X-mas - one of the most annoying terms out there. You can't take the Christ out of Christmas. Thats the whole point of Christmas to celebrate that Christ came into the flesh.
On that point, Jesus CAME into the flesh. He was born in a little manger, a stable. In todays equivalent, it was pretty much a shed. He was born into the spot where the animals ate out of, the saliva mingling with the hay. Then a mad king plotted to kill him, and his family had to flee the country to escape him while he violently massacred every boy under 2 years in Bethlehem. Not excatly the sort of conditions you'd expect for the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the creator and designer of everything you've ever seen.
But thats just how God works, God consistently uses the weakest things to lead the strong (I'll blog more on this later.) I find so much hope in that thought, God will use the weak, the sinful, the broken. I often feel weak and sinful and broken (because I am,) but God uses the weak and sinful and broken.
Once again, I apologise if my thoughts aren't very well articulated.
Friday, December 24
Wednesday, December 22
'You've Changed'
I was looking at my friends facebook the other day, and I was shocked, absolutely shocked to find a little verse from James in her 'info' box. At school, she swears, she gossips and doesn't live a 'Godly' life as such. I realise that I'm not going to be passing judgment on her on that day, and I don't know her heart, and I don't know if she struggles with that stuff, or if there was some other motive to her verse, but I was shocked.
I want people to immediately see from my life that I'm different, the way I treat people, the way I talk, the life I live. I don't want to wear 2 different masks.
I also don't want someone to be surprised when they see something I do with one person, thats different to how I act with them. I have ONE personality, its who I am. Sometimes I'm happier, sometimes I'm tired, so obviously these will influence my character. But I don't want such MASSIVE character changes that people would be shocked when they see me with a good friend compared to when I'm at church. I want my character to remain CONSTANT, no matter who I'm with.
I want my character to be totally pointing towards Jesus, no matter who I'm with.
As always, I'm not sure if I've articulated my thoughts well enough, but I hope it encourages you or helps you somehow.
I want people to immediately see from my life that I'm different, the way I treat people, the way I talk, the life I live. I don't want to wear 2 different masks.
I also don't want someone to be surprised when they see something I do with one person, thats different to how I act with them. I have ONE personality, its who I am. Sometimes I'm happier, sometimes I'm tired, so obviously these will influence my character. But I don't want such MASSIVE character changes that people would be shocked when they see me with a good friend compared to when I'm at church. I want my character to remain CONSTANT, no matter who I'm with.
I want my character to be totally pointing towards Jesus, no matter who I'm with.
As always, I'm not sure if I've articulated my thoughts well enough, but I hope it encourages you or helps you somehow.
Friday, December 17
'Somethings Missing'
We live in a society ruled by vanity and greed. Ruled by the mirror and the dollar. This is really clear in popular culture, we're all encouraged to be greedy; 'I want to be a billionaire.' 'Greed is good.'
I disagree; greed is bad. Most billionaires are still unsatisfied, John Mayer tells us (even though not a billionaire) that he's got money, girls and everything. But he thinks that 'Something's Missing.' He's right.
Jesus tells us that we will be unsatisfied, John 4:13-14: Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
That may sound really confusing, but when I think about it, thirst is a longing, a desire. So, all it means is that things of this world will never 'satiate' our thirsts, our desires, we'll always feel that little bit empty. That is until Jesus gives us his water. Our desires will be met. Obviously I still desire things. But one day, every single one of my desires will be filled.
I'm looking forward to heaven. I'm PUMPED. Pumped for that day when I'll be satisfied. Completely satisfied. So satisfied I will never weep, or mourn. God will wipe every tear from my eye. (Revelations 21:4)
I disagree; greed is bad. Most billionaires are still unsatisfied, John Mayer tells us (even though not a billionaire) that he's got money, girls and everything. But he thinks that 'Something's Missing.' He's right.
Jesus tells us that we will be unsatisfied, John 4:13-14: Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
That may sound really confusing, but when I think about it, thirst is a longing, a desire. So, all it means is that things of this world will never 'satiate' our thirsts, our desires, we'll always feel that little bit empty. That is until Jesus gives us his water. Our desires will be met. Obviously I still desire things. But one day, every single one of my desires will be filled.
I'm looking forward to heaven. I'm PUMPED. Pumped for that day when I'll be satisfied. Completely satisfied. So satisfied I will never weep, or mourn. God will wipe every tear from my eye. (Revelations 21:4)
Wednesday, December 15
Change
I have changed SO much in the last year. My friends have changed a lot. The world has changed a lot. EVERYTHING seems to have changed heaps. But maybe its just my eyes that have changed. The way I perceive. Maybe some things have remained the same.
But 3D has become normal for movies. Heaps of new ideas have come out. I've started writing heaps more songs (most of them rubbish.) I've grown heaps in my faith (I'm sure I've still got plenty more room.) Facebook has changed heaps :P. Looking back at this time last year, everything is so different. I'm pretty sure I like change, or at least I can accept it. Sometimes its a really scary change; like moving schools or houses or quitting work. But mostly, my life just changes in subtle ways.
This is because humans are fickle: we change who we stand with, we make fleeting decisions.
But one thing has remained constant: Jesus. Everything around me shifts and changes. All the time. But Jesus remains the same. I still feel the same about Jesus as I did (except the feelings are stronger.) Jesus never changes, He remains constant throughout all of history. When people were cruelly burning 'witches', Jesus was exactly the same. When the world was being created, Jesus was the same. When people were speaking in thee's and thy's, Jesus was the same. Yet somehow he manages to slot into all of those times.
He remains the same, everything shifts and change around him. People continue to worship him. People continue to bow down. Why is that? Because his greatness surpasses all the cultures, all of the worlds greatest ideas. Jesus is greater. "For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength." (I Corinthian 1:25) God is greater then all cultures, no matter what ideas they hold. God is the trump card. As humans we naturally want to bow down to anything greater then us. But we also want to rebel against it. And thus begins the story of my life. Worship and rebel. Worship and rebel.
I change. I will always change my mind. Everything about me will probably change in the next couple of years. Jesus will remain in my heart.
My thoughts are a bit scattered, and a lot of this probably won't make sense. I hope you can get something from it.
Tuesday, December 14
Hollywood
Oh Hollywood, can you not restrain yourself? Can you not abstain from corrupting young minds?I was tempted to say pure minds, but no human mind is pure.
I've begun to realise that Hollywood is the pinnacle of sinful nature. It encourages us to blankly blob and soak in the sexual immorality, the violence & the nonchalant attitude towards death.
In almost every Hollywood movie, a guy strips off his shirt, to reveal a body worked hard for months on end, and probably tanned from a bottle. This creates a lustful attitude in girls, and sets unrealistic standards on guys. And it also seems to create a vain attitude in guys, encouraging the mindset that; without a good body, no girl will ever like them.
In almost every Hollywood movie, there is loads of sexual immorality. Guys hooking up with girls they barely know the name of. Even the underlying themes and jokes in kids movies are sexually immoral.
The violence in Hollywood astounds me. Consistent violence. Shoot one bullet through his head. Who cares about his wife? His kids? Not Hollywood. To them its just another bullet wasted. I understand that they're fictional characters but honestly what kind of example is that setting?
One thing I know for sure: I want to be counter-cultural. I want to be the complete opposite of Hollywood. Why? Because I'm a Christian and I have to obey all these rules? No, because I understand the grace given to me by God. I don't want to take it for granted, even though I do everyday. But I want to STRIVE not to. I want to make endeavor not to.
I've begun to realise that Hollywood is the pinnacle of sinful nature. It encourages us to blankly blob and soak in the sexual immorality, the violence & the nonchalant attitude towards death.
In almost every Hollywood movie, a guy strips off his shirt, to reveal a body worked hard for months on end, and probably tanned from a bottle. This creates a lustful attitude in girls, and sets unrealistic standards on guys. And it also seems to create a vain attitude in guys, encouraging the mindset that; without a good body, no girl will ever like them.
In almost every Hollywood movie, there is loads of sexual immorality. Guys hooking up with girls they barely know the name of. Even the underlying themes and jokes in kids movies are sexually immoral.
The violence in Hollywood astounds me. Consistent violence. Shoot one bullet through his head. Who cares about his wife? His kids? Not Hollywood. To them its just another bullet wasted. I understand that they're fictional characters but honestly what kind of example is that setting?
One thing I know for sure: I want to be counter-cultural. I want to be the complete opposite of Hollywood. Why? Because I'm a Christian and I have to obey all these rules? No, because I understand the grace given to me by God. I don't want to take it for granted, even though I do everyday. But I want to STRIVE not to. I want to make endeavor not to.
Thursday, December 9
Jesus: The Empathetic Son
People often claim, that Jesus doesn't understand;
'Jesus doesn't understand what I'm going through.'
' Jesus doesn't understand temptation. He lived such a holy life, its so much harder for us, I mean he was God, isn't that kind of cheating?'
Well, Jesus understands pain. People don't seem to understand the cross. Sometimes they depict it as an icon of religion. Sometimes they just don't think about it. To start off with, the cross is incredibly painful. 6 inch spikes are stabbed through your wrists. You are then hung by them as you slowly suffocate and your lungs fill up with your blood. Its called asphyxiation. And along with that, on that day he had been tortured beyond my imaging. Pain beyond bearing. A 'cat of nine tails' had tenderised his flesh (similar to tenderising meat,) then hooks were sunk into his back, (sometimes so deep they would reach the ribcage,) and the flesh ripped out of the back.
Jesus understands stress, according to ChristianAnswers.net; 'So great was the stress that tiny blood vessels were rupturing in his sweat glands and emitting as great red drops that fell to the ground.' I often think I understand stress. I DO not, I have never been faced with my own death, I have never been told the hour and date I was going to die. Or literally have the weight of the whole world on my shoulders. Jesus wishes he could run away, he says so in the Garden of Gethsemane 'Father, take this cup from me, not by my will but by yours.' But he still depends entirely on God. He doesn't run away.
Jesus understands temptation, he was tempted for 40 days and 40 nights in the desert. That is a SERIOUSLY long time. I know I definitely would give in after a much shorter time. I'm sure there were plenty of time when Jesus was tempted, but that is just the most noteworthy.
Jesus understands humiliation. Everyone has this vague idea that Jesus led this life where noone ridiculed him, everyone just fell on their face when he got near. People PLOTTED HIS DEATH. His mother thought he was crazy, even though she was convinced by an angel that he was the Christ. Then, he died on the cross. The cross was reserved for the lowest of criminals. The ones who had done the most horrendous crimes. And yet Jesus, who had lived a perfect life was condemned by the ones he came to save.
Jesus is empathetic. Jesus understands where we are coming from. Jesus understands. Jesus had situations much worse then alot of people who complain about their lives. Jesus had all the trials and temptations we have. BUUUUUT ...He was much stronger then us. He outshone us. He relied upon God the whole way through all the trials, all the hard times. He is the perfect example. I want to live by it each and every day.
Inspired by Nat Smith.
'Jesus doesn't understand what I'm going through.'
' Jesus doesn't understand temptation. He lived such a holy life, its so much harder for us, I mean he was God, isn't that kind of cheating?'
Well, Jesus understands pain. People don't seem to understand the cross. Sometimes they depict it as an icon of religion. Sometimes they just don't think about it. To start off with, the cross is incredibly painful. 6 inch spikes are stabbed through your wrists. You are then hung by them as you slowly suffocate and your lungs fill up with your blood. Its called asphyxiation. And along with that, on that day he had been tortured beyond my imaging. Pain beyond bearing. A 'cat of nine tails' had tenderised his flesh (similar to tenderising meat,) then hooks were sunk into his back, (sometimes so deep they would reach the ribcage,) and the flesh ripped out of the back.
Jesus understands stress, according to ChristianAnswers.net; 'So great was the stress that tiny blood vessels were rupturing in his sweat glands and emitting as great red drops that fell to the ground.' I often think I understand stress. I DO not, I have never been faced with my own death, I have never been told the hour and date I was going to die. Or literally have the weight of the whole world on my shoulders. Jesus wishes he could run away, he says so in the Garden of Gethsemane 'Father, take this cup from me, not by my will but by yours.' But he still depends entirely on God. He doesn't run away.
Jesus understands temptation, he was tempted for 40 days and 40 nights in the desert. That is a SERIOUSLY long time. I know I definitely would give in after a much shorter time. I'm sure there were plenty of time when Jesus was tempted, but that is just the most noteworthy.
Jesus understands humiliation. Everyone has this vague idea that Jesus led this life where noone ridiculed him, everyone just fell on their face when he got near. People PLOTTED HIS DEATH. His mother thought he was crazy, even though she was convinced by an angel that he was the Christ. Then, he died on the cross. The cross was reserved for the lowest of criminals. The ones who had done the most horrendous crimes. And yet Jesus, who had lived a perfect life was condemned by the ones he came to save.
Jesus is empathetic. Jesus understands where we are coming from. Jesus understands. Jesus had situations much worse then alot of people who complain about their lives. Jesus had all the trials and temptations we have. BUUUUUT ...He was much stronger then us. He outshone us. He relied upon God the whole way through all the trials, all the hard times. He is the perfect example. I want to live by it each and every day.
Inspired by Nat Smith.
Friday, December 3
Proud
It feels as though pride is inherent to the human race. We are a proud race.
In the stories we tell, we make ourselves seem like a hero, and the offender is a villian. But when we listen to the 'villians' side of the story, it seems like they are the hero. Both stories are probably true, just with exagerattions; e.g. and then he hit me as hard as he could, and so you know, I gave him a tiny hit back. And then the other persons story is; and she was annoying me so much, so I gave her a tiny hit, nothing hard though. But then she comes back at me and slaps me with all her might.
BOTH of these people are in the wrong. Neither can admit it. We are the hero in the stories we tell.
Also, we become defensive over silly little things; the other day someone told me the boardies I had spent ages being so happy with were lame so; I tore straight back at them with a harsh laugh and a 'You can talk wearing purple and green boardies buddy.' I just became so defensive over such a trivial thing; because I am proud.
We refuse to accept that we can do something wrong. Because, we like to think of ourselves as pretty great. Maybe a few faults here and there but hey, over all, we're pretty great.
We're so arrogant. I'm so arrogant I don't want people to think down on me. Like the other day I saw my old deputy principal and she laughed and told me I was late for school the other day as she drove past. I laughed and then hurriedly explained why. I didn't want anything to tarnish my reputation.
I struggle a lot with pride and arrogance.
Some posts on facebook are a reminder that we're arrogant. I'm talking about 'Like this status and I'll say what I like about you.' We click on it so that the poster can list off all our awesome qualities.
And people say; Christians are so arrogant. Most of them don't even know why they say it.They just have this idea that Christians are arrogant. Probably fed to them by someone.
Firstly, humans are arrogant. Christians are human.
Secondly, one of the main points of the gospel is that NOTHING that WE do can save us. Its already been done. Its such a beautiful concept, that its by no works or deeds of our own that we gain salvation.
And lastly, I constantly pray (as I know Christians do all around the world); I am a sinner, I stuffed up, I can't live up to Your standards. Please forgive me.
So how can they claim we are arrogant?
In the stories we tell, we make ourselves seem like a hero, and the offender is a villian. But when we listen to the 'villians' side of the story, it seems like they are the hero. Both stories are probably true, just with exagerattions; e.g. and then he hit me as hard as he could, and so you know, I gave him a tiny hit back. And then the other persons story is; and she was annoying me so much, so I gave her a tiny hit, nothing hard though. But then she comes back at me and slaps me with all her might.
BOTH of these people are in the wrong. Neither can admit it. We are the hero in the stories we tell.
Also, we become defensive over silly little things; the other day someone told me the boardies I had spent ages being so happy with were lame so; I tore straight back at them with a harsh laugh and a 'You can talk wearing purple and green boardies buddy.' I just became so defensive over such a trivial thing; because I am proud.
We refuse to accept that we can do something wrong. Because, we like to think of ourselves as pretty great. Maybe a few faults here and there but hey, over all, we're pretty great.
We're so arrogant. I'm so arrogant I don't want people to think down on me. Like the other day I saw my old deputy principal and she laughed and told me I was late for school the other day as she drove past. I laughed and then hurriedly explained why. I didn't want anything to tarnish my reputation.
I struggle a lot with pride and arrogance.
Some posts on facebook are a reminder that we're arrogant. I'm talking about 'Like this status and I'll say what I like about you.' We click on it so that the poster can list off all our awesome qualities.
And people say; Christians are so arrogant. Most of them don't even know why they say it.They just have this idea that Christians are arrogant. Probably fed to them by someone.
Firstly, humans are arrogant. Christians are human.
Secondly, one of the main points of the gospel is that NOTHING that WE do can save us. Its already been done. Its such a beautiful concept, that its by no works or deeds of our own that we gain salvation.
And lastly, I constantly pray (as I know Christians do all around the world); I am a sinner, I stuffed up, I can't live up to Your standards. Please forgive me.
So how can they claim we are arrogant?
Mumbai
Mumbai; is the most confusing, broken, depressing, and yet inspirational, and marvelous place I've ever seen. I'm disappointed that people would prefer to write about dancing at night time or whatever then places like this.
Let me explain; there's almost literally a line down the middle of this city that divides the rich from the poor, the superficial from the generous and the vain from the humble. In the 'poorer' side of town, slums just line the street, sanitation is absolutely horrendous. TOXIC puddles of waste lies next to the fresh water that they drink. Toxic waste. People walk outside, I don't really know how to put this, but literally just let their faesces lie on the ground. Rats rule the streets. Disease rules the slums.
Working conditions. I'm not even going to go there. Just know that they're horrible.
In most slums 3 generations of families live within a house the size of my room. 6 or 7 adults lie together in a room the size of my cupboard, and rats roam these rooms, even while the family are sleeping.
All that I have said sounds thoroughly depressing. But the great thing is, these people have an incredible joy, and sense of community. They're so happy with the little that they have. And they do have so little, apart from family. Yet I, live in a wealthy country, in a wealthy suburb with a lovely family in a massive house. And I seem to find little things to whinge and whine about. Little things to get frustrated over.
I have only seen pictures and watched videos of this megacity, but one day, I would love to go there and see it. Experience it for real. But for now, I just need to be content with what God has given me. He's given me PLENTY. :)
Let me explain; there's almost literally a line down the middle of this city that divides the rich from the poor, the superficial from the generous and the vain from the humble. In the 'poorer' side of town, slums just line the street, sanitation is absolutely horrendous. TOXIC puddles of waste lies next to the fresh water that they drink. Toxic waste. People walk outside, I don't really know how to put this, but literally just let their faesces lie on the ground. Rats rule the streets. Disease rules the slums.
Working conditions. I'm not even going to go there. Just know that they're horrible.
In most slums 3 generations of families live within a house the size of my room. 6 or 7 adults lie together in a room the size of my cupboard, and rats roam these rooms, even while the family are sleeping.
All that I have said sounds thoroughly depressing. But the great thing is, these people have an incredible joy, and sense of community. They're so happy with the little that they have. And they do have so little, apart from family. Yet I, live in a wealthy country, in a wealthy suburb with a lovely family in a massive house. And I seem to find little things to whinge and whine about. Little things to get frustrated over.
I have only seen pictures and watched videos of this megacity, but one day, I would love to go there and see it. Experience it for real. But for now, I just need to be content with what God has given me. He's given me PLENTY. :)
Thursday, December 2
Love
Love is an overused word. It is so overused its almost lost all meaning, like saying to a close friend; I love you.
Love is a misunderstood concept. Love is NOT, an attraction between boys and girls. Thats called sexual attraction. It is not a funny feeling that you get when that special girl or boy is around. That is probably still sexual attraction ...
Love isn't physical. Thats just plain old sex.
Love isn't being affectionate. Thats called affection.
So what is love?
1 John 3:16; And this is how we know what love is: Jesus laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay our life down for our brothers and sister.
We sin. Every day. But he still loved us enough to die for us.
Jesus showed us the perfect example of love. Sacrificial. Unconditional.
Love is a misunderstood concept. Love is NOT, an attraction between boys and girls. Thats called sexual attraction. It is not a funny feeling that you get when that special girl or boy is around. That is probably still sexual attraction ...
Love isn't physical. Thats just plain old sex.
Love isn't being affectionate. Thats called affection.
So what is love?
1 John 3:16; And this is how we know what love is: Jesus laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay our life down for our brothers and sister.
We sin. Every day. But he still loved us enough to die for us.
Jesus showed us the perfect example of love. Sacrificial. Unconditional.
Wednesday, December 1
Failure
At the moment, I feel like a bit of a failure. I feel like a fail at relationships; as soon as I leave a room I hear laughter where just before there was only silence. I feel like a a failure at music; which I love so much. I feel like a massive stuff up from a Christian point of view; I'm gossiping, I'm lying, I'm being SO selfish, I'm being self centered. I just feel like a bit of a fail. This may be a result of my over extreme tiredness, my stress and my exams coming back recently, or simply; that I'm human. BUT I do not want to be making excuses. I don't want to be justifying my wrong actions, because they are wrong. I have been foolish. But I just feel like I can't do anything right.
I can find comfort in the fact that I have a God who has a completely STEADFAST love. He will love me no matter how horrible I've been. He will love me no matter how much of a 'fail' I am by this worlds standards. He will love me UNCONDITIONALLY. I will never deserve his love. I will never deserve it. But he still gives out by the bucket load.
He will be there to catch me, no matter how hard I fall.
I can find comfort in the fact that I have a God who has a completely STEADFAST love. He will love me no matter how horrible I've been. He will love me no matter how much of a 'fail' I am by this worlds standards. He will love me UNCONDITIONALLY. I will never deserve his love. I will never deserve it. But he still gives out by the bucket load.
He will be there to catch me, no matter how hard I fall.
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