Katoomba Youth Leadership Conference
The week before last was such an amazing time! And I've put off posting about it til now simply because of that - because it was so big, and mentally and physically exhausting. How am I supposed to squish everything that I heard over the five days into one little insignificant post? (You thought that all that was going through my head was the Basics, didn't you now? ;-P)
My head is a muddle at the best of times, let alone after five massive days at a teaching conference, where we heard talks on all of the following topics:
Materialism.
Secularism.
Careerism.
Individualism.
Consumerism.
The book of James.
Youth group leading.
Bible Study writing.
Church music leading.
Evangelizing Catholics.
1 on 1 discipleship.
So, it was a conference targeted at people involved in youth ministry, but there was a lot of emphasis on the life of the leader themselves, because let’s face it - if you're not right before God yourself, and you're not seeking to teach kids as a direct result of that relationship - well, there's a problem. So it was extremely challenging and encouraging, and I think I probably got the most out of the sessions that addressed those issues.
In the morning, Phillip Jensen took us through five studies on the "isms" listed above and those were incredibly eye opening, challenging and encouraging. It was kind of the first time I'd heard such in depth studies on these topics and I realised just how easy it is for these secular ideas to wind their way into our lives. SO easy. Man. We are all materialists, wanting the biggest and the best; the coolest job (even if that is a job within the church); to do something worthy of praise (whose praise are we really seeking - the world's, or Jesus'?).
It's cliche, but it is so amazingly true - God's will for us is the best there could ever be. And if we are living to treasure eternity, then we cannot treasure this world (and the things this world treasures) as well.
BUT, then there's the problem of being in this world but not of it. Everything that God gives us in this world is indeed a blessing! Food, money, clothes - these are good things. But only when we view them for what they are - instruments that equip us to serve God.
It's this kind of idea:
"We do not live to work, we work to live." And, "We do not live to eat, we eat to live.”
God gives us good things in order to equip us to serve him and make him known.
And if we are blessed for whatever reason with riches or fame or whatever else, then again, we’re to use these to serve God.
William Wilberforce said, "Generosity is not generosity unless it damages the luxury of your own life."
We don't need wealth or luxury or fame to live a worthy life! God has already given us the only thing we ever needed. Former slaves, we have been redeemed by Jesus' blood. God loves us generously - He gave us His Son - and it hurt!
Peter Ko spoke in the evening on the book of James, and this too fitted in wonderfully with everything we were hearing in the morning. Concerned with the life of Christians, James is writing to encourage and rebuke the Christians scattered throughout the provinces. Themes are suffering, discord in the church, hypocrisy, sinful desires, worldly and Godly wisdom (whoa - in our Strand Groups we spent so much time studying James 3:13-18... I'm sure I know if off by heart!), our mouths... (now there's a big one).
How can we say goodbye to the world forever? Because God offers us the greatest satisfaction of all! More than our hobbies, our clothes, popularity and even our ministry!
And we will shine.
It was so much fun being there with about 400 other enthusiastic Christians. Every time I go to a Christian gathering I am amazed again and again at the unity that comes through Christ. To go and meet people for the first time and have such solid fellowship after only five days is truly a treat.
And hanging out with the other guys from church - Anna, Caroline, Brent and Pete. Again, what a treat! We were all accommodated together and had some great St Pete's bonding time! I drove up with Pete, and back with both Pete and Brent, and we had some hilariously fun car time during the 8 hour trips. Lots of music, food, good conversation and a bit of stupidity too. We were so exhausted by the end of it but Pete did a great job of getting us home safely (even if half the time he was driving without his hands - don’t tell my mum!), while Brent read aloud to us from The Last Battle :-)
The Sunday night before the conference, Brent, Pete and I stayed with a friend of mine's family in Glenbrook. Sarah and I met four years ago at a conference, have written ever since and this was the second time we'd met up! So cool :-) Her family is beautiful and they were so hospitable. We went to church in the evening with Sarah, hung out at macca's afterwards, then went home and stayed up too late talking to her brother and parents.
Before we left on Monday morning, Sarah and I went for a walk around the corner to where we used to live when I was a baby.
We took photos of our old house and the road out of the front that has become famous in our family, because of the time that mum found me walking down it (at 18 months!), “going to the shops”!
I had some kind of weird tummy bug that made me feel like chucking every time I ate. Plus the food was (no offense to the caterers) quite dodgy, so my overall eating experience for the week was not much fun. Oh, except for the hot chocolates we bought on our trips to the cafes - now they were good!
Anna, Caroline and I stayed up talking one night til who knows when and were so tired the next day that it wasn't funny. The conversation was good though - really good and I can't write enough how much I loved hanging out with those girls.
The weather was really cold. Like, you don't know how cold. Like, I considered going and buying a coat cold, but didn't cause I'm scabby cold. I packed all these summer clothes thinking it was gonna be hotter than home, little expecting icy cold winds and driving rain. Wow. Katoomba in January.
I think I'm suffering from, "I haven't written in my personal journal for ages" syndrome, and will go do that before I feel the need to bore people with any more of these crazy ramblings...
But do yourself a favour - come with me again next year. I really mean it!
My head is a muddle at the best of times, let alone after five massive days at a teaching conference, where we heard talks on all of the following topics:
Materialism.
Secularism.
Careerism.
Individualism.
Consumerism.
The book of James.
Youth group leading.
Bible Study writing.
Church music leading.
Evangelizing Catholics.
1 on 1 discipleship.
So, it was a conference targeted at people involved in youth ministry, but there was a lot of emphasis on the life of the leader themselves, because let’s face it - if you're not right before God yourself, and you're not seeking to teach kids as a direct result of that relationship - well, there's a problem. So it was extremely challenging and encouraging, and I think I probably got the most out of the sessions that addressed those issues.
In the morning, Phillip Jensen took us through five studies on the "isms" listed above and those were incredibly eye opening, challenging and encouraging. It was kind of the first time I'd heard such in depth studies on these topics and I realised just how easy it is for these secular ideas to wind their way into our lives. SO easy. Man. We are all materialists, wanting the biggest and the best; the coolest job (even if that is a job within the church); to do something worthy of praise (whose praise are we really seeking - the world's, or Jesus'?).
It's cliche, but it is so amazingly true - God's will for us is the best there could ever be. And if we are living to treasure eternity, then we cannot treasure this world (and the things this world treasures) as well.
BUT, then there's the problem of being in this world but not of it. Everything that God gives us in this world is indeed a blessing! Food, money, clothes - these are good things. But only when we view them for what they are - instruments that equip us to serve God.
It's this kind of idea:
"We do not live to work, we work to live." And, "We do not live to eat, we eat to live.”
God gives us good things in order to equip us to serve him and make him known.
And if we are blessed for whatever reason with riches or fame or whatever else, then again, we’re to use these to serve God.
William Wilberforce said, "Generosity is not generosity unless it damages the luxury of your own life."
We don't need wealth or luxury or fame to live a worthy life! God has already given us the only thing we ever needed. Former slaves, we have been redeemed by Jesus' blood. God loves us generously - He gave us His Son - and it hurt!
Peter Ko spoke in the evening on the book of James, and this too fitted in wonderfully with everything we were hearing in the morning. Concerned with the life of Christians, James is writing to encourage and rebuke the Christians scattered throughout the provinces. Themes are suffering, discord in the church, hypocrisy, sinful desires, worldly and Godly wisdom (whoa - in our Strand Groups we spent so much time studying James 3:13-18... I'm sure I know if off by heart!), our mouths... (now there's a big one).
How can we say goodbye to the world forever? Because God offers us the greatest satisfaction of all! More than our hobbies, our clothes, popularity and even our ministry!
And we will shine.
It was so much fun being there with about 400 other enthusiastic Christians. Every time I go to a Christian gathering I am amazed again and again at the unity that comes through Christ. To go and meet people for the first time and have such solid fellowship after only five days is truly a treat.
And hanging out with the other guys from church - Anna, Caroline, Brent and Pete. Again, what a treat! We were all accommodated together and had some great St Pete's bonding time! I drove up with Pete, and back with both Pete and Brent, and we had some hilariously fun car time during the 8 hour trips. Lots of music, food, good conversation and a bit of stupidity too. We were so exhausted by the end of it but Pete did a great job of getting us home safely (even if half the time he was driving without his hands - don’t tell my mum!), while Brent read aloud to us from The Last Battle :-)
The Sunday night before the conference, Brent, Pete and I stayed with a friend of mine's family in Glenbrook. Sarah and I met four years ago at a conference, have written ever since and this was the second time we'd met up! So cool :-) Her family is beautiful and they were so hospitable. We went to church in the evening with Sarah, hung out at macca's afterwards, then went home and stayed up too late talking to her brother and parents.
Before we left on Monday morning, Sarah and I went for a walk around the corner to where we used to live when I was a baby.
We took photos of our old house and the road out of the front that has become famous in our family, because of the time that mum found me walking down it (at 18 months!), “going to the shops”!
I had some kind of weird tummy bug that made me feel like chucking every time I ate. Plus the food was (no offense to the caterers) quite dodgy, so my overall eating experience for the week was not much fun. Oh, except for the hot chocolates we bought on our trips to the cafes - now they were good!
Anna, Caroline and I stayed up talking one night til who knows when and were so tired the next day that it wasn't funny. The conversation was good though - really good and I can't write enough how much I loved hanging out with those girls.
The weather was really cold. Like, you don't know how cold. Like, I considered going and buying a coat cold, but didn't cause I'm scabby cold. I packed all these summer clothes thinking it was gonna be hotter than home, little expecting icy cold winds and driving rain. Wow. Katoomba in January.
I think I'm suffering from, "I haven't written in my personal journal for ages" syndrome, and will go do that before I feel the need to bore people with any more of these crazy ramblings...
But do yourself a favour - come with me again next year. I really mean it!