Just pondering...

For some reason, I seem to be running short on things to blog about.

Just, nothing is popping into my head these days.

Hence the lack of posts.

However, for the multitudes of people who read this, I'm not sure if I've ever actually said this here, so I think now is as good a time as ever to do so.

Even though it's been implied in past posts, I am a Christian. I do believe in, and love God. And He's the one who's given me direction in life.

Now, I assume a lot of you would be familiar with the Easter story.

Jesus went and died on a cross, and rose again 3 days later.

He died for our sins, for you and me, so that we could have a relationship with God.

He did that, for us. He was perfect. He never sinned. Ever.

Yet, he took our sin for us, purely because he loved us that much.

Now, this is something I've always struggled with.

Don't know why, I just have. I just struggle to understand why someone would die, for me.

I've also struggled to grasp the enormity of what He did for us.

I've seen this video twice now. It got posted by someone today.

I remember the first time I watched, in small group. I was absolutely shocked by it.

It's a video of a doctor describing the physical side of what Jesus went through on that cross.

Keep in mind that everything He went through, He did for you and me.

So, here you go.

Words escape me...

So, I went to write something. I realised how incoherent I sounded, and how ridiculously vague it was, so I ditched it.
Instead, I decided to write this.

Well, I know that sin was released into the world by us, and I know that God gave us free will to do as we wished, but some things still still confuse me. Just what people are capable of.
We're able to do what we want, thanks to the fact that God gifted us with free will. And I know that, because of that, we sin multiple times daily because of it, whether or not we deliberately sin. But the choices of some just outright confuse and disgust me.
Murderers, rapists, slavers, ect ect. All those kinds of people. How on earth can you actually perform an act as vile as what they do? I don't understand it.
It's just evil.
I mean, the fact that someone can willingly do that, just shocks me. And I truly hate the fact that it happens, on a daily basis.

The world would be a much better place if this just didn't happen. I'm no genius for stating that, but I truly do pray for a world which can one day be free of injustice. I pray that people can realise that what they do is just wrong, and that they correct it.

I'm tired, rambling, and making no sense now. so I'll try to end coherently. I do know that God doesn't differentiate between sins, that lying is just as bad as killing a man, in his eyes, but the thought that someone would willingly end another persons life, or commit acts that just tears their being to shreds simply horrifies me. It just shouldn't happen. Ever.

I do pray for these people though, that they can end the atrocities they perform, and that no one else repeats their actions. I just pray for a safer, and fairer world.

Oh CYC...

How I love your awesomeness.
Getting back from camp today, I've sat around for around 3 hours now trying to think of ways to explain these past few weeks.
I've attempted to write here numerous times, I attempted numerous statuses.
I was happy with none.
So instead of writing about it, I've basically decided to write about how hard it is to write about it.
I mean, it's just so hard to fully understand all that has happened.
So many friendships made.
So many fun times had.
Hours spent in worship, and in prayer.
Countless kids coming to Christ.
It's just been inspiring.

These past few months have been interesting for me.
They've been hard. And numerous questions have been raised.
But again, God has just come and blown me away.
He's shown me what He can do.
He's reminded me He'll always be there.
That's about all I can really take from this week.


I feel refreshed, ready to take on the world with Him by my side.
And I'm truly confident that we can handle anything that comes my way.
This year is going to be amazing.

All your post are belong to us...

Because taking an old meme and changing into your title is the coolest thing to do.

ANYWAY!
2012 is here.
And you know what?
It feels no different to last year :D
Except that I have to write a 2 instead of a 1 when writing dates now.
Because I'm a baws.

Anyway...
Camps.
Tomorrow.
(technically today, since it's 1am)
I'm excited.
Pumped, even.

I've honestly been waiting for these camps for so long now.
I've been so excited for them.
Looking forward to them so much.
And that's largely because I'm going to be taking a larger role in what's happening with them.

Impact.
4 years ago... I started leading there.
How much has changed since I first set foot on that amazing camp.
Looking back... I'm such a different person.
Once the shy boy who sat back, didn't say much, and went with the flow.
Now I'm loud, outgoing, and play a part in what's happening.
I think it's largely because of that camp.
It's changed me.
And now, I'm going to be programming it.
I play a large part in whether it's successful or not.
I choose when to do stuff and not to do stuff.
It's exciting, but daunting.

What if it goes wrong?
What if I screw up?
I occasionally have these thoughts, wondering whether or not I'll actually be able to do it.
But then I realise, I have so much support.
Daz won't let that happen, and he's such an inspiration anyway. He'll help me through it.
Then there are the 2 other programmers, who are awesome people anyway.
Lastly, and most certainly not least, there's someone else out there who has great plans for this camp.
I know He does. I've seen His work in these camps numerous times before.
And I have so much faith that it's going to happen again.
God moves at Impact. He changes lives, using us to do so.
And I know that, no matter what happens, He'll be there every step of the way to help me do what's needed.
And I love knowing that.
4 years ago when I started, I didn't know that.
I believed in God, but I didn't know what that meant.
I've grown as a person, grown in my understanding of what He did for us, grown in my faith.
And now it's my turn to help another leader to do the same, in some way or another.
Plus, there's always the knowledge that He's going to change the lives of who knows how many these holidays.
His work has already started.
It will never end.
And for this I am glad.

Dear 2012..

This year, I shall do the following.
And you shall not stop me, for I am legend.
Also, because I want to do them, so yeah.

Let the list begin.
I shall see no fewer than 10 bands play live.
I shall successfully learn to do a standing backsault.
I shall learn to organise everything better.
I shall clean my room once. Maybe twice. :P
I shall read books more.
I shall study more.
I shall finally pay my phone bill.
I shall also stop going over my download limit.
I shall give a present to every neighbour, as thanks to the one who provides my internet.
I shall at least attempt to write a song.
I shall not refrain from doing what needs doing.
I shall write a book! Actually, I won't.
I shall try to learn how to sing and play guitar at the same time.
I shall improve my drumming and bass skills.
I shall live through December, because the world shall not end.
I shall find a church, and regularly attend said church.
I shall do the chicken dance at least 5 times.
And finally...
I shall enjoy this year.

So.
Bit of a list.
It's more of an "I'll try to do these, because I feel I need to" list.
But hopefully it helps.
But yeah.
Happy New Year to the multitudes reading this.

The final ending, and a new beginning...

To be honest, the whole "it's a new year, it's a new start" thing has confused me. Just because it's a new year, doesn't mean anything has really changed. It's not like your life is restarting. Although, I can kind of understand it.

People see the new year as a chance to move on from what the previous year gave to them. I just use it as a chance to reflect on what's changed in my life, and what hasn't.

This year, my life changed a lot. I moved to Frankston. I had to survive by myself. I started at uni. I took up many extra responsibilities with youth stuff. Did I succeed? Who knows. I did in some aspects, I didn't in others.

All I know, is that I'm probably going to actually set some form of resolutions this year, and will try to fulfill them. Hopefully.

It'd be nice if I could.

And so it is...

I love Damien Rice. 
That is all.
Enjoy.