I am starting a new four part series on "Identity Theft"
I am using some of the material from Life Church. Basically getting some milk from here there and everywhere and making my own cheese.

It fascinates me how much people let what others say to them affect them. In fact it fascinates me how others opinion of me, shapes and affects my own view of myself. Jesus loves me and has great plans for my life, why can't I get that?

Should be great!

Okay, he is a St Kilda Supporter, and a Barry White fan, but apart from that he is not a bad bloke.

His blog has been ressurected and you can find it here.

What a great game.
Not only for the win, but the grinding out of it.
In stark contrast to the past two games, the Dockers kept up the pressure for all four quarters.
When Port kicked four of the last five in the third quarter, I was thinking, oh no, we can't lose this can we?
But we didn't The tough as nails Mc Manus well and truly kept his place for next week. I dont know where this leaves Walker and Peake, both who could slot nicely into the side.

But isn't it fantastic to see Hayden back in the side? Haven't we missed him. And Johnson was almost best on ground.

Aaaaaah, might go and watch the game again, without the screaming, swearing and heart attacks.

Another really great Sunday as we explored the in-between situation we Christians find ourselves in.

Yes Christ is risen, but we still find ourselves in this world, with all its issues, many of them our own making.
We still live with the consequences of our own mistakes, both personally and corporately as human beings.

Yet Christ could cry out, "It is Finished". And it is, we hope, we have faith, we look forward.

Eliot and Jason did a great rendition of "He's alive" and U2's "Gloria".
Used a great piece of multi-media where an artist painted a picture of the crucified Christ. Quite moving. Good crowd in Church as well, which is always encouraging.

"The soul needs beauty for a soul mate
When the soul wants...the soul waits ...

I could never take a chance
Of losing love to find romance
In the mysterious distance
Between a man and a woman"

Moving, challenging, very thankful......

Wonderful Good Friday Service. Good crowd in, lots of visitors.
Excellent restrained music.
Multi media was moving and appropriate.
Jim did a wonderful rendition of "I cannot tell" to the tune of 'Danny Boy'.
Band did a great job of "Pride, in the name of love" fitting end to a moving service.

It's Friday, but Sunday's coming!!

Thanks Jesus again, for all you have done. You have given us real hope.
In fact the Christian message is that in the absolute worst of times, Jesus' story gives us hope.
TODAY YOU WILL BE WITH ME IN PARADISE

"I got back into LEGO building in June, 2000, shortly after adopting Precious, my third cat. She loved to be amidst my building from the start. She didn't disturb partially assembled LEGO objects, or even piles of bricks, so I could leave her to play around my assembled work without too much fear of damage. " Amy Hughes

I have been to Robert Schueller Crystal Cathedral in LA, and this one made out of Lego Blocks looks similar.

"And it's you when I look in the mirror
And it's you when I don't pick up the phone
Sometimes you can't make it on your own
We fight all the time You and I...that's alright
We're the same soul
I don't need...I don't need to hear you say
That if we weren't so alike
You'd like me a whole lot more"

Bono has said that after this album, he hoped he wouldn't need to write anymore about his dad, and his relationship with his dad. That's interesting. Link

If your a bloke, and have any sort of relationship with your dad, then like me, you may relate fairly heavily to these lyrics.
Miss you dad, wish I could have said more to you when you were around.

In case you didn't realise it, the Dockers won on Saturday night.
It was my son's first time at watching a real AFL game.
I have taken him to pre season and practice match games before, but this was the first time he has gone.

He got a Johnny Docker pack, which had a radio/torch, pack of cards, autograph book, pen, stickers and Docker Bag. Really good actually, expecially considering he also has season tickets.

It case you didn't realise, the Dockers beat Calton. Listening to George Grizzleguts today, and some other commentators, you would have thought we lost!

The first half showed what Freo are capable of. If we get it together for four quarters, watch out!

As we were setting up yesterday for the concert I was half listening to the Eagles game against the Crows. They did very well to get up and win...................unfortunately!!!!!!

Big effort yesterday.
Well worth it as we saw about 80-100 non church people involved and about 60 of our own folk there.
It was probably not as big a crowd as we would have liked, but the weather and Osborne Park show may have conspired against us.

Positives: Band sounded awesome, Micks music was given the appropriate and deserved treatment.

60 - 100 people heard many times about the message of Christ. You cannot put a value on this. As Alf reminded us on Sunday morning, God's word does not return void, and if one person moves closer to God, its well worth it.

I heard about a number of our church folk talking to different people in the crowd, a special thanks to Bev and Melinda and Sandy, and others, who got around and spoke to heaps of folk and made friends.

A big thanks to Paul Ahearn, your hard work is appreciated.

But most of all to Eliot, who brought the band together in what was at times trying circumstances.

Lets pray and think about where God is taking us next.

Our church is helping organise this, along with the local Inglewood P & C and some sponsorship from Ray White on Walcott and Charcoal Chicken,

Should be fantastic!

Would love to see you there.

I have been praying for and reflecting on some really really bad news.
Two incidents that occured yesterday.
One, a disturbing tradgedy in the life of an aquaitance, someone associated with our church.
There are no words to describe the awfulness of what has happened.
There are no platitudes, no cliches, no cards or flowers that will help in anyway.
As a Pastor, I cant even say why God allows such things to happen. I know He does not cause them, and I believe He is greatly grieved as well. Which makes it hard to understand why He allowed it to happen.
This from Psalm 69. 3 "my eyes are swollen with weeping, waiting for God to help me".
This is not my experience over this event, but is surely the people involved.

Secondly some disturbing revelations about a closer family member, that I have been trying to help. The way people mistreat each other in this world is staggering. Some folk are egocentric and selfish and self absorbed. All they really care about is their own pleasure. This makes me mad. I am not perfect by any means, but what has been done to another simply because they only care about themself, is awful. And the ripple from their actions still causes unrest.

For those of you who read the West, and who turn to the back of the paper first, like me, you will know the name Steve Butler. For those of you who are Weagles followers, you will like him.

For those of you who are a member of the Purple Army, you will know that Steve's favourite activity is sinking the boots into Freo. Now I would not suggest he is biased, but if someone did suggest that, I wouldn't be arguing with them.
Which brings me to the point of my post. Steve B has tipped Freo to down the Blues this week.
Is this part of his cunning plan to unsettle the club? Or is he just trying to redeem himself after his woeful tipping perfomance last week?

Either way, we dont need your support Steve, in fact we dont want it. Go back to playing ER's AFL for playstation, and pretending Sampi marked that goal in the dying minutes of the 2005 Grand Final.

During our first move, from our home of 5 years to the rental, we got rid of a lot of stuff. About three trailer loads actually. I'm not exagerating. Three trips up Red Hill with a fully loaded heavy trailer, being towed by my 1.6 litre Vitara.
My son wanted to know what the 'funny smell is daddy?".
I told him the engine and gearbox were not happy about working so hard.

Well this move we had a few things surplus to our needs. Some we managed to give to a good home, another couple, no one wanted, which was fair enough considering their condition. Namely a desk with no drawers and a very wobbly side. As well a baby's high chair which had seen much better days. In fact I had got some gaffa tape onto the ripped chair, and my children (both of them) had stuffed weeties, vegemite toast and other such gourmet delights down the side of the seat.

Anyways, there was only these two things so I did what most residents tend to do, I stuck them on the verge.

They had been there for about 24 hours, and I was contemplating taking them up Red Hill when a marvellous thing happened. I came back from taking the kids down the park and they were gone. Mysteriously, wonderfully, conveniently gone.

Somewhere in suburbia someone is sitting at a desk which is about to topple over while their child is discovering 6 year old fruit toast ends.

Deary deary me, anyone know a good marriage counsellor?

James writes this on his blog,


"Even though our two month old daughter refuses to sleep without my wife holding her, and my two year son won’t even attempt to sleep without his pacifier, my wife still refuses to take my advice about how to fix these problems before they start to bring even more stress into our marriage.After begging and pleading with my wife (because I adore and love her dearly) to stop spoiling our children and ignoring my feelings, I’ve decided enough is enough.So I went on strike — and moved to the roof of our home.This is my last-ditch effort!"
LINK

9 O God, we meditate on your unfailing love
as we worship in your Temple.
10 As your name deserves, O God,
you will be praised to the ends of the earth.
Your strong right hand is filled with victory.


I am continuing my series on "What Jesus said that changed the world".
This verse from Luke 19.40, "He replied, "If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!"

A great verse as we celebrate Palm Sunday.
For His name sake, and His glory, let Him be praised to the ends of the earth.

So I drop my son off at School today, and hope to slip in the back quietly. No such luck. His Eagles supporting teacher makes sure she mentions the results from the weekend to him, and me, just in case we missed it.

Sigh, sigh sigh.

Its hard being a real supporter, and not a bandwagon hopping fairweather Weagles supporting one.
I have been to every game bar one or two for the last 7 or 8 years, I have survived the Drum years, leave me alone. I'll get over it.

Roll on Carlton.

Eliot and the band did a fantastic rendition of Coldplays song, "Talk" on Sunday. I was suprised that a couple of musicians in the band dont like Coldplay. Who doesn't like Coldplay? They thought it was repetitive and that the band lacked credibility.
I encouraged them to look at the song itself, and judge that on its merits, apart from the band.

Oh brother I can't, I can't get through I've been trying hard to reach you,
cause I don't know what to do Oh brother I can't believe it's true I'm so scared
about the future and I wanna talk to you Oh I wanna talk to you
Are you lost or incomplete? Do you feel like a puzzle, you can't find your
missing piece? Tell me how do you feel? Well I feel like they're talking in a
language I don't speak And they're talking it to me
(Selection from song)

It was a good finish to my message on loving others, having a distinct love.
One of the things we fail to do as humans is address conflict well. Conflict comes in may shapes, be it unsaid statements, little gripes, looks of despair or even disgust.
At some point we need to adress these things, otherwise they fester and eat us up.
What does this have to do with love?
Truly loving action is saying what needs to be said quickly, keeping short accounts. Being honest and humble with each other.

One key for me is to think it through carefully first, think about what you are going to say, how you are going to say, even the facial expression and body language you are going to use.
How is what you say going to communicate love and truth? The two are not mutually exclusive, and at the end of the day, love and the relationship with people is more important.

We have moved into our new house!
After having bought it just before Christmas, it seems strange now to have finally moved in.

The owners have moved out,
the floors have been polished, and finally the bathroom is complete.
A HUGE HUGE thank you to Jennifer, Quentin, Jeff, Jason, Rowan, Holly, Nat, Scott and Sandra (the doughnuts were great!) for all the wonderful help moving in.

The computer and study is set up, most important room in the house for me, and the kids room looks fantastic.

I am walking to church tommorow!! Walking!!!!!

Praise God for His excellent kindness and provision to us. THANKS GOD!!