My blog has moved!

You will be automatically redirected to the new address. If that does not occur, visit
http://www.markedly.com.au
and update your bookmarks.

Boo Ben all you like

So.....Rick Hart (Freo President) has asked Freo supporters to NOT boo Ben.....But Nisbet (West Coast Dork) has said he expects West Coast fans to boo Jeff.

Boo away Freo fans....Tour Da France wannabe Ben Cousins deserves it. Lets hope 3000 Freo fans can outboo 39,000 knitting needle chardonny sipping Weagle fans

Boo away West Coast fans...Jeff is used to it, and it might just fire him up.


As for me...I just could not afford tickets to this weeks derby, the first one I will miss for about 3 years. (Spent the money on something more important if you need to know)....But I will be booing Ben on the TV, and cheering Jeff.

Peer Group - how to break growth barriers

Great time with my peer group yesterday.
We discussed an article on "how to break through growth barriers"
One of the main assumptions of the article was that God wants our churches to grow...and so what hinders them?
The key issue then is to discover what is hindering the health of your church, what issues does it have?

One of the key things I was taught as a Youth Pastor was to try and create a "positive group climate", or a climate of love. Our peer group discussed how important it is for the Pastor to model a climate of acceptance, love and personability.

Bill Hybels said one thing, "a touch, a look, a word". It is about being authentic, being concerned for the individual person. Thats what everyone wants isn't it? To be acknowledged, recognised, wanted.....

What a service

Put beautiful in front of these words and you will understand how church felt and was today.....

music
people
fun
church
chocolate cake
generosity
strength
purpose
prayer
vision

So many good things happened today...I am so proud of the people at Bedford....

spewin

Geelong are good, real deal even

Freo did not look out of it until 5 minutes into the last quarter...and the final score was a little insulting....but did I say Geelong are good?


If Freo dont make it (which we very likely wont) I'm cheering for Geelong....and who ever's playing the Weages....

Video for Sunday

Watch for this

Watch for this banner to be shown on Saturday with the return of Jeff...

Btw, have you heard the rumour? Apparently The West Coast Eagles are entering a team in the 'Tour de France' next year....

Affluent Pastors and then there's Rick

Thank God for people like Rick Warren, who continually seems to lead the way for Pastors.

"Affluent pastors use wealth differently: Some give back; others buy yachts"

"The Warrens have vowed never to change their lifestyle. They have lived in the same house for 16 years. Warren drives the same Ford truck he had before the book came out. And he owns the same two suits.
Warren told Beliefnet he’s aware of the stigma that pastors are in it for the money, but he said every pastor he knows would serve for free if possible.
“There are so many easier ways to make money,” Warren said in the interview. “Believe me, if you want to make money, don’t be a pastor.”

Article

By the way, I have never seen Rick in a suit...so maybe thats why he has never felt the need to buy a new one!!

Jeff will play

In great news for all fair minded people, Jeff Farmer is free to play this weekend against the suprisingly succesful Cats this Saturday.

Jeff was open, honest and accountable in his admission of alcohol abuse this week after his 'brain fade' at the Casino. Such action cannot be supported and the FFC have handed out the biggest fine EVER to Jeff, demanding a $10000 fine and a 'donation' of $20,000 to Cerebal Palsy.

I think the best thing for Jeff's treatment and recovery is to play. Its the first part of recovery to admit exactly what you have done wrong, Jeff has done this.

Good luck Cats....your going to need it....

(HT Photo Dockerland)

Fishing


Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day. ~Author Unknown


There he stands, draped in more equipment than a telephone lineman, trying to outwit an organism with a brain no bigger than a breadcrumb, and getting licked in the process. ~Paul O'Neil, 1965


Jeff Receives $750 fine

Dockers mercurial player Jeff Farmer has received a $750 fine this morning. The magistrate accepted his version of events. Following his courageous, frank and honest admission this week, and Schwab's acceptance of this, he may play this week in the must win game against Geelong. Farmer explained that he was very upset when his mentor and supporter Chris Connolly has resigned his position, and that he was ruled unfit to play against the Adelaide Crows.

Come on Freoooo!!

(BTW Sheedy is goorrrrne)

Keeping it Real

Message Two
apologies for last couple of weeks, couple of technical difficulties.
This message is based around Act 9, Coca Cola and Radical Change.
Are you open to radical change, even if it takes time?


Get this widget Share Track details

Rudd

Its tough being a minister, in polite conversation you are not meant to talk about religion, politics or sex.

Now, I am interested in all three!!!!

All I want to say about Rudd is this.....He seems very sensitive to critique and criticism....I personally find his public persona annoying.

And what's with this backflip over forrests in Tassie?
I don't reckon the opinion polls mean anything, like many Australians I fully expect Howard to pull another rabbit out of the hat.....and like the last election, most people will vote for whoever is perceived to look after their personal interests best.

As my dad was fond of saying, "oppositions don't win elections, governments lose them". Maybe Howard has pushed this Iraq thing too far, and come into the 'Green' debate too late. Time will tell.

High school sucked

Reading a post on someone elses blog, who shall remain nameless, I was struck by how lonely and rejected people can feel. Even people who are beautiful, funny and succesful.

High school was an awful time for me. Recently my oldest sister told me about a reunion at Scarborough High School. No way would I go! I had friends there, but they were generally friends you had as protection against not having friends. Some of them were good blokes, and if the situation had been different, I probably would have stayed friends with them. But the one bloke who was friends with me since primary school, did not want to be friends after high school. That rejection was pretty tough, but also systematic of who I was. An insecure person who did not like himself much at all.
Because of that, I think, I turned to various activities to forget about the pain. Pretty immature, I admit, but thats what happened.

Now I am at a much better place, in fact when I became a Christian at 19, I suddenly found acceptance of myself. It was quite amazing, looking back, and a radical change.

The last few years I think I have discovered who I truly am, after years of trying to be who people wanted me to be. Every now and then I will slip back into 'people pleasing' mode. Thats what happens when you have a strong father figure in your life.
Those who see a lot of me know I struggle with this, but I have to stand up and lead sometimes, and stuff the consequences, I have to be who God wants me to be. Thats when I am my most effective.
There is a deep agression in me, that I struggle with sometimes. Sometimes it comes out in the strangest ways. But I cant help but feel it is a strength God wants to use. He has certainly given me perseverance.

I suppose I bring all this history into my hopes and fears for my sons life. God, help me to affirm him, all the time. Yes, let me be a strong influence in his life, but also, let me let him, be him. And be very happy about who he is.

Jeff Wakes Up

Farmer has admitted he has an alcohol problem.
Lets see if the WA media now treat him as they did BC.....
The only difference now between Jeff and BC is that Jeff has admitted what his problem actually is, and his substance abuse is legal....even though its abuse is a huge problem for many.

Lets hope he gets the help he needs, and gets back on the field, even this Saturday against Geelong would be good.

By the way, the West's picture of Jeff under the title 'ugly' on Saturday was awful and disgraceful ...quite frankly.

Story

Honouring your elders

The last two weeks I have been reminded how awesome some of our older folk at Bedford are.
Last week we kicked off our "keeping it real" series, based around the theme of Coca Cola, and picking some principles from some first century Christians.

I took the opportunity to honour Ernie Lyon, one of the senior men in our church. He has just retired after working over 40 years, many of them at Allendale Square.
He loves Coke, so I got him up the front, honoured him with some words, and handed him a cold can of coke.

This week our home town hero Jim Mc Kinnon stepped up to the mark, and led our music. He did a great job....What a guy.....Thanks God for them both.

The Dream is alive....briefly at least

Thats the best Freo have played all year.
Confident, aggresive, intense.....

Harvey looks to have made some differences already, including some interesting coaching moves.
Putting Hayden up against Johncock, whether he was forward or back, was the right choice. And putting McManus on McLeod was great, especially since Shaun played so well.

With other results helping, I was actually sort of happy WC won, for our sake, not theirs....We have a chance to give this thing a chance.

And speaking unbiasedly for a moment, if there is any team that could shake up the finals from position 8, it would be Fremantle. I mean that. On our day we can beat anyone anywhere....

I got seven in the tipping this week, (stupid St Kilda.....)

Jeff Farmer

Brilliant player, not so good at off field behaviour.

But what he has done is nothing, is not even comparable to what Didak and Kerr have done....I don't see the media calling for them to be sacked......

Unbelievable.

I feel there is something else going on around here.

This weeks message, Keeping it real


Change for Coca Cola has been a good and bad thing, when they changed the basic product, sales plummetted, but they continually change the way the product is marketed and packaged, and that has meant they have been succesful for over 100 hundred years, which is extraordinary actually.


Now today we are talking about Paul, and his story is found in the book of Acts, he is someone who had his whole life changed, and it was for his and the churches benefit, and because his life was changed, it is not overstating it to say that the whole world has been changed, and I can say that because the letters of Paul, as we find them in the bible have been used as one of the main planks of the churches theology and building blocks.

Change

"Radical Change takes time"

(Mark E, this afternoon while reflecting over his latte)

Chris is gone, long live Chris


He needed to be given another year, he wasn't, we move on.

Just dont appoint Sumich, or I and about 20,000 other Freo fans are out of here.

Keep Chris

Attention: The Board of the Fremantle Football Club

I write this as a long standing member of the FFC. Chris Connolly has had a tough year, we all have. This was meant to be our year, and it does not look like it will be.
But I want to make a plea for Chris to be given one more year on his contract.

Since his appointment as Senior Coach, Fremantle has gone from being a laughing stock to being taken seriously as an AFL force. As an outsider looking in, one of the key elements to that has been the stability at the club.

While we all realise the Perth Media is incredibly biased in some sections, and many of the commentators have an agenda, since the debacle of the handling of the Drum affair, the leadership emanating from the club has been unified and solid.

Now is not the time for hasty decisions.

We have had a bad year, but that does not mean we should sack the coach. If anything, I, along with many others, believe that this year could strengthen everyone’s resolve for the ultimate success.

If we bring another coach in, it will take a couple of years for the coach and playing group to gel, but our window of opportunity is now…..The players are of the right age and experience to have a tilt at the premiership.

The club has invested a lot of time and money into Chris Connolly, why throw that investment away?

Finally, do not allow media speculation to drive the decision. Who cares what a bunch of Ex eagles players think? Who cares what a grumpy old man thinks?

All that matters is what the club is trying to do.
Stick with Chris, he is our best chance.


Yours Sincerely

Pastor Mark Edwards

Hamo's back


The King was dead,

The King is alive

Long live the King....



Worst Season Ever

After yesterdays heartbreaking loss to the Roos's, this is Freo's worst season ever.
Dont talk to me about 2001/2002. No on excpected us to do well.

At one point during the Pre Season we were Premiership Favourites. For much of the pre season, we were second in line. Bookies bank their houses on such decisions, they rarely get it wrong.

After missing the GF by one quarter last year, and with the recruitment of two gun players, we expected a lot better than this.
Unless we win every game except one, we will miss the finals. The dream is almost over.

Who would have thought this group of bearded ragtags


Could develop and build one of the richest corporations in the world?
Well they did.

Maybe your small group of leaders could do something even greater than making money, maybe we could change our world....

Great Quote


“For Christians are not distinguished from the rest of mankind either in locality or in speech or in customs. For they dwell not somewhere in cities of their own, neither do they use some different language, nor practice an extraordinary kind of life. Nor again do they possess any invention discovered by any intelligence or study of ingenious men, nor are they masters of any human dogma as some are. But while they dwell in cities of Greeks and barbarians as the lot of each is cast, and follow the native customs in dress and food and the other arrangements of life, yet the constitution of their own citizenship, which they set forth, is marvellous, and confessedly contradicts expectation.”

(Epistle to Diognetus, II-III c.)

New Series, keeping it real



Based around three characters from the book of Acts, who 'kept it real"... should be good.

Second week in we are stopping in the middle of service and drinking coke.....aaaahhh.


Life changing

Some more reflection on Hillsong 2007
This Hillsong conference was the most life changing for me, apart from the first one I went to about 7 years ago.....
Something deep and indescribable has been placed within me...a deep hope and faith.

On another point, and upon reflection, something else was interesting. As much as Hillsong and the like attract incredible criticism, much of it bitter angst, much of it unwarranted.....they rarely respond, at least in public.
There was no criticism of the critics, and something else.....there was no criticism of other churches and their styles.

Brian Houston asked TD Jakes if he was to 'google' himself, would he find criticism, and if so, how would he respond. His answer was interesting. He said that he does not have time for critics........

Thats something I need to learn from.....

Brian Houston stressed the need for personal accountability, especially in the light of recent events, but also for the need to be focused on what God calls us to, and to devote our energy to that.

Blog stuff and links

I have redone my links...
Craggles is goorn, no longer blogging. Thanks for your interesting posts to a fellow Dockers supporter.
Ignite community has grown down, he is now posting at myspace for a younger audience....

I have added two more.

The Geoffreport
A Richmond supporter involved in the Vineyard church who flirts with emerging thoughts every now and then, but he likes Becks beer and Wolfmother, so he can't be that bad.

Phil Cooke
He made us all feel not as embarassed as we could have been when watching Dentons, "God on my side"

Hillsong Conference addendum.

There is generally some direction that comes out of the conference, a feel or emphasis.
This year was two fold for me.
1. Life is tough and hard, and we need to struggle through some issues. Yet God gives us hope and with faith, we can believe better days are ahead

2. The church is to be the vehicle of justice and mercy in the world. In fact true worship involves giving of ourselves to the poor and marginalised. Louie Giglio spoke a powerful message on what truly pleases God, and that is being His hands and feet to those less fortunate.
Compassion was emphasised and it was encouraging to hear that 1900 kids were taken up as sponsor children over the week. What really matters about compassion and justice is actually doing something, and not just talking about it and slagging off other churches.

Hillsong 2007 Friday

TD Jakes preaches up a storm

The last day, its a little sad really. Hillsong is my annual pilgrimage, a pastors retreat where he gets to rock up and be ministered to. To not have to worry about the sound, whether the data projector is manned, if the coffee is hot, but more importantly, what God wants to say to the people today. Its a time for me to be ministered to.
If I was going to sum up the theme which came through almost every speaker it would be this, "have faith that God will do great things through you, even if the circumstances suggest otherwise".

Franklin Jentzen, Joseph Prince and Donna Crouch were the highlights for me. TD Jakes was awesome as well, but those three had a word for me.....and I thank God for this time.
Travelling and staying with a mate, talking about it all, thats good as well.

I know God will bless our church, and more importantly, we will see Him move in the hearts and lives of our community......I cant wait to see what He has in store for us....

Off tomorrow to Paddy's markets, and some other shops to pick up some things for the kids. Got my wife's present already.
Then on Sunday we plan to go to Hillsong City on Sunday morning, and the SCG Sunday afternoon for Freo V Sydney.

Friday 1st Session Bishop TD Jakes
We project our perceived self, Live it to the fullest
Abraham was going to go & lead the people to a place God would show him

Genesis 12 1 And Jehovah said to Abram, Go out of your country, and from your kindred, and from your father's house into a land that I will show you.
Genesis 22 4 Then on the third day, Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place afar off.

There are places, moments, things that we are called to do
There showed be a fire that burns within us
God does not give us details, & that is frustrating
Where are you going? God knows all the details, but he knows there is something that happens in the heart of a leader when he has to humbly wait upon God, and yet walk by faith, not sight. This will only come through revelation, and so we have to humbly wait upon God.
Every time you are just about there, you will lose someone
You cannot take everyone with you. God is calling you to move, and leave the ''chickens" behind, the critics....
Abraham & Isaac.....Abraham had to listen to the new, fresh word of God
"I am sick to death of leaders who don't want to be controversial"
11 Disciples said nothing .... That's discouraging
Good leaders will train, transition themselves out of a job. Good leaders will look for a new thing

3rd Session Franklin Jentzen Habbakuk
1 He has a problem -burden
He was burdened for the people, the non-intervening of God....tough to know why

2 Gets a vision
Everything changes when you get a vision The vision is for an appointed time, and though it tarries, wait for it
We are a microwave generation, but we serve a crockpot God

3. Praises God
The prophet praises God based on ignorance ! Faith in God is better than an answer. If you curse your situation you will die. If you feed negative thoughts they will grow
People listen when you have faith

Starts to praise

You don't get faith without a problem
The manna stayed fresh in the ark of the covenant
In the presence of God, we stay fresh
When you cannot hear God, read Him, until you CAN hear Him
Jer 8 "unblushables"

Hillsong 2007 Thursday


Second last day......
TD Jakes went off like a firecracker tonight, man that guy can preach!! If you don't believe or like emotive preaching, you wont like TD....If you reckon, like me, that God created us as emotional beings and truth can and should be communicated using emotions, then maybe, like me, you would enjoy listening to him.
Also got to hear Steven Curtis Chapman, he was great....
Full on day, managed to pick up a Krispy Kreme and some fresh cherries....they went down well!!

Thursday 1st Session Jentzen Franklin
1 Samuel 19
11 Then Saul sent troops to watch David's house. They were told to kill David when he came out the next morning. But Michal, David's wife, warned him, "If you don't escape tonight, you will be dead by morning."
12 So she helped him climb out through a window, and he fled and escaped.
The negative forces were pounding on the door, & his wife had to open the window , it was dark, it took faith to step out. David had to take advantage of the open window
You will regret lost opportunity, life is too short to live in regret
We can't let negative voices stop us
It is up to earth to make the blessings of heaven to be opened
Malachi 3:10
10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in My Temple. If you do," says the LORD of Heaven's Armies, "I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won't have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put Me to the test!
My God shall supply all your needs
Pastors need a open window to the Holy Spirit
Has the church shut the window of the Holy Spirit, if it on the menu, why isn't it in the kitchen ?

Michal's window of opportunity became the window of criticism
Never name your future based on your present

Rahab window She opened the window of faith

You came through your parents not from them

Its as stupid to try and smell with your eyes, as think about your opportunities without faith

Paul had 2 windows of opportunity
He was let down by 2 ropeholders
They believed in him before he became big
(mine-Aninias)
They held onto the "basket case"
Even when it became tense, they held on

Kid fell out of the window. Windows are not meant to be sat in.
Paul did give him what he deserved, Paul loved him back to the kingdom

2nd Session Donna Crouch
I love listening to Donna Crouch, forget everyone else..... she gets it. If you are organising conferences, and want to speak to team leaders, pastors and church leadership groups, get Donna, she is awesome...

1 Samuel 14
6 "Let's go across to the outpost of those pagans," Jonathan said to his armor bearer. "Perhaps the LORD will help us, for nothing can hinder the LORD. He can win a battle whether He has many warriors or only a few!"
7 "Do what you think is best," the armor bearer replied. "I'm with you completely, whatever you decide."

Vision is not the problem, the issue is the gap.

1. Serve the vision
2. Armour Bearer
To lift to bring forth, carry weapons,
3. Ceilings
"I pay you to think" this pushes you through the ceiling
4. Pick your battles
5. Vision creates a gap

3rd Session Bobby Houston
Habakkuk 1
Years + strength + influence = Strategy

1. Steward the years
People align themselves with people they trust, that takes time
What has been purposefully sewn
Psalm 144
Can you articulate the strength
What does Heavenly God look down upon & see as incredible ?

4.30pm Session Joseph Prince
No-one could love God like that, no one can understand how to love God like that

Do you love God or does God love you?
Contrast between John & Peter
John who said Jesus loved him, was found at the foot of the cross
John boasted of Christs love for him
Peter, who said he loved Jesus, was found denying Christ
Peter boasted of his love for Jesus

Results
John divine revelation Jesus told him at last supper
Peter asked but wasn't told
J was helpful to Jesus at the cross
J was first to the tomb
John 21.17 John recognized Jesus, Peter had to ask

Is 53 It pleased the Lord.....
John was loved by Jesus
As Christ is accepted, so am I, because Jesus is holy we are not condemned.

Thursday 7.30pm T.D. Jakes
Get ready Genesis 1
There are seasons to our life

God is eternal & sufficient
God has made us creative, he made trees, not chairs
If you ask God for something it may turn up in raw form..
God does not have to be explained
He just is

1. God is strategic, you are planned & have a purpose, therefore enjoy today and be glad about it!
2. God does things by a system
God has set in place nature for example
We are pregnant with ideas
When
3.God is synergistic God designed animals to mate with each otler
Illustration of Eagles
When an Eagle stretches its wings, almost 3 metres wide, designed to get up high above the clouds
4.
What are we going to do with the time we have left?

Special request re Hillsong notes

Hi all who read this blog.
I would request that if you want to reference my notes on the Hillsong conference you be fair about it, and just take a quote or two, and not just cut and paste the lot to some other site. Also please reference the web address for my blog,
Thanks....
Mark

Hillsong 2007 Wednesday


Another orrrsome day
Today was a great day to be in Sydney at Hillsong 2007.
Joseph Prince was profound, and full of great ideas for messages, he emphasised grace, and it was SOLID teaching.....felt like he had placed some great truths in me....

Had another great coffee on the way in. They are letting us take our coffee into the auditorium this year, which is really good.
Have bought the new cd, and the songs seem deeper this year, I think I might have already said that. Couple written by Brooke Fraser, which are very Stuart Townend like, both in style and language....Most of the songs seem to be written by the younger crew, perhaps a signal of a change in generations perhaps?


Tired, but full, its great to be here.

Wednesday 1st Session
Joseph Prince
John 1:17
17 For the law was given through Moses, but God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.
Law condemns
1st miracle turned water to blood
2nd miracle turned water to wine

5 It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God.
6 He has enabled us to be ministers of His new covenant. This is a covenant not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old written covenant ends in death; but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life.
7 The old way, with laws etched in stone, led to death, though it began with such glory that the people of Israel could not bear to look at Moses' face. For his face shone with the glory of God, even though the brightness was already fading away.
8 Shouldn't we expect far greater glory under the new way, now that the Holy Spirit is giving life?
9 If the old way, which brings condemnation, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new way, which makes us right with God!

People are sinning without license
It does not take the Holy Spirit to understand law
Grace is not natural
How come people don't accuse us of having too much grace?
If you remove the law from the church does the church become lawless?
God is not after behavior modification but heart transplant
Law is holy, righteous, but it cannot make you holy
We should not be fighting to put 10 commandments in schools, but John 3:16
Grace will always beat the law, Jesus overcomes sin, He is not overcome by it.
Law of sin & death is more powerful than self will
Self control is a fruit of the Spirit and manifested by grace
Luke 18 "what must I do?" Obey all the laws!
Luke 19 "I am coming to your house " Jesus gave grace and Zaccheus gave everything away, freely
When the Israelites mumured, they died.
3000 died, at Mnt Sinai Law
3000 came to life at Pentecost Grace
Centurian & woman both had great faith, why? They were both Gentiles & not under the Law!

Wednesday 2nd Session Louie Giglio
Is our legacy that we are consumers ? Or is our worship that we take the gospel to the world

Hebrews 13:15 Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to His name.
Come through "The Door" before you come through the door, you will be ready to worship
I don't need a band or a style to start praising God
The worship movement is a juggernaut, but we walk away unchanged
God is looking for a church full of consumee's, not consumers
AND......
16 And don't forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.

Caring for the poor, this is what makes God happy.

God, what do You want?
All will see, how great is our God!
Worship is God focused , comprehensive (brings people to God)
Pastor led worship - The Pastor will lead, & the church will only go as far as the church - but there will be no preaching in heaven
Gifted to proclaim but created to worship
Short term communicator, Long term worshipper

Wednesday 3rd Session Ed Young
Ask Questions
Cancel things in your church all the time
What am I going to copy?
Take someone's stuff to a whole new level
Speak to the thirds....
High chair - "I" chair
1st Chair - Hell bound
2nd - Saints
3rd - Fresh

4th Ride Theta identified - relaxed state

5th plan with a team, you will limit your creativity
Fresh, confidence, critique, training ground for new leaders/teachers
Always answer the
Why?
Tension create & tension
How do I pull this off, unpredictably
How is it different ?
Make it your style ?
Is it your stuff, is it your passion ?
Don't take stuff without changing it!
Creativepastors.com
Grow by strategic subtraction
Hire Yes people
Don't read the negative crap, it will break you down
Don't lie about the numbers
Who are we reaching ?
Where are you putting your money?
Value your staff and pay them well

Wednesday 4th Session Donna Crouch
Donna explained what welfare, crisis, counseling, prison chaplain, refuge work, relief work Hillsong Church is involved in....

Hillsong Emerge
People don't need us to take advantage of their needs
They give out beds to Sudanese Refugees in Blackburn "its not a sermon, its just a bed"

Street Teams
Go in every Thursday & Saturday, clean up areas

Hillsong Life
Hillsong uses a lot of Careforce material and offers these courses free of charge, its easier to just meet the need, than prevent it, but there is less visible reward for this
They believe everyone is poor in some area, spirit , financial, relationships etc, and they want the church to help in all these areas. They want Hillsong to be famous for its welfare and social areas, not so much its music.

Wednesday Night Session
Jentzen Franklin
Romans 13:11 This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
12 The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living.
We are in a transfer zone
If the transfer is not made successfully then the runner is disqualified
If we don't transfer the Gospel .....
The older you get, the more open you have to be, but in fact, it is natural to be closed to changes
We must be vision driven, not memory driven
We are in a Kairos time, a time of opportunity
3 stages of life
1st stage Growth
2nd Earn
3rd Return

Don't let the drifting get to you
There is always a space between the now and the next. How the next treats the now, will determines how the next is treated when it is the now
Colossians 1:15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,
Christ is the ICON of the Church
Illustration Jeans can be passed down
Holy, dirty, blue Jeans

Hillsong 2007 Tuesday


Started the day with a really good coffee on the way into the auditorium. Unfortunatly the coffee was so good, I had two more during the day.

These notes are probably more useful to me than what they will be to you....but you might get something out of them.

Chris Tomlin played, and it was awesome, sung a couple of old standards as well as his normal stuff...

Exceptional multi media this year, and the new Hillsong songs seem to have more theological content that previous years...

Tuesday First Session

John Bevere

Isaiah 6:1-13

1 It was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of His robe filled the Temple.

2 Attending Him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew.

3 They were calling out to each other, "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Heaven's Armies! The whole earth is filled with His glory!"

4 Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke.

Holy = 3 times for emphasis

Responding to God's holiness

Isaiah has glimpse of God & realises his own sinfulness

God speaks & only 1 person in Israel hears, the cleansed person

2

V1 Uzziah died before Isaiah heard from God

16 But when he had become powerful, he also became proud, which led to his downfall. He sinned against the LORD his God by entering the sanctuary of the LORD's Temple and personally burning incense on the incense altar.

A spirit of pride & a spirit of religion run hand in hand & they strengthen each other

Pride keeps you from admitting you have a problem & religion covers it up

Pride must die for you to have a fresh vision of me

Phil 3

4 though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more!

5 I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law.

6 I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault.

12 I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.

13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,

high call=that I might know Him

1 Cor 15:9 For I am the least of all the apostles. In fact, I'm not even worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God's church

You look at all the preachers in the world, & I am the bottom of the barrell!

10 But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out His special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by His grace.

But in fact he had more fruit than anyone because of God's grace

humility When we are completely & totally dependent on Him

Ephesians 3

7 By God's grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving Him by spreading this Good News.

8 Though I am the least deserving of all God's people, He graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ

1 Tim 1:15,

Ps 25:9

9 He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them His way.

Israel relationship is based only on how God answered their prayers

E.g. Moses, David

The degree to which we press into humility is the degree we will know God

Is 57:15

Tuesday 2nd Session

Brian Houston

Ps 45.16

16 Your sons will become kings like their father. You will make them rulers over many lands.

Instead of the Father shall be the sons

Will of God to move from known to unknown, from predictable to unpredictable

Predictable in loyalty, reliability, belief, credibility & example, commitment, vision

Unpredictably in spontenaity, surprise, innovation, creativity - when you can see things before they are there, influence - method must come from change, empower the generations, experience is overated! I've only been married once...!

Experience & wisdom are not the same thing, experience is to be our servant, not our master , books don't build churches

"I can't read so I have to think''

Structure & program are to be our servant not the master

Keep structure under the surface

Culture is our servant not master

"that's not our culture"

Heritage is our servant not master

Do you want to make history or serve it?

Do we learn from history or repeat it?

God wants to do something new.

I will honour/esteem elders, but I wont obey them

Tuesday 3rd Session

Steve Penny

Nehemiah

Your people are talking, the enemy is talking, everyone else is watching....

therefore....

Nehemiah understood that he had to get the people talking about Nehemiah and what God was doing in the rebuilding of the walls.

Tuesday 4th Session

Phil Baker

2 Cor 5

What is the priority of your church?

Mission, Ministry, Music, Man or....

Evangelism

Def: Introducing God to people

So therefore what is your view of God?

There was nothing appealing about Him (Jesus)

Get close to people tyranny of distance

So much easier to criticise from afar

If we want to lead people to Christ you have to narrow the gap

Liked people tyranny of disdain

Criticised for meeting people of disdain

Took time tyranny of hurry

Are we busier than Jesus?

"Everything is covered by the dust of hurry?"

Stayed put Tyranny of Movement

Primary Principle is one of a journey
Movement is more important than position
Back up evangelistic vehicles are required, cannot only rely on personal evangelism
Build structures which move them along

Tuesday 5th Session

John Bevere

We need to have an eternal perspective, lifted straight from his book......

Too many scriptures to mention including 2 John 8, 1 cor 3.11-15,

we need to not only be human beings but human doers

We will be not be judged for what we have done, but what we are called to do....

3 Ways to find what Gods will for you is, in the light of eternity

1. Seek God ernestly

2. Be planted in a local church, so you can grow

3. Be free from entanglements...

Full on day.....tired, but excited....its great to be here....