Today we had a great service...for many reasons.

The Choir did an awesome rendition of "Pride, in the name of love"
Tracey did a fantastic closing song about how we need to choose Jesus
It was moving, inspiring, time to meditate and contemplate....

We had a huuuuge crowd in...which is fantastic, but more than that, some people who we have been praying for..for a long time...came along, and enjoyed it.

The worship team really led us so well in worship, so professional yet warm.

(Adult Themes Below)


If you have not caught the news, some North Melbourne players have made a strange, sexist video involving a rubber chicken with a condom on its head.

I dont watch the Footy Show anymore....and I certainly did not watch it last night when the 'Gruen Transfer' is on.....but..I did catch the interview with the North Melbourne Captain and player...Pratt....

They had them on them to 'explain themselves' say sorry...etc.

What a crock...Channel Nine had them on their to boost their ratings. They 'told them off' and then PROCEEDED TO SHOW THE VIDEO!!! To the crowds laughter. There is also a full copy of the video online at Channel Nines newsite...despite it being removed by YouTube.

What a joke.

They cannot be serious.....how can you decry it (which is fair enough...it is juveline sexist rubbish)...but then proceed to boost your ratings on the back of it?

Unbelievable.

Probably my favourite band in all the world is U2…and they have wrote a song called, ‘The streets have no name’ from their album..the Joshua Tree…now although there were 11 tracks on the album…this song took up 40% of the time to produce it…and Bono wrote it because when he lived in Belfast…you could tell how much money someone had….whether they were catholic or protestant…what sort of person they were by what their street name was….he looks forward to a place and a time where the streets have no name…where there is peace…where the sun shines…where there is no pain or death….where the streets have no name…

Likewise with the Good Friday Message.....the rest will be revealed on Easter Sunday....

"We have just read how the priests and religious leaders of the day..the Pharisees, came with a contingent of Roman soldiers and temple guards to accompany Judas to find Jesus.
Why was it that Judas felt the need to be accompanied by a contingent of soliers….? A contingent was about 800 soliders…but it was problaby a section of these…about 12 soliders…plus the guards from the temple…why so many people to take into custody one carpenter from Nazereth.
Judas was scared..in fact I think they we all scared…Jesus was there…where He had been often with His disciples..including Judas…They had spent a lot of time relaxing under the shade of the olive trees…enjoying each others company as blokes, eating, drinking laughing….Now Judas comes to betray His mate for 30 pieces of silver…which was a lot of money in those days…and He is scared.
But Jesus knew what was going to happen to Him…and so He is the first to ask the obvious question…who are you looking for…He knows the answer to this question, He knew they were looking for Him….yet still He wants them to know who they are looking for…Jesus the Nazarene they ask…..."

if you want to know the rest....I will see you in Church...9am at the Inglewood Civic Centre....or back at this blog on Tuesday....

I am suffering from dumb hayfever at the moment...it really bites....sneezing, itchy...wont stop.
Its always worse when I dont get enough sleep...it really suck!!!!

Here are some links to the various Easter Resources I have made up...the last two years...feel free to use them...let me know if you do!



Download here



You can download it here



You can download it here,



Download



Download

"...the man who really counts in the world is the doer, not the mere critic - the man who actually does the work, even if roughly and imperfectly, not the man who only talks or writes about how it ought to be done." ~ Theodore Roosevelt

Had some difficult things to say this morning, needed to say something, said it, glad I said it...but it was difficult.

Looking forward to Easter services...they are going to go off!!!!!!

Louie Giglio tells the story of this song, originally written by Irish Worship Band "Bluetree" and probably fair to say brought to the Church's attention through Chris Tomlin.
This is an amazing...inspiring...supernatural story.

Things are so blessed at the moment...thankful to God for our church...it is a ripper place to be at the moment.

When I first became a Christian...about the age of 18....I was often found speeding around in my Mazda Rx4...and my $1000 stereo..listening to this....

Here is a video I have made up to try and convey something of what happened on Palm Sunday...and to lead into my message.....

Download here
(please let me know if you find it helpful and use it)

The only thing wrong with this photo is the fact that the coffee has been consumed...and one of Ristretto's finest is never enough.
A good friend is the barrista there, so after some work in the CBD I grabbed a flat white on the way back to the car. This coffee is superb. Perfect temperature, texture and taste. Good to the last drop.

Only problem is that when the afternoon need for a coffee moves me from my desk, I have to make myself one, and it wont be as good as the one I have just had!
Ristretto

It takes a few plays....but I am really getting into the new U2 album..."no line on the horizon'.
This song in particular is a beauty....


"I was born
I was born to sing for you 

I didn’t have a choice
But to lift you up
And sing whatever song you wanted me to
I give you back my voice
From the womb my first cry
It was a joyful noise
Oh, oh"

Not a lot to say.
Dockers played their first game today against a fast running and skilled Western Bulldogs side.

Dockers kicked a number of wayward points, that should have been goals. It would have been much more interesting if a few of those had snuck in!

Good signs.
Tarrant played well down back, having Brad Johnsons measure
Peake played his best game ever for Freo, he was everywhere, fast, skilled and kicked 3 goals.
Kepler Bradley also played well.

Hill is an awesome player, kicked a goal for his first afl kick.
Nick Suban also played really well

Sandilands also played well...but his excellent work was often 'sharked'.

Had a great day in church today....big crowd in...which is always good....they really sung this morning, got into it! It was good to see some folk back in church and enjoying it. Our worship team seems to be getting bigger and more skilled and interesting to listen to. Good music really helps me to worship at church...there is something about it when Gods people relax and go with it....

I spoke on tha passage where Jesus explains that a seed needs to die in order to bear fruit.
It was recieved well...and I spoke on obedience at the communion time...which tied in with the theme for the day.

The Kids ministries had their 'Supa Sunday' and this went well...by all accounts. A lot of the teachers enjoyed having the music in for the kids, and we also attracted some more parents along, which was awesome.

Afterwards a few of us kicked on down at the Bayswater River picnic area...and Clem swam across the river to this little island he is always bugging me to be allowed to swim too...so today I let him! He loves adventure and exploring, like any boy I suppose.

Read a fascinating article in the State newspaper this week where the author was demoaning the lack of 'space' for young and emerging artists to display, and even create their art. Coupled with the demise of the Rhechabite theatre (community performing arts theatre) in Northbridge, I am even more convinced of the direction our church is heading.

The arts and drama is something the early church was right into. Our God is a Creative Creator....and something that resonates within me.

I see opportunities for us....so much....such a different way of thinking about church and its role in the community, so many opportunities for us to engage with our culture and community, with the synergy being opportunities for young people and community groups....

Lord...we wait upon You for direction and provision.

This made me laugh out loud....

This is pretty sobering stuff....from Chuck Warnock....

"I have visited countries in Asia where whole families live in barns, or chicken coops, or cardboard boxes. I have traveled in Mexico, and visited border towns, and tourist havens. I rode through Mexico City where 26-million people eke out a living amid both splendor and poverty. We expect to see grinding poverty, hunger, and homelessness in the two-thirds world. But, in America? In the most properous country in the world? This is the new America for some."

"This is the sin of a society where executives of a failed global enterprise take home millions in “bonus” earnings, passing the victims of corporate greed and criminality in their BMWs and Mercedes-Benzs. This is America. This cannot, must not, should not continue to be the only America."

Link

Add your own music...it finished with the ressurection....


Download here

It can be really frustrating when you can see with clarity what is the truth...it is so clear, but to help someone else see it can be really frustrating.

Knowing Jesus as my Lord and God....it is such a blessing. It means I am accountable, it means I cant just live how I want...but the rewards are such a blessing.
Sometimes it means persecution, being misunderstood, not being liked, being uncomfortable...but there are moments of utter joy as we rest in Him.
There is not a tension at those moments, there is not a sense of frustration.

Lately I have been reading my pda bible before I even get out of bed. It is really great. I dont have to disturb anyone, and it allows the Spirit to speak and help me, and set my heart right...before my day even starts.

I hope that everyone discovers what knowing Jesus as their Lord and God means...it brings real purpose, fulfilment and joy.
Sorry is this post sounds like a evangelical rave...it is not meant to be..its just how I am feeling at the moment.

In my view, the best ever Western Derby....for a few reasons...
A win in the dying minute.....
My brother in law Scott had come with me, a died in the wool Budgie supporter...had to endure my son and me all the way home...
And...Gossage said so!

Today an old friend sent me these questions for a assignment he is going...I found it an interesting exercise..

One of the assignments asks me to interview a few pastors... I was wondering if you would be able to answer a few questions for me? If you are able, could you email the answers back ASAP. Thanks heaps, if you're able to help.

1. What is your position in the church?
2. What denomination is your church? (also state/country)
3. How long have you been in pastoral ministry?
4. How long have you been in your current church?
5. What are the key character qualities needed as a pastor?
6. What are the key skills needed as a pastor?
7. What are the key tasks of a pastor?
8. Roughly, how much time do you spend on these key tasks?
9. What gives you the most satisaction in your ministry?
10. What gives you the most frustration in your ministry?

My answers....
1. Senior Pastor
2. Baptist WA
3. 15 years
4. 15 years
5. perserverance, confidence, good sense of humour
6. leadership, ability to change
7. Leadership, insipiring, visionary
8. 25 hours per week
9. seeing people become Christians
10. whinging Pharasiaical, selfish Christians who should know better :)

I was not happy with the previous effort, it is okay. But I reckon this is better.


You can download it here

"It is not difficult to get your message out, its difficult to get people to care"
Seth Godin

Wise words.

How are churches getting the words out in a way that people care?

Seems like a moment ago I was getting some Christmas media stuff ready!
Here is something I have put together for Easter Sunday....Our theme for the season is, 'the rebel Jesus'...


You can download it here,
let me know if it is useful.

A thought I had while preparing some media for Easter...
While alive, Jesus refused to conform to others expectations of Him, He was not about to start when they killed Him!

Wayne and I have relaunched 'Australian Pastors'. To celebrate, Wayne has negotiated with Dr John Jackson to provide a very special offer to all readers of 'Australian Pastors'.

"To celebrate the Australian release of Pastorpreneur we have negotiated an exclusive deal with Koorong Books and the author. As our way of saying "thank you" for reading the Australian Pastor's blog we would like to give you a complimentary copy of Pastorpreneur to......" (Read More)

Worst footy journalists that is....
Sheahan has come out with his top 50 best players, and Pav is the only Freo player to crack a mention.

The All Australian Ruckman, Sandilands...does not crack a mention, neither does the Rising Star, Palmer........instead we find Rioli...now Rioli is a great player, but Palmer certainly deserves a gurnsey before him.
Cox is there, despite leading his team to a 15 finish, and being injured for much of the year.

List

Good Sunday in Church today.
Andrew from Tear Fund came and shared how the $3000 we raised at Christmas will help two villages, about 200 families, will get water...thus enabling girls to go to school, dysentry and vomiting to decrease, and infant mortality drop by 50%...thats pretty awesome actually, that together, we could do that.

Jim Mc Kinnon (older guy at church) led out Community Choir, Soul Jam, in a rendition of 'God's Radar' which brought the house down, it was funny, moving...great!

I spoke on Jesus' passion for His Fathers House, and what it drove Him to....get mad. I enjoyed the story, and explaining some of it. Got a heap of feedback, which was great. A few visitors commented that they liked that I spoke about 25 minutes, to the point, good content etc. I am always amazed that some preachers speak for 45 plus minutes. Unless you are at a conference, that is...in my view...too long, and that is normally the feedback given. To bore people is a sin..I reckon. I also think, on a typical Sunday morning, the skill is in condensing the message, or maybe distilling it is a better word. Either way, its not about what I have to say, but God's. I reckon if you are waffling...its about you!

I am making a very bold prediction here....
the most unlikely Brownlow Medal winner.....it may just happen!

and on a much more realistic note...a lot of players are going to see the back of this guy....and he might just be winning us our second Rising Star in a row...

The kids asked me an interesting question today...or rather they made a statement.
"If there are aliens, God made them"
That...along with Google launching Google Mars (Link) has me pondering the question, how would the discovery of aliens affect my faith?
I remember back to the 80's when church people were talking about this and one famous evangelist said, "well if there are aliens, they will need to hear the gospel, so we had better make sure there is a Christian on the spacecraft".

Aliens could take any form...why would they need to be the same size (roughly) as us? There could be millions of them on the tip of a pin...trying desperatly to communicate with us right now (Think 'Horton hears a who')

But back to the question, what if we do discover some form of life on Mars...even if it is just a group of cells? Does that affect my faith? Probably not, no more so that the incredible discoveries we are still finding in the depths of the oceans.

God is inherently creative, diverse in His work...amazing Creator. The depth and beauty of the universe tells us that.

Leave the Dockers at your peril...

"Carlton made application to the AFL today to transfer Rob Warnock from the primary list to the long term injury list. Warnock has had a set back in his recovery from a foot stress fracture and it was decided to place him on the long term injury list to ensure he has time to fully recover from the injury."
Link

and Jay Clark, one of the Sunday Times worst (and that is saying something) and most biased reporters....wrote this on Sunday....
"WARNOCK STEPS UP Carlton ruckman Robert Warnock is on track to play Round 1 in the VFL as his recovery from a foot injury gathers momentum. He has increased his training load after a series of shoulder, ankle and foot problems wiped out his summer. His eventual return is hoped to give the Blues an extra edge to an already impressive onball department. The 206cm ruckman played 21 games in three seasons at Fremantle"
Link 2

Why I do what I do....for Him...all glory....meditate on this...Selah....

Will be a good year to see these players develop...if nothing else.


(Thanks to Freo 1995 for uploading these)

and I have just thought of a ripper theme and graphics for it all.....
more to come!

For those long suffering readers of this blog you will know I recently got a new laptop, Acer Aspire 5735Z..... What you may not realise is that I have been trying to render the Mighty Mens Conference video on it...and on my PC....to try and get this laborious and time consuming job done.
The Laptop had 2 gig ram...you would think that would be enough, apparently not. The thing was running like a dog..... I have now installed 2 more gig ram, bringing it up to 4 gig, along with its dual core processor.....lets see if that helps.

The last few weeks have been nothing short of frantic...but this week just gone, it has slowed down considerably.

One new aspect of my life is Monday mornings with my wife. We both have the morning off from any structured responsibility, so after dropping the kids off at their respective schools, we have about 3 or 4 hours to ourself. It is so nice!
This morning we headed off to look at a piece of furniture Melinda was interested in and then headed to Mnt Hawthorn for a coffee and a wander....
It is really nice there along Scarborough Beach Road, lots of interesting shops....
We stopped in at the New Norcia Bakery, which I have wanted to visit for a while. It did not live up to the hype! The coffee, while it came out of Synesso Machine, and was Five Senses, was too hot, and lacked body....the crossaint came well after Melindas food, and was burnt and dry....sigh.

Not too worry though, it was so nice to just have some time together. Next week we are probably going to visit 'Lush' which is across the road.....

Kim Hagdorn in his typical style nailed his colours to the mast...yet again. In todays Sunday Times he had to come up with a reason why his precious Eagles lost to the Dockers again.
This times excuse? The umpires were to blame.

Look up the dictionary under "Dockers Bunnies" Kim, there will be a photo of the West Coast Eagles....Thats why the lost...that and the superb efforts of Sandilands and Crowley, surely one of the most underated players in the AFL.....does everyone realise that he kicked the winning goals while playing on the Eagles best player, Kerr?

It is just so bias.....sigh....but then, who am I to talk? :)

Spent this morning at Jam Central, and then this afternoon rendering videos for the Mighty Mens Conference. Watching the videos is flooding back memories to my heart and mind.
There is one scene which occured on Saturday night where the crowd screamed for more....2000 men chanting and letting the worship team know that they were not ready to stop yet. The sound quality is shocking, but because I was there...and I can hear the clapping...in time....in unison...with the clear message...it brings back the sense I had when I was there.

I was chatting with my brother in law this afternoon and he was telling me how different men from different parts of his life were also full of expression about this time.

But, as much as I am happily rendering these dvd's and blokes who were there will 'get it'....its pretty hard to bottle. If you were not there...you missed out.
Its a bit like the miracles of Jesus. There were plenty of people in Jesus' day who did not get healed. They were not in the right place at the right time....or they did not want it badly enough.
I am sorry if you were not there.....dont miss it next year, if it happens. I can't guarantee it will be the same, but if you do not place yourself in the position, if God does bless us again with such a tangible sense of His presence, you wont want to miss it.

You may not believe me, you may be cynical, fair enough. But don't forget how much faith it took for the man's friends to take him to the house, bust open the roof, and lower him in. Maybe a much better option would be to take the little mustard seed you have....and be there next year, God willing.

"An idea without implementation isn’t creation.
It’s imagination.

By definition, being creative requires that you create something.
True creative people don’t just dream it-they do it…or oversee the strategy to get it done.
True creativity results in a product. Not just an idea."
(Source)

Woh.....well said Steven.

An idea or a thought posted on a blog does not make a revolution, changed lives do that, people having their worldview changed through the power of God...thats a revolution.

He does a great job of responding to the questions....and challenging the interviewer to consider Jesus.....

"“The world for which we were trained no longer exists.”
Pete Briscoe

Aint that the truth. The theological training I recieved had some merit. There were things there that I really appreciated. It gave me sound good theological basis for ministry.

But to say to prepared me for ministry would be grossly overstating it.
Conflict resolution, leadership, missional development of leaders, organisation skills, leading a board, leading a meeting, inspiring, vision casting....

uh...no.

Those were things I desperatly sought once I was in the ministry, and quickly realised how inadequetly prepared I was.

Angus Buchan said something on the weekend which resonated with me....he said that "he might be accused of emotionalism.....but what is wrong with being emotional?"

Who gave us emotions, and who tells us not to use them?

Certainly not the bible, nor the Judeo roots of our faith. Have you read the scriptures? Do you not read about the celebrations, the feasts, the passionate emotion charged worship of the priests, kings and prophets?

Think about those who tell us off for being too emotional, are they the sort of people we should emulate?

Consider these contrasts....

David.....Michal....

Jesus....Pharisees....

One issue though is that of let down, or as musicians might say, "monday morning blues'. But even this is recognised in the scriptures. We cannot be on a continual high, we need to have times of rest, solitude, silence, contemplation. But those are times to celebrate as well....celebrate the quietness...just as we celebrate the noise.

The noise of 2000 plus men chanting for more worship songs is something that resonates within me even today, three days after the event, as I sit in the quiet of my study.

Watching Rove tonight, the band 'The Living End' came on and sung this song.
Extraordinary lyrics....


Lyrics to Raise The Alarm :
Wo-oh! [x8]

I do not believe in God
That doesn't mean I'm a lesser person
I still have a heart
And I know what it feels like to be broken

I may not believe in Jesus
But I do believe in sacrifice
Life does not always stand reason
No one ever gets a chance
'Til they're out of time

I'd rather risk my fate
Then lose my faith
The lovin', the hatin'
The consenceapating
The chaos that comes
Raise The Alarm

We mean it
We'll die
Consence Denied
The Chaos that comes
Raise The Alarm

I may not believe in regrets
But I believe in self assurance
Some things I'd rather forget
We see what we choose and
We choose what we see to believe

In the name of the father,
the son,
and the holy ghost
I'm not concerned with religion
After all that whats inside
That is Smoke
(etc...)

However I must note this incogruity on their website when they say this in relation to the Victorian Bush Fire Appeal,
"our thoughts and prayers.... etc"
(Link)

(note to self, control yourself when posting this...so many comments....)

I was speaking to Phil Baker recently and he told me that John Worsfold is the guest speaker at this weeks "Bloke"....it is a great event put on by Riverview Church.

The title of this months 'Bloke"?....mmmmmmm well it is entitled, "when leadership goes wrong".....BIG MMMMMMM....and another note to self....stop typing before you get all those Eagles fans upset!!!!

But...if you are a bloke, this event is great.

The Bloke

So said Angus....in his bellowing South African Accent....
There were so many highlights...here are the key points for me.

1. Hearing 2000 plus men sing....I mean farmers, electricians, tradies, and all the city blokes....Saturday night....you had to be there to know it. I have NEVER at any conference, including Hillsong, whatever....heard a crowd demand to sing more worship songs. unbelievable And the people doing this were blokes. All the nay sayers out there who reckon Aussie blokes wont sing...know squat. Yes it may go against our culture, but it is not against God's culture. These blokes were men, tough strong blokes....and it was probably the most inspiring worship I have ever experienced.

2. Being involved. I worked my butt off for this conference, but with responsibility and work also comes privileges....it was fantastic to see hard work pay off as the blokes were crying, laughing, repenting...and many came to know Jesus for the first time.

3. Angus led a session just for Pastors. This was just incredible. What he said to me was perplexing, and I am still working through it...but it was quite different to what he said to others. After he had anointed me with oil and prayed for me, I sat down and just listed to what he said prophetically to other blokes, he has the supernatural gift of discernment and prophecy. Prophecy done as it should be, with real love and concern.

4. Cathing up with old mates, and some I have not seen for a while, and some new ones. Great!

What a great night....a few highlights...

hearing 2000 men sing...wow....resonance, bass, power....awesome.

Angus has not changed, challenging, direct, funny, nothing left unsaid...

Multi media went well...no mistakes, had to work quick as worship team made last second changed....they sounded great!

Camera was okay...slight delay annoying, but without a $2000 scaler, what do you do?

A great night...cant wait for tommorow.....

This is amazing...wow....I am not much into the whole financial news happening at the moment, but I know enough to know that we should have been listening to this guy a couple of years ago!

I think these pictures tell a great story....
chocolate pancakes with berries and maple syrup....oh YUM!

Want to read this one......
Bible Study Magazine and Mars Hill are giving away 20 copies of Mark Driscoll’s new book, Vintage Church. Not only that, but they are also giving away five subscriptions to Bible Study Magazine and a copy of their Bible Study Library software! Enter to win on the Bible Study Magazine Mark Driscoll page, then take a look at all the cool tools they have to take your Bible study to the next level!


http://www.logos.com/

Very busy at the moment getting ready for Mighty Mens conference.....the registrations hit 1560 make that 1600 ...and still climbing.

I have been responsible for marketing..so we are pretty happy with the result. The website Q developed is very good...and has handled the load well...with most registrations being done online.

Now I have switched my attention to the multi media....and I have worked out how to feed live video feed through my laptop onto the screens....should be an awesome conference!


Lets pray that Angus is inspired...and able to deliver the message from God to the men that come....that they and our state need.

Wayne and myself have re-launched Australian Pastors Blog...check it out.

http://australianpastors.blogspot.com/

It seems the eagles photos I posted on facebook are creating a fair bit of interest....
this comment from Dave Fallon was the best....

"hating the weagles is quite a healthy and satisfying pasttime"

Yes....I concur...it is.....

A reflection on the year, and a look forward to this year....Something I put together for our AGM....

Someone left this doll on my desk tonight...so it needed to suffer.... :)

This is where their season is headed....

And I am sure they are going to get this......

It was a good day in church today...good crowd in, some visitors....
We took some time out of our communion time to remember the bushfire victims, a minute silence.

We have also been raising money for the appeal, will total it up and let you know how we did it this week.

I shared the story about how Jesus responded to a natural, and a unnatural disaster in His day. He did not explain why it happened, but he did clarify to people that it was not because people were being judged, bad stuff does happen in our world....

Our worship leader reminded us to pray for those who were left behind, they are the ones suffering now, the initial shock is gone,and they are ones who have to go on with living, without the ones they loved and knew with them.

Someone who went through the Cyclone Tracy distaster said something profound to me today as well, "no one compares houses when they are all piled up together at the rubbish tip".

One of my best mates has this on his church website...presumably to attract people to the service.

"We have air-con!"

That is so funny...so does the local pub mate..and other places!

Ha ha ha ha ha!!!

You know who you are!!!

Remember Ra'ah? Well Wayne and I are going to ressurect it, in a new format, name etc....and possibly some new posters...stay tuned.

Very busy at the moment...
getting ready for our church agm....will post a highlights video shortly....
preparing church vision document....meeting with leaders...our church is a very exciting place to be at the moment.

also getting ready for the Angus Buchan conference, should be an awesome time...with close to 1300 men already registered, we are stoked...the worship time with that many guys will just be fantastic....praying that God chooses to reveal things to men, challenge and inspire them...
But with so many blokes coming, the pressure is on to make it good...pray for me, pray for Eliot as he leads the worship time, and pray for Angus and his team, that the Holy Spirit will empower, direct and give him discernment.

Had one of the best beers I have ever had today, snuck away from the office (should not have, no time to waste, but a good mate needed to chat...so down to Freo we went)....at the Little Creatures brewery.... a 'bright ale'....straight from the tap...cold....absolutely superb.

This from Rowland Croucher....

"Where is the pressure coming from? The survey indicates that it is not the members or the church board. It is the ministers themselves. The pastors show a consistent inability to set reasonable limits on their workload. More than two out of three respondents say that they expect too much of themselves. A little over half say that they love what they do so much that they don't know when to stop.
The typical pastor spends about 14 hours planning and attending meetings or services. Another 13 hours is invested in sermon preparation and teaching. Pastoral care and counseling take some nine hours. Six hours are spent in personal devotions and prayer. All types of administrative and budget tasks, advanced planning and the like absorb 13 hours."

Source

Okay...the 2009 season is upon us...

After watching an experienced and determined Richmond defeat Freo by 3 points....and my third cup of coffee...I am ready for my 2009 predictions.
I got at least one right last year, Palmer did indeed pick up the Rising Star. Unfortunately most of the others were wrong after the Dockers suffered a pretty dissapointing season.
I was right about Hawthorn....they did well...and I was right about Woosha Wiperblades....he did say nothing, but was fawned over by 6peagle....
Unfortunately neither Freo nor the Saints gave the finals a shake....maybe this year...find our below.

1. Stephen Hill is a gun, better than Rich, and will win the Rising Star
2. Chris Mayne will develop into a more consistent player
3. Tarrant will repay the faith showed in him
4. Pavlich will start to dominate games with his mate Hasleby
5. Hawthorn wont maintain their form, and will dissapoint
6. Geelong will continue to fade
7. Port Adelaide will implode, and Mark Williams might face the sack
8. Richmond will dissapoint their fans, and yet Wallace will be re-signed
9. Port Adelaide will collect the spoon
10. North Melbourne will be the big riser
11. Freo will make the top four, but miss out on the big one
12.West Coast will still suck

I have not met a Senior Pastor yet who is worth his salt that does not get the whole 'seating' thing.
How...where...in what format a room is set up...is important!
We only have to look at God's complicated instructions for His house of worship to know this.

At Inglewood we have been having real issues with seating....too many people, not enough room.
Okay....there is enough room if we are all squished in.
Last week, just as the service finished, I got up and gently encouraged/asked the folk if they could possibly get to church early...and sit down the front, I even said I would put lollies on the front two pews!

This week we moved all the musicians onto the stage, with just the leader and singers down on the level part. I debated whether to put them up high on the stage, but the crowd is still not large enough to have to do this, and I don't like being up high looking over people, I like to look them straight in the eye, be on eye level with people. We may have to change this at some point.

Anyhoo.....I put some Fantails on the front two pews, and they did fill up. Because we had moved everyone foward, we had some space at the back.....at least until everyone came in. Then we were full again. Its amazing. We truly are experiencing sustained growth.

It felt full this morning, but not uncomfortably full.....whew! We needed to make space. I am believing that very soon we will need to make more space....there are new friends coming and staying every week.

ummmm...lets think about that for half a millisecond.....no.

Bad things happen to good people, bad things happen to bad people.
The rain falls on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Indiscriminate, awful fire, killing innocents...is not how God operates.

Why did it happen? Don't know. Why did Soveriegn God not intervene? Don't know.

It is amazing to see how people are helping, it shows the image of God within us when we reach out in love and mercy to those who are struck down. That is God at work.

Judgement will come, at the right time, in the right way, but the posturing of some, the attempt to claim it as some moral high ground victory seems to me to have much more in common with the pharisees of Jesus day, rather than Jesus Himself. In fact its wicked.

fascinating, chilling, interesting.....provoke one to prayer...

"We were all human beings united by a tragedy, equal in the face of suffering and walking the path of recovery together...."
(more)

.....has put some good thoughts together on a way to think through the whole 'revisiting' church issue.

"In our rush to reject the consultant paradigm, there is a real danger that we embrace the house of sand approach that the bartender represents. The truth of the matter is that Jesus has a lot to say about how people, and the world is living......"

The consultant and the bartender walked into a church....

Here is an excellent little video from an atheist....you may have seen him on Penn and Teller.

He makes the following points....

How much do you have to hate someone...to not share your faith?
If I believed without a shadow of a doubt that you were about to be hit by a truck...and did not say something to you, what would you say about me?

Having now become a church that uses temporary locations.....spaces rented off others who own them....I am keenly aware of some of the advantages and disadvantages of both.

Using a community owned and used space has helped us to grow, interact and communicate with the community so much better than what we used to. People know where we are, they see us, the interact with our programs...we are part of the community.

Downside is that we dont own the place! We get told off for this that and the other....even if we have done nothing really wrong. There has been a distinct period of the other people using the place getting used to us....One person in particular......(say no more!)
The person who runs the centre is great! Nothing but helpful, know that we know her and have been there a while.

But not being able to do whatever we want there...is a downside.

Ultimatly moving has been the right move for us. There is certainly pain. We have a lot of stuff to set up each week (3 times a week actually)...and not a lot of space to put it in.....but the upside is....we are starting to feel like a mission organisation, not a club.

This is great.
Looking for a biblical justification for cursing that driver that just cut you off, the Barrista who made you a bitter coffee...or even the sales assistant who seems more intent on talking to their boyfriend on the phone rather that serving you?

The problem is that as Christians we are meant to be nice to each other....this curse generator is full of great comebacks for a multitude of situations....

This is one that took my fancy,
"May you go on a diet of crunchy, unsweetened locusts, thou whose name is but dung!"

Biblical Curse Generator

H/T David Wilson

Well well.....Maybe Barra has been listening to his wife (a keen dockers member)....

It just seems that everything is coming together at the moment....there is this synergy as God's hand of blessing is over us. We had 67 kids at Jam Central this morning...but about 40% of them were new to the group! How does that happen when you do ABSOLUTLEY NO ADVERTISING. Seriously...none. And 95% of them don't come to church.

We did not even do a massive mail out this year like we have before....and it was at a new location....

Looking over these parents, observing their parenting styles....and their great spiritual needs, we are so blessed.

But it comes with great responsibility and great work.
We need to make time to form relationships and friendships.
We need to share Gods love with them, and a purpose for living.

God is good and His mercies and blessings are abundant, but we cant sit down, there is no time for deciding what we should do....He has shown and told us what to do.

A prayer....God continue to give us the passion, power, discernement and wisdom we need to be about Your business. Protect us from the evil one...who must be hating what You are doing at Inglewood....
And thanks God...what a privilege!

Watching a bunch of overpaid wimps running around with oversize pillows on their shoulders to protect their fragile egos made me a little bit excited about the real footy season ahead.

The Fremantle Dockers have a pre season scratch match on tonight, and it will be interesting to see how it goes. Press have been reporting that the Dockers have had a very hard pre-season, with the impetus being the need to redress the last quarter fadeouts that plagued us last year. If we had been able to turn a few of those 10 points or less losses into wins...anything could have happened..... (sigh)


Unusually for the press at this time of year, we are not installed as pre-season favourites along with other much more qualified teams. Maybe thats a good sign.


Tarrant is not injured, Hasleby is back, Pavlich is a superstar, and likely to play a more 'James Hird midfield fix it" type role.


Grover is the leagues most underated defender, and hopefully has put the emotional and personal turmoil of last year behind him. Mr Pharlin is awesome.


With the best ruckman in the AFL (Cox is heavily overated)...and the best first year player of 2008 at his feet, Hasleby picking up the spoils, Hedland fit and firing.....who knows?


I have my new membership card...I am ready....

Biggest crowd we have had at 'regular' church yesterday.....approaching the size of the crowd we had at our launch.
A lot (lot) of new folk...coming back and staying.
We ran out of communion elements....we had to open up the back doors.....

It does make you feel overwhelmed. I have always been a pastor of a church hovering around the 80-100 mark, and I have known everyone.....well.

I still make it my business to introduce myself to new people, and to shake hands at the door.
But we are actually utilising the systems we have put in place now. Pastoral care leaders etc.
A loss of feeling like I know everyone and what is happening in people's lives.
But as we grow, and continue to grow, this is only going to become more so. Interesting times ahead.

Number one son.....has turned eight.
Late last night Melinda and I were reminiscing about his birth. It seriously seems like yesterday, now he is growing into a fine young fellow...and my mate.

I pondered long and hard about what to buy him. He is developing his own personality and interests. He is not going to be a sportstar....although I am hoping he will enjoy exercise and being outdoors...and he does, he loves the beach. I suspect if we lived closer, and he had more of an oppportunity, he would be a surfer...like his dad 'pretended' to be when he was young. I use to have a thruster on the back of my bike, and was regularly found down at Triggs and other beaches, near North Beach...often. Even.. and especially on Fridays...when I should have been at high school.

I settled on a digital camera. I know he is young...but they are cheap. 8 megapixels, 3 times optical zoom, face recognition and stability....all for under $100. If he breaks it...it is not a tradgedy. So far.....he has taken around 100 pictures. He loves nature, little creatures...and computers. I reckon this interest may be something he pursues. A love of computing, photography and design....something good.

Another thought to consider as I work through emotional intelligence.
No one fits the mould. No one is exactly what or who some test says they are.

The heart is deciteful above all things.
It lies to us...about ourselves.
Who we think we are, may be totally off.
How we operate under stress may be totally different....we may operate under a different set of personality/emotional traits.

"put your head up and face the world head on son...."
So I say to my son as he and I walk from his classroom.

I believe that knowing Jesus gives us the courage, curiousity and passion to approach life with a positive, frank and loving attitude.

This article from an avowed athiest is fascinating. I don't quite agree or understand why his atheistic views gives his observations more credibility, but they seem too.

"Whenever we entered a territory worked by missionaries, we had to acknowledge that something changed in the faces of the people we passed and spoke to: something in their eyes, the way they approached you direct, man-to-man, without looking down or away. They had not become more deferential towards strangers - in some ways less so - but more open. "

H/t

Article

Its an interesting and challenging concept for leaders, and studiers of people.

How much emotional intelligence someone has will invariably determine the length and severity of interpersonal conflicts they experience. We will all undergo conflict. But often, not always, the depth of it can be determined by our reaction, how we approach and deal with the personalities involved.

Understanding someone's motivating factors...even words that trigger alarms for them, are all part of your emotional intelligence, your discernment of the other person.

One issue is this though....someone who has low EI....can very often be someone who is not aware of it. This sort of person fills out personality tests and gets a totally wrong reading, because they put the answers down for who they think they are...they honestly think things about themself, which an objective outsider can clearly see are simply not true.

http://obamiconme.pastemagazine.com/

Once again he displays wisdom in the public forum. He fails to embarass the Christian community, instead, without compromising his own values and beliefs, he reaches across the religious and racial divide, while still declaring, that Jesus is my Lord.

Three key points.
1. There are echoes of the most important aspect of his life work, the "purpose driven life" in his opening statement,
"Almighty God, our father, everything we see and everything we can't see exists because of you alone. It all comes from you, it all belongs to you. It all exists for your glory. History is your story."

2. He then, without compromising his own beliefs, reaches out to those of different faiths in his use of scripture. He quotes from the Christian bible, yet he uses scripture which Jewish people revere, often using this piece of scripture at special events, the second part of it can be found in the Koran, and is a common Muslim expression....(wise and CS Lewis like in my view)
"The scripture tells us , Hear, oh Israel, the Lord is our God; the Lord is one. And you are the compassionate and merciful one. And you are loving to everyone you have made."

3. Finally, he does use the name of Jesus, which some might say is exclusive, and it is, and the Christian faith is exclusive when it comes to Jesus, He is the only way. But Warren does it in the sense of saying Jesus is my Saviour, this is what He has done for me. No one can deny that, it is his experience of Jesus. Also, he uses the English, Spanish, Arabic and Hebrew names for Jesus.
He says,
"I humbly ask this in the name of the one who changed my life, Yeshua, Isa, Jesus, Jesus (hay-SOOS), who taught us to pray,"

Discern for yourselves.....

How many surveys do we find in the New Testament?
Lets get all biblical for a moment.....If we are to learn from the New Testament as a model of church government, the closest we find is in Acts 15...where 'it seemed right to them and the Holy Spirit"

Yet even in that context, James had to stand up and say something...someone has to lead, and take responsibility for that decision. You cant spend a weekend away, and then not decide anything! That is a horrible waste of the time God has given us.

In a church context I have often see a consensus model hijaked by malcontents, those with hidden and unspoken power agendas....that does not work. Some might say, we need time to come to a consensus, what a joke...redeem the time, the days are evil.

Some might say, a pragmatic approach does not leave time for reflection, maybe. Maybe we spend too much time reflecting, and not enough doing.

I once took a survey of my church, a few years ago. I had a positive response, which told me little really. I have two scathing reports, which also told me nothing.
At the conclusion of the matter, church growth will rise, fall or stagnate on the basis of leadership. You need to trust your own leadership, and if you cant, let someone else lead.

Inspired in part by John Kinkelde's leadership series and Tony Morgans' post 'Consensus Sucks

Melinda has taken her mum away for a few days to Cervantes......

I don't know how to feel.....
I love that place....yet after two weeks away....there is no way I could go.
She needed to take her mum away for a break..some stuff going on there.
But waving her and the kids away...while Clem begged me to come so we could go diving together....pretty tuff!

Mind you...there is a silver lining...she made me two days worth of lasange...and she makes the best lasange in the world!

On holidays....away from computer for a while...also...and here is a tip from my wife for pastors...
recorded a temporary message for my mobile...which asks people if it is church business to contact my offiders...or if for me...leave a message. I will turn it on at the end of the day and check in case of urgent messages.

Hope everyone has a great couple of weeks!

Not quite right yet...but getting there.....

To all who signed the petition requesting a new logo for the Baptist Union.....it is on its way!

Rod Benson reports....

"The BUA has commissioned a well known graphic design company to recommend a new logo, and the BUA National Council has agreed to sign off on the final design in May 2009 (it meets twice a year). "