Good things

Dark chocolate with lime is really good.
So is Pete Murray live.

What Adolf and I have in common

Drinks, Chinese food, ice cream, good friends, good family. What more could a guy ask for?

Note to self...

Note to self- don't have coffee past 8pm on a Saturday night...hello! Im still wide awake! And bouncing!

An Ideal World

In an ideal world there would only be love
and no hate.
In an ideal world happiness
would be the only fate.
In an ideal world there would be
no Kosovo or Rwanda or Iraq or Pol Pot.
Only heroes. Ones that fight crime and fly,
like Superman.
Except (of course) there would be no crime
in my ideal world.
In my ideal world
A heart would never break
or grieve or ache.
Your heart would only get
that butterfly feeling.
The kind you feel when you go down a rollercoaster,
only better.
Equations would not need parameters or constants.
K-values would be a thing of the past.
So would accusing and cheating and gossipping and lying and regretting.
And crying.
But the lessons learnt would be there.
In my ideal world
childhoods continue.
So would the 1950's.
You’d have the naivety of a 6 year old
and the wisdom of one who realises that
my ideal world is not here.
Yet.

Warning- Sermons in Progress

I've loved getting into Mark's gospel today to think about the resurrection. I don't think I appreciated enough how Mark sees that the resurrection of Jesus floods in the kingdom of God. From the start of Mark's gospel, the coming of the kingdom of God has been anticipated until the end. Mark wants us to see that the resurrection of Jesus signals a new era- the long anticipated time has arrived at last. The kingdom of God is here! And its so significant that the women leave the tomb screaming! That ending leaves me with my jaw hanging open. And I think Mark intends me to feel that way, because something momentous has just taken place. Wow.

I've also been thinking about the Garden of Gethsemane scene. Jesus is so overwhelmed by what is about to happen on the cross that it is killing him before his time. All because of our sin. And I get to preach on this tomorrow night in a local retirement village church service!

Apart from a day of trying to understand these accounts better so I can preach on them this Easter, I also went to visit an elderly retired minister who is coming to do Communion for us this Sunday. I always enjoy talking to men like him- an older man who has walked where I have, and who would have so much wisdom to offer me. Not only has this man been in ministry for much longer than me, but he was also in the war, and then finished Moore College in the late 40's. (This is a man I have heard who used to take suitable men away on weekends to talk to them about going into ministry- the original Club 5!) I found myself wishing I had more time to hear some of his stories and lessons about life in ministry. Perhaps that will make for a good afternoon tea one day soon.

Then, while in the village, I had lunch with my dear Nana. She's a sweety.

Day One- The New Church

Praise the Lord!!! Today was the public opening of the new congregation. To be perfectly honest with you (after all, its between you, me and the internet right?) I was a little nervous about how the new church would pan out. But it was SO exciting and I was pleasantly surprised when I got there that there were people there that I didn't recognise. (I arrive there late because I run 2 services on a Sunday morning.) People came to our new church! There were a few new adults (29 in all), as well as new kids (27), and most people I didn't recognise. God is good! Not that numbers are important, but its exciting to see it grow after a core group of only 13 adults. The weeks ahead will be telling, as I'm sure the numbers will settle down, but it has started off well.

The service has a nice casual feel to it. People appreciated being able to have a cup of coffee in hand while church is on. I quite like that too. It was mildly amusing when I got up to preach when I picked up the music stand and the whole top of it came off! Off to a great start. My sister came through with the goods again and played some wonderful songs for us. I wish I could sing like her. One woman even came with her pony, which was appropriate for Palm Sunday. The kids loved it.

Pray that the new families will come back and that more people will come for Easter. Pray that the sermons would be interesting, engaging, and most of all, Biblical. Pray that the families that come will know Christ. Pray that the familes who aren't saved will know Christ. Just pray, because God has answered so many of our prayers relating to this church so far, and so many are praying, and God can do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine! Pray, pray, pray!!! Because God is good and His work will continue, no matter what.

Intense Orange

Someone put a whole block of Lindt Dark Chocolate (Intense Orange!) in my letterbox today!!! How nice is that??!! In next week's sermon I am going to mention my passion for good quality chocolate ice-cream.

Dark Chocolate Snob

I admit it, I'm a chocolate snob. Allow me to describe to you my experience of eating fine quality Lindt dark chocolate. My fingers gently break peel off the cardboard cover. The foil crinkles. I break the thin layer with a gentle snap. As I smell the rich, sweet scent, my mouth begins to imagine the taste. So I take a little bite at first. The combination of rich tasting smooth flavour with just enough bitterness is matched by the sweetness of it all. I take a bigger bite- this time the flavour fills my whole mouth, with a combination of liquid and solid. The taste is gorgeous! And soon there is a chocolatey-taste left on my tongue, which I wash down with a mouthful of coffee. Now for the next bite.

This was the introduction to my sermon today on being passion driven for the gospel. (Thanks Adam for the idea!) As a result, someone told me that Aldy sells similar quality chocolate at a much lower price...

Wonderings of the Soul

Why did God forsake his only Son for me?
I don’t deserve His love.
Why did God the Son hang upon a tree?
I don’t deserve this love.
Why does He want to show me mercy?
I don’t deserve His love.
And why am I holy when I’m so unworthy?
His love is more than I deserve.

It was nothing of value or worth that He saw in me.
It was only because He wanted to give.
It wasn’t because I’m good or deserving.
It was only because His nature is to give.
And it’s my nature to take.

Let me not forget to wonder
Why you would chose me.
Let me not forget to ponder
Why you would want me.
Even though I’m not worthy
or thankful
or deserving
or caring
or kind…
You wanted me.
Me of all people.
And I don’t even know why.
Since I’m such a fake.

Kids say the darnest things...Or do they?

Here are some of the questions I got asked today by my 10 year olds in Scripture:
'Did everyone come from Adam and Eve?'
'Who made God?'
'How did God make the world?'
'When did you start to follow Jesus?'

But as great as these questions were because of the opportunities they gave me, one question in particular stood out today:

Student 1: 'Do you have a wife?'
Me: 'No'
Student 2: 'But you are handsome'
Me: 'Um...err....(speechless)...thanks'

Flattery aside, it was interesting that Students 1 & 2 were both male...and equally interesting that kids equate physical attractiveness with one's marriagability...(I think I just invented a new word). And even more interesting that we don't move much beyond this mentality in our adult years.

Listen to kids. They often show us what we think as adults. They are just more open and honest about it.

Church Plant on Track

I did promise an update on the new church plant...so here goes!

The first 2 weeks have been SO exciting! I was a little nervous at first about the whole thing, but I'll tell you what- setting up a new church is rewarding. Its been personally encouraging that people simply turn up each week, and stick around to talk to one another. One woman even told me that she looks forward to coming to her new church each week.

I like to think of the new church as relaxed but relevant. Casual but clear. Bible and Christ-centered. Laid back but organised. I joked with Matt that we are projecting our own personalities onto this congregation!

Its been a thrill to see people getting in and making it work, allowing the new church to work. Just pray we don't burn people out. There's so much to do. And not enough people just yet. Things like morning teas, setting up, welcoming, teaching children- all things we take for granted, but all areas where we desperately need more helpers. And on April 9 we open our doors to the public.

But God has got us to this point- he has allowed so many things to fall into place- giving us the location, providing the core group, and working out the time details. And it looks like we have access to a large hall nearby, which will make for an AWESOME kid's ministry on Sunday mornings. (Rather than the cramped room they currently meet in). I'm learning to trust Him, and be thankful in the process.

I feel rather stretched myself at the moment. Thank goodness for days off where I can read comics, draw and paint, drink coffee at the beach with my cousin and just plain relax... whichever comes first. Well, some of those things will happen tomorrow, Im sure!

Over and out.

Here's Johnnie!!

During his work hours, my brother met our Prime Minister today, John Howard!!! Apparently he came to open up their new office. He even asked him to get his photo with him. How cool is that? And how nice was Johnnie to oblige? I think I'll vote for him.

My First Baptisms

Today I did my first baptism. Well, 3 of them! Full immersion, in a deep dam, in good old local Kenthurst. Basically I have been meeting up with Bec, Matt and Libby, and reading the Bible with them. They asked me to baptise them. And today I finally did, in their own dam. I had to tread water the whole time while they came in and out of the water, and about 50 people were there to watch. Even though I've been swimming at the beach quite a lot lately, I was quite out of breath when we came out, which made it hard to keep the little service rolling. The dog even jumped in the water and wanted to be baptised as well! I'm so thankful for this opportunity. And a good thing too that it was a hot day today.

I'll blog about the church plant tomorrow- we had our first meeting today...exciting stuff!

Its Church Planting Time!

Sunday was a busy day. We voted on a time change for the existing congregation to make way for a new congregation. We settled on 8:30am, which doesn't suit everyone, and there were some tears. Then that afternoon, I had over the families who will be a part of the new congregation. Some of them met for the first time. It was exciting to hear them meet each other and talk about their previous church experience. Next Sunday we will have our first service. Nervous? Yep! Excited? Definitely.

Road Soccer

I went to a one day conference on Church Planting today. I almost ran over a soccer ball on the way home. These two events are not related.

Here is the picture that was in the Sydney Morning Herald. (Hi Mum!) Any thoughts for a funny caption?

Famous Again...

Apparently I'm famous again. We had a rehearsal yesterday for Saturday's ordination, and my mug made it into the newspaper. Anyway, if you look here, or on page 5 of the Sydney Morning Herald, you just may spot me....not that I like the limelight or anything, but hey.

Gadgets

I now have a new mobile/PDA/MP3/GKWE (goodness knows what else). I am now officially a yuppie.

Stoked about sums it up.

So here I am, another Saturday night where I am reflecting on the day ahead of me tomorrow, and the awesome responsibility that it is to stand up in front of God’s people and teach His Word.

And I must say, that I am stoked. That’s elated for all you Americans out there. Stoked, bedazzled, inspired, star-struck, and spun out. Stoked by the opportunity to help people know God better, enthuse and excite their trust in Him, and motivate people to want to love Him more. Pray that my sermon on Psalm 13 will speak to people's hearts and minds.

God is good. I know it. You know it. Lets never forget it.

Good Times

Well good times are being had in the rectory at the moment... Tim is staying with me during his college holidays, and we are having a hum dinger of a time. Its nice to come home and hang out, talk about blokey stuff and just generally chill. Good times! Dynamite! And as JT would say, 'bring it on!'