the darkside here I come

As many of you know, I've been an anti Mac person for a long time. So what does every self respecting Microsoft groupie go and get for a new phone?
A htc i here some of you say. Or a blackberry, or a nokia E71 (very cool by the way). but probably a windows based mobile. (or symbian) Well for everyone who thought that, you would be wrong.
I've gone to the Mac. side of life. My new iPhone and I are celebrating our new life together, and I've got to say, except for the camera not being as good as my N73, and the bluetooth issue, it's awesome. More mac love here i come.

ja

Are Denominations Dead

Are denominations dead? Are they important in this day and age? Should churches rely on their denomination for guidance, or should they form their own networks geographically, size wise, style wise, over being chained to a denomination that may be running off the rails? that's something I've been thinking about. People ridicule me because the see me as "Anglican" but I'm not really. I grew up in the Uniting church, and when they started making decisions that were un-biblical, and in sin, then I had to leave. And i think that's something that is also apparent. the current generation is very fluid not just in its beliefs, but in its commitments. Those young people, like me will easily move from one church to another at a a whim. And in that can either be good or bad. It can be good, if they are thinking about the teaching at a church, and it is something that they can disagree with biblically then it is probably better, after raising this concern with the leadership[ to leave than stay and listen to teaching that is not from the bible. On the flip side it is bad as the level of commitment decreases. These young people, because of their fluidity and the ease with which they know they can move from one church to another, will just up and leave when they are challenged about their level of commitment or their attitude or their lives. When they are made to feel uncomfortable they will move, because man, not just the young, but of all ages likes to feel comfortable, because that is easy.
At the current point in time, denomination has a level of significance that it has never had before. It no longer matters to the majority whether you are anglican or baptist or charismatic. And it doesn't matter to me. One of my good friends called me an anglican the other day. I said, I'm not an anglican, I'm a Christ follower. I'm not religious or traditionalist. I love Jesus, and I want to know him better. I will go to a church that teaches the bible truly and treats Jesus they way the bible would have him treated. The thing is, when I am at a church i am 100% committed to that church.

Hope this stirs some interesting thoughts in you as it has in me.

ja

Another Driscoll video from Sydney anglicans

Here's another video from Sydney Anglicans, and Interview with Driscoll. Lot's of Driscoll love going on right now, lets see how long it takes for SA media to start the Driscoll hate, as they inevitably start to hate everything that is new and interesting and forcing us to change the way we view our Saviour and our church.



ja.

Burn your plastic Jesus.

Went to Burn Your Plastic Jesus on Wednesday night.
It was awesome. Mark Driscoll from Mars Hill Seattle spoke. He was awesome.
He had 7 myths about Jesus that he blew out of the water. They were;

1. Religious Jesus

2. Bling Jesus

3. Moral Jesus

4. Aussie Jesus

5. Country Jesus

6. Spiritual Jesus

7. Pensioner Card Jesus

There was some really awesome stuff here.
He then responded to some questions, which led into his close point, which was who the Bible and Jesus say Jesus is. They follow.

1. Jesus said he came down from heaven (John 6)

2. Jesus performed miracles

3. Jesus said he was God (Mark 14:61-64 + John 10:30-35)

4. Jesus said he was without sin (John 8:46)

5. Jesus forgave sin (Mark 2)

6. Jesus is the way, truth and life and no-one comes to the Father but through him (John 14:6)

As well as these points he raised some other points along the way, including, the state of men in not just Australia but also in the Church here. He really slammed young guys who live a cushy life, that they should leave home and become men. It was a challenge to me. I'm still living at home, but I'm doing uni, I'm engaged to be married,a dn i'm only 22, so i guess I'm not too bad. I was really challenged though, that maybe one day God will call on me to plant a church. That's going to be exciting. Below is a video taken from the night (from sydney anglicans) so have a gander.




ja

Death by Love

Possibly the only reason to buy a new iPhone

Just read this article from the top gear website. Apparently BunsenTech, have developed a program that uses the accelerometer in the iphone and the iphone touch to calculate your 0-60mph times, lateral Gs and even horsepower.
After hearing, not just on the interwebs, but from people who are using the new iphone, that there are some issues with it. So this may be the only app that would make it a must have.
As it is I'll stick to my nokia phones and a normal ipod.

Europe Holiday

I've been quite quiet in recent times. I'm currently holidaying in Europe. We've spent 9 days in the united Kingdom (Bath, York, Edingburgh, London). I had a good time. Lots of sites to visit. Very tiring. While we were in London, Mum and I went to see Lord of the Rings, the musical. it was amazing. so good.
Now we are in holland, Lots of relatives to visit, places to go. I like it here much better than the UK. nicer people, better roads, better beer.
I get back to Aus on tuesday, so looking forward to that, as i miss sam lots.

ja

Mark 1 word cloud from wordle

bible and other books

I was listening to a question and answer series from Mark Driscoll tonight, and someone asked a question about particular authors, and His reply was that you should know your bible well before you read books as they may confuse you. It was an interesting answer. As a result of thinking about it i have decided to read 5 books of the bible for every christian book i read.

ja

18 months

only 18 months left (i know its a long time) till sam and i get married. woo.

ja

Where do you stand with sexual sin.

I read this interesting article on Pure Online today, that talks about no matter what you are in 1 of these 3 groups in regards to sexual sin.

TARGETED
Every Christian man is "targeted" by Satan. Just like every young man is a target for cigarette ads, because every young man is a potential smoker, so too, every Christian man is succeptable to sexual sin. Your walk with God, your faith, your ability to lead a church, your ability to be a strong husband and father, your ability to be a man of honor, are all under attack by sexual sin. If you are not "Tempted" or in the "Trenches" (see below) beware that you are not moving in that direction.

The rest you can catch here.

ja

Best Sex Ever!

bet that blog title got your attention. We are about to start a new series at 5pm, titled Best Sex Ever. Due to a swap of preachers we are doing someinteresting things. Consequences will be first instead of last and temptation will be last. We're borrowing some ideas from other series that I have seen over the past year or so. We're borrowing Mars Hills live Q and A thing that they do. So we have a mobile that has no ones contacts in it, and during the service youth will be able to message that number and at the end of the service the preacher is going to answer 3 or so of thoes questions and the rest get posted on our website. It should be interesting. Looking forward to doing the sermon on sexual temptation.

ja

Saw this video on the xxxchurch website, and, with the book Im reading, made m,e realise how judgemental and hurtful Christians can be, and made me want to ensure that im never involved in action that is this damning, but is supportive and loving.


ja

Book review: Dirty Little Secret.

Reading this book at the moment. It has been so eye opening. Everyone talks about how porn doesn't hurt anyone, and how it's good for you. This book just blows all that out of the water. 9/10

ja

the room

So i took the video down, i've already posted it, so it was just slowing the blog down.

video we used at 5pm on easter sunday

I found this video on youtube and we used it on easter sunday. It was really powerful.





ja

Awesome g-group

We had one of the most awesome youth group small group (g-groups) times ever tonight. We were talking about the miracles of Jesus, and discussing stuff, and one of my boys who I have been praying for for a long time said that he believed Jesus was the son of God. It was so awesome. Yeash. And such an answer to prayer. God is so amazing.

 

ja

Kelly Clarkson

Went to the kelly clarkson concert tonight. other than her being an awesome artist that i love, i had some other thoughts. Shaun Kingston: not that great, and looked and sounded like he lip-synced.
Mandy moore, she was good, I don't mind her music, but she needs a bit more personality on stage.
Tech wise, it over all wasn't to bad.

• Imag could have been used on the support acts, it would have made it easier for those who bothered turning up early.
• I now agree with what i read in one of the industry magazines a couple of months ago. I t was talking about how mix's at concerts are to loud, and there's not enough room to move. This was true of tonight. I like loud music, ut i felt tonight could have been a bit quieter, allowing the band to do more things.
• Interestingly, there were no cabs on stage, which is where we are considering going with our new building, but all the band ran in ears, sort of removing the need, however without in-ears im not sure how it would have gone.

All in all it was a good concert and i enjoyed myself.
ja

powerthirst

Mother nature'll be like slooww doooown
(warning contains coarse language)


ja

commitnment to blogging

Hey the 1 person in the world who reads my blog
I know, i've let you down. I haven't blogged since january.
Well today is a new day. my commitment is from today to at least blog once a day. that is my commitment to you. my one reade

hope i post stuff that is both enjoyable and meaningful.

ja

These are some quick pics of the wall at church that Childrens and Youth ministry have painted this week, as well as the new cross that was designed by one of our youth. It's awesome.

ja

engaged

Announcing it here first on the blog. Sam and I got engaged today. Yay. Its really exciting, we're both stoked.

ja

jon armstrong and samantha southwell wedding