How to Set Your Kids Up For Success!

I was inspired by this quote that I found recently

"A man who gives his children HABITS of INDUSTRY provides for them BETTER than by giving them fortune."

Richard Whately

This adds to some other great biblical wisdom:

Discipline your children; you'll be glad you did— they'll turn out delightful to live with.

Proverbs 29:17 (MSG)

Our children and their children will get in on this as the word is passed along from parent to child.

Psalms 22:30 (MSG)
What are some of the valuable "habits of industry" that you have taught your children?

Can You Give GOD a Loan of Money?

Some of you saw me write this during the week on Twitter - but the thought is still sticking with me.

Can You Give GOD a Loan of Money?

Proverbs 19:17 says you can.

Mercy to the needy is a loan to God, and God pays back those loans in full.

Proverbs 19:17 (MSG)

Jill and I gave $32 this week to the Christian Blind Mission.  We just had to when we heard their story. 

$32 and a 10 minute operation restores someone's sight.  That's a MIRACLE.  We both have glasses, but that is nothing compared to a lifetime of blindness.

That's an INVESTMENT in mercy.

A New Day of Honouring - Ps Mark Edwards Style

Jillian and I and the kids were invited last Sunday to attend Ipswich Region Community Church by Ps Mark Edwards.

The purpose of the visit was so that we could be honoured for our leadership role in the region since 2006.

We had been thoroughly honoured at a Night of Honour for us at Westlife Church on Sunday 11 October.. and they also gave us a 2 week holiday in Hawaii !!!

And then this from our district Australian Christian Church leader. It was just superb... and very humbling.

Below is a photo of the lovely flowers and books given as gifts.
And there is also a photo of Ps Mark in full-flight preaching part 1 of the innovative new series, Green. What a great church!

What a great day ... and a whole new level of honouring. Thanks to all involved and may you be favoured by your investment.

For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
the LORD bestows favor and honour;
no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.
Psalms 84:11 (NIV)

Sin Deterrant and Faith Accelerant – Mark Batterson

I came across another great Mark Batterson blog post recently.

I know of no greater sin deterrent and faith accelerant than simply reading the Bible on a daily basis.

There is no substitute. There is no shortcut.

Of course, it takes more than reading.

The Bible wasn't just meant to be read. It was meant to be meditated. Reading without meditating is like eating without digesting. We don't absorb all the nutrients.

May God give us a ravenous appetite for His word.

Reading results in one-dimensional knowledge.
Meditating results in two-dimensional revelation.
Obedience results in three-dimensional faith.

Read it. Meditate on it. Live it out.

You Owe It To Tyndale - Mark Batterson

I really enjoyed this recent post from Mark Batterson.

We take the Bible for granted. We have so many Bibles and we read them so little. I hope this challenges that.

William Tyndale gave his life to translating the Bible into English. Literally. Tyndale was criticized by the religious establishment. In fact, his Bible translations were burned by the Bishop of London at St. Paul's Cathedral. His response? Greater resolve to translate the Bible into a common language for the common man.

His life mission is epitomized by this rebuke to the religious establishment: "If God spare my life, a boy that driveth the plow shall know more of Scripture than thou dost." Tyndale was charged with heresy and spent more than a year in a tiny underground prison cell. Eventually he was strangled to death while tied to a stake. Then his body was burned. His dying prayer? He cried out, "Lord, open the King of England's eyes."

That prayer was answered in the next few years when King Henry VIII ordered that a Bible be placed in every Parish Church in Britain. And it was answered again a century later when King James authorized a group of thirty-nine scholars to produce an English translation of the Bible. Tyndale paved the way with his life and death.

My point? You owe it to Tyndale to read your Bible.

And for the record, you are part of the company of translators. Your life is a unique translation of the Bible ready by everyone who knows you. They may never read the Bible, but they will read your life!

Love Like That!

Jill and I found this great verse yesterday.

Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn't love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.
Ephesians 5:2 (MSG)

This is very powerful...... "learn a life of love” ... "observe how Christ loved us" ... "love like that!"

Love like that!

God Charts the Road You Take

I have been really encouraged and inspired by this verse/phrase recently.

It kind of "hovers" over me..... and it is very reassuring.

God charts the road you take. ....
Psalms 1:6 (MSG)

Love it!!!

I reckon there is a song in there somewhere......

Roots and Doctrine and Foundations

Tonight is the start of our first Foundations course as part of our LIFE Development Track @ Westlife.

It is another phase of UNLEASHED! growth, Bible & learning in our great 2009 year.

Here is what Jesus said:

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)

And here is a quote I am using tonight from Charles Swindoll:

What roots are to a tree, the doctrines are to the Christian.
From them we draw
our emotional stability,
our mental food for growth,
as well as our spiritual energy
and perspective on life itself.

By returning to our roots we determine precisely where we stand.
We equip ourselves for living the life God designed us to live.

AWESOME!!

Hope to see you at 6.55pm with a workbook at Orion.

“Worked into Something Good” – Westlife News Bloopers

This is a very powerful Bible verse:

That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.
Romans 8:28 (MSG)

God can even turn mistakes into something good.

And here is some proof!

Our last edition of Westlife news was very good.... and here are the bloopers that preceded such a quality edition.

What blooper have you done that God has worked into something good?

Reminds me of an old Gaither hit, “Something beautiful, something good...”

Love Loud

I am really impressed with this image.

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)

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)

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)

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.

Pentecost Sunday - What an Anniversary!

I came across this great verse this week.... it's John the Baptist talking:

"I'm baptizing you here in the river, turning your old life in for a kingdom life. The real action comes next: The main character in this drama—compared to him I'm a mere stagehand—will ignite the kingdom life within you, a fire within you, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out.
Matthew 3:11 (MSG)

That's worth repeating!

"... (Jesus) will ignite the kingdom life within you, a fire within you, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out. "

Then we read later about the fulfilment of the promise!

1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Acts 2:1-4 (NIV)

Then I am inspired by this verse:

Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives.
Galatians 5:25 (MSG)

This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday.

And we are going to make some room for Holy Spirit this Sunday Night - 6pm to 7pm - at the Orion Community Room.

This is a chance to praise, celebrate and worship - and then pray - and open ourselves up to more of God.

Hope that you can join us!

Giddy Up!!

The Crucifixion - What a Man of Hope!

I am getting my heart ready for this Easter weekend.

I am amazed again at this powerful message of hope.

Check out the video clip below.

5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.

7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.

8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:5-8 (NIV)

5 In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!
6 Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. He didn't, and doesn't, wait for us to get ready. He presented himself for this sacrificial death when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready. And even if we hadn't been so weak, we wouldn't have known what to do anyway.
7 We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice.
8 But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him.
Romans 5:5-8 (MSG)

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)

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)

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)

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.