26th

I love Australia. For those of you living in Australia, you would know that Monday the 26th of Jan was Australia Day - the one day of the year where we become all patriotic - faces tattooed with the Australian emblems, miniature blue flags attached to our car windows and super-sized ones draped down our backs as capes. We get together with good mates, go for a swim, have a barbie and then relax underneath the stars watching the fireworks.

Our true colours are shown on this day - and I must admit - our good and not so good colours are exposed. I love our sense of mateship - we look out for each other. But then there's our rebellious side - excessive drinking, unruly and aggressive behaviour.

But all in all, it's just a great day where we come together as one nation to celebrate being uniquely Australian. Jono's got some photos that I'll link to when he uploads them to his Picasa.

The other morning I was looking for my shoes, and after looking for a good ten minutes, I finally found them in an odd place:



Mum seems to do some weird things sometimes :p

Tonight was our first night back at youth, and it was great - we spent the night just praying pretty much - speaking out what we are believing God for this year. I like the idea that we are laying a foundation of prayer to build upon this year.

So what am I expecting from God this year in our youth ministry? I'm expecting that He will challenge us to go beyond ourselves - beyond our own desires, our own inhibitions, our own needs - and serve those around us. God wants to raise a generation of selfless warriors who will fight the good fight no matter what the cost may be.

And I want to be one of those warriors. A warrior that will lay down his life for the greater good. Warriors have a cause to fight for, a kingdom to defend, a master to serve. That cause, that kingdom and that master is Jesus.

Seek and obey.