Wednesday, May 23, 2007

Don't forget to pray for Sam!















As a heap of the Newlife team know Sam West our Student Pastor is on a cross-cultural mission trip up to the Aboriginal community at Normanton. Please keep praying for him and the Scripture Union Students that are on this trip.

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

David Jackman hits the nail on the head


"The Spirit of God takes the Word of God to do the Work of God."
Well this week I'm attending the annual Home Missionary conference. So far it has been absolutely tremendous. David Jackman President of The Proclamation Trust has hit the ball for six with his refreshing and potent teaching over the past two days.
Whilst a heap of it is just as I said refreshing the tanks I'm very much aware that if Darren Lockyer needs to go through the pre-season training every year I need to be regularly refreshed and refocused as a Pastor and Teacher of God's Word.
For me the knock out blow yesterday was this comment by Dave that I mentioned above, "The Spirit of God takes the Word of God to do the Work of God."
Hmmm... I think we all could do well to think about the truth of that statement and freedom in our relationship with God that results from it.

Sunday, May 20, 2007

Gospel Parable "Most"


The gospel parable of the drawbridge operator who terribly has to choose between saving the life of his dearly loved son or a trainload of passengers has been released as a punchy and critically acclaimed short film "Most." Check it out here.
If it is half the film that it is said to be the I reckon it would be powerful for every adult at Newlife to watch it at some time. Why? Well just to simply stop, and be refreshed in the impact of the Gospel. To just sit and again be exposed to the powerful doctrine of Penal Substitution in a way that ordinary Aussies (like me) can understand. My sin matters. Your sin matters. But amazingly... God in His grace and mercy reached out and rescued me by sending His Son Jesus to take the punishment that was coming my way.
Go to the movie and afterwards just sit and spend an hour or so in quiet reflection considering how MUCH MORE more amazing is the commitment of God to saving the Lost. And how truely agonising is the heartbreak of God to give up His dearly loved Son to save the lives of us lost willfully rebelling sinners.
And then prayerfully talking with God and asking him for a refreshment of heart towards Him, His greatness, glory and His passion for the lost.
Let's use gifts like this film to point the Lost to the Living God.

Sunday, May 13, 2007

Thanks God for providing

Well it's official... Mothers Day 2007 was tremendous. There were minor hiccups with the morning but that's to be expected with it only being our second time in the new theatre. And despite the fears and anxieties associated with leading the church forward in moving I have to say that it was the right move shifting to the new 180 seat theatre cause there is no way we would have been able to fit the 73 adults and 28 kids God blessed us with where we were. I want to thank God for His generous provision to us. Nerida and I have been praying and trying not to worry about the growing issue of cramped meeting space and just in the nick of time God provided. Thanks God, we really appreciate it.

Thursday, May 10, 2007

My old phones dying... here's what I'm praying for!


Here's the phone I reckon is just amazing. The Samsung Blackjack.

Quad-band GSM, with 64mb RAM and 128mb ROM plus microSD memory slot, the BlackJack manages to pack Bluetooth v2.0, a 1.3-megapixel camera, speakerphone, support for push email and UMTS/HSDPA/EDGE/GPRS data connectivity into a 0.46-inch thick candybar weighing a mere 3.5 ounces.

Well the bible does say something like, "You don't have because you don't ask."

Wednesday, May 9, 2007

Mark Driscoll on sharing Jesus with the LOST.



Hey if this clip doesn't challenge you then you need to check your pulse. For me there's something about Jesus and His heart for the lost that just drives me to want to reach out with the good news. Alot of the time I just don't know how to start. Mark's right on the money when he challenges us to just get out, connect and listen to the lost. Give them a chance to share their pain. Listen and just offer Jesus.

By the way I don't know where I read it or heard it but in the past couple of days I stumbled across this, it was so good and pithy it just stuck and it's been plauging me ever since, hopefully sharing it with others will allow me to sleep tonight =)

"God didn't create a mission for the church... He created the Church for His Mission."

Tuesday, May 1, 2007

Wednesday Wrap Up @ USQ


Well appart from the usual stuff today...
1. I finally got my offical 'staff' ID card for the University of Southern QLD as a USQ Chaplain, why? Well as Pastor of Newlife Church we have now been generously granted some storage in our new home at level 4, and I need to have access after hours.
2. I got the low down with the USQ staff about our move as Newlife Church up to level 4 this Sunday!
3. Wednesday @ USQ has been interesting for me as it is the day that we aim to hit the USQ for bible study and connection. It's great to be able this year to work more with Phil one of the other Chaplains. Today it was a great time, testimonies, Phil teaching and sharing about the 'Error of Balaam,' and somehow it got onto the current youth culture of EMO's. Now Wikipedia has a heap about Emo's here. One of the most insightful things was this quote;

"Emo music has also been compared to the teen pop of 1990s boy bands."

Now for me as a Pastor willing to admit that I was a Metallica fan of 90's that's REALLY something to be worried about... EMO's getting the same kind of cred as the boy bands of the 90's, it kinda worries me where it's all heading. Hmmmm.

Just as I needed to know the grace and care of God in Jesus as a teenager, it seems nothings changed. Just for your info Nerida wants to add that she wasn't a great Metallica fan (she has a Ph D in pop goes the gospel and backmasking) and she was into SEAL, Alanis Morrisette, Cranberries, Corrs and other popular and sensible bands.