friends

Something I've been experiencing a bit lately has led me to wonder about what makes a genuine friend.  What is the right idea of true friendship, what does that relationship include.

I've come to realise many people are not genuine friends at all, they are simply people who don't want anyone to think bad of them, so they do the bare minimum to appear 'friend-ish', to project the image that they are friendly so that you think there is a friendship connection there.  But in a real sense unless you keep instigating the development of that friendship relationship it would just fade away.

I am inherently a very genuine person - I want genuine connections and interactions with others.  So in taking a review of my social interaction I have noticed that many of my social interactions are only 'friendship connections' because I continually try and meet up with, socialise or develop relationship with these people.  Part of my review was to have a break from my continual attempts to cultivate these connections and I found that 70% of the people I usually socialise with would not think to actually invite me out to anything they were doing - the only reason I had been socialising with them in the past was because I would do the inviting, or be asking what they were doing.

Obviously this has been quite a breaking down experience.  Realising that I don't have the genuineness of friendship with many people I thought I had.  But I have also come to realise who genuine friends are.  They are not the obvious ones either, and this has been a great blessing.  Finding out that some people do genuinely care for my well being, how I am doing, and what I am up to is worth more than my (now apparently vain) attempts at keeping other friendship connections alive.

Getting Close Now

Only 4 weeks of college lectures to go, 3 assignments and 1 exam and then I have finished my Masters of Divinity.

Feels good - also a bit daunting now trying to find a job.  Any Baptist Churches out there looking for an associate pastor?

Still a bit more work to do yet...

Never Been Unloved

I've been trekking in the car a bit over the last couple of days, and spent most of the time going through my many Michael W Smith albums on my iPod.

This song got me - simple but powerful - and it became a emotional prayer!

Never Been Unloved (Michael W Smith - Live the Life)

I have been unfaithful
I have been unworthy
I have been unrighteous
And I have been unmerciful

I have been unreachable
I have been unteachable
I have been unwilling
And I've been undesirable

And sometimes I have been unwise
I've been undone by what I'm unsure of
But because of you
And all that you went through
I know that I have never been unloved

I have been unbroken
I have been unmended
I have been uneasy
And I've been unapproachable

I've been unemotional
I've been unexceptional
I've been undecided
And I have been unqualified

Unaware - I have been unfair
I've been unfit for blessings from above
But even I can see
The sacrifice You made for me
To show that I have never been unloved

It's because of you
And all that you went through
I know that I have never been unloved

Regeneration not lawfulness.

17 But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God 18 and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; 19 and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth—21 you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? 22 You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. 24 For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
(ESV Romans 2:17-24)

Replace Jew with 'Christian' and Gentile with 'the World' and I think we have a timely reminder to everyone, but especially those who are called to preach the Word of God to make sure their lives live up to what they say.

Many Christians claim to be saved through Jesus alone yet still find some kind of law to attach themselves too.  I think we need to be constantly checking ourselves against sin - but not through legalistic means, but through allowing Jesus to continually make us aware through the Holy Spirit in a work of continued sanctification.   This then isn't legalistic but regenerative through our relationship with Jesus.  

Hopefully this would also avoid us living as we don't preach, because living by the law means we're constantly trying to find ways to work around it - thus becoming hypocritical.  But by living regeneratively we simply let Jesus work in our lives everyday and there is nothing to work around.

Oh Jesus continue to change me!

Gracious Sovereignty

The Potter and the Clay
[18:1] The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: [2] “Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will let you hear my words.” [3] So I went down to the potter's house, and there he was working at his wheel. [4] And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter's hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do.
 [5] Then the word of the LORD came to me: [6] “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the LORD. Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. [7] If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, [8] and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it. [9] And if at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it, [10] and if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will relent of the good that I had intended to do to it.
[11] Now, therefore, say to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: ‘Thus says the LORD, Behold, I am shaping disaster against you and devising a plan against you. Return, every one from his evil way, and amend your ways and your deeds.’ [12] “But they say, ‘That is in vain! We will follow our own plans, and will every one act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.’
(Jeremiah 18:1-12 ESV)

What Jeremiah observes is simply the potter’s work. There is nothing out of the ordinary with what the potter does and his purpose demands that he work the clay to its best use. The observation of Jeremiah 18:4, the clay becoming marred in the potters hand so being reworked, was a common enough occurrence. Wet clay was worked on the spinning stone to make whatever vessel or pot the potter required. However, the mixture and consistency of the clay was vital in providing the structural integrity needed to create particular vessels. If at any point during his creation the potter realised that his mixture of clay was unsuitable for the type of vessel he was creating he would begin again and create something different, and better suited to the mixture he had to work with.

The word of the Lord comes to Jeremiah (Jer 18:5-6) showing the pottery scene to literally be a ‘parable in action’.   “Jeremiah’s readers and hearers can use their imagination to envisage the workshop and the efforts of a potter… God (the potter) has the sovereign right to make and remake the clay as he sees fit.”   Yahweh is the potter so is free to shape Judah as his clay, any way he chooses.

Yet the actual depiction of the potter represents a deeper, underlying attribute of God’s grace. “God is not only sovereign Lord free to do what he wills, but he is patient and loving, and will not let them defeat his intention to make them a people for his own possession.” The potter has every right to simply dispose of unsuitable clay and mix himself a new batch.  Yet the gracious sovereignty of Yahweh keeps Judah on the potter’s wheel and not cast aside as useless mud. Though the impending destruction and exile appears a wholly ungracious and finite act, in truth Yahweh is graciously working by forming Judah “into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him” (Jer 18:4)

Chasing the Wind

We've concluded our preaching series on Ecclesiastes in our PM services at City North.  It was very interesting and rewarding to examine how the reflections of Solomon about life relate to us in the Gospel Centred Church today.

If you have the time I encourage you to download the whole series (from here) and listen through - though I believe there are still two sermons yet to be uploaded.  It is a very comprehensive look at how we should live as Christians in a world that appears utterly meaningless.

Nathanael's Second Birthday

We had some great fun with family and friends on Saturday celebrating my nephew's 2nd Birthday.  We had a fireman themed party - and Vanessa (my sister) out did herself with the cake and decorations.

Nathanel had a ripper of a time, with a whole heap of other kids to run around the backyard with.  And plenty of family to come and cuddle up to when things got a bit much.  He loved all his toys and presents... and particularly the little jelly cups Vanessa made (I think he polished off 4 of those bad boys).

It was a lot of fun.  I'm truly blessed to be involved with such an awesome little life.

Yet we call it worship.

Unfortunately I think this is more true than we realise.

Secular Counselling and the Church

** exert from the counselling assignment I recently handed in - I changed my views halfway through and had to go back and rewrite my introduction.**

Within the current community of Academia there is much contribution to the study, research and instruction on models for counselling. However, in the construct of pastoral care counselling plays a specific and important role, which in many cases goes beyond the boundaries of secular counselling texts. If that is the case, is secular counselling research a help or hindrance to the notion of counselling within pastoral care?

...
In one sense the mainstream study misses the entire point of pastoral care in that it encourages the client to find within themselves the answer and power to overcome their problems. Pastoral care in and of itself is almost always pointing to the fact that we alone cannot overcome our own issues, as Mark Driscoll says “…the root of every problem in the world is sin. The answer is Jesus.”

Though a client may be affected by an issue that is completely not their own doing, or a completely natural cause, the underlying reality of sin and a broken world are the very root of that issue. In many cases there is personal sin involved yet secular counselling methods appear to help the client search for an explanation external to themselves. Pastoral care cannot do this.

Even so, the positive response is that once pastoral care has the correct Biblical foundation of helping people to realise the work of God in their issues and look to him for ultimate healing. Then the practical methods from texts such as Geldard and Geldard provide a succinct, detailed and purposeful guide to develop effective and rewarding counselling relationships which will be helpful to the pastoral carer in achieving closure and healing for their client.

A Common Destiny for All

I preached Sunday night from Ecclesiastes 9:1-12 which speaks about the fact that no matter the life we lead, we are all ultimately going to die.   The passage presents the issue that if death is the end of all things then everything we do in life is utterly meaningless.  The truth of the matter is that this is how the majority of the world lives.

We have Jesus, the power of his resurrection and the covering of his grace to develop a hope for our future beyond death.  Because of that it is only in Jesus that we can find a way to get any meaning out of all the aspects of our life.

I'm not sure how well I communicated that in the whole sermon, but if you want to hear more, have a listen - I'd be glad to hear your thoughts.

Sermon: A Common Destiny for All

Senna

Fantastic documentary about the world's greatest ever race car driver.  The things that man could make a car do were incredible... a true connection between man and machine.

And Ayrton Senna constantly gave the glory to God for his talents.  I was impressed that the documentary didn't water this down either, but allowed the true convictions of the man to show through as he gave testimony to God's work in his life.  I think this made the story of his early death in that horrific accident even more moving.

The racing footage from the 80's and 90's was excellent.  I didn't realise they had things like helmet cameras and on car cameras at that time.  And the pure emotion they were able to show in the pits, and on the start grid was incredible.   The story led beautifully through his life and the numerous hardships and political issues he had with the FIA.  The governing body really hampered the flow of true, honest racing during that time - I wonder how much it still does today?

Even if you're not a motor racing fan, this is still something you should sit and experience, Senna was truly one of the most passionate and amazing characters of the 20th Century.

I believe this... even when it comes to counselling.

"The root of every problem in the world is sin. The answer is Jesus." (Mark Driscoll)

'Feeling' God or 'Knowing' God?

One of my mentors,  Joe, is writing a theology blog over at Dot Point Theology which I have wanted to mention here for some time.  Was just re-reading through his latest post and thought I'd throw a snippet up here

The problem with the current generation's fascination with "experiencing God" is that sometimes this has led young Christians to trade the special revelation of God for the general revelation of God and think that they are getting something better. When I hear Christians say that they prefer to go for a walk and experience God in nature rather than reading their bible, I get worried that our generation has little idea about how God reveals Himself. Or what about those who long for God to speak some personal and private message to them? A voice out of heaven or a miraculous sign from God? Ultimately God's revelation of Himself throughout history has not been a gradual broadening of the means and content of His revelation, but rather it has been a narrowing! God has moved from the "many times and many various ways" of the past to the single way of His Son.
What this means is that you don't need to chase an experience of God outside of Jesus Christ as revealed in Scripture. There is nothing wrong with enjoying creation/nature but please realise that what you learn of God there is secondary to what you learn of God in the cross of Jesus Christ.

So if you want to learn some straight shooting, relevant theology, then add Joe's blog to your readers!

Future Grace

"...the way our joy expresses the value of free grace is by admitting we don't deserve it, and by banking our hope on it and doing everything we do as a recipient of more and more grace... Gratitude will always degenerate into the debtor's ethic if it only looks back on past grace and not forward as well to future grace." (John Piper - Brothers we are not Professionals)

Junior Rev Head

The Ipswich 300 at Willowbank last weekend gave me the opportunity to introduce my nearly 2 year old nephew to the world of motorsport.  Nathanael never really had a chance with Dad, Uncle Dean, Uncle Marty and Pa all long term rev heads - but with Vanessa and Mum taking young Reuben off to the markets for the day, it gave Andy an opportunity to bring Nathanael out for the final part of the Saturday race-day.

Sensory overload was abounding for the little tyke... fire trucks, police cars, big trucks and numerous racing cars were everywhere you looked (and for some reason Nathanael got really excited when he saw a Taxi...).  Disney and V8 Supercars have joined forces and created a life-size Mac the Truck from Cars 2 to host an activity zone for the kids at race meetings.

It was probably geared for kids slightly older than Nae, but he had a good time looking at Lightning McQueen and Mater and a whole heap of other Cars merchandise.

We then found my seat at the entrance to the turn 6 hairpin and sat to watch the V8s.  It was all a little overwhelming to start with for the little guy, but as the race went on he got more and more into it (especially cheering the smoking and stricken HRT Commodore of Garth Tander - he may have been egged on by his uncle on that one though).  By the end of Race 1 Nae was totally into it - and wanting 'more racing' when all the cars left the track.  He enjoyed the siren on the Safety Car, but was even more excited when the V8s came back.

Apparently the whole experience left him completely hyped up for more racing cars when he got home to Mum.   I'm sure he'll have plenty of more chances in the future!!

Guy Love... the way it should be

With all this talk these days of 'manning up' and 'sucking it up princess' there also seems to be other terminology like the 'man date' or 'bromance' coming into the fray when figuring out the 'essence' of manly interaction.

The TV show Scrubs always highlighted the genuine interaction between two best mates very well (although extenuating it to ridiculous levels for comedic purposes), but I think if a lot more of our men in churches related to each other guy Turk and J.D did we'd have a much closer nit, encouraging and accountable group of Christian Men in Australia today.

I was thinking bout all this today after watching "The Blanks'" (or Ted's band of peons from Scrubs) new official music video of the song "Guy Love" - it was written by one of the band members for the musical episode of Scrubs, but they have reworked it and don't quite a humerous music video.  Check it out.

Becoming an Introvert.

It's strange... all those personality tests you do through high school, uni and then again at the start of Bible college always had me as an extrovert.  Feeding off the vibe of being around people.

Yet earlier this year I was surprised to do another one of these 'tests' in class and it came out with me being introverted.  I could see my studies and way of life having changed in such a way over the past 3 years to reflect that slightly... being more inward focused for my recharging time, I thought maybe I was just getting old.

Now however I find myself struggling in group situations.  I feel more claustrophobic and uncomfortable in group situations, and would rather just chill at home or find one person to hang with somewhere quiet.  I find a lot of social stuff awkward now.

And I don't really understand why.

My Nephews

Love hanging with these guys (Nathanael 2 - Reuben 2 months)

Those Special Places

As I said in an earlier post, I was on Tamborine Mt for my church family camp last weekend.  Tamborine Mt was also the site for the numerous WEC camps (Highschooler's, young adult's, easter and leader's) that sculpted my Christian walk in my late teens and early adulthood.  However the church camp last weekend was in a totally different campsite (considering the old WEC site has been demolished it is impossible to go there anymore anyway) and in a way it didn't feel like Tamborine Mt use to.

That is until after the camp ended and I scooted up to The Beacon for a quick look before heading home.   Many a late night was spent at the Beacon on WEC Camps, singing songs, talking, praying or just sitting and overlooking the valleys below.   I immediately felt a sense of awe and wonder when I got out of my car on Sunday afternoon.  A flood of memories came back, the most potent being those of amazing moments of God experienced in that very spot.  I remembered songs we'd sung together and felt the Holy Spirit move within us, I remembered conversations I'd had with other young adults regarding our lives and the Gospel, and I remembered the numerous times I'd come here alone, early in the morning, to pray and do my devotions.

There were other people on the Beacon that day, but I sat in silence, totally lost in the memories of the place, tears on my face as I remembered, and totally oblivious to whatever else was going on around me.  In a very real sense it is Holy Ground, as I have met with Jesus there - and simply being there again brought me back into his presence in a very real way.

The view from The Beacon (Tamborine Mt Qld)

Creative Obedience

A mate from college spoke at Church on Sunday night on what role obedience has in Christianity.  Are we merely saved by faith alone? Or is there an element of work for us to do to gain it as well?

I think Rusty nailed it in his sermon which you can listen to here, and I think we need to ponder this idea on a deeper level than we usually do.

The generic Baptist idea would be that works does not play a part in our salvation - nothing we have done can save us, there is nothing we can do to save ourselves, it is simply that God loves us enough that he sent his Son in our place.

I 100% agree with that... the 'good' things we do in life are not going to get us through the gates of heaven, and simply obeying God's laws and rules is not enough to save us.

However; (and this is a carefully stated 'however' I must admit...) there are many places in the Bible which show our obedience does play a role in our sanctification and ultimate salvation. I am in no way claiming there are things we must work at before we are saved, but I think the key is how we treat Jesus in response to accepting his gracious act on the cross.

We cannot simply accept him as our Saviour... just saying Jesus has saved me doesn't make it so - just putting my hand up or walking to the front and acknowledging Jesus at the end of a sermon IS NOT ENOUGH.  If that's all that is done then I am afraid that person may very well continue sinning and disobeying and one day find themselves shocked to discover their sin still held against them.

The life changing aspect of salvation is not only seeing Jesus as Saviour, but declaring him Lord as well.  There isn't just a call in the Bible to accept Jesus, or to believe he can save you, or acknowledge what he did - the call in the Bible is to "confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord" (Romans 10:8)!!! That's when we're saved.  I think as churches we need to explore more what it means to have Jesus as Lord than putting out emotional calls for people to accept or respond to salvation (because in a sense accepting someone saving you is the easy part - living the life under the Lordship of Christ can be much harder to grasp).

So it all comes down to whether or not you want to count the numbers of people making the easy choice, or spend the time making true disciples who follow Jesus as Lord (because then obedience and what we do has an important role to play).

I think Russel's sermon handled the topic very well.

Ecclesiastes 1:1-18

Well done to the girls from City North who made up this video for the Bible reading for the first sermon in our Ecclesiastes series. I think it's fantastic.

Church Family Camp

Spent the weekend up on Tamborine Mountain with about 100 other City North Baptist Church people.  This year's Family Camp was a great time - especially with merging the Young Adult's D-Camp meaning that there was a good contingent of YAs to continue to hang out with.

The teaching was good, the food was good and the friends were great.

Excellent way to spend a weekend.

Preaching Series - Ecclesiastes

For those who have listened and supported me in my preaching, I will be preaching the 6th sermon in CNBC's Ecclesiastes series in a few weeks.

Pastor Joe preached the first sermon last Sunday night and it's promising to be a very challenging and revealing series.

So if you want to listen to me preach later on may I suggest you sign up to the iTunes CNBC channel and listen to the rest of the series so you know where we've been before I start.  Plus Pastors Murray, Joe and Dave are much better at this than I am and I'm certain you will get a lot out of what they have to say.

You can also go to the City North Baptist Church website to find the sermons online.

Glowing

Took this photo on Teen Street at the bonfire.  I think it's pretty awesome

INTERACT

I've been heading up CITY NORTH YOUTH since the beginning of the year.  One thing I really wanted to do this year was take the youth group to the next step of its ministry potential.  In previous years it's been a great initial step in introducing teenagers to City North Baptist, but it had more of a 'babysitting' or 'entertainment/Christian fun' kind of appeal.

Now I know that a youth group at a mid sized suburban church is not going to be able to compete with the entertainment opportunities the secular society has for teens these days.  We're not going to put on big shows, loud music, sport stars and the stereotypical attractions teens find exciting these days.  I also think that when churches try to match that kind of level, they just end up looking lame... the Christian teens then grow up with this corny and warped sense of what 'fun' is and get hammered when they reach the real world.

So I've gone the complete opposite way.  I wanted to keep the activities and events as simple as possible, but the key for where I wanted CITY NORTH YOUTH to go was INTERACT.

If the teens interact with each other in a genuine way, and if corporately and individually they interact with God at youth group then it will turn into a community of young believers, or seekers, who are relating to each other in a way teens don't get anywhere else.  The community itself then becomes the attraction as teens yearn for that connection which the world does not offer.

Our mission this year has to become a 'Christ Centred, Servant Hearted, Outward Focused Youth Community' and it has been encouraging to see how the group is living out that mission and become more connected with each other, the wider Church and their own community circles.

It has taken a long time to morph the culture of the youth group, and that is a continuing process.  Yet we now have two INTERACT nights a term, these are nights where we interact with God in three different ways.  Through listening to his Word, through sharing with each other in study and through responding in worship.   We focus on the ideas of being Christ-centred, Servant-hearted, Outward focused and community, and I have to say that these nights aren't the best attended, and there has been some hit and miss finding the right balance of speaking, group time and music, but the encouraging thing is to see key members of the youth taking ownership of the nights and wanting to put their input to share with the rest of the group.   The numbers may drop a bit on INTERACT nights, but I think it's those nights where we see the real heart of the group.

Our next INTERACT night is this coming Friday and one of the senior boys has taken it upon himself to organise a youth band for the worship time.  I'm really looking forward to it.

Beginning of the end.

Today I start my final semester of Bible College at Malyon.

These 3 years seem to have gone so fast, they've been a huge growth time - and though living like a student was a shock at first (no money, late nights, but lots of time) I've become quite comfortable in it, so things are gonna get shaky again as I try and find a pastoral job somewhere.  Just keep trusting and obeying though and I'm sure it will be fine (but that's kinda the hard part isn't it?)

Not liking the likes.

Wow some of the things people 'like' on Facebook these days are just down right disturbing.

Some of the language is awful, language people wouldn't usually use themselves, but find ok and humerous to 'like'.

The nastiness of some of them as well, I am more shocked than humoured by most of them.

Then there's the scary ones that are just downright mean or racist.  Wow I can't believe teenagers fully understand them when they click 'like'.

Does Facebook have any moderation of who creates a 'like' page??? They are not doing a very good job.

I Don't Know Why

I'm a big Paul Colman Trio fan.

But I thought their latest music video was especially clever.  With a low budget they decided to get their fan's help - they put out the call for anyone to make a video clip to their latest single "I Don't Know Why" and then PC3 have mashed them all together to make their official clip.

Good song... unique and fun clip... and the dude in the jet is a legend!!!

Discovering my test... Psalm 139

Here's one of the things that rocked me during a Shhhhhhhh time on TeenStreet.

Shhhhhhh times were the part of the day where you went by yourself and were just quiet with God - it wasn't a specific bible study or personal devotion time - just a half hour where everyone was completely quiet and you sat and interacted with God in whatever way you felt most comfortable.

This day on camp I felt anything but comfortable, I was sick, but add to that I was feeling very disconnected from the campers, and particularly the leaders.   There's a strange dynamic of being a 29 year old single guy on camp - there are many single female leaders and I find it hard not to at least 'wonder' if this setting was effective for meeting someone that might eventually turn into a relationship.  However the big thing I'd noticed on camp was the ease in which other guys seemed to interact with the single ladies, and my apparent ineptness to even be included in any conversation at all.  I am in no way desperate, just a bit awkward I think.   This particular day I had witnessed some people interacting and it had left me feeling very much on the outter, and I was wondering what was wrong with me.

I got to my Shhhhhhh time and opened the Bible app on my phone - I simply started reading from where it opened to, a verse we'd looked at in the main meeting the day before - Psalm 139:13-18;

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.

I felt the comfort of knowing God knew me and cared for me, but I wondered if this blanket, all inclusive warm fuzzy verse could really impact the gut wrenching feeling of loneliness I had right then - but then I read on...

139:19-24; If only you would slay the wicked, O God! Away from me, you bloodthirsty men! They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name. Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD, and abhor those who rise up against you? I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies. Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

So after reveling in the amazingness of God's intimate creation and love, David turns and says "But if only..."  That's exactly how I felt.  'God I know you love me and created me, but if only you'd show me the lady I am suppose to marry... or at least give me some hope that a woman will someday put up with me.'

I could see that the psalm really nailed our interaction with God - knowing his care and love but still sometimes feeling at a loss not knowing the eternal perspective of his plan.  Then verse 23 and 24 pierced my heart - asking God to search me, to test me so that he knows my anxious thoughts.  I realised that's exactly what I was feeling overcome with, anxious thoughts.  God knew them - in a way he was testing me by putting me in the position I was in that day, I let him search me... along with God I examined myself, my motives, my feelings about it all to 'see if there is any offensive way in me'.  I was greatly encouraged (and, I believe, supernaturally filled and revitalised) as I realised that even in my anxiousness I had not sinned - or caused offense.

I was not jealous of these guys who seemed to be interacting with the ladies much better than I was; I was not jealous about not having a girlfriend; I wasn't angry at God for not providing; I wouldn't turn away from what he's called me too because of my continued singleness.

As God searched me, and I realised that I was doing ok I felt much better.  I realised that the hope of one day meeting a nice girl wasn't a problem, I realised that sometimes feeling discouraged and having anxious thoughts wasn't a problem, because as long as I continued to serve him, follow him and live out the plan he has placed me in, then I was still allowing him to "lead me in the way everlasting"

And that's all I really need.

Teen Street 2011 - camp photo

Fun Times

Re-surfacing

Wow... what a couple of weeks.  TeenStreet was fantastic - God moved in amazing ways and thank you to all who prayed.

I continued to persevere through my sickness at camp and then more so this week.  I have felt pretty terrible over the past couple of days, but I thank God for allowing me to be functioning enough on camp to keep interacting with the teens - it was only once I got home I completely crashed.

Today is the first day I've felt well enough to start processing thoughts from camp - I had wanted to post a few, but they feel a little distant now, but we'll see how I go a bit later.

2 days to go.

TeenStreet has been going fantastically well.  God is speaking to the campers and leaders alike.

Unfortunately I have been battling a sore throat, no voice and now a painful cough all week.  It's really knocked me around and I haven't been having the best of times.  I really am disappointed that it has limited the interaction I have had with the teens (it's hard to hold a conversation when you can't talk at all and burst into a coughing fit that pretty much makes you pass out).

Pray God will help me recover so I can finish these last few days well.

Please be praying for Teen Street

I have scheduled this post to go live halfway through our Teen Street Camp in Warwick.  I just wanted to remind people to be praying for the teens that are out on camp and hearing the Word proclaimed to them.

We have teens come from all different life situations.  From both Christian and non-Christian homes, from healthy up bringings to some with difficult issues to work through.  City kids, country kids, there are even some NSWers...

The theme of the camp is "Mysteries Revealed" so ask God to reveal the enormous extent of his love to the campers, and the amazing grace he showed in sending his Son.  Pray for Dan, Suzie, Sarah and Joe as they proclaim God's Word and preach to the kids each day.  I believe Tuesday night is when a response to the Gospel is asked for, so pray for those who have accepted the Gospel for the first time, or have realigned themselves with it once again.

Also pray for the leaders - I'm sure by this stage of the camp we will all be weary, with another three days to go.

Blessings to you for caring enough to read and pray - seeya on the weekend :-P)

Teen Street 2011

Off to Teen Street early tomorrow morning.  A week long highschoolers camp run by OM providing a great evangelical, missional and discipleship opportunity out by Leslie Dam in Warwick (about 2 1/2 hours south west of Brisbane).

There are about 110 teens coming this year and then another 60 or so leaders meaning it is going to be quite a big week with many discussion times, activities, music and worship times, teaching and probably a shenanigan or two as well...  47 out of that 170 are from City North Baptist, so we have the largest group by far, about 25 campers, the rest leaders.

I will be a mentor for the cabin leaders (coaches), helping with issues that arise in the cabins and assisting the discipleship of the campers any way I can.  I haven't had this role before so looking forward to the new challenges it might provide.

So please be in prayer that God's Word is spread dynamically through this group of teenagers in Warwick this week.

John Piper on Preaching

"I do not aim to be immediately practical, but eternally helpful, and I am not relaxed. I am feeling myself in my soul on the brink of a precipice called eternity, speaking to people (anyone of whom might go over that edge at any moment, ready or not) and I will be called to account for what I said there. That's what we mean by preaching." John Piper.

That's heavy. Am I really up for it?

People can be painful.

Sometimes do you ever feel about telling someone they are just being an annoying twat and should change their attitude?  Especially if that person is a self proclaiming Christian...

 I struggle sometimes about finding the balance of being a loving, other centred person - and confronting on very obvious sin of selfishness and immaturity.  The balance is even harder when you are in a role of ministry leadership to that person.

I think juggling selfish, yet touchy and easily offended people is the hardest part of any ministry and sometimes I just want to blow out all the cobwebs, come down hard and then deal with the offendedness and try and move towards some more level balance of mutual respect.

Pity that probably wouldn't really work...

CNBC Sermons Online

We're blessed to have three fantastic preachers at City North Baptist Church.  If you are looking for a challenging and biblically founded sermon then go to the CNBC Sermon Archive on their website.  The latest series in Mark (PM Services) has been rewarding and confronting, particularly the last three in the series.  Also the recent AM series on Romans 9-11 has been good in tackling some of the harder, less talked about, passages of the Bible.

All in all, there are some great sermons there.   Just watch out for the ones done by some guy called Dean :-p