Success in life is about doing the basics well.

And the most important basic we can get right in life is our followership to King Jesus. This is what discipleship is all about – it’s not a class or a program, but it’s life.

How often do we stop and consider how the basics are going in our life? As we’re stepping into a time of seeking God as a church and asking the question, “how do we become true disciples?“; I want to share with you some questions i constantly revisit and ask myself in times of reflection.

Answering these questions may not be easy, especially with full honesty; but do take time to wrestle and grapple with God. We may not always like the answers (I know I don’t), but may they be the first of many steps towards living a life a fully-devoted, sold out Christ-followers.

Love you guys, see you at church!

Chris

- How is my spiritual health?

- How is my relationship with God?
- How is my love for Jesus?
- Am I still hungry for His Word?
- How is my prayer life?
- Is there any sin in my life? What am I doing about it?
- What am I dreaming about?
- If God could bless anything I do, what would I attempt?
- Am I doing what God has called me to do?

- How is my emotional health?

- What hard decision/s have I been postponing?
- How are my relationships with who God has placed in my life going?
- Who am I allowing to speak into and influence my life? What am I learning?
- What is my biggest vulnerability right now?

- How is my physical health?

- Am I glorifying God with my body?
- Am I eating, resting, exercising well?

Last week Torch (follow him on twitter here) shared an incredible message about what it means to pursue Godliness and live pure in our lives. It was something that resonated deeply within my heart. Personally, I know all too well the struggle for purity in a body and a world that pulls us in every other direction. Interestingly enough, without any prior conversation, God spoke to me the exact same phrase as what Torch shared:

Purity paves the way to intimacy

I’m not too ashamed to admit that this has been one of thoughts that have kept me on my journey to purity. Knowing that my purity today will bring me to my destiny tomorrow motivates me to continue to allow God deal with me openly and humbly. As I continue to struggle, I want to invite us all as young adults to join together in a journey of wholehearted devotion to God – clean hands, and a pure heart.

I also want to recommend a few resources that have really helped me and many others as well.’

Dating Delilah – Purity from a New Perspective
Something written by one of the great communicators of our generation, Ps Judah Smith. Here you can download his free e-book or audio book on the subject of purity.

XXX Church
This is the organisation Torch mentioned his sermon. There are helpful articles, videos, as well as a free accountability software; x3watch, to help with open conversation between accountability partners. Many of us have been and are still using this software.

Pure Intimacy
Another website that also has many great resources particularly pertaining to sexuality. On this website there are also resources dealing with sexual identity questions such as homosexuality.

Finally, I also preached something from my heart last year (the day before my birthday!) which outlines some of my own experiences and what I believe is the heart of the matter when it comes to sex. It had got to be one of the most uncomfortable things ever, but so glad it came out! You can find the audio stream here.

To all the university students, all the best for your exam preparations!

from John Mark McMillan (who wrote “How He Loves”)

John Mark McMillan – Skeleton Bones from john mark mcmillan on Vimeo.

Check out an update here. Awesome!

I think Wynnie deserves an award too, for writing the article so well! Very proud of all of them

This makes me happy! First time we gave this song a spin last week, complete with heaps of mistakes and pitchiness. But heaps of fun! Love the way songs like this helps us bring something new in praise. And was awesome to see my good friend Lisa make her comeback on the worship team after a long while!

An unbelievable Fransiscan prayer. Craig Groeschel used it during his ‘it’ talk. It gets me every time…

May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths and superficial relationships; so that you may live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitations of people; so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.

May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war; so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.

Helloooooooooo!

 

Finally back in sunny Queensland after one week in humid Singapore with friends from our family of churches all over the world. It was a pretty unbelievable experience, worshipping Jesus together with so many different people from so many different places. I felt overwhelmed knowing that the packed auditorium was filled with absolute heroes of the faith. Pastors, church planters, leaders, Christ-followers who have all made personal decisions and sacrifices to pursue God and His call upon their life. It was such a humbling experience, coming to the realisation once again that I was a small part of God’s movement all over the world – the army of disciples who live to see His Kingdom come.

 

God’s refreshment came in a great way as well through being able to rub shoulders with leaders from all across the world. I had such a great time (as always!) with our great friends from y-hope. We shared countless meals, jokes, pranks, d&m’s together every spare moment we can get. Existing friendships were strengthened and new ones were forged. Also got to share over a meal with Ee Lee, who’s church planting with her team in Chile, South America. Had some heated and thought-provoking discussions with pastor Marcus who is looking after our churches in Germany. Hung out and talked church with the youth team from Busselton. Caught up with our ollllld youth leader Mr Chris Goh. Connected with leaders and pastors from London, Singapore, New York, Kuala Lumpur, Kuching and all over Australia & other parts of the world..

 

In the fullness of the trip, and above all the things I appreciated and thanked God for, I got some time to spend with Jesus and He spoke to my heart. It’s moments like that I will never forget, when God’s word cut deep and resound in my heart. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard and spoke “God loves you and has a plan for your life.” And how many times I’ve smiled at the thought and accepted it as something I thought I understood. But something was different that moment those words dropped in my heart. It was like I was discovering something for the first time. My heart started racing, my mind was working hard to grasp the vastness of that thought whilst knowing that it wasn’t something to be understood or fathomed; peace came to my storm and uncertainties and every part of me could only respond with, “thank You, Jesus”. God loves me and has a plan for my life.

 

It’s a pretty simple truth – the most powerful things in lives are often the most simple, aren’t they? Amidst everything I’m learning, all my dreams and aspirations, the angst and longing inside my heart, the great things I desire to see; truths like that anchor us and ground. I’m so grateful I got to re-discover one in my time away. I know that if I don’t let those words fall to the ground, my life will never be the same.

 

In this season of our lives, as we re-discover our “Roots”, that is my prayer for every one of us. Whether we are young or old our faith, may the simple truths of God’s Word rock our worlds and change our lives.

 

See you at church!!

 

Chris

 

Anyone else getting this!?

happy birthday, my friend!