Youth 2...

Last week I had the privilege of leading on Youth 2, a youth vision (Church of Christ), camp for students in years 9 and 10.

Prior to going on camp, I was unsure of how to approach the experience, as I feel strongly against the notion of 'babysitting' church kids. God, however, surprised me! I found that the experience was really refreshing, and gave me a new perspective on God's kingdom.

Since returning from camp, I have considered how I feel the need to grow spiritually, and, on that consideration, can assume that the campers have a similar need. In that sense, I think there needs to be a distinction made between babysitting Christian kids, and helping them to grow spiritually.

It was a really fulfilling experience for me personally, as it gave me the opportunity to get to know a group of young people, with a passion for Jesus. And was, to a certain extent, like having a glimpse into what God would love to have for the whole world; community in Him.

Camp also gave me the opportunity to share in a small group environment with five amazing young people. As I was concerned that, after the hype of camp, they would return to their everyday lives and find it difficult to stay connected to God, I attempted to discuss with them the notion of establishing tools that will enable them to stay connected, and passionate. From my own experiences, even since returning from Youth 2, I know how difficult it can be, trying not to get caught up in the craziness of the world, and feel distanced from camp experiences.

As a result of these discussions, these five young people now have their own blog, as we felt that it is easier to stay connected to God when we connect with other people. It is in the baby step stages, but check it out anyway! random-object.blogspot.com

Baptism, how important is it?

In the past month or so I have been wrestling with the place of baptism in faith. I have been particularly challenged to consider the differences and similarities between baptism, and confirmation. I have heard a number of different views on the subject, from the idea of not being baptised as not being saved to the idea of baptism as symbolic, but not essential. At the moment I am leaning towards the symbolic but not essential end of the spectrum. A number of people that I care deeply about either been confirmed, or not baptised at all, and I find it very hard to consider them to be 'less' saved or Christian than me. I mean, what does a bit of water really do anyway? I believe it is all about the decision made to follow Jesus, not about the ceremony. Don't get me wrong, I think that baptism is a great way of saying to the world, 'hey, this is who I want to live my life for', but I think that how we live our lives is way more important.

I found a bit in the bible, Luke Ch3 v7-10ish, where Jesus criticises people for getting baptised because it's the popular thing to do, suggesting that it is our lives that must change, and that a bit of water isn't going to do anything. I know that Jesus says, in other places, get baptised, but I know heaps of people who have been baptised, and it hasn't impacted their lives. I'm not sure that being baptised impacted me that much either. I mean, I had already decided to follow Jesus, that water just demonstrated my decision. Okay, maybe I haven't considered the Holy Spirit in this, but the spirit is amongst us without the necessity of baptism.

Okay, time to take a breath!

What can I do?

Today I was sitting in a cafe, when a man came in, looking a bit worse for wear. He was inebriated, and had a can still in his hand. He was looking for work.

When I say he came in, he really only hovered in the entrance. He was told that there were no vacant positions. He stayed there for a minute or so before walking off. While I was sitting there, I also noticed him walking up and down the street.

My heart went out to this person, but I felt like there was very little I could do to help him. I couldn't approach him, being of a vulnerable demographic, and not being able to discern a safe mental state in him.

I hate the fact that being female can prevent me from helping people. It's very frustrating.

If I had approached him, the most I could have done, would have been to give him money. Which, arguably, may not have helped him anyway. My guess would be that he needs friendship, something which I am not in the position to give.

After he had wandered off, I was struck by the thought that I had just watched Him, Jesus, stumble off, and I had done nothing to assist Him.

A scary thought. I wonder how often I have let that happen.

It's all about love...

I reread 1 Corithians 13 today as I have been struggling, yet again, with the notion of love. I had the thought that perhaps being a disciple of Jesus is, rather than being all about love, about the idea of 'being' love.

We've all heard the phrase, 'Jesus is love'. As disciples we are called to follow Him, and do what He would have us do. 1 Corithians 13 talks about love as being, and not being, certain things. In a way, this chapter is describing Jesus. As a Christian then, perhaps my aim should be to live this kind of love, to 'be' this kind of love. An interesting, and challenging thought. I know that I have never, despite trying, loved anyone or anything, or 'been' love, in the way that this chapter challenges me to.

This personification of love, I think, is also significant. 1 Corinthians 13 seems to be describing love as if love were a person. As I mentioned earlier, this could be a reference to Jesus, but I think that it is also a suggestion that this concept of love is something that we are, not something that we do. Otherwise the wording might be, Someone who loves is not angry. Rather than Love is not angry.

In this chapter, we are also presented with the idea that without love we are nothing. And I can see the truth in this idea. I think that it is particularly true in relation to loving others. What is the point, if it isn't love?

I will have to think more upon this idea of 'being' love!

Deeper Water

I've been listening to Paul Kelly's Greatest Hits, Songs From The South, great album, check it out!

Today I was struck by some of the lyrics in the song Deeper Water, the song opens with a young boy at the water's edge. The boy's father takes his hand and guides him deeper into the water. The boy feels safe, the boy feels brave.

I wonder if it's a bit like this for us. I've made a few decisions recently about the direction my future is going to take, and it's scary wondering about what the future holds. The 'deeper water' of my future, however, is a managable concept when I let myself trust in God's plan. It's a tricky thing though, letting myself be guided, and not being able to control where I might end up.

I think that this image of a child trusting his parent is poigant, as it brings into mind the idea of 'child-like' faith. Of a great trust that is more and more difficult to establish, the older, and more cynical we get.

Jesus says that we should be like children, but perhaps that's not such an easy thing to do!

Was, and is, and is to come!

I am currently reading a book; Rivers in the Desert, which is a collection of prayers and meditations, that was given to me to use as I journeyed through DDP. I've found I can only read a little at a time, as there is continually an interesting thought or idea that provokes me.
I liked this sentence; 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come', because it generates an image of God as beyond the mere scrap of understanding that we can hope to establish as human beings. It suggests that He is beyond our reckoning, and that we are completely at the mercy of such a timeless being. I find this image to be incredibly comforting, as it allows me to trust in His plan, and in His knowledge, a knowledge that stretches beyond the constraints of our time.
This book came with many pencil markings, and thanks to the dilligence of it's previous reader I can tell you that this verse came from Rev. 4:8b!

This blog...

A while ago, about 18 months back, I had another blog; 'Ali's thoughts...'. It was very comprehensive, with a total of two posts! Having decided to share some of my musings once more, I attempted to log on. After failing to do so, I decided to create this blog, so that I may once more, and with greater longevity, pester the world at large with my ponderings!
Recently I have been struggling with many more questions regarding my faith, the idea of being a disciple of Jesus and life in general. Hopefully this blog will promote more questions, and will give me the opportunity to have others consider some of the questions that have been bugging me!