Glorious Holidays

Just returned from the most relaxing 5 day camping trip to Putty Beach with Jules.

...Julia & Hayley

We had a fantastic time away - A typical day would consist of reading, eating, swimming, day dreaming, enjoying nature, meeting other campers, finished off with a little more swimming, eating and reading.

We had a lovely 5 man tent for the two of us (thanks Guy & Sam), a small gas stove, stove top espresso, good coffee, toaster, awesome menu (good work Jules - we even made Sushi for lunch one day), great comfy chairs, folding table (thanks Guy & Sam), esky, gas light ... all the modern conveniences - just NO shower... eek! But hey, the Beach was right on our doorstep or tent flap... so lovely!

...making sushi

We had many bush turkeys sharing our camp site, which you sort of got used to by day 2. We had a possum visitor each our food on the first night... 'yes, Dad we should have put the food box in the car'... We felt at one with nature, dirt by the end of the week was no longer an enemy but a friend.

...mmm coffee

Preparing for dinner one night, Jules was trying out her new can opener, sitting there with the instructions - she just couldn't work it out! Just didn't seem to open the can? So I said I would have a go... so I turned the can the other way around thinking it could be part of the problem and so i started screwing the can opener around and then PLOP all the contents came out from the bottom - Jules had been able to open the can but neither of us thought to take the can lid off... so all the corn was on the dirt ground... instead of chucking it in the bin we scooped it up and washed it off in the ever useful strainer... waste not want not, right?

...the beach

I finished reading The Narrow Road by Brother Andrew, churned most of my way through The Revelation of God by Peter Jensen, got through another Eugene Ionesco play The Chairs and listened to John Dickson 5 part talk series on his book Promoting the Gospel.While reading Jensen I realised that my vocabulary is not quite that of an academic... many words Jensen used I had no idea about or I thought I had a vague understanding of what it meant but when put in the context he used it I had no idea.

Anyway, I decided to compile myself a little list of words that I needed defined and so here are all the words, with my guessed meaning and then the real meaning - hopefully you too can grow your vocab. I don't think I did too badly in coming up with a meanings but nevertheless...

... if you are keen to read you may need to click the image to view

Praise God for the time spent with Jules: sharing life, praying, discussing God's words, dreaming and having fun. Am really thankful to God for the friend I have in Jules.

Thank God for the refreshing time away, camping really allows you to stop, have no technology to distract you - just get back to basics and nature!

SummerFest 07

Summerfest was a great week serving our Lord Jesus giving me a good kick-start to this year - I feel I have been energised for the gospel. It got my blood racing and now that I am back I am keen to get stuck into the ministries I am involved in here.

Suzanne @ Tuesday Night Teenz :: All things Royal!

Game :: Carry the King

PRAISE GOD for:

• For the 850 or so children/youth/adults who came along to the programs each day.
• The families that turned up to morning church at CCEC on Sunday as a result of door knocking. (and the joy it is to knock on doors and proclaim Christ)
  
• Praise God for the awesome hands on training the team received this week especially in evangelism by Craig Dobbie - evangelism and training pastor up at CCEC - He is an evangelist who excites me to just get out there and do it. To think hard how to challenge peoples world-views plausibility structures. Really thankful for his insights shared this week.
  
• For the FUN and joy to serve co-leading with Andy on Xtreme Teenz. Thanks that I could share games and resources with others to bring back to Matthias.

Olivia and Me @ All things Royal

ASK GOD for:

• Energy and wisdom at CCEC for the follow up of many we doorknocked and the many new families we came into contact through the programsn.
  
• For all those who served on the team - that God would refresh them and excite them to go back into their home churches to serve Him. That he would continue to sustain them and equip them for ministry.
  
• Raise up more people to be on team next year so we can cater for more people and so hopefully reach more people.
  
• The spread of his gospel - may God grant repentance to many on the Central Coast.

Verity, Bethany & Bron @ Erina Fair for final Lunch!

T-shirts Plug

For my section we left it late to get section t-shirts and so on Tuesday I was trying to find some one to get some screen printing done by Saturday!

Contacts on the Coast couldn't do it.
2 other contacts in Sydney couldn't do it.

So i googled Fast Screen Printing and I stumbled upon:

PSI Screen Printing

www.psionline.com.au

Now what follows is a blatant plug for PSI Screen Printing, because I am so impressed with them.

I emailed. Joel called. I designed. Joel made. The courier came and delivered today at 8am.
PSI Screen Printing ROCKS!!!

CHEAP... EFFICIENT... FAST... GOOD QUALITY... LOOK GOOD...

15 t-shirts done in one day. Joel went above the call of duty to get these done! Praise God for PSI Printing.

So if you need any t-shirts done for an event or mission give Joel a call or check out their website - it isn't that great but apparently is undergoing some work and the new one should be up by the end of the month.

He also happens to be a Christian...

_________________________________

Please pray for SUMMERFEST as we start Saturday the 6th. We will spend Saturday and Sunday setting up and then Monday is the kick off of the sections with the children and youth.

Praise God for CCEC and that they have raise additional funds for the mission than budgeted for. Praise God for their generosity to see the gospel go out in their community.

Please pray for me as I lead the woman leaders in my section, for the talk that I am giving on Forgiveness on Wednesday to youth (almost finished writing it) and all the others giving talks this week.

Pray for the hearts on the Central Coast - may God show mercy and grant repentance to many.

Pray for the Matthias folk joining me, that it will be a great first mission for many of them. That they will be sharpened by the training they receive, better equipped to serve and that the mission bug would catch - that they would see how awesome God is and how privileged we are to be used by him to proclaim the life giving news of Jesus.

AMEN

Hymn/Prayer for the new year...

Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands and let them move
at the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice and let me sing
always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
filled with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold
not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
every power as You choose.

Take my will and make it Thine
it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart it is Thine own
it shall be Thy royal throne.
Take my love, my Lord I pour
at Your feet its treasure store
Take myself and I will be
ever, only, all for Thee.
Take myself and I will be
ever, only, all for Thee.

Here am I, all of me.
Take my life, it's all for Thee.
______________________________________________

Take My Life (and let it be)
Frances R. Havergal, 1874 - Copyright Public Domain

PASSION: Hymns Ancient & Modern
Chris Tomlin, 2004

www.268generation.com

Nerdlinger Siblings...

(Re)New(ed) Creation

While I was away at Bonny Hills, between Boxing day and New Year with my family, I did some reading of Michael W Goheen’s article - (Re)New(ed) Creation: The End of the Story.

:: IMPACT FOR THE NOW…
The quote below somewhat annoys me as its used to illustrate The Importance of the Future Hope and so the importance of accepting the RENEWED RESTORE CREATION view…

…if one believes that the earth will be destroyed and we will live in a spiritual heaven forever, there likely will be little interest in caring for the environment; evangelism is the only activity with lasting significance. However, if one believes that God will restore this earth then care for his creation will be part of our mission alongside evangelism. Our view of the future matters because it shapes our lives today…

The RESTORE view also worries me that if we seek to place environmental care as a top priority or interest alongside evangelism…

>>> Does it not in some way limit God’s ability to restore anyway???
>>> Does God need us to help with restoration by starting now???
>>> What will our work at maintaining earth do for God anyway???
>>> Isn’t the fact that God created us stewards of his creation motivation to care for the environment???
>>> If he is going to restore could He not restore this creation even if this earth underwent mass destruction - say a worldwide nuclear disaster???

:: IF GOD DESTROYS THE CREATION SATAN WILL HAVE WON A TREMENDOUS VICTORY?
Hmmmm… Well Satan definitely has no reign over it anymore???
>>> Why does destruction mean no victory?
>>> Does Satan have the power or authority to destroy like this???
>>> Why does destruction rule out the ability for God to create a NEW heaven and earth???
>>> Won’t God’s perfect reign in the NEWness where God’s people can live with him and not be tainted or tempted by sin and evil demonstrate a GREAT victory???
>>> Has victory not already been won???

:: WORDS, WORDS, WORDS…
Being the Biblical Languages scholar that I am not this requires further investigation for me… neos means new in time or origin whereas kainos means new in nature or in quality. And so Goheen concludes that a new heaven and a new earth means a world that is renewed not brand-new.
To annihilate or purify - that is the question? 2 Peter 3:10-12 AND Revelation 21 are addressed – judgment burnt destruction or refiners fire… Goheen reckons the language can mean both things.

:: WILL MY DOG BE IN HEAVEN?
Goheen says “the non-human creation shares in this liberation [life in all its aspects is purified] of God’s people.” I am not too sure how non-human liberation will work.

>>> What non-human creation gets into the new? What is alive at the interruption???
>>> Will dinosaurs be in heaven?
>>> Will I see my dog Taffy again - in the new earth, if he will experience liberation of all aspects of his life???

___________

Hmmm… I feel I have answered no questions just gone around in circles, and my brain hurts so I will put this blog to rest for the moment but will be sure to continue thinking this all through.

Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! - 2 Corinthians 9:15

Click to Play

The Future

Click to Play

On Sunday, Marty preached on Revelation 21 & 22 :: 'I wanna go home'.
It was a hope filled sermon and pointed you to long for complete restoration of relationship with the Living God. Living with the people of God in a New City where there is no temple as we have no need for one for God himself dwells with his people.

It was also stressed that this would be a NEW home. Brand New, Good Home, Not all people are welcome to this home and only those who get in get in by the Lamb.

In question time after the sermon someone asked: Why do we need a New Heaven... understand why a new earth but a new heaven - what is wrong with the current one??? Is it just to push the idea that God will create "all things new"?

But as I heard Greg Clarke @ CASE speak on Christians and the future yesterday - he presented the argument that it is not so much of the "New" and the Old is destroyed but the Christian future is more about "renewal, restoration and reconciliation". (Think Noah!)

I guess I am stuck on the word "new"and what the difference is to "renew" and balancing the ideas of RR&R with the image presented in Rev 21 of NEW City, NEW things, FORMER Passed Away - and 2 Peter 3:8-13 Heavens will PASS AWAY, SET ON FIRE, DISSOLVED...

The NEW is to be free from the effects of sin and secure from sin ever entering in:

• What really can remain from this creation that has not been tainted by sin?
  
• Do we not need NEW not just renewed - for that is what happened to Noah and look where we are now?
  
• Or is it a different 'type' of renewal?
  
• What is the link with the future 'old&new' and the fulfillment of old with Jesus: Matthew 5:17-20???? What is the continuity here?
  

Whether the Old is completely destroyed and the New brought in, the old burnt in a crucible to purify and keep the glorious and precious things for the new... I am looking forward to when Jesus will return and I can dwell with the KING, finding complete satisfaction in him and enjoying him FOREVER!

Above is a video Hannah and I made about Rev 21 for the series on Rev at church - Hannah killed two birds with one stone as she had to do a visual representation of a text for a uni video project, but in the end it didn't get shown in church. oh well!!

What I'm...

READING...

• The Narrow Road : Stories of Those Who Walk This Road Together, by Brother Andrew & Others. It is an easy read... a book I had lying around the house. It has encouraged me greatly to trust God more in prayer. He does listen, he knows exactly what we need and always delivers - he is faithful. Brother Andy takes the bibles to the closed countries after the war. His persistence and passion for encouraging the persecuted church is motivating to be bold for the gospel.


• A Call to Spiritual Reformation, by D.A Carson This is not as an easy read as the above, but enjoyable to read nonetheless. I haven't read it all yet... but am looking forawrd to chewing on Paul's prayers....
  
• Hosea - really great read. I like how Hosea's wife narrative is sandwich into the prophecy. It is a very powerful depictiction of the sprirtual adultery we commit - it is so black and white the betrayal and disgust Gomer brings on her husband - and so it is a helpful rebuke not to forget the name of the Lord, not exchange worship of God my Father and Creator for the temporary & fleeting things this world has on offer.
  
  I also got up to this part of the Middle Chunck of the Bible with my MCB girls last Thursday. We were reminded so powerfully in Hosea of the comfort that God is so faithful:
  
  "And I will betroth you to me for ever.
  I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy.
  I will betroth you to me in faithfulness.
  And you shall know the Lord"
  Hosea 2:19-20

LISTENING TO...
(My youth girls gave me a iTunes voucher for Xmas so I have just acquired some new music - woo hoo!)

• Shawn McDonald - "Take my hand" is the song I like... I like the rythmn and like most songs it is the lyrics that really get me drawn in... A song that spurs me on to continue to reflect of the majesty and awesomeness of Him who gave me Christ, to desire being changed and transformed by Him for his glory, to hand my life over and live with Christ as ruler and king over ALL my life...
  
  As I sit here and think
  About all that You've done
  About how You gave me Your one and only Son
  And I'm trying to fathom
  All that You are, but so far, Lord
  You're so beyond me I fall down in reverence
  And I fall down in fear
  And I'm asking You, Lord, won't You please draw near
  Won't You open my eyes
  So that I can see
  The way that You are working in me
  And I lay down my life
  And I put it before You
  All that I have to lay in Your hands
  And I'm not going to question, why You're so faithful
  Why that You give me the blessings that You do
  Let the glory be known, let the glory be shown
  I just lift You up unto the throne
  
  
• Brooke Fraser - Album: "Albertine" She has produced a great album yet again. When I went and saw her live last year I was blown away by how well her music is captured and recorded. She sounds just as good live as on her album. This new album has some interesting song titles: CS Lewis Song, Hosea's Wife.... I haven't had time to really get into it yet... but am looking forward to think about her lyrics and what she is trying to convey in Albertine (strange album title too... must go check out what it means)

THINKING ABOUT...

• Generation "Y": At Evening Church this next year we are starting two new ministries... ELEMENT - for workers and SWITCH for 18-24yr olds. I will be leading a group in SWITCH and so I have begun thinking about that age group and what it is these young folk (which includes myself) think, what motivates them and what do they live for.
  
  "The Spirit of Generation "Y" - The Spirituality of Australian Youth & Young People aged 13-29 by folk at ACU & Monash University - is the text I am starting with to think this topic through: 49% of Gen Y's believe in 'god'! and 27% volunteer in some capacity or involved in some civic duty which shows that perhaps this isn't so much a self-centred "i" generation???
  
  
• Topic of Guilt: It has been my hobby horse topic all year, trying to nut out what is a biblical understanding of it, I guess I will have a blog about this when I come to some conclusion!
  
  >What is the role of guilt in a Christians life? Just to lead to repentance?
  
  >What is the difference between guilt & godly sorrow?
  
  >What is the difference between the fact guilty and the emotion feeling guilty?
  
  >Is it a lack of trust in the power of the cross to "feel" guilt/sorrow for past sins?
  
  >Pilate could find no guilt in Jesus? Of course He can't be guilty if He is not sinful - so as Christians will guilt be natural part of our lives until Christ returns or when we are called home?

MAKING...

• I have 4 quilts on the go... 2 x "Stack & Slash" design (1 orange and the other is black/red/white) and 1 x "Picket Fence" design (purple floral) and 1 x red "Double Irish Chain" design.
  
  I have had a few of these going for a while but am sure I will complete eventually. It is one of the simple joys to sew. It is really thereputic to hear the hum of my sewing machine and feed fabric into the machine - listen to music or a sermon at the same time. It's just brilliant!

GETTING USED TO...

• My new MacBook laptop... Mac's do things just that little differently to PC's... I am slowly getting there and trying to learn all the short cuts. I am having loads of fun fiddling with the photo and movie programs - which I am hoping will be very handy for youth stuff - oh and just for having fun - as you can see I use the iSight camera often!! Love that you can distort, recolour etc. Endless hours of procrastination to be had!



• No Sammi in the office. Sam has moved to Wild St to be their administrator and I miss her heaps - so I made a visit yesterday to her new office and took her a coffee since there is no cafe near by... the sacrifices one makes for the gospel.
  
  She is my faithful prayer warrior and friend who always seems to know when to write me a email of encouragement or stick a bible verse on my desk when I am tired, sad or frustrated! I have learnt so much from her this year in the way she serves our church and the staff- Her love, hard work and faithfulness is amazing - I miss her heaps.
  
  

December Prayer Update

I am so overwhelmed by God's kindness this year to me. I have become a part of a new church, tried new ministries, obtained new skills, developed old ones, realised poor skills, I have learned a lot, cried a lot, laughed a lot and met so many new and wonderful people this year (probably met 400+ new people this year)!

:: My Youth Girls ::
Praise God for them all :: Ellen, Nikk, Verity, Suzanna, Chloe, Louisa and Caitlin. They have been a huge blessing to me this year. God has used them in so many ways to shape me, train me and encourage me. I was blown away yesterday of how generous and how well they know my co-leader Alicia and I as they gave us thankyou/xmas gifts. The gifts were really thoughtful!

:: Drama ::
All year Robyn and I have struggled to reconcile the amount of time and effort we put into a non-word/bible teaching ministry, especially as we are essentially employed as bible teachers (or trainee one anyway). But God has shown me this year the ministry of drama is a unique way to build trusting and genuine relationships with families who would never come to church.

Not-yet-Christian families think highly of Robyn and myself and now after the success of the end of year performance think very highly of the Matthias community - One mother saying how it must be a joy and privilege to belong to such a community... and yes what a springboard for a gospel conversation. PRAISE GOD!

:: Outside Matthias Ministries ::
Summerfest 07 – January 06th to 13th. Pray for good leading with Andy and smooth running of the week. Pray that organization and delegation goes well!

KYCK 07 – (April) Pray that God would give me creativity to think through the bits that I am responsible for. Pray that we will have productive meetings in the next few weeks!

:: Personal ::
In the prayer update at church on Sunday it was asked that people "pray to find a replacement for Hayley in Drama 2008". This is sad – but I know long term bible college is a good thing and something I really want to do!
Pray for peace of mind – to just keep on serving whole-heartedly and worry about decisions for 2008 when I really need to.

I have realised this year, the many opportunities available to me to serve and the vast contexts I can promote the gospel… this has been really helpful to have experienced and good to help me to begin thinking in creative ways to serve, especially as a woman pursuing full-time ministry.

Thank God for the BIG answer to prayer - in providing opportunities and time in building my friendships with my not-yet-Christian friends. Pray especially for Lisa and George - that I will not be lazy in finding time to genuinely relate to them, and to not hide that I am a Christian. Pray that my speech would be littered with the way God is at work in my life, share what I am learning about myself, God and the world in a natural manner - really I guess I am asking that you pray I would shine like a light for Him.

Praise God for all that I have been able to do through his strength this year. I am so thankful for the MTS role at Matthias. It is truly a privilege and am thankful that I can continue on here next year.


NEXT YEAR:
Pray that Caro, Warwick and I will be able to work out well the best use of my time, the ministries to invest more time into and the ones to pull a little back from.

Working out what areas I need more training or experience in and stretching me in that. But also that I won't be stretched too thin and that I will have the energy to keep working hard for the gospel.

Sharing Creativity - Powerpoints!

I was chatting to my brother on the weekend about Youth Ministry and he said I should put some of the recent things i have done on my blog so for those who stumble upon it or those who look at it regularly can use some of the resources I have created or get ideas....

So these are some powerpoint templates I designed for an Exodus Series...




This one is for a title slide - so if its the lyrics to a song - the title of the song is in the white bit and the lyrics underneath.




And this is something i did to summerise another series of talks at youth group on Life For the Dead - evangelistic series.

Give thanks to the Lord !

I just got back from giving my talk on WHAT IS LOVE? to the girls at Randwick Girls'.

Nicolette did a fantastic job of MC'ing the lunch - explaining who we are, who CURIOUS is, what we do at CURIOUS, and when we meet etc...

God was so kind! We had 20 girls come today >>> 15 of whom are not-yet-Christians.

Pray that God would be at work in them today as they heard about the great Love God has for them.

May they come back to Curious in following weeks to find out more of who Jesus is and what it means to follow him.

Pray also that they would come to WISE UP... our youth event in 2 weeks time. 

Prayer Update - NOVEMBER

YOUTH
Praise God for a fun night with the girls on Friday - we had a girls social at Nikk's house and we made Sushi! Yummy!

Praise God for the opportunity I had to give my first talk at Youth group to the girls. Thank God that I felt it went well and that the girls got my point: Remember - The Lord God Did it All!

DRAMA
Big Performance is less than 2 weeks away!!!! Eeek!!!

Pray that we would get all that needs to be done - DONE! ie. Costumes mainly! What a task!

Pray that God would provide good opportunites on the night to meet extended family members and that all families may be receptive to us inviting them to our Christimas Events.

HOLIDAYS
Praise God for the restful week of holidays I just enjoyed. I went to Port Macquarie with my Dad and my brothers to support Toby competing in the 1/2 iron man up there.

It was a great time with my family and good time spent reading: Peter Brain's Going the Distance, Don Carson's A Call to Spiritual Reformation.

Plus great time spent around home reading more, sewing, catching up with friends (movie & dinner).

Curious - ISCF Lunchtime Group @ Randwick Girls'
We have a Pizza and Talk lunch this Friday - I am giving a talk on WHAT IS LOVE? taught from the passage on the prodigal son and we are ordering in Pizza! Woo Hoo!

Praise God for the 12 regulars that have been coming along. Praise God they all have invited friends to What is Love? May God show mercy on all these girls.

SUMMERFEST
BIG Planning meeting is on the 25 November - Pray for Andy and I that we would be well prepared for that.

Pray that the meeting would be a good use of time for planning and preparation, that delgation would happen and progress made.

Praise God that 8 from Matthias will be joining me on Summerfest! Woo Hoo!

What is man that you are mindful of him...

Marcia gave me a series from the book of Psalms: Who's afraid of Doctrine? to listen to preached by Andrew Leslie @ St Thomas'. Marcia loved the series and thought I would too... And I did!

Particularly was the second of the three sermons that stood out: Doctrine of Human Nature (Ps 8 &14) as I compared it to the reading of Act Two of Rhinoceros (see other post).

Jean: I tell you it's not as bad as all that. After all, rhinoceros are living creatures the same as us; they've got as much right to life as we have!

Berenger: As long as they don't destroy ours in the process. You must admit the difference in mentality.

Jean: Are you under the impression that our way of life is superior? ......

Berenger: You must admit that we have a philosophy that animals don't share and a irreplaceable set of values, which is taken centuries of human civilization to build up....

Jean: Humanism is all washed up!

__________________________

The mirror has the fullest ability to reflect God's glory – Humans are the crown of all Creation, made in image to reflect the glory of God. While the rest of creation has some degree of ability to reflect God’s glory but humans are most able to reflect God because of creativity, personality, ethical maturity, our bodies, relational etc - all that distinctively human better reflects His glory!

Superior??? Indeed! We are created to image most perfectly God - almost a bridge between heaven and earth. There is a irreducible, cosmically infinite and objective glory about you!
What a pick up line?

Mirrors can't generate their own beauty or light - mirrors reflect light and beauty, hence all our glory and comes from God not something we find within ourselves.

Such a helpful point that I think is a great application of teaching the importance of the glory of God and the value that then instills in us. This is something I hope to include into a study this term with my youth group girls: that we can't look to ourselves or external measures (relationships, status, etc) for our self worth, importance and value– for we will be as fragile as the thing we look to for our worth.

Let's build on the glorious rock of Christ!

Psalm 14 though goes on to depict the lowest possible view of man: That we are radically evil! Can we say that human nature is good – evil is a result of bad social conditions… What about the Holocaust – what do you say about that… Nazi’s did it because of poor education or bad social conditions??? Does it not just trivialize the evil??? Individual vs. Civilisation… can we crush the individual for the sake of humanity and civilisation.

This is what Ioensco set out to do in Rhinoceros and does so well. The tragedy, bleakness and farce of mankind, in decisions, choice and logic with individuals turning into unthinking and clumsy Rhinoceroses – a comment on the innate brutality of people and how they were swept up in the epidemic of Nazism.

We were made radically good (Psalm 8)
But are radically evil (Psalm 14)
Hideousness of evil, Evil will take over and finish us off eternally!
Any Escape?

YES!

JESUS is the ultimate human, the ultimate SON OF MAN, he lived the life we were created to live with all truth, nobility, creativity, and died the death we deserved.

He paid for our radical evil.
He became the hideous for us.
He tasted death for us.
Nothing but the Holy Spirit can turn the mirror of your soul to the LORD JESUS CHRIST!

What an encouragement to go out there and live life to reflect the glory of God to the world!

What a great line Andrew finished his sermon with:

Let this change you from the moment you get up from the pew!

AMEN!

__________________________

:: PSALM 8 ::
3When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
4what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?

:: PSALM 14 ::
1The fool says in his heart,
"There is no God."
They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds,
there is none who does good.

Jesus & the Woman of Samaria

We read John 4 in bible study last night and I was so blown away but three things:

1. How Jesus used such a broken woman - a woman of 5 husbands and fooling around with another man yet through her many Samaritans believed in Christ because of her testimony. She wasn't at all credible but the gospel went out from her. And from the Official in 4:46ff his whole household was converted - through one man.
   
2. I want to be more like the Samaritan woman - not in having many husbands but by having the gospel on my tounge and JOYFULLY compleled to share the amazing truth of what Jesus has done. She left her water jar and went and told people. I pray for passion of that intensity!
   
3. How everything in John backs up John 20:31 - its by the word they heard that the Samaritans now know that "this is indeed the Saviour of the world" 4:42 & The Official "believed the word that Jesus spoke" 4:50
   

Rhinoceros

I have been reading Rhinoceros a absurdist play by Eugene Ionesco and it has been really enjoyable with many laugh out loud moments...

Favourite quotes:

Botard: I work on Sundays as well. I've no time for priests who do their utmost to get you to church, just to prevent you from working, and earning your daily bread by the sweat of your brow.

Papillon: [indignant] Oh!

Botard: I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you. The fact that I despise religion doesn't mean I don't esteem it highly...

...

Botard: All you get at the univertsities are effete intellectuals with no pracitcal knowledge of life.

...

And this quote really struck me by the characters boldness to apolgise for his pettiness in an argument and the lack of acceptance of the apology instead an insult!

Berenger: But I would like to say how sorry I am for being so insistent ... and so obstinate ... and getting so angry... in fact... I acted stupidly.

Jean: That's not suprising with you.

Middle Chunk of the Bible (MCB)

"For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction... that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope"

Romans 15:4

Met with my MCB girls this afternoon... Over this year I have been meeting monthly with Jess, Erin and Gemma to tackle the Middle Chunk of the Bible... You know the middle bit, the Old Testament, the part you sort of get muddled in... well it has been fantastic to meet with these young, vibrant, enthusiastic and faithful go-getters!!

We are working our way up to the MCB and so today we reached the Split of the Kingdom - so by our next meeting we will be ready to check out those Prophets!!!

It's exciting to see these young women hungry for God's word and see truths click further into place and see them excited by biblical theology! WOO HOO!!!

Highlights:
:: Cycles in Genesis and Judges
:: God's graciousness in providing the Sacrificial System
:: Prostitutes help spies?? (Josh 2), A King "weeing" in a cave??? (1 Sam 24:3), Affairs (2 Sam 11), Murder: Tent Peg through head (Judges 5:26)
:: Israel's obsession with good looks: Saul' s height n charm & David's ruddy looks with great eyes!
:: And just seeing Israel's unfaithfulness to a God who has been so good to them, saving them time and time again. God is so faithful even when his people so blatantly reject him.

"Blessed be the LORD... Not one word has failed of all his good promise"
1 Kings 8:56-57

Which led us to a good time of prayer: praying from stuff we discovered together, plus for each other in our everyday lives and specific ministries we are involved in at Matthias.

This Afternoon was an Absolute Joy!!!

Live Footloose & Fancy Free

I wrote up the final study for Pulse on Ecclesiastes.

Doing the prep for this study came at a really helpful time as my grandmother's health slowly deterioated. The reality of the the fragility of life, the decay that comes with age and the very temporary and short time we get on this earth - was actually a comfort and strong encouragement to keep on serving God with all the strength he gives me.

In Pulse, I got the youth to work out the imagery from Ch 12 of old age which is so honest and this is what we came up with - so real isn't it.




The year 11 and 12 girls really got stuck into it and I think partly when you are excited by truths you have discovered in the bible they too get excited, and I shared openly how hard it is to see someone you love deterioate like this passage describes, which I think my girls appreciated.

But as I said it was a great source of encourgement - reminding me to make the most of all that I have while I am young by remembering God who is the giver of life. The desire in our hearts is for his renown… for his fame…so continue to walk in response to his great love: to live is Christ, to be fruitful for the kindgom - for others sake.
Which reminds me of something Uncle John once 'told' me:

I will tell you what a tradgey is. I will show you how to waste your life. Consider a story from the Fbruary 1998 edition of the Reader’s Digest, which tells about a couple who “took early retirement form their jobs in the Northeast five years ago when he was 59 and she was 51. Now they live in Punta Gorda, Floroida, where they cruise on their 30 foot trawler, play softball, and collect shells.” At first when I read it, I thought it mike be a joke. A spoof on the American Dream. But it wasn’t. Tragically this was the dream: Come to the end of you life – your one and only precisous, God-given life – and let the last great work of you life, before you give an account to you Creator, be this: playing softball and collecting shells. Picture them before Christ at the great day of judgement: “Look Lord, See my shells”. This is a tragedy. And people today are spending millions of dollars to pursuade you to embrace that tragic dream. Over against that, I put my protest: Don’t Buy it. Don’t Waste Your Life.

Don’t Waste Your Life :: John Piper

Random Office Fun!!!!

 

Drama @ Matthias

Drama classes have been going really well. We have received great feedback from parents all year that the children love it.

Two Children have developed good relationships with Christian children and now are coming along to Sunday School week by week, where they hear the good news and develop more relationships with Christians - very Exciting!

Praise God - may he continue to plant seeds and grow them.

Pray that the Christian children at Drama would have hearts for evangelism and the gospel.... wanting to see their budding thespian friends saved!

This term we are aiming to have a drama themed Sunday school social on a Friday night - something we think to do with puppets and have a gospel puppet presentation and workshop making your own puppet and have drama games - which should be attractive to the Drama children who are not seemingly interested in Christian things yet.

Pray that this social will be able to go ahead and that many drama children would be keen to come!

We are also thinking BIG for next year - 2007... eek!

We have had increasing demand for more children to join us but we can't take them on as the end of year play is in full rehearsal and also we don't really have the man power to take them on. So we really need to think through what to do next year! Do we expand over two afternoons to cope with the demand?, do we do split lessons on the one afternoon? or do we keep it small and exclusive?

We also need to think how this may impact in 2008 - with the likely prospect of not having me around as I (God-willing) hope to go to Bible College!?! And also unsure of what full time work will look like for Nicolette in 2008 - meaning only Robyn is available to teach.

Please pray for clarity in planning ahead - that we make decisions based on kingdom priorites and how to get the most out of Drama as a launch pad into gospel activities - not to base decisions on our pride & success so far!

Thank God for Erin (from Evening Church), helping us out with Music direction for the end of year performance and Nicole (my friend from St Thomas') helping with Choreography! Their talent, skill and servant hearts are much appreciated!

Challenge Conference 2006 AD

Just spent the weekend thinking big at Challenge Conference.

Talks from Phillip Jensen were long but good. The topic: Now Is The Time - Eschatological Thinking. Good in helping to think through priorities and in thinking of the end hope filled reality for those in Christ and the perishing reality for those aren't. If God has put eternity into everybody's heart - how can this not shape the present and what you are doing now: preaching the word and world evangelism must be a priority.

Gary Koo gave talks on Ezekiel in the morning. Gary communicates really clearly, as he is easy to follow and his points are concise and made simple. His first talk was great: "A Vision of God" from Chapter 1. It was a great reminder of just how glorious our God is, a good challenge to check whether you reduce the awesomeness of God or domesticate him. God is mighty, glorious, without boundaries - he is indescribable!

John Chapman had some good insights on itinerant preaching plus gave two talks. I came away from those with the encouragement of the Sheer wonder to be God's mouthpiece and speak/live his gospel, as God's fellow workers - Awesome! (2 Corinthians 5) and; if you want to cover the gospel in your evangelistic talk then Chappo's pointer is to include: Jesus the Ruler (judges > your response REPENTANCE) and Jesus the Rescuer (saves > your response FAITH).

Col Marshall did a session with us on being an MTS apprentice (or literally a bible teacher & pastor with "L" plates) -it was a little depressing. We got onto discussing failures and I was convicted of the weight and pain when you fail people. Please pray that I would be a person marked by forgiveness and love all people and that I would be humble in seeing my own faults.

Over lunch with Dudley and Elizabeth Ford, they encouraged me that the next thing I need to read are the Institutes of Calvin. Dudley is a great man he is so excited by the gospel so too is Elizabeth. They have so much enthusiasm for learning and I pray that God will continue to use them to encourage us young folk to live a life zealous for the gospel!

On top of the teaching was a very fun fun fun time hanging out with the MTS boys Marty, Jono & Doug and also Caro, Dave, Kurt & Rod (get it 'curtain rod' - hahahaha I discovered that word-play over the weekend as well!).

I also found time spent getting to know other women doing MTS @ UNSW really valuable, particularly Jules. Jules was an immense encouragement and we were able to chat and share the training, struggles and experiences over the year so far. By her example I have been challenged to be more prayerful with people. Time spent with Jules was really edifying and helpful to think through ministry with another girl going through the trials and joys of MTS.

Overall a great weekend! Praise the Lord!

In Loving Memory...

Stella Madge Pearce

My nanny was taken home to our Father on Sunday 17th September at 4:17am. She was a loving, caring and extremely generous grandmother, who I am going to miss greatly. She lived a full life of 88 years, that including 67 years married to my grandfather Douglas. They had five children of whom my mother is the only living child. My nanny was a follower of our Lord Jesus - Praise God!

Please pray for my mother as she grieves her mother. Pray that my brothers, father and I will support her as this is a difficult and intimate loss especially as my mum had been my nanny's full time carer for the last few years.

Pray for my grandfather, Doug that in his grief the Lord my place it upon his heart to know him. May God have mercy on him and grant my grandfather repentance.

:: John 14.1-6

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Staff Attack

From left to right: Doug, Jono, ME, Dave, Robyn, Sam, Caro, Rod & Warwick... In front: Kurt & Marty 

September Prayer Update

THANKS & PRAISE

• Thank God for Staff Attack - staff conference :: The whole staff team (Warwick, Dave, Rod, Kurt, Robyn, Caro, Sam, Marty, Jono and Doug) went up to Copacabana beach for 3 days to review the year and think /plan ahead. It was great and fun time away with the staff team, good quality time in the bible, sharing and praying as well.
  
• Thanks for Women's Katoomba Convention (WKC) :: great time away with Evening and Morning Church Women. Saturday night the 25 or so women all cramed into one of the 2 bedroom units to share a meal together and fellowship. Praise God for the women speakers who spoke with clarity and conviction reminding the 3000 women to not domesticate Jesus and make him managable instead to see Jesus for who he really is and serve Him : the one true living God!
  
• Praise God that I have seen his care and love in answering prayers lately... changing my heart by giving me wisdom and paitence and compassion. Giving me what I need to honour Him in building genuine relationships with people.

PRAYER / ASK

• Pray for the remainder of the year for our Prayer and Bible Group as we begin to study John. Pray that we all want to know Christ more through his word.
  
• Pray for Pulse youth group :: few girls in my care are going through some hard times. Please pray for my co-leader Alicia and I that God will sustain us, give us the right words to comfort the girls and wisdom to point them to treasure and cherish Christ.
  
• Pray for the Welcoming and Follow Up ministry at Evening Church that I have initiated mid-way through the year. Pray that people involved will continue to be keen to see newcomers really welcomed into our family at Matthias and want to develop genuine relationships with them. Ask God to encourage our people at Matthias to be concerned for the outsider and want to welcome them in as God has welcomed us (sinners) into his kingdom.
  
• Pray for the staff team now that we are back from our conference that we wouldn't be complacent or lazy but that we will be keen and faithful in putting things we discussed and planned into action.

This is my passage of encouragement and prayer for the month:

May you be strengthened with all power,
according to his glorious might,
for all endurance and patience with joy
Colossians 1:11

Therefore what thanksgiving we ought to give.

I wrote an email to my brother Toby yesterday to share with him what I shared on my blog about thanksgiving and how thankful to God I am for him.

He replyed in saying :

It’s good to hear you are thankful to God. We are studying rom 8 at the moment. The famous 8:28 – in all things God works for the good of those who love him. It means all things, therefore when it says “if God is for us, who can be against us” - The answer is no one. Therefore not even persecution, car troubles, cancer, disloyal friends, death, computer problems, traffic are against us, for nothing can be against us because God is for us and is working in everything for our good.

Therefore what thanksgiving we ought to give.

AMEN Brother!

Abounding in Thanksgiving for Fonts

I forgot to mention just how thankful I am to God for FONTS. But in reality Fonts deserve a posting all on their own as they truely are an art form of great use and function.

Yes, I admit I may be a nerd but I find great joy in the vast selection of fonts, creative people have developed and have made available to me to enjoy through their generous sharing of them on the net. The search for new fonts is a very addictive hobby.

It was a delight to be at the KYCKSTART '07 meeting last Monday night, where I got to meet other Font Enthusiasts who are on the Creative Hub too - they were inspiration and I felt right at home sharing in the passion for good fonts.

I must thank God for my brother Toby who introduced me 1001 Fonts :: www.1001fonts.com - my first font website and in turn this site introduced me to the very big world of fonts.
Other good sites are FontFox :: www.fontfox.com and Da Fonts :: www.dafonts.com

My favourite everyday font is Trebuchet MS - and now that I share this with you, I am unsure of the passive choice I have made in using the default font for my blog... hmmm.

It is interesting however to note people's choice in their everyday font. It is easy to identify Caro's work as it is always typed in Maiandra GD - it almost becomes a signature, in fact maybe I would even go so far as to say that the choice of your everyday font it is an extention of your identity.

Do you express yourself through your font? What does Trebuchet MS tell about me?

You may be thinking - I am have an unhealthy obsession with fonts or that small things ammuse small minds and I perhaps won't argue with you but it is a simple thing in life that I find pleasure in. When doing flyers, hand outs I feel I can capture an essence of what I am presenting in the font chosen and the font helps convey so well intentions and meanings of the words typed.

It gives just that something extra... I must confess though that often I will just use a font completley unnessacarily, just because I can and because have the freedom to continue to download new fonts when I get bored of old ones!

If you are now intrigued and would like to learn more there is a great site at Microsoft that describes itself to be a site for the amusement & edification of people beginining a love affair with fonts.

Microsoft Typography :: www.microsoft.com/typography www.microsoft.com/typography/glossary

Go enjoy the wonderful world of fonts...

(PS... On another slightly similar nerdy note I would like to thank Dave for introducing me to " :: " - I like the way it spaces things out and I have begun to use them too much - You can usually identify Dave's work by his use of > // and :: , however as I begin to use it more and more it may actually be mine. I am yet to get on bored with > and // as they do nothing for me.)

Abounding in Thanksgiving

Today in staff meeting we were up to Colossians 2:6-15 in our devotions... and it was a great time in God's word with the staff team and in prayer.

Warwick stated that it was a purple passage (rich and powerful) so we didn't get that far through all the verses and focused just on verses 6 & 7:

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord,

so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith,

just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Things that I found particularly of interest was:

• WALK IN HIM: what is this? What is it to walk... Obedience? Closeness to God? Is the latter a misuse of this term? I was think more in line with obedience - and this is where I began to think about verses that speak of walk and that is more than often associated with the 'way' of the Lord, or path etc... Which backs up the notion of obedience and also the fact that Christ Jesus in this passage is the Lord - who we must submit to and obey!
  
  
• ABOUNDING IN THANKSGIVING: are you someone marked with thanksgiving? How can we be people who are? Individually and corporately? We then spent much time sharing things we are thankful for and for me:
  
  > Opportunity to be serving at Matthias - it was hard to leave CBTB last year and I am thankful to God for opening the opportunity to do MTS here and the joy I have in the variety and diversity of contexts to share Jesus.
  
  > Colours - for God of creation who has created so much beauty and the brightness, fun, excitement, vibrancy and joy that comes with appreciation of colour.
  
  > Hannah & Nicolette - for their great friendships and sisterhood in Christ. Hannah is a great encourager in my life as we read the bible week by week, share in each others lives and pray together. Nicolette has been a great friend to me this year. I am very thankful for her. She is a joy to serve with in Drama and ISCF. PRAISE BE TO GOD for the Saints at Matthias!

Busy, Busy, Busy?

Been busy the last week or so...

additional to the normal stuff I do week by week I have had:

• Summerfest '07 meeting - January mission up on the Central Coast. This will be my fourth year on team and I will be co-leading with a Coastie Andy Bootes. Looking forward to being on a teen section and leading... should be full of fun and challenges. Both my brothers are on team too so it is always a good time to serve alongside them. I have also been able to recruit some fresh blood from Matthias... so about 6 young women have joined the team with me - again a great time to build friendships with these women and serve with them.
  
  
• KYCK Creative Hub - unsure exactly yet what i am to do except think creatively for KYCKSTART youth conference at Katoomba Convention Centre in January 2007. First meeting is on Monday night, will find out more then.
  
  
• Hair Cutting Adventures... Sam and I attacked Doug's hair to make him decent for his sermon on Sunday... Sam and I both agree we did a great job, however this is disputed > read Doug's blog for his side of the story... htttp://duck5.blogspot.com It was a productive Friday afternoon of ministry! I ended up with a new hair cut too... the scissors got the better of me on Saturday night.
  
  
• Good movie viewing: 49UP - Saw this documentary on Thursday night with Marcia. After having troubles working out which Palace Cinema it was screening at we made it in and we both thoroughly enjoyed it. So interesting to see how much people change within 7 years and how outlooks on life, relationships, career and all that, changes with time.
  
  Marcia and I after grabbed dinner at Mickey's and came out realising just how broken our world is, how much pain we can have on those we 'love' and the ultimate distortion in relationships because of our sinful and fallen nature. Despite saying this, Marc and I began to see 49 out of all the 7 year increments was the age of hope... maybe it will take over as my idea of the ultimate age. (yes, can you believe I am moving my stance from 30 being the ultimate age to 49).
  
  It was interesting to note that the God question footage wasn't screened for all the people involved - which is a shame as I think it would be facinating to hear people's perception of God in their lives and how their idea of God differs at 7 yrs, 14, 21, 28 etc. Only one acknowledged God and he was the lonley, homeless for a number of years Eccentric ...
  
  smh review: http://www.smh.com.au/text/articles/2006/07/20/1153166508749.html
  

Prayer Update - August

Curious (ISCF @ Randwick Girls):

• Thanks for the many not yet Christian girls coming along week by week.
• Praise God for the work he is doing in the Christian girls - they are so bold in inviting friends. Pray that this would continue and that they would shine as lights in their school.
• Thanks for Ms Randell - school teacher who has been so helpful in advertising the group and putting it in the notices plus coming along to join in.
• Pray for preparation of this terms bible material: Let's talk about Love & Relationships.
• Pray God would continue to use this open door at Randwick Girls to proclaim Jesus!

TAT (Tuesdays @ Ten) Women's Bible Study:

• Thank God for the encouragement it has been to build relationships with older women in different stages of life.
• Pray for the first half of this term: 4 weeks on Evangelism - firing the women up to share the gospel with the people God puts in their lives, to realise and grasp the urgency and neccesity to evangelise.
• Pray that God would sustain the women and give them the strength to raise their children, love their husbands and have the energy to want to read God's word.

"PULSE" and "Elevenfiftyone" Youth Group:

• Pray for my year 11 girls that God would comfort them as they go through hard times and that he would powerfully remind them of his love for them.
• Pray that the girls may relate better, want to care and look out for each other.
• Pray for Alicia and I as we care for these girls, that we won't get over burdened with their problems but help them to look to God for wisdom and may we know how best to encourage them to be dependent on Christ.
• Pray for the topics we will study this term: Ecclesiastes and John.

Drama @ Matthias:

• Praise God for the many not yet Christian children invited along by Christian children. Pray for relationships to build with these families.
• Thank God for bringing one of our drama kids to Sunday School and that he loves it!
• Pray for energy and creativity for Robyn, Nicolette and I.
• Thanks that the mid-year Performance went really well last night and the way it helped us get to know parents and families better.

Scripture at Paddington Primary:

• Thanks God that the many disruptions are not occurring as frequently to scripture classes. Thank God that through much mix up that we now have classrooms to teach in.
• Thanks that the kids are keen to work out how Jesus fits in with what we are learning about this term. Pray that I would be faithful in teaching narratives of Joseph and Moses.

Evening Church Prayer & Bible Group:

• Pray that while we are all at Night Train (6 week training term - similar to St Thomas' EQUIP), that I would be faithful in prayer for those in my group, that I would seek them out on Sundays to care for them and also meet with the women mid week to catch up over this time.
• Pray that I would have a servant heart for this group. That I would grow in my godliness and be a good supportive and encouraging co-leader to Andrew.

Matthias:

• Pray for Introducing God course running at the moment on Tuesday nights- 30 not yet Christians are coming. Pray for table leaders and Caro who is organising the course.
• Pray for preaching for Morning Church by Warwick: 1 Timothy and for Evening Church by Dave: Ezekial, 3 weekss on Grace and 2 Thess.
• Pray for other MTS'ers and our training: Marty, Jono and Doug
• Family Matters Seminar coming up (evangelistic): The Birds and the Bees.
• New Evening Church Welcoming (WAM) and Follow-up newcomer (FUN) ministries that I am responsible for. Pray that those invloved would be keen to serve and bold in loving those that come to Evening Church.

Personal:

• Praise & Thank God for the diverse and varied contexts I get to promote Jesus Christ.
• Pray for greater motivation in my personal bible reading.
• Ask God that he would help me have good days off that are restful and that refresh me - that I would learn to rest well and enjoy it.
• Pray for me in all my relationships with friends, family, staff team and those in my care that they all would be marked with love, genuineness, transparency, selflessness, and importantly centred on Christ.
• Pray that God would open the door for His gospel with my close girlfriends from school.

Mr & Mrs Dethlefs

 

Lizzie & Thomas' Wedding

LIZZIE & THOMAS' WEDDING
Saturday 8th July 2006
St Thomas' Church North Sydney

Bridal Party in from left to right:
Ian Hoy, Arianne Solomons, Katherine Perry, Thomas & Lizzie Dethlefs, Jason Perini, Hayley Neal, Mel Border, Andrew Hana, & Huw Jones.

A cold 3:30am start was to ensure the bridesmaids and Lizzie were at the hairdressers for hair and makeup and that all of us would be done in time for the 9am walk down the aisle.

It was a great day and a true privelege to share the early morning with Lizzie and the other bridesmaids plus her beautiful parents Judy and Roger. It was truely a fantastic day, a little cold but so much fun! It was so exciting to see Lizzie and Thomas' make promises to each other. They are both such godly, friendly, vibrant and loving people and God has been so kind in giving each of them to each other.

I am really looking forward to being in fellowship with them at evening church over the next few years and getting to know them as a married couple and see them grow together in their love and knowledge of Jesus.


This photo is of me loosing balance and almost falling with my champagne & orange, bouquet, and salmon sandwich in my mouth
- the demands of the photographer! grrr...

Meeting with People

The third week I came to Matthias I met a young girl newcomer to evening church and that week following started meeting up with her forntighly since.

We started going through Two Ways to Live together in the first few times we met together - sipping Max Brenner Hot Chocolates in Centennial Park. Over these weeks she realised she wasn't a Christian and has since become a follower of Christ. Praise God.

As it got colder we still got our hot chocolate (I go for the Java Dark Orange) and we sit in the church hall going through Just for Starters... It is a really helpful tool to use with new or non Christians, it provides you with good questions to stimulate coversation on important issues: Knowing God, Salvation, Prayer, Meeting with God's people etc..

Last time we met we went through the topic on prayer which I think was the most encouraging session - We came to the questions:

What have you brought to God in prayer? She realised she doesn't bring things before him and found great comfort that she could bring any request before him, even one of ther anxieties she is facing at present and also as she has slowly been realising she has 'used' God, praying or reading the bible when she feels she needs him- in case of emergency type thing. She realised that there is so much to be thankful to God for and the great access with have to God and she was challenge to use it.

It is so exciting to see God at work in this young girl. How the word is shaping her and how she is keen to find out more about this God who has saved her.

Please pray for her as I try and think how best to include into the family here at Matthias. Pray that God would give her the confidence to join a Prayer and Bible Group and that she may attend a course of at Night Train (Evening Church training term).

I must go... I have a appointment at Max Brenner's! :)

MTS/ AIM Preaching Conference

The Preaching Conference last week was great... I learnt heaps and was really taken aback by the clarity and faithfulness of the teaching from Murray Capill and David Jones - they have such passion to proclaim the glory of God.

David Jones did a masterful job on preaching from two Psalms and spoke with so much vigour - making it so clear what the Psalm was all about and how clear it pointed forward to Christ. Really helpful in thinking how I prepare bible studies.

We looked also at the preaching of Martyn Lloyd Jones and how remarkable he was in keeping his congregation with him on a 13 year journey through the book of Romans. Now that is a paced sermon series!!

Murray spoke about Preaching to the Heart - Backwards, Upwards and Inwards to move the people we pastor forward in their faith and walk with Christ. So take them back to the word of God and the cross of Christ, take them up to the glory of God and take them in to their own sinful heart. He gave really helpful pointers on how to address all types of Christians in preaching and ensuring non-Christians also are catered for.

And Richard Gibson took as through a part of Acts in the afternoons - where I was particular challenged by the pain of ministry that he spoke about - from the pain when a person you have been meeting with completley rejects the gospel to the pain of saying goodbye to a faithful partner of the gospel for the sake of the kingdom.

I also went to a seminar for women by Claire Smith and a seminar on John by Bill Sallier - both were good - helpful again and encourgaing.

By the end of the two day conference my brain was sore from taking in so much in and not just intellectually but also working out how to apply lots that I learnt to my ministry and also to my own life and godliness.

Holiday Photos

Holiday Photos