Holy Riot in Israel – Yom Kippur Style

I just read an article from the BBC news about a riot by Jews during the Jewish holy day of atonement, Yom Kippur.

Apparently it was caused by an Arab man who drove his car during the religious holiday where there is fasting and much standstill among the Jews. So he was reported to have been attacked by youths because of his offensive act of driving on the streets.

What I don’t get is that people would go berserk over these things when it’s meant to be a holy period. Hello? Is rioting and expressing your anger seen as holy, or is even holy?

Ok, maybe the Arab guy might’ve been a tool and decided to take the piss out of Jews by driving his car during this period, but to pay back with rudeness and intimidation with anger and hostility, well I think most of them might’ve missed the point of the holiness of the event.

Holiness is to be set apart, to repay hostility with kindess, good with evil, and above all love with hatred. To do what goes against your sinful nature and to do what is right instead. Yes, it takes an active decision to be made holy and to do what is right rather than what feels right.

This is what the bible says and this is what I believe.

Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian

“I could go sit in a garage all day and that don’t make me a car”

Ah how I love that quote from Joyce Meyer. I’ve been listening to Joyce’s podcasts from iTunes during work and between travels to and from work.

I have met many “Christians” who claim their faith because they go to church. Some of them can even tell you how many times they go in a year: twice. Easter and Christmas.

This is a severe misconception of the identity of Christians.

“We don’t go to church to make us something, we go to church because we’ve been made something.”

So what is the purpose of the church if it doesn’t make you a Christian? This is a glimpse of one of the earliest churches (if not earliest!) from scripture,

42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. – Acts 2:42-47, BibleGateway

There are some key points that you can extract from this passage in Acts.

1. The church was a place of learning God’s Word through the teachings from the apostles, otherwise known today as pastors or priests.
2. The church was a place of worshiping God with fellow believers.
3. The church was a place of encouraging each other’s faith through God’s tranformation in people’s lives.
4. The church was a place of caring for and meeting each other’s needs, be in physical or spiritual needs.
5. The church was a place of enjoying one another’s company and friendship in a Christian community.

As you can see, there is no mention whatsoever about a church being in a physical building. The church represents the body of Christ whom we as believers are partakers of it (1 Corinthians 12:12-27).

I hope this sheds some light on what the purpose of the church is.

World Youth Day affects Public Transport?

So far I’ve hardly noticed the effect of World Youth Day (WYD) on the public transport system in Sydney.

Still takes me the same amount of time to get to work and yes, I do see more travellers wearing WYD 08 jackets out and about but nothing to the degree of “avoid the city at all costs!”.

Perhaps it’s because I live on the southern coast and the WYD travelers are putting up bed at other areas.

Yes yes I know it’s been said before, but why’s it called World Youth Day when it spans over 5 days? Does it sound cooler?

There’s been many controversial and sensitive news about the catholic church and how the victims of sexual abuse by priests are extremely upset, destroyed and felt let down by the church who are meant to represent hope, safety and goodness.

Unfortunately the church today is far from what the church of Acts was and has been a laughing stock or a flaming target to people. That is the sad reality.

Hopefully I’ll get time to expand more on this topic on the weekend.

Battle

There’s a battle within myself,
Lord help me to lose,
Through my loss, I will find myself,
I’d rather this than to lose you.

Am I just blind, am I a fool?
Why can’t I see it and not perceive it?
Lord help me to understand,
Why your ways are so true.

So take this world from me,
The Christ it’s you I seek,
Let me not forget,
The times you were there for me.

So there’s this battle within myself,
This time I think I’ll win,
Oh Lord, lead me to the battle,
Victorious I’ll be.

So take this world from me,
The Christ it’s you I seek,
May your name be glorified,
So others will see,
So others will see.

Before and After

At times like these I try,
To mend it all inside,
By my own I keep falling down aside.

When my worlds collide,
Feel like giving up the fight,
Surrounded by the dark I try to hide.

You are near me now,
You are dear to me,
You are all I need,
You’re everything to me.

The scarlet snow turns white,
All the stains are made bright,
So take my hand and show me the way.

The crimson rose nailed tight,
Forgiven, now I know why,
I’ll put my cross now, I’m here to stay.

Never leave my side,
Precious one of mine,
I’ll give you all of me,
I am yours to keep.

Remind me of the times,
Your gracious plans are made right,
In my life you restore my faith.

When things seemed to have gone wrong,
I’ll put my trust in you,
Magnify your faithfulness.

Fill me with your love,
Find myself in you,
And I will follow you,
Jesus Christ my Lord, my Lord.

- Danny