Third Week

This past week has been much more "chill" than last week. My main task this week has been to simply shadow Jim and understand what he does better. At the end of the day we discuss the things that I learn from the different meetings and experiences of the day. For example, on Tuesday we went to a meeting for a group called Korean Australian Pastors Association (KAPA). There I learned about the struggles of ethnics churches and how the church can assist them better. I also went with Jim to a meeting about his campus ministry. Jim and I have also been doing a lot of talking about the components of a biblical church.

One of the interesting values he is attempting to push in his church is a "balanced perspective. "This, "Core Value" as he would call it, is the belief that the church must not major in some important issues and minor in other equally important issues. For example, too often Christians have a strong social conscience, wishing to see systemic evils erased from the world, but fail to major in orthodox beliefs about sin, Jesus, redemption, etc. On the other extreme, there are churches which have the Westminster Catechism memorized but are uninvolved with injustices, the poor, and/or problems within their context. A "balanced perspective" looks at the commands of Jesus and chooses to not fall into the typical mold of majoring in some commands and ignoring, but wholeheartedly looks to obey all of Jesus's commands about the church and how she should relate to the world.

For those of you who are wondering, all of the international hype about the Pope is true. Today, the city was absolutely packed. Imagine getting fifty percent more of the people who reside in the heart Sydney and put them there, not in the apartments and houses but on the streets, touring, singing, etc. All of the "Pilgrims" have these red and yellow backpacks which say WYD SYD (World Youth Day, Sydney). They are EVERYWHERE! The "Pilgrims" also walk around the city in groups. It is fun to see, because all of them carry their country flag and sing or chant.

As for me, I did see the Pope today. It was brief, but life-changing. Just kidding. I did see him though. I also met someone from West Milford, NJ. For those of you who do not go, I had the opportunity to go to Hillsong last Sunday. There I also met two girls from New Jersey who attended Bethany in Wyckoff.

On passage of Scripture I have been thinking about lately is 1 Peter 1:12 "It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look." I would love to read your thoughts on this verse. I hope all is well and thanks again for your support!