Luther!

I am studying church history at college this semester, and we have just started looking at Martin Luther. I remembered watching a movie called 'Luther' a few years back and just borrowed it to re-watch again last night. As I did, I couldn't help but be thankful.

Luther was a young German monk in the 1500's, who was disillusioned with the way things were, and as such decided to confront the Roman Catholic Church on topics like indulgences, and other areas, where he felt the practices of the day conflicted with the ideas or teachings of the Bible. What Luther did, set in motion one of the most significant events of western history, the Protestant Reformation.

So why am I thankful? I am thankful for people like Luther who cared more about God and what He has to say, than what the society around him says is true. I am grateful that he cared enough to stand up for what he believed in, and as such paved the way for my faith in God  and the Church we have today. 

In Luther's time, the Pope, head of the Roman Church, interpreted the Bible and told people what it said and meant for them. Luther believed that the people should be able to read and learn from the Bible itself, and that God was the person that needed to help them interpret it. As such, he went on to translate the Bible into his heart language...German, and in doing so opened the Word of God to peasants and ordinary people. 

This is what I am most grateful for. Grateful that we have the Word of God written down, grateful that I can read it in my own language, and grateful that the Spirit of God helps me to understand what it has to say.

Heaven and Hell

Have you ever wondered if there really is a heaven and hell? If so, what is it like? And how could a loving God send people to hell?

Recently we did a series at church called 'ask God anything?', and this was one of the questions we looked at. Neil did a great job of answering these questions.

Why not have a listen. You can check it out here: Heaven and Hell!

I also just finished reading a great book on the topic. Its called 'When Christ Comes' by Max Lucado, and is really helpful for thinking further about what happens when you die, or when Christ returns.

30 by 30

One of my good friends who also just recently turned 29, decided to come up with a 30 by 30. A list of 30 things - some pipe dreams, some doable,  and some I have done before but want to do again - to do by the time 30 rolls around. It inspired me to make my own list, so here goes (and yes, I stole some of her ideas!):

1. Visit a new country DONE

2. go to the Cadbury factory in Tassie DONE

3. visit the Hunter Valley DONE

4. learn to drive a manual

5. bowl a perfect game in wii bowling (or at least beat Brian!)

6. read at least 5 books off my shelf that I haven't yet read

7. teach someone to surf

8. learn the bass guitar DONE

9. finish 1/2 my Associate Degree in Theology

10. do a mini triathlon

11. memorise the book of Ephesians

12. go to an NBA game

13. face a fear DONE

14. volunteer for/at something

15. go karaokeing (maybe doing this again will class as facing a fear!)

16.surf at every beach on the Northern Beaches in 1 day

17. take a winning photo

18. swim with dolphins

19. learn to cook 4 new meals DONE

20. transfer old videos to dvd

21. save .... amount of $ DONE

22. be fitter at 30 than I was at 20

23. eat something I haven't eaten before DONE

24. score a hatrick at indoor soccer

25. watch NSW win a State of Origin series (or at least a game) DONE

26. ride a skidoo

27. run 5km without falling over

28. share the gospel with someone

29. meet Mr Right (hey, why not!)

30. inspire someone else to write their own 30 by 30! DONE

GRattitude

Why is it so much easier to have an attitude, than it is to have gratitude?

I whinge about aches and pains instead of being thankful that I have a pretty healthy body.

I complain about not sleeping well, rather than being thankful that I have a bed and a roof over my head.

I say there is nothing to eat, yet I have a house full of food, that I have no money, yet I have a bank account and a wallet.  

As I thought about these things (and many other similar lines I could write), I was challenged to try and turn my attitude, into gratitude!

"You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness". Eph 4:22-24 

The Biggest Loser!

I was watching The Biggest Loser (yep, its one of my favs!) the other night, and the remaining few contestants were given a hiking back pack, as they stood in front of an amazing stretch of sand dunes. Every few hundred metres they would come to a check point where a sandbag equivalent to the weight they lost on that week of the show was put in their pack. Sometimes it was a kg or 2kg, sometimes it was up over 10kg's! As they made their way through the check points their bags got heavier and heavier; the pressure increasing, the burden harder to bear! After walking up and down the sandy hills, representative of the ups and downs of life, they arrived at the final check point and felt the full force of the weight they had once carried!

The point of the challenge was to remind them of where they started, and just how far they had come. To remember the feelings, the emotions, and the choices that had got them to where they were.They made comments like 'it hurts to carry this weight around', and 'I cant believe I let it get to this'. When you lose weight bit by bit, you dont really grasp the full weight of what you have lost (some over 50kg's). Its only when you feel it all at once, that you remember the weightiness of your past. The limitations, the pain, the achy joints, the self doubt, the guilt, the fears...all from an unnecessary load they were carrying around. The thing that struck me the most, was that it was only once they had remembered the full force of their previous weight and their old way of life, that they experienced the true freedom of letting it go. The relief and joy that they felt when the bag was taken off was incredible. The burden was gone, freedom had come! They commented that they felt liberation and freedom, and that it showed them how much they never wanted to go back to the way life was. After feeling that burden, they were more determined than ever, not to put that weight back on. 

What if we were given a bag to carry. What if every sand bag in our pack represented our sin. What if we were to feel the full weight of the decisions we have made, and the things we have done? What if we grasped just for a minute, how big the burden was that Jesus carried on our behalf? Would we not also realise afresh the freedom we have been given? 

See, the trainers didn't offer to carry the packs for the contestants. They were forced to carry it themselves. But Jesus doesn't just walk along side us, he steps in and carries our pack. He carries the weight of our sin on his shoulders, and gives us the freedom that only he deserves. If we truly realised that, would we not be more determined than ever to live a life that reflected the freedom he bought us. A life full of joy, not pain and fear. A life of determination to not return to how we once were. When we are graciously forgiven time and time again, I cant help but think we fail to realise the extent of our sin, and the freedom we have from being released from it.

How would we live differently if we could catch a glimpse...to see how it felt before and after our sin was taken away. Surely it would change how we live. Thanks to Jesus, we won't ever have to fully feel the weight of our sin. Thanks to Jesus, one day we will fully feel the freedom he has bought us!

The Biggest Loser winner wont be decided tomorrow night. Its already been decided. The Biggest Loser is me. It's you! Its everyone who has experience the freedom of knowing Jesus is carrying our pack.

If the shoe fits....

Jack be nimble, Jack be quick; Jumping Jack; Jack in a box! All 3 sayings have 2 things in common. 1, they all mention the name Jack. 2, they all perfectly describe my gorgeous little nephew who funnily enough, is also called Jack. If the shoe fits! 

I wanted to introduce you to Jack, because he is one of the greatest sources of joy in my life. He is certainly nimble and quick...he has one speed, and its fast! He loves to jump...trampolines, couches, beds etc! And he has been known to hop in a few boxes.

Jack is just over 2 and is a pretty smart little kid. He is also pretty darn cute, and a rockin' drummer. Here he is showing off his skills! World, meet Jack!

Life Saving

Did you know you can save 1 life every month? Thats right! Every single month YOU could be saving a life! A few weeks ago I donated blood for the first time, something you can do every 3 months, and found that every donation can save 3 lives. That’s 1 life a month! You head in to a donor center, fill in some paperwork, lie on a table, and then munch on a snack pack when you are done. I was happy to be able to help other people in this way, and after wards, I thought well why wouldn’t I be? Sure it’s a bit uncomfortable, and can take some time out of my day, but on the other hand it’s merely giving something I’ve been freely given of no merit of my own, and it has the power to save lives.

It challenged me to think about the other source of life I have flowing through me, the message of Jesus.  Blood can save bodies, the gospel can save souls. Jesus loves us so much, that he came to die in our place, and take the punishment we deserve. It’s a message that has been given to us to share with others, and although it can be a bit uncomfortable, why wouldn’t we want to help save lives?

I hope that this week, you will be challenged by the importance of sharing the gospel with those around you. And while you’re at it, why not sign up to donate some blood! Let’s get on the mission of saving lives!

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him". John 3:16-17

Find out where to donate blood with the Australian Red Cross Blood Service!