Wonderings of the Soul

Why did God forsake his only Son for me?
I don’t deserve His love.
Why did God the Son hang upon a tree?
I don’t deserve this love.
Why does He want to show me mercy?
I don’t deserve His love.
And why am I holy when I’m so unworthy?
His love is more than I deserve.

It was nothing of value or worth that He saw in me.
It was only because He wanted to give.
It wasn’t because I’m good or deserving.
It was only because His nature is to give.
And it’s my nature to take.

Let me not forget to wonder
Why you would chose me.
Let me not forget to ponder
Why you would want me.
Even though I’m not worthy
or thankful
or deserving
or caring
or kind…
You wanted me.
Me of all people.
And I don’t even know why.
Since I’m such a fake.

Kids say the darnest things...Or do they?

Here are some of the questions I got asked today by my 10 year olds in Scripture:
'Did everyone come from Adam and Eve?'
'Who made God?'
'How did God make the world?'
'When did you start to follow Jesus?'

But as great as these questions were because of the opportunities they gave me, one question in particular stood out today:

Student 1: 'Do you have a wife?'
Me: 'No'
Student 2: 'But you are handsome'
Me: 'Um...err....(speechless)...thanks'

Flattery aside, it was interesting that Students 1 & 2 were both male...and equally interesting that kids equate physical attractiveness with one's marriagability...(I think I just invented a new word). And even more interesting that we don't move much beyond this mentality in our adult years.

Listen to kids. They often show us what we think as adults. They are just more open and honest about it.

Church Plant on Track

I did promise an update on the new church plant...so here goes!

The first 2 weeks have been SO exciting! I was a little nervous at first about the whole thing, but I'll tell you what- setting up a new church is rewarding. Its been personally encouraging that people simply turn up each week, and stick around to talk to one another. One woman even told me that she looks forward to coming to her new church each week.

I like to think of the new church as relaxed but relevant. Casual but clear. Bible and Christ-centered. Laid back but organised. I joked with Matt that we are projecting our own personalities onto this congregation!

Its been a thrill to see people getting in and making it work, allowing the new church to work. Just pray we don't burn people out. There's so much to do. And not enough people just yet. Things like morning teas, setting up, welcoming, teaching children- all things we take for granted, but all areas where we desperately need more helpers. And on April 9 we open our doors to the public.

But God has got us to this point- he has allowed so many things to fall into place- giving us the location, providing the core group, and working out the time details. And it looks like we have access to a large hall nearby, which will make for an AWESOME kid's ministry on Sunday mornings. (Rather than the cramped room they currently meet in). I'm learning to trust Him, and be thankful in the process.

I feel rather stretched myself at the moment. Thank goodness for days off where I can read comics, draw and paint, drink coffee at the beach with my cousin and just plain relax... whichever comes first. Well, some of those things will happen tomorrow, Im sure!

Over and out.

Here's Johnnie!!

During his work hours, my brother met our Prime Minister today, John Howard!!! Apparently he came to open up their new office. He even asked him to get his photo with him. How cool is that? And how nice was Johnnie to oblige? I think I'll vote for him.

My First Baptisms

Today I did my first baptism. Well, 3 of them! Full immersion, in a deep dam, in good old local Kenthurst. Basically I have been meeting up with Bec, Matt and Libby, and reading the Bible with them. They asked me to baptise them. And today I finally did, in their own dam. I had to tread water the whole time while they came in and out of the water, and about 50 people were there to watch. Even though I've been swimming at the beach quite a lot lately, I was quite out of breath when we came out, which made it hard to keep the little service rolling. The dog even jumped in the water and wanted to be baptised as well! I'm so thankful for this opportunity. And a good thing too that it was a hot day today.

I'll blog about the church plant tomorrow- we had our first meeting today...exciting stuff!

Its Church Planting Time!

Sunday was a busy day. We voted on a time change for the existing congregation to make way for a new congregation. We settled on 8:30am, which doesn't suit everyone, and there were some tears. Then that afternoon, I had over the families who will be a part of the new congregation. Some of them met for the first time. It was exciting to hear them meet each other and talk about their previous church experience. Next Sunday we will have our first service. Nervous? Yep! Excited? Definitely.

Road Soccer

I went to a one day conference on Church Planting today. I almost ran over a soccer ball on the way home. These two events are not related.

Here is the picture that was in the Sydney Morning Herald. (Hi Mum!) Any thoughts for a funny caption?

Famous Again...

Apparently I'm famous again. We had a rehearsal yesterday for Saturday's ordination, and my mug made it into the newspaper. Anyway, if you look here, or on page 5 of the Sydney Morning Herald, you just may spot me....not that I like the limelight or anything, but hey.

Gadgets

I now have a new mobile/PDA/MP3/GKWE (goodness knows what else). I am now officially a yuppie.

Stoked about sums it up.

So here I am, another Saturday night where I am reflecting on the day ahead of me tomorrow, and the awesome responsibility that it is to stand up in front of God’s people and teach His Word.

And I must say, that I am stoked. That’s elated for all you Americans out there. Stoked, bedazzled, inspired, star-struck, and spun out. Stoked by the opportunity to help people know God better, enthuse and excite their trust in Him, and motivate people to want to love Him more. Pray that my sermon on Psalm 13 will speak to people's hearts and minds.

God is good. I know it. You know it. Lets never forget it.

Good Times

Well good times are being had in the rectory at the moment... Tim is staying with me during his college holidays, and we are having a hum dinger of a time. Its nice to come home and hang out, talk about blokey stuff and just generally chill. Good times! Dynamite! And as JT would say, 'bring it on!'

Eeek! A Snake!

As I was coming home in the afternoon, there was a snake right outside my back door!! It was big and long and green. As soon as it saw me it slithered away into the bushes. Or maybe even under the house. I'm sure I saw it looking at me through the floorboards. At the moment every little noise when at home makes me think about that snake... Can anyone tell me- are the green ones dangerous???

Should I stay or should I go?

Last week I spent the week at CMS Summer School. I find it so challenging when I hear about missionaries who have given up so much to go overseas to take the gospel to places where it hasn't been taken. Its especially challenging when I know a lot of these missionaries personally. These are people that I was on a mission team with in Sydney's suburb of Liverpool- a hot, unattractive, ethnic suburb. These are people just like me who love their family, love living in Sydney, and love doing ministry. So why shouldn't I go?

Well to be honest, I can't think of a good reason. Except that I love my family. I love my city. I want the security of owning my own home one day. The thought of struggling with another language for a few years terrifies me. I get lonely, even here in Sydney. Am I emotionally capable? Am I thick skinned enough? I have just become an uncle. There are so many maybe's at the moment...

But what it boils down to is that there is a great need outside of Sydney for people to hear the gospel. Without Jesus, people are going to hell. And God has blessed me with a Polish heritage and I have a heart for seeing them saved. In my heart of hearts I really want to be a missionary. Pray for me. And pray for Poland.

New Orleans Jazz in Sydney...and Katrina.

Tonight was jazz in the Domain. I loved the exciting atmosphere and the misty rain that soothed the hot day. The New Orleans guys were great- they belted out some tunes which I'm sure could be heard in Blacktown. Its not often that there are good quality jazz concerts on for free!

Even though there was much dancing and merriment, there was also a tinge of sadness at the reminder of Hurricane Katrina. The only thing I didn't like was how New Orleans was presented as a city that would endure. As one singer said, 'No matter what they throw at us, we will continue'. Or something like that. Another form of trusting in men rather than trusting in God.

Speaking of Medicals...

My eye doctor goes to our church. On Friday I went to see him and there were other people from church in the waiting room, so while I was waiting, 2 or 3 people waved to me and called out my name and came over to talk.

Today I found out that the guy who saw the doctor after me was a little confused. When he went in to see the doctor, he asked 'who was that guy out there?'

The doctor explained that I was a minister. The guy said 'Oh! So many people in the waiting room knew him, I thought he was a rock star!'

I guess its about time for another hair cut eh?

Relevant Medicals

I've just had a medical done as part of the process for my up-coming ordination....which prompts me to ask...why do the Bishops etc need to know what's in my body fluids???

All Quiet

My house guests have gone home now. I don't know what to do with myself!

Just for fun, here is a conversation between Luca (almost 2 years old) and Jodie:
Jodie- Come here to Mummy.
Luca- OK.
Jodie- You have got such an obedient spirit, don't you?
Luca- No!

Welcome to the International Year of Deserts and Desertification.

If you know me, you know that I am a reflector. That's why I tend to like New Year's because it offers me the opportunity to do that which suits my personality- to think about the year that was, and to consider the year that will be. So today in church, I inflicted my 'reflectiveness' on the congregation. I had a series of questions which I have found very helpful in previous years as I have thought about what God has done the past year, and how I would like to grow in 2006. Hopefully you you also might find them helpful too!

Questions for Reflection:
1. What can you thank God for over the past year?
2. How have you grown in your relationship with Him?
3. How have you seen God answer prayers?
4. What have been your struggles?
5. How do you want God to help you overcome your struggles?
6. What can you pray for in the light of 2006?
7. How do you want to grow in:
- your knowledge of God?
- your godliness?
- in ministry to others?

Anyone want to share any answers?

The Meaning of Boxing Day

I know Boxing Day was a few days ago but something happened that I would like to share. Something that makes my blood boil. We (Jodie, Franco, the kids and I) were driving back from visiting our cousins in Kurrajong, with full tummies, in a full car, when we saw a girl walking by the road, thumbing for a ride, out in the middle of no where. At first I thought she looked like she was in her underwear. As we passed her, we spent some time discussing whether or not we could stop for her, because we had a full car. Thoughts crossed through our head- was she drunk? On drugs? In trouble? Eventually I spun the car around, and we pulled up beside her. Jodie wound down the window and said to her, 'Are you OK?'

The girl burst into tears and explained to us that her boyfriend had kicked her out of the car because she wouldn't sleep with him. She didn't even have a clue where she was. (And what I thought was her underwear was actually her gym equipment!) She needed a lift home to a nearby suburb. We explained that we were Christians, and offered to give her a lift. She calmed down after that, and told us that her boyfriend (they were both 17) had said to her that he had waited 5 years for her to sleep with him, and he couldn't wait any longer. Goodness knows what he was thinking when he was 12 years old!

The girl told us she had prayed for someone to come along. And even though God used us to 'answer' her prayer, if you think of it pray that God may use this incident for her salvation.

When I think about this boyfriend, and his total lack of love for his girlfriend, and what I felt like doing if ever I met this so-called 'boyfriend' of hers, it kind of gave a new spin on the meaning of 'Boxing Day'.