Interpretations

I was having a conversation with someone recently relating to following what the Bible says.
While I am very much on the other side of the church fence at the moment it's always been my belief that, while some interpretation can be made, if you are a believer then you follow the word of God.
What surprised me was the view that just because it says something in there you can interpret it pretty much to suit yourself.
What puzzles me is if that is true then what importance does the word of God have to you?
If you believe the Bible is the word of God but that it can be twisted to suit yourself then what are you actually believing in - some kind of user-friendly deity that makes you feel better that you can say you follow without having to commit to it?
Sounds a bit dodgy to me.
Now I must say that I don't think the person I was talking with about this believes in this way and I think I made a valid point.
If the Bible says you shouldn't steal and you believe the Bible is the word of God then it follows that you shouldn't steal. You can't get around that.
Sure there are plenty of contextual things in the book but if everything is open for interpretation then what are you actually supposed to believe?

You'll never know

I went to church tonight for the first time in a while.
Fortunately, it was a very positive experience and I met some very nice people. That's encouraging to start.
I was quite taken by the guy leading the music in the way he was so open and just poured his heart out with the words he said. I admire that and took the opportunity to tell him that and how he responded was significant - we're all broken, there's no-one here who is perfect, but he's with 'family' and that love is brought out in various ways.
It wasn't a long conversation but hopefully there will be more.
Why did I go to church? It's been on my mind for a while now and I hope tonight can be the start of some change for me.
The message was an excellent one, about how you'll never grow if you don't push yourself (termed as 'go') and I think I only yawned once during the sermon (which would be a personal record I'd say).
I'll consider going again next week. I need some stability in certain areas and from what I experienced tonight I think there is a chance I can find it in this way.

Reboot

It's great to say this. Tonight I went along to church and had an awesome time.
I decided to take up an invitation from a friend to come along to his church and it was a positive experience.
For whatever reason the topic of going to church has been a touchy one, I get this intense feeling that I don't want to go quite often. It's the same feeling I get when I'm uncomfortable somewhere and want to leave.
I found the sermon quite clear and accessible and not too long. Having sin explained in terms of Me First was novel but made the point nicely. The music was pretty good, not Hillsong quality but you don't expect that, and I knew a few of the songs. Because of that I had a flashback or two to my Annandale days, but a good song is a good song no matter where it is sung!
I'm not sure where all this will head just yet. I may go back to that church again but it was important to have had a good experience, to reboot things.
The week certainly has been an interesting one. From family reunions at my aunt's funeral (I think everyone's heart broke when my seven-year-old nephew placed a flower on the coffin), reminiscing about my uni times when I drove past it on my way and trying to make sense of what's going on at work.
Who knows what this week will bring?

Be still

Somewhat inspired by driving past my previous church a few days ago I decided to actually go to church on Sunday near my place.
I'd been there a few times before so I wasn't a complete stranger and had a friend who goes there to meet up with. The service still takes getting used to but the style is accessible and that's great if you're not a regular.
A couple of things struck me from the sermon and the general feel of the meeting.
The first was about being still on the inside. I found this very interesting and relevant because a lot of the time I don't feel that there is stillness underneath me.
The second was about growth, personal growth through spiritual growth.
So I guess it was timely making a visit to that church. You get the feeling you've heard messages that you needed to hear, or that God was wanting you to hear.
I haven't made a firm commitment to go back straight away but I possibly will soon. I don't get the feeling that this church is suitable long term but that's not something you can know after one visit.
I settled on my next trip to Melbourne and that's taking place in a couple of weeks. Looking forward to it again and this time around I am going to keep my long term well being in mind and make sure I don't overdo it like last time. Not saying I didn't enjoy last time but it definitely contributed to some unpleasantness last week.
The other thing worth mentioning is that my parents' new house will be built shortly and they expect to move back in mid-year.

World Youth Day

The influx of people for the World Youth Day events haven't really affected me since I get to work pretty early. Apparently the crowds are bigger by mid-morning.
But today I walked down George Street in the city and was confronted by heck of a lot of people who seemed to be wandering aimlessly.
I guess that's why they call them pilgrims.
I have no problem with them being here it was just a strange sight to see these groups of people with flags and their WYD backpacks walking around the city.
My only hope for the week's events is that Randwick racecourse comes away unscathed from the crowd that will be there on Sunday for the final mass.
Just don't get me started on them using NSW's best racecourse for this event and placing the industry in jeopardy again. There were more suitable venues but it's done now, we're just hoping for the best result.

Hillsong: This Is Our God

The annual live Hillsong CD proves that even though they appear to be merging somewhat with the United arm very little has changed.
That's not necessarily a bad thing but it is not overly brave.
I've always liked Darlene Zschech as both a singer and a writer and her presence, despite being music director, is being felt less.
On This Is Our God, the 2008 release, she writes just one song and sings lead on just two. As almost always they are the best songs on the album which has 16 tracks.
I know there is a lot of talent among the Hillsong team and in some ways this is the best album they have released since Hope because there's less filler by using the United crew.
In my view, just like Mariah Carey seems to be these days, there are usually up to five crackers on each Hillsong and United CDs and the rest rather pedestrian, so on this one about two thirds of the album is great.
With the exception of Chris Tomlin and maybe Jeremy Camp, no one does worship like Hillsong and that is still there, so you know straight up what to expect.
I heard today that from 2009 the Hillsong Nights won't be open to the public anymore and onlydelegates of the conference will be able to attend.
While I can make my peace with paying $5 to secure your seat at the event shutting out the public, some of whom could be non-Christian, is a silly idea. I hope it is not true.

Step into the confessional

While guilt is not a motivation for this revelation, and I don't feel any, I know a confession must be forthcoming from me to a friend who I have been misleading.
I just don't really want to have the conversation that I am sure will follow.
It all surrounds church, so anyone wondering what law I have broken or unspeakable thing I have done can settle down.
You see, I haven't been to church on a regular basis for almost a year.
For a quick recap, when I decided to stop going it was at a time when I was feeling very discouraged. This isn't really a good reason to stop, if anything a reason to keep going, but I just felt I couldn't do it any more.
I was disappointed, discouraged, disillusioned and defeated.
Yeah, there's a lot of D's there and I could probably reel off some more but you get the point. A while later I decided to casually visit a church not to far from where I live and have gone there on and off.
My confession is that I haven't been going as much as I have led some people to believe.
I don't feel like I can get straight back on the horse, so to speak, and I hate it that I am not being honest with one or two people who have inquired about my church status.
One in particular. And it is a conversation I have been meaning to have because I do feel bad that I am not being honest with him when he talks about it.
For me, church is in the too-hard basket. I know it shouldn't be but that's where I am leaving it for the time being. I will go to church on special occasions, no question.
That's where I stand right now, I just have to work up the courage to fess up about it.

Horton Hears A Who!

The genius of Jim Carrey is so evident in the film Horton Hears A Who , the latest Dr Seuss classic to hit the big screen.
For a book published over 50 years ago, in 1954, Horton stands up very well to modern day and even uses some pop culture references (the Apocolypse Now one comes to mind).
On the fifteenth of May, in the Jungle of Nool, In the heat of the day, in the cool of the pool, He was splashing ... enjoying the jungle's great joys . . When Horton the elephant heard a small noise.
The central message of the book/film is simple - everybody matters regardless of who they are - and it is repeated many times as `a person's a person, no matter how small'.
Animating this film was a masterstroke, getting Carrey (who played the Grinch in the live action film a few years back) was another because it is his film.
Horton is so loveable, whimsical, and he is dedicated to saving the people of Whoville, who live on a speck of dust.
The animators turned the elephant Horton into Carrey and it works (at this point I should mention I'm a big fan) as he goes against the way of the jungle (run by an evil Kangaroo voiced by the wonderful Carol Burnett) which says `if you can't see it and can't hear it, it doesn't exist' to ensure the safety of the Whos, even though no-one else believes they exist.
The Mayor Of Whoville (Steve Carrell) has similar problems. He can hear Horton but no one believes him.
I think there is a definite parallel with Christianity here in two places. The people of Whoville don't believe in the voice from the sky who is trying to protect them. It's the old question of faith. More telling though, I think, is the reference to a speck.
I'm talking from Matthew 7:3-5 which says `Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye....' The jungle animals are far too attentive to the `speck' Horton is carrying to pay attention to the `planks' which prevent them from seeing the truth.
I think the whole film carries a wonderful message, it's fun to watch and also funny and is great for people of all ages. There's a hilarious rendition of REO Speedwagon's classic Can't Fight This Feeling thrown in as well. Dr Seuss would be very proud. Easily the best thing I've seen so far this year and a 9 out of 10.

A different side

Tonight was a special night.
Yeah it's Sunday and Sunday means church but this time it wasn't your run of the mill church event.
I had the pleasure of witnessing my friend Andrew (it sounds weird referring to you as that mate!) take over ministerial duties at his new church.
His is a smallish congregation, from what I could gather, but one that has embraced him enthusiastically and I am sure one that will thrive.
What was especially great was to see him present a part of himself to the congregation by way of symbols, however dubious the Collingwood flag might be, and I think that says a lot about how he intends to serve that church.
Another great thing was to see the ``minister'' side to my friend. It's a side that has always been there, present in any even half-serious conversation, but it was different to see it in action.
Well done mate, and looking forward to the Botany open!

A single cloud hanging

As far as permanency goes, I am for all purposes churchless at the moment.
I like it.
I am enjoying the freedom that comes from having no fixed abode. I have been going to church from time to time. Again I enjoy seeing what else is out there.
This is not to say that what had before wasn't significant. Six years is a long time but it was becoming clear, quite a while ago, that it was long enough.
I'm not going devote any time now to deep explanation as to why I have made the decision to move on. It wasn't quite `simply time' but that will do for now.
One problem I do have is that I am a loyal person so that makes it difficult to part ways with something that has been a large part of life. I have to say that I grew immensely, spiritually, from the six years.
Funnily enough my first experience there came on the September 11. Talk about red letter days, so it makes it easy to remember the first night.
However, my time there also coincided with some of the most difficult times in my life so far, not just the obvious one. Such is my nature, throughout the last six months or so I have done a few experiments to help me make this decision. Since every one of them failed it was a pretty easy call.
I have only one regret that is clear in my mind from the whole period and it relates to something that happened about a year ago that taught me a valuable lesson and cost me potentially a very good friendship. Well almost, as I haven't given up on it.
Church is a very important part of life, particularly for a Christian, but what is also important is the right one. Consider that the single cloud hanging over me at the moment.
That search has been going for a short time, and over the past six months or s I have been fortunate to meet and get to know some great people as a result, but it hasn't been serious yet, I haven't felt ready to try one out properly. That will come as the burnout wears off.

Rush Of Fools

I've come across a good Christian band called Rush Of Fools and they are well worth checking out.
I spotted their debut album in a catalogue and went online to check out a couple of songs. Naturally I now have the album.
The opening track Undo is a good indication of what you're going to get with this American band.
The lyrics, after one listen, are meaningful and God-centred (largely). Again just one the sole listen my favourite tracks are Undo, Your Love, All We Ever Needed, For Those and Already.

Go here to read about the meaning behind the songs. I find this helpful from time to time and you can see where they are coming from.

Some lyrics to Undo:

``I've been here before and here I am again, Standing at the door, praying you'll let me back in

To label me a prodigal would be only scratching the surface of who I've been known to be.

Turn me around, pick me up, Undo what I've become. Bring me back to the place of forgiveness and grace. I need You, need Your help I can't do this myself, you're the only one who can undo what I've become...'

Check them out.

Hillsong: Saviour King

I currently own seven Hillsong live CDs and four Hillsong United CDs and until picking up the latest, `Saviour King' I was very concerned that they were getting progressively worse.
When I say that I mean this.
In the days of the For This Cause, Blessed and Hope CDs you, meaning I, could quite happy listen to the CD in its entirety. This was less the case through the more recent releases. There are two reasons for this I believe: Darlene seems to be phasing herself out of providing songs for the albums as hers were always the best (IMO); and I started buying the United CDs which would then be basically redone for the Hillsong live recording. That was very frustrating.
I didn't buy the United CD `All Of The Above' and I think this is part of the reason why I like the new recording. Several of the tracks have been redone but they were all new to me.
What I like most about Hillsong music is how emotive it is, and I really connect with that and feel closer to God, and it quite often send chills through my body. The songs that do that are the best ones too. Songs like Shout To The Lord, Everyday, Blessed, Made Me Glad, Hallelujah, More Than Life, There Is Nothing Like, Hope, At The Cross and From The Inside Out.
I can now add to that list You Are My Strength, You Are Faithful and Saviour King.
Of course I have only listened to the new one once and these are the songs that struck me.
I think the key to me enjoying future Hillsong releases is to not get the United CD, because they seem to re-record all the best ones for the major release anyway.
Welcome back, Hillsong.

The Boys' Club

It's amazing how you can take some things for granted. That's not a new notion.
For at least the last seven years a group of guys, which stemmed from a local church but is not exclusive to it, of which I'm happy to say I am a part of have been meeting for dinner once a week (thereabouts).
I struggled with where I fitted in the group for a while when I left the church it grew out of (almost six years ago). The guys knew it. It took a while but I soon worked out that I still belonged there.
There's anywhere up to a dozen guys who would fall into the semi-regular category which is great for variety but there's probably a core group of four to six.
I count these guys as among my best mates and appreciate them more than they probably know (or at least I let on). It's amazing the impact that someone who knows you on a deeper level can have on you.
It's because they know me (and my quirks) too well and have forgiven me for them that it makes it easy to go on the chosen night (which has changed from time to time) even when I really don't feel like it.
It's the ability to talk about anything that's on your mind that is priceless. Most of the time the conversation is pretty frivolous but there are also times when it is extremely enlightening or controversial. Then there are the movie nights.
Some of the guys are married and I'm sure the other singles (like myself) appreciate the insight into life on the other side of the fence. It' also great that time out with the boys can be prioritised. In my experience some people just disappear when they get married.
As I said, the value these nights provide is priceless and I'm sure I'd be a different person in many ways if it wasn't for the great men I get to have a few hours hanging out with each week.
One of the guys sees it as like going to church. In some ways it is, in some ways it is better, but whichever way you look at it this time spent is cherished and will continue to be.

90210, season 2

I've just picked up season 2 of Beverly Hills 90210 and have knocked over a couple of episodes on my lazy Friday night in.
It is still showing its age a bit but isn't nearly as daggy as the first year.
In other news it was great to see the Building God's People show from Christians In The Media debut on the Christian Channel tonight. Still a shade rough around the edges but I am told that the production picks up markedly after a few episodes.
It didn't detract from the message and stands out among some of the more out there services that get a run on the channel.

What's the rush?

It seems we are always in a hurry. Whether it's to get to work, to get something done or for something to happen. I know this because I am one of these people.
What I learned tonight was nothing new but it comes as a timely reminder having just recently thrown myself back into work at the same speed I was travelling before I came to a screeching halt late last year. Have I learned anything?
Tonight I visited a church* not too far from home. I wasn't really looking for anything in particular, nor was I `church shopping', just a different take on church to what I am used to.
And it was different. Vibrant, emotive, somewhat unstructured, accessible and very much street level church.
The music was uplifting, a little Hillsong-esque but that's not a bad thing in my books as I really get into that style. I like to be moved by music and I was.
If I have a criticism it is that the sermon was a bit patchy. However, what it lacked in style it made up for in message. God brings you to certain places, puts you in certain situations for a reason, and I'm sure I went to this church tonight for a purpose.
A large part of the talk was devoted to prayer and the need to commit to praying daily. If you start small that's fine but build up gradually. You don't go from five minutes a day to an hour in one hit.
The secondary message, and the one that spoke to me, was that we need to slow down. Why do we rush everywhere. God is in control so let him be, don't be in a hurry to have something done yesterday. This is where I have erred.
Tonight was a good night. I enjoyed the new experience and the opportunity to share church with some friends I either haven't done this with in a while or before. Importantly, I left the church smiling.
(* This post should not be taken as a slight against my current church, I am merely recording my experience.)