The wonder of a beautiful sunset. Different each day.

I was talking to my friend who is a graphic artist. He entered into his uni course full of enthusiasm for having a job creating wonderful art. My friend ended up in his first job arranging the car photos in an auto trader style advertisement. Week after week…..drudgery.

Is there any wonder that there is so much music, literature…art….in the world.

Our God is a wonderfully creative God. He has made us to be creative, to have that wonder of discovery, and creation…till the day we shuffle off. When we deny that, when we settle for the mundane, the boring. When we think we have nothing creative to offer, something in our soul dies.

What creative pursuit can I enter into today? Do I worry it wont be acceptable to others? If you saw my dancing, you would agree. But not every aspect of my life is as uncoordinated as that!

Some of the ways I amuse myself are cooking, video making, graphic design. None of those endeavors are going to win me any awards. But at my best I like to think some of God’s creativity is reflected in mine. I am sure the same is true of everyone.

How many sermons have I preached? I would say…. a lot.

I have spoken for over 20 years. Some of them have been doozies, some have caused me to fall asleep…or perhaps more accurately be dissapointed.

It still amazes me at times that people will actually come, and listen, to what I may have to say. But then, it is a spiritual discipline, and really, people are coming hoping that they will hear God’s voice, not mine. That is when preaching is at its best, when the preacher, the congregation and the Holy Spirit are having a beautiful dance together. If only in our hearts and minds….

It is great to hear someone come back from a conference having heard from God. But as a preacher who preaches week in week out, I know there is a far weightier discipline for the local church Pastor. He basically preaches to the same people, week in, week out. Not every message can be one where you ‘hit it out the park’. A conference speaker brings their best message, their best stories, their keenest insight.

Its why I am determined to ‘change it up’ every twelve months or so. I consider my preaching, and seek to bring a different dimension, a different method, a different insight. I don’t want to be bored, and I certainly don’t want the people to be bored. It is the most important message in the  world, and to be boring is a terrible injustice to God’s word.

At Inglewood Church we are doing a monthly series on marriage. So in order to challenge myself I spoke on a confronting marriage from the bible, Jezebel and Ahab. What a couple! The sort of couple who would bring many ‘awkward’ moments to any dinner party with friends. But it went well, and I was challenged personally. Surely that is when you know your preaching is the best, when you feel it yourself.

1. They have built their own platform

This morning I was listening to one of the speakers on the Hillsong Conference Stream live. The message was simply, nothing wrong with it, but as someone with theological training I have to admit part of me thought I could do better. But then God revealed something to me. They have taken risks in faith, they have shown courage, they have seen God bless their simple faith. Something I could take a lesson from. The platform they have is something they have because of their faith.

2. They have endured

Many ministries come and go. The Hillsong Conference has been going since 1986 and the Church longer. There have been moments of perceived scandal, and plenty of negative things written about them. But they have endured. Many Churches have grown and imploded in that time. Their growth has been steady and strong.

3. They speak from the High Places

I have never heard a negative word about another Pastor or Ministry come out of Brian Housons mouth. One of the most impactful sermons he has given was one on ‘speaking from the high places’. Despite the barrage of criticism that comes their way, they rarely respond, and rarely critique others. They exhibit grace and forgiveness.

4. They preach Jesus

Along with many criticisms they receive is one that they don’t preach the gospel. They do. They sing about Jesus, grace and the cross and they preach it. Thousands have become Christians because they preach Jesus. Something that challenges me.

5. They have changed

The Hillsong Church of today has grown and matured. Theirs is now a much more rounded and balanced faith. There is now a great emphasis on justice love and compassion.

Approximately 40% of adult Australians  are single.

We need to be careful in the Church community that we do not elevate marriage into some sort of sacred state that leaves singles in some sort of no mans land.

Jesus was single, Paul was likely single…and Paul was very clear that being single is a blessing from God.

There are seasons in life and I would encourage everyone to enjoy whatever season you are in. While this is true, it does not make being single when you want to be married necessarily easier. Seeing others happily preparing to get married can be really hard.

The worse thing someone can do though is to compromise, for the sake of the ‘now’. I don’t mean waiting for Miss or Mr Perfect. That will never happen. I look at some people and wish they would compromise a little, they might find themselves happier!

What I do mean though is saying yes to someone who does not share your spiritual beliefs and values. Or compromising your values for the sake of the relationship. To be clear…a Christian marrying a non-believer…or sleeping with someone before you get married. That compromise of your values will ultimately cause you pain, and are not God’s plan for joyful living.

Two verses which might help…’seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you’, and ‘ delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart’.

Great quote…

Music is hateful and intolerable to the devil. I truly believe, and do not mind saying, that there is no art like music, next to theology. It is the only art, next to theology, that can calm the agitations of the soul, which plainly shows that the devil, the source of anxiety and sadness, flees from the sound of music as he does from religious worship. That is why the scriptures are full of psalms and hymns, in which praise is given to God. That is why, when we gather round God’s throne in heaven, we shall sing his glory. Music is the perfect way to express our love and devotion to God. It is one of the most magnificent and delightful presents God has given us.
– Martin Luther

I woke up to some disastrous news. Little Creatures Brewery have sold their business to a large Corporation, Lion Nathan. They have stated the recipes wont change and the brewing process will remain. But we all know that is bunkum. Remember when ‘Red Back Beer’ was sold. Seen a Red Back in your bottle shop lately? No. They lost favour (and flavour) with the buying public in the months and years after they sold…out…and have since been ‘exterminated’

Beer in moderation is a pleasure I partake in, and Little Creatures have produced many fine beers, with my favourite being the ‘Bright Ale’, but I will just as happily enjoy their Pale Ale.

I have spent many a happy time down at Freo eating pizza’s (goat my favourite) and enjoying some lovely brew from the tap. Now I can’t help but feel that it is an beginning of the end for the Craft Brewer from Fremantle.

Fortunately there are many alternatives.

Feral Brewery make a number of fine ales.

But perhaps my favourite at the moment is the lovely Hop Rocker Pilsner from Mac Brewery in NZ

Just a brief thought to ponder.

There was a point in the garden when Adam had not yet fallen…but Eve had.  Adam chose to fall for Eve’s charms above obedience to God. And has anything changed? Probably not. Men….worship women, and that is not good. Women, particularly images of women, are used to sell everything from beer to life insurance.

6000 years later (or so) man has not changed much. Women still lead us from obedience and worship of God, to instead, worship them.

This post may be taken in entirely the wrong way. I love my wife…and she loves me. It is not meant to be a woman attacking post. Love, adoration and intimacy, within a marriage context is not only good, its fantastic, a gift from God. But its interesting to think about our fascination with porn and lust…in light of what happened in the garden.