Mosaic aka SHAPE

I came across this image recently - it is a cracker.

It links with a new monthly teaching series we are starting soon - Discovering your SHAPE.

You Are a Unique Design!

And you have a S.H.A.P.E.—spiritual gifts, heart, aptitudes, personality and experiences.
Your SHAPE was sovereignly determined by God for His purpose.

"Yes, Man!"

I was cleaning up some computer directories recently and came across this great photo.

It was from a boys night in 2006. "Yes, man!"

Our Garlic Bread

I am looking after the kids this week - Jill is in Sydney at a conference - and it is fun as!

Katie and I made a special garlic bread tonight.
It was all her idea and recipe and I was the "fetch it boy."

Have a look at what we created!!

It was delicious!

"Brendan to the Rescue" - Our Nephew

This is our nephew - what a hero! You can check out the full newspaper article here.

I really liked this last line....

“It probably lasted about 10 minutes. There was no immediate threat of death, but they needed some assistance for sure,” Brendon said. “I probably should have got their number but we’ve got no plans to meet up again.”

Giant Easter Egg Hunt - Easter Sunday - 10am

Hope to see you there!

I wonder if they let Dads loose too??!!!

Reach our World!

I really enjoyed doing the part 6 message yesterday of the Re-enACTS series.

You can click here to download the podcast.

Here is a slab of scripture that I used as a base about the Church in Antioch.

19 Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews.
20 Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus.
21 The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

22 News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.
23 When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.
24 He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.
25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul,
26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
27 During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.
28 One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.)
29 The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea.
30 This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.
Acts 11:19-30 (NIV)

Westlife W-TV News - Current Edition

In case you missed it today he is the current edition of W-TV news!

I like the Barrack Obama bit!

New PULSE - April 09

A new PULSE came out today - snapped up like hotcakes.

Lourdes did the lions share of this edition - well done!

Make sure you grab a copy next Sunday or drop around and get one from the HUB.

Deep Sea Fishing - Bevan Smith

Bevan loves fishing!

Bevan was born to fish!

Bevan and Ray took me deep sea fishing in January - and I have just remembered to put the photos here on the blog.

They caught some great fish on the day... and all of mine had to be thrown back because they were too small. Can I say that I did catch 3 red emporor fish! (but 3 very small red emporor fish!)

Hope

I've been thinking a lot about "hope" lately.




I have grabbed several dictionary definitions as follows:

1. to wish for something with expectation of its fulfillment.
2. to have confidence; trust.
3. the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best
4. a person or thing in which expectations are centered
5. a wish or desire accompanied by confident expectation of its fulfillment.
Hope will be the underlying thread - the BIG idea - of our Are You Going to be OK? series.

In Chuck Swindoll's Hope Again he states, "Hope is a wonderful gift from God, a source of strength and courage in the face of life's harshest trials."

He goes on to say:
· When we are trapped in a tunnel of misery, hope points to the light at the end.
· When we are overworked and exhausted, hope gives us fresh energy.
· When we are discouraged, hope lifts our spirits.
· When we are tempted to quit, hope keeps us going.
· When we lose our way and confusion blurs the destination, hope dulls the edge of panic.
· When we struggle with a crippling disease or a lingering illness, hope helps us persevere beyond the pain.
· When we must endure the consequences of bad decisions, hope fuels our recovery.
· When we find ourselves unemployed, hope tells us we still have a future.
· When we are forced to sit back and wait, hope gives us the patience to trust.
· When we feel rejected and abandoned, hope reminds us we are not alone... we'll make it.

God, treat us kindly. You're our only hope. First thing in the morning, be there for us! When things go bad, help us out!
Isaiah 33:2 (MSG)

".... God— you're my only hope!
Psalms 143:9 (MSG)

The Power of the Mind - Jumbled Letters

Someone recently sent me this email.
I really appreciate stuff like this. The mind is awesome!

Only great minds can read this. This is weird, but interesting!

fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo have a sgtrane mnid too
Cna yuo raed tihs?
Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can. i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg.
The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to rsceearh at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae.
The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm.
Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh?
yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—and how well I know it.
Psalms 139:14 (NLT)

Van Shore - Wild Spirit-Man!

Pastor Van Shore is a wild Spirit-man!

"Who could do it better than ... (Van)? For he is a man who is obviously filled with the spirit of God."
Genesis 41:38 (NLT)

We had a great time with him last time at BIG Wednesday and he again delivered a powerful message with a ministry time.

If you missed it you can download the podcast here.

Thanks Van - and it was great that you could come off the bench and be the super-sub for Steve Dixon.

Here are some attempts at photos... but he just moved too quick!

If you missed the message you can download the podcast here.

Financial Literacy Course - Local High School

I spoke yesterday to a bunch of year 11 students at a local high school about "financial literacy." They have paid me to develop a 4 part module which I have called, Biifit Financially. I got the title from a message in the Get Fit series we did in Jan 09. Tracy came up with the concept.

Here is a picture of me doing the part 1 keynote address. I had a blast doing it.

I reckon speaking to and keeping the attention of high school students tests your ability as a real speaker!

Morning has Broken!

Morning has Broken!

I am in the HUB early this AM planning for a BIG day - and the sun has just burst over the roof of the neighbour's house.

Now I have to close the window or my eyebrows will be scorched!

I really enjoy the early hours before this moment - window open, gentle breeze, the stillness.....

What's your favourite part of the day?

Change of Location - This Sunday 10am

I love what our video team have done to remind us of a change of location this Sunday.

Check it out here!

Where's My Bailout Highlights - Perry Noble

Tracy organised this to be shown yesterday at Westlife.

It is a collection of great Perry Noble quotes from his recent series, "Where's My Bailout?"

Some good insights here. Enjoy!

Jillian and Tracey UNLEASHED!

I got a front row seat of this today - Jillian and Tracey UNLEASHED!

People were touched by what they said!

See Ya Later, Laurence!

We did an awesome thing tonight!

The Tally Room for the State Election counting was at the Convention Centre and it was open to the public for the first time.

So my teenage daughter suggested we go - and we did. It was great to see democracy in action.

We heard Laurence Springborg's defeat and resignation speech (below) and saw Anna Bligh (in red) arrive victoriously with her family.

See ya later, Laurence!

Mark Edwards - Build our House

We had a top morning this morning with all our people at Build our House

And Mark Edwards message and ministry was awesome. Here he is in full-flight while praying for us at the end!

Thanks, Mark!

Tips for Building Emotional Competence (EQ)

Here is a bit of a summary of what I spoke about to the team this morning.

According to Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence, IQ factors only account for twenty percent of career success. The other 80% depends on emotional intelligence (EQ).

The world calls the ability to relate to others "emotional intelligence," the Bible calls it "wisdom." I call it "living skillfully" or being "relationally savvy" or having "people skills." Hybels calls is being "relationally intelligent."

The good news is that emotional competence can be developed

3 key areas for assessing emotional intelligence (EQ) are:

- Self-awareness (the ability to recognise one’s own moods, emotions and drives),
- Self-management
- Social competence (interpersonal effectiveness)

Tips for Building Emotional Competence:

Self-Awareness:
1. Notice your own feelings and emotions in different situations, notice when you feel anxious, frustrated, happy, satisfied, irritated, etc.
2. Think about what might have "triggered" those feelings
3. Notice what your "self-talk" is as you experience negative emotions, what inner dialogue is going on?
4. Be aware how that "self-talk" is affecting your feelings and your actions
5. Consider how those emotions might be impacting your behaviour and your ability to perform effectively in your job (some emotions enhance performance, others impede performance)
6. Ask a trusted colleague or friend for feedback on how they observe your emotions impacting others as well as your own effectiveness

Self-Management:
1. Re-frame your negative self-talk to make it more constructive. Find a more "useful" way to think about a situation which encourages more positive emotions.Example:If you feel anxious about getting feedback on your performance, notice the difference between "self-talk" that says "I don’t want to hear if it’s not positive, I’m too afraid to ask in case it’s not good news"; versus " I need to know honestly how I’m doing, and finding out can open up new opportunities for me".
2. Remember, it’s not what happens to us that is important, it’s how we choose to respond to events that matters
3. Talk to someone you trust and ask them to help you by challenging some of the ways you might be thinking about things which trigger negative emotions and explore "what’s another way to think about that"?
4. Emotions have valuable information, use them to solve problems, e.g. take a feeling of anger, find out why you are frustrated, and solve the problem

Social Competence:
1. Learn to "listen" for feelings as well as thoughts in what other people are saying
2. Start to practice the skill of listening for feeling, and reflect back to the other person the feelings you’ve heard
3. Select someone who you know is particularly strong in interpersonal skills and ask them to help you debrief on group dynamics/interactions (both spoken and unspoken) following team meetings, etc. – you can learn to become more aware of others’ emotions this way
4. Work hard on trying to see things from the other person’s point of view
6. Don’t state your point of view until you’ve accurately reflected back the other person’s viewpoint and demonstrated that you’ve understood them

(adapted from Helen Hooper)

"How to Be a Good Listener" - Dr Gary Chapman

I got this weekly email from Dr. Gary Chapman this week. Well worth sharing!

You're probably familiar with the five love languages--quality time, words of affirmation, acts of service, gifts and physical touch.
Did you know quality time has many dialects?
One of the most common dialects is that of quality conversation. By quality conversation, I mean sympathetic dialogue where two individuals are sharing their experiences, thoughts, feelings, and desires in a friendly, uninterrupted context.

Have you ever wondered if you're a good listener? How can you improve in this area?
Here are eight steps to becoming a sympathetic listener.

1. Maintain eye contact when you are listening to someone.
This keeps your mind from wandering and communicates that the person has your full attention. Refrain from rolling your eyes in disgust, closing your eyes when they give you a low blow, looking over their head, or staring at their shoes while they are talking.

2. Don't engage in other activities while you are listening to another individual.
Remember, quality time is giving someone your undivided attention.

3. Listen for feelings.
Ask yourself: "What are this person's emotions right now?" When you think you have the answer, confirm it. For example, "It sounds like you are feeling disappointed because I forgot..." That gives the person a chance to clarify his/her feelings. It also communicates that you are listening intently to what they are saying.

4. Observe body language.
Clenched fists, trembling hands, tears, furrowed brows, and eye movement may give you clues as to what the person is feeling. Sometimes body language speaks one message while words speak another. Ask for clarification to make sure you know what the person is really thinking and feeling.

5. Refuse to interrupt.

6. Ask reflective questions.

7. Express understanding.
The person needs to know that he/she has been heard and understood.

8. Ask if there is anything you might do that would be helpful.
Notice, you are asking, not telling the person what she ought to do. Never give advice until you are sure the other person wants it.

Listening is a key part of good Emotional Intelligence (EQ).

Adapted from The Five Love Languages Singles Edition by Dr. Gary Chapman.

To find out more about Dr. Chapman's resources, visit http://moodypublishers.c.topica.com/maamWeHabOW0SbK0x1mcafpRrd/.

Storm Brewing!

I love Monday afternoons - but that is another blog entry yet to be written.

We often find ourselves in the backyard with the round ball - training, inspiring each other, and showing-off.

On Monday we had a storm brewing so we were a little distracted. Check out these images.

The photos remind me of where I think our community is at in the present climate - wondering, anxious, fearful, concerned.

Are you going to be OK?

This is what our Easter series is all about. Check it out here.

......A terrific storm came up suddenly on the lake. Water poured in, and they were about to capsize.
Luke 8:23 (MSG)

"Explanation or Obedience?" - Perry Noble

I read this great blog post from Perry Noble recently - love the way he has written it.

One of the problems I have constantly faced as follower of Jesus Christ is the mistake that believing that God owes me some sort of explanation every time He commands me to do something…
…which has caused me, many times, to expect God to explain Himself rather than me simply trusting Him enough to do exactly what He says.

I am learning that, if I am to be the follower He desires for me to be that I need to be obsessed with obedience to Him rather than expecting and explanation from Him.
Personally…I wish there was an explanation every time He commands something of me. I wish He would say, “You need to do BLANK…and when you do the following would take place…”
BUT…I believe ONE of the reasons … click here to read the rest.

"Explanation" or "obedience"... which one do you tend to gravitate to?

THE "New Beginnings" Football Shirt

As I mentioned in a previous post my boy has joined a local football ("world game") team.

And here is his first football jersey with sponsor logos. Very impressive!!

That royal blue colour will definitely make him run faster!

My

Peace.... God-style

Spent some with someone yesterday who really needed an encouragement and breakthrough from God.

I showed them verse 7 - and then looked up the passage in The Message.

Powerful stuff.

Thought you might enjoy it too!

6 Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.
7 Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
8 Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.
9 Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.
Philippians 4:6-9 (MSG)

"schwerpunkt" - German for "The Summit"

I came across this great word today... from my daily Word a Day email subscription.

"schwerpunkt"

That's right - you heard me..... "schwerpunkt "

PRONUNCIATION:
(SHVEHR-pungkt)

MEANING:
noun: The point of focus; an area of concentrated effort, especially in a military operation.

ETYMOLOGY:
From German Schwerpunkt (center of gravity, focal point), from schwer (weighty) + Punkt (point).

USAGE:
"In the only arty shot, the Dalai Lama, seen in silhouette, sits at the schwerpunkt of a Mondrian-like composition."Meir Ronnen; Happy Families?; The Jerusalem Post (Israel); June 25, 2004.

"But is the pledge to abolish Australian Workplace Agreements a masterstroke or a blunder? That question could be the greatest contest of judgment between Beazley and Prime Minister John Howard. Should it be the schwerpunkt of Labor's attack or will it be an unproductive dilution of forces?"Terry Sweetman; Kim Finds a Sore Point; The Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Australia); Jun 16, 2006.

"The point of focus; an area of concentrated effort, especially in a military operation. ...."

Sounds like what The Summit prayer is like on Sunday nights at Westlife.

"Are You Going to Be OK?" - Easter Sunday 2009

Just signed off on our Easter 2009 artwork with the printers.

This concept was a stretch for the planning team.... we really had to dig deep to think like newcomers and people we are wanting to reach with some stinkin' awesome great news!

I am very excited about this new "Are You Going to Be OK?" series - 4 impacting presentations that will be so easy to invite your friends to.

"Our Personal Trainer" - Tracy Skellern-Smith

We are in a powerful Re-enACTS series at the moment.

I was inspired by this blog post from Tracy. Here is a start....

I love watching the Biggest Loser. Each week I get inspired by what I see.I was particularly impacted me when Bob (the 56 year old Truck Stop owner) weighed in on Sunday. He started talking about the challenge earlier in the week where where the contestants….. click here to read the rest.

And this bit was a cracker!

Our personal trainer, the Holy Spirit is always by our side, holding us up, running with us stride by stride - yelling encouragement at us, urging us to keep going, keep giving, to dig deeper - and finish the race.

Click here to read the whole post.

Westlife News - Current Edition

Here is this fortnight's edition (low res version).

I am looking forward to the new Easter series, "Are You Going to be OK?"

Check it out in this edition below.

5 Things You Don't Want Your Guests to Hear

I read this great email from Mark Waltz and the Wired Team from Granger.

I bet this culture doesn't "just happen" and "happen overnight."

Over you you, Mark

1. “That’s Not My Responsibility”
This comment may cause team members to feel as though they’ve covered themselves, but the guest doesn’t care who is responsible. The guest merely wants the question answered or the request filled. The risk of dropping the ball increases each time a request, question or need is passed on to another person.

2. “I Don’t Know.”
If a team member doesn’t have an answer, he or she must be resourceful enough to find it. It’s OK not to know an answer; it’s not OK to leave it there. The team member must take the initiative to find the answer. “I don’t know” must always be followed up with “but I’ll find out.”

3. “No.”
Yeah, but sometimes the answer is “no.” Why would we not say “no” if the answer to a question is “no”? Simply because, when you’re the guest, you expect the answer to be “yes.” You want to be satisfied. When you hear “no” without an alternative or an explanation, you’re unsatisfied.

4. “They,” “Them,” and “You Guys”
Everyone wants to appear competent. When we don’t have the answers or the rule is difficult to explain, the temptation to blame someone else is tremendous. It can be difficult for people to recognize this temptation in themselves. But when the team member says, “They said” or “It’s up to them” or “You guys had better,” he or she is communicating a lack of ownership. When guests overhear this language or pick up on this attitude, they doubt the church itself.

5. “I’m Just A Volunteer.”
I always ask sales associates or clerks, “How are you?” It’s amazing how many times they respond, “I’ll be doin’ much better when I can leave this place! Only two more hours to go.” Too many people are unhappy working day after day in the same, grueling job. That should never happen in the church. Those who plug in to a ministry should do because they fully embrace its mission and vision. If they do, no one will ever hear these words from them.

You Can Have Both - Fruit and Gifts

My Water Baptism - 1979

Here is my water baptism certificate - 1979. I found it while doing some filing recently.


It was a powerful time for me - and my father bought be a brand new bible for the occasion.

The Meaning Of Water Baptism
(From “The Message” Bible)- Romans 6

So what do we do? Keep on sinning so God can keep on forgiving? I should hope not! If we’ve left the country where sin is sovereign, how can we still live in our old house there? Or didn’t you realize we packed up and left there for good? That is what happened in baptism. When we went under the water, we left the old country of sin behind; when we came up out of the water, we entered into the new country of grace – a new life in a new land!

That’s what baptism into the life of Jesus means. When we are lowered into the water, it is like the burial of Jesus; when we are raised up out of the water, it is like the resurrection of Jesus. Each of us is raised into a light-filled world by our Father so that we can see where we’re going in our new grace-sovereign country.

Could it be any clearer? Our old way of life was nailed to the Cross with Christ, a decisive end to that sin-miserable life – no longer at sin’s every beck and call! What we believe is this: If we get included in Christ’s sin-conquering death, we also get included in his life-saving resurrection.

Re-enACTS - A Reflection

Really enjoying this series. I have preached 2 messages so far and now it is time for the team to take over from this Sunday.

The feedback of the heart of the message has been very encouraging - and to see a bunch of people praying through the targetted outcomes/phrases on Sunday night was something I will never get sick of.


Here are some of the targets!!!


1. “The Books of ACTS is a pattern and model for me to follow today”
2. “I now know that I need to be more open to the Person of Holy Spirit”
3. “I understand that the Spirit-filled life is “normal” for all Christ-followers and is something that I will pursue”
4. “I have been filled with God’s Holy Spirit – and I now speak in tongues!”
5. “Holy Spirit, have complete control in my life”
6. “I understand that I need to be filled with God’s Spirit and that I can be topped-up with God’s Spirit and that God’s Spirit in me helps to be more like Jesus and have His character (fruit)”
7. “God’s Spirit in me will empower me to be like Jesus and do great things like Jesus did.”
8. “I know and I can feel that God is working in and through me by His Spirit!”
9. “I know that God wants to work in the key life areas of my heart and mind by the power of His Holy Spirit.”
10. “I am experiencing transformation and regeneration by God’s Spirit”
11. “I am now aware that I have spiritual gifts that have been given to me by Holy Spirit to be used in our church”
12. “I know that our church, when filled with active Spirit-filled Christ-followers, will be used by God to play a special and greater role in our community and world.”
13. “My life had a challenge that seemed impossible to move, but God’s powerful Spirit touched me deep within and now I am free!”

Just Walk Across the Room - Grander Vision Living

Tracy showed us this picture recently as part of the Grander Vision Living message of the JWAR series. Funny as!!


Big Idea - You Can't Take it With You!


You can read the message summary posts here and here.


Well worth a read.


I like this bit....


Developing friends, sharing your story, sharing God’s story aren’t just another thing on your to-do list.. Grander vision living infiltrates your entire to-do list.

Rain is Coming - Better Get Mowing!

I need to mow the lawn today - it is a mess. The mower has been in the repair shop awaiting it's "assessment."

I borrowed a lawn mower from a friend and it is ready in the garage for it's scheduled use this arvo.

But it is getting very blowey outside and I have just checked the BOM radar. Check this out!!

The rain it is a coming!!!

So I am out of here to do the mowing - and will do some creative juggling later!!!

The Camera is Always On - Tim Stevens

Here is a great post from Tim Stevens... an example of practical wisdom.

Facebook. Twitter. MySpace. Blogs.

These social networking tools have changed everything about hiring staff, finding volunteers and leading people. Why? Because everything you’ve posted, tweeted, commented, emailed, sent—it’s all out there.

Seth Godin says it this way: “Google never forgets.”

A report from the University of Evansville seems to back this. They found that more and more employers are turning to the internet to screen applicants. The study determined........

Click here to read the rest.

Baptism in Holy Spirit - AOG Paper

Here is a great resource that can inform you about Baptism in Holy Spirit from Assemblies of God in USA.

Click here for a download of the PDF.

It has a great Q & A section.

I referred to it this morningas part of the Re-enACTS series, so if you missed out on a copy here it is again.

Re-enACTS - Checked Your Oil Lately?

“Oil is the lifeblood of your car's engine.”

That's what the Car Bible says!!

It also says:

An engine oil's job is primarily to stop all the metal surfaces in your engine from grinding together and tearing themselves apart from friction whilst transferring heat away from the combustion cycle.
Engine oil must also be able to hold all the nasty by-products of combustion, such as silica (silicon oxide) and acids in suspension.
It cleans the engine of these chemicals and build-ups, and keeps the moving parts coated in oil.
Finally, engine oil minimises the exposure to oxygen and thus oxidation at higher temperatures.
It does all of these things under tremendous heat and pressure.

You need God’s oil – His Holy Spirit, like a car needs oil.

You need God’s life lubrication – His Holy Spirit……..


Checked Your Oil Lately?

Do you need a refill or top up or complete change of oil?

God of This City - Still Loving this Song

Still loving this song!! I did a post about it here.



Here are the lyrics for new fans!

God Of This City - Chris Tomlin

by Passion Worship Band from the album Passon: God of This City

You're the God of this city
You're the King of these people
You're the Lord of this nation
You Are

Bridge:
For there is no one like our God
There is no one like our God

Chorus 1:
Greater things have yet to come
Great things are still to be done
In this city
Greater things are still to come
And greater things are still to be done here

Verse 2:
You're the Lord of Creation
The Creator of all things
You're the King above all Kings
You Are

You're the strength in our weakness
You're the love to the broken
You're the joy in the sadness
You Are

Chorus 2:
Greater things have yet to come
Great things are still to be done
In this city
Where glory shines from hearts alive
With praise for you and love for you
In this city

Greater things have yet to come
Great things are still to be done
In this city
Greater things are still to come
And greater things are still to be done here

Sydney Harbour Storm

Someone sent this photo to me recently when we were designing some artwork for a new series.

I was born in Sydney, I just adore Sydney Harbour, and I am fascinated by storms.

So this photo just does it for me!

Build Our House - With Special Guest Ps Mark Edwards

I recently heard Ps Mark Edwards speak at a pastor's breakfast.

He did a great message called "Success Revolution."

He is coming to minister at our next leadership gathering - and he is doing a cut down version of this great message. Our people will be inspired!

Here is a bit from his bio:

Mark Edwards is the Senior Minister of Ipswich Region Community Church, a vibrant and significant church in the City of Ipswich, Queensland, Australia.

After completing that degree he practiced as a Solicitor, firstly in a local Ipswich firm and then specializing in Criminal Law Advocacy with Queensland Legal Aid Commission.
After completing a period of time with the Commission he then went into private practice in his own right between 1985 and 1991 and established a large and very well respected private practice within the Ipswich area.

Mark was born and bred in Ipswich and his family has significant links to the Ipswich region.

He is passionate in what he believes and this is evidenced by the fact that in 1991 he sensed strongly the call of God to ministry. Mark sold his private practice and commenced as the Senior Minister of his present church.

He has held various positions in the community including:
Chairperson – Board of Advice, St Andrews Private Hospital, Ipswich
Chairperson – Ipswich and West Moreton Family Resource Centre
Committee Member – West Moreton Regional Ethics Committee
Chairperson – University of Queensland – Ipswich Campus Strategic Advisory Group
Board member – Christian Television Association

Mark completed a 2 year term as President of the Ipswich Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He was the first minister of religion in Australia to hold such a position and was recently made a life member of the Chamber.

Mark has a compelling vision to see the local church truly impact and transform its community.

Mark is married to Gail, with four wonderful children, Nicholas, Hannah, Gabrielle and Eloise.

Powerful Promise

These verses are a real catalyst for me.....

On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.

For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

Acts 1:4-5 (NIV)

They ask Him a question and He says……………

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Acts 1:8 (NIV)

Here is how the ACTS DVD series shows it.

Bring it on!!!!

Re-enACTS - Part 1 - Let God out of the Box - Podcast

Here is a link to listen to last night's message.

It is called Let God out of the Box. God really moved in some lives last night. I will never get tired of seeing that!

During the message I make this bold statement, based on some research and reflection.

Re-enACTS - Definitions

The new series started tonight.

Here are some of the definitions I used.....


So the application goes like this....

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

"..and the road will stretch out smooth before you."

"...and the road will stretch out smooth before you."

Proverbs 4:20-26 (MSG)

What a great promise! Sounds a bit like "success."

And I love the "how to's" before the promise. Check these out!

listen - tune - keep - concentrate - learn - discover -keep - avoid - keep - ignore - watch

Here is the full passage.

20 Dear friend, listen well to my words; tune your ears to my voice.

21 Keep my message in plain view at all times. Concentrate! Learn it by heart!

22 Those who discover these words live, really live; body and soul, they're bursting with health.

23 Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that's where life starts.

24 Don't talk out of both sides of your mouth; avoid careless banter, white lies, and gossip.

25 Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions.

26 Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you.

Proverbs 4:20-26 (MSG)

Well, I better get cracking!!!

Today I Will Make A Difference

Peter G forwarded this to me recently. I agree with him - it makes a great blog post.

It is from Insight of the Day.

Today I Will Make A Difference

Today I will make a difference. I will begin by controlling my thoughts. A person is the product of his thoughts. I want to be happy and hopeful. Therefore, I will have thoughts that are happy and hopeful. I refuse to be victimized by my circumstances. I will not let petty inconveniences such as stoplights, long lines, and traffic jams be my masters. I will avoid negativism and gossip. Optimism will be my companion, and victory will be my hallmark. Today I will make a difference.

I will be grateful for the twenty-four hours that are before me. Time is a precious commodity. I refuse to allow what little time I have to be contaminated by self-pity, anxiety, or boredom. I will face this day with the joy of a child and the courage of a giant. I will drink each minute as though it is my last. When tomorrow comes, today will be gone forever. While it is here, I will use it for loving and giving. Today I will make a difference.

I will not let past failures haunt me. Even though my life is scarred with mistakes, I refuse to rummage through my trash heap of failures. I will admit them. I will correct them. I will press on. Victoriously. No failure is fatal. It's OK to stumble...I will get up. It's OK to fail...I will rise again. Today I will make a difference.

I will spend time with those I love. My spouse, my children, my family. A man can own the world but be poor for the lack of love. A man can own nothing and yet be wealthy in relationships. Today I will spend at least five minutes with the significant people in my world. Five quality minutes of talking or hugging or thanking or listening. Five undiluted minutes with my mate, children, and friends.

Today I will make a difference.

Max LucadoFrom On The Anvil
Copyright (Tyndale Publishing, 1985) Max Lucado, Used by Permission

Insiders See it Differently - James and The Message

I came across this text recently in an electronic file. I remember when I first saw it, the revelation was powerful!

It was the "Introduction to James" from The Message bible. I enjoyed it's freshness and insight. Here goes!

When Christian believers gather in churches, everything that can go wrong sooner or later does. Outsiders, on observing this, conclude that there is nothing to the religion business except, perhaps, business—and dishonest business at that.

Insiders see it differently.

Just as a hospital collects the sick under one roof and labels them as such, the church collects sinners. Many of the people outside the hospital are every bit as sick as the ones inside, but their illnesses are either undiagnosed or disguised.

It's similar with sinners outside the church.

So Christian churches are not, as a rule, model communities of good behaviour. They are, rather, places where human misbehavior is brought out in the open, faced, and dealt with.

The letter of James shows one of the church's early pastors skillfully going about his work of confronting, diagnosing, and dealing with areas of misbelief and misbehavior that had turned up in congregations committed to his care. Deep and living wisdom is on display here, wisdom both rare and essential. Wisdom is not primarily knowing the truth, although it certainly includes that; it is skill in living.
For, what good is a truth if we don't know how to live it?
What good is an intention if we can't sustain it?

According to church traditions, James carried the nickname "Old Camel Knees" because of thick calluses built up on his knees from many years of determined prayer.
The prayer is foundational to the wisdom.
Prayer is always foundational to wisdom.

Wisdom is skilfull living!