Saturday, June 28, 2008

THE OLD DAYS


I was thinking the other day just how doing church has changed. When we started our first church over 10 years ago overhead projectors were a necessity for any cutting edge church. We were so cutting edge we had 2 of them and both sat on top of a wrought iron and glass table. Now that's living. The fact that most of the overhead transparencies were stained with "old marks" didn't worry us. The microphone was a huge lapel that clipped onto your huge tie and to top it off we had the typical 3 fold church newsletter with our "Donny and Marie" photo on the back, those were the days. As we are presently getting quotes for our new church fitout I recently read through all the new sound and multi media gear that we need to create the environments that we desire at church. A new overhead would be much easier...not that I am even considering it!!

Friday, June 20, 2008

WHAT"S REALLY THE ISSUE?


Pastoring is an interesting calling. Like anything there are highs points and low points but what makes it different is the fact that you are a communicator of the truth to a culture that doesn't want to hear truth. Some people when confronted with truth will allow it to penetrate their lives enough to bring about change, others will stare at it wanting to embrace this truth where others will see it and spiritualize their way around it thus avoiding it all together.

Let me explain. Occasionally we will get a person in church life who will tell us that God is moving them on because our church isn't spiritual enough. Now we see dozens born again every month, people healed (one couple who couldn't have children about to go to IVF were prayed for and she fell pregnant that week), marriages encouraged, over 100 families fed every month, money given to support a local special school just to name a snippet of what happens every month. Can I ask a question? What is spiritual? Is it about you going to more meetings so that you can get a greater touch which then sets you on fire so that you can go to more meetings and get another touch? Is it about you and your gift and the only spiritual place is the one that recognizes how amazing you are? Is it when truth confronts you and the only option you have is to move on and hide it behind "God said" so that way you can avoid your shaky marriage or your inability to connect. Is it having Christian symbols evident? Is it gathering with a group of like minded hurt people who will encourage me in my pursuit of avoidance?

Now I am all for getting more of God's presence around our lives as anyone that knows me would witness to, but I do it with the end in mind. Life transformation! My marriage must change, my words must be cleansed, my heart must ache for the lost, my mind must get renewed and I must be able to connect with others..now that's spiritual.


M Scott Peck said the following:


"Problems do not go away. They must be worked through or else they remain, forever a barrier to the growth and development of the spirit".


Wednesday, June 18, 2008

CROSSED OVER


The gym is a funny place where a lot of funny people gather. I think some days I am the only normal person there (compared to ??). Every morning at 5.15am dozens of people line up outside waiting for the doors to open, waiting with anticipation to hurt their bodies, to sweat and to nearly hurl. They get out of bed early to do this. This morning like other enthusiasts I crossed over. I lined up at 5.15am to make sure that I got a bike in the cycle class. Is there anything sicker then on a winters morning, while its dark lining up outside of a gym to torture yourself?
Actually I have done this a few times now but for some reason it annoyed me today. Why do we do it? For me its the knowledge that in 8 weeks I along with several others from Elevation are walking the Kokoda trail to raise money for a community special school. I suppose when I look at it from that angle its a vision that motivates me. Isn't that the way it works in our lives? When we have a vision, goal, some kind of picture of a preferred future shouldn't that stir us to get out of bed and fulfil that desire?

Thursday, June 12, 2008

NEW THINGS

Gotta love a new bible. I ordered a new ESV wide margin from Amazon on Saturday and it arrived today, I was like a kid in a lollie store. I like getting new things. Today I went out and bought my 30 ltr backpack for our Kokoda for Kids trek coming up in August and this weekend I will try it our hiking up Mt Warning. New things are exciting! I love new seasons (natural and spiritual) new days, new friends, new coffee shops and new food. Follow that up by a boat load of new mercies. Get a hold of that, everyday there is a load of freshly cut and compiled mercy for our lives. All it needs is a dock to pull up to. That's us!
So don't forget even if you didn't buy anything new today your ship is always coming in.

Lam 3
22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;23 they are new every morning;great is your faithfulness.

Sunday, June 8, 2008

OWNERSHIP VS STEWARDSHIP


Ever gone to the movies with your kids, paid their way in, bought them a drink and some popcorn only to have them slap your hand away as you reach for some of the very popcorn that you had bought?And you hear those words, "Its mine".

I was sharing in church today in the first of our MYOB series how we need to view our stuff.


1 Chron 29:14

[14] "But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.


This verse comes after one incredible capital campaign by King David to raise finance for the house of God to be built. 17 Billion or around about in today's currency not a bad effort. But what makes this even more remarkable is the attitude of the people. There was literally a feeding frenzy of generosity and the heart of it is found in the verse above.

Everyone realized that we don't own what we have we are simply a steward of what God has given us.

A steward is someone that manages other peoples stuff with the goal of the owner in mind.

There is something powerful when a person realizes the following:

· Everything belongs to God
· Everything comes from God
· Everything is dispersed from God


Its not ours we are only giving back to God what was His anyway!


Saturday, June 7, 2008

SAY NO TO THE FRO


Ephes. 4:14 (KJV) That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

When a church is operating according to an Eph 4 mentality they will go on a "Say No to the Fro" campaign. When Eph 4 leaders lead they will create an environment where people are no longer "tossed to and fro". I get so frustrated by the to and fro people. One minute they are committed world changers, then they are sensing Gods call onto something else and then God changes His mind again to move them elsewhere. As leaders we must embrace the challenge of equipping people to stand strong against the "Fro". This means being willing to speak the truth in love regardless of the response and reaction of the fro people. I think that we will always have them around, Jesus did, but for some reason they never liked being around Him for long. Even at the expense of not being liked He challenged the Fro!

God help us to be more like that!

Friday, June 6, 2008

LET IT OUT

Ephes. 3:20-21 (NLT) Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.

By His mighty power within us! The bible is talking about you and me here. If there is so much of God's mighty power available why don't we always see it?
As I look around the world and especially around Australia I see incredible outpourings of God's Spirit that just were not happening 10 years ago. The amount of people coming to Christ, the amount of volunteers giving their time and energy to make a difference in the kingdom (which is a sign that its the day of His power Psalm 110:3)
We need to remind ourselves that its not about trying to get His power in us but we have to let it work through us. That's only if I believe the bible!! If I'm not sure than I will spend my time looking for ways to get it "into" me instead of looking for ways for it to work through me. This is where most people stumble. Their intentions are good, they love God but the world goes without because we don't activate what is already within.

Psalm 68:1 (NKJV)
To the chief Musician, A Psalm or Song of David.
Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered: let those who also Him flee before Him.


Its our role to let God arise. If we have to let him arise it means that we probably have the ability to keep Him from arising!!
Anyway that's Sunday nights message!