The Powell Principles

I have just ordered Colin Powell's book 'The Powell Principles'...

The Powell Principles details the decision-making habits, success strategies, and leadership philosophies of Secretary of State Colin Powell. Filled with insights that are as refreshingly honest as they are grittily real, this concise, no-nonsense book reveals the keys to Powell's unprecedented success, keys that include:

• Walk the talk
  
• Be a dis-organizer
  
• Let change lead growth
  
• Be prepared to piss people off
  
• Check your ego at the door
  
• Push the envelope
  
• Let situation dictate strategy
  
• Challenge the pros
  
• Trust those in the trenches
  
• Prepare to be lonely
  

I look forward to the read!

other books i am currently reading:

• Axiom - Bill Hybells
• The Shack - William P. Young
• The Essay Collection - C S Lewis

exploit greatness

opinions tweak not truth. It is our personal convictions which shape our greatest exploits.

- reuben leigh skewes

Insanity.

It a choice that each of us must face. the choice to remain ordinary, deplorable, beat-down, coasting through a mundane existence, like sheep herded by fate and lead to the slaughter - or we can take control of our own destiny, releasing the caged wolf we have inside, that howling desire for more, that feeling that teases us with the snapshot of a conscious eternity. Our purpose is to maintain stability in an unstable world - to change one and save a thousand. Within the fabric of this world, every life hangs by a thread. We are that thread - The Fellowship Of The Unashamed. we fight not with the weapons fate or history, yet we fight with the knowledge of eternity an understanding of a saving grace which holds that thread together.

This is the decision that lies before us now: the sheep, or the wolf. The choice is yours.

People call me insane for believing we have this choice, I don't believe Insanity is the state of being seriously mentally ill; rather, insanity to me is living an ordinary, deplorable & mundane life when we were born with the seed of greatness within us.

We chose daily. choose wisely.

Faith?

Having always being taught and pushed to live by faith I felt it time to challenge my own belief on faith. Shake my own foundations and stir my emotions. What is faith? Is it positive thinking? A feeling? The belief that Jesus died for your sins? Confidence? Hope? Or is there something more?

I dont think there is any quick way to 'sum up' faith. But here is a small look into the beginning of my understanding...

We are taught so often to just 'step out' in faith. As though we are walking in the dark and into the unknown. blindfolded, confused and so often, mislead. To me you cannot have faith without first understanding the evidence of faith.

Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now FAITH is the substance of things hoped for, the EVIDENCE of things unseen.

Although faith is not based purely on evidence, it is definitely supported by evidence. Faith is not about turning off the brain and merely relying on the heart, or squashing reason in favour of emotion. That is 'blind faith', Rather faith is about seeking and knowing Jesus with all facets of the human character. It's a "calculated faith" based on a continual preponderance of the evidence.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Did you notice that faith involves “evidence” of things “not seen”? The marginal rendering of “substance” is “assurance.” Faith involves an assurance “of things hoped for.” But, if something is hoped for, that something has not yet been received. Therefore, where faith is involved, there is an assurance that it will be received!

Real faith, in any promise made by God, is actually the evidence. It is the belief that is the evidence. If God promises to do something, it is impossible for Him to lie. Your evidence that He has and will perform it, is the very unwavering faith that you hold. If we have true faith, we do not need to search for the evidence — we already possess it!

I have faith that Jesus is the Son of God and He came to this earth 2,000 years ago to offer true and lasting hope for mankind because I have experience the evidence of this unseen salvation.

I think we must look at faith like this... Find the chair closest to you. Look at it closely. Examine its design. Is it structurally sound? Is it sufficiently engineered? Will the materials chosen by the manufacturer support your weight? Most likely, you picked a chair that you believe will support you. That's belief. You applied logic, knowledge and experience to make an informed intellectual decision.

Now sit in the chair... That's faith! Faith is a knowledge within the heart, beyond the reach of proof. Intellectual assent only goes so far. Faith requires more then logic, knowledge and experience. It requires that we continually put our beliefs into action. Intellectual belief without actionable faith is hollow and meaningless...

I believe Faith is persistently propelling 2 questions at mankind. there is no intelligent wording or hidden meanings, but rather 2 simple questions which challenge us to go further then we have before. These questions being 'What are you believing for?'
& 'What are you willing to do about it?'

Faith isn't faith until it's all you're holding on to. I believe we block our dream when we allow our fear to grow bigger than our faith. too often we are not willing to put our faith into action, for what we believe is based on fear and not faith. We must decide to have confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not understand at the time, and we must understand we need not physical evidence but understanding that God is the same yesterday, today and forever. When we let go of fear, only then can we gracefully move from what was into the miracle of what can be. Faith Begins when fear ends.

"Miracles are not a contradiction of nature. They are only in contradiction of what we know of nature." - St. Augustine

Tell him he's dreamin!

"All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act out their dream with open eyes, to make it possible."

- T.E. Lawrence

Discounted Australia Wide

OUCH

"most people are other people. their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation."

- oscar wilde

Such an honest & revealing quote.

I love that each new day for me is like a new found discovery, an opportunity to look through my own eyes and stand on my own feet. I am invariably inspired by those on the road of nobility, each pushing, each striving and each believing for a new day, a new start and an opportunity to change a past or current frustration. Each with the same cause. Others. I love that I no longer live in the shadows of another mans greatness, but rather I am casting my own shadow. Evidently guided by the wisdom of those before me, I also push, strive and believe that one day, soon, my heart cries, my passions and desires will bring forth a new day, a new start and a new era.

I pray they are eternal concepts.. based on our purpose for living, birthed from the fusing of Gods heart to man.

I eagerly wait in anticipation that this next day might be the day.

freedom baby

Can you feel it coming in the air? A sense of a lost past conjured in the way the wind moves through the buildings. A feeling that makes your toes curl before your brain even registers the pang. A scent so refreshing its reminds you of the time you drank 7 litres of homemade lemonade. A daylight which lasts longer then your uncles wedding reception...

summer...

it has finally arrived. 3 months of pure sunshine delivered from the heavens. A breeze that demands you leave your windows down and a silent calling urging to give up your day job, buy a kombi and set off on a road trip leading nowhere.

summer 2009. its yours for the taking.

Home Sweet Homeless

2 cars. 4 states. 6 days. 8 guys. $10,000. 6,000km

Return Road trip - Mooloolaba to Ularu
Raising Awareness & Money for Homelessness

Supporting 'Street Swags' with the hope of raising $10,000 to buy 200 swags to give to homeless men & women Across QLD's Sunshine Coast in 2009.

The catch... we go homeless for the week. Travel with no accomodation or food. finding work and raising money as we go. Sleeping in parks, roadsides, shelters, under bridges or anywhere we are offered.

Video blog our adventure.

Mooloolaba, Dalby, St George, Bourke, Broken Hill, Port August, Coober Pedy, Ullaru, Alice springs, Mt Isa, Cloncury, Longreach, Mundubbra, Gympie & Mooloolaba.

The Charity organisation 'Street Swag' gives their full support and endorsement.

Road trippers united. 2009 is our year!

10 rules you were never taught in school

Seeing the culmination of another year and the graduation of another class made me stop and ponder how long it has actually been since my glorious school years. 5 Years on I have realised life teaches you things that school never did. Bill Gates sums it up well in a stark 10 point list...

//Rule 001
Life is not fair - get used to it!

//Rule 002
The world won't care about your self-esteem.
The world will expect you to accomplish something before you feel good about yourself.

//Rule 003
You will not make $80,000 a year right out of high school.

//Rule 004
Teachers arent tough/mean.
If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss.

//Rule 005
Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity.
Your grandparents had a different word for burger flipping: they called it opportunity.

//Rule 006
If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault.
So don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them.

//Rule 007
Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now.
They got that way from paying your phone bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you think you were. So before become a famous rock star try cleaning your room and helping out.

//Rule 008
You don’t have 5 times to get life right.
Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life has not.

//Rule 009
Life is not divided into semesters/terms.
You don't get 2 months off over christmas and very few employers are interested In helping you find yourself. Do that on your own time.

//Rule 010
Television is not real life.
In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.


- Bill Gates

Leadership for Life

- Faith Brings
- Wisdom Increases
- Integrity Keeps
- Love Shares.


Steve Penny

3 point line

My self accountability goal setting program for 2009

- Write a book
- Be the face of change for homelessness on Sunshine Coast
- Start own shirt label
- increase import business
- follow through on small business ideas
- Overseas missions trip
- Visit South African Family
- Build and multiply a KNECT
- Pay off car
- build solid lasting friendships
- increase tithe & Building Pledge
- Mentor 2 non christian school boys
- Mentor 2 Christian guys
- increase influence and affluence

- more to come

the tip of the iceberg.

If Kings still only had 100 people, and was in a run down chook shed, with no video projector, itelligent lighting or royal atrium would you be reading this? Would your life be what it is now?

The building wasn’t always here and the carpet wasn’t always laid. People that you will never see, or ever know have sown their lives and their money into something which we are benefiting from.

We as a congregation have given week in, week out, not because of what we would receive, but because we knew that what we were doing would impact the future generation, and so it has!

It’s great to pause and look back at what God has done in the year, smile and laugh at the good memories. But it is so much more exciting looking at the opportunities ahead and see memories yet to be made.

Kings is what it is today, becuase people like you and me rise to the challenge and take ahold of the opportunity.

THE BEST IS YET TO COME.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

late elongations

what lays as ashes cannot rise in the glory of its former prime. Lay to rest your verisimilitude for now is a new time, the now, the present. An opportunity to rise like the waters of the ocean with mirrored velocity and force break free from your old ways. Bow no longer to the duress of apparent past victories and losses but continue with stead on the journey looking only at the prize.

- Reuben leigh Skewes

Wisdom of the young

Jazza Vock one of our many young champions at Kings wrote a great blog which I feel is worth sharing. A prayer very similar to what I pray before getting up to speak at any church event.

see link... http://jazzavock.blogspot.com/2008/11/prayer-of-preacher.html

To have these things being processed in the minds of teens as young as Jazza only leave me with a firm excitement for what the future holds.

To every young person who reads, blogs, yearns, desires and believes for change upon their generation, may this prayer be the starting point of greater things.

- Reuben leigh Skewes

Relational Leadership

we must worry not for the task before us
but rather for the people beside us,
for it is those beside us
that achieve what is before us.

- Reuben Leigh Skewes

Facebook

'Floating Rib Syndrome'

A recent visit to the doctor left me with an unusual find.

I was diagnosed with 'Floating Rib Syndrome'. A condition which has been causing me serious pain for the last few weeks. Happy it wasn't some serious kidney condition I walked out relieved. Only then to think... What is a floating rib?

A 'floating rib' is a rib strayed from the bone socket. often the socket is worn or the rib has loosened from injury. This condition is very painful. The attached muscles are very sensitive and tender and are given to extreme hard work and pain attempting to subdue the wayward bone.

Heat can be applied as a temporary relief but a prime consistent reliever are the hands of a doctor or masseuse who can manipulate the bone back into the socket.

I find the 'floating rib syndrome' very similar to church life. Rather I refer to it as 'floating person syndrome'. Both you and I know many people with this syndrome.

Let me explain...

Just like the floating rib, a 'floating person' is an individual who digress from the socket of 'committed Christian'. Either they stray from worn beliefs or from emotional injury. Given up and no longer thought a part of the body, they wander back and forth going nowhere ad achieving nothing. In doing so they cause considerable pain for the leaders, friends and family around them.

Those around them can temporarily relieve their condition by applying heat and showing love and acceptance, Yet this is short lived and again they are wandering further and increasing pain. It is only the 'Hand of God' able to slowly massage and manipulate these 'floaters' back into place.

So what is the purpose of this thought I hear you ponder....

Both you and I know 'floaters' and no doubt have endured much pain and frustration from them. We must remember that yes we can and should show love, but we are not required to fix their situations. Our love and acceptance married with Gods working hands is the ultimate combination.

Like my floating rib. I don't ignore it, I haven't removed it and I don't pass it off as useless. Rather I endure the pain for I know without it I am a lesser man. I request the help of the doctor and accept his wisdom.

We cannot ignore, remove or pass off. We must accept, hope and believe that these floaters can be reunited with the body, because without them the church is a lesser being.

- Reuben leigh Skewes

The Ripple Effect

A current favourite...

“Each time a man stands for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”

Robert Francis Kennedy

Transfixed between verisimilitude and actuality.

Too often I think we find ourselves stuck between verisimilitude (the appearance of truth) and that of actuality. These false existences of hope rather then the tangible existence of reality.

Is this because truth comes at a high price? To live a life of integrity, conviction, and hard calls costs you every minute of your existence. Where as to live in the mere reality of probability is so much easier. Requires less work and next to no accountability.

I guess you could then ask who defines what is true and what is premised as smoke and whistles.

Confused?

Let me take it from this angle.

I know many people that live in a sub culture. A world within a world. They have a dream of one-day being a 'somebody'. One-day achieving something of greatness. They turn that dream into an appearance of reality. Yet rather it is a figment of their imagination. They will never become men and women of greatness while dreaming and speaking of what may one-day come to pass.

Too many people lacerate their dreams by accepting their current situation. Their dreams are suddenly framed by their subculture and current surroundings. Yes that sub culture is real. Yes the goals they set are achievable. Yet they are always set within the subculture of a bigger world.

How will we ever be world changers if our thoughts are governed by a subculture within the bigger world we are trying to change?

Our greatest struggle is not a downward spiraling world, but rather a downward spiraling self. Too often we are told to be others focused. And yes the intention is right and the cause is noble. I agree we must love others with all the ability we have. But Jesus quotes it so so well... 'love your neighbour as you love yourself'. FIRST we must love ourselves.

I dare to say we should become 'self-focused'. Not 'selfish'. For that is caring for you for personal gain. Rather 'self focused', where we take the time to realise our shortcomings, realise our strengths and change for the purpose of being others focused.

In doing so we move out of the verisimilitude and into reality.

To live in the truth is to see the world from a new perspective. To take the mantle of a bigger picture and wear it, not as a hope but as a reality. For it is when we run with truth as our baton and the unchangeable word of God as our running shoes that we run this race called life, we circle our world leaving our footprint, not for the satisfaction of leaving our mark, that is palpable, but rather to pass on the baton and win the race.

Lets determine not to hope to achieve our dreams, but rather live to achieve our hopes.

- Reuben leigh Skewes

BACK SOON

I will be back soon with more blogs.

I have had a 3 week break.

I am stirred. refreshed. and ready to revivify.

the loved of the hated.

2 Questions I love

Q1. What are you doing with your life?

Q2. Why?

both stark individual questions, with no need to be amalgamated, although intertwining the two is wise.

The humbled beating of pride

"Begging is hard. It's something you expect hungry dogs to do, but not men and women made in Gods image. The minute you put out your hand, or open your guitar case, it feels like you are writing 'failure' and 'weakness' all over yourself and telling everyone who comes by, 'I am unable'. The message blares up and down sidewalks, and across multi-lanes of traffic. And the message doesn't stop screaming until you pull your hand back in or close up your case."

Quote from Mike Yankoski - who chose to spend 5 months as a homeless man. Documented in his book 'Under the Overpass'

Qld has highest homeless rate in Australia

ABC NEWS ARTICLE FROM EARIER THIS MONTH...

The figures show more than 26,000 people were homeless in Queensland in 2006.

Mission Australia spokesman Tony Stevenson says thousands more are homeless now.

He says rapid urban sprawl has reduced the amount of affordable housing across the state.

"Caravan parks were one source of affordable housing for many people and that is now not available," he said.

Mr Stevenson says increasing rent prices in mining towns like Mackay and Mount Isa are also forcing people out of their homes.

"There are lots of rural and regional towns that have now become absolutely unaffordable to people who have traditionally lived in those communities," he said.

The report shows the Queensland's homeless population rose by 2,000 in five years and that more than half of Australia's homeless are under 24 years of age.

how we do anything is how we do everything

To be homeless. it is more then just a physical position. Rather, a way of life, a mind set, possibly the last resort for those who have given up on society and in many cases, themselves. It seems homelessness is a choice decided by ones self. Yet so is every situation we find ourselves in today. a direct result of the series of decisions made to this day.... But that is not my train of thought.

I was raised on 2 'sayings', the first being... 'Everything about you says something about you' and secondly, 'if it's to be, it's up to me'.

These two things have always stuck by me and I feel will continue to determine my decisions till the day I am no more. With those 2 thoughts in tack I also had this thought... 'The measure of any society is how it treats its weakest element. the widows the orphans, the strangers and the homeless'. I believe that how we do anything is how we do everything. and well... if something is to be done it is up to me.

But even after that I was stuck on the disposition of well 'What can I do?' and I have had so many people ask the same question. Where do I go from here? What can I do?

well.. anything and everything you can think of.

- Talk about it.
- Blog about it.
- Read about it.
- Meditate on it.
- Say a prayer.
- Write a cheque.
- Call a MP.
- Call the Mayor.
- Go to benefit.
- Go and talk to someone that is living on the street.
- Meet them.
- Embrace the community.
- Include them.

Invest in this collective consciousness that says compassion is essential.

If it's to be... It's up to me... just a thought

muse

I love this quote by Charles Spurgeon...

"Carve your name on hearts and not on marble"

Controversy

I have had much controversy in relation to a recent blog about spending a night with some homeless people. (more so on Facebook then here)

I have no issue with your opinion. you are free to speak, I just find it funny that so many people are authorities on issues they have never been involved in.

I love this thought from a good friend of mine Joanna Lambert in relation to this topic...

"There is no need to worry about all the intricate details, when you walk in Gods will He makes it work for us. "

I think too often someone comes up with a thought or an idea, something outside of the consideration of normal and everyone can be so quick to jump and attack. Yes you are entitled to your opinion, and often they are great arguments. But if we are walking in Gods will I truly believe as Joanna said, that it will all work out. God is the ultimate judge of character and motive.

I would much rarther be someone to encourage the idea, get behind it and be apart of it, then someone who condemns and belittles. For it is the small ideas that are harnessed and tried that breakthrough to be influential and change a society.

Africa Calling...

Our Generation.

We are a generation of formidable influence, affluence & ability.
The sunset of each day draws close the light of the past and opens up the possibly of a sunrise in the future. A future crying out to be pioneered by a new generation. A gathering of people wanting & determined to live in love and peace.

For too long the common cry for normal has been allowed to prevail.

Within each one of us lays dreams and desires, which must and will be heard. No longer can we allow others to determine our future, but we must band together and decide our future is changeable. A Change of status-quo. A change in poverty. A change in slavery. A change in medical breakthrough and a change in small thinking and capped mindsets.

We have the answers. We are the solution.

I have had Africa on my heart for a time, which can no longer be measured. A country of rich heritage and immense beauty, yet the graveyard of millions, the breeding ground for disease and the training fields of child soldiers.

There is a rotting underbelly to the picturesque communities. That you and I both know has been left for too long.

It's a predominantly intellectual understanding for me at this moment rather than an emotional journey. But a recent family holiday to Southern Africa has certainly stirred my thinking and began to pull my highly-strung heart strings.

I guess I was a sojourner. An outsiders reading a book, a window shopper along the streets of another culture. I found it easy to sympathise with the people but I wasn't there long enough to bleed with them.

Although to bleed is not our job. Our job is to love. I feel it our responsibility to be the change we so passionately talk about. We must start to believe that life can change. Not only for us. But for those that cannot even afford a life.

So where to from here you ask? Well I ask the same. I am determined to make a move. Take a step and pursue a better ‘them’ in-turn making a better ‘me’.

Stay tuned.

snagged

I love this thought on EXCUSES....

"Excuses = the meat of a reason, wrapped in the skin of a lie."

I cannot remember its original context. but it has always stuck with me.

perpetual possibility

"We are too young to know that some things are impossible so we will do them anyway."

William Pitt // Amazing Grace

My heart bleeds

I am constantly filled with a sense of urgency and a sense of great need. I cannot rid myself of the feelings to move & act immediately.

Time is quickly fading and these feelings only increase. My heart is forever full of pain. Not a physical pain, but a continual heartthrob filled with the tears & stories of thousands. Those we forget and overlook, the faces scared and the hearts forgotten in the race of life as we strive for personal success.

Only now am I beginning to understand the urgency and the need. The calling to do and the cry to act upon what we have been given to do.

We can no longer DO church, we must now BE the church. We must decide if we will continue to be a generation of hype and good intentions. A generation who sang songs and talked of making a difference but never followed through with action.

I have been apart of that generation. I have promised everything and delivered nothing. But I can no longer take part in this. I refuse to increase the status-quo and decrease change.

We must start something new, something REAL. An existence, no longer filled with empty ideas and false hope but an existence full of dreams, full of hope, full of righteousness and full of justice.

A movement, a gathering of like-minded people, a generation consumed with their Maker. A people who will lay down their own agendas for the good of others and the cause of Christ. A people who will stand up and DO something. With no agenda but LOVE…

It is with eminent ease we look upon the great men & women penned on the pages of history and think ‘If I were alive then, I too would have endured for for change. I too would have fought for the abolition of slavery and stood tall for the rights of the blacks.’

But my questions isn’t ‘what would you have done then?’, but rather ‘what will you do now?’ We are living in the history pages of tomorrow. We are the writers and the next generations are the buyers.

It is time to give our all. Lay down our insecurities and tear off our own agendas. We must slap fear in the face and stay true to our calling. Not for recognition or for status, not even for the feeling of humility. But rather because God has called us to establish justice and righteousness into our world. We must live for the thousands without hope, without love and without life.


- Reuben Leigh Skewes

Rebellion.

I love this quote from American rock singer, songwriter and musician Alice Cooper; speaking on Christianity....

"Drinking beer is easy. Trashing your hotel room is easy. But being a Christian, that's a tough call. That's real rebellion!" -Alice Cooper

Alice speaks openly about his belief in God and need for fulfillment in the full article here - http://www.godscare.net/witness/alice_cooper.htm

Just do it!

Let’s do this!
This being life.
Life being in need of change.
Change being Jesus Christ.

- Reuben Skewes

fatherhood

I dream of being a dad.

Sandwich soldiers, Hopscotch, Hide and seek, Adventures, Ice-cream stops that mum doesn’t know about, Simple songs and endless laughter. The opportunity to mould, create, and build. The chance to be a hero. A lifetime to love.

What is it about being a dad that I so look forward to? Is it because I so fondly remember special times I spent with my own dad and how much they meant to me that I cant wait to give those special moments to my own kids? Is it that I’m just some soft guy that loves kids or is fatherhood just part of what life is all about for us as males?

Some say I am to young to even think of these things; and well… they are true. I mean maybe I should find a girlfriend. Get married and after years of bliss have some children, settle down and ‘Live the dream’.

But I cant do that… I mean yes I can find a girlfriend and get married. But what I cant do is wait till then to dream of being a dad.

I don’t even think it’s the title of dad that gets me excited but rather the opportunity to be me to someone else. share wisdom. To be a sholder to lean on and someone to talk to in troubled times. To share experiences and bond.

Family is such an amazing thing. I always appreciated it when my dad took time out. To sit. To play. To listen. The things I learnt. The things we laughed at. The things we still laugh at. And the things I always wish I told my dad. I think somedays I took my dad for granted. It was so easy to forget what I had and wish for more untill I looked at the neighbours who only saw their dad once a year because their parents were divorced.

What must that be like? Who do they talk to? Who was their hero? Who fixed their flat bike tyres and who was there when they tied their first shoelace, won their first football game or got their licence.

Our society is changing. It’s a known fact. More and more families are now single parent families with complicated senarios. But I think so often we look at the statistics and don’t look at the faces. We so easily get caught in our own busy schedule and forgot how our dad took time out of his busy schedule for us.

Week in and week out I pass hundreds of young people stuck in a looped trance. Searching, wanting and grasping for someone or something to be their father. Their friend. Their hero. Someone to take a time out. To have a coffee. To go for a walk and to listen.

There is noway I can be their father. And that is one thing I don’t want to be. But I continually ask myself ‘what can I be to them? Can it be that hard to listen?’ Can it be that hard to take some time out and show that someone cares.

Yes I am young and possibly nieve. But if todays young people are are anything like I was at their age.... They just want someone to care.

So let this be my little part in making the world a better place. I am no hero, nor am I a wise schollar, or a man of many talents. But I am willing to have a go. Willing to be a big brother. Not because I have to, or even because I want to. But rather because I was born to do it.

We were all born to care. To love. To cherish and to build.
What are you building? Or should I ask who are you building?


- Reuben Skewes

forgotten purpose.

A gentleman was backpacking through Europe with some friends. After many day trips and long nights at the bar the group decided on a tour of a local church, an ancient relic of yesteryear. As they walked through the beautiful old stone church they were in awe of its splendor. The tour guide would teach them the wonders of the building. The height of the steeple, the length of the pews & the hours spend on the mosaic windows. They were taught of the fine cobblestones from Italy and the Belgium oak wood used for the ceiling. The group often commented to each other at the opulence of the building and how well this ancient building has been kept.

As the tour came to an end the tour guide stopped, turned to the group and asked “do you have any questions?” The group of friends had nothing to ask as they had already every question answered. But from behind them they heard a small deep voice. Unable to hear what was said they turned around and asked the gentleman to speak again. This time he cleared his throat and said in a husky slow voice “Has anyone been saved here lately? I mean that’s why it was build wasn’t it?”...

Have we forgotten our purpose? Has time worn us down? Watered our beliefs and turned our passion. Do we merely now just stroll through our existence walking between walls of a past generation forgetting the purpose they were built. Are we taken up in the awe, strength and beauty of the walls, and forgotten about the power living between them? Have we turned our temples into marketplaces? Are we selling guided tours and boasting of great facades, when we could be holding great church services boasting of a great God?

Do not miss read my words. We have great churches with great passion and power changing the lives of many. But why are our tours of the buildings and not of the changed lives. Why do the tours not boast on the hours spent in worship? The thousands of lives that were changed, the broken that were restored and the healing that were received. Yes the building stand as a testament to that… but who is sharing the testimony?

Never do I want to memorise the height of a steeple and forget the pages of Gods word. Never do I want to remember origin of the cobblestones and forget the power of God.

I know my life will be written on the pages of history. But I choose today not to live as a tour guide showing people the amazing work of man. Rather I choose to show man the amazing work of God.

- Reuben Skewes

life.

I am currently sitting on my letterbox watching the sun set over the roofline of the repeated brick and mortar jungles I live within.

In the shadow of a day drawing closed I ponder and look on as those around me return home; mothers, tradesman, students, executives and grandmas. All with their own lives, their own thoughts and their own stories. Their exposure to the outside world is short lived as the garage door of security once more seduces them into another night of subcultured living. A world within a world, a place where each man reigns as king. Each with his own rules and beliefs. A place of love and life conception. A place of hope and nurture. A place of understanding and freedom… or so one would hope.

No one really knows what is written on the history pages of each subculture and no one dare indulge themselves in the lives of another’s world. But I am sure to say that the happenings within these secluded existences are soon played out in the faces of those involved.

Joy and fear can never be hidden in the faces of children. And the stamp of loneliness cannot be removed from the eyes of teenagers. The sounds of laughter juxtapose the sounds of screaming and the cries for attention are drowned by the need for success.

This thing we call life is a choking breathe in the lungs of eternal existence, and it is the choices we make in this short breath that define our eternity.

It is time to breath deep and swallow our pride. No longer must we turn a blind eye to the downward spiraling script played out in the lives of those around us, but decide to stand up for nobility and stand up for love. Stay strong to our Godly convictions and be true to the word of God. We must act now before it is too late.

May my life be a testament to God and may my actions be followed by the forth-coming generations. May my words break chains and instill love into a hurting world. May I be challenged everyday to do more and go harder.

May opportunity be my vehicle and may changed lives be my fuel. May I be the steering wheel and may God be the driver.

May my short breath breathe life into another…

- Reuben Skewes

un-spendable money - the test of time.

For the last week I have had an unusual conversation with God…

For an entire week I had $50 sitting in my wallet that I couldn’t spend. I tried everything I imaginable to spend it, but it was impossible. Every time I went to use it I felt God say “leave it there, use your creditcard”. I began to get restless and annoyed at why I couldn’t spend the money. Each time I asked ‘why’ He wouldn’t answer.

This started Tuesday and didn’t finish till Friday night where I was traveling to Brisbane and stopped at the BP roadhouse for a break. I was so hungry but I had no money except for the $50 I couldn’t spend. So I just sat down inside. As I sat there I noticed an elderly lady cleaning. She would slowly weave in and out of other diners clearing plates and wiping tables. She had no real motivation. Her face was weary and he hands were slow.

I sat and watched. You could tell she would be any place but here. She rarely showed expressions except the occasional sigh or frown at the frustration of those around her that ignored her and just left her with more cleaning at hand.

As I sat and watched I suddenly felt God say “give her your $50”... so I did…

Looking back on that experience I felt so stupid questioning God as to why I couldn’t spend the $50. I got so caught up in my own understanding of life that I disregarded the whole reason God refused me the money.

The fact that I learn best through life experience is so testing sometimes.

I received more joy from the look on her face as I told her I was giving her $50 to say thank you for doing such an incredible job cleaning. Then I ever would have received on anything worth $50.

I love the verse in Isaiah 40:31 – But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not grow weary; they shall walk and not grow faint.

It is imperative that we wait upon the Lord in our lives. The Phrase ‘wait upon’ means to ‘rely fully’. We must rely fully in Him. It is at that point that our hearts become desperate, our faith is proved and our hope is purified. It is in these stages that our dependence upon God grows.

My dependence increased as my bank balance decreased. Each time I was refused the ability to spend I was humbled, because there were sometimes I had to go without and then sometimes I was totally tempted to just spend the money.

Totally relying on God isn’t always easy. Our heart is often crying out in agony. We feel oppressed and constrained. We yearn for freedom and provision.
I was in such need for the $50 that I was forced to look to the Lord for help.

What I love about total dependence on God is that there is always a positive outcome.

As the verse says: ‘But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not grow weary; they shall walk and not grow faint.’

I was totally renewed. My day was lifted. I walked away a new man. I walked away with an understanding of what it actually meant to wait upon the Lord. But not only that. I endured a week of testing to be blessed at the beginning of the new week. I had a friend message me and say he would pay for my Hillsong trip.

Ultimately waiting upon God protects us, deepens our trust in Him, forces us to seek His ways and brings Him the most glory. They are times the Lord is testing whether we are really seeking Him and His ways.

Bring on another test ☺


- Reuben Skewes

changed perception. changed generation.

Have you ever been confused with God? Totally open to what He has to say,
but totally spun in a spiral as to what it is He is actually talking about?

It is like He talks a language you are only just getting your tongue around. as-though He can see the entire picture and all you can see is the view from the pinhole you hold your eye to.

The last few months have been exactly like that for me. It is like I have been thrown into the depths of a Japanese culture only knowing the English language and being expected to survive. Everyday I learn a slither more of the culture and language yet everyday they frustration grows and my unease is evident.

I have realised there is no use trying to argue with God about what He is trying
to tell me but rather, like I would if I were in Japan, locate some books on the Japanese language and culture and read my heart out until I began to understand what was being said.

The bible has been my greatest compass the last few months. It is funny how God can talk to you and you haven’t a clue what He means. Yet you begin to read the bible, and little things become evident and things begin to make sense.

Finally I let the sense be spoken…

I have an incredible passion for the Youth of this world. It frustrates me how they can waste their years as I did mine. I look back and wish I did so much more. I understand there is only so much I can do, so I have narrowed by passion down the where I live. The Sunshine Coast in sunny QLD Australia.

God is calling me to pray. Not childhood prayers. Not prayers to fulfill my own agendas. But the prayers of a passionate man. Prayers that will infiltrate the hearts of a generation. Prayers that will purge the gates of Hell and turn lives around. I am learning to pray so the power of God can come out from within me. I am Learning to speak a new language. Learning to walk a new walk and in turn live a new life. I can no longer live and work from head-knowledge. I must learn to live and work from my spirit and what God has placed in it. I am learning to walk in the supernatural.

I am learning to let the spirit of God lead me day by day. Learning to seek Him passionately. Learning to long for Him, and to pray and seek His face. I have promised myself I will no longer speak things from my head, but I shall begin to declare things of the spirit. Things that liberate and break the chains of bondage.

I have wasted too many years of small fairyfloss talk. Speech that looks good,
full and wholesome, yet when heard and tasted leaves a sweet sickly taste in
the hearts of men. I can no longer hide from God and my calling. I must stand firm and take it face first.

I no longer stand confused at what God is saying, but rather in awe of His power and ability and at the fact that I not only have been chosen but that i ALSO chooseto change a generation. I pray you too choose to do so. I pray that you too sense the urgency to save a dieing generation. To pursue righteousness and to declare truth and live in love.

All are called. Few are chosen

All

TV - The beginning of the end

I’ve been challenged this week by the amount of time I allocate to television.

Normally life is full and spare time is scarce, so i don’t watch a lot. But 1 week holiday left me with 24 free hours daily for an entire week to do what i pleased as i pleased. And sadly plenty of those hours were spent in front of the TV.

The funny thing was, while sitting there I began to get angry. Firstly at the TV, Angry at its ability to entertain me in my own house by people i would never even let near the front door, let alone IN my house.

I then secondly became angry at myself; a human called to greatness, destined to redefine youth culture and create history. Yet there i sat, eyes glued and mind numbed as i watched another episode of life changing TV. (TV is literally life changing, but that is a different thought) I had once more fallen prey to temptation to breath in, tune out and relax as actors filled my mind with cheap throwaway lines while they lived a fake existence on a screen. How could I let that shape and mold my mind, heart and convictions.

Joel Houston sums it up perfectly…. – “I don’t know about you.. But if our generation is remembered for ipods, myspace, and youtube we missed it.. If history speaks of our generation as self indulgent pioneers of the digital age, reality television and purpose built celebrity we’ll have failed.. the world will change by itself.. for better or for worse.. it changes daily.. but who will be the ones to shape it.. and how will it look?”

The fact that I have been called to take, break and shape the world into something of worth and purpose, fills me with great honour, yet here I sit and allow TV to shape me. I let it define who I am and who I want to be.

The world has watered the meaning of life down enough. We are flogged with stories, slogans and t-shirts. We chose to be satisfied with sugary pop songs and popcorn munching junkets in visual indulgence, all of which are fine, Its good every now and then to tune out, but the issue is that we throw the meaning of life around. We confuse it’s definition. We belittle our understanding of God’s command.. to go into THE world, with the idea of creating A world of our own. A world of fiction and false hope played out on a big screen. We screw up the pages of destiny into small spitballs and propel them at our current circumstance, always falling short and missing target.

So is this a revolution againt the TV? No! is it a revolt against holywood? No! Rather a revolution againt self. A battle of destiny vs complacency. An inner battle to be beat the bulge of lounge living and decide to live in Gods divine purpose. Not to live in the script of a film but rather in the pages of destiny. A decision to live a life of focus and meaning, a decision to fill those around me with love and hope rather then sit and wait for the world to change.

it’s not a new concept.. it’s an eternal concept.. it’s the reason we are alive.. it’s the fundemental call of what it means to be a follower of Christ..


- Reuben Skewes