I've been tagged to confess...

• I am sorry for being an impetuous friend: for the times I have hung out with you waiting for the 'gospel opportunity', being disappointed when there wasn't one and so resenting my time spent with you.
  
  INSTEAD: "So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us."
  
  
• I am sorry for the times I make a mockery of my God and don't display His worth and value to you by treasuring other things more highly than He.
  
  INSTEAD: But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
  
  
• I am sorry I look down on your life's pursuits and laughed at your attitude of "if you dig it, do it".
  
  INSTEAD: "When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd."

_________________________

Christians are viewed by the world often as judgmental, arrogant, do-good party-poopers... and sometimes we deserve rightly this criticism. Christian brothers and sisters... Christ didn't save us to a religion of moral correctness and boredom but to serve the living God with joy and true lasting fulfillment. We are a community of dirty, fallen, broken, transforming YET perfectly forgiven people! Thank you Jesus!


This blog entry is in response to being tagged by a friend, as part of a thing called...

CHRISTIANS CONFESS: Where Christians are encouraged to apologize for three things that Christians have often got wrong.

Your apologies should be directed towards those who don’t view themselves as part of the Christian community. Alternatively, apologize for things you personally have done wrong towards those outside of the church.

As we forgive those who sin against us…

We know all to well that if we a Christians we are commanded to forgive as Christ as forgiven us… How can we as Christians have an unforgiving heart when we have been given the greatest gift of an eternal pardon for our sin...

How hard is it to forgive an enemy who has done evil against you and treated you poorly? How righteous is the anger of fallen yet forgiven people?

When can you forgive? If you raise it with someone that they have hurt you and they don’t repent, can you forgive them? Luke 17:3-4 says to “Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him and if he repents, forgive him”. Is full forgiveness only possible in response to repentance?

Knowing that the world is divided into two categories those who repent and are forgiven by our heavenly Father and those who don’t repent and so are not forgiven. Is this our model? If so what does a forgiving heart look like then, especially in the circumstance of an unrepentant brother or sister?

What does forgiveness look like? Thomas Watson (Body of Divinity) says “When we strive against all thoughts of revenge; when we will not do our enemies mischief, but wish well to them, grieve at their calamities, pray for them, seek reconciliation with them, and show ourselves ready on all occasions to relieve them.”

I think that sounds very biblical in light of the passages that say we should bless and pray for our persecutors, love our neighbours, not repay evil with evil or seek revenge. But they do sound all very private. Are there public displays of forgiveness that we should extend to our forgiven brother?

AND How do you say "I forgive you" without it sounding cheesy?

Pa Pa...

Please pray for my grandfather Doug as he is presently in Royal North Shore Hospital with 'stuff'. Doctors are not too sure what exactly is wrong with him. He has heart problems but doctors don't think that is it... Pray for wisdom to work it out!

Papa with Great-grand-daughter Maisy!

Pray for mercy on Papa, he doesn't know God! I have been praying for many years that God would soften his heart and give him ears to hear the gospel (literally as he is stone deaf with a cochlear ear implant). It is really hard to interact in a proper conversation with him, as he will talk and then get impatient trying to listen to your response.

Papa and I had a emotional time together at the hospital on Saturday night. He was crying about all he has seen in his lifetime. I have never seen him so upset about the things he has seen and experienced. He is normally a very strong, proud and optimistic man. Never would he say a bad word about someone... but Saturday night he couldn't help but say the world is a messed up place and he hopes that I would never see the pain and grief he has seen in his lifetime.

I feel this is God's work to soften and humble his heart. I feel also from the tone and topic of our conversations that he thinks this is the end of the road for him - although he is as strong as an ox, still at 87 and gets through most illnesses.

I am thinking of hand writing him a letter for father's day and address some of the things he mentioned on Saturday night and over the years about why he doesn't believe, and also tell him how thankful to God for him and his witness of what it means to really love your wife sacrificially.

Despite not being a Christian man, he loved Nanny so much, lead, cared, supported, nurtured her till her death. A true model of Christ and his love for the church.

Please pray for wisdom and the words to write - that they would engage with him, not be complicated, but clear and simple. May God use it to change his heart and turn him towards Jesus!

Please pray for Mum as having a ill father to care for adds super stress, and I don't think she copes too well, nor do we (my brothers and I) care for her too well. Pray we would be good kids! ;)

Thanks friends for you prayers!

More than likely Moore...

I went to the Moore College Open Day yesterday...

more and more thinking Moore college is the way to go...

Didn't really answer any questions I had. Partly because I realised I didn't have any questions to ask... but having said that it did confirm some sneaking suspicions I had about the joint and it was good to see around the place, talk about decision making with some people in the same boat as myself, chat with students and faculty staff...

Please be praying for me as I go for interviews with Moore, think through Student Minister positions, plan and budget for the coming years - and rest in the knowledge that whatever I decide to do I will remain safe in God's hands!

August Prayer Points...

Youth

• Death by Chocolate night tonight - fun times to indulge in all things chocolate!!! "This is a taster" night for iGod which starts next week. Pray that friends do come tonight, that we aren't as scary as some people might think and that Marcello will speak well and kids will be keen to come to iGod!
• iGod - starts August 17th.... Pray for the speaker, can't remember who, some dude from somewhere, but hopefully he will be good! Pray for logistics as I don't think we have been told to be doing anything, so hopefully food and setup and stuff is all sorted.
  
• Pray for my year 12 girls - thanks that trials are over but that the HSC is still looming. Pray for their stress levels to lessen and to keep trusting God every step of the way.

Night Train

• 6 Steps to Talking about Jesus - Thanks to the 10 women who signed up who are motivated to develop their skills in sharing Jesus with their friends, family and stangers!
• Creativity - to think up some more practical exercises to do, so that the women can actually have a go at sharing Jesus.
• Good times - sharing lives with these women has been great and the fellowship over God's word is awesome. Thanks for what God is teaching us. Pray that God would continue to transform us all into bold and confident women who delight in the Gospel

Scripture @ Paddo

• 2 girls have left our class... one said because it is 'boring' the other said because 'i don't like it anymore'. This hurts! Doreen and I are trying to work out why two of the most well behaved girls, who contribute and seem to have fun don't like it. Pray that Doreen and I would be more creative with our songs, games, activities, stories and worksheets!
  
• Pray for the kids with behavioural problems, who make teaching difficult and who we give lots of attention when we disciple. Pray that no child would stop another child's interest and that all distractions would stop.
  
• Pray that Art class would not be run at the same time as our lesson.
  
• Praise God that one new girl has started coming - she is really inquisitive and asks great questions.
  
• Praise God for 'D' - we are studying the Kings of Israel at the moment and he was really frustrated last week and asked: "Can you tell me at least one King who listened to God and wasn't so evil - and don't tell me that there were none - cause that really would be that Jesus is the only perfect King" - He gets it! Pray that the seed is ripped away!
  
• Pray for 'T' - as she grapples with the truth that we are all sinful. She is convinced her Auntie is sinless and so was Mary, the Mother of Jesus....

Personal - me, me, me, me, me....

• I have been a little under-the-weather with sinusitis... my nose is slowly drying up! Please pray for continued recovery!
• I also am feeling pretty run down generally and feeling bit exhausted. Pray for renewed energy and enthusiasm and for God's sustaining hand. May he keep reminding me that all I do is in his strength and power!
• Pray for decisions about next year... college interview coming up in a week or so!
• Thanks for friends and the life God has given them and the times I get to celebrate their birthday (Mia, Gina, Nicole & Nicolette) & marriage (Cali & Zach - friends from school)- pray for many gospel opportunites and good times!!!

Thanks friends for praying for me and my ministry... I am very thankful to God for you all who constantly uphold me in prayer. It truly is a great partnership in the Gospel!

The Gospel According to the OC!

PRAISE GOD!!!!!!!!!!

11 girls turned up on Friday lunch. One of whom was completely new!

It's quite funny as the new girls who think it's really cool that we watch the OC have come late both weeks to the group and so have missed out on the OC viewing bit and just get the Bible study - hopefully they will keep coming! Please pray they do.

I think out of the 11 girls 6 are Christians... so that means there are 5 girls I would really love your prayers for that God would bring them into his kingdom! Please pray for the Christian girls that they would come regularly and make it a priority.

Hannah mentioned to me on Friday that when she was at school the Chaplin would bring hot chips to the group - CHIPS n CHATS... and the smell of the chips got many girls in! So I may try this one week instead of doing a Pizza and Talk like last year.

Please also pray as I try to encourage the year 10 girl that this group needs to continue in years to come and get her on board with taking the group on into 2008 - as I will not be around!!!

iGod

Click to Play

So in 5 weeks time we are launching a YOUTH version of Introducing God... 8 weeks, Friday nights, food, good times and friends!

Please pray for the youth as they start to invite friends along. Please pray for God to be at work in these friends lives that they may say yes to coming along and more importantly say yes to Christ.

Please pray for our 4 week series leading up to iGod, on "The Gospel - the treasure in clay jars!"

Prayer Update - July

Praise God for:

• the birth of my Niece. Liz gave birth to her on the 25th June. I think her name is still to be confirmed but more than likely will be Maisey or Evie! Pray for Toby and Liz as they adjust to the sleeplessness of parenthood and also wisdom to raise her to know and love Jesus!
  
  
• hanging out with Jerry Bridges the other Tuesday - as he spoke in a lounge room with 15 of us, about Perseverance of the saints. He was a great encouragement and loved his 4 G's in Isaiah 8 - GOD, GUILT, GRACE, GRATITUDE... motivation for continuing on in the service of our awesome and holy God!
  
  
• hearing Louie Giglio (from Passion Conf.) speak at the Hillsong Conference. His Indescribable passage really lifted my eyes to the majesty, awesomeness and brilliance of the God who created this universe. He made me look into my heart and reminded me not that I am at the centre of the universe. And he took us back to the wonderous Cross of our Saviour Jesus Christ, whose blood was shed to cleanse us from our unrighteousness, He is truely the centre of the universe. Also being led by Chris Tomlin & Brook Fraser in singing praises with 10, 000 others to this glorious God was a treat as well.
  
  
  The heavens declare the glory of God and the sky above proclaims his handiwork - Psalm 19:1.
  
  
• school holidays, which has allowed me to get ahead on preparation - especially "The Gospel According to the OC" series for Randwick Girls. I have about 4 complete studies.
  
  
• the gift of friendship. Thanks for all of you who uphold me in prayer. For my Christian brothers and sisters who continue to point me to Christ, when I am down, flat, sad, tired, miserable or overjoyed, elated and feeling good.
  But also thank God for the friendships I have with people outside the kingdom. Praise God for Lisa and the gift she is to me in my life, for our trip to the Hunter Valley last week and for opportunities to share Christ.
  
  
• the encouragement of seeing maturity and growth in people at Evening Church. It is God's kindness that he continues to transform his people to the likeness of His Son and gives us the joy to marvel at his hand in peoples lives.
  

Please Ask God for:

• smooth running of the Night Train Course I will be running - 6 Steps to Sharing Jesus. Ask for His sustaining hand to strengthen me as this term looks to be a busy one. Please pray that I would be wise with my time, be faithful and diligent in preparation and loving towards people I serve.
  
  
• my youth group girls, (Caitlin, Chloe, Verity, Suzanna & Ellen) as they soon hit their HSC trials.
  
  
• understanding, insight and creativity to finish a 6 more studies for the OC Series.
  
  
• for wisdom and clarity with decision making re: NEXT YEAR.
  God willing I hope to be at college next year, which means at some point I should go get an application form. Also need to work out where to church if I do go to college (or even if I don't go to college I will need to work this out). What's best for my training? Should I take up the opportunities to see other ministries and church life? Should I stay at Matthias and continue on with the many opportunites here?
  

Romans...

How great is the word of God?
Fantastic... I say!

I have been reading through Romans lately and it's been a real treat...

...especially as we have been going through Galatians at Evening Church and Bible Study - each letter really compliments the other! I have found this particularly helpful in understanding law v spirit & slave v free!

Last night I read chapter 12 of Romans and ahhhh verse 12 is a winner! How true it is that the certainty of hope secured in Christ is reason enough for great joy! REJOICE brothers and sisters as we eagerly await the hope of righteousness!

May this part of Scripture be sweeter than honey to your mouth!

Please Pray...

for Randwick Girls Lunchtime Group - "Curious?"

One of the girls feeding me Chocolate Mousse while blindfolded.

Over this year (well and last year), I have struggled with the lunchtime group and found it to be discouraging at times. No week is ever the same. I am always perplexed by what faithfulness looks like with this group. Is it wrong to think I 'waste' a study if only 1 girl turns up, or is it okay just to pray with the one girl and send her off... and it often passes through my thoughts of whether its worth it going in week by week to find that no girls turn up!

Irregularity of girls makes it really hard to be motivated to plan well and limits potential of being creative and making the most of the opportunity of being in the school.

PRAISE GOD for technology - being able to sms text the girls on Friday mornings has been a help to reminding them to come.

PRAISE GOD. Over the term 3 year 10 girls who came sporadically last year are coming regularly! They said that when they were away on their church camp, they were convicted of the importance to support school ministry and to reach out... and so they are keen to be there every week! But since that there has been lost of planned school events on Friday lunchtimes.

PRAISE GOD. Last Friday, I had 3 year 10 girls and then we were playing Feed-Each-Other -Chocolate-Mousse-while-blindfolded Game and one of the girls sisters in year 8 walked past with a whole bunch of friends - and they all came in wanting a go! They got mousse all over their faces and then stayed for the discussion on John's Gospel - Doubting Thomas. So this week there were 3 new girls who had never been before and 8 girls all up!

PRAISE GOD they all heard the gospel and read from God's word!

I invited them all to join us next term when we will be looking at The Gospel According to the OC - They seemed really keen and thought it was so cool that we would watch a snippet of episodes each week.

Please pray for this as I think it will be a great outreach tool but also means a lot of work in getting the research done! I haven't watch The OC but the box set series on DVD has landed in my lap so I thought it would be good to use it for the Kingdom.

Pray that I will be able to find suitable scenes from The OC to help illustrate glorious truths about our glorious King. Also pray I would use my time well while writing these studies as watching series on DVD is a lot of hours in front of the TV!

And PRAISE GOD that SCEGGS Lunchtime group will probably use the material as well!


THE CRAZY WORLD OF SCHOOL MINISTRY...

For the word of the LORD is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness...By the word of the LORD the heavens were made and by the breath of his mouth all their host. Psalm 3:4-6

12 Ways to Love your Wayward Child

I just finished reading an article by Abraham Piper (son of Uncle John Piper) "12 Ways to Love Your Wayward Child".

Having once been a wayward child, I find it interesting this topic of how to love that child. I personally am sad to think of the grief, pain and tears I caused my parents during the years I so clearly rejected the rule of Christ in my life and lived to please myself rather than in obedience to the Lord Jesus!

I often try to think of what I thought about life, parents, brothers, career, priorities, love, boys, money etc… I have a blurry memory of my worldview back then. I don’t quite remember what drove me or how I might have articulated my point of view but I now look back and make assumptions of what I was thinking based upon the choices I made and actions I did!

I often wonder if my parents could have done things differently to steer me back to Christ earlier… but it doesn’t really matter because God has graciously acted in my life to bring me home.

This is rather a long post but thought that it would be God glorifying to share my personal insights into the points that Abraham offers to the many parents who are broken hearted and completely baffled by their children.

May you sing the praises of God our Saviour.

1. Point them to Christ.
Their number one problem = they aren’t following Christ.

2. Pray
I know this is what my family armed themselves with. My brothers in particular prayed for me with their bible study groups and pastors – which proved embarrassing for me later when I started going back to church as people told me ‘oh you’re the sister we have been praying for’.

As I read through some bible study notes of my mum’s or brothers and see in the prayer points section my name and the request that I would come back to Christ, I can’t help but shed a tear and then praise God for how he has mightily worked in my life.

Best thing to do is ask for the Lord to work that He would display himself in a way to those wandering that they can’t resist worshiping him.

3. Acknowledge that something is wrong.
I hated anyone who for doing it… I thought they were judgmental, conservative kill-joy’s! But it's the truth I needed to hear even if I didn't like it. I guess it's true: the truth hurts!

4. Don’t expect them to be Christ-like.
THANK YOU! Why on earth would people expect someone to go to church, have a Christian boyfriend, not drink, smoke or swear if they weren’t a Christian!
My conscious was at work to condemn me.

5. Welcome them home.
I once got a text reminder of my home address from my mum - after spending several late nights out and staying at friend’s houses! My home was always my home, even though I rarely wanted to be there. I used it as when convenient, place to sleep, place with free car to borrow and place to do uni assignments. But at least this was enough to bring me home and for God to remind me of my dependence on my parent’s kindness!

6. Plead with them more than you rebuke them.

“What really concerns you is that your child is destroying herself, not that she’s breaking rules. Treat her in a way that makes this clear. She probably knows—especially if she was raised as a Christian—that what she’s doing is wrong. And she definitely knows you think it is…. Her conscience can condemn her by itself.”

SO TRUE SO TRUE … And oh how it did – I really did want to be like my brothers… but it was too hard. I had no Christian friends and if God wants me to be a Christian then he would make it easy and give me some Christian friends! Right?

I knew exactly what I was doing was wrong. And the more I did what I knew angered my folks the better. I hated them because I thought they hated me. In reality they were upset that I had rejected Christ!

But by living in a home full of believers, my rebellious life stood out against the bright lights that shone for Jesus. I could see it and I felt condemned just by living alongside my family.

7. Connect them to believers who have better access to them.
My brothers tried really hard… they invited me to church and persisted but I just wasn’t ready for many years to give up my life for Christ. My heart was hard. I hated my brothers because I thought they hated me so I rarely, if ever, shared with them and never did I want to let my guard down, loose my pride and admit to them I had been wrong.

Thank God I met Lizzie and Nicole at St Thomas’ where I could share all of my life with people who I felt didn’t pass judgment but could share their struggles with putting Christ as Lord! God used them and gave them emotional access to me – I could trust them and enjoyed their company. Together we battled the sin that lurked in our lives.

8. Respect their friends.
This is something that perhaps my family didn’t do so well: they always asked, “why do you want to hang out with them for?” “I have never seen so called friends fight so much – why bother with them”

I resented it every time a comment was made about my friends. My friends at the time where my family… I loved them, idolized them, wanted to be them… and when your family says something about them, they were saying something about me.

I also thought that I was evangelizing my friends and I was there only hope of them becoming Christians – don’t quite know what brand of the gospel I had on offer – probably just the Saviour part of the GET OUT OF JAIL FREE CARD gospel – oops I would have left out the Lord & obedience bit!?!

9. Email them.
Praise God for technology that lets you stay in your kids’ lives so easily! Mum did this well with SMS texts… just letting me know the comings and goings…

Even though I was disinterested in family life, I felt so upset and angry when extended family gatherings or events were never mentioned to me. I felt even more out of the loop & unwanted.

But the notes slipped under my bedroom door: At Work, home at 6pm! meant a lot to me - even though I would pretend not to care. Dad also would drop it in conversation to let me know he was praying for me.

10. Take them to lunch.
I guess Mum and Dad tried their best when I would let them take me shopping – just when I needed something… at least it made me sit in the car with them and walk around the shops together and in some way relate.

11. Take an interest in their pursuits.
They always came to my uni productions and performances. I remember it meaning the most to me when my brother and Liz (his then fiancé) came… and I knew Liz would hate the experimental theatre stuff we would be doing. But I clearly remember good thoughts about my family that day.

12. Point them to Christ.
This can’t be over-stressed. Their number one problem = they aren’t following Christ.

Oh and how kind and gracious our Father is…

The glitter and sparkle of this world quickly turned bleak when I had to reason with myself the reality of death - as it was was staring at me in the face. Over the years from year 10 my friends and I have pretty much had a funeral to attend (no weddings yet, only funerals).

Amongst us we have had to deal deaths of peers, brothers, cousins, extended family, mums and dads involving suicide, old age, HIV/AIDS, heart attacks, Bali bombing, sudden aneurysm, cancer… Unfortunately for my friends it seems to have hardened their hearts against God but for me it was the melting pot, to realise my desperate need of a Saviour!

I realised that nothing in this life lasts. This world is empty. I clung to Christ, my first love, my true treasure, my rock, my hope and my salvation.

Please pray that God would pour out His Spirit of Grace upon my friends that they too could comprehend the love that awaits them in Christ.

It is only by His grace, He is the one who drew me from the perilous pursuits of this world and united me safely to himself – captive but completely & eternally satisfied!

I fought the Lord, but He won.

Evening Church Weekend Away...

I went as Velma from Scooby Doo Inc.

Evening Church peoples had the privilege of going away to sit under God's word, have it taught to us by Archie Poulos and enjoy fellowship together.

Up in the Blue Mountains at Blue Gum Lodge, Springwood - Archie set out to teach us about the heroes of the faith found in Hebrews 11. Archie has a great up the front manner, speaks with great clarity and makes it so easy to listen to. He easily relates as he speaks also, bringing in stories, conversations, people stories to illustrate truths of the gospel, which proves to be very moving.

It was great to discover how Chapter 12 interprets Chapter 11. Since "we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses", heroes that is, heroes who really are just ordinary people, background figure to the foreground figure - Christ the ultimate hero "who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

So that, just as the heroes of the yester-years, we can be encouraged to "lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us," and so we too "may not grow weary or fainthearted".

Archie gave us a stern warning to NOT give in to temptations, to the 30 seconds of pleasure, the consequences are huge. Holiness is important, so I was challenged to keep praying and asking for God's mercy to continue softening my ears to hear his word and to obey it.

Archie also encouraged us not to be concerned with what the world may think of us - like Noah, who would have been laughed at for his faith and building of the ark. He continued to tell us the true reality that as we proclaim Christ it has a dual action: salvation & judgment. That no matter what God's word will do what it was sent to do - which may mean that it will show you friends that God's judgment is right and that is what they are destined for.

I found this really hard to swallow - thinking about my many girl friends who don't know Christ. Please do pray for strength to preserve in living as light for these friends and also be bold to share the gospel for I do not know whose hearts God is at work in to save.

Praise God for saints like Archie.

Praise God for good fun on Saturday night - "Heroes". We had to dress up as a hero: some went as batman, superman, lifeguard, while some went as Bono, Hendrix, Moses, and while others created their own heroes like Captain Relaxo (helps u relax by bringing the tv remote to you, the phone, packet of chips etc...) and others came as their real life heroes from church.

Lots of fun was had!

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.