Hi there
Spring has sprung - or at least it's trying to in most parts of the country. Wellington's weather resembles an ADD monkey in a sugar factory, one minute it's warm and sunny, the next minute it's cold and rainy - it's psycho! The wind is the only constant.
In just over a week is In His Honour. We will be there, along with Mumsdollar, Rapture Ruckus, Kingston, Radiator, The Ember Days and Arms Reach (sheesh, what a line up!). We've got two double-passes to giveaway to the first people to email us with the answer for: "What are the other two bands we didn't name playing at IHH?"
Just in time for In His Honour, Mumsdollar have released their long awaited new album, Ruins. It is a stunner and we have three copies to giveaway (care of Cruel Records), email us with your address and the reason you like Mumsdollar so much (winning answers will be posted on the site).
The SP Crew.
Top 5 Signs You’re Getting Bored These Holidays
5. Dr Phil has become like a brother to you.
4. You peer in the fridge more than five times every hour.
3. You miss your history teacher and have ironed your school uniform.
2. You’ve purchased two ab machines, an acne cream and a set of steak knives.
1. You’re reading Top 5 lists on the internet!
Taking God Personal
by Hayden Shearman
If you’re anything like me you will at some point, whether consciously or not, assign your idea of God to be just a universal, ever-powerful force.
This view of God can actually be really appealing because it doesn’t demand a personal response from us. It’s an easy option where God can be boxed up and tucked away on the “universal force” shelf somewhere beside the Law of Gravity. It makes Christianity a simple procedure of ticking the boxes, going to church, reading the Bible and obeying the rules. Very similar to gravity, God quickly becomes a case of “Don’t bother Me and I won’t bother you.”
But the Bible paints a very different picture of God. Beyond just a powerful force, He’s an intensely personal being that cries, parties, is compassionate, jealous, absolutely stoked and even hurts for us little humans. And it all makes sense when you really think about it. Follow me for a moment…
If God is truly God – being all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present – He must have a greater level of existence than us humans. So just like we would say that humans have a greater existence than monkeys – because we are more personal, having a sense of things like love, justice, goodness and compassion – so God, by definition, must out-do us in the personal stakes. For something to be greater than us human beings it must have our greatest asset at a much greater capacity. God must be exceedingly loving, exceedingly just, good and compassionate. And unless our view of God grasps the magnitude of these concepts, our faith is a waste of time, we may as well bow down and worship gravity.
God is a person, and if He’s not, there’s no way He can be God.
This dramatically alters the way we should view the Christian faith. It’s like realising that the computer you’re staring at right now has a personality: suddenly it’s not just a means to an end. The computer becomes an end in itself. You desire its presence and it grows jealous for your attention (I really hope no one takes this computer analogy literally!). You get the picture. God is an end in Himself. In fact, He is the end – the ultimate supplier of our personal needs and desires. He is infinitely personal.
John 11:35. Here’s a verse to go away and look up (in fact jump over to Bible Gateway and check it out now). It is two very simple words that have a very profound insight into the immensely personal nature of God.
What does it mean to you today that Jesus weeps and laughs and loves and is moved by the things that happen in your life?
Wanna Study Theology?
by Malcolm Gordon
It's time to be thinking about plans for 2009. If you've been pondering studying theology (or anything Christian-related) this article by a recent theology graduate is a must read. More »
The Ember Days
by Jonny Kennaugh
Recently back home from a whirlwind tour of the States, The Ember Days are about to headline In His Honour. Jonny Kennaugh catches up with the new faces of New Zealand alternative worship. More »
