Friday Chapel

I love Friday chapel at College (and I’m so thankful that I’m in the Friday band so that I attend). Today, David Peterson gave a great talk on Acts 20:18-35 where Paul reflects on his ministry to the Christians in Ephesus as he is about to leave them. I was struck by two things in particular.
1) Paul taught a message of repentance and faith. Usually we see these two things as merely the result of the gospel message, but for Paul it is part of the content of the message. David reflect on the fact repentance and faith are essential for many matters including those of guidance. When we’re thinking about decisions are we lacking trust in God or need to repent of something? Coming to repentance and faith first in matters of guidance is often what is required.
2)  Secondly, Paul exhorts the Ephesians to “Keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God that he obtained with the blood of his own Son” (20:28). In our ministry, we must look after ourselves, especially through remaining open and accountable to others. We must also look after those under our care. These people do not belong to us; they belong to God and they cost God a great price: the blood of his Son. Therefore, look after it!

How amazing is God?!

Last Sunday was an amazing reminder of how good God is in keeping his promises. I’m still getting use to working with Natasha around and so having an essay and a sermon due in the same week was tough going. On the sermon front, I knew it wasn’t the best I could do. It was the best I could with the time and energy I was given – but it could have been better. However, I was reminded to depend on God for HIM to work through his word to change people’s lives despite my feeble efforts. After the sermon I received many comments on how helpful it was as a reminder of God’s love for us, even in suffering. It even got Grimmo thinking and he reflects on it on the Sola Panel. I am totally convinced that God was at work in people’s lives, even if I wasn’t at my best. Praise God for his work through tired servants!

Romans 5:5 – Hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Glory to the Father or the Son?

I’ve been pondering recently on the nature of honouring the Father and Son. A friend often finishes emails and texts with “Keep trusting Jesus” and a few talks I’ve heard have been all about us relating to Jesus. Now, of course, these are terrific things, but it got me wondering whether we can focus so much on Jesus that we forget the Father. Although this is probably possible, I think the focus on honouring Jesus is not neglecting the Father but rather is doing what the Father wants us to do.

In our Doctrine lecture today we reflected on the fact that Creation was made by the Father as an act of love towards the Son. The Father wants the Son to be glorified and so the Father made the world to give glory to the Son. Therefore, we, as part of creation, have the purpose of glorifying the Son. This was comforting to me, to know that I’m fulfilling my God-ordained purpose when I glorify the Son. I (and you) are made as an act of love of the Father to the Son and I am to glorify the Son by trusting him. Thank you, Lord, for allowing me to be part of your Trinitarian love.

In Science We Trust

I was watching ‘Sunrise’ this morning and Kochie was interviewing a global warming scientist. Kochie raised the question that with all this talk about global warming why are there ‘scientific’ reports which deny a link between carbon emissions and rising temperatures. The interviewee replied that the sensationalist often get reported and that we should believe those who the policy makers are listening to (but he did concede that the recent report was written by a reputable scientist).2 things got me thinking.
Firstly, Christianity is often questioned by new discoveries about Jesus, be it a possible burial box or studies into which words Jesus actually said. Like global warming it is the sensational and controversial that gets reported. We need to be careful not to take our information from the fringe of scholarship.

It also made me think that rather than science replacing faith, science often requires faith. For example, anything with the word ‘theory’ in it (like the ‘big bang theory’/the ‘theory of evolution’) can’t be scientifically proven and therefore an element of faith is needed to hold to it. But even something like global warming, people, even scientists, believe different things about it. Faith/belief is required at various points.

How comforting is it that the Christian Faith is based on historical events, culminating in the person of Jesus who the vast majority of historical scholarship can attest to.

Top 5 Singles – 13/6/09

There’s a bit of action on the Top 5 singles chart this week. Hilltop Hoods hold onto the number 1 spot, but Jordin Sparks and the Black Eyed Peas are on the way up.

1. CHASE THAT FEELING   Hilltop Hoods (-0)
2. BATTLEFIELD   Jordin Sparks (↑3)
3. I GOTTA FEELING   The Black Eyed Peas (↑1)
4. NEW DIVIDE   Linkin Park (↓2)
5. CHANGE   Daniel Merriweather ft. Wale (↓2)

The Ton appears on Fervr

I’m now a published writer! Well sort of. My Jordin Sparks review has appeared on the Fervr website. The Fervr site is worth checking out, especially if you’re a youngish person. It’s also good to recommend to the young Christians you know. Enjoy!

Webber’s first win

Sunday night was a happy night for me. After years of following the ‘unluckiest driver in Formula 1’ Mark Webber claimed his first F1 grand prix victory. Even when Rubens Barrichello overtook him at the start I was still confident of the win as Webber had more fuel on board* but I thought it was all over after he was penalised with a drive-through penalty. But not even that could stop him. Good work, Mark! It’s great you have finally broken through for a win. Also, a big thanks to Channel One which allows us to watch the F1 live (and so I can follow the live timing on my laptop) and so that the telecast finishes before midnight!

*which means he can last longer before his first pit stop and therefore gain the advantage.

Top 5 Singles – 6/7/09

Here are my Top 5 singles for the first week in July. Hilltop Hoods hold for their second week at #1 while Jordin Sparks enters the chart for the first time since August last year with ‘No Air’.

1. CHASE THAT FEELING    Hilltop Hoods (-0)
2. NEW DIVIDE    Linkin Park (-0)
3. CHANGE    Daniel Merriweather ft. Wale (-0)
4. I GOTTA FEELING    The Black Eyed Peas (↑1)
5. BATTLEFIELD Jordin Sparks (New)

In other news, Michael Jackson has 17 singles (and 1 from the Jackson 5) re-entering the ARIA chart this week. ‘Thriller’ has been the most purchased coming in at #3. On the US Billboard chart the Black Eyed Peas have both the top 2 spots.

More pics of Natasha

Here are some more happy snaps of Natasha. She’s now two weeks old and starting to grow out of her 0000s. For those wondering about the name, Natasha was a name that we both independently liked and Mary is from my mum’s name.

Her first outing to the park

Showing off Nana's knitting

Showing off my Super Nintendo

Pink is the new black

Natasha can play a musical instrument – already!

There’s a little bit of musicality in Tash’s blood, and so it’s not surprising that she can play her first instrument…

Air guitar!