My Region Greater Springfield Has a Soul!

It has been an interesting few days in my community. Our local state MP made some interesting comments in state parliament about the progress of community infrastructure.

Here is a sample of what hit the media:

Satellite city in a soulless orbit: MP
Natasha Bita September 18, 2009

SPRINGFIELD Lakes is an award-winning prototype for a 21st-century city -- but does it have soul?
A half-hour's drive west of Brisbane, the city-under-construction offers its 18,000 residents every convenience. The shopping centre will be the biggest in the southern hemisphere; it has a university campus, golf course and man-made lake; and bulldozers are clearing bushland to build a medical precinct to be known as Health City.

But local member Jo-Ann Miller reckons the satellite city in suburbia has "no soul". The Labor Bundamba MP's tirade on developer "greed" has triggered a debate on the future of low-density development in the 'burbs......

I knew something was "on the go" Thursday morning... an ABC twitter entry used the 2 words "Springfield" and "soulless" - and then I turned on my mobile phone and there were 3 messages - one from Ipswich City Mayor Paul Pisasale, one from Channel 7 TV reporter Neil Warren and another from ABC TV reporter, Josh Beavis.

Here are some TV media clips (below) about the story.

This one is from ABC TV - I get to appear in this one with a snappy quote about "new options" as pastor of Westlife Church.

Here is another from Channel 7

It was great to see and hear how vocal my community is about it's value - powerful stuff!

I'll write some more soon about my thoughts on community infrastructure and social capital development. All this means that my community is continuing to grow and mature.

(if you are viewing this post in my Facebook "notes" section click the link below somewhere called "view original post" - it will redirect you to my blog page with the media links)

Special thanks again to Peter Williams for his great HDD work!

Here is what was on the front page of the Queensland Times on Thursday.

Classic Tweets - Rick Warren

Rick Warren on Twitter

Here is what Rick Warren recently wrote about Twitter.

Nice one, Rick!

You’ve likely heard of TWITTER, the free internet text messaging tool that millions of people use to connect with each other on their cell phones and computers. I use it daily to keep in touch with pastors around the world.

For years, I declined to use Twitter thinking it was probably a frivolous waste of time. My staff tried to get me to start using it 3 years ago when it launched July ’06, but it seemed so narcissistic.

But recently, John Piper and I preached a funeral together and I saw John’s article on why he uses Twitter for ministry. I realized the powerful possibility of using this free tool to stay in contact with other pastors. Instead of answering the question, “What are you doing? (boring!) I use Twitter to encourage leaders and share what I’m thinking.

Connecting to each other through Twitter has several benefits:

1. You can share with me any immediate crisis or great celebration the moment it happens. It would be my privilege to “weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice.” Sharing your victories always doubles the joy. Sharing hurts halves the pain.

2. I can share with you my personal thoughts and insights on ministry throughout the day. I send these out to my friends several times a day.

3. I can alert you instantly about national and global events that have impact on our ministries the moment the news breaks.

I hope you’ll join me today. Here’s where to see some of what I’ve written and how to sign on now.

See you on Twitter!

#whygather?

I have been enjoying the #whygather? tag on Twitter in recent weeks.

It was started by Ps Brian Houston and has gained soem great momentum.

It got me thinking about the power of church and gathering and believers.
For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there among them.

Matthew 18:20

I WAS glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord!

Psalms 122:1

We will be showing collections of the #whygather? Twitter entries in coming Sundays.

Here is a sample in the media clip below. Enjoy!

You can get your own reveleation by going on the Twitter website and searching for #whygather? or #whygather

Classic Tweets - Christine Caine

I started a new thing recently called Classic Tweets.

You can check out my first entry here.

This latest collection goes to Christine Caine.

She had a great week.

Twitter on!!

Classic Tweets

I am really enjoying Twitter for so many reasons.

One of them is the humour... another is powerful "live" reflections and thought.

Here are a few that I can recall from recent times.

Twitter on!!!

What is your latest favourite Twitter?