One of the most empowering books...

This is a short film of one of the most empowering books I have ever read!

This film stops at the turning point of the story...

Any guesses how the story ends?

Running to the battlefield...

My brother emailed this quote to me today.
It struck a cord with me...

“… Are then Christianity and culture in a conflict that is to be settled only by the destruction of one or the other of the contending forces? A third solution, fortunately, is possible—namely, consecration. Instead of destroying the arts and sciences or being indifferent to them, let us cultivate them with all the enthusiasm of the veriest humanist, but at the same time consecrate them to the service of our God. Instead of stifling the pleasures afforded by the acquisition of knowledge or by the appreciation of what is beautiful, let us accept these pleasures as the gifts of a heavenly Father. Instead of obliterating the distinction between the kingdom and the world, or on the other hand withdrawing from the world into a sort of modernized intellectual monasticism, let us go forth joyfully, enthusiastically to make the world subject to God. …

There are two objections to our solution of the problem. If you bring culture and Christianity thus into close union—in the first place, will not Christianity destroy culture? Must not art and science be independent in order to flourish? We answer that it all depends upon the nature of their dependence. Subjection to any external authority or even to any human authority would be fatal to art and science. But subjection to God is entirely different. Dedication of human powers to God is found, as a matter of fact, not to destroy but to heighten them. God gave those powers. He understands them well enough not bunglingly to destroy his own gifts. In the second place, will not culture destroy Christianity? Is it not far easier to be an earnest Christian if you confine your attention to the Bible and do not risk being led astray by the thought of the world? We answer that of course it is easier. Shut yourself up in an intellectual monastery, do not disturb yourself with the thoughts of unregenerate men, and of course you will find it easier to be a Christian, just as it is easier to be a good soldier in comfortable winter quarters than it is on the field of battle. You save your own soul—but the Lord’s enemies remain in possession of the field.”

[Quote taken from D. G. Hart’s, J. Gresham Machen: Selected Shorter Writings (P&R, 2004) 399-4??.]

Which Doctor would you choose...

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

Looking at their portraits who would you want as your doctor?

#1 I'd want him to diagnose me - he looks like a doer, a doctor of action!
#2 I'd want him to operate on me - his hands are the focal point, they are huge and so I reckon he has the gift with the scalpel.
#3 I am not sure about him. The style of painting looks like he could be friendly and so I'd want to tell him what is wrong with me. But the style looks bit story-book like and so a little fake.
#4 I think he belongs on Some Mothers do have 'em or Yes Prime Minister
#5 I reckon he could be on the team to diagnose me. He is mysterious and so a genius!

God and Art...

Replenish 08 is coming up in July - 4 week training term for CBTB.

As previously mentioned on my blog, I am creating and running a course on God and Art, with a couple from morning church.

We came up with the 4 weeks and it's content the other week:
WEEK 1: The Creative Genius

• The Perfection and detail in His creation (the intricacies of root systems & complexity of humans)

• The Variety in His creation (not one type of bird but many, not one colour but many!)

• The Abundance in His creation (stars, flowers, sand, water)

• The Innovation in His creation (to create out of nothing)

Art practice: Convey, with paper, what you learn about Jesus from a section of a gospel narrative?

WEEK 2: Christians in Art

• 3 guest artists: Visual Artist, Ceramist & Dancer. Each will share how they use their gifts in creativity in their medium, how they make moral judgements, use their art for gospel/mission and how they might engage with the secular world using their art.

Art practice: Express a characteristic of yourself in a shape using clay?

WEEK 3: Engaging with Art

• Excursion to the art gallery.

Art practice: Detail your response to an artwork: in prose, ink or discussion!

WEEK 4: Art in Controversy.

• How does the Christian reconcile the difference between the nude and porn?

• How do we respond to artists like Jule Rrap, Andres Serrano & Jeff Koons etc?

• What are the boundaries? How can scripture shape our response?

• If artists are provoking us to think about what we believe, How can Christians be provocative for the gospel? How do we engage the world to consider God and his worldview?

Art practice: Installation Art!

________________________________________


Another 'arty' thing I am doing at church is offering a 4 week community course (maybe 6 if I have enough material) in August or September, on Acting in the Everyday.

My aim is to have fun, teach a few drama techniques that will help increase and boost confidence - and provide opportunity for relationships to develop between the adult students that come along. A big part of the course will be teaching my theory on the Art of Conversation that I developed over the last two years...more on that in a later entry!

Please be praying that God be glorified in all these activities.
May the name of Christ be made great!

A runner with no legs...

Now I am not a sport fan of such, but today I was watching an interview with South African runner Oscar Pistorius... trick is he has no legs (he had them amputated as a child).

But he does have these amazing wazmadoodle prosthetic legs! It was breathtaking to watch the footage of him run - he is a true athelete.

He just won an appeal to run at the able-body Olympics. He is that good. He had to undergo scientific tests to see how much of an 'advantage' having prosthetic legs are. Even though it was proven he has a greater spring in his step than the average human ankle, 'Blade Runner' is in, he will be allowed to compete!

Makes you wonder what makes a race a race, competition, competition and a competitor a competitior?
what do you do when your 'own kind' are no competition to you? if chicks start running heaps faster than the rest of the women do you reckon they can race with men, so the get some healthy competition? Or does the IOC create a free-for-all race?

Father Bob...

On my way home from church Father Bob and special guest (don't know who, sorry!) were discussing the ethics of suicide/euthanasia, on triple J.

The special guest asked:
Show me in the bible where God says that we should expect and deserve suffering? you can't can you... God doesn't want us to suffer. We deserve a choice.

Now this question wasn't answered... they just kept talking. Shame!

Then Safran asked Father Bob: now you worship a God who killed himself?

Tough Question.

Answers? Where would you start?

I hear a drum beating...

We sung this song* for the first time at church on Sunday night. The song was really well introduced, with the explanation of the songs genesis: written while the band was playing in Thai bars full of prostitutes and surrounded by brothels.

At church this song was teamed with a sermon full of punches on 1 Corinthians 10 warning us about complacency and idolatry, which powerfully spoke to me. It excited within me a desire to live not an aimless life but one that finds its security and joy in Christ, to run hard, to run to the battlefield for greater things are still to be done in this city. Let's fight for godliness and fight so that many might know Jesus.

This song reminds me of another song by Bethany Dillon "A Voice Calling Out" which has lines like:
I can hear a drum beating...
Heaven's battle cry, Rise!....
I see a generation rising up...
Running to the battlefield and finding their lives.

This is the song I have playing in my head out when I go out talking to people about Jesus. I feel the bagpipes and drums that accompanies this song pumps me up and prepares my heart for battle.

It really reminds me of the fighting edge of the gospel. It brings to the forefront of my mind the spiritual battle that is going on in the heavenly realms. It pushes me to pray and makes me want to run to the battle field, to live and love the gospel, declaring Christ to every place, including the darkest of places...

*God of the city - Chris Tomlin (Passion 08)

Mother's Day...

Advertisments...

This advertisment completely hooked me... I clicked, then clicked and clicked, then had a look at the new Saab 9-3.

I even went to check Saab's website out and did you know you can download the song 'Release Me' that plays in their ad? Amazing!

But I don't really know what boxing me as a right brain does for my individuality?

I am wondering if I should still go for a test drive?

www.saab.com.au

Art?...

http://guillermohabacucvargas.blogspot.com/

PetitionOnline.com - is a pretty interesting concept in itself!

AIM PRAYER NOTES for MAY 2008...

http://www.aimpa.com/

The tourist season is beginning in the north and many centres have visitors arriving. Please pray for our workers as they seek to balance hospitality with their ministry. It can create a lot of pressure.

New South Wales

Gilgandra: Max and Tracey Conlon and son Marley
Praise the safe relocation to Gilgandra and the opportunity for a new ministry
Prayer: settling in and adjusting; Marley as he misses his friends; wisdom in setting priorities in the ministry

Dubbo: David and Rose Cox, Geoff and Ruth Higgins
Praise: There are a steady number of new faces, one man inquiring about baptism.
The Sunday-School continues to be a blessing. The special monthly events held have been a real encouragement with increased numbers attending
Prayer: Wisdom to disciple inquirers, conversion of those showing interest, including the children, guidance concerning the starting of special classes, perhaps catechism.

Office: Leggotts, Letchers, Alleys
Praise: Safe arrival of baby Miriam Alley.
Prayer: Rob and Jenni as they adjust to parenthood and seek to be wise and godly in raising Miriam. Also that they will know God’s guidance concerning their future ministry with AIM.
Praise: Safe travel and valuable interaction with the Mission Awareness Tours recently completed - Cliff to Canteen Creek and Trevor to various centres in Qld, NT and NSW
Prayer: For ongoing impact from these trips among the young people involved and a willingness to serve Christ wherever He leads them in the future; for Cliff as he heads to Kuala Lumpur in mid May to do a training course in teaching Bible Storying in an Oral culture, that he will be able to use these skills within AIM.

Moree: Paul and Erin Strahan
Praise: Blessed school holiday programme for the children; the good way in which the helpers from Sydney fitted in.
Prayer: building on the holiday programme; continued opportunities to make contacts with Indigenous families.

Queensland

Rockhampton: Bill and Lesley Power, David Chambers
Praise for leadership team in the church - Bill, David, Irene, Jandalyn and Lesley; for the eight ladies going to the Women’s convention. For many answered prayers including success of Elsie’s operation and Selly’s visit.
Pray for Bill’s health and David Chambers as he leads the youth; Milbi farm outreach; guidance for the church leaders concerning the way ahead.

Palm Island: Solo and Akanisi
Praise for the opportunity to have a witness on the island; for Christians in various roles within the community to have a godly consistent witness
Prayer: there is a need for a bus to transport people to activities

Camooweal: Jono and Grace Wright
Praise: opportunity to go on outreach from 30th April for two weeks; the impending visit of Grace’s parents from W.A.
Prayer: for strength to cope with the stresses of family life and health issues; for safety on outreach and the children’s health during the trip; for growth in the believers in the various communities as Jono teaches them

Worrabinda: Martin and Rose Ebel
Praise: One local man is coming to church regularly now and seems eager to earn about God; opportunities to share in the community as we participate in various local activities
Prayer: the community is preparing for the alcohol ban to come into effect on July 1st; all churches have suffered constant vandalism which proves very expensive to fix; pray for the youth who are involved in this vandalism; for Martin as he continues to work as a chaplain in the High School; for Rose as she mixes with the ladies seeking to model the love of Christ.


Northern Territory

Tennant Creek: Freudigmanns, Richard, Michael, Cedric, Jeffrey
Praise: Christians have stood firm against attacks from the evil one since Easter; Janet Mick has come back to the Lord; the weekly Bible study groups are well attended; godly and consistent leadership from church Elders, Eugen and Ruth’s faithful servant hearts.
Prayer: General physical health as the weather gets cooler; Rhonda O’Keefe and Annie Jones as they teach an average of 25 children each week in Sunday-School;
Phyllis Ricky and Annie Jones as they learn new patchworking skills, for Ruth as she spends time teaching them and chatting about the Lord as they learn.

Katherine: Greg and Debbie Piper
Praise for the good spiritual health of the church family, Greg and Debbie’s enthusiasm, success of the youth trips to Darwin, the growth of the weekly Bible Study groups
Prayer: The tourist season is beginning and the Sunday afternoon outreach service at the Katherine Gorge will commence from May 11th. Pray for good contacts between the church folk and tourists, for words in season from the church folk and a godly witness.

Darwin: Rhonda Coats, Elizabeth Ham
Praise: A young man recently became a Christian through the gaol ministry of the Community Church; other inmates have been showing interest. Elizabeth has the opportunity each week at Belyeun School tot each the Word of God.
Prayer: Continued growth of the new Christian in gaol and for the conversion of others. Elizabeth needs strength and wisdom as she counsels people around Darwin who have a variety of problems. Rhonda is planning a 4-6 week trip around the centres commencing in early May. Pray for safety in travel, opportunities for good fellowship and to share resources, for good health.

Barunga:
Praise: one Christian took a stand at a recent funeral against ceremony business being mixed up with a Christian funeral.
Prayer: the Christians will continue to grow string spiritually and God will add others to His church.

Alice Springs: Bob and Deb Mckerrell
Praise: for the work completed on the house, and the ministry of Phil and Cathy Stuart and Bob and Joy Wells; for a full time place for Alfred Norman at the Topsy Smith Hostel; Bob and Deb as they faithful care for the flock.
Prayer: Bob as he goes to Brisbane for a nerve block on his back in early May; safety for Debbie as she is there alone; for Terry and Olga Manton as they prepare to come in June for three months; full time workers for 2009; outpouring of the Holy Spirit in people’s lives so that the bondage of sin can be broken and growth occur.

Canteen Creek: Richard and Sue Davies
Praise: the government nutrition programme means each child in the community is receiving breakfast morning tea and lunch at school each day, which has not happened before. The local women are running the programme
Prayer: The breaking of the power of gambling. Some marriages are at breaking point because of it, children are being neglected as the gambling rings are going all night. Richard and Sue will be spending a week at SMBC as Missionaries in residence in early May. Pray for their impact on the students. Pray for healing for Richard’s eye, which has been causing trouble since he got a piece of wood in it.

Borroloola: Max and Doris Field
Praise: Good attendance at the meetings, including more men; some folk asking for bibles; camp meetings recommencing with Vincent Charlie giving a simple clear message;
Prayer: Max has to go to Darwin for scans related to an ongoing problem; continued drunkenness causes fights and constant noise all night. Pray for a conviction of sin among the people. Shaelene who has cancer is growing weaker but hopes to return home from Darwin.

Epenarra: Andrew and Cindy Hadfield and family
Praise: for growth in Rodney who has been a Christian for almost a year; for the visit of the Pastor and his wife from Sydney; for the children’s current good health
Prayer: Christian tentmakers to come to the community as teachers, health workers etc; coping with the pressures of daily like with the family and community demands; health and strength

Tentmakers:
Ben and Suze Hollands at Canteen Creek School;
Tim Letcher at Fitzroy Crossing School;
Becky Mohr at Alice Springs Hospital;
Marion Quinn at Woolaning Homeland Christian College;
David Young at Kalkaringi school.

Pray for these folk who are seeking to serve Christ in their daily jobs and support the Aboriginal church. Pray that their lives will honour God and point others to the Saviour.

What I am...

Listening to:

• Dimitri Shostakovich
  Russian Composer (1905 - 1975) - He lived an intense life which is reflected in his music and doesn't the image of him depict a man of depth, mystery and brilliance. I just bought his 9th Symphony - which is inspired by the 1905 events of the Russian Revolution.
  

Happy about:

• My brother Todd and Carrie getting married. April 25 was the day they got hitched and it was really a great day with family and friends. It was nice to hear Toby preach at the wedding, which I think spoke loudly to our non-Christian family, plus I really enjoyed listening to the groomsmen and bridesmaid speeches about Todd & Carrie.
  
  
• Changing from Hebrew 1 A to Hebrew 1B... Had a catch up lesson with my new lecturer Wendy with another girl Tessa, and it was amazing. We both feel like we have our heads around it already!! woo hoo!
  
  
• Coles Belgian Fruit & Nut Chocolate.
  

Bemused by:

• Accordance Bible Software: I have no idea really how to use all the features and additional programs I got. Looking forward to the training day in July!
  http://www.accordancebible.com/

Thinking about:

• This quote from Antigone by Sophocles:
  " Wisdom is the supreme part of happiness; and reverence towards the gods must be inviolate. Great words of prideful men are ever punished with great blows, and, in old age, teach the chastened to be wise."
  
  

Greek Text - http://www.perseus.org/

Thankful for:

• Holidays... really restful and fun! Spent time with Toby, Liz and my niece Maisy plus 4 good friends came up for a few days too... But maybe my hols were too good as it was hard coming back from my Aunt's gorgeous home to my room at college. It was hard on Monday to get back into it but the rest of the week has picked up and I feeling joyfully content about being here. Praise Jesus!
  
  
• My Connect Group & CBTB: really love Tuesday & Sunday nights, it is a true highlight of my week. I have recently been really blown away by the generosity and love they have showered on me.
  
  
• Friends: praise Jesus for the friendships that he has so abundantly blessed me with.
  
  

Looking forward to:

• Outreach Meeting: to think through ways in which CBTB can be a part of our Kirribilli community.
  
  
• Equip Womens Conference - a chance to hang out with women @ CBTB and be encouraged from God's word together. Plus Claire Smith's seminar on the superwomen. CHECK OUT: www.equip.org.au