This week we have been learning about relationships, just in general as well as the romantic kind. It has been a really interesting week to think about how relationships really affect every aspect of your life, even going so far as to affect the way your life turns out. People are all around us, and we can't do much in life without having to deal with people. Imagine if every one of these people we interact with was able to see and experience a different kind of relationship and see Christ through us. Every person deserves this kind of relationship, even (or especially) those who are the hardest to act nice to. Seeing them as Christ sees them is such a major turning point in loving people. People should be honoured, always.
Tomorrow we are leaving to camping for 2 weeks. No power, no showers and our food needs to be hung from trees to avoid dingos and goannas getting into it. Its gonna be sooo good. Whilst away we will be learning about the Character of God and the Father Heart of God. Two subjects that will be really good to learn while amongst nature.
Thats all for now, deal with it.
Love you all no matter what.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Canberra
This past week we were in Canberra, our great nations capital for a 50th year celebration of YWAM called Jubilee. The founders were there and they spoke about YWAM's history and their vision for its future. It was really cool to hear the stories of how God provided for them and for others in the organisation, and to begin to realise that I am a part of this, and these stories now belong to me and my past.
We also had lectures on the Fear of the Lord, which was interesting to say the least. It was such a good topic to learn on whilst also hearing the founders speak on how they followed God wholeheartedly. Being faithful in the small things is the main thing I got out of it. If you are trustworthy and honest in the small details of your life, for one it makes it much easier for God to give you greater things and for you to succeed in those things, and secondly that your conscience is kept cleaner and you are able to avoid the slippery slope, where the line of what is okay slowly slips further and further away from what is right.
All in all it was an interesting week, and apart from sleeping in tents on bumpy ground that ruined my back it was a good week.
We headed back home to Newcastle last Friday afternoon, but unfortunately had some troubles with our van. Luckily for us though, we have the power of prayer and got the van running again. It was a really good exercise in faith and perseverance for us all, and I think a good cherry on the top of the weeks tasty dessert.
On the Saturday we had youth street, which is a really cool program run by YWAM here aimed at high school kids. It runs for most of the day Saturday, and starts with us splitting into teams such as a music team, skate team or surf team, and we just hang out with the kids for a few hours. Then we all come together again and have Youth Street Live, which is some loud music and a speaker. It then finishes with a big hang out with Ping-pong, Xbox and dance parties. Yeah, that's right, dance parties. Its a really cool opportunity to bond with the kids and be a good Christian influence on them in a non-threatening environment.
And for the past two days we had our weekend which involves sleeping in and trying to find things to entertain ourselves, which can be hard when you have little money and there's nothing nearby.
And I think that's all for now folks. If I find time this week I'll update again, or else Ill try and update this thing next week.
Love you all.
We also had lectures on the Fear of the Lord, which was interesting to say the least. It was such a good topic to learn on whilst also hearing the founders speak on how they followed God wholeheartedly. Being faithful in the small things is the main thing I got out of it. If you are trustworthy and honest in the small details of your life, for one it makes it much easier for God to give you greater things and for you to succeed in those things, and secondly that your conscience is kept cleaner and you are able to avoid the slippery slope, where the line of what is okay slowly slips further and further away from what is right.
All in all it was an interesting week, and apart from sleeping in tents on bumpy ground that ruined my back it was a good week.
We headed back home to Newcastle last Friday afternoon, but unfortunately had some troubles with our van. Luckily for us though, we have the power of prayer and got the van running again. It was a really good exercise in faith and perseverance for us all, and I think a good cherry on the top of the weeks tasty dessert.
On the Saturday we had youth street, which is a really cool program run by YWAM here aimed at high school kids. It runs for most of the day Saturday, and starts with us splitting into teams such as a music team, skate team or surf team, and we just hang out with the kids for a few hours. Then we all come together again and have Youth Street Live, which is some loud music and a speaker. It then finishes with a big hang out with Ping-pong, Xbox and dance parties. Yeah, that's right, dance parties. Its a really cool opportunity to bond with the kids and be a good Christian influence on them in a non-threatening environment.
And for the past two days we had our weekend which involves sleeping in and trying to find things to entertain ourselves, which can be hard when you have little money and there's nothing nearby.
And I think that's all for now folks. If I find time this week I'll update again, or else Ill try and update this thing next week.
Love you all.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Authority
What a word. Grasping the definition of that in your life is pretty crazy. After only a day and a half, theres been so much to learn, and its that word that sticks. Yesterday we had orientation, which was just like a major overload of information. And then today we had base day, which was pretty much worship and a message, and then some praying and intercession. The house here is crazy. Imagine a house filled with like 100 young people, who are all slightly eccentric but awesome. Its been ridiculous trying to learn names, but I'll get there. (eventually)
We have the week of classes here, and then on sunday we leave for Canberra, where we have a massive 50th birthday celebration of YWAM (Jubilee), and like 600 people from all over the East coast YWAM bases will be attending. The founders of the whole organisation are also coming and are going to speak, which is a massive privilege.
So back to that word. Authority. It's I think something I struggle with in my walk, and certainly something I will be working on throughout my time here. But its something I pray over myself, as well as any of you reading this. I also pray that our time at Jubilee will be a time of growth and of accepting authority over our lives.
Peace out.
We have the week of classes here, and then on sunday we leave for Canberra, where we have a massive 50th birthday celebration of YWAM (Jubilee), and like 600 people from all over the East coast YWAM bases will be attending. The founders of the whole organisation are also coming and are going to speak, which is a massive privilege.
So back to that word. Authority. It's I think something I struggle with in my walk, and certainly something I will be working on throughout my time here. But its something I pray over myself, as well as any of you reading this. I also pray that our time at Jubilee will be a time of growth and of accepting authority over our lives.
Peace out.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
The Beginning...
So today I got the phone call. I was officially accepted into the January class of Youth With a Mission (YWAM)'s Discipleship Training School (DTS). I was initially excited, then felt nothing because it seemed unreal and now am kind of nervous. It's strange to think Ill be away for so long. But even stranger to think that this 6 months could change my life.
I don't believe that it will be the program that necessarily changes me, but the things I learn about myself and more importantly God that will help to create the change.
I have less than 2 weeks till I leave, and till then I will be getting packing, praying, organising and praying some more. I hope you will join me on this journey I undertake, and that you will also pray for me, and the base and the people on it as we go on this journey.
'Till next time.
I don't believe that it will be the program that necessarily changes me, but the things I learn about myself and more importantly God that will help to create the change.
I have less than 2 weeks till I leave, and till then I will be getting packing, praying, organising and praying some more. I hope you will join me on this journey I undertake, and that you will also pray for me, and the base and the people on it as we go on this journey.
'Till next time.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Taking the walk of life.
People say Christianity is a cop out.
They accuse us of creating a God of the gaps to combat our insecurities. These same people claim that we have taken the easy way out, to lighten our hearts with the possibility of an afterlife.
I wish that were so.
Personally, I still have doubts, and still get insecure, my heart still pains and wonders, which would appear to contradict any ideas of an “easy religion”. And Christianity is far from easy, and far from lightening our hearts. In fact, I believe a Christian heart should be burdened, by the weight of the truth.
Hell exists, and many will go to it. Suffering exists, and many will have no aid. But for us who know the Truth, that there IS a way, a truth, a light, what excuse do we have? Stories abound of churches and people who claim to follow Christ but launch hate-filled tirades against homosexuals, or adulterers. Take that log out from your own eye I say. Who did Jesus hang out with? I can guarantee he would not be hanging out in the big churches or with The Pope.
That is not to say that both these factors are ineffective or Un-Christian, merely that Jesus chose to love the loveless, help the helpless. He would love the homosexuals, the prostitutes, the adulterers.
Only through love, not guilt, fear or anger can people truly come to know Jesus. So I say, if you call my faith a cop out I say to you, what does your faith or beliefs call you to do? Live your own way in whatever makes you happy? I call that the easy way out. Meanwhile, I'll be struggling to lay down my life and love the loveless and to work my faith into peoples lives. I fail most days, but I work at it.
I know its not the easy way, not even the hard way, its the only way.
They accuse us of creating a God of the gaps to combat our insecurities. These same people claim that we have taken the easy way out, to lighten our hearts with the possibility of an afterlife.
I wish that were so.
Personally, I still have doubts, and still get insecure, my heart still pains and wonders, which would appear to contradict any ideas of an “easy religion”. And Christianity is far from easy, and far from lightening our hearts. In fact, I believe a Christian heart should be burdened, by the weight of the truth.
Hell exists, and many will go to it. Suffering exists, and many will have no aid. But for us who know the Truth, that there IS a way, a truth, a light, what excuse do we have? Stories abound of churches and people who claim to follow Christ but launch hate-filled tirades against homosexuals, or adulterers. Take that log out from your own eye I say. Who did Jesus hang out with? I can guarantee he would not be hanging out in the big churches or with The Pope.
That is not to say that both these factors are ineffective or Un-Christian, merely that Jesus chose to love the loveless, help the helpless. He would love the homosexuals, the prostitutes, the adulterers.
Only through love, not guilt, fear or anger can people truly come to know Jesus. So I say, if you call my faith a cop out I say to you, what does your faith or beliefs call you to do? Live your own way in whatever makes you happy? I call that the easy way out. Meanwhile, I'll be struggling to lay down my life and love the loveless and to work my faith into peoples lives. I fail most days, but I work at it.
I know its not the easy way, not even the hard way, its the only way.
Introduction: or Howdy Doody.
So, I guess to christen this new blogspot, I will try to give some kind of introduction to what all of this will be about. This will pretty much be me talking about what I find interesting. (which I guess is the definition of a blog..)
For starters, I believe in a God who created the heavens and the Earth, and who sent his son down to die so that we may have a relationship with him. I also believe that the bible is the inspired word of God and that the Holy Spirit has been sent down to aid us. So, basically, I'm a Christian, of a denomination that can loosely be called pentecostal.
I am also a bit of a science man, I love how things work, the intricacies of the things around us and the amazing fact that we are able to discover and observe our universe.
I am a history lover (read:nerd) more specifically, ancient history (swords and sandals etc)
I am a feeler and thinker, hence this blog will certainly be an outlet for me in that sense. Saying that though, I love a good laugh and will always prefer a comedy over a drama, and I like to think I can be a funny guy. (Humble too.)
Also, I am going on a great, glorious, scary, exciting, life-changing trip very soon. I am quite sure there will be a lot of thoughts going round my head, as well as adventures and tales to divulge, so I thought this will be a good way to let people know what I'm doing.
So..thats it for now I guess. Pretty boring. Should get more interesting later on.
For starters, I believe in a God who created the heavens and the Earth, and who sent his son down to die so that we may have a relationship with him. I also believe that the bible is the inspired word of God and that the Holy Spirit has been sent down to aid us. So, basically, I'm a Christian, of a denomination that can loosely be called pentecostal.
I am also a bit of a science man, I love how things work, the intricacies of the things around us and the amazing fact that we are able to discover and observe our universe.
I am a history lover (read:nerd) more specifically, ancient history (swords and sandals etc)
I am a feeler and thinker, hence this blog will certainly be an outlet for me in that sense. Saying that though, I love a good laugh and will always prefer a comedy over a drama, and I like to think I can be a funny guy. (Humble too.)
Also, I am going on a great, glorious, scary, exciting, life-changing trip very soon. I am quite sure there will be a lot of thoughts going round my head, as well as adventures and tales to divulge, so I thought this will be a good way to let people know what I'm doing.
So..thats it for now I guess. Pretty boring. Should get more interesting later on.
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