Welcome to the next stage of the journey... I am Catholic!

Hi everyone,

Well after a few months away, I'm excited to announce that I've today launched a whole new project which will hopefully help many more people on their faith journey called - I am Catholic.

So another blog you ask? Well not quite - this time I'm going to try to reach as many people as possible and so I've created a Facebook page.

A Facebook page? Yes and I won't just be sharing my stuff on there. On a regular basis I'll be posting up videos and articles from people who are Catholic who I think are amazing and who have inspired me on my journey as well as pieces that I feel really give a good response to some of the key issues affecting Catholics in the world today.

So that means no more writing? Nope, I'll still be around - along with a bunch of other people - writing pieces to help you in your life journey except this time I'm going to be trying the latest in technology to do this - instant articles on Facebook. Stay tuned to the I am Catholic Facebook page for these pieces and I hope to continue to keep inspiring you on your faith journey.

Why am I creating this? Well to be honest with you, when I started writing the journey of a faith warrior in Christ blog, I wanted to inspire as many people as I could with it.

While I'm pleased to say I've inspired a number of people - what I started to realise at the end of last year was that it wasn't motivational quotes or helpful blog articles people needed but rather a support on the challenge that is living out a life in faith each day.

While I know there's a lot of support pages out there for those who are Christian, one of the things I realised at the start of this year is that there aren't many for those who are Catholic - well there are if you look hard enough but none that are easy to find.

It's why I created I am a Catholic- a simple name which is easy to find and a Facebook page which I hope to fill with lots of different videos, quotes, images and events that will help people who are Catholic on their faith journey and give them the courage and strength to go out and live the faith the best they can.

So where do I access I am a Catholic? You can visit right now at www.facebook.com/iamacatholicau

I look forward to seeing you all there and know my thoughts and prayers are always with you.

Till next time...

Yes I'm back... well sort of....

Hey everyone,

Yep, it's been four months but I'm back on here and it's good to be writing to you all again.

I could start this blog off by saying that I've been offline due to the busy time at work I've had, or because I moved again last month or that I've been busy with stuff away from my desk - and all of these would be true.

But the real truth is that I sort of got burnt out with writing at the end of last year and decided to take a hiatus from it (outside of work) for a while.

Sometimes, no matter how passionate you are about something, if you lose the love for it, it can be really hard to keep going.

Now I know that you should fight through for the things that you love but I think it's important when people say this to also include the fact that to do that, sometimes you need to step away from the heat of the kitchen and take a more birds eye view of things.

And so, that's what I did. I spent some time reading great works and listening to some amazing speakers, I spent time listening to God and to what he wants me to do and I caught up with some amazing people who have now inspired me to the next stage of my writing/blogging journey.

And so it is with this note that I write to advise that this will be the last post on this blog for now.

I've really enjoyed doing this blog and giving people with words of encouragement and wisdom - and don't worry I don't expect to stop that anytime soon - it's a gift I truly feel that God gave me and it would be wrong not to use it.

In saying that though, I feel that the next stage I'm about to take up on this blogging journey is one that needs to be spoken about, one that will hopefully help a lot more people in their lives, ones I'd love others to get involved in too and one that I believe is where I'm being called to at this time of my life.

So what is it you may ask... well you'll just have to wait to find that out. I'm hoping to get started on it really soon - by May at the latest.

Until then however, I will be praying for everyone of you and thank you for your support with this blog - I won't shut this up entirely, because who knows, one day I might be called to continue on this journey but it's adios from me for now.

Resolution 2015: Expect the unexpected

Hi everyone!

HAPPY NEW YEAR and hope that you had a wonderful end to 2014 and are enjoying a well earned rest today.

It's that time of the year again - the start of another year and that means of course, time for a lot of people to write up their resolutions. Regardless of whether we say we have them or not, everyone has something they want to achieve over 2015 - whether it's to be healthier, love themselves, love others, do something or make something happen.


The thing that the last year has taught me however is that resolutions have one slight flaw to them - they are what we want to achieve!

Now I'm not saying there's anything wrong with having goals, but it's important to note that what we want to achieve, and God's plans for us, don't always follow the same path. Just because we want to do something, doesn't mean that it'll work into God's great plan for our life and a lot of the time, we'll end up somewhere very different to where we wanted to be at the start of the journey.

If you want an example of this, here's what I thought was going to happen in 2014 and what actually happened...

• I would be working to make a difference to the lives of young people - OK so this did sort of happen, but not in the way I was expecting. I was thinking I was going to be a youth worker and spend day after day with young people, but in actual fact, I instead now work for the administration team at an organisation that has young people at it's heart - which while it isn't dealing with young people day in day out, is still very important as if we didn't do what we do, then the programs that help young people wouldn't be able to be as effective as they are.
  
  
• I would be doing my communications and writing as a hobby, rather than a profession and due to lack of interest I would leave the communications industry - Big NOPE. Not only do I work in a Marketing and Communications team in employee communications, I'm actually happy to be doing it and I get a lot out of the challenges of the business and the fun dynamics in the team I work with.
  
  
• I would be growing the efforts of my local diocese and using my skills from my time in youth ministry to grow local initiatives- Big NOPE. God had something much bigger planned and now I write this knowing that in three days I am headed to a leadership camp for a movement that is not only going to hopefully bring many back to the Church, but that has inspired me to use my gifts and talents for a much bigger cause. I've stepped down from doing projects locally but I do so knowing God has called me to something that is so necessary and that I'm so blessed to be a part of.

These three are just some of the many cases of how in 2014, what I thought would happened was skewed or completely changed when it went through the dealings of life and when I trusted the will of God instead of my own.

Now there are no complaints from me about the plans changing. Sure there were challenges in 2014, but I wouldn't have that year any other way. God showed me a plan greater than I could have ever imagined and it's made me realise the need to trust him so much more with life and not want to take so much control over things.

And that's the thing we must remember. No matter how many resolutions we make, we will never know the amazing plan God has for us that could trump all of these and make our lives greater than we could ever dream.

So in 2015, I invite you to make resolutions, to strive to be the best you can be. I also however suggest that you be willing to change these resolutions along the way or even be open to new ideas - because in the end, there could be a result at the end of the year that will make you wonder why you even made those resolutions at all.

Wishing you all a wonderful year ahead!

P.S. New blog posts will happen fortnightly from this post onwards. This is due to more time being spent on external projects and also so that I can achieve my 2015 resolution - to catch up with those family and friends I haven't seen in a long time.

Be open to God's response

Hi all,

It's good to be back with you all. Been a crazy few weeks with lots of projects and no internet but I'm here now and really looking forward to writing today's piece, cause it's something that I'm really passionate about.

Yesterday I was at a wonderful advent retreat and we were asked to do some reflection on some bible passages. One of them was about how the Israelites prayed for a leader and the arrival of John the Baptist. It talks about how John is seen by all those around him as the Messiah because he seems to be a great leader, in line with the law of the time and a real man of the people. However as we find out, there's another one coming- Jesus- who is the actual Messiah, but who is completely not what the people were expecting- someone who challenges their laws, who turns the establishment upside down and who shows all what it truly means to be a man of God, more than just laws, it's about heart as well.

As I read this passage, it got me thinking about how many other times in the bible something like this happens and in the end, it happens a lot.

It seems to be God's way of working. He always answers the prayers of the bible, yet he does it in ways no one could have imagined and ways that aren't always the expected.

So the question has to be asked- if God has been like this since the early days- why is it that ten of thousands of years later (ok maybe just thousands), we still haven't got the message?

We still ask for things and then expect them to appear and get annoyed when they don't happen, meanwhile they are happening, just not in the way we expected.

We need to become a lot more aware of what is happening around us and realise that everything that happens in our lives is due to God- and sometimes, the answers to what we seek are in those things that are happening around us, if only we just took the time to look at them more closely.

Take case in point my asking God for a way to continue to minister and help people after last year. 

I thought that he'd put me in a job in Youth Ministry and I honestly thought I'd be doing stuff with young people now and that was the end of the plan, but God, as always had bigger and greater plans.

I could have never imagined I'd be part of a group that is going on the massive task of working to bring those disconnected back to their faith. Not just youth, but all people. I also didn't think I'd be using all my talents, whether they are youth, communications and marketing, video and tech, vocal or welcoming in one place. I am doing this though and that is only because I realised that while this wasn't what I asked God for in the first place, it was where he wanted me to be and that he was answering my prayer- even if the response was slightly off centre.

Whenever we ask for something from God, we need to realise that: 

1. He is always going to ensure it happens if it's in his will for us, he loves us too much not to do it
2. He is working on his time, not ours, so it may take years to happen
3. He going to do it when it will be best for our lives, not when it is quickest
4. He's not always going to do it in the way asked, but always in the way that's best for us.
   

The sooner we all become more open to God's response, the greater our lives will be, for we will be able to see around us all the amazing works God is doing, even in the smallest of things.

I say this because I know from personal knowledge that this is the case. I've always been a person who focused on what I asked for and if it didn't happen, blamed myself for not doing enough or I got frustrated.

In the last few years however and especially this year, I've become a lot more aware of things around me and I'm realising that while my prayers aren't always answered the way I hoped for, they are being answered and God's way is so much greater as I'm learning amazing lessons and growing even more in myself and who I am every single day.

It's why I encourage you all to be more open to God's response, as I want you to experience what I have been blessed to. Listen for God in every space of your life and don't restrict yourself to the requests you ask God for and the set way you think that should play out- for God's way is always so much greater.

Till next time...

The saints are coming - Part 2 - Be the best you can be!

Happy All Saints Day everyone!

I don't know what it is, but there's something about All Saints day that I always look forward to.

It's an opportunity to remember the incredible groups of people who have helped ensure our amazing faith remains strong. It also allows us to take a moment to appreciate the hard work these people did, the sacrifices they made and the way they love God.

If I'm honest though, as I've grown older, the real reason why I love All Saints Day and any time where I get a chance to read about the Saints is that these people are ordinary, normal, everyday people just like me, but they give me hope I can achieve great things by the way they lived out their lives.

As a video I watched on Saints says "most saints are ordinary anonymous men and women".

Earlier this year, I wrote about how we are all called to be saints and spoke about how we need to step out of the lives and be saints, following the great Saints example and growing in humility along the way.

It's easy however to say that we can all be saints. It's a lot harder to get started and actually live the life of one.

While being humble is part of it, the Saints were more than just humble, they also were people who changed the world for the better in all that they did.

The thing that we need to realise for our own lives as saints is that, they all did this task in very different ways.

St Paul for example, was a witness of being saved by God, where as St Nicholas of Myra was an example of believing in God in every circumstance and of generosity. St Joan of Arc went into battle with weapons where as Blessed Mother Teresa also went into battle, but in a very different way as she battled illness, cared for the dying and built a future for young women.

None of the Saints did something that was better than the other- they are all seen equally as being inspiring in the path of God. They were all different but they all had one goal- to do God's will for their lives to the best of their ability.

Every man and woman has a talent, gift or ability that is uniquely theirs. Sure there may be similarities, but the way a persons personality interacts with their skill makes it unique to them and them alone.

God put each one of us on this earth to use that unique ability to change the world for the better. He calls us  to sainthood by giving us the opportunity, as people of faith, to answer this call everyday of our lives. 

Now that might seem like a big task so if you're struggling for ideas, here's some hints as to how you can be a modern saint in the world today...

• If your talent is talking, then get out there and spend time with those who are lonely or don't fit into society. Your words of support and friendship could change a life.
• If your talent is helping out others, then start organising fundraisers and events that raise money or just go out and help by volunteering wherever needed.
• If you like making computer programs, then why not make programs that help make lives better, especially those most in need.

One of the main reasons I write these pieces is because I have realised that one of my talents from God is inspiring others and I can also write, so put these two together and this is what I came up with.

Whether you are cleaning a floor or are balancing accounts for a major corporation, you matter and the gifts you possess will lead people closer to Christ if you're willing to live out his name in all that you do.

So what are you waiting for, get out there from this All Saints Day and go and become the saints that God called us all to be.

Till next time..

Have an attitude to gratitude - it won't just help others, but also you!

To be absolutely honest with you, this week has been a tough one for the world. From the fear we are now all faced with about possibly having our lives threatened, to the growing problems with epidemics across the world, you be forgiven if you think that the world is suddenly a darker place.

The thing is though, darkness is all around us and has been since the dawn of time. We have always had things to fear and worry about. Whilst it's great to say that it'd be fantastic to live in a world where everyone got along and all was at peace, the fact is, it isn't.

So where do you turn to when darkness is surrounding you? Where do you go when it seems like everything is caving in or the world seems like it wants to destroy you?

Well for starters, make sure you talk to someone about this. We all have these moments and we're not alone, so it's important we share and support each other.

The other thing that is important to do is when things seem less than hopeful, is to take an attitude of gratitude.

If you're not sure what I'm talking about, then watch the video below as I think it's a great example of how being grateful can change a life.

As one of my favourite speakers Jonathan Doyle said in a podcast I was listening to this week- you have two choices to every situation- to either see the good or the bad.

Having an attitude to gratitude means that more often then not you'll pick the good. 

For example, if you have work/school/uni mates who you think are more talented or capable then you, rather than either getting jealous or feeling inadequate- if you had an attitude to gratitude, you'd be thankful for them being placed in your life and through that, use their talents to achieve your goals.

If you are feeling like you're being dealt a rough hand in a day, an attitude to gratitude will help you to think of the good things that have happened in the last day/week and you'll quickly see that this small moment is insignificant compared to the larger picture.

Now in saying all of this, there are going to be tough times- like when illness, death, heartbreak happen where it's going to be very hard to have an attitude to gratitude.

It's moments like these when we need to remember that we don't have to be happy, but we do need to be grateful. There's always things we can appreciate - even if that thing is just the support of friends and family or a favourite song, movie or food.

Some of the greatest people I've read about recently, from Church saints to saints of the world have suffered so much, but they all have, through an attitude to gratitude, been able to achieve greatness.

Gratitude doesn't just help others by making them feel worthwhile and therefore more willing to achieve their goals, it helps you to see the great wonders and joys that God has given in everyday of our lives.

So here's the challenge this weekend- start looking for something to be grateful for in your life everyday. It may be hard at first, but trust me, if you stick with it, it will change your life for the better.

Till next time...

All good things must come to an end..

Recently, I've realised something. It's a thing that has brought a lot of peace to my mind- a lot of understanding and I thought I'd share it with you today.

What I've realised is... All good things must come to an end.

I've always been one of those people who wants to try and hold onto the good in life for as long as possible- especially when it comes to my friends and things I value. I guess that comes from the fact that I didn't have that many friends growing up.

I'm the type of person who would bring up old memories during catch ups just so that I could reminisce about how good those times were. The type of person who hated goodbyes to those near and dear and couldn't get my head around why relationships were so different with people a couple of months after when we weren't so close. Oh and I was also one of those people who tried as hard as possible to keep friendships at the same level as they were long after I knew they weren't there anymore... oh and don't even get me started on actual relationships!

Case in point- I was close friends with someone a few years ago. We would talk a lot, share a lot about our lives and it felt really cool to have another close friend who I could hang out with, share laughs, do lots of really cool things with- I thought we'd be lifelong friends and we'd be sharing about our lives back then in decades time.

That person however went overseas and while I kept up with them over Skype we weren't as close as before- naturally it does happen when you live two separate lives away from each other in different countries doing your own thing. When they came back to Australia- our friendship had changed. I could see that we weren't as close as before- but rather than just accept it and appreciate the fact we were still friends, I instead spent my time questioning what I could have done wrong to ruin what we had- did I say the wrong thing, did I take them for granted etc.

Over time, my lack of focus on what we had meant that I missed out on building the friendship that was still there and while I will say we are still friends, we are nowhere near as close as before.

This is the prime example of what can happen when you aren't open to the fact that all good things will end eventually. Now I'm not saying that every friendship where someone goes away will end like this- I mean I have a good friend of mine who I didn't see for a year thanks to being on mission who I came back to and it was like we'd only been away from each other for a day. The thing is though, that sometimes, whether we like it or not, circumstances are going to change and we need to be ready to accept that time.

As Ecclesiastes says, there is a time for everything and we need to be able to live in the moment as it arises for two main reasons...

1. We only get to live in that moment for a period of time- so we need to make the most of it and treasure every chance we get.
2. If we keep trying to live in a moment once it's gone, we miss the opportunities that might be just around the corner for something better, greater or even a growth that could change everything.

Now there's one other reason for allowing a season in time to pass through and to move to a new one. This reason is greater than the two mentioned above but it's also one of the hardest reasons to get your head around...

- God has called that person to something greater-

Yes people, sometimes we are not the only reason that good things must come to an end. Sometimes it's for the benefit of the other to find their God given calling. 

This is a hard pill to swallow but understanding this concept could be the difference between a lifetime of what if's and pain vs a lifetime of joy and happiness. It's why I admire any man or woman who gives up their significant other so they can become a religious. You might love that person with all your heart, but you know that they are called to a higher purpose and who are you to stand against that. These people are not only brave, but they have tremendous trust in God's plan, I mean, you couldn't do it otherwise.

A few weeks ago, I was faced with this choice. One of my closest friends told me about her dream to go do mission work overseas and I was faced with the fact of whether I was selfish and told her to stay and do it in Australia or was honest and listened to what I knew was God's purpose for her.

To answer the question- she's now training for 9 months of mission in Canada and I couldn't be prouder, happier or feel closer as a friend to her then now- even though she is over 10,000 kms away. Despite the close friendship we have and the chance we may not be as close when she comes back, I knew I had to tell her to go if that's what God wanted for her - and by all accounts to this point- it seems like He did.

You see, I'm realising that no matter how good something may seem- it will only get better if we allow the moments we are in to have their end and for new opportunities to begin. It's like when you prune the beautiful flowers of a plant so new buds can sprout and next season more flowers can grow - we can only keep having life to it's fullest if we are willing to live in the moment- to accept it for what it is and to know that when the time comes to move on, we can, knowing God has something greater in store.

Till next time...

Being perfect is not the key to a healthy faith life!

Ok, it's time I admit something. I sometimes don't say grace before meals, don't always get my intended hour of prayer in a day and I have arrived at mass either right on the time it starts or after.

To be honest, I know it's not that big a deal. I know that if I was to say this on the street, it wouldn't bat an eyelid- but if I'm being honest, I wouldn't have admitted this a couple of years ago to anyone.

You see, I grew up in the school of thought that if you weren't doing these things- you weren't being truly in your faith. That God would not take kindly to this as you weren't respecting him. That to be a truly strong person in the faith- you had to say grace before meals, not just go to mass every Sunday but ensure you were there at least 15 minutes beforehand- to not do these things was to sin and sin badly.

Well I now know this isn't the case at all. Sorry everyone who believes this thought, but being perfect and saying grace before every meal and making mass 30 minutes before it starts to ensure you have quiet time with God does not make you any more holy than the person who doesn't do these things.

Now before I continue, I will say that we are called to do those things I mentioned above because they help strengthen our relationship with God and allow us to give thanks to our creator for all the great things he has done- or to spend time with him seeing how he is affecting our lives. These things are important and if you can do them, I'd suggest you do as they are great ways to get into the habit of living out your faith in life and to see that there's more to the world than just the material lives we sometimes live.

The thing is though, while they are important, as I have said many times before- God's love is unconditional, which means that he will love us just as much whether we are horrible sinners or the closest thing to saints. 

We need to stop feeling as if we can no longer live the faith just because we may have forgotten to say grace before a meal, or forgotten to reflect on God in two days out of seven, or that we might have a young family and have arrived at mass five minutes late because the kids took a bit more time to get into the car than usual one Sunday morning.

You've only got to look at the bible passage that talks about the Pharisee and the sinner who were praying to see what God finds truly important. The Pharisee followed the law and prayed to God to the letter as he was taught, while the sinner beats his chest and wails to God for forgiveness. Despite his lack of abiding by the law, Jesus explains that the sinner is the one who is more open to God's grace as he is willing to accept he's not perfect and ask for God's help.

As human beings, we are bound to have times where we make slip-ups in our faith, no matter how devout we are and God accepts that as he knows that we have a tendency to sin. No matter how much we try to do God's will, there's going to be times where mistakes are going to be made. Rather than sit in these and wallow about how much less of a Christian we now are- God wants us to realise the mistakes we've made- ask for his forgiveness and then continue on trying to live his path. We just have to look at how Jesus treated Peter after he was betrayed by him to see the way we are called to move on from mistakes.

I know personally for me it's hard not to want to be perfect. To do everything God calls me to gives me a sense that I'm serving him the best I can and when I stuff up, I know I feel pretty annoyed at myself for it. I'm learning though that it is in those times that I sometimes see God more clearly than when I'm just doing what I'm called to do and following the path because at least when I stuff up, I'm needing to turn back to God for his grace, rather than just putting my faith on autopilot and making sure I don't hit the obstacles.

The other thing about being perfect is that it blinds you from what God might truly be calling you to. For example, if you are trying to make Church in time to have 30 minutes before Mass but on the way you ignore a person in need to do so- you aren't living out your faith as while you might be at Church and praying- along the way you've forgotten to address the one key commandment from Jesus- "Love one another as I have loved you."

Finally, one of the biggest no-no's our Church talks about is Spiritual Elitism. Basically this means that you think that because you going to Church more often than others or spending more time in prayer- that you are better than them.

No one person is better than another just because of what they do- everyone is made unique, and equally valued by God and so to say anything otherwise is to deny the real faith that God taught us- to love our neighbours as ourselves.

Further from this, if all people see in us when they see the Church are people who are always doing things perfectly, are always abiding by the rules and who are constantly discouraging those who can't reach this level- they will think that the Church is a place that's too hard for them to be in- as they aren't at the same level of holiness or perfection as those around them.

We would rather create a place where we try to live by the canons of the Church as much as possible but in which people know they are able to make mistakes, that they won't be judged by that and that the community will support them in helping them grow on their journey.

So the next time you forget to say Grace before a meal or make it to Mass late- make sure you apologise to God for doing it- but don't think you are any less Holy, because God certainly doesn't.

Till next time...

Why we all need to stop wanting to be somewhere else- Accepting our place

Why is it that no matter where we are in life- no matter how good life is at the time, we are always wanting to be somewhere else?

I know for me, it's something that I'm guilty of all too often. Despite having lots of friends, a decent amount of money to live by, a job that I find rewarding and so many moments in life that I really should be grateful for, I instead focus on what I don't have.

I don't have enough money to live where I want to live yet, I've still not found the one, I'm still not getting enough support in my endeavours and the list goes on and on.

I use to think I was the only person who is like this, but in recent years, I've realised that we all are like this. No matter how good you may think someone's life is, they are always finding a fault in it. Even some of my friends who are doing amazing things, will tell me that there are areas of their lives they want to change or that they'd rather on some days being doing something else.

There's so many problems with this way of thinking, I could write a book about them. The main issue however is that by thinking like this, we stop seeing the good that we're given and instead focus on the bad. 

This thought process is in my opinion one of the key reasons why our society is the way it is today. We are so worried about what we're doing and the things we're missing out on- that we then spend all our time trying to fix those things or make them happen- rather than helping out those who really need it or caring for those around us.

We need to turn this thought process on it's head- for our own sanity and freedom as well as for the good of the rest of our fellow neighbours.

To start off with, we need to keep reminding ourselves that we are all put in the place where we are at for a reason. This is something I'll touch on more in a future post but needless to say that God doesn't call us to be anywhere other than where we are at this very moment and to make the most of it living his word out in it. 

Yes we're called to be the best we can be and yes God will rewards us all abundantly, but this doesn't have to be tomorrow, or next month or even next year. Think about how Abraham (Abram) and Sarah (Sara) had to wait until Sarah was 90 before they got the child they'd been asking God for. Think about how Jesus had to wait till he was 30 to start his great work, even though I'm sure he'd been given the gifts a long time before hand. We all are called to a plan by God, but that doesn't mean we're going to be doing it tomorrow.

Secondly, we need to start focusing on what is good in our world rather than what is bad. 

It's incredible to see how when tragedy happens, a lot of time that is when the true hearts of people come through. I look at the Rise for Alex initiative as a great example of this, or just the other day the way people around the world gave to help Baby Gammy with the heart defect in Thailand. The thing is though, we need to start acting like this outside of tragedy too.

We need to take a look at our lives on a daily basis and look at the good we have in them. We need to stop worrying about what we don't have and thank God for what we do. We also need to see those who don't have what we have and try to make a difference in their lives so that they can share in our blessings (whether they be material, emotional or spiritual).

I know I'm guilty of not doing this and it's something I need to work a lot harder on, but I am trying everyday to change my mindset as I know it's the only way the world we become a better place. As I've said many times before- God put us here to do something, so we should go out and do it.

Finally, we need to be accepting of where we are. 

Now that doesn't mean we have to be happy with where we are at, or we should stop trying to keep improving or growing even more as people. What it does mean is that we accept that we are where we are is OK, because we know that it is where we will make the most of the life God has given us and it's all a part of the journey.

You see, the truth is, we will always want to be somewhere else for a reason. Not because we are jealous, not because we are flawed, not even because we don't like where we are. The real reason we want to be somewhere else is because it drives us if we allow it to, towards our real purpose, the only place we will be truly content, which is not found here on earth, but in heaven and eternity with God and I know, I wouldn't have it any other way than that.

Till next time... 

Want to know God's plan- Discernment is Key

Hey everyone!

Firstly, apologies for the fact there hasn't been a post here in a while, been super busy. The good news is though that I'm back now and in the coming weeks will be doing a series designed to help you grow your faith in every aspect of life.

To kick it off, thought I'd talk about discernment. Yep, that word that is so commonly used in Christian circles and which everyone seems to talk a lot about but not know a lot about what it involves.

So just what does discernment involve? Well as one of my friends once said, it involves trying something to see if it is what you are truly called to.

While that might seem simple to understand, it's the practicing of it where most people struggle. I know personally that discerning things- like previously in life as to where my vocation should be, or what path my career should take- has always been hard as I thought that if I spent time in a place where I was just trying stuff rather than actually doing something worthwhile, I'd be wasting time I could be using to make a difference.

The truth is though, you would still be wasting time doing stuff if you didn't discern, because there'd be a high chance that you'd just be going through the motions with things and the effort wouldn't be there.

Instead of seeing discernment time as time spent doing something not worthwhile, we need to start seeing the time of discernment as a time to really learn whether something is good or not in accordance to God's plan.

Earlier this year when I was looking to work in Youth Ministry, I thought that was the only path and when I didn't get there, I got frustrated. The truth is though, that if I had taken that time as a time of discernment, I would have realised that this was just God showing me that there was another way of doing things, which as I know now, while challenging, is highly rewarding and where he calls me to be.

I've also started to realise that the last few years of being on NET, were not just about me changing lives, but they were about me learning skills for the much larger and harder task ahead that God has for me- which at this moment is about being a faith filled disciple in a highly secular world. I needed the time away to train and be molded into the person who could be that light in the darkness- but if I hadn't taken the chance to discern a path of youth ministry and helping those who feel at a distance from the church, I'd have never known this.

We all need to try things- whether it's religious life, career, life initiatives- if we didn't try, we wouldn't know what works and what doesn't. We also wouldn't realise what gifts God has given us and how we can use them to do his will in our lives.

There's one destination God calls us to but it's filled with ways to get there and he will work with whatever path we decide to take. The key for us is to be open to the avenues presented and to not be afraid to take a shot in the dark- because while it may not be where we are meant to be, it will leads us towards our true goal on this earth.

So here's my call out to you. If you have a passion or a strong sense in your heart to do something, rather than just sit there and think about it, go out there and discern. You will be at no greater loss in God's eyes if you do decide to take the chance and it doesn't work out, but you will always have a greater understanding of God's plan and how to live it, and that's what life is all about.

Till next time...

Easter Reflection: Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me

Happy Easter everyone! I love this time of year, not just because there's lots of chocolate (those who know me know what that's all about), but also because of what this time of year signifies.

The resurrection of Jesus is an incredible sign of hope for us all. That God loves us so much that he was willing to let his son die and then raise him again from the dead so that we could be saved is truly amazing and something that shows us no matter what, he is with us always. It is a sign for all people, especially Christians, of why we should always trust God, as he will never let us down.

The other day however, I heard something from a Priest in the United States which really struck a chord with me. It was something I'd never thought about, but now that I do, makes me value Easter even more.

Fr Robert Barron in one of his Youtube videos was discussing the idea that one of the great values of Easter is that not only does it show us what true hope is, but also, what it means to be truly great in the world today.

He talks about the fact that our views of greatness and power are based around the idea of violence and a win at all costs attitude. We fight wars for domination over countries and for many, the greatest people in the world today are the most powerful- think Barack or Vlad.

This isn't just us however, it's been the fabric of history since the fall of man. Cain killed Abel, the Egyptians enforced slavery and we've had more wars for land then I think there's been episodes of Days of our Lives. Then of course, there's our good friends the Romans. These people who loved throwing people to Lions for entertainment, who felt the necessary punishment for those who did wrong was to nail them on a cross to suffer a long and painful death. The Romans were conquerors and loved violence, seeing it as the great example of their power in the public domain.

They would have seen the death of Jesus as just another example (even if they washed their hands of it) of the dominance of the Roman empire over all.

The thing is though, in Jesus' resurrection, this whole idea is tipped on it's head. Jesus had every chance after he was risen by his heavenly Father to go out there and tell his disciples to seek vengeance. Every chance to call a plague or destruction of the Roman empire and Jewish life.

But he didn't.

Instead, when Peter cut the ear off one of the people trying to arrest Jesus, Jesus told him to put away his sword and healed the man. When Jesus rose from the dead, he went and greeted the disciples and his first words after that were Peace be with you. There was no violence, no hatred and no power games. There was just peace and a call to share that message to the world.

Long before Jesus death and resurrection, we saw the value and power of this very different way of thinking. Jesus through his willingness to talk to anyone including the Levites, Samaritans and many others, converted many and made them believe. After his resurrection, this message, carried by the disciples- would change the world as we know it.

Even today, in the midst of war and on going power struggles (think Syria, Ukraine) the greatest joy is found in the areas where peace and community reign. No matter how much money, power or property a person has, they will never match the happiness of those in third-world Africa, who while they have nothing, dance and celebrate on a regular basis like they have won the lottery.

Each Easter, we are reminded of this message through the amazing joy that we receive in the rising of Jesus. It is not just the fact that we have won that gives us joy, but it's the fact that we feel at peace with the world, that we know that through Christ rising from the dead, we are saved and that while we may still have to fight many more battles ahead, we do so in the peace of knowing our Saviour did this all before, and like Him, we can come through the other side.

There is no value in power, no worth in war (however we value the brave ones who fight in it to try to secure peace) and there's no reason for violence.

Jesus shows us every Easter that the key to salvation is through peace. It is the choice to love one another even through the hard times, to work out differences without resulting to violence and the ability to be a community that we experience true joy in the world we live in. He built a Church around His mother being in community with His beloved disciple and sharing that with the rest of the group. He changes our lives every year through a sign of true humility and love for all. There is no gun, no nuke or no missile which could achieve what Jesus does in the space of three days.

And with this in mind, my Easter prayer to you is that you let peace be in your hearts and share peace with the world- it is the legacy of Jesus and it is the true way to achieve greatness in the world today.

Have a blessed Easter season :)

Opinion: The crown of thorns- a real sign of hope for us all...

So it's Holy Thursday here in Australia. A time for the beginning of one of the most important moments in the Christian calendar- the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. It's a time that I really treasure as it shows every one of us in real terms the steps Jesus took for us to be saved and for me, there's no better representation of this then the Cross and the Crown of Thorns.

The value of the Cross is well known and to be honest, I don't think really needs an explanation. If you want to know why a Cross is used, feel free to watch the Passion of the Christ or visit any of the many Stations of the Cross services held across the country tomorrow. 

But why a crown of thorns? Why not any other painful implement that could damage, but not kill? Why was this the chosen pain method?

Growing up, I always thought of the crown of thorns as an unnecessary addition to the Passion story, much in the same way I did the fact that as people we have to act as the crowd and tell off Jesus. We can already see he was carrying a cross, dying for us and being treated like dirt. Why then do we have to act like the crowd heckling him and further more, why did he have to have a twisted mess of thorns dug into his head?

It's that exact description mentioned above however that today makes me truly believe that there is no other way that Christ's love for us could have been represented. 

The crown of thorns is perfect in that it is imperfect in every way. It is lots of painful, thorny bushes, each twined together to create the ultimate pain machine. With one branch, it's painful enough, but get a few and twist them together, and the pain is amplified, especially when it's dug into the skin.

The idea of thorns relates back to the days of the fall of man and I believe it, above anything else, is a perfect representation of our brokenness as people. We each sin and are hurt and this can be painful and draw us to turn away from love and feeling worthy. The thing is though that we don't just do this once, we do it time and time again, and over time, we build up our sin and it twists in our lives like the crown of thorns, creating immense pain. The crown of thorns is a literal way of showing our twisted, messed up lives.

Jesus knows this and wants to alleviate our suffering. It's why he is willing to have the crown of thorns placed on his head. He wants us to be freed from all our brokenness and pain and like the cross, for him to carry it. It is, along with cross, a sign of the immense love God has for every one of us, that while He realises we do wrong, He is always wanting to bring us towards Him and His grace and love and mercy, no matter what the cost.

The crown of thorns also provides a great visual example of the pain, betrayal and anguish that is happening around Jesus. Just as the thorns represent the twisted mess our lives can sometimes get in, they were doing the same for the lives of the disciples including Peter and Judas, who during this time betrayed the man they called the Son of God and either ran away, denied or sold Him out.

The thing is though, just like how Jesus took away the pain by taking on the literal crown of thorns, He does the same in a metaphoric sense for first the disciples when He appears to them after the resurrection and then for Peter. All He asks for them to do, is to turn back to Him and believe.

A priest I was talking to the other day made a very interesting point. He said that there is no difference between Peter and Judas in the Passion. Both betray Jesus, both commit sin and both feel extremely hurt by it. The difference is how they deal with the crown of thorns now placed on their heads. Judas turns away and takes his life after realising his error, while Peter trusts in God- he's the first one who runs in to the tomb when the women tell the disciples that the stone has been rolled away. He could have been met by Roman Soldiers who arrested him or by thieves but he risked that possibility for the love of God.

It is the same with each one of us standing here today. We all are broken, we all struggle with pain, addictions, hurts and our sinful nature. The great thing is though is that we have a God who loves us so much that he wants to free us of all of this and all we have to do is like Peter, turn back to Him and believe.

This Easter season, my invitation to each of you is to look at the crown of thorns in your life and take them to Christ. Ask him to help free you from your pain and if you feel there's sin or hurt that needs to be alleviated, then go to confession and ask for God's forgiveness and mercy.

We need not wear the crown of thorns- Jesus has already offered to take that role for us and for that, we should be forever grateful.

Update from Goulburn Number 2

Hi everyone from a very windy but sunny Goulburn. It's been a mild winter so far but still cold enough with the days reaching 7-12 degrees on most days & evenings -2 to 3 degrees - we are very blessed to have heating in the house!

Since being back in July we've done a variety of things when it comes to ministry work. These included two Year 12 retreats, a retreat for a school where there's not normally retreat days held and two youth groups including one for 10-14 year olds. Each of these has had it's challenges- including the fact that the year 12's are set in their beliefs and so it's a lot harder to minister to them about Jesus, even with our own stories. The thing that I've learnt these last few weeks is that God can work through anything- even when I don't think he is.

Whether it is the joy and enthusiasm that allows 10-14 year olds to want to learn even when they can't sit still or the questioning minds of 17-18 year olds that allows you to have great discussion about faith and life- there's always some door God gives to open a persons heart, even if it's not the one you were expecting. I'm learning the importance these days of looking for that door, especially when the program we run might not work for where we are. It's most important at these times that you search for God in the situation and sometimes it is as simple as making sure you're a great example of Christ.

This week I was talking to a year 12 student who told me while he struggles to believe in God, he loves retreat days as they allow him to see epic people who give him hope to keep searching & remind him of how God can impact a life. If just being in a space can do that for one person, imagine how many more peoples lives could be changed if everyone was doing this.

Alongside this I've also been able to help promote vocations at the local Careers Market, which was a lot of fun & while quite a long day on your feet was a great chance to make people think about something that they wouldn't have before. It did however also make me think about my own future, especially with so many stalls for universities and business colleges there. At the moment I'm finally at a point where I'm OK with the future and accept that I've ideas on what I want to do but I need to be open to Gods plan no matter where it may take me or what I end up doing. The last two years of doing Gods will have been some of the most rewarding times of my life so I don't have to fear what comes next if I do Gods will for me.

Other than ministry, everything is going well. As a team we've got a bit more times on our hands at this part of the year so we've been playing tourist and recently visited Parliament House and took a trip to the South Coast which was lots of fun. Life on team is a constant choice to love and fight for those around you - including working to make them the best people they can be. While it is hard work, when you see the fruits of the sacrifice to not be selfish, to challenge others even if they don't like it or to be there to support others even when you want to do something else, it's such a blessing and my team is growing closer everyday as we choose to do these things.

I hope you are all well. Prayers are with you and keep trusting in God, he is always there for you.

Peace to you all,
Trev :)