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Archive - November, 2009

Don’t Waste Your Life Watching Television and Surfing The Internet

November 30, 2009 in culture with 6 Comments

I’ve just got back from a Schoolies trip to Vanuatu with Scripture Union. It was an incredible time. Stay tuned for a bunch of blog posts with some reflections. The topic was “Don’t Waste Your Life”, I spoke from Ephesians about God’s purposes for his people. While reading Don’t Waste Your Life, by John Piper (available for free), I was challenged to think about the time I waste on the Internet. We don’t have a television, but it’s very easy to waste precious hours on the internet that then nullifies the decision to not have a TV. It was liberating to not go online while in Vanuatu!

vila vanuatu mural t-shirt

Here’s a snippet from Piper (p. 120-121 DWYL):

Television is one of the greatest life-wasters of the modern age. And, of course, the Internet is running to catch up, and may have caught up. You can be more selective on the Internet, but you can also select worse things with only the Judge of the universe watching. TV still reigns as the great life-waster. The main problem with TV is not how much smut is available, though that is a problem. Just the ads are enough to sow fertile seeds of greed and lust, no matter what program you’re watching. The greater problem is banality. A mind fed daily on TV diminishes. Your mind was made to know and love God. Its facility for this great calling is ruined by excessive TV. The content is so trivial and so shallow that the capacity of the mind to think worthy thoughts withers, and the capacity of the heart to feel deep emotions shrivels. Neil Postman shows why.

What is happening in America is that television is transforming all serious public business into junk. . . . Television disdains exposition, which is serious, sequential, rational, and complex. It offers instead a mode of discourse in which everything is accessible, simplistic, concrete, and above all, entertaining. As a result, America is the world’s first culture in jeopardy of amusing itself to death.

Postman’s cultural critique, Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business, is brilliant. Go here to download Piper’s book.

Stay tuned for more Vanuatu posts!!

The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism

November 20, 2009 in Jesus with 0 Comments

Guest Post. The following is a brief review by Martin Shadwick. Martin is an uber-smart guy who works with AFES on the main campus at Newcastle Uni. He’s also my brother-in-law.

The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism by Tim Keller. This is now my default book to give to university students who want to find out about Christianity.

The first half thoughtfully answers the standard objections people have to Christianity (e.g. how could a God allow suffering? hasn’t science disproved Christianity? isn’t Christianity a straitjacket?). The second half explains what Christians believe and offers reasons for faith.

Keller’s style is engaging, humble, and sympathetic to the sceptic. His apologetic approach is largely (although not entirely) presuppositional – that is, Keller suggests that Christian presuppositions actually provide the best explanation for our experience of the world. He does not shy away from difficult subjects, showing, for example, how the doctrine of the Trinity makes sense of our experience of relationships, and how the Trinitarian God invites us a true life centred on other people, not ourselves.

There are perhaps a few too many C. S. Lewis quotes, but Keller is quick to acknowledge his debt to Lewis’ thought.

I am thankful to Keller (and God!) that he wrote this book. It has filled a much needed place as a contemporary, readable, sensitive book to give the thoughtful enquirer.

Find out more about Martin’s ministry here.

You calling me a monkey, man? GET UR TIX 4 LOUD!

November 19, 2009 in Jesus with 0 Comments

Find out more about LOUD. Get your tickets here: www.loudevent.com

I’ll be there. The monkeys will be there. Make sure you’re there too!

We’re related to Lady Jane Grey

November 18, 2009 in culture with 4 Comments

Kinda. Well maybe not. It’s either Lady Jane Grey or Jane Seymour (King Henry VIII’s 3rd wife and the mother of King Edward VI). If you trace back in Rowena’s (David I’s only wife and the mother of Samuel I) family tree you’ll find that she is actually related to one of Lady Jane Grey or Jane Seymour’s “ladies-in-waiting“. I can’t remember which one. But anyway Rowena is related to the Royal Family!! Kinda.

this is a famous painting of her execution in 1554

Why am I sharing all this??? Well, being reasonably familiar with these characters in English history, I was really glad to have the Proclamation of Lady Jane Grey as Queen in 1553 as the document in today’s Church History exam! Yessss. She was only Queen for 9 days until Queen Mary I assumed the throne. Although not directly involved, Jane was implicated in some riots in January 1554, and was subsequently executed. She lived a tragically short life, however from the things I’ve read, I’m encouraged that Lady Jane Grey seemed to be a genuine Christian.

We’re going to watch the movie when Row gets home from Bible study.

ps – the document we were given spelt her surname with an ‘a’. it should have been an ‘e’

Listen to Church History Lectures at Double Speed

November 17, 2009 in Jesus with 8 Comments

Check out this post from May. It links to some great resources available via iTunes U. In particular there is a course on Reformation Church History – MP3′s and full manuscript.

thomas cranmer

If you happen to be studying for an exam for tomorrow they could be worth a look. To maximise your time, play them back at twice the normal speed. Two ways to do this:

If you have an iPhone – there is a double/half playback feature when listening to Podcasts. Double it up!!
VLC player. It’s the bomb. Download it. Install it. Then once you’ve opened the file click on “playback” in the menu and you can make it go as fast as your ears can handle!! (VLC is available for MAC and PC)

Warm fuzzy for the name of the English Reformer (above) martyred in 1556.

Deliberately Lame (can) = Cool Marketing

November 14, 2009 in design with 1 Comment

Sometimes being deliberately lame is just lame. But sometimes when someone is deliberately lame – it only adds to their rating on the coolnessometer. Dunlop Volleys have nailed it with their website Dunlop Valley Warehouse (their main site is good too) and their viral videos. I like Volleys – I’ve been a long time wearer. Check out their lame campaign. What do you think? Follow them on Twitter. Here’s the GIG VIEWER video:

See below for 3 more vids.

Structure of 1 Corinthians

November 13, 2009 in Jesus with 5 Comments

I’ve got an exam on 1 Corinthians on Monday. Here is a PDF of Ciampa & Rosner’s structure for 1 Corinthians (from a forthcoming commentary). It’s in the shape of a cross, not aiming to be tacky, just memorable. Hopefully some will find it helpful.

pic from http://www.sxc.hu/photo/629715

Not one of my class mates? Not really interested in the structure of 1 Corinthians? Start reading it here and/or check out the following sermons on the book:

Trust your customers

November 12, 2009 in culture with 3 Comments

Business principle: trust your customers, give them the benefit of the doubt. I think this is a good principle, unless of course you are a gun shop owner, and then it’s best to watch your back! This principle was brilliantly illustrated for me recently by Ian of Ian’s Cafe in Willoughby. Here’s his business card. See below for the story…

Ian's Cafe Willoughby

Before church a couple of weeks ago, I went to buy coffees for me and a couple of other youth leaders. After they were made, I realised I didn’t have enough cash and that my card wouldn’t work in any of the local ATM’s. When I got back Ian, the owner, said I could pay him back later. I then told him that I wasn’t from the area and that I wouldn’t be back until church the following Sunday. I tried to give him my details, as I did he said not to worry because he trusted me.

Here’s why it was good business:

He’d already made the coffees and if I didn’t take them, he’d have to scull them or throw them out anyway
If I didn’t pay him back, $9 is not really worth his effort in chasing me down
I told a stack of people about his cafe over the following week.
When I went to pay him back, I bought another one (though ending in tragedy!)
He makes good coffee – I’ll probably go back again.
I’m now devoting a whole blog post to his business

Recruiting, Coaching, Unleashing Church Planters

November 11, 2009 in Jesus with 1 Comment

The Geneva Push are really starting to gain some momentum. In the Chute conference is less than a month away and they have just launched their new website. It’s a smart and functional site that should prove to be a valuable resource for church planters.

“The Geneva Push is an Australian church planting network. We aim to raise up a new generation of church planters dedicated to evangelising churches into existence across this great nation.

The Geneva Push is named after the city where the reformer John Calvin did most of his ministry. He raised up hundreds of missionaries and church planters to other cities and countries. Our goal is to have a similar impact on the number of churches being planted in Australia.”

For more info check out: the website | RSS feed | Email updates

Listen to the Monkeys: get your tickets for LOUD!

November 11, 2009 in Jesus with 0 Comments

Find out more about LOUD. Get your tickets here: www.loudevent.com

I’ll be there. The monkeys will be there. Make sure you’re there too!

Kirkplace Church: New Website and New Building

November 10, 2009 in Jesus with 0 Comments

Kirkplace Church in Kogarah have a killer new website and are about to move into a killer new building. Go check out the website: kirkplace.org.au and find out more about the Launch Party for the building.

I have some great friends who are part of Kirkplace. I’m cheering for them and I look forward to hearing how God continues to work in and through them and the people of Kogarah. Unfortunately I won’t be able to make it to the Launch Party. So here’s what I’m praying from 2 Thess 1:11-12

“…we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

(this post was sent from my phone, if it looks dumb, I’ll fix it when I get home)

EDIT: changed the phone picture for the one above…

Destroyed: The Berlin Wall AND The Dividing Wall of Hostility

November 9, 2009 in culture with 2 Comments

I can still remember it. I was only 9 years old, even though I didn’t understand the full significance, I knew that something important was happening. On 9 November 1989, the Berlin Wall – that great wall dividing East and West Germany – came crashing down.

pic from abc: http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200911/r465553_2307184.jpg

About 2000 years earlier another wall, not a physical wall, but a wall of even greater significance came tumbling down. “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility” (Ephesians 2:14). The ‘he’ in that sentence is referring to Jesus. The ‘two’ is referring to two people groups: God’s chosen people from the Old Testament, Israel; and everyone else, Gentiles. It’s saying that Jesus has brought these two warring parties together as one. In doing so he has broken down the long-standing dividing wall of hostility bringing peace.

This peace-making act of Jesus did more than just bring two people groups together, check out the next sentence “…in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility” (Ephesians 2:16). Jesus, through the shedding of his blood on the cross, has made it possible for people to be brought back into relationship with God. This is far more incredible than the events of 1989.

ABC News reported that “pieces of the concrete wall are now displayed around the world as symbols of freedom.” Likewise with the destruction of the dividing wall 2000 years ago, there are pieces displayed around the world: “His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 3:10). Here’s the deal. Today, when Christians (the church) meet together, they are displaying something of God’s wisdom: bringing people together; and together bringing them to himself.

Never been to a church? Go check one out. Don’t know which one to go to? Let me know and I’ll help you find one. Read more about Jesus: here and here.

August Hope

November 8, 2009 in life with 1 Comment

We’ve got a new niece!! Very exciting. Here’s the breaking tweet. Here’s another pic:

August Hope

13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

15 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,

16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

Psalm 139

Mark Driscoll gives a smackdown to ‘Boys who can shave’

November 7, 2009 in Jesus with 31 Comments

Here is an extended snippet where Driscoll gives a smackdown to ‘Boys who can shave’ – that is – they have failed to make the step from child to man. Some of you may be put off by Driscoll’s hyperbolic rhetoric or even think he’s clutching at straws in making this point from this passage of scripture. Regardless, this is good social commentary and cultural critique, with a robust call for men to be real men. It’s valuable for thinking through how we go about ministry to youth and young adults. Maybe we shouldn’t do youth and young adult ministry if it will only help to perpetuate Peter Pans???

I don’t think the answer is necessarily to ditch ministry to youth and young adults, but I do think it changes how you minister to young men. Alex & Brett Harris have a great chapter in their book Do Hard Things on ‘The Myth of Adolescence’. Check out two of their original blog posts that make up some of the chapter:

How does this help you think through how to be man & how to minister to young men?

Check who you pay homage to – part 3

November 6, 2009 in Jesus with 0 Comments

Part 1 posed a question: how do I know who the REAL God is??? In part 2, Paul gave 4 things that we can know about the REAL God: Creator, Sustainer, Ruler, Father. In this final part we’ll see a 5th thing that Paul says about the REAL God.

pic from http://www.sxc.hu/photo/557292

5. Judge // The Real God is the judge of the world (V30-31). In the past, God was merciful by delaying judgement of people for their ignorance about Him and their worship of fake gods (idolatry). BUT now, God “commands all people everywhere to repent”. To repent is to turn away from sin and the worship of fake gods AND turn towards the True and Living REAL God.

Check out v31: “For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”

Who is the man that the REAL God has appointed? Jesus. Jesus is going to come and judge the world with justice. How do we know that Jesus is the one? Because the REAL God has raised him from the dead.

Here’s the deal. Jesus died on the cross 2000 years ago. Jesus didn’t deserve to die. In fact, he is the One person who hasn’t rebelled against the REAL God and therefore the One person who doesn’t deserve to die! Yet, when Jesus died on the cross, he – the sinless one – willingly died in the place of sinners. Jesus died in the place of people who have rejected him, people who have created fake gods, people just like you and me. He took upon himself our shame, guilt and penalty for our sin.

He did this so that we can actually stand on that day of just judgement. That is, because of his death on the cross, we can be forgiven by God and restored into relationship with him.

How do we know all this stuff is legit? Is it really true? YES! We know this because Jesus was raised from the dead. This is proof that: his death worked; and that he will be the one who will come in justice.

How do I know who the REAL god is?

Ultimately – it’s Jesus. We know it’s Jesus because he is ALIVE. He rose from the dead. The REAL God is the one who can’t be contained in a box, can’t be made with our hands, can’t remain buried in a tomb!

In the final few verses (V32-34), we read that some sneered when they heard about the resurrection of the dead – while others believed in Jesus.

Repent. Or don’t. But know that God has set the day and you are approaching it, you need to be prepared.

Check out SAVIOUR-KING if you want to read more about Jesus.

Check who you pay homage to – part 2

November 6, 2009 in Jesus with 0 Comments

We left off with a question (read part 1 here), how do I know who the REAL God is??? In Acts 17, the Apostle Paul visited Athens. This was a city that had a smorgasbord of gods on offer. When he saw all the fake gods (idols) in the city, he was distressed. This was a place confused and not really knowing the REAL God. So Paul began talking with people in the religious buildings, the marketplace and then with the philosophical thinkers.

pic from http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1172779

As Paul talked about the “good news of Jesus and the resurrection” there was still some confusion. So he gives a talk where he makes it clear who the REAL God is. There’s at least 5 things that he says about the REAL God:

Creator // The Real God made the universe (V24). It’s foolish to worship things created with human hands instead of the Creator God.
Sustainer // The Real God keeps our hearts beating (V25). God doesn’t need us, but we need and depend on him for everything.
Ruler // The Real God rules over all nations (V26-27). God is powerful and in control. He wants us to reach out to him, but in our sin we rebel against his rule.
Father // The Real God is the Father of people (V28-29). Because we are his offspring, it’s silly to think of God as if he is lifeless gold, silver or stone.

I said 5 things. There’s the first 4. Stay tuned for number 5 in the next post.

What’s the point so far?

The problem with worshipping fake gods (idolatry) is that we are trying to bring God under our control. John Stott says “…instead of our humbly acknowledging that God has created and rules us, we presume to imagine that we can create and rule God”.

The REAL God is the CREATING, SUSTAINING, RULING, FATHER – you cannot contain him, you cannot keep him in a box, you cannot domesticate him!

Stay tuned for the 3rd and final post…

Check who you pay homage to – part 1

November 5, 2009 in Jesus with 8 Comments

Everyone has a god. We all worship someone or something. Our hearts are prone to turning good things into god things. We create all sorts of idols that distract us from worshipping the Real God.

pic from http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1182894

For many of us our default mode is the worship of SELF – we rebel against God’s rule over us and in doing so we make much of ourselves, heaping glory and honour upon the centre of the universe… me.

Another dominant god, obvious in a super-rich country, is the desire to worship STUFF – toys, gadgets, properties, cars, clothes, things and it’s really clear that many bow their knee to this god in their mad rush to accumulate more and more.

I don’t need to quote statistics on pornography or divulge the details of what is constantly going through the mind of a 16 year old boy to make the point that SEX is considered the ultimate god among many people – the desire for it, pursuit of it and preoccupation with it shows the object of our worship.

Two questions for you. First, if we all worship someone or something, who or what are you worshipping? Secondly, how do I know who the REAL God is???

Question 1 – I’ll leave it with you

Question 2 – Stay tuned for part 2

Post title taken from ‘Stay True’ Broadkast

RICE have launched SURGE CONFERENCE

November 4, 2009 in Jesus with 0 Comments

RICE is good. Not just to eat, but also in the way that Jesus is being honoured through the RICE movement in Australia. First there was RICE Youth; then RICE Brisbane; then RICE Regenerate; more recently RICE En:trust Church Planting; and now RICE Surge. RICE Surge has just been launched with their website and the official announcement of their first conference in February 2010. Check out the promo vid:

Serving isn’t an optional add-on for the Christian life. Surge is seeking to encourage Christians to see that they have been “saved to serve”. There are plenty of conferences in Australia that encourage Christians to be involved in ministry. The unique thing about this conference is that they will be helping people “to work out how God has uniquely created them to be used for His Service”.

Sounds promising. Hit it up: www.surgeconference.org.au

Moore College Exam Cram 09

November 3, 2009 in life with 4 Comments

It’s exam time. Last year I wrote a stack of posts as part of my prep. This year, I’m not sure if you’ll see any blog posts (other than this one) or not! However, yesterday I tried a little experiment on twitter. Here’s where it started: Yo #MTC Moore college peeps. Tweet what ur studying 2day & how ur encouraged by it. Use this hashtag thing: #MTCexamcram09 (from here). Check out the live feed below:

Here’s what I like about the experiment: