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Archive - July, 2010

You Hold Me Now

July 31, 2010 in Jesus with 2 Comments

I heard this song a couple of weeks ago and I’ve been humming it ever since! It’s a beautiful picture of a loving God that has promised there is a day coming when crap will be gone. Those who belong to Jesus can look forward to an eternity without weeping, hurt, pain, suffering, darkness, sickness. Bring it. Check the vid:

Lots of the themes in the song are from a stunning part of the bible:

¹Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. ²I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. ³And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

⁵He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

REVELATION 21:1-5

Embarrassed by Jesus?

July 30, 2010 in Jesus with 0 Comments

It’s easy to be embarrassed about being a follower of Jesus. Maybe your parents put up one of those Jesus. All about life banners outside your house, and now you don’t want your friends to see it? Or maybe you have a Christian group at school and you’re a little bit embarrassed so don’t turn up? Or maybe you’ve never filled out the ‘Religious Views’ bit on facebook? It’s easy to understand that we are sometimes embarrassed, or even ashamed to follow Jesus: Jesus himself says that his followers will be hated on his account. What will help you to be unashamed to follow Jesus?

At the centre of Christianity is the death of Jesus upon a cross. 2000 years ago, the cross was considered a pretty horrific symbol and so to say that you worship a Jewish guy who was crucified was considered foolish. There’s an ancient graffiti sketch in Rome of an early Christian, Alexamenos, worshipping Jesus. The picture (see it here) mockingly shows Jesus as half man/half donkey hanging on a cross. The ancient world looked on in ridicule at the death of Jesus upon a dirty piece of wood.

It’s into this type of context that Paul writes in Romans 1:15-16 that he is eager and unashamed to preach Jesus. What made it possible for Paul to have that type of attitude? Why was he unashamed when it was so easy to be ashamed?

Martin Luther on Romans

July 29, 2010 in Jesus with 3 Comments

Lots of Romans coming up. Sweeeeeet. Here’s what an old school monk said about it:

“This letter is truly the most important piece in the New Testament. It is purest Gospel. It is well worth a Christian’s while not only to memorise it word for word but also to occupy himself with it daily, as though it were the daily bread of the soul. It is impossible to read or to meditate on this letter too much or too well. The more one deals with it, the more precious it becomes and the better it tastes.” (From Martin Luther’s Preface to the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans)

Get it in ya belly!

Never Be Destroyed – Summary of Daniel Series

July 28, 2010 in Jesus with 0 Comments

I’ve enjoyed spending lots of time in Daniel during the past couple of months: I wrote 6 blogs posts; gave a 5 talk series on 2 camps; wrote an exam answer on Political Philosophy from Daniel 4 and 5; suffered an academic injury writing an essay on History and Providence in Daniel; and been encouraged to keep trusting the “one like a son of man” – Jesus. Here’s a key verse about Jesus from Daniel 7:14 “He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshipped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.”

Here is the whole series:

(The talks from CMS Camp MMM were probably the better ones.)

Shout out to John Woodhouse and his 1984 sermon series, Daniel for Today.

UNASHAMED Youth Event – North West Sydney

July 27, 2010 in Jesus with 2 Comments

This Friday I’m speaking at UNASHAMED. It’s a Youth Event for the Combined Anglican Churches of North West Sydney. Good idea! Friday 30th July 730pm at Rouse Hill Anglican Church. One of the best Christian bands in Sydney, GARAGE HYMNAL, will be playing some tunes. Looks like it’s going to be a sweeeeeeeeeet event. Bring it.

If you’re in the area make sure you get your butt along!

Download the PDF flyer.

What is the Gospel? By Greg Gilbert

July 26, 2010 in Jesus with 0 Comments

The word ‘gospel’ simply means ‘good news’. Of all the gospels in the world, there is no gospel that is more momentous or more important than the gospel of Jesus. My life was changed when I came to understand this gospel. But what is ‘the gospel’?

Greg Gilbert from 9 Marks ministries has recently written a book that answers this question with great clarity in a small and very readable book.

Here’s the description from Crossway books:

What is the gospel? It seems like a simple question, yet it has been known to incite some heated responses, even in the church. How are we to formulate a clear, biblical understanding of the gospel? Tradition, reason, and experience all leave us ultimately disappointed. If we want answers, we must turn to the Word of God.

Greg Gilbert does so in What Is the Gospel? Beginning with Paul’s systematic presentation of the gospel in Romans and moving through the sermons in Acts, Gilbert argues that the central structure of the gospel consists of four main subjects: God, man, Christ, and a response. The book carefully examines each and then explores the effects the gospel can have in individuals, churches, and the world. Both Christian and non-Christian readers will gain a clearer understanding of the gospel in this valuable resource.

The God, man, Christ, response formula is nothing new. So the book isn’t offering a new or fresh understanding of the gospel, but rather restating the gospel as it is revealed in the Bible. I really love the way that Gilbert writes. This book is only 100 (small-sized) pages, but in those pages he packs in a lot of quality content without some of the technical clutter you might find in a more academic work. That doesn’t mean that this book lacks academic integrity, rather it’s written at a level that is accessible to a general readership.

Here’s a video of Gilbert explaining why he wrote the book:

Cherrybrook + Dural Combined Youth Camp

July 25, 2010 in Jesus with 0 Comments

Cherrybrook Anglican and Dural Anglican are doing great work in their respective youth ministries. Last weekend I was able to join them both on their annual combined youth camp. This is a brilliant idea!! Rather than having 2 camps of 25 young punks each, they join forces to have a camp for 50 young punks.

Here are 3 benefits of two local youth groups joining up for a camp/special events: 1) Once a room has 50 peeps in it, there is enough of a critical mass to start creating a pretty sweet vibe; 2) 50+ people makes organisational sense, good for booking a camp site, good for sharing the leadership responsibility with both churches; 3) While it doesn’t make you any more or less the people of God, it’s a good thing to unite with brothers and sisters from your broader family.

If you help run a smaller group, why not share some of the love with another smaller and like-minded group of believers? Do it.

Here are the talks from the CH-URAL camp:

FIFA World Cup Review Show with Jeff Vuvuzela

July 24, 2010 in culture with 0 Comments

I said here that I’d do a FIFA World Cup 2010 wrap. Here it is. Will Ferrell plays the role of Jeff Vuvuzela, the inventor of the Vuvuzela. No violence. No language. No nudity. But part of it is slightly crude. If you’re under 15, check with your parents.

When we went to the Sydney FC vs Everton match the other night they were confiscating Vuvuzelas from people on their way in. I’ve also heard they are being banned at lots of English Premier League clubs. Good decision!

See you in four years time World Cup!!

God is our refuge and strength

July 23, 2010 in Jesus with 1 Comment

Moore College has introduced a new preaching subject this year. We meet for an hour a week with 2 faculty and a group of 5-10 students. Each week someone gives a sermon, and the rest of us offer feedback. I’m only in one group, so can’t speak for all the other ones, but it’s been a really valuable time encouraging each other to preach well. This past week, Fiona gave a solid talk on Psalm 46. I like safety and security; I was challenged to find security not only in things of this world, but ultimately in the God who is described as “our strength and refuge”. See the text of Psalm 46 below.

Psalm 46 – NIV

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A song. ^[a]

¹ God is our refuge and strength,
       an ever-present help in trouble.
² Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
       and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
³ though its waters roar and foam
       and the mountains quake with their surging.       Selah

⁴ There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
       the holy place where the Most High dwells.
⁵ God is within her, she will not fall;
       God will help her at break of day.
⁶ Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
       he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

I broke my toe wrestling a lion

July 22, 2010 in life with 10 Comments

In my former life as a sportsman, I had a number of injuries. Both ankles. Rectus femuris. Both thumbs. Lower back. Both shoulders. Out of all my injuries, I managed to never break a bone. Until last night. I broke my toe. The little one. On my left foot. I haven’t been to a doctor, but I’m confident this is more than a stubbed toe! I think I can deal with it. I’m pretty tough. The thing I can’t deal with is how I broke the toe.

Was I viciously tackled from behind by a South American while playing football? No. Did I fall off my bike while riding in the picturesque French Alps? No. Were my calculations slightly out when dropping into a 90ft half-pipe on my skateboard? No.

I broke my toe writing an essay.

Embarrassing. I know. Yep. My first broken bone is from an academic injury. How the heck can you break a toe writing an essay? Let me explain.

Never Be Destroyed – Talk MP3′s from CMS Camp MMM

July 17, 2010 in Jesus with 1 Comment

I’m not sure what MMM stands for, maybe it had something to do with Mission, Mountains and maybe Magpies? Not sure. Doesn’t matter. Camp MMM is run by Church Missionary Society (CMS). While it got down to zero degrees celsius in Katoomba during camp, it really was a smoking hot camp! Lots of the camps I speak on are very good camps. They all take the Bible seriously and seek to honour Jesus in everything. The thing that made this camp stand out from others was the 1-hour mission spot each day.

The 200 or so peeps on camp were challenged each day to be on board with God’s mission of taking the gospel to the ends of the earth. It was such an encouragement to hear from a bunch of different missionaries about the work they are part of in different corners of the world. Check out CMS website: click me.

I spoke from Daniel 1-7 on the topic Never Be Destroyed (read the blog posts here). God is very kind: 4 of the senior campers became Christian; and another 10 or so recommitted themselves to live with Jesus as their King. Yeeeeewww!! Here are the talk MP3’s, right click to download:

Find out more about Christianity here.

An Open Letter from the Afghan Christian Community to the Body of Christ

July 16, 2010 in Jesus with 0 Comments

Check out Hebrews 13:3 – “Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” (NIV) Christians have a responsibility to know what is happening to our brothers and sisters around the world. Our brothers and sisters who are part of the Afghan Christian Community are currently copping lots of crap because they follow Jesus.

If you are a Christian, go read about our family who are suffering because they wear the name of Jesus. Then pray for them as if you were their fellow prisoner, as if you yourselves were suffering.

The Joy of Knowing Christ

July 13, 2010 in Jesus with 2 Comments

Cornerstone Youth probably have the most media rich youth group website in Sydney! It’s hot. I joined them for their super-encouraging Praise Night. They filmed the whole night, and have now made available all the content on their website! The talk I gave was from Philippians 3:1-10 on The Joy of Knowing Christ. I was a little dizzy on the night and probably waffled a bit more than normal! But from conversations afterwards, many were encouraged to treasure Jesus more than everything else.

Props to Mikey Nhieu and the incredible team of leaders making CY happen each week.

Check out: the CY website | all the media from the night | all the media from the talk

The Joy of Knowing Christ – Dave Miers – MP3 (right click to save)

The video of the talk is broken into chunks below the jump:

Never Be Destroyed – Talk MP3′s from QLD Launch Camp

July 12, 2010 in Jesus with 3 Comments

At the end of June/start of July, I enjoyed a week with some keen young leaders from South East Queensland. Youthsurge help to run the Launch Camps aimed at developing young leaders. The topic was Never Be Destroyed (read the blog series here) from Daniel 1-7. Along the way, we learnt some great things from Daniel the leader, but the best thing was working out what it will mean to be part of Jesus’ never ending kingdom.

It was great to hang out with old friend Danny Mitchell and new friend Stu Hoadley. They’re both doing a killer job championing youth ministry in Queensland.

Here are the talk MP3′s. Right click to download.

Never Be Destroyed Part 6 – Know Your History (Daniel 7)

July 11, 2010 in Jesus with 0 Comments

Life as a Christian in our world can be very good: enjoying God’s good creation; enjoying good gifts from God; enjoying warm fellowship with other Christian brothers and sisters. But as we saw in part 4, life as a Christian can be tough in a world often hostile to Jesus: living in a fallen world; struggling with sin; and persecution from those who hate Jesus. Sometimes life in our world can be overwhelming. When you feel overwhelmed, what will enable you to persevere in life?

This is the final study in the Daniel 1-7 series. Daniel 7 will give us a bigger picture of history that will enable us to keep trusting Jesus until the end.

Daniel 7 marks a shift in the form of literature from Dan 1-6. Daniel 7-12 belongs to a type of writing called ‘apocalyptic’. Basically apocalyptic writing includes a whole bunch of crazy things like beasts, dragons, angels, dreams, visions, numbers, colours and images. It’s a symbolic type of writing that began appearing around the time of Exile. It was to bring a private and hidden type of comfort to the People of God in times of trial. They were reminded that, regardless of the trials they were going through, God was still in control and that in the end everything would be okay.

We interrupt this program…

July 10, 2010 in life with 1 Comment

Hello blog dogs. The last month has been hectic. Not bad hectic. Good hectic. For the last 4 years I’ve been fairly consistent in one blog post per day. The last month? Epic. Fail. That’s ok. Life isn’t about blogging, it’s about Jesus (check this out for more info: christianity.net.au)

I’m on holidays for the next week. I might get a chance to blog, or I might not!

Here’s some posts coming soon:
- final “Never be destroyed” post
- mp3s from preaching in QLD
- a letter from some Afghan Christians
- mp3s from preaching in Katoomba
- book review of “What is the gospel?”
- FIFA World Cup wrap
- a 10-part series on “Techno Youth Ministry”
- finishing of Vanuatu 09 series (long overdue!)

Hope you’re well.

Catch yo on da shizzle

(if formatting/spelling is bad, I wrote this on my mobile phone)

Pinch + Punch // July 2010

July 1, 2010 in life with 0 Comments

This is another example of a back-dated post because the end of June has been fairly hectic. It included: exams; Sam’s 1st birthday; preaching; camps; and a ridiculous number of World Cup football matches!! I’m sad that there’s only 4 games left, but very glad that I can have a bit more sleep again! If you’re planning on watching any of the final 4 games, make sure you pray at half-time for the 2 countries playing.

July is good. I’m enjoying the crisp winter weather, another camp, and looking forward to time off. Above is my choice of the July Smashing Mag Desktop Wallpapers.

Here’s the best of June (according to clicks) and some other stats: