Implicit communication.

So I just came across this article on the website www.outofur.com, a christian leadership website.

http://www.outofur.com/archives/2011/07/worship_through.html#more

I dont know why but it struck me. especially when the author writes "What values are we implicitly communicating by our spaces, music, and liturgy? What do we hope people leave with?"

I have had on my heart lately two major things, community, aka the church, and getting back to a first love for Jesus. And they go so strongly hand in hand.

My heart for a church of community has grown out of experiencing a whole range of different attempts and differing measures of success. I have seen good and bad, but also never perfect. So these questions from this author raised yet more thoughts in me.

What ARE we communicating through our services and our actions? Is it love and acceptance and inclusivity? Or is it ritual and uncomfortability and obedience?
What do we WANT to be portraying? What kind of environment would benefit people to find Jesus the most? How can we set that up?

I am not qualified to be a Judge.

I'm going to try and do this more regularly. Even if no one reads it. My thoughts will be immortalised on the internet for all to see and none to care. Kinda like twitter.

How easy is it for us to judge? Judge ourselves, judge others, judge individuals, corporations, ideas, thoughts and even dreams.

Why are we like that? Especially as christians, we are called to love, others are supposed to know us by our love. Instead, christians are seen as condemning and judgemental. You want proof? read UNchristian by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons. Research has been done on how others see us, and its not good.

Not only can we tend to judge those outside the church, the "gays", "whores" and "heathens" but we have this bad habit of judging ourselves. And that's where I'm going right here.

Ignore the church organisations that condemn those outside its walls, that's perhaps a different topic. What about how we see and treat our brothers and friends in christ? How do we treat those we live our lives with? Or even, how do you feel about what I'm writing, or what you see other churches do?

When you see a fellow christian acting out, or a church organisation condemning or some such, are our thoughts first turned to judgement (they did wrong) or love (how can they do better)

What does Jesus think?

I had this really cool revelation the other day on this topic. Whenever you're struggling with insecurity or pride or especially when you feel you're comparing yourself to others and judging them, think
"what does Jesus actually think of that person?"

"What does the King of Love want to do about it?"

Maybe they have made a mistake, or maybe they haven't and you're being a typical petty, arrogant human. But I can guarantee Jesus would love on them, go out of his way to serve and help and fix rather than talk about problems.

And aren't we called to be like Jesus?

I for one don't want to feel jealous, insecure, prideful or any of the inbetweens. So I'm going to ask, "what does Jesus think of you right now about those actions?"

He wants to love the heck out of them.
I'm pretty grateful for that.

Building a Tower.

I would love to own a castle one day.
Part of that is my history nerd inside me but I believe a part of that is a masculine "I am a King and warrior" thing inside me that I believe God puts inside all men. Even to an extent women too. Women want a safe place, security, whereas men want to conquer and take lands. (I'm oversimplifying, but feel free to disagree)

I want a place where I am at home, a place I can go where I am in charge and when enemies and conflict are all about I can take refuge in. I can look out on all the places I have been and come through, and sit safely while I plan my next steps. It has strong walls that cannot be brought down, it is so tall that it inspires awe.


How sad when I try to build that tower myself.



I've tried to build a tower from a lot of different materials. I've used a lot of different techniques. But ultimately these towers I've built come crumbling down, or they turn out to be dirtier on the inside and all the doors fall down until I'm trapped in my own stronghold. Being trapped in the thing you thought would keep you safe is the worst. Especially when you keep doing building new ones and thinking it will work this time.

But I have learned, am still learning and I'm sure will be learning until the end of my days that the only one who can build, maintain and BE a tower is the Lord God Almighty.

The psalms are full of imagery of God as a strong tower. The whole bible itself is full of instances where God IS a strong tower for those who call on His name. The bible is a tale of God wanting to be a father who has his children run into his arms and call him Dad. But we try and construct other dads and find our own way to get fed, when all along we were meant to just sit and suckle at the teat of God. (sorry for the strange imagery??)

I have been challenged where my priorities lie. Even to the point of why I want a tower. Do I want to build this tower to create better ministry or launch great evangelistic conquests. Or is it simply a place to hide and be safe and intimate with My God??

So now I am in the process of building a new tower. One that cannot be shaken. It might take a while, it will take effort, but really, if it's all I really want its worth it right??

So I'm gonna start laying the bricks. What about you?

Without, Within.

My Oh My, it has been a long time since I have written anything of this sort. I make no excuses, I have been very busy, but also very lazy. I have written personally, but not publicly. I have been challenged a LOT.
So for anyone who follows my life on here, I am now back on staff with YWAM, and currently 9 weeks into staffing a DTS. We have 3 weeks left of lectures and then I am helping co-lead an outreach to India and Nepal. Crazy how God gives you so much more than you could expect (or sometimes want ;) ..) But thats not what I wish to talk about, ask me elsewhere about that...


"When passion is lost there the kingdom of darkness grows"

Why? Isn't passion just emotion, something that ebbs and fades and can't be relied on? I need to get a faith that is quiet and tame, and just stick to it because thats what the bible says right??

I don't, and can't believe that.
Lack of passion is what is killing Christianity today. At least in the west. It is the idea that Jesus and those who follow Him are boring, and are supposed to be boring. That God wants to strip all good things away from us and immerse us in suffering to become like Christ. The bible doesnt say life would be easy, but it doesn't say it shouldn't be good.
Good; the things we want, our desires, our hopes. Based on God, and usually coming from Him, but still our desires.

What do YOU want?

What has God put inside you? A love for people, a heart for broken people. A desire for adventure? These are things God has put there.
The enemy can only inhabit places where God is absent. He cannot be in the presence of God in glory, because it pains him. That is why we are called to go into the world, to bring God with us so that the enemy literally cannot be in the same place. But this is not just physical. The enemy's favourite place is right under our own feet, in our hearts, our minds, our little creeping temptations and doubts.

So therefore, invite Him in, reignite that passion. The enemy and those doubts will flee. And embrace that passion. That knowledge that this life isn't enough. That there is so much more.
And do it. You WILL lose your passion if you sit on it, or if you let doubts in. But passion is there for a reason, to spur forward.

Please don't settle.

Please don't forget.
John 10:10 "I have come that they might have life, and have it more abundantly"

Comm[unity]

I was speaking to a man I consider a good friend today. A man of reckless abandon and a fiery heart for God and people. We spoke of life and its struggles and got to a point where he announced to me his struggles with fueling passion amidst a sea of apathy and trying to find someone who could see and understand his fire. And I remembered my times where passion and energy to keep on Do-ing waned. Times where I had ideas and dreams but no real desire to do them and felt like there was no way I could. Those were the times I doubted what God had said to me, and when I fell into old temptations and laziness and eventually succumbed to the apathy I saw around me.

I hate that.

I like to think I'm past it, but I know I'm probably not. I have a feeling laziness and apathy will be something I will struggle with for a while. But in my somewhat limited experience there is something I have observed that helps combat this. I may have mentioned it before, but its growing in me as to just how important this is in our christian, and even just human lives.

Its community.

And not just as we sometimes see in the worldly sense, as a group of people gathered to have fun. But true community, where communal unity is evident and real. A place where people are family, loved unconditionally and radically and where people are free to be more than themselves.

A place where people are free to step out and be different and challenge things, and in fact are encouraged to do this. A place where forgiveness is natural and openness is a lifestyle. A place where people care about things, and as a group this care and love overflows into action.

Most of all though, it is a place where people feel free to step out, grow, challenge and know they have support at their backs. And they don't need a degree or 10 years of bible college, but are encouraged to take risks on the word of the Lord. It goes with a knowledge that they could fail, but also with the fact that if they do, there are people behind them to comfort them and lift them up and say, lets try again.

"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place" Acts 2:1

In one accord. To get to this point they needed unity, and to be open with each other with their fears and faults and problems. And they needed to understand that together they would be doing these things, together with each other and together with God. And if one faltered, the others would lift him up, not say, "oh you had your chance, we'll get a new guy" but to accept fault, find forgiveness and seek a new path. And look at where it got them.

I crave this. I think in many senses I have found it. But I desire to see more. I desire for it to be found more easily, for people who want to do more, who have passions burning in their hearts to change the world but feel like they have no one or where to do it. Churches, YWAM bases, Youth groups and others often do a fantastic job of accepting, but not enough pushing. Acceptance but not growth. And there's not enough places where this happens. Its such wasted potential to hear someone with amazing zeal for God and people to complain of feeling lazy and fearing they will lose it. And often it then happening.

I don't really know the point of this note, it's an encouragement and a rant all in one. All I know is I don't want myself or any others to lose anything, only to gain. Maybe I want to encourage people to seek out a community like this, or create one?

Just don't sit, please.

The Next Step

A lot has happened since I last wrote. And a lot is still to happen, hence why I thought I should let people know.
I came back from doing my DTS with YWAM, a changed man. It wasn't always obvious but deep down I knew I was, and I hope it showed. I came home for three weeks for a bit of a rest from the whirlwind ride and to see people and hang out. Hanging out is so good. Then I went back to Newcastle for three weeks to do a Staff Training school.
The STS is basically a leadership school gearing you up to be a leader in full time ministry, specifically in Missions. We learnt about developing character and how important that is for leaders. We got to help run an event called Not for Sale, which raised awareness and gave tools to help fight human slavery, which still exists and is SO prevalent today.
We also went away for a week to a beautiful place called Tahlee. It is an estate in the bush where we are going to run schools in the future. It was a good place to spend some time alone and think and pray on what our future holds and best to serve as we go into staff.
So then I came home, and have been home for the last 6 weeks or so. Its been a good time of rest, and especially of building relationship and getting to encourage others. I also spent the time telling people about what I have been doing and especially what I am planning to do.

Which is?
Well, I feel called into full time missions overseas at some point in my future. But I want to make sure I am prepared for this, as well as gain experience in missions and in leadership along the way. Also, I felt I grew so much on my DTS that I want to encourage others and help grow them to know God more, and I feel like I have the skill set to do this.
So with this, I am going back to YWAM Newcastle on staff for at least a year, to grow myself and to bless others. Its been a challenging journey. Everyone in YWAM relies on support, which means we don't get paid and rely on people who believe in what we're doing to support us to continue doing it. And that in itself has been hard to accept, and then to act out on to ask people for this support. But that has grown me and stretched me.

I hope for whoever reads this (all 3 of you) you can understand just why I am doing this, and I would love your support in any way. I can't do it without you! Literally. I hope you can think about supporting this ministry, in any way! And I hope you will be willing to come along on this journey with me.

Yours in Christ.

Beginnings of Ends

Our time here in India draws quickly to a close. I write this only days away from leaving this vibrant country for the cooler climate of newcastle. And as excited as I am to see everyones friendly faces, I know I'm going to miss this country in an amazing way. Its so different, and yet the same, even sometimes the colours seem to be different shades. And the energy and hospitality exuded from everyone can't be matched. And this last week of ministry is not going to help, as it was amazing.
On the tuesday Grayson led the team in a ministry where a little led to a lot. We were given 10 rupees and asked to get as much as possible with it. We ended up pooling our money and buying water and food for some poorer looking specimens.
On wednesday we went to a leper colony which we had all been waiting for for a long while. We got to hang out with them and speak to them through translators. Their stories were amazing, and for many, their faith was even more so. On Thursday we helped clean out a building to be used as the site of a future orphanage. It was actually a lot of fun.
On friday and saturday we worked with a church in holding some open airs. We danced and sung and drew crowds, although I suspect that it was mostly due to our skin colour rather than anything else. Then we usually ended with a gospel message. Many people came up to us afterwards for prayer, and I have faith that they will be healed, even if we don't see it.
This last week we have been chilling and winding down, we were supposed to go to a zoo, but Indians love to strike at inopportune times. We have debriefing to go, and then we leave.
And I'll speak to you then!!
Love you all!!