Well a lots been happening, Tambar Springs mission was great and since i've got back i've just moved house. The downside being that I dont have internet access at home and won't for a few weeks yet.
So this may be unattended for a while (more so than it already is) and for that apologise. But at some point i'll be back and posting a lot more regularly...
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Friday, June 29, 2007
time machines
Well i did start this thing with the intention of starting a blog. Somehow however I have managed to create a time machine... All I have to do is post something, and next thing I know it's a month later!
Aha! The laws of astrophysics have no place on these pages....
Anyway, this last jump through time has brought me to now which is about 8 hours before we leave for our Tambar Springs Mission. So I don't have much time but i would like to recommend some sermons I have been listening to lately. They're from St Barnabas Broadway and i've been really encouranced and challenged by them. In particluar there is a 4 part series on Malachi which I think is a must listen. Check it out in the archives at http://barneys.org.au/sermons/.
Anyway have fun, have a listen if you get a chance, and if you do, i'd love to hear what you think.
PS. If the link to the file makes is start playing in your browser window and you want to download the file to put on your ipod etc. just go file-save as and you can save it.
Aha! The laws of astrophysics have no place on these pages....
Anyway, this last jump through time has brought me to now which is about 8 hours before we leave for our Tambar Springs Mission. So I don't have much time but i would like to recommend some sermons I have been listening to lately. They're from St Barnabas Broadway and i've been really encouranced and challenged by them. In particluar there is a 4 part series on Malachi which I think is a must listen. Check it out in the archives at http://barneys.org.au/sermons/.
Anyway have fun, have a listen if you get a chance, and if you do, i'd love to hear what you think.
PS. If the link to the file makes is start playing in your browser window and you want to download the file to put on your ipod etc. just go file-save as and you can save it.
Monday, May 28, 2007
Job is hard
Our bible study group is studying the book of Job at the moment. And I am finding it hard... Really hard. The studies that we are going through are really good, and I feel that I'm learning a lot from them. But at the same time a lot of it is hard to swallow. On an academic level, I can come to terms with the concepts so far:
- Everything is God's and is His to give and take away. Tick.
- Through suffering, we can bring glory to God through our actions and our response to our circumstances. Tick.
- On a personal level, suffering is not just a matter of cause and effect. Such as in Job's case, he was (in Gods words) "...he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil" (1:8). Yet he still suffered as part of God's greater purpose. Tick.
OK. So far, I'm down with all this. As a Christian, I can understand this and it does provide comfort. But when I'm presented with a friend who doesn't know Christ and who has suffered greatly, what can I say? None of these things are going to provide them any comfort...
Now in the wonder of blogging, at the start of writing this post, I had no answers. But putting down these thoughts is leading me to the conclusion that I find comfort in the lessons in Job through the power of the Holy Spirit. It brings me to a true understanding and peace, as it says in 1 Cor 2:9-12:
9However, as it is written:
"No eye has seen,
no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love him" - 10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.
So, should we explain what we learn in Job to someone who doesn't know God in an attempt to help them understand and get through their troubles? Well probably no. Explaining the concepts in Job as a starting point will most likely get someone who doesn't know God nowhere, except possible further from God with a harder heart.
What can we do then? We can walk beside our friends, we can love them and do whatever we can to help them through whatever they may be going through. We can tell them of the saving grace that we have and they can have too through Jesus. But most importantly, we can pray, pray that God would reveal Himself to them and that they would turn to Him.
- Everything is God's and is His to give and take away. Tick.
- Through suffering, we can bring glory to God through our actions and our response to our circumstances. Tick.
- On a personal level, suffering is not just a matter of cause and effect. Such as in Job's case, he was (in Gods words) "...he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil" (1:8). Yet he still suffered as part of God's greater purpose. Tick.
OK. So far, I'm down with all this. As a Christian, I can understand this and it does provide comfort. But when I'm presented with a friend who doesn't know Christ and who has suffered greatly, what can I say? None of these things are going to provide them any comfort...
Now in the wonder of blogging, at the start of writing this post, I had no answers. But putting down these thoughts is leading me to the conclusion that I find comfort in the lessons in Job through the power of the Holy Spirit. It brings me to a true understanding and peace, as it says in 1 Cor 2:9-12:
9However, as it is written:
"No eye has seen,
no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love him" - 10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.
So, should we explain what we learn in Job to someone who doesn't know God in an attempt to help them understand and get through their troubles? Well probably no. Explaining the concepts in Job as a starting point will most likely get someone who doesn't know God nowhere, except possible further from God with a harder heart.
What can we do then? We can walk beside our friends, we can love them and do whatever we can to help them through whatever they may be going through. We can tell them of the saving grace that we have and they can have too through Jesus. But most importantly, we can pray, pray that God would reveal Himself to them and that they would turn to Him.
Monday, May 14, 2007
I know, i know....
It has certainly been a while since my last post. I assure you that it was one of my resolutions on starting this blog that i wouldn't just post one or 2 times and then abandon it. Well here is number 3 so i've made it....
I think possibly part of my lack of posting has been due to a persistent lack of any coherent gathering of thoughts over the last few weeks. But one has been pervading my mind most of all:
Why is it so easy to be engrossed in God's word when I'm in a group context and I'm learning from or studying with others but so hard to concentrate and commit myself when I am alone? I was at a meeting for our upcoming Tambar Springs Mission recently and we spent some time discussing the bible and in particular trawling through its pages finding great memory verses. I loved it, I was enthralled. But when I'm alone, sometimes it's so hard to find enthusiasm for reading the same words.
I guess this shows the importance of the church as a body of people gathering and encouraging each other, but it still leaves me with the same problem.
I'd love to hear what you guys think about these things. What your experiences have been, and whether you have any ideas or suggestions.
I think possibly part of my lack of posting has been due to a persistent lack of any coherent gathering of thoughts over the last few weeks. But one has been pervading my mind most of all:
Why is it so easy to be engrossed in God's word when I'm in a group context and I'm learning from or studying with others but so hard to concentrate and commit myself when I am alone? I was at a meeting for our upcoming Tambar Springs Mission recently and we spent some time discussing the bible and in particular trawling through its pages finding great memory verses. I loved it, I was enthralled. But when I'm alone, sometimes it's so hard to find enthusiasm for reading the same words.
I guess this shows the importance of the church as a body of people gathering and encouraging each other, but it still leaves me with the same problem.
I'd love to hear what you guys think about these things. What your experiences have been, and whether you have any ideas or suggestions.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
pearl jam!
For anyone who has known me for any period of time, the above heading should come as no surprise. Pearl Jam is my favourite band and has been so for a long time. Whenever a new album is coming out, or for the 6 months or so before they are touring, I'll tell everybody - There's a new PJ album coming out! Pearl Jam are touring! I'm going to be seeing them in however many days, etc.
I have their T-shirts, posters, CD's, Vinyls, cassette tapes, official bootlegs of every concert I've seen and then more. I know useless details about the history of the band, and can recite the story about the formation of the band.
When I hear a particularly favourite line in a song, sometimes I'll text that line to an equally obsessed friend so they can share in the joy I have in hearing that song.
And I'm proud of that, I'm not ashamed to be a Pearl Jam fan and I'm not afraid to tell anybody.
But when I look at my Christianity, it's hard for me to make parallels. Why is it that we can tell anyone and everyone about the worthless things that we love but when it comes to the one thing that matters, it's so much harder?
Wouldn't it be great if in what I said above about Pearl Jam, I could consistently say the same things about my faith? I'll spend however much to see them 3 times in one week, yet I'll shirk at spending money on a resource for ministry or giving to the needy.
So, less spreading my love of Pearl Jam, and more spreading the love of God that we can have in Jesus.
If you want to know more, drop me an email or check out www.matthiasmedia.com.au/2wtl/.
...and once you've checked that out, check out www.pearljam.com for a great band :)
I have their T-shirts, posters, CD's, Vinyls, cassette tapes, official bootlegs of every concert I've seen and then more. I know useless details about the history of the band, and can recite the story about the formation of the band.
When I hear a particularly favourite line in a song, sometimes I'll text that line to an equally obsessed friend so they can share in the joy I have in hearing that song.
And I'm proud of that, I'm not ashamed to be a Pearl Jam fan and I'm not afraid to tell anybody.
But when I look at my Christianity, it's hard for me to make parallels. Why is it that we can tell anyone and everyone about the worthless things that we love but when it comes to the one thing that matters, it's so much harder?
Wouldn't it be great if in what I said above about Pearl Jam, I could consistently say the same things about my faith? I'll spend however much to see them 3 times in one week, yet I'll shirk at spending money on a resource for ministry or giving to the needy.
So, less spreading my love of Pearl Jam, and more spreading the love of God that we can have in Jesus.
If you want to know more, drop me an email or check out www.matthiasmedia.com.au/2wtl/.
...and once you've checked that out, check out www.pearljam.com for a great band :)
Thursday, April 19, 2007
and i'm on the bandwagon
So here I am, finally with my own blog. I had tossed up the idea for a while but came to no firm conclusion until recently finding an abundance of great blogs done by friends and strangers alike.
So what shall it contain? Hopefully a bit of everything, although primarily I hope I can engage others in, and encourage them with my search to find my role in serving God in this world. Other tasty tidbits may include musing on faith, music, books, mission and/or aid work and whatever else has caught my attention at the time. Also from time to time I'd love to show you some of the other blogs that prompted me to start my own and anything else that I come across...
Finally for now if I can share that thing that made me sit down and start this right now. I just finished reading Psalm 102 and this passage blew me away. I always find that when I try and contemplate the vastness of God's love and the intricate plan he has and the fact that he knew and called me before the beginning of time... it just seems bigger and bigger...
18 Let this be written for a future generation,
that a people not yet created may praise the LORD :
So... welcome.
I would to hear what you think, what thoughts passages like these brings up in your soul.
So what shall it contain? Hopefully a bit of everything, although primarily I hope I can engage others in, and encourage them with my search to find my role in serving God in this world. Other tasty tidbits may include musing on faith, music, books, mission and/or aid work and whatever else has caught my attention at the time. Also from time to time I'd love to show you some of the other blogs that prompted me to start my own and anything else that I come across...
Finally for now if I can share that thing that made me sit down and start this right now. I just finished reading Psalm 102 and this passage blew me away. I always find that when I try and contemplate the vastness of God's love and the intricate plan he has and the fact that he knew and called me before the beginning of time... it just seems bigger and bigger...
18 Let this be written for a future generation,
that a people not yet created may praise the LORD :
19 "The LORD looked down from his sanctuary on high,
from heaven he viewed the earth,
20 to hear the groans of the prisoners
and release those condemned to death."
21 So the name of the LORD will be declared in Zion
and his praise in Jerusalem
22 when the peoples and the kingdoms
assemble to worship the LORD.
So... welcome.
I would to hear what you think, what thoughts passages like these brings up in your soul.
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