Snapshots

Have you read your Bible lately?

2012-01-08T08:54:00.006+10:00

We all know we should read our bibles. For many of us, we probably have best of intentions, but never get around to it.

Is it really that important? Isn't just a bunch of stories or rules that are either weird, difficult to understand - or we've heard them 100 times before?

Today I read Psalm 119 - which gives us a myriad of reasons why we should read and ponder the Word of God:

1. Those who are dry and lacking spiritual (like lying in dust) are revived (v25);
2. Those that are sad and ‘weep with sorrow’ are encouraged (v28);
3. Those that are distracted by ‘worthless’ pursuits are refocused on pursuits that give life (v37);
4. Those that find themselves in prisons are able to walk in freedom (v45);
5. Those that are growing weary from waiting for God to come through are revived by being reminded of the promises of God and receive renewed Hope (v50 and v81);
6. Those who are lacking direction or seeking direction will find it (v59);
7. Those that are tempted or feel the pull of being ‘dragged into sin’ will be anchored into doing what is right, against the tide of pressure. Young people are helped stay pure (v9 and v61);
8. Those who are miserable are sustained with Joy (v92);
9. Wisdom is gained to outwit, outlast and outplay (v98);
10. We become people of integrity that don't make compromises then feel guilty about the lifestyle we have settled for (v1-5).

Do you feel weary? Are you sad? Are you angry? Do you get irritated more easily lately? Have you started doubting that things will work out to be ok? Are you a bit miserable lately? Feeling a little aimless? Struggling with integrity? Struggling with sin?

The next question has to be - Have you read your bible lately?

Simply put, the Words and laws of God are the sustainer of life - yet some of us starve ourselves of this life-giving source - then wonder why our lives are so difficult and we aren't living a life of focus, obedience and optimism.

A life that is not regularly pondering God's word will have tell-tale signs such as:
- greater struggles with the things they know they shouldn't be doing;
- greater struggles with relationships;
- greater struggles in dealing with work;
- greater struggles with keeping a good attitude;
- greater struggles with complaining
which may then result in strained or broken relationships, negativity or depression, lack of focus, moodiness, lack of self-discipline and being generally miserable!

Yet, when we're miserable, sometimes the last thing we feel like doing is reading the bible. It's no different to people who are overweight living a sedentary life - the last thing they feel like doing is exercising, yet it's the very thing they need to physically regain their life and their energy.

Sometimes we think, "but I've tried it, and I just can't seem to get into the bible". Here's what I've found - it is way too easy to get out of the habit of reading your bible - especially if you think you can 'cram' your daily reading into the ad-breaks of your favourite tv show, or while you're in between other things.

When we try to read the bible in this 'brain-half-engaged' mode, we just won't get anything out of what we're reading because we haven't allowed ourselves time to ponder what is being said and how it might affect us.

I believe the only way we can make our reading worthwhile is if:

* We are doing one thing at that moment - with no one else around. As soon as there are tv's blaring, people interrupting, emails popping up - it is hard to get into the moment because your brain is never fully engaged.

* We have the right resources. This includes a reading plan (so we don't skip around); a commentary of some kind, or study bible; and a list of questions that will help draw the insights out into the open. There are some sections of the bible which, frankly, can seem difficult to understand. Yet with so many free resources available on the net, it has never been a better time to arm yourself with the resources you need to more fully understand what you're reading. Reading plans can be signed up for free on YouVersion. E-sword has a pc program and commentaries for free. There are number of excellent study bibles around (which aren't free). I found this site helpful for me to ponder what I am reading: Questions for reading. I printed out these questions and made it into a bookmark for my bible. Fnally - another great resources I have found is Google books. I search the relevant chapter in Google books, and often there are really good commentaries that provide partial 'free previews' where I can read the relevant pages for the day's reading.

* We write down what we learn. I debated this one for a long time. Is it really necessary? I would lose bits of paper and it was a hassle. I just wanted to read and not juggle notebooks and pens etc. However, I have found that I can't properly learn from what I'm reading and articulate what I believe God might be saying if I don't start jotting down some notes. Sometimes I'll look at the verse and think, "I'm getting nothing!!" But then I'll just start writing something and all of a sudden the insights will come. My husband has found the same experience - after starting to write, the 'gold' surfaces. To avoid losing bits of paper, I type it in (I type faster than I write) using Google docs. However some (eg my hubby) prefer to stick with good old pen'n'paper.

I have blogged today on what often works for me in trying to have a regular and meaningful time of reading God's word. But please don't think that I am perfect - like everyone else I wish I read more, and wish I were more devoted. However, I have learned that the most important thing is just keep trying. Don't be discouraged if you get out of the habit. Just try again. Think about why your reading plan didn't work out last time? Did you hit Leviticus and get bored? - maybe find a reading plan that isn't as intensive. Did you find there were too many chapters to read each day? Maybe find a reading plan that is spread over a longer time so you read less each day?

Being a Christian and not reading your bible isn't sustainable, because it is the word of God that sustains you. While we think sometimes we can 'wing it' and still live the Christian life, eventually it catches up with us and we see the tell-tale signs. That's when we know it's time to get back into the word.

Maybe start with Psalm 119.

Maybe start today.

One Size Fits All

2011-07-03T15:39:00.007+10:00

I was recently listening to a leadership podcast by Andy Stanley who was encouraging Church leaders to consider the management style of technology organisations such as Apple. He said that these organisations recognized that the next effective new idea will come from the next generation. The current ideas that appeal to the current management will never, he says, lead to the next new gold idea. He encouraged Church leaders to allow the younger generation some room to move (and even fail) because out of that freedom may come the next big, and effective, idea.

In looking at one big idea that wasn't really around much, say 15 years ago, that many now consider the "norm" is that of "customisation". Everywhere I look, there is a plethora of options to suit each our individual needs and preferences.

For example, we don't have to buy an entire album anymore, we just download the songs we like from different albums and make one up a compilation that suits. We then create our own playlists to suit the time, mood and style of the moment - we listen to that which is personally suitable to us.

Even in appliances, the options to suit are plenty: would I like a fridge with freezer on top, or fridge on top, in white, chrome or black? Should the door open on the left, or the right? Inbuilt ice maker or fill-your-own?

Why do we need so many options? Because we are all so different. Just looking at age, background, gender, career, and personality types, no two people are the same. There are:
* some who like to talk things out, some who like to think things through first
* Some like structure and predictability, some like spontaneity
* Some are literal, some are conceptual
* Some respond to facts, some respond to feelings
* Some are organisers, some still don't know how to organise a latte in a coffee shop
* Some are controlling, some just don't mind either way
* Some are middle age, some are teens
* Some are artistic, some are academic and some are sporty (or a combo of all)
* Some are fast learners, others want a slower pace
* Some like hymns, some like Hillsong
* Some have kids and a job, some are full-time students, some are retired
* Some work best in the morning, some work best at night
* Some are extroverts, some are introverts

With such an extensive array of people, can we really say that one size fits all?

Many years ago, churches wisely recognised the need for smaller groups to meet together, to connect, to grow and learn together so that Christians didn't get "lost in the crowd", particularly in bigger churches. The aim of these groups was the fellowship and growth of Church attendees, and even outreach. The effectiveness of these small groups, called life groups, cell groups, connect groups or discipleship groups is indisputable. Many benefit from these structured groups.

However, it seems the the format and structure of our current small groups is still very similar to when they were first introduced - some 15 years ago. The basic elements continue to be that a group of 4-8 people meet in a home during a week night, maybe have a song of worship, read some scripture, answer some questions, share some personal experiences and pray together.

I find it interesting that, despite the level of customisation that is normal all around us, the life group model remains substantially fixed in the same format and style that was introduced over a decade ago.

Don't get me wrong, the purpose of a small group is fundamental and critically necessary in churches yesterday and today. However, the structure and format still seems to be, regrettably, "one size fits all". This is a structure that works well for those currently attending, but seems to be not negotiable for those that can't fit within the current format of the traditional life group model.

For example, is there another option than a night time life group for people who have early starts, or young kids, or both? Is there an option for those that would benefit from more substantial study vs lite'n'chatty? Are there options for shift workers? Are there options for people with similar spiritual gifts to meet and develop those gifts? Are there options for focussed discussion vs those that like to verbally meander off track for hours?

This one-size-fits-all limitation can be compounded if decisions makers are resistant to letting new concepts for life groups come from the "next generation", ie those that have a different perspective to the current format.

Are there avenues for new groups to start to fill the current gaps - groups that are new in either style or format or criteria?

The reason for my blog entry is this: we are called to make disciples of Christ. This isnt just about making converts, it is about maturing Christians through their entire life journey. I sincerely believe that we must do whatever it takes to keep as many Christians growing stronger in their Christian walk as possible. I dont believe this can be achieved in small groups that are one-size-fits-all. We probably are going to miss sectors of people that don't fit into that box, and simply find it too difficult to benefit from the current small group model.

What does the next generation of small groups look like? Are we willing to welcome change to ensure all in our churches experience the benefits of small groups?

When pride pokes you in the eye!

2010-09-14T17:51:00.003+10:00

2 years ago, I got a 'check up' with a new Optometrist as a favour for a friend who was investing in the Optometry business.

Let's call this Optometrist "Jane" (not her real name).

Jane was a bit too pushy for my liking, particularly when it came to rules about throwing my contacts out strictly after 30 days wear. She even made me sign a contract to say I'd do it!

I objected to being treated like a child! I know when my contact lenses need changing - thank you very much!

So I never went back. I figured I knew better. I started going to a more local optometrist.

Rcently, I've been having some troubles with my left eye getting a little bit irritated.. just a little.

Then this morning - I woke up with a roaring red eye. It is weeping, it is painful, it feels like sand in my eye every time I blink. Even now, I feel like I have cotton wool packed into my eye.

Figuring I better get it checked out - I took myself to visit my new latest local optometrist office.

I turn up for my appointment and get told the unsurprising. I have been wearing my contact lenses for too long. The extra wear has caused proteins to build up on the lens surface. This has starved my eye of Oxygen. I have blood vessels that have surfaced. I am actually very close to damaging my sight.

I am banned from wearing my contacts for a month!

As if that wasn't pride-destroying enough. My latest local optometrist has a new employee. It was this new employee that saw me and delivered the bad news. This new employee? Jane!!

Proverbs 16:18 "Pride precedes a disaster, and an arrogant attitude precedes a fall."

Today Matters

2010-08-14T15:57:00.005+10:00

Do you ever, like me, get up in the morning and think this is just another day.. another day to get ready for work, another day to iron clothes, catch the train, meet with people and talk about issues. It's just another day in the daily grind where I am going through the motions of doing what needs to be done, or what I feel like doing.

One seemingly meaningless day turns into another.. and days turn into weeks, months and even years of sometimes the same boring monotony.

But are our days really meaningless?

Each day we make a myriad of choices, we undertake a range of actions and interact with countless people. These choices/actions/interactions may seem insignificant, but the effects may be much more significant.

In the bible, Paul shares this wisdom to his friend, Timothy.

1 Tim 5:24 Remember, the sins of some people are obvious, leading them to certain judgment. But there are others whose sins will not be revealed until later. 25 In the same way, the good deeds of some people are obvious. And the good deeds done in secret will someday come to light.

This verse has such wisdom. What people do today will show up - now or later – but it will show up. The choices, actions and interactions that people have in their life today will have consequences tomorrow - whether they are good or bad.

If you sow a financial seed into the kingdom – it will show up sooner or later. If you invest in the lives of your kids - it will show up sooner or later. As my good friend Andrew Staggs says- if you invest some money, it will show up as compounding interest tomorrow.

However, if you have an area of sin that you haven't deal with in your life – deal with it today, or it will show up later. If you make poor choices in what you eat - it will show up sooner or later. If you make poor choices in how much you spend, it will show up sooner or later. If you make poor choices in how little time you spend with God - it will show up sooner or later.

In fact, everything that is done today will have a return – sooner or later, whether good or bad.

As John Maxwell would say, today matters. Today is another day that I get to do something that shows up later - in a good way!

Today I get to eat healthy so it shows up as a reduced dress size later;
Today I get to take an interest in or invest in my kids' life so it shows up in their lives later;
Today I get to meet with my creator, so I can see the fruits of an overcoming life show up sooner and later;
Today I get to give my best at work, so i can get a payrise or promotion later;
Today I get to save some of my salary so it shows up as financial freedom later;
Today I get to give to those in need so that God repays me this debt later;
Today I get to thank God for all that I have so that it creates a joyful disposition in me sooner or later;

On the flipside, today I can ignore my conscience and do an action that will show up later and create harm in my life. Today I can spend impulsively money that I haven't yet earned. Today I can eat 3 packets of tim tams! Today I can encourage an inappropriate relationship. Today I can slack off on the job. Today I can neglect to pray or read the word - the effects of which will show up sooner or later.

What do I want to see show up in my life tomorrow, or next month? or next year? Then I must think about what I do today.

Today matters.

Surrender Now!

2010-03-15T07:50:00.005+10:00

I am a big Seinfeld fan.. huge fan. One of my favourite episodes is where George Costanza’s father has been advised to say "serenity now" aloud every time his blood pressure is in danger of going up, but he yells it instead. The episode is littered with this outbursts of “SERENITY NOW!” It’s supposed to be his pressure relief valve.

Well Frank Costanza isn’t the only one who has stresses and tensions in his life. Strangely enough, I found I have them too. People not responding the way I thought they should, things not going the way I think they should go, and most of all, me not behaving, achieving, persisting, resisting, or overcoming as I should. I never seem to have my own ever-changing set of expectations satisfied – and it creates a life of stress.

It seems the harder I try, the worse I become, and the more disappointed I get in myself and others.

In the book, “The me I want to be”, John Ortberg writes about how we can be God’s best version of ourselves – the thing I seem to be so regularly unable to do.

Ortberg dedicates a section on our efforts to ‘try harder’ and the futility of it all.

He says, “The harder you try to work to control things, the more you lose control. The harder you try to hit a fast serve in tennis, the more your muscles tense up. The harder you try to impress someone on a date or while making a sale, the more you force the conversation and come across as pushy”. He adds, “I need a greater power than simply ‘try harder’ can provide. Imagine someone advising you to try harder to be graceful. Try harder not to worry. Try harder to be joyful. There are limits on what trying harder can accomplish”

He proposes this alternative. “Try softer… trying softer means focusing more on God’s goodness than our efforts. It means being more relaxed and less self-conscious. Less pressured… When I try softer, I stay patient when things don’t turn out the way I expected”

But most importantly, when I try softer, it means I surrender all the failures, frustrations and expectations to God. It means asking God for help.

So I’m taking a leaf out of Frank Costanza’s therapist’s book. For the past 2 weeks, every time something, someone or I doesn’t/ don’t’ go/do/react/behave/respond the way I think it/they/I should (ie everytime my stress level is elevated), I put my hands in the air, and I say “Surrender Now”. It is my cue to let it go and let God take over me or the situation.

It’s not about giving up, but it is about letting go and letting God do His work in me or the situation (and it’s usually both!)

The First WestLIVE online life group

2009-07-20T21:01:00.003+10:00

Tonight Westlife Church launched a new option for connecting and sharing - WestLIVE - our online life group.

It was a great night of chatting about my work matters yet not having to leave home.

Thanks to Roderick for these pics. Where's Nick??

My Work Matters

2009-07-11T09:00:00.003+10:00

Monday morning, depending on your schedule, somewhere between 5am and 8am, your alarm will go off and you realise it’s the first day of another working week.

How do you feel at that point?

• Are you happy at work?
• Are you fulfilled at work?
• Do you feel that your work has meaning?
• Do have feel a sense of achievement at work?

Or Is work just a way to get enough money to pay the bills?

In the middle of the work week, how do you feel? Do you think “I would so rather be fishing right now, than putting up with this pressure.. in fact I’d rather be having teeth extracted than being at work right now.”

Or maybe this: “If he brings up my mistake one more time, I’m walking out the door”

Often good day at work = good night at home. Bad day at work = kicking the cat, yelling at the kids and burning the dinner.

Some people struggle with the whole point of work at all and would rather be hippies growing all their own food!

How does all of that fit in with our Christian walk?

Last Sunday, Westlife kicked off a important new series called, "My Work Matters".

Rick Warren says, “Many Christians don't make the connection between Sunday and Monday. They compartmentalize their life. They think, "Well, I've got a spiritual life and I've got a secular life. My spiritual life is when I read the Bible, when I pray, when I go to church, when I do good things for others. That's my spiritual life." And that's over in one compartment.

So then, they think, over in another compartment: "This is my secular life. That's my work, my job, my career, my business decisions, my finances, my pension plan; all these things are my secular life."

Rick says that God never wanted us to keep these two parts of our life separate. He is as interested in our work life as He is in our prayer life.

This new "My Work Matters" series seeks to help people make that connection between Sunday and Monday by putting our workplaces under the microscope. The series explores how to apply what the Bible says about work in our lives: It looks at how we stay motivated at work; How we deal with difficult people; How we deal with requests that cut across our own value system.

My next few blog posts will look at the first week of the new series - leadership in the workplace.

Parenting Fears

2009-06-03T07:58:00.005+10:00

A US parenting website recently did a survey to identify the top 5 fears parents have for their kids. Interestly, the top 3 are my top 3:

Fear #1: I'm afraid my child won't get the education and opportunities she needs to reach her potential.

Fear #2: I'm afraid that someone will hurt or attack my child.

Fear #3: I'm afraid that my child will be injured in an accident, like a car accident

Fear #4: I'm afraid that my child won't fit in socially or will get picked on.

Fear #5: I'm afraid that my child will have health issues, such as obesity, anorexia, etc.

Fears 4 and 5 I don't worry about so much, probably because I didn't really fit in socially at school, was a bit of a loner, and had obesity issues. However, it didn't hurt me, I think it made me stronger.

I didn't get invited to any of the parties where peer group pressures were rife. I didn't rely on any physical attributes to gain friends, or boyfriends, but rather actually had to work on my character and personality (and still needs lots of work!!).

I learned to be self-sufficient in God, rather than relying on others for my motivation and and fulfilment.

John Maxwell says 'if you want to change the world, you have to be different from the world'. So not fitting in socially - well I can think of worse fears.

But fears 1 to 3 I think would be every parents' fear. What does God say that we can rely on to address these fears?

1. "Do not be over-anxious about anything, but by prayer and earnest pleading, together with thanksgiving, let your request be unreservedly made known in the presence of God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

2. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11. This includes our kids. God has a plan for each of them, and so we need not fear that they won't get the right opportunities to reach their God-given potential because God will direct their steps.

3. "Have not I commanded you? Be strong, vigorous, and very courageous. Be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

4. "Yet the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen [you] and set you on a firm foundation and guard you from the evil [one]" 2 Thes 3:3

5. "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." 1 John 4:4

6. "You who sit down in the High God's presence, spend the night in Shaddai's shadow, Say this: "God, you're my refuge. I trust in you and I'm safe!"
That's right—he rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards.
His huge outstretched arms protect you— under them you're perfectly safe; his arms fend off all harm. ...
Yes, because God's your refuge, the High God your very own home, Evil can't get close to you, harm can't get through the door.
He ordered his angels to guard you wherever you go. If you stumble, they'll catch you; their job is to keep you from falling." Psalm 91:3-7

If we are without God's protection, then these fears are real. When we are in God's protection, He says "fear not - for I am with you" and we can rest in His promises.

Weigh to Go

2009-06-01T11:26:00.003+10:00

The Queensland Times today reported this story:

My favourite bit is the plug for Bevan who loves me regardless.

Testing your defences

2009-05-22T07:54:00.002+10:00

Yesterday I watched a documentary about the 6 day war in 1967. In this war, Israel fought hard for, and captured the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt, the West Bank (including East Jerusalem) from Jordan, and the Golan Heights from Syria. This was a significant time for a nation seeking to recover sacred ground.

The most intriguing part of ths war was how, at the outset, Israel gained the upper hand.

For years the Israelies had been violating eyptian airspaces, testing for gaps in the radar defenses. Then in one concerted attack, they ruthlessesly exploited all the gaps.

In the few days before the 6 day war, Israel launched a pre-emptive attack on eyptian airforce. The Egyptian airforce were lined up like sitting ducks. The attack was devastating. In 3 hours, 300 planes were destroyed on the ground.

It is arguable that the war wasn't lost by the Egyptians during the 6 days of battle, but rather prior to the battle when they let the Isralies repeatedly violate their airspace to find the gaps in their defence.

It is the same with us.

There is a war going on - and it's a fight for your soul. God wants all of your soul. The devil wants God to have none if it. God wants you to have a life of contentment, abundance and fulfilment. The devil wants to "steal, and to kill, and to destroy" your health, your happiness, your marriage and your children's future. (John 10:10)

1 Peter 5:8 the Bible says, "Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour." Like the Israelite army, Satan tests your defences - he looks for your areas of weakness and vulnerability - he looks for the places where he can violate your space.

Where are your vulnerabilites?

Let's really dig into the detail. You may not be, generally speaking, vulnerable in a particular area. However, if the circumstances change, your vulnerability is exposed. For example, you may not be vulnerable in the area of infidelity. However, change the circumstances such that you start believing lies about your own lack of self-worth, your relationship at home is strained, you feel lonely, you're tired and worn out from over work - and then the devil invades your airspace with temptation. How are you defences then?

Perhaps the temptation was nothing more than an innocent flirt and there was no harm done. But your space has been violated and a gap in your defence has been exposed.

Do a stock-take on when, in the past, you were willing to compromise your usual standards

Do a review of the times you knew you dabbled where you shouldn't have - even if there was no harm done at the time.

The devil is testing your defences. Where are you vulnerable?

Satan is gathering intelligence on where you are open for invasion and then, at a time you least expect it, he launches a concerted attack, ruthlessesly exploiting all the gaps.

The bible tells us to to discipline ourselves and stay alert because the war may not be won or lost when the battle hits. The war may be lost much earlier when we were being sized up and we did nothing.

Ephesians 6:11-13 says "11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. "

Busy like me

2009-05-20T08:14:00.003+10:00

Like most people I chat to these days, when we say "how are you" it's not uncommon to hear "we've been busy" or "I've got so much on at the moment".

Philip Mutzelberg of Heritage Church in Ipswich once said, "we wear busyness on our sleeve like a badge - because often it makes us feel important". How true it is.

Everytime I hear myself saying how busy I am, Philip's words ring in my ears. Do I think this makes me sound important?

This morning I read Proverbs 21:2 "We justify our actions by appearances; God examines our motives" (MSG)

The bottom line is this - are we busy doing stuff, or are we busy fulfilling God's plans and purposes for our life?

Why are we doing what we do?

This self-examination is an extension of the 'shallow soil'.

Lately, I have been so challenged with letting God really grab a hold of my spirit, not just me doing the right things like a religion. I am so challenged at the moment by the impact I see people make when they're God-powered rather than agenda-fulfilling.

I'm singing songs like, "Consuming fire, fan into flame passion for your name" (Tim Hughes) and

"Open our eyes, To see the things that make Your heart cry, To be the church that You would desire, Your light to be seen." (With everything - Hillsong This is Our God) and

"Take my moments and my days, Let each breath that I take, Be ever only for You oh God. My whole life is Yours, I give it all Surrendered to Your Name And forever I will pray Have Your way" (Arms Open Wide - Hillsong United 2009)

It's not about what I do. It's about why I do it. Am I busy because I'm burned up inside by God, or am I busy padding out my schedule to fulfil agendas.

"We justify our actions by appearances; God examines our motives"

The Hard Soil

2009-05-20T07:50:00.003+10:00

The hard soil is the last soil that will hinder us from bearing fruit in this next season of our lives.

The hard soil is where the seed fell on the pathway and the birds stole the seed away.

The path spoken of in this parable is a soil that has been beaten and trodden on and walked over to the point where the soil is as hard as rock.

Some of you feel like that – you’ve been trampled on once too often - nothing gets in anymore. As soon as there is an inkling of hope or destiny or future – it gets stolen away.

The devil is busy with his job of snatching or seizing like a bandit or rogue the word of the kingdom before it has time even to sprout.

Nothing moves you anymore. Nothing excites you anymore.

Perhaps you’ve experienced a significant failure in your life.. It’s been said that “The hardest part about failure is the mental struggle that goes on after we fail.. When we encounter a major failure, we feel so frustrated that we oftentimes see no meaning in continuing the work started or in pursuing life itself.”

Perhaps you’ve endured a tragedy and we still can’t get past the “Why God.. Why?”

Divorce, depression, repeated disappointments, abuse, .. all serving as another footprint that presses the very air out of your lungs and hardens your heart that little bit more because that’s the only coping mechanism you know.

You don’t want to risk being hurt, let down, disappointed again – and maybe you didn’t even realise you were doing it?

Job is a perfect example of someone who has had the very air within him trampled by tragedies of life. He says in Job 17:11 "My days are past, my purposes and plans are frustrated; even the thoughts (desires and possessions) of my heart [are broken off]."

There is a paralysis from being crushed once too often. A fear of opening up again. A fear of being crushed again.

You know the trampled ground was never excluded from being sown with seeds because the master gardener would later plow the ground under the seed – he would re-soften the ground so that fruit could grow there once again - No matter how hard the ground.

Psalms says God heals the heartbroken and bandages their wounds and he puts the fallen on their feet again

And God is calling you to trust again..

. God is calling you to open up your heart up again..

Nothing will happen to you that won’t first pass through the gracious loving permissive hands of Jesus Christ.(Chuck Swindoll) The bible says that he will never give you more than you can handle.

2Th 2:16 “May Jesus himself and God our Father, who reached out in love and surprised you with gifts of unending help and confidence, (17) put a fresh heart in you, invigorate your work, enliven your speech.”

Learn to trust God again. Open up your heart to Him again. Let God do his transforming work in and through you in this next season.

The Thorny Soil aka the Crowded Soil

2009-05-13T08:18:00.002+10:00

Another condition of our heart that can stifle want God wants to do in our next chapter is the thorny soil, or the crowded soil.

This soil also, from the surface, looks like good soil. However, below the surface there lay seeds of thorns which grow with the plant and starve it of its nutrients and resources.. such that the plant grows, but never bears fruit

My last blog talked about the rocky soil stopping growth by the inability to withstand attacks. Well the thorny soil is all about distraction and diversion.

What is a thorn?

A thorn is anything that takes your focus away from pursuing God. Busyness, worry about financial pressure, relationship stress, pursuit of wealth, unforgiveness, pride?

These are all diversions and distractions – and take your energy and focus off God’s work in your life and onto other futile pursuits.

We all have areas of temptation and weaknesses.. for a moment think about what that is for you.. think about when that temptation starts- the first thing that happens if you don’t deal with it - it starts to grow in your thought life. The longer it’s left untreated, the more time and space it starts occupying in your thought life.

Then you don’t feel like praying anymore because you feel guilty. You start letting your quiet times slip because you don’t feel like doing them at the moment.. Maybe it moves from your thought life to a physical action of some kind..

Yet it’s happened – your time, energy and focus has been redirected to something other than God.

Diversions can also be small and seemingly insignificant, yet just as effective in distracting us. “Can’t do my quiet time today, I have the flue.. the next day I have to be at work early, the day after that I have a Business breakfast on” before you know it – you’re out of the habit of meeting with God.

Henry says, “An unconvinced unhumbled heart is like fallow-ground, ground untilled, unoccupied. It is our ground, let out to us, and we must be accountable for it.

But it is fallow; it is unfenced (ie unguarded) and lies common;

It is overgrown with thorns and weeds... We must search into our own hearts, let the word of God divide (as the plough does) between the joints and the marrow. We must rend our hearts. We must pluck up by the roots those corruptions which, as thorns, choke both our endeavours and our expectations.” Where our hearts have been unfenced.. unguarded - then we need to do some weeding. Have we entertained the thorns in our life thinking we can keep them under control. Julianne Cutcliffe once said, “Don’t make friends with that which will destroy you” Don’t turn a blind eye to that which will lead into diversion and distraction.

What thorns have you got that might be imperfectly cleared.

The frequency of you needing to weed may depend on the season you’re in. Joyce Meyer says “the higher the level.. the higher the devil” The deeper you go in God, the more risk of distraction and diversion.

You may also need to weed more than once for the same "weed seed" because a weed producing Seed that is dropped on your lawn drops enough seeds that lay dormant that will affect your lawn for seven seasons.

Just when you think you’ve plucked a thorn out by the roots, it comes back again to tempt.. to distract.. to occupy your thought life and to seek to lure you away from pursuing God at that deeper level. You get victory at one level, but then you need victory at a deeper level.

The answer is this:

Gal 5:16 But I say, walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit [responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit]; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh (of human nature without God).

This is a promise. Live Habitually in the Holy Spirit and we will be able to withstand the cravings of our human nature. He is our key to keeping our soil weed free.

Rocky Soil aka Shallow Soil

2009-05-08T13:20:00.003+10:00

When looking at your next chapter in God, my last blog discussed the purposes God has for each season of our lives, and how our response to what he wants to do can produce fruit, or undermine that purpose. Our responses are much like the parable of the soil.

The first soil I'll look at is the shallow Rocky Soil.

I remember hearing a message many many years ago about youth and how many of the things they do are because of the culture they hang out with, rather than the conviction they have personally.

What they do is largely because of what their generation is doing or their friends are doing, rather than any real heartfelt belief or conviction about what it is their doing.

This, for me, was a great example of the shallow soil.

Shallow soil is where on the surface, the soil looks normal, it looks like good soil, but just beneath the surface there are rocks so that the seed couldn’t put down its roots. The seedling shoots up quickly, and then dies off from sun exposure and lack of access to moisture.

People who are shallow soil "believe for a while, and in time of trial and temptation fall away (withdraw and stand aloof)." Luke 8:13

Shallow soil is when we do all the right things, we turn up at all the right meetings, and yet somehow what God wants to do in our lives never really grabs a hold of us, it’s never really firmly established in our lives. We go through the motions, and that’s all, without ever really letting God take hold.

The danger of staying shallow is that at the first sign of opposition, the first kind of attack – we’re out. The first time that things get tough – we’re gone.

We bail before God’s work in us, and for us and through us is complete.

We never breakthrough.

However, at some point in your life, God will allow trials to come across your path. 1 Peter 4:12 says "Dear friends, don't be surprised by the fiery troubles that are coming in order to test you. Don't feel as though something strange is happening to you, "

In Judges, God shows that these trials are there to teach us how to fight! God lets us go through trials and tests so that we can become STRONG and RESILIENT so that he can add increase in our life.

God wants to create in us a spiritual tenacity. He wants us to give us some spiritual muscle. He wants to transform us. We can’t get that without trials to test us.

How do we respond?

1. Hold nothing back. Don't give God the shallow surface areas of your life. He wants you to give him all of you!

2. Be like Paul when he says, "I have not yet received all of those things. I have not yet been made perfect. But I move on to take hold of what Christ Jesus took hold of me for. (13) Brothers and sisters, I don't consider that I have taken hold of it yet. But here is the one thing I do. I forget what is behind me. I push hard toward what is ahead of me." (Php 3:12-13)

Dropping out early means we won't bear fruit, and this next chapter of our lives never achieves it's purpose for our lives.

My Next Chapter

2009-05-08T13:08:00.003+10:00

One of the best aspects of my starting bible college this year is that I'm connecting the dots on so many 'truths' that I've gleaned over the years.

One of the must frustrating aspects of starting bible college this year is the time it zaps from my 'free time', meaning my blog is like our garden and lawn.. neglected.

However, last Wednesday I am thankful that I was be able to share a word that God had excited me about over the last month or so - which kicked off the new "My Next Chapter" series at Westlife.

Here are a few 'highlights' from Wednesday night:

Although there is nothing immediately dramatically different.. often we see indicators everywhere that we’re entering a new season. We know that seasons occur as much in our spiritual lives as our physical lives.

But what does this next chapter look like for you? What is required of you? What is God wanting from you? What is He wanting to do in you? What is God wanting to do for you? What is God wanting to do through you?

God has a purpose for the next chapter of your life and He has planted a seed of what he wants to accomplish in you in this next chapter.

This seed is to bear fruit in your life, and that fruit may mean new levels of influence, or new financial prosperity. For some it may mean a new skill. For others it may mean a maturing in specific area, or a strengthening in an area, or an increase in the fruits of the spirit.

The bible is clear that the seed will grow provided it is given the right conditions. That is where our responsibility kicks in.

The parable of the sower provides 3 ways in which we can sabotage that growth:

1. Shallow soil

2. Rocky Soil

3. Hard soil

Stay tuned to the blog to look at what these soils mean, and how we can make sure we don't cut off God's awesome work in our lives.

Your Unique Shape

2009-04-15T13:52:00.003+10:00

Tonight Westlife begins its first session of "extra teaching and fuel" - including the launch of Discovering my Shape

One of the most important factors in discovering your shape is the realisation of just how unique you are. For some, that is a good thing. For others, they feel uncomfortable about being different.

Being unique means that we are not to be measured up against what others can do, but by what we can do.

On 24th March I posted this blog on not comparing yourself to others. There is a great clip in it by Bob from the Biggest Loser Australia that we can all take a lesson from.

I recommend you take another look and then think about - What is my shape?

Fight or Flight

2009-04-02T07:25:00.004+10:00

Earlier this week I was reading the well known story of David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17).

As many will know, at a time when the Philistines and the Israelites were in conflict, one man created a stir.

Goliath, a Philistine, was about 3 metres tall and built like a tank! He was one scary guy. Every day he would step out to the battle line and confront the 'good guys', the Israelites, challenging anyone to duel. If Goliath won the duel, then the Israelites would become the slaves of the Philistines, and vice versa.

This Philistine giant taunted the Israelites day after day after day - looking for a fight. In the minds of all Isralites (but one), this giant was undefeatable.

We may think of this story as nothing more than a 'sunday school story', not really relevant for today's circumstances.

Yet how many people find themselves facing a giant in their life that taunts them day after day after day.

For some, it could be pornography, for others it could be alcohol. Perhaps our giant is depression, or food, or debt, or insecurity, or anger, or infidelity.

Whatever the giant - for some the taunting is daily. Daily there is a struggle to not give in and become a slave to it's seduction. Daily there is a mental battle. Daily there is a call to give in! We can get to the point where we feel our giant is overwhelming and undefeatable.

However THE GIANT CAN BE DEFEATED

Of most importance in gaining the victory, David knew that the battle wasn't his, but the battle was the Lord's. He knew that it was God that would deliver the victory, not David's own ability.

The bible says that God's Spirit is our strength where we are weak. It is these very situations where we know we cannot defeat the giants in our life that God comes, fills us with his Holy Spirit and we find ourselves being able to overcome the giants in our lives.

God knows you can't overcome your giants - apart from Him. Apart from God, we can do nothing. This isn't a physical fight. It's a spiritual fight... and through God, we can defeat the giants in our life.

There's one final point to make - for David, victory came not from fighting the giant on Goliath's terms (with sword and shield), but from fighting with the tools and strategies best suited for David (stone and sling).

We need to identify the best weapons and strategies for our battles.

My brother was trained up as a security guard. They were taught - when you're confronted to fight.. RUN!

The bible tells us to do the same for some of our battles. For example, for giants such as lust, pornography and infidelity, alcoholism, debt, the bible makes your weapon very clear.. RUN! Don't try to negotiate. Don't try to hang around the battle field thinking you can overcome - GET OUT OF THERE. Don't put yourself in the positions where you know the battle will heat up.

If you struggle with alcohol, then going to a bar to fight your battle may not be the wisest move. STAY AWAY.

If your giant is food and indulgence, then don't go shopping when you're hungry! Don't fill your fridge with chocolate!

For some giants, we need to face up to them. We need to stop pretending the battle doesn't exist. For example, if your giant is insecurity and inadequacy, then it's time to stand up to that giant and speak what you know to be true. "I will listen to these lies no longer! I will not allow these thought to taunt my mind for another day! I will live in the truth of God's thoughts of me, thoughts of hope, thoughts of a future, thoughts of Love"

We need to wise in battle, and God says in the bible that if anyone lacks wisdom, let them ask God for it, and He will give you wisdom.

In Ephesians, the bible also sets out weapons that we need to take up everyday, including the truth, righteousness, peace, hope, salvation and prayer. (I can't do justice exploring these in this blog and encourage you to study these further). I recently heard someone say "prepare for battle in times of peace".

God has said that you will never be tempted beyond what you can handle and that He will always provide a way out.

So the next time your giant taunts you, realise that this is not your battle - the battle belongs to God. Pray, as I have often done, "God - I'm weak here right now - please show me the way out of this. Holy Spirit - be my strength".. and stand and fight... or run!

Perspective Reset

2009-03-30T07:59:00.004+10:00

Yesterday, I returned from 3 days at Hillsong Colour Conference 2009.

If you're going to Colour this week, then you probably don't want to read my blog because I don't want to let the cat out of the bag for you!

Without doubt, the most impacting session was Saturday morning during the "Sisterhood" session. Personally, I never really liked the term "sisterhood" because it conjured up images of girls shopping together, doing toilet trips together etc etc. I've never really been into that.

However, Saturday morning disintegrated that perspective.

On Saturday morning, we were confronted with the horrors being experienced around the world. Children kidnapped and forced to become soldiers required to commit sickening crimes against other children and babies (eg tieing infants to a tree and hitting them until they died). One girl (yes Girl!) told how she had to beat her own brother to death, or be killed herself.

Similarly, girls are being kidnapped and given to men as wives. We saw 2 women who tried to escape, and had their lips, ears and nose-tips cut off with razor blades as punishment.

Then we heard about parents feeding their children mudcakes to hold off hunger pains. Another mother talked of feeding their children 'rat rice', which is the rice found in rat nests.

We saw babies and toddlers who had been discarded on rubbish tips - left for dead - some with hands and feet bound.

Take a look at this youtube video on how the global food crisis is affecting so many.

Against this horror, I realised that my own world was too cacooned. My prayers were too selfish. My perspective was far too narrow and it needed to change. I needed to stop judging the 'sisterhood' because I didn't like the word, and my perspective on what that meant!

What if a group of ordinary women, who are unremarkable by the worlds standards, could create an extraordinary difference around the globe because they were aligned in purpose and vision? That's the sisterhood.

We are a 'Synery' - which is "The interaction of two or more agents or forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual" That's the sisterhood.

As individual women, our impact may not be felt - but the combined effect of 18,000 women can be felt globally and generationally.

This morning I put my money where my mouth is. I sponsored an 8 year old girl who had been waiting for over 12 months to be sponsored. I chose an 8 year old, because this is the same age as my son. Neither he nor I did anything to be born into this luxury of Australia. So we are making a difference to a child that could have been any one of us.

Have I really made a difference? It's like the story that many of us have heard of the boy running along the beach full of stranded starfish, tossing each one he encountered into the sea. An onlooker stopped him and said "But there are more starfish on this beach than you can ever save before the sun is up. Surely you cannot expect to make a difference." The youth paused briefly, bent to pick up a starfish and threw it as far as possible. Turning to me he simply said, "I made a difference to that one."

Today I made a difference to one, and am part of something bigger.

This isn't a pat on the back for me, nor is it the first child I've sponsored. But this is my step so that I am not just sitting back and say "isn't that heartbreaking - someone should do something about that", but a step to "be the change I want to see in the world"

Please sponsor a child at Compassion. It costs only $44 a month - a small price to pay for such a huge impact. Be part of something bigger and be the change you want to see.

Don't Compare - Ever

2009-03-24T07:10:00.003+10:00

In a year of being unleashed, it is so tempting to compare ourselves with how others are being. This is dangerous for so many reasons, and benefits no one.

Today is another blog inspired by the Biggest Loser - a show where people are being unleashed from their prisons of obesity, and learning so much of themselves in the process.

Last night my favourite contestant, Bob, shared a story from his past that teaches us the pain of cruel words and the paralysis of comparing ourselves with others.

Check it out:

Such wise words. The book of all wisdom, the bible, mirrors this advice.

Galatians 6 says it like this "4 Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don't be impressed with yourself. Don't compare yourself with others. 5 Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life. "

Joyce Meyer says, "Don't be impressed with what you can do, and don't be upset with what you can't do"

My responsibility is to be the best "me" that I can be - and to make the most of my 'shape' that I've been given.

Starting on 15th April, Westlife is running a 3 part workshop on discovering your SHAPE - I encourage you to sign up to explore who you are, so you can take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your life.

Remembering the Future

2009-03-18T07:05:00.005+10:00

I recently watched a documentary on the human memory. Interestingly, scientists discovered that the part of the brain that is activated for “creativity, imagination and problem solving” is the same part of the brain that is responsible for “memory”. They interviewed a guy who had very limited memory function, who then struggled to imagine the future.

I found this fascinating that our ability to be creative, to problem solve and to imagine our future was directly related to the information we feed our brain.

What information are we feeding our brains?

When we are looking for an answer to a problem, when we are trying to create new strategies, when we are trying to be optimistic about our future, what resources does our memory hold for us to draw from?

The extent to which we have loaded varied, positive and continual information into our brains will directly relate, I believe, to the extent to which we can come up with more creative ideas and solutions for our everyday life, and future planning.

The opposite must also be true.. garbage in - garbage out.

Our response to current circumstances will draw upon the information held in our memory.

When we are facing a challenge to overcome, have we loaded negativity into our minds, or have we loaded God's promises into our minds? Have we loaded stories of people who have overcome into our minds?

When we are feeling insecure, have we loaded our mind with thoughts of self-doubt and or past experiences of rejection by others? or have we loaded God's thoughts of us into our minds? Will we recall that we are fearfully and wonderfully made?

We must familiarise ourselves with the wisdom, promises and guidance of God, so that we can recall them on demand.

David says "I have hidden your word in my heart so that I won't sin against you." (Psa 119:11) He had fed his memory with God's word because he recognised his response to current circumstances will draw upon the information held in his memory.

Col 3:2 says "And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth. "

But what if our minds are already filled with junk, with negativity, or shallow tv soaps! What can we do? Fortunately, our memories can be re-written.

Another relevant fact from the documentary is that each time we recall an event, our brains re-write that memory to be consistent with our latest recollection (which may include filling in some gaps). That's why, when we initially recall something, we might not be sure about all of the detail.. and then over time we're absolutely convinced our recollection is accurate.

The bible regularly talks about remembering. For example, Revelation 3:3 says "So remember what you have been taught and have heard. Obey it..."

That's because when we remember, we strengthen that memory in our minds. When we remember, that memory becomes clearer. When we remember, that memory becomes more prominant.

We can re-write the memories of our mind. As we recall events, or worries, or interractions with people, we can re-write our conclusion about them to be in line with the hope and the future that we know God has for us.

Romans 12:2 says, "Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]. "

What are you feeding your mind?
What resources are you giving your memory to draw from?
How will your memory imagine the future?

Our Personal Trainer

2009-03-17T06:46:00.004+10:00

I love watching the Biggest Loser. Each week I get inspired by what I see.

I was particularly impacted me when Bob (the 56 year old Truck Stop owner) weighed in on Sunday. He started talking about the challenge earlier in the week where where the contestants had to run around the Royal Randwick racetrack (or parts of it) 4 times.

On the 4th lap, when his team were behind, he said words to the effect that he had hit a point where "the old Bob just couldn't go any further, there was nothing left in him, it was all over.. but then the new Bob kicked in, got going and finished the race"

It is so inspiring to see these guys dig deep and make significant improvements in their well being. Of course, they couldn't achieve this level of 'success' without their personal trainers, Michelle and Shannon. You can see in the picture, Shannan holding Bob's arms, running stride by stride to get Bob over the line, yelling encouragement, pushing him to keep going and not letting him give up!

Don't we all need a personal trainer in our lives?

Fortunately - we've got one! We've got the ultimate personal trainer - the Holy Spirit.

Westlife are running a series called re-enActs which is all about discovering and releasing the Holy Spirit in our lives.

For all of us, there will be days where we feel like the old Bob and we feel like we can't keep going - perhaps we've had a tragedy we just can't seem to get over, maybe we've have an ongoing disappointment, or maybe the tank is just empty and we're worn out. We just get tired of the fight and don't want to strive anymore.

But that's the perfect time when our personal trainer, the Holy Spirit, kicks into to overdrive and our new "Bob" kicks in.

Isaiah 57 says:

15 A Message from the high and towering God,who lives in Eternity, whose name is Holy: “I live in the high and holy places, but also with the low-spirited, the spirit-crushed, And what I do is put new spirit in them, get them up and on their feet again."

Romans 8:26 "So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness.."

Just as Shannon was shuffling stride by stride with Bob to get him over the line, the Holy Spirit does the same for us. In John, Jesus describes the Holy Spirit as our encourager, which also means "one called to the side of another." He is right with us, every step, encouraging us to keep going.

Galatians 5:25 “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” which means we are to walk when He says walk, run when He says run - we can keep going when He says "don't give up - let's keep going".

Our personal trainer, the Holy Spirit is always by our side, holding us up, running with us stride by stride - yelling encouragement at us, urging us to keep going, keep giving, to dig deeper - and finish the race.

The Lost Child

2009-03-12T06:47:00.003+10:00

Yesterday I listened to a podcast by Steve Furtick of Elevation Church. It is a 3 part series called "Come Home" - and this blog is inspired by Part 1, which you can watch here. All 3 are brilliant, and I believe essential listening as we sharpen our focus to reach our neighbourhood for God.

Imagine that your entire family is shopping at your local shopping centre, and after a while, every parent's worst fear happens, you realise that one of your kids is no longer with you.. he or she is missing.

What will you do at that point?

Will we keep shopping?

Will we huddle together and say "Thank God the rest of us are still here"?

What we will probably do is start a frantic search.. an unrelenting driven search.. that won't stop until you find that child.

I think about Bruce and Denise Morcombe - parents that we all feel for after their son went missing in 2003.

Here are some snippets that describe their search for their lost child:

"It was all consuming. It was 24 hours a day seven days a week. There was no getting away from it."

"back and forth from town in the fading Sunday light, desperately searching the side of the road for their son walking home"

"The couple yesterday sold their investment property for $350,000, which will be directed into a radio, print and television campaign"

"Mrs Morcombe and her husband, Bruce, are still working full-time to find their beloved son"

"We will never give up!"

Now look at Luke 15:3-7

"Which of you men, if you had one hundred sheep, and lost one of them, wouldn’t leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one that was lost, until he found it?

When he has found it, he carries it on his shoulders, rejoicing. When he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’

I tell you that even so there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance."

Steve Furtick says that each ordinary life has extraordinary value to God, and he will leave the 99 to find that one lost ordinary life.

There is a pursuit, a continual searching and a desperation in finding the lost child - the lost soul.

When one of our neighbours, our family, our friends is lost, what will our response be?

Will we stay focussed on the things we "need" to get done first? David in Psalm 119:36 says "turn my heart toward your statutes and not towards selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things"

Will we keep huddle together in our church and be thankful for those that are still with us?

Or will we start the search party, investing all we have and all we are to finding the lost child and bringing them home... because that's what Christ did for us.

Give me the Simple Life

2009-03-10T20:35:00.000+10:00

Chuck Swindoll once said, "life isn't complicated. We MAKE it complicated". Some weeks life feels more complicated than others.

There are always so many things that demand our time, our attention and our resources. We feel we can't say no to them because we have obligations to fulfil, commitments to meet and people who are relying on us.

Yet this morning I read Acts 1 and 2 (which is of particular interest during our re-enacts series) and a passaged that jumped out at me was Acts 2:44-47

"Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved"

Here is a group of people that were living life with a simplicity of heart - a life absent of the complications that we find ourselves tangled up in.

I want that simple life - but how do I get it?

I noticed a couple of things:

1. They were together and had all things in common.

This means they cast off dissent. They were unified.

Conflicts and bickering complicate our life, especially where we know we're right and we have to make sure the other person understands that! Find the things that you have in common with others, not the things you differ on. I've said it before, and I'll say it again... let it go.. and you'll find your life is a lot simpler.

2. They freely gave their possessions to those in need.

They conquered the need for 'stuff'. They knew their needs would be met. They didn't strive to hang on to their goods that won't end up in the hearse anyway. Trying, conspiring, manouvering and striving with the circumstances of life to increase our possessions and wealth above all else complicates life. Contentment, on the other hand, brings a simplicity in life. Contentment is a peace in the soul that God will supply all my needs - regardless of the circumstances.

Some words of wisdom from a man that doesn't mince his words - Perry Noble - which are particularly relevant for our global economy right now.

3. Daily they broke bread.

This means that daily they met with God. The simple life is more about our perspective than our actual circumstances. Meeting with God daily keeps our perspective in check. It makes sure we spend our time on what makes us fruitful, not what makes us busy. It helps us keep our priorities in order, because we measure them up against the plan God has for our lives, as He reveals it to us day by day.

Meeting with God daily also keeps us focussed on what we 'should' be doing.. ie not sinning. Therefore meeting with God means there is less chance of making mistakes that have consequences that we then have to live with - thus complicating our life! Our flesh wants to do the wrong thing. The Spirit of God in us wants to do the right thing. We have to meet with God daily to make sure God's spirit dominates us, not our flesh.

4. They ate with gladness - they were thankful!

John Maxwell (yes I know - I'm quoting him again!) says people who are not thankful always want more and always think they deserve more. Yet people who are thankful are usually given more. If we're not thankful, and think we deserve more than we've got, then life gets complicated because we focus on the perceived injustice and how it's JUST NOT FAIR. Ringing in my head is Evie's song (from the early 80's).. "just be thankful for the good things that you've got, because the good things that you've got are for many just a dream"

These guys had the simple life, and for getting it right, they had favour with people and God added to their number DAILY.

We can enhance our "favour campaign" and our "just walk across the room campaign" by living the simple life.

Grander Vision Living - A Recap - Part 2

2009-03-10T06:55:00.003+10:00

Grander Vision living not only sees people as a priority, but we focus on the potential in people.

We focus on their potential and look past their flaws, because that's what Christ did for us. Our view of others is no longer where they are right now, but what their lives would be like if they let Christ into their life.

We can't do that if we have judgmental thoughts or superior attitudes.

We are to treat others with the same standard that God treated us. John Maxwell says the standard is this: "God loves us just as we are, not as we would like to be, or as we appear to be, but just as we are"

Our job is not to point out their flaws, but just point them to Christ.

Chuck Swindoll sums it up nicely when he says, "Our job is not to clean the fishtank.. just fish"

We are to love others, care for others and walk across the room for others - just as they are - and focus on their potential.

I love this picture by John Ortbert:

It reinforces the point that we can't take our 'stuff' with us to heaven. But there is something we can take with us.. People!

People are the only thing we’ll be taking to heaven. This world is temporary – it’s people are not.

Imagine going to heaven, and leaving your family behind. What a sad sad thought. Knowing the fleeting nature of life, there is an urgency in our grander vision living.

Walking across the room is not about achieving targets, it's not about ticking boxes, or reaching 'goals'. It's about people, real people, people you and I love, going to heaven. It's all about you and I making an introduction to Christ that will change their life for eternity.

Grander Vision Living - A Recap - Part 1

2009-03-10T06:33:00.003+10:00

For those at Westlife, this week at our Small Groups we'll be looking at "Grander Vision living", yet we shared about this in our Sunday message over a week ago. So I thought I'd blog a bit of a recap.

Grander Vision Living

As many of people know, because I’ve talked about it before, I work for the negligence insurer for lawyers. Every day I hold 2 - 3 workshops with a small group of people and we talk about were claims come from.

I’ve done that workshop around 400 times.. the same message, the same facts!

But my job is not aimed at running workshops – that is not the objective. My job is all about saving claims.

You see, if my focus becomes nothing more than running workshops, then I miss the entire point of why I’m doing it. My motivation and job satisfaction will wane and dwindle because the goal of running a workshop has been achieved over and over and over.

My goal of saving claims - this is the bigger picture – and each workshop, each interraction, is a step in achieving that bigger goal.

It is no different for "Just walk across the room".

Our goal is not to strike up a conversation with a friend. Our goal is not to have the dinner party of the century, or the most amazing fishing trip .. Our goal is the bigger picture. Our goal is to see lives come to Christ through all these individual steps.

That is grander vision living.

Developing friends, sharing your story, sharing God’s story aren’t just another thing on your to-do list.. Grander vision living infiltrates your entire to-do list.

Everything we do now is done within a framework of ‘this person would be better off with Christ”

People become our focus!

How we treat people is aligned with our Grander vision living.

How we behave towards others is either a magnet, or detraction to them every coming to Christ.

If we’re feeling out of sorts, if we’re having a bad day, if the person beside us is driving us crazy.. will our response reflect our knowledge that we could be the one to lead this person to Christ.

Here is a video where they didn't respond so well:

Are we a magnet or a detraction?

I want Christians to be the best employees, the nicest customers, the best tradesmen... not the worst.

Now, I’m not suggesting you do this.. but imagine you wore a badge everywhere that said ‘I’m a Christian’.. how would that affect what you do, or how you do it?

If we’re going to move into having chats about Christ, then we need to live life as if we’re wearing the ‘I’m a Christian’ badge.. drive like there’s a fish sticker on our car..

Like the old saying ‘Preaching the gospel often, and occasionally use words”

Grander Vision living knows that People are our priority.

Living in 3D - Just Walk Across the Room

2009-02-21T10:05:00.002+10:00

This morning, we had an awesome life group exploring what it means to live in 3D. I thought I would share some of the 'gold' from the meeting.

Cacooning or Connecting

While many of us said that we tended to cacoon ourselves in our Christian circles, Kristy Karhula and her mum shared that they had moved into being 'connectors'. When asked how they moved from being cacooners to connectors, Kristy said words to the effect, "I go out of my way to catch up with people I haven't seen in a while. I don't just say 'we should catch up', but I set a time and date then and there"

She also said that it takes time, it takes effort and she has to be deliberate about it.. whether she feels like it or not.

It reminded me of a verse I read this week: 1Corinthians 9:19 "Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. "

I've been asking myself the hard questions this week - do I live like a slave to Christ and others? or do I live like a concerned bystander - concerned...but never really getting involved

To use a Staggsanism, Kristy had 'cracked the code' on moving from being a cacooner to being a connector. She had given up her free time, her free resources to serve others to win as many as possible.

Discovering the Story First

We learned this morning to place emphasis on building a friendship instead of saving a soul. The question was then asked.. Why? Why build the friendship before engaging in spiritual discussion?

Without missing a beat, Bevan said, "People don't care how much you know--until they know how much you care." (John Maxwell)

Right then it made me realise - another key difference between me sharing my faith and a pyramid scheme salesman is the 'Care' factor. Bill Hybels calls it a platform of Love.

The challenge with this is - we have to care! I genuinely have to care!

My struggle (and perhaps that of others) is that care is often an emotion behind an action. We don't always 'FEEL' the need, which makes it harder to care and connect.. My emotions are often dry, or disconnected from the needs in my 'neighbourhood'.

The consequence of not feeling the need is that we often are less inclined to move towards action, or act with genuine care or love.

To help with this dilemma, I heard a brilliant message on Jesus' ministry. To put it simply, the speaker said that Jesus' ministry was in this order.. 1. Jesus went; 2. Jesus saw; 3. Jesus felt.. and acted.

The point of the message is that if you wait to feel the need, you will never do anything. However if, like Kristy, we deliberately GO, only then can we see the need, feel the compassion and take the right steps. None of this can be done within the safe walls of convenience.

We can show we care through our discerned next steps which may be helping an immediate need, carving out time from our busy schedules to just listen, or using recreational interests to develop deeper friendships.

The take home for me is this:

1. Connector and Comfort don't really go together.. neither does Slave and Convenience. I have to move from one to the other. I have to move from cacooned to connected. It won't happen accidentally. I have to deliberately plan this into my schedule to be able to 'live in 3D'

2. Going through the motions without genuine love and care is nothing more than a clanging symbol. I can't show genuine love and care without step 1 - Deliberately going out (connecting) and seeing the need first. Then I can show I care through my actions This is why I must 'Discover the story'.

3. Once I've connected and shown I care, then I can share what I know - the greatest gift of all.

Pointing, not Solving

2009-02-18T06:43:00.003+10:00

Have you ever looked at someone and thought, "they are just so far from God.. where do I start?" Whether it be attitude, lifestyle, weaknesses, there comes a point where we walk across the room, develop friendships, find their story only to realise that they have some serious issues going on in their life.

When we encounter people like that, there is often a strong urge to want to "solve" their problems for them. We want to tell them what they 'need' to do, what areas in their life they need to fix and how they should fix them!

I'm not sure this is what Christ had in mind. Perhaps Just walking across the room is about pointing people in the right direction, not telling them how to fix their problems, but letting God do the transformation in their lives.

It matters less about the baggage they carry, and more about the destination, because the baggage will be dealt with on the journey.

On P88 and 89 of JWAR, Hybels states, "What was of utmost importance to Jesus was that irreligious people were willing for Him to make them holy. It didn't matter where they had been or what they had done.. But to Christ, what mattered more than where they came from was the direction in which they were headed"

A few examples came out of the campaign so far. Brian, the soccer coach, was told that his choices had led him to the place where he was, but Bill Hybels didn't tell him how to fix his problems. He just pointed him in the right direction, and let God do the work.

Another example is Bill's encounter with the couple in the restaurant. He wasn't prompted by the spirit to condemn their lifestyle, but simply pointed them in the right direction.

In a message called "People Matter", Dr John Maxwell makes a few points that help in this area:

1. The value that God has bestowed on people, is the standard by which we should value others.

2. What is the standard? “God loves me as I am, not as I would like to be, or as I appear to be, but just as I am.”

Because God loves us in this way, then we ought to love others just as they are and without judgment on where they're at. We then can point them in the right direction and let God make them holy.

3. People are important to God (and therefore important to us) because of who they can become.

Bill Hybels states the same point when he says "Jesus capitalised on the possibility in people - the hidden potential inherent in all of us"(p67). He goes on to say, "He [Jesus] had an uncanny ability to look past the obvious flaws in people's lives and envision who they could become if the power of God were released in their lives"

Chuck Swindoll summarises it nicely when he says, "Our job is not to clean the fish tank.. just to fish"

Our job is see people for who they can become, love them just as they are and point them towards the one who can transform their reality to God's potential.

Be afraid.. be very afraid

2009-02-14T09:23:00.002+10:00

Last year, Bevan said to me, "It must be hard having an opinion on everything".

Now, he wasn't being sarcastic. He was genuine. People who are easy going seem to let many things slide, but others seem to be able to find a standpoint on everything, from how the grocery bags are packed at woolworths, to the colour of the serviettes in the church foyer.

There's no prize for guessing which category I fall into.

If ever there was an organisation where everyone has an opinion, it's got to be the church. We all have opinions, some stronger than others, on what time church starts, what songs are played, the outfit of the speaker, how long the service goes for etc etc. There are just so many things to analyse and critique. I know I'm putting myself out there.. but I know I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE!

I'm not blogging on this because I've heard things, or because I've been asked to. The following scripture was in my daily quiet time, and it's on my heart to share it.

In Numbers 12:1-16 Miriam felt uninhibited to share her opinions on Moses' conduct and leadership. Moses was the leader of the Israelites, of which she was a member.

She said to Moses, "Has the Lord spoken only through Moses?.. Hasn't he also spoken through us?"

In other words, "Moses - do you think that God only speaks to you?? We hear from God too. You view isn't the only one that counts"

At this point, God came to Moses' defence. He said:

"He [Moses] is faithful in all my house.
With Him I speak face to face, clearly not in riddles;
He sees the form of the Lord
Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?"

For her lack of respect for Moses' position, and her lack of restraint in judging Moses' actions, Miriam was given a leprous disease for 7 days.

This story sends a very clear message.

In our church, we have leaders that God has appointed to lead us through journey God has set before us. Those leaders will not always do things the way we think it should be done. In fact, sometimes we think they are just plain wrong.

However, God is clear. Be extremely cautious, or just don't, speak out against the people that God has placed in positions of authority in our lives, particularly in our church.

Be sure to treat our leaders with the honour they deserve, and not to become complacent with the familiar. Don't fall into the trap of mentally elevating yourself where you think "God talks to me too - my view is just as important"

What it does mean is to show restraint? Life and death are in the of the tongue. Blessings dwell in the place of unity. The quickest way to destroy unity is to speak out against our leaders without restraint.

Our leaders spend much time in God's presence seeking guidance and wisdom on how to lead our church. However, when we speak without restraint, how many of us have first sought God for his wisdom and guidance on how to best approach our difference of opinion.

Does this mean we blindly follow without turning on our brains - NO!

God has given us guidelines on resolving disputes, in particular, going to the person you have a grievance with and talking about it with a spirit of conciliation and love.

So the next time there is an urge to share an opinion about the way things are done .. be afraid.. be very afraid.

I'm nothing like a pyramid scheme salesman

2009-02-07T13:20:00.003+10:00

The most confronting paragraphs of Just Walk Across the Room, bar none, says this,

“A man once told me he never shares his faith with anyone.”.... “His answer shocked me. ‘I would never want to inflict the burden of God on anyone,’ he said.

‘Wow, that is not at all the God I know’, I thought. ..”

He also says, “I honestly believe that every wayward person I know would live a vastly better life if God’s love, grace, and redemption were operating in their lives.... DO YOU BELIEVE THIS TOO?”(p27)

I stopped reading right there. Do I believe this? Of course I believe this for my life. But do I believe this for others? If I do, then why don’t I feel comfortable sharing it with others? Why do I hold back?

Bill encourages us to ‘rewind our faith journey a little to the pre-christian days’ – and reflect on what that was like. However, for me, I accepted Christ into my life at 5.. So I don’t know a life apart from Christ that I can remember.

It’s difficult to share a testimony of ‘before and after’ when I can’t remember the ‘before’. It’s hard to describe the change they’ll experience, when my changes have always been post-Christ.

Then I thought about the people that are in my sphere of influence.. successful people who seemingly have life under control, are financially stable, happily married and life is good.

Do I believe that these people would be vastly better off in this life (leaving the next life for the moment) if they handed control of their lives over to God - the answer is Yes!

Do I believe I have the skills to convince them of that – the answer is No! That is probably the honest reason why I have held back from going into the ‘zone of the unknown’.

I believed that I would look and sound like a pyramid scheme salesman (eg amway or sandenbrook) - the type of ‘friendship marketing’ most people have experienced when a friend asks you for coffee, and you realise they just want to sign you up for the life-changing, money making, freedom giving network sales scheme. .. which can bring friendships to end, or make them very awkward from that point onwards.

However, then I read a paragraph that gave me a new perspective to my dilemma:

“Dr B (professor at Trinity College) said, ‘throughout the course of your life, you’re going to give your life to something. You will. All people do. They give their lives to pleasure or to possessions, to the attainment of popularity or to the acquisition of more power. But always to something”(p28)

I realised that no matter how successful, my friends were giving their life to something that would never satisfy them and would always leave them feeling wanting. I realised that, while they looked like life was good, I could never know the condition of their heart, the questions that remained unanswered, the deep desires that were never filled and the fact that they weren’t sure how to fill them.. but God knows. He knows where they’re at. That’s why I have to be obedient to His promptings – when and where He prompts me.

My part in this is to listen to Jesus when He says “Live as though you actually believe that your parent, your co-worker, and your neighbour would be better off if they knew my Father – if they were on the receiving end of his counsel, his wisdom and his guidance” (p29)

I always believed it, but I don’t think I lived it.

Living this way means I look at the people around me differently.

I start wondering whether they’re lonely, wondering whether they’re unfilled, wondering if they’re searching for something more... and living as though I actually believe that they would be better off knowing Christ.

I no longer assume they don’t want to talk about it - because I’m nothing like a pyramid scheme salesman .

Changing my perspective towards seemingly happy people is my first right step in being unleashed to just walk across the room.

You can't have one without the other

2009-02-06T07:24:00.002+10:00

On Wednesday night, Ps Andrew shared his concept of 'Unleashed!', and gave us a range of examples of people who were unleashed including Jesus, Moses and Gideon.

While he was sharing this, it struck me that unleashing cannot occur without change.

There must be change in some form to have true unleashing this year.

This change may occur in the one or more of the following areas:

* Change of thoughts
* Change of perspective
* Change of actions
* Change of opportunities
* Change of restrictions (whether self-imposed or external)
* Change of circumstances

For some, change is effortless. For others, change is extremely difficult and just plain scary!

I thought I'd look into change a bit more, and found these interesting insights into change.

It the book, “Managing personal change”, the statement is made:

“Change is like a rock thrown into a pond. It ripples through your life causing disruption, excitement, distress, and sometimes crisis. Your usual ways of doing things and your plans for the future can come into question. In place of clarity, change brings uncertainty and transition. This disruption is not only in your mind. It can affect you physically and even make you ill. It can also affect your emotions, especially your feelings about yourself.”

Herodotus from the fifth century says, "Disease always attacks people when they are exposed to change"

When we start changing our actions, our thoughts or our perspectives, there may be temporary feelings of uncertainty and anxiety and even frustration while we transition. Similarly, when we are presented with new opportunities that we step into, there may be feelings of insecurity, inadequacy and fear.

I think we need to be realistic about the impact that being unleashed will have on our lives. Allowing God to unleash us is absolutely the best thing we can do this year! But we also have to be cognisant of the "ripples" that this big rock will create when thrown into our lives - so that we can, with God's help, manage the ripples.

To manage the ripples, we should:

1. Spend regular time with God. We need to recalibrate our purpose, direction and steps with God's plans for our lives. (See my blog on this here). This will give us certainty on God's work in our lives in times of change.

2. We need to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Look after our bodies physically by eating properly and exercise. This will help reduce the risk of disease because we're giving our body the nutrients and oxygen it needs.

3. Get plenty of rest. When you are tired, your immune system finds it harder to resist disease AND you are so much more vulnerable to an attack from the devil. When you are tired, you are more likely to compromise, feel like giving up, or have a stinking attitude to the great work God is doing in your life.

4. Have regular connection. Proverbs says "2 are better than 1, because if one falls down, the other can pick him up". Establish strong friendships with people where you can spur each other on to push through the transition" That's why small groups and growth groups are vital to our journey of being unleashed this year!

God is in the business of change. The will of God will never lead you where the grace of God cannot keep you.

We are living in Exponential Times

2009-02-03T06:43:00.004+10:00

This youtube clip is mind-boggling! Make sure you watch it all the way to the end.

Credit to Mark Beeson's blog, as I saw this clip on his blog.

This just raises so many thoughts in my head on how unfathomable is God's power, knowledge and wisdom (compared to human intelligence); and How awesome that He knows each of us by name and has numbered the hairs on our head!

It also makes my creative side start firing with ideas of new ways to reach, new methods of connection, and new workshop ideas on technology so people don't feel left behind.

Perhaps we could all follow Ps Andrew and Ps Jill on twitter? Perhaps we could start loading our messages on podcasts or vodcasts? Perhaps we could all become fans of Westlife on Facebook? Perhaps we could have our own program that fires out a devotion each day by email/blog that ties in with the relevant theme (eg Just walk across the room)..!

I realise all of this takes time and money, but I believe there are Westlifers out there that would relish the opportunity to serve in this area. We also then create opportunities to serve in non-traditional areas and keep our technology savvy generation 'tucked-in'

Finally, I think about the new igeneration (see an article here on this new generation class) who do not remember life without the internet. How can we best position them for an unleashed future!

Growing up, I spent many hours on my father's computer, and have enjoyed the benefits personally and professionally - over and over and over. With proper supervision, I let Bailey and Reuben have computer time because nothing beats exposure to technology to improve skills and knowledge in this area.

Align your perspective of wealth with the Bible – Perspectives 3 and 4

2009-02-02T08:00:00.003+10:00

3. Money will NOT bring me contentment and peace.

“Things will be better when.. “ Do you find yourself thinking that?

This is the statement of someone who is not content.

"When I finish school, when I get to retire, when I pay off my mortgage, when I get that payrise.."

This is another example of the lie that says you need just a little more.. Be content where you are

Contentment is independent of external circumstances. (Thayer Definition)

Easton says Contentment is "A state of mind in which one's desires are confined to his lot whatever it may be (1Ti_6:6; 2Co_9:8). It is opposed to envy (Jam_3:16), avarice (Heb_13:5), ambition (Pro_13:10), anxiety (Mat_6:25, Mat_6:34), and repining (1Co_10:10). It arises from the inward disposition, and is the offspring of humility"

Quickest way to rob your contentment is spend your time looking at what others have, or reading those junk mail catalogues in the mail.

A lack of contentment leads to irresponsible spending.

Here is what Ecc says:
Ecc 4:4 "Then I saw that all painful effort in labor and all skill in work comes from man's rivalry with his neighbor. This is also vanity, a vain striving after the wind and a feeding on it."

The global credit crisis that we’re facing at the moment started with US financiers lending amounts that were more than people could repay.. to fund a lifestyle that those people couldn’t afford.

It doesn’t matter how often you have the latest of everything, or keep up with the jones’.. the temporary feeling of elation does not last. If your self esteem if fuelled by finances or the latest gadgets, you are on a path of poverty.

Paul learned to be content. Php 4:11 "Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am."

He who dies with the most toys doesn’t win! He who invests most in the Kingdom of God wins.

4. Money is NOT just for me

Our view can become that having wealth is an end it itself.. that is, that having wealth is the goal. No! Having wealth is a means to an end..

The money isn’t just for us.. We are blessed to be a blessing.

Yesterday, the Courier Mail reported on the new Igeneration, coming in after generation Y.. and one of the predictions was that the Igeneration will be less accepting of religion. Friends, we need to get chaplains in our school...not just working part time on a minimum salary. We need to invest in youth programs, and children's outreach!

Mat 9:37 "So he said to his disciples, "The harvest is large, but there are few workers to gather it in. 38 Pray to the owner of the harvest that he will send out workers to gather in his harvest."

We need to send out workers in our schools, in our communities.

Another example of money not just being for us is in Matthew 25:35 “I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room, 36 I was shivering and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you stopped to visit, I was in prison and you came to me.'..."40 Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me--you did it to me.'"

There is on obligation on us to feed the hungry.. there is a charge on us to look after the disadvantaged.

God doesn’t want to just give to you.. He wants to give through you – so we can change the world!

Free Software - a Microsoft Office alternative

2009-02-02T07:53:00.002+10:00

If you're looking for a free alternative to Microsoft Office (because you're cleaning out your well!) why not have a look at Open Office (http://www.openoffice.org/).

Personally I found this to be a very reasonable alternative.

Align your perspective of wealth with the Bible – Perspectives 1 and 2

2009-02-02T07:45:00.002+10:00

It is so important that, while managing money well and positioning ourselves for increase, we have the right perspectives on wealth. Here are a couple to think about.

1. Money is NOT my passion

Let’s be clear – God wants you to be prosperous, but not for that to be your focus. He wants to be the apple of your eye, the object of your efforts, the first place in your heart – then he adds the wealth to you.

Ecc 5:10 "If you love money, you will never be satisfied; if you long to be rich, you will never get all you want. It is useless". The bible tells us to seek first the Kingdom, then all these things will be added unto you.

If our passion is money accumulation, then we can run the risk of paying a much higher price for our wealth than we intended... in stress, in poor health, in sacrificing relationships because we are never home.

Prov 23:4 "Do not wear yourself out getting rich. Be smart enough to stop"

2 Money is NOT my security

Pastor Elwin from New Hope Hawaii says "In many respects, we seem to rely on money to determine our sense of value, to define our level of success, to measure the extent of our happiness. It's money that we turn to in order to find comfort and security, albeit a false sense of security. And as the economy goes, so goes our finances and our degree of contentment. Everything that affects us, our emotions, our happiness, our sense of satisfaction, it seems, rises and falls on the condition of our finances."

The challenge is - How much is enough? One of the greatest lies we buy into is that we will reach a point when we have enough and therefore, feel secure about our financial future. So we keep aspiring for that elusive point... of JUST A LITTLE MORE

Gerry Harvey still fears going broke, and he has $1.6bn in wealth. It doesn’t matter how much you have – you will not feel financially secure in money. God must be your financial security. Money is not secure..

Bible says "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven . . . "(Matthew 6:19–20 NKJV).

Haven’t we seen that lately – wealth disappearing like the wind.

Don't let money be your security, or your passion - only God.

Stop the blockage to being Blessed!

2009-02-02T07:22:00.003+10:00

Gen 26:12 "Isaac planted crops in that land and took in a huge harvest. GOD blessed him. 13 The man got richer and richer by the day until he was very wealthy. 14 He accumulated flocks and herds and many, many servants, so much so that the Philistines began to envy him. 15 They got back at him by throwing dirt and debris into all the wells that his father's servants had dug back in the days of his father Abraham, clogging up all the wells."

Commentators say that these wells were used to water their flock.

In other words, the water from the wells sustained their wealth – a bit like our income today. We need to water our mortgage, water our electricity bill.. water our school fees..

Some of you don’t have to worry about the enemy clogging up your wells, because you’re doing a great job on your own. Some of you are heaping dirt into your own wells and stopping the flow of blessing in your life.

1st example – Tax Returns

Mar 12:17 "And Jesus said unto them, Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s. And they marveled greatly at him."

The bible is clear – honestly pay your taxes.. even if you think you pay too much tax, don’t we all, be honest.

2nd example – Petty Theft. Tit 2:9 “Guide slaves into being loyal workers, a bonus to their masters--no back talk, 10 no petty thievery. Then their good character will shine through their actions, adding luster to the teaching of our Savior God. “

Petty thievery may include stationery, time goofing off on the net, etc etc. It’s petty – yes.. so don’t do it. Live a life pleasing to God, and be a good PR in your workplace

3rd example – Piracy and Copyright There’s another kind of theft that I used to struggle with a lot. I know I’m going to sound like a dvd intro, but you wouldn’t steal a car, but we all know that piracy and copyright infringements are theft. It’s stealing..

How can we expect God to bless the hands of our work when we are stealing from the hands of others.

I can talk about this because 4 years ago – I cleaned out my well. I was the queen of copied music, illegal software and photocopied books. Napster and bearshare were my source of all music and while I knew I probably shouldn’t do this, we had no money so I justified it.

Pro 6:30 “Hunger is no excuse for a thief to steal”;

Increasingly I felt more and more guilty about this stuff, and so when we moved into our house in Springfield Lakes, I had a ceremonial destruction day.. anything that I hadn’t legitimately purchased was either snapped, deleted (including out of the recycle bin) or torn up. I cleaned my house of any tainted property.

Ephesians 4:28 “the thief must steal no more, but rather toil to earn a living with his own hands, so he may have something to give the person in need.”

Integrity is what you do when no one will find out.

Within 4 years of my ‘cleaning out the well’, there was a significant increase in our income – could have only been God.

Deu 28:1 “ If you listen obediently to the Voice of GOD, your God, and heartily obey all his commandments that I command you today, GOD, your God, will place you on high, high above all the nations of the world.

Deu 28:2 All these blessings will come down on you ..

Deu 28:4 GOD's blessing on your children, the crops of your land, the young of your livestock, the calves of your herds, the lambs of your flocks.

Deu 28:6 GOD's blessing in your coming in, GOD's blessing in your going out.

Deu 28:8 GOD will order a blessing on your barns and workplaces; he'll bless you in the land that GOD, your God, is giving you.

Perry noble wrote yesterday on his blog – partial obedience = total disobedience. Clean out your well.

Positioned for increased income - at Church

2009-02-02T07:17:00.002+10:00

B. In your church:

This post is, from my personal experience, an absolute must when positioning yourself for increase.

Take a look (Prov 3:9-10) Honor the Lord from your wealth, And from the first of all your produce; So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.

It’s an action, then a consequence.. Do this.. so you will get that.

One commentator says this,
“Many people give God their leftovers. If they can afford to donate anything after the bills are paid, they do so. These people may be sincere and contribute willingly, but they are not obeying what God says. God wants the first part of our income. This demonstrates that God, not possessions, has first place in our life and that our resources belong to him (we are only managers). Giving to God helps us conquer greed, helps us properly manage God's resources, and opens us up to receive God's special blessings.”

How do we put God first, or give Him the first fruits? Let’s look at another organisation that puts themself first with our income.. the tax department. They know what you’re like. If they asked you to pay your tax at the end of every pay week, they’d have no chance of collecting it. They take out their portion first to ensure it gets paid (before you spend it on other stuff)!

That’s the view I take when giving God my first fruits. Every 2nd Saturday, after our pays go in, an automatic direct debit goes from my account to the storehouse – so that the first fruits of my labour are my honour gift to God.. I can’t forget it.. I can’t overlook it.. No excuses.. it happens..

There’s my action... and I’m glad to do it! Because what’s the consequence – SO THAT MY BARNS WILL BE FULL!

Positioning yourself for increase means being obedient to the spiritual principles of giving into the storehouse.

Some people says – God if you’d give me more money, then I’d give you some money. But look at Luke – You give, and then it will be given back to you.

Luk 6:38 "give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, shall they give into your bosom. For with what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you again."

Generosity breeds Blessing.. The more generous, the more you’re blessed. However, there is a qualification here..

How would you feel if someone came up to you with a present and said ‘here you go.. merry christmas’.. dumped a present in your lap, huffed and walked out. You almost would think – why bother?

Same goes with us - 2Co 9:7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

We position ourselves for increase when we cheerfully, not out of obligation, Honour God with the first fruits of our labour

Important question: Should we keep tithing in a recession?

My answer is without doubt yes! If I stop giving, will God stop giving back? Why would the laws of sowing and reaping change .. is God part of our recession? No! God’s ways are higher than our ways – His thoughts are higher than our thoughts..

He can make a way where there seems to be nothing but barrenness.. just look up and you will see.

Positioned for Increased Income - at work

2009-02-02T07:06:00.004+10:00

Yesterday we talked about becoming fit financially.

There were 3 main keys to becoming financially fit - the first being "Position yourself for increased income"

Here is the first practical tip shared - Being positioned for increase AT WORK:

A. At work

Eph 6:5-8 Servants, respectfully obey your earthly masters but always with an eye to obeying the real master, Christ. (6) Don't just do what you have to do to get by, but work heartily, as Christ's servants doing what God wants you to do. (7) And work with a smile on your face, always keeping in mind that no matter who happens to be giving the orders, you're really serving God. (8) Good work will get you good pay from the Master, regardless of whether you are slave or free.

Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, But the hand of the diligent makes rich (Prov 10:4).

Let’s get really practical on what this means:

1. Be a diligent worker. This means you’re a can-do person – not just doing what you need to get by. If a job is worth doing, it’s worth doing well

If you slacken off on the job – are you really helping that company to stay solvent, and thereby be able to afford you?

Don’t slacken off on the job.. there are so many things we can slacken off on these days.. the internet, facebook, emails, newspapers online – I struggle with these .. the water cooler chats..

2. Be a cheerful person – with a smile on your face. How many have worked with a moody person? How many are the moody person? If we’re going to walk across the room, we can’t have a history of being a sour-puss

3. Be a Humble worker. This next tip is courtesy of my mother’s initiative of putting motivational quotes on the back of the toilet door.. so I remember many of them.. Here’s one “There is no limit to what can be accomplished if it doesn't matter who gets the credit."—Emerson Don’t let a lack of kudos, or bragging rights put limits or boundaries on how much effort you put into the job. God’s approval is the only bragging rights you need.

4. Be a Respectful worker. Show respect to your bosses even if you think they don’t deserve it. “Respectfully obey your master” What does it mean to show respect? To speak well of, to speak well to, to recognise their position with humility.. choice, not a response to them – like parents.

5. Be a Teachable Worker. James Turner’s message of responding well highlighted this – be teachable. You’re not perfect... I’m not perfect, which means we will make mistakes, not handle things the best way we could.. cut yourself and everyone else some slack and take the criticism on the chin.

Pro 15:32 He who refuses and ignores instruction and correction despises himself, but he who heeds reproof gets understanding.

If you respectfully, heartily, diligently, cheerfully and humbly obey your master – when it comes time to lay off some jobs - you’re going to make sure they really need to do because they wouldn’t let you go otherwise.

And when all this is said and done – you will be positioned for a pay rise – because the bible says good work means good pay from the Master – that’s God.. he positions you for increase.

In Every Season

2009-01-29T19:18:00.002+10:00

Just over a week before Hillsong recorded their live album "This is our God", one of their main worship leaders suffered a major tragedy. Here is Jill's story (from youtube)

I love the lyrics of this song - particularly in this time of financial uncertainty. Regardless of the season we find ourselves, this song is a declaration we need to keep always on our lips - in every season.

Here are the Lyrics

This is my prayer in the desert
When all that's within me feels dry
This is my prayer in hunger and need
My God is the God who provides

And this is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved
Of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flames

Chorus:
And I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain
I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and He is here
And this is my prayer in the battle
And triumph is still on it's way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I'll stand

Bridge:
All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship

This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I'm filled to be emptied again
The seed I've recieved I will sow

Financial health in the midst of a Global Financial Pandemic

2009-01-29T13:08:00.003+10:00

I haven't done the math, but I would guestimate that 70% - 80% of journalistic articles released at present are concerned about the financial 'flu' that is overwhelming the globe.

It started beyond our nation, and has spread to our own neighbourhoods. Jobs, originally disappearing mainly in the US, are now disappearing in Brisbane CBD and Gold Coast.. numbering in the hundreds.

They say it will get worse. Are we ready for a recession?

This weekend, Westlife is finalising it's "Get Fit" series by looking at being Financially Fit.

Now, more than ever, we need to hear what God has to say about money, how it should be managed, and keeping money in the right perspective.

See you in church this Sunday.

www.westlife.org.au

Who are we overlooking?

2009-01-22T20:40:00.006+10:00

Many of the following facts are from the Washington Post

It was 7:51 a.m. on Friday, January 12, the middle of the morning rush hour at L'enfant plaza station - the nucleus of federal Washington.

A youngish white man in jeans, a long-sleeved T-shirt and a Washington Nationals baseball cap removed a violin from a small case and positioned himself against a wall beside a trash basket.

In the next 43 minutes, as the violinist performed six classical pieces, 1,097 people passed by. Almost all of them were on the way to work.

Each passerby had a quick choice to make: Do you stop and listen? Do you hurry past with a blend of guilt and irritation? Do you throw in a buck, just to be polite? What's the moral mathematics of the moment?

Have a look and see what happened - from this youtube link.

No one knew it, but the fiddler standing against a bare wall was one of the finest classical musicians in the world. He was playing some of the most elegant music ever written, on one of the most valuable violins ever made. His name was Joshua Bell.

Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston and the seats averaged $100.

Yet, in the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

His performance was arranged by The Washington Post as an experiment... an experiment about perception, taste and priorities of people. In a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?

A comment by one commuter gives this reason. She says, ""I had a time crunch," recalls Sheron Parker, an IT director for a federal agency. "I had an 8:30 training class, and first I had to rush Evvie off to his teacher, then rush back to work, then to the training facility in the basement."

I was so intrigued by this story - how we get so busy and preoccupied with our own agendas that we miss opportunities in the madness, we miss the extraordinary in the chaos and we miss the people we should be noticing while we're focussed on our own needs.

Who should we be noticing? Take a look at this from Matthew:

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what's coming to you in this kingdom. It's been ready for you since the world's foundation. And here's why: I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room, I was shivering and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you stopped to visit, I was in prison and you came to me.' "Then those 'sheep' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?' (SEE 25:38) Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me--you did it to me.' (Mat 25:34-40 - MSG)

I think about my commute to work. I awkwardly rush past the homeless guy selling "the big issue" - could he be Jesus? the Salvo collecting money every Friday for the community - could he be Jesus? I get an email from a local pastor asking for furniture for a new family - could they be Jesus?

I use all the excuses I can find - "well.. I'm not sure the Big Issue has any articles that interest me" or "I don't really have any coins today and I'm not giving notes!" or "I might need that lounge one day"

I move on - feeling uncomfortable but unchanged. Who have I just overlooked?

For each person I encounter wanting something from me, I have a quick choice to make: Do I stop and listen? Do I hurry past with a blend of guilt and irritation? Do I throw in a buck, just to be polite?

The challenge for all of us is to see the opportunities we are presented with everyday - as opportunities to notice Jesus in the crowd.

Unleashed - Obama Style

2009-01-21T06:57:00.004+10:00

Unleashed - from Paste Magazine

I think we should all get one.. and create the wall of lives unleashed!

Prepare to be Unleashed

2009-01-20T16:54:00.003+10:00

Preparation. We've all heard the slogans, the cliches.. here are a couple:

You get the point - Preparation is important!

The session for today from WordLive is about a man who was unleashed AND was prepared for the moment it happened.

Of course, I'm talking about Nehemiah (Nehemiah 2). Nehemiah was a cupbearer for the king, but had a deep sadness that the wall of Jerusalem lay in ruins. At the right time (the God prompted moment) Nehemiah shared his heart with the King, and the King unleashed Nehemiah to rebuild the wall.

However, this unleashing happened AFTER the King first asked a range of questions including how long, what's involved and why. Nehemiah was able to answer all the King's questions.

When Nehemiah's time came to be unleashed into the next big thing of his life, he had already thought through the project that God had laid on his heart. He had already thought about what resources were required for the task, how long the task would take, how to go about completing the task etc.

There are few points that we can take from Nehemiah for our year of being unleashed.

1. Nehemiah served faithfully where he was until his 'God moment' arrived to be unleashed - in spite of his intense sadness and frustration, he remained a faithful employee (and servant);

2. There is no substitute for good planning so that when your opportunity arises to be unleashed, you are ready to go. I can remember years ago joining toastmasters so that when the opportunity came to fulfil the longing of my heart to preach, I would be ready - not starting from scratch.

3. When his God moment arrived to be unleashed, Nehemiah took a risk.. but God was with him. Nehemiah could have lost his life for sharing his heart's burden - but when God directs his people to take that step, then we can trust God's grace to protect us through any situation.

But.. (to refer to a previous blog) how do we know if we're preparing for a good intention, or a God intention? How do we discern whether our preparations to be unleashed are a God thing, or merely our own good intentions?

Sarah Bingham poses these questions which I think are brilliant:

• Does the desire match or clash with scripture and what we know about God’s purpose and promises (Nehemiah 1:8,9)?

• Is there an inner pressure or passion in you to do it (Nehemiah 1:4)?

• What has prayer revealed to you about it (Nehemiah 1:5–11)?

• Do you have peace in your head and heart, having surrendered the matter to God (see Philippians 4:6,7)?

• Are there practical ‘green lights’ that enable you to do it (Nehemiah 2:2–6)?

All of these questions above require you to have thought in advance about the promptings of the heart, the desires that don't go away, and a call of God on your life that scares and excites you all at the same time!

In this year of being unleashed - spend some time in the thinking chair - spend some time in the prayer closet.

Spend some time with pad and pen in hand seeking God about His "next right steps" for your life, and how you can prepare for that.

Find The Best, not the Worst

2009-01-16T07:15:00.004+10:00

One of the things that I get most disappointed about myself is when I buy into a lie straight from the devil. At the time, I don't realise I'm get taken for a ride, until afterwards and I realise I was a doofus!

These lies include statements such as, "what if you and Bevan lose your job? that's going to be horrible!" or "they're all leaving you behind - you're being left out" or "that's not the way you'd do it - I'm sure you'd do a better job" or "You're such an idiot.. how embarrassing are you!"

All these things do nothing but steal, kill and destroy my peace, my contentment and my focus on the goal.. and they're all LIES. They take God off the throne, and are void of my faith that says, "God has a plan and purpose for me" and "God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory", and "I am fearfully and wonderfully made"

One of the worst attitudes that flows from buying into these lies is negativity, condemnation and judgment. Big words.. but a bigger problem.

Joyce Meyer says it takes no effort at all to find the negative in someone, or something. We effortlessly find the negatives in our job. We effortlessly find the negatives in the people around us - our spouses, our leaders, our parents!

Our insecurities mix with the lies being fed to us, and we find ourselves picking faults with others because it makes us feel (temporarily) better, yet it is the opposite of the fruits of the spirit. Criticism is the opposite of love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, self control and humility.

Here's what the bible says about judging others:

James 4:11 "My friends, don't say cruel things about others! If you do, or if you condemn others, you are condemning God's Law. And if you condemn the Law, you put yourself above the Law and refuse to obey either it 12 or God who gave it. God is our judge, and he can save or destroy us. What right do you have to condemn anyone? "

Romans 14:13 "Then let us no more criticize and blame and pass judgment on one another, but rather decide and endeavor never to put a stumbling block or an obstacle or a hindrance in the way of a brother. "

Rom 14:10 "So where does that leave you when you criticize a brother? And where does that leave you when you condescend to a sister? I'd say it leaves you looking pretty silly--or worse. Eventually, we're all going to end up kneeling side by side in the place of judgment, facing God. Your critical and condescending ways aren't going to improve your position there one bit. "

Looking at others with a critical eye doesn't benefit us one bit, but it is poison to the unity of any organisation we're a part of - be it the church; our workplace or our families.

Instead, we need to:

"Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:] " Php 2:5

Philippians 4:8 "Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious--the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. pan>"

Last night God challenged me. Everytime I catch myself with a negative thought about someone or something, I am to respond by finding 2 positive things. For every thought that focusses on the 'Worst', I am now challenged to find 2 thoughts that focus on the 'Best'.

This is my way of "doing my best" to fill my mind on the best, not the worst.

Choir of Hard Knocks

2009-01-13T06:44:00.005+10:00

Last night I caught the end of "Choir of Hard Knocks", a choir of homeless people guided by Jonathon Welch, well known Tenor and Choir Director. Jonathon had been inspired by a random article in an old Reader's Digest magazine about a choir for homeless people that had been set up in Montreal, and he sought to set up his own.

With the help of another charity, the recruiting process began - flyers on the streets, meeting with agencies, visits to crisis accommodation centres and hostels.

Jonathon describes waiting for members to arrive on the first day "like having a party - you've invited lots of people, but you have no idea if anyone will turn up. In fact, more than 20 did turn up, with that number rising to 50 regular participants within a few weeks. "

As I was watching the program, I firstly found myself being taken back by their rawness, their lack of 'social skills' for want of a better term. They were brash, they hogged the microphones, they seemed to have fights over nothing and their singing voices were crude.

But Jonathan saw the potential in them all. Through his skilled guidance, they created the most amazing music. They themselves were shocked at how beautiful the music sounded, and couldn't believe they had done it. Of course, they couldn't have done it without Jonathon.

It was at this point it hit me - this is like the Kingdom of God!

Matthew 22 describes the Kingdom of God like a king who prepared a wedding dinner for his Son. Those who he originally invited didn't come. So he told his servants to, "Go to the street corners. Invite to the dinner anyone you can find.' So the servants went out into the streets. They gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad. Soon the wedding hall was filled with guests. "

When Jesus came, he didn't come for the rich in spirit or healthy, he came for sick, he came for the poor in spirit, he came for the lost.

Just as Jonathon sent out flyers to all the streed corners seeking the disadvantaged and said "come", Jesus sends out that same message to all in the world today - "come - I have a plan for you".

And come we do, with our warts, our faults, our brash comments, our filth, and self-centred egos - trying to hog the spotlight.

However, there is no judgment, there is no condemnation - because the 'Supreme Choir Master' Christ sees past the faults, and sees our potential. He takes our sin, our shame, our filth and blots it out with His blood.

Then he grooms us. As we keep turning up for His guidance, and as we sit under His leadership, He takes what was a clanging noise, and turns it into sweet music - often shocking even us that we could be part of something so amazing.

It's important to notice that it is a 'choir' of hard knocks - not an individual. Jesus wants us too to be in his choir - with others - because it's as group that we are most effective. As a group we support each other, we encourage each other, and increase our impact in this world.

The church is that choir, and we need to be a part of the church - His choir.

On the web, Jonathon says, 'the formation of the Choir of Hard Knocks has given me the opportunity to use the musical gifts I have been blessed with and wonderful experiences I have had as a professional singer and conductor, to bring pleasure and a sense of belonging and self esteem to those who've joined this exciting new project.

'As many of the participants come from marginalised and often financially difficult backgrounds, it is my hope that the joy and euphoria that music making in a group dynamic will give a sense of purpose, structure and respect to their lives and help them look forward to belonging to a 'family' - albeit a musical one!

Let me re-word his comments to apply to us.

'Being a part of my Church has given me the opportunity to use the [insert] gifts I have been blessed with and wonderful experiences I have had, to bring pleasure and a sense of belonging and self esteem to those in my Church.

'As many of the participants come from marginalised and often financially difficult backgrounds, it is my hope that the joy and euphoria that following Christ in a group dynamic will give a sense of purpose, structure and respect to their lives and help them look forward to belonging to a 'family' - albeit a spiritual one!

We need to be ready to welcome a continual stream of seekers from a life of hard knocks - look past their obvious, and see their potential.... because that's what Jesus did for us.

Spot the Fake

2009-01-11T14:20:00.005+10:00

This week I have seen several news reports about a Church that is, amongst other things, blessing homosexual couples, having baptisms at the church which are not in the name of the "Father, Son and Holy Ghost", and distributing a book that claims Jesus is not the son of God.

Matthew 24:11 says that in the last days, there will be "many false prophets will appear and deceive many people." The Bible also talks about false teachers appearing to preach in the name of Christ, but are leading people away from God.

There are a lot of speakers out there today claiming to be preaching the Good News. Some of them are successful, sound great and are certainly convincing. But how can we tell if they are teaching truth or deception?

How do we spot the fake? We spot the fake the same way scotland yard does:

"You must spend a lot of time handling counterfeit money to know what it looks like," said Ruth Bell Graham to a man from Scotland Yard, who was in charge of identifying counterfeit money.

"No," he replied. "We never touch the stuff. All day long, we just handle the real thing: genuine currency. And when a counterfeit bill comes our way—we can quickly detect it."

How do we spot the fake? We become very intimate with the real thing.. the genuine currency.

This morning, Ps Andrew Staggs encouraged us to be intellectually fit. He said we should invest time in getting our minds skilled up in the things of God, understanding God and knowing the word of God.

The more time we invest in God's word and in prayer, the quicker we'll be able to spot the fake ... and flee.

If One Member Suffers

2009-01-06T13:48:00.002+10:00

1 Corinthians 12:26 "And if one member suffers, all the parts [share] the suffering; if one member is honored, all the members [share in] the enjoyment of it."

Today is a day that we share in the sadness and suffering of the Locke family and friends. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.

Good intentions aren't always God's intentions

2009-01-06T06:42:00.003+10:00

In Genesis 16, Abram received his own 'unleashed' promised. God promised him land, and lots of it, and generation after generation of descendants.

The problem was he had no children. Worse, Sarai, his only wife, was barren and past child bearing years.

Almost 10 years after the promise, Abram and Sarai were still childless. So Sarai made a suggestion that Abram take a second wife, the servant Hagar, and Abram can have children through her.

One commentator says, "By the custom of the times it is altogether proper, even if somewhat personally humiliating, for a woman of Sarai's position to give her servant to her husband for the purpose of bearing children...

When viewed from a strictly human perspective, Sarai's suggestion is both unselfish and ostensibly designed to bring about God's promise to Abram"

Remarkably, even though the promise was from God to Abram not Sarai, when Sarai makes this suggestion - neither of them take the idea to God to say, "is this what you meant?"

Despite Sarai's best intentions, this was not God's intention. This is not how God planned for the promise to be fulfilled.

Despite Sarai's best intentions, their actions created a multitude of complex and dynamic problems including pride, jealousy, alienation and disunity.. for generations to come.

God's way is not only the best way - but the only way.

Hebrews 13:21 says that God "equip us in every good thing to do His will"

Philippians 2:13 says "For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure"

God equips us, and works in us to do His will. The ultimate responsibility for the fulfilment of God's promises rests with God.

"We are like passengers on a 747 jet. The way we travel is to rest in Him. His power is what will get us to our destination, not the frenzied flapping of our own wings" (Practical Life of Faith, Chuck Swindoll, p133)

In 2009, we have entered a season of being unleashed. But that does not mean we all start flapping like crazy. We'll get burnt out going nowhere!

The key to living out God's intentions are found in these verses:

Psa 37:23 The steps of a [good] man are directed and established by the Lord when He delights in his way [and He busies Himself with his every step].

Pro 16:9 A man's mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure. [Ps. 37:23; Prov. 20:24; Jer. 10:23.]

God shows us the "what will come", but we have to wait on God for the "how to get there" - step by step.

Don't doubt the promise even if it takes a while. Don't try to force the promise. What for the "God opportunity", then take a step of faith.

When faith, obedience, and God opportunities collide, it is exciting to watch.

2009 is going to be exciting to watch!

Technology to help your walk

2009-01-04T18:15:00.004+10:00

There is a plethora of free technological tools available to help people get more into the word and get more out of the word. I thought I'd share a couple that I think are great:

1. Daily Bible Reading. www.youversion.com

This is an initiative of livechurch.tv. Accessible from the web and mobile phones (if you're web enabled), you can log in and get daily readings that will result in reading the bible in a year. You can also record your thoughts about the readings, and see what others have written. It's really a community of bible readers.

2. Wordlive. http://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/2981.id

This is similar to youversion, however it also provides the main points, questions to ponder etc to help you get the most out of your daily bible reading. This is another resource accessible from your web enabled phone.

3. E-sword. http://e-sword.net/index.html

I have been a big fan of e-sword for years. This software provides, from one convenient location, multiple versions of bibles, commentaries and dictionaries, maps and daily devotions. You can add on extras for a cost, but there are plenty that are free. The best part of e-sword is when you click on a verse, all of the commentaries and dictionaries that refer to that verse light up. Well worth the download.

4. Google Blog reader. http://www.google.com/ig

Many of the top speakers/leaders in the world put out blogs (including our own Ps Andrew Staggs and Ps Jillian Staggs). It can be tough keeping track of them all. If you have a google account, then you can load all of these blog feeds into igoogle so that, at a glance, you can see what new blogs have been loaded for you to read. I've attached a screenshot for you to see.

5. Podcasts. www.itunes.com

No doubt many of you have heard of podcasts. These are mp3 files of, amongst other things, sermons, that are available for free through itunes, regardless of whether you own an apple device such as an iphone or ipod. Once you have installed itunes, you click on "itunes store" and search your favourite speaker to see if they have a podcast that you can 'subscribe' to. My favourites are Joyce Meyer, Chuck Swindoll and Wayne Cordeiro, but there are so so so many more. Once you subscribe, then each time you open up itunes, it updates the podcasts with the next new message for you to save onto your mp3 player, or burn to cd.

For some, the above list of technology may seem daunting. However, don't be afraid to ask for help. Most techno-nerds will relish the opportunity to help out and help get you set up... me included.

A remarkable phone call.

2009-01-04T14:47:00.002+10:00

A remarkable phone call from a 13-yr old boy to Houston radio station KSBJ FM 89.3. So profound, the station has it posted on their web site. Click below (youtube) to listen to it. It's short.

Say what you need to say

2009-01-03T17:34:00.003+10:00

In any relationship, closeness depends on honesty.

Our relationship with God is no different. Our closeness with God needs our honesty with God.

For years, I would pray to God what I thought he wanted to hear. I would give him the sanitised version of my heart - so that I wouldn't disappoint Him. I would pray what I thought He wanted to hear from me.

I wouldn't share my disappointments lest I show a lack of faith. I wouldn't share my temptations lest I show weakness. I wouldn't show my frustrations, lest I show a lack of patience.

The problem was, I wasn't showing me. I was showing the glossy version of me.

In the old testament, a good example of honest praying is David. He gave the true version of his heart. He would say things like, "why is my soul downcast?", that means, "why am I feeling depressed?" Even Jesus said, "God, why have you forsaken me??"

God is real and ready to meet us where we are at. But are we ready to tell God where we are really at? He can handle that. Are we ready to admit our failings to God? Are we ready to openly discuss our dreams and aspirations? Are we ready to admit our vulnerabilities to God?

Whatever we don't discuss with God, we are probably trying to deal with on our own. however, when we do confess or discuss these real issues with God, we can ask for His help, and His Spirit gives us power where we are weak, His spirit equips us where we lack, His spirit opens doors that were once closed.

But you gotta say what you need to say. It's so tempting to think, "how could God love me the way that I really am?" But don't fear God's view of you, or any judgment, because there is no condemnation through Christ Jesus - only love. Say what you need to say, but let God's answer transform your thinking and your life.

John Mayer has inspired this blog by his song, "Say"

The lyrics are below - have a look at the music below on youtube:

Take all of your wasted honor
Every little past frustration
Take all of your so-called problems,
Better put 'em in quotations

Say what you need to say [x8]

Walking like a one man army
Fighting with the shadows in your head
Living out the same old moment
Knowing you'd be better off instead,
If you could only . . .

Say what you need to say [x8]

Have no fear for giving in
Have no fear for giving over
You'd better know that in the end
Its better to say too much
Then never say what you need to say again

Even if your hands are shaking
And your faith is broken
Even as the eyes are closing
Do it with a heart wide open

Say what you need to say [x24]

Adaptability

2009-01-02T09:00:00.005+10:00

I regularly get emails from Dr Tony Alessandra, a speaker focussed on "building Customers, Relationships, and the Bottom-Line."

This month's email on adaptability prompted my thinking further about Nick Todd's message from last Sunday on the PR of Christians to those in our community.

Alessandra says,

"Adaptable people make the choice to go beyond their own comfort zones so others feel more comfortable. Adaptability is your willingness and ability to behave in ways that are not necessarily characteristic of your style in order to deal effectively with the requirements of a situation or relationship.

With adaptability, you can treat people the way they want to be treated. You practice adaptability every time you slow down with another person who does not feel as comfortable moving as fast as you do. You also practice adaptability when you take time to listen to a personal story from another person, rather than getting right down to the task at hand.

Adaptability is important because people are different and need to be treated differently. You develop open and honest relationships with others by being tactful, reasonable, and understanding. "

To use Nick's analogy, at church, instead of wearing a shirt branded "Mr Fussy", or "Mr Grumpy", or "Ms Task-driven" or worse "Mrs Elitist", we could wear a shirt that says, "Mr/s Adaptable". Being adaptable makes us focus on others, and realising that while we're comfortable, perhaps they're not; while the surroundings are "normal" to us, perhaps they feel like a fish out of water.

We can't treat people the way they want to be treated unless we have our ears and eyes open to where the other person is at.

Is this there first time at church?
Have they ever been to a church before?
Do they drink tea or coffee?
Do you have any children? are they here?

Knowing the answers to these simple questions may enable us to adapt ourselves to make them feel more comfortable.. such as:

Would you like to sit with us this morning?
Can I introduce you to ... (who may have similar demographics)
Can I help you up the stairs? Did you realise we have an elevator that might make it easier?
(after the service) Can I get you a coffee?

Ps Andrew Staggs recently blogged on a Church without Sound. One the points in the article was "When you take away the words, are the greeters authentic?" Churches communicate in ways far beyond the sermon. The church body as a whole communicate to visitors much earlier than the preacher. We can make or break the visitor's experience.

Let's make the choice to go beyond our own comfort zones by being adaptable people so others feel more comfortable.

An Unknown Future

2009-01-01T08:25:00.003+10:00

On this 1st January, 2009, today's blog is from a daily devotion of Ps Greg Laurie - which I really appreciated after reading multiple reports about 2009 and our current global outlook:

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. — Jeremiah 29:11

We never know what the New Year will bring. We don't know what problems we will encounter or what changes will come our way. We don't even know what blessings the Lord has in store for us.

But one thing is guaranteed. No matter what the New Year brings our way, we don't have to be afraid because Jesus Christ will be there for us.

I like the words of Corrie ten Boom, that wonderful woman of God, who said, "Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God." God is in control of our future. He is ready to bless us in this coming year. But we must be ready to walk with Him, worshipping Him and obeying Him"

I won't back down

2008-12-30T16:35:00.006+10:00

A few years ago, Shine Roche McGowan lawyers had a tv ad of a bulldog who was shown in a tug of war with a red rag. The bulldog won. The message of the ad was that Shine lawyers hang on longer and they fight harder than other lawyers. They don't give up.

Like that ad, todays blog is on personal tenacity and determination in our walk with God, and the journey God has mapped out for us. It's a longer blog, but hopefully worth the extra read.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome."

Joshua 1:6 says, "Be strong (confident) and of good courage, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. "

God has a plan for each and everyone of us and there is a 'land' for us to inherit... but sometimes we need every ounce of courage and strength to get there.

Psychologists say that, in life, there are 2 key motivators for anyone to do something - the reason we do anything comes down to 2 things: either 1. We are motivated to move toward gain; or 2. We are motivated to prevent pain.

Most of what we do, we are told, is in the realm of preventing pain... If we don’t do them: there are consequences and pain associated with that - eg not turning up for work causes a world of pain - so we're motivated to turn up!

However, some of the things we do are because we want to move towards gain. For example, we read books that teach us things, we eat responsibly to lose a few kgs, we decorate houses to make them look nicer, we practice an instrument - all moving towards gain.

In moving towards gain, the cliche is true - no pain, no gain.

To make gains towards the plans and purposes that God has for our lives, to inherit our 'land', there are often seasons of pain necessary to see the gains come to fruition. Without working through some pain, we cannot make any gains.

Sadly, we can try to cut-off God's process of advancement to prevent the pain we start to feel. We start taking steps to immediately remove the pain, instead of pushing forward to what God has for us.

Personal tenacity and determination is about pressing on, it's about pushing past the pain towards the 'prize', rather than stopping when the going gets tough. And let’s face it - some days the going gets really really tough.

The bottom line is this - behind every fruitful life is a single focus...day after day after day after day.. that focus is on the 'prize'

Philippians 3:13 and 14 "Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

In an American university football game was a teenager called John Martinelli (true story). He was tall, thin, gawky and wore glasses under his helmet. The opposing centre (Ozzie) was 6 ft tall, strong, and very muscley.

The game strategy of this opposing team was to take out John Martinelli. They wanted to hurt him so badly that he would be too scared to get back into the play cause he was hurting so much. They had been working on this strategy for weeks.

The game came around and on the very first play of the game… Boom! Ozzie hit John Martinelli so hard that he cracked his face helmet! John Martinelli had blood all over his face, his mask was broken.. The opposing team were applauding themselves, and high-fives everwhere.. They’d taken him out in the first play!

John Martinelli left the field, .. but then grabbed a new helmet and lined up again.

The opposing team couldn’t believe it. They were incensed.

So they jeered Ozzie up, and in the next play.. Booom.. they got him again … and again.. and again!

That entire game, they beat and battered bruised John Martinelli so hard that they broke his helmet 3 times. He was the object of their attacks the entire game.. and yet he never missed a play. Not one play in the game did he even back off.

He would line up and fire every play. He would not give up

John Martinelli received national recognition for his football. The secret of his success is that would keep lining up and he would not back down.

The secret was his tenacity.

When I hear this story – I think of Paul. He was shipwrecked, beaten, imprisoned.. and yet he would not back down. He would not stop until he had ‘run the race’.

And I think Jesus. Even though he was battered and bruised and whipped and scourged.. and knew he was going to be crucified in the most torturous of deaths.. he would not back down. He did not give up. He would not give anything less than his all for the cause.

Be strong, and of good courage - because God has a plan! There is a land waiting to be inherited.. but it requires your unswerving focus and your stubborn determination.

I recently watched 'Barnyard' and they sing a Johnny Cash song that sums it up perfectly:

Well I won't back down, no I won't back down
You can stand me up at the gates of hell
But I won't back down

Gonna stand my ground, won't be turned around
And I'll keep this world from draggin' me down
Gonna stand my ground and I won't back down

Hey baby, there ain't no easy way out
Hey I will stand my ground and I won't back down

Well I know what's right, I got just one life
In a world that keeps on pushin' me around
But I stand my ground and I won't back down

Hey baby, there ain't no easy way out
Hey I will stand my ground and I won't back down
No I won't back down.

Tithing Santa

2008-12-23T10:33:00.003+10:00

This clip is pure genius.

A humourous look at a serious problem for churches. Hats off to the creative brilliance of Elevation Church.

Surely we could re-create this :)

Click Here to watch it

Mixed Nuts - Salted

2008-12-21T16:23:00.006+10:00

On thursday, Pastor Andrew Staggs said to me, "sometimes you just see God in everything". This is true, and this blog entry is probably the most quirky so far. Today's blog is inspired by my afternoon snack. Mixed Nuts - salted.

Let me explain. About 2 years ago, I read the book by John Ortberg entitled 'Everyone is normal until you get to know them'. It significantly impacted me and challenged my concept of a 'normal' person. The reality is - none of us are normal. Everyone has warts and idiosyncrasies of some kind, it's just that some of us are better at hiding them than others (and some don't worry about hiding them whatsoever!). We are all a little nutty at some point or to someone.

Ortberg's point was that each person we encounter is like clothes on a 'clearance' rack - we accept them on an 'as is' basis. We can't take them back for a refund because they have imperfections that we weren't previously aware of.

I'm sitting here eating some Mixed Nuts - salted. I thought.. that's the Church!

We, like the world, are a collection of unique individuals who bring together our strengths, our weaknesses, our experiences, our shortcomings and our quirkiness. None of us are 'normal'.

We get offended, we get inspired, we have different likes and dislikes..

However, the difference between us and the world is our salt.

Matthew 5:13 says "You are the salt of the earth. "

Colossians 4:6 (NIV) says "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. "

The message says it like this: "Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out. "

Having speech that is seasoned with salt means that we seek to bring out the best in each other, we encourage each other, we refrain from tearing down one another, gossiping about one another, and judging one another.

Luke 6:37 "Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults--unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don't condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you'll find life a lot easier. "

This is more than a good idea. It is very important. In John 17:23, Jesus prayed for the church. He prayed "May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."

Unity is one of the ways we show the world God's love for us and for them. We can't have unity when we place on each other our unrealistic expectations for them to meet our view of 'normal' - which is reflected in our actions and our speech towards others and about others. There is favour and blessing when God's people are unified, and more significantly, there is influence and impact.

Affectionately speaking, the church is an assortment of mixed nuts! By letting our words and actions edify one another, we can make sure these nuts stay salted.

The Mandatory Requirements to be Unleashed

2008-12-15T07:24:00.005+10:00

In 2009, we are entering the season of being unleashed. This means that we are entering a season of doing more than we've ever done before, being more effective than ever and reaching a greater number or geographical area than previously known.

Eph 3:20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us... (my emphasis)

Ephesians 3:20 is clear. The extent to which we are unleashed is proportionate to the extent to which the power of God is at work within us.

The Greek word for power is 'Dunamis' and it means:

1) strength power, ability
a) inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth
b) power for performing miracles
c) moral power and excellence of soul
d) the power and influence which belong to riches and wealth
e) power and resources arising from numbers
f) power consisting in or resting upon armies, forces, hosts

God's power is our strength, it is our authority, our equipping, it is our boldness and our confidence.

Colossians 1:10-12 says, " And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. "

The Power of God gives us the strength to endure the opposition - so that we can achieve more than we can imagine according to God's will and purpose. It is God's Power that lets us push through the trials, the attacks, the doubts, the distractions that we encounter on the narrow winding road where the signposts say 'unleashed straight ahead'

In 2009 I want to live a life worthy of the Lord - that bears fruit - because it grows in knowledge AND it is strengthed with the according to His Glorious Might.

If our unleashing is dependent upon and measured by God's power working within us, then I want more of that power!!

I don't want a mere lightening bolt of God's power, I want a continual flow that makes sure I finish the race.

How do I get it?? How do I keep it flowing? How do I make sure I don't have a 'brown-out' or 'black out'?

1. Power comes from the Holy Spirit

Act 1:8 "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;"

The "power" believers receive from the Holy Spirit includes courage, boldness, confidence, insight, ability, and authority.

We mustn't quench the Holy Spirit when it prompts us to do something, to be passionate about something, to address an issue. Walk in step with the spirit and stay in tune with his quiet whisper.

2. Power shows up in our Weakness

2Co 12:9 ....for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me!

Power is perfected in our weaknesses because we stop trying to rely on ourselves, our own strength, and our own works, and we rely wholly on God. It is more of Him and less of us.

3. Power continues from obedience

1Jn 3:24 All who keep His commandments [who obey His orders and follow His plan, live and continue to live, to stay and] abide in Him, and He in them. [They let Christ be a home to them and they are the home of Christ.] And by this we know and understand and have the proof that He [really] lives and makes His home in us: by the [Holy] Spirit Whom He has given us.

God's Spirit continues to abide in us when we keep his commandments and follow His plan for our life. To keep the power flowing, we have to keep our lives submitted to his commands and promptings.

Being unleashed in 2009 is available for everyone! The Holy Spirit is available to and poured out on all, but the extent to which we are unleashed is determined by the extent to which we allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives, the extent to which we hand over our weaknesses and strengths, and the extent to which we are obedient to God's will for us. Let's keep the power at work in our lives to achieve far more than we can hope or imagine!

An interview with an Athiest

2008-12-09T15:06:00.001+10:00

Interesting

Risk or Rust

2008-12-09T06:40:00.002+10:00

On Sunday 7 December, Westlife announced it's theme for 2009 - "UNLEASHED". As a church, we have built the foundation to be unleashed to a new level of influence, a new level of impact and a new level of connection with the community. I was personally encouraged about my part in this.

I've been pondering this new theme since Sunday. How do we transition from the present season (perhaps a season of consolidation), to this new season of unprecedented release into what God has called us to do? How do we convert the vision into reality?

Today, I am reading "The Practical life of Faith" by Chuck Swindoll. In Hebrews 11:24-28, I read about Moses who, by faith, cranked things up a gear. His life was 'unleashed' to live out God's purposes.

Swindoll notes 3 risky decisions Moses made that unleashed him - 2 of which have challenged me for 2009:

1. Moses had a determination to leave the familiar.

Moses left the familiarity and security of his household. He left the comfort of what he knew well, and entered a challenging place of unfamiliarity.

2. Willingness to do the unusual.

Moses did the unusual step of sprinkling blood over the doorways to protect the first-born. This was an unusual thing to do, ut Moses was wililng to venture into unchartered territory.

"Unusual is the company that faith seems to prefer"

The 7 last words of any organisation are, "we never did it that way before".

W L Bateman says "If you keep on doing what you've always done, you'll keep on getting what you've always got."

We don't want to keep getting what we've always 'got', we want to crank things up a gear. We don't want to merely live in our 'success' so far, we want to be unleashed to make a serious difference.

Swindoll says, we either take risks or we rust. We either venture, or we vegetate.

* To have the determination it takes to leave the familiar, faith must be our security;

* To have the discipline to do the unusual, faith must silence our critics.

Bill Hybel's 'Axiom' is full of examples where they left the familiar, did the unusual and reaped the benefits of change.

For each of us to be personally unleased in 2009, we can't keep doing the same things we did in 2008.

Are there new connections we need to form?
Is there particular type of books we need to start reading?
Do we need to spend more time in the 'thinking chair'?
What new initiatives do we need to introduce?

One final thought - Joyce Meyer regularly says, "the higher the level, the higher the devil". With unleashing comes new and stronger attacks, temptations and opposition. Therefore there is one change that definitely needs to be made - We need to take our personal discipline in meeting with God to a new level.

Word of God Speak

2008-12-04T09:07:00.006+10:00

The following video is by a church called New Hope in Hawaii - which shows the power of the daily quiet time with God. The accompanying song is a brilliant song by Mercy Me called, "Word of God Speak"

Check it out

Today

2008-11-26T18:24:00.002+10:00

2 Quotes from John Maxwell to ponder:

"Successful people MAKE important decisions early in their lives, then they manage those decisions the rest of their lives"

"Just for today:

I will choose and display the right attitudes.

I will determine and act on important priorities.

I will know and follow healthy guidelines.

I will communicate with and care for my family.

I will practice and develop good thinking.

I will make and keep proper commitments.

I will earn and properly manage finances.

I will deepen and live out my faith.

I will initiate and invest in solid relationships.

I will plan for and model generosity.

I will embrace and practice good values.

I will seek and experience improvements.

I will act on these decisions and practice these disciplines, and then

one day, I will see the compounding results of a day lived well.

--John Maxwell's Daily Dozen from "Today Matters"

Who's your Mammon

2008-11-21T06:19:00.003+10:00

Yesterday I listened to a message by Pastor Elwin from New Hope Hawaii on Luke 16:13, "No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."

He recently journaled on the very issue of mammon in his devotions earlier this month. Here is his journal in its entirety.

He says, "Today’s god of choice is Mammon, mammon masquerading as wealth. Mammon is making money the driving force for all our decisions, where we will live, what we will do for a career, what we will give our lives to. We are all susceptible to this if we think that the accumulation of money is the only definition for wealth."

"In many respects, we seem to rely on money to determine our sense of value, to define our level of success, to measure the extent of our happiness. It's money that we turn to in order to find comfort and security, albeit a false sense of security. And as the economy goes, so goes our finances and our degree of contentment. Everything that affects us, our emotions, our happiness, our sense of satisfaction, it seems, rises and falls on the condition of our finances."

The challenge is - How much is enough? One of the greatest lies we buy into is that we will reach a point when we have enough and therefore, feel secure about our financial future. So we keep aspiring for that elusive point.

I was fascinated to read a comment by Gerry Harvey this morning. This retail king, Gerry Harvey, has a personal fortune of $1.6 billion... not millions - but billions! Yet, as in an inrelated interview, here's what he said, "I still have a fear about going broke. I always think about it."

He has $1.6billion in the bank, and he always fears going broke!!!

Truth be told, I fear going broke (in varying degrees). Past financial hardships have meant I fear returning to that place of financial hardship. I want to avoid returning to that place as much as I can.

I think we all fear going broke - especially with the never-ending tide of news reports warning us of difficult financial times ahead.

That's the problem of putting our security in our finances - we fear going broke, and then in response to that fear, behave in certain ways: we become obsessive over any savings or current possessions, our priorities in life become more about cashflow than relationships, We're not as generous as we should be (even in the little things!). We take our eyes off the game then invest the best of our time, energy and worry in in a futile fight that we're never going to win.

Here's where the rubber meets the road - if I serve mammon (making wealth) over God, then I will never move past my fears, and therefore never live a life of abundance.

Serving God results in a life of abundance. Serving mammon results a life of oppression. No one can serve both. The bible also say he who tries to keep his life will lose it, but he who loses his life will surely gain it. This means that the more we try to hold onto the things of this world, the more we will fall away from our relationship with God, but when we seek God first in all aspects of our life, the more abundance God can add to our life!

Don't buy into the lie of the devil that 'if we just had a little more', we could serve God wholeheartedly. Merely accepting that proposition means we've given a little of our heart away to serving mammon.

Does that mean I don't have to be a good steward of finances? Absolutely not! It's a question of heart, not of the balance sheet. What is the greatest priority?

Here are some questions from Pastor Elwin to guage where we're our heart is at:

* How often do I worry about my finances;
* How often is money (rather than God or my family) the determining factor in decisions that I make;
* What is the degree of my grip on my possessions – do I struggle with making contributions of any kind to those in need;
* Do I have a good understanding of just how much is enough;

It's the decision we make every day that show where our priorities lie. What decisions will you make today?

Paying your bill

2008-11-19T10:44:00.003+10:00

While most of us wouldn't try this, one man tried to pay his electricity bill with a picture of a spider. Click here to see the article and read the email exchange between him and the power company.

3 of these exchanges are:

From: Jane Gilles
Date: Wednesday 8 Oct 2008 12.19pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Overdue account

Dear David,
Our records indicate that your account is overdue by the amount of $233.95. If you have already made this payment please contact us within the next 7 days to confirm payment has been applied to your account and is no longer outstanding.

Yours sincerely, Jane Gilles

From: David Thorne
Date: Wednesday 8 Oct 2008 12.37pm
To: Jane Gilles
Subject: Re: Overdue account

Dear Jane,
I do not have any money so am sending you this drawing I did of a spider instead. I value the drawing at $233.95 so trust that this settles the matter.

Regards, David.

From: Jane Gilles
Date: Thursday 9 Oct 2008 10.07am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Overdue account

Dear David,
Thankyou for contacting us. Unfortunately we are unable to accept drawings as payment and your account remains in arrears of $233.95. Please contact us within the next 7 days to confirm payment has been applied to your account and is no longer outstanding.

Yours sincerely, Jane Gilles

The problem for David was that the picture wasn't the correct 'currency' to pay the bill. Regardless of how valuable David thought his picture of a spider was, it would never satisfy his debt, because the power company didn't recognise it as a form of payment.

We're no different. We all have a debt to our Maker. We all have to pay one day for the wrongs we commit.

Some people try to pay for this debt in ways that are valuable to them: doing good deeds, being nice to people, walking old ladies across the street. We hear people say, "he'll be in heaven because he was a good person"

However, we have the same problem as David. It doesn't matter how good we are, it's not the correct 'currency' to pay our debt. Good deeds are not a form of payment recognised by God.

The bible tells us that the only way to pay for our wrongs, the only 'currency' that is acceptable is death. Either we die an eternal death, or a sinless man has to die in our place to pay that price for us.

That sinless man was Jesus and he paid our debt when he died on the Cross.

Let Jesus into your life - and let him pay your debt.

A new Australian political party

2008-11-19T10:39:00.002+10:00

Scary..Whether we want to be involved in politics or not - these guys having balance of power would be destructive to say the least

Sex industry is launching a new political party
By Laura Nowell
Sunday Mail (SA)
November 16, 2008 12:01am

AUSTRALIA'S sex industry is launching a new political party to counter the increasing influence of religious groups in politics and government.

The Australian Sex Party hopes to be up and running by Friday having secured 500 signatures and registration with the Australian Electoral Commission.

Party spokeswoman and CEO of the Eros Association Fiona Pattensaid the party planned to campaign on issues such as censorship, the federal Government's promised internet filter, health benefits for sex workers, gay marriage and paid maternity leave.

Ms Paten said the party hoped to win seats in state upper houses and the Senate using the slogan "We're SeriousAbout Sex".

"We're hoping for at least one Senate seat in the next federal election," she said. "We're concerned about Steve Fielding's power in the Senate - his conservative morals-based position . . . threatens our industry."

Beware the pirates!

2008-11-19T06:46:00.006+10:00

A news item from ninemsn this morning reports of a "hijacked Saudi super-tanker, carrying $US100 million ($A153.95 million) dollars worth of oil, being anchored off a notorious Somali pirate port as sea gangs struck again and seized a Hong Kong cargo ship.

The biggest act of piracy yet by the marauding Somali bandits has stunned the international community.

... The Sirius Star, the size of three soccer fields and three times the weight of a US aircraft carrier, is the largest ship ever seized by pirates and the hijacking was the farthest out to sea that Somali bandits struck.

Its cargo has been estimated to be worth $US100 million ($A153.95 million) at current crude prices.

Maritime security experts said the pirates had approached the tanker from the stern in speedboats and thrown grapnel hooks tied to rope ladders, most likely boarding unopposed as the ship cruised on auto-pilot with nobody keeping watch on the bridge.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal said: "They're very well armed. Tactically, they are very good," he said.

I find it interesting that, through good planning, the pirates were able to take over a gigantic ship because those in charge were 'asleep at the wheel'. The pirates were able to take what was valuable because no one was keeping watch.

There's a lesson in that for us. 1 Peter 5:8 says it best, " 8 Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. 9 Keep your guard up."

Just like the pirates, the devil is cunning. He wants to catch us napping, and then take what is valuable.

Why? Because "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy." (John 10:10)

What is valuable to us? Our marriage? Our Joy? Our contentment?

I once heard it said that the area in which we are most vulnerable is the very area we think we are strongest. Where we know we are weak, we put extra safeguards in place. However the area in which we think we have strength, we run the risk of letting our guard down because we don't think we're vulnerable.

For example, we may know we're not strong in the area of relational temptation - so we put safeguards in place.

However, what about other areas such as jealousy or pride? If I'm not careful, I'm caught napping at the wheel, start comparing myself to others - what they have and what they do - and then the enemy steals my contentment through jealousy. I take my eyes off the real purpose in life, and start aiming for what 'others' have.

How do we keep our guard up? Ephesians 6:11 and 13-17

"Put on God's whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil. "

"13 Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. 14 Truth, righteousness, 15 peace, 16 faith, 17 and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. 18 In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out. "

Another way to keep our guard up is to be quick to forgive:

2 Corinthians 2:10 "So if you forgive him, I forgive him. Don’t think I’m carrying around a list of personal grudges. The fact is that I’m joining in with your forgiveness, as Christ is with us, guiding us. 11 After all, we don’t want to unwittingly give Satan an opening for yet more mischief—we’re not oblivious to his sly ways! An Open Door "

Finally, James 4:6-7 says get serious for God and quit dabbling in sin!

" 7 So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. 8 Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. 9 Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious"

So you want to start a blog

2008-11-16T16:47:00.001+10:00

If you want to know what a blog is.. check this out from youtube:

Relevance - in our walk

2008-11-12T07:58:00.004+10:00

Continuing on from the relevance theme, my next question is 'How do we preach a message that is relevant for where people are at". This question is not new, but I took some time to think it through further.

I have a passion for 'running the race'. How do we stay in this race longer and how do we run the race stronger. How do I make the answer to that question relevant for other people running the race?

The people watchers (ABC2 at 6.30) are a group of psychologists who show human behaviour through a series of real life experiments. One such experiment was to pretend they were a psychic and then create a 'reading' that could apply to anyone. No surprises - it worked. There are fears we all share, and there are aspirations we all have - all of which were built into the reading.

I believe this also applies to our walk - there must be common challenges we all face, obstacles we need to overcome and common distractions that enemy uses.

To this end, I thought about where I'm at, and posed the following question: What are they key lessons that I am learning at the moment that are helping me stay in this race. Maybe these distractions, obstacles and challenges are not unique to me, but are applicable to many.

So here is my list - so far:

* It's about God, not about Me;

* It's about the relationship, not about the ritual;

* It's about the heart, not about the tasks;

* It's about grace, not about striving;

* It's about trust, not about understanding;

* It's about obedience, not about the appearance of it;

* It's about the purpose, not about the possessions;

* It's about my character, not about my comfort;

* It's about compassion, not about judgment;

* It's about more about the people, less about the principle.

To see how I'm going with this list, I can look at my attitudes, what I'm praying for, how I'm interracting with people, what I'm struggling with day to day.

Are my prayers a list of "Please can I have", or are they "God, help me draw closer to you"?

Do I go through the motions of church, but not spend time developing the relationship with God?

Am I completing tasks for people, doing all the right things - but without the right motivation?

Am I looking like a Christian in public, without integrity behind closed doors?

Will I give up things I own/want to further what God has called me to do? or have I become indifferent to what matters to God?

Am I happy to let friendships go because I'm right!?!?!? Do I stop trying with people when it gets too hard?

Do I judge others too quickly - but expect people to give me some lattitude?

Am I still trying to gain God's favour by 'doing good', when I already have it?

When tough times come, do I look at what I can learn? or do I blame God?

More research is needed. Watch this space.

Relevance - in our word choice

2008-11-12T07:44:00.004+10:00

Today's blog, to use cooking terms, is a reduction of many ingredients that I have read /heard over the past few days, mixed and marinated.

I am reading Bill Hybel's book entitled, "Axiom"- who said that careful selection of words matter in order to engage people.

I also listened to "Maximum Impact" podcast, which spoke to the Leader of Giant Impact, a Leadership training organisation in the US. He said the 3 characters of a good leader are: Trustworthiness, Competency and Relevance.

I have been musing the thoughts of relevance for the past 24 hours. How do we become relevant. Are we, as a church, as teachers, relevant? Are the words we choose letting seekers know that we are relevant to them, or are we using concepts/lingo that is common to Christians because it's easier.

Take for example Billboards. I have seen a couple of billboards on the way to Dalby and Stanthorpe that quote scripture. Here's an example from the web (obviously not in Australia)

The challenge with this type of public message is that I'm not sure people would understand what this means to them. Is it relevant? Does it inspire them to check out more of the gospel message.

Could it say something like:

"Do you really want to get what you deserve for all the bad things you've done? You can have forgiveness instead - but you have to ask for it.. Google Romans 6:23"

Or here is another one I've found on the web:

Words matter. Make them relevant

Our daily re-calibration

2008-11-04T07:45:00.004+10:00

I was just watching an episode of Catalyst regarding our internal time-clocks... that's right, clocks, not clock.

We are told that inside our body, each of our organs and systems have their own timeclock. The liver, our hormones, our cells. All are on a daily routine based on their own timeclock.

Amazingly, the brain is the master timeclock. Every morning, as soon as our bodies see light, the master timeclock sends a signal to all the other timeclocks in our body - and it recalibrates them. All the clocks are, once more, in sync with the master clock and their own timings.

If this recalibration doesn't take place, our bodies get out of sync and that's when we get mood swings, illnesses, weird temperatures. Our bodies are preparing for different events at different times. For example, people who work night shift - their bodies are keeping them cool for sleep, even though their awake. Similarly at night, their bodies aren't releasing insulin, even though they're eating, and they become insulin resistent (the very thing that is meant to supply their body with nutrition and energy).

This daily need for our bodies to be exposed to light is no different to our souls.

John 1:9 says, "There it was--the true Light [was then] coming into the world [the genuine, perfect, steadfast Light] that illumines every person. "

Jesus is the Light. Everytime we spend time with him, we can re-calibrate the workings of our heart, soul and mind to the master timeclock. We can make sure that we are in sync with His timings and His master plan.

If we don't have our daily does of His light, then our lives get out of sync, we become moody, we don't function as we should and even when we're provided with spiritual food, we start resisting it - and not letting it supply us with energy and strength we need.

Have you had your exposure to the Light today?

The Wild One

2008-10-21T07:28:00.005+10:00

I recently heard a podcast entitled, "Your role in the Christmas story" by Dr Tom Mullins of Christ Fellowship (Florida), who said that the Christmas Story starts not with Jesus, but with John the Baptist.

My daily reading is all about John the Baptist - (I think God is making sure I get the point).

Isaiah 40:3 says,

"A voice of one calling in the desert,
'Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for Him"

John's life mission and ministry was to prepare the hearts of the people for Christ's coming.

There had been hundreds of years since God's people had heard from a prophet, and now John was commissioned to get people ready - the messiah was coming. Their hearts had to be ready to receive Christ.

The religious leaders had created a 'religion' of rules, regulations, hypocrisy and an absence of love. John's message cut all that away. John called for "personal purity and individual righteousness, seen as a refreshing change fron the ritualistic and institutional religion which has developed over the centuries" (Commentary from "The Daily Bible")

Of course, the message of John was that of the Messiah, and more specifically, the lamb that will take away the sins of the world. The King that will remove the religious laws, and replace it with a kingdom of love, grace and a gift of righteousness.

The cross was God's design for our salvation since the beginning of time. Revelation 13:8 describes Jesus as "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world"

The point for us is this: Christ is coming again. He is coming back. Our role in the Christmas story is to prepare the hearts of people for Christ's return. Our whole mission is to "go into all the world and make disciples"

Greg Laurie says this, "A number of years ago, I had the privilege of having lunch with Billy Graham. While I had a lot of questions I wanted to ask, there was one thing I was especially curious about.

I said to him, "If you knew then as a younger preacher what you know now after all these years, what would you do differently?"

Without hesitation, he replied, "I would preach more on the cross and on the blood. That is where the power is."

We need to cut through a 'religion' that has developed over the years of self-help, me-first, and 'what feels good - do it'. Humanism seems to be so popular, and it can be likened to Christianity without Christ. Yet, the message of the cross is the only message that will get the hearts of people ready for Christ's return

What if we don't? What if only give our mission a half-hearted effort? I'm still pondering over last week's Westlife message on Hell, and the horror that people will be destined for if they don't know Christ.

Christ is coming back, and we must prepare the way.

Cliches We love to hate (Courier Mail)

2008-10-13T12:42:00.003+10:00

I wonder if cliches are a necessary evil. This courier mail article reports on a survey being taken of the cliches we love to hate. A favourite in church circles is "Let's unpack this"

The problem with trying to eradicate annoying cliches is that we all know what they mean, and so we'd probably end up replacing them with another cliche!

At the end of the day - I think cliches are here to stay. :)

See this article from the Courier Mail:

NEXT time you're at the pub and hear a glass smash, try to resist the urge to call out "taxi!"

If you want to catch up with a work contact, suggest something other than "let's do lunch".

And whatever you do, don't phone someone to "touch base".

That's the verdict of fed-up Australians, who have voted on the most overused and hated phrases in a nationwide survey.

Social researcher Mark McCrindle found politicians, workmates and teenagers the worst cliche offenders.

When it came to political speak, the saying, "I'm not ruling anything out" was the most despised.

But overall, the phrase "at the end of the day" was the most irritating in the English language.

TAKE THE SURVEY HERE: http://www.australiaspeaks.com/

Preparation for Serving in the House

2008-10-10T14:13:00.002+10:00

It has been said that the most introverted person will influence approximately 10,000 in their lifetime. So, whether we like it or not, we have an influence on others. What we do has an effect on others.

Against this background, when we serve in the House, we have an effect on others, but not just in our friendships, and physical labour.

In Haggai 2:10-14, God spoke to the people who were serving in the House. In fact, the people of Israel were on a project to re-build the temple of God. They were building a place for the presence of God to dwell.

It says this: 10 On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month (again, this was in the second year of Darius), God’s Message came to Haggai: 11 “God-of-the-Angel-Armies speaks: Consult the priests for a ruling. 12 If someone carries a piece of sacred meat in his pocket, meat that is set apart for sacrifice on the altar, and the pocket touches a loaf of bread, a dish of stew, a bottle of wine or oil, or any other food, will these foods be made holy by such contact?”The priests said, “No.”13 Then Haggai said, “How about someone who is contaminated by touching a corpse—if that person touches one of these foods, will it be contaminated?”The priests said, “Yes, it will be contaminated.” 14 Then Haggai said, “‘So, this people is contaminated. Their nation is contaminated. Everything they do is contaminated. Whatever they do for me is contaminated.’ God says so.

This may seem cryptic, but here is what one commentator says:

"Haggai contends that the temple workers cannot claim to be righteous simply because they are working on the house of the Lord. In fact, if their personal lives are not holy, their involvement in the temple's construction will actually desecrate the holy sanctuary"

People who serve in the House each week are creating a place for God's presence to dwell, just like the people of Israel.

It is our responsibility in that role to keep our personal lives in order. If we don't, it has an effect beyond our own lives. It has a negative effect on what we're building.

Just because we're serving, doesn't make us holy, or cover up disobedience.

We need to take the time each Sunday morning and get our hearts right with God. He can't deal with issues in our life if we don't spend time with him daily and allow Him to speak to us - which God often does through His word.

We also need to take time out, like David, and say, "search my heart, O God. Let me know if there is any uncleanliness" Are there any issues of unforgiveness, pride, jealousy, anger.. I find that I can't think of any until I ask God to show me, and then the list comes out!

Serving in the House doesn't make us holy, but failing to get our hearts right can hinder all that God wants to do in our lives, and others' - especially in the House.

A Sign of the Times

2008-10-07T06:43:00.005+10:00

For quite a few years now, I've had an interest in the end time prophecies - not at fanatical levels to spook out the neighbours, but I certainly like to keep this on my 'radar'.

When I first did some research on the subject, there were some aspects that stood out:
a. The 10 nation government in the Europe region;
b. The fact that America was no where to be found in end times prophecies;
c. The dominance of China;
d. The prediction that the Euphrates river will stop flowing;
e. An army of 2 million

There are many more prophecies, but I see these signs taking shape already - as follows:

a. The European Union is most likely the vehicle that will be the 10 nation government. The Euro currency is already in place. At the moment, there are more than 10 nations, but watch this space;

b. This morning, I read this article a fairfax newspaper: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/world/how-did-it-get-to-this-america-shatters/2008/10/06/1223145254099.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap2 Essentially, it predicts the end of the US dominance the global arena within a very short time

c. China is clearly already one of the big players in the world today. There is already a saying that when China sneezes financially, the rest of the world catches a cold. More facts to come.

d. The Euphrates River runs through Turkey, Syria and Iraq. It is the largest river in southwest asia. However, due to significant dam projects (22 dams and 19 power plants) in Turkey and Syria, there are conflicts over water use. In fact, there have already been occasions where the river has stopped flowing temporarily to allow the dams to be constructed. There is constant fear that water will not reach iraq because of the heaving use by Turkey and Syria.

e. In 2005, China released a newspaper report of maintaining an army of 2.3 million people. http://www.china.org.cn/english/government/116577.htm Needless to say that at the time of the prophecy, and certainly for many many years, an army of 2 Million was unthinkable. It is now a reality.

These are just a few, but with the events unfolding in America at the moment, this prompted me to reflect on the signs of the times.

Neglecting to Read your Bible

2008-10-02T07:38:00.002+10:00

From a Blog by Bill Muelenberg:

On the Reading of Scripture (Or the Lack Thereof) There is no question that the church of Jesus Christ in Australia (and in much of the Western world) is not exactly in great shape. The church is very far way from where it is supposed to be. And it is certainly not having the impact that it should be having.

There are of course many reasons for this. But one clear reason has to do with our lack of devotion to the word of God. This fact was even picked up in the secular press not long ago. It involved a large study of Australian Christians and their Bible reading habits. It turns out there is not much of a habit at all. Regular reading of God’s word seems to be on the decline. Here is how one press account explains the situation:

“Of those Australians who go to church, 21 per cent read their Bible daily, 14 per cent open it a few times a week and 6 per cent once a week. But 24 per cent said they read their Bibles only occasionally, 18 per cent hardly ever and 17 per cent said they never read the Bible on their own as a private devotional activity, according to the research, which is based on the 2006 National Church Life Survey of 500,000 people who attended church from 22 denominations.”

It continues, “The most diligent Bible readers are Pentecostals, with 72 per cent saying they read the holy book daily or a few times a week, followed by Baptists (62 per cent), Anglicans (46 per cent), Lutherans (41 per cent) and Uniting (43 per cent). Dragging down the other denominations are Catholics, of whom 59 per cent confess they rarely consult their Bibles.”

Well that explains a lot. If we are not reading the word of God on a regular basis, then we will not be functioning the way we are meant to be. Indeed, we will be going backwards, spiritually speaking, if we neglect the Bible. http://www.billmuehlenberg.com/2008/10/02/on-the-reading-of-scripture-or-the-lack-thereof/

Abortion Survivor - Confronting Address

2008-09-29T16:08:00.002+10:00

The 16 minute talk by abortion survivor Gianna Jessen at the Victorian Parliament on 8 September is now on YouTube. She survive a late-term abortion. Her address is passionate. It is confronting. It is thought provoking. I recommend you watch it.

The video of her address can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPF1FhCMPuQ " and here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kb9dFRw_w3o

The greatest heart transplant

2008-09-25T07:17:00.009+10:00

Some time ago, I watched a documentary on heart transplants. The documentary was on the human organs having a memory much like the brain.

Pearsall, Schwartz and Russek, conducted a study, published in the Spring 2002 issue of the Journal of Near-Death Studies, entitled, "Changes in Heart Transplant Recipients That Parallel the Personalities of Their Donors." The study consisted of open-ended interviews with 10 heart or heart-lung transplant recipients, their families or friends and the donor's families or friends. The researchers reported striking parallels in each of the cases. The following is a sampling of some these. (http://www.med.unc.edu/wellness/main/links/cellular%20memory.htm)

A 47-year-old Caucasian male received a heart from a 17-year-old African-American male. The recipient was surprised by his new-found love of classical music. What he discovered later was that the donor loved classical music and played the violin.

Another possible incidence of memory transfer occurred when a young man came out of his transplant surgery and said to his mother, "everything is copasetic." His mother said that he had never used that word before, but now used it all the time. It was later discovered that the word had been a signal, used by the donor and his wife, particularly after an argument, so that when they made up they knew everything was okay.

There are stories of meat lovers becoming vegetarians, healthy eaters starting to crave beer and snickers bars.. what they like and what they dislike changes when they get the new heart.

There is some scientific debate on this - there are some sceptics. However the concept of a heart transplant leading to a personality change made me sit up and take notice. This was of particular interest to me because of the following verse:

In Ezekial 36:26, God says to his people, "I will give you a new heart and a put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws"

When God gives us His heart, albeit not a physical transplantation, there has to be a change in personality. This new heart means we love what God loves, we hate what God hates. It's not instant, but as the 'memory' in this new Heart infiltrates our life, our personalities must change.

David Grabbe adds this commentary, "The Old Covenant that God made with Israel was a good agreement as far as it went, because all of God's works are good. The problem was not with its terms, but with the people who made it (Hebrews 8:7-8, 10). They lacked the right heart that would have allowed them to follow God truly and obey His laws. God, though, will give a new heart—a new spirit—to repentant Israelites, along with any others who desire to covenant with Him." (my emphasis added) (http://bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/2993/New-Heart.htm)

In ourselves, we lack the ability to diligently and obediently follow God, to hate sin, and to love others as ourselves. But when give ourselves over to God, He gives us a new heart, and the Holy Spirit lives in us and we have a supernatural ability to do all that God asks of us.

A final point to note. With all heart transplants, the donor has to lose his life to give life to another. This gift of life is impossible without a death. Jesus was the one to die to enable us to have this new life.

The greatest heart transplant.

Saving Grace

2008-09-24T17:09:00.007+10:00

I have been listening to this song on the way to a workshop today - by Planetshakers. I love it:

I'm holding on to You
I'm never letting go'
Cause You have saved my soul
And You have made me whole

You took my brokenness
And filled me with Your joy

All I long to do is worship
All I long to do is bring You praise
For nothing compares to you
My Saving Grace

Jesus Saviour
My life belongs to you forever'
Cause you have set my heart on fire
And You have set me free

I especially love the last 2 lines - you have set my heart on fire and have set me free.

My heart is on fire.. and I want it that way. It is the fire that propels, it is the fire that pushes past opposition. It is the fire that fans persistence. It is the fire that won't let go.

I've been set free. Freedom from condemnation. Freedom from prisons that kept me trapped. The most awesome feeling is to be able to say "no" to something I previously felt powerless against. Eg food, temptations in relationships. I am free to say NO because Christ is my power where I am weak. He took my brokenness and replaced it with His joy, His love, His power and a sound mind!

The Holy Spirit is my fire and my freedom!

Quote on Faith

2008-09-08T09:04:00.001+10:00

"Faith is a footbridge that you don't know will hold you over the chasm until you're forced to walk out unto it." unknown

Vertical - Devotion from Purpose Driven Life

2008-09-05T10:10:00.004+10:00

With Westlife running the Vertical series, I thought this devotion a timely blog:

Never Say Amen by Jon Walker

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. Matthew 26:40 (NIV)

Today’s guest devotional is provided by Jon Walker –

Read this devotional as a prayer:

Help me, Lord, to develop a strong prayer life. I know you desire intimacy with me, and you want me to watch with you and pray (Matthew 26:40).

Yet, I never seem to find the time to pray in a deep, fervent, consistent, persistent way. What draws me to my knees the most is when I have a problem, when I want something from you, when I need your help.

I’m flipping through my calendar, stressing with commitments, and you just want to hang out – with me. Help me turn my prayers into conversations with you that keep flowing throughout the day, an on-going communication where I never say “Amen.”

Keep me close to you, no matter what it takes. I’m not sure I really want to pray that; I have bruises and scars from “whatever it takes” discipleship, but, then again, I confess the crush of these moments have taught me to throw myself on the stone before the stone falls on me.

And that has moved me closer to the love that compels my obedience, closer to becoming one with your heart. So, I’m asking that you change me until my deepest want is to be with you.

With this I pray that you will create me worthy of my calling and that your power will fulfill every good purpose you plan for me and energize everything I do in faith.

My prayer is that your life will emerge in my face and in my hands, in my thoughts and in my words. I know your grace will make it so (paraphrase of 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12, NIV).

What a prayer!

Ways to improve your E-mail Body Language

2008-09-04T08:02:00.003+10:00

From Priority Learning Link

The e-mail messages you send may be saying a lot more about you than you realize. They provide a window into your workplace status, work habits, stress levels and even your personality. Here are some pointers to consider:

Never use e-mail to 'let off steam'. Save your immediate wrath or criticism for face-to-face meetings or to the phone. Better to take a deep breath, go and get a coffee and wait a day. Delays will help you preserve relationships and demonstrate emotional maturity.
Set a ' 5 or 10 minute don't send rule' for most e-mail. Instead, save them in your 'drafts' folder-you'll be surprised how given a five minute lapse you will be able to retract a poorly written message or reconsider your response to something important.
It's OK to inject some humor into your messages, but frequent ‘emoticons’, 'chain' jokes/pictures and smiley faces say that you are underemployed and not to be taken seriously.
Language matters! Use spell-check and your thesaurus. Mangled sentences and typos make you appear careless or even just plain ignorant.
Be considerate, polite and brief in all messaging: trim dangling threads; eschew unnecessary attachments, signature graphics, run-on disclaimers, device identifiers, html coding, cute quotes and icons - especially dancing icons.
Dnt ovr abbrvt.
Don't cry wolf with alert levels.
Use cc with restraint.
When sending an E-mail to a long recipient list, code as group address for brevity and privacy.
ALL CAPS IS FOR SHOUTING!

In everything give thanks

2008-09-01T16:58:00.001+10:00

In a devotional email by Greg Laurie:

“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:18

In her wonderful book, The Hiding Place, Corrie ten Boom relates an amazing story about the importance of being thankful. Corrie and her sister Betsy were held in a concentration camp known as Ravensbruk, where they lived in barracks that were plagued with lice. Lice were everywhere—in their hair and on their bodies.

One day, Betsy said to her, "Corrie, we need to give thanks to God for the lice."

Corrie said, "Betsy, you have gone too far this time. I am not going to thank God for lice."

Betsy said, "Oh, but Corrie, the Bible tells us, 'In everything give thanks.' "

Still, Corrie did not want to thank God for the lice. As it turns out, Corrie and Betsy were trying to reach the other women in their barracks with the message of the gospel, and they had been holding Bible studies. Corrie found out later that because of the lice, the guards would not go into those barracks, and therefore, they were able to have their Bible studies. As a result, they led many of the women to the Lord. So it turns out that God can even use lice.

Galations - a study in contrasts

2008-09-01T16:43:00.002+10:00

Having a bit of time last Thursday, I read the 5 chapters in Galatians. It occurred to me that it is a study of contrasts in:

w Life under the Law v Life under grace

w Sinful nature v sprit filled nature

w Acts under the law v acts under love.

Here’s what I saw:

The law or Faith

Life before Christ	Life after Christ
Live the by law	Live by faith
Available only to Jews	Available to all nations
A slave to men	A son and an heir and known by God
Cursed	Redeemed
Prisoner	Justified and free
Use acts to try to be justified	Use acts to show love
Sinful nature controlled life	Spirit led life

Evidence of your Nature

Galations 5:16 “So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”

Fruits of a sinful nature	Fruits of a Spirit filled nature
Sexual immorality	Love
Impurity	Joy
Idolatry	Peace
Hatred	Patience
Discord	Kindness
Jealousy	Goodness
Fits of rage	Faithfulness
Selfishness ambition	Gentleness
Dissensions	Self control
Envy
Drunkenness

To move from one column to the other, see Galations 6:7 “A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life”

How to we sow into the Spirit, and not into our sinful nature? Rick Warren puts it like this:

w Run from anything that gives you the evil thoughts . . . but stay close to anything that makes you want to do right. 2 Timothy 2:22 (LB)

w Have you ever watched a food advertisement on television and suddenly felt you were hungry? Have you ever heard someone cough and immediately felt the need to clear your throat? Ever watched someone release a big yawn and felt the urge to yawn yourself? That is the power of suggestion. We naturally move toward whatever we focus our attention on. The more you think about something, the stronger it takes hold of you.

w That is why repeating “I must stop eating too much . . . or stop smoking . . . or stop lusting” is a self-defeating strategy. It keeps you focused on what you don’t want. It’s like announcing, “I’m never going to do what my mom did.” You are setting yourself up to repeat it.

w Temptation begins by capturing your attention. What gets your attention arouses your emotions. Then your emotions activate your behavior, and you act on what you felt. The more you focus on “I don’t want to do this,” the stronger it draws you into its web.

w Ignoring a temptation is far more effective than fighting it. Once your mind is on something else, the temptation loses its power. So when temptation calls you on the phone, don’t argue with it, just hang up!

w Spiritually, your mind is your most vulnerable organ. To reduce temptation, keep your mind occupied with God’s Word and other good thoughts. You defeat bad thoughts by thinking of something better. This is the principle of replacement. You overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21).

w Satan can’t get your attention when your mind is preoccupied with something else. That’s why the Bible repeatedly tells us to keep our minds focused: “Fix your thoughts on Jesus” (Hebrews 3:1 NIV).

w “Fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable” (Philippians 4:8 TEV).

w If you’re serious about defeating temptation you must manage your mind and monitor your media intake. The wisest man who ever lived warned, “Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts” (Proverbs 4:23 TEV).

Called to be Free

Galations 5:13 “You my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.”

Galatians 5:6b “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love”

Acts under the law	Acts under Love
You do it because you have to	You do it because you want to
You do it for personal gain	You do it to bless others
You focus on yourself	You focus on the receiver
You do for others what you want to do	You do for others what you would want them to do for you.

Communication Tips from Jean Shannon

2008-08-26T18:17:00.006+10:00

Jean Shannon spoke at the Regional Symposium of the Queensland Law Society.* At the Symposium, she shared the following insights for communication:

The higher the level of anxiety in a person, the less ability they have to take on information. Therefore, the higher the anxiety, the more structure needed in communication.
It is important to cater for all learning styles - auditory/visual/kinesthetic

You may pick an auditory learner because they may respond "I hear what you're saying"
You may pick a visual learner because they may respond "I see what you mean"
You may pick a kinesthetic because they may respond "I understand what you're getting at"

To cater for all learning styles, have a good structure in your message, use visual aids and prompts, and back it up with facts!

How a person communicates has more weight in personal decision making than what is communicated. Something to ponder when giving altar calls etc

In a study conducted from US and Canada on how communication was received, they found it comprised:

7% words
38% tone and voice
55% facial expressions (from Nancy Adler, Professor of International Management McGill Uni)

*(Jean is a communications and change management specialist with 20 years experience in strategic design, project evaluation and problem solving. She has used applied communications theory in corporate strategic planning to assist in restructuring and repositioning a variety of government and non government organisations. She is a specialist in providing executive communications training including trainer-training, presentation and structured persuasion and is a published journalist and editor. Jean has demonstrated experience in designing corporate communication strategies that make successful change management possible. see http://www.jeanshannon.com/)

One of the greatest lies of the enemy

2008-08-22T07:43:00.007+10:00

No doubt most have heard about Mike Guglielmucci. It is such a sad situation.

This reminds me of a podcast by Greg Laurie on Sampson.

The core of the message was that one of the greatest tricks of the enemy is to suspend consequences.

Suspending consequences happens when you do something wrong - and get away with it. No one finds out. No one is ever going to find out. At this point, there is a greater temptation to do it again.. because you believe you can get away with it.

Perhaps that's how it started with Mike. I read in a blog by someone in his church (not sure how true) that he had a history of 'illnesss' that he was healed of. He had a smaller illness, received lots of attention and then was 'healed'. Maybe he got away with it. My personal view is I don't think this dilemma would have started with 'cancer'. I think there would have been smaller deceptions previously.

The problem with suspended consequences is that the consequence will ultimately come... and usually with much pain, and with greater severity. We see this time and time again - indescretions uncovered at local and global levels.

If you are currently sinning and have gotten away with it - STOP IT NOW. Don't fall for the lie that you can get away with it. Repent and confess. Satan is setting you up for great pain and your destruction.

His aim is to steal, kill and destroy. Don't let him become your undoing.

Attitudes about possessions

2008-08-20T08:33:00.001+10:00

I recently heard 2 excellent podcasts by John Maxwell (go Christ Fellowship) and Chuck Swindoll (insight for living) regarding possessions.

Chuck Swindoll states that true surrender to God includes surrender of your possessions. John Maxwell draws 3 attitudes about possessions from the parable of the Good Samaritan. These 3 attitudes are:

1. What's yours is mine and I'm going to take it (the thieves)

2. What's mine is mine and I'm going to keep it (those that walked by)

3. What's mine is yours and I'm going to give it (the good samaritan)

Both of these podcasts were a great reminder for me to keep my possessions in perspective, but also my generosity when I'm tempted to say they're 'MINE'.

Welcome to Snapshots

2008-08-20T06:59:00.004+10:00

Have you ever had a moment that you wished you could capture in a 'snapshot' to remember for later?

I find myself regularly in that situation - where I have heard something profound, listened to an inspiring podcast, or had some perspective given to a situation.

This blog is a collection of those snapshots... snapshots that will probably find their way into a great speech one day.