Serious service..

I write this in a mood of frustration and at the same time a mood of great disorientation. In recent time's God's blessed me with a number of people who have really challenged my idea of church and mission. Through many recent encounters and conversations, as well as the amazing opportunity to serve on Parish Council i've come to consider the reasons why i find myself so frustrated with my own generation. On a broader scale i've been also considering how to get people into the doors of church, how to share with them the love of Christ, ultimately so that we might be Christ's tools in the bid to grow a church of disciples who love and serve Christ.

One of the big things that have really stuck out to me is the subtle yet toxic temptation for people to rest back into their Christian circles. I've observed, and been guilty of this very thing myself that we delight in fellowship to the extent that all we do is be with our Christian brothers and sisters. The issue is not that our churches are necessarily inward focussed, but that we get so hyped on the beauty of the church and in awe of the great gifts God has bestowed upon its people that we forget that we have those connections within the church so that we might be doing His work. Fellowship is a beautiful gift from God however it is useless if not through edification and encouragement, we are building up a united front for the fight in which the winning of souls for the sake of Christ should be our prime objective, as Jesus told us to do in the Great Commission of Matthew 28:16-20, to the glory of God!

God's word does not promise a comfortable life for Christians. One the contrary, Jesus said in John 15:18-25 that the world would hate the disciples, because the world hated Christ Jesus, and as He explains, therefore also God the Father. We cannot shy away from our ultimate mission because of discomfort. Things will happen in life, unexpected things that will have a great impact on us. They will truly be a test of character, but what we live in as Christians is the certain hope that we have a guaranteed inheritance of an eternity under God's rule in His kingdom. Let us continue to pray with humility that we might place the needs of others first, and that especially includes those who yet do not know Christ's love. This means leaving our insecurities at the door, not focussing on the personal loss of boldly speaking the gospel as in comparison to the larger scheme of the winning of souls this is merely a foolish act of selfishness. Amen?

Peace and blessings

2011what?

(Newtown, Sydney, photograph by Alex Archer, 2008)

Well it sure has been a while.

I'm sitting here this sunday morning looking onto a grey sydney day, the mist fogging my view of the city. I've been thinking what i could write for this post, and to be honest, i'm a little stumped.

So much has been happening, my life is moving on, but what's harder to keep up with? Everyone else's lives are moving on.

It's a massive time of change, the transition isn't fun at all, but here's some simple truths that are pulling me through:

> God is in control

> He has a plan for His people

> Although we may feel useless and hopeless, God will use us at our lowest

> Pride and selfishness are like sunglasses.. they polarise your view of everything (that was a joke; yes it was)

I really don't know what else to say, my head feels empty. Maybe i need to get back into some form of education? my brain needs some stimulation.. deeper thoughts are on their way!

Peace and blessings