Tubeman's Travels

2008-08-20T01:28:00.002+01:00

Tubemantravels has MOVED!

After 4 1/2 years

445 posts

.....and lots of other things

tubemantravels has moved to another site.

This is primarily due to formatting issues with blogger.

Head here for the continued thoughts re. That God Should Be a Poet

www.tubemantravels.wordpress.com

2008-08-18T00:54:00.006+01:00

That God Should be a Poet part II

What do the Psalms tell us about God?

(What’s their theology?)

We must take a broad approach when considering the theological message of the Psalms. This is due in part to the context from which this biblical book is written. The Psalms are primarily expressions of praise and lament from individuals and on behalf of communities who share relationship with Yahweh.

Dumbrell notes that traditional approaches to the Psalms have fallen short for being “too theological andconceptual”[1]. The Psalter is not written simply as a doctrinal handbook in isolation. At its very core is an understanding of God written out of an intimate relationship with him and as expression of this. Thus, “the psalmists are covenant writers”[2], expressing the life lived in relationship with the one true God who reaches out to his people in covenantal relationship.

As such “we expect the Psalms to reflect theology, but hardly to initiate it”[3].

And reflect theology it certainly does!

There is not a single Old Testament theology that is not touched upon by the Psalter.

God as creator (Ps 8), redeemer (Ps 130), judge (Ps 1), king (Ps 97) and covenant giver (Ps 77), are constantly reflected upon and declared.

God’s characteristics are repeatedly appealed to; His holiness (Ps 29), love (Ps 136) and justice (Ps 9).

Yet the Psalms do far more than simply ‘list’ the attributes and nature of God. The depth that we are constantly drawn to is one that goes beyond a simple expression of these theologies to a personal account of what it looks like to know, be known by and to relate to such a God. It is from this depth of theology that we will see the real significance of the poetic form as the only literature capable of achieving such a task.

_[1]_{William Dumbrell, The Faith of Israel (Michigan: Baker 2002), 252}

_[2]_{Peter Craigie, Word Biblical Commentary, Vol 19 (Texas :Word Books 1983), 40}

_[3]_{Dumbrell, 252}

2008-08-15T02:24:00.004+01:00

That God Should be a Poet part I

The Journey

Some time ago I blogged about a journey I had started that involved looking at the role of poetry in the Psalms. Over the pas few months I've read and thought much about this.

To get back into blogging I thought I'd share some thoughts over the next week from my time spent reading and thinking and praying in the Psalms.

The Conclusion

Sometimes, although I must admit, not usually, it can be helpful to start with the end. So here is the basic one sentence conclusion I came to:

The significance of the poetic form for the theological message of the psalms is its ability to both express the transcendent nature of God whilst plumbing the depths of a covenant relationship with Him.

The next few days I'll throw up a few thoughts that give this some flesh and bones by thinking through;

1. What do the Psalms tell us about God?

2. How does Poetry help this description of God?

3. What else can poetry do for a worshipping community?

2008-06-07T02:13:00.000+01:00

Today’s Good Weekend

Ok, so every Sydney Anglican blogger in existence is going to post some thoughts about today’s Good Weekend article re. the split in the Anglican church.

On one side are the ‘tolerant homosexual clergy’ on the other, the ‘radical bible believers’.

I don’t have time to throw up thoughts right this second. But I just wanted to get in early so I didn’t join the bandwagon in 3 days time.

Craig ‘wanting to be first’ Tubman

2008-05-28T01:47:00.005+01:00

Making Bianca Real

A few weeks back I went and saw the movie “Lars and the Real Girl”. It was a good flick in the sense that it was unique, quirky and relational. If I was Michael Adams from the Movie Show (SBS) I would have only given in 3 stars because there were too many avenues it opened for us but never walked down.

None the less, that is for another post…and I’m not Michael Adams.

What I found interesting was the dynamic between the towns folk and Bianca. Bianca was the blow-up doll that the lead character (Lars) started dating in response to some deep repressed emotional issues.

He totally thinks she is real, but she isn’t…..

she is just a plastic life size doll……

he purchased from some dodgy internet site.

Anyway, to assist in his therapy the town agrees to treat Bianca as a real person.

It got me thinking about the power of community in shaping identity. For all intense and purposes Bianca was a real person, because the community treated her that way.

So my thoughts drifted - do our identities come from within us? Or from outside us?

From within us would mean people observe us and then reflect that observation by comments such as;

“You are a very funny guy”

“You are such a smart girl”

“You are a wanker”

OR Do the comments and impressions of those around us create our identity? From outside us would look something like this;

You may have once told a very funny joke that made everyone laugh and so you get the reputation of being funny. Now at this point on onwards, whether you are funny or not is not the issue – you now live up to the expectation that you are ‘a funny guy’ because that is what everyone says you are.

Identity from outside.

It’s a bit ‘chicken and egg’ I realize.

But still, are you who you are because that is the real ‘you’?

Or is it because that is how your ‘community’ has told you to be?

I'm thinking it could be more of the second than we would comfortably want to admit.

For a while that has kind of freaked me out a bit.

But I am starting to settle down and unexpectedly finding some clarity. You see, I have a hunch that God knows this as well, which is why he has called ‘a people to Himself’, not just individuals.

…more to come.

2008-05-25T01:35:00.004+01:00

What it takes to be a man.

In today’s issue of ‘Sunday Life’ the Sun Herald published it’s ‘Men’s Issue’. The feature article was in interview with comedians Hamish Blake and Shaun Micallef on ‘What it takes to be a Man’.

Now, whenever you get two comedians in the same room talking about anything there is going to be childish banter. But what was interesting in this article was that it never moved beyond the childish banter. At no point could either man articulate what masculinity actually was. The closest they got was a quote from Hamish,

“The whole trick to being a guy is finding out who you are and being comfortable with who you are – actually, that’s not gender specific.”

In the end a broad secular humanistic comment sweeping the entire gambit of humanity was the only thing that could be mustered. Neither had any clue, outside of the preset ‘male stereotypes’ – which they had fun mocking, as to what it is to be a man.

Another section of the paper ‘Extra” had an interview with actor Samuel Johnson (from The Secret Life of Us). Tomorrow night he appears in a candid interview on the ABC’s Australian Story discussing his depression, addictions and the hole he fell into after losing two very close girl friends to suicide in 2006. He says;

“Men would be rolling around at 40 still pissed and inconsiderate if it weren’t for the love and level headedness of woman.”

Mocking stereotypes, balancing manhood off womanhood (which, may I say has some merit).

Does it matter that no one really knows what their gender means?

Any men out there want to hazard a comment re. what it means to be ‘male’?

What does it take to be a man?

Photos taken fromhttp://www.simpsonstrivia.com.ar/simpsons-photos/wallpapers/superman-wallpaper.gifhttp://www.garylucy.com/captainslog/images/semo-father-and-son-waving.jpg

2008-05-06T03:59:00.002+01:00

Making the familiar strange and the strange familiar.

Term 2 has begun and we are studying the Psalms. Ever since high school I have loved poetry – it has amazed and driven me.

I hope to place some posts up regarding the Psalms. But to kick us off here are some quotes from William Brown in his book Seeing the Psalms....just to whet the palet and remind us of the beauty and power of poetry.

“There is a dissonance or tension in a living metaphor whereby the term or the utterance used seem not strictly appropriate to the topic at hand. The metaphor, thus, is a master of surprise.”

“A metaphor, in essence, works by violating language. It is a transgressor that builds bridges across the lexicographical divisions.”

“Ancient Biblical poetry has a capacity both to stir our memories with things which are strangely familiar, and also to challenge our vision with its depiction of things which will always remain strangely unknown.

Owing to its expressive power, biblical poetry makes the familiar strange and the strange familiar.”

oh, and just for the romantics amongst us...and the teachers, here is a little classic for you. Click HERE

2008-04-29T04:00:00.003+01:00

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth”

As far as opening lines go, I reckon this one from the Bible takes the cake. Previously, my favorite opening line had come from Nick Hornby in his book ‘High Fidelity’. I liked it because he opens by listing his all-time, top 5 most memorable break-ups, in chronological order. That fact that his opening sentence involved girls and painful break-ups had me sucked in from the get go -because I’ve always liked girls, and hated break ups but have never been able to stop the two colliding. However, in recent times Hornby’s opening line has been replaced by the Bible’s as my number one, and in a strange twist it is precisely because the opening line of the Bible doesn’t seem to revolve around me.

As the Bible sets the stage off which life is played, it places God as the main character

- in the spot light, front and centre; “In the beginning God”. That might seem pretty obvious, but for me this was a real shock. Growing up in a postmodern, humanistic culture, straddling the generations of X & Y, I’d always heard a different message. The message I had heard from advertisements, movies and sit-coms was “In the Beginning Craig.” That is, I had always been told that the main character in my life was me! I was the one standing front and centre of my own stage and if I danced well enough and sung in tune everyone would cheer and I’d be the hero.

But the problem is, I hate dancing.

I weigh 97kg’s and I look awkward when I move.

Photo from http://maximumbob.files.wordpress.com/2006/10/spotlight.jpg

2008-03-24T11:11:00.002Z

I’m resisting the irresistible….

And so, Monday morning rolls around, and in my impulsive tenacity I got a lift out to Koorong and purchased ‘The Irresistible Revolution’ by Shane Claiborne.

I was so excited – here was a guy who lived out the Gospel life. He took up residence in a poor area of Philadelphia and with a small community known as ‘the simple way’, lived a much simpler life.

His community had an ‘open door’ policy in their house, people could come and hang out and be fed and experience the active love of Christ.

· They grew all their own veggies
· Made their own clothes
· Some (who were beauty therapists) would spend evenings massaging the tired feet of the homeless.
· Others visit old persons homes and sit and chat with those who have no family or friends left.
· The go in peace marches
· They would help under privileged kids with their weekly homework

Claiborne would often refer to the words of Mother Teresa (with whom he worked with for 4 months in Calcutta) “We can do no great things, just small things with great love.”

All these things I agree with and I think we need a stern kick up the backside regarding our ‘loose’ care for the poor.

My Rant

But the book keeps calling us to be ‘God’s hands, feet and ears’ to the world. Somewhere along the way he forgets the ‘mouth’. There is a trend to call us to ‘live Jesus to the world’, which is great! Except, people often forget that a majority of Jesus life involved teaching and calling people to repentance.

I’m also unsure why Claiborne would write that it was not until he reached Calcutta and saw the Christians helping the poor that he saw ‘real Christians’. I’m still not sure what he means by this? It is as if a life of service to the poor was the prerequisite for Christianity. But I’m not sure if that’s the right approach?

My Rave

None the less, he has some great stuff to say to a Church world that has all but handed over the care for the poor to Gov’t institutions. He has a beautiful focus on community and the need to actively support each other in that community. Church is more than a distribution centre, where the rich dump stuff and the poor pick it up. For in this model, no one is transformed even though everyone is seemingly satisfied. Redistribution should come from community, not before community.

And it is clear that he has a freedom that comes from releasing our grip on materialism. “The best thing to do with the best things in life is to give them away”. He seeks neither a gospel of poverty, not a gospel of prosperity, but rather a “gospel of abundance rooted in a theology of enough’. That is we are generous with our possessions and we are acutely aware of what is ‘enough’ for us to live without hording or idolising.

It is a book that is worth a read, for it challenges our approach to life and culture.

Yet, I would not rush to call it irresistible.

2008-03-24T09:44:00.003Z

“….Oh, I came to this church cause the worship is better….”

“There is a profound sense in which excellent worship cannot be attained merely by pursuing excellent worship. In the same way that, according to Jesus, you cannot find yourself until you lose yourself, so also you cannot find excellent corporate worship until you stop trying to find excellent corporate worship and pursue God himself…..one sometime’s wonders if we are beginning to worship worship rather than worship God.”

- D.A.Carson, Worship by the Book, p.31

Question

Do you think things would be helped by us thinking less about 'how we do worship'? Or is that just an excuse for mediocrity?

2008-03-16T11:40:00.003Z

Updates from the last week.

Thanks to everyone who has commented on the marriage posts. They are all really helpful and have made me rethink some aspects of the analogy I was setting up.

The lack of any posts has been due to ill health. Due to an injured shoulder I haven’t had a good night sleep for 12 days and it is starting to take its toll. I will post the third and final post soon and reply

to comments.

In the meantime……

This week I will start/finish reading "The Irresistible Revolution". Looking forward to what this guy has to say – anyone read it? Got thoughts?

2008-03-06T08:59:00.003Z

It was never meant to be busking prt II

Then the Lord God said: It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is like him”. Gen 2:18

Ash identifies the misreading of this verse as causing problems in our understanding of marriage.

He reckons that in the past Christians have interpreted this verse as communicating marriage as a solution to human loneliness. When we view the verse this way it can lead to self focussed, inward looking marriages.

To use the busking analogy again (which is mine, not Ash’s), if we see marriage as being primarily and solely about solving two people’s companionship desires then once we’ve said the vows and received the rings, the tunes we play and the way we play them only matter to the couple.

Buskers are pretty used to being left alone – someone only approaching to throw a couple of silver coins in the case or stop to listen for a few minutes. In fact you could say that

the busker prefers you don’t stay long, it affects the flow of potential customers. Just say something nice and move right along.

This world can naturally and quickly become selfish and inward looking.

The same can be said for marriage. In fact, we sometimes give the impression in

our churches that once you’re married then you’re taken care of. But I wonder whether it is at this point that we need the most support.

The paradox Ash claims has taken place in Protestant circles is that we recognise that marriage is to be the lived-out image of the love of the Lord for his people, but in trying to be faithful to this we turn inwards in our marriage, or privatize our marriage (to make sure it is working on all cylinders), which is the exact opposite of God’s outward, community based approach to love!

In this relational privatisation “We end up making church, prayer and the Christian life a means to the idolatrous end of strengthening family.”

If the world has been busking on the street corner and living out marriage on a scale far too small, all the church has done (or at least the literature of the Christian community) is teach us how to play better.

But surely this is not the answer we are looking for. The scriptures demand a whole paradigm shift. A move, as I’ve said before, from the street corner to Carnegie hall.

photo taken fromhttp://flickr.com/photos/kuytu/1213594533/

2008-03-05T09:18:00.003Z

Post operation (as seen by my camera phone). These are a few shots from my knee reconstruction I had on Monday. I'm back home now and the recovery is going very well.

Let the healing begin.

2008-02-29T06:41:00.004Z

It was never meant to be busking.

I have been slowly working through Christopher Ash's Marriage - Sex in the service of God. If you're looking for a great theology of marriage - this is it (although if you want something a little less intense get a hold of his book Married to God.)

Anyways, one of his starting points is that a committed marriage between a man

and a woman is not just the catch cry of the Christian religion, but rather something much bigger, something stitched into the very fabric of creation.

A commitment to marriage is not just a christian thing, it is a human thing!

I like the way he gives a grand stage for which to launch his theological insights. Modern day marriage seems to bet set on a stage far too small, in fact it's not even on a stage. It's more like a busker doing his own little thing on a dusty street corner. In such a setting no one is really listening - perhaps just the odd late night party goer, stumbling home after a long night out. On this stage, no one cares what you do - cause no one is really listening.

But after reading Ash, I reckon marriage should be placed on something much bigger - a stage like Carnegie Hall perhaps. The audience are all tuned in, in fact the audience turns out to be creation itself! In this setting, to stop playing would be to go against the very nature

of what you're there to do. On this stage, to put down your instrument would be a tragedy - cause you have such a vast audience, and it's the very purpose of being there.

If you're married - you're not busking......you're at Carnegie Hall, so keep playing, keep loving and keep being in touch with the very creation itself that God has woven together for you to love and serve and give yourself.

Cause, at the end of the day, it was never meant to be busking.

2008-02-22T09:38:00.004Z

'Once' and thoughts on life

So, I watched the movie 'Once' on DVD tonight. I saw it last year at the movies and absolutely loved it. And after viewing it again it on DVD, I'm pretty sure it is the best movie I've ever seen. It is no. 1 on my all times movies. I think, perhaps knocking off 'High Fidelity' from the no. 1 spot.

Anyways, here are 2 thoughts from the movie.

1. The Gospel twist

when listening to the main song from the movie, that occurs while they are jamming in a movie store, I could not help think of the Gospel and the Christian life:

"Take this sinking ship and point it home

We;ve still got time

Raise your hopeful voice you have a choice

You've made it now"

2. My future

For some reason, after seeing this movie (even though it is set in Dublin) it has made me want to move back to some small town in Scotland and spend my life as a minister with no recogonition or fame, but in a small town preaching God's good word.

....we'll see where that goes....

2008-02-21T11:31:00.002Z

Mum and Dad come to visit my new place.

On the left - mum, myself and Dad

Below - are a couple of pics of my room - my desk and my reading chair (which I do honestly use for reading!)

2008-02-20T09:29:00.001Z

2008-02-17T22:31:00.002Z

It's finally arrived.

For those who get excited by new commentaries, the long awaited 1 Samuel Commentary by John Woodhouse has finally hit the shelves. I've got my copy and looking forward to working through it.

2008-02-16T02:30:00.005Z

My New Pad prt I

So here are a couple of pics of my new room. It has been such a blessing and here is day one - after I'd just moved my boxes in.

2008-02-09T23:47:00.000Z

From Miller to Tasker in one swift move

In his 2004 book Searching for God Know's What, Donald Miller makes an intersting comment on the Christian music industry. As an outside observer, he simply notes that when viewing the covers of Christian CD's, the artists seem to be intent on making themselves look beautiful and attractive - even more so he notes, than the secular bands he listened to.

He comments that it appears many Christian artists get caught up in the 'music industry' and in doing so, forget their own primary role as ministers of the Gospel. In the end they just go with what makes them money.

I like Donald Miller - the way he thinks, his subtle observations........and his dress sense.

In light of such things, it was refreshing to be amongst the 500 or so listening to Nath Tasker last week at St Thomas' North Sydney. I like Nath because I can see in him a minister of the Gospel first and a concert playing, CD producing musician second.

He is a man who, instead of getting caught up in the music industry, seeks to change the music industry. He is the Keith Green of our age.

And as we sat, listened and sang along it became clear that Nath was not 'performing', he was 'sharing'. We were (as we always are) allowed in on Naths journey of faith, and more importantly directed to our great Father in heaven.

As a Christian community we are very poor in keeping our musicians accountable. In warning them of the lure of fame and the sting of greed. Instead we urge them on and on.
Give us more beautiful people! we cry.
Be like our fav secular bands! we inadverntly demand.

Praise the Lord that he has risen up at least one man with integrity amongst this bunch. And let us pray that the Lord continues to use him to bring others back to the humble daily realites of picking up the cross and the amazing future glories that are in stall for those of us in Christ......so that none of us - musicians or otherwise seek our glory 30 years too early.

2008-02-06T04:26:00.001Z

A Question for modern ministers

As holiday work I've been translating chunks of 1 Corinthians - so far I've made it from 1:1-2:5.

As chapter 2 begins we hear Paul's ministry Modus Operandi.

You can go read it here

Garland makes the following comment: "Paul is not anti-intellectual, but he does apose intellectual vanity. He did not come as a know-it-all fishing for admiration. On the contrary, he was content to be identfied as a know-nothing, who preached foolishness: Christ crucified.

Paul readly admits in 2:3 "I was with you in weakness, in fear and much trembling."

So here is the question - Have our generations been majorly misguided when it comes to ministry?

'know-it-all', 'fishing for admiration' - I know web sites and online resources can be a beautiful encouragement from many ministers to many believers.....that includes blogs!

But do they have the ring of the comments above?

I think of Marc Driscol (of whom I admire) who asks 'the world' what their top 10 questions are so as to do as a sermon series at his church in Seattle. Does it matter what anyone outside of his 'flock' really think?
I think of my own blog that attempts to provide christian reflections - fishing for admiration?

Here's the rub......

What if you were to be an unkown minister, in an out-of-the-place area, who recieves no recognition and who pastors a church that does not grow.

would you still do it?

2008-02-04T08:35:00.000Z

New Church and No operation

- Enough of a spin to start the week

New Church

The smell of beer and smokes that rose from the congregation was a clear sign that I was not attending the church of my youth. In fact it was an immediate declaration that this church would be very different to any I have regularly attended before.

The evening congregation is made up of many lower class members, some with mild mental disabilities. Added to this a few uni students and some old friends from St Ives days.

The opening 30min was spent in song and open prayer. The leader would speak over the music and encourage us to bring those things in our lives that had become idols before the feet of Jesus.

Which, in conservative language = prayer.

The sermon was from Matthew and the post church chats spilled from the church to the 'Happy Chef' next door.

For the most part it was a very encouraging evening and there was a tangible sense of realness to the whole place.

No pretension.

I have joined Newtown Mission for precisley that reason as well as to see how it engages with the inner sity poor. However, I am already aware that I carry some different views re. the Christian life, to those who run the church.

I do look forward to the year ahead, but am somewhat anxious about what it may hold. None the less, I feel it is a good move and one that will challenge me and push me to serve in ways I have not done before.

No Operation

In other, even more recent, news. After waiting in a hospital bed for 8 hours today, my surgeon came in to inform me that the surgery had been cancelled - 'have lunch, and go home'. Expected opening for next chance of surgery - March, maybe April.

I don't get the public health system. But God has answered my prayer for patience and I look forward to March.

2008-01-31T05:47:00.000Z

Predestination - preparing the soil of our hearts and minds

On camp last week, one student was wrestling with the doctrine of predestination. My discussion with her was one marked by frustration - for I could not give an answer that satisfied.

It drew me back to 2000 when I had a similar struggle - however back then I was the student. And at that time my pastor, after much discussion, admitted that he would not be providing an answer that covered all the bases of my confusion. It was difficult for me to hear, yet at the same time, amazingly refreshing. That conversation was ringing in my ears as I spoke to this girl last week.

So, in the soverignty of God, as I opened my copy of Calvin's Institutes to read this morning, what should the topic of discussion be - Gods election!

Calvin's first step is to prepare the soil of our hearts and minds before for the sowing of such a doctrine.

"penetrating the sacred precincts of divine wisdom. If anyone with carefree assurance breaks into this place he will not succeed in satisfying his curiosity and he will enter a labyrinth from which he can find no exit.” – For it is not right for us to unrestrainedly search out those things God has hidden."

Calvin goes on to encourage us to delve deep into what God has revealed. But "when the Lord closes his Holy lips, he shall also close the was to inquiry".

On reflection as I chatted through election, salvation, heaven and hell on the weekend it became obvious that I rushed into the discussion, typical of any over-confident bible college student (who is trying to desperately recover from his memory scraps of a lecture given 18months before). I never spent the time of preparing the soil of our hearts and minds to approach the question with a sense of humilty.

But, this should be the very first step!

"To discard election is to tear up humility by its very roots." - John Calvin, Institutes. Bk4 Ch.XXI

.......my pastor was spot on, almost word for word.

2008-01-07T09:03:00.000Z

risk /rɪsk/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[risk] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun
1.exposure to the chance of injury or loss; a hazard or dangerous chance: It's not worth the risk.
2.Insurance.
a.the hazard or chance of loss.
b.the degree of probability of such loss.
c.the amount that the insurance company may lose.
d.a person or thing with reference to the hazard involved in insuring him, her, or it.
e.the type of loss, as life, fire, marine disaster, or earthquake, against which an insurance policy is drawn.

As I check the dictionary definition it appears to me that risk lies in the same bed as loss. The chance of loss, the probability of loss, the amount that may be lost.....Thus, it makes sense that he who risks must be prepared to lose.

The thing is, I’m tired of losing.
As a result my life has been boring for a couple of years.

Part of the beauty of being in Cape Town is that it has inspired me to risk again. It has highlighted for me the boring sludge that my life had become on the back of losing. It has given distance to see that we always have a choice regarding the life we live.

So, here are 3 Reasons to keep risking.
1. ‘Comfortable’ is boring and ungodly.
2. The majority of people never ask ‘what if?’, so go against the flow.
3. Our grip on this world should be loose for we can’t take it with us when we die.

“Cause In a bullet proof vest with the windows all closed I’ll be doing my best” – coldplay.
Who wants to live this way?

2008-01-05T21:01:00.000Z

Potential Titles for Today's Post:

53 ways to waste time

Delete, delete, delete

The world spins madly on

I've spent the last 53 min writing 3 different blogs and then hitting the delete key at the end of each one, realising that it was dumb to share each of those seperate thoughts with the 'world'. Instead, wisdom tells me to keep them in my head.

Needless to see, as I return to Sydney in 3 days I come back different to when I left. Sure, the world spins madly on as it did before, but everythings shifted - slighty up and to the left.

2007-12-27T14:28:00.000Z

Holiday Reading 1
Living with the Underworld, Peter Bolt

Ok, so I was going to write a quirky review but then I checked Koorong.com and found they already have a pretty good/comprehensive review written there. So if you want something with substance that’s the place to head.

As for me, I raced through this book in 2 days – an easy read with 40% of the text recounting tales from Peter Bolts fav. T.V series – The Sopranos, and the other 60% unfolding the Bible’s discussion of evil spirits, demons, satan and the underworld. Bolt helpfully uses the criminal underworld as a metaphor for the spiritual underworld. It is at points, a very light-hearted read.

This is one of the books strengths.

For such a topic, in which people often get very serious , ‘spiritual’ and perhaps apprehensive, Bolt is surprisingly jovial. It is written from a heart that knows the spiritual battle has already been fought completely, won completely and the victory shared.

The few times Bolt gets hard lined is when he speaks out against those who convince others that exorcisms, deliverance ministries and other dramatic forms of ‘spiritual warfare’ have some part to play in the Christian life.

A helpful and simple distinction is made between the Bible’s centre and its periphery. And thus, he writes:
“The underworld keeps poking through in the pages of the Bible, but it is never centre-stage. Because it never comes fully into focus, there is a lot that is not explained – a lot of questions not asked, and a lot of answers not given. It is as if we only understand the underworld in its proper place – that is, by its relation to the central message about Jesus.”

Good book, easy read.

2007-12-26T20:17:00.000Z

Christmas in Cape Town

(I'm on brothers computer, and I stole them from his camera...don't tell him!)

Blowing bubbles with the nephew

Christmas lunch

Myself and MacJerry (my cousin.....kinda,)

Hannah singing 'Consider Christ' to us after the opening of presents.

2007-12-19T13:00:00.000Z

Craig is in Cape Town

(in place of his promised election post)

I arrived here on Monday and after 27 hours of transit I have had two good night sleeps and feel 100% on top of things.

It is good for me to be here.

I have returned to the same place I lived in 2004 for 4 months. And coming back is a surreal experience. In many ways very, very good. In some ways, difficult. It seems like a life time since I last stayed here, yet it also feels strangely close - like recalling a dream from the night before at the breakfast table.

I have fallen into 'family central' with my brothers wife and 2 kids - Ben (2 years), Jemma (6months). I am loving the time spent with them. In so many ways it is great to live with daily responsabilities - which all feels so far removed to my life in Chappo House over the past 12 months.

It is good for me to be here.

I hope to put up some photos soon. I am looking forward to the next 3 weeks and the chance to reset my horizions for 2008, with a sense of realism and responsability that only life with a young family can produce.

As I write this I am listening to a cover of Teardrops by Jose Gonzalez. It is really beautiful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLDFdgagnk4&feature=related

It is good for me to be here.

2007-12-06T08:28:00.000Z

Biblical Spirituality temporarily halts its excavation.

photo from www.cosand.net

A big thankyou to all those who replied to my last post.

I know it's been a while between drinks, but I read all the comments and emails and found them very helpful.

Basically my questions is this: Am I digging in the right area?

Coinciding with the previous post was the shadow of my final exams for 2nd year at college. One of the passages that I studied closely was Romans 3:21-24

21But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Basically, for an entire day I dug this passage and found the gold of grace.

And then I turned back to 'biblical spirituality' and wondered if, in my mind I had started to drift into a salvation of works. Not that I ever meant to end up there......but I remember feeling such liberation from reading Romans after months with my head in the 'biblical spirituality' frame.

so, I'm walking around and getting another view of the hole I am digging, which shall take some time. I'll let you know when I reach a 'go forward' point.

Plus, STAY TUNED for my time as a Polling Official - you bet you, i spent my polling day counting votes and being a cog in the democratic process

2007-11-07T00:10:00.000Z

I need your help, it’s for a little project I’m embarking….which may later turn into a big project!

My understanding of living as a Christian is that we are being transformed by the Spirit to be more like Christ. I take this idea from verses such as:

Romans 8:29 “For those He foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.”
Romans 12:2 “Do not be confirmed to this age, but be transformed, but the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing and perfect will of God”
Philippians 2:13 ‘For it is God who is working in you, [enabling you] both to will and to act for His good purposes.”

So, if the work of the Spirit is to make us more like Christ, then as we get older (and hopefully more mature in Christ) we should become more radical – because we should becoming more and more like Christ.

Does that logic make sense?

Here is my question:

Are you getting more radical in your ‘old age’ or less radical?
What has been your experience of the Christian life in this department?

I would love your thoughts. If you don’t want to make a public comment, then please email me.
craigtubman@yahoo.com.au

yours, as always in the journey;
Craig

2007-10-17T00:31:00.000+01:00

Ben and his sister Gemma

"I, who have no sisters or brothers, look with some degree of innocent envy on those who may be said to be born to friends. "
~James Boswell

Photo taken by Scott Tubman and remastered by Craig Tubman.....his brother.

2007-10-11T07:26:00.000+01:00

Knee Reconstruction booked!

Monday 4th Feb. 2008.

2007-10-10T10:30:00.000+01:00

A Night out with Lisa

Lamp from Deanes cafe, us in a mirror, and some city shots

2007-10-08T11:22:00.001+01:00

For Scott, Justin, Dan...and any other fans.
Inspired by J's recent post.

2007-10-06T09:05:00.001+01:00

Study Camp 07

I have just returned from a week long Crusdader study camp with yr.12 students

It was a brilliant week. It was so, so refreshing to be ministering to young adults, which has always been my first joy and passion.
One surreal aspect of the camp was that I was the oldest leader on the camp.......when the heck did I suddenly become the 'oldest leader' person? That really weirded me out.
I hope to post more in Monday. Here are some pics in the meantime..

Thursday night was Fluro night - myself and Nic, one of the leaders

Dinner time on the Fluro night

The leadership team (with me not looking at the camera!?)

2007-08-07T10:01:00.000+01:00

Part three: Real Spirituality

So, what are we saved to?

We are saved to give God glory through our obedience

We are saved to love those in whom we come in contact

We are saved to share the gospel message with those who are lost.

Any more? Of course! There could many more added to the above list. The process of being ‘in Christ’ is all encompassing. In fact, Paul would go as far as describing us as new creations.

But in many respects the points above deal primarily with the external.

This is all good and well, but the scriptures are loud and clear that God doesn’t want to just do things through us, but also in us.

This working in us is the basis of real spirituality.

Spirituality is certainly a buzz word these days. Everyone wants to be spiritual, but for the most part spirituality is equated with a vague and/or unexplainable emotional experience. Not surprisingly, this experience usually centers on the those involved..

But real spirituality, that is biblical spirituality, is different.

It is the work of the Spirit in our lives to make us more like Christ.

Biblical Spirituality, at its heart, involves paying careful attention to God’s work of transformation – the process of becoming like Jesus.

And this is not an optional extra in the life of a believer.

We are saved from death resulting from our sin

We are saved to a life that is forever (that is, in this age) being transformed.

God wants us to be like Christ.
And it is the work of the Spirit to bring this about
In your life
Each and every day

Indeed as the youthful passion fades from our life, it is this realization that should stop us from being stagnant. In fact it should drive us forward more than youthful passion ever did.

But are we even aware of the Spirits transforming power?

……..to be continued.

2007-08-04T02:16:00.000+01:00

Part One – the silence
There have been limited posts on tubemantravels for sometime.
In part, I must confess a somewhat adulteress fling with face book. Her networking skills, photo albums and bizarre communities certainly worked their charm on me, and before long I was calling blogger at 3am explaining why I wasn’t coming home for the night.

However, some balance has been restored.

But face book was only the problem in part. The other aspect has involved my own spiritual wrestling’s over the past months. It is a time of change for me.
I think that perhaps more important than the man you are, is the man you’re becoming. And I’m in the process of trying to align my will with Gods as we work out that destination.

Part Two – the voice
St Marks has been helpful in this, as we continue our series in Biblical Spirituality - the work of the Spirit in our lives to make us more like Christ.

As Sydney Anglicans I believe we are very good at understanding what we have been saved from.
Many of us have read Cross of Christ by Stott at an early university age. We’ve fought to understand terms like propitiation, reconciliation and salvation.
We certainly have an understanding of our poor standing before God and our desperate need for Jesus to be our substitute. What brilliant knowledge! Truly some of the most important stuff we can ever know.

We know what we are saved from, but I’m not sure we have the same solid grasp of what we have been saved to.

We preach, teach and encourage others to “be holy”, “be imitators of God”, “be living sacrifices” and “to take of the old and put on the new”.

But seriously, what the heck does any of that mean? I mean how do we actually do that?

Don’t we just spend our time feeling guilty because we’ve failed again and then by our late 20’s we’ve kinda hit a rut, where we have lost the passion of our teens and allow our lives to become a little stagnant re. our faith?

The thing is, I want to imitate God! I want to be a living sacrifice! Yet these are all abstract ideas. What is needed is a filling in of the details on how we continue to be more like God and how we can continue to offer ourselves as living sacrifices.

We need a solid recognition of the Spirit’s transforming power in our lives – Aligning our will with Gods and changing the rhythm of our hearts so they beat in time with His.

………..to be continued

2007-07-28T03:55:00.000+01:00

Great album! I just purchased it on itunes with some 'itunes birthday money'

Go have a listen....i dare you.

2007-07-25T09:44:00.000+01:00

I turned 28 yesterday, which was fabulous. I only had one lecture on, so I spent lots of time with friends - breaky, lunch, arvo drinks and dinner.

Plus I got over 35 comments on my facebook wishing me happy birthday - this whole internet thing is good for something!

1. So what did Jesus die for?

My major doctrine essay is due Monday and the topic I'm researching involves a critique of the "non-violent atonement".

Basically there has been a whole host of people in the last 10 years who have written against Jesus bearing the wrath of God - the penalty of our sins - as he died on the cross.

In fact, they say (writers such as Weaver, J.C Brown, Chalk & Mann, McLaren) that to believe that the Son would bear the wrath of the Father for a crime he himself did not commit is barbaric, unbiblical and unethical.

It is a concerning twist within 'evangelical' circles of late, and it's been a great topic to get my teeth into. If you're keen to hear more, let me know. I'll pop some posts up re. the arguments against a violent atonement and my critique of it.

2. ....Yeah, so what, everyone's talking about spirituality....

St Marks has recently started a sermon series on real (Biblical) spirituality. It is a brilliant series and I hope to post mroe about it.

This Sunday I'm preaching on "Living for God in the ordinary" which, whilst I'm challenged by am very excited about!

3. Snap, crackle, pop

God's way's certainly aren't our ways! 2 weeks after finally feeling like I have recovered from Glandular Fever (a 3 month affair) I reinjured my knee this afternoon playing Oz tag?!

I'm going to the Doctor on Friday, but I think it could be another torn Medial ligament....but ofcourse, you don't know anything till the scans come in.

Still. It appears that I can't get a month without crisis in this year.

God is good and I even preached on Sunday that his ways and his work of transformation in our lives is not always done using our standards and preferred guidelines. So I'm happy to pracitce what I preach and go with God on this one, to see what meaning he has for all this and how I can grow more Christ- like through it.

4. The Cookie Shop Owner

Let me explain.....to those who have questions about the "cookie shop owner" who posted quite an aggressive comment last week.

As it turns out, the "cookie shop owner" was actual two of my good mates at college having a joke! The next day (after they read my reply), they came to my room, feeling very guilty and owned up to the crime.

Laughs all round, and they realised how serious the bloggin' world can get.

2007-07-12T11:19:00.001+01:00

A confession, a whine and an update

I haven't blogged for a while (except for a few random pics and an expression to open a cookie store) so if you're still checking can I give you a big hug and a thankyou.

My confession with which I'll start is this: I'm tired of bible college.

It's not that the college is bad or that the Bible is bad ...for that matter.

I guess I'm just struggling with being a full time student and a very part time worker. That has never been a good combo for me. So now, after 18months and one tough term I'm getting itchy feet. Another 2 1/2 years of sitting through lectures seems like one very difficult moutain to climb.

We (at college) are currently on mid-year break. That is 4 weeks without classes.

I used my first two weeks to write a talk series on the opening of Genesis (much of which I was inspired by at my great community and teachers at St Marks Avalon) and then gave the talk series at two different youth camps. So by the end of the second week I had been away with Christ Church St Ives, St Pete's East Lindfield and had returned to write a sermon for church this Sunday.

My whine

Here are some comments I got from people round college this week;

"Oh, so you're one of those people who speaks on camps?"

"hmmm, you must really like writing talks"

"you're working yourself to the bone!"

I really don't get this. I mean is it really realistic to be 28 (almost) years old and expect 12 weeks holiday a year? No! ofcourse it isn't. Most of my friends get 3-4 weeks and often use at least one of those for church retreats.

Sometimes I wonder whether people (here at college) are deliberately setting themselves up to find full time ministry work really hard, because the most they've done in the past 4 years has been 3 sermons a year and an occasional chance to lead the service.

Maybe I'm being to harsh, but you get my drift.

My Update
Anyway, as far as everything goes, I am pretty tired. But that has more to do with the lingering effects of glandular fever than anything and so if I keep my head low for a few days all should be back to normal. I'm back at my parents place which is nice and relaxing, so that helps too.

The camps were a beautiful time away and it was great to spend time chatting with senior students about their life and faith.

We are doing a great series at church at the moment on spiritual growth, which I will fill you in on more in the coming weeks.

till then

2007-07-06T06:23:00.000+01:00

azuzephre.net - Gallery

2007-07-04T07:22:00.000+01:00

azuzephre.net - Gallery

2007-06-18T00:20:00.000+01:00

Losing the Plot...just a little.

So I must admit, I am going loopy. I did get out for my first run in 6 weeks on Saturday which was beautiful. Unfortunately one run has not been enough to cure the cabin fever/insanity that has launched itself upon my mind over the last weeks.

Finding solace in music I picked up the new Rosie Thomas cd yesterday and it is very good. Everything I could want from an acoustic album.

Oh, my computer screen died on Friday. So today I'm going to have to get Dell to come fix it....scary.

An essay and a philosophy exam to go this week and then some time off.

I am considering a repeat on the run today.

And thankyou to everyone who have been so supportive in my new venture to open a cookie store. Your comments have been noted.

2007-06-13T08:27:00.000+01:00

Life Ambitions

Thankyou all for your kind comments re. my new profile pic.

I am currently working out whether I should open a cookie store post college.

I really want to own/run a cookie store.

I'm serious.

2007-06-09T06:37:00.000+01:00

2007-06-07T07:19:00.000+01:00

2 things to ask or say

1. Does anyone have my copy of 'Scribbling in the Sand' by Michael Card? .....Can I please have it back now

2. I just got a text from a friend; it simply read

"Your body is a dream turned violent"

he made me laugh.

2007-06-02T01:21:00.000+01:00

Gen 4-11

Two very different images of the same event

Here’s the rub

Genesis 3 is one of the most important chapters in the Bible.

But there is always a temptation to study it, to analyze it and to remain distant from it.

To remain distant means that as we come to consider what it means for humanity to have turned from our creator and to have reached for autonomy, we analyze it as mere theory.

In doing so we have the appearance of image one, that is, we look from afar.

But what Genesis 4-11 does for us is force us down to ground zero.

It makes us walk the rubble,

smell the smoke

and feel the tragedy.

These 8 chapters are crafted in such as to guide us through the consequences of human rebellion.

As well as let us in on a surprising response from the creator.

2007-06-01T15:36:00.000+01:00

Genesis 4-11

Two very different images of the same event

Image 2:

Ground Zero Hiroshima, August 1945

Nearly every structure within a mile destroyed

Roughly half the population dead or injured

2007-06-01T08:12:00.000+01:00

Genesis 4-11

Two very different images of the same event

Image 1

Interim committee established April 1945 by President Harry
Truman charged with recommending the proper use of atomic weapons in wartime.
Or in layman’s terms – how do we use ‘the bomb’.

In the end they decide that the bomb must be deployed swiftly, unannounced and on one of either 4 cities

Niigata
Kyoto
Kokura Arsenal
Hiroshima

Do you know how the final decision was made?

What the weather was doing that particular day.

2007-06-01T02:49:00.001+01:00

Quote

Found this as I was researching for my sermon;

You can safely assume that you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do.
--Anne Lamott

2007-05-30T02:23:00.000+01:00

Back to Basics

ok, ok. So I've hit a snag in the sermon prep.

In fact, I hit one snag, got caught up in a near by rock, was washed under some weed and then eaten by a fish.

So, for a short time I've ditched Gen 4-11 and gone back to Robinson.
As my ballroom dancing teacher used to say; "back to basics"

.....oh, if you wanted the 'to be continued bit of the last post'. The answer will lie in covenant, have a read of Gen 6:18
More literally this verse is to be read: “I will cause my covenant with you to stand”

2007-05-28T13:12:00.000+01:00

Thinking through Gen 4-11 prt 1

Genesis 4-11 explains in part why we as humans exist today, in 2007.

I say that because surely if God is Holy, Perfect, Just and Owner of this planet, surely humanity would have been wiped out years ago.

Why are we still even here?

As Cain beats his younger brother Abel to death, surely that is warrant to end things.

As humanity is overtaken by evil thoughts all the time (Gen 6:5), surely that is warrant to end things.

As humanity, given a 2nd change once again seeks equality with God (Gen 11), surely that is warrant to end things.

As humanity creates empires which war against each other, surely that is warrant to end things.

As humanity develops technologies that can wipe out millions of other humans in one blast, surely that is warrant to end things.

As modern nations invade and kills innocent lives and terrorist organizations plan and execute hundreds of bombings around the world, surely that is warrant to end things.

And yet, life outside the garden continues.

Why?

More to come.....

2007-05-28T00:00:00.000+01:00

Preaching Genesis 4-11

The question we ask now is not what went wrong,
(That in large part has been answered by Genesis 3 with the creature rejecting the creator)

Rather;

The question is what is life like outside the garden, under the curse?

painting by Thomas Cole, 1828

2007-05-27T07:14:00.000+01:00

Quote

"You have a subtle enemy, so you must be wise. You have a vigilant enemy and so you must be watchful. You have a malicious, violent, and unwearied enemy, so you must be resolute, courageous and unwearied. You are in a crowd of enemies, encompassed by them on every side; and so if you heed one and not all, you will quickly fall. So what a task you have before you!"

- Richard Baxter. "The Reformed Pastor"

2007-05-27T05:08:00.000+01:00

Some Photo's from College Mission to Quakers Hill

a) the theme of the mission week

b) Nath and I discussing life and theology

c) Team meeting

d) Issen (and me in background) backstage, helping with the kids program

2007-05-24T07:46:00.000+01:00

Back from the Doctor

Diagnosis: Glandular Fever.

Treatment: rest & drink water.......and that's about it?!

So life has suddenly taken on a slower pace. Unfortunately doing college work (reading, writing) doesn't really constitute as rigrous activity so the work continues. But the 'going out's', the exercise and the high-energy life style has ceased.

In the Meantime......

I've been reading a book by Welsch called "When people are big and God is small". It's been a hugely helpful and insightful read, something that I've wrestled with for some time now.

"When we think of idols, we usually think first of Baal and other material man-made creations. Next we might think of money. We rarely picture our spouse, our children, or a friend from school. But people are our idol of choice. They pre-date Baal, money and power. Like all idols, people are created things, not the creator (Rom 1:25), and they do not deserve our worship. The are worshipped because we perceive that they have power to give us something. We think they can bless us."

2007-05-19T08:00:00.000+01:00

I'm out for the count

Well, just as I thought I was getting better, the evil infection strikes again and this time I'm out for the count.

Had a whole Saturday off today, but have spent most of it in bed.

Much to post, but I've only been looking at my computer for 10min and I my eyes are stinging already.

time to go.

next time I post I'll be much happier.

2007-05-14T23:54:00.000+01:00

Masks

“Do you not know that there comes a midnight hour when everyone has thrown of their mask? Do you believe that life will always let itself be mocked? Do you think you can slip away a little before midnight to avoid this? Or are you not terrified by it? I have seen men in real life who have so deceived others that at last their true nature could not reveal itself; I have seen men who played hide and seek so long that at last in madness they disgustingly obtruded upon others their secret thoughts which hitherto they had proudly concealed.”

- Kierkegaard

2007-05-10T23:14:00.000+01:00

Post Mission

I always feel better about mission afterwards than before.....funny that.

God did open some great doors and I had the chance to see several very interesting techniques of ministry.
Despite my previous post which 'poo pooed' the idea of college mission, I can see so many positives that came from it.

But, I still disagree with our method.

But, that's for another post.

The news from this week:

Health: Sick (sore throat and a body that feels like its done 10 rounds with Mike Tyson)

Recent purchase: A car!! Yes, you heard me. I'm now the proud owner of a small Toyota Starlett (photos will come on Monday)

Studying: Verbal Aspect in the Greek Language

Reading: Multiplying Churches, Stephen Timmis

Listening: On a Clear Night, Missy Higgins & Obadiah Parker

Feeling: Excited, Amanda coming up for the weekend, a new car, clear skies.....yes.

Quote of the Week:
This one is for all those daddies out there, who get tired of cleaning dirty diapers.

"Marriage does not consist only of sleeping with a woman - everybody can do that! - but keeping house and bringing up children. The father washing smelly daiapers may be ridiculed by fools, but God, with all his angels and creatures is smiling - not because the father is washing diapers, but because he is doing so in Christian faith."

- Martin Luther

2007-05-04T14:49:00.000+01:00

We're on a mission from God

I'm currently on Moore College Mission at Quakers Hill.

Been here since Monday, return Sunday night.

We have had a chance to run scripture seminar's in high school's, I spoke at a house church/bible study group and at a high school Christian group. There has been some Tafe ministry as well as door knocking.

These are great oppurtunities.

But I question the validity of going somewhere for 7 days, leaving and never coming back.

Is that the best way to model mission?

I would have loved 7 days to actually put into the relationships I've slowly developed at St Marks Avalon and St David's Palm Beach, rather than spread myself even thinner.

But.......perhaps relationship* isn't an important part of the Gospel**?

Still, there are many cool things to post about and I hope to do that when i get home.

Till then - loves you all!

ct.

*Not that I'm moving to an 'emergent village' approach.

** I realise that the Gospel is a message which first and foremost must be proclaimed and that can be done upon knowing someone for 10min or 10 years. Yet I'm still happy to ask this questioin.

2007-04-23T07:57:00.000+01:00

Cool little tit bits stumbled over in the last 24 hour

Parable of the lost son

There is a tragically ironic moment early in the parable.

When the son asks for his inheritance (so he can leave the family estate) he is in affect saying to the father "I wish you were dead".

However, listen to the father's reply when the son finally returns after months/years of seperation;

"For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found"

Pick it up?

......how cool is that!

2007-04-19T05:08:00.000+01:00

Trying to reclaim the holiday period.

Most holidays I don't really do much. I sit at home, try and catch up on college stuff and generally feel guilty for not being 'up' on everything.

But this break was different.

At 12:15pm early Monday arvo my church history essay was finished and handed in.

I then borrowed my mum's car (with cd player and cruise control!!) and headed down to Albury to spend the week with Amanda.

We've had such a great week.

Monday night pub trivia at the Bended Elbow with the other Med students
Tuesday night dinner in Victoria!!!
The making of Decadent Swirled Chocolate Thickshakes
And the singing of gospel songs around the breakfast table this morning (i did most of the singing, but you get the drift)

As usual I stayed in the trusty Railway Hotel - cheap singls rooms that come with rancid stenches free of charge.

At the same time we've been watching the news every night and reading smh.com every few hours to get the latest on the Virginia Tech disaster. Did anyone see that video the gunman sent to NBC? Just amazing (in a weird/surreal/evil kind of way).

This afternoon (in 15min) I drive back to Sydney. Sad times.

2007-04-18T02:39:00.000+01:00

33 reasons to yearn for new creation.

2007-04-11T02:29:00.000+01:00

Updates

The lasts week or so since my last post has been great. So much to say and I will do so in the next day or so.

After coming back from Albury last night I joined up with Nath and Ro and we had a pub dinner followed by a viewing of 300. It was a good end to a great weekend.

300

Xerxes: Imagine what horrible fate awaits my enemies when I would gladly kill any of my own men for victory.

Spartan King Leonidas: And I would die for any of mine.

This movie is beautiful. Many have already posted about the idea of honor, respect, justice and manhood.

So I have a different thought to share.

If you a Generation X'er or Generation Y'er, then you are not King Leonidas of Sparta, you are Theron thje politician.

This is what struck me.

Us children of post-modernism are bred not for battle but for doubt. We are bred to question everything - language, truth, morality, we are the kings of cynicism.

300 presents a king and 300 men, who are certain to the point of death, of one single truth - "That Spartan's will not retreat, nor will they surrender".

For many of our generation this view would be called fundamentalism, it would be seen as an unhealthy radicalism. When we can be certain of nothing we find it hard to fight for anything.

Theron, the politician is meant to be hated. His character sits on the fence, while the king dies on the battlefield.

As I watched this movie I seriously questioned my ability (as well as my generations ability) to die for anything.

After all, none of us want to be seen as 'radicals'.

But I gotta say.....it was pretty damn cool watching one!

2007-04-04T13:16:00.000+01:00

Reflections from John 4

John 4 - great chapter, go read it here if you want.

What I realised, is that everyone thirst for something.

Everyone lives with a goal, a mission to satisfy - make money, be secure, raise good kids, have fun, be content...

Everyone thirsts.

After reading John 4, I realise that Jesus knew this too and it was no different 2000 years ago.

Jesus says, thirst for him! Be satisfied in Christ, be inspired in the Spirit of God.

Why? Because it is the only way to be truely filled.

I've known this for some time. Yet I admit that I am seem to forget, i often find another thing to crave.

What's the answer to this forgetfulness?

Christianity needs to be lived in,

it needs to surround us

and smother us,

it needs to color the way we see life, money, friends, family, work and sport.

As John 3 said; In Christ I am 'born again', a new creation.

My prayer is that I will never forget that I have the key to satisfaction - a treasure filled jar of clay.

2007-03-26T23:25:00.000+01:00

How to sin…originally prt 1

I’ve often wondered whether the ‘realness’ of Adam (in the garden) really mattered?

Have you?

I mean, we all sin and it’s all wrapped up now in our nature …and all that stuff…so should we really care if there ever was an actual Adam and an actual Eve and an actual apple?

Is it ok to retain the meaning of the fall but let go of the historical facts?

This week I started reading into some answers.

(credit to Henri Blocher and his book Original Sin, Illuminating the
Riddle).

Letting go of the historical Adam places ‘the fall’ in the realm of metaphysics

That is, a non-physical event that had no direct place in history or point in time, but that explains our human experience as ‘fallen creatures’.

However, that interpretation leads to the conclusion that humans are evil ‘as if’ we had fallen, but because it wasn’t an actual historical event….we never actually fell.

Is this making sense?

Here is the problem….

If humanity did not really fall, then we must be evil from our very origin!

If humanity did not really fall, then the concept of us being created ‘good’ in Genesis 2 is an illusion.

If humanity did not really fall, then Jesus incarnation to reverse the curse of the fall is all just word play!

……cause there was no fall.

Evil can’t be defeated if it is just who we are.

But, if it had an historical entry point, if it is an actual curse that we exist under,
then a solution can happen!

A real, historical solution to a real, historical problem

2007-03-15T00:10:00.000Z

My new filing cabnet.

(one of the small results of my Thursday morning epiphany.)

oh, and my Deus Ex Machina t-shirt

2007-03-14T00:26:00.000Z

So...where is the rest of the sermon?

I have not kept my word in posting the next stage of my thoughts re. Luke 17.

I give 3 reasons why;

1. At preaching class on Tuesday Nath and I (the entirety of preaching class) uncovered some major issues and some major solutions re. my sermon. So, I'm working on those and will take a day or two to get back.

2. I have 4 assignemnts (on Jude, Numbers, Jonah and 1 timothy) due Friday - I'm time poor.

3. I had an epiphany this morning. Need time to consider things in the light of it.

I'll get back on the update horse as soon as my arse feels good enough to ride - maybe Fri?

catch ya

2007-03-12T13:17:00.000Z

Luke 17:1-10

Thanks to those who gace me some thoughts and directed me to some sermons to listen to.
The following few days I’ll post what I ended with.

Prt.1: It’s all too hard!

The chapters leading up to 17 have been Jesus teaching on discipleship and we've learn that discipleship is something big!!!
It’s not a side event, it’s not a phase or a ideology.
It’s the main event, it’s all encompassing, it’s an entire life.

Reaching chapter 17 – we are starting to deeply feel that the whole discipleship thing, which Jesus is calling us too is TOUGH. In fact for some of us we are thinking …..”it’s all too hard.”

So these 10 verses give us, in part, some answers for actually living as a disciple.

The theme of 17:1-10 is:

Discipleship is lived together by faith.

So we are going to split that thematic sentence in two and see what Luke 17 has to say about it.
1. Discipleship is lived together
2. By faith

More tomorrow.

2007-03-09T02:38:00.000Z

God is good.

For those who didn't get the updates, my car was involved in a 60km/hr full frontal collision on Sunday morning 1:50am.

God is good.

I wasn't in the car at the time, I was sitting out the back at Dougal and Dan's new place in Killara. But I did hear the amazingly loud crash when a 31 year old driver veered onto the wrong side of the road and ploughed into the front of my Ford Ka, before speeding off.

My poor little car was half up on the nature strip and spewing out all sorts of different colored liquids. To cut a long story short - Dougal and I (using our manly instincts) tracked down the offender and got the police to come in and do the rest.

God is good.

Today I got a call from the insurance agency saying that my little car has officailly 'passed' and that it is time to get use to life without him.

In its place is a nice fat cheque which should cover my living expenses here at college this year and perhaps a little (very cheap) second hand car.

That my friends, is what I call the best possible result from an average sittuation.

2007-03-06T10:26:00.000Z

Call for help

This Sunday I'm preaching on Luke 17:1-10.

My sermon prep is coming along ok, however I can't find anywhere or anyone who has a recorded on line sermon of this passage.
Stott, Piper, Keller, Woodhouse, Moffat, Tice, Driscoll, Steel.......NO ONE!?

The only link I found was a sermon by Rob Bell, I've listened to it, it was ok.

Does anyone know any good church or preachers who have a Luke 17:1-10 message recorded?

If not, then in 2 weeks time, Tubman jnr will have the first online sermon at www.stmarksavalon.org.au

So....if for nothing else go there and here a historic online sermon!

ct

2007-03-03T02:09:00.000Z

Reading can be fun....

From my church history reading this week in which Scotus is critiquing Aquinas' view on salvation and grace;

"To put the issue another way, for Scotus, in distinction from Aquinas and other contemporaries, people were beautiful to God because God first loved them; God did not first love them because they were intrinsically beautiful."

Such a brilliant quote.

I realise that for some, this idea would cut a leg off the chair that they are balancing on. But for me I am encouraged deeply to my soul to know that my beauty is based on God's love for me and not the fact that I have to keep trying to 'be beautiful' where I am.

graphic taken from http://postsecret.blogspot.com

2007-03-02T12:06:00.000Z

College is back.

One week done and I'm really glad to be at Bible College.

Bible College seems to me, to be much like any classic folk tale.

There is a mystical land that draws the hero on a quest. But in search of that land there are dragons - huge ones, with firey nostrils and massive wings - who attempt to foil the hero's journey.

None the less, the hero (driven by his desire for something better) pushes through, finally reaching the land for which he had left for so long ago!

Even with only 5 days under my belt I can already tell that the dragon of 1st year is well and truely gone. The teaching style is different and everything is far more self directed. This however, means more reading. Alot more reading!
I thought I'd throw in a quick photo of some of the books were are reading this term, this is not exhaustive, I still have to buy some, but none the less it gives you an idea of the flavor of things here at college.

I think this could be the year that I start to understand what all the fuss is about at Bible College. I'm really excited.

ct

2007-02-18T12:48:00.000Z

Walshy's engagement Party.

Date: Saturday
Location: St Ives
Diagnosis: It was great to be a part of Walshy and Sabs engagement party. Both I lead through youth group at church and it is so encouraging seeing them grow and develop (as people, but also in relationship)! The real highlight for me was catching up with some of the boys from the 'White Dogs' biblestudy (1998-2003). Each of these men has an eternal place in my heart and they show 100% patience with me and my dithering poor organisation skills. There is no excuse in me not seeing them more and I wear that burden. But something did dawn on me as I drove home.

Ministry is both permanent and enduring.

What I mean by that is this; For 6 years I lead these guys - in friendship, godliness, doctrine, and Holiness. At the end of 2003 my 'leadership' ended. But it suddenly dawned on me that in fact....it didn't and never will. Such a bond does not end, instead it does one of two things.

1. It fades and tarnishes and is neglected, yet still remains, like the U7 Swimming trophies on my bookshelf.
2. It continues, grows and deepens

Indeed it is true for all we have ministered to and with. The idea "I used to lead them" is fictional. It comminucates that in some way there has been a cosmic shift through which you no longer exist in the same world and are thus no longer able to encourage and spur on. It thinks that a 'tarnished bond' is indeed and ended bond. But that is incorrect.

The bond remains.....just very poorly.

What I'm trying to say is that there will be people who you ministered to/with in the past that you have in your minds eye (and thus reflected in your actions) ended your bond with.

But that only exists in your minds perception, because in reality you are still very much bonded to them......it may just be the case that it is a very poor bond.

We should consider ways to rectify this.

Saturday made me want to do exactly that.

2007-02-13T06:01:00.000Z

It's Arrived

My latest and greatest purchase which promises to revolutionize the way I read my Bible!! ....or something like that.

ENTER: Bible Works 7, Software for Biblical Exegesis & Research

Listen to this great blurb taken straight from their website;

Why use it? BibleWorks is a tightly integrated collection of software tools designed specifically for analyzing the texts of the Bible. BibleWorks was designed from the ground up to provide the best possible computer tools for scholarly study of the Bible.
Let your computer help your exegesis and exposition! BibleWorks comes with a variety of lexicons, dictionaries, and morphology tools. For all levels of users, BibleWorks is suitable for Bible study and sermon preparation as well as in-depth Bible research.

Did you hear that! I now have a tightly intergrated collection of software tools at my disposal.

(Mind you, these wouldn't be the first "software tools" I've come in contact with....but I think some of them read this blog and now is clearly not the time to discuss such things.)

I'm extra excited about the morphology that will soon be taking place in room 12.

So if you're ever desperate for some last minute exegesis - you know who to call.

Craig 'i've almost reached the status of full nerd' Tubman

2007-02-12T10:13:00.000Z

There's two types of magnification.

1. Microscope

2. Telescope

A microscopes take something small and make it look bigger than it really is

A telescope puts its lense on unimaginable expanses and trys to help them look like what they really are.

Ephesians 1

11In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.

The purpose of us being chosen is to glorify God!

I was speaking on this chapter at a weekend away in Jan and it occured to me as I was speaking that we didn't really get it.

We didn't really get how amazing it is that God should choose us for his glory.

But I couldn't put my finger on why?

Then it dawned on me yesterday. The reason we don't get the majesty of Ephesians 1 is because we don't know God like we ought. We often think that God choosing us is like being picked on the cool team in gym class - it's an honor.

But that is all wrong! We can't compare God to a pimply faced teenager. His majesty is far greater than our finite minds can comprehend, his power more awsome than we dream, his mercy deeper than we can fathom.

When we belittle God in our thinking, we can be mistaken for trying to magnify his mighty name like a microscope. We feel the weight of having to try and make 'this little thing called Jesus' seem really big and important to those around us.

But that's not how it works. In fact, that is blasphemy.

Instead, we are called to magnify God like a telescope. That is, to be a lens through which people see the unimaginable expanses of God's grace and mercy. We reflect, like the moon to the sun, His power seen through the love we have for our neighbours and the life lived stamped by the Spirit and his sanctifying power.

We are called to be children of God and be for the praise of His glory.

A telescope, not a microscope.

2007-02-06T03:36:00.000Z

Finally, some photos worth posting!

Well, I've been cut off from internet access for 4 days, which has seriously restricted any posting or updates, although there have been plenty.

Most recent news involve a photo shoot through the city last night with Jodi. I finally worked out how to use my new digital camera that I got for Christmas and had much, much fun playing with the shutter speed and capturing some classic harbor shots.

This week is meant to be my week off, but because there is still some work to be done for college and church I sort of feel the over hang of those things - which makes it hard to really unwind. None the less, I know I can't complain because most of you are at work and I am on the computer uploading photos and sipping latte's.

So really, life is pretty good.

craig

2007-02-01T02:31:00.000Z

Early Birds are generally stupid for rising so early!

So for some reason I woke up this morning at 4:30am. So I thought.....I may as well go for a run. I set my ishuffle and at 5am trot off into the city. I feel great early on and so decide to run a 10km route down to Glebe, Annadale and back into the city over the Anzac bridge.

Bad move.

About 10min after finishing my morning shower, I go to walk down the hall and realise that my left foot............doesn't really work. I'm not sure what I've done, but it hurts bad.

None the less, not wanting injury to restrict lifestyle, I still headed down to Deus Ex Machina with Row and Sudsy this morni

ng at 8:30. Deus Ex Machina is an amazingly funky concept store on Parramatta rd that combines very cool motorbikes with coffee!

It was a good way to start my day again. Now I'm trying to write a talk on Philippians 3, but because I woke at 4:30am, all I really want to do is go to bed! I think I'll work 30min more and then hit the hay - i love quasi holidays.

ct

2007-01-31T03:44:00.000Z

Camp Photo, 1999

So here is the photo. From what I can make out, it was shot in 1999 - give or take a year. This photo was taken post one of the best games of touch footy I've played. It was pouring with rain, it was muddy, it was beautiful.

I keep this photo next to my mirror to remind me of 3 things.

1. That I did not misplace my university days but spent them in service of God for his Kingdom.
I'm not sure about you, but I have often looked back on the Uni days and wished I'd been a bit more engaged with the university culture. That I'd had more late nights, more afternoons in the bar and more crazy parties - in peoples rental homes with live bands and Vodka Jelly.
But this photo reminds me that I had a lot of fun, more fun that Uni parties could have provided in the service to my church, which occupied my university days.

2. That ministry is a shared experience.
The beautiful thing about this photo is that while we've all just had a classic game of touch, there exists a deeper reality. That is, there are 10 leaders in that photo who were working together in a common goal. We wanted each of the campers to be encouraged and challenged and spured on in their understanding and relationship with God. And there is a special bond formed between those with whom you do Gospel work.

3. That we are to press on ahead, to take hold of the prize.
2 of those 10 leaders are currently assistant ministers.
1 of those 10 leaders is training to be a minister
1 of those 10 leaders is full time in Christian music ministry
4 of those 10 leaders are working hard in their current occupation whilst contributing to the life of their church through Biblestudy leading and active lay work
1 of those 9 leaders is now a highly expereinced outdoor Christian educator.

Let us not be men and woman who, at the age of 28, decide that 'ministry' was a thing for our earlier years. That is, I dare say, a foolish and immature view of what it is to be 'in christ'.

Let us be men and woman who, at the age of 28, realise even more fully that "a man does not consist in the abundance of his possessions" and continue to give of our lives, our time and our money to the work of the Kingdom.

ct

2007-01-30T07:48:00.000Z

SASWA

Still not sure what it stands for exactly, but it was the camp I've been on the last few days (thru - Sun).
What a brilliant weekend! 25 of us staying at a huge country home stead out at Robinson. Home of the 'Big Potato
4 days, 4 talks on Ephesians and tonnes of time to chill, drink coffee talk over the Bible and have fun.
It was idealic, the students were so mature and keen to engage with the scriptures, even through that were at all different stages of their walk with the Lord.

I'm a better man for having been there. So a big thankyou for St Andrews Roseville for letting me share the weekend and the scriptures with them.

There is no doubt that too many people sit on their beeehinds and wait for God to teach them something or show them something or whatever. I reckon we need to get out there, get those 'gospel boots' moving and serve others, open Bible in hand - that is when God teaches and shapes.

I've been back 2 days and have started reading the 1st volume of Calvin's institutes. They are 'way cool'.

He describes each man's mind as a labyrinth. That is "it appears that if men were taught only by nature, they would hold to nothing certain or solid or clear-cut, but would be so tied to confused principles as to worship an unknown god." In the end, only the string of Scripture can guide us through the labyrinth.

That's what I mean by 'way cool'.

Anyway, if I can get some camp photos I'll throw them up. Next post I promise to put that 8yr old photo up that I promised last week.

till then
ct

2007-01-20T05:06:00.000Z

Party Cancelled

I've never been to a birthday blog party before. And so I was unsure what to do for tubemantravels.
In the end, I decided to do nothing, because.....really.....who cares that my blog is 3! I hear the real party to celebrate amongst infants is the 5th, so I'm hanging out till then.

January Leadership Conference (which I was leading on) went well. The campers were all young, keen Christian students and it was a brilliant, if not a little strange, camp environment.

I recieved the news during the camp that my beautiful little nephew had experienced a fairly bad accident which was scary - you can read about it on his blog - Ben's Blog. Recent reports have him going well and it appears there will be no permanant damage, which is a huge relief.

I now have 5 days off till my next camp, at which I'll be giving 4 talks from the book of Ephesians. and tomorrow I'm preaching at St Marks.
So today is all about coffee, finishing touches on sermon and sweating (how insanely hot is it today?!?!!)
In my next post Ill post a photo taken 8 years ago, which gives shape to a conversation I had last night.

till then
ct

2007-01-12T20:26:00.000Z

Happy Birthday

I'm going to camp in 1 hour. So I'll be awol for the next 7 days.

However.....on Monday (15/1/07), my little blog turns 3!

Yep, that's right - 3 years of posts, photos and comments. Unfortunately I will not be around to celebrate with my blog, but have promised it a little party when I return, so stay tuned.

catch y'all in a week.
ct

2007-01-09T00:30:00.000Z

A quick dash back home

Monday was my first day off since exams and it was amazing to sleep past 6:30am and to start the morning with a coffee and some good reading.

Unfortunately the internet connection at college is down and so I've had to come back to my parents to check up on things.

None the less, the news for the hour is contained in two words

Sara Groves

On Sunday night Jaime (assistant minister, Avalon) played one of Sara's songs following his sermon and it was brilliant. Yesterday I got my hands on her CD 'Conversations' (released 2000) and it is really good.

I'm never one to 'poo poo' Christian music.

But I am so over the type of Christian music that has the same old lyric and is so cliche that it discourages more than builds me up.

"Oh Lord, I really want to follow you.....you're so lovely......I'm so free" bla, bla, bla.

But Sara Groves is different. She is insightful, musical and honest. Of special note are her songs 'The Word' and 'Painting Pictures of Egypt' from her album 'Conversations'.

I highly recommend a listen (i think she is on itunes).

craig

2007-01-07T12:27:00.000Z

And now a change from normal programming

Last night was an exciting night for me.

I had spent the week reflecting and nutting through John 11 for a sermon I was to give today. The thing was (which for me, is pretty much the norm) I couldn't grasp the passage. I understood its big idea, I knew the key verse and the narrative structure, but I just didn't get it. Then, at 9:30pm things finally started to fall in place.

Two points for John 11
1. Jesus does more than comfort us in the face of death, he defeats it.
2. Jesus does more than understand our pain, he feels it.

The following does not represent the entire sermon, nor the full thought pattern, but were two understandings that I was blessed to receive from the Lord.

Point One
You know, I was thinking about the whole concept of comforting in times of hardship during the week as I was reflecting on this passage.
And it occurred to me that we only comfort someone if we can’t actually solve the problem they are facing.
That is, if you break your leg and it hurts, I can and should comfort and care for you. I might organize social events that aren’t to strenuous so you can come along and be apart of it. I may drop round to your house a lot to say hi cause I know it is difficult for you to get out, I’ll do all sorts of things to comfort and care for you.

But the whole reason that I am required to do this is because there is no way in the world that I can fix your broken leg!

If I could then I wouldn’t worry about comforting you, I’d just fix it and then we’d go out for a surf together.

We comfort people who are in situations that are out of our control.

Where does that lead us to in John 11?
“Your brother will rise again”
It would have been a common response of any rabbi in the 1st century. The majority of Jews believed in the idea of resurrection and restoration. That God would one day raise the faithful. And so to someone in mourning, this would be a common comforting reply.
“Your brother will rise again.”

In fact, Lazarus has been dead for 4 days, we read – I take it that Martha has heard this comment a hundred times in the previous days and whilst her reply reflects faithfulness it hints at dissatisfaction.

“I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day”

Had Jesus just been a great teacher or a priest or a healer, then comfort would be all he could offer Martha. Because for teachers, priests and healers death was out of their control,
Martha takes Jesus words as mere words of comfort.

But then, Jesus makes this utterly radical assertion.

“I am the resurrection and the life”
In other words, Jesus can do more than comfort Martha in the face of death, he can solve her problem all together

Point Two

"Jesus wept"
When you can see that Jesus does more than just cognitively understand your pain but he actually feels it, then it allows continued faithfulness and relationship with God.

Why?
Because isn’t it when you are in pain,
When you are lonely
When you are afraid
That you often feel distant from God?
You feel like you’re in your own little world and there is nothing that can break those walls.
You can feel so isolated that there is no point talking to others, let alone praying to God!!

But what happens when your pain ceases to be a barrier between you and God and instead becomes a shared experience?

When you can turn to God and say
“God, I know you know what it’s like to be betrayed by those close to you
God, I know you know what it’s like to loose a best friend to death
God I know you know what it’s like to face excruciating physical pain
And God, I’m feeling that right now and I want to share with you, and ask for your guidance, your wisdom and your peace – because I know, you’ve been there all before when you walked this earth.

It’s not a matter of asking God to understand us, but for us to understand Him – and in doing so we come to know ourselves even better

In the end, the sermon came out a little long, and I have been challenged to rethink my idea of resurrection and death (from another section of the sermon).

But in the process of writing and reflecting I was so thankful to the Lord for directing my thinking. Praise the Lord for revelation through his Word.

craig

2007-01-04T07:26:00.000Z

1. The Concept of Wordly Strength
The General

part II

Here in the western world we are becoming more independent of those around us. This was not always the case. Ancient civilizations, being quite separate from the modern western world, had a different view to the self and community.

In the ancient Aboriginal lifestyle each language group (or tribe) was highly reliant on each other. The women were the real powerhouse of the tribe providing the majority of food through the process of hunting and gathering. The men ensured the safety of the community, while also hunting larger animals. The elders provided wisdom and leadership out of which the tribe would operate.

Today, we would like to think that much has changed. Our primitive roots have gone and we live in a do-it-yourself age, where to ask for help often reflects defeat. This attitude is pushed along by the increase of technology, which plays the role of transforming each of us into a ‘jack of all trades’. If supported by the right income, each of us can sit in their living room and at a push of a button be provided with everything he or she needs. Current affairs blast across the T.V, whilst we brew a top class coffee on our espresso machines and check the Internet for our share prices or 360 degree views of the next restaurant we wish to visit.

Now, in reality this process is hugely dependent on others. We are dependent on those who provide us with the T.V news, those who place the prices on the Internet and so on. However, technology separates us from people, and fools us into thinking we are doing the work – we ourselves are the only people that are needed for a complete life. As a result, there becomes a drive to be self-contained and in control, a General of our own world. Those who achieve this (whilst producing the most amount of money of course) are the ones we see as strong. Thus our desire for control can be linked to social pressures and technology.

There is s second reason which I believe plays a stronger role, whilst also being far easier to understand. Its origins are recorded for us in the book of Genesis. Genesis presents the account of Adam and Eve and their relationship with God. It is a good relationship in which man and woman are content and know their place before their creator. It is however, also the greatest tragedy ever told. It becomes the story of the creation choosing to live against their creator. The soldier attempting to become the General, however attempting this without the wisdom and power needed to be a General.

This one act has been the greatest factor in forming our modern view of strength and has in fact plagued humankind ever since. The account of Adam and Eve is the account of humankind choosing to live separate from their God. It is the account of humankind choosing to control their own life rather than entrusting it to the creator.

Why do we do we want control?

Because we are naturally selfish, and our primary instincts will always involve looking out for ourselves. As the selfish nature forms itself as our primary drive, we look to it primarily for our view of strength. The life of a General is marked by control. And as long as this is the case, he/she cannot place their faith in anything but themself.

2007-01-01T00:41:00.000Z

Digimon has arrived!!!

Finally after all these years, I am in the world of digital photography.

While I am still somewhat confused by a myriad of symbols more complex than the Ancient Egyptian's written word, I am slowly learning.

I have mum and dad to thank for this new toy and I'm quietly excited, very excited.

This is me at 2am, sitting in my Newtown roon testing different camera settings

Boxing day: Dan and Dougal, Hungry Jacks on George

Boxing Day: Circular Quay, James Squire Amber Ale

Boxing Day: Circular Quay, Dan at Pier 5

In other news.....

I have 7 days of work left and then there will be no more 6:15am starts and calloused hands.
In 10 days the camp season starts and I am still trying desperately to get some inspiration to write seminars and talks for these.
My new year was spent having dinner with 13 friends. By 11 I got really tired.
Two songs that have captured me in recent days

1. The World Spins Madly On - The Weepies

2. Where Are You Going - Dave Matthews Band (from album Busted Stuff)

In other news .......

A few of you have been reading my recent thoughts on the Christian concept of strength and how sometimes we can drift from a biblical view to a worldly view.
I realise these thoughts break all the rules for how long a post can be, but none the less I hope you are being challenged and if you have any thoughts - positive or negative please comment.
Thanks so far to Walshy, Candy, J.T and Lisa for reading.

craig

2006-12-30T12:56:00.000Z

1. The Concept of Worldly Strength
The General

The world that we live in loves power. We needn’t go any further than opening up the newspaper to see what the society around us values as strength. From a quick browse through today’s newspaper, I can tell that strength and power in our world flows from one of three factors. Money, social status (usually associated with beauty – there are not many ugly movie stars) and personal skill, whether it is through sport, intellect, or business skills. However, in the grand sale of things most of it revolves around riches and the push for money. Ultimately I would label almost all the high fliers and successful men and women in our society as Generals, and our world loves Generals. Why? Because a General appears to be in complete control of a situation, and as humans we love to be in control.

In the First World War, a General with the most influence was no doubt that of the British General Haig. He was later described as one of “The greatest captains of history”. He did indeed have a fairy tale story.

Starting the war as a Corps Commander, in an Expeditionary force of just six Divisions, he finished the conflict as the victorious Commander-in-Chief of an expeditionary force 59 divisions strong, that had, for the preceding two years, engaged the main body of the German Army. He had climbed the ranks and ended up in control of the allied armies. Not only was he in charge of the allied armies, but more importantly he won the war. He is seen as the greatest captain because he controlled a victorious army.

This reputation is no doubt deserved, as the organization that was required by him was massive. But did he actually fight the war? Did he sit in a trench for months on end in order to win the war? No! He sat at a desk and organized different offensives and strategies, then sent them out to be enacted. He was above the ordinary solider, he controlled them, he called the shots.

I guess in our day to day lives the majority of people in our world, (and our church?), want to be like Haig.

We want to be in complete control of our own lives and we want to win. Speaking to some of my friends in the business world, I find that their goals are all very similar, that is, to work their way up the corporate tree, so that one day they can be their own boss. What could be better than to be working at the top with no one standing over you telling you what to do? It is, for my friends, a picture of freedom.

It is also another reflection of a General. You see a General makes his or her own rules and consequently has no higher power to answer to.

Why is it that we strive so much to be in control? Why is that those who have this illusion about them seem powerful? The answer lies, I believe, in two areas. The first is the changing structure or our society and the second is that of our position before God.

MORE TO COME

2006-12-22T08:28:00.000Z

Part 2

I mention this because it makes me wonder how Jesus would react to our church today and the ‘social’ structure we have established. Would he praise who we praise, and isolate who we isolate? Or would he take a different stance to ours, one based on the heart rather than the appearance?

We can take this further as well, to the Old Testament. Who are the ‘heroes’ of the bible? What names jump to your mind as the ‘strong’? For me, Moses and David are two who immediately jump to mind.

I can image Moses standing in front of the Red Sea, hair flowing and staff in hand, putting to work the power of God. (There must be a small note of dubious credit given here to Dream Works, for clearing up the ‘real’ image of The Prince of Egypt) And David, felling the seemingly undefeatable Goliath and receiving the praise of an entire nation. I guess in many ways I latch onto these images because they reflect the same kind of man I look to in the church today to lead me – confident, successful and socially attractive. However, what we often fail to focus on when remembering our ‘hero’ friends is the forty years of pain and loneliness Moses spent in the desert, or the shame and brokenness associated with David’s planned act of adultery.

If you took a snapshot of Moses and David at these times you would most probably label them failures, the bible doesn't seem to hold such a view.

Why is our focus so often out of joint? Why is our view of the biblical ‘heroes’ primarily formed from myth rather than reality? I believe it is because in today’s world, weakness, failure and repentance are not characteristics we associate with ‘pillars’ of strength, let alone Christian ‘pillars’.

What is the result? We forget the apparent weakness of those lives in the Bible, we live in a dream world draped by ‘worldly’ strength and then wonder why we are facing struggles of our own.

2006-12-16T03:49:00.000Z

Part One

The good, the bad and the ugly.

There is a picture painted in many of our churches today of what it means to be a ‘strong’ Christian. It is not written down, it is not taught and quite often it is not even intended. However, it still lingers, unspoken and often unknown it hovers over many churches. Biblical knowledge, intellectual ability, upfront skills, being a ‘born leader’, all these, from my experience, seem to feature (consciously or not) in our perceptions of those who are ‘strong’.

Is it possible that in our sinfulness we have let the world's perceptions of strength infiltrate and shape our views in church? That is, we are drawn to those in control, those with 'mad skills' and those who are more attractive?

This 'pull' is not conscious and even if it was I'd imagine that none of us would admit to it. But it is worth considering, because the scriptures describe the devil as a lion on the prowl, a cunning deceiver who will use anything on offer to distance us from God and true community.

I just wonder whether our perception and understanding of 'strength' is a pathway that Satan distorts.

It's interesting to reflect on how our judgment of those around us often reflects our own personal biases and opinions. This being the case, what we look for in others will often reflect our own desire to be the constant, clean cut General under God, rather than his dirty, war wearied soldier.

You may be thinking, what is wrong with this?

Well, from my experience and more importantly from a reading of God’s word, this ‘clean cut’ General persona we often desire, does not reflect the ‘heroes’ of the bible nor the type of workers God requires.

The gospel writers make it clear that Jesus mingled with and glorified people from all areas of the social spectrum. To put it in another way, Jesus hung out with the good, the bad and the ugly and he used all three for his glory! As one travels through the gospels a theme reoccurs: Jesus more often than not used the bad (Levi, the tax collector[1], Mary, the prostitute[2]) and the ugly (lowly fisherman[3], the disabled, the inflicted[4]) to further his kingdom rather than the classically good. In fact when he meets a stereotypical ‘good guy’, such as the rich young ruler[5], he demands change.

MORE TO COME.

[1] Mark 2:13
[2] Matthew 26:6
[3] Mark 1:16
[4] John 9:1
[5] Matthew 19:16

2006-12-12T00:07:00.000Z

Morning Oasis
This morning at 6:35am I got a call from my boss informing me that work would not start at 7am due to the wet weather. Instead, I was to wait by the phone for him to call me in when the weather improves.

I've been waiting for 4 hours, the rain has stopped but still no call and I'm just wondering whether this means I have the day off or not?

One thing that has been nice is that I ducked up to the cafe this morning at 7:30 to read a few chapters of "Going the Distance" by Peter Brain.

A beautiful 2 hour oasis of book and coffee.

"Most ministers don't burn out because the forget they are ministers. They burn out because they forget they are people." A.D Hart

As I reflect on my year I realise that I dropped most of the God given things that make me who I am.
I stopped composing, recording and performing songs, I stopped taking photos, I stopped painting, I stopped running (flaking out of this years Sydney half marathon) and I stopped writing.

"Most ministers don't burn out because the forget they are ministers. They burn out because they forget they are people." A.D Hart

2006-12-06T07:28:00.000Z

And to think I used to study theology

The exam period has finished and my 1st year at college is over. To be honest, I've never crammed as hard and as good as I did in those two weeks.

everything came off ok.

So it was all done by 5pm on Thursday 23rd Nov.

Friday the 24th Nov was a strange day. My college friends and I stumbled around in some what of a daze, much like the morning after smoking the peace pipe, not really knowing what to do.

Gav, the guy who lives next door summed it up well.

"After your exams finish you really feel the fact that you are a full time student and in fact, you have no life."

To combat this feeling of emptiness (and to cover my massive credit card debt) I took a full time job 4 days after exams finished. It certainly solved my feeling of emptiness, but getting up at 6:20 every morning to go and mow lawns provides a whole other set of problems!

I don't sleep much at the moment.

Stayed up to 4am two nights ago and watched the entire Band of Brothers series. Sat out on Dougal's porch last night till 12:30.

Life moves on, dictated by the early alarm and the hum of two stroke.

.....and to think that I used to study theology

2006-11-21T11:35:00.000Z

The story is over.

A lifetime of getting up at 4:30am and training for hours a day has to catch up with you eventually.

As for me, I'm all for the retirement.

Good to finally see a sportsman quit while he's ahead.

Some are now questioning whether Thorpey is 'one of the best'? Which to me is a strange question. He is the best! He's won more, held more records and been a true blue aussie legend.

Ian Thorpe, greatest Australian swimmer in recorded history.

...........as you can tell, I'm going a bit loopy re. exams and feel the need to voice my opinions regarding our national swimmers.
sorry for such blogging.

2006-11-18T23:34:00.000Z

oh, and one more thing..........in a postmodern world, language is not to be trusted. It simply doesn't have universal unchanging meaning and it is far too powerful in its ability to shape unhealthy human vision and action.

so, if you're thinking of complaining about any of my spelling in the previous post - get with the times, it's 2006 and your restrictive dictatorship of grammar is over.

craig

2006-11-18T23:25:00.000Z

I'm So Post Modern - Bedroom Philosopher

My philopshy exam is tomorrow. I'm a big fan of philosophy, so today isn't too much of a disaster, it's quite fun actually!
Anyway, this song is in celebration of modern thought. Enjoy

2006-11-14T08:27:00.000Z

2 Stories and a Photo

My window is still smashed, but my guitar is back!

Long story - but a guy across the road retrived it and I am very thankful.

Short story - I get back to my room today and someone has purchased 3 text books I need for 2nd year and placed them on my door step, a short message simply signed "the moore books fairy"
Whoever you are, I am very thankful.

And Youngos just reminded me of good times from long ago (Africa circa 02).

Thankyou Youngos

I am finding it hard to study, but God is placing people in my path to get me through.

Thanks be to him.

2006-11-13T01:48:00.000Z

2 hours till exam.

nervous energy

Still needing study time

Get a call from a friend to go out and check my car.

I fear that I may have misparked and been fined.

Back windscreen smashed

guitar gone

1hr 45min till exam.

2006-11-11T10:24:00.000Z

A Visual from Friday night

The Set List:
City of Blinding Lights
Vertigo
Elevation
Until The End of the World
New Year's Day
Beautiful Day
Yahweh
Walk On
Sometimes
Love and Peace
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet The Blue Sky
Miss Sarajevo
Pride (In The Name of Love)
Where The Streets Have No Name
One

Zoo Station
The Fly
With or Without

YouThe Saints Are Coming
Angel of Harlem
Kite

The experience:
I can't explain it.
Perhaps later in the week when I can compute the whole thing I'll share some thoughts.
But it was amazingly brilliant.

Just brilliant.

2006-11-07T10:49:00.000Z

I'm going for the beared look.

I figured there has be one point in every man's life when he has a bushy beard. And as for me I am yet to be able to claim such an expereince.

It's early days and the road is long. Some would argue that with summer looming, the timing is poor.....and that would be right.

But I figure lets have a crack at it anyway.

Here I am with Dougal and Camel at Saturdays engagement party for Foxy and Anne. It was a good night, so many people I haven't seen for a long time and some mini cheese cakes that knocks the socks of anything I've had before!

Study continues to go well. I'm not getting as much done as is probably needed, but none the less things are being learnt and that's a good thing.

Another college friend sent around some cards for us to help remember the narrative of Mark. Below is a sample of one of them.

Who said you have to be young to use crayons for study?

2006-11-06T10:29:00.000Z

1st Day of STUVAC

I was reading through my notes on 1 Peter today when I came across this absolute pearl of wisdom.

'the dead' are a metaphor for those who are dead.

my brain sometimes liquefies in lectures.

ps. I put up a different clip on myspace page - its chilled cover of an Outkast song - you'll have to see it to get it.

2006-11-02T04:42:00.000Z

Study, Sermons, Anything

It's becoming busy - hence a drop in posts.

But the Lord has been abundantly good in many ways. His Word continues to be rich and it is a real blessing to be studying it. He has given me time to once again listen through the conference talks from the 2006 desiring God conference and provided insight for me on my own life through these talks.

Yesterday I met up with Mark and was hugely encouraged and spured on. He is a true brother in the Lord and through his life and love it is clear that he is a disciple of Christ.

I thank God for him.

In the in-betweens I set a myspace page - which to be honest is just a modern tool of time suckage. But none the less it lets me keep in easy contact with a whole host of people.Check it out here Craig's MySpace page - because I have uploaded a short clip of one of the greatest table tennis rallys of all time!!

till then stay in Him