While the purpose of this blog was to talk about what is going on in my life from my persepective, while also exploring what God is doing, or maybe teaching me in my life I am debating if I should delete this blog or not as it seems the politics of blogging is to complex....... At times it is to easy to offend some one some times because you have miss understood them. While other times for different reasens, up till this point the blog has helped me grow as a christian, god has used it to bring up conversations and I hope it helps other people.
Any way I will pray on this, and will at some point in time make a decision.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Godly men.......
Well after a lot of thought I have decided to make this post.. The topic of how to be a godly man is a big one, these are just a few rambling thoughts on such a big topic. The idea started from talking with some Christians, on overcoming sin, and latter through people running for focus community.
The first concept I want to explore is overcoming sin. It is I believe when over coming sin contearly to what I misstakenly took a Christian ti say "Concentrate on overcoming big area's of sin in your life before you worry about evangelizing to people or uni work of for that matter any thing else I want to point out to some people this is not actually an effective way of overcoming your sin, as sin is consterantly then on your mind many your maybe temtped even more and even more likely to give in as your mind is often on the sin, this is not to say that this is you being tested more then what you can handel because god never tests us in a manner in which we can not handel. Rather I find its helpful to repent from our sin, and spend time in praying for gods help in overcoming the sin, however once we have reacived god forgives we should no longer feel guilty because god has forgiven us. Hence when I find my self in this position after receiving gods forgiveness I still concentrating on working for god because this shows faith in the lord that he has helped you overcome this area of sin. The manner in which you contue to evangelize people is also important, as it is important not to claim to be some thing you are not and if you have reacently had a proublem with a sin, do not pretend to be perfect or to take the high and mighty ground rather admit your faults and use it as a oppitunity to point out with out christ you still fall short of the glory of god. It is also important to remove aspect of our life that encourage you to sin because this is acting in a godly manner but rather we should also act in faith.
This does not mean people should put their names for for roles in the church in which by their sinfully acts they do not fulfill the requirements for ie: elder-ship / leadership. While we are forgiven by God actually wants people who have overcome the sin for a period of time as they are more likely to remain blameless on the topics of sexual sins and drunkenness while in the respective role. Even if from a a worldly sense they would do a good job (ie would be very effective at) and from a biblical sense they are all most their,if their are area of recent sin in their life that they have resecentily overcome or still needs to work on the should not run. As people need to realize it does not actually matter how effective you would be at that job if you do not fit the requirements that god places for the job you are actually undermining god's Authority as you are not respecting the requirements that he places on the job. If no one can fulfill the role, well then it is better that no one is in the job then some one who does not meet Gods requirements. This is why I didn't run for the focus comity this year because of my problems earlier in the year with achole. This is not to say I will not meet the requirement in a a year or a few years however, rather merely means god needs to refine them further first. And if I or another Christian was to runing for a role in the church that I could not fufil gods requirments for for I would actually hope Christians would speak up, as it is their duty to speak up over wise they would also be undermining God's Authority. I have found from previous experiences this is easier said then done as it involves bringing up personal details about some one else that have often required trust to be built up over a period of time, however in the end it comes down who is your master? God of your friendships!
On another topic Random thoughts on Adultery and sexual sin.
In the area of sexual sin aka adultery I realized that lust is in some ways a different sin to masturbation, as when you lustfully look at a women, you are sinning with your mind, When people masturbate they are actually also committing two sins a "sexual act" as well as a "sin of lust". While having sex with a women out of wedlock is a worse sin again because it is actually three sins, a sin of lust, a sexual sin, while also causing another to sin and hence is worse again. So while all sins are equal depending on the extent people act on the sin they may actually be committing more then one sin.
The first concept I want to explore is overcoming sin. It is I believe when over coming sin contearly to what I misstakenly took a Christian ti say "Concentrate on overcoming big area's of sin in your life before you worry about evangelizing to people or uni work of for that matter any thing else I want to point out to some people this is not actually an effective way of overcoming your sin, as sin is consterantly then on your mind many your maybe temtped even more and even more likely to give in as your mind is often on the sin, this is not to say that this is you being tested more then what you can handel because god never tests us in a manner in which we can not handel. Rather I find its helpful to repent from our sin, and spend time in praying for gods help in overcoming the sin, however once we have reacived god forgives we should no longer feel guilty because god has forgiven us. Hence when I find my self in this position after receiving gods forgiveness I still concentrating on working for god because this shows faith in the lord that he has helped you overcome this area of sin. The manner in which you contue to evangelize people is also important, as it is important not to claim to be some thing you are not and if you have reacently had a proublem with a sin, do not pretend to be perfect or to take the high and mighty ground rather admit your faults and use it as a oppitunity to point out with out christ you still fall short of the glory of god. It is also important to remove aspect of our life that encourage you to sin because this is acting in a godly manner but rather we should also act in faith.
This does not mean people should put their names for for roles in the church in which by their sinfully acts they do not fulfill the requirements for ie: elder-ship / leadership. While we are forgiven by God actually wants people who have overcome the sin for a period of time as they are more likely to remain blameless on the topics of sexual sins and drunkenness while in the respective role. Even if from a a worldly sense they would do a good job (ie would be very effective at) and from a biblical sense they are all most their,if their are area of recent sin in their life that they have resecentily overcome or still needs to work on the should not run. As people need to realize it does not actually matter how effective you would be at that job if you do not fit the requirements that god places for the job you are actually undermining god's Authority as you are not respecting the requirements that he places on the job. If no one can fulfill the role, well then it is better that no one is in the job then some one who does not meet Gods requirements. This is why I didn't run for the focus comity this year because of my problems earlier in the year with achole. This is not to say I will not meet the requirement in a a year or a few years however, rather merely means god needs to refine them further first. And if I or another Christian was to runing for a role in the church that I could not fufil gods requirments for for I would actually hope Christians would speak up, as it is their duty to speak up over wise they would also be undermining God's Authority. I have found from previous experiences this is easier said then done as it involves bringing up personal details about some one else that have often required trust to be built up over a period of time, however in the end it comes down who is your master? God of your friendships!
On another topic Random thoughts on Adultery and sexual sin.
In the area of sexual sin aka adultery I realized that lust is in some ways a different sin to masturbation, as when you lustfully look at a women, you are sinning with your mind, When people masturbate they are actually also committing two sins a "sexual act" as well as a "sin of lust". While having sex with a women out of wedlock is a worse sin again because it is actually three sins, a sin of lust, a sexual sin, while also causing another to sin and hence is worse again. So while all sins are equal depending on the extent people act on the sin they may actually be committing more then one sin.
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Past 24 hours.
Past 24 well proubly 26 hours know.
During the past 24 to 28 or so hours I have seen the lord work in such a strong way, SO LET ME JUST SAY FIRST OUR GOD IS AN ALLSOME GOD. Ok moving on from that statement that is so true, and I feel like shouting so that all the universe can hear 24 hours aday, to the massage that I want to write.
Since the con christian group god has been showing me what it means to carry the cross,not just a cross made out of craft wood or bollsa wood, not just a cross that I place around my neck to say I believe in Jesus Christ as Lord but to carring the cross that the bible calls us to do. To live as though you are allready dead and to serve god with all your life some would call this being a religious fantic most likely.
So what does this mean?
1: GOD COMES FIRST IN ALL THINGS
2: All money and all I have is God's
3: I will no longer purchase or buy things for the sake of my self. Drinks take aways you name it (I will not purchase it unless little other option at the time) I can only do this through the strength of the holly spirit
4: No uni work or any thing else will come in front of what gods doing in my day to day life
5: I will use my time wisely.
In the past I have prayed that I become a slave for Christ or that I will carry the cross but, it was like god said no you are not ready, as such he allso did not show me what it truely meant its like he was saying I have more work to do in you before I can take you on that journey.
Since he has shown me what it means and has called me to carry the cross my walk with god has been amazing. Though I know that their will be times when the cross gets heavy and I may even drop it for a time by going back to my own strength or giving in to sin in another way I know their will be god and christians their helping me pick the cross back up. THis is because god is a Amazing god. he has allowed me to rest in him ready for the rough road ahead. The norrow road he has set out for each one of us to find when the time is right to do so.
So pray for me and that he may give me wisedom and guidance on a day to day level as well as for the longer term if that is what he desires that through his grace I may carry my cross, along the road he has set out.
Also in the last week or two time after time he keeps showing me Mosses, in relation to ministery, and other area's of my life I do not know if god has shown me fully why yet so pray for guidance on this.
May god be with you, Mark
During the past 24 to 28 or so hours I have seen the lord work in such a strong way, SO LET ME JUST SAY FIRST OUR GOD IS AN ALLSOME GOD. Ok moving on from that statement that is so true, and I feel like shouting so that all the universe can hear 24 hours aday, to the massage that I want to write.
Since the con christian group god has been showing me what it means to carry the cross,not just a cross made out of craft wood or bollsa wood, not just a cross that I place around my neck to say I believe in Jesus Christ as Lord but to carring the cross that the bible calls us to do. To live as though you are allready dead and to serve god with all your life some would call this being a religious fantic most likely.
So what does this mean?
1: GOD COMES FIRST IN ALL THINGS
2: All money and all I have is God's
3: I will no longer purchase or buy things for the sake of my self. Drinks take aways you name it (I will not purchase it unless little other option at the time) I can only do this through the strength of the holly spirit
4: No uni work or any thing else will come in front of what gods doing in my day to day life
5: I will use my time wisely.
In the past I have prayed that I become a slave for Christ or that I will carry the cross but, it was like god said no you are not ready, as such he allso did not show me what it truely meant its like he was saying I have more work to do in you before I can take you on that journey.
Since he has shown me what it means and has called me to carry the cross my walk with god has been amazing. Though I know that their will be times when the cross gets heavy and I may even drop it for a time by going back to my own strength or giving in to sin in another way I know their will be god and christians their helping me pick the cross back up. THis is because god is a Amazing god. he has allowed me to rest in him ready for the rough road ahead. The norrow road he has set out for each one of us to find when the time is right to do so.
So pray for me and that he may give me wisedom and guidance on a day to day level as well as for the longer term if that is what he desires that through his grace I may carry my cross, along the road he has set out.
Also in the last week or two time after time he keeps showing me Mosses, in relation to ministery, and other area's of my life I do not know if god has shown me fully why yet so pray for guidance on this.
May god be with you, Mark
Monday, August 6, 2007
Wow What I clip
Check out this video: Once Saved, Always Saved? ... The Final Word
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While I do not agree necisearly agree with all in this clip, it is amazing clip and really allows god to work and get you thinking.
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While I do not agree necisearly agree with all in this clip, it is amazing clip and really allows god to work and get you thinking.
This is a great clip,
I really found this clip challenging, specially after meeting with a few other christian UNI students, today at UNI in a group ran by focus and this conversation com up to some exten. This has given me more insight into what it Means though.
Check out this video: Is Your Cross Too Pretty ?
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Check out this video: Is Your Cross Too Pretty ?
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"The End of Faith"
Think carefully before watching this clip: Though it does help to understand the way society is heading today specially todo with religion. IT draws some fair fetched conclusions that I will counter argue through the HELP OF MY GOD MY LORD in a video clip I am currently working on.
Check out this video: the end of faith
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Things to note if you do watch the clip
1: He judges christanty through the eyes of the world: Not through the question of did Jesus Rise from the dead, and if he did what meaning should that have.
2: Even to believe in "science and reasen" requires a level of Faith
3: Groups like the Natzi's believed in logic, and look at where that took us, this shows that religion is not the only worry for corrupting society.
But any way know dought if you choose to watch the clip you will notice significant floors in his arguement.
Check out this video: the end of faith
Add to My Profile | More Videos
Things to note if you do watch the clip
1: He judges christanty through the eyes of the world: Not through the question of did Jesus Rise from the dead, and if he did what meaning should that have.
2: Even to believe in "science and reasen" requires a level of Faith
3: Groups like the Natzi's believed in logic, and look at where that took us, this shows that religion is not the only worry for corrupting society.
But any way know dought if you choose to watch the clip you will notice significant floors in his arguement.
Check out this cool clip
(For A min I accidently uploaded the wrong clip I have fixed this up know I hope.)
Check out this video: My Jesus
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I have not fully taken not of the words so I do not know if I 100% agree with the theology behind it but still I like it.
(For A min I accidently uploaded the wrong clip I have fixed this up know I hope.)
Check out this video: My Jesus
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I have not fully taken not of the words so I do not know if I 100% agree with the theology behind it but still I like it.
Example: 1 Arguement 4 christ please guys comment on what is being said leave feed back and so on because this is just a draft.
An example of what I am thinking of doing is:
http://www.zendurl.com/p/p4c///arguement%204%20christ.mp3 (A must download)
at the moment you have to download the file to listen to it: I will soon be adding a media player and several other options to the site. The site will only be 4 the perpose of getting feedback on current Idea's and allow God to work through allowing other christians to give feedback. In the comming days I will rework some of them as well as adding more. While also please remember these works are only in their draft form. Regards Mark.
http://www.zendurl.com/p/p4c///arguement%204%20christ.mp3 (A must download)
at the moment you have to download the file to listen to it: I will soon be adding a media player and several other options to the site. The site will only be 4 the perpose of getting feedback on current Idea's and allow God to work through allowing other christians to give feedback. In the comming days I will rework some of them as well as adding more. While also please remember these works are only in their draft form. Regards Mark.
Please read the post bellow before reading this blog.
I have modified this from one of the people who job it is to work at the uni, His blog is great
http://mikejolly.blogspot.com/
But I'm not going to...I'm not going to cave into temptation. I am not going to hide and not produce these clips or run behind the camera if gods will is for me to be the one speaking.
I'm not taking the easy road out.I'm not giving up.I am a leader and God has called me to that position, I must lead by example even when I don't feel adequate for the task.I know that I am going to do the Video Clips because how I feel doesn't rule and dictate terms to me and my life. I don't serve my feelings but my creator who loved and died for me when I didn't deserve it.I have confidence in the Messages god has placed on my heart and they maybe a excellent tool for effective evangelism
While I do not have confidence in myself and abilities that God has given me to talk to people and to be an effective evangelist I have confidance that the lord can use me in this way. I have confidence because the lord has worked hard to prepare myself and my brain for the big task. I have confidence in God who is greater than myself and my efforts.I have confidence in the gospel and I'm nor ashamed to call myself a Christian.I have confidence in the Bible that God's word speaks powerfully to people today.I have confidence in the power of prayer.Lastly I have confidence in you the reader sitting in front of your computer at home that you'll also cry out to the God of the Universe to save people through these clips and bring the gospel to bear on their lives. May God be glorified.
I Will talk more about why I posted this is my next few posts which will hopefully be in the next few days.Sunday, August 5, 2007
A long blog about abit of every thing.
I have decided to bring up the topic in order of importance in my current life. So rathe then the length putting u off just stop reading when you have had enough.
Ever since mid year confrence I have been learning more about god and the way he works he is amazing did you guys know that. Some of these insights as well as some of the messages god has placed on my heart for a long time I am beging to record drafts in audio form ready for when I record them to film for myspace.
I will mostlikely get a UTUBE acount to post these drafts as well as audio blogs in the mean time their. Topics include what is faith? Why Jesus, and so on. All have been fairly well reasurched as well as having much insperation coming from the Holly Spirit. In the end all the credit for what is said needs to go to god. I am looking forward to filming these clips. For some reasen I feel time is short however I do not know why. Is it short because in god's soverighn plan their are people who need to hear the clip and if I take to long they will not get the oppitunty to? IS it short because if I do the clips soon the lord will open doors that will other wise be shut? OR is time short for me? or is it just my Imaganation? In the end only god knows the answer to this question. By the same tokin I do not want to rush the messages, or jepodise my UNI work so the ballance will need to be found some where.
Spose its just as well I do not have alot of time demands in my life at the min though I want to get some work, to enable me to have fundings to better serve god ie: through helping others, & to be less reliant on perents. As well as just having some extra money to do things with.
God is actually changing me: He is beging to show me exactly what can be accomplished when some one uses their time wisely. He has began to show me what happens when I spend more time on UNI work, Spend more time devoted to him and spend more time doign house work, rather then often sitting here on the computer and waiting for time to pass me by. Last week in a few days of solid work I managed to acomplish what normally takes me a week or more. Rather for once I did not find this tireing. Infact he is teaching and training me to live in society more productivly all the time.
My uni stuff is going well art theory is ok, for my writen subject I am actually trying to finsh my work early.Not much else to say really about UNI.
What else has changed ow thats right I have shaved my beard and hair, the hair was a pratical thing as it was getting in my eyes and needed it shorter, cheaper to do it witht he hair clips I think I ended up with a number 8 or some thing then go to the hair dressers. Though it is thining out and I like keeping as much as possible, this was just one of the many sacrofices I have made by living of the income of a Uni student. While the beard was because some of my mates wanted to see what I would look like with out it and the moie. LOL Ok I am not that keen on it but they all like it does this mean it stays shaved or grows back I do not know.
I went to an art exibition opening the other day and acidently got abit tipsy I was still in control of my actions and when I noticed I stoped drinking still one ting I have noticed is know since I am simply haveing the odd social drink I can not drink that much at all. Where as I could in the past drink a 6 pack in a few hours know a few standard drinks have a simlar effect. The one good thing is as soon as I noticed the effect I hated it and stoped drinking praise the lord. I wonder if thats god calling me to stop drinking completly, or just be even more matchful.
Know to the topic of girls, and well their is nothing really to add on this topic, though I know that god has not given me the gift of singleness (As much as I would have liked him to) I am content with the things the way their are. I do not really have fealings for any girl's / young women at the min. Mind you like allways I am aware of a few that I need to watch my self around, as I could easly fall for them, however unless I know one of them likes me I will contue to stop my self falling for them, (none of them know about my blog but I still will not menchine names as tasmania is a small place and chances are some one may know them). Previos experences have tought me that is a reciept for disaster. Even if I did find a women who liked me and I could feel the same way back the next question would be is god in the relationship, as I have choosen to try and hand all parts of my life other to my lord and god in heaven and till the day I die.
Still hope to oneday find a girl that will help me grow in god and can shair my life with and I can do the same back to but till that happens I will make the most of single life. OR until god provides me with a women to date and teach me what I need to learn for marrage for that matter.
Its funny one of the last times I feel in love it was because of how that persen made me feel, and could make the world one big lough, however know I look deeper and see that was such a selfish wish in a relationship. (YAY this persen is actually making me lough again, & I can be around her with out feeling any pain or strong feelings & the wierdness has allmost completly died.) Any way going back to the topic on hand this is not because enjoyment is evil but rather god intended relationships to bring so much more, to be a place for spiritual growth. This is not nesisearly to say that the young ladies I have noticed latterly fit the catagory of people that will help me in my walk as some are not even christian but rather it is to say that god has to be the center of every thing in life with out that being the case we are opening a reciept for disaster.
Ever since mid year confrence I have been learning more about god and the way he works he is amazing did you guys know that. Some of these insights as well as some of the messages god has placed on my heart for a long time I am beging to record drafts in audio form ready for when I record them to film for myspace.
I will mostlikely get a UTUBE acount to post these drafts as well as audio blogs in the mean time their. Topics include what is faith? Why Jesus, and so on. All have been fairly well reasurched as well as having much insperation coming from the Holly Spirit. In the end all the credit for what is said needs to go to god. I am looking forward to filming these clips. For some reasen I feel time is short however I do not know why. Is it short because in god's soverighn plan their are people who need to hear the clip and if I take to long they will not get the oppitunty to? IS it short because if I do the clips soon the lord will open doors that will other wise be shut? OR is time short for me? or is it just my Imaganation? In the end only god knows the answer to this question. By the same tokin I do not want to rush the messages, or jepodise my UNI work so the ballance will need to be found some where.
Spose its just as well I do not have alot of time demands in my life at the min though I want to get some work, to enable me to have fundings to better serve god ie: through helping others, & to be less reliant on perents. As well as just having some extra money to do things with.
God is actually changing me: He is beging to show me exactly what can be accomplished when some one uses their time wisely. He has began to show me what happens when I spend more time on UNI work, Spend more time devoted to him and spend more time doign house work, rather then often sitting here on the computer and waiting for time to pass me by. Last week in a few days of solid work I managed to acomplish what normally takes me a week or more. Rather for once I did not find this tireing. Infact he is teaching and training me to live in society more productivly all the time.
My uni stuff is going well art theory is ok, for my writen subject I am actually trying to finsh my work early.Not much else to say really about UNI.
What else has changed ow thats right I have shaved my beard and hair, the hair was a pratical thing as it was getting in my eyes and needed it shorter, cheaper to do it witht he hair clips I think I ended up with a number 8 or some thing then go to the hair dressers. Though it is thining out and I like keeping as much as possible, this was just one of the many sacrofices I have made by living of the income of a Uni student. While the beard was because some of my mates wanted to see what I would look like with out it and the moie. LOL Ok I am not that keen on it but they all like it does this mean it stays shaved or grows back I do not know.
I went to an art exibition opening the other day and acidently got abit tipsy I was still in control of my actions and when I noticed I stoped drinking still one ting I have noticed is know since I am simply haveing the odd social drink I can not drink that much at all. Where as I could in the past drink a 6 pack in a few hours know a few standard drinks have a simlar effect. The one good thing is as soon as I noticed the effect I hated it and stoped drinking praise the lord. I wonder if thats god calling me to stop drinking completly, or just be even more matchful.
Know to the topic of girls, and well their is nothing really to add on this topic, though I know that god has not given me the gift of singleness (As much as I would have liked him to) I am content with the things the way their are. I do not really have fealings for any girl's / young women at the min. Mind you like allways I am aware of a few that I need to watch my self around, as I could easly fall for them, however unless I know one of them likes me I will contue to stop my self falling for them, (none of them know about my blog but I still will not menchine names as tasmania is a small place and chances are some one may know them). Previos experences have tought me that is a reciept for disaster. Even if I did find a women who liked me and I could feel the same way back the next question would be is god in the relationship, as I have choosen to try and hand all parts of my life other to my lord and god in heaven and till the day I die.
Still hope to oneday find a girl that will help me grow in god and can shair my life with and I can do the same back to but till that happens I will make the most of single life. OR until god provides me with a women to date and teach me what I need to learn for marrage for that matter.
Its funny one of the last times I feel in love it was because of how that persen made me feel, and could make the world one big lough, however know I look deeper and see that was such a selfish wish in a relationship. (YAY this persen is actually making me lough again, & I can be around her with out feeling any pain or strong feelings & the wierdness has allmost completly died.) Any way going back to the topic on hand this is not because enjoyment is evil but rather god intended relationships to bring so much more, to be a place for spiritual growth. This is not nesisearly to say that the young ladies I have noticed latterly fit the catagory of people that will help me in my walk as some are not even christian but rather it is to say that god has to be the center of every thing in life with out that being the case we are opening a reciept for disaster.
Friday, June 29, 2007
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Long time since the last post:
It has been a long time since I have last put any thing in my blog. I have not been spending as much time on msn or forms of communication through the internet apart from vo-ip phone with parents and family but that is different any way.
First things are more normal between the girl I used to like (well still like her just not in a romantic way) and my self which is good. As a mist the way she made me laugh and so on.
Um I will add a few blog’s with in the next few days, one about free will and choices, and one about question’s I am asking my self about what is and is not ok to do as a Christian specially in relation to music and television. But also includes swearing and discussions other questions that are important to explore as a Christian.
First things are more normal between the girl I used to like (well still like her just not in a romantic way) and my self which is good. As a mist the way she made me laugh and so on.
Um I will add a few blog’s with in the next few days, one about free will and choices, and one about question’s I am asking my self about what is and is not ok to do as a Christian specially in relation to music and television. But also includes swearing and discussions other questions that are important to explore as a Christian.
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