Avatar!

I recently saw the movie ‘Avatar’ and was totally impressed with the special effects within it. If you’re going to see it make sure you see it in 3D… (You’ll get cool glasses and you feel as if you are in the film itself).

Apparently, the director James Cameron (Also, director of Titanic) spent 5 years making the film which ended up costing over $500 million. The movie has grossed over $1 billion already and recently won a golden globe for best drama.

While the movie has a dynamic creative element to it, it also touches on several spiritual, philosophical, and new age themes which appeals to a wide audience. Avatar promotes pantheism (worship of multiple gods) and the centrality of mother earth and looking after the environment.

James Cameron has done his homework and tapped into themes and ideas that are very popular at the moment. I came out of the movie feeling as if James Cameron was the new George Lucas (Star Wars Director) of our generation with the emphasis on the force.

It is important that we are aware of what our movies are promoting and that we also know what God’s Word says about such things. Movies like Avatar can provoke spiritual discussions with people that can open doors for us to share the power of the gospel with them. We must approach the ideas promoted in pop culture in light of what Scripture says and be ready to give a reason to anyone for the hope that we have.

Jesus said in John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Lead the Change!

Lance Armstrong

Lance Armstrong is my all time favourite athlete. If you don’t know much about him there are several publications as well as a ton of internet resources that can fill you in, including, “It’s not about the bike” and “How Lance does it”. Lance Armstrong won 7 Tour De Frances after overcoming a severe battle with cancer. A feat that is amazing for anyone to accomplish, let alone someone who has survived cancer.

He now leads an organisation called LIVESTRONG which promotes cancer awareness and helps people battling with cancer to survive through raising money for treatment and potential cures.

Lance is currently cycling with TEAM RADIO SHACK in the Tour Down Under in Adelaide. Just recently he invited on TWITTER anyone & everyone in Adelaide to ride with him last Saturday, meeting at a Park in the city. Approximately 5-10,000 people turned up just for a glance at Lance, including a Melbourne based pastor who flew over to Adelaide just to savor the moment.

Lance is a consummate professional and a great example of drive, determination and dedication to continual progress in sport & life. I love his approach to his career and it’s clear that he is positioned for a great comeback after a short layoff.

One of my observations of Lance and other successful people is that it’s amazing how well positioned they can be in one area of their lives e.g. career, finance, sport… and yet be out of position in other areas of their lives e.g. family, spirituality, marriage…

Society rewards gifting & talent on the field and tends to overlook the happenings away from the field and it’s no secret that Lance & other athletes more recently have struggled at times in their marriages with various issues & in Tiger Woods case, extra-curricular activities. Proverbs tells us that a “man’s gift makes room for him”. Unfortunately at times, the room that our gift makes for us doesn’t always allow for the breaches in our character within us. Never let your gift take you where your character cannot keep you.

It’s not enough to be positioned well in one area of your life and yet be out of position in the most important areas of your life – relationship with God, family, marriage, etc… How well are you positioned in these important matters as you head into 2010? Your investment portfolio may look good and your career prospects may be outstanding but what is your spiritual growth looking like and how close are you to Jesus?

Check out Lance’s progress on tourdownunder.com or on livestrong.com

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Eyes on the Prize!

Proverbs 23:17-18 “Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day. Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.”

I am currently taking some time to have a break for a couple of weeks with my family. I am holidaying down at the beach and it’s interesting to observe so many people going about relaxing, shopping, eating and beaching…  The laughter, the sights and sounds all add to the summer experience. 

During the summer it’s easy to lose sight of what’s most important and just get caught up in the excitement of new years eve, parties, beach, good food and entertainment. In observing people enjoy their summer holidays, remember to not lose yourself in someone else’s world, thinking that everyone else is having the best time and you have to play their tune in order to have a good time yourself.

The Proverbs writer exhorts us to CONTINUE in the fear of the Lord and not let our hearts envy sinners. The verse implies there is a future and a hope for the person who fears the Lord but for the person who doesn’t fear the Lord the future is bleak, no matter how much fun it looks like they are having.

Whatever you do, don’t take a summer break from God. Continue to build your relationship with him and keep your eyes on His Word. Don’t envy people who have nothing else but the empty and fleeting promises of this world. God has a future and a hope for you and he will keep his promises to you because he loves you. As someone once said, ‘Only one life twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.’ Do what matters and leave the rest to everyone else.

Lead the Change!

The Secret’s Out!

Luke 2:15-18 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.

Apparently there is a new phenomena sweeping the world over recent years called The SECRET. The Secret is a principle turned into a book and a film by Rhonda Byrne that has sold over 7.5 million copies. The Secret basically centers on the law of attraction = you attract whatever you think about. The Secret is basically a combo of pantheism, hermitic philosophy, theology and transcendentalism. The Secret is being acclaimed as this brand new success philosophy that everyone needs to tap into but the reality is THE TRUE SECRET has been out and available for 2000 years. 

The SECRET was born 2000 years ago in a manger in downtown Bethlehem – His name is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Son of God and every Christmas time we celebrate God’s gift to the world in the person of Jesus Christ. God revealed his secret through angels to ordinary shepherds looking after their sheep and God is still revealing his secret to ordinary people from all walks of life today.

The SECRET is officially out but unfortunately not everyone is aware of it. Too many people spend their life in search for the hidden secret that will bring fulfillment, peace and contentment but the reality is these things will never be found in the vain promises the world offers us. The SECRET is only found in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. When we come to realise who Jesus Christ is, believe in him and repent of our sin, the secret is unlocked to us and we find salvation and fulness of life in Jesus Christ.

This Christmas time we need to get the message out to people that Jesus Christ is the SECRET everyone is desperately searching for even if they reject Him. God is still revealing himself to ordinary people and we are the vessels he delights to use to spread the word that the SECRET’s OUT. Let’s open our mouths and our hearts to people from every walk of life and like the Shepherds, make it known that Jesus Christ is alive.

Lead the Change!

TYSON-Losing Your Soul!

Mt 16:26 “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?”

I recently watched the new TYSON documentary on the former world champion boxer Mike Tyson. I have followed Tyson’s career over many years and have always been intrigued by his athletic ability and the hype that surrounded his life. The TYSON doco is narrated by Tyson himself and follows his life from Brooklyn NY through to his relationship with Cuss D’mato (Trainer and manager) and onto his long list of broken marriages, imprisonment and mismanaged millions.

I finished watching the film feeling depressed about the waste of potential and I reflected on some of the significant statements made by Tyson throughout the documentary. It’s clear that Tyson’s aggression, rage and attitude stems from the brokenness of his childhood being humiliated and afraid of what people around him were doing to him. We need to be so conscious of the pain of our past and how much influence it has on why we do what we do and how we live our lives.

Tyson was a multi-millionaire, sexually promiscuous, world champion boxer, popular, famous and an active muslim and yet he talked of the empty hole in his life that nothing he tries seems to fill. He filmed the doco after recently finishing a rehab program for drug addiction and as the credits rolled out for the end of the movie, I was left feeling the pain of the emptiness of the world we live in.

The spirit of the world says meaning, purpose and fulfillment is found in $, possessions, sex and achievement. This whole agenda is fueled by the enemy of our souls who is out to destroy humanity’s realisation that Jesus Christ alone is the answer to the problem of sin in our hearts. Jesus was clear, “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and yet loses his own soul?” The answer is we gain nothing but pain, misery and emptiness. 

I don’t want what this world offers me. I want Jesus Christ and I want to seek first God’s kingdom above everything else. I want my family to live for God and make an eternal difference in people’s lives. I don’t want to live a life that is fueled by jealousy, fear, pride and lust. I want to live a life that is characterised by God’s love, humility and grace.

This world has nothing that matters most. It is all smoke and mirrors and vain promises. The only true life is found in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Son of God that makes life meaningful and significant. Keep this in mind the next time you catch yourself trying to attain something this world promises will satisfy something inside of you. Surrender your soul to Christ. Don’t waste your potential on perishable things and don’t live with regret. The sad reality is Tyson is so close to the truth and yet so far away at the same time. 

Lead the Change!

Tiger Woods!

 

Tiger after Accident

I have been following the recent journey of Tiger Woods in the media. It’s difficult to believe everything you hear and see in the media but unfortunately it appears that Tiger’s integrity and reputation has been tarnished by a long string of illicit and unhealthy relationships.

Tiger Woods is someone that a lot of people look up to because of his talent as a golf player but unfortunately his behaviour off the golf course is now catching up with him and having an impact upon his family and society at large. I can only imagine the temptations and challenges that would present themselves to someone with Tiger’s wealth and profile, however it’s important that we don’t justify our actions in light of the daily pressures that come against us, however great they may be.

Paul Scanlon once said, “Never let your gift take you where your character can’t keep you.” This is an important biblical idea. Proverbs tells us that, “A mans gift will make room for him.” Each of us have talents and abilities that open doors for us and bring us before others. We have a responsibility to make sure that our character can handle the opportunities our gift opens for us otherwise we actually forfeit our right to use the gift. 

Unfortunately we live within a society that rewards gift and not character. We will pay someone millions (if not billions, in Tiger’s case) to hit a small little golf ball or kick a pigskin around a paddock or shoot a ball through a hoop with a net attached to it and yet we will turn a blind eye to how these same stars behave off the court away from the cameras. Our society values image over integrity and gift over character. There are literally hundreds of thousands of people serving the poor, teaching children, pastoring churches, righting the wrongs of injustice and adding incredible value to people’s lives who don’t get paid hardly anything and yet I would contend are adding far more value to society than many of our so called celebrities. I am not knocking celebrities because people with profile and position can do a lot of good to benefit others and I think it’s good to have heroes to look up to…for the right reasons.

I’m disappointed for Tiger and his wife and kids that they now have to work through the pain and brokenness of sin but I am also disappointed for our society because once again we have been given another example of broken integrity which others look at and use to justify their own behaviour, while others look at and get discouraged by the failure of their hero to be decent in their personal life.

Who am I or any of us to cast the first stone? As Paul writes in Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” However the consequences of sexual sin is far greater than most of us realise. 1 Corinthians 6:18 says, “Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.” 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 (read it) is quite clear of the damage and consequences of sexual sin. It has catastrophic ramifications for all parties involved.

In the midst of the pain and tragedy of this situation we need to learn what we can from observing these events and pray that God would deliver us from such a situation in our own personal lives, as well as pray for Tiger and his family, that out of the ashes God’s love, grace and transformation would be seen. I’m praying that God will dramatically turn this around for His glory and honour even if it means society at large is skeptical of the outcome.

Lead the Change!

Do What You’re Told!

Jeremiah 7:23-24 “But this command I gave them: ‘Obey my voice and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.’ But they did not obey or incline their ear but walked in their own counsels and the stubbornness of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward.”

It’s really quite simple, ‘Do what you’re told!’ This is an unpopular and foreign concept to our authority-resistant culture because we value our ‘Do what you want to do, be what you want to be’ way of life more than anything else. God was very clear with Israel on what he wanted of them – Obedience!

Why is God so hung up on obedience in the Scriptures? Well, God knows best. His ways are best. His Words are best. He is our creator, sustainer, saviour, provider, counsellor, healer and encourager and He knows best. Your obedience is a by-product of your faith in Jesus. Your faith will be outworked in your obedience to God’s Word.

When Israel obeyed God, they moved forward. When they didn’t obey God, they went backward. When they worshipped God and served him only, they were blessed. When they worshipped false idols and and neglected to seek God, they suffered lack.  

Westerners love to complicate things and make things more difficult than what they actually are. “Are you saying Corey that I am just to obey God blindly in whatever he asks me to do?” Yep, that’s right but unfortunately for some of us, including myself at times, that’s way too simple… We think, ‘Surely their must be more to it than that!’

There is no more important principle in our relationship with God than ‘Hear clearly and Obey boldly’. Faith comes from hearing and hearing by the word of God. When we hear God’s Word, faith rises in our hearts and obedience is the fruit of our faith. I don’t obey God because I have to but because I want to out of my love for him and his love for me and because I have had a revelation that His way is the only way to live.

What about you? Are you continually resistant to authority in your life? If you struggle to submit and continually buck the system, you are going to find it difficult to obey your heavenly Father. But if you learn submission and patience in obedience with your pastors, leaders, government and earthly authority, you and I will learn the importance of obedience in our own walk with God. 

It’s not popular and it’s not post-modern but who gives a flying pancake… Just do what God tells you to do and your fruit will speak for itself!

Lead the Change!

Flesh Under Fire!

1 Corinthians 9:27 “I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”

We are a society of consumers. Our entire Australian society is built around serving the needs, wants and appetites of the consumer. This mindset has brought with it an over indulgence of the flesh. Per capita we are the most obese nation on earth and our medical bills and booming fitness industry is evidence that our over indulgence is having a negative effect on us.

Some people might think health and fitness is not a spiritual matter but it actually is. The Apostle Paul did comment once that bodily training has some value… Paul understood that his flesh, given free reign, could disqualify him from the race of faith. He saw the need to keep it under fire and in check not just for his physical well being but for his spiritual well being as well.

Many moons ago I used to be a personal trainer and run my own business, as well as working in fitness centers throughout Melbourne. As well as this I trained and competed as a track runner and competitive powerlifter among other sports. I have always valued my physical well being, seeing it as a spiritual issue as much as anything else. I actually feel closer to God when I am physically fit and healthy. 

Simone and I work out together on a Saturday morning in our home gym set up in our garage. We have a treadmill, free weights (barbell, dumbbell), chin up and dip bar, bench press, squat rack, swiss ball, skipping rope, step up box, mats and machine weights set up ready for a workout any time. We can be found in the ‘House of Pain’ most early mornings of the week because we see the value of keeping our flesh under fire and not allowing our physical bodies to become a spiritual weakness.

I understand that Paul’s words in Corinthians goes beyond just physical health and fitness to our thought life, words, motivations and actions of our sinful nature but I also see the need for Australians to keep their flesh under fire and take dominion over their physical well being. I want to be fit and healthy for anything that God brings my way to do and I don’t want my body to become the point of weakness in my faith journey.

What about you? I encourage you to get serious about your health and well being. Spend approximately 20-30mins each day working on your health and fitness – walk, run, go to the gym, swim, bike, lift weights, stretch, play a sport… Do something and start to rule your flesh or it will rule you. People who discipline themselves in their physical well being are also able to discipline themselves in other areas of life. It’s a principle that carries through to the spiritual.

Lead the Change!

The Gift of Adoption!

 

Rose of Sharon

This week is Adoption Awareness Week which is important for several reasons. Adoption is one of the most important responses to the abortion issue in our nation. Adoption is a far more positive alternative for women and children than abortion. There are so many beautiful and yet unwanted babies orphaned around the world and in Australia. Many married couples can seek adoption and experience the blessings of being a parent to a child seeking the security and safety of a strong family home.

I am so blessed to have an adopted sister myself. My sister is currently 23 years old and originally from Seoul in South Korea. I can still remember sitting in the VIP lounge at Perth Airport watching my mother carry Carmen through the doors…or should I say Carmen was so big that she looked like she was carrying mum. Carmen was only 4 months old at the time but immediately she was a much loved part of our family as if she had been in our family from the very beginning.

I still remember sitting in the back seat of the car late at night holding onto my sisters 4 month old hand in awe of the new life in our lives. I was 8 years old at the time and I have very fond memories of the blessing Carmen has been to our family. I can still remember one birthday Carmen had as a young child, looking at the Chocolate cake in front of her and feeling overwhelmed with how to tackle it, she ended up dumping her full face right into the middle of the cake, attempting to get as much of the cake in her mouth as she could…

The national rose of Korea is the ‘Rose of Sharon’. My parents received a prophetic word about Carmen and the Rose of Sharon before we were able to go through the process of adopting Carmen from Korea. Carmen is our Rose of Sharon. Like any rose there have been some thorny experiences that have proven to be painful for both Carmen and our family over the last 10 years but Carmen is still our Rose of Sharon. She is a blessing and she is radiant. As she brings a new life into the world in approximately 20 weeks time, we as a family rejoice that we get the privilege to witness the fruit of her life in a country like Australia and in a family like ours.

Adoption after all is a reflection of the heart of God. Romans 8:15 says, “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry ‘Abba! Father!” Each of us as God’s children and believers in Jesus Christ have been adopted into God’s family. When we were broken and estranged from the Father and needing love, restoration and healing, God rescued us through Jesus Christ and adopted us into his family. Don’t take this for granted!

Australia is a prosperous nation that has so much going for it but we need to be reminded of the value of a person’s life. Children are a gift and heritage from the Lord and we are not to treat kids as distractions to our lives but as incredible blessings. Australia needs to listen to organisations such as the Babes Project (www.thebabesproject.com)and other like minded groups who are busy trying to recreate adoption as a positive alternative to abortion. Have you considered the blessing of adoption?

Lead the Change!

Michael Jackson – THIS IS IT!

Recently I saw the film, “This is it” which records the final months of Michael Jackson’s life as he prepares for his final world tour. I have heard great reports about the film and so wanted to check it out myself. I watched the film with interest and was amazed at the incredible gift that God had given to MJ to sing, dance and entertain people.

As the media has shown us, Michael Jackson is a peculiar person who has been the subject of much controversy over many years. His relationships, appetites, plastic surgery, philosophies and lifestyle definitely fit into the bizarre category. Yet as I watched MJ dance, sing and prepare for his world tour, the gifting upon his life was so evident that it is also a testimony to the abilities that God had given to him.

I just can’t help but wonder what impact MJ could have had upon the globe if his life was completely surrendered to Christ and his gifting was focused upon proclaiming the gospel? Who knows what the outcome would have been?

Like MJ, each of us have been given unique gifts and abilities to reveal and express the nature and glory of God to this world. We may not have the freakish talents of Michael Jackson but we all have something that sets us apart and positions us to influence others. Don’t despise your uniqueness, if the world can embrace someone like MJ, there’s a place for you to express what God has put inside you.

I was amazed at the power MJ wielded when he was on the stage and behind the scenes. Unfortunately, he was treated like a god and he would basically get anything and everything he wanted. This is the downside of misdirected power. As someone once said, “With great power comes great responsibility.” The bible says, “A mans gift makes room for him.” Your gift brings with it power and influence and with privilege comes great responsibility. Steward the gift you have and don’t use it to take advantage of people but to point people back to God.

Lead the Change!