this is today

Beware you are not swallowed up in books! An ounce of love is worth a pound of knowledge.
— John Wesley

Notwithstanding the above quote from John Wesley, things have been quiet around here because for the past month I’ve been back into the books. I am almost half way through studying a Masters degree and whilst it is challenging, I find it really fulfilling.

So, some reasons why I think there is great value in studying:

1. Studying builds or rounds out your belief system. Knowing what you believe and why you believe it is critical to where you are headed in life. To actively and deliberately build that out enables you to maximise your fruitfulness in life and ministry.

2. Studying exposes you to new areas of thought that otherwise you would never explore. There is great benefit and stretching your mental muscles and expanding your understanding into new areas, and seeing how it relates to the areas of life you currently work in or have knowledge of. Mark Batterson is master of this, as he takes facts from neurology, social science & the like and weaves it into his writing and messages.

3. Studying challenges and expands the personal capacity of the leader. Studying takes mental discipline, puts pressure on your time, and requires grit and determination to successfully complete.

4. Studying within a structure requires commitment and commitment produces consistency. I’d rather reap a harvest from consistent sowing, than from sowing out of those rare moments when genius and inspiration strike. So too with the regiment of structured study.

5. Studying introduces you to great people! I’ve met and continue to be blessed by the friendship and interaction with some amazing people. Go on get out there and study!

Beautiful give and alley-oop to new Knick Bill Walker. Also, this took place in Madison Square Garden and everything is better in Madison Square Garden!

Exodus 3:2-4

And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”

The account of Moses and the burning bush is well known by Christians. It features regularly in my kid’s children’s bibles. But what is curious to me is I wonder how many burning bushes that didn’t make it into the bible?

In other words, I wonder how many opportunities to encounter God, burning bush moments like Moses’, we just miss.

There is a very key phrase in the above passage. Moses says, “I will turn aside to see this great sight…”. Moses saw the burning bush, but then he went a step further and turned aside to pay it some attention.

It is one thing to notice a sign and a wonder from God – a healing, an experience in worship, an answered prayer. But it is another to stop what you are doing, divert your focus for a moment and “turn aside to see” what it is God might be up to.

I love that we’re told “When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!”. When we turn aside to see, it grabs God’s attention! In fact, it was only when God noticed Moses turning aside to see, that He spoke clearly to Moses.

What this tells me is amazing.

God gives us hints at His working throughout our life. God bisects our world regularly, peeling back the layers that we might catch a glimpse of eternity. But that is not the end of it. Rather, it’s a means to the end, the end being a face to face encounter with Him.

When you notice a burning bush – that is, God at work around you – don’t waste it! Stop what you’re doing, turn off the TV, change your schedule, move away from the phone, because God is waiting for you to turn aside that you might encounter Him in a life-altering way. Just like Moses did.

Yesterday was Australia Day, our nation’s national holiday. In the last 20 years there has been an increase in emphasis on our national day as a day of celebrating what makes Australia great. So, what makes this nation great?

The greatness of our nation is more than flag capes, southern cross stickers, and bbqs near the water in summer. I believe the greatness of our nation stems from the favour of God upon it.

In 1606 Spaniard Pedro Fernandez de Quiros prophesied over Australia

“and of all this region of the south as far as the Pole, from this time shall be called Australia del Espiritu Santo…”

Of course, Australia del Espiritu Santo means Great Southland of the Holy Spirit. This was not just a historical statement I believe it is a prophesy. And one I pray I will see fulfilled.

It is remarkable that it took so long for Australia to be settled at all. Chinese arrived in the Indonesia archipelago in the 1400s. Muslims, Buddhist and Hindus had been in the region for centuries before European explorers set eyes on the Great Southland. Why was this? I believe it was because God has a destiny and purpose for our great nation.

The men and women from Great Britain who settled Australia brought with them institutions and systems of government and law steeped in Christianity. Many of the early Governors and leaders, as well as explorers, were men of great Christian faith. Why was this? I believe it is because God has a destiny and purpose for our great nation.

Smith Wigglesworth once prophesied that Australia will see the last great revival before the return of Christ.

For all our heritage and blessings from God, Australia has never seen a great nation-wide awakening or revival. But it is coming. We believe the prophesies and we say, yes Lord!

I had a friend in school whose name was Damien Wilkins. But he couldn’t throw it down like that!

As disciples of Jesus there are many goals for us to aim for in our spiritual walk. Studying the Word, developing our spiritual gifts, serving in the local body, stretching out into ministry and a multitude of other things.

But there is one overarching purpose to our faith that we must never lose sight of. And that is to passionate, wholeheartedly love God.

Mark 12:28-30

One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

Jesus tells us this is the first and greatest command He has for us; Love our God with everything we have! Loving Jesus is our greatest command and our highest call.

I believe our world is crying out for people who are passionate about their God. People all around us are seeking the real deal. Not hollow religiousity, not gentle platitudes, not two-faced living, not luke-warm spirituality. But whole-hearted, passionate people truly in LOVE with their God.

Because this is so critical, we need to continually gauge our passion and love for Jesus and we can do this according to Mark Chapter 12:

• Heart: Where do your deepest affections lie? What moves your heart? What matters to you, thrills you or angers you?
• Soul: Our soul will follow either the flesh or the Spirit. So are you walking according to the Spirit or flesh? Which captures your attention throughout each day?
• Mind: What does your thought life reflect about you? Are you becoming more like Jesus through the renewing of your mind?
• Strength: What does your life outwardly say about what you love? What does the way you spend your life’s resources (time, talents, finances, relationships etc) say about your love for Jesus?