My mate pt 2

For anyone wondering about my mate... they killed him on a Cross, circa 2000 years ago.

The purpose of my post is the frustration that I see in the way that some people judge relationships. In particular I have been struggling with the opinions of people who believe that we should not associate with who would be considered "morally beneath us."

I had an excellent chat with Mikey Lynch at MTS Challenge (will make another post on that later) about loving all people, no matter what their beliefs, background, or occupation. We are called to love people, and share our lives with people. You should keep doing this, despite the judgment you might face from some people who think of themselves as "better" people (Pharisees, anyone).

And yes, I know that you require wisdom, and falling in with the wrong crowd and all that.

Thoughts?

PS: I also want to blog about Christian brotherhood, so if I haven't done it in the next few days, remind me.

My mate

A little while ago we found out that my mate had gone out and had dinner with a group of his friends. Among the people he had gone out with, one was a prostitute, and none of them were Christians. When his church leadership questioned him about the issue, he said that they were being hypocritical and that he was being a witness to them.

Do you reckon he is showing appropriate behaviour?

Feminine men

Time for a rant.

What is the deal with girls going for guys who look like women? A few years ago what women wanted was a "manly" man. Chest hair and well toned muscles were great.

Now, apparently the hottest bachelor is Orlando Bloom. Just take a look at him:


Honestly, when I saw the picture the first time I thought it was a topless woman. What is it with the way that women now expect men to be clean-shaven, have their chests and legs waxed, and their hair long? Nowadays it seems like men are supposed to look like women. It's even got to the worrying stage where women are finding guys with chest hair "disgusting".

It's even getting to the stage where men's perfumes and make-up is being promoted - this is a massive concern.

Is it really any wonder that we are seeing more and more girls experimenting with bisexuality - when both sexes look the same no wonder they don't care!

This is a worrying trend because we're taking away the pride of being a certain gender - just as we're telling women they can be proud to be women, we're telling guys that it's not OK to be REAL MEN - they have to be women as well. It's sickening.

If you're a woman, you can fight against this trend by talking to any feminine guys you know and showing them an example of a manly man - I'm happy to be that example as necessary.

And if you're a man, please, start acting like one.

(Obviously Pipi, as a real woman's woman, is excluded from said rant).

Worship

I was perusing Brittany's blog the other day (linked off Josh and Geo's blog), and found her post on worship: http://alwaysdaretohope.blogspot.com/2007/05/when-worship-was-still-safe.html

I thought I'd add my own musings about worship and why I think so many of us miss the point of what worship really is.

1. What is worship?

How does the New Testament define worship. It may come as a surprise to some that it's not defined as singing and praising God. In fact, worship and praise are actually defined as very separate things. Paul speaks specifically of worship in Romans chapter 12 - a wonderful chapter about serving others. In it he says:

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2

So we see that, far from being about music and singing, Paul is actually saying that worship is the act of "offering our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God." He goes on to describe what this means: no longer doing what the world wants us to do, but instead choosing to do what God wants us to do. Obedience to God!

He also doesn't limit it to a specific time and place. Rather, we are called to worship God through our obedience to His will at all times, not just in church! We become living sacrifices, giving up of ourselves in order to serve God.

And it's not just God that we serve either. When we think of the word "sacrifice", we are reminded of Jesus, sacrificing himself. This is Christ's act of worship: obedience to His Father, even unto death on a Cross. And you know what? He made that sacrifice for you, and for me.

2. How that changes our attitudes towards each other

Once we realise this, it changes us. We're no longer called to serve ourselves, but we're called to serve God and each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. Look to Jesus as the ultimate example - he offered up his kingship, and ultimately his life, for us! Once we start to realise this, we can't help but follow that example - worship is also about serving each other. Paul continues in Romans 12 to explain how worship works itself out in practical examples:

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:10-12

3. How that changes our attitudes at church

Once we realise that we're supposed to be serving each other as Christians, at changes the way we act at church. Brittany describes that in the church, the pastor said that everyone should "worship" the way that they wanted to. She ends by saying "Worship is something between you and God. It doesn't matter what you do or how you do it. Just make it heartfelt and true."

But is this really what our Church services should be about?

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25

The purpose of Christians meeting together in church isn't about some kind of experience between yourself and God. Rather, it's about the encouragement, and building up, of others in the church. Once you realise this, you see that church isn't about you - it's not about what you can get out of church. Rather, it's about what you can give to the people at the church. Wouldn't it be great if everyone at church served each other as acts of worship to God!

4. Worship is about offering my body to God

…offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.

In the days before Christ came, God called his people to bring animal sacrifices to him. These were given to the Jewish people as a symbol of Christ’s perfect sacrifice, that would once and for all take away all the world’s sins.

Christ’s sacrifice makes sinful human beings who trust in him, totally pure in God’s sight. We don’t need to offer animal sacrifices anymore – and let’s face it, that’s a relief!

But there’s still one sacrifice that we are called to make – the sacrifice of you and I. In a way, Paul is actually saying “don’t bring a sacrifice – be one.” In response to what God has done, sacrificing his Son, offer your body, your being to Him. That’s the kind of sacrifice that God wants.

But when the passage talks about spiritual worship, it’s not talking about some sort of out-of-body experience. Some churches would have us think that worship is about getting that ‘spiritual high’ – instead of thinking they want energy, and worship is about feelings rather than mind.

But actually, the Greek word translated as spiritual in the passage is actually logikos, from which we get our word logic. Worship is something rational – in begins with the mind.

Worship requires thinking because we need to understand what God has done for us through Christ. If I switch my mind off, I stop thinking about that truth, and true worship can’t then happen.

But it’s not just about the mind. Paul uses the word ‘body’ because worship isn’t just something that happens in our mind. It’s about what I do with my body as I offer it to God – not to myself for my own gratification, but to God for his service.

Have you begun to worship God? I’m not talking about some experience of God’s presence. I’m asking whether you’ve offered your body as a living sacrifice to God. Have you consciously done that? This is worship: the offering of our whole lives to God.

5. Worship is about obedience to God

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

If we are to worship God properly, we must be prepared to stand out and be different. Anyone can sing with great gusto on Sunday, “all that I am, I give to you.” But does it really happen on Monday morning when you’re surrounded by your friends or colleagues who have no desire to worship God.

The test of your worship life isn’t to observe you in Church. It’s how you live throughout the rest of the week. Are you a conformist who fits in with the world? Or are you a true worshipper who obeys God?

How’s your relationship with yourself? Are you full of yourself? Or do you recognise that all of your gifts and abilities come from God?

How’s your relationship with other Christians? Do you make church a priority, or something to go to when nothing else is on? Are you willing to put others first, before yourself, even at times when you don’t feel like it?

How’s your relationship with your enemies? Do you forgive quickly? Or do you nurse those grudges until they become hate? Do you realise how God has forgiven you?

How’s your relationship with authority? Do you obey the law, even when no one else is watching your car speedo? Do you obey your teachers, or your boss?

How’s your relationship with God’s standards? Do you go along with the way of the world, or do you worship God?

To say I’m going to church to worship is as ridiculous as saying I’m going to bed to breathe for a bit. Worship should define the whole of my life. And how different would our church community look if we took this to heart. Worship is about obedience to God in all parts of my life.

So it's true. Worship is something that you do. And everyone does show their worship in a different way. But worship isn't just limited to an hour on a Sunday morning - rather worship is a choice that you make. It's a choice to no longer be conformed to this world, in every area of my life, and instead choosing to follow Christ.

So, am I worshipping God? Do you understand exactly what God has done throughout history, so that I can escape the punishment that I deserve? Have I responded by offering my body, my life to Him? Have I responded by obedience to Him to life, even when it might be difficult? Am I a Jane, who controls her emotions, and a John, who lives for Christ even when the pressure’s on?

No one said that true worship is meant to be easy. I fail every day to offer my life as a living sacrifice. But the wonderful thing is that God is a God of love. He offers His forgiveness.

Jesus has changed everything. There are no holy places anymore. Instead, we’re called to worship throughout our entire lives.

I adapted parts of the above from a talk I did at youth group on the book "True Worship" by Vaughan Roberts. I'd highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn about what worship is really about - there is a lot more in-depth stuff there.

Top 6 Classic Albums

In lieu of getting some time to actually write another theology essay, I've decided to list what I think are the top 6 classic albums of all time. They may not necessarily have my favourite songs on them, but rather they are my top 6 because of:

1. The way that work together as albums. You couldn't take a song away, or add another song, and get the same effect
2. Consistency. Most albums have a few awesome songs and a few not-so-good ones. I think that a classic album is consistently good through all it's songs
3. Talent and listenability. The band must be good and create songs that are enjoyable to actually listen to.

And without any further ado, here are my top 6, in no particular order:



Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon (1973)

The quintessential album for any collection, there are not enough words to do this album justice. Poignant, insightful, experimental, and still wonderful to listen to today, this one has really stood the test of time (yes I know it's a cliche, but it's true).

Most memorable tracks: Where to begin. I don't think I can pick any favourites.

Best listened to: Apparently in 1990, Australian radio listeners voted it the best album to make love to. These might be a recommendation if you are married, but if not I would recommend listening with headphones (great walking music) or in the shower. It doesn't really make great ambient background music (it requires attention).



The Who - Quadrophenia (1973)

Probably the greatest rock opera of all time, this one pushed sound technology to the limit upon it's first release, and even today sounds brilliant. Telling the story of Jimmy, a British teenager with four distinct personalities, the music gets you swept up in the world of 1970's England. What's more, it's easy to identify with Jimmy's struggles as a teenager, just as relevant today as it was back then.

Most memorable tracks: The Real Me, Quadrophenia, Is It In My Head, The Rock, Love Reign O'er Me.

Best listened to: With an awesome sound system, preferably with a big subwoofer to enjoy John Entwhistle's superb drumming.




The Beatles - Revolver (1966)

I struggled long and hard as to whether I should put Revolver or Abbey Road on this list, but in the end I made it the top 6 albums just so I could have both. One of the Beatles' most experimental albums, I don't think that I've ever heard songs quite like some of the tunes on this record. I could quite easily put this album on repeat and listen to it over and over throughout the day without ever getting close to tiring of it.

Most memorable songs: Eleanor Rigby (possibly the greatest song ever recorded), Yellow Submarine, She Said She Said, Tomorrow Never Knows.

Best listened to: In the background while working or with dinner guests. It's the perfect ambient album, and one of the few albums that doesn't get better the louder it's played.




Jeff Wayne - Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds (1978)

I remember sitting in the dark room with my brother and listening to this album from start to finish the first time I got it. Featuring a line-up of the biggest names from the 1970's (David Essex, Justin Hayward, Richard Burton, and more), the album retells H.G. Well's classic tale of a war between humans and martians. And yes, it's far, far better then Tom Cruise's rubbish attempt at telling the story.

Most memorable tracks: Forever Autumn, The Spirit of Man, Brave New World, Epilogue Pt 2 (great ending)

Best listened to: in the dark, up loud, where it can really freak you out.



The Who - Who's Next (1971)

Back in the days when this was the hardest that hard rock got, this was the best hard rock album ever. Little has changed today. Everyone knows at least some of the tracks on this album, and not just thanks to CSI. No, this album is powerful enough to blow you speakers, and so rebellious it just might (just kidding). The ultimate teen album of the last generation, it rocks all over the teen albums of this generation.

Most memorable tracks: Baba O'Riley, The Song is Over, Behind Blue Eyes, Won't Get Fooled Again

Best listened to: in the car on a long drive. Particularly for the song "Going Mobile" :-)




The Beatles - Abbey Road (1969)

Although maybe not quite as experimental as Revolver, the Beatles' final recorded album shows the maturity they achieved as a band. Featuring some of the Beatles' most memorable songs (Here Comes the Sun being an example), the album makes us sad that there were no albums after this one - if the Beatles had recorded another one, how much better could it have been?

Most memorable songs: Come Together, Something, Oh! Darling, I Want You, Here Comes the Sun, Carry That Weight

Best listened to: Again, it makes great ambient/mood music.




(Special mention)
Radiohead - OK Computer

Maybe I will be considered a heretic for not having this album in my top lost, but IMHO as great as the album may be, it's just not in the league of the albums above. That's not to say that I don't love the album, but please stop calling it the greatest album ever, because it's not.






Most Over-rated album ever award
Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

Seriously, why do people think that this is up there as one of the best albums ever? It's got a few memorable tunes, a few boring tunes, and seems an uneven album at best. I bought this album based on the few songs that I liked (because thanks to the RIAA and ARIA you cannot now legally listen to the album before buying unless you can spend an hour in the record store using those stupid headphones), and even then was very disappointed with it. It is now relegated to sitting in my CD cabinet gathering dust.

So there's my list! Controversial? Maybe! I'd be interested to see what other people think, so let me know - what would you put on your list of the greatest classic albums?

Books I've been reading...

Long awaited, and possibly one of the most hyped books to come out in the past 100 years, I sat down and read this book. Without spoiling anything (I'm sure there's someone out there who hasn't read it), I enjoyed it, although it took such a long time to get going. Once stuff actually happened it was pretty good though.

Unfortunately, I guess some people are going to read Harry Potter over and over without realizing that there is much better fantasy out there. I'd recommend The Belgariad by David Eddings if you enjoyed HP... it's a bit more mature and (IMO) a better series of books.

I'd be interested to see how they are going to make this one into a movie too... bet the screenwriter has a headache already!!!




Apparently this book has inspired every horror film for the last 50 years, and it's not hard to see why. The books deals with the "last survivor" of a plague that has left most humans converted into vampires that can only come out at night. The book deals with his loneliness, his struggles to stay alive, and his seeking a way to cure the plague.

Absolutely loved this book... it's very original, and so relevant it's hard to believe that it was written quite so long ago. As a horror book it's probably not scary, but you certainly feel at times like you are there and going through the same struggles that the main character is. So don't be put off by that cover (the book really isn't like that at all) and have a read.