Thailand...

Just back from 10 night trip to Thailand with my Mum and her friend Gillian. We stayed in at Patong Beach Hotel - right in the heart of this holiday destination. It was a great time with my mum and sharing this traveling experience with her. Very thankful she was so generous in taking me on the trip with her. It was also good to see Gillian again who is a family friend from way back. She is also the mum of the kids that I was school of the air home tutor for in the Aboriginal community, which was the last time I had seen her (4 years now)!

We shopped at the markets that had lots of the same sorts of things - t-shirts, dvds, watches, sunglasses, tailored suits & dress, shoes, tourist: hats, towels, wooden elephants, tissue box covers and much more... oh did I mention shoes??

Patong Beach Street

I came home with 4 pairs of new shoes... a new pair of brown flats for winter, pair of fun white plastic flats (v. cute), pair of dress heels and a pair of beige open toe flats.

Now as some of you know I do have a small and moderate love for shoes. So I think I did well by coming home with only 4 pairs since each shoe averaged a whole $5.

But instead of talking shopping which you can do at home or pretty much anywhere, I will move to my impressions of the culture and country of Thailand, well perhaps Patong Beach anyway!

First impression of Patong Beach, Phuket - hot, smelly and humid! Got used to the smell by day 2 and pretty much never got used to the humidity except when in the air conditioning!!

It was hard to get to know the culture of this town as it is so geared to the tourism market. The locals are there to appease all needs, desires, wants and greed of the tourist - Which is quite sad... Patong Beach could be soon made an new Aussie state, every second person is an Aussie's with tattoos who are on their annual holiday there.

But to our holiday... We did two tours, one to Phang Nga and the other around Phi Phi Islands mountains/rock that go straight up out of the water.

On the Phang Nga trip we travelled in a Longtail boat, had lunch at a Muslim Fishing Village, except we didn't have time to look around... only stayed in the restaurant.

Phang Nga / James Bond Island was beautiful, absolutely spectacular. Absolutely picturesque. Some of the photos of me, like the one below, look as though I am superimposed - but no it's the real deal. Mind blowing!

Before we got to the Phang Nga region we stopped off for an elephant trek, buffalo cart ride and see some very cute monkeys, except for the cheeky monkey that bit me.

Phang Nga - Long Tail Boat Ride

Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Ley, were two of the most beautiful islands ever... Phi Phi Ley is where "The Beach" movie was filmed. So beautiful. Again absolutey stunning. Thailand truly has some of the most glorious parts of God's creation!

On our trip was Shampoo and her family. Shampoo owned the tour booking company that is at our hotel. She was trying out the tour to recommend it to customers. She was so kind and looked out for us the entire time. It was a treat to meet her family, all very polite and kind.

Later in the arvo near Phi Phi Don, we were let out for a snorkel - oh the fish we saw were fantastic. So many colours adorned the fish. I am however still suffering from the sea lice bites, grr...

Some of the funniest sites were seen while getting ready for the swim. An Indian couple who never been swimming before gave it a go, many Asians who decided to go in fully clothed all with life jackets, some Indian boys who don't own swimmers and decided to go in just their underpants, an very obese man jumping off the boat, some Thai boys who forgot swimmers bought some from the boat and got changed in front of everyone!

And then me and a few other Aussie's and some Brazilians went in with swimmers and our snorkel - I never felt so normal yet in such a minority.

We also went to Phuket town, local growers markets (which was a daring place to eat dinner but so worth it) and the Butterfly gardens. But lots of the time was spent in the Patong Beach Markets and the beach and by the hotel's gorgeous pools.

But in effort to get to know the place better we refused to eat at any of the restaurants and so we risked it to eat at the side-of-the-road stalls, where the Thai themselves eat. Which was great... we had no problems, we never got sick and got to enjoy the delight of real Thai food and real chats with Thai people. Plus we finished off most meals with Banana/Choc Pancake mmmmmmmmmmmm yummy!!!


As we walked home from dinner every night we would have to walk up the 'red light' street. Which was really sad. The whole street is blocked off after sun down and the lady boys and prostitutes emerge. Again the Thai folk seem to be appeasing the demand of tourism.

I was really saddened by the exploitation of these women (& lady boy men) and disturbed by their seaming willingness but also I saw how sad and lonely the men who hire these people... lonely and desperate enough to make a trip to Thailand on your own to hire a woman to travel with for the week. Really didn't know who to blame, who to feel sorry for or what to think...

But having said that Mum, Gillian and I found the Thai people very polite, honest and kind - which we attributed to their Buddhist Culture. Animals were treated well, their dogs were clean and healthy. Plus when both my Mum and I lost our wallets on separate occasions (yes, yes, it runs in the family OK!) our wallets were returned with nothing taken.

So I guess Precepts 1 (harmonious conduct regarding Life) and 2 (harmonious conduct regarding Property) are the easier precepts to keep in the Buddhist faith. However, it seems they turn a blind eye to Precepts 3 (harmonious conduct regarding Sexual Conduct) and 5 (harmonious conduct regarding Mindfulness - intoxication).

Instead of a Gideon's bible in the hotel we got a great little book "Karma for today's traveler" by Phra Bhasakorn Bhailai with David Freyer... which is a good read, well... Helping me get a better insight into this ever increasing popular religion... I should do another post critiquing this book.... but just quickly it seems highly illogical and impossible.

Superimposed 'me' @ Phang Nga

Other books I got to feast on while away was Don Carson's book on Leadership Lessons from 1 Corinthians - THE CROSS AND CHRISTIAN MINISTRY. Very helpful and insightful book. I love books that work you through passages. It's great to sink your teeth into God's word with a saint like D.Carson as your guide. I have found it really practical in assessing my attitude towards serving, understanding of the role of leaders and the responsibility - it's been a rebuke and stretching book.

Plus can't go on holidays without my Uncle Piper. So I read CONTENDING FOR OUR ALL - John Piper, which Marcia gave to me for my birthday. This book is Piper's insights into the life lessons of Athenasius (bishop), John Owen (pastor) and J. Gresham Machen (seminary founder). WOW! What heroes of the faith... they really fought hard and contended their all for the truth of the gospel and the glory of Christ. Great examples of perseverance in the faith in conflict and controversy, for the sake of Truth, the Kingdom, the Cross and for the sake of Christ's church.

Hmmm ... if you have read this far I applaud you. I guess I will stop ranting and just say I enjoyed my time away! Thank God that I feel refreshed spiritually, emotionally and physically! Very thankful to him for blessing me we such a restful holiday.

Free internet...

how awesome is that...

I am sitting at the aiport and there is a free internet lounge! How great is that, well not that great but since it is really boring waiting for planes I think it's fantastic. So I thought I would blog and let you know that!

Anyway I will be in Thailand by the evening - now that is great.

Praise God for holidays and Mums' who take you on them!

I'll be back in 2 weeks!

this term @ elevenfiftyone...

Fleeing the Sin of Boring people with Christ...

I was just reading my brothers blog and he has just posted up five new websites he has stumbled upon that offer great creative resources. Now my brother's blog was set up with a few of his mates who are in ministry to fight the sin of boring people with Christ. So their blog aims to share ideas and resources. I have found it particularly helpful in getting me to think creatively for the gospel, finding new resources that help do that and then appropriating them to my ministry context.

Such a great thing is it to share ideas I thought I should pass on some of these creative resources ...


http://www.simplyouthministry.com - DOUG FIELDS
This website has heaps of FREEBIES... click on this and it will take you to a whole heap of free downloads. I mainly use this website for growing my collection powerpoint background designs. and also they have flash countdowns, games, leaders resources, and much more!

http://www.vineresources.com
This is a church that has really great free powerpoint design packages based on sermon series themes or books.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/cfcc/pool/
Flickr Church Marketing - sharing ideas - good inspiration!

http://www.seacoast.org/allaccess/message.html
Similar to VINE - powerpoint sermon packages for download

http://www.sermonspice.com/
Sermon spice - sign up and they give you a free video each month - plus more ideas...

http://churchtechtalk.com/
On the right side of the page there are graphic downloads and movie downloads.... great stuff... if you wonder where KYCK get countdowns from look no further than here!

Also if you are wondering about what images you can use that are copyright free... here are some good websites to check out...
http://www.sxc.hu
http://www.yotophoto.com

For games - big database of some good, not so good and average games.
http://www.youthpastor.com

And what would this world be like if we had Times New Roman as our only font:
http://www.1001fonts.com
http://www.dafont.com

NOW you know all my creative secrets... but as my good ol' Uncle John (Piper) would say, Imagination may be the hardest work of the human mind. And perhaps the most God-like. It is the closest we get to creation something beautiful out of nothing. "Oh sing to the LORD a new song" - or art work, or poem, or figure of speech, or song, or flash animation, or short movie.

Let us press on to tell of the greatness and glory of Christ.

GOD IS NOT BORING... John Piper
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/TopicIndex/108/1228_God_Is_Not_Boring/

Life's Good...

Life's Good Week Highlights Package:

*INCARNATION = Authority in humility!
*SIN = Misplaced trust!

Ben Pfahlert

Street Teams
While out on Street Teams for LIFE's GOOD WEEK... Alan and I didn't get much response but ended up with one AWESOME conversation.

And to prove my theory true that if you allow people to talk and express their world view they end up shooting themselves in the foot and they themselves expose the inconsistency of their faith.

So in this conversation the person started out as a "Muslim", part way through said they were a "Agnostic Muslim", then as we talked about judgment and the after life, they said they had been to a Pentecostal church in England when they were there trying to work it out BUT now just believes that if you try your best and be good to others then it will all work out... then by the end of the conversation they became someone who believes in no real higher being but rather the universe!

Praise God that we could share the gospel and answer their questions with it! Oh how the foolishness of God is wiser than Us!!!

SWITCH DINNER - Life's Good So why do I always want more?
Two good friends I went through school with came along to our Switch Dinner. Danielle and Lisa said they had a really good time and they said quote "you really know how to pick good friends" ! Don't know if that is a reflection on themselves or Hannah, Eddie, Alice, Simon and Mike who sat at our table.

They enjoyed the talk and engaged with it, we got stuck on talking about materialism and whether it's just a cultural thing and danced around the idea of whether there is an innate desire inside people to be envious, competitive and jealous!

But in the car trip home, my friends said that they were very insightful saying that they don't pursue money, career or the perfect home... Lisa and I always joke that the two of us will end up sharing a studio apartment and have a bunk bed if we want to buy our own place and live in Sydney. She knows that money doesn't buy happiness, but agrees there is joy to be had with the good things in life... I think she has a really healthy view. But then my friends honestly raised the issue in their lives where that do want more and that is in relationships!

God was gracious to allow me to share the gospel in this context with them... how can we deny that relationships are the most important thing, it's where pain is most real, and joy most fulling - God designed us to be in relationship with each other and sin distorts the way we relate - we reject the most important relationship we can have and that is this God who created us!!! Ask God to lavish his grace on Lisa and Danielle!

Wise Up with Wild St - Mythbusters
6 youths prayed the prayer!

"'Rejoice with me; ... In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." Luke 15:9-1

KYCK '07

Our youth group went away to KYCK 07 - Katoomba convention for Highschoolers...

I really enjoyed myself and hopefully so did my year 12 girls.

I had command of Warwick's tarago, with Chloe, Ellen, Emily & Emily as my passengers!

Great talks, great people, great food (thanks Verity P & team), great fun, great MUSIC....

Great talks by Steven Jefferies & Eugene Hor- theme: "FOLLOW" from Luke's Gospel. I personally loved the prodigal son talk on the Saturday night - it chokes me up every time I hear it taught as I feel like it is the story of my conversion and highlights the glorious mercy and generosity of my Father in heaven, that he would welcome me a sinner. Praise God for the cross of Christ!

I was also really built up by the repeated phrase by Steven : that we are to display the supreme value of Christ in our lives! AMEN to that!

Only feedback I have about the talks that is negative was the fact that both speakers used very boy focused illustrations. Not one of the illustrations about people of the faith were women, so no role models for all the girls there as such. And most of the other images given were blood and gusty, car, national park, computer games etc... thought that these creative things could have been a little more creative in targeting the different age groups and genders.

We had good times at THE GRANGE... where our junior youth: Jam Camp were staying as well. We had compulsory fun on Saturday arvo which included a few active games and then a trip to the cafe in Blackheath!

One of the highlights ;) for me was driving Warwick's tarago.... now tarago's scare me as they give a sense of soccer/ballet-mum-ness, which the girls in my car were more than happy to tease me about! On the way up though we had a plank of wood fly into the windscreen from the ute in front... no major damage - just shock from the noise and the e-tag falling off from the impact.


ALL UP A FUN-FILLED WEEKEND - only took me all week to recover!!

Staff Attack...

Warwick, Dave, Robyn, Caro, Jono, Marty, Deb and Myself all traveled up to Copacabana Beach for our bi-annual Staff Attack.

RADICAL REFORMISSION by Mark Driscoll was our pre-reading material and we discussed and learnt more about Church Planting as there is the idea floating around for new meetings next year - perhaps a 5pm and 7pm.

Mark Driscoll is a champ... he is a passionate gospel driven bloke who is also crazy about meeting our culture where it is at with the truths of the gospel. Answering our culture's questions with the gospel. To meet our "breakneck, isolated, selfish, debt ridden, confused and lonely world" (pg165) with the good news of our Saviour Jesus Christ.

He has a great equation to help you think about how just to do that...

GOSPEL (Jesus) + CULTURE (Neighbours) + CHURCH (Brothers)
= Radical Reformission

If you lack one of these in your equation then you can end up with a Parachurch(-church) or Liberalism (-gospel) or Fundamentalism (-culture). I found this really helpful in identifying weakness and dangers for ministries I am involved in.

Dricoll has some poignant comments to make about Church Culture and our World's Culture:

"the longer someone is a Christian, the greater the propensity to diminish the Jesus of the Bible until he bevomes a predictable little God who ceases to surprise them" - pg 27

At Matthias and all Christians need to take heed of this warning and to keep reading/teaching/preaching from the Gospel accounts of Jesus. We need to keep meeting Jesus on the pages of these accounts - the radical redeemer that dined with sinners... we need to see how he lived and pray for it to penetrate our hearts and transform our lives.

I personally found the warning of finding the balance of NOSTALGIA vs INNOVATION. My tendency I think would lean towards having an ignorance toward church history and lessons from it in pursuit of innovation...

I need to be careful that I don't get caught up in the "fast paced & ever changing culture of insanity" (pg 52-53). I must pray that God would keep me focused and heading toward the goal of Jesus and all things in him, through him, to him and by him...

I also found great comfort in Driscoll's image of himself and his hard work in ministry, I think it is an image that many pastors and those in ministry can easily relate to:

"I don't really know what I'm doing so I read every book I can find & cling to the Bible like a kid who can't swim but somehow found a life preserver in the middle fo the ocean" - pg 183

But the continued comfort to that is that it by the power and strength of our almighty and it's God who uses us in our weakness and nothing will change his glorious plan:

"God will continue to seek worshipers, and Jesus will continue to save people from Satan, sin and death in miraculous ways" pg200

This was a helpful leap board & background into thinking about church planting. We looked also at the Great Commission and 1 Corinthians 1 - which are also very useful and helpful background texts!

We discussed things like Why, When, How, What... A quote comes to mind from another article we read by Stephen Timmis on Church Planting: Key Principles

"the single most effective evangelistic methodology under heaven is planting new churches"- Peter C Wagner

I don't know if I agree with it being the 'single most' but I was convinced it is a very effective tool. And it looks like the next few months shall be exciting and busy time thinking through the logistics of it all.

Pray that the staff would remain faithful to the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ as we think through this more and show our dependence on God by being devoted to prayer. Pray that many in our congregations would be excited by the ideas of furthering the gospel in Sydney's East.

Other than that we had a tops time bonding as staff team. Tuesday night we went out for Thai in Terigal and then came back to enjoy the night full of tired people being silly - Dave was making us funny funny limericks (Something about a Fartyn Martyn), eye spy and 20 questions: why oh why did they find my people so hard to guess - Pippi Longstocking and David Bowie. EASY!!!

_____________________________________________
MARK DRISCOLL
www.marshillchurch.org/
www.theresurgence.com/md_blog

Holidays...

Just spent a week away up in Port Macqaurie... the weather was great - so much sun and not humid! woo hoo!

I went with my parents to support and cheer on my brothers, Todd & Toby and friends Paul & Mike in the Ironman (this one was 3.8km Swim, 190km bike and 42km run).

They did really well... Todd came in at 10 hours and Toby in at 13 hours. Can you believe it continuous exercise for that long? These boys are freaks! The winner did it in 8hrs... crazy!

It was a great time away camping and spending it with family. I really enjoyed hanging out with Liz - Toby's wife. We get along really well and this weekend was great to spend with her and on the side lines cheering the boys on together.

It also is very exciting as she is about 7months pregnant. So in June I will be AUNTY Hayley. The baby is called 'Aniko' for now... and if Toby got his way that is what she will be called but I think Liz has other ideas. Pray for continued health for Liz and Aniko!!!

other highlights:

• I got to spend time reading and relaxing on the beach every day... A+++
  
• Discovering some new cheers instead of "Go Toby" I included some of these I heard from other spectators "Looking Good", "Keep Smiling", "Can I have your autograph"
• Did some shopping... Bought some jeans, tops/jumpers and a orange teapot A+++
  
• Got to try out my new tent I bough off eBay... A+++
  
• Drank Campos coffee from cafe next to caravan park... A+++
  
• Free wireless internet at the caravan park, sit in tent and waste time surfing net... A+++
  
• Got stuck into really good bible reading and prayer pattern, that is lasting so far into reality (only been two days back but still...) pray this continues.

Praise God, for the time of rest and relaxation.
Praise God that my brothers were kept safe from injury in the race.
Praise God for holidays and family!!!




_______________PSALM 147_______________

10 His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse,
nor his delight in the legs of a man;

11 the LORD delights in those who fear him,
who put their hope in his unfailing love.

Posters you find in fish n chip shops...

________Psalm 51________

1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.

Prayer Update - March

It's been a fast start to the year...

I am finding this year just as ejoyable as last year, but there seems so much more to do and so much more expected from you!

I guess I don't have the excuse of settling in/ finding feet etc. So I am just expected to go about all I do and some more!

I am really excited about STREET TEAMS. Marty and I are organising community outreach for LIFE'S GOOD WEEK coming up in May. We have several dates for groups from Morning Church and Evening Church to go doorknocking to invite people to Life's Good, to proclaim Jesus and to promote St Matthias. Pray that many would sign up to help reach Paddington with the gospel.

PRAISE GOD for TAT. The women in my group this year are a joy! I have been so encouraged by their enthusiasim to grapple with the big issues and doctrine found in Genesis. It has been exciting to see these women try and hold Genesis and the rest of the bible & Christ altogether. I have really enjoyed the studies I have led these women in... WORK & REST and WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD... I did a short video/photoslide of images that contridict and support Louie Armstrong's lyrics and we tried to work out why this world has so many contrast of good and evil - joy and suffering.

PRAISE GOD for SCRIPTURE @ PADDO - this year as been dramatically better than last year. I think the hard work Doreen and I put into the lessons last year is reaping fruit this year. The children in our class seem so keen to uderstand what it means for JESUS to be the Son of God and interacting with the truths of the gospel. Pray that the seeds planted here would not be stolen, strangled or snatched by the evil one.

PRAISE GOD for SCRIPTURE @ ROSE BAY - The high school kids seem to love us much more this year. Discipline is far less a problem. The youth are more engaged, prepared to listen and think hard about the gospel. Today, I was able to clearly present the gospel using 2ways 2live (the first ever I have used it from begining to end with drawings) and my group of girls iteracted with the gospel. They asked all the 'right' questions. They wanted to know "what gives God the right to be so egotistical?" - one of the girls (not from Xn background) said 'well he is God isn't he, if he didn't demand our respect then he wouldn't be God, he created us so of
course he has the right"... "Will God really leave us dead in our sin?" perfect lead into box 4.

I have also given my testimony at these sessions and it has been really cool to see the youth keen to work out why I would choose to follow Jesus. It has been really rewarding to share with them how God has so graciously been at work in my life.

Drama is moving on well... lots of fun! We are having a Sunday School Social on this Friday and lots of the Drama kids are keen to come pray that they would come and build good relationships with the other church children.

ISCF @ Randwick Girls - please pray for this group. Not many have been coming or commited to the group on Friday lunchtimes. Lots of school things are on and distract girls from coming. Pray that the 30 or so girls that came through the doors last year would return.

YOUTH GIRLS - pray for these girls as they are in the middle of HSC half yearly exams. Pray that they would not stress out, that they would have good recall of all they have studied, that they would study diligently and that they would be reliant and dependant on the Lord in prayer during this busy and stressful time. Pray that Jesus would stay #1.

I'm Tired...

Started at 8:20am today!

Over to Rose Bay Secondary College. Year 9 and 10 Scripture Seminars!

They went well... good conversations had with many of the students. We had 40 year 9 come and about 60 year 10 - PRAISE GOD!

I had one guy 'Jordy' in my group who was asking really great questions. He said he has been seeking God but just hasn't got anywhere... He said he was an atheist, no no then he said he was an nihilist. Then said how can I know God, just having to believe in Jesus is too easy. Pray that he might go to the lunchtime group, pray that God would reveal himself to this boy and pray that God may place Christians around him.

Then came back at 2pm for Paddington Primary Scripture... with my year 3&4 class.

We did the lame man narrative of John 5... it was a classic. I had different outfits for the different people in the account: Jesus - blue sash; Pharisees - Brown turban and the Lame Man had a beige shirt thing. Doreen was the narrator. The kids really liked it - they actually listened and could even answer my questions.

We have been learning JESUS IS THE KING, off 'Meet the King' Album by EMU. I absolutley LOVE it, and hope the kids do too. At least they get the song stuck in their heads and sing it as they leave the classroom to go home: "Jesus is the King, ruler over everything".

Then straight after Paddo Scriputre was DRAMA.... eek! Where was my energy to come from. Well I decided it was time for a lunch break at 3:30pm. Got through Drama and now am ready for my day off tomorrow which should include a visit to my grandpa and my Scottish dance class (except I won't be able to use my arms as back is still sore from stitches.

Lipoma...

Got pathology results back - I'm fine.

Praise God!

Better Out than In...

That was the comment my doctor made when he was examining a lump the size of a $1 coin on my back.

What better way to spend my day off this week than in my doctor's surgery room. My doctor got more than he bargained for - not one lump BUT two removed from near my right shoulder blade - apparently they grow in families? The happy little family is now being tested at pathology.

Don't stress - it should be all okay, apparently benign growths of soft tissue are quite normal?!? They grow slow, don't turn cancerous, grow on anyone at any age and the cause is really unknown.... When I asked my doctor why I might have one, my doctor said "hmm... just cause".

Local anesthetic was all that was needed - weird sensation you can't feel pain, just tugging!

Now I just got to be careful I don't rip out my stitches, amazing how much you use your back muscles... like all the time.

Sleeping is uncomfortable and how on earth are you supposed to wash your hair while keeping your back dry and not stretching your arm (back muscles)...

Dancing...

My dancing feet...

I've decided to take up Scottish Highland Dancing again.

It is fun way to keep fit and a helpful way to step outside my Christian bubble, oh and meet some folk in the East.

So on Thursday nights I will be found in a church hall in Waverley trying to dance the fling, gillie challum, sean triubhas, flora mcdonald fancy, sailors hornpipe, irish jig, scottish lilt, wilt thou go to the barracks, Johnnie, village maid and lots more...

I haven't dance in 7 years but it is amazing the amount of steps and dances I remember and my feet just do stuff without me even thinking too much about it... It's quite fascinating that it all just floods back!

It's been interesting to get back into the swing of building relationships with people, who you don't necessarily have to make friends with, you don't see often... it's like building friendships with people when working in an "office" where you only get snippets of who they are & what they think in passing conversation and since we are there to dance our conversations are usually about dance steps, our poor muscles, new stretches, competitions and displays.

It's nice to have a dose of reality with the way the world build friends rather than the church way - which is so personal and intense. It's good to remember that relationships take time to build.

Pray that I would strive for genuine relationships that God may choose to use to bring more into his kingdom.

Hit the ground running...

The warning I got for going into year 2 of MTS was the above phrase... I just looked up the meaning of the phrase and it basically means "to immediately work very hard and successfully at a new activity."

The way it was said to me was as though it was a negative thing but I am keen to work hard and be 'successful'!!!

And God has been kind... this year has started really well with all the ministries I am invovled with have started up for the year over the last 2 weeks.

TAT (Tuesdays - Women's Bible Study)

I am leading with Caroline de Jersey again this year. Our group has lots of new people for me to get to know. And we are begining the year by studying Genesis.

Youth Group

My girls are in year 12... they are working hard and have said they are keen to get as much out of youth this year - which is so encouraging to hear that they are committed. We will be going through an evangelism training course in first term: Considering Alternatives.

Drama

35 children we have this year. A little overwhelming in our first week... which led us to do some serious planning, restructuring and programming. Which made the second week far more successful... little planning goes a long way. Praise God for so many new children not from Matthias.

SWITCH - evening church bible study (Tuesday nights)

New ministry that has started up for 18-24 year olds. Everyone meets at the hall for a talk, workshop, discussion, mingle etc and then break into groups. I am co-leading with Marty this year... which will be great. We have a large group of 12 or so people, and I am looking forward to spending time with them all around the gospel of John for first term.

Scripture @ Paddington Primary

Hasn't started yet... the school wants us to wait till Kindy's are settled. Please pray that the school would be more welcoming of us coming in. But Praise God for the opportunity to go in week by week with the glorious gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. I will be teaching years 3&4 again with Mrs Teo.

CURIOUS - ISCF @ Randwick Girls

Haven't started yet. Communication with school has been difficult, but went in on Friday to physically speak to few people. Praise God for 2 girls E & M from Matthias who are keen and eager godly girls who will come.

Pray that Term 1's series on living for the king: All things royal goes well and that the flyers would attract the new year 7's and others along to our group on Friday lunchtimes.

I will be leading this group alone - pray that God would raise someone up to assist me and also for me to train up! Praise God for Nicolette who was able to help out all of last year - pray for her as she starts BTeaching full time at Uni!

He alone is my rock and my salvation;
He is my fortress, I shall not be shaken.
Psalm 62:5

Want to try and learn Greek??

I found this website that is a helpful study resource for learning Greek - not that I can read Greek but maybe one day...

http://www.zhubert.com/

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.