Sorting Stuff Out - God's Way

I had to help someone work through some stuff recently.

I have a series of resources that I use so that I can help people grow in this vital area of conflict resolution.

Here is a bit of a cut n paste.

Love is the supreme value in the kingdom of God.
Anger and conflict block out love.
There is probably no greater challenge to spiritual growth than how you handle anger and conflict.

"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over." -- Matthew 18:15

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?......You hypocrite!” Matthew 7:3-5

Steps towards Conflict Resolution

1. Go before God until you get His perspective on the conflict.
Do not act or speak out of rashness, anger or a sense of injustice.
Moses had to learn this , his impetuous loss of temper in conflict situations cost him 40 years in the wilderness on one occasion and the loss of entry to the Promised Land on another. However when Moses did get God's perspective on situations he was able to intercede with power and resolve even the most difficult of situations such as national apostasy and idol worship, religious rebellion and “takeover bids”.
Always remember that the fault may not lie with the other person but with yourself! Horrible thought, but you may be the reason that there is conflict in the first place – something you said/didn’t say, did/didn’t do, etc. Meditate on what preceded the conflict and you may be surprised.

2. Remember God is bigger than the problem.
The God who created the heavens and the earth is able to deal with giants in the Promised Land, fortified cities and huge warriors called Goliath. Pray through the problem until you are walking by faith not sight and you see the problem as just like a small pebble in the hand of an Almighty God.

3. Acknowledge the conflict.
Conflict is normal; it is a part of human nature. Lack of conflict does not equal maturity.

4. You must do something about it.
Why don't we face up to resolving conflict? Pride. Fear. Stubbornness.
Act in the "opposite spirit". If a person is stingy be generous to them. If a person is insultingly aggressive - turn the other cheek. If they impose on you do even more for them than is asked of you. Return love for hatred and prayers for persecution.

5. Approach the person involved.
Go does not mean avoid or pray or think or forget. But before going, ask yourself:
Why am I angry?
There are three major reasons that we get angry:
- Hurt
- Frustration
- Fear
What do you want?

6. Go directly to the person involved.
NO third parties, no mediators, no friends.

“When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.”
Proverbs 10:19.

No matter what your intentions may be, telling friends can lead to the story spreading – this is called GOSSIP! If the other person hears you have a problem with them from a third party then the conflict is only going to get messier and harder to resolve and could end up involving hurt and resentment on both sides.
Conflict is inevitable. Resentment is optional.
Resolution is up to you.

7. Talk in private.
Be sensitive. Approach the other person as you would like to be approached.
A. Anger Myth: The best way to handle anger is to ventilate it.
B. Reality: Ventilation only reinforces anger. It is also not appreciated by those ventilated on. It accomplishes nothing positive in either person.

8. Use direct communication.
A. Describe clearly what you observed. (Example: "You didn't listen to what I said.")
B. Explain how it hurt you. (Example: "My opinion doesn't matter to you.")
C. Tell what the consequences have been. (Example: "I'm feeling quite resentful." or maybe "I feel like smashing you one when you treat me like that.")
D. Ask for what change you would like. Change implies more than simply an apology, although an apology is often a good place to start.

9. Aim at reconciliation.
The goal is to restore the relationship. The goal is not to prove who was right, not to get back at someone, not to avoid the situation, not to turn away and forget.

10. Read Proverbs until you know it backwards.
There is so much wise advice on problem solving and human nature in this one book of the Bible that it is amazing. For instance when I was involved in a dispute at work I prayed beforehand and the Scripture Matthew 18:15-17 came to mind. I followed this ‘plan’ and the conflict was ended. There was still a time of healing for the friendship but because I used biblical wisdom there was a strong base to build on.

Re-enACTS - New Series - 5 days to Go!

God of this City

I was reading these verses recently........

When it goes well for good people, the whole town cheers; when it goes badly for bad people, the town celebrates.
When right-living people bless the city, it flourishes; evil talk turns it into a ghost town in no time.
Proverbs 11:10-11 (MSG)

I have been called by God to help build our community and city
- and build on a foundation of God's love and wisdom.

Our God is the God of Ipswich City!

So I am just loving this song!!!

"Unleash" - March 2008

I came across this bit of artwork last week - it is from March 2008.

This "unleash" thing must have been subliminally brewing back then....

Check out the phrase... "equipping you to unleash the Spirit of God 168 hours a week."

PS - the photo was taken in our backyard one night.

Jill was away at a conference - and I was home alone with the kids... and well...

Toilet Terror - The Next Generation!

When I was a boy at primary school I read a book about funnel web spiders.

The images struck a deep sense of fear into me.

For years I would check a toilet many times before I went - in fear that a funnel web spider would be lurking there.

This is a next generation image for me!!! Check this out!


And the solution!!!

4 Voices - Dan Reiland

I get this regular email from Dan Reiland. He is awesome and he is a great coach.

Here is an edited version of something he emailed out recently - it's called "4 voices"

Have you ever noticed it's difficult to find quiet as a leader?
So many people are talking. The noise can be overwhelming.

We as church leaders must discern the voices and know what to do.

Tough times call for clarity and decisiveness, and there are a number of opinions in play.
What agendas should be pushed?
What ministries should get attention and resources?
Who should you help in the community?

And all the while you try to gain momentum for the primary vision and mission of your church - to seek and save the lost and raise up mature disciples of Christ. I suspect that if you are like most leaders, you've experienced that the mission can fall victim to the competing demands within a local church.

So what's a pastor to do?
How do you handle the voices that are competing for attention?
How do you decide who to listen to and understand what they are really saying?

Part of the answer is first in understanding the four big categories the "voices" generally fall into. This helps you to listen better.
Secondly, learning how to discern which voice is speaking makes a huge difference.
When life is easy, discerning is not so difficult. It's under pressure that it gets complicated.

Consider the following 4 as the big groups you hear from and then think about who is influencing you most.

1. God
2. Devil
3. Others
4. You

I found the bit on "others" interesting. Here is what Dan also wrote:

Sometimes creating a picture or categories will help you sort out what you are hearing as you listen and lead.
Conflict - Is it a problem to be solved or a tension to be managed?
Clamour - It is someone who just wants to take your time but doesn't want to change?
Collaboration - Is it a person who can be a positive partner to your ministry?
Counsel - Is it a person who needs help and you can provide that help?
Contribution - Is it a person who can truly join the team and help make a difference.

Thanks Dan!!

So, who are you listening to these days and how do you respond?

"No More" - Poem from Fireman - Victorian Bushfires

Larry read out this poem Sunday AM before our 1 minute's silence ... in honour of the Day of Mourning for the Victorian Bushfire tragedy.

Click here to view the previous post with Larry and some photos.

The poem was written by a fireman.

No More

You know me as Johnny-been-before
I've seen the flames and I’ve heard the roar
I thought I had some fair idea
Of the heights of success and the depths of fear.

I've studied and trained and been to courses,
And thought that I could pick winning horses;
I thought I could see what the fire would do,
And I thought that I could direct the crew.

I'd studied foam and the water's flow,
I'd studied how the fire would go;
Topography and the fuel load,
How to make a fire break out of a road.

I've trained with my mates in our Brigade,
Fought fires with them that the times have made
Talked it out: What went wrong? What went right?
Studied and learned how the fires to fight

But all that I knew, and all that I planned,
Flew out the door, and I'm quite unmanned,
Because Saturday broke all of the rules,
Made me and my studies look like fools.

Bigger and faster than I could think
My knowledge and studies pushed past the brink
My mind and my heart both numbed and cold
The fire came down like the wolf on the fold.

Four days have gone past, and I'm writing this down
I don't understand. why the fire didn't crown
I don't understand. Why this? and not that?
Why burn on the ridges and not on the flat?

The little pink cottage surrounded by black
The mud brick houses reduced to wrack,
The ruin, the wreck, the human cost
The homes that are gone, and the lives that are lost.

Now I'm Johnny who never has been here before
Johnny who don't want to go there no more
Johnny who's seen the grief and the pain
Johnny who don't want to go there again.

Cocoon-Buster!

The under 9 Redbacks are another cocoon-busting strategy!

We have been made aware recently in our JWAR journey that we must develop strategies to move from being "cocooners" to "connectors."

I joined up our son last week for a season of football ("the world game" version) - and this decision will be a mix of fitness, social development, quality time, living his dad's legacy... and a whole lot of JWAR activity.

Can't wait to meet all these boys - and their families - and their networks!

I am about to make some new friends!

The Power of Continual Learning

I saw this post recently from Word for Today and was really "gee-ed up" again.

I hope you get impacted too!

"And behold...honey...he took some."
Judges 14:8-9 NKJV

In their book, The Laws of Lifetime Growth, authors Dan Sullivan and Catherine Nomura explain,
"Continual learning is essential for lifetime growth. You can have a great deal of experience and be no smarter for all the things you've done, seen, and heard. Experience alone is no guarantee of lifetime growth. But if you regularly transform your experiences into new lessons, you'll make each day of your life a source of growth. The smartest people are those who can transform even the smallest events or situations into breakthroughs in thinking and action. Look at all of life as a school and every experience as a lesson, and your learning will always be greater than your experience."

In an old Peanuts cartoon, Charles Schulz shows Charlie Brown at the beach building a magnificent sandcastle. It's a work of art. As he stands back to admire it, suddenly it's destroyed by a big wave. In the last frame he says, "There must be a lesson here, but for the life of me I don't know what it is."

That's how many of us feel after a potentially valuable experience.

We go through it but don't grow. We attend meetings designed to help us learn, then do nothing with what we've heard after closing our notebooks. Don't get excited about a learning event, get excited about learning! And you haven't really learned it until you've applied it.

A few days after slaying a lion, Samson returned to the scene of victory and discovered two things in the carcass:
(a) Bees, that sting.
(b) Honey, that tastes sweet. "He took some" (Judg 14:9 NKJV).

In life, move beyond the pain and look for the honey!

The Power of Story... Shhhhh

Nick and Wayne used this clip this morning to great effect.

They were illustrating a great point as part of the Just Walk Across the Room series.

Day of Mourning - Victorian Bush Fires

The tragedy recently in Victoria has been devastating.

Larry Evans from Westlife is a chaplain with Chaplaincy Australia. He and his mate, Lance, responded quickly and drove from Queensland to Flowerdale.

They were able to provide much-needed support for people whose lives had been impacted.

This morning Larry will share his story at the 10am Celebration. He told the blokes part of the story yesterday at Blokes in the Shed. It was powerful.

Here are a few snapshots.

(Thanks to Larry for the photos)

Sharing Malaria - Bill Gates Style!

I loved this news story...
"Malaria is spread by mosquitoes," Bill Gates said while opening a jar of mosquitoes at a conference this past week. "I brought some. Here, I'll let them roam around. There is no reason only poor people should be infected."

Now that is an eye opening demonstration!

Gates waited a minute or so before assuring the audience the liberated insects were malaria-free. But what a powerful point!
He went on to say that "There is more money put into baldness drugs than into malaria, now, baldness is a terrible thing and rich men are afflicted. That is why that priority has been set."

I love that he calls it out!
Sometimes it takes someone with power to open the eyes of his peers!

"Shedology" and a Shed-Sharer

Tomorrow morning I am looking forward to some serious "shedology."

"Shedology" is a new word that I think I have just invented - "the detailed study of God-moments in sheds."

Great things can happen in sheds and they will again Saturday. We have already had several shed sessions with the men - awesome stuff!!

And this time we have John Hunt addressing the "men of Westlife" in Chris Breingan's shed.

Chris is a great host and "shed-sharer."


Check out these great shed comments......

"Like the dunny, the footy game and the meat pie, the shed has an important place in Australian culture. It stands as a symbol of the Aussie male's ingenuity..."
(Thomson, 1995)

"A good shed is like a safety valve... it releases the pressures of work and family, providing a haven where a bloke can maintain and repair his sense of identity..."
(Thomson, 1995)

"..something... happens when a bloke gets in a shed." (Thomson, 1995)

Just Walk Across the Room - Living in 3D

I really enjoyed preaching the message Living in 3D on Sunday. Kind of like my approach to life....... 3D's

And then last night at our campaign small group we watched Bill and then the closing video summary clip - powerful stuff. Something clicked in our group.

Here is the media clip below.



What happened in your campaign small group?

Here are the 3 main points about Living in 3D....

Word Up! Word Wisdom from Proverbs 18

Words, words, words!

They say that “talk is cheap.” Words can be cheap if you are on a capped mobile plan!

I’m still letting the power and wisdom of these verses wash over me.
“I choose!”

Words satisfy the mind as much as fruit does the stomach; good talk is as gratifying as a good harvest.
Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit—you choose.
Proverbs 18:20-21 (MSG)

An insight into the volume of words….
Many words rush along like rivers in flood, but deep wisdom flows up from artesian springs. Proverbs 18:4 (MSG)


What some words do to certain people…
The words of a fool start fights; do him a favour and gag him. Proverbs 18:6 (MSG)
Fools are undone by their big mouths; their souls are crushed by their words.
Proverbs 18:7 (MSG)

Wisdom about the order, weight and priority of words
The first speech in a court case is always convincing— until the cross-examination starts! Proverbs 18:17 (MSG)

Some great advice about what to do with some “gossip” words….
Listening to gossip is like eating cheap candy; do you really want junk like that in your belly? Proverbs 18:8 (MSG)

Some great advice about when to say some words….
Answering before listening is both stupid and rude.
Proverbs 18:13 (MSG)

Some great advice about what wise people do with words… they “listen” to words….
Wise men and women are always learning, always listening for fresh insights.
Proverbs 18:15 (MSG)

Some insight into how to say words…
The poor speak in soft supplications; the rich bark out answers.
Proverbs 18:23 (MSG)

And for a whole other reason this verse is a cracker – I have a significant message brewing – and this verse is another piece of the jigsaw puzzle….

A healthy spirit conquers adversity, but what can you do when the spirit is crushed?
Proverbs 18:14 (MSG)

PS – Have I told you lately that I love Proverbs in The Message?

Just Walk Across the Room - Robbery Reflection

I received a police report about a robbery in my suburb last weekend. It is a bit scary… but more about that in a moment.

My mind and spirit have been impacted by the following statements that I have heard and read during this JWAR campaign. Check out some of these.

The key is this: fundamentally, being walk-across-the-room people means that we walk when the Spirit tells us to walk and we don’t walk when the Spirit says not to walk. That’s what makes this thing dynamic and mystical and out of your control … and out of mine.

“If we would all do just the small thing that we can do, we would touch a lot more lives!”

If you’ve submitted your life to Christ but wonder why you’re not just rocketing ahead in your spiritual development or your spiritual maturity, could it be that, for too long now, you have clung to your Circles of Comfort, refusing even to glance toward that Zone of the Unknown, let alone take a walk into it?

Now… back to the police report I was talking about. Here it is.


14.02.09
Armed robbery, Springfield: Police are seeking public assistance regarding a robbery at the Something Fishy shop on Spingfield Lakes Boulevard last evening. Around 8.40pm two men dressed in high visibility jackets and with white towels covering their heads and faces approached four staff from the car park of the take-away shop. The two disguised men produced large knives and demanded cash. One staff member produced a bag of money which one of the men grabbed and the money from the bag fell to the ground. The men ran away with only a small amount of money. One staff member received a minor injury as a result. Police continue to investigate this matter.


This fish shop is where I get my favourite potato scallops from. Noela lets me put Westlife events brochures on her counter. I saw Noela in my street recently. Her daughter goes to daycare in a house in my street. She is a very cheerful person – and she knows my name too.

Noela’s shop was robbed.

On Monday I had to get some ice from the IGA. I was in a hurry and there was a storm bucketing rain down. As I ran I saw Noela fixing a sign in her shop. I kept running towards the car… and then in a split second I thought of the police report and then I thought of Noela and her staff.

“It won’t take long!”

So I turned around and ran to the fish shop.

I had an interaction with Noela where I acknowledged the robbery, she told me some of the scary details…. I talked about trauma counselling and talking to someone. She agreed that it would be a good thing to do. She was very teary… it was quite moving. And then I told her that I would be praying for her. It must be tough in her situation.

All up 2 minutes…. Priceless!!!

And I feel alive!!

Back to the teaching……..

“….being walk-across-the-room people means that we walk when the Spirit tells us to walk and we don’t walk when the Spirit says not to walk. That’s what makes this thing dynamic and mystical and out of your control … and out of mine.”

If you are "open for business" today I am sure God will use you.

Priceless!!!

Re-enACTS Series Teaser

We have a new series coming in March 2009 called Re-enACTS.

It is in concept form but here is a start!

Definition (rē'ěn-ākt's)

1. To enact again:

God’s Holy Spirit in Christ-followers in 2009 enacting the love and works of God

2. To perform again:

Christ-followers in 2009 performing miraculous deeds again

3. To go through a second time:

Westlifers being used again like believers were impacted in the Book of Acts

Here is the series teaser.

Church News

Here is this fortnight's edition of news.

I love the Re-enACTS series teaser. Starts March 2009.

and the funny bit right at the very end, "count us in, Ray!"

Wall of UNLEASHED!

Looking forward to hearing the "aaahhhh" in the House this morning when we put these images up on the BIG screens.

The Wall of UNLEASHED! is growing - people are signing up and saying, "count me in!"

Identity Theft - 2007 Media Primer

We did this great series in May 2007 called Identity Theft. The 4 parts included "stolen by success" - "mugged by the mirror" - "robbed by relationships" - "pickpocketted by the past"

A lot of people were touched by the powerful messages.

I recently stumbled across this trailer we did up. If you have been tracking this blog recently you will notice a big improvement in the quality of some of media clips. A lot has happened since 2007. But at the time we thought we were awesome.

I have come to understand that excellence is relative. It is doing the very best with what you have, at the time!


" -

It’s Almost Valentine’s Day

Mentoring is a great thing. And part of it is “downloading” stuff from other people. Men tend to “catch” good stuff from other men.

And who would think that you could "catch" stuff from a blog post.

I really enjoyed Mark Beeson’s post here.

He then used this verse:

Proverbs 18:22 - A man's greatest treasure is his wife— she is a gift from the Lord.

Good one Mark!

Celebration Team - 2009 Theme

I was really inspired when I saw this artwork from Yvonne for her Celebration team this year.

What a cracker of a verse.....

"Look sharp now! God has chosen you to build his holy house. Be brave, determined! And do it!"

1 Chronicles 28:10 (MSG)

Spider Lillies

These flowers are simply beautiful.


I noticed them when leaving home recently on my way to the office. In full bloom they are a bit of a favourite!

I think they are called spider lillies.

Sometimes it is the simple things in life.... I am just so glad that I noticed!

Lunch Buddy

Jim and I caught up for lunch today at Lakeside Cafe - and guess who turned up.

He/she is the offspring of "Bob" and "Dorothy" - much larger versions of frilled lizards who frequent the cafe by the lake and who feed off the scraps left under the tables.

This little fella ate some lettuce from my wrap.

PS - there is a pee-wee type bird that apparently turns up every day - his name is Henry - and he "has no friends." I met Henry today. He is very noisy and tries to pick the berries from the muffins on the counter.

Very bold, Henry!

Top Five Reasons Churches Don’t Grow - Bill Tenny-Brittian

I came across this great article recently by Bill Tenny-Brittian - he is a senior church consultant, editor and author.

The article is called The Top Five Reasons Churches Don’t Grow.

Here is the opening:

When I get called in as a consultant to work with stuck, plateaued, or declining churches I have a couple of things I look for right off the bat. In the vast majority of the cases I discover that their inability to grow, let alone sustain, their membership is caused by one of six issues. And yes, I know this post is called the top FIVE reasons churches don’t grow, but I have to throw in the one stopper for church growth, no matter what else is happening.

Indeed, you can major on “fixing” the top five for the rest of eternity, but if you don’t take care of this one single issue, it will be for naught. I’ve said it before................


You can read the rest here.

To get you going, 2 of the reasons are:

> Ineffective Attendance Tracking
> Lack of Guest Follow-up

Thanks Bill!

UNLEASHED! Vision - Short Recap - Sunday 8 Feb 09

Here is a shortened version of what was said about UNLEASHED! from BIG Wednesday.

I am very excited about how God is leading us!

A Credible Voice in Time of Tragedy - Brian Houston

We prayed on Sunday for the people in Victoria - that God's strength and peace would surround them in the tragedy of the bushfires.

We also prayed for godly leadership. Here is an example here in Brian Houston from his blog.

It starts like this........

Prayers and Support for Australians

As Australians it is impossible (and unthinkable) to ignore the tragedy that has so recently devastated the state of Victoria. The recent bushfires have claimed too many lives, and changed the face of some communities forever. Too many people have lost homes, and too many people are now facing the heartbreaking task of rebuilding their lives without loved ones. Our hearts and prayers are with all of those affected by these horrible fires.

In times like these, it is often easy to ask why things like this happen, and to look heavenward for answers. Too often we try to understand these tragic times, and turn to political statements and moral codes to help us grasp the depth of these situations. It breaks my heart to hear of people making broad, bold, and often very disillusioned statements equating such tragedies as ‘retribution from God’.

The God I serve is a personal being who cares about our everyday lives, and whose heart breaks over these unfair and often unjust circumstances. I believe in a God who is full of mercy and grace, a compassionate Saviour who wants to build people’s lives for the better, feels the pain of loss as His own, and who cares deeply for those that are hurting, alone, widowed and orphaned.

Our days are filled with unpredictable circumstances............

Click here for the rest.

Well done Brian!

Blokes in a Shed - special guest John Hunt

I am really excited that we were able to secure John Hunt to speak at next Blokes in a Shed.

The men will enjoy John's humourous and passionate style. He has been a key leader in our movement and region for many years now.

Helping God's Animals!

Caring in the midst of tragedy!

What Happens When You Try to Tow Away a Woman's Car?

Just Walk Across the Room - Reflections

The JWAR 4-week campaign has just started - and so has the reflection - and the action!


Tracy has started on her blog with this great post called, "I’m nothing like a pyramid scheme salesman." Check it out here! And I love the picture she put with the post!


And we are starting to compile reflections for a weekly JWAR email reflection - so watch your email inbox.


I have been reflecting on this journey.... and it started with me in 2008. I was looking back and reflecting on my JWAR and "reach" journey.


I did this post with a video in Dec 2009 called, "How much do you have to hate somebody not to tell them about Jesus?" You can read it here.


A bit heavy - but gee, it gets to the point!

Man Fell in a Hole

We showed this clip at the end of the first JWAR message today.

What a powerful media message!!

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
2 Corinthians 9:15 (NIV)

1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, ..........
4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved.
Ephesians 2:1,4,5 (NIV)

Just Walk Across the Room - Single Greatest Gift

I am really looking forward to the Celebration this morning. We start a new series called Just Walk Across the Room.

I have mentioned it before here.

Here is the opening slide if you you want to "get the heads up" now.

See you at 9.58am - or 9.20am if you are "an investor!"

PS - a new series always means new people visiting the House - yes!!!

UNLEASHED! Montage - Getting Bigger Day by Day

We will be showing this in church this AM - the ever-growing UNLEASHED! Wall.


So make sure you keep sending your entries into Jillian as per her email

BIG Family Day Out @ O'Reilley's

We got away as a family today and took advantage of the "quarantined Saturday!"

Jill has done a top job with the photos and a bit of a blurb. Check her blog post out here.

I will do a post with photos soon about the high tower that Katie and I climbed. Now that was fun!

An UNLEASHED! Stretch for Me - Video Preaching

When we were doing our annual vision promo media clip it was suggested we get some clips of me preaching "in action."

It sounded good... but at first it was hard! To preach into a camera with other people watching is not as easy as it looks when you start off.

Anyway, I "got over it" and pushed through, and Ray has done a top job again with this clip. Here is a short segment... with that emotive music.

Venice - 2000

I did an earlier post about the Christmas that we had... and some of the great food we enjoyed. The post was called Panettone Perfection.... and it included a note that I had to find the photo of me in Venice in 2000 standing in the piazza at San Marco.


Here it is!!

I would like to get back there again some day!

What place in the world would you like to get back to?

Garbage Truck Rule

Got this email recently called Garbage Truck Rule. It's not bad!

Check it out!

One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We weredriving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of aparking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on hisbreaks, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us.

My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy.
And I mean, he was really friendly.

So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!'

This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.'

He explained that many people are like garbage trucks.
They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full ofdisappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you.

Don't take it personally. Just smile , wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home , or on the streets.

The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks takeover their day. Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so...
'Love the people who treat you right.
Pray for the ones who don't.'

Life is 10% what you make it and 90% how you take it!

What a great philosophy!

UNLEASHED! 2009 - Promo Media Clip

Here is the final version of the UNLEASHED! media clip that we showed last night @ BIG Wednesday.

It is a combo of all our "teaser" or "leaked" vision clips since Dec 08.

Enjoy.

On a Ski and a Prayer - Springfield Times

Love your work Richard!

This was part of our Aussie Day Out community events.
Click here for the link to the newspaper story.

Get Wisdom! - My Life Is at Stake

Reading Proverbs 4 this morning. Love it!

The BIG idea of the passage for me today was – “Get Wisdom!”

Above all and before all, do this: Get Wisdom! Write this at the top of your list: Get Understanding! Proverbs 4:7 (MSG)

Gizmo and I were talking about this yesterday – we are reading Proverbs. As men, the thing we need to pursue most is wisdom.

Then I was struck by the number of verbs in verses 20 to 27.

This proverbs-thing really is about “doing” and “application” and “living skilfully.”

Check out these verbs in verses 20 to 27.

“listen” - “tune” - “keep” – “concentrate” - “learn” - “keep” - “don't talk” - “ignore” - “watch” - “look” - “leave’

Based on this what are the stakes on your life?

BIG Wednesday - The Video!

We have been talking heaps at Westlife about tomorrow night - our very first BIG Wednesday!

Here is a clip (below) that Ray did - one the best so far!

Enjoy it - and we hope to see you (or at least one person from your family) Wednesday 6.44pm - USQ main auditorium.

PS - click here for a previous blog post about why we are doing Big Wednesday and how we "do" New Community.

Dolphin Stampede!

Thanks to Roderick for this contribution!

When God sets out the entire creation as a science classroom, using birds and beasts to teach wisdom.

Job 35:11 (MSG)

Oh, visit the earth, ask her to join the dance! Deck her out in spring showers, fill the God-River with living water. Paint the wheat fields golden. Creation was made for this!

Psalms 65:9 (MSG)

The “How” and “Why” of BIG Wednesday

We are tweaking our mid-week format for a monthly BIG Wednesday - BIG impact, praise, worship and ministry in the main auditorium .

BIG Wednesday is a key part of our New Community strategy.

The 1st BIG Wednesday will be a BIG Vision Wednesday - where you get to hear the whole 2009 UNLEASHED! vision with details.

This is the night where you begin to find out what UNLEASHED! means for you in 2009 - that's why we have called in My 2009.
The night will also include some "our" or "church" bits - so like it always has been with our church, the vision is both corporate and personal - "our/we" and "my."

This BIG Wednesday idea will give us some more flexibility in the other Wednesday nights of the month to provide for tailored teaching, "grow" opportunities and life skills etc (eg debt management, biblical finances, SHAPE, parenting, bible FOUNDATIONS etc). This is in addition to the great Life Groups that we enjoy!

Quarter 1 small groups will be a total focus on Just Walk Across the Room campaign small groups (like focussed Life Groups)
(you have started to see details of that powerful campaign the last 2 x Sunday AM and at recent leadership training days)

Quarter 1 BIG Wednesday dates are 4 Feb, 4 March, 25 March (with special guest Steve Dixon) - so please mark your diaries now

Quarter 2 will be the normal Life Group format with the new teaching and grow opportunities and some Growth Groups.

One of these new opportunities will be monthly Impact Teaching session.

We have been gathering feedback on how we have been going as a church
- "tweaking" suggestions from you include shorter Sunday AM celebrations, longer Wednesday night celebrations (new community), quality child care on Wednesday night celebrations.

We encourage you to give the tweaked format a go - especially if you are not in the habit of coming out mid-week.
There will be a family-friendly focus because of quality child care
- and many families can and do get out mid-week when they need to eg school functions, family events etc

We are encouraging that at least a representative from each family who call Westlife Church "home" commit to invest in the monthly BIG Wednesdays.
It provides the "whole package" and "balance" to the ministry our church has for you.

If you have any queries please contact us.
Don’t be a stranger – or sit at home in the dark. If you do that you’ll miss out!

Los Angeles Dodgers 2004

Came across this photo recently - a real blast from the past!

I was in LA in May 2004 - and it so happened that Dodger Stadium was near my hotel room.

So off I went. What an experience!

Have you ever been to a US baseball game?

New Community.....Becoming the church we are meant to be

What is New Community?

Westlife Church is a little different to what you might have seen in church before.

Pastor Andrew Staggs outlined the Wednesday “New Community” strategy in May 2006 during the “New Beginnings, New Community” series.

He stated that “New Community” is a key part of starting to build the church we all want to see -

Together, we are striving to become the kind of church described in the Bible - church with relevant messages, heartfelt celebration, honest friendships, constant prayer and compassionate need for those in need. In short, we would like to have the kind of contagious Christian faith that can influence and encourage the entire community, one life at a time.

“New Community” is a response to the new church that was described in Acts 2:41-47

41 That day about three thousand took him at his word, were baptized and were signed up.
42 They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers.
43 Everyone around was in awe—all those wonders and signs done through the apostles!
44 And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common.
45 They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person's need was met.
46 They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful,
47 as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved. (Msg)

Pastor Andrew preached about a group of people in Acts who were positioned with a promise, aware of their purpose, lived with passion, were fueled by prayer, and were empowered with a pentecostal experience. They also met “…together in the temple courts. … (and) in their homes…” These biblical principles became the foundation of New Community Celebration and New Community Life Groups.

In part 2 of the series titled “The True New” Pastor Andrew outlined the hallmarks of the New Community – those things which make us “the real deal.” These included being redeemed, devoted, reverential, relational, unified and unselfish. Pastor Andrew declared that this biblical model of “new community” was God’s desire for Westlife Church.



In summary our Wednesday Night New Community on a Westlife Wednesday is for those people who want to become the church we are meant to be. It is for those regularly attend the Sunday Morning Celebration and who are looking for more - more connection, more teaching, more details about the life you are meant to be living, more info about where we are being effective and what God is saying to us as the Westlife Church Family.

“….enjoying the favour of all the people” (Acts 2:47 – NIV)

“….people in general liked what they saw.” (Acts 2:47 – Msg)

Unleashed AJS!

This piece of artwork inspires me. It is like a themed-life banner for 2009.

I got the idea from Tracy, Jillian and Paste. It is Obama-style.

Click the link here and "presto" - make your own photo!!

I would love to somehow collect all the Westlifers who do their own image and we could make a "wall of UNLEASHED!" (Tracy's idea).

Anyone got an idea how we could do it?

PS - it would look good on the wall in the main USQ auditorium (LHS as you face the stage!) - maybe for this BIG Wed PM launch?

PPS - we are doing the word unleashed CAPITALISED with an exclamation mark - like this "UNLEASHED!"

Photo Finish!

What a race.... the camera never lies!

But exactly what angle is it, in relation to the finish line?

Who cares! Everyone is a winner in a holiday bike race!