Release the Holy Hounds

24 02 2009

Christianity and serving others is risky?

One of the names given to Jesus was Immanuel, which means ’God with us’. 

Where did ‘being with us’ eventually lead Jesus to?

Why then is it that we often think that a Christian life should be exempt from any pain and/or suffering, or that as we serve the poor and stand alongside the oppressed that we too won’t bear some of their burden and  feel their pain?

A great mate of mine (thanks Jarrod!) has shared some of his experiences whilst serving on a recent mission trip in Moree. Be aware that there are some graphic/gruesome images so boys click on through. Girls…stop to think about it first!

To read and view it click here.

nm





Recipe for Confronting a Culture of Comfort

24 02 2009

Here’s a great little post from Danielle Strickland on the absence of risk in the lives of Christians and the need to embrace it. She says:

…It is commonly assumed that risk itself is ungodly. What we really need is safe, measured and balanced lives – which often, when translated, means to settle with the culture in a comfortable balance of mediocrity and compromise. In other words, as I concluded in my early life, Christianity equals boring. What a stark contrast to early Christianity in Acts or in the early church or frankly in any Christian who has lived like Jesus. Christianity itself is a risk venture of faith that confronts the conformity of the world.

To read the full post click here.

kt





Coffee and Charity

4 02 2009

I have a weird affinity for those people who catch you in the mall and try to get you to sign up for charities. I know lots of people find them intrusive, sly, annoying, whatever, but they give me flashbacks of what was a golden era for me – my days being a desperate, single, nice guy in first-year university. Nothing seemed to repel the opposite sex more than a person who telecasted “Look! I’m quirky! And I’ll treat you really respectfully!”. Nice is always a tough sell.
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