So, God's like BAM!!!

It's been a while very small amount of followers :) But today is a particularly good and encouraging day.

(Caves Beach, Swansea. Photograph, 2010, Alex Archer.)

Let me give some context. I'm currently in the library, sitting in my study period, not studying because its week 8 of the last term of my high schooled life, EVER! At the moment its mostly revision and the likes and i feel confident and composed towards my HSC. Things are going pretty sweet.

Today in particular has been particularly great though. Today is thursday, which mean Tim and i met at "Roma on Watts" for our regular chat and occasional bible reading sesh. Today we were sitting talking about a number of things when a man greeted us and asked if our day was blessed.

This man is not entirely a stranger, although i couldn't tell you his name as i don't know it... yet. A few weeks ago we were sitting and having our coffee and this excitable kid ran up to us and began talking to us. This kid was intense! But he was awesome, full of life and absolutely no pretences. A reasonably tall and business looking man wearing a suit watched us, it was his Dad. He came over and to be honest the man was a little intimidating (and had a very shiny head, but thats irrelevant). The man came over making sure his son wasn't peskering us. Before he could say anything, he looked on the table and enthusiastically and with some surprise enquired "Are you guys reading Bibles?"

We responded with a "we're supposed to be reading our Bibles, that's the purpose but we often just get carried away with the talking". He went on to describe our actions as "radical" and said how he'd never seen such young people so openly and actively going about their faith. We asked him if he believed and he explained how he was newly a Christian, recently baptised and attending Hillsong.

Today we saw that man again, only this time he didn't have his son with him.

He joined us and both Tim and i had a great conversation with him. He talked to us about his life and we discussed how the different circumstances of our lives affect our faith. For us, we're 18, young and as he described "finding meaning" which he compared to those of his generation "making meaning for themselves".

We asked about his family. He has a wife and two sons. The eldest is 11 and is currently battling with an agressive form of cancer that attacks flesh and bone. He's been battling with it since June last year, and the man informed us that his son had been on the brink on a few occassions. I can only try to imagine the emotion we didn't see, yet could feel through his words. His younger son he expressed his delight in. Full of life and just a joy. He didn't talk much about his wife, but i feel its something we should leave for him to bring up in his own time.

(Caves Beach, Swansea. Photograph, 2010, Alex Archer)

We asked about his profession. He explained that he is a self employed consultant. He specialises in helping people in businesses help themselves. He imparted his wisdom, explaining how business starters are usually very entrepreneurial and not always good with the pragmatics. He deals with HR, Human Resources, showing people how to lead from the back, pushing and directing as opposed to leading from the front, pulling which is less constructive. He used a really great analogy as well as shared with us some life experiences. He was in the army, a Platoon Seargeant or something of the like. Essentially he was responsible for a platoon. If he lead from the front of the platoon there's no time to inform his platoon of impending danger, he has to turn around and say heads up... when most gunfire lasts on average 45 seconds to 1 minute and 15 seconds, thats a short period of time, where lots of bullets are fired and it only takes one of those bullets for any one of those men to die.

It was especially great to hear how his performance in his job has not only been changed but improved by his new faith and justification in Christ. He's one who really understands people, and as he said its only now he really sees that God has really gifted him with that. Previously that skill has been so misplaced, but now its given purpose and he feels he can use it more affectively and to its full extent. He doesn't see them just with physical and psychological needs, but spiritual needs also. He also talked about before his justification, that he was self-proclaimed and full of pride, and its such a glorious thing to see how his entire life has been changed, and through sanctification is continuing to be changed.

By the end of the conversation, we were all very refreshed and encouraged by each other. He was amazed by our maturity and we were amazed by his openess to hear from his younger brothers. At the beginning of the conversation i encouraged him to find a small group to hold him accountable and help him progress in his faith, as in a church as large as hillsong its only too easy to come and go each week, not making any lifelong connections and melding into the masses. I pray he will find the support he needs to progress and support his faith. Unfortunately i had to leave for school and tim home to watch skins before CHS for the relay team.

We don't know this man's name, we don't know his age. We don't know where he lives or when we'll see him next. All we do no is that he is a true brother in Christ, and we look forward to the next time we meet with him to discuss the common good and encourage each other to continue to fight the good fight, and "set our sights Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2)

Needless to say, Tim and fist-bumped in excitement upon our leaving.

Shalom brothers and sisters!

It's time to begin, yes it's time!

Okay so the political slogan in the title hardly helps to grab attention but i'll be honest... that is one of my favourite advertisements of all time. I saw it again on the "Gruen Nation" an election edition of "The Gruen Transfer" that commentates how politicians have been and are being positioned in the media. I don't really wish to go on about the election in this post, mostly because i feel the direction of our country's government looks terribly bleak whether Labour or Liberal, Greens or Family First, Shooters' Party or even the Party Party. But hey, maybe i'll give the Fishers' Party a go!

Might i also begin by admitting my laziness. I haven't posted in, well, 7 months. Have i had nothing to say? Well nothing i could figure to put in words. Or maybe i had no time, all excuses aside i'm posting now.

"It's time". Well this is something that's been plaguing my mind a little bit. And you may wonder how i have time to talk about this at this very moment. 12:39pm on a friday afternoon. Shouldn't you be at school, Alex? And for those who are aware of my schooling timeline, "SHOULDN'T YOU BE STUDYING FOR TRIALS!!"

Well, yes... maybe.

I'm home, sick. Perfect timing. It gave me time to watch the movie "Pursuit of Happyness". I've always wanted to watch it, and finally i got the chance to. Not many, if any people read this so i'll admit i got a little emotional, but rightly so. This man, with his 5 year old, struggling just to eat, and have shelter every day. Something that i know i do myself, along with plenty of others i know. It really made me count my blessings.

(courtesy of Thomas Juggernaut after a discussion about what i wanted and how to get it..)

"Pursuit of Happyness." In the film its suggested that when ex-president Jefferson of the US said these words (albeit with the correct spelling), why did he select the word, "pursuit"? Is happiness something you can ever achieve or are we always just constantly trying to achieve it?

At the conclusion of the film i got to wondering about what I learnt at the end of it. English classes have had a severe impact on my life, clearly. So this man, gets to be a stock broker and everything will be alright for him and his son. So they finally have money. Money to buy what? Well obviously the next meal first and foremost, and then somewhere down the track somewhere to live. Then what? Well all the creature comforts of a "good" home, achieving a comfortable lifestyle.

All that is very well, but when exactly was this man Chris ever happy? He was happy before he had money just to be with his son. He was happy that he could enjoy time with his son, on the beach, without the noise of the city and not having to worry about anything, money inclusive. Burden-less.

It seems to me that it's not through "wanting" that he achieved happiness, but through the "not-wanting" that he did. What the heck do you mean, Alex? Well taking from the film he does not want money so much, but to not have to worry about money. He does not want money so much as he wants his child to grow up without being disadvantaged because of their financial situation.

Money is the end of a society. Take away money, what do you get? Without money, you don't need an education, because you don't need a job, because you don't need to pay for food or shelter. Take away money, and people share and are not competitive in some situations because there is no need to be ahead of the next person. There is nothing to feed the greed.

Okay, well let me move onto what that means for our relationship with God. I have a relationship with God, and in that relationship i know that He will provide what i need, when i need it. I don't need to want because of that fact. Do i still? yes, because ultimately i am still tempted by sinful desires that tell me to have "this next best thing" and only then will i be happy. In fact, I take most joy in my relationship with God through Christ because I feel a freedom in Him because He has cleansed me of all sin. I would like to not have to be worrying about the struggles in this life, or more importantly my salvation. By God's grace we no longer have to! Am i saying i won't struggle? No. Am i saying it's wrong to? No. What i am saying is live in the knowledge that Christ died for you, and that God is working for the good of His people always, in every situation. I have some bible references in my head but i won't write them down as i've forgotten where they're from but i'll end on this:

"I am happy, because by God's grace I do not have to want, but instead can be content that God will provide and forgive"

Amen?

(untitled, Photograph, 2009, Alex Archer)

In my head when i was thinking about all this stuff it was a little clearer, deeper and i know i've forgotten some stuff so please send any ideas this way. Peace!