This is a very interesting article...
I, of course, realise that the media usually has a stunning ability to misquote, quote out of context, and general do a not so great job when reporting about contemporary churches.
Worth reading though. Don't crucify Joel Osteen though - wait until you get to the small section with his interview and you may hear what he was probably really saying.... Also, the last page starts to really get to the point I think....
However, all in all, makes you think...
TIME.com: Does God Want You To Be Rich? -- Sep. 18, 2006 -- Page 1
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Saturday, September 16, 2006
From "The Divine Conspiracy"
By Dallas Willard
God has yet to bless anyone except where they actually are, and if we faithlessly discard situation after situation, moment after moment, as not being 'right', we will simply have no place to receive His kingdom into our life. For those situations and moments are our life.
God has yet to bless anyone except where they actually are, and if we faithlessly discard situation after situation, moment after moment, as not being 'right', we will simply have no place to receive His kingdom into our life. For those situations and moments are our life.
Just so you know....
...that email circulating saying that Steve I publically become a Christian a few weeks ago is NOT true...
I guess people just wanted to hear that and so believed it...
I guess people just wanted to hear that and so believed it...
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
For those of you who were at supper with Tim Hein
I just realised something....
Jesus didn't stay on the other side of the lake!
Please ignore this post if you have no idea what I'm talking about!
Jesus didn't stay on the other side of the lake!
Please ignore this post if you have no idea what I'm talking about!
Monday, September 11, 2006
The community in which we live
From today's Courier Mail.... pg 33/34
"Dark Side of Drinking"
Some 10 percent of Australians are drinking at levels that are risky, says Professor David Kavanagh, a clinicl psychologist at the University of Queensland's School of Medicine. But is the the 18-24 year old age group that is at the greatest risk of developing an alcohol related problem, he says.
"Drinking is most common in the late teens and early 20s age group. Because it is a period of heavy drinking, these people are most at risk of going off the rails. Young people often start to drink when they feel depressed and anxious and alcohol makes them feel better. They may also start because of peer pressure."
Kavanagh does not believe that giving young people small amounts of alcohol in family settings teaches them to drink responsibly. Having easy access to alcohol increases the risk of developing problems, he says. Statistics show that of 87.5 per cent of people in the 18-24 age group who have drunk alcohol in the past 12 months, more than two-thirds of men and more than half of women drank amounts that placed them at short-term risk of injury.
"Dark Side of Drinking"
Some 10 percent of Australians are drinking at levels that are risky, says Professor David Kavanagh, a clinicl psychologist at the University of Queensland's School of Medicine. But is the the 18-24 year old age group that is at the greatest risk of developing an alcohol related problem, he says.
"Drinking is most common in the late teens and early 20s age group. Because it is a period of heavy drinking, these people are most at risk of going off the rails. Young people often start to drink when they feel depressed and anxious and alcohol makes them feel better. They may also start because of peer pressure."
Kavanagh does not believe that giving young people small amounts of alcohol in family settings teaches them to drink responsibly. Having easy access to alcohol increases the risk of developing problems, he says. Statistics show that of 87.5 per cent of people in the 18-24 age group who have drunk alcohol in the past 12 months, more than two-thirds of men and more than half of women drank amounts that placed them at short-term risk of injury.
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Ritual vs revelation
I have been thinking a bit about something.
Working with songwriters, we often have conversations about not wanting to be cliched in the lyrics we write.
Leading worship for about 15 years, and leading the worship team for 6 years has also given me much occasion to think about keeping it fresh week in and week out.
What's the secret to keeping it fresh?
Are things really as cliched as we sometimes say they are?
It's about revelation. You can say God is Love and it can sound like a cliche beacuse you have heard it before. But if you have a revelation that God is love - it becomes the most meaningful, multi-layered statement in the universe....
Last week I was in a worship service and was singing and realised something was lacking. You could say I was just repeating some empty phrases.
So, because I despise empty religion and always want to worship with integrity, I knew I had to do something. So, I reached into the well of revelation my spirit had received in the last few days and let my mind respond to that. (This all took place in a matter of seconds of course)!
A freshness and meaning suddenly came alive in my worship!
It's always about revelation...
In a sense, we are responsible for the vibrancy of our worship.
We could sing the name of Jesus for hours and it still be fresh if we sing out of revelation.
Working with songwriters, we often have conversations about not wanting to be cliched in the lyrics we write.
Leading worship for about 15 years, and leading the worship team for 6 years has also given me much occasion to think about keeping it fresh week in and week out.
What's the secret to keeping it fresh?
Are things really as cliched as we sometimes say they are?
It's about revelation. You can say God is Love and it can sound like a cliche beacuse you have heard it before. But if you have a revelation that God is love - it becomes the most meaningful, multi-layered statement in the universe....
Last week I was in a worship service and was singing and realised something was lacking. You could say I was just repeating some empty phrases.
So, because I despise empty religion and always want to worship with integrity, I knew I had to do something. So, I reached into the well of revelation my spirit had received in the last few days and let my mind respond to that. (This all took place in a matter of seconds of course)!
A freshness and meaning suddenly came alive in my worship!
It's always about revelation...
In a sense, we are responsible for the vibrancy of our worship.
We could sing the name of Jesus for hours and it still be fresh if we sing out of revelation.
Thursday, September 07, 2006
A great thought (via James)
Worship
We have too long been conditioned to think that the church is to entertain us. That is not the case. Soren Kierkegaard said, " People have the idea that the preacher is the actor on stage and they are the critics, blaming or praising him. What they don't know is that they are the actors on stage; he is merely the prompter standing in the wings, reminding them of their lost lines" And God is the Audience.
It is not unusual to hear someone say; " I don't get anything out of church." MY response is " What did you give God? How was your heart prepared to give?"
If you go to church selfishly to seek a blessing, you have missed the point of worship. We go to give glory not to be blessed. An understanding of that will effect how you critique the church experience. The issue isn't, did I get anything out of it? But, did I from my heart give glory to God? Since blessing comes from God in response to worship, if you aren't blessed, it isn't usually because of poor music or preaching (though this may occasionally prove to be insurmountable obstacles) but because of a selfish heart that does not give God glory.
(The Ultimate Priority On Worship, John Macarthur, JR 1983 The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago)
We have too long been conditioned to think that the church is to entertain us. That is not the case. Soren Kierkegaard said, " People have the idea that the preacher is the actor on stage and they are the critics, blaming or praising him. What they don't know is that they are the actors on stage; he is merely the prompter standing in the wings, reminding them of their lost lines" And God is the Audience.
It is not unusual to hear someone say; " I don't get anything out of church." MY response is " What did you give God? How was your heart prepared to give?"
If you go to church selfishly to seek a blessing, you have missed the point of worship. We go to give glory not to be blessed. An understanding of that will effect how you critique the church experience. The issue isn't, did I get anything out of it? But, did I from my heart give glory to God? Since blessing comes from God in response to worship, if you aren't blessed, it isn't usually because of poor music or preaching (though this may occasionally prove to be insurmountable obstacles) but because of a selfish heart that does not give God glory.
(The Ultimate Priority On Worship, John Macarthur, JR 1983 The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago)
Monday, September 04, 2006
Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin dead | NEWS.com.au
Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin dead | NEWS.com.au
Very sad news.
My thoughts and prayers are with his wife and children.
Very sad news.
My thoughts and prayers are with his wife and children.
Churches must not play God with Caesar | Features | The Australian
This is an interesting article...
I find it a little incorrect though, from my perspectives, that he has said that churches want to play a role in politics. I think it is less that churches want to play a role, and more that Christians want to play a role in plotics/national debate. They have been automatically excluded simply on the basis of their Christian faith for a long time - while other faiths - materialism, secularism, darwinism, athiesm etc are free to engage or set public debate
Churches must not play God with Caesar | Features | The Australian
I find it a little incorrect though, from my perspectives, that he has said that churches want to play a role in politics. I think it is less that churches want to play a role, and more that Christians want to play a role in plotics/national debate. They have been automatically excluded simply on the basis of their Christian faith for a long time - while other faiths - materialism, secularism, darwinism, athiesm etc are free to engage or set public debate
Churches must not play God with Caesar | Features | The Australian
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