Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Where Angels Fear to Tread
Out beyond your window, lies a place where angels fear to tread.
Cast in shadow, is this place, and surrounded by despair.
No-one dares to venture forth, for the elders tell of a banished fiend, who dwells amongst the wreckage.
Chaos. Anarchy. Death. They say he brought these things, upon this quiet, sheltered town.
But is this really the place, where angels fear to tread?
Law and order faltered, but free-will, and ambition appeared from many closets.
This man spoke out, and encouraged a rebellion, but banished he became.
That is why he is to be found lurking, where angels fear to tread.
Cast out of society, and rejected by his family, this man had nowhere to go.
Into the depths of Hell, his thoughts began too lead.
Struggle, would his heart, to break this downward spiral.
But all this fight, and all this love, would be in vain.
Who would ever believe, that such a man could falter?
His thoughts became more depressing, as every minute swept by him.
His appearance soon became distorted, resembling his surrounds.
For we all know, that darkness is all-consuming.
Lost for hope, and abandoned by all, it was only a matter of time, before his Spirit fell.
For he was stuck in a darkness, where angels fear to tread.
It reached a time, when he had had enough.
He reached for the blade, and held it tight, in amongst his fingers.
He thought of his family, and a tear streaked down his face.
What he would give, just for one last look.
He saw their faces, cried out, and dropped the blade.
It was for them, that he had rebelled, and cried out to the World, sacrificing himself.
The pain was so raw, and intense, and completely broke him down.
He snatched up the blade, and slashed at his wrists.
As his life slowly ebbed away, he knew that he had lost.
For his strength, and his will, had fled, when he had been cast out.
But his last comforting thought, stayed with him well past his dying day.
For he was not the bad person, that was left to society.
They couldn't handle change, for extreme it was considered.
Herein lies the place, where angels fear to tread.
Those Eyes
He pulls his mask down over his eyes, waiting for his chance.
He's an anarchist. Enmity and discord, flow within his veins.
He holds his weapon close, his lips are parched, and breath is sharp.
The woman rises, and bids her beau farewell.
The masked man is alert. His excitement, electric.
Her feet follow the path, his car follows her.
He's had her before, but it was all legal then.
"I'll show her," he mutters, vengeance on his mind.
One last time, he'll touch her skin, kiss her lips.
Stroke her hair, make love to her.
He wants her too hurt, but he loves her so.
Can he really do this?
He's consumed by a broken heart, and jealousy's his friend.
If he can't have her, then no-one can, for they don't deserve the chance.
She reaches her door, his car stops.
Fumbling with her keys, she never sees him rise.
He holds his breath, and prepares too seize his prey.
She turns the handle, and a scream hits the air.
"Mummy!" Her child throws his arms wide, and hugs his mother tight.
The man stops dead. The child looks familiar.
He knows those eyes, and that nose, for they both belong to him.
He drops his weapon, and flees the scene, tears falling thick and fast.
He understands everything now, why she left, why he was bitter. If only he had known.
Abandoned her, and chose to work, was what he had done.
She had left, and he had burnt with fury.
She was looking out for the child, giving him a steady home.
Now he understood . . . what life was all about.
Innocence
Innocence is something we all have, it's dangerous, and it makes us vulnerable.
We take things for granted. Things like safety, freedom, love.
An idealistic view of the world, helps us sleep at night.
We don't see the death, the destruction, the suffering . . . that is oh so widely publicised.
Things aren't always as the appear, but apparently, seeing is believing.
Innocence is good, when you're growing up, and can't handle the devastating nature of the truth.
But the older you get, and the more you see, it's time to let that innocence go.
Yes, innocence can protect you, but knowledge prepares you, for the rollercoaster ride that is life.
Holding onto innocence, for too long, is naive, and dangerous.
Let it go, so that you can be ready for whatever is placed in your way.
The Portrait of Life
Through our eyes, we absorb the Earth's beauty.
Through our eyes, we see the Earth's despair.
Through our eyes, we see pain and suffering, but we also see joy, and hope.
The eyes show us all the intricacies of life, yet, in many ways, we are blind.
The eyes are a true reflection of emotion, if you gaze into anothers.
Until you have done this, and understood the vulnerability of the human soul, you are simply blind.
The Little Things
A broken heart, a tennis swing.
A kookaburra's laugh, a mothers cry.
A footy siren, a weathered verandah.
The noises of life, the visions of life.
All are so much different, yet all are one and the same.
For they all tell a story, a story of hope, and of despair.
That starts at birth, and concludes at death.
And everything else, that falls in between.
For life isn't all about the big things; the money, the power.
But about the little things, that define who we are.
Only a Boy
Life is full of surprises, and every emotion imaginable.
You lust after the girl next door, who flirts, and toys with your head.
You cry at the drop of a hat, but won't admit this, for fear of being rejected.
You anger easily, yet your spirit is calm.
You get jealous, and over-protective, but that is your charm.
You're stubborn, and impulsive, yet you're gentle, and insecure.
You are loud, and outspoken, yet you are withdrawn and sentimental.
You have no fear, yet, you get nervous, around the one you love.
Your heart is pure, yet your mind is distorted.
And, your love is one of a kind.
You would do anything for your partner, yet you fear commitment.
You are passionate, and intense, yet get scared off, when things get to intimate.
You're a man, but really only a boy.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
What do you want to do before you die?
Recently I discovered a TV show on FOXTEL, called 'The Buried Life.' Really didn't appeal to me when I heard the name, so I skipped over it. Later that very night, I accidently turned on that channel, instead of the one I was actually intending to watch.
Change the channel however, I did not. For the plot line of this documentary is about 4 young guys, all friends, deciding to do something different with their lives, and compile a list of 100 things they would like to do before they die; and for each item on their list they cross off, they will do something for randoms that they come across during their travels/adventures.
Pretty cool concept, I thought. So anyway, it really got me thinking. The concept of a 'Bucket List' is only usually utilised by those that are terminally ill, or just a joke to see who can get the most outlandish things on their list. Personally, the most I'd thought about it, was when watching either the movie by that name. They were merely passing thoughts.
I don't know what it was about TBL (The Buried Life) that hit me so hard, but it certainly did. After seeing that episode, I spent the next few days creating my own list of things I wanted to do before I died. I didn't put any parameters upon the list (ie, no official number to stop at) thinking that I might get like 50 or 60 things ... shown below is the result of my deep thinking sessions ...
Items appearing red text, are items I have achieved. I know that there is only one down so far, but as I have the rest of my life ahead of me, some amazing friends, and a God that just keeps on looking after me, I am willing to attempt each item on this list. Some people deem this as self-centredness, perhaps it is, but I fully and completely intend to serve and glorify my loving God through each of these activities.
Anyone willing to join me in some of these, feel free to tell me, and tag along.
Change the channel however, I did not. For the plot line of this documentary is about 4 young guys, all friends, deciding to do something different with their lives, and compile a list of 100 things they would like to do before they die; and for each item on their list they cross off, they will do something for randoms that they come across during their travels/adventures.
Pretty cool concept, I thought. So anyway, it really got me thinking. The concept of a 'Bucket List' is only usually utilised by those that are terminally ill, or just a joke to see who can get the most outlandish things on their list. Personally, the most I'd thought about it, was when watching either the movie by that name. They were merely passing thoughts.
I don't know what it was about TBL (The Buried Life) that hit me so hard, but it certainly did. After seeing that episode, I spent the next few days creating my own list of things I wanted to do before I died. I didn't put any parameters upon the list (ie, no official number to stop at) thinking that I might get like 50 or 60 things ... shown below is the result of my deep thinking sessions ...
WHAT I WANT TO DO BEFORE I DIE – THE OFFICIAL LIST
1. Witness something amazing/majestic
2. Be in a movie
3. Start my own business
4. Overcome my fear of heights
5. Drive each of: a mustang, a Ferrari, a Porsche, a V8 Supercar, an F1 car
6. Go sky diving
7. Go on an aeroplane at least once domestically, and once internationally
8. Build a school in a Third World country
9. Fall in love
10. Have a family; so, wife and kids
11. Adopt a child
12. Sponsor a child
13. Swim with a shark and touch/pat it
14. Give a speech: A) at a school. B) at a political meeting. C) at a writers conference
15. Invent something unique
16. Gatecrash a party
17. Dress up randomly for a non dress up party
18. Cut a ribbon at a major opening
19. Make a substantial charity donation
20. Deliver a baby
21. Scream at the top of my lungs
22. Sing the national anthem at a big event
23. Send a message in a bottle
24. Buy someone their groceries
25. Volunteer in a soup kitchen
26. Make someone smile
27. Throw the first pitch at a World Series game
28. Climb a mountain
29. Wear a custom made suit
30. Tell someone how I really feel
31. Throw a surprise party
32. Be in a music video
33. Lead someone to Christ
34. Always be giving with my time, money, energy, etc
35. Find a cure to something; not necessarily having to be medical
36. Make a positive change in the World many times over
37. Kiss the girl of my dreams
38. Have my own radio program
39. Have my own newspaper column
40. Come up with a revolutionary idea in at least 5 different fields
41. Conduct a wedding
42. Chauffeur a celebrity
43. Meet royalty
44. Master as many forms as martial arts as I can in my lifetime
45. Learn how to dance – at least 2 different styles
46. Compete in a WWE or TNA ring (or both)
47. Sneak into different places; Buckingham Palace, Warner Brothers Studios, etc
48. Go hang-gliding
49. Visit every country in the World; every town/city if I can. At least every continent
50. Own and design my own house
51. Ride a Harley
52. Pass a bill in Parliament
53. Play/participate in a Grand Final in any sport/activity
54. Write a new national anthem
55. Go to work in a suit or dress ups (depends on where it is, and the dress code)
56. Do at least one random act of kindness a week
57. Break the sound barrier
58. Speak at a youth conference, and at a Christian conference
59. Write a Top 10 song
60. Have dinner with at least 3 celebrities
61. Go on, if possible, Gladiators, The Amazing Race, Master Chef, The Footy Show
62. Host a murder mystery party
63. Solve a crime
64. Be a knight for a day
65. Enter a jousting competition
66. Go snorkelling along the Great Barrier Reef
67. Win a Nobel Prize, or a Pulitzer Prize, or something of the like
68. Build an orphanage
69. Serenade someone
70. Go snowboarding
71. Get an AFL Record for Geelong v every other team
72. Create an alter-ego
73. Become fluent in multiple languages
74. Go into space
75. Have something named after me; name something after someone
76. Start my own publication
77. Star on a reality TV show
78. Pretend to work at a shop and help/serve customers
79. Share the Gospel with at least one person a week
80. Go to the Boxing Day Test once per every touring team
81. Create my own language
82. Get my own words added to the English language officially
83. Go to a leadership boot camp
84. Fly a plane and/or a helicopter
85. Read the Bible cover to cover
86. Write my own biblical commentaries
87. Be an impostor and/or a streaker at something
88. Surf in Hawaii and South Africa
89. Visit as many of the Worlds Theme Parks as possible
90. Write some theological books; and some practical Christian living books
91. Be a contestant on a game show
92. Take a child on a toy shopping spree
93. Call a game of AFL and Cricket; on radio and/or TV
94. Play a practical joke on a celebrity
95. Work in an animal shelter
96. Teach somebody English
97. Interview a celebrity; gatecrash red carpet?
98. Have my own TV show
99. Organise a charity concert
100. Go dog sledding
101. Be a fireman for a day
102. Be a paramedic for a day
103. Eat a raw chilli
104. Start an internationally recognised annual day of prayer
105. Build Churches/share the Gospel wherever required
106. Pioneer something new/unique
107. Be an instigator in Christianity becoming ‘big’ within society again
108. Start my own ‘brand’ of humanitarian agencies
109. Be ‘the face’ of something
110. Write a best selling novel
111. Create an Academy Award winning movie
112. Be in a successful band
113. Save someone’s life
114. Help others to achieve their goals
115. Be a living sacrifice/example of and for Christ
116. Watch both a sunrise and a sunset from a mountains Summit
117. Try new things as often as possible
118. Start a conga line in the middle of a mall
119. Host a cooking show
120. Start a ‘hug’ fest; free hugs brand somewhere
121. Do a sketch with a comedian; or solo
122. Re-create a movie and/or an historical event
123. Be a waiter for a day
124. Be in a stage play and/or a musical
125. Learn at least 5 different musical instruments
126. Visit each of the 7 ancient, 7 modern, and 7 natural wonders of the World
127. Be in two places at once
128. Take a photo of something from each day of my life( from 21st onwards)
129. Fire a gun
130. Go water skiing
131. Go on a jet ski
132. Visit various real life movie locations; ie NZ for LOTR locations
133. Walk the entirety of the Great Wall of China
134. Make a movie
135. Sell something
136. Create a new advertisement for any product
137. Perform a rap song
138. Enter a darts competition
139. Break a World Record
140. Enter a ‘dance off’
141. Get a full body massage
142. Be the mascot for an Australian sporting team
143. Pretend to be a celebrity I look like
144. Get on the cover of TIME Magazine; Rolling Stone as well?
145. Go on Good News Week
146. Go to/host an op shop party
147. Ride a bull
148. Run with the bulls
149. Make a toast at a strangers wedding
150. Stand under a plane whilst it lands
151. Make the front page of a newspaper
152. Catch something and eat it
153. Sleep in a haunted house
154. Go to a rock concert
155. See the sunrise twice in one day
156. Buy a souvenir from each continent
157. Spend a day with various celebrities individually
158. Yell ‘BINGO!’ or other random catchphrases in public
159. Make my own brand of evangelical/inspirational Christian videos/movies
160. Climb the Eiffel Tower
161. Visit the Pyramids
162. Speak at a UN forum
163. Do Army Reserve training
164. Write an autobiography
165. Be a pirate for a day
166. Create a new board game
167. Be involved in a protest
168. Sing in the rain
169. Explore a cave
170. Create a new dessert
171. Ride a horse
172. Cook dinner for a celebrity; ideally Matt Preston
173. Attend an Olympic Games Opening and/or Closing ceremony
174. Go to an EPL match at both Wembley and Anfield
175. Take part in an American Civil War re-enactment
176. Lead a parade
177. Open the 6pm news
178. Plant a tree
179. Become a licensed minister/pastor
180. Tell a joke on late night television
181. Get a university and Bible College degree
182. Go on a blind date
183. Take a stranger out to dinner
184. Dance on stage at a major concert
185. Go paragliding
186. Spend a week in silence
187. Draw a mural
188. Smash a guitar on stage
189. Learn how to sail
190. Compete in a soapbox derby
191. Experience zero gravity
192. Tour with a major band
193. Throw the most badass party … EVER!
194. Jump off a waterfall
195. Ride a dune buggy
196. Host a lemonade stand
197. Represent Australia in an international competition of some sort
198. Be in a boxing match
199. Party with a rockstar
200. Busk … and earn $100
201. Watch a meteor shower
202. Umpire a game of AFL football
203. Run through a banner
204. Teach a Primary School class
205. Go white-water rafting
206. Ride in a hot air balloon
207. Sing in front of a large crowd
208. Roadtrip across all of Australia, Canada, France, and the US
209. Visit numerous castles
210. Help create a global renaissance (or be a part of one)
211. Finish a rubics cube
212. Meet my inspirations; including the boys from ‘The Buried Life’
213. Pull an all nighter around a bonfire at the beach
214. Go scuba diving
215. Give someone away at their wedding
216. Have a carriage/wheelbarrow/shopping trolley race in a car park
217. Re-enact a zombie apocalypse
218. Organise a music festival
219. Adopt some animals; start my own pet/animal shelter
220. Chase a storm
221. Backpack across Europe
222. Have my own clothing line/shoes
223. Give 100 compliments in a day (all need to be genuine)
224. Help feed a village
225. Walk the Kokoda Trail
226. Climb Mt Everest; or, at least, attempt to
227. Go to a Native American sun-dance ceremony in South Dakota
228. Finish a half-marathon
229. Visit WWII historical sites
230. Learn the history of ‘everything’
231. Sleep on the beach
232. Climb all 14 mountains above 8000 metres (?)
233. Be the one to break a piñata
234. Create a massive scavenger hunt meets the Amazing Race somewhere
235. Become moderately successful on YouTUBE
236. Swim with dolphins
237. Go to an airport and get on the next available flight anywhere
238. Have a water balloon war
239. Put someone’s house up for sale, and host inspections
240. Read as many books as I possibly can in my lifetime
241. Make a friend in each and every Australian and American state
242. Get my drivers license
243. Witness the birthing of an animal
244. Walk all day
245. Finish a triathlon
246. Take photos of myself and my friends remaking famous movie and album covers
247. Be an inspiration to everyone and a positive change within the World
248. Go on many missions trips
249. Ride a gondola in Venice
250. Bury one, or multiple, time capsules
251. Be a cheerleader for a day
252. Help one stranger a week, for one year
253. Enter a golf buggy race
254. Tell a stranger they are beautiful
255. Be a part of a pit crew for either, or both, a V8 Supercar team or F1 team
256. Help the impoverished and those who cannot help themselves
257. Direct a feature length film
258. Join a secret society
259. Sign my name somewhere on the ‘HOLLYWOOD’ sign
260. Go on a safari, a cruise, a contiki tour
261. Spend a night in a library, a museum, a hopping complex
262. Learn to be a bartender, a barista
263. Get my CPR and first aid certificates
264. Do plenty of environmental and human rights activities
265. Start the Mexican wave at some sort of large scale event
266. Hike the Inca trail in Peru
267. Visit, and hike the Grand Canyon
268. Have a laser tag battle in a shopping centre
269. Attend a Hollywood premiere
270. Throw someone their bucks party
271. Crowdsurf
272. Spend a fortnight living in Third World conditions to raise awareness; documentaryialise it
273. Take the ‘Live Below the Line’ challenge
274. Live out the commandments of the Bible
275. Have a sing/dance off with a celebrity
276. Celebrate Chinese New Year
277. Hold my own fireworks ‘show’
278. Start my own club
279. Have a 24, LOTR, HP, and others marathon – dress ups and everything
280. End World injustices
281. Work at/for the UN
282. Join a political party
283. Host a master class
284. Speak like Yoda for a day
285. Speak solely in movie quotes, questions for a day
286. Decorate a wedding cake
287. Ensure that everyone in the World hears the Gospel in one form or another
288. Stand somewhere that no-one has set foot upon before
289. Send someone a dozen long stem red roses
290. Help someone to overcome an addiction
291. Leave a letter in a library book
292. Give back to those who have given to me
293. Cook a few popular dishes from at least one country on each continent
294. Pay for my parents to have the honeymoon they never had
295. Go to a masquerade ball
296. Touch a killer whale
297. Compete in a talent show
298. Hitchhike across a state line
299. Take photos in a photo booth with a complete stranger
300. Be eco-friendly in how I live; and social justice issues
301. Have/create my own biblical TV shows
302. Create my own moving, challenging, and inspirational Gospel skits & videos
303. Build a school in a Third World country
304. Video/photograph myself going through each item on this list
305. Ride on the outside of a car through an automatic car wash
306. Create a TV show
307. Write articles for major publications; Buck Williamsish
308. Have my photo taken with/interview, at least 100 different celebrities
309. Play a game of tennis against Roger Federer/John McEnroe
310. Have a goal kicking competition against Matthew Lloyd
311. Bat against the bowling of Shane Warne
312. Accept a dare; poll friends and strangers for the ‘coolest’
313. Make the news/front page of the newspaper as a superhero defending the city from the smallest things as coffee burns, to whatever
1. Witness something amazing/majestic
2. Be in a movie
3. Start my own business
4. Overcome my fear of heights
5. Drive each of: a mustang, a Ferrari, a Porsche, a V8 Supercar, an F1 car
6. Go sky diving
7. Go on an aeroplane at least once domestically, and once internationally
8. Build a school in a Third World country
9. Fall in love
10. Have a family; so, wife and kids
11. Adopt a child
12. Sponsor a child
13. Swim with a shark and touch/pat it
14. Give a speech: A) at a school. B) at a political meeting. C) at a writers conference
15. Invent something unique
16. Gatecrash a party
17. Dress up randomly for a non dress up party
18. Cut a ribbon at a major opening
19. Make a substantial charity donation
20. Deliver a baby
21. Scream at the top of my lungs
22. Sing the national anthem at a big event
23. Send a message in a bottle
24. Buy someone their groceries
25. Volunteer in a soup kitchen
26. Make someone smile
27. Throw the first pitch at a World Series game
28. Climb a mountain
29. Wear a custom made suit
30. Tell someone how I really feel
31. Throw a surprise party
32. Be in a music video
33. Lead someone to Christ
34. Always be giving with my time, money, energy, etc
35. Find a cure to something; not necessarily having to be medical
36. Make a positive change in the World many times over
37. Kiss the girl of my dreams
38. Have my own radio program
39. Have my own newspaper column
40. Come up with a revolutionary idea in at least 5 different fields
41. Conduct a wedding
42. Chauffeur a celebrity
43. Meet royalty
44. Master as many forms as martial arts as I can in my lifetime
45. Learn how to dance – at least 2 different styles
46. Compete in a WWE or TNA ring (or both)
47. Sneak into different places; Buckingham Palace, Warner Brothers Studios, etc
48. Go hang-gliding
49. Visit every country in the World; every town/city if I can. At least every continent
50. Own and design my own house
51. Ride a Harley
52. Pass a bill in Parliament
53. Play/participate in a Grand Final in any sport/activity
54. Write a new national anthem
55. Go to work in a suit or dress ups (depends on where it is, and the dress code)
56. Do at least one random act of kindness a week
57. Break the sound barrier
58. Speak at a youth conference, and at a Christian conference
59. Write a Top 10 song
60. Have dinner with at least 3 celebrities
61. Go on, if possible, Gladiators, The Amazing Race, Master Chef, The Footy Show
62. Host a murder mystery party
63. Solve a crime
64. Be a knight for a day
65. Enter a jousting competition
66. Go snorkelling along the Great Barrier Reef
67. Win a Nobel Prize, or a Pulitzer Prize, or something of the like
68. Build an orphanage
69. Serenade someone
70. Go snowboarding
71. Get an AFL Record for Geelong v every other team
72. Create an alter-ego
73. Become fluent in multiple languages
74. Go into space
75. Have something named after me; name something after someone
76. Start my own publication
77. Star on a reality TV show
78. Pretend to work at a shop and help/serve customers
79. Share the Gospel with at least one person a week
80. Go to the Boxing Day Test once per every touring team
81. Create my own language
82. Get my own words added to the English language officially
83. Go to a leadership boot camp
84. Fly a plane and/or a helicopter
85. Read the Bible cover to cover
86. Write my own biblical commentaries
87. Be an impostor and/or a streaker at something
88. Surf in Hawaii and South Africa
89. Visit as many of the Worlds Theme Parks as possible
90. Write some theological books; and some practical Christian living books
91. Be a contestant on a game show
92. Take a child on a toy shopping spree
93. Call a game of AFL and Cricket; on radio and/or TV
94. Play a practical joke on a celebrity
95. Work in an animal shelter
96. Teach somebody English
97. Interview a celebrity; gatecrash red carpet?
98. Have my own TV show
99. Organise a charity concert
100. Go dog sledding
101. Be a fireman for a day
102. Be a paramedic for a day
103. Eat a raw chilli
104. Start an internationally recognised annual day of prayer
105. Build Churches/share the Gospel wherever required
106. Pioneer something new/unique
107. Be an instigator in Christianity becoming ‘big’ within society again
108. Start my own ‘brand’ of humanitarian agencies
109. Be ‘the face’ of something
110. Write a best selling novel
111. Create an Academy Award winning movie
112. Be in a successful band
113. Save someone’s life
114. Help others to achieve their goals
115. Be a living sacrifice/example of and for Christ
116. Watch both a sunrise and a sunset from a mountains Summit
117. Try new things as often as possible
118. Start a conga line in the middle of a mall
119. Host a cooking show
120. Start a ‘hug’ fest; free hugs brand somewhere
121. Do a sketch with a comedian; or solo
122. Re-create a movie and/or an historical event
123. Be a waiter for a day
124. Be in a stage play and/or a musical
125. Learn at least 5 different musical instruments
126. Visit each of the 7 ancient, 7 modern, and 7 natural wonders of the World
127. Be in two places at once
128. Take a photo of something from each day of my life( from 21st onwards)
129. Fire a gun
130. Go water skiing
131. Go on a jet ski
132. Visit various real life movie locations; ie NZ for LOTR locations
133. Walk the entirety of the Great Wall of China
134. Make a movie
135. Sell something
136. Create a new advertisement for any product
137. Perform a rap song
138. Enter a darts competition
139. Break a World Record
140. Enter a ‘dance off’
141. Get a full body massage
142. Be the mascot for an Australian sporting team
143. Pretend to be a celebrity I look like
144. Get on the cover of TIME Magazine; Rolling Stone as well?
145. Go on Good News Week
146. Go to/host an op shop party
147. Ride a bull
148. Run with the bulls
149. Make a toast at a strangers wedding
150. Stand under a plane whilst it lands
151. Make the front page of a newspaper
152. Catch something and eat it
153. Sleep in a haunted house
154. Go to a rock concert
155. See the sunrise twice in one day
156. Buy a souvenir from each continent
157. Spend a day with various celebrities individually
158. Yell ‘BINGO!’ or other random catchphrases in public
159. Make my own brand of evangelical/inspirational Christian videos/movies
160. Climb the Eiffel Tower
161. Visit the Pyramids
162. Speak at a UN forum
163. Do Army Reserve training
164. Write an autobiography
165. Be a pirate for a day
166. Create a new board game
167. Be involved in a protest
168. Sing in the rain
169. Explore a cave
170. Create a new dessert
171. Ride a horse
172. Cook dinner for a celebrity; ideally Matt Preston
173. Attend an Olympic Games Opening and/or Closing ceremony
174. Go to an EPL match at both Wembley and Anfield
175. Take part in an American Civil War re-enactment
176. Lead a parade
177. Open the 6pm news
178. Plant a tree
179. Become a licensed minister/pastor
180. Tell a joke on late night television
181. Get a university and Bible College degree
182. Go on a blind date
183. Take a stranger out to dinner
184. Dance on stage at a major concert
185. Go paragliding
186. Spend a week in silence
187. Draw a mural
188. Smash a guitar on stage
189. Learn how to sail
190. Compete in a soapbox derby
191. Experience zero gravity
192. Tour with a major band
193. Throw the most badass party … EVER!
194. Jump off a waterfall
195. Ride a dune buggy
196. Host a lemonade stand
197. Represent Australia in an international competition of some sort
198. Be in a boxing match
199. Party with a rockstar
200. Busk … and earn $100
201. Watch a meteor shower
202. Umpire a game of AFL football
203. Run through a banner
204. Teach a Primary School class
205. Go white-water rafting
206. Ride in a hot air balloon
207. Sing in front of a large crowd
208. Roadtrip across all of Australia, Canada, France, and the US
209. Visit numerous castles
210. Help create a global renaissance (or be a part of one)
211. Finish a rubics cube
212. Meet my inspirations; including the boys from ‘The Buried Life’
213. Pull an all nighter around a bonfire at the beach
214. Go scuba diving
215. Give someone away at their wedding
216. Have a carriage/wheelbarrow/shopping trolley race in a car park
217. Re-enact a zombie apocalypse
218. Organise a music festival
219. Adopt some animals; start my own pet/animal shelter
220. Chase a storm
221. Backpack across Europe
222. Have my own clothing line/shoes
223. Give 100 compliments in a day (all need to be genuine)
224. Help feed a village
225. Walk the Kokoda Trail
226. Climb Mt Everest; or, at least, attempt to
227. Go to a Native American sun-dance ceremony in South Dakota
228. Finish a half-marathon
229. Visit WWII historical sites
230. Learn the history of ‘everything’
231. Sleep on the beach
232. Climb all 14 mountains above 8000 metres (?)
233. Be the one to break a piñata
234. Create a massive scavenger hunt meets the Amazing Race somewhere
235. Become moderately successful on YouTUBE
236. Swim with dolphins
237. Go to an airport and get on the next available flight anywhere
238. Have a water balloon war
239. Put someone’s house up for sale, and host inspections
240. Read as many books as I possibly can in my lifetime
241. Make a friend in each and every Australian and American state
242. Get my drivers license
243. Witness the birthing of an animal
244. Walk all day
245. Finish a triathlon
246. Take photos of myself and my friends remaking famous movie and album covers
247. Be an inspiration to everyone and a positive change within the World
248. Go on many missions trips
249. Ride a gondola in Venice
250. Bury one, or multiple, time capsules
251. Be a cheerleader for a day
252. Help one stranger a week, for one year
253. Enter a golf buggy race
254. Tell a stranger they are beautiful
255. Be a part of a pit crew for either, or both, a V8 Supercar team or F1 team
256. Help the impoverished and those who cannot help themselves
257. Direct a feature length film
258. Join a secret society
259. Sign my name somewhere on the ‘HOLLYWOOD’ sign
260. Go on a safari, a cruise, a contiki tour
261. Spend a night in a library, a museum, a hopping complex
262. Learn to be a bartender, a barista
263. Get my CPR and first aid certificates
264. Do plenty of environmental and human rights activities
265. Start the Mexican wave at some sort of large scale event
266. Hike the Inca trail in Peru
267. Visit, and hike the Grand Canyon
268. Have a laser tag battle in a shopping centre
269. Attend a Hollywood premiere
270. Throw someone their bucks party
271. Crowdsurf
272. Spend a fortnight living in Third World conditions to raise awareness; documentaryialise it
273. Take the ‘Live Below the Line’ challenge
274. Live out the commandments of the Bible
275. Have a sing/dance off with a celebrity
276. Celebrate Chinese New Year
277. Hold my own fireworks ‘show’
278. Start my own club
279. Have a 24, LOTR, HP, and others marathon – dress ups and everything
280. End World injustices
281. Work at/for the UN
282. Join a political party
283. Host a master class
284. Speak like Yoda for a day
285. Speak solely in movie quotes, questions for a day
286. Decorate a wedding cake
287. Ensure that everyone in the World hears the Gospel in one form or another
288. Stand somewhere that no-one has set foot upon before
289. Send someone a dozen long stem red roses
290. Help someone to overcome an addiction
291. Leave a letter in a library book
292. Give back to those who have given to me
293. Cook a few popular dishes from at least one country on each continent
294. Pay for my parents to have the honeymoon they never had
295. Go to a masquerade ball
296. Touch a killer whale
297. Compete in a talent show
298. Hitchhike across a state line
299. Take photos in a photo booth with a complete stranger
300. Be eco-friendly in how I live; and social justice issues
301. Have/create my own biblical TV shows
302. Create my own moving, challenging, and inspirational Gospel skits & videos
303. Build a school in a Third World country
304. Video/photograph myself going through each item on this list
305. Ride on the outside of a car through an automatic car wash
306. Create a TV show
307. Write articles for major publications; Buck Williamsish
308. Have my photo taken with/interview, at least 100 different celebrities
309. Play a game of tennis against Roger Federer/John McEnroe
310. Have a goal kicking competition against Matthew Lloyd
311. Bat against the bowling of Shane Warne
312. Accept a dare; poll friends and strangers for the ‘coolest’
313. Make the news/front page of the newspaper as a superhero defending the city from the smallest things as coffee burns, to whatever
Items appearing red text, are items I have achieved. I know that there is only one down so far, but as I have the rest of my life ahead of me, some amazing friends, and a God that just keeps on looking after me, I am willing to attempt each item on this list. Some people deem this as self-centredness, perhaps it is, but I fully and completely intend to serve and glorify my loving God through each of these activities.
Anyone willing to join me in some of these, feel free to tell me, and tag along.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Darkness versus Light
Last year, an interesting concept came across my field of vision. It was using arts and crafts, etc to outreach to people. The theme was darkness vs Light. Now myself, I'm not creative at all, except with words. So, after a little pleading, I was permitted to write and enter something. Below is what ensued; a poem I wrote, that is in many respects my testimony before God.
From the moment we are born, to the moment that we pass,
there is an epic struggle, for control over our soul.
Darkness that is now, or light that will last?
All that darkness does, is leave one black like coal;
whereas light is like a beacon, bright and very vast.
How do I know this, you all may ask?
Quite simply, I have loved them both.
To walk away from darkness is a choice we all must make.
For the touch of darkness is alluring, laying all other sensations to waste.
For the taste of darkness is intoxicating, the sweetest thing to touch the tongue.
For the emotion of darkness is sensual, the hearts sole desire.
I loved the darkness. I loved just how good a quick fix felt.
What I now must say, comes from my own learnings.
Darkness can be comforting, and make on feel amazing.
Last however, it will not.
For darkness is simply temporary, filling a lifelong void.
For the deeds or darkness are evil, and death is the result.
As I dwell today upon my first love, I feel sick to my core;
knowing how I let my life be destroyed by darkness' lust.
I had no hope: the pain was so raw, so fresh, so deep.
In one moment, I had lost all I'd ever loved.
All I'd ever lived for had been laid bare.
Cast into shadow, my life had become.
I had been consumed by darkness' foul embrace.
Forsaking all I knew, I wanted it to end.
Slipping into, and out of, depression; my life was simply torture.
Doing all I could to forsake my yearnings,
needing most a Saviour;
I thought I had conquered the 'invisible' so-called, God.
But somehow, the Light found me.
Into the World, the Light has come.
A living sacrifice for all to share.
Beaten, broken, shattered, silent;
yet Light won the war.
I fought, and I fought, and I fought.
I didn't want to lose my freedom, my independence, my strength by accepting Light's offer.
If I did accept, I had no control.
Doing things my way, felt oh so much better.
Yet the more I fought, the closer the Light drew me.
The more I was dared to move away, the less I could resist.
Transfixed I stood.
To give in, would show child-like dependence;
to keep fighting would show complete foolishness.
In the end, there could be nothing but acceptance.
I could see where I was wrong, but letting go was, and is, painful.
To abandon the touch of darkness is hard.
To abandon the taste of darkness is excruciating.
To abandon the emotion of darkness is almost death to me.
The Light has set me free; has made me a rebel with a cause.
It has been many things that darkness can scarcely imagine.
Most importantly though, Light suffered and died for me;
freeing me from the chains of darkness.
Rising again, the Light has brought hope.
Hope that one day, darkness would be destroyed.
For the touch of Light is soothing, replenishing the soul.
For the taste of Light is guiding, revealing the path to be.
For the emotion of Light is spiritual, it lasts beyond this life.
For the touch of Light is redemption, bringing peace to a broken soul.
For the taste of Light is reconciliation, cleansing the tongue from darkness' taint.
For the emotion of Light is salvation, purifying darkened hearts.
Battle lines drawn: darkness versus Light.
One will win, one will lose.
Darkness is condemned; the Light is glorified.
It is our choices that define who we are.
To all I do ask, which side do you choose?
Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12 - The Suffering Servant sermon
Isaiah 52:13-53:12 (New International Version)
The Suffering and Glory of the Servant
13 See, my servant will act wisely;he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.
14 Just as there were many who were appalled at him —
his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man
and his form marred beyond human likeness—
15 so will he sprinkle many nations,
and kings will shut their mouths because of him.
For what they were not told, they will see,
and what they have not heard, they will understand.
Isaiah 53
1 Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
And who can speak of his descendants?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was stricken.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
11 After the suffering of his soul,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.
Growing up, did your parents ever have any expectations of what they wanted you to be? I know that mum and dad had some interesting ideas for me … (explain) … why don’t you share some examples with the person next to you for 60 seconds. GO! Would people like to share?
We’re at Day 20 on your advent calendar, which means that there are only 4 pieces of chocolate remaining until Christmas. In following on with what we just discussed, I reckon that Jesus’ parents had expectations for Him as well. Joseph, I would think, would have been hoping that Jesus would follow in his footsteps, and join the family business; carpentry. Jesus did, but His Heavenly Father also had plans for Him, which were written 700 years before He was born …
This morning I’m going to take you all for a walk through my favourite passage in the Bible; Isaiah 53 in which we will see God’s plans revealed. A plan that will leave you thinking “what the heck was God smoking?”
The book of Isaiah was written during a time of great turmoil for God’s people. In this book, God speaks of his peoples’ departure from truth, their need for repentance, and the redemption provided in the form of a coming Saviour.
Isaiah, along with many other Old Testament prophets, gave a message of impending judgement, followed by the promise of hope and Salvation; more, salvation coming out of God’s judgement.
In reading this passage, you can see that this is God’s plan for a new covenant with His people; through the sacrificial death of His chosen Servant.
Here is where the message for this morning begins, and where I explain the point of studying the text of Isaiah 53 this morning. This chapter was not written by Christians after Christ’s coming, trying to distort or failing to understand what really happened on that Easter weekend a little more than two thousand years ago. This passage was written by a Jewish prophet 700 years before Christ came. Listen carefully to this last bit, as it’s the central element of this passage. What this prophet saw, was not a Messiah who escapes death and resurrection, but a Messiah who dies – and dies explicitly in the place of sinners – and then rises again to make intercession for His redeemed, forgiven, and justified people forever. Friends, this isn’t something that will be upgraded when the warranty wears off, not something can be replaced if broken; this is something permanent, that has no warranty, and that is guaranteed to last forever.
You may be asking however, why is there need of a new covenant, and why does this ‘Servant’ have to die? It’s amazing how many time the passage hits on why Jesus died, and with such striking language/imagery. I will let the words of Scripture, the ten references, have their own multiplying effect by just saying them to you. Before I mention them, I want you to notice verse 10, “it was the Lord’s good plan to crush Him, and cause Him grief.” This death is not an historical accident. Friends, it is the purpose, and the plan of God. It is the expectation of a Father to His Son. So as we hear these ten statements of why he died, keep in mind: these are God’s purposes NOT human accidents. And if you will receive it, these statements are God’s love to you. Yes, it is God’s love; it was his loving mercy that caused him to send his Son to die. Here they are. Ten statements why God planned for his holy servant to die:
1. Verse 4: “it was our weaknesses He carried;”
2. Verse 4: “it was our sorrows that weighed Him down.”
3. Verse 5: “He was pierced for our rebellion,”
4. Verse 5: “crushed for our sins.”
5. Verse 5: “He was beaten so we could be whole.”
6. Verse 5: “He was whipped so we could be healed.”
7. Verse 6: “the Lord has laid on Him, the sins of us all.”
8. Verse 8: “He was struck down for the rebellion of my people.”
9. Verse 11: “He will bear all their sins.”
10. Verse 12: “He bore the sins of many, and interceded for rebels.”
Did you notice anything similar about each of the statements? I did. I notice that all of them talk of OUR need for a Saviour. The NIV says “He was pierced for our transgressions, and crushed for our iniquities.” And that’s exactly what happened. This holy and perfect servant died in OUR place. “By His wounds we are healed.” Says it all, doesn’t it? This is God’s expectations of His Son … to die in our place!
The idea of the need for a Saviour could be seen back at the time that this passage was written. The nation of Israel, at this time, was a city of affluence and prosperity, yet it had become a hotbed for depravity. God’s appointed leaders (Hezekiah for one), had failed to lead righteously, and consequently God’s people were consumed by religious idolatry, and social injustice. Friends, like the people of Israel, we live in a fallen World; a World full of depravity, conflict, hatred, and worldly passions. Our World has become spiritually helpless, with people believing the teachings of false prophets (these ideas are evident throughout the books of Isaiah, and Micah; another prophet who wrote at the same time as Isaiah). This is the impending judgement that has been awaiting us for thousands of years!
However, God still loves us! (REPEAT)
That’s huge! Even though we have constantly ignored God, and rejected him (just as is prophecised in this passage that we will continue doing to his servant), God still loves us! And this is evident in his sending his FAITHFUL, HOLY, OBEDIENT, RIGHTEOUS SERVANT!
If you are here this morning and you have ever asked, “what is the essence of Christianity? What’s at the heart and centre of it all?” Let’s find out. Let’s use the words of verse 6: ALL humans (not just the murderers, the adulterers, and the stealers) ALL humans have gone astray. ALL of us have turned to our own way. This is called sin. And sin is: turning from God and making ourselves our own master, and our own treasure. It’s doing what WE want, when WE want.
But God, being the loving, merciful Creator that he is, was not willing to leave us in this guilty and condemned condition. He planned from ages past to send a Suffering Servant, not mainly to model love for us, but to bear our sins as a substitute for us. “The Lord has laid on Him, the iniquity of us all.” This, my friends, is the heartbeat of Christianity. Without this, there is nothing.
So who is this servant?
Throughout the course of the book of Isaiah, the servant of the Lord has been the people of Israel, and also the prophet himself. However, in Isaiah 53, the servant who is mentioned cannot possibly be the people, or the prophet. Why? Because the servant is pictured as substituting Himself for both the prophet AND the people. Verse 4: “surely He (the servant) took up our infirmities.” Verse 5: “He was pierced for our transgressions …” “Our” means “Me, Isaiah!” It means, “me, Jimmy!” It means everyone in this room, and all of the people of Israel. So, the servant is not the people and not Isaiah, because He is the substitute FOR Isaiah, and FOR the people. He is God’s ambassador, and THEIR suffering servant.
So who was He? Let’s look at the text.
Verse 2: “He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him.”
Verse 3: “He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering … we esteemed Him not.”
Within today’s society, appearances are everything. We flock to those that look rich, important, powerful, etc. I mean, who are you more likely to trust:
- someone in a designer suit with a leather briefcase, and a better than neat appearance, or
- someone in trakkies, ugg boots, a torn t-shirt, and dodgy personal hygiene?
Pretty straightforward, isn’t it? I mean, it’s not rocket science. The more ‘impressive’ person is always going to get more attention, more trust, and better service, even if they are a total jerk. I guess I can understand why the people rejected the servant then, are rejecting Him today, and will continue to reject Him in the future. Again, we see the shocking nature of God’s ‘expectations’ of His Son; to be unpopular, unimpressive, and “marred beyond human likeness.”
Verses 2 and 3 emphasise the insignificant appearance of the servant, and the unglamourous environment from which He will come. In this description, it is almost as if Isaiah is saying “we look at Him, but there is nothing to see.” He is a sufferer in the fullest sense of the word. Just the other day; Wednesday to be precise, I thought I was being made to be a suffering servant, when mum asked me to take out the rubbish, in the insane heat, before I went back to the beach. This definitely puts me in my place. We find God using the weak to lead the strong; the humble to lead the boastful.
Jesus is humble. In 5 days time, on December 25th, we celebrate something important. What is it? (Jesus’ birthday). The date is irrelevant, but it is the context that is significant. What was Jesus born in? A manger; or, a pig trough. When you think about it, that’s not the place that you’d expect a King to be born, nor would you consider Carpentry to be the profession of a King either. You’d expect Him to live inside a lavish Castle with all the trappings of a spoilt life. You’d expect a King to never have to work, but still be rich. This further emphasizes Christ’s humility; and highlights God’s expectations of His Son.
What springs to mind, when you consider the term ‘superhero?’ Shout some out quickly. I’ll agree. Some that came up when we discussed this passage in our Junior High group a few weeks back, were that they wear their jocks on the outside of their pants, they wear fancy dress-up suits, and you never know who they are; ie, they hide their faces/identity from the public.
Think about our passage today, and the language used in it, and what we just talked about. Does this sound like a superhero to you? Quite the opposite isn’t it. However, I want to contend that the servant we read about in this passage, is the GREATEST superhero that has ever walked the Earth, and the GREATEST that will ever walk the Earth.
Yes, I know that this is a very outlandish statement, something which I am quite well known for, but I think in studying the text, like we will shortly, that you will all reach the same conclusion as I have.
Nowhere in all of the Old Testament does the gospel of Jesus Christ shine more clearly, than in Isaiah 53. As was mentioned earlier, 700 years before He, Jesus, came into the world, God opened the eyes of his prophet to see into the very heart of Christ’s saving work; which is substitutionary atonement. The servant is pierced and crushed in OUR place (there’s that idea again!) The righteous in the place of the unrighteous. The loving shepherd in the place of His lost sheep; where we were going astray in verse 6, we are reacquainted with God through the servant’s atoning sacrifice. And finally, the exalted King in the place of the rebel subjects.
And so I invite you this morning friends, to not only revel in the great substitutionary work of Christ that takes away your condemnation, but to also be strengthened in your confidence that this is no myth, no accident, no mere coincidence, but rather the historical and deliberate expectation of God on His Son, who told this story long before it happened.
Look again at verses 4 & 5 with me.
“Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered Him stricken by God, smitten by him and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.”
Let that sink in! How AWESOME is that! This same despised man of sorrows is the one who carries OUR sorrows. Was pierced for OUR transgressions. Was crushed for OUR iniquities. We despised and rejected Him, by doing all the wrong we possibly could do to Him. And what did He do? He died. He bore a punishment.
The punishment that we so rightly deserve He took upon Himself. HIMSELF. “By His wounds we are healed.” HIS WOUNDS. Not yours, not mine, HIS!! Think about it. Now put yourselves in His shoes.
Look at 1 Peter 2:21 – “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps.”
Would you be willing to give your body over to torture, to see it broken, to shed your blood, to die for one person, let alone the entire population of the Earth, when they continually reject you? For people who constantly and openly despise you? We couldn’t do it.
So how does this servant do it? Through obedience. The Son dies for us, even when we reject Him, for He is obedient to His Father, and fulfills His Father’s expectations. Also, through LOVE. By the Father’s love for us, the Son comes to save us. We are dead to sin, and alive in righteousness through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, if we believe!
Jesus Christ came into this World, to fulfill the prophecy bestowed upon Isaiah in this passage – yes, many others to be sure, but this one is central and basic. He came to die. He came to die in our place. He came to die for our sins. Friends, this is our only hope. The New Testament is all about how this happened, how it affects our lives now, and how it will affect us in the ages to come.
Let’s go back to 1 Peter and read verses 21 – 25.
“To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
"He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth."
When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”
This is the shortened version of Isaiah 53. And herein lie some challenges for us all. Jesus Christ came into this World to suffer and die for everyone, especially His enemies. Could you do that?
Jesus Christ remained silent when He suffered, and when He was insulted. He never retaliated. Could you do that?
Jesus Christ broke His body on the Cross, so that we might be dead to sins, and alive in righteousness. What is your response?
Friends, I urge, and encourage all of you to pursue the knowledge of these things with all your heart, and with all your mind.
He is satisfied. He delights to save. We are justified (justification = just as if I’d never sinned). And all our sins are carried by another; Jesus Christ, the Suffering Servant, forever. AMEN. We will never bear them again. I say again. We will NEVER bear them, OUR SINS, again! How amazing is God’s love for us. We are stripped of any wrongdoing. We, who deserve death, are given life to the fullest. Through Faith in Jesus Christ, his death and resurrection, we are given peace with God … FOREVER!
Here are 12 reasons Jesus Christ came into the World:
• HE CAME AS A LIGHT (John 12:46). No one anymore has to be left fumbling around in the darkness of disillusionment, despair or doubt.
• HE CAME AS LIVING BREAD (John 6:35). Bread sustains our natural bodies, but the bread that Jesus offers sustains our spirits forever.
• HE CAME AS A SERVANT. Not to do his will, but to do the will of his Father in heaven (John 6:38). What an example! Even in his power and might, he modeled servanthood and obedience to us, living a life perfectly in time with the heartbeat of his Father.
• HE CAME TO DIVIDE (John 10:34). There are no grey areas with Jesus. You're either on his side or on the other side.
• HE CAME TO FULFIL (matt 5:17)! There was much debate about the religious laws laid down by Moses. Jesus was not moving the Old Testament goalposts, he merely came to score a New Testament goal.
• HE CAME TO SAVE SINNERS (1 Tim 1:15). That means me, you and everybody else who has ever lived or who is living today. His name actually means 'He Saves'. He may have been a carpenter by trade, but he operated in the business of saving lives from the penalty and wages of sin – death.
• HE CAME WITH AN INVITATION for us to turn our lives inside out (Mark 2:17). He didn't address those who thought they were spiritually-fit, but went out inviting ones who knew they were sick; stuck in sin.
• HE CAME AS A RANSOM (Matt 20:28). He gave away his life in exchange for the many who are held captive to sin. He paid the ultimate price to see multitudes set free without having to pay a penny themselves.
• HE CAME TO DIE (John 12:27). Every single moment of Jesus' 33 years on this earth was pointing to the hour of his death. If he hadn't have died, then we wouldn't be able to live out the life we were originally created to live before sin ruined it all. This life can be found in Genesis 1 and 2.
• HE CAME AS KING to rule and reign forevermore (John 18:37). No political spin or dictatorship was involved. He just came to proclaim the truth and said it as it is.
• HE CAME TO DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL (1 John 3:8). Sin and sickness, poverty and strife, death, destruction and everything else that stands against the people of God have all been dealt with at the Cross where Jesus died. The devil has been disarmed.
• HE CAME SO THAT WE COULD LIVE LIFE TO THE MAX (John 10:10). None of this ‘half empty - half full’ stuff. Believers of Christ can experience not only a full quota of life, but a life that overflows into others'.
It is through these that we see God’s expectations, his hopes and his dreams for his Son revealed. For Christ came to this World to teach, to share, and to do His Father’s will. But primarily He came to make us right with God, by healing our relationship with Him, so that we can have peace.
He has given us everything we need in life, for free. Everything, that is essential for continued life; except perhaps, for a complimentary set of steak knives. Everything that we need to gain eternal life, and a relationship with God, Jesus Christ has given us FOR FREE. And unlike our mobile phone contracts that have all these terms and conditions in fine print, and only last a max of 24 months, this gift, this gift of amazing grace has been given to us for free. And unlike a mobile phone contract, it endures forever. Nothing can break the contract. It does not need to be resigned every 24 months, like the sacrifices in the old covenant needed to be.
In verse 12 of Isaiah 53, we see that this servant, this humble, loving King takes tremendous joy in walking amongst His people now, and for the ages to come – a people who are “great” and “strong.” And He divides the spoils of His triumphs with them all. This is what He loves to do. This is His satisfaction. The satisfaction of Jesus Christ comes in fulfilling the expectations of His Father; the amazing expectations that only He could fathom (as we see them as shocking) that make Him the greatest superhero that will ever live. He delights to save. He loves to bring people from death to life so that they can enjoy His majesty forever.
Before we sing our final two songs (How Great Thou Art, and Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)) I have a question to ask.
Are you His? Do you want to be His? You can be. You can belong to that great and strong people, even though you feel utterly unworthy (don’t worry, I know that feeling all too well!). That is the whole point of the death of Christ. He died in our place. And all who trust Him as the Saviour, and the Lord, and the Treasure of your life, will be forgiven, justified, and will live forever with Him. If you don’t know Him, I urge you to say “no” to all that pulls you away. I urge you to repent of your sins. Apologise for rejecting and spiting God. I encourage you to seek God, have Faith in the saving Grace that is the shed blood of Jesus Christ. I urge you, everyone here today, as we approach His birthday, to say “yes” to Jesus Christ.
Let’s pray, then bring praise to God!
God's sense of humour
Heading into MYC this year, I had a lot on my mind. There were a number of struggles within my mind, that were corrupting and slowly the crumbling the foundations on which I live. I was in over my head, within numerous situations, but I wasn't about to stoop so low as to ask for some help; that just aint my style.
So there I was, getting into a car headed to Albury, with the location being a Christian Conference that I was "totally pumped for" yet, all that dwelt within me was this immense sense of bitterness, and resentment. Long story as to why, maybe another time.
You know, for far too long, I've just been putting on a happy face. Not anymore. On the Tuesday night, a huge weight was lifted upon my shoulders ... all the vices holding me back from total commitment to God were slowly cracking ... now, I'm not entirely free ... I have struggled post-MYC, won some battles, lost some too ... what sticks the most with me though, is that wherever I have gone, or whatever I have done, everything has gone back to John North's talks, and the image of that tree ... the tree that is our mind ...
In my quiet times, at Church, and even just talking with friends, God has been telling me the same thing, in different ways. "Be ready. Leave the World. Follow." That's what He says. And even in the secular society we live in, He has given me signs to adhere to this.
Well, God, you know what? I'm here, I'm ready, bring it on. Help get my evangelism on!
So there I was, getting into a car headed to Albury, with the location being a Christian Conference that I was "totally pumped for" yet, all that dwelt within me was this immense sense of bitterness, and resentment. Long story as to why, maybe another time.
You know, for far too long, I've just been putting on a happy face. Not anymore. On the Tuesday night, a huge weight was lifted upon my shoulders ... all the vices holding me back from total commitment to God were slowly cracking ... now, I'm not entirely free ... I have struggled post-MYC, won some battles, lost some too ... what sticks the most with me though, is that wherever I have gone, or whatever I have done, everything has gone back to John North's talks, and the image of that tree ... the tree that is our mind ...
In my quiet times, at Church, and even just talking with friends, God has been telling me the same thing, in different ways. "Be ready. Leave the World. Follow." That's what He says. And even in the secular society we live in, He has given me signs to adhere to this.
Well, God, you know what? I'm here, I'm ready, bring it on. Help get my evangelism on!
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