Get Infected!

Here's an article I wrote for the Hillsong International Leadership College 2008 yearbook (unedited- yipes!):

Why go to Hillsong International Leadership college?

 

Well, here’s some reasons not to:

Do not come if you want your life to stay the same

Do not come if you want you perspective of God to stay small

Do not come if you want to hang around people that will keep you average

Do not come if you want to be a part of church that will allow you to be comfortable

 

In my experience as a student I have found that one of the greatest things I could do is become infected by Hillsong-itis.  The culture in this church and school are such that you have to plug your ears and cover your eyes if want to justify staying the same.

So what is Hillsong-itis?  It’s something God has obviously blessed.  The influence of this church stretches across the globe and has impacted the lives of millions.  So what is it?  What makes this place so special?  It’s not equipment (there’s frustrating gear even at Hillsong).  It’s not a magical building (Yes, even here the bathrooms sometimes stink).  It’s not the fact that they have sermons on television or have moved millions of records (but hey, that’s pretty cool!).  I believe the secret behind this church is a relentless passion for God’s bride.  This is Hillsong-itis.  Just hang around for one moment and you’ll find that these people intend to build the Church no matter what the cost.  Here, a church service is never just a church a service.  It’s a chance to see God’s kingdom moved forward.  They never let the passion die.  There’s always more people to reach; more ways to improve how effectively lives are transformed.  Every single system is laboriously thought out, planned out, improved, refined, revised or even disregarded and replaced if need be.  Why?  This local church is passion about God’s bride.  And they realize that it must be God who gives life to it all.  They understand that without the Holy Spirit, all the systems become like dry bones.  They understand that if there’s not a love for Jesus, people will run out of fuel.  This church is neither mechanical nor purely emotional.  They are driven to do whatever it takes to see God’s church move forward.  Why?  They are passionate about His bride.

Hillsong-it is has no doubt infected everything about college life as well.  The same passion that fuels church fuels college.  Behind all the assessments and all the lectures is a desire to see God’s bride become more beautiful.  This college is designed to equip people to make a difference in the world-not just gain head knowledge. Again: do not come if you want to stay the same!  This is a place where people are healed during lectures.  Where class becomes family.  Where gifts are outworked and God is invited to move.  Will college students learn great things about theology, music, communication, and the like?  Yes.  But much more importantly, they can be infected by a culture that is passionate about God’s church.

 

So why go to college?

 

To be transformed

To enlarge your perspective of God

To get around people that challenge you to reach your potential

To catch Hillsong-it is!

 

 

 

The Deceitful Whisperer

You know,

I continue to learn that we really do have an enemy. He uses the same tricks over and over.  It's vital that we see the patterns and his methods.  2 Cor 2:11 talks about not being unaware of the schemes.  Good point.

What I want to mention is the subtle stuff.  We might think of an obvious, scary monster when we think demon, but I think the best schemes are the ones unnoticed.  I believe it is crucial to be  aware of the deceitful whisperer.

For example:  I know that I am called to be a musician and sing, and write songs.  Why is it that that's the thing I can barely seem to find time for?

Did a demon approach me and say "Joshua!  Don't write music!  We don't want you to!  It will powerfully bless people and minister to them!"

No way.  Too easy.  

Far more effective is the soft, deceitful whisper "...you're too busy.  You really need wait until your schedule isn't so busy."

If he can't take us out completely, then he'll render us ineffective (thanks to dad for the lesson!).  If he can get us to focus on everything except what we're called to do then that's just as good.  So easy to just be busy and miss what's important isn't it?

I know I need to be writing.  So, when I lost my last blog it just seemed like the last thing I felt like doing.  Even now I hit all the stuff: "Like anyone cares.  No one is gonna come find your blog.  Just don't bother.  It's too much work trying to get any momentum there.  It's not worth it."

I find that many of those things you "just know you ought to do eventually" are so often the places you need go straight into.  Funny how "later" never seems to come.  There's always a reason, a justification.  The circumstances weren't just right.  "So-and-so didn't do blank, so it'll just have to wait,"  "The kids won't leave me alone, and HAVE to deal them,"  "School just takes up so much time,"  "I should really use the time serve at church,"  I seriously get that one!

So, we fill our time with the things we feel allowed to do.  Things without much resistance.

Don't get me wrong.  I'll be the first to tell you that's it's important to take to relax.  I'm not saying to be an overly-driven robot, however....

I think it is good to step back and have a look.  Ask "What do I know are the most important things? Am I there?  What subtle things have I bought into that are keeping me away?  What are those things that I don't feel like doing?  Why am I not?"

I know for me that it's way easier to allow myself to mow someone else's grass, before I'll allow myself to just spend time improving my singing or writing a song.  So check it out.  That thing you let sort of drift off might be more important than you realize.

Of course once you get there, there's you'll hit guilt or things that will take your attention, but that's another blog!  

Be encouraged that there's always victory over the resistance though!  I will not exalt the whispers above my Lord Jesus Christ.  In Him we have a way to victory.

"But thanks be to God!  He gives us the victory through Christ Jesus."

 -1 Cor 15:57

So, there's the thought, and honestly this is one of those things for me.  "Oh, I'll just write later.  It's not important and no one is really going to see.  OH! and don't tell people about your blog because that's arrogant."

Hah!  It's not a guilt trip about not reading my blogs (: .... I just know I'm meant to be writing.  

SO, that thing that you've agreed not to do because the circumstance are not JUST RIGHT....

GO DO IT!   

-joshua

Okay,

Well, I've always found it difficult to start things.  Something about the unknown I have been quite resistant to (but am being delivered from in Jesus' name!) Starts are scary for me.  Change is scary for me.  So starting something that is changed from what it used to be is like peanut butter and jelly only not a food and really bad.

And no bread.  

See what I mean!  This is tough.

I wish I had a great revelation.  I'm afraid I don't.  I am simply starting.  Hmm.... do I sense inspiration?

See starts, I have found, are quite like ostriches.  See, there's so much symbolism in the feathers... the long neck and

OKAY well I tried.

The point: I started.  Rome wasn't built in a day.

-joshua

After much anticipation, the blogging continues....

I'm back in action!  Same battime new batchannel.

Life goes on here in my world in Sydney.  New semester in school... new faces...and new blogs to post...

check back soon!

-joshua