Tenth Avenue North

hi there just listen to a few of these guys songs. While the music is very mellow and acoustic - their lyrics have an honesty and depth that is not often I believe in Christian music. For you broadbanders have a listen.....

NLT Study Bible

Hey all, I just recently got a NLT Study Bible. I really like the NLT translation; it's just so readable. So I get my new Bible and I'm looking at some of the notes, and I get to the note on 1 Cor 11.3. The text of 1 Cor 11.3 is "But there is one thing I want you to know: The head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God". Now this is a much debated verse; the debate centred on the meaning of the word "head". We see this debate in the textual notes which shows that the word 'head' could be replaced with the word 'source' or 'is responsible to'. The study notes however say: NLT gives the literal reading head of, which is a methephor for either source or authority. The immediate context and Paul's overall teaching both favour understanding head in the context of authority. Personally, I have to admit I think NLT Study Bible has got this wrong and a lot of Biblical Commentators agree with me (such as Gordon Fee, NT Wright, Walter Kaiser, Millard Erickson and more). There are people that argue that the concept of authority is present in this verse, I agree with the writers above that the word is better understood as 'source'. The point that I'm wanting to make in this blog is that translators acknowledged the debate surrounding this verse. Why didn't the study notes? I have no problem with someone viewing something different from me. In fact, I readily admit in gray areas, that I could well be wrong. But given the abuse (I use that word on purpose) that the Church has dished out to females over the years through the misreading of this verse and others, surely an acknowledgment that 'leading Biblical scholars' read this verse differently should have been added in this study note. Anyway, theres my wringe.

I do wish note though with that said. I do like my Study Bible.

I got the cloest thing I've had to a complete all clear from my Hodgkins Cancer today. Still need to have 6 monthly scans to make sure that it doesn't try a comeback, but for now, all is good.

Also been on a mission trip to East Timor. Biggest thing that hit me this time was the state of the High Schools over there. They are a mess - seriously. I'm not meaning the teachers or education set-up; I don't anything about them. I mean the buildings and grounds that kids try to learn in. The missionaries that we support and work with have set up a Pre-School which is far better equipped than any of the High Schools we saw over there. Will blog more on Timor soon - for now it's bed time

Til next time
D

A thought, a benediction, a song, some news

A THOUGHT

When it comes to prayer, is there too much talk about the authority of believers and not enough talk on humility?

A BENEDICTION

This is from the book 'Prayer' by Philip Yancey - one of my heroes even through I've never meet him

"May God bless you with discomfort
At easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships
So that you may live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger
At injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people,
So that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.

May God bless you with tears
To shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger, and war,
So that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain to joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness
To believe that you can make a difference in the world,
So that you can do what others claim cannot be done
To bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.

A SONG

Got this song from my sisters blog - great song the only people who think they can offer themselves whole to God are those to blind to realise their broken.



SOME NEWS

My amazing, good-looking, God & People loving wife is at present in East Timor. I join her with the rest of our team on the 24th Sept, for a trip to serve and help at the Kids Ark Project. (http://www.arms.org.au/ministryarea.asp?id=14)Two other amazing woman run it the Kids Ark Project, Soraya and Branca from missionaries from Brazil. No doubt the trip will be far too short, but hopefully we can do something there to help them in their work. So next blog will probably be telling you of our trip.

A thought

Some studies have been done and they reckon they have found out that many of the disciples in Jesus day were young. Most of them, would’ve been what we call today teenagers (they weren’t called that back them). Kind of gives a new ring to the verse in 1 Tim 4:12 which says “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity”.
Never underestimate the power of young people. The Church needs young people that are serious about their faith and working the kingdom of God out in this world. However, there is a danger to all of us that by and large a lot of older people have fallen into. This danger has the power to also severely limit the effectiveness of young people today. The danger is “consumerism”. I’ve not talking about buying heaps of stuff etc - what I’m talking about is having an attitude of ‘here I am, feed and entertain me’. Now, there is nothing wrong with entertainment and fun, and of course we all need to be feed so we grow in God and as community. However, the real danger behind this is that it can limit our involvement and our leadership. Sometimes, (and only sometimes) it can lead to young people who God has called to lead and change ‘their’ world settling instead for entertainment. I suppose what I’m trying to say is best summed up by a slogan that went around during the war - I think. “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country”. What if we substituted the word country in there for the word family, school, youth group, Church, etc. If some change, new ideas and new leaders are going to come to the Church, it is going to require that some people raise above the consumerism attitude and lead.

Some Questions

Here's some questions I've been thinking about recently...

1/ Does hearing George Bush go on about how bad Russia is for attacking another Sovereign nation sound really hypocritical to you? Ohhh - remember Iraq George.
2/ Is Phelps the greatest freak of nature ever seen in sport or is he simply the best cheat? I really hope in 10 years time he is still seen as clean.
3/ A question for Australians - you can take the win but it will cost you your first two kids and we rip out all your fingernails? I seriously think the Aussies would still take the win.
4/ Is TVOne seeking to break its own Olympic world record - for the most ads?
5/ Does anyone else agree that it will be really interesting to see the medals/population winner at the end of these Olympics? My bet on a winner - Jamaica.
6/ Is this the wettest winter ever?
7/ Is anyone else excited about the amount of snow on the mountain at the mo?

Til next time
D

Sad Video and Catch Up

Ok so the above video is sad - but hey maybe there is an element of truth to it. First time I saw this it was funny cos one person in the group didn't get it as a joke and thought you could really buy this as a worship set. At Branded, over last few weeks we have been making movies - so may post them or least links to them once they all finished.
Anyhow, went to BYM Conference or at least some of it during Queen's Birthday - was good and thought Justin Duckworth gave heaps to think about. So in case any one stumbles over this page who put it on - well done.
Go to Waitako Hosptial Thursday, find what sort of Radiotherapy I need to get this Hodgkin's done and busted. Been awkward time just waiting. Be good to finally know whether I'm looking at 1 or 3 weeks of treatment.
After that looking forward to a few road trips, well ones an air trip really. Firstly, we are going to try and get tickets for the Springboks vs All Blacks at the Cake Tin. Yes - Weakleys we will visit you on the way - (might even try and book a room for a night if possible) Secondly, Guitar Festival in New Plymouth with Joe Satrini etc playing seeing some the world's best do their stuff. Thirdly, we are taking a team to East Timor in Sept/Oct.
Anyhow that's all for now - bring on the snow.

Til Next Time
D

Rubbish

I'm getting old enough to look back at the good old days. When music was played by music ans and every song had a guitar solo. But if ever you could look back and hope for the return to the good days it has to be in regard to TV. The stuff we have on TV in New Zealand is rubbish. There is just an endless stream of reality TV, cooking shows, soaps, sexual rubbish and of course the 4/5 variations of CSI. There are some exceptions - although I don't watch them I know of people that do enjoy ER, House, etc. But even then, if you add Shortland Street and Grey's Anatomy and there's probably more - you have to ask is the hospital scene getting a little over done? Personally there has been a few good series that I've enjoyed...I've watched this series (it's number 3 I think) of Prison Break and enjoyed Heroes (even if it is a pretty blatant copy of X-Men). But these shows are quite violent and rightly on quite late. Where are the good old shows for young people that I remember from the good old days? Like: - Buck Rogers And The 25th Century, BJ McKay And My Best Friend Bear, Million Dollar Man, MacGayver, etc. It's funny that some channels are bringing these back - is that because there is such a shortage of new ones. When brought back they do look a bit dated - after all can you believe that we use to think "kit" in Knight Rider was so cool?
Anyhow, that's my moan.....
Bring back Guitar solos, music ans and good harmless TV Shows I say...

Til Next Time
D

Rules Vs Heart Change

I've just started a new devotional book that I've had for ages but never really got into. Richard Foster helped put it together and in fact I got given it by the staff of Carey Baptist College when I graduated. So in this book is all these little bits of books written monks etc hundreds of years ago - this morning reading was from Augustine's book confessions. Then there's a Bible reading and some questions and exercises for reflection. It's good stuff. I'm still up to the part on preparing for the Spiritual Life. I'm also re-reading a book by Dallas Willard called "The Divine Conspiracy" - both this new devotional and Willards book emphasize the need for Christians to have heart change in order to change behaviour rather than set rules to follow. As a youth worker and someone who does some preaching I was thinking how much easier it is to present rules in what we teach rather than heart change. Recently, here in Taupo we had a meeting on violence in our town, and again as people talked about solutions I couldn't help but think the Christian answer isn't new rules and prisons (although of course these may be needed - at a society level) - but the ultimate answer is heart change. Isn't that what Mark was getting at in this passage

Mark 7:20-23

20 And then he added, “It is what comes from inside that defiles you. 21 For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. 23 All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.”

Another thing that has really got me thinking about this stuff is the book Reveal put out by Willow Creek. i haven't read it but we have discussed it as a staff here at Church. Part of the Book seems to say that at willow they have noticed that although they had heaps of people in programmes these people were not really growing as well as they thought. Generally they believe now that they need to teach people to be responsible for their own Spiritual Growth through such things as Spiritual Disciplines. Again this can be related to the heart change thing. Through Spiritual disciplines and spending time with God our heart is changed and we grow. It also gets you thinking about youth ministry again which is also very programme centred.

Anyhow as a result of all this I've decided to do a course on Spiritual Formation. Firstly, for myself cos I need it and I've enjoyed the taste of it I've got from this devotional book. Secondly, cos I want to learn more about this so I can pass it on to the youth.

Also I became an uncle again on Sunday. Well done and congrats to my sister Janelle and hubby Skip. Little Emma, now has a cousin. Also this Friday is my last chemo ever - cos I gather whether its worked or not they can not give any more or something - but last one, be good that's over. Lastly, New Zealand did end up losing the cricket - so faith is still required to believe in God.

Till Next Time

D

Easter Camp 08 Review

First up I want to say a big ups to the Easter Camp team, on my humble opinion they pulled of another great camp. For those of you who don't know Easter Camp is run at Mystery Creek by BYM (Baptist Youth Ministries). Here in Taupo we attend the Northern Camp along with 3500 other youth. The temperatures at Mystery Creek this year were right up there with Parachute Festival extremes which was great when your youth group is selling snow cones as a fund raiser - yes we had a record year.
Again the speakers at Easter Camp were great - Ant Watts had great substance and Sam Harvey was all passion. The worship team lead well and the inclusion of a few songs written around the theme of camp worked really well. Although I know some of our youth really struggled with 'death pits' being formed in worship times, not that the worship team had anything to do with it. I think the main themes of camp etc can be summed up by something one of our youth said when he stated it was a very unselfish camp, up until then Christianity and everything had been all about him and God, but at this camp he had realised it was not purely all about him but he had a role to play in the world. Pretty good stuff, for youth to coming from a camp with I reckon.
I gather there was a bit of a fuss about the fact a few "Non-Church" bands played on the Friday Night as support for World Vision. Personally, I had no problem with it - and really enjoyed Midnight Youth. Not sure why the Streetwise Scarlett guy spoke to us like someone out of PlaySchool sometimes but probably just part of the stage act (i am getting old). But thought it was a great gig - the parts I saw anyhow.

So another great camp and again I say well done to the crew who bring it all together.

Til next Time
D

Update & Dialogue

Tomorrow I go for what hopefully will be my third to last Chemo treatment for Hodgkin's Disease. I say hopefully cos after my last Chemo I have another CT Scan and appointment to see if it's all dead and gone or whether further treatment is needed. Since Christmas, a combination of prayer, the right mediation, Primo favoured milk, chewing gum and a late night before Chemo has kept post-chemo vomiting to a big zero which is most awesome. I still suffer a few side effects such as ulcers, fatigue, a bit of shortness of breath but all and all nothing that anyone couldn't handle. Considering what some people in the Chemo room are going through - I have faced nothing. Some people really have to do it rough and look seriously ill. They deserve and need a prayer or two. So life is pretty good. Soon I take a youth to Easter Camp while Nell my wife heads down to a family reunion. Easter Camp is always great fun, a shame to be missing the family reunion if for no other reason than it is in the central South Island a great part of NZ.
Anyway, I leave you with a thought. For a long time Christianity has been based on preaching and it seems to me that some people in the Church believe the way to do evangelism is to shout out truth and listen to no-one. We see this in the way some people preach, write letters to the editor, shout on street corners, organise protest marches, and generally proclaim Christianity. If they are taken to be arrogant or mocked for this shouting out of truth, then they calm themselves with the belief that they are being persecuted cos of righteousness and usually shout even louder. Now, I believe it is right to proclaim truth - that is not my problem - it is the method that I question. Cos lately I've sensed that some Christians have almost got to the stage where they are scared of dialogue with non-believers or other religions. It's like dialogue is a form of compromise and we shouldn't do it we should simply proclaim truth loudly and in some cases as offensively as possible. But, I question if this works and I wonder if the Churches way of yelling truth in a non-listening offensive manner has in part lead to why the Church is simply not heard on many issues in NZ society today. After all, if we are not going to dialogue and listen to them why should they dialogue and listen to us?

Maybe we need to learn that truth can be proclaimed gently and quietly (see 1 Peter 3:15-16) instead of loudly and offensively?

Maybe we need to grow more secure in the truth so that we realise listening to other opinions is not compromise, it's kind of manners and it means that we've earned the right to speak?

Maybe it springs from a lack of trust in the Spirit's work, we think we need to shout everyone down instead of dialoguing and allowing gentle work of the Spirit to happen?

Hey, and one last thing - New Zealand's winning the cricket - see there is a God!!!

Til Next time
D

Parachute 08 My Review

Ok just got from another Parachute festival. So here is my little review for what it is worth. For those who don't know Parachute is a music festival down here in little old NZ. We have about 8 stages going and about 28 000 people attending over the weekend. This year the star attraction was Switchfoot - and on my opinion they were a cut above everyone else. A great show, sang all their best songs, and were extremely tight as a band. Definitely my highlight of the weekend. The other big acts were RED, Hillsong United, Israel & New Breed and Leigh Nash. RED were disappointing I felt. I guess their bass player who is also their backup vocalist couldn't hear himself sing - cos he was really out of tune most of the time. Hillsong United - they were Hillsong - no surprises, was good that we all knew the songs, and they had a lot better sound mix than when they came a few years ago and sounded terrible. Israel and New Breed - there is no doubt they are a very tight band and Israel himself is a great singer and musician, but simply not my type of music so never really got into it, I find it all to repetitive - just a personal thing. Having said that, a lot of people really got into it. The surprise like for me was Leigh Nash (from Sixpence None The Richer fame), the poor thing was struggling with sickness the whole time and often broke into coughing fits on stage. But I think her stripped down sound of simply vocals and acoustic guitar brought a difference that was real refreshing. The other surprise band for me was Antiseptic from Aussie. Never heard of them before Parachute, but caught the end of their set on the Mainstage and for a three piece they had a great sound. The thing that I did note was apart from the Debut stage - there seemed to be a lack of new upcoming New Zealand bands - it was simply more of the same bands from the last few Parachutes.
Speaker wise - I love Tony Campelo at Parachute - his clear social message gives a great balance to the froth and gloss of the music industry. Reggie Draggs was great entertainment - a gifted speaker and good sax player, had us all eating out of his hand so to speak, although really the content of his message was really not much he would've reached a lot of people. Lasty, I forget her name but the UK blond speaker on the Monday, was really good as well. Great to have a British speaker instead of the normal array of Hillsong and Americans.
A few questions that I must admit have arisen from the weekend - and a great weekend it was (although once again extremely hot). My main question involves worship - and the clear worship leader celebrities that the Christian culture now has. Is this good? Why do we make celebrities of worship leaders? Does it distract from what we (and they) are trying to do in terms of singing songs to God anyway? Personally I found singing along with some of the Switchfoot songs especially my favourite "On Fire" a more worshipful time than any moment during the supposed "worship" times. I think what worries me is that young people see the ultimate aim - or the way you know you have made it as a Christian is to get on a stage and become a "worship leader" - or in a cool Christian band or worship band. I suppose you could look at it the other way and say who are the Christian heroes? Cos maybe the ones who are the real heroes, the ones that I would love the youth to really look up to are not some young musician putting on a show on stage - but the people out there doing the stuff Tony Campelo talked about, serving the poor, reaching out and changing the world through sacrifice, desire and a God-given calling. It would be great to hear more about these real heroes - making a change in the world once the lights and the froth and gloss have gone - cos in the end I've decided that's all big "worship"events are, they're a lot of froth and gloss - good God honouring froth and gloss, but froth and gloss all the same. Real worship isn't seen in the person singing the right songs - its seen in the person living the right dream - honouring God in every area of their lives - living out their faith..... letting their lifesong sing, not just their vocal chords. It's honouring God when no-one else is looking. It's obeying even when it's hard and looking beyond yourself in this individually focused world. You might say but surely getting down and worshipping with these great worshipping leading celebrities will lead to people living better lives - as a youth Pastor I would have say only sometimes - I seen a lot of youth who are quite happy to lift their hands and sing the right things and yet live lives that reflect nothing of what they just sang and promised the rest of the time. In the end, Parachute was great, but I think it's greatest fruit is not seen in the froth and gloss at Parachute, but in the lives changed and walking stronger for God when the lights go out and the music stops.

Till Next Time
D

The Gift

Numbers 27:16

16 “O Lord, you are the God who gives breath to all creatures.

Job 12:10

10 For the life of every living thing is in his hand,and the breath of every human being.

Psalm 104:29-30

29 But if you turn away from them, they panic.When you take away their breath,they die and turn again to dust.30 When you give them your breath,* life is created,and you renew the face of the earth.

Isaiah 42:5

5 God, the Lord, created the heavens and stretched them out.He created the earth and everything in it.He gives breath to everyone,life to everyone who walks the earth.

Acts 17:24-25

24 “He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, 25 and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything,

There's one thing that I'm pretty sure of. Why you are sitting around reading this and generally surfing round the web - you're breathing. I was watching a Rob Bell Nooma video ages ago and he makes the point that do we realise that everything we have is a gift from God. The last thing he lists is "that breath you just took". Do you really believe that your life - your last breath - your next breath - is a gift from God. You are alive today - cos of God - pure and simple. Even people who don't believe in God or are openly hostile towards him are alive cos God gives them breath. That's grace (undeserved favour). This was shown to me graphically in a video that I watched recently where the guy speaking Louis Gigido from the passion ministries in the US makes the point about a protien that holds our cells together in our body. The freaky thing is that this protein's structure is shaped like a cross.....so one of the central proteins in our body that holds our cells together, called "laminin" (Google Image it and see) is cross shaped. I think that's cool. Doesn't it bring real meaning to the fact that the last breath you took was gift of God to you. Doesn't it bring new meaning to

Cols 1:17

17 He existed before anything else,and he holds all creation together.

For you Station or Youth people I will probably show you the video at some time. Til then - maybe if we realise that every breath we breathe is a gift from God, it might have more influence on what do as we breath in and out? Maybe this is why in the Greek the word for Spirit and Breath is the same word? Maybe we need to realise more the small things and realise that we are a blessed people? Maybe next time we sing a song of praise or worship, see the beauty of creation, enjoy the company of good friends, laugh, or look into the eyes of someone we love we need to remember that the life we live and chance for this moment comes as a result of a God given gift called life? Maybe if realise who gives us and the rest of humanity life the gift of life we would value it more - that aborted child, that war victim, the oppressed, the poor, the abused - do we value their God given breath?

Til Next Time

D