Cinema …

My bible study group went and saw The Da Vinci Code recently. I want my money back. I have not seen any benefit coming from having gone to see it. Indeed I recall very little of both the book and movie. Not suprisingly my workmates do not seem too interested in the film; and have not read the book.

I still wonder if the churches response to the book is not a touch misguided. Has anyone been convinced to be a Christian simply through our ability to win the argument about DVC.

Am I better prepared for conversations I might have with my friends? Well, I still have to explain the fact I went and saw the film.

Equipping Men

Karen wondered if I had any reflections from being at Equip, or general comments about Men’s conventions I had been too. I found it slighty strange that a men’s day would be held the same day as Equip. But that’s another story.

The singing at men’s convention is often focused on, and I think there is something special about a large group of men singing (with or without musical accompaniment). Men don’t often sing (the obvious exception is at the football). In terms of musicians on stage, I think we are about the same, three singers; a couple of guitars; a drummer and a keyboard player. (I do like how at KCC the singers are off to the side, and the lectern is in the middle).

I think I have a must also have a unique (or perhaps novel or sensitive) sense of humour, because I don’t understand a number of jokes made by one of the speakers at Men’s Convention last year, jokes which often get a good reception.

I prefer the structure of EQUIP above that of the men’s conferences I’ve been too, but I guess that is partly because the Men’s conferences that I have been to are of sizes that make electives impractical. I can’t speak for the material obviously, but I will say that I like the idea of having electives. The topics seemed interesting and relevant.

Though the biggest thing I’d like to see change with Men’s conference, is thinking through ways we can have smaller interactive groups, and time for prayer, perhaps with the guys you came up with, or perhaps run something similar to EQUIP run in the City, once or twice a year.

I wonder if a series of between 4 and 6 talks held over Friday / Saturday is possibly the best way to reach, or disciple men for Christ. I’m not really sure I have a solution, but I know it is hard to focus and concentrate for that long. I know that I’m often finding it hard going by early afternoon Sunday.

Men’s Convention 2006

Friday night I headed up to Katoomba in the Blue Mountains for Men’s Convention with a group of men from Unichurch (UNSW). First thanks to Marty for organising it all. Friday was quite strange, as I was not really sure I wanted to go, I felt I like I needed a little bit of time for me, and not spend time heading away. I guess its funny, though perhaps not surprising, that I left thinking it was what I needed.

While we headed into the Blue Mountains, we were reminded of another group of disciples of Jesus, who heard a different sermon, on a different mountain.

It’s worth noting two things about the Sermon on the Mount: firstly it is directed at Christians, about how to live in the Kingdom, and for the King; not about how getting into kingdom.

Secondly, the sermon is perhaps not so much one sermon that Jesus gave in one setting, rather a summary of the teaching of Jesus.

Though there was nothing particularly new or revolutionary mentioned, each of them challenged us to be who we are, here's a glimpse about what caught my eye:

Who We Are?

We are blessed, we are poor in spirit. We are powerless without our God. We are unable to save ourselves, and we depend on God for our salvation. The beatitudes are however about more than our identity, they are about our destiny.

The question on my heart is how well do I know my Father, how well do I know my identity, do I mourn for sin, and hunger for righteousness.

The Unheeded Christ

Michael Hart wrote a book about the world's 100 most influential people. His list was topped by Mohammed, and anticipating our objection, he commented with: Mohammed has more influence over his followers than Jesus.

I was challenged to focus not only on how I act, but on my attitude -and my attitude to others, should not be impacted by there attitude to me.

A life lived in Secret

We are playing before an audience of one. The audience of one; from whom no secrets are hidden, one who knows our hearts and minds; one who knows each of our words, thoughts, and deeds.

There is something both liberating, and fearful about ‘playing before the audience of one’. It liberates us from the expectations of others; both it is a fearful thing knowing that God knows all of the ‘secrets of our hearts’.

Our profession must matches our confession, we are to be men of unfalteringly integrity.

Tin Shed: Role-play

Something Al Stewart mentioned during the panel has resonated with me; we need to work out our priorities and arrange our time around them. In other words what we value, we will have time for.

Relationships: Three thoughts

We won’t understand Marriage without reference to Christ; we won’t understand Christ without understanding the Cross; so, we therefore won’t understand marriage withoutunderstanding the Cross.

Two Ways ...

We can listen, but not adhere; we can be challenged but not change, and we can be informed, without being transformed.

If we go away from the word of God without being transformed by the Word of God, we are in a worse place than when we started.

In some ways, the easy thing is going up the mountain to Katoomba and hearing faithful speakers faithfully teach God's word and being surrounded by encouraging brothers; the harder thing is taking off the name tag, and heading down the mountain, and back to our lives and struggling to live out the life to which we are called.

Easter Convention..

Went to Katoomba Easter Convention over the weekend. Helped out in the bookstall mostly. Great fun. And heard most of the talks too.
We had three great speakers: David Jones, Kanishka Raffel and Jonathan Dykes.

The messages of the weekend were Cross-focused, and for that reason challenging. Kanishka challenged us with comments that we underestimate the Word of God, we underestimate the Love of God, we underestimate the potential of money for the Gospel, and we underestimate the danger of money as well.

David reminded us of the Servant King, the Dying King, and the Living King.

For me the weekend was summed up in these six words from David's last talk -

Come and see, Go and tell.

We have seen Jesus, indigant at death, weeping at death, we've seen Jesus wash his disciple's feet, we've seen the empty tomb, we've seen the Risen Christ - SO - Go and tell, tell of what we've have seen, a man, who did not consider it robbery to be like God, but humbled himself, even to death on a cross - he died that we would be restored.

These are my first brief thoughts - will write more later - there was so much there - and like every convention, I've done the easy bit - sat in the auditorium, heard the Gospel, now the hard bit: to apply these lessons not simply today, tomorrow, but next week, next month, next year, and until My LORD and My God calls me Home.

KYC Reflection .. Part I

During KYC, we heard a number of really great sermons, expounding the Sermon on the Mount. What made them great? Sure they had some great illustrations, sure they spoke clearly, but I think the lasting imprint from the talks was how confronting, and how challenging God’s word is. They didn’t bend or distort it, because it said something they didn’t want to hear. The speakers had integrity, they illustrated, illuminated how they are wrestling with the passage in their own lives. After they finished we applauded. The MC then made a comment that has stuck in my mind.

Our applause for these speakers is our desire to continue to work out our salvation, with fear and trembling. Our applause for the speakers is living whole heartedly for God now. For if we don’t seek to change our lives, they have laboured in vain. If we do not hold fast to the gospel, our applause is meaningless. Our applause is keeping on keeping on, our applause is wrestling with the scripture, wrestling with God in prayer for each other, that we all would hold fast, and stand firm until the end.

Club 5

Over the long weekend I went to Club 5, which is a weekend, were people meet and think through the issues around Ministry – such as What it is?, and why we should all be doing it? This is the second year I have attended this conference, and I think that it is one of the more valuable conferences that I have attend.

On of the really great things about the conference is that you get to spend time with a mature Christian who has been involved in Christian (paid) ministry, and talk about your situation. The other really awesome thing is the chance to take the time to meet up with other people who are thinking through largely the same questions you are.

For me, I think I left the weekend with more questions than answers. I left with a lot to think about, which has been helpful. In terms of decision-making, I think that I am working towards starting MTS in 2005-2006. But I think that I need to pray, think, and talk through the decision a little more.

In the talks we looked at 1 Thessalonians with David Cook (The Principle of Sydney Missionary Bible College), and Phillip Jensen challenged us from 2 Corinthians 5. Through Thessalonians I was challenged about what it means to imitate and model Christ. The question that was on my heart through David's talk was are we getting fat on Gospel Ministry in Sydney. We do have so many opportunites in Sydney, but of those whom much is given, much is demanded.

One of the things that was mentioned during the weekend were SUS-Groups. Now I think these are a really great idea. A SUS Group basically means meeting with like-minded Christians who are concerned for world mission. Meeting with other Christians - finding out more about mission work in another country, or area, and praying for that country specifically. (And who knows, you may end up going to the country that you are SUS'ing out).

Lastly the conference reminded me that I need a correct understanding of Ministry. Ministry is laying down your cross and following Jesus, living with Jesus as LORD, bowing your knee and being Godly.

For some, this command means leaving paid work behind;
for some it means working in the job they are, living a Godly live, being active in church, and committed to mission;
for others it means jumping on a plane and leaving Australia behind and being a doctor, teacher or engineer on the mission field.

For all of us, it means living each day in the light of God’s word and the return of the King, which is a challenge!!