thesis v antithesis

One of the great changes that has taken place in the popular mind over the last century is the change in how people view truth.
Historically truth as been viewed in the thesis / antithesis paradigm. This meant that if something is true then the opposite is wrong. However, the German philosopher Hegel (1770-1831) introduced the idea of synthesis which firstly captured the minds of the philosophers and eventually has infiltrated the popular thinking mindset.
What this means is that many people no longer think in categories of thesis / antithesis or right / wrong, but in terms of ideas that can be synthesised to create a whole new idea.
In the past people understood that when you argued that Christianity was true then the opposite of Christianity had to be false. Now people look at Christianity and its opponents and create a new synthesised truth which contains components of both.
The question these days is not 'Is it right?' but 'Does it work?'
The challenge for the Christian is to show in our individual and corporate life that Christianity works precisely because it is right and that it stands in opposition to any synthesised religion.
(For a great discussion of this idea read "The God Who Is There" by Francis Schaeffer. Available as a seperate book or part of "The Complete Works of Francis A Schaeffer.")

martin luther said ...

These words are attributed to Martin Luther, the great leader of the Reformation in the 1500's, and they still ring true today.
"If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at the moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved, and to be steady on all the battlefield besides, is mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point."
In practical terms this means we have to learn to hear from God about what is the pivotal battle to be fighting. It might be a belief pattern in the world or it might be a personal battle in our lives, but if we miss the quiet voice of God then we miss being effectively used by him to change the world in which we live. It is for this reason a daily time of listening to God is so vital. If we don't take time to be in his presence on a daily basis we can end up fighting the battles of yesterday and never the battle God wants us to fight today!

making a difference

Are we serious about making a difference in our world? God calls us not to just focus on winning individual souls, though in my opinion that is a strong contender for the number 1 priority of the church, but also we are called to restore our culture so that it resembles as much as possible the characteristics of the Kingdom of Heaven here on earth.
In fact winning individual souls and restoring the culture go hand in hand. As we are seen to be positive influences on our world we gain the right to be heard in respect to how individuals can best live their lives.
Here are some excellent websites for those concerned about transforming our world.
http://www.thepeaceplan.com/
http://www.micahchallenge.org.au/
TOGETHER we really can make a difference!

homosexuality

Mention homosexuality and people's emotions get heated. I personally hold to the traditional bible teaching that we are to love and act gracefully to all people, while at the same time upholding truth.
One of the best examples of this is found in Jesus when he was confronted with a women caught in adultery. He said to her, "I do not condemn you, go and sin no more." Jesus was able to love the women without condemnation while at the same time pointing her to truth that could set her free.
In the case of homosexuality we are to without condemnation, point people to the teaching of God that sexual relationships are only appropriate between a man and women in a married relationship.
Here are some resources to find out more.
An interesting article called "Homosexuality: Questions and Answers." http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/homo-qa.html
A great website is http://www.livehope.org/ and another that has lots of testimonies is http://www.stonewallrevisited.com/
A testimony of a person who came out of homosexuality.
http://www.leaderu.com/stonewall/pages/john_s.html#
An Australian group that helps people deal with sexual addiction. The leader is a man who was a minister who was involved in homosexuality.
http://www.livingwaters.org.au/
A website that provides courses on all sorts of sexual addiction areas. http://www.settingcaptivesfree.com/home/

roadmap for peace

the napalm girl

Did you know.

The girl in this famous picture from the Vietnam War survived. She was treated in an American Hospital and survived despite a prognosis she would die within a few days.

Her name is Kim Phuc and she eventually became a Christian proclaiming the message of forgiveness.

She was approached by a person claiming to be the pilot of the plane whom she promptly hugged and forgave.

The person who claimed to be the pilot was John Plummer, an American. Later it was discovered later was not in actual fact the pilot. (This does not lessen the fact that Kim was willing to forgive the pilot.) The original story before the deception was discovered can be read at http://www.hawaiiforgivenessproject.org/stories.htm#john)

The plane that dropped the Napalm was not an American plane but a Vietnamese plane.

worldview

Any worldview, whether it be secular or religious, needs to answer humanity's age-old questions: Where did I come from? Why am I here? Where am I going? Does life has any meaning and purpose? ("Now How Shall We Then Live", Charles Colson, P.xi)
And once these questions are answered, we need to ask the question: Can I live consistently with my answers?
Answer these questions for yourself. Go on take the time and make the effort and then ask yourself whether or not you can live according to your answers.
Many have answered by saying all life is the result of random chaos, well try and live your life that way and see how long you last. Some answer by saying all that we experience is only in our imagination, and yet if they want to live long they still look both ways before crossing a street.
Some say there are no rights and wrongs, and yet if you smack them in the head they'll get upset as if you've done something wrong to them.
Some say there are no absolutes and are absolutely sure about it.

10 tips for finding friends

1. Waiting at home alone for God to send you friends won't work. The Bible tells us that God designed us to be interactive with others. We are encouraged to seek fellowship with like-minded people. Take a step of courage and place yourself in situations where potential friends are, like a church group or other social clubs.
2. If you want a friend - be a friend. Pouring your life into someone else opens the door for deeper intimacy. A self-involved person has limited their opportunities for healthy friends.
3. Proverbs 22:11 says - He who loves with a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king for his friend. Keep your motives pure. Avoid manipulation and don't desire someone's friendship for social status or other selfish reasons.
4. Don't rush it. Often, people who are desperate for friends overwhelm potential friends by getting too personal right away. This can scare off acquaintances who might become friends over time. Deep, lasting friendships take time to develop.
5. Proverbs 17:17 says - A friend loves at all times... Give your friends grace to fail you. They are not perfect. Address conflict with gentleness and respect.
6. Work on yourself. The healthier, balanced person you become, the more attractive you are as a friend. Emotional growth and maturity are very attractive character assets.
7. Smile. You'd be amazed at how people will respond to a simple smile. You may be the bright spot of their day. Who wants to "connect" with a frowning sour-puss?
8. Be honest, but loving. Proverbs 27:6 tells us that wounds from a friend can be trusted. Be very careful with criticism. It should always be given to restore and build up, never to tear down.
9. A friend in need is a friend indeed! Have you heard this saying? Friendship is never more keenly felt than during times of difficulty. If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up. - Ecc. 4:10
10. Listen! Friends are those rare people who ask how you are and then wait to hear the answer.

links to research about benefits of religious beliefs

Here is a link to a number of research articles exploring the link between religious beliefs and health. Some very interesting findings. http://www.nihr.org/programs/researchreports/listresearchreports.cfm

effective evangelism

If you're interested in what makes for effective evangelism then check out "Hell's best kept Secret" by Ray Comfort. Go to the link and listen to the message online at http://www.livingwaters.com/listenwatch.shtml or contact me and I can send you an MP3 copy of the message.

religion good for your health

Medical studies are confirming that those who attend church regularly and act consistently with their faith are better off, both physically and mentally. Consider a few recent findings.
- Alcohol abuse is highest among those with little or not religious commitment. (D.B. Larson and W.P. Wilson, "Religious Life of Alcoholics," Southern Medical Journal 73, no. 6 (June 1980): 723-27
- Numerous studies have found an inverse correlation between religious commitment and drug use. Among young people, the importance of religion is the single best predictor of substance-abuse patterns.
- There is a strong correlation between participation in religious activities and avoidance of crime.
- Several studies have found that high levels of religious commitment correlate with lower levels of depression and stress. (Larson and Larson, The Forgotten Factor, 76-78)
- Persons who do not attend church are four times more likely to commit suicide that are frequent church attenders. In fact, lack of church attendance correlates more strongly with suicide rates that with any other risk factor, including unemployment. (Larson and Larson, The Forgotten Factor, 64-65)
- A number of studies have found a strong inverse correlation between church attendance and divorce, and one study found that church attendance is teh most important predictor of marital stability. (Ibid, 72)
- Churchgoers are more likely to say they would marry the same spouse again - an important measure of marital satisfaction. And the 1994 Sex in America study showed that very religious women enjoy a higher level of sexual satisfaction in their marriage than do nonreligious women.
- Church attendace even affects mortality rates. For men who attend church frequently, the risk of dying from arteriosclerotic heart disease is only 60 percent of that for men who attend infrequently.
(Quotes come from "How then shall we live?," Charles Colson, 311-313)

acts prayer

Although prayer cannot be reduced to a formula, certain basic elements should be included in our communication with God. I believe they are Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication, or "ACTS" for short, which will help you remember. A -- ADORATIONTo adore God is to worship and praise Him, to honor and exalt Him in our heart and mind and with our lips. Adoration expresses our complete trust in Him and reflects our confidence that He hears us. Adoration demonstrates our reverence, awe, love, and gratitude. C -- CONFESSIONWhen our discipline of prayer begins with adoration, the Holy Spirit has opportunity to reveal any sin in our life that needs to be confessed. By seeing God in His purity, His holiness, and His love, we become aware of our own sinfulness and unworthiness. Confessing our sin and receiving His forgiveness restores us to fellowship with Him and clears the channel for God to hear and answer our prayers (1 John 1:7-9). T -- THANKSGIVINGNothing pleases God more than our consistent expression of faith. What better way to do this than to tell Him, "Thank you"? God's Word commands, "Give thanks in all circumstances" because "this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:18, NIV). As we approach God with a thankful heart, He makes Himself strong on our behalf. S -- SUPPLICATIONSupplication includes petition for our own needs and intercession for others. We are to pray for everything and in specific terms. As you talk to God, for example, pray that your inner person may be renewed, always sensitive to and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Pray about your problems, pray for wisdom and guidance, pray for strength to resist temptation, pray for comfort in time of sorrow -- pray for everything (Philippians 4:6). Then pray for others -- your spouse, your children, your parents, neighbors, friends, campus or community. Pray for your pastor and missionaries, and for various other Christians to whom God has given special responsibility. Pray for those in authority over you (1 Timothy 2:1,2). These elements -- Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication -- have helped many Christians to develop a more well-rounded prayer life. Remember: "ACTS."

three dollars

Some people plod through life, not me, it's either full bore ahead or blob out big time. Life has been rather hectic lately and so I'm been crashing to get my energy back. When I blob I watch lots of movies. Saw 'The Da Vinci Code' and thought it was okay, nothing stunning, but I've just finished an excellent Australian movie called "Three Dollars".
It's not the kind of movie I'd normally watch, not enough mahem. It's billed as 'the epic story of an ordinary man.'
It's a feel good movie about how a man copes with ordinary life and some of the curb balls thrown at him, a great movie, well worth the couple of hours.
Note: It is rated M due to a couple of scenes.

how to bring revival to your church - bill bright

Here are some ideas:
1. Encourage your pastor and church leaders to preach and teach on the attributes of God as a basis for first love, faith, and obedience.
2. Organize a 24-hour prayer chain divided into 96 fifteen-minute periods. Ask participants to pray around the clock for revival among church members and for a great spiritual harvest of new believers.
3. Choose seven different church members to meet with the pastor early each Sunday morning for prayer and to receive his prayer requests for each day of the week, each day assigned to one of the seven.
4. Invite several church members to gather for prayer during each church service, especially while the pastor is preaching.
5. Encourage all church members to fast and pray on behalf of the pastor and the church for one 24-hour period each week.
6. Ask your pastor or church leader to emphasize biblical truths on repentance, confession of sin, restitution, and reconciliation among church members.
7. Teach members how to be filled with the Holy Spirit and walk in the fullness and power of the Holy Spirit by faith as a way of life.
8. Train church members and other Christian groups on an ongoing basis to share their faith more effectively in the power of the Holy Spirit.
9. Designate one night each week for positive, aggressive evangelism as a part of church visitation.
10. Challenge members to help fulfill the Great Commission in their neighborhood and develop a vision for the world.
11. Encourage members to understand the law of sowing and reaping and honor the Lord through obedient and faithful stewardship. Teach them the joy of giving tithes and offerings.
12. Teach the history and conditions of revival. Encourage members to read biblical and historical accounts of revival.

focus on strengths

Although you're keeping an eye out for both strengths and weaknesses, your focus should be on an employee's strengths. Conventional wisdom holds that self-awareness is a good thing and that it's the job of the manager to identify weaknesses and create a plan for overcoming them. But research by Albert Bandura, the father of social learning theory, has shown that self-assurance (labelled "self-efficacy" by cognitive psychologists), not self-awareness, is the strongest predictor of a person's ability to set high goals, to persist in the face of obstacles, to bounce back when reversals occur, and, ultimately, to achieve the goals they set. By contrast, self-awareness has not been shown to be a predictor of any of these outcomes, and in some cases, it appears to retard them.

awesome graphic

Contemplate this picture, what an awesome way of communicating the idea that God pursues us to protect.

More like this can be found at http://www.christianlectionarygraphics.com/

an elephant experience

Was in Thailand recently for a conference run by David Bussau who is an awesome man of God. While at the conference I got to visit an elephant park where I saw elephants riding bikes, playing soccer and throwing darts. But best of all was the elephant ride and then getting picked up by an elephant trunk. What an awesome animal they are.

how lucky am I

My bike, a Yamaha FJ1100 needed some major work, and my lovely wife let me spend some of our savings picking up a new bike, and really its a bike of my dreams. Now I am the proud owner of a 2001 Kawasaki VN1500.
See you on the road.

ebooks

If you are interested in ebooks, digital versions of books that can be read on your PC or PDA, then check out the 16,000 titles available at http://www.gutenberg.org/

anonymous - just give me Jesus

An anonymous author made this striking comparison:
Socrates taught for 40 years, Plato for 50, Aristotle for 40, and Jesus for only 3. Yet the influence of Christ's 3-year ministry infinitely transcends the impact left by the combined 130 years of teaching from these men who were among the greatest philosophers of all antiquity.
Jesus painted no pictures; yet some of the finest paintings of Raphael, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci received their inspiration from Him.
Jesus wrote no poetry; but Dante, Milton, and scores of the world's greatest poets were inspired by Him.
Jesus composed no music; still Haydn, Handel, Beethoven, Bach and Mendelssohn, (also Wesley, F. Crosby and Gaither, etc.) reached their highest perfection of melody in the hymns, symphonies, and oratorios they composed in His praise.
Every sphere of human greatness has been enriched by this humble Carpenter of Nazareth. His unique contribution to the race of men is the salvation of the soul! Philosophy could not accomplish that. Nor art. Nor literature. Nor music. Only Jesus Christ can break the enslaving chains of sin and Satan. He alone can speak peace to the human heart, strengthen the weak, and give life to those who are spiritually dead.
I cannot speak for you, but as for me, "just give me Jesus."

how did the bible come together?

The Church History Institute (http://chi.gospelcom.net/index.php) has some great articles about Church History. Of particular current interest is the articles about the Da Vinci Code and also an excellent article on how the New Testament came into being. (http://chi.gospelcom.net/morestories/canon.shtml)

God's method

"If God incarnate pitched his tent right in the middle of those whom he led - those whom he called his friends - what should we as leaders do? I have become convinced that the best place from which to lead is not above our people, not in front of our people, not under our people, and not on our cell phones with our people." - Bill Robinson
(The Ministry Report, Feb 2006, P.37)

wise words

Everyone was under tremendous presure in those fast-paced days, yet Ed was always calm and in control. When Ed wasn't out talking with people he could generally be found in his office with his feet up and his eyes closed, contemplating.
As I unloaded my problems with Ed that day I quickly learned his secret:
“Give yourself plenty of time to think … and to reflect on just what it is that really needs to be accomplished. Delegate everything possible, and reserve for yourself only those things where your personal attention is need to move the work ahead.”
(Christian Management Report, Feb 2006, P.32)

rob bell

Listened to a audio booked called 'Velvet Elvis' and it was brilliant. The guys a brilliant and thought provoking communicator. He's worth listening to, check out some of his sermons at http://www.mhbcmi.org/findex.html

beggar

The story is told of a man who had begged on the streets for a living.
One day he touched a man on the shoulder and said, "Hey, mister, can you give me a dime?" (That was many years ago when a dime was worth much more than it is now.)
As soon as he saw the face of the man he had asked, he was shocked to discover that it was his own father!
He cried out, "Father, father, do you know me?"
The father looked at him, then suddenly threw his arms around him and with tears in his eyes, said, "Oh, my son, at last I've found you! I've found you! You want a dime? Everything I have is yours."
The beggar said, "Think of it. I was a tramp. I stood begging my own father for ten cents, when for 18 years he had been looking for me to give me all he had."

cartoon

Kelly, my offsider at CMP sent me this cartoon. Now I know what she really thinks of me.

Mind you I've often said that I think I would have been a crim if I hadn't met Jesus.

39 things you should know by now.

1. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.
2. Don't worry about what people think, they don't do it very often.
3. Going to church doesn't make you a Christian anymore than standing in a garage makes you a car.
4. Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.
5. If you must choose between two evils, pick the one you've never tried before.
6. My idea of housework is to sweep the room with a glance.
7. Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious.
8. It is easier to get forgiveness than permission.
9. For every action, there is an equal and opposite government program.
10. If you look like your passport picture, you probably need the trip.
11. Bills travel through the mail at twice the speed of cheques.
12. A conscience is what hurts when all of your other parts feel so good.
13. Eat well, stay fit, die anyway.
14. Men are from earth. Women are from earth. Deal with it.
15. No man has ever been shot while doing the dishes.
16. A balanced diet is a biscuit in each hand.
17. Middle age is when broadness of the mind and narrowness of the waist change places.
18. Opportunities always look bigger going than coming.
19. Junk is something you've kept for years and throw away three weeks before you need it.
20. There is always one more imbecile than you counted on.
21. Experience is a wonderful thing. It enables you to recognise a mistake when you make it again.
22. By the time you can make ends meet, they move the ends.
23. Thou shalt not weigh more than thy fridge.
24. Someone who thinks logically provides a nice contrast to the real world.
25. Its not the jeans that make your bum look fat.
26. If you had to identify, in 1 word, the reason why the human race has not achieved, & never will achieve, its full potential, that word would be "meetings".
27. There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness".
28. People who want to share their religious views with you almost never want you to share yours with them.
29. You should not confuse your career with your life.
30. Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.
31. Never lick a steak knife.
32. The most destructive force in the universe is gossip.
33. You will never find anybody who can give you a clear and compelling reason why we put the clocks back.
34. You should never say anything to a woman that even remotely suggests that you think she's pregnant unless you can see an actual baby emerging from her at that moment.
35. There comes a time when you should stop expecting other people to make a big deal about your birthday. That time is age eleven.
36. The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we ALL believe that we are above average drivers.
37. A person, who is nice to you, but rude to the waiter, is not a nice person.
38. Your friends love you anyway.
39. Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark and large group of professionals built the Titanic.

the truth about the da vinci code

I've just finished reading "The Da Vinci Code" and have to say it was an interesting read. The concern of course is that some of the 'facts' of the book are not really facts at all. The website http://www.thetruthaboutdavinci.com/ helps the discerning reader to sift through the 'facts' of the novel and test them against good historical evidence.

Enhancing your Bible study – verse-by-verse by Rick Warren

Rick Warren's Bible Study Methods
Learn how to study the Bible Rick Warren’s way. This easy-to-understand book gives you not just one, but 12 methods for exploring the riches of God’s Word. At least one of them is exactly what you’re looking for – an approach that’s right for you, right where you’re at. Simple step-by-step instructions guide you through the how-to’s of 12 different Bible study methods.
Pastor, if you want to maximize your personal Bible study time, I’ve got a simple suggestion for you: verse-by-verse study.
It’s not hard. In fact, you can glean an enormous amount from just five simple steps. Just pick a passage, grab a pen, and follow these procedures:
1. Write a personal paraphrase.Write out the verse in your own words. Do not use one of the modern paraphrases except to get the idea of how to do it. Stay true to the verse you are paraphrasing, and try to condense rather than expand it.
2. List some questions, answers, and observations.List any questions you have relating to words, phrases, persons, topics, and doctrines in that verse. Write down any answers you find and also record any observations you make. Mark these as follows:
Q = Question
A = Answer
O = Observations
3. Find cross-references for each verse.Using the cross-references from your study Bible or from Scripture memory, write down at least one cross-reference for the verse you are studying. Identify the word or phrase you are cross-referencing at the end of this chapter. Use a concordance if you do not have a cross-referenced Bible.
4. Record any insights you get from the verse.Having thought through the words, phrases, and concepts in the verse, record any insights that you get from them. These could be further observations, words, and names that you have looked up and defined, or any other thought that comes to you. Let your imagination go and be as creative as you can.
5. Write down a brief personal application for each verse.As you go through the verses, record the devotional thoughts that come to you. Later, when you’re planning a devotional Bible study, you can pick one of those thoughts and develop it further. Or, if a particular verse seems to meet an immediate need, go ahead and write out an application that is possible, practical, personal, and measurable.
My suspicion is that the notes you gather through your personal study time will eventually find their way into a sermon. And that’s okay! That’s a great way to maximize your time in the Word. But the real benefit of verse-by-verse study is your own personal refreshment. If you’re in need of refilling, pick a passage and get going – verse-by-verse.

reasons to believe

http://www.reasons.org/ is a site dedicated to to answering skeptics and encouraging believers. Check it out for some interesting and challenging thoughts.

the da vinci code

In an excellent analysis of Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code (movie to be released May 19), scholar N.T. Wright points out that many of the details Brown insists are historical are easily proven false. He notes: "Brown claims, in a note at the start of his book, first that the architectural details of the places mentioned are correct and second that there really is a secret society called 'The Priory of Sion' to which people like Da Vinci himself, Isaac Newton, Victor Hugo, and others belonged. Both of these claims can be shown very easily to be false.
"On the first: I only know well one of the buildings which features in the book, namely Westminster Abbey. All right, Brown knows where the Isaac Newton monument is. But he still makes gaffe after gaffe which could have been corrected by 10 minutes of walking around with his eyes open. The Abbey has towers, not spires. You cannot see Parliament from St James's Park. College Garden is an extremely private place, not 'a very public place' outside the Abbey's walls (527). You cannot look out into it from the Chapter House; nor is there a 'long hallway' leading to the latter, with a "'heavy wooden door' at the end (529 ff.). Ten minutes' observation by a junior research assistant could have put all this right. If Brown is so careless, and carelessly inventive, in details as easy to check as those, why should we trust him in anything else?
"And when it comes, second, to the Priory of Sion, the documents which Brown, following Baigent and Leigh, cite as evidence were forgeries cooked up by three zany Frenchmen in the 1950s. They cheerfully confessed to this in a devastating television program shown on British television in February (2005). And as for Brown's theory about Da Vinci's 'Last Supper,' according to which the Beloved Disciple next to Jesus is actually a woman, that he/she and Jesus are joined at the hip, that they are sitting in such a way as to display the letter V, apparently a sign of femininity, and also the letter M, for Mary, or Magdalene, or marriage, or something else, this is pure fantasy. You can take any great painting and play this kind of game with it. That's not to say that some painters may not have implanted coded messages in their work. It would be surprising if they didn't. But you won't find too many serious art critics giving Brown's reading of the painting more than a passing smile.
"Other details abound which make the first-century historian snort and want to throw the book into the fire. . . . We may safely conclude, then, that The Da Vinci Code is fiction not just in its characters and plot but in most of its other details as well." (Click here to read the full lecture.)

Dietrich Bonhoeffer prayer

This prayer by Dietrich Bonhoeffer prayer depicts the one beside whom we live and before whom we pray:

Lord Jesus, come yourself, and dwell with us, be human as we are, and overcome what overwhelms us. Come into the midst of my evil, come close to my unfaithfulness. Share my sin, which I hate and which I cannot leave. Be my brother, Thou Holy God. Be my brother in the kingdom of evil and suffering and death. Come with me in my death, come with me in my suffering, come with me as I struggle with evil. And make me holy and pure, despite my sin and death.

faith and social justice

Did you realise that the bible talks a REAL LOT about social justice? If you're interested in exploring the who issue more then check out http://www.sojourners.com/ or read Jim Wallis's book "God's Politics".
Our congregational actively supports each of the following excellent ministries either financially, with leaders or by having members who are staff.
Habitat for Humanity at http://www.habitat.org.au/
Opportuntity International at http://www.opportunity.org.au/
TearAustralia at http://www.tear.org.au/
World Vision at http://www.worldvision.com.au/
Amnesty International at http://www.amnesty.org.au/

discipleship goals

On Sunday we looked at Matthew 28:16-20 and noticed that the mission which Jesus left for the church was 'to make disciples of all nations.'
I have often considered what a disciple looks like in measureable terms so that I can check whether or not what I'm doing is achieving anything. Here are the measures I use, they're not perfect, but they are a good place to start considering what we're on about.
My ten goals for disciples are ...
1) To be growing in intimacy with God through developing a personal relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
2) To be able to identify at least one person whom you share an active accountability relationship.
3) To be a joyful and active small group member.
4) To have determined and be following through on a personal giving decision.
5) To be using your spiritual gifts fruitfully.
6) To be receiving personal and appropriate equipping, encouraging and empowering in the area of your ministry service.
7) To be regularly experiencing meaningful corporate worship.
8) To be able to list three non-christians for whom you are regularly praying and taking active steps to help them come to a meaningful experience of God.
9) To be able to identify recent areas of growth in the fruit of the Spirit.
10) To be living a holistic and balanced life.

the m word

Here's a really interesting link look at a Christian response to the issue of masturbation. http://www.pureonline.com/masturbation.aspx

science proves the story of the missing day of the bible

A friend of mind recently sent me an interesting story about how science had proven the biblical story of a missing day. I thought it was a really interesting story and a powerful arguement, but, before sharing it I decided to do some quick checking of the facts only to discover it was a hoax.
To see the story and the real facts check out http://www.joyfulministry.com/timef.htm & http://www.answersingenesis.org/docs/1117.asp
There are indeed lots of good reasons to follow our Lord Jesus, some from science and others from other sources such as history. We should keenly share these reasons with others, but as we share it is important that the stories that are meant to inspire faith in others are checked out for there truthfulness first, otherwise all we do is casts a doubt on the credibility of our faith.

the value of journaling

Write down what you have seen (Revelation 1:19, NLT).
Dear friends: Sheila had an exciting job at a rapidly growing public relations firm. Her supervisor was energetic and talented, but he had a short temper and was not always reasonable or gracious. Nevertheless, despite her difficulties, Sheila firmly believed that God had provided her with this job, and she determined to trust Him to help her as she labored. One afternoon a phone call nearly ruined Sheila's whole week. Her boss was angry over a misunderstanding and accused her of irresponsibility and disloyalty. Her heart sank. She hung up the phone in tears. "Lord," she prayed silently, "You know how unfair he is sometimes. What do you want me to do?" The spiritual journal, which she had been keeping for the past several months, came to mind. She had been writing down prayer requests, Scriptures or Bible promises that applied to her circumstances, and insights that the Holy Spirit had given her. Quietly, in her heart, Sheila felt prompted to pick up the journal and read it. Through tears of joy she saw that in page after page she had recorded verses of Scripture for the very problem she faced that day. Before putting the journal away, Sheila made a note of the day's troubles and thanked God for the comfort of His Word. In less than an hour, her boss called back and apologized! For Sheila, keeping a spiritual journal proved to be of great encouragement in a moment of stress. Writing is important to God. He gave us His written Word. There are numerous instances in the Bible where God says to "write," such as in Revelation 1:19: "Write down what you have seen" (NLT). You might enjoy a word study on that. Such references are certainly not a legalistic requirement to journal, but it is a reminder that writing things down helps us to remember. There are also numerous exhortations in the Bible to "remember." Scientists have shown that if we see something as well as hear it, if it goes through our eye gate as well as our ear gate, we are more apt to remember. Journaling helps us to remember what God may have previously revealed to us, which we might otherwise forget. Sometimes it proves helpful if we journal our journey. Yours for helping to fulfill the Great Commission each year until our Lord returns, Bill Bright

glandular fever

The link is the reflection of the wife of a friend of mine who wrote about her journey with Glandular Fever. It's a neat read about the lessons learnt through a difficult experience.

christian book summaries

www.christianbooksummaries.com is a site dedicated to providing summaries of recent Christian books. It's worth checking every once in a while for hints about a book worth reading.

spiritual health report

The Apostle Paul was right when he discussed in Romans 7 the struggle we all have with sin. He said in Romans 7:19-20 "For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do - this I keep on doing."
Who of us has not found ourselves doing what we know to be wrong and hating ourselves for it.
Prompted by my discovery that I believed some modern myths about health (see previous blog on Health Report) I decided to re-read the bible and see what it said about dealing with sin, and not just to rely upon commonly held ideas and theories. I'll let you know what I discover, but for know I'd like to suggest something that has been very helpful for me. I have found it more important to concentrate on my intimacy with Jesus than on trying not to sin. When I focus on not sinning I find temptation becomes more powerful, but when I concentrate on Jesus and my relationship with him, then I discover that temptation loses much of its power.
Let me know your thoughts and learning on this important subject for the life of the follower of Jesus.

the health report

Was listening to the ABC Health Report and discovered just how easily we are persuaded by modern myths, things everyone knows to be true, but aren't. This reminded me how important it is to have a solid foundation of truth which is not influenced by current trends and hence why I believe having a strong bible understanding is important for the follower of Jesus.
Check out the ABC Health Report at http://www.abc.net.au/rn/healthreport/default.htm and see if your views about health is influenced by modern myth or backed up by scientific research, you might just be surprised, I certainly was.

helpful files

When I'm looking for online software the first place I check, especially for freeware or shareware, is www.tucows.com

the teaching company

The Teaching Company (www.teach12.com) is a great source of quality resources on subjects such as History, Philosophy, Literature, Business & Economics, etc.
I have bought a number of courses on Philosophy and Thinking and found them valuable and very reasonably priced.
Someone else's view on The Teaching Company can be found at http://www.intuitive.com/blog/the_teaching_company_selling_by_giving_away.html

the fifth point

Dear friends: The huge, beautiful ballroom of the Marriott Hotel in Chicago was crowded to capacity with more than 1,300 college students and Campus Crusade for Christ staff. The spiritually hungry students seemed to hang onto my every word as I explained one of the most exciting spiritual discoveries I had ever made. For years I had spoken on the subject of love. I had a beautiful four-point outline: First, God loves us unconditionally. Second, we are commanded to love others -- God, our neighbors, and even our enemies. Third, we are incapable of loving others in our own strength. Fourth, we can love others with God's love. But, as in the case of most sermons on love, something was missing. Later, early one morning some years ago, I was awakened from a deep sleep. I felt impressed to get up, open my Bible, and kneel to read and pray. What I discovered during the next two hours has since enriched my life and the lives of tens of thousands of others. In that life-changing time of fellowship with the Lord, I was given a fifth point for my future sermons on love: We love by faith! Suddenly I was able to more clearly see that love is not a mushy feeling, but a decision -- an act of our wills. We can "choose" to love, and we do so "by faith." We may not feel like it. A person may have hurt us and even hate us, but we can love that person by faith. And we know that God operates through our faith. Previously I shared about when I spoke to a group of pastors on the importance of God's supernatural love and loving by faith. One of the pastors came up to me after the meeting and said, "Six months ago, there was a man in my church who opposed everything I wanted to do. Frankly, I couldn't stand the man, and he couldn't stand me. We were at an impasse, and the church was being split because of it. I heard you speak on 'loving by faith,' and I determined that I would love him. I began to claim God's love for him by faith. Six months have passed, and that man is now my very best friend." God's love is real and His power to love people through us by our faith is also real. "Love never fails" (1 Corinthians 13:8, NIV.) Yours for helping to fulfill the Great Commission each year until our Lord returns, Bill Bright

an unusual event, I won!

Gloating is a terrible thing, but sometimes it just has to be done!
Thanks Alex for the great game of squash today but just so everyone knows, here's the score that had Alex sobbing in the corner like a baby. 15-11, 15-10, 15-11, 11-15.

chuck colson

Click on the link to check out the Break Point site for Chuck Colson's daily radio commentaries, which focus on issues of living out a Christian life in turbulent post-modern society.
For those that don't know, Chuck Colson was one of the key figures in the President Nixon years and a man who ended up in jail for his part in the events that caused the fall of Nixon. Chuck became a Christian while in prison and now has an amazing ministry around the world and more particularly in prisons around the world.

weight loss

So everyone has there own theories about weight loss. For what they are worth here are some of the things that have worked for me. (I've gone from 90 to 84kg in the last three months or so and feel fitter than I have for 20 years.)
1) Have a minimum / maximum goal instead of just one goal. So instead of aiming for 75kg, I am going for 75kg - 80kg as my goal. The minimum goal is the best I think I can do, the maximum is what I would be really happy with.
2) Drink more water. Don't go crazy, just add more water on a daily basis. I have 600ml bottles of cold water in the fridge and everyday just grab one and drink it down.
3) Keep a running tally of your lowest weight. Weighing scales are inaccurate, even if you weigh the same the scales will vary because of how they work. So I simply weigh myself every morning at the same time and just keep a tally of the weight when it is lower than the last time. If it's higher I just ignore it! So on my board I have a tally that looks something like this: 90, 89.8, 89.2, 88.0 ... 74.3.
This system takes account of the changes in weight that happen because of life and scale design, and just gives you a weight that motivates.
4) Take the simple exercise option. These days I walk the stairs instead of using the lift. I walk the dog more. I say yes to offers to play tennis, squash. I jump in the water and have a swim. I don't stress out about an exercise regime, I just do something more in every day and don't berate myself if I have a day off.
5) Get more sleep. The recommendation from the experts is 8 1/2 to 9 1/2 hours sleep a night. If you do this you WILL feel much better and consequently have more energy to be more active and more motivated.
6) Don't rush. Do the above and just relax and let it happen in its own time. As long as you occassionally get a lower weight on your running tally it will keep you motivated. I don't have a target date, I just everyday do a little extra, take a few more steps, eat a bit less junk food, and every few days or weeks I notice a lower weight.

close call

Edward Steichen, who eventually became one of the world's most renowned photographers, almost gave up on the day he shot his first pictures. At 16, young Steichen bought a camera and took 50 photos. Only one turned out -- a portrait of his sister at the piano. Edward's father thought that was a poor showing. But his mother insisted that the photograph of his sister was so beautiful that it more than compensated for 49 failures. Her encouragement convinced the youngster to stick with his new hobby. He stayed with it for the rest of his life, but it had been a close call. What tipped the scales? The vision to spot excellence in the midst of a lot of failure. (Bits & Pieces, February 4, 1993)

"The culture you create is largely a product of how you see those whom God has placed you with. You have to think rightly in order to lead well. What your mind dwells upon determines your vantage point, and your vantage point as a leader affects the culture you shape. Culture shapes the church, and leaders make the culture." (Culture Shift, Robert Lewis & Wayne Cordeiro, P28)
Comment: The author makes the point, if you look at your people and see hopelessness, that is what you will get. But if you look at your people and see people whom God has strategically given you and as possessing what God wants them to have to achieve what God wants to achieve, then you will fulfill God's vision for your church.
Me, I look at the people God has given to us here at CMP and I see ordinary people like me who are able to do extraordinary things because of what God is doing in us and through us.

excellent biblical resources

Here are some excellent biblical resouce websites: http://www.biblegateway.com/, http://www.studylight.org/, http://www.bible.org. If there are any you recommend please let me know.

learning online

This came across my desk today and I thought it was worth checking out so click on the link to find out how you can do 100 course for US$100. It's worth a look. Some really really interesting courses available to do online.

philosophy of Charles Schutz, the creator of "Peanuts"

The following is the philosophy of Charles Schultz, the creator of the "Peanuts" comic strip. You don't have to actually answer the questions. Just read the e-mail straight through and you'll get the point.
1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Melbourne Cup trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss Australia.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winner for best actor and actress.
How did you do?
The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.
Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:
1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
Easier? The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care.

the cross

The cross is the way of the lost. The cross is the staff of the lame. The cross is the guide of the blind. The cross the strength of the weak. The cross is the hope of the hopeless. The cross is the freedom of the slaves. The cross the water of the seeds. The cross is the consolation of the labourers. The cross is the source of those who seek water. The cross is the cloth of the naked" - African Hymn

online community for post-moderns

One of the best online communities related to post-modern ministry is found at www.theooze.com

faith

"People of great faith, wait." - Rick Warren

fear impossible

An interesting quote worth thinking about.
"It is impossible ... to experience or feel either fear, anger, or anxiety, while completely relaxed, quiet and composed." (The New Psycho-Cybernetics, Maltz, P.238)

changing feelings

What do you think about the following quote. It is a bit of a challenge to my current thinking.
"A bad feeling is not dispelled by conscious effort or willpower. It can be dispelled, however, by another feeling. If we cannot drive out a negative feeling by making a frontal assault on it, we can accomplish the same result by substituting a positive feeling. Remember that FEELINGS FOLLOW IMAGERY. Feeling coincides with, and is appropriate to, what our nervous system accepts as real or the truth about environment. Whenever we find ourselves experiencing undesireable feelings, we should not concentrate on the undesireable feeling, event to the extent of driving it out. INSTEAD, we should immediately concentrate on positive imagery, on filling the mind with wholesome, positive, desireable images, imaginations, and memories. If we do this, the negative feelings take care of themselves. They simply evaporate. We develop new feeling-tones appropriate to the new imagery." (The New Psycho-Cybernetics, Maltz, p.275-276)

changing feelings

What do you think about the following quote. It is a bit of a challenge to my current thinking.
"A bad feeling is not dispelled by conscious effort or willpower. It can be dispelled, however, by another feeling. If we cannot drive out a negative feeling by making a frontal assault on it, we can accomplish the same result by substituting a positive feeling. Remember that FEELINGS FOLLOW IMAGERY. Feeling coincides with, and is appropriate to, what our nervous system accepts as real or the truth about environment. Whenever we find ourselves experiencing undesireable feelings, we should not concentrate on the undesireable feeling, event to the extent of driving it out. INSTEAD, we should immediately concentrate on positive imagery, on filling the mind with wholesome, positive, desireable images, imaginations, and memories. If we do this, the negative feelings take care of themselves. They simply evaporate. We develop new feeling-tones appropriate to the new imagery." (The New Psycho-Cybernetices, Matz, p.275-276)

christian leadership

If you are interested in Jesus as a leadership model then check out "Lead Like Jesus" written by Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges.

Here's a really interesting article on postmodernism by Brian McLaren. It's a bit of a tough read but well worth the effort. I think he does a great job at defining postmodernism. Put your thinking cap on and enjoy the read.
http://www.anewkindofchristian.com/archives/000071.html

what would you do?

What would you do?
At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves learning disabled children, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question:
"When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do.
Where is the natural order of things in my son?"
The audience was stilled by the query.
The father continued. "I believe, that when a child like Shay, physically and mentally handicapped comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes, in the way other people treat that child. "Then he told the following story: Shay and his father had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball.
Shay asked, "Do you think they'll let me play?" Shay's father knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but the father also understood that if his son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.
Shay's father approached one of the boys on the field and asked if Shay could play, not expecting much. The boy looked around for guidance and said, "We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning."
Shay struggled over to the team's bench put on a team shirt with a broad smile and his Father had a small tear in his eye and warmth in his heart.
The boys saw the father's joy at his son being accepted In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as his father waved to him from the stands.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.
At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible 'cause Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.
However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing the other team putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least be able to make contact. The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.
The game would now be over, but the pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.
Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the head of the first baseman, out of reach of all team mates. Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, "Shay, run to first! Run to first!"
Never in his life had Shay ever ran that far but made it to first base.
He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.
Everyone yelled, "Run to second, run to second!" Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to second base. By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball, the smallest guy on their team, who had a chance to be the hero for his team for the first time. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions and he too intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head. Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.
All were screaming, "Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay" Shay reached third base, the opposing shortstop ran to help him and turned him in the direction of third base, and shouted, "Run to third!
Shay, run to third" As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams and those watching were on their feet were screaming, "Shay, run home!
Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the "grand slam" and won the game for his team. That day, said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world.
Shay didn't make it to another summer and died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making his Father so happy and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!

funny

Interesting Year 1981
1. Prince Charles got married
2. Liverpool was crowned soccer Champions of Europe
3. Australia lost the Ashes tournament.
4. Pope Died
Interesting Year 2005
1. Prince Charles got married
2. Liverpool was crowned soccer Champions of Europe
3. Australia lost the Ashes tournament
4. Pope Died
Lesson Learned? The next time Charles gets married, someone warn the Pope!!!

in my view (for 12 Feb 2006)

In my view one of the hardest things I've had to learn to do is receive a compliment. In the past I would be embarrassed and tend to downplay what the person was saying, but then I heard a wise person make the following comment. "When you put down a compliment you are putting down the person who made the compliment."
I had to learn to accept compliments, not for my sake, but so that I respected and honoured the person who had made it.
These days I always try and appreciate the compliment and then I do something else as well. I take the compliment and consider what the person was saying. If what they were saying was genuine then I thank God for having used me. If I think the compliment was just flattery then I ask God to help me not get a big head.
So next time someone gives you a compliment be appreciative about it. I know it can be hard to receive a compliment, but receiving a compliment is as important as giving genuine compliments to others for the bible says "And let us consider how to spur one another on toward love and good deeds." (Hebrews 10:24)

turn the other cheek

There are times I get confused about what to do. Yesterday I was in court testifying against a man who assaulted me about a year ago. He was found guilty and looks like he will go to jail.
Should I have testified?
I think in this case it was right to because he apparently has a long record of doing this sort of thing.
So in what situations should 'turn the other cheek'? I'm not sure about that one, guess I'll have to think more about that.

how attending church lowers divorce rates

For years it has been reported that Christians divorce as much as non-Christians. Apparently the data this was based on has been re-examined and it was discovered that some major flaws in the research led to this conclusion. The major flaw was people calling themselves Christian but not being church attenders. A recent report on new research states ...
"In collecting data, Wilcox and Johnson examined the religious practices of people who called themselves Christians -- something previous studies had not always done. In particular, they checked rates of church attendance. Their findings were striking. Although church attendance is down, those who do attend, especially weekly, are less likely to divorce. Instead they are more likely to report that their marriages are happy. And regular church attenders reported being happier in general than those who did not attend regularly."
(see http://www.pfm.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=BreakPoint1&Template=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=17878)

the greatest preacher since Paul?

It is better to have self-control than to conquer a city (Proverbs 16:32, NLT).
Dear friends: Some years ago, a young man emerged as a powerful evangelistic preacher. He was handsome, intelligent, and so exceptional that he was even courted by Hollywood. After one eloquent sermon, he was described by the press as "the greatest preacher since the apostle Paul." Ten years later, however, the young man was found dying of cirrhosis of the liver, too weak to continue supporting himself as he had been by selling trucks at a local dealership. Sadly, alcohol and financial irresponsibility were blamed for taking his life just days later. Clifford lacked one essential quality necessary for sustained leadership: self-control. And it is the lack of self-control that frequently renders a disciple of Christ spiritually impotent and fruitless. I once counseled and prayed with a husband and wife who were struggling with a problem of self-control in the area of overeating. Because of their overweight, they had lost self-confidence and were plagued with guilt. As a result, their witness for Christ was greatly hindered. Then one day, while reading the Scriptures, they realized that their bodies were the temple of the Holy Spirit and that they were actually dishonoring the Lord by their lack of self-control. In a spirit of brokenness, they prayed, "O, God, please help us. We have tried and failed again and again. Now you must help us. We invite you to control our appetites. Help us to be more careful in choosing the kind and quantity of food we eat." In answer to their prayers of faith, God enabled them to discipline themselves. In time they slimmed down. Their self-confidence returned, and they again became bold witnesses for our Lord. After counseling with thousands of people through the years, I am convinced that an undisciplined Christian cannot be an effective witness for Christ. Do you lack self-control in some area of your life? You may not have a problem with alcohol or overeating, but you may be struggling with a critical spirit, with lustful thoughts, addiction to pornography, a feeling of defeat, an uncontrollable temper, or something else. Take it to the Lord in prayer. Ask for His help. Believe Him for the answer that you know is His will, according to 1 John 5:14-15: "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us -- whatever we ask -- we know that we have what we asked of him" (NIV). God says, "It is better to have self-control than to control an army" (Proverbs 15:32, TLB). Yours for helping to fulfill the Great Commission each year until our Lord returns, Bill Bright

bit of fun - how stuff works

For a bit of fun check out http://www.howstuffworks.com/

what workers want

A Public Agenda Foundation study, coauthored by Daniel Yankelovich, came up with these top ten qualities that today's workers want in a job:
1. Work with people who treat me with respect2. Interesting work3. Recognition for good work4. Chance to develop skills5. Work for people who listen if you have ideas about how to do things better6. A chance to think for myself7. Seeing the end results of my work8. Working for efficient managers9. A job that is not too easy10. Feeling well-informed about what is going on
Ponder that list. Notice what isn't included in the top ten: job security, benefits, vacation time, and high salary. Yet most companies still operate as though they are the big four -- the only ways to motivate and keep their employees. (Dallas Seminary Daily Devotional, 6-23-05)

worship

There's a story about a man who, leaving church one Sunday, complained about the music. "I didn't like the hymns you chose today," he said. The pastor simply replied, "That's okay; we weren't singing them for you."
The pastor may have been too blunt, but he made a good point. In our consumer-oriented world, we sometimes think church services are just for us. But we aren't spectators attending a show; we're participants in the greatest and most uplifting enterprise in the universe -- worshiping God.
Though we are blessed in doing it, our worship is not for ourselves -- it is for Him. We are praising God for His power, His glory, His majesty, His wisdom, His holiness, His goodness, and His grace.
The late William Temple, archbishop of Canterbury, put it well in his oft-quoted definition of worship: "To worship is to quicken the conscience by the holiness of God, to purge the imagination by the beauty of God, to open the heart to the love of God, and to devote the will to the purpose of God." (Turning Point Daily Devotional, 8-12-05)

On the Road to Glory: Disney Retells a Texas Legend

Back in 1966, when the Texas Western University basketball team started winning, Don Haskins would be accused of intentionally seeking out black players. But the coach wasn't looking for color; he was looking for talent - raw talent that could be shaped into a winning basketball team. Read the full article here

for workers in the city

Looking for some Christian input during your working week. Check out http://www.citybibleforum.org/
Venues are Sydney CBD North (near Wynyard station), Sydney CBD Phillip St (near Martin Place station), Sydney CBD South (near Town Hall station), Chatswood, North Sydney BD (near North Sydney station), Pyrmont BD, Perth BD (Central Park Theatrette)

memories

I like this advice from a recent John Maxwell email:
2. Take pictures. Don't be in such a rush through life that you fail to create memories along the way. Make time for fun. And then stop every now and then to remember those fun times.

on the edge ministry

How on the edge can you get, going to a porn convention and ministering to the girls caught up in the porn industry. Following is a blog entry from xxxchurch.com, please pray for their amazing ministry.
- If I had to choose one word to describe this convention… it would be devastating. It’s devastating how so many people at this show are so shocked to hear of God’s love, it’s devastating the way the men here touch and objectify these girls by asking them things like, “Can I pinch your?” It’s devastating how gorgeous these girls are and they don’t realize how precious they are, and that they are daughters of the King. But it makes it all worth being here when we get to see the reactions of the girls when we tell them we are praying for them and that Jesus loves them. They are so excited about the message we are telling because I think it gives them a little bit of hope in a world that seems hopeless where guys only want them for their bodies and the sexual pleasures they provide. On the back of the cards we put the verse, “The King is enthralled by your beauty…” Psalm 45:11 and my hope is that the verse touched the girls’ hearts and brought them a sense of amazing worth. Words cannot describe how thankful I am to God for what He has done for me, for His incredible love, and that I am able to enjoy this love everyday!!! ~Laci

porn

One of the greatest problems for men in the modern age is the availability of free porn. If you would like to support a brilliant ministry then why not consider some fasting for xxxchurch. Check out the link at http://pure.typepad.com/x3pure/2006/01/anyone_up_for_a.html

worship resources

Looking for inspiration for leading worship. Sign up to http://www.worshipideas.com/signup.htm and get a weekly ideas.

from pastor pete (15 january 2006)

From Pastor Peter
If you had the freedom to do anything you wanted what would you do and where? This is the kind of question I regularly ask others and so I thought I’d share with you how I would answer that question myself.
I can say with all honesty that I cannot imagine anywhere or any job that I’d rather be doing that Pastor of Church in the Market Place and here’s why.
The number one reason is that I believe God wants me at CMP. I’ve been utterly convinced for the last few years, before I was even appointed as Pastor that God wanted me here and I’ve got to say it feels good to be where God wants me.
The second reason is that God is really starting to bless the work we are doing here. One indication of that is what has been happening in the Morning Worship Service. In the last year we’ve gone from an average of around 70 to around 105. To me this indicates that we are creating an environment that is helping people know and grow in God. In addition it’s been really exciting to see people moving forward in their relationship with God by getting baptised, taking on a ministry task or joining a small group.
The third reason is that I’m really excited about the vision that God has been planting in my heart and in the heart of the church leaders. There are three aspects to this vision. The first is the ‘connect@cmp’ aspect. This is a slogan that summarises what I believe is the essence of our church mission statement. (See the website at www.cmponline.net for more details.) What we at CMP are about is connecting people with God, connecting people with others who love God, and connecting people with understanding who they are in God.
The second aspect is the goal we’ve set before ourselves, that by 2010 we will be a congregation of 300 disciples who meet in 30 small groups and 3 congregations. This aspect is really about the belief that we need to make room for others. As one well known author has written, ‘if the love of God means anything at all, it means at least this, that there is room for one more person.’
The third aspect is the biblical description of the early church found in Acts 2:42-47. I believe that God is calling CMP to become a church that could be described like the early church was described.
So what
Being and becoming the church that God wants us to be means that each of us need to make the decision to become servants of God and give at least some of our time and resources towards this end. That means we might need to become a Youth Leader, a Newcomer Greeter, a Prayer Warrior, help out on the Sound Desk, set up chairs and tables, start a new ministry, join a small group, become a Small Group Leader, join the Worship Team as a singer or playing a musical instrument, or any one of a number of other things.
Achieving God’s vision for CMP will not happen is we sit on the sidelines, it will not happen if we grumble or complain, it will not happen if we never get involved. Achieving God’s vision for CMP will only happen as we individually and corporately get involved in doing what God is calling us to do.
Bless ya from Pastor Pete

some interesting slide shows

Some interesting slide shows at http://www.heartlight.org/prayerforthenation/acalltoprayer.html

more free ebooks and pdf books

More free ebooks and pdf books at http://www.jesus.org.uk/vault/library_ebooks_index.shtml

ebooks online

Here are some good ebooks online at http://aibi.gospelcom.net/ebooks/

a beautiful and thought provoking desktop background

Here is a a beautiful and thought provoking desktop background at http://www.heartlight.org/gallery/1869.html

christian growth resources

Looking for Christian Growth or Graphics then check out http://www.heartlight.org/

free photos

If you are looking for free quality photo's then check out http://www.morguefile.com/

in my view (15 Jan 2006)

IN MY VIEW by Pastor Pete
In my view here are some of the most important components to growing into a mature follower of Jesus:
(1) A personal devotional time with God. This is time set aside to listen to and talk with God by reading the bible, praying and listening. If you don't do this then I challenge you to make a commitment to every day pick up your bible and spend at least a couple of minutes in the presence of God. (Five minutes every day is a good beginning which you can then build on.)
(2) To weekly be part of a worshipping community. This is time set aside to worship God in community and to hear the bible taught as well as a good opportunity to build relationships with others committed to being disciples of Jesus.
(3) To weekly meet with 3-10 others in a small group where you can really grapple with how to live as a disciple of Jesus.
My personal experience has been that (2) is the easiest, (1) the hardiest and (3) the most helpful and challenging, but until I had all three happening I didn't really move forward.
I encourage you this week to take a step forward and put in place these three important components.
May God bless you this week.

from AW Tozer

"For centuries the Church stood solidly against every form of worldly entertainment, recognizing it for what it was—a device for wasting time, a refuge from the disturbing voice of conscience, a scheme to divert attention from moral accountability. For this she got herself abused roundly by the sons of this world. But of late she has become tired of the abuse and has given over the struggle. She appears to have decided that if she cannot conquer the great god Entertainment she may as well join forces with him and make what use she can of his powers. So today we have the astonishing spectacle of millions of dollars being poured into the unholy job of providing earthly entertainment for the so-called sons of heaven. Religious entertainment is in many places rapidly crowding out the serious things of God. Many churches these days have become little more than poor theaters where fifth-rate "producers" peddle their shoddy wares with the full approval of evangelical leaders who can even quote a holy text in defense of their delinquency. And hardly a man dares raise his voice against it."

the chronicles of narnia

Are you interested in the new movie called "The Narnia Story" then you might find this website interesting. http://www.narniastory.com/

a $10,000 offer

Check out this test to see if you can win the $10,000. www.tenthousanddollaroffer.com/

lust

Here's an interesting website setup so that people looking for pornography are confronted instead by the words of Jesus. http://www.lustadultery.com/

the main thing

Here's an interesting article about the simplicity of being a follower of Jesus. http://www.spiritled.com.au/files/The%20Main%20Thing.pdf

wait ... a journey to discovering the heart of God by Russell Kelfer

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried; Quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate and the Master go gently said, " Wait."
"Wait? you say wait?" my indignant reply. "Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!" Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard? By faith I have asked, and I'm claiming your Word. My future and all to which I relate hangs in the balance, and tell me to Wait?" I'm needing a 'yes' a go-ahead sign. Or even a 'no' to which I'll resign.
You promised, dear Lord, that if we believe, we need but to ask, and we shall receive.
Lord, I've been asking, and this is my cry: I'm weary of asking! I need a reply.
Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate, as my Master replied again, "Wait."
So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut, and grumbled to God,
"So, I'm waiting.... for what?"
He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes met with mine and He tenderly said I could give you a sign. I could shake the heavens and darken the sun. I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run. I could give you all you seek and pleased you would be. You'd be have what you want, but you wouldn't know me.
You'd not know the depth of My love for each saint. You'd not know the power that I give to the faint. You'd not learn to see through the clouds of despair; you'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there. You'd not know the joy of resting in Me when darkness and silence are all you can see. You'd never experience the fullness of love when the peace of My spirit descends like a dove. You would know that I give, and I save, for a start, but you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart. The glow of My comfort late into the night, the faith that I give when you walk without sight. The depth that's beyond getting just what you ask from an infinite God who makes what you have last. You'd never know should your pain quickly flee, what it means that My grace is sufficient for thee.
Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true, but, oh, the loss, if you missed what I'm doing in you.
So, be silent, my child and in time you will see that the greatest of gifts is to truly know me. And though oft My answers seem terribly late, my most precious answer of all is still ... "Wait"

templates for lots of business stuff

This page is worth checking out for free management and training templates, resources and tools. http://www.businessballs.com/freeonlineresources.htm

spiritual gifts

If you want to grow in effectiveness and serve God joyfully it's really handy to know how God has gifted you to serve him. This spiritual gift inventory found at http://buildingchurch.net/g2s.htm is a useful tool in discovering your spiritual gifts.

the cost

In my view one of the greatest dangers to a genuine faith is when someone makes a decision to follow Jesus based on the idea that Jesus will then make them happy by fixing up their problems, or that Jesus will make them prosperous.
Don't get me wrong, there is a peace and a joy that comes when we are in right relationship with God, but the peace that Jesus promises is a 'peace in the midst of difficulty', not 'peace because of lack of difficulty'.
The reason to follow Jesus is because we recognise that we have fallen short of God's standard and that we cry out to God to give us forgiveness based upon the sacrafice that Jesus made on the cross.
Jesus when praying for his disciples in John 16:33 says "In this world you will have trouble, But take heart! I have overcome the world." later he says in John 17:13 "... so that they have the full measure of my joy within them."
Jesus in praying for his disciples promises that those that follow him will know peace in spite of the fact that the world hates those that genuinely follow Jesus.
Are you ready to face difficulty for the sake of Jesus? A genuine follower of Jesus is able to say, perhaps with trembling knees, "YES, I will follow my Lord and God no matter the cost, even if the cost is my life, my comfort or my possessions!"

baptism

Here's a study guide I just created about baptism. Go to www.cmponline.net then select "exploring Christianity" then select "baptism". It's a made up from a couple of other resources which are referenced appropriately.

is bias wrong

I think it's true to say that everyone has a bias, I have a bias and so do you. Is bias wrong? Well, I think it's a reality so the problem comes not in that we have a bias, it comes when we don't recognise our bias.
Another way of saying bias is to use the term agenda, as in what is my agenda?
My personal agenda is to try to convey as accurately as possible the teachings of the bible.
However, at this point something else comes into play. My agenda might be to convey the bible but my agenda is influenced by my experiences, and because my experiences are necessarily limited, then my agenda will be somewhat narrow.
So even if my agenda is good and noble, my experiences might influence my agenda such that it is not accurate.
Do we give up then? No, but we must constantly seek to be open about our bias/agenda and hold our personal views firmly but not without a willingness to modify them, that is we must always be open to learn from the views of others, recognising of course that they too have a bias/agenda that is somewhat narrow because of their experiences.

media bias

Does media coverage reflect the views of society? Well if surveys of Journalists in America is any guide then you have to be very wary of media reports. (see http://www.mediaresearch.org/biasbasics/biasbasics.asp & http://www.theihs.org/libertyguide/article.php/744.html)
Consider the current debate on the death penalty. If you went by the views of the media you would believe virtually everyone is against the death penalty. But studies show that the split in Austalia is actually about 53/47, almost an even split.
Now popular opinion doesn't make something right, but surely the media should more fairly represent the views of the society.
Interestingly enough the views of journalists as a group are more liberal than the population, that is they more highly agree with abortion, more highly believe adultery is morally okay, more highly believe in homosexuality as a life choice, more highly believe that the death penalty is wrong.
So when you read your paper or listen to the news broadcast you are hearing the views of people who are almost diametrically opposed to the teachings of the bible on most topics, so we each need to heed the biblical mandate to 'judge carefully' the things we hear.

who I've learned the most from

I find life pretty strange at times. Over the last five years I've really grown and changed and the people who have influenced me more than anyone are the people whom I would most disagree with about certain issues. I've discovered that I can respect, appreciate, learn from and love people whom I disagree with. Thanks Paul and Louise for your graciousness, your kindness and your willingness to live out your faith, you are a real inspiration to me.

amnesty

Just because my previous blog discusses an unpopular view of the death penalty, it doesn't mean I don't respect and appreciate the work of Amnesty. I would encourage you to check out there site and support their work. I obviously hold some contrary views but it doesn't stop me being a supporter of the tremendous work that they do and to financially support them. http://www.amnesty.org.au/
In particular I'd like to give a great big thanks to two people who I know do tremendous work for Amnesty. Helen and Louise are two great ladies who are doing brilliant and important work for Amnesty, so 'go girls' as I'm continuing to thank God for the important work you are doing.

death penalty

I've been thinking about the imminent death of Nguyen Tuong Van and the whole debate around it. It seems that I'm in the minority in that I actually believe in the death penalty. (Please read to the end to see my unexpected conclusion to this arguement.) Now before you crucify me for the uncommon belief let me make an arguement.
I believe that the bible teaches that the penalty for sin is death. In the story of the women caught in adultery (found in John 8) Jesus does not dispute the fact that the women was rightfully condemned to death as it is the law of the bible. (see Leviticus 20:10).
So if someone is caught in sin, in Nguyen case drug trafficing I cannot argue that the death penalty is not valid.
Now you say in the case of the women caught in adultery Jesus saved the women, surely that means he was against the death penalty?
Well to argue the point let me give an analogy.
If someone were to kill someones child then I believe that the parent has the right to insist on the death penalty for the biblical punishment for murder is to be killed.
However, as a Christian and a believer in grace, I would hope that if it was my child that I would extend grace and mercy and not insist on the death penalty.
So let me summarise. I believe the death penalty is valid, but if I had the option of imposing the death penalty then I wouldn't, not because it wasn't valid, but because God's grace extended to me means that I need to extend that grace to others.
In the eyes of God I'm guilty and deserve to be condemned, but he has by grace extended to me forgiveness, his giving forgiveness does not mean the death penalty for sin is wrong, it just means it has not been exercised.
I'm not sure I've made the greatest arguement, but there it is anyway, my vent on the whole debate.
I'm of course willing to have my mind changed, but to change my mind requires me to be convinced that my understanding of God's teaching is wrong. In the end I'm accountable to uphold the truth of God not the current trend of human teaching.