'Put that in ya Piper and smoke it.'

I've always wondered what it would've been like to sit and listen to the Apostle Paul. I feel like I may have experienced this to a degree while attending the Brisbane Convention Centre - Queensland Theological College presents John Piper. What an amazing, challenging message.

And because I took some frantic notes, and because I don't want to EVER forget the message - here are my notes.

When tragedy occurs, (September 11, Tsunami, Earthquake, etc), we as humans are always astonished at the sadness and loss of life. The thing is, our astonishment should be reversed. God created us and until we learn to be astonished at the fact that we are still... alive, we will never fully grasp the gospel. The only reason we can do what we do, is because we are still breathing, and for this, we should be astonished. We are unworthy of life. Be astonished that we are alive!

Life hangs by a thread of grace. We have no control over our pulse. God wants us to feel dependent on his grace because God owns you! (BTW everybody on earth 'knows' deep down inside that we are far more than just biological chemicals...)

We are often so arrogant that we say things like 'I'm going to Sydney tomorrow, where really we should be thinking, 'If God keeps me alive, and if he wills it, I'm going to Sydney tomorrow.'

Arrogance = I can control my life.

He gave you life. He can take it. So...don't throw your life away. No one cares about your bank balance when you're on your death bed.

'Only one life 'twill soon be past. Only what's done for Christ will last.'

I want my songs to be saved... and to not waste their lives.

One day, when we meet Jesus, scarred hands and all... will we look him in the eyes and say, 'Look Lord, see my shells.' Foolishness. Our country spends millions of dollars enticing seniors to enjoy their retirement by playing bingo and collecting shells. Of what worth is this? None.

What is an un-wasted life?

Joyfully exclaim the supreme value of Christ. Display his worth.

It's a good deal. Give him the glory. We get satisfaction.

We need to magnify God like a telescope. Take something that is big and make it look more like what it is. This is an un-wasted life.

The point of living is to be a telescope. Make God (who looks so small to our fallen world) look more like what he is by magnifying him! Live as though you prefer Christ more than anything else. Use your home/car/computer/food as though you value Christ more... because you DO.

To die is gain. It is far better to be with Christ than to even be with your wife. On your death bed, we should be excited to gain, gain, gain, gain...

Don't waste your life. Live for Christ.


Three thousand people had their gospel and theological understanding cemented... their eyes opened and their butts kicked.

Don Carson next year. I'm there!

Why I'm not an Atheist.

Ricky Gervais writes an article in the Wall Street Journal entitled 'Why I'm an Atheist.'

http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/12/19/a-holiday-message-from-ricky-gervais-why-im-an-atheist/?fb_ref=article_top&fb_source=home_oneline

Seeing as my wife is out tonight and my kids are asleep I thought that I would write a blog post entitled, 'Why I'm not an Atheist' and see if I can make some sense.

Make sense?

Why I'm not an Atheist by Josh Mansfield

People ask ME all the time why I'm not an Atheist. Not really, I just wanted to start my article in the same manner that Ricky Gervais starts his but it just doesn't have the same ring to it. I've never been asked that question ever, and never will be asked why I'm not an Atheist, because it's just not what one asks someone.

I am a Christian. I know why I'm a Christian, but I've never really thought about why I'm not an Atheist.

Until now.

My first point of reference when thinking about this, is the fact that I often talk about Atheists as being hypocritical (in the sense I suppose that they see Christians as being hypocritical...). I say that people who don't believe in anything, still actually believe in something; they believe in nothing! Atheists reject the concept or notion of owning a belief system and yet, that is there belief. I don't think it's actually possible (unless you're a door frame or other inanimate object) to not believe. But that's a childish argument, and as far as I can tell, I'm no longer a child.

So if we all believe in something, why don't I believe in nothing?

Good question.

Gervais makes the majority of his points by referring to Science. Science is what human beings look to for logical explanations of the world around us. The tree outside my window is green because of the scientific processes that are working in it's roots, chemicals and the colour discrepancies in it's components. (Did that sound scientific, or just plain confusing...?). Science explains the process of everything that we can feel, touch, smell, taste, hear and see. The process...

But when I look beyond the sensual world, I'm not really interested in the process of life. When I consider how I'm supposed to live and act and why I'm supposed to exist, looking at the scientific processes involving my human body is not helpful one iota. I'm trying to find purpose.

Science, is useless at purpose.

So when faced with the question 'How do I exist?' - hand me a Biology textbook (one without too many diagrams please...)

But when faced with the question 'Why do I exist? - hand me a Bible.

The Bible is the most debated, researched, misunderstood and quoted book in the history of the universe. I'm not even going to bother with a google search for the stats on that one; it's just true. It has been stripped apart, split open, turned upside down, shaken, stirred and discussed over the years, but no one has been able to fault it; as in no one has been able to say, 'Hey... wait a minute, this bit says that Jesus' disciples were plumbers and plumbing wasn't invented back then'. If they could find faults in it, it wouldn't be the world's best seller that it is.

The historical evidence of large portions of the Bible exists. Don't 'wikipedia' that, go and find a reputable historian and check and you'll find they agree.

And I could go on... (historians believe that Jesus existed, secular historians like the Jewish teacher Josephus wrote about the amazing miracles of Jesus, even medical information in scripture is... well medically correct etc etc).

Ultimately though I think I know why people are atheistic. There are two main reasons.

Reason #1 Particularly in the developed world, we have things too easy. We are in control of our own lives... generally. When we get sick, we go to the doctor. When we get really sick we go to the hospital. When we need food we go to the shops. When we need a new boat we go to the Boat Show and when we need money we go to the in laws. We don't need to hand our lives over to God, because most of us are going to live quite happy and healthy lives and kick the bucket when we're between 70 and 100, which is quite a good innings really...

We're in control. We don't need God. So we don't believe in Him. That's my theory anyway.

Reason #2 It's because what people understand to be religious/Christian is not what is actually religious/Christian.

'Religion' is a set of traditional rituals and rules that people follow in order to appease said god or leader. True Biblical Christianity is neither ritualistic or law-based.

'Christianity', that is to be a Christian is to have a meaningful relationship with God where you live your life in a way that please Him, because you realize just how much He loves and cares for you. That's it.

I'm not an Atheist, because being an Atheist is too difficult.

How can you reconcile in your head and your heart that there is nothing more to life except the cards we are dealt here on earth? How can you truly believe that when you die, whether you are 99 or 9 months old, that's it!?

How can you reconcile in your head and your heart that our existence is a fluke, or that we evolve from monkeys when our bodies are so intricate and our human desires beyond explanation?

How can you reconcile in your head and your heart that you can do whatever you want to whomever you want, whenever you want, because once you die... once they die... it all ends?

How can you see a sunset, or a baby giraffe, or a flowing river, or the smile on a four-year-old's face and not think that there is more to life than a bunch of molecules moving around the planet?

It's too difficult.

So I'm not an Atheist.

So I'm a Christian instead.

Un-de-sensitised...

I'm worried.

I'm worried about myself and I'm worried about the world.

But at the same time... extraordinarily curious.

You see, I read an article in the newspaper the other day that listed ten inappropriate twitter moments. And I didn't laugh... in fact, I didn't actually think they were inappropriate.

Let me explain.

The article spoke about a guy who tweeted mid-wedding ceremony, 'Just about to kiss my bride. Wedding going well.'

A year ago I would've thought this outrageous. But in 2010, I actually just find it in interesting and surprisingly, un-inappropriate. I don't think it's appropriate, but I don't think it's inappropriate. If someone wants to tweet during their wedding then I think:

a) It's up to them.
b) It's actually quite interesting to read...

Funerals, weddings, hospital visits... they are no longer tweet taboo. It's actually appropriate and reasonable in 2010 to announce to the world that you are having an operation, or are heading to the hospital. It's reasonable to announce, 'Am at x funeral and it is very sad.'

But just to make it perfectly clear... I don't own a twitter or facebook account. The time they consume is unbelievable and they can be dangerous.

But they're here to stay.

At least for the next short period of time...