Bebo

I got invited to join this site by a friend.
I've only just got started, so there's not much there yet. But save the address anyway. :)

Bebo

Book Of The Year!

This is definitely the book of the year in my opinion, Velvet Elvis, by Rob Bell.
What an amazing read. What an interesting look at the Christian faith. What a challenge.
Beautiful!

Check out the link: Velvet Elvis

Check out this exerpt from the book:

"We have to test everything. I thank God for anybody anywhere who is pointing people to the mysteries of God. But those people would all tell you to think long and hard about what they are saying and doing and creating. Test it. Probe it. Do that to this book. Don't swallow it uncritically. Think about it. Wrestle with it. Just because I’m a Christian and I’m trying to articulate a Christian worldview doesn’t mean I’ve got it nailed. I’m contributing to the discussion. God has spoken, and the rest is commentary, right?"

Packing... YUCK!

I have today literally been packing and sorting my stuff ALL DAY! It is scary how much stuff I have already thrown away. I did not realise how much junk I had accumulated in the years I have been here and now I'm having to pay for that in TIME.

*Sigh*

Oh well. Such is life.

The GREAT news is that I got my acceptance from Hillsong College this week, so now all my real preparation can start with my visa application and all those things. It's all good!

I now have 4 weeks left in London and I intend to make the most of the time I have. There will be much socialising and catching up with people before I go.

Anyhoo, I'd better get back to packing and sorting.

Article

Article off Church Marketing Sucks

It’s Your Church, Now Act Like It

(Filed under: Philosophy)

The building where I work is two miles from the heart of downtown Los Angeles, and from the windows in my office, I can see the entire city skyline. This is especially unimpressive after living in the Chicago area and being to New York City on many occasions, not to mention several other large cities around the world. Los Angeles just doesn’t compare to the grandness of urban planning like most of the world cities in its class. This is not a new conversation or frustration; many have opined for many years on this issue.

My reaction to the criticism of downtown Los Angeles was met with a mixture of anticipation and exhilaration. Old buildings are being renovated into apartments, once famous hotels are now upscale condos. Los Angeles is on the path to becoming...

That’s just it; what is it becoming? In a city where “wannabe” and “just like” are the modus operandi for a culture drowning in its own self-interest, what will a new downtown really do?

I think we’re too busy trying to be something we are not.

When it comes to telling others about your church, what are you saying? Do you tell people what you wish your church would be? Do you tell people what they wish your church would be? When will the tag line on your bulletin actually reflect what your church is about? If your church regularly has a special anointing for the Holy Spirit to move – with all its messiness and uncomfortable spirituality – quit toning it down to reach someone who won’t understand. People know genuineness when they see it. If your church does drama and media presentations really well, but people are not responding, quit wasting precious resources on methods that might not work for your church. Just because you can get a good deal on a video projector with cool vignettes to show in your services, doesn’t mean more people will respond.

Be who you are. Let the church be who it should be. And don’t try and promote the church until you’ve figured that out. KFC recently learned this same lesson and it would behoove you to do the same.

As for me, I’m going to continue watching out my window as Los Angeles learns an expensive lesson in becoming and being something it is not.

Posted by Brad Abare

How good is God?!?

I'm just so stoked at the moment, I had to get this out there! You know how you sometimes have those 'not so subtle' reminders of the goodness and faithfulness of God? Well today has been like that for me, in a BIG way!

Yesterday we had connect group and was really feeling so out of it, and pretty emotional as we were discussing all the things that are coming up in the life of our church... all the things I won't be here for. To say that it cut deep would be an understatement. We took communion and prayed and it was really beautiful and I was so thankful to be part of what was happening there, but at the same time I was wondering how the next season would be without these people who are so much a part of my life. I even got to a point where I was asking God if I was making a mistake. Wanting to know if all of this was just something I had dreamed up, if my motivation was all wrong for wanting to do this and all those insecurities that will pop their head up when you are feeling vulnerable.

Anyway, so I went to bed feeling low and my roommate wasn't there which made the situation seem even MORE intimidating (you know how you can see more realistically when there is someone else's perspective to help?). On top of that I have been looking at my financial situation and wondering how studying would work if I couldn't save up enough money here. Would I be able to save enough in SA? (it didn't matter that God says that HE is my provider... my head kept going to 'Will I have enough...?') So on Sunday I gave an offering above my tithe, saying to God that He knew that I needed Him to come through for me. That I was stepping out into His promise in Malachi 3:10 - 'Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.' Well I was testing Him, and I was telling Him that.

This morning seemed better when I woke up, but I was still not 100%. So I went to the kitchen to make a cup of coffee and while I was there I opened a card that a friend had left me. The words really hit home, and inside was a cheque for quite a lot of money. She had been promted by God and she had responded. He was saying: 'I AM. I AM provider. I AM with you. I AM in control. I AM faithful.'

Back in my room, trying to regain composure, wiping away tears this is what plays on the radio:

More

by Matthew West

Take a look at the mountains
Stretching a mile high
Take a look at the ocean 
Far as your eye can see
And think of Me

Take a look at the desert
Do you feel like a grain of sand?
I am with you wherever
Where you go is where I am

And I'm always thinking of you
Take a look around you
I'm spelling it out one by one

(Chorus)
I love you more than the sun
And the stars that I taught how to shine
You are mine, and you shine for me too
I love you yesterday and today 
And tomorrow, I'll say it again and again
I love you more

Just a face in the city
Just a tear on a crowded street
But you are one in a million
And you belong to Me

And I want you to know
That I'm not letting go
Even when you come undone

(Chorus)
I love you more than the sun
And the stars that I taught how to shine
You are mine, and you shine for me too
I love you yesterday and today 
And tomorrow, I'll say it again and again
I love you more
I love you more

Shine for Me 
Shine for Me
Shine on, shine on
Shine for Me

(Chorus)
I love you more than the sun
And the stars that I taught how to shine
You are mine, and you shine for me too
I love you yesterday and today 
And tomorrow, I'll say it again and again
I love you more 

(Chorus) 
Than the sun 
and the stars that I taught how to shine
You are mine, and you shine for me too
I love you, yesterday and today
Through the joy and the pain 
I'll say it again and again
I love you more
I love you more

And I see you 
And I made you
And I love you more than you can imagine
More than you can fathom
I love you more than the sun
And you shine for me

Forget composure. I let go. I came undone. I cried. And most importantly, I realised that it was ok. Like Abraham wrestled with God and was blessed, I wrestled with Him and realised that I had already been blessed. I just needed to open my eyes to it.

My prayer for today:

Psalm 86

A prayer of David.

Hear, O LORD, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.

Guard my life, for I am devoted to you.
You are my God; save your servant
who trusts in you.

Have mercy on me, O Lord,
for I call to you all day long.

Bring joy to your servant,
for to you, O Lord,
I lift up my soul.

You are forgiving and good, O Lord,
abounding in love to all who call to you.

Hear my prayer, O LORD;
listen to my cry for mercy.

In the day of my trouble I will call to you,
for you will answer me.

Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord;
no deeds can compare with yours.

All the nations you have made
will come and worship before you, O Lord;
they will bring glory to your name.

For you are great and do marvelous deeds;
you alone are God.

Teach me your way, O LORD,
and I will walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.

I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart;
I will glorify your name forever.

For great is your love toward me;
you have delivered me from the depths of the grave.

The arrogant are attacking me, O God;
a band of ruthless men seeks my life—
men without regard for you.

But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

Turn to me and have mercy on me;
grant your strength to your servant
and save the son of your maidservant.

Give me a sign of your goodness,
that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,
for you, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me.