Twittering New Years Eve in the City

We live right at the base of the Southern Side of the approach to the Harbour Bridge. So, we are right there in the thick of it for New Year's Eve in Sydney. Should be noisy and fun.

Last year, Michael Winram and I hacked it out in Time Square in the cold. No such suffering this year.

It's 4PM on the 31st now. It's 77F, 25C, and we going to stroll the City with the kids now until maybe 6-7PM. Then we'll cook up a BBQ on the deck here, while watching the mayhem begin.

I'm hoping my kids don't learn any new words tonight -- maybe put them to sleep in the more 'sound-proofed' rooms. We may head out to the apartment of a couple who go to our church. And I could be climbing the Church Bell Tower or York Street for a view of the fireworks at midnight.

Will be Twittering HERE.

It should be interesting to be in the middle of it!

Enjoy your New Year.

Justin.

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The Cost of Sin in Dollars

Click HERE.

Hooley Dooley.

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Christmas> Would you prefer to bury him? (Herod's thirst)

Service Times are HERE.

And this is the introduction (basically) for our 11PM Service tonight:

Questions for you this evening…

• How far will you go to find your creator?
• How willing are you to beat a path to his door?
• How thirsty are you to discover him? To locate him?
• And then to love him and pay him reverence?

That is the question of our text this Evening (Matthew 2:1-18). The Wise Men go and find Jesus. They beat a path to his door.

But, in contrast, Herod sees how much this baby affects his life. And he goes to dark lengths to get him out of his life.

See, all of us –We live and we love and owe our existence because we were created by God to live and love and exist. I breathe because God allows me to breathe. Will I seek after my creator? Will I seek him with all that I am, and all that I have?

There is a verse in the Bible that goes like this:

'God determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.'

Have you thought about this?

God has placed you here in this city for a reason: That you might seek him and perhaps reach out and find him. He has you in this room to seek him and perhaps reach out and find him.

How is your heart? Is it reaching out to discover him?

I suspect – because I know my own heart – that many of us are lethargic in this one area. Except maybe on Christmas time. We are lethargic to God, and Christmas is like caffeine for God: A season – oiled by carols and traditions.

That’s not true in other areas in our life: Many of us are willing to beat a path to other things: Like the better job.

We are very thirsty –

• For affection,
• Or for approval,
• Or for beauty,
• Or for a child,
• Or a spouse,
• Or for a life of joy and ease.
• We know how to track down a bargain.

And yet – if there really is a God-- and I know many of you think that there is – Then, surely, God must consume your heart and mind and actions.

There is the alternative question this morning with respect to God…

• Would you prefer to bury him?
• To make God go away?
• Maybe even to find him in order to bury him.

(This is why some come to church)

That is what is going on in our text when the King Herod tries to find Jesus.

Now, I know you don’t think that you can actually do that: Bury God. But functionally, is that your preference? In terms of the way you operate your day, is that how you live?

That is: “I don’t want him running my life, and so I’ll find a way to make him go away.”

So in our text today (Matthew 2:1-18), we one who searches (Wise Men) and one who buries (Herod).

Which are you?

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In Defence of Schoolies

I'm won't, but Adele Horan writes in defence of Schoolies Week HERE. She says of those who won't go:

Unless your Year 12 son or daughter is ...

• a strong-minded non-conformist,
• a loner,
• a Christian,
• or a super-nerd...

... chances are that some time soon they will pop the question.

['Can I go to Schoolies?']

What do you make of that list?

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Praying for Healing

There are at least three people I know how are right now undergoing treatment for cancer. I am praying for two things: total healing of the illness and that all glory goes to God. These two are not synonymous. He may not heal (now), but he will receive all glory. That being said, these are my two prayers.

God knows who they are.

York Street Advent Preaching Program

Christmas is what you need. We need:

• a Prophet who Challenges
• a Song that Magnifies
• a Hope that Satisfies
• a Judge that Redeems
• a Fear that Drives away fear
• a Messiah who Saves
• a Son who reveals

And so here is the preaching program through Advent and Christmas, starting SUNDAY

This Sunday, 6 Dec (Advent 2) -- Luke 3:7-18
John: You need a PROPHET (that challenges your Life)

13 Dec (Advent 3) -- Luke 1:46-58
Mary: You need a SONG (that magnifies your God)

13 Dec (Carol Service 7PM) -- Luke 2:22-40
Simeon: You need a HOPE (that satisifies your longings)

20 Dec (Advent 4) -- Luke 1:67-80
Zechariah: We need a JUDGE (to redeem our world)

24 Dec (Christmas Eve) 11PM -- Luke 2:8-20
Shepherds: You need a FEAR (that takes away your fear)

25 Dec (Christmas Day) -- Luke 2:1-11
Jesus: You need a MESSIAH (that saves you from your sin)

27 Dec (Sunday After Christmas) -- Luke 2:41-52
Jesus: You need a SON (to show you his Father)

Now, anyone know where I can find Eggnog in Australia?

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Live Out Loud: Tickets at the Door...

TONIGHT (FRIDAY 4TH DECEMBER, 2009)

Buy your tickets at the door.
DOORS OPEN: 6:30PM
www.loudevent.com