John 3:16...

Some great thoughts from Mark Connor and Max Lucado on John 3:16... I love this summary of the scripture... God Loves, God Gives, We Believe, We Live - have a read and ponder here

Hardcore scootering!

Apparently scooters are hardcore - flipping impressive but it's still really hard for me to take these boys seriously because they're on scooters...

PARAMORE; The Final RIOT! {Official} Hallelujah

Yup - looking forward to their visit to Melbourne in Feb!

Up late...

At the moment I am up late - thinking of friends. Friends who are more like family... They're making tough decisions, some wrong and maybe some right ones, they're experiencing change, losing family, feeling lonely, unsettled, dissatisfied...

I'm praying... believing... hoping for my friends.

Crazy Love...

"The fact is, I need God to help me love God. And if I need His help to love Him, a perfect being, I definitely need His help to love other, fault-filled humans." - Francis Chan "Crazy Love"

freestyle flair session nicolas saint-jean

The art of flair

Here's the promo video for "The Art of Flair" Bartending course I will running soon!! Watch this space!

Change Theological Discussion Night (Part 3 of 10)

The question: why is theology important? Love Ps Dan Lian's response especially.

Day 9...

We're up to day 9 of the great TV fast and things are going pretty well still! I have found giving up the old TV during the week easy, maybe a little too easy! haha

Although I am only fasting TV from Monday to Friday I avoided watching any on the weekend due to being away MC'ing a dance show in Castlemaine and choosing to stay in a Japanese Guesthouse - which had no TV - so when I say "avoiding watching..." I probably mean that I didn't really have the option...

Great weekend away though!

Aside that there's nothing new to report - any thoughts of what I might be able to attempt over the next couple of months with all the extra time I got?

Confessions of a TV addict - Day 4 of The GTVF

It has been 4 days and I am loving it! Let me say, first of all that I have struggled to resist the urge to switch on the TV over the last few days but the rewards have been phenomenal!

Let me premise this next little bit by saying that my wife & I have, what I believe to be, a fantastic relationship - but i gotta tell you that in the last 4 days the communication, the laughter and enjoyment we have experienced has really been enhanced!

My wife decided that, although she didn't feel the need to fast TV, she would join me, (at least when we were both home together), in the fast.

For the first night I probably resembled a crack addict who had been locked in a cell and forced to go cold turkey - I couldn't sit down or still, I was restless, bored, fidgety and I spent most of the night annoying my poor wife with stupid questions, belly pokes, annoying sounds and general in your face kind of nonsense - so I realized pretty quickly how much time and energy the old TV really sucked out of me - I had to admit that I had become a TV addict, someone who totally depended on TV for my escape, my "creative" outlet and my wind down tool...

But as quickly as admitting my addiction I have already started to reap the benefits of fasting TV throughout the week - I have had more time to enjoy and foster my relationships, especially the relationship I have with my wife. We have started to share a whole heap more than usual in the last 4 days and I have found that without the TV going in the back ground I have managed to retain the stuff I am learning about the people in my world. I have already become more attentive!

So not only have I seen how fasting TV has positively impacted my relationships I have discovered it has given me more time and energy to spend on developing my creative side! Over the last couple of days I have spent a good deal of time imagining what I could do with all the extra time I have now. - This morning I just got excited at the fact that I am IMAGINING again!

I was watching one of these morning shows or it might have even been a gamers show last week, (which is weird in and of itself - i must have been really desperate for a fix!), but I remember the hosts interviewing a game designer or author and they asked him some kind of question relating to TV / Games vs reading and he said something like "The problem with TV is that it does all the imagining for you", it removes any need for the viewer to imagine or create the environment, the characters or event, where as a book might give you a description of an event, a person or a place but the reader still has to come up with what [it] will all look like or feel like - they have to still imagine it for themselves...

I think this is true - so as part of my TV fast I have decided to take up reading a fictional novel just to test out this theory and see how it might effect my ability to create and imagine in general - so along with all the theology books I am in the middle of reading I have also picked up "The Three Musketeers" and my brain is working on a whole other level - ALREADY!

My imagination is kicking into gear again and it has effected work, ministry and life overall! I have begun writing and journaling again over the last couple of days and I am able to brainstorm and think outside the box a little more when it comes to problem solving or in simply generating new ideas!

I guess I believe that I am really seeing the benefits of the TV fast already so who knows what else might happen over the next couple of months! Maybe I'll take up croquet....

Cory and The Great TV Fast of 2009!!

So as of yesterday I begun a 2 month fast from TV, and when I say TV I am meaning any form of entertainment you can watch on a TV set and or laptop - so no actual TV shows on TV, no TV on DVD, no movies, VHS or even BETA films can be viewed from Monday morning when I wake up until Friday night!

On my blog I will share what I am discovering and what I am filling my time with now that I have no TV or movies to distract me during my week!

So, you might be asking why would you stop watching TV? well I have a feeling that if I were to remove TV from my weeks I just might discover that there are many more things that I could do with my time... I might just begin to become more creative, more imaginative and possibly a little more disciplined - I might go to bed earlier, which might mean getting up earlier and having more energy!?

I might actually become more involved in what's happening out there in the big wide world outside my front door - maybe I'll introduce myself to the neighbours, maybe i'll cook, write, read, paint, go to the gym, play some basketball?? Who the heck knows but maybe by killing TV for the next couple of months I might just begin to live a little more!

I'm not sure but I am going to put these theories to the test!

Gay Activists march for 'equality', 'freedom' in US - The Age

Check out this link from an article in yesterdays Age (www.theage.com.au) regarding gay civil rights and President Obama's promise to repeal the 'don't ask, don't tell' policy, thoughts?

Duke Divinity Call & Response Blog | Faith & Leadership | Michael Jinkins: Myths and urban legends about John Calvin

Duke Divinity Call & Response Blog | Faith & Leadership | Michael Jinkins: Myths and urban legends about John Calvin

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Duke Divinity Call & Response Blog | Faith & Leadership | Jason Byassee: U2 and leadership

Duke Divinity Call & Response Blog | Faith & Leadership | Jason Byassee: U2 and leadership

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The Christian response to Homosexuality...

Recently I sat on a panel that was charged with answering some questions regarding issues that confront Christian young adults. The questions related to the pub & club culture, relationships and sexuality.

The response from some of the panelists, and those listening, regarding sexuality, specifically homosexuality, seemed to capture the common response of the Church at large with insensitive jokes, ignorance, judgment, fear and condemnation being offered in the name of Jesus...

Hey, I love the other panelists but what this demonstrated to me was that we, the Church, have no idea how to love those struggling with or dealing with any issue regarding sexuality, let alone homosexuality...

I believe that the Church and the Christians (me included) that make it up need to get better at demonstrating genuine love toward ALL people regardless of their personal opinions and struggles - because we all have our own... right?

When it comes to issues of sexuality there is a whole lot more discussion, criticism (of our handling of it), work and love that is required... Let's not shy away from the conversation because of fear or ignorance but let's do life together...and let's get better at love!

Check out this blog from Mark Connor as it does a better job of expressing my thoughts on the topic.

MxPx - On the Cover II

I'm loving MxPx latest cover album "On the Cover II"- check out the following link for a more comprehensive review

Going Deeper into The Twilight Saga with Blythe Toll

Twilight Saga

Blythe Toll offers her critique of the Twilight Saga, a series of books that have captivated the hearts and minds of teens and adults, female and male alike. She picks out some themes that resonate with Christian theology and highlights points to discuss with young people.

I have a confession to make. I have read all four of the Twilight Saga books and seen the first movie twice. But I have another confession to make; I don’t like Twilight.
I apologise to all those fans out there but sci-fi /fantasy is not really my thing, or romance novels, or big fat books that come in multiples. But please don’t hold this against me, as I must admit, I am fascinated by Twilight, and perhaps I’m somewhat obsessed with it.

Twilight fever has been sweeping the world over. Seventy million copies have been sold worldwide, and the saga spent 102 weeks on the New York Times Best seller list. The first three books are to be made into films (the fourth one pending). Twilight was released last year, and New Moon is due out in November. All this hype leaves someone like me, who is not immediately drawn into the world of Twilight, asking: What am I missing? And what is it about Twilight that is speaking volumes to so many people the world over?

The Twilight Saga is a series of four books: Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn. The first was written in 2005, and the last was released in 2008. They are the work of Stephanie Meyer, and American mother who is a practicing Mormon. The idea for the saga was birthed out of a dream that Meyer had, of a beautiful sparkling vampire and a young girl who are deep in the throes of love for each other. The story inhabits the fantasy/sci-fi-world of vampires and werewolves. But don’t be mistaken; these books are more teen romance and angst than sci-fi or fantasy. They tell the story of Bella Swan, who moves to Forks, Washington and has her life turned upside down by meeting and falling in love with the vampire Edward Cullen. “About three things I was absolutely positive. First, Edward was a vampire. Second, there was part of him ... that thirsted for my blood. And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.” [Tw p170/1]

We find in these 2,000 pages almost the whole gamut of human emotions: ecstatic love; desire; passion; temptation, risk; fear; security; pain; angst depression and sorrow. Maybe this is why this book has resonated with some 70 million people worldwide?

Wading through all these books can be somewhat intimidating. There are many Christian themes: eternal life, sacrifice, true love waits and perhaps even pro-life ideas, that we as youth workers can use and explore. But I think if we scratch beneath the surface we will find just why this saga has resonated deep within people. At the core of the Twilight saga is desire, passion and transcendence. And I think that Edward and Bella offer us a theology of desire, passion and the transcendent.

The transcendent is perhaps the easiest to see. A story about vampires and were-wolves is quite clearly a longing for transcendence; for another world. Bella even says herself, “I wished there was some way to explain how very uninterested I was in a normal human life.” (TW p 431) I think we all long for something that is out of the ordinary.
Bella and Edward’s relationship is also transcendent at times. Theirs is a love that takes them out of themselves, and to another place. “When I was with him, the time and the place were such a muddled blur that I completely lost track of both.” (TW p190) But the world of faith offers us greater transcendence. Our faith allows us to re-imagine ourselves and our world. Isn’t this why Jesus came? In the person of Jesus; his life, death and resurrection we see this. “In the Passion of Christ, love crossed the chasm between heaven and earth, spilling onto mortals like pixie dust, moving us to hope, wonder, and reverence.” Kenda Creasy Dean

The phrase ‘Another world is possible’ has been bandied around quiet a lot recently (made prevalent by Shane Claiborne and co.), and isn’t this exactly what transcendence is about? And so, as Christians shouldn’t we be living a transcendent life? A life that says another world is possible? The Twilight saga offers us a very small glimmer (although somewhat pale and dim) of this experience where another world is possible. But the world that is possible for us as Christians is one where, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3-10 So, how do we offer this to others? In a word - worship. Worship offers us a transcendent experience, one where we can encounter God. This encounter re-creates us which in turn means we can re-imagine the world.

The themes of desire and passion are also obvious, seeing that most of these books are about sexual encounters. Bella and Edward’s relationship speaks to our deep need for love, and to be known. As Augustine said, “The single desire that dominated my search for delight was simply to love and be loved.” This expresses our longing for connection and intimacy. I wonder what happens though when we transfer Bella and Edward’s experience of love onto our faith, and our relationship with God? I wonder if it takes us into the realm of thinking that ‘Jesus is my boyfriend’? I have reservations about this kind of theology, because it can mean that we become elevated to a position of supreme honour and importance. Our faith becomes self-fulfilling. I think we can fall into the trap of thinking Jesus will make everything okay. He will make my life successful, because he loves me. But I don’t think that is the kind of love and passion we actually find in Jesus. His love was self-giving.

In the Bible (namely Song of Songs) we can find many examples of passionate and erotic language to denote God’s desire and passion for humanity. Erotic and sexual language speaks of self-abandonment, and giving to another, as well as our desire to be known by another. Bella is even aware of this. Before she has sex the first time, she makes this observation, “How did people do this - swallow all their fear and trust someone else so implicitly with every imperfection and fear they had - with less than the absolute commitment Edward had given me?” (BD p83)Kenda Creasy Dean in Practicing Passion puts it this way, “Passion communicates itself. For all its steamy connotation, eros is primarily a communicative impulse...The objective of intercourse is the communion of souls...Eroticism expresses our longing for mutual association...”

So the erotic could be said to be a symbol of the way we seek to know God as intimately as God knows us. This is quite different from equating the erotic with thinking that ‘Jesus is our boyfriend’, who loves me and will make me happy and successful. If we scratch beneath the surface in the Twilight saga we actually find a hint of this bigger picture of passion. The pain and suffering that Bella experienced when Edward leaves her not only reminds us of Jesus and his suffering passion, but also hints at what true passion is about. “Passion must feel like life or death - nothing less - or it is not passion.” - Kenda Creasy-Dean. Jesus had a passion worth dying for, as did Bella, Edward, and Jacob for that matter! And as we see in the Twilight saga, often our passion causes us great pain and suffering. It’s not always an ecstatic moment of bliss.

Don’t we all want to live a passionate life and have something to live and die by? And isn't this exactly what we find Jesus calls us to? “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” Mark 8:34-36. Here we can see that following Jesus is about imitating him. And if Jesus lived a self-giving life, so we must too. This means living a life of abandon and surrender, one in which through death we gain life, where in losing we are resurrected.

Digging deeper – more themes and stories from the Twilight Saga
In Twilight Bella journeys from crush to intense love. And through her eyes, we are reminded of the kind of love that stops your heart beating, and takes you to another place.
“I felt a thrill go through me as I said his name...His eyes were gloriously intense as he uttered that last sentence, his voice smoldering. I couldn’t remember how to breathe.” (TW p71/2) The language of addiction is also used to describe the love that Bella and Edward have for each other. Edward compares his intense desire for Bella (and her blood) with that of a drug addict’s desire for heroin. “It’s not only your company I crave! ... If you locked an alcoholic in a room full of stale beer, he’d gladly drink it. But he couldn’t resist, if he wished to, if he were a recovering alcoholic. ... Perhaps I should have made our alcoholic a heroin addict instead...you are exactly my brand of heroin” (TW p234/5)
The portrayal of this scene in the movie appears to be the one that causes Bella to fall in love with Edward, and certainly makes us girls swoon over such intense love. Imagine having someone love you that much? But I have questions about love being described in this way. Is that really love, to say “you are my personal brand of heroine?” Is being addicted to someone/thing a good thing? Isn’t the very nature of addiction a negative thing? An addiction is described as being physically and mentally dependent upon a particular substance, and unable to stop taking it without incurring adverse side effects. This does seem to be an accurate summary of Edward and Bella’s love for each other, though!

In New Moon, we a plunged into darkness when Edward leaves Bella. Edward thinks it’s too dangerous for a human to be with a Vampire. This throws Bella into a spiral of pain and depression. “The waves of pain that only lapped at me before now, reared high up and washed over my head, pulling me under. I did not resurface.” (NM p84). The next ten pages of the book are left blank (only the name of the months from October -January is written) this creates a powerful symbol of that empty nothingness felt when broken and in pain - the kind of pain we’ve all experienced after our heart is broken and our world has fallen apart. (Perhaps these feelings could also be used describe the side effects of addiction withdrawal?!) Most of New Moon explores what it’s like be in pain, and feel depressed. “It was a crippling thing, this sensation that a huge hole had been plunged through my chest, excising my most vital organs and leaving a ragged, unhealed gashes around the edges that continued to throb and bleed despite the passage of time. Rationally, I knew my lungs must still be intact, yet I gasped for air and my head spun like my efforts yielded me nothing. My heart must have been beating, too, but I couldn’t hear the sound of my pulse in my ears; my hands felt blue with cold. I curled inward, hugging my ribs to hold myself together. I scrambled for my numbness, my denial, but it evaded me.” (NM p118). Death and risk-taking behaviour is also explored as a means to escape the pain, or to feel something, something that resonates with many teenagers (and adults), as a means to coping. “There had to be some way to quench it. The pain was growing more and more intolerable by the second. I glared at the cliff and the crashing waves...It was hard not to convince myself that I didn’t have time to search for another way - I wanted to jump from the top...I knew that this was the stupidest, most reckless thing I had done yet. The thought made me smile. The pain already easing...” (NM p356-8) This speaks of a real desperation, a searching, a wanting, a longing, a desire - to be felt, known, seen, loved... I wonder how many of us can identify with that?

For me this is the part of the saga that resonates quite clearly with the Christian story. We have a God who became vulnerable and weak. He became like us. He endured pain and sorrow, .and died. He identifies with our pain, and importantly we identify with Christ in our pain. In our sorrow and angst we can say with Jesus, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’

The only solace that Bella finds is in her were-wolf friend Jacob. “I waited for the memory to hit - to open the gaping hole. But, as it so often did, Jacob’s presence kept me whole.” (NM 214) A love triangle emerges between Jacob, Bella, and Edward, causing Bella to be divided, and in a state of conflict and confusion. “I realized that I’d been wrong all along about the magnets. It had not been Edward and Jacob that I’d been trying to force together, it was the two parts of myself, Edward’s Bella and Jacob’s Bella.” (EC p 607)
This raises questions about identity, integrity and consistency. Is it possible to be in love with two people? Can we feel that passionate about two things? What happens when we feel so divided in our soul? And does it matter if we do? (But then again, isn’t this the just ultimate fantasy? What could be more flattering, and boosting to our self-esteem than having two amazing, strong, hot boys, in love with us?!)

Addiction language is also used to describe Bella and Jacob’s relationship: “ ...I had never meant to love him... But I needed Jacob now, needed him like a drug.” (NM 219) I guess addiction is an adequate way to describe that desperation we all feel at times, to be known and loved.

Intrinsically linked with desperation, is desire and passion. This is a major theme throughout the series, especially sexual desire. Almost each page is filled with the waiting and the anticipation of sexual encounters. That tension of the forbidden is captivated beautifully:“And he took my face in his hands again. I couldn’t breathe. He hesitated...Not the way a man might hesitate before he kissed a woman, to gauge her reaction, to see how he would be received. Perhaps he would hesitate to prolong the moment, the ideal moment of anticipation, sometime better than the kiss itself. Edward hesitated to test himself, to see if it was safe...And then his cold, marble lips pressed very softly against mine...Blood boiled under my skin, burned in my lips, My breath came in a wild gasp. My finger knotted in his hair, clutching him to me. My lips parted as I breathed in his heady scent.” (TW p247) This first kiss takes 247 pages to reach, and the waiting and anticipation to that kiss is built over six or so pages. The film also captures that awkward sexual tension. And in some ways you could describe these books as teenage girl porn. All emotion, romance and anticipation, rather than the physical ‘deed’ itself. And in fact when the deed is finally done (for the first time) in Breaking Dawn (p85), the details are glossed over in quite a disproportionate way, to the amount of pages spent building desire and anticipation. (eg Eclipse p 43/4; 186-88) It’s bit of an anti climax, really! And I cannot help but think of the Twilight saga as a ‘tame’ teenage version of Mills and Boon.

This has sometimes been used by Christians, as a means to promote, ‘true love waits’ theology as Edward and Bella hold out till marriage! Edward is able to control himself and not give into temptation. It has been said that Meyer makes abstinence sexy and that Edward and Bella show teens that you can have a perfect relationship without being physical. But I can’t help but think this is a somewhat simplistic reading of the book. For me the main reason Edward doesn’t give into his temptation is out fear of hurting Bella, rather than for moral reasons. (Although he does give a nice pro-chastity speech in Eclipse). After all he is a strong vampire, and Bella is a fragile human. Imagine what would happen, were he to give into his desire and lose control? As Edward says himself; “I have to mind my actions every moment that we’re together so that I don’t hurt you. I could kill you quite easily...If I was too hasty...if for one second I wasn’t paying enough attention...I can never, never afford to lose any kind of control when I’m with you.” (TW p 271) This makes the sexual tension in the book even more alluring. This is what is appealing to the reader. The desire and longing that Edward and Bella feel for one another is passionate and forbidden (It’s a matter of life and death). For me this is more important, and interesting than the fact that they waited!

Edward is the one with the iron strong will. He is the one who can withstand the temptation(after all he isn’t human), whereas Bella is the one who cannot control herself (after all she is only human), and longs to jump Edward’s bones, and will do almost anything to make this happen. “Just let us try...And I’ll give you what you want. I’ll marry you...You can even buy me a fast car if that makes you happy! Just...please.” (EC p448) Despite this apparent role reversal (the boy with all the self control) and Bella’s upfront and sex-crazed tendencies, Bella is not portrayed as a ‘feminist’ who is proud of her sexuality and the desire she feels. “...right now, physically, there is nothing I want more than you. More than food or water or oxygen. Intellectually, I have my priorities in a slightly more sensible order. But physically....It’s all I want.” (EC p446&8) Rather there is a sense that Edward is the hero who can control himself, and that she is a silly weak human with desires. Bella is only allowed to do what he wants. Maybe this is too harsh a reading of the books. But I find the fact that Edward will give Bella what she wants (becoming a vampire and sex) only if she marries him first (what he wants), somewhat manipulative. He disguises it under the motive of protection, driven out of love for her. This protective streak of Edward’s, and Bella’s desire for to be protected is worth reflecting on.

This idea of safety seems to be an important part of Edward and Bella’s relationship, and in fact a central theme to the whole saga. Edward is the ‘protector’, and Bella is ‘defenseless’. Protection and safety is the reason Edward leaves Bella. It’s safer for her, without him around. And in a way he came back to her, out of safety. It’s safer for her, if he’s around to protect her. Bella calls Edward her savior “I wanted nothing more than to be alone with my perpetual savior” (TW p144); and has a deep longing for safety. Her relationship with Jake, demonstrates this also, “He was my comfort, my safe harbor.” (NM p411) For me, this raises lots questions. Why do we as woman find this appealing? Is this what we want? Do we want to be protected, by another? Is a woman’s role in a relationship to vulnerable and weak, and is the man’s role to be strong and to protect? And if we long to be protected and find someone who will protect us, is there anything wrong with that?

Eternal life is another strong Christian theme found in the saga. Vampires have gained eternal life, but Edward believes at a cost to their souls. Here, Carlise explains Edwards view, “God and heaven exists...and so does hell. But he doesn’t believe there is an afterlife for our kind...You see he thinks, we’ve lost our souls..” (NM p 37) This raises many questions about heaven and hell, for us. Is eternal life mere immortality? Unlike vampire transformation, does our ‘immortality’ as Christians, speak of a greater transformation than just personal? Bella becomes obsessed with immortality, and transforming into a vampire. She is distraught over the fact that she will age, and Edward won’t (despite the fact that he is 110 years old!). “And now that it had hit, it was even worse than I’d feared it would be. I could feel it - I was older. Everyday I got older, but this was different, worse, quantifiable. I was eighteen. And Edward never would be.” (NM p6/7) But Bella’s desire for immortality is not just for immortality's sake as Edward often thinks, but rather out of her desire to be with Edward forever. Bella’s quest for vampire-hood becomes a point of tension between Edward and Bella’s perfect relationship. “..Edward was dead set against any future that changed me. Any future that made me like him - that made me immortal.” (NM p10) But in Breaking Dawn, after a slight plot twist, Bella does finally get what she’s always wanted. She picks Edward and marries him; she gets to have sex as a human, but she becomes pregnant! And with no ordinary child, it’s half vampire and half human. It sucks the very life out of her. So, via another strong Christian theme - self sacrifice, Bella does gain her immortality. There was just no other way for Bella to survive this pregnancy and birth being human. “When you loved the one who was killing you, it left you no options. How could you run, how could you fight, when doing so would hurt your beloved one? If your life was all you had to give your beloved, how could you not give it? If it was someone you truly loved?” (BD p2) She does die in birth, and the only way to save her, is for Edward to transform her. So a vampire she becomes. After all this self-sacrifice, and suffering passion the saga ends in a state of utter bliss. ““Forever and forever and forever...And then we continued blissfully into this small but perfect piece of our forever.” (BD p754)

I have questions about what is portrayed as love in the saga. It is a love of heightened emotion and feeling all the time, an ecstatic heart-stopping feeling. What happens when we find ourselves in a relationship, and our heart continues to beat? Or it stops beating erratically when our love walks in the room, or touches us? What happens when he doesn’t want to stay awake and watch us sleep all the time? What happens when we desire a love that is better than reality? (Conversely, what about young people, mainly boys, who have been raised on a diet of sexuality through internet porn, exalting sex to a place that is far from real? What happens when these two people meet?)

NSJ - Monaco

Is he the best the best that has ever lived?

Expressions...

I Read Isaiah 44: 5 yesterday - "One will say, 'I belong to the Lord'; another will call himself by the name of Jacob; still another will write on his hand, 'The Lord's'...", and have been thinking about the way in which I choose to express my worship of Jesus as the Lord and the Saviour of my life...

I am constantly challenged by different expressions of worship. I am the youth and young adults pastor at a pentecostal church in Donvale, I work for an organization that has Anglican and emerging missional roots, I interact, lead and support christian young adults from Uniting, Baptist, Church of Christ and Pentecostal backgrounds and I am constantly blown away by the diversity of worship expressions there are within the Church at large.

I used to think it was crazy that we could all read the same Bible and come up with so many different forms of worship.

Now I am encouraged by all that I am seeing, experiencing and learning. I have my struggles, my disagreements with some things but overall I find that I am becoming more aware of just how BIG our God is and just how AWESOME a thing it was that Jesus accomplished for humanity.

The worship of others has enlarged my picture of Jesus, His Father and Holy Spirit. It has revealed to me His heart for others, the poor, the outcasts, the rich, the abused, the oppressed... The worship of others has ripped me from my comfortable position and challenged me to grow, to enlarge my vision, my capacity and my worship.

I have come to realise that worship is something bigger then what we have come to experience in a Sunday 'Church' service. Worship is given and experienced in our work, our conversations, our love for each other, our quiet alone times - it's an everday, every moment LIFE thing that I guess can be, could be and should be experienced all the time, the more we become aware of God at work in our world...

Worship takes place everywhere Jesus is glorified.

I love the Jesus, His Church, my 'local' (church) and His great diversity that I see and am being blessed by in and through all of the Church's expression of worship to Him.

So whether you say it or write it on your hand, I am just thankful for all people who can and do declare, in their own unique expression, that they belong to God.

Thanks for showing me more of Jesus in and through your expressions of worship to Him and challenging me to think bigger and to worship with my whole life....

Black Eyed Peas - Now Generation - The E.N.D. [Energy Never Dies] - HD

Takes a while to kick into the song but have a listen to the words... insightful and appropriate, yes / no?

Thoughts?

What's the answer to consumerism?

Read this quote today, thought I would throw it out to the people:

"Consumerism will not just magically disappear from its central place in our culture. It needs to be supplanted by something." - Amitai Etzioni

What is the "something"? Thoughts?

Follower...

Been a while since my last blog - just wanted to throw a quick thought down from today which has grabbed my attention and which I will probably be chewing on for a little while to come...

Just had lunch with a great leader!! He is a great leader because after one lunch with the guy, I find myself desiring to follow him - and you know what they say "a guy without followers is just a guy taking a walk."

Well, he was compelling to listen to because he didn't presume to know it all, he didn't take a posture of arrogance and he wasn't condescending.

He is confident and he is completely aware of who he is and what he has been created to do and be, but more importantly he knows the creator and seeks to serve, love, glorify and enjoy Him in and through his whole life...

Often when I meet with those in 'senior' or 'leadership' positions I feel like they are saying to me "do what I say and not what I do" - this guy was so refreshing and attractive to me because he pretty much shared what he does and said take it or leave it! I respond to that - it allows me the room to be an adult child of God as opposed to just a baby, infant child of God...

Refreshing and challenging to me as an aspiring follower of Jesus and leader of men!

I guess this is what I walked out of this lunch with - in order to be a great leader you must first, and always, know how to follow and whom to follow!

The things this leader spoke of were big and radical and not comfortable, but I am thankful for his input and his vulnerability in trusting me with his own thoughts - I believe he has shared Jesus with me today - the Jesus of the Bible - a radical, a not so safe teacher who is calling us to a life of 'bigness', a God who is drawing us toward a life less ordinary and out of mediocrity!

It's exciting and I pray that the Holy Spirit, not only, shows me how to live radically for and with Jesus, but that He gives me the boldness, courage and power to live it out!!

How do I enter the Kingdom...??

Tim and I have been doing a lot of talk about the Kingdom of God (KOG) what it looks like and what the implications of the KOG are on our daily lives. It has captivated us really. It's like we're starting to realize that our work with Mustard along with our everyday lives revolve around the Fathers business - the KOG - of which He is at the centre...

Work, marriage, life - everything is peripheral to the KOG and the King of the KOG. I am only just starting to get the reality of this and yet at the same time I am so far from grasping it's massiveness...that's why I think God is revealing it to me slowly with "small" stuff.

Recently I read the story of how Jesus rocked up at Mary and Martha's house for dinner and a catchup and from that I preached on the thought, and truth, that the KOG is present and visible in the small, ordinary, everyday moments of life. The KOG can be seen and experienced in conversation with good friends, in the silent alone times reading a good book, walking down the street or checking out some good art or listening to good music on your ipod. The KOG can be seen everywhere in the small and ordinary moments as well as the big, miraculous ones.

This revelation, regardless of how simple, was massive for me. Since becoming a Christian I have always looked for God's Kingdom in the obvious and typically "Christian" moments - in times of praise and worship at church, in times of prayer, in the miracles and in big events. Since I had this crazy "mustard seed" sized revelation that God is at work everywhere and all the time, I have been able to recognize that the expanse of the KOG is ridiculously HUGE, it's LUDICROUSLY BIG...

I have, for the most part, stopped limiting God's presence along with His rule and reign to a Church building or a typically "Christian experience" and I have seen it spill out of that into the streets, homes, schools, bars, cafes and pretty much everywhere I go!!! I think it has always been there, it's just that I am only just starting to recognize it.

It's like I'm a child again who has just woken up and who looks at the most simplistic of things with complete wonder and awe. I am becoming more aware of Jesus in my everyday reality and it is cool... I read this tonight -

"I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
-Mark 10:15

How true is this? I am getting it I think.

That's just the start, the thing I am starting to discover at the same time takes this revelation to a whole new level. I am a part of the KOG, the KOG is present in me and although we need to see it and receive it like a child, it isn't childs play.

I am beginning to understand that it's not just about getting into the KOG but that I have a part to play in it's expansion. It's like I have been offered a share in the Father's Business - just like Jesus. He's the older brother that show's me what the implications of this revelation has on my life...here's how I am starting to see it:

If Jesus was always about the Father's business and the Father's business was and is all about advancing His Kingdom, then the implication for us - who have received Jesus as Lord and Saviour and who follow Him - is overwhelming, it's serious, it's Kingdom work... We work for the KING of the Kingdom!!! In the words of Ali G - "It's massive!"

Let me try and explain why I think it's serious: Jesus isn't here in the flesh anymore but we are and we have His Holy Spirit in us and He commands us to continue the work that he started... (Luke 9:60, Luke 9:62, Luke 22: 28-30). WE now carry on with the father's business. We are called, no, commanded to bring the KOG and to expand it in this world and in the hearts and minds of people.

The more I read about the KOG and realise my role in it, the more I get excited and overwhelmed by the awesome responsiblity I have... this then leads me to the question - how do I do this?

Here's the most important requirement, I think, for being a successful in the expantion of the KOG - Hardcore Fidelity...

Hardcore = unswervingly committed; uncompromising; dedicated
Fidelity = strict observance of promises; duties

So it requires, in my opinion, hardcore fidelity to Jesus first and foremost because there is no way I could possibly be of any use to the KOG without Him - He is the King of the KOG so I need His Authority and Power (Matthew 10:1). Our fidelity to the KOG can be seen and demonstrated in and through our fidelity to His People (Church), His, Cause, His creation, the sick, the poor and the lost...

The KOG begins with us and in us first, it's not an "out there" reality but it's close, it's near. God's rule and reign is expanding in my heart, my mind and in my everyday life as I offer my devotion, my fidelity to Jesus and all that HE hold's precious and the more of me He reign's the more I will be able to recognize Him at work in and through my life and the more effective I will be in seeing His Kingdom expanded in the world.

At least, that's where I'm at right now.... these are ramblings straight from brain to page!!

How does the KOG impact on your life?

No Ordinary Moment...

Currently I am thinking about ordinary moments - have been reading the story about how Jesus rocks up at Mary and Martha's place for dinner - it's an ordinary moment in Jesus life and ministry. He's not healing people, he's not hanging out with sinners, he's not feeding five thousand people, he's not being controversial or subversive - he's just being a guy catching up with a couple of friends looking forward to sharing a meal... and yet this ordinary moment turns out to be no ordinary, ordinary moment and Mary knows it!

Jesus has rocked up and she doesn't want to miss a single moment, she is absorbed, captured by every word that comes out of Jesus' mouth... she has recognizes that there really is no such thing as an ordinary moment when Jesus is in your midst, whether he is working a miracle or chilling in your lounge room.

Martha on the other hand is letting this 'ordinary' moment slip by, she's been distracted by the doing of life and in doing so she misses the fact that 'the life' was sitting in her lounge room having a conversation with her sister...

I know God is big, I know Jesus is extraordinary but sometimes I am so busy doing life, or looking for him in BIG experiences and events that maybe I miss him in the midst of the everyday ordinary moments. Maybe if I looked for him in the mundane, in the everyday activities my perspective would change? Ordinary moments would become extra ordinary because Jesus isn't normal, he ain't ordinary, he's God?!

A beer or a coffee with a mate, a conversation with my wife, a walk through the city, catching up with friends, watching a game of basketball, going to an art exhibition, working, playing and relaxing could become less ordinary if I look for Jesus in the centre of it all?!

I reckon this will transform our 'doing' of life.

I Imagine what it would be like if we started recognizing Jesus in our everyday, ordinary moments!? I wonder if our relationships would change, I wonder if our outlook on work would change, I wonder if we would start to treat others better because we see Jesus in all of it and in everyone?!

I don't want to miss Jesus in my lounge room!

Jesus performing yet another miracle?!

Is Jesus God?

Had a few people over at our place the other night for our fortnightly catchup and we kicked off a discussion out of the book of Mark, chapter 2.

It was a good conversation but before I get into a little of what we talked about let me preface by saying that the Bible is a freaky deaky book if you read it and believe any of what is being shared in and through its pages as opposed to seeing it a just a bunch of mythical legends or stories.

Mark chapter 2 is no exception. There's a story in it that tells of how Jesus was hanging out at someones place in a town called Capernaum; when news spread that he was there, the house quickly became packed, and even overflowing to the point where four men decided that in order for them, and their paralyzed mate, to get close enough to hear Jesus they decided to dig through the clay roof and lower their mate down?! Um, are these guys nuts?

Imagine for me, if you will, that Oprah Winfrey is speaking at Rod Lava arena, with the roof closed... the place is packed to overflowing and in the midst of Oprah telling the crowds about the latest book to make it onto her book club reading list you look up to see sparks flying from the roof as the acetylene cutting torch slices out a hole big enough for a crew of 4 healthy men along with their 1 paralyzed mate to ab sail down, Mission Impossible style, to where Oprah is standing on the platform?! What do you reckon the response would be? I reckon she would have been taken swiftly away by her security and the men who cut the hole and then ab sailed down would have been arrested and taken into custody?! It's not normal to cut holes in peoples roofs, not today and not back then when Jesus walked the earth... but it happened.

But that's not the craziest thing I see in this story. This is freakier - this is the first time in this book that Jesus seems to 'out' himself as God - he does it when he says to the paralyzed man "My son, your sins are forgiven." That wasn't the done thing for a jewish preacher to do?! Jesus had performed miracles prior to this event (a massive thing in and of itself) but here he was forgiving sins and according to Jewish understanding the only Cat with the authority to forgive sins was God Himself...

Let's take the Oprah analogy one step further - this would be like Oprah claiming to be God. Now I love Oprah, and I have no doubt that some people would believe that she is God - but not this cookie, and hopefully not Oprah!

I reckon that what Jesus does here is nothing short of massive. The religious teachers who were present felt the same way - check out there response, "What? This is blasphemy! Who but God can forgive sins?"... It is interesting to note that what the common people, who witnessed this particular healing, were really blown away by was the authority Jesus appeared to have (Mark 1:27). It was His authority that separated Him from all the other teachers they had heard before.

Jesus was a big deal, he was controversial - I think that if someone comes out and says they're God they are either crazy, joking around or telling the truth...aren't they?

So, is the Bible nuts, are the writers insane, or is the Bible truthful, is Jesus God?

I believe He is - but not because it makes sense, not just because I read it in the Bible but because I have had a personal revelation of the fact. I cant explain to you why, I couldn't win an argument with you based on reason and logic. This kind of faith exists outside of human logic and understanding... For a guy to be able to forgive sins, perform healings and get resurected from the dead goes beyond anything any human has been able to accomplish through scientific or technological means, right? So how can I explain that using logic or graphs or big words. I can't do it, I am just not smart enough.

Reality suggests that I am either crazy or I am kidding myself or I have discovered the truth and I am telling it.

I do believe that the Bible tells the truth and that it is God inspired and God breathed and in terms of an attempt to explain why I believe this to be I have to direct you to it and what it says about Jesus - John chapter 1:

"In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and He was God. He was in the beginning with God. He created everything there is. Nothing exists that He didn't make. Life itself was in Him, and this life gives light to everyone...The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was going to come into the world."

It goes on...

"So the Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithullness. And we have seen His glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father... God's unfailing love and faithfullness came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. But His only Son, who is himself God, is near to the Father's heart; He has told us about Him."

This was the testimony, the personal witness and declaration of one of Jesus' mates - who got to see Him in the flesh, walk and talk with Him, see him die and then be ressurected... but it is my testimony also. Jesus has shown me unfailing love and faithfulness in a number of ways and I believe Him to be God!!

I have to acknowledge that this doesn't make sense without revelation, and I am talking about a revelation that comes outside of the realm of the natural, it comes by the Spirit... it's Uber natural!!

Pete got it before I did - check out Matthew chapter 16:

[Jesus] asked them, "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the liiving God."

Jesus replied, "You are blessed Simon, son of John, because my Father in Heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being..."

Some would say that to believe that Jesus is God, or that there even is a God in the first place is limited or that it is even a cop out - but I am of the opinion that it actually expands the realm of the possible.

If you can believe that Jesus was, in fact, God and that He did all that the Book says He did then it takes the possible, rips it up and throws it out and replaces it with the impossible. Check out these stories - Matthew 19: 24-26, Mark 10: 27, Acts 4:13-14 as a starting point... Impossible was normal for Jesus.

It's a whole new, crazy way of viewing life because it operates outside of our understanding. I can't possibly explain this impossibility so I'll leave it to my impossibly massive God to do that work...

Any further thoughts - add them, attempt to ask me or just ask Jesus to reveal it to ya! ha ha

Red Jumpsuits, the sickest kids and the rest...

It's close to 2am on a friday morning and I have just made it home from my first gig in a long time...

Here's the line up -

Bayside Cult
Jack's Mannequin
Forever the Sickest Kids
Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

Overall a good gig and although I paid to see Red Jumpsuit it was FTSK that blew my mind. These boys put on an amazing show from the outset, there energy was amazing, there sound was tight and they knew how to entertain - with the highlights being 'Hey Brittany', 'She's a Lady' and a there very own version of the 'Men in Black theme song'.

At every turn FTSK involved the crowd and we happily obliged!!

But here was the most impressive kicker for me, on top of being wicked performers - they set the stage for the headline act by lifting the atmosphere to a whole new level, a real indication of a class act in my opinion.

'Jack's Mannequin' was definitely the low light of the gig and it surprised me that they were even invited to perform let alone take second stage after, an obviously more talented and tighter band, bayside cult?!

Watching Jack's Mannequin was like attending a High School Prom, they were ridiculously messy, the lead singer reminded me of what Ben Fold's might have been like in the midst of puberty, the bass player was a weedy white guy wearing a Celtics singlet and an arm warmer - what did he come straight from a game?? The lead gutarist looked bored, un coordinated and no older then 12... it was weird. None of these fellas looked comfortable and the lead singer tried so hard to over compensate for the akwardness that it made it really hard to watch... The best thing about these guys was there merch...

Red Jumpsuit Apparatus were fantastic, however, I got the feeling they were holding back?! Their energy seemed low, sound wasnt working in their favour and Ronnie's vocals seemed to be getting drowned out and lost amongst the drums and guitars. With that being said their lead guitarist was a flipping legend - engaged the crowd and blew us away with some awesome solos and his energetic stage presence... highlights were 'you better pray' and 'lonely road' for me!

All in all a good night out - thanks for the tickets Timmy G...

Procrastination...

When I'm busiest i seem to procrastinate more...you?

When I'm not so busy, not so booked and not so pressured I seem to look for more to do. Procrastination is the bane of my life...

I have to acknowledge that I am aware that procrastination is what I do to avoid getting into things I should be getting into - but what's hilarious is that whilst I am avoiding that which I should be facing I don't ever enjoy the activities I engage in to distract me from the more important task at hand.

Like right now I am writing one of those ridiculous posts that I would be annoyed at reading about if I subscribed to my own blog... so here's my attempt at making this blog a 'blog of worth'...



I wonder if it's harder NOT to procrastinate these days, with a world filled with things to do - facebook, twitter, myspace to check, blogs to read, x-boxes to play, 'stuff' to buy, coffee to drink, people to call, sms, instant chat, not to mention the TV to watch!!!

What does it mean and why do we do it?

pro⋅cras⋅ti⋅nate

verb, -nat⋅ed, -nat⋅ing.

–verb (used without object)

1.	to defer action; delay: to procrastinate until an opportunity is lost.

–verb (used with object)

2.	to put off till another day or time; defer; delay.

I wonder if procrastination is not the new busy, in fact I wonder if it has not become the lifestyle choice?! Having spent a lot of time procrastinating I am able to conclude that it is hard work to maintain and continue to procrastinate consistently, creatively and effectively.

We spend alot of time building our alter egos on the web on our facebook pages, on our myspace pages, we build 'virtual' relationships in virtual worlds, we have uninhibited conversations over instant chat and sms - we build characters and embark on amazing adventures in fantasy worlds or become instant rock stars and guitar heros when we pick up our game controls... so why has it become harder to do little things like have conversations, confront hard issues and work stuff out face to face with people - i mean we can do so much in the virtual world?

I've come up with this - even though it is hard work to create and live as someone else, it's still easier then the alternative ... reality?!

If you're looking to avoid face to face relationships, conversations; if you're looking to avoid problems, issues or the 'boring', mundane reality of your everyday life - there are thousands of options and opportunities for escape...

It's all procrastination - isn't it?

We fill our world with activities that are primarily engaged to distract ourselves from what is real?! Maybe, having believed that real = boring, mundane, joyless and unsatisfying...?

I am making broad statements with fat brushes of generalisation, but i have found that as I get older I am beginning to enjoy and even desire the everyday ordinariness of my life. In fact I have grown to love it!! I have found that I am looking for reality more than fantasy.

Reality is harder, it's more challenging, it's not as romantic or glamorous at first glance but it tastes better and it feels better in the end. It's kind of like the difference between a Big Mac Meal and a beautifully cooked 250gm aged eye fillet... you wait longer and pay more for the fillet but the end result is worlds apart!?

I still procrastinate but not as much as I used to...

Just not that into..."he's just not that into you!"

'He's just not that into you!" mmmm?!

Caught this movie the other day with my wife and afterward I asked her - "...was that for real? Do women actually think like that?"

I found myself squirming in my seat on a number of occasions throughout this movie as i found it quite sad and uncomfortable watching the character, Gigi, played by Ginnifer Goodwin as she desperately sought self worth and meaning in men and relationships.

I had many awkward moments as I watched the poor acting, yet again, from Scarlett Johansson who played the 'seductive' struggling singer, Anna, as she pushed her chest out and delivered her lines unconvincingly and as if she were reading directly from the script...

I struggled through the conversations between Ben Affleck's and Jennifer Aniston's characters as they talked of marriage and what it represented.

I thought that most of the actors (Johansson being the odd one out ) did a fine job of portraying their characters, especially Justin Long and Ginnifer Goodwin. I dont think it was the acting that really disturbed me about this movie, it wasnt the way in which it was structured or the way it played out either...

I walked out of the cinema trying to figure out what got to me and here's what i have come up with so far...

I think it's the thought of this portrayal of 'love' actually resonating with women (and men) all over the place that freaks me out a bit. I am concerned with the idea that for a woman you need to find a man in order to discover your sense of self worth.

This movie implied that when you find 'the one' you become an exception to the rule, like you're not unique or special if you aren't in a relationship, it implied that the happy ending is experienced within the first few moments of a relationship and that for it to remain a happy ending everything is always rosy. It suggests that marriage is something you do to make the woman happy - as if men don't want to get married, and as if they cant experience joy in a committed relationship.

I guess, in short, what got to me about this movie is that it pigeon holed men as selfish, shallow creatures who are led by their penises, or who are unable and unwilling to commit unless they are forced into a corner making them appear weak... women, on the other hand, are portrayed as being needy, pathetic, dependant and obsessive stalkers who have no sense of place or worth without a man - at least that's what i saw when i watched this movie?! I'd love to hear your perspective - maybe I missed something?!

If "He's just not that into you!" resonates at all with real life then we all got some explaining to do, let's change the record.

All these flicks are the same. I know people are gonna go to town and suggest there is nothing wrong with the movie if it is seen as a bit of fun - but thats the thing, i have a little tiny feeling that on some undisclosed and possibly, unchecked level people are buying into this 'story' as being reality... that's what i have a problem with!!

Enjoy!

Jesus' friends...

Read this today -

"...I realized that i followed a magnificently surprising God, and that by becoming friends with Jesus' friends, my life is made immeasurably richer."

The following is a very brief intro to one of the many examples of a Jesus friend who happens to be my friend also:

There was this kid who rocked up into the youth ministry i was leading about 5 years ago, a tiny kid who loved soccer, wore his cap off the back of his head, was extremely cocky and who loved to be the centre of attention.

I have seen this kid become friends with Jesus over the past 5 years - it started off being a friendship he seemed to claim simply because he had found a world in which he not only belonged, but flourished.

He followed me around and invaded my life. Initially, and arrogantly, I 'allowed' him to because i assumed it is what i was supposed to do as a good Christian youth leader, i was supposed to make disciples and i HAD to love people right?

It wasn't long before this kid started to really grow on me. I saw an amazing sensitivity, accompanied by a passion to love, to learn about and serve this God he had asked to be in his life. He had an unchecked and unreserved charisma about him - he knew and still knows everyone - a natural leader, sometimes it is used for good and other times not so good...

For the last 5 years I have done my best to lead and encourage him in his journey. I have tried to show him Jesus in the way i relate to him, the way i speak to him and the way i do life with him and many times i have fallen short, i have failed him and i have completely misrepresented Jesus to him.

He's grown up now. He aint perfect and still has his imperfections as we all do - but I no longer assume that i have been the only one leading and teaching him of God. Looking back i can now see that there has been many times he has shown me Jesus and taught me of God's grace and love for me...

I have seen him grow from a tiny little boy, into a young man who is still just as raw, honest, sensative, passionate and strong willed in his pursuit of his relationships with those around him and with his God.

He underestimates himself and his natural, god given ability to influence and transform the lives of others around him. I think thats why he maybe struggles to see certain things through - i believe in him and i know he'll succeed in life, i reckon all he needs is to take a look at himself through God's eyes and that'll do the trick?!

Tonight he made a decision, i doubt very much, i would have made at his age; and i am proud of him. He is no longer a kid whom i disciple but a mate i walk with... my life is immeasurabely richer because i am a friend with one of Jesus' friends!

A Response...

So I have spent the last week trying to work out what an appropriate response to the bushfires that have swept our state over the last week - i have read a number of statements written by other bloggers, pastors and people from all over the place and they range from things like the "bushfires being a judgement from God" for the decriminilization of abortion act passed in our state last year to amazing responses of service, compassion, sacrifice, courage and generosity - I am a BIG fan of the latter responses as my theology and my understanding of the God I serve and love is not vindictive theology...I believe our God is long suffering, faithful, loving and full of Grace as demonstrated in the person and work of Jesus...

My response will be to pray, to give, to serve, to love, to befriend at every opportunity - not just in the initial stages of this tragedy but i have decided to respond to all tragedy in this way - whether it be of a large scale as we have seen over the last week or on a 'smaller' scale in the everyday...

My response will be ongoing. It will vary depending on the need and it will grow as i grow in response to the love Jesus has given me.

The events of last week have helped me realize that my story is wrapped up in the story of others; and it is ongoing, it is being written and edited and adjusted daily. I realize that when those around me are affected or impacted in a positive or a negative way, i share in that and i have to respond.

I will live, i will pray and i will love others....daily!

Life on Mars...

Life on Mars - my newest favourite series. I'm not suprised I liked it at all considering i am a fan of TV shows such as Quantum Leap, CSI and Rescue Me, and movies like Frequency, and The Wizard of OZ. Life on Mars has the perfect mixture for someone who is into shows from all those genres - a little time travel / sci-fi where the lead character is trapped in the past trying to find a way home (Quantum Leap /Wizard of Oz), a little crime scene investigation / thriller (CSI) and a dash of New York attitude (Rescue Me) thrown in for good measure.

I am a fan of the plot, it's somewhat lame and quirky in parts but for me i think that adds to the attraction - I like lame and quirky! It reminds me i'm watching TV, it allows my imagination to play around with some stupid ideas - like it would be possible for someone in the future to communicate with someone in the past through a car radio! Wouldn't it? That's something to remember if you're ever caught back in time!?

The other thing i really enjoyed about this episode is that there was a sense of movement the whole way through and a little bit of closure at the end, while at the same time the ending wasn't obvious, providing an overarching mystery / question mark to keep us hooked in. I cant stand a series' where NOTHING seems to happen episode after episode, season after season and the same mystery going on and on throughout numerous seasons (AKA Lost)...

Interestingly the Brits beat the americans to it and produced their own BAFTA and Emmy award winning series of Life on Mars that aired on Brit TV back in January 2006 - I would love to check that out to compare with the American's 2008 version!!

Life on Mars rates - i just hope it keeps me interested!!

BGT FINAL - Bar Wizzards

Nick St Jean

Melbourne Flair Bartenders - Where Art Thou?

When I first saw the movie cocktail as a teenager back in the early 90's - I wanted to do it and to live the lifestyle played out on the big screen by Tom Cruise. My grandfather was a bar manager on the Central Coast of NSW and this guy was my idol... he knew what the ladies were into - it was Pimms and Dry Ginger back in his day. Now it's Cosmos and anything as long as it ends with 'tini... He poured beers and Pimms well, but I knew Tommy poured them with a style that i wanted to emulate...

It was many years later when i stepped behind my first bar - TGI Fridays in Doncaster back in 1998. I practiced throwing stuff around all day, everyday - anything from mixing tins, bottles, glassware to napkins, ice, straws, bottle blades and I LOVED IT!

Flair wasn't just about throwing stuff around, it was about the way you made the drink, presented and served the drink; it was definitely about the way you entertained, served, listened and remembered every guest that sat on the other side of the bench...

I saw myself as an entertainer, a host, an artist, a counselor, a listener, a performer - i did it all with flair and all with style.

I recently began flairing again because i saw that the art has all but died out in this country, or at least in this state. Melbourne had a thriving flair bartending scene back in the day - i ran with boys such as Sammy Cameron, Nick Chamberlin, Jay Mitchell, Andy Smith and others who were flipping amazing to watch when you put them behind a bar... but the lack of money forced these fellas overseas, into 'real' jobs or into management where they were able to earn more and get appreciated for their trade.

Flair needs to come back to Australian shores. I thank God for Melbourne's amazing cocktail culture. Their are some amazing mixoligists working in this state but none who throw, spin and flip the bottle and tin like they did in the old days let alone like they still do it (to a whole new FREAKY DEAKY level overseas)... in the likes of Bar Wizards Neil Garner, Neil Lowrey, Tom Dyer, Nicholas St Jean - and these guys are literally just a few out of hundreds of Flairers who train, compete, perform, play and get PAID for the art/sport they live!!

I would love to see some young Flair Bartenders being trained and raised up to compete on the international Flair Scene - i would like to see an Aussie and specifically a Melbourne kid win Roadhouse, UFBC and the Paris Flair Open to name only a few - but who will compete and represent?

Thanks to all y'all Mixoligists out there but let's bring back the Flair to Melbourne...

Check out these links:

www.barwizards.net
www.roadhouseflair.com
www.flairmotion.com

Jesus Invites...

I have been thinking alot lately about how Jesus related to people - and i have discovered something that has really impacted the way in which I initiate relationships.

I read the story of Jesus and Zacchaeus, the short tax collector, and i have learnt a couple of things:

1. People are curious about Jesus – what are we, who are following Him showing them?

I think most people, regardless of age have a preconceived idea of who Jesus is and what He looks like. Some see him as the baby in a manger. Others see him as an old man in the sky with a massive white beard, some see him as a weedy white guy with blonde hair and blue eyes and others might even see him as Chris Rock as he was played in the movie Dogma... but that all comes down to image.

I think Jesus was known and is made known today in and through the actions of those who claim to follow Him. I also think Jesus can be made known and seen in and through those who don't know Him personally - but thats a broader discussion...

Let me get to the point - i think people are curious about Jesus and they look to the church and those of u who make up the church to show them what he looks like, who he cares for, how He acts, loves and lives on a daily basis?! I wonder what we are showing those around us as individual followers of Jesus and then as a Church?

Something that has really captured me lately is that verse that says something like "...where two or three are gathered in His name - Jesus is in the midst." I used to think that when a couple of Christians gathered in a church building and got spiritual that Jesus would mystically float down from heaven and give us all a cool 'spiritual' experience, but now i am more convinced that "everything is spiritual" that when we come together in community around a table, at a cafe, at a pub or bar, playing Xbox or just hanging out with friends and family - Jesus can be seen!

As a Christian I believe Jesus is present and can be made known in and through the lives of believers and when we come together, when we serve one another and those in our community, when we eat together, play together, cry together i reckon we see and show to others, a greater picture of Jesus.

2. Jesus invites himself into your world – how will you receive him?

From this story i have also discovered that Jesus has no issue in inviting Himself into our lives. I see this throughout the Bible and it has made me think that simply inviting people into my world and into church is not enough. I have started inviting myself into other peoples worlds. I make a commitment to pursue the relationship with others and i have discovered that regardless of sometimes differing beliefs and values i have been well received. I think this is a much more dangerous way to operate, by pursuing relationships in such a way - i reckon you make yourself vulnerable because you are the first person to say - im interested in you! If you simply invite people to come to you you are able to keep them at arms length and it is up to them to make the first step towards some kind of friendship?! Maybe.

3. A church that mutters or a church that eats with strangers…

I have a feeling that in the story Zacchaeus and Jesus those that 'muttered' and complained were those who had positioned themselves as being 'better' and more holy then Zacchaeus... I look at what Jesus did here and i think - "flip this dude is loco", Z was a social outcast, ven though he was Jewish he was considered the enemy as he collected taxes for the Empire that was oppressing the Israelites - and Jesus wants to hang out at his place?!

If anything challenges me about this story, it's got to be this because it challenges me towards a life that welcomes strangers, outcasts and even enemies into my world. It's easy to seperate yourself from those that are too hard or misunderstood - isnt it?

If we want to be more like Jesus, if we want to discover more of Him then maybe we have to keep a place at our tables for the stranger, for the outcasts and the misfits!

4. Jesus brings transformation that calls for sacrifice!

I love that by simply inviting himself into Zacchaeus' life, Jesus transforms his whole world. Zacchaeus is so wrapped that Jesus is coming to his place that he seems to acknowledge the sin that all the other people were so quick to point out and he sets about bringing restoration by returning all the money he took - and then 4 times more!!

Receiving Jesus into your world not only calls for repentance and restoration but sacrifice. Zacchaeus got it and he responded accordingly. Jesus didnt point the finger, he didnt condemn he simply invited himself into Zacchaeus' life and transformation happened - that's full on!

It's scary, it's challenging, it's dangerous - man, it flies in the face of the culture that builds fences and locks doors and shuts out - Jesus calls us to bring about transformation in and through relationships...

5. Jesus sought us out, lets do the same!

It's safe to stay in church. It's safe to live by a program. But i am thinking that the church is supposed to 'go' beyond the four walls of their buildings. To stop separating their lives into church, work and social compartments?! We are the church ALL the time, everywhere we are - right?

I think Jesus demonstrates this to us. He was the same at Temple and in peoples homes; thing is he went to temple to challenge the pharisees to get out more, to love more and to do life with those in their community, then He showed them how. Jesus sought people out and people sought him out - maybe the christian life is one of seeking out Jesus and being sought out by Him.

I read the Great Commandment in Matthew 28 and i hear it encourage me to 'go' out and make disciples of Christ. But the implication here is that we are sent from somewhere - that's where church comes into it. Church is massively important, i believe that we HAVE to gather together for worship, prayer, community and i believe that is the place we are supposed to be launched from, where we 'go' from...

embracing fidelity....

Fidelity is a word I haven't heard much in my lifetime and from my perspective it is certainly not a characteristic that is popular and upheld amongst the masses. Fidelity is rarely found in relationships and when it is it is in a minority. I say this because I remember, as a kid, growing up and my friends would always comment on how lucky i was that my parents were still together and that they showed affection to one another after 30 plus years of marriage - i thought that was normal!

Since my high school days i have come to learn that relationships seem to come and go and change as people seem to 'fall in and out of love' from week to week. Their feelings on any given day seem to dictate their decision making process above anything else... I see this reflected in the high divorce rate amongst both Christian and Non Christian marriages alike, i see this reflected in my own youth and young adult ministries as young people make decisions on whether to enter into or break out of relationships because of the way they are feeling... and it scares me a little bit!

Is Fidelity something that is dependent on how we are feeling or is it a commitment we give and uphold regardless of our feelings and regardless of what our emotions are saying to us?

The online dictionary outlines the meaning of fidelity in the following way:

fi⋅del⋅i⋅ty

1.	strict observance of promises, duties, etc.: a servant's fidelity.

2.	loyalty: fidelity to one's country.

3.	conjugal faithfulness.

4.	adherence to fact or detail.

5.	accuracy; exactness: The speech was transcribed with great fidelity.

6.	Audio, Video. the degree of accuracy with which sound or images are recorded or reproduced.

I reckon we need to embrace fidelity as the principle that underpins EVERY relationship we enter into... whether it be a marriage relationship, a friendship, a relationship with our God, a relationship with our Church community, a relationship with our neighbours, our brothers and sisters and parents... fidelity is lost somewhere or it is something that we have added conditions to... as in:

"I will commit to you as long as...you continue to make me feel good, or as long as you dont challenge me, or as long as you let me do whatever i want to do..."

Marks Sayers reflects in his book "The Trouble with Paris" on the idea of fidelity:

"Our culture has eroticized the stranger. We don't just see this phenomenon on the screen; we see it in our own lives. We find ourselves lusting after or having crushes on people we barely know, whether it be the model in the makeup ad, someone at the bus stop, or the gardener. The stranger speaks to us of excitement, danger, passion and wild sexual abandon.

Conversly, we view commitment and familiarity as uninspired, boring and mundane. We almost believe that as soon as we are committed to something or someone, we take away the ability of that thing or person to excite us and draw us in..."

I am all for fidelity. I am looking for it in my relationships, to offer it and receive it.