I have embarked on a journey this month to combine two things that are very close to me.

Christianity and Star Wars some would say how can you align two things that are such polar opposites, and that might be true. But Christianity to me has been the building block that my adult life has been built upon and Star Wars was very seminal for me in my early development.

Star Wars as a child enabled to dream of a world bigger than my own, and the Christianity taught me to live for a world bigger than myself.

I can still remember as a child the wonder I would feel as I heard the orchestra strike at the begining of the movie I new I was being drawn into another world and I loved it.

I was once told that I shouldn’t use movies as examples in my sermons, I disagree I will use whatever tools are at my disposal to convey a message in a way that reasonates with people. So for me Star Wars, comics or whatever I can use to help me explain the gospel I will use. (I once preached a sermon on the Rhianna song Umbrella, but maybe another time.)

In looking at Stars Wars for my topic, I thought what part of Star Wars relates to faith and there is much I could choose but I have decided to do a series on the life of Anakin Skywalker.

I know many are still sold on the episodes 4,5, and 6 but I equally like the new episodes, not because of Jah Jah Binks, but because of the complex relationships that lead to the incarnartion of Darth Vader. ( Arguably the best bad guy in movie history.)
How could one with so much potential, so much promise turn his back on everything he stood for to become someone who Obi Wan describes as, “twisted and evil.”

My first observation takes us back to Tatooine to a chance meeting of a Jedi Knight, a Queen posing as a hand maiden, unfortunately Jah Jah, and a slave owned by a junk dealer. This chance meeting would change the course of history. I had a chance meeting once I was at a wedding in NZ I had only just arrived in the country and knew next to no one. A guy walked up and asked if he could sit down next to me because he didn’t know many people there. I said “You are in luck neither do I.” And the rest is history we went on to become great friends even to this day and we are both Pastors on either side of the ditch. In that meeting I was lined up for a job working in McDonalds at Johnsonville. (Another issue I will discuss later, and yes I admit I did wear polyester slacks.)

The thing I love about this story is; “The Chosen One,” started life as a slave. How many people would have met that boy and never saw the potential. Who would have ever known that he would go on to rule the universe. I love that life is like that. I love that Jesus the only person ever who had a choice of where he would be born chose to be born in a barn.

I makes you stop and think who have I overlooked, who have I written off, who have I seen as worthless. Because God sees everything as worthy, he doesn’t make junk. The bible says that, “Man looks at the outside, but God looks at the heart.” Kind of makes me wish I had Xray heart glasses so I can see what He does.

Maybe it might not be a problem in how you see others but in how you see yourself.

A healthy God image is better than a healthy self image.

Think about it!

Maybe ther is a Jedi inside of you.

If you liked this why not come and check out the Embassy Sydney’s Urban Gospel Church with a Hip Hop flavour. Every Sunday 10am at Belmore PCYC.

Stay tuned for pt 2 of the Gospel According to Star Wars.

Rev Ev’s Blog 22/02/10

Got a message on facebook today from Ryan Croxford. I don’t really know him that well he came to work for Compassion just after I finished but we have met a couple of times and spoken on the phone. Anyway he let me know that he and his wife Erika launched a new Church plant last week in Newcastle. I just wanted to mention them here because I want to give props, (respect in Hip Hop lingo,) to people who have a go.

Anyone can attend a Church, some can Pastor a Church, but it takes a special kind person to plant one. Respect to tha Church Planters.

Anyway wanted to get onto my main topic for today. I have just finished watching the movie Precious, not the normal sort of movie I watch, and not one I would recomend to people who are sensitive to colourful language. But I have to say I was traumatised by what I saw. It is the story of a girl that the world has forgotten about. If you could imagine the worst thing that could happen to someone then times it by ten that is the story of Precious.

I was reminded again that the greatest tragedy is that many people live in hell and then could die and go there. If you are a christian that should horrify you. I once heard a guy that I really respect, Wes Stafford say, “For most people in the world the news that there is another place where they can go when they die is really good news.” Unfortunately for many in the world their life isn’t so great. Think of the songs the slaves sang, “Swing Low sweet chariot comin’ for to carry me home.”

I think for us in the blessed west we should be alarmed. Tonight I watched, “My Kitchen rules,” where people are so fussed about cooking the perfect meal in their perfect little homes, that they become so stressed about over-cooking their perfect piece of snapper that they need counselling. Mate if that is the biggest problem you have in your life you need an immediate reality check. I think as a person living in the luxury that I have, I do live in Lakemba after all, I regularly need to be faced with a reality that questions my undeserved privilege.

Here is what I do know!

God is Good

Life sucks for lots of people

God loves everybody

And we are sent out to make this world a better place, (Because of the three previous statements.)

Think about it.

To hear more from Rev Ev why not check out the Embassy. Sydney’s Urban Gospel Church with a Hip Hop Flavour. We meet every Sunday at 10am at Belmore PCYC right opposite Belmore train station.

The Embassy Sydney’s Urban Church with a Hip Hop flavour

About a week ago I was contacted to find out if our church was interested in being involved in running a scripture class in two schools; Lakemba Primary and Hampden Park Primary Schools.The Lakemba group starts next week, and will be conducted by someone else, but today I went and had my first day as a Scripture teacher for a long time.

Now let me start by saying that I could have been scarred from teaching scripture forever. My last role doing this was a few years ago at an inner west Boys High School. My first day was a shocker I was getting the kids to stand up and say something about themselves which is normally a pretty good way to start. Then it happened one of the boys stood up and said, “My name is ….. (names omitted to protect the innocent,) and my Dad is a lawyer and if any of you touch me I will sue you.” It was like one of those slow motion moments as I knew this would be like a red rag to bull to this group of boys and wished I could have had it all over again to cut it off at the pass. Anyway the class was going ok so we decided to have a game of indoor grid iron, (as you do.) I asked the boys to move some of the desks to make some room when I heard it. “Slap,” it echoed within the small class room and down he went like a sack of spuds. He was out cold, there was blood, and I was the teacher. All I could think of was what had I gotten myself into. Then I had an epiphany what had I put all of my teachers through in my years of High School if I was the teachers pet I would have been a pitbull. Anyway this was my entrance to religious education so you could see why I might have been scarred. And how the whole vengeance is mine thing from God really works.

So with a fear and trepidation I arrived at the school and if you know anything about Sydney you would know that these schools are in the heart of areas that would be considered disadvantaged. I thought what am I in for, but my fear did not match my reality it was great. At one point one of the girls said, “Sir are we just going to play games or are you gonna teach us the Bible? How cool is that? I had two classes back to back and apart from the fact that they called me Mr Peet all the time, (I kept looking for my Dad,) I had a ball.

I think it is like life; often wrong perception steers us away from opportunity. Let me say it plainly, our fears normally aren’t realised. If I dwelt on my experience I would have never gone. Now I have the God given chance to effect a positive influence on a group of kids who some in society, including politicians and talkback radio hosts, would probably disregard. I also give them the chance to influence me. Who knows where these kids might end up. Let’s hope I can play some small role in seeing their God given potential extracted.

This gives me an idea for a movie like, “Dangerous Minds or Mr Hollands Opus.”

“The Scripture Teacher,” coming to a theatre near you.

To hear more from Rev Ev, come and check out the Embassy Sunday service 10am at Belmore PCYC (opposite Belmore Train Station.)