Don't Miss This Sunday!

Hey I just want everyone to know that this Sunday is going to be OFF THE HOOK! Both Newlife congregations are joining together at our Springfield Campus for our first Combined Celebration Service! With the Internationals bringing the music it would be great BUT more than that... we're ALSO having two adult baptism's at this stage! Anyway if you have a heartbeat and a car be there and join with us as we celebrate everything Jesus has done in and through us over the past six months at Newlife.

"Is is Church Day yet?"

I just love the innocent enthusiasm of my boys. One of the recent things to catch me "off guard" is little Will's excitement about going to church. Just about every night he asks us, "Is it Church day tomorrow?" He really loves going to church. Sure the boys have their moments "at church" but on the whole they love the music, they love going to Sunday School and "learning more and more about God." Even the drive to church is exciting with Fergus actually busting to be the first to spot the University building where we meet. He shouts, "there's church Daddy, it's church!"
I pray that they never loose that excitement.
By the way, I love Sunday's too!!!!

Countdown 2 Innovate 07

When I'm driving somewhere for work I find it real helpful to listen to stuff that stretches and grows me. So I subscribe to a number of different podcasts, some sermon stuff (Mark Driscoll etc), some church planting stuff, some leadership/pastoral stuff and I always make some space for innovative church practices. And the best stuff that I have come across is Tim Stevens & Kem Meyer and the Countdown 2 Innovate Podcast. Get into it, Kem is a blast! She ALWAYS makes me laugh!

Time out, time relaxing with my beautiful wife...

Hey huge shout out to Johnno who shouted Nerida and I free tickets to see the John Butler Trio rock the Brissie River Stage last night. The concert was awesome. I really appreciate JB's heart for 'love, peace and unity.' I trust and pray that he meets Jesus. I kinda think JB'd be the sort of bloke Jesus would hand pick if he was calling disciples in Brisbane...
Great night out with my beautiful wife, enjoying her company and nice tunes under the stars. Cool.

Church - What do you see? Part 1.

It's funny isn't it how everyone has an 'idea' about what church should be. People outside the church have views... sometimes negative ones, sometimes sympathetic. People in the church have different views on the church too. And though there's alot of stuff, like structure and cultural appearance that I frankly think God gives us freedom on, here are a few things I reckon are core about how God wants His church to run...
1. God calls people to restored community with Him and others through the gospel - there is no such thing as a lone Christian.
2. The purpose of the church is to serve Christ as He continues His mission of seeking and saving the lost (Matthew 28:18-20) - the church is here for the lost, the disconnected.
3. As the church engages the lost with the gospel, God in His grace saves some - there is no other way to be saved into the church than through Jesus Christ.

Springfield Hendersons

I don't know how many times I've had people take the micky out of me when I've told them I'm a pastor from Springfield. Thankfully it's only usually people under 35.
You know the conversation... it goes like this...
"So Will, what do you do for a living?" I reply, "I'm a Pastor, you know a Minister for the Presbyterian Church."
"Oh..." they reply. "What's a Presbyterian?"
I then explain to them that Presbyterians are actually Christians not a cult and then they usually ask, "So where's your Church?"
And I say, "Springfield."
Yeah, I know. I'm the Minister from Springfield, and no I'm nothing like Rev Lovejoy, he's actually the local Anglican...
SO I've decided to embrace myself...
Meet the Henderson's we live in Springfield - REALLY! HA HA.

Fergus' Prayer Tip

The other night I was spending some time with the boys before bedtime. After a good time wrestling, in which I was totally beat up, we read God's word together and started praying. I was struck by Fergus' prayer : "Dear God, thank you for this one day. Amen." Now Fergus is 3, but his prayer said alot. Thanks God for THIS ONE DAY. Not full of worried petitions for tomorrow or the future. Just "thanks God for today... that's it. I needed that.