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Monday, June 29, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Drug Action Week - Day 5 - Alcohol is Not an Ordinary Commodity
Alcohol is not ordinary commodity.
Mr Templeman said that the World Health Organization (WHO) had concluded that alcohol was the third most important avoidable cause of death and disability in developed societies like Australia.
“Given this finding, alcohol is not an ordinary commodity and should not be treated as one.
Alcohol is a drug – TOO!
Alcohol is a commodity that is deeply entrenched in Australian society with substantial industry economic interests in production and distribution,” Mr Templeman said.
“Each year more than 3000 Australians die and another 10 000 need ongoing medical treatment through alcohol-related harm, with the annual cost in alcohol-related absenteeism being 7.5 million working days and the economic impact of its abuse some $15.3 billion.”
Be wise with Alcohol
Alcohol is a Drug Too
Try this quick check to see what you know about drinking????
http://www.whatareyoudoingtoyourself.com/
Thanks for your information for our awareness this week, Larry!
Mr Templeman said that the World Health Organization (WHO) had concluded that alcohol was the third most important avoidable cause of death and disability in developed societies like Australia.
“Given this finding, alcohol is not an ordinary commodity and should not be treated as one.
Alcohol is a drug – TOO!
Alcohol is a commodity that is deeply entrenched in Australian society with substantial industry economic interests in production and distribution,” Mr Templeman said.
“Each year more than 3000 Australians die and another 10 000 need ongoing medical treatment through alcohol-related harm, with the annual cost in alcohol-related absenteeism being 7.5 million working days and the economic impact of its abuse some $15.3 billion.”
Be wise with Alcohol
Alcohol is a Drug Too
Try this quick check to see what you know about drinking????
http://www.whatareyoudoingtoyourself.com/
Thanks for your information for our awareness this week, Larry!
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Love Loud
I am really impressed with this image.
It's from the US Southern Baptist Convention 2009 promo.
It's from the US Southern Baptist Convention 2009 promo.
In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
Matthew 5:16 (NLT)
On The Roof With Roderick
Roderick & I spent a bit of time together last night on his roof
wrestling with arial.
It was all about the "connection" ....
Drug Action Week - Day 4 - The Reality of Alcohol
Larry continues our journey of awareness,,,,,
Lives shattered
The young female said to me “I’ve seen all the adds on television but when you are actually watching a real person flying through the air twenty metres after being hit by the car it’s different”.
There were two ambulances, about six police cars and about twenty emergency services personnel at the scene. Cars blocked the streets, sirens wailed, crowds gathered.
(This was a real incident, the quotes are real)
Six young females were shaking and not just from the cold winter night, some in tears, but all in disbelief at what just happened. When asked they all had a bit to add to describe the incident they had just witnessed, emotionally, tearfully, shaking their heads some were saying “I don’t know how it happened, it just did, it all happened so fast.”
Wandering around, pacing up and down the footpath in varying degrees of shock trying to understand their feelings, trying to gather their thoughts and make sense of what had just happened.
In an instant
§ one man seriously injured in hospital, his life changed
§ one innocent car driver emotionally shattered.
§ A dozen young people, witnesses, shocked to the very core of their personal reality.
Alcohol impairs judgement.
Lives shattered
The young female said to me “I’ve seen all the adds on television but when you are actually watching a real person flying through the air twenty metres after being hit by the car it’s different”.
There were two ambulances, about six police cars and about twenty emergency services personnel at the scene. Cars blocked the streets, sirens wailed, crowds gathered.
(This was a real incident, the quotes are real)
Six young females were shaking and not just from the cold winter night, some in tears, but all in disbelief at what just happened. When asked they all had a bit to add to describe the incident they had just witnessed, emotionally, tearfully, shaking their heads some were saying “I don’t know how it happened, it just did, it all happened so fast.”
Wandering around, pacing up and down the footpath in varying degrees of shock trying to understand their feelings, trying to gather their thoughts and make sense of what had just happened.
In an instant
§ one man seriously injured in hospital, his life changed
§ one innocent car driver emotionally shattered.
§ A dozen young people, witnesses, shocked to the very core of their personal reality.
Alcohol impairs judgement.
My Work Matters - Media Promo Clip
I recently wrote a post here about the new My Work Matters series that starts Sunday 5 July 2009 at 10am.
Check out the promo media clip here..... and there is a great surprise at the end!
Thanks Dolly for a great song!
More about this series to follow.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Drug Action Week - Day 3 - Alcohol is a Drug Too
More research from Larry........
Alcohol is a drug and that's the bottom line.
It affects millions of people each day. Unfortunately, the person doing the drinking is not the only one who feels the impact of this abuse. It has a profound and direct impact on their families as well as their friends and acquaintances.
Besides what it can do to hurt everyone in the immediate social circle, alcohol has strong and lasting impact on the human body.
When you drink alcohol, even though you may not notice the changes, everyone else around you will.
It may start with changes in your behaviour such as mood swings. Your judgment may be impaired and you can start to have problems with relationships, in your marriage, with your children or friends.
Down the line, you may start to have problems with your job that can lead to obvious financial problems and maybe even legal problems that stem from arrests due to bad judgment caused by alcohol.
As far as your body is concerned, it can only take so much of a beating from alcohol before you start to notice what can become very serious problems.
Remember - Alcohol is a drug too.
Australian Bureau of Statistics full report
http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Products/4364.0~2007-08~Main+Features~Risk+Factors?OpenDocument
Alcohol is a drug and that's the bottom line.
It affects millions of people each day. Unfortunately, the person doing the drinking is not the only one who feels the impact of this abuse. It has a profound and direct impact on their families as well as their friends and acquaintances.
Besides what it can do to hurt everyone in the immediate social circle, alcohol has strong and lasting impact on the human body.
When you drink alcohol, even though you may not notice the changes, everyone else around you will.
It may start with changes in your behaviour such as mood swings. Your judgment may be impaired and you can start to have problems with relationships, in your marriage, with your children or friends.
Down the line, you may start to have problems with your job that can lead to obvious financial problems and maybe even legal problems that stem from arrests due to bad judgment caused by alcohol.
As far as your body is concerned, it can only take so much of a beating from alcohol before you start to notice what can become very serious problems.
Remember - Alcohol is a drug too.
Australian Bureau of Statistics full report
http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Products/4364.0~2007-08~Main+Features~Risk+Factors?OpenDocument
Foundations Course - Starts Tuesday 21 July - 7pm
I am very excited about a new course we are offering starting in July 2009.Foundations is a key way we are implementing biblical truth that impacts our everyday lives.
I wrote about "foundations" in a recent post here...
.... and about this key verse.....
"These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on..."
Matthew 7:24 (MSG)
Here is the start of a promo media clip we developed.
I will do some more entries soon about the benefits and power of doing this course.
I am excited!
Monday, June 22, 2009
True Love
True love is sharing the 2nd shot of liquid caffeine gold to make a stronger coffee.
Love you Jill!
Love you Jill!
Quit Managing Your Time and Manage Your Attention - Lee Colan
Here is a great start to a productive week!
Quit Managing Your Time and Manage Your Attention by Lee Colan
No matter what you do, time marches on at its own pace—tick, tick, tick—and there's nothing you can do to change that (unless you can go pretty close to the speed of light).
Time is a great equalizer; it runs at the same speed for everybody, rich or poor, jet pilot or snail farmer.
You can't manufacture time, you can't reproduce time, you can't slow time down or turn it around and make it run in the other direction. You can't trade bad hours for good ones, either.
What you can manage, however, is your attention.
Attention is a resource we all possess.
Your attention reflects your conscious decisions about which activities will occupy your time.
You are where your attention is... not necessarily where your body is.
The first step is to precisely understand your priorities.
There's a big difference between managing your attention to accomplish priorities and checking off items on your to-do list. Our natural tendency is to do what is fun, convenient, or absolutely necessary at any given time—but your true priorities may not fit into any of those categories. So, here's a question to ask yourself, "If I could accomplish only one thing right now, what would that one thing be?" Your answer will quickly identify your top priority, where you should be directing your attention.
Dwight D. Eisenhower, the World War II general who went on to become a popular president of the United States, used what is now called the Eisenhower Method for managing priorities and attention. After identifying the tasks confronting him, he drew a square and divided it into four quadrants as seen below.
I have overlaid the 4 D's into each quadrant to further simplify the actions you should take. Each and every task should have one of the 4 D's performed on it
– Do it, Dump it, Delegate it or Defer it.
Be sure to distinguish between "urgent" and "important" activities.
Important activities are beneficial and should be accomplished, if not right away, then eventually.
Urgent activities are time sensitive, but not necessarily crucial to your bigger goals.
As you identify priorities, be realistic about what you can accomplish. Be honest with yourself about what you truly want to achieve in your life and work.
Where do you want to invest your attention?
Although important tasks are your top priorities, most of the time these are not the things that appear to be urgent. Don't be fooled into thinking that whatever seems urgent is worth taking your attention from your most important goal.
Eisenhower's mantra was "What's important is seldom urgent, and what's urgent is seldom important." Less important priorities should not receive more attention than more important priorities.
Quit Managing Your Time and Manage Your Attention by Lee Colan
No matter what you do, time marches on at its own pace—tick, tick, tick—and there's nothing you can do to change that (unless you can go pretty close to the speed of light).
Time is a great equalizer; it runs at the same speed for everybody, rich or poor, jet pilot or snail farmer.
You can't manufacture time, you can't reproduce time, you can't slow time down or turn it around and make it run in the other direction. You can't trade bad hours for good ones, either.
What you can manage, however, is your attention.
Attention is a resource we all possess.
Your attention reflects your conscious decisions about which activities will occupy your time.
You are where your attention is... not necessarily where your body is.
The first step is to precisely understand your priorities.
There's a big difference between managing your attention to accomplish priorities and checking off items on your to-do list. Our natural tendency is to do what is fun, convenient, or absolutely necessary at any given time—but your true priorities may not fit into any of those categories. So, here's a question to ask yourself, "If I could accomplish only one thing right now, what would that one thing be?" Your answer will quickly identify your top priority, where you should be directing your attention.
Dwight D. Eisenhower, the World War II general who went on to become a popular president of the United States, used what is now called the Eisenhower Method for managing priorities and attention. After identifying the tasks confronting him, he drew a square and divided it into four quadrants as seen below.
I have overlaid the 4 D's into each quadrant to further simplify the actions you should take. Each and every task should have one of the 4 D's performed on it
– Do it, Dump it, Delegate it or Defer it.
Be sure to distinguish between "urgent" and "important" activities. Important activities are beneficial and should be accomplished, if not right away, then eventually.
Urgent activities are time sensitive, but not necessarily crucial to your bigger goals.
As you identify priorities, be realistic about what you can accomplish. Be honest with yourself about what you truly want to achieve in your life and work.
Where do you want to invest your attention?
Although important tasks are your top priorities, most of the time these are not the things that appear to be urgent. Don't be fooled into thinking that whatever seems urgent is worth taking your attention from your most important goal.
Eisenhower's mantra was "What's important is seldom urgent, and what's urgent is seldom important." Less important priorities should not receive more attention than more important priorities.
Drug Action Week - Day 2 - Teens in the Grip of Grog
Article from Herald Sun - Michael Carr-Gregg - June 09, 2009 12:00am
AUSTRALIA is in a mental health crisis. It's not impending. It's here. Government figures show one in four people under 25 will suffer a mental illness.
While we're worrying about lifting the retirement age and caring for our ageing population, it will cost billions to treat people who develop mental illness in their youth.
This bill will soar if we don't act now. The ready availability of alcohol and its enthusiastic promotion to make it a normal part of society are major contributors to the youth mental health problem.
According to the 2007 National Drug Strategy Household Survey, more than 20 per cent of 14 to 19-year-olds drink alcohol weekly.
A third of boys aged 12-17 downed seven-plus drinks at a time and one in three girls put away five or more in a session.
One in 20 students put away 50 standard drinks or more in a month. An Australian study published in international medical journal The Lancet found that alcohol caused 27 per cent of deaths involving 15 to 29-year-olds in 2002.
That's tragic, but the physiological effects of drinking on young, developing brains are much more insidious.
Brain development continues until the age of 20. Damage from alcohol during this time can be long-term and irreversible.
Adolescents need only drink half as much as adults to suffer the same memory loss.
Kids who binge once a week, or increase their drinking between the ages of 18 and 24, increase their chances of not attaining the goals of young adulthood like marriage, educational attainment, employment and financial independence.
While alcohol consumption rates among young people have remained stable for 30 years, what's really disturbing is the rising intensity of drinking in a small proportion of young people, especially girls.
NOTE: - Michael Carr-Gregg ( is a psychologist and leading writer and author of adolescent behaviour books)
AUSTRALIA is in a mental health crisis. It's not impending. It's here. Government figures show one in four people under 25 will suffer a mental illness.
While we're worrying about lifting the retirement age and caring for our ageing population, it will cost billions to treat people who develop mental illness in their youth.
This bill will soar if we don't act now. The ready availability of alcohol and its enthusiastic promotion to make it a normal part of society are major contributors to the youth mental health problem.
According to the 2007 National Drug Strategy Household Survey, more than 20 per cent of 14 to 19-year-olds drink alcohol weekly.
A third of boys aged 12-17 downed seven-plus drinks at a time and one in three girls put away five or more in a session.
One in 20 students put away 50 standard drinks or more in a month. An Australian study published in international medical journal The Lancet found that alcohol caused 27 per cent of deaths involving 15 to 29-year-olds in 2002.
That's tragic, but the physiological effects of drinking on young, developing brains are much more insidious.
Brain development continues until the age of 20. Damage from alcohol during this time can be long-term and irreversible.
Adolescents need only drink half as much as adults to suffer the same memory loss.
Kids who binge once a week, or increase their drinking between the ages of 18 and 24, increase their chances of not attaining the goals of young adulthood like marriage, educational attainment, employment and financial independence.
While alcohol consumption rates among young people have remained stable for 30 years, what's really disturbing is the rising intensity of drinking in a small proportion of young people, especially girls.
NOTE: - Michael Carr-Gregg ( is a psychologist and leading writer and author of adolescent behaviour books)
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Westlife News - A Ripper
The media team have done it again .... and pulled off another great edition of Westlife News!
And the screen work done by our college interns - Tim and Linda - is awesome!
Enjoy!
And the screen work done by our college interns - Tim and Linda - is awesome!
Enjoy!
Drug Action Week - starts Today!
Drug Action Week starts today!
It is for this week ........ 21 – 27 June 2009.
It is for this week ........ 21 – 27 June 2009.
Over to you now, Larry.
This years theme is “ALCOHOL IS A DRUG TOO”
Young people are at a huge risk. It is because of this that I am writing a short word each day outlining the extent of the problem and what we can do to avoid the problems.
Did you know that drinking alcohol is the most common type of drug used in Australia?
Alcohol is so widely used that many people don’t think of it as a drug and may not realise that it can be harmful. As a result, they may drink too heavily at times, or binge drink.
Research shows that young people are at greatest risk from alcohol consumption.
Among 16–24 year olds, alcohol-related harm is one of the leading preventable causes of disease and injury in Australia.
For more information go to:-
http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/druginfo/fact_sheets/the_facts_about_binge_drinking/the_facts_about_binge_drinking.html
More tomorrow.........
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
Who’s The Coach? - Guest Post - Mark Edwards
I thought that this Mark Edwards post today was both insightful and inspiring.
You can click the link here.... or simply read below.
Thanks, Mark, for the thoughts!!!
Over to you, now:
My exercise regime continues – up till now I have been training by myself and not really having a clue how to achieve those goals that I had secretly hidden in my heart but hoping desperately to achieve.
So I took the plunge and engaged a personal trainer – Sarah is fantastic – very patient and encouraging – someone who will not tolerate my rot!
We sat down and she analysed what I had been doing by myself over the past few weeks. The look of shock was obvious – ‘You do all this! What about a rest day?’ I thought ‘Rest Day! Novel concept but unnecessary because I have certain goals I want to achieve.’ How unlike me to be like a bull at a gate?
Sarah reviewed my schedule then personally went through the exercise and training regime with me. Helping me, demonstrating to me, coaching me and encouraging me through the process – each exercise was for a specific purpose which fitted into my goals.
It was more specific, more concentrated and it would take less time due to the specific nature of the routine and it incorporated a rest day.
As I walked away from this session I thought about how good this was for me. I felt so empowered – so able – so capable and competent. I had a coach who cared about me. Everyone needs a coach – someone to guide them in doing life so we don’t go the wrong way, exert more effort than we should, waste precious time and energy or make too many mistakes.
I realize you perhaps know what I am going to say next but for me one of the best coaches in my life is my daily devotions and journaling.
I find reading my bible in a systematic way and then journaling is indeed like having a personal trainer.
It guides me, assists me, encourages me, corrects me and teaches me.
Even yesterday devotions provided me with some wonderful counsel in an area of my life that I needed guidance upon.
Who coaches you?
Don’t do life alone!
What a recipe for disaster that could be?
You can click the link here.... or simply read below.
Thanks, Mark, for the thoughts!!!
Over to you, now:
My exercise regime continues – up till now I have been training by myself and not really having a clue how to achieve those goals that I had secretly hidden in my heart but hoping desperately to achieve.
So I took the plunge and engaged a personal trainer – Sarah is fantastic – very patient and encouraging – someone who will not tolerate my rot!
We sat down and she analysed what I had been doing by myself over the past few weeks. The look of shock was obvious – ‘You do all this! What about a rest day?’ I thought ‘Rest Day! Novel concept but unnecessary because I have certain goals I want to achieve.’ How unlike me to be like a bull at a gate?
Sarah reviewed my schedule then personally went through the exercise and training regime with me. Helping me, demonstrating to me, coaching me and encouraging me through the process – each exercise was for a specific purpose which fitted into my goals.
It was more specific, more concentrated and it would take less time due to the specific nature of the routine and it incorporated a rest day.
As I walked away from this session I thought about how good this was for me. I felt so empowered – so able – so capable and competent. I had a coach who cared about me. Everyone needs a coach – someone to guide them in doing life so we don’t go the wrong way, exert more effort than we should, waste precious time and energy or make too many mistakes.
I realize you perhaps know what I am going to say next but for me one of the best coaches in my life is my daily devotions and journaling.
I find reading my bible in a systematic way and then journaling is indeed like having a personal trainer.
It guides me, assists me, encourages me, corrects me and teaches me.
Even yesterday devotions provided me with some wonderful counsel in an area of my life that I needed guidance upon.
Who coaches you?
Don’t do life alone!
What a recipe for disaster that could be?
"@" and "#" (Twitter Talk)
Thanks to my friend Ronald http://twitter.com/ronaldbradford for this great bit of Twitter protocol yesterday ...........
@ represents a user, # represents a community.
Broadcasting is not very different to normal media. @scottporad at #140conf
"@" and "#".......... cool!
@ represents a user, # represents a community.
Broadcasting is not very different to normal media. @scottporad at #140conf
"@" and "#".......... cool!
Thursday, June 18, 2009
3.0 for iPhone Installed
iPhone OS 3.0 Software Update has just been done.
This update contains over 100 new features, including the following:
• Cut, Copy & Paste with shake to undo
• Landscape keyboard in key applications
• Enhanced Messages application
- Send and receive photos, contacts, audio files, and location via MMS*
- Forward and delete single or multiple messages
• Added search feature in Mail, Calendar, Notes and iPod
• Spotlight search across iPhone
• Support for CalDAV and subscriptions in Calendar
• Improvements to Safari
- Performance
- HTML 5 support
- HTTP Streaming audio and video
- Auto-fill usernames and passwords
• New Voice Memos application
• Sync Notes with a Mac or PC via iTunes
• Internet Tethering over USB and Bluetooth*
• Browse and download movies, TV shows, and audiobooks from the iTunes Store**
• Stereo Bluetooth***
• Wi-Fi auto login
• Enhanced Stocks application
• More Parental Control options for Apps, Music, Movies and TV Shows
• iTunes account creation and login**
• YouTube account login and access to subscriptions, ratings and favorites**
• Shake to shuffle
• New languages, dictionaries, and keyboards
• Find my iPhone and Remote Wipe via MobileMe (subscription required)**
• Support for more Exchange policies
• Create and send Exchange meeting invitations
• Search mail on server (Exchange Server 2007 and supported IMAP servers)
• Search LDAP company directory
• VPN on demand and VPN proxy support
• Encrypted configuration profiles
• Encrypted iTunes backups
• 1,000 new developer APIs, including:
- In App Purchases
- Apple Push Notification Service
- Accessories support
- Peer to Peer Connectivity
- Embedded Maps
- iPod Library Access
• Bug fixes
This update contains over 100 new features, including the following:
• Cut, Copy & Paste with shake to undo
• Landscape keyboard in key applications
• Enhanced Messages application
- Send and receive photos, contacts, audio files, and location via MMS*
- Forward and delete single or multiple messages
• Added search feature in Mail, Calendar, Notes and iPod
• Spotlight search across iPhone
• Support for CalDAV and subscriptions in Calendar
• Improvements to Safari
- Performance
- HTML 5 support
- HTTP Streaming audio and video
- Auto-fill usernames and passwords
• New Voice Memos application
• Sync Notes with a Mac or PC via iTunes
• Internet Tethering over USB and Bluetooth*
• Browse and download movies, TV shows, and audiobooks from the iTunes Store**
• Stereo Bluetooth***
• Wi-Fi auto login
• Enhanced Stocks application
• More Parental Control options for Apps, Music, Movies and TV Shows
• iTunes account creation and login**
• YouTube account login and access to subscriptions, ratings and favorites**
• Shake to shuffle
• New languages, dictionaries, and keyboards
• Find my iPhone and Remote Wipe via MobileMe (subscription required)**
• Support for more Exchange policies
• Create and send Exchange meeting invitations
• Search mail on server (Exchange Server 2007 and supported IMAP servers)
• Search LDAP company directory
• VPN on demand and VPN proxy support
• Encrypted configuration profiles
• Encrypted iTunes backups
• 1,000 new developer APIs, including:
- In App Purchases
- Apple Push Notification Service
- Accessories support
- Peer to Peer Connectivity
- Embedded Maps
- iPod Library Access
• Bug fixes
Love it!!
I Worship Better When I Have Help
Thanks to Mark Beeson for this great perspective.....
"I worship better when I have help."
Here is some of what he writes in a recent post:
I worship better when I have help.
When talented artists help me extol Christ, I offer more thorough and whole-hearted praise.
When gifted musicians help me confess my sin, I grieve my transgressions more deeply and admit my sin more readily.
When great vocalists sing with me, I find a new gear in my own songs of worship.
Talented artists, offering their gifts to enrich the Body of Christ – the Church – take worship to a new level of corporate praise. .......
God is worthy!
Psalm 95:1-2 - Sing joyful songs to the Lord! Praise the mighty rock where we are safe. Come to worship him with thankful hearts and songs of praise.
I am thinking of the great work the Westlife Celebration Team does - well done team!!!
"I worship better when I have help."
Here is some of what he writes in a recent post:
I worship better when I have help.
When talented artists help me extol Christ, I offer more thorough and whole-hearted praise.
When gifted musicians help me confess my sin, I grieve my transgressions more deeply and admit my sin more readily.
When great vocalists sing with me, I find a new gear in my own songs of worship.
Talented artists, offering their gifts to enrich the Body of Christ – the Church – take worship to a new level of corporate praise. .......
God is worthy!
Psalm 95:1-2 - Sing joyful songs to the Lord! Praise the mighty rock where we are safe. Come to worship him with thankful hearts and songs of praise.
I am thinking of the great work the Westlife Celebration Team does - well done team!!!
ReachOut! - Live a Life of Action
I read this great post from Steve Penny and thought of our current ReachOut! series.
Steve has captured the essence of one of the main points of this series... get on the front foot!
Over to you Steve!
I was speaking recently to a conference on leadership and urging them to understand the power of taking action.
So often in our lives it is the inertia of inactivity that locks us into a spiralling cycle of negative and destructive habits.
If only I had acted at the time; or, I should have jumped at the chance.
Why didn’t I do something?
Over and over again you hear people lamenting their inactivity and loss of an opportunity.
Action creates action. When you take action, further actions are required, and so you begin to make progress and build momentum.
The lawn never gets cut while you sit and watch television, but once you decide to act, the lawn soon gets mown and usually then the car gets washed or some other chore gets completed. Why?
Because action creates action.
Make up your mind to live an action packed life.
Do not be a spectator watching others have all the excitement of action in their lives.
Get enthusiastic about something in your life and take action.
Enthusiasm produces energy; energy produces action; action produces achievement and achievement produces enthusiasm.
Once you get started on any project just keep the action happening and soon momentum will kick in, and you will be amazed at how much can be achieved.
Life was meant to be lived through creative action not through reaction.
Take control and decide to act creatively to make your life what you once dreamed it could be.
Steve has captured the essence of one of the main points of this series... get on the front foot!
Over to you Steve!
I was speaking recently to a conference on leadership and urging them to understand the power of taking action.
So often in our lives it is the inertia of inactivity that locks us into a spiralling cycle of negative and destructive habits.
If only I had acted at the time; or, I should have jumped at the chance.
Why didn’t I do something?
Over and over again you hear people lamenting their inactivity and loss of an opportunity.
Action creates action. When you take action, further actions are required, and so you begin to make progress and build momentum.
The lawn never gets cut while you sit and watch television, but once you decide to act, the lawn soon gets mown and usually then the car gets washed or some other chore gets completed. Why?
Because action creates action.
Make up your mind to live an action packed life.
Do not be a spectator watching others have all the excitement of action in their lives.
Get enthusiastic about something in your life and take action.
Enthusiasm produces energy; energy produces action; action produces achievement and achievement produces enthusiasm.
Once you get started on any project just keep the action happening and soon momentum will kick in, and you will be amazed at how much can be achieved.
Life was meant to be lived through creative action not through reaction.
Take control and decide to act creatively to make your life what you once dreamed it could be.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
The TED Commandments - Rules every Speaker needs to know
Thanks to Los Whittaker and his Ragamuffin Soul for this great post.
Every speaker at the Ted Conference must follow these rules.
The message is too important to not be intentional.
1. Thou Shalt Not Simply Trot Out thy Usual Shtick.
2. Thou Shalt Dream a Great Dream, or Show Forth a Wondrous New Thing, Or Share Something Thou Hast Never Shared Before.
3. Thou Shalt Reveal thy Curiosity and Thy Passion.
4. Thou Shalt Tell a Story.
5. Thou Shalt Freely Comment on the Utterances of Other Speakers for the Sake of Blessed Connection and Exquisite Controversy.
6. Thou Shalt Not Flaunt thine Ego. Be Thou Vulnerable. Speak of thy Failure as well as thy Success.
7. Thou Shalt Not Sell from the Stage: Neither thy Company, thy Goods, thy Writings, nor thy Desperate need for Funding; Lest Thou be Cast Aside into Outer Darkness.
8. Thou Shalt Remember all the while: Laughter is Good.
9. Thou Shalt Not Read thy Speech.
10. Thou Shalt Not Steal the Time of Them that Follow Thee.
Every speaker at the Ted Conference must follow these rules.
The message is too important to not be intentional.
1. Thou Shalt Not Simply Trot Out thy Usual Shtick.
2. Thou Shalt Dream a Great Dream, or Show Forth a Wondrous New Thing, Or Share Something Thou Hast Never Shared Before.
3. Thou Shalt Reveal thy Curiosity and Thy Passion.
4. Thou Shalt Tell a Story.
5. Thou Shalt Freely Comment on the Utterances of Other Speakers for the Sake of Blessed Connection and Exquisite Controversy.
6. Thou Shalt Not Flaunt thine Ego. Be Thou Vulnerable. Speak of thy Failure as well as thy Success.
7. Thou Shalt Not Sell from the Stage: Neither thy Company, thy Goods, thy Writings, nor thy Desperate need for Funding; Lest Thou be Cast Aside into Outer Darkness.
8. Thou Shalt Remember all the while: Laughter is Good.
9. Thou Shalt Not Read thy Speech.
10. Thou Shalt Not Steal the Time of Them that Follow Thee.
Drug Action Week - Starts 21 June 2009
Drug Action Week (DAW) is an initiative of the Alcohol and other Drugs Council of Australia (ADCA) and it starts this Sunday.
I will be doing a series of daily posts with materials by Larry Evans. This is also part of our current Sunday AM teaching series, ReachOut!
You can check out Drug Action Week activities an resources here.
I will be doing a series of daily posts with materials by Larry Evans. This is also part of our current Sunday AM teaching series, ReachOut!
You can check out Drug Action Week activities an resources here.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Build Our House - 120 Powerful Minutes Every 90 Days
I am looking forward again to this Saturday AM with all people who contribute in some way to "building God's house" at Westlife Church.
It's 120 powerful minutes every 90 days - so don't be late!
More Mega Church Research - Ed Stetzer
I found some of this summary from Ed Stetzer interesting.
I find that many people who are not currently in a mega church have certain ideas about the "kind" of people in such churches.
An interesting new study by Warren Bird and Scott Thumma has been released via The Hartford Institute for Religious Research titled, Not Who You Think They Are: A Profile of The People Who Attend America's Megachurches.
Below are the bullet points of the more prominent findings:
§ Young and single adults are more likely to be in megachurches than in smaller churches.
§ Nearly two-thirds of attenders have been at these churches 5 years or less.
§ Many attenders come from other churches, but nearly a quarter haven't been in any church for a long time before coming to a megachurch.
§ Attenders report a considerable increase in their involvement in church, in their spiritual growth, and in their needs being met.
§ Forty-five percent of megachurch attenders never volunteer at the church.
§ New people almost always come to the megachurch because family, friends or co-workers invited them.
§ What first attracted attenders were the worship style, the senior pastor and the church's reputation.
§ These same factors also influenced long-term attendance, as did the music/arts, social and community outreach and adult-oriented programs.
§ Attenders can craft unique, customized spiritual experiences through the multitude of ministry choices and diverse avenues for involvement that megachurches offer.
This is a large document, and you would do well to download the entire report as a PDF.
I find that many people who are not currently in a mega church have certain ideas about the "kind" of people in such churches.
An interesting new study by Warren Bird and Scott Thumma has been released via The Hartford Institute for Religious Research titled, Not Who You Think They Are: A Profile of The People Who Attend America's Megachurches.
Below are the bullet points of the more prominent findings:
§ Young and single adults are more likely to be in megachurches than in smaller churches.
§ Nearly two-thirds of attenders have been at these churches 5 years or less.
§ Many attenders come from other churches, but nearly a quarter haven't been in any church for a long time before coming to a megachurch.
§ Attenders report a considerable increase in their involvement in church, in their spiritual growth, and in their needs being met.
§ Forty-five percent of megachurch attenders never volunteer at the church.
§ New people almost always come to the megachurch because family, friends or co-workers invited them.
§ What first attracted attenders were the worship style, the senior pastor and the church's reputation.
§ These same factors also influenced long-term attendance, as did the music/arts, social and community outreach and adult-oriented programs.
§ Attenders can craft unique, customized spiritual experiences through the multitude of ministry choices and diverse avenues for involvement that megachurches offer.
This is a large document, and you would do well to download the entire report as a PDF.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Post-Preaching Pleasure - Ps Paul Grant
I was sent this poem by Ps Paul Grant this AM.
He obviously had a great time preaching yesterday AM - and came up with poem straight after.
I am feeling a little different this AM. They say for some preachers the morning after can be a bit tricky.
Anyway, over to you Paul to inspire us!
An inner incandescence
Emitting both heat and light,
Glows and grows and overflows
Bringing unique delight
Preaching under God’s anointing
Instils a special euphoria,
Unmatched by natural pleasures
It’s a kind of Divine insignia
An imprint of distinction,
Of rare and precious worth,
A sensation of elevation
To blessings beyond this earth
Disciplined preparation
Is its required collateral,
Under the Spirit’s tutoring
A process that is Scriptural
Anointed preparation and preaching
Is a route to heaven-sent bliss,
The messenger becomes the message
And the hearers receive God’s kiss
But the preacher must be alert
To the presence of a snare,
If not watchful he may assume
That preaching is a flair
That the gift is cultivated
By developing a skill,
That the blessing of anointing
Is contingent on his will
Not so! The will must surrender
To revealings of the Spirit,
To power that is beyond the range
Of any human merit
Post-preaching pleasure
Of a kind from God’s great throne
Is not a reward that we can earn
But is given by grace alone
Paul E. Grant June 2009
He obviously had a great time preaching yesterday AM - and came up with poem straight after.
I am feeling a little different this AM. They say for some preachers the morning after can be a bit tricky.
Anyway, over to you Paul to inspire us!
An inner incandescence
Emitting both heat and light,
Glows and grows and overflows
Bringing unique delight
Preaching under God’s anointing
Instils a special euphoria,
Unmatched by natural pleasures
It’s a kind of Divine insignia
An imprint of distinction,
Of rare and precious worth,
A sensation of elevation
To blessings beyond this earth
Disciplined preparation
Is its required collateral,
Under the Spirit’s tutoring
A process that is Scriptural
Anointed preparation and preaching
Is a route to heaven-sent bliss,
The messenger becomes the message
And the hearers receive God’s kiss
But the preacher must be alert
To the presence of a snare,
If not watchful he may assume
That preaching is a flair
That the gift is cultivated
By developing a skill,
That the blessing of anointing
Is contingent on his will
Not so! The will must surrender
To revealings of the Spirit,
To power that is beyond the range
Of any human merit
Post-preaching pleasure
Of a kind from God’s great throne
Is not a reward that we can earn
But is given by grace alone
Paul E. Grant June 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
ReachOut! to Others - The Final Instructions
I love the lyrics of that great Noiseworks song.....
"reach out, and reach out and reach out and touch somebody...."
Jesus set his team up and sent them out on their first "ReachOut! Tour"
Matthew 10 records the final instructions.
They are well worth reading, especially in The Message version.
Here are some samples:
You don't need a lot of equipment. You are the equipment ...
Matthew 10:10 (MSG)
Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighbourhood.
Matthew 10:6 (MSG)
Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously.
Matthew 10:8 (MSG)
So don't hesitate to go public now.
Matthew 10:27 (MSG)
You can read the rest of the passage online here.
Why not read the whole passage?
Can you see the word "platform" in there?"
So come on......
"reach out, and reach out and reach out and touch somebody...."
"reach out, and reach out and reach out and touch somebody...."
Jesus set his team up and sent them out on their first "ReachOut! Tour"
Matthew 10 records the final instructions.
They are well worth reading, especially in The Message version.
Here are some samples:
You don't need a lot of equipment. You are the equipment ...
Matthew 10:10 (MSG)
Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighbourhood.
Matthew 10:6 (MSG)
Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously.
Matthew 10:8 (MSG)
So don't hesitate to go public now.
Matthew 10:27 (MSG)
You can read the rest of the passage online here.
Why not read the whole passage?
Can you see the word "platform" in there?"
So come on......
"reach out, and reach out and reach out and touch somebody...."
How Much do I Have to Hate Somebody?
I am speaking today again about have a "reach out" attitude towards lost people ie people far from God... and a revelation of His powerful love.
I did this post in December 2008.
You can see a powerul media clip of Penn who is an athiest.
His statement is almost haunting....
" How much do I have to hate somebody not to tell them about Jesus?"
You can click here to see the post and a link to a youtube media clip.
I did this post in December 2008.
You can see a powerul media clip of Penn who is an athiest.
His statement is almost haunting....
" How much do I have to hate somebody not to tell them about Jesus?"
You can click here to see the post and a link to a youtube media clip.
Then the master said to the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges and urge and constrain [them] to yield and come in, so that my house may be filled.
Luke 14:23 (AMP)
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Reach Out! to Lost People
It's time for part 3 of the current series.I am speaking tomorrow about the compulsion to reach lost people for Jesus.
I have been weighing this up heavily... and it has made me think about a great series we did in October 2008 titled, Your Ever After.
It was a series about eternity, heaven and hell.
It was kickstarted with this great verse....
"……. He also has planted eternity in men’s hearts and minds [a divinely implanted sense of a purpose working through the ages which nothing under the sun but God alone can satisfy], ..."
Ecclesiastes 3:11 (AMP)
We talked about Hell and how it was never designed to be inhabited by people.
We did this so that "people will not be ignorant" of a powerful biblical truth with eternal consequences.
I did a blog post about the series and also included some powerful media clips about hell.
You can check in that post again here.
Warning - be careful!
Friday, June 12, 2009
Flywheel - The Movie
I am really excited about this movie Flywheel.
It is the first movie done by the creators of Fireproof. It fits nicely with the new My Work Matters series we are planning.
You can check out the media clip trailer here.
It is the first movie done by the creators of Fireproof. It fits nicely with the new My Work Matters series we are planning.
You can check out the media clip trailer here.
Marriage and Family and Generations - The Beesons
I did this post last Sunday about Mark Beeson and his 33 year old marriage.
I was inspired. Check it out here.
This is what his daughter wrote on her blog about her mum and dad.
That's what I call double-inspiration!
He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.
Acts 10:2 (NIV)
I was inspired. Check it out here.
This is what his daughter wrote on her blog about her mum and dad.
That's what I call double-inspiration!
He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.
Acts 10:2 (NIV)
Thursday, June 11, 2009
My Work Matters - New Series - Starts Sunday 5 July 2009
I just love releasing the theme for a new series!
It has been brewing for about 3 months now and I have been collecting materials for almost 3 years.... and now is the time!
I am meeting with the teaching team this Sunday night after monthly prayer to put the message and AV building blocks into place.
More info will leak out after that.
I know this... it will be more application-based teaching.
To understand that check out my recent blog post here.
It has been brewing for about 3 months now and I have been collecting materials for almost 3 years.... and now is the time!
I am meeting with the teaching team this Sunday night after monthly prayer to put the message and AV building blocks into place.
More info will leak out after that.
I know this... it will be more application-based teaching.To understand that check out my recent blog post here.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Light Floods In!
I came back to my office this AM.... and it was flooded with sunshine!
There is nothing like the warmth and energy of the winter sun!
Can someone please bring me a cappuccino?!
There is nothing like the warmth and energy of the winter sun!
Can someone please bring me a cappuccino?!
How Twitter Will Change the Way We Live - TIME
I am really enjoying this week's cover story of TIME.
"How Twitter Will Change the Way We Live" by Steven Johnson is a compelling overview of "where the world is at" in regards to Twitter.
Check this out... "it's entirely possibel that 3 or 4 years from now, we'll have moved on. But the key elements of the Twitter platform will persevere. Every major channel of information will be Twitterfied."
Grab your self a copy!
"How Twitter Will Change the Way We Live" by Steven Johnson is a compelling overview of "where the world is at" in regards to Twitter.
Check this out... "it's entirely possibel that 3 or 4 years from now, we'll have moved on. But the key elements of the Twitter platform will persevere. Every major channel of information will be Twitterfied."
Grab your self a copy!
Building a Great Life on Great Foundations
I am handing over to the Master Builder now.... check out what Jesus says:
24 "These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock.
25 Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit—but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock.
26 "But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don't work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach.
27 When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards."
Matthew 7:24-27 (MSG)
Also shows the importance of life application of teaching!
And the role of incarnational teachers and leaders (ie teachers who live the message):
Who preachers are is the main thing, not what they say....
Matthew 7:16 (MSG)
24 "These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock.
25 Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit—but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock.
26 "But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don't work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach.
27 When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards."
Matthew 7:24-27 (MSG)
Also shows the importance of life application of teaching!
And the role of incarnational teachers and leaders (ie teachers who live the message):
Who preachers are is the main thing, not what they say....
Matthew 7:16 (MSG)
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Seven Habits of Spectacularly Unsuccessful People: The Personal Qualities of Leaders Who Preside Over Major Business Failures
I was emailed this link to a very sobering and insightful article by Sydney Finkelstein -
Seven Habits of Spectacularly Unsuccessful People: The Personal Qualities of Leaders Who Preside Over Major Business Failures.
It contains some great corporate examples, stories and reflections.
Here is the start of the opening paragraphs:
To be spectacularly unsuccessful requires some very special personal qualities.
We're talking about people whose failures were breathtakingly gigantic, who have taken huge, world-renowned business operations and made them almost worthless.
They have caused thousands of people to lose their jobs and thousands of investors to lose their investments.
They've managed to destroy hundreds of millions or even billions of dollars of value.
Their destructive effect is so beyond the range of ordinary human beings that it's on a scale normally associated only with earthquakes and hurricanes.
The personal qualities that make this awesome scale of destruction possible are all the more fascinating because they are regularly found in conjunction with truly admirable qualities.
After all, hardly anyone gets a chance to destroy so much value without also demonstrating a potential to create it.
Most of the great destroyers of value are people of unusual intelligence and remarkable talent. They are almost always capable of .....
Click here to read the rest.
Here is the summary for those who want to cut to the chase:
The Seven Habits of Spectacularly Unsuccessful People
1. They see themselves and their companies as dominating their environments, not simply responding to developments in those environments.
2. They identify so completely with the company that there is no clear boundary between their personal interests and corporate interests.
3. They seem to have all the answers, often dazzling people with the speed and decisiveness with which they can deal with challenging issues.
4. They make sure everyone is 100% behind them, ruthlessly eliminating anyone who might undermine their efforts.
5. They are consummate company spokespersons, often devoting the largest portion of their efforts to managing and developing the company image.
6. They treat intimidatingly difficult obstacles as temporary impediments to be removed or overcome.
7. They never hesitate to return to the strategies and tactics that made them and their companies successful in the first place.
Seven Habits of Spectacularly Unsuccessful People: The Personal Qualities of Leaders Who Preside Over Major Business Failures.
It contains some great corporate examples, stories and reflections.
Here is the start of the opening paragraphs:
To be spectacularly unsuccessful requires some very special personal qualities.
We're talking about people whose failures were breathtakingly gigantic, who have taken huge, world-renowned business operations and made them almost worthless.
They have caused thousands of people to lose their jobs and thousands of investors to lose their investments.
They've managed to destroy hundreds of millions or even billions of dollars of value.
Their destructive effect is so beyond the range of ordinary human beings that it's on a scale normally associated only with earthquakes and hurricanes.
The personal qualities that make this awesome scale of destruction possible are all the more fascinating because they are regularly found in conjunction with truly admirable qualities.
After all, hardly anyone gets a chance to destroy so much value without also demonstrating a potential to create it.
Most of the great destroyers of value are people of unusual intelligence and remarkable talent. They are almost always capable of .....
Click here to read the rest.
Here is the summary for those who want to cut to the chase:
The Seven Habits of Spectacularly Unsuccessful People
1. They see themselves and their companies as dominating their environments, not simply responding to developments in those environments.
2. They identify so completely with the company that there is no clear boundary between their personal interests and corporate interests.
3. They seem to have all the answers, often dazzling people with the speed and decisiveness with which they can deal with challenging issues.
4. They make sure everyone is 100% behind them, ruthlessly eliminating anyone who might undermine their efforts.
5. They are consummate company spokespersons, often devoting the largest portion of their efforts to managing and developing the company image.
6. They treat intimidatingly difficult obstacles as temporary impediments to be removed or overcome.
7. They never hesitate to return to the strategies and tactics that made them and their companies successful in the first place.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Jamacian Staggsie - 2006
This photo was taken on a BOYS NIGHT OUT in 2006.
A mate had a wig with deadlocks - yes man!!
A mate had a wig with deadlocks - yes man!!
Please Pray for the Ukraine
This team from Springfield Christian Family will have a powerful impact.
Please pray for them and for the prayer points on this card.
Please pray for them and for the prayer points on this card.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
33 Years Ago Today - Mark Beeson
This is one of the reasons I like blogging.
Posts like this inspire me to be a better man and husband.
Thanks Mark Beeson.
Thirty-three years ago Sheila and I walked together into a new covenant with a new view of the world. Small things can trigger ....
Click here to read the rest.
Posts like this inspire me to be a better man and husband.
Thanks Mark Beeson.Thirty-three years ago Sheila and I walked together into a new covenant with a new view of the world. Small things can trigger ....
Click here to read the rest.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
"Push from the Pulpit" - Other Options
I came across this great post recently with Kem Meyer and Frank C.
Here is the blog reader question:
Our church seems motivated most to attend events and activities when things are announced from the platform. When there’s no major push from the pulpit, using other forms of communication, how does one get the congregation excited and eager to participate in other things that are happening in the church?
Here is the answer:
If people are responsive only to the events and activities announced from the platform it’s typically because it’s too hard to find out about the other events and opportunities that aren’t announced from the platform. Normal people always take the path of least resistance and if they have to work too hard to find something, they’ll just take what’s on top (like the platform announcements). The problem with the platform announcements being the only place to find out about individual growth and serving opportunities is that it limits church growth and community impact.
Here are a few tips to help raise awareness and energy for the things happening all around the life of the church without being solely dependent on the platform announcement.
· Use the platform to reinforce and promote core values and macro steps from the platform, not individual events or teams.
Practically, it might look like this:
Announced from the platform
Volunteer
Join a Group
Read your Bible
Not announced from the platform
Men’s breakfast
Book discussion
Community scrapbooking event
· Then, reinforce everywhere (from the platform, the bulletin, pre-service slides, etc.) the one place to go to find everything.
For us, it’s our web site. It’s the one place where information is always up to date and everyone has access to it-staff, volunteer, attendee, secret shopper, the information counter-they all have access to the web site. For you, the one place might not be the web. Whatever you choose, stick with that one place and drive everyone back to it. When you talk about volunteering, joining a group, etc., that one place lists all the individual opportunities, dates, times, directions, registration, etc.
· Of course, there are always special events that warrant specific priority attention from the platform.
Usually this makes sense for big deal events that affect the entire church like Baptism, Membership Classes, unique opportunities that directly apply to the topic you’re discussing in the sermon (i.e., Financial Freedom class when the message is about money.) But, even when you talk about specific events, remember to keep driving people back to that one place to find out the rest of the story.
There are so many benefits to this approach.
· People in your church (on both sides of the message) are satisfied with a rewarding experience. They know where to easily find information when they want it.
· People in your church take ownership of the invite and spread the word about different opportunities on their own when you empower them with direct access to the information. You eliminate the middle man and give them the tools to share it on their own.
· You eliminate redundancy and extra work when you put everything in one place.
The most important benefit of all is this. You are able to diffuse the spirit of competition with ministry leaders jockeying for pole position on the platform. You’re reinforcing the message we are “one church” where ministry happens not a bunch of individual ministries housed in the church.
You can read it all here.
Here is the blog reader question:
Our church seems motivated most to attend events and activities when things are announced from the platform. When there’s no major push from the pulpit, using other forms of communication, how does one get the congregation excited and eager to participate in other things that are happening in the church?
Here is the answer:
If people are responsive only to the events and activities announced from the platform it’s typically because it’s too hard to find out about the other events and opportunities that aren’t announced from the platform. Normal people always take the path of least resistance and if they have to work too hard to find something, they’ll just take what’s on top (like the platform announcements). The problem with the platform announcements being the only place to find out about individual growth and serving opportunities is that it limits church growth and community impact.
Here are a few tips to help raise awareness and energy for the things happening all around the life of the church without being solely dependent on the platform announcement.
· Use the platform to reinforce and promote core values and macro steps from the platform, not individual events or teams.
Practically, it might look like this:
Announced from the platform
Volunteer
Join a Group
Read your Bible
Not announced from the platform
Men’s breakfast
Book discussion
Community scrapbooking event
· Then, reinforce everywhere (from the platform, the bulletin, pre-service slides, etc.) the one place to go to find everything.
For us, it’s our web site. It’s the one place where information is always up to date and everyone has access to it-staff, volunteer, attendee, secret shopper, the information counter-they all have access to the web site. For you, the one place might not be the web. Whatever you choose, stick with that one place and drive everyone back to it. When you talk about volunteering, joining a group, etc., that one place lists all the individual opportunities, dates, times, directions, registration, etc.
· Of course, there are always special events that warrant specific priority attention from the platform.
Usually this makes sense for big deal events that affect the entire church like Baptism, Membership Classes, unique opportunities that directly apply to the topic you’re discussing in the sermon (i.e., Financial Freedom class when the message is about money.) But, even when you talk about specific events, remember to keep driving people back to that one place to find out the rest of the story.
There are so many benefits to this approach.
· People in your church (on both sides of the message) are satisfied with a rewarding experience. They know where to easily find information when they want it.
· People in your church take ownership of the invite and spread the word about different opportunities on their own when you empower them with direct access to the information. You eliminate the middle man and give them the tools to share it on their own.
· You eliminate redundancy and extra work when you put everything in one place.
The most important benefit of all is this. You are able to diffuse the spirit of competition with ministry leaders jockeying for pole position on the platform. You’re reinforcing the message we are “one church” where ministry happens not a bunch of individual ministries housed in the church.
You can read it all here.
5000
We hit 5000 on the blog counter during the week.
Thanks for your support... or "sticky beak".....
I found out that in the early days my kids kept clicking the blog to watch the counter go up - just to play a trick on me. So at least 40 of the clicks are "fakes" - thanks kids!
Thanks for your support... or "sticky beak".....
I found out that in the early days my kids kept clicking the blog to watch the counter go up - just to play a trick on me. So at least 40 of the clicks are "fakes" - thanks kids!
Friday, June 5, 2009
ReachOut! - This Sunday with Alan Lemay
I really enjoy it when Alan Lemay comes to visit us at Westlife.
He always inspires us and I enjoy partnering with him and Teen Challenge.
Hope to see you this Sunday at 10am!
5 Simon answered, "........ But because you say so, I will let down the nets."
6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
Luke 5:5-7 (NIV)
He always inspires us and I enjoy partnering with him and Teen Challenge.
Hope to see you this Sunday at 10am!
5 Simon answered, "........ But because you say so, I will let down the nets."
6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
Luke 5:5-7 (NIV)
Thursday, June 4, 2009
My Name is Andrew Staggs and I Love the Church!
"My Name is Andrew Staggs and I Love the Church!"
I am coming out of the closet... again!!
And I am inspired by building healthy churches and launching new churches.
That's why verses like these from Acts catch my attention.....
Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing."
Acts 15:36 (NIV)
He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
Acts 15:41 (NIV)
4 As they travelled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey.
5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.
Acts 16:4-5 (NIV)
Ac 22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said.
23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.
Acts 14:22-23 (NIV)
That is why I am moved when I watch media clips like this one about church planting.
Click here and be inspired!
I showed this clip last night as part of my BIG Wednesday message.
This clip was recently done by Australian Christian Churches and given to us at the last ACC National Conference.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Weigh to Go - Tracy Skellern-Smith
I really enjoyed this blog entry and newspaper article.
You can check it all out here.
Just love that photo!
You can check it all out here.
Just love that photo!
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Meeting with the Boss
I had some fun this morning.....
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
Mark 1:35 (NIV)
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
Mark 1:35 (NIV)
I really feel that I now have something worthwhile to say today.
"Thanks, Boss!"
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