No letters after my name. Free to be me.

Amazing Grace - The Movie

I just got back from the movies. A rare treat for my wife an I as we have two kids under 4. At the recent Hillsong Conference, a massive plug was given for the film, “Amazing Grace.” This was based on the true life story of William Wilberforce. An English politician inspired by John Newton and influenced by others to push for the Abolition Laws in England back in the late 1700’s.

Practically what happened is that Wilberforce was moved by God through many different people to stand up and fight against the slave trade of Africans. The UK was built upon the blood, sweat and tears of such slaves. And the UK relied upon the slave trade to pump their economy.

Standing up against such a trade meant basically to threaten the financial fabric of the UK and Members of Parliament were greatly opposed to such an Act. The war between England and France in 1793 made Abolition a dirty word in the minds of many of the English. After the war, another opportunity presented itself and this is where Wilberforce et al pounced.

I was deeply moved watching this film. Although not a teenage flick which can compare to the likes of Harry Potter, Transformers or the Simpson Movie (which makes me realise that the timing of the movie simply sucks) it was, nevertheless, powerful. I don’t need glitz, glamour nor hype to be moved in my spirit. I am moved by seeing hearts sold out to God and living a life which puts my mediocre life to shame.

It isn’t a fast moving film, nor is it visually flash - although it does have a grand old time epic feel to it. But when you see it through spiritual eyes, it moves you. Imagine the heart of God seeing how His creation deals with the Africans. Imagine the enemy’s contentment in such harsh treatment of what is precious to God - human souls. Imagine the torment of Wilberforce as he faced up against politicians protecting their pockets and the “Empire” - not to mention the votes from their constituents.

At Hillsong it was explained that cinema’s determine the length a movie remains screening based on the first week of release. So I urge you to go and check out this film. Initially I was a little reluctant. In the end I am glad I watched it. Check out the trailer below…

Tags: Amazing Grace, John Newton, Slaves, William Wilberforce, Harry Potter, Transformers, The Simpsons Movie, Hillsong

America’s Top 50 Influential Churches

If you’re a church geek like me, you will love this list of America’s top 50 churches. Thanks to the work done at churchrelevance.com, I am able to compile this list of the most influential churches based on the following on the following criteria:

• Outreach magazine’s 2007 America’s Top 25 Multiplying Churches
• Outreach magazine’s 2007 America’s 25 Most Innovative Churches
• Outreach magazine’s 2006 100 Fastest-Growing U.S. Churches
• Outreach magazine’s 2006 100 Largest U.S. Churches
• The Church Report’s 2006 50 Most Influential Churches
• Outreach magazine’s 2005 100 Fastest-Growing U.S. Churches
• The Church Report’s 2005 50 Most Influential Churches
• Outreach magazine’s 2004 100 Fastest-Growing U.S. Churches

Being innovative, growing, multiplying and influential gives a church a huge ability to impact the lives of a culture dead to Jesus. And so I salute these churches - and more importantly the Authority behind each church. Many of them I have serious concerns about what they talk about - aka their theology. But nevertheless, this is the church - albeit on the other side of the world from me. Make sure to check out the geographical and denominational breakdown at The Church Report website.

On a personal note, I enjoy seeing Mars Hill Church rising up these kinds of lists. Although it’s lead Pastor, Mark Driscoll, cops so much crap from so many people, he is one of my favourite pastors and I enjoy his teaching immensely.

Another favourite of mine is Mosaic Church and the teachings or Erwin McManus - another guy who cops a lot of crap from the masses only because his heart is sold out to God instead of man. Also good to see LifeChurch.tv up there as usual.

If this list isn’t enough for you:

• Click here to access America’s Top 25 Multiplying Churches.
• Click here for churchrelevance.com’s article on 250+ churches to watch based on their inclusions on lists such as above.

The Top 50 Influential Churches In The US.

1. Willow Creek Community Church | Bill Hybels
2. Saddleback Church | Rick Warren
3. Fellowship Church | Ed Young Jr.
4. North Point Community Church | Andy Stanley
5. LifeChurch.tv | Craig Groeschel
6. Granger Community Church | Mark Beeson
7. Lakewood Church | Joel Osteen
8. Mars Hill Church | Mark Driscoll
9. The Potter’s House | T.D. Jakes
10. Seacoast Church | Greg Surratt
11. Mosaic Church | Erwin McManus
12. Mars Hill Bible Church | Rob Bell
13. North Coast Church | Larry Osborn
14. First Assembly of God | Tommy Barnett
    
15. The Church of the Resurrection | Adam Hamilton
16. Southeast Christian Church | Dave Stone
17. The Brooklyn Tabernacle | Jim Cymbala
18. Calvary Chapel | Bob Coy
19. Community Christian Church | Dave Ferguson
20. New Hope Christian Fellowship | Wayne Cordero
21. NewSpring Community Church | Perry Noble
22. Prestonwood Baptist Church | Jack Graham
23. Redeemer Presbyterian Church | Timothy Keller
24. Second Baptist Church | Ed Young Sr.
25. Mariners Church | Kenton Beshore
26. Bayside Covenant Church | Ray Johnston
27. Calvary Chapel | Chuck Smith
28. Christ Fellowship | Tom Mullins
29. First Baptist Church | Mac Brunson
30. First Baptist Church | Johnny Hunt
31. Menlo Park Presbyterian Church | John Ortberg
32. New Life Church | Ross Parsley – Interim Senior Pastor
33. NorthRidge Church | Brad Powell
34. Thomas Road Baptist Church | Jonathan Falwell
35. Wooddale Church | Leith C. Anderson
36. Harvest Christian Fellowship | Greg Laurie
37. Northland - A Church Distributed | Joel Hunter
38. Bellevue Baptist Church | Steve Gaines
39. National Community Church | Mark Batterson
40. Crystal Cathedral | Robert A. Schuller
41. World Changers | Creflo Dollar
42. Fellowship of the Woodlands | Kerry Shook
43. Vineyard Community Church | David Workman
44. New Birth Baptist Church | Eddie L. Long
45. Oak Hills Church | Max Lucado
46. Bethlehem Baptist | John Piper
47. New Light Christian Center Church | Ira Hilliard
48. First Baptist Church | Jack Schaap
49. McLean Bible Church | Lon Solomon
50. LA International Church / Dream Center | Matthew Barnett / Tommy Barnett

Tags: Christianity, Church, Top 50 Churches In The US, Churchrelevance.com, The Church Report, Outreach Magazine

Prosperity Gospel and John Piper

If you are a reader of my blog, you would know that I despise the so called “prosperity gospel.” This fake and dirty gospel is pushed into our hearts and minds by some of the biggest preachers out there. Preachers that fill stadiums and whip crowds into a frenzy as they bellow out, “God is going to do something in your life” or “the windows of heaven will open so wide into your life”, etc.

For a long time, I have hated this gospel as it satisfies the carnal longing inside me and the carnal longing inside you. This gospel doesn’t promote a denying of my self. This gospel promotes a magnification of self.

This gospel encourages us to give and tithe above and beyond what is sometimes possible so that God, in return, would bless us beyond our ability to contain it. Instead of giving to honour God, this gospel encourages to give and hand God an “I owe you” slip in which we sub-consciously demand payback from God.

I have come across this YouTube clip from John Piper many times and now have decided to post it here as a reminder to me about the ugliness of this so called gospel.

YouTube - John Piper on the prosperity gospel

Tags: John Piper, Prosperity Gospel, False Teaching

Going Home

I called home yesterday and my 3.8 year old daughter says, “Daddy it’s 14:18 o’clock and are you coming home soon?”

I last saw her on Sunday afternoon before I had to leave for a four day business trip to Perth, Australia - a 4 hour plane trip to the other side of Australia.

It’s been a pretty full on time here. I work in the health industry selling products to the blood banking section of the Red Cross in Australia.

I’m here on a fishing expedition to increase my sales by $140k p/a in a previously unfruitful part of my business. On top of that, I have accompanied my colleague on multiple training sessions throughout the world of business.

So it’s been business all the way for the last 3 days and tomorrow I go home. I just got back from an awesome dinner at a restaurant called “C Restaurant.” This place is on the 33rd floor of a building in down town Perth - Australia’s fourth largest city. And it rotates 360 degress so you get to see the whole of Perth about 4 times during your dinner.

Perth is an amazing place. It’s located in the state of Western Australia - a region of Australia milking the daylights out of the economic growth of China. Western Australia (WA) has heaps of natural resources and the economic boom in this state is riding on the coat tail of China’s hunger for natural resources.

We were staying at a suburb called Scarborough Beach - right on the coast line of WA. Our hotel had balcony views across the Indian Ocean. Having the sun set over the ocean is a rare treat for a person living on the eastern seaboard of Australia - so you can imagine my mesmerisation at the colours before my eyes of a skyline where the sun has set and yet reflecting off the ocean.

At tonight’s dinner table, I was surrounded by the who’s who of the Australian Red Cross Blood Service (ARCBS). I was sitting at my table and looking into the faces of my 5 guests and pondered upon the influence sitting at my table.

It was a surreal experience as these days, my professional reality is growing further and further apart from my personal and faith based reality. Even though I should have been pursuing major business opportunities from these people, my mind couldn’t wonder far from the homeless man I saw on the streets of Perth the other day as I was having lunch.

This guy wore torn jeans and a flannel shirt. He was bare foot and the soles of his feet were black from walking around bare foot. He was sitting metres away from where my collegue and I were enjoying a nice lunch and a fat slice of cheese cake.

I talked about this homeless man with my colleague and she dismissed the whole thing the following way, “You can’t help someone who doesn’t want to be helped.” What a huge cop out! Jesus deliberately hung out with such people simply because they were sick.

He didn’t wait till they asked for help. He didn’t look down on them. He hung out with such people. As I was having my dinner tonight and suffering in the environment of small talk with people you really have no interest or commonality with, my mind raced to where the homeless man was sleeping tonight.

I stay in the best hotels and eat in the best restaurants in Australia. However I’m beginning to despise my corporate reality. Scripture tells me to worship God with the fruit of my lips and sharing my goods with people in need. Corporate life is the exact opposite of this.

Corporate life shouts, “It’s all about me and do whatever it takes to reach your goals.” Jesus says to deny my life and in doing so, I will find it. Corporate life says to focus on goals and implement strategies in order to achieve budgets. Scripture tells me to share my goods with the poor.

So I now hope you can share with me my delight in the fact that I am going home tomorrow. I have a 4 hour plane ride and lose 2 hours in time zone difference - rendering my work day complete. The icing is in the fact that I get to hold my family again and be in their presence.

The cream is the fact that I can forget about corporate life until Friday hits. My thorn is the thought of where the homless man is spending tonight.

Tags: perth, western australia, corporate life, christianity, missional

Prayer | July 16 2007

Father in Heaven,

My God and my King. You are so far above me and yet closer to me than I can ever imagine. How I wish my fallen nature was un-fallen so that I could be in complete fellowship with you.

Just like Adam was before he decided to fall like his wife. Just like Enoch walked with you. Just like Jesus was as He withdrew to private places in order to spend time with you.

Father you inhabit eternity - a place so foreign to me. And yet You are the King of eternity. You are surrounded by beings bizarre to my knowledge and yet totally devoted to You as they see You with the vast amount of eyes on their being.

How I wish I was able to see what they see. Only then would I get to see what no human can see. If I got one glimpse, I know my life would be radically transformed in utter devotion and worship.

Father, You are the end expression of greatness and I thank You that you are a good God. It blows me away that the ultimate Being in eternity is a Being of love, justice and mercy. As your angels look at you, they shout HOLY! to the extent that the foundations of heaven tremble.

You are so distinct from anything even in heaven - you are HOLY beyond my comprehension and even the comprehension of the beings that surround You in Glory. They freak out at You in their astonishment at how distinct You are! I can’t even imagine how much greater You are than I can even possibly imagine.

Father, I lift my family to You. I pray that You will take my family in Your hands and protect them from the evil one and his minions. Father put your hedge around us and let us grow under the protection of the King of Eternity.

Let me know what it is to be found in your protection. Let me know the power that is available to me through Christ Jesus. The power You used to raise Him from death - with all of humanity’s sin placed on Him. You were satisfied with Your punishment. You raised Christ because sin cannot hold Him because You killed the consequence of sin.

You raised Him from Hell. You gave life back to Him. You raised Him back into eternity. Then you empowered Him to rise above powers and thrones and dominions and put Him above all. This is Your power Father and You tell me that this is the power offered to me?

Lord let it be as You say. I pray that my life and my family may live a life which resonates with the same power in which you raised Christ. You tell me Lord that it is available to me. Please show me the reality of this.

Not because I want to be someone. But because I desire a life empowered to do what Jesus did. Not for me. But for Your Kingdom. I pray that my body may be a vessel emptied to You and that You may do things through me which I never thought would ever be possible.

Father, humanly speaking I feel so unworthy. But I praise You that who I really am is hidden in Christ. I pray that You use the real me to further Your Kingdom. I want to be used by You, King of eternity.

You created me for a distinct mission I need to achieve. In Your providence, I ask that my life may gravitate towards that purpose and that You may make it clear to me that which You would like me to do.

And in that way, You are glorified and I am complete. The perfect conclusion to the life You have given to me.

Help me Father to know what this is.

Because of Jesus, I ask you to do this for me. Jesus enables me to ask this of You boldly. Rise up Lord and make this a reality in my life.

Amen.

Tags: prayer

How Would You Answer This?

Imagine for a second.  You’re a parent of a couple of teenage daughters.  As you look at them, you see the beauty and innocence in their lives.  You have taught them about the value of chastity.

Your neighborhood is a really bad one.  Every time anyone from your family ventures outside your home, you struggle with what they will be exposed to.  You pour out your heart to God about the city you live in and the depravity you see all around.

And yet, after a series of events unexplained, unexpected and uncalled for, you find yourself offering your daughters for sexual favours to a sexually depraved mob banging down your front doors.

Of course, this is the story of Lot in Sodom.  When the two angels met Lot at the city gates, Lot begged them to stay with him at his house.  Sodom was a sexually depraved city where homosexuality ran rife and Lot was perhaps trying to save these two travelers as his heart constantly cried out to God about the depravity of his city.

As the town heard that “fresh meat” was at Lot’s house, they formed a mob and banged at the door of Lot in their efforts to “bang” the “fresh meat.” (If you are offended by the language here, imagine the offence of God on Sodom)

In Lot’s attempt to prevent this depravity, he offered the mob his most prized treasure - his two virgin daughters so that the crowd can do “whatever they like” to them. 

Fast forward thousands of years and I find myself in Perth, Western Australia on a four day business trip.  I am thousands of kilometres away from my wife and 2 kids and I am sitting having dinner with my work colleague and she brings up this story in her attempt to discredit Christianity.

Straight out of the pages of Oxford Professor, Richard Dawkin’s, “The God Delusion” she asks, “would you offer your daughter Sara for sexual favours to a mob of people?”

My colleague, Diane is a professional 31 year old woman.  She is a clinical and technical specialist educator who has a university degree in genetics.  Standing over 6 feet tall with a brain which stores and retrieves vasts amounts of data - she is a walking Pentium Quad Core processor and she has a gripe against religion and Christianity in particular.

She is your typical post modern woman who questions traditional norms not making sense nor having any relevance to her life of inner urban Melbourne where cafe’s and shopping is the norm.  She is leftist in her ideology and accepts anything opposing God and faith as her religion.

In her scientifically brilliant mind, “faith” in the scientifically unproven is seen as a weakness and a delusion.  Dawkin’s skepticism resonates in her mind as real as the screen is in front of your eyes as you read this right now.

And she uses the story of Lot to explain why she sees the Bible as a ridiculous reality. 

“Would you use your daughter for sexual favours?”

“No.”

“That’s why I conclude the Bible is a ridiculous book.”

How would you approach this conversation?  How would you get out of your Christian cliche and answer an honest question from a depraved, and yet brilliant mind?

By God’s provision, I gave my answer.  But I want to know yours.

Tags: post modern, culture, missional, science, religion, sodom, gomorrah