Spirit, Dec 2010

Edition 28, December 2010

Connecting Christadelphian Young People

The Vine is published quarterly by the Sydney Christadelphian Young People (SCYP) CoordinatorS Katie Thurlby Tim Mogg Editorial Team Katie Thurlby, Tim Mogg, Chrissy Mogg and Samee Lapham LAYOUT/DESIGN Samee Lapham MASTHEAD DESIGN Alisa Thompson Contributors WRITERS (in order of appearance): Phil Pooley, Leah Sawell, Katie Thurlby, Luke Shields, June Harris, Tim Mogg, Abi Van Heerdan, Luke Thurlby, Barnaby Nicholls, Dani Pogson, Carmel Mansfield, Simon Peel, Kevin Rawlings, Nick Morgan, Chrissy Mogg, James DiLiberto, Emma Collins, Debbie Devis, Mikki Pogson, Asha Watson, Beth Curtis, Sam Collins, Adam Wiltshire, Eden Tierney, Estelle Mansfield.

PHOTOGRAPHY: Ell Simons (p3-11, 27-28, 30), Mic Hindmarsh (p16, 23), Stephen Hindmarsh (p16), Simon Morgan (p17), Samee Lapham (p15), Dani Pogson (2122), Simon Peel (p25), Kevin Rawlings (p25), Rose Stone (p31) COVER PHOTOGRAPHY: Ell Simons SPECIAL THANKS TO: Eliza Davis The Vine is published to the Glory of our Heavenly Father, through whom all things are made possible.

Opinions expressed in The Vine are the authors’ and are not neccessarily held by the Editorial Team or the SCYP. All Bible quotations are from the New International Version (1978) unless otherwise stated. e: thevine@scyp.net web: www.scyp.net/thevine/issues

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t is with a kind of bitter sweetness that I write this editorial.

After five years on the Vine Committee, three as editor, the time has now come for me to pass the baton. My time with The Vine was a sure calling from God and I am so grateful for the experience and opportunity for service that it has given me. I have loved playing a role in and witnessing the growth of The Vine into the awesome magazine it is today. I now feel, however, that God’s Spirit is directing me to new paths and publishing a magazine is a mighty big job, so I won’t lie, I will be grateful for a break! I am leaving, knowing that Tim Mogg and the rest of the Vine Committee will continue to build us up with a multitude of inspiring, uplifting and constructive articles in the coming year.

But enough about me! Since its humble beginnings in 2006, The Vine has provided the Young People of Sydney (and now interstate and internationally), with an opportunity to express themselves. Their ideas, knowledge, understanding, talents, faith, hope and love for God, His Son, His Spirit and His word all have a place within its pages.

In our very first edition, Jenny Pogson (then Galbraith) wrote an editorial which outlined our hope for The Vine. I see God’s hand at work in the fact that in this edition, the finale for our fifth year, we can clearly see each of these original hopes fulfilled on it’s pages.

Jenny wrote, ‘Our hope is for this magazine to become a forum for discussion and advice on issues that directly affect young people today (Depression p6)… to help us all understand the life God wants us to lead and bring us closer to our ultimate goal (The Home Journey p8)… to challenge us to view the world from God’s [or Jesus’] perspective (In The Spirit of Jesus p4, A Refreshing Breeze p11), ‘to set our minds on things above, not on earthly things,’ Colossians 3:2 (Get Your Zulu On p20, Meal a Day Camp p16 & 23)… and do everything we can to search out what God desires of us (Spirit of Summer p14, The Measuring Stick p12,)… God has given us all gifts; let us use them to His glory (Creativity p27, Photos for a Cause p24, Reviews p18, You Do What You Can p10)’ With great thanks for God’s guiding hand and infinite love, I believe we can quite safely say that we have succeeded and have created something truly wonderful. My prayer and confidence, is that He who began this great work, both in The Vine and in each one of us, will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus' return (Philippians 1:6).

Love Always, Katie Thurlby

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In The Spirit of Jesus

6

A Battling Spirit

8

The Home Journey

10

You Do What You Can

11

A Refreshing Breeze

12

The Measuring Stick

14

Spirit of Summer

16

Photos!

18

Music Reviews

20

Get Your Zulu On!

23

A Meal to Remember

24

Photos for a Cause

26

The Best Summer Ever

27

Our Creative Lives

28

Our Feature Artist!

30

We Ask You!

31

Grapevine

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T

he very essence of our faith is this notion of ‘being like Jesus’. It’s one of those concepts that sounds simple enough, but how does it work practically? The obvious answer is that we should do everything we can to be just like Jesus in thought and action.

This, we’re told, is the surest way to be ‘living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God,’ Romans 12:1.

This is all well and good, but we’re challenged with different day-to-day situations than Jesus was. Some of these situations can be easily countered by using an example from Jesus’ life, but other scenarios we face today can be far more difficult to relate to.

You’re probably familiar with the phrase, ‘What Would Jesus Do?’ (WWJD). Many people wear this on a wrist band, keep a card in their wallet or something similar. This is definitely an awesome principle by which to live our lives. But, in many situations how do we know the correct answer to that simple question, “WWJD?” How do we know the action we’ve taken fits with the spirit or our Saviour?

For example, if ever we’re confronted with extortionately priced livestock being sold for sacrifices in the foyers of our ecclesial halls, we know we’re well in harmony with the spirit of Jesus to get extremely cross and drive the livestock (and merchants) away, John 2:13-17.

As useful as this is to know, this scenario isn’t one we’re likely to be confronted with. Or is it?

Do you see the issue? The situations we find ourselves in today may challenge the same Godly principles as those situations Jesus was faced with, but because they seem so different, many of the challenges we face today are difficult to reconcile with Jesus’ examples.

It’s clear that Jesus picked his battles. But how do we pick ours? For instance, how do we correctly identify which situations we should respond to with anger and action (like the livestock example) as opposed to those we should respond to with passive submission like in Matthew 5:39? How do we take on the ‘Spirit of Christ’? The answer is a simple one – ‘know Jesus!’

But again, when considered properly, it’s a concept that can be difficult to apply practically. It can take our whole lives to develop a full understanding of who Jesus really is.

Think about someone you know well. It might be a sibling, a good friend, a boyfriend/ girlfriend, even a parent. When something happens, you’re usually able to predict their reaction. The better you know someone, the better your prediction. It might be as simple as finishing their sentences, thinking about the same point during a talk or the knowing glance

you give each other when a certain phrase is uttered. This is not to say that people won’t surprise you, they always will. But the better you know someone, the less likely that surprise.

When a team play sport together, the better the players know each other, the more effectively the team performs as they’re able to preempt each others moves. The same applies when a band play together. Other band members are naturally able to preempt changes in style, tempo or dynamics. This concept again applies in just about every situation; whether two people are dancing, working together or playing charades, the better we know a person, the better we can preempt how they will feel or respond.

This isn’t just guesswork but the result of a thorough knowledge and understanding of that person's character, values, interests or abilities. Exactly the same concept applies to our relationship with Jesus. The better we ‘know’ him, the better we’re able to answer that question ‘What would Jesus do’?

and read it through (let me know if you’d like a copy!). The main reason for doing this was simply the desire to get to know Jesus better.

It was a simple thing to do, but what an awesome journey! I’d just like to draw out one thought from that journey: often, we only look at Jesus as the perfect son of God. It’s easy to forget that he shared the same negative emotions we do – fear, uncertainty, frustration.

We sometimes assume that the Jesus we read of in Luke 2:39 (twelve years old) is in exactly the same spiritual state as the Jesus we read of in Matthew 3:15 (his baptism) and again in Luke 23:46 (his death). Reading through the words of Jesus, we see a man who grew just as we grow. Even one who was so spiritually developed at twelve years old continued to grow in wisdom and spirit (Luke 2:52) to the moments of his death.

We see the subtlety of Jesus at the beginning of his ministry where he speaks of raising the temple in three days (John 2:19), compared to the blunt sadness of John 7:19

So how do we get to know someone?

The first thing that comes to mind is to listen to what they say and watch what they do – interact with them! ‘Whoever has ears, let them hear!’ Matthew 13:9. We tend to look a lot, perhaps subconsciously, at what Jesus did.

This is probably partly because we are often told actions speak louder than words. However with Jesus and God, this isn’t always the case.

We’re assured that their words are true and in perfect harmony with their actions – their actions speak as loud as their words! Jesus makes it clear just how important words are, ’by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned,’ Matthew 12:37.

Jesus also tells us that the words he spoke were from God; and it’s not just what he said, but the expression he said them with that is important (John 12:49-50).

One of the best ways we can come to know Jesus is by looking at his words. I recently had the opportunity of going through the Gospels and stripping away everything except what Jesus said. I then put it in chronological order

(more than half way through his ministry) where he asks “Why are you trying to kill me?”

We see the confident defence of the disciples’ actions after they’ve eaten the heads of grain (early on in his ministry – Mark 2:25-27) compared to his quiet, personal explanation to Peter on the paying the Temple Tax for fear of offending others (more than half way through his ministry – Matt 17:24-27). Jesus picked his battles, and as we get to know him better, we’ll get better at picking ours.

When asking ‘WWJD?’ first ask how well do I know my Saviour? Can I really be confident this is what Jesus would do, or is it what I think he would do? Go and read Jesus’ words as well as looking at what he does – interact with him, speak with him! Get to know him as you know your closest friends; know that he too grew spiritually and encountered the same struggles we do and that he went through what he did, so that he might help us to be more like him, for the glory of God. ‘Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent,’ John 17:3.

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H

i, my name’s Leah, and I have depression. Not being a doctor myself, I’ll explain it in the simple terms; those my doctor put to me all those years ago when I was diagnosed with depression. In your brain you have little receptors for chemicals (monoamines – a type of hormone) called neurotransmitters, which help the cells to communicate with each other. Some of these, called serotonin, dopamine, melatonin and norepinephrine, are largely responsible for communicating our mood. Let’s just refer to them as ‘Happy Juice’. In your brain there are Happy Juice dispensing terminals & Happy Juice receptor terminals which, like little hands, grab the Happy Juice and put it where your brain can use it to make you happy!

Depression can result when, somewhere along the line, the Happy Juice receiving hands fell off their skateboard, broke and can’t really grab that Happy Juice anymore. This malfunction can be attributed to all sorts of things; significant stress-causing life-events, drug or alcohol use, sleep patterns, diet and exercise, vitamin and mineral levels or even genetics. Yes, most people actually inherit this malfunction or the tendency towards it (so pay attention if you are depressed and you think your folks are going mad, they might actually have it too!).

Due to this often-called ‘chemical imbalance’ in your brain, your emotions become much more intense. You might feel really low, sad, nervous, empty, hopeless, helpless, anxious, useless, guilty, irritable or restless – but to extreme levels. Not just for a few hours or days because your boyfriend dumped you or you failed an exam, but on and off or even continually for weeks, months or years. You might lose interest in activities that you used to love, lose your appetite or eat too much, have trouble concentrating at school, uni or work and have problems remembering things or making decisions. Depression can have other physical effects too like tiredness, aches and pains, stomach problems or lack of energy. Ridiculously long periods of being down and in darkness sometimes coupled with physical illness begin to permanently warp your perspective and outlook on life, changing the way you see situations and how you feel about life. This can lead to erratic behaviour, social isolation and even suicidal tendencies (which are not as uncommon as you might think).

Have you ever felt that you were so scared, nervous, embarrassed you thought you’d almost die? What about so sick you’d prefer to die? Even if it was salmonella poisoning from that chicken burger, I’m sure you can relate to the point. The only difference here is that you know what to blame and you know the feeling will eventually pass. With depression, it feels like no real reason – or at least no good reason, so you blame yourself entirely.

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You feel rubbish because you think there is something wrong with you. You know it is your own mind attacking your own soul – there is no scape-chicken!

When it first happened to me, I felt it was an embarrassing dark-side that I had to hide. I became all too good at keeping secrets that made my soul feel dirty within. Unlike a person in a wheelchair; whose difficulty is visible for all to see, or someone suffering from cancer; unafraid to ask for healing in prayer, depression is often a secret sickness. Hidden from the world and hidden (albeit in vain) from God. Depression is a physical sickness which is made so much worse by a spirit of shame and fear. Why should we live in a world where negative spirits of shame and fear in us cause us to hold up façades to our own family in Christ? In him there is only light!

Christ’s spirit of light and love casts out the shadows of shame and fear as long as we are open to receiving it (1 John 4). Some elements of those traits still haven’t left me but as I gradually started talking about my depression, I became slightly less ashamed of who I was. And once I opened up, like I was not afraid of it anymore, people around me began to do the same. I was not alone. Others were suffering in silence as-well and decided to set themselves free from the burden of their secret.

If someone asks you how you’re going, be honest, please.

You’re not alone. One in five people will suffer some form of depression in their lifetime (divide the number of your Facebook friends by five). So if you’re worried about yourself, you should see your doctor or therapist – just as if you would if you thought you had Swine Flu! Not everyone will be diagnosed officially, but that doesn’t mean you can’t help your friends if you think they aren’t doing to well. The best way to start is to start being totally open with them about your feelings, encouraging them to open up in the same way. Never tell anyone they have no reason to feel the way they are feeling; sometimes we just can’t help it. Instead, help by talking it through and coming up with proactive solutions together (like a yoga class, a healthy eating regime or moral support at a doctor or therapist's office!) rather than sweeping things under the rug.

God’s gift to our soul is the power of his spirit and the companionship and support of spirit-filled friends and family in Jesus, giving that spirit amazing strength. Depression has the power to take it away, if we let it, leaving the soul bare. The spirit of God, and the fruits we can bear with it, is the most useful tool in providing a healthy diet against clinical attacks of the spirit like depression. So read Galatians 5, start bearing some spiritual fruits and with full-force, take back the power that depression has stolen from us or our friends.

The greatest of all commandments and the basis of everything that God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit encompasses. It really has to begin with love. Love for yourself; the being that God created and the work he has begun in you. Love for your neighbours; everyone no matter what their background, problems, weaknesses, sins or failings. Remember, God is working in the life of each one of us individually and has a different time, plan and purpose for each one of us.

Get a bit of joy into your life! Find something fun and pro-active that you like to do (and that you like to do with friends) and do it with all the spirit in you to the glory of God. There’s nothing like a bit of joy and laughter to act as a ‘ray of promise to cheat the pensive gloom,’ even if just for a little while.

Be at peace with your problems.

God made you the way you are and he knew what he was making when he made it! He doesn’t expect you to be more or better or different all on your own. He wants to do the changing for you and all he needs is for you to be open and willing for his spirit to fill you. Ask for his peace and open your heart.

Seek to be the peacemaker in all your relationships, this doesn’t always mean just sitting by and keeping quiet (although sometimes that is the best option), it means being peaceful in all situations by dealing with conflict and looking for solutions in a helpful, thoughtful and constructive manner. Remember that this can be incredibly difficult for someone suffering depression, which is where the next one helps…

Above all, patience. It’s the fruit of the spirit I believe God had in mind for people living around those with mental and physical disabilities.

Those who suffer from depression

tend to be repeat offenders across their lifetime so all the more need for patient and long-suffering friends! And for those suffering, patience is definitely a virtue worth striving for, one which can help you endure any attack on the spirit.

An extra little bit of kindness goes a long way. Don’t just assume your friends will rock up to anything and everything, an extra SMS to someone who’s confidence in themselves is low, to encourage them to be at an event or social gathering, goes a long, long, way and shows that you really care. If your friend is a no-show, show a bit of kindness and give them a call to see if they are okay! If you’re feeling bugged and pressured by your friends to come to things, realise their kind intentions and be kind yourself. Don’t just be grumpy and mean but suggest an activity where you would feel more comfortable or simply try to make the effort. Nine times out of ten you’ll feel better if you do. Be kind to yourself, practise positive selftalk and don’t put yourself down – you're only making yourself feel worse and insulting your creator at the same time.

Be faithful to your friends. Don’t isolate someone or find pleasure in talking about them behind their back just because they’re seeing a counsellor, psychologist or psychiatrist – we all go to the dentist or podiatrist if we need to right? Find great encouragement in the fact that they have such courage and trust in your friendship to be open enough to tell you they are seeking help! If you are seeking help or think you need to, have enough faith in your family and friends to confide in them.

This one I mean with my whole heart. There may be times when you just want to say to a friend (or yourself ) ‘just snap out of it,’ please,

please, practise self-control and a gentle word. In my naivety, at fifteen, I said it to a friend who was suffering severely. Our friendship was torn and has never been the same. It’s not a possible feat for those suffering with depression, so don’t ask anyone to do it. You will regret it for the rest of your life.

And let’s just add in two more spiritual character trains for good measure:

Remember, we should forgive others because God has forgiven us. We emotional time-bombs do a lot of dumb stuff at times and out of extreme emotion we have trouble controlling, often do or say things that are trying on any friendship! For those time-bombs out there, remember your friends are only trying to help. They may just be a little misguided in their choice of vocabulary, especially if they can’t truly empathise with the way you feel. If they say the wrong thing at times, remember what their friendship means to you and be reassured that they only have the best intentions.

Be grateful for the friend God has given you, grateful enough that you can find many positive elements to your friendship and the amazing person that God has made them. This especially applies to those of us leaning on our friends – don’t forget to show how thankful you are for their support.

‘No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of

what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it,’ 1 Corinthians 10:13. Don’t see those being tested as weak, as we all will have trials but rather consider them people God has deemed strong enough to take it. Some churches will say ‘their faith is not strong enough’ or will cast out the evil spirit as a supernatural devil but we know that what is afflicting us is a spirit of the flesh, due to our mortal imperfection. One of the main outcomes of such strong internal emotional turmoil (which someone with depression may face) can be outwardly socially damaging behaviour. Behaviour like; disloyalty, loss of self-confidence, inability or unwillingness to communicate, being reclusive, angry or violent or abusing alcohol and drugs. The spirit of the flesh wins over the Spirit of God when that behaviour separates a child of God from her fellow believers – the sheep from the flock. God says in the verse above (1 Cor 10:13) that he will be there to help us come through it. He always provides a way out when we are drowning in the flesh. Have you ever thought that the way out might be through a friend? As a church, sons and daughters of God, and brothers and sisters to Jesus, building their Kingdom, we need to seek out those lost sheep, actively. And help each one fight-back against these clinical attacks of the spirit, with a Godly, Christlike spirit.

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'For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do,' Ephesians 2:10. How does God make this happen in our everyday lives?

Are we able to do good works knowing that they were prepared by God? Once upon a time, me and my mate, Chris Pooley, had many, many chats about how meaningless we thought our lives were. We’d spend hours talking on a Sunday afternoon about what happened that whole week and we’d always finish by saying, ‘but what does it mean now? What does it even matter now?’

We felt like we were living day-in, day-out without meaning, without purpose, feeling like our actions didn’t really contribute to anything at all. We didn’t feel like we were especially evil or that we weren’t trying to do good things, but the question remained and for quite a while, how are we able to do good works knowing that they were prepared by God? Knowing that they meant something important to the greater scheme of things

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and not just in our own minds or egos.

You may be thinking the same thing. Am I living, knowing that God is at work in me?

This quote comes to mind, ‘Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, "May you never bear fruit again!" Immediately the tree withered.

When the disciples saw this, they were amazed.

"How did the fig tree wither so quickly?" they asked. Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer,’ Matthew 21v2122. Jesus has just withered the fig tree right in front of his disciples. God’s Spirit is clearly working and moving through him, he says all that is required is faith and belief to receive whatever you ask for in prayer.

I wanted to be a vessel like this. Not necessarily to be performing great miracles but to have faith and belief enough to see God working and moving in my life – on any level.

So, I asked that I be led by the Spirit, God’s Spirit, and to see His presence in my life.

The good news is, it happened – at least I believe it did, and it can happen to you.

So let me say clearly what I mean when I’m talking about the Spirit. Romans 8:9 tells me that God’s Spirit is the same as Christ’s Spirit, it’s all the same Spirit. We also know that the Spirit dwells within us, ‘Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?’ 1 Corinthians 3:16, and countless times we are told that we are God’s temple.

1 John 2:27 says, ‘as for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his

anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.’ The anointing in this verse is referring to God's Spirit. This leads me to believe that God uses the Spirit within us to work through us and to communicate with us. I believe that God calls us to action through instincts, thoughts or spiritual impulses, if you will, which convict us and lead us in the way of love. Belinda Burns calls these feelings, 'God Pushes.’

Have you ever gotten into an argument with a loved one, and the gut wrenching feeling that you've got when not acting in love.

Or felt an impulse to reach out to someone, call them or spend time with them. Or maybe even a feeling that for some reason you should get on a different train today? This is what I'm talking about.

Other than his word, this is how God can communicate with us and teach us, by talking to us through fleeting thoughts in our mind. It is up to us whether we act on them.

God's Spirit is active. It is about doing something – it's how He created us, how He created this world, it's how He brings about His will. In Matthew 10:19-20, Jesus explains that God can (and does!) take an active role in our lives. Have you ever had a situation where you’ve comforted a friend, you’ve not known what to say, but the words and actions have flowed freely and somehow you’ve comforted the person in need? This, I believe, is God taking an active role in your life.

‘Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God,’ Romans 8:14. As sons and daughters of God, by accepting Christ as our saviour and giving up our will to God we are letting Him lead us. However, you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink. God may give us situations, thoughts or words, impulses or instincts but it is up to us to follow where he is leading. To trust in Him, even if we don't understand exactly where He is taking us. It is up to us if we act.

‘For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose,’ Philippians 2:13. The Spirit can lead us in an inward way, to expose something in us that God wants to change; be it an attitude, a motive, a reaction or an outlook. Or, it can lead us in an outward way; to help, influence or serve others.

‘The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit,’ John 3:8. God's Spirit can move in us and sometimes we don't understand where it came from or where it is going. In many cases recently I've been led in a way that is unusual for me, but which helped someone spiritually, emotionally or physically.

What I mean is; what may seem like strange coincidences or a bizarre chain of events might have happened, which has brought about help or healing to someone.

A while ago now, on a trip away, I was faced with what seemed like one of these strange coincidences. Through a friend of a friend, I bumped into a long lost friend. We just happened to be at the same place, at the same time, with the same people, far from home and for no particular reason. What startled me most, if that wasn't enough, was that the friend said to me, "Luke, I really want to set my life straight. I've been thinking about getting baptised for a while, and I think it's something I want to do. What do you think?" I said, "Yes! Do it! You won't regret it!" I've kept in contact ever since. This wasn’t a coincidence, this was God working through his Spirit, giving me the chance to do good work for Him. Not only is it possible to see the Spirit work in you now, but also to see completed works and realise that God has been with you all along (an amazing reminder in times where we lose focus and forget).

How great the feeling is, to be able to see His Spirit alive in you. It brings incredible joy, indescribable peace and love beyond comprehension. It brings meaning and purpose for everyday life. It can transform ourselves and transform others.

The most comforting thing for me when I see the Spirit at work, is that it gives me reassurance. Reassurance that my faith is real and living. That I trust in a living God and a living Saviour and that he and God have made their home with us, in us. After a lot of searching I have come to know that it’s true – that home is in me. How about you?

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H

i everyone. My name is June Harris and I am Sam Collins' grandmother.

Sam asked me earlier this year if I would write an article for The Vine.

I said I would think about it. Then recently Tim Mogg sent me an email asking me if I would write something for the magazine. So I thought what can I say? But then I thought, well we are all walking on the same road to the Kingdom, so if I can help you, then that is a good thing. Whether we’re old or young we can still help one another.

In the year 2000 I had a stroke, which left me paralyzed on the left side, and affected my speech.

After 12 weeks in hospital, with a lot of therapy I learnt to walk again. Unfortunately I could not get my left arm and hand to work.

My speech did improve, but it is not perfect and not everybody

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understands me.

This was devestating for me as a lot of things I had been doing for the Lord, I now could not do. I could not drive anymore.

But gradually after many prayers to God, I found He was giving me the courage to keep going.

I couldn’t do many things, so I would have to find other things to do.

I understand that there are many problems facing you when you are young. There are examinations to pass, there are jobs to be found or apprenticeships, what kind of work to do, looking for a boyfriend, or girlfriend, there can be family problems, the decision to be baptized now or later. There are so many things to think about. God hasn’t promised an easy life, but He has promised to watch over us

and help us through our problems, if we continue to serve Him. So what can you do. Well, you don’t have to always do big things.

God gives us all a talent. We all have at least one. Some people will have more, but that doesn’t matter. We have to use what we have, not what anyone else has.

There are so many avenues to go down. There are more available to this generation than what was available when I was young. You have mission work, music in the park, sandwiches for the poor, and a lot more that I wouldn’t know.

You just have to find the one you are able to put your passion behind. Some are good at talking to friends about the gospel, some are good at speaking or writing their thoughts down and helping others. And you know what, if we are doing it for God, he will help

us in what we are doing. It doesn’t matter if it is only 1 talent or 10, if we are using that talent, God will be with us. If we show love one to another then we are following in Jesus’ footsteps, and we can’t go wrong.

I’m hoping what I have said might help you in your walk to the Kingdom. I had to find new ways to serve God, so whatever happens in your life, whether it is good or bad, with God’s help you will be able to serve Him. Jesus said ‘I will be with you always,’ so with God watching over us and Jesus walking with us, we can go forward with courage, enthusiasm and joy.

You do what you can.

‘“Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?”’ John 3:7-9

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n the Bible there are many references to spirits. A spirit is a driving force or a feeling within a person but there is only one Holy Spirit. This is God’s separate Spirit. It is His power and His character. It is God’s Spirit that formed the Earth, and that continues to nourish and support it.

Jesus was the perfect example of how to show God’s Spirit to others. Jesus showed love, honesty, righteousness, wisdom and all of this was an example of what God’s Spirit is. Jesus knew God so well that he acted in a way that pleased God. Jesus was perfectly justified in saying, ‘I and My Father are one. Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.' John 14:19 Our spirit is the force that drives us to do the things we do and it is the same with God’s Spirit. The best part is that God and Jesus are willing and able to help us be filled with their Spirit.

How can you be filled with or even understand something you cannot see, feel or touch? We cannot see the wind, but we can see its effects, and we can feel the difference it makes.

Imagine a blisteringly hot summer's day. The road shimmers and the sunshine is so bright that it makes you squint. It’s just too hot to move. Patient waiting eventually brings the evening, and with it comes the change. We cannot see it, but we all know the power of a cooling breeze after a hot day.

It is the same with the Spirit of God. We can’t see it, but we can see its effect. Genesis 1, ‘And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.’ In the very first chapter of the Bible we are introduced to the Spirit of God. The Genesis account reveals a God who has amazing power, and He uses this Spirit to shape and form things that are ‘good’. Everything we see around us was made

by God through his Spirit. Before creation the Spirit of God was referred to as ‘hovering’. This is the first thing about God’s character that is revealed to us. The picture this evokes is of a loving parent

gazing adoringly into the cradle of his newborn child, full of such great love that he is reluctant to leave her side.

God’s Spirit isn’t just a power that allows amazing things to happen. It’s also a way of thinking about things, approaching problems and an attitude to face the world with. In Ezekiel 36:26-27, God said to the people of Israel, ‘I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.’

This message had an immediate application for the wayward nation of Israel at the time Ezekiel passed it on, but it also has present and future meanings for us.

John baptised with water, but Jesus with the Spirit. Through the Spirit we have an opportunity to become brothers and sisters of Jesus and let go of all of the things that hold us back and weigh us down. We can recognise the hardness in our own hearts and begin to change.

Ezekiel 36 also points forward to the time when God’s Spirit will fill the whole earth. In this time there will be no hunger, or thirst; no sickness or grief. It will be perfect. It will be exactly what everyone has been searching for but never finding. It will be the best fresh breeze this earth has ever felt.

‘For this reason I bow my knees before the Father from whom every family on heaven and earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith – that you being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God,’ Ephesians 3:14-21.

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ave you ever wondered why we compare ourselves to others?

We do it all the time! Do you ever feel like you’re not quite measuring up? To what you think God expects from you, the expectations you have for yourself or the expectations other people have for you? Measuring up is about perfection and our lack of it.

I really battle sometimes with comparing myself to others. I find myself thinking things like, ‘Aaah, God why can't I be as spiritual as her?’

‘I wish I had Godly direction like him’ or, ‘I wish I could sing like her’.

I think there is something inside of us that makes us want to pull out our measuring sticks and hold them up to the people around us.

It’s horrible! I’m not saying that we should isolate ourselves or withdraw from the awareness of others. Or that we should dismiss the examples of what is attainable for each and every one of us through the people God portrays to us in the Bible. Or even to admire and be encouraged by the people around us. But, I don't think we should compare ourselves to them.

I think, if we begin comparing, it can be really dangerous and destructive because comparing ourselves to others can leave us with feelings of inadequacy, which can make you bitter, jealous and resentful.

Even more importantly, when we get obsessed with comparing ourselves to others, it also draws our focus to ourselves instead of God. I think we can all get caught in the trap of striving to measure up.

We focus on ourselves and I don't think that was ever God’s plan. We are designed to focus on Him, that's the way He made us. So shifting our attention from ourselves to God should change our perspective.

God longs for our obsession to be with Him, ‘I am the Lord. That is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols,’ Isaiah 42:8.

Every one of us suffers from a standard of perfection that's impossible to attain, and it leaves us with feelings of inadequacy and guilt. The hard truth is (bold statement to follow) none of us can measure up to the perfect standard of Jesus. NONE OF US! God knows this. Which is why, thankfully, we are saved by grace, and NOT by perfection. ‘For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift from God, not by works, so that no one can boast,’ Ephesians 2:8-9.

‘In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us in all wisdom and insight making know to us the mystery of His will, according to his purpose, which He set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth,’ Ephesians 1:7-10.

Should we still strive to be living lives that make God smile everyday?

Yes! And yes, we should be aware of the areas of ourselves that need improvement but I think God intends that we should, ‘grow and bloom where we are planted’ so to speak; that we should thrive in our own God given uniqueness so that we can all function together as a healthy body in Christ.

We all have our own part to play! ‘For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body.

If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as He chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body,’ 1 Corinthians 12:14-20.

‘Now the law came in to increase the trespass but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord,’ Romans 5:20.

God made us in His image and knit us together in our mother’s womb. He has searched us and He knows us. He knows every word before you speak it; every prayer before you pray it. We are fearfully and wonderfully made. Your purpose is to be a God-loving you. So why are we constantly trying to live up to the ideals and expectations of others?

Maybe instead, we should start pursuing the passions that are written on our own hearts; our own God-given passions.

Our role in the body of Christ is important. I think God wants us to stop trying to measure up to everyone else around us and be content in Him. Just like I was made to be me, you were made to be you and you are called to be uniquely you, for Him. God loves us with an overwhelming, perfect love and His mercy reaches past all our inadequacy, inferiority, imperfection and weakness.

Jesus came to earth and died to remove the need for these measuring sticks by which we measure ourselves and those around us. Jesus was the perfect sacrifice, made on our behalf, so that we may be saved by grace. God’s Grace is not bound by limits and is a gift for anyone that seeks Him sincerely. We should find comfort and peace in Him, the one who gives us the gift of Grace abundantly!

‘The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all,’ 2 Corinthians 13:14.

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cclesiastes 3:1, ‘There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.’

Summer without doubt is my favourite season. The feeling of the sun in summer makes me feel more alive than any other season. It’s not just me; many animals, like lizards and snakes, are most active during summer - Katie often jokes that I’m part lizard! But it’s not just me and lizards either, we humans are often at our most active in summer. We plan most of our holidays for summer, we generally spend more time outdoors and our social lives are normally busier as we spend time with our family and friends celebrating the end of one year and the start of another.

For many of you the thought of summer probably brings thoughts of rest and relaxation, it’s true that summer is definitely the time to just chill out, get some sun and relax after a busy year! Many of you have exciting prospects of road trips, endless days at the beach, festivals, and holidays away with your family. Summer may also mean that you get to stay up all night playing video games, sitting back and reading endless amounts of books or it could be just about spending time with your mates.

Even though many of us will go on holiday or spend time relaxing this summer, it is certainly not a time for our faith to relax and go on holiday. Don’t get me wrong, summer is definitely a time of well-deserved rest incorporated with a change of scenery. But whatever it is you do this summer make sure

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you don’t inadvertently lose touch with your spiritual life – something that is very easy to do if you aren’t careful. While summer is a great time for us to kick back and relax, it can also be a great time for us to focus more on our spiritual lives. Being away from school or having some time off from work means that you can now finally free up some of that brain space! So with all this summer fun and frivolity upon us how do we make sure we don’t get too distracted by it all and we continue to keep a Godly and Christlike spirit?

The obvious answer lies in creation. Creation is so amazing that when God finished His work He marvelled at it. If God enjoys the outdoors then I see no reason why we shouldn’t enjoy it too. In fact, I think we should enjoy creation to show God how much we appreciate it.

Creation is my number one reminder that God exists. While your outdoors enjoying yourself this summer, take a moment to think of Psalm 19:1, ‘The heavens declare the glory of God; and the earth shows his handiwork,’ and look out on ‘the work of God’s fingers’ (Psalm 8:3) and give thanks to all that God has created.

Thanks to the awesome weather we are blessed with in this country, summer provides us with endless opportunities in which we can devote ourselves to God. Two of the simplest ways of doing this are remembering to pray to God and to read His word. This summer try doing it outside! Being outdoors amongst God’s creation is definitely an awesome way of feeling closer to him and summer is arguably the best time of the year to be outdoors. Reading the Bible and speaking to

God outdoors, alone or with friends, with the warm sun on your back can be an inspiring experience – try it yourself!

Jesus left many important messages for us through his ministry, of which food (both physical and spiritual, Matt 25:35) was an important element. Jesus made it clear to his followers that an important part of their work should be to feed the hungry and give to the poor. You don’t necessarily need to go to Africa or Asia to do missionary work – there is always plenty to do to help fight poverty in your own city. This summer, why not make an effort to join in with SIC (Sandwiches in the City). Not only will you physically feed people but it will also give you the opportunity to feed people spiritual food at the same time!

Also, check out Carmel Mansfield’s account of the Meal-a-Day Camp on Page 25 for some great inspiration, or hit the web and find some other opportunities for you and your friends to get out and get giving!

Maybe you're just not an outdoorsy person!

Or maybe you're not really feeling ready to get out and about with your faith? So what will you do this summer? Everyone knows that unless you are massive cricket fan, TV during summer sucks! All your favourite shows are in recess until autumn. So why not... hang on, get ready for it... take a break from the TV! SHOCK HORROR! Instead of watching re-runs of The Simpsons for the fifteenth time, take up reading a spritiually based book, watching a clean, uplifting or Bible based movie. Spend more quality time with your church friends or your family doing some fun activities like

playing a board game, cooking up a storm or just simply having a great conversation! These leisure activities are great ways to strengthen relationships with each other and can give you a great relaxed atmosphere in which to start up discussions on spiritual topics.

Maybe you just find summer too hot for almost any activity! What about swimming?

Swimming is one of the most popular summer activities in Australia; but it can also have a spiritual dimension to it. A swim at the beach or a dip in the pool is a great way to cool off but it can also serve as way of reminding yourself about baptism. If you are baptised and you go for a swim this summer let it remind you that your sins have been forgiven and that God washed them all away for you through the waters of baptism. For those of you who aren’t baptised let a swim in the ocean or a dip in the pool this summer act as an inspiration for you to make the most important commitment of your life.

At the beach, swimming between the

flags can mean the difference between life and death. This summer, make sure you make the right decision to live your summer between God’s flags. Obviously, in summer we like to let our hair down a little, just be careful where or how and try to think before you act.

Ask yourself if you would do the same thing with God, Jesus or angels in the room – you might not see them but they’re there! I don’t want to put a negative spin on my favourite season and I know you’ve heard this all before but it’s actually really important. It’s really easy to get caught up in the kind of summer spirit that we see the people around us indulging in; partying hard and drinking too much, ‘Wine makes you mean, beer makes you quarrelsome; a staggering drunk is not much fun.’ Proverbs 20:1 (The Message), over-sexualising our bodies through skimpy summer clothing, ‘Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion’ Proverbs 11:22, or spending most of our time chasing that ‘summer fling,’ '"Everything is permissible"--but not everything is

beneficial. "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is constructive!’ Corinthians 10:23.

We’ve almost all been-there done-that and it’s really not all it’s cracked up to be.

Whatever it is you do this summer just remember that like all things, this season is a gift to us from God so remember to thank Him for it. Thank Him by having a ‘spirit of summer’ that would be pleasing to Him – a spiritual summer. Whether it’s road trips with friends or just some well-deserved time out to yourself, enjoy the next few months but remember to include your Maker wherever possible. Do all things to His glory, making sure you shine just as strong and bright as His beautiful sun will!

‘For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ,’ 2 Corinthians 4:6.

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music Reviews by barnaby nicholls

Originating in Australia, Newsboys have seen their popularity steadily grow in America – the real cash-cow for Christian music acts hoping to turn it into a full-time career/ ministry. But Newsboys are dangerously close to becoming a brand – with an ever-changing band line-up (there have been 16 members in total), none of the current band can claim to be founding members. Primary songwriter (originally the drummer and eventually lead singer) Peter Furler announced his retirement from the limelight before the recording of Born Again – replaced by former Dc Talk singer Michael Tait – although he continues to manage the band and write the songs they record and perform. So far, so very boy-b(r)and.

Unfortunately, all this extends to the sound, generic power-pop with brief snatches of melody that sound overly familiar.

On the whole the album comes across as immediate, designed to be instantly accessible. In itself this is no bad thing – but it doesn’t stick, as the melodies aren’t particularly catchy and the riffs are not memorable.

The biggest problem with Born Again is the apparent lack of a clear musical vision – that Newsboys didn’t know what album they wanted to make.

The guitars are a little bit grungy throughout, the drums capably generate energy, and the vocals mostly delivered with a snarl – but this is all belied by the poppy synths that pepper some of the songs, and the over-polished production (complete with

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rampant vocal tuning technology in one of its least subtle forms).

The over-production here is almost criminal – the raw edges that make a rock album such a thrilling listen are sanded to glossy smoothness, while Michael Tait’s powerful voice is reduced in most songs to a bland robotic flavour. It probably doesn’t help that the quality of the lyrics veers wildly from cheese-ridden to charming to clever and back again (these lyrics, by the way, contain a few obligatory references to the devil, but on the whole avoid doctrinal issues).

That’s not to say Born Again is without some real positives.

Occasionally the formula clicks, producing the album’s highlights.

Straight off the bat, the darklyatmospheric and guitar-driven title track shows some promise.

One Shot, which features the strongest vocal (and one of the strongest lyrics) on the album, is an excellent slice of energy calling believers to action. When The Boys Light Up is similarly successful – perhaps the catchiest tune on show here, featuring gentle rapsinging and a powerful chorus (it sounds a little like TobyMac-lite), the song appears at first listen to be about taking the stage, but closer listening reveals it’s about taking a stand for God. The album finishes with

covers of two Christian songs that have passed into worship legend – Hillsong’s Mighty To Save and Dc Talk’s Jesus Freak.

Newboys’ covers don’t do much to alter the originals, adding power to the Mighty To Save (perhaps at the expense of some emotion) and adding polish and some atmospheric touches to the visceral Jesus Freak (at the expense of some, but definitely not all, of the original’s raw freshness). If anything, these covers clearly illustrate the brilliance of the originals, Jesus Freak in particular being an album highlight.

Despite these several good or great songs, the problem of inconsistency remains. Way Beyond Myself is a chilledout synthpop number that is refreshed by a female vocal in counterpoint to Tait’s, but lacks an actual melody. Impossible suffers similarly, and a few attempts at epic power ballads (including Build Us Back and Running To You) are rather a drag. These are the worst offenders, but there are several more songs that do nothing to lift the album – average both musically and lyrically, these songs are dressed in power-rocker clothing but lack a memorable melody or killer riff.

This is not a terrible album by any means – upon first listen it

could be the soundtrack to a train wreck, but after a few listens some aural delights may be uncovered.

It’s still not a great album, and it’s revealing that two of the five good songs are covers of Christian classics, but Born Again really works when everything clicks into place. In some sense, listening to Born Again stirs nostalgia for the way rock music was once recorded, as the album’s faults lie primarily in the use of modern recording techniques and technology – the over-production and autotune strip it of its rough and powerful edges, while the odd use of synth seems to be a distraction from the grungy guitar.

You can’t help thinking how much better this album would be if it had been recorded 15 years ago at the height of grunge and alternative rock – of course, if it had been, we wouldn’t be able to enjoy the covers.

Ben Grace is a musician who needs no introduction for most of The Vine’s readership. A talented pianist, vocalist and composer who is no stranger to the SCYP and its various events, Ben (formerly the frontman of local power-pop act Happenstance) hails from Mt Colah Community Church in Sydney. The Ben Grace EP (Extended Play) is his debut release as a solo Christian artist – and an accomplished debut it is.

The EP is kicked off by ‘Lead Me Lord’, a reimagining of the classic hymn by Samuel Sebastian Wesley. It all begins with a nice nod to Wesley’s original, a heavilydistorted organ playing the first few lines of the hymn. It builds up gradually, the bridge before the second chorus being a particular highlight. A problem commonly shared by cover versions does rear its head here – the emotional climax (“For it is you, Lord”) initially feels a little musically out of place with the rest of the song, as if it were not written for this particular piece but squashed in out of obligation. In Ben’s version, however, it eventually picks up.

The quality of the production stands out with this first track, and this quality is maintained throughout the EP. The polish is not so glossy as to become a hindrance, but is enough to set it well apart from the rest – unlike most solo debutants on the EP market, Ben is no acoustic singersongwriter plucking away in his bedroom-studio.

‘With All My Heart’ comes next, a great version of the song that appears in the Worship songbook.

Having gone through the recording process, this rendition

is perhaps the closest we may come to a definitive version – the version heard in Ben’s head as he wrote it. In any case, it’s excellent.

The opening sees wonderfullydistorted strings quickly overlaid with a burst of power chords – an effective start that sets up the rest of the song nicely, bursts of colour and power frequently interspersed with hushed sections that build in intensity.

‘Alpha & Omega’ is another strong song. It can be a struggle for songwriters outside ambient electronica to find the balance between experimentalism (which can be hard to listen to) and predictability (which is easy to not listen to) – ‘Alpha & Omega’ is a near-perfect example of songwriting that gets the balance just right. Every line has direction and makes sense, but it doesn’t stray into cliché. Both verse and chorus (particularly the second) excel – the lyrics are outstanding also – and it takes a turn for the sublime in the guitar- and vocal-driven climax, a moment of musical catharsis, releasing its pent-up energy in one splendid burst.

It’s a shame then that the momentum slips a little at the close. ‘I’ve Wondered at the Cross’ is a slow-paced pianodriven ballad that rests on an organ foundation, with some very light guitar and other atmospheric effects. It feels a little claustrophobic when the drums come in for the chorus – the song works best in moments when the drums are largely absent, nailing that gentle meditative mood that often concludes albums.

The Ben Grace EP could be shoe-horned into the pop-rock

genre – but such a categorisation would be misleading. Varied instrumentation gives each song a different sonic quality, while Grace’s deft musical touch keeps the songs light and the vibe relaxed. Vocally, Ben’s tones are mostly hushed, always reverential and often passionate, conveying with sincerity the depth of the subject matter. On that note, topics covered in the mostly excellent lyrics range from guilt to praise to our need for guidance. If there’s any complaint surrounding the vocals, it’s that they could stand to be let loose with extra power more often – on those occasions he does give it a bit more (such as on ‘Alpha & Omega’ or the climax of ‘With All My Heart’), he impresses.

At a short length of four songs at about 17 minutes, the Ben Grace EP is almost “all killer, no filler”. At even its lowest ebb the EP is undeniably good, and its higher points are, at times, transcendent – a triumph of quality over quantity.

In essence, the Ben Grace EP is an accomplished and polished debut, showing considerable promise. It’s always exciting to hear a genuinely good debut, and this is one of those – we are left waiting in anticipation. A good EP can be a solid foundation that signposts a full album – on the strength of this offering, here’s hoping it isn’t far off.

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OUTREACH updates

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o this year, 2010 Yebo! Has been INSANE!! But in the same way has made complete true and divine sense. Being fresh out of high school, a spring chicken if you will, I felt that impatient feeling experienced by pretty much all young and immature 18-year-olds just released from their jail of 13 years…stop this madness of education! It was time for adventure. Yeah nice. So when I set off for South Africa in the beginning of April, I had in my mind a set of expectations and aims for what I was going to get out of the year, so naive because God definitely had other plans.

April was a whirlwind of crèche madness at Mariannhill Good News Centre. Getting tugged and clung to, being unable to stand because 6 or more cheeky toddlers had jumped on you showing no intention of playing on the real jungle gym. It was here that I first witnessed and tasted pap, or mielie meal, whichever…and I’d like to admit a big secret, I really love it. Just embrace the Zulu within, you know. It was also in Mariannhill and in April that somebody (still unsure who) randomly decided (still unsure why) to build a jungle gym in a crèche about a kilometre from the Good News run crèche. Woohoo! It’s so awesome that God led us to this crèche so that we could show His love to these people and kids that we had never met before. And it was also pretty neat that we just rocked up and they were so willing for us to help out straight away, none of this ‘no we need police checks from everyone involved and here is a 50 page document on child safety, read it all and sign your life away at the bottom.’

But anyways as we started to build, a man who runs a little tuck shop on the same land as the crèche started to pitch in and help us out the whole day, and why this day was so amazing was because Linda (the man who was helping us out) realized that it was God working through us and as a result came to the Good News Centre for church that Sunday and a little while later he was baptized!

Over in SA the volunteers use the saying ‘God moments’ when we realise that God has directed us to show us something amazing (God instead of coincidence) and Linda was definitely a God moment for all of us. He is the best; I hope you all get the chance to meet him and his awesome dreadlocks at some point. Oh Mariannhill loving!

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The longer I was in SA, the greater it got and I felt like I was seeing God more and more every day. May was a really great month, I got to hang out a bit more at Mason Lincoln Special School, or Happy’s as it is now globally known. Guaranteed you will always feel happy when you go to Happy’s. The kids there are so fun and they are just so excited when you come to visit, they can talk for hours and hours. It’s also incredible to see a kid on crutches happily pushing along their mate in a wheelchair.

One day in May, Nay Midgely organised an Italian Day at Happy’s and I was on duty to buy the supplies. Masses of fluro yellow cheese blocks, fluro pink polony, yeast, flour, salt and tomato paste were bought so the students could make their own pizzas. I’ll admit it looked pretty gross in the packaging and even grosser when they were making the pizzas but they loved smooshing the dough around in their hands (Bongani) oh and the moustaches we painted on them... a big hit to say the least.

That week we also took the older students to Ushaka Marine World in Durban city, it was great to let them out of the school and let them see some of God’s awesome creations.

Plus they soon realised the whole day was an opportune moment for them to get their photo taken. Ha! They love photos, be prepared if you ever visit.

A big focus of the 2010 South Africa project has been the establishing of new churches, particularly in township areas. This year the volunteers and locals realised the potential in the township of Clermont, about 5 minutes from Westville, the hub of 2010. There is a sister at Westville ecclesia, Antonio (FYI, she is one of the greatest singers I have ever heard.

I’d choose Antonio over Beyonce any day) Anyways, Antonio owns a house in Clermont and before I got to SA the volunteers helped clear up the house and land so she could rent it out. Soon enough the idea was raised that it was the perfect place for a Good News Centre and a Sunday school was started up pretty much the first day I got there.

And now 7 months on Clermont is thriving, it is so great! 30 kids regularly come for Sunday school every week and after a few huge cleanups, a grand opening in July with what looked like the whole Clermont population lining up for a burger patty and bread, English classes, After school club, Gogo’s (Grandmas) coffee mornings, a two week Clermont P2P team in September, our new brother Sine living in the building and a whole lot of Zulu singing it is still growing and throbbing with God’s love!

One thing that I have learnt among the other billion things God has shown me this year is the power and effectiveness of music

as a preaching tool, but not just any music, music that breaks down language and cultural barriers.

Release your inner Zulu and when you do this, you’ll reap the rewards. As soon as we started singing in Zulu ANYWHERE, we would get massive smiles, amazed looks and people wanted to know where we learnt the tuuunes. The Zulu hymns (don’t mistake these kind of hymns with the green hymn book hymns) are known by all Zulus it seems, no matter how young or old and when they let loose and sing you will get goose bumps, I tell no lie. For 7 months, each time I heard them sing it was like being on the set of Sister Act but minus the habits and plus males and usually set in a township. When we started singing these same songs, (sounding not so much like Whoopi Goldberg and a bunch of nuns) every Zulu who walked past would not know what was going on, how these white people knew their songs! They loved it, we loved it… oh I miss it!

Fridays we sung outside the BEC and got crowds singing with us and videoing us on their phones and walking into the BEC to know more, It was days like these that we would all really feel the Spirit moving in us and working with us and it is an indescribable feeling.

There was one night when a few of us were really craving ice-cream, preferably soft serve with nuts so we decided to go to the Pavilion; a massive shopping centre, with an ice-cream place called Milky Lane. I was just happily licking away at my ice-cream waiting for the others to get theirs when Julie Machacek suddenly started singing a Zulu tune, We Glorify Your Name to the man serving us, Wellington was his name. It was totally out of the blue, I still have no idea why she decided to do it but as soon as she did, the rest of us joined in and then the whole Milky Lane staff, there were about 10 of us clapping and singing praise to God in the middle of the shopping centre! South Africa – the total dream.

So, how could I write about South Africa 2010 without even mentioning the Soccer World Cup, it’s not even possible. It had become a country of the chaotic vuvuzela mixed in with a sea of yellow Bafana Bafana shirts and a rainbow of flags…well except the Australian flag. I felt jipped but don’t worry, my family sent me one. And yep, I went and saw a few Aussie games here and there but honestly the real World Cup actually took place in a township called Lamontville (the real soccer city.) Everyday over the 4 weeks of the Fifa World Cup the volunteers ran a holiday club in the Good News Centre in Lamontville, and yeah, it was Ayoba. We donned our bright orange Africaid T-shirts and took on the hundred or so kids that showed up every day wanting to hang out with us, learn about the Kingdom, play some soccer and eat some food. The kids in Lamontville are wicked! And so are their names… You’ve got the likes of Zukile, Innocent, Killer and Dimpho

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who quickly became our new best friends, oh and Laura Iredale, I know that ‘fun crush’ you had on Zukile was totally no joke, to be fair he looked pretty dashing in a buttoned up shirt and beanie. Thinking back on holiday club, although I missed about 10 days watching Australia get smashed it was seriously so fun getting into the team spirit every day and getting to know the kids around Lamontville so much better. When it ended, along with the World Cup we got back into our usual Durban routine and soon enough, not long after a week trip to the Drakensberg and realising probably for the first time ever how HUGE God is, and how much I loved my new little African family, I was leaving for a month to wander around Europe and even though Europe is pretty amazing and I knew I was coming back in 6 weeks, I was a tad gutted I was going to miss seeing everything grow, because I had witnessed that even in 2 weeks so much changes!

But really, I had nothing to worry about, on my return I was greeted by Nay and Christy Beyers who were appropriately dressed as astronauts and had dressed the car up as a space shuttle… because well who doesn’t love space? Durban had got an influx of volunteers the past few weeks for P2P that was starting the day after I got back, there were 50 people living in the hall all together, mostly English, it felt good to be original. Aussie pride. That week 8 of us trekked the 14 hour drive down to Port Elizabeth in two small Hyundai Atos’ It was a long drive but some Rihanna and knitting got us through. The P2P program is pretty cool, you really become a tight little clan and it was especially great doing everything together, reading together and praying together. I feel in those 2 weeks I grew a whole lot spiritually because of the people around me and the things we experienced.

PE is a place that holds lot of potential, there is a blind school opposite the BEC in Kwadwesi that could potentially be ‘the PE Happy’s’ and most of the brothers and sisters in the ecclesia are so eager for positive change.

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When we got back to Durban, and after an explosively brilliant family conference in the Berg and the departure of many of my new friends on a big jet plane many new ideas were in the works. Phil started his screen printing project, the t-shirts look diviiiine, Adam starting his jewelery Afrikhono project, Nay with her new Afrikhono cards, Katie Schlags with her book collecting, Alyssa knitting together our hundreds of squares to make blankets, Brandon writing Zulu songs by the minute and the Palmers, Jude and Esther giving Clermont a lot of love. So Christy and I decided to bomb Clermont with paint, it was more difficult than first anticipated. The idea was to paint murals and Bible verses on any spare wall in Clermont that we could see, we would drive through, see a blank wall, knock on the door of the house and ask them if we could paint something on their wall. The problem was most of the people we asked weren’t the owners of the house and the landlord usually didn’t live there so we couldn’t really paint without permission even though, yeah, TIA. Finally we trudged back to the Good News Centre feeling a little bit deflated from our initial high. When we got back we realised the wall right next to our building was perfect! I had a little chat with a man and woman who lived there, they asked us if we were from the Kingdom of God (brilliant!) and they were so eager they actually gave their landlord a call and asked if he wanted Pray or Joy on his wall and he said Pray.

How cool!

And that was my time in SA. For now.

There are so, so many other amazing things/ moments I could tell you about like accidently selling my cardigan at a jumble sale/Comrades marathon/Jamming for Jesus/Hospital visits and all the amazing people I have met and the beautiful baptisms I have been blessed to witness but really this whole year has been a glimpse of the Kingdom, a 7 month long God moment and a huge learning year of love and laughter with my African family. God is alive and working in each of us wherever we are and whatever we are doing! So seriously let’s get our fun hats on and Ignite!

'Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.’ 1 John 3:18 Oh P.S. For any of you heading over there, you MUST play the game 30 seconds – it is the ultimate.

For regular updates and entries from South Africa, like Dani's, subscribe to the P2P Earth mailing list at p2pearth.blogspot.com

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nternationally, the Extreme Poverty Line is defined as US$1.25 a day – the equivalent of between $1 and $2 in Australia depending on ever-fluctuating economies! 1.4 billion people in our world currently live below this line – lacking the basic choices and opportunities that most Australians take for granted.

A couple of weekends ago I went to a camp that aimed to raise money for the 'Christadelphian Meal-a-Day Fund,' while raising awareness of poverty and giving us a small understanding of what it might be like to 'live below the line.' It was organised by a small group from the new Toronto Ecclesia.

Everyone paid $20/day to attend the camp but only $2/day of food was provided, so we had to live below the poverty line for a weekend. It was good to have a relatively small challenge and to learn to empathise with and raise some money for our fellow human beings.

So, what did we do you might ask? We camped at a farm owned by a Charlestown Christadelphain family! On arrival we set up our tents and had a bit of a briefing around a campfire before bed. The charge was this: $2 of food for a day i.e. 1 meal of oats, sugar and milk at 8am ($0.17/person) and 1 meal of lentils with vegies and rice at 1pm ($0.83/person) + 3 pieces

of fruit (2 apples and a banana).

Easy enough? Sure!

Off to bed we went, under amazing stars, in our cosy tents, ready to face the weekend ahead...

I can only really comment on my experience and I don't want to sound completely predictable but overall I felt hungry! Not all the time, but before the lentil meal especially (which I probably ate too fast because my stomach was in quite a bit of pain – crazy considering it had only been a few hours without food!). On Saturday evening I started to feel a little angry, grumpy, lightheaded and a bit dizzy. It wasn't always easy to string sentences together (for most of the day!) and clear-headedness escaped me most of the time. We didn't have much energy so we were often found lounging around. We had some activities prepared but some (not me) had more energy to participate than others. I also went to bed at 9:30pm which is rare and most others weren't too far behind!

On the Saturday night there was a mystery auction organised to raise additional money – with the promise of good food along with not so good food (or not so appealing food, because all food is obviously good!). I bid AUD$27 for a can of tinned sardines! It actually tasted pretty amazing combined with some lentil curry that was

also up for auction. A friend bid on that, won and gave me a taste so technically I didn't even do without a meal all day – lucky me!

Many of the conversations we were having were about poverty.

We discussed ideas about how to bridge the gap, motivating each other to think openly about the world and what we are here for. We asked why we have been put in Australia with so much wealth – the 2nd wealthiest country per capita in the world!

We talked about really finding our ministry, getting focused and motivated by the strengths that have been given to us by God in order to serve him and others. We reminded ourselves of what Jesus said about poverty in Matthew 25, ‘Whatever you did to the least of these, my brothers, you did it to me,’ and also what Jesus did in feeding the 5000 and the 4000, amongst everything else. We read Luke 10, ‘When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is put before you, heal the sick and tell the town that the Kingdom of God has come near,’ and how the good Samaritan helped someone that his culture and context indicated he would not normally have helped. It's incredible, when you really think, how simple spreading the Good News can be!!

The second day was obviously easier than the first – it was a half day and there was great

promise of food when we got home from the camp! We had a lovely breaking of bread meal which involved us talking about Matthew 25 and Luke 10 while sharing a meal together and remembering what Christ did for us.

We even learnt some new skills, like knitting and crocheting!

On the whole around AUD$1,000 was raised for CMAD. There was much discussion about this being the first of many and a potential model for future events like conferences and camps. It got everyone thinking and talking about poverty and those in less comfortable positions.

Pray that these kinds of events continue to happen, that awareness continues to grow and that we reach out to those less comfortable than ourselves on a daily basis, that we grow closer to the Kingdom of God everyday so that the people we see everyday do feel like 'the Kingdom of God has come near'.

I suggest you do it in your town or with your youth group!

For more information on CMAD and what they do be sure to visit www.meal-a-day.org

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OUTREACH updates

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Simon

Kevin

A large part of photography is location. In Cambodia, I rarely had to work to 'find' the shot. I was simply present to photograph the situation I was in. As this was my first visit to South East Asia, I was constantly inspired to photograph the new experiences happening in front of me. This is a major reason why I still use a manual camera.

With only 36 exposures on each film, I cannot be trigger happy but I am forced to make each shot count.

During the month we were in Cambodia, a group of us spent 10 days travelling from Phnom Penh (the capital) to Sisophon (near the Thai border). The highlight for me was stopping off at local schools to teach English. It was nerve-racking, exhilarating and a real privilege to be part of the school day. Sometimes, we would be facing 30 children for an hour without a translator and with only our wits to get us through. It is amazing the talents God gives you just at the right time!

I hope the photographs in ‘Cambodia’ portray the beauty and excitement of our trip.

In contrast to Simon, I was shooting digitally with a little powerhungry point and shoot Canon! I took all shots in manual mode with the flash off and so the ISO had to be set high for indoor shots but I prefer the graininess of high ISO to the disaster that is cheap on-board flash!

My fortnight in Cambodia was limited to the capital Phnom Penh – little more than a tourist! The shots I’ve included in ‘Cambodia’ perhaps reflect some of the things any fleeting visitor will encounter around the city: youth, smiles, Buddhism, water, poverty, the memory of past atrocities, optimism.

One of the themes running through this collection is a selfconscious meeting of contrasting cultures not lost within a couple of weeks – amusement, bemusement, confusion, front, hospitality, boundaries. The first steps in reaching out beyond ourselves and a reminder that under the sovereignty of Jesus Christ, we Christians share the hope of truly uniting as one nation under God.

By buying our book you will be sharing some of what God has given you, to help others! Funds raised from the sale of ‘Cambodia’ will go directly to the continuing Christadelphian outreach work in Cambodia and used to give support to a great grassroots education project, the Leadership Character and Development Institute (LCDI). Students living and studying at the LCDI are a broad cross section of the youth of Cambodia who are looking for better opportunities in a developing world.

The centre is designed to motivate and prepare youth that have been ‘left behind’ for a productive life. The program focuses on the poorest students, seeking to provide vocational training, on-the-jobexperience, conselling and life skills for high school dropouts, former gangsters and those who never had opportunities for education. Using peer education, a strict discipline and tested curriculum, LCDI has successfully provided many students with opportunities in the workforce and provided a constructive future for many students who might have otherwise become gangsters or remained in poverty.

'Cambodia' is available for purchase at www.cambodia-photobook.co.uk It costs £7 (around AUD$11) to print the book and any donations made above this price will be donated.

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RRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGG! The classroom erupted. Shouts and screams, high fives and wolf whistles echoed in the small room, the teacher too happy herself to pretend to be irritated with the noise. I looked around at my friends, catching the contagious smile and said those words I’d dreamt of saying for weeks – 'School’s out.'

As the echoes of the final bell for the year were drowned out by a whole school swept away in celebration, I made a promise to myself. “This is going to be The Best Summer Ever.”

It was 11am on a Tuesday, and I had just woken up. I smiled.

Not having school was awesome! I checked my phone – I had a missed call from Peter; we’d been lab partners this past term. He was a great guy – funny, kind, smart, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to hang out with him. He wasn’t exactly, well, ‘cool’. Deleting the message from my voicemail, I rolled out of bed with twice the energy of a normal Tuesday and happily strolled into the kitchen, helping myself to some NutriGrain.

“What time did you get home last night, Ben?” I winced. Mum had just walked in, no doubt sensing my presence with that special Mother-Sense – it was really annoying.

“Um... around 12pm. That’s curfew, right?”

“Ben,” and the way she said my name was more than enough to let me know I was in trouble, “you were home at 2am!” That’s another annoying thing about Mum, always asking me questions she already knows the answers to just to get me into more trouble.

“Look Mum, I was at John’s place and he was having the most awesome party. Nearly everyone in Year 11 was there, and I just thought...”

“Ben, we’ve talked about this. You have a curfew. And besides, there’s work to be done around the house. You need to do things for others. You weren’t just planning to party the whole Summer, were you?”

Well, yes actually! “No, of course not.” I rose from my chair and stacked my bowl in the dishwasher “See? I’m doing work around the house.” Mum rolled her eyes. “And to further prove the point, I’ll go over to John’s to help him clean up from the party.” Actually, I wanted to give Hendo a call and see if he was up for the beach.

As if I’d ever clean John’s place for him!

Mum considered me for a minute “Alright Ben,” she said slowly, “just see if you can be home for dinner.”

“Ok Mum. I’ll do my best.” Maybe Hendo could let me sleep over?

I rushed upstairs to get ready, my thoughts full of the awesome party last night. I wondered if the 180-backflip I did off the table into John’s swimming pool had impressed Jessica. She did smile at me when I resurfaced. I sighed.

“Ben?” I started whipping around to see James, my eleven year old brother, standing at my door. “Hey Ben, can we do something?

Play kicks in the park, or maybe something on the Xbox?”

Great. More things people wanted me to do. Why couldn’t anyone just let me do what I wanted? “James, I’m busy,” I said brusquely. “Just go play by yourself.”

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His downcast face made me feel slightly guilty. But as he walked away I remembered my promise – this was going to be The Best Summer Ever. So I made my way to Hendo’s.

It was New Years Eve, and I was at Jessica’s place. Jessica’s place!

I was so excited. I looked around at my mates mucking around in the pool, playing Call of Duty on a projector screen, and eating kebabs, and knew then that there was no place I’d rather be. Ha, there was no way I would’ve said ‘yes’ to spending the night with Peter – what was he thinking, inviting me to help out in a soup kitchen on New Years Eve of all nights?! Doesn’t he have a life? This was well worth the efforts I’d spent convincing Mum and Dad that “though spending New Years Eve watching the fireworks with our family (grandparents and distant cousins to boot), I wanted – just this once – to spend it with my friends”. I’m good at getting my way. I looked around the pool area and my eyes found Jessica’s.

She smiled at me. Ha! New Year’s with the family was just lame compared to this. I smiled back, and then did something that totally ruined The Best Summer Ever, or perhaps made it The Best Summer Ever – I’m still not sure.

I shouted, “Who wants to see me do a back-flip off the roof into the pool?” Everyone cheered their encouragement, Jessica’s eyes lit up and I felt really really good.

I don’t remember anything that happened after that.

I came into the hospital. My leg was in a cast, my arm was bandaged, and my head — “Owwwww, my head,” I groaned. My profound first words.

“Honey, you’re awake!” Mum was here! I slowly looked around.

She was hovering anxiously. Dad was next to her, his attempt at a disapproving frown foiled by the worry in his eyes. My little brother was asleep in a chair by my bed. And, strangely, Peter was there too.

“Hey mate,” Peter said, “Just wanted to see if you were okay.”

Wow. He didn’t even sound mad about all his calls I’d ignored the past few weeks.

Then it dawned on me. My injuries must have come from that flip I tried to do at the party. The party – where were all my friends from the party? Hadn’t anyone stayed to see if I was okay? Jessica?

I looked around at the concerned faces around my bed, at my sleeping little brother. These were the people that cared for me. A thought occurred to me. Why had the people who loved me most, whom I loved most, been left out of my plans to have The Best Summer Ever? My little brother, my Mum, my family, Peter – I’d cut them all out.

Tears welled up in my eyes. I hadn’t cried in a long time.

“I’m sorry guys” Then I cried for a long time. And as I lay there on the bed, I echoed the promise I'd made to myself weeks ago, though this time thinking not of myself, but of those standing around me in that darkened room. "This is going to be The Best Summer Ever."

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hat does ‘creativity’ mean to you? What does it mean to be creative? In a unit of study I completed at uni last semester called ‘Learning and Creativity’, I was asked these very questions.

More than simply needing to define creativity itself, however, we were challenged to find the place of creativity in our lives – to seek out how we are creative, and what this creativity helps us to achieve.

Now with the question ‘how are you creative?’, I’m sure some of you think the answer for yourself is this: ‘I can’t draw very well, can’t paint anything special, can’t sculpt or design or any of that…so I’m not really creative at all!’

I know that’s what I thought when I was asked this question.

I think a lot of the time, we think of creativity as being something that is only the property of our ‘artsy’ friends – the ones with an eye for design, or who can draw

wonderful pictures and paint skillfully. All these things are definitely creative, but they are not definitively creative.

In the course of that university unit, my eyes were opened up to versatile creativities existing within me and each of my classmates. We held a ‘marketplace’ of creativity, in which we all brought our creative skills into the classroom in some form or another to share with each other. The rich variety that resulted showed me one very important thing: creativity means something different for everyone – and there’s no right answer. There was a tree made of mini-cupcakes, a diorama with tiny figurines and keepsakes, a dark room with present boxes containing different items filled with meaning, wire sculptures, a beautiful car cake, some fantastic paintings, collages, photographic journals, poetry, drawings, clay sculptures and more. Everyone found something to share which expressed their creativity.

I chose to write and record a song about creativity for everyone to listen to. I also wrote a poem about it. Now, originally, I didn’t think I was creative at all; and here I was, in the marketplace, sharing with my peers an offering of creativity as legitimate any painting or drawing.

So I had learnt the lesson; we are all creative; whether you have talent with a pencil, a paint brush, a musical instrument, a camera, cooking utensils, your words, or even your way of looking at the world, creativity lives inside you.

The next question is, why was it put there?

Through the many stories in the bible, God shows us that everything he does, he does for a reason. Everything he created was ‘good’, and was designed exactly how it was meant to be. We also know that he’s created each of us as unique beings for a reason, knew us in the womb etc.

So what are we to do with our gifts of creativity? Jesus told a

story to his disciples to show them exactly what God wants them to do with their creativity, although he called creative gifts ‘talents’ We all know the story: the ‘master’ gives three men some talents, one triples his, the other doubles his, but last hides his in the ground to prevent it being stolen. The ‘master’ rebukes the third man for failing to do anything with the talent that was given to him; for failing to use it and let it grow.

So how can we avoid being like this third servant? How can we use our creative talents in God’s service? It seems obvious that musicians can be involved in praising God, and that people who are good at writing exhorts can give them etc. Think about your creative talent, and how you have or can use it to serve God. Perhaps you are a budding Masterchef– have you put up your hand to be involved in SCYP suppers, or your ecclesial lunches?

And it’s not just within SCYP and

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thE VINE feature artist

our ecclesias that we can do our work for God. We can bake biscuits for the homeless, make the sandwiches for Sandwiches in the City, or devote our time and talents to an afternoon of cupcake making with the oldies in the nursing home. And while we’re there, we can have a chat to them and brighten or uplift the days of these people. This is why God gave each of us different creative talents – he saw how each one could be used in a different way to reach certain people, and to allow us to exercise our faith and God’s love in our lives.

So find the creativity within yourself. Remember: it can be anything. Once you’ve found it, use it! Let it grow and multiply; not just within yourself but let it help others along the road to salvation. Remember that God put it there for a reason.

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Let’s look at an example of how a creative talent can be used to serve God. Ell Simons is our feature artist in this edition of The Vine, having this year completed her qualifications as a photographer at collage in Melbourne.

Photography is one of Ell’s many creative outlets, which include singing and songwriting.

Photography, however is the talent she has chosen to pursue a career in.

Rather than simply use this talent as a career path, however, Ell uses her talent behind the lens as a means of personal expression and creative exploration. As our feature artist, Ell has taken many of the photos that appear in this edition of The Vine (pages 3-11, 27-28, 30). As you can see, she has an undeniable gift of creative passion: her skill behind the camera. While photography might sound like something that would be hard to use for God, Ell’s work in this magazine demonstrates the opposite.

Ell has captured images for this magazine that can reflect elements of God’s purpose, or of his love in our lives, and is helpful to all of us reading this magazine.

These images have the power to evoke deeper spiritual feelings within us when combined with the written messages in the magazine. They also speak for themselves; pick you favourite one and look at for a few minutes.

What can you see in it? What meanings come out of the picture for you? What does it say to you about life, love, and God? Images have the amazing ability to mean something different to each individual person. Your personal context; meaning your social, educational, spiritual and environmental background, will affect what you see in an image. This is part of the rich variety of creativity that God planned; he’s made photographs, songs, smells, tastes, words that will reach all of us in a different way. And he’s given each of us the ability to capture these in a form of creativity and share them with each other.

Can you see that when Ell uses her creative talent for God and

shares her photography with us, it can inspire us and help us grow?

This is how God has designed creativity – to stimulate inspiration and growth amongst his children.

God also wants you to use your creativity in order that you may grow – as Jesus showed us through the parable by the favour that the master showed to the servants who used their talents.

We're looking for artists to feature in our pages for 2011 – photographers, illustrators, painters, mixed media, collage, whatever it is! This is an initiative from The Vine Committee to give those in our midst who are visual artists a bigger and better opportunity to contribute, and to further develop The Vine into a broader expression for God. If you or someone you know would like to be our feature artist for a future edition of The Vine we'd love to hear from you!

Send an email addressed to Samee at thevine@scyp.net

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lphian Young Peop

Edition 25

Connecting Christade

Edition 26

Connecting Christadelphian Young

People

Edition 27 Connecting Chr

istadelphian You

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Edition 28, December 2010

Connecting Christadelphian Young People

spirit “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; For such people the Father seeks to Be his worshipers.”

John 4:23

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After a very challenging year, I look forward to the clarity of hindsight you can have when looking back at a time of trial through the eyes of faith and see the wisdom of God in training you up as His child.

– James DiLiberto

I don’t really worry about the future too much. Most of the time I just worry about whats happening in the one day. But if I had to pick something, it would be completing my hsc and finishing school, having my p’s, and having more freedom!

– Emma Collins

What I'm looking forward to in 2011 is the birth of my sisters baby, my brothers wedding, finishing my diploma in Early childhood studies & going overseas (busy times!) However the best thing thing that I look forward to (& pray happens) is that Jesus returns, I pray that I'm ready & hear the words "well done good & faithful servant" – Beth Curtis I look forward to finishing school and having more time to hang out with friends. – Adam Wiltshire

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Looking forward to travelling for nine months – Mikki Pogson

I am looking forward to another year of God showing me the path, Learning the life lessons you never realise you need, and an exponential amount of exuberant memories with my friends. – Debbie Devis Looking forward to new experiences and opportunites. – Asha Watson

I would have so say Praise in the Park, it's going to be bigger and better then ever – really excited to see how it goes. Also travel – I'm travelling for most of next year and I'm really excited to see where my adventures take me and keen to learn and experience new things.

– Sam Collins

A fresh start over, like a chance to renew my goals and work harder toward them. – Eden Tierney

I'm really looking forward to spending more time with my new found independent friends. – Estelle Mansfield

BIRTHS Calvin Henry (David & Sarah)

Our hearts go out to Kate Luke, her two daughters Olivia and Aurora, and the rest of their extended family after the sudden and tragic loss of our dear Brother in Christ, Caleb Luke (Riverwood).

Caleb was a wonderful father, husband, brother, son and follower of Jesus and will be sorely missed by everyone who knew and loved him.

Our prayer is that they will take comfort in the knowledge that we will see him again soon.

Even so come, Lord Jesus.

BAPTISMS Eden Teirney (Blue Mountains) Courtney Peden (Riverwood) Lisa Change (Shaftesbury Rd) ENGAGEMENTS Sally Gould & John Dennes Susie Lund & Andy Leadbeatter Beck Paul & Andrew Galbraith (VIC) Jess Hill & Luke Mansfield Abi Mansfield & Sam McGeorge Katie Porter & Dan Crawford Jess Warner & Andy Evans (SA) Gaby Duke & Jake Curtis WEDDINGS Jo Hall & Lee Benson (SA) Leah McKinlay & Nick Harden (QLD)

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