Some more Fergus-isms!!

Fergus is loving the South.
He is having trouble with the accent though.
The other day he was in kids church when the lady teacher said,
"Does anyone want to go pottie" (as in go to the toilet/bathroom).
Well Fergus thought she said, "Does anyone want to go PARTY?"
So naturally Fergus screamed - "Yeah, yeah!! I wanna go party!!!"
The lady thought he said "pottie" and needless to say they were both extremely disappointed when they arrived in the bathroom... LOL
That boy is a crack up. He keeps me soft.

Another Fergus-ism... instead of saying "YES Ma'mam!" He's gotten confused and says, "YES MAN!!" NErida and I don't think the Southern Ladies can tell the difference yet, but it sure cracks us up!! We're trying to explain to him the difference between a Ma'mam and a Man... it's not that easy with a little Weedlet.

Pledge of Allegiance

Hey if I look tired - it's because I am!!
My eldest son, Will Jr, has just started his second week of school in Georgia. He is absolutely loving it and is finding it quite an adventure learning heaps of new things and making many new friends.
When I asked him what he liked the most about school... he said, "Everything Dad, everything Dad!" I was a little stumped and said, "Really?" He looked at me for a second and said, "Well Dad I miss my friends, but I'm making new ones, but there is one things though that's weird... Dad why do we have to stare at the flag?"
I burst out laughing. I couldn't help it, I just had a mental picture of Will standing confused and berwildered there in class each morning as all the other kids put their hands on their hearts reciting the 'Pledge of Allegiance.'
Anyway it's a great opportunity to teach him about loyalty, respect, commitment and most of all how God is the only High King over men, whether we choose to achnowledge that or not. He raises up leaders and governments for His purposes and by His grace to provide governance for the people and to punish the wicked.
It's also a great opportunity to teach my boy that from time to time God can and will use 'Presbyterians', even Presbyterian Ministers!!
For all our Aussie mates out there - here's the pledge...
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
It should be recited by standing at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. When not in uniform men should remove any non-religious headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Persons in uniform should remain silent, face the flag, and render the military salute.
Title 4, Chapter 1, Section 4, US Code, http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/04C1.txt

Prayer, Numbers, Systems, Work Hard & Faith - PART ONE

This week I've begun to shake down a few key issues related to doing what it takes to lead a Jesus centered church. That is a community of believers who are committed to following Jesus as He leads us to people to whom we give our love, our lives and share with them the truth about our Lord.
Fact One - Jesus loves people. And He has determined that it is His church that will undertake and complete His Mission of salvation with and for Him (Ephesians 3:7-12).
Fact Two - Jesus has determined that it is through the communication of the truth about Him (His Godhead, Life, Death and Resurrection) that we can become aware and confess our brokenness and our need for forgiveness... before we can enter into His eternal Kingdom of life (1 Corinthians 15:3-8).
Fact Three - The Holy Spirit (the Spirit of Jesus) in His Eternal Wisdom has determined that some followers are given the specific gift of leadership.
Fact Four - Christ's love for us compels us to reach out and tell others the truth about Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).
Fact Five - Our Competence to undertake this Ministry comes FROM God through Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:4-6).
Fact Six - God's grace through Jesus not only qualifies, equips and compels me, it drives me to engage and work at sharing the truth of Jesus in culturally relevant ways with others... (1 Corinthians 15:10-11 & 9:19-23)
Fact Seven - All of this knowing that God's Grace and my work for Jesus is never in vain and, god willing, so some might also be saved (1 Corinthians 9:19-23 & 15:58).
Later this Week I will share a little of how I see all this Truth practically 'happening' in a western church plant.

Sunday Night Debrief

It was another awesome day at Mountain Lake Church, here's some of the thoughts that are running around in my mind at the moment...
* Today's Take Away for me from Ephesians 5... Just as Jesus LEFT His perfect relationship with His Heavenly Father to LAY DOWN His life for His bride, the church, of which I am a part... God wants to work through my life for me to do the same for my wife, that the world might be impacted by His love in our marriage. That's deep mate, that's POWERFUL LIFE CHANGING STUFF!! I love my wife so much, I know that's easy to say but as we work through the Marriage Project series God has really given me a clear insight as to depth of Jesus' love for me AND as I consider His love and then think of how my wife loves me... well all I can say is I'm blown away by her love more and more each day. Jesus really does turn lives upside down and inside out - AWESOME. That's the power of the gospel!!
* My boys are so crazy!! Fergus has been coming out with some mind boggling stuff lately, like - "God makes me want to play the Nintendo... & God makes me so thirsty..." What's with that? Fergus is only 4 and he's theologising in way that FREAKS Nerida and I out!!
* My Sister and her 3 kids traveled down from Nashville to visit us for the weekend. Mary is so cool, I am so proud of her and Matt, the way they're sold out to living for Jesus. I pray I can be as willing as them to follow Him where He calls our family to plant this new church He's placed in our hearts.
* I GOT PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE AGAIN THIS MORNING!! I's arrived at the West Campus (a High School) at 5.20am this morning, it was dark and I was early, and I was driving slowly in the car park when I had the blue lights flashing behind me again!! Anyway try telling a Cop that the reason you're driving slowly around a High School Car Park in the dark is because you're an Aussie Church Planter doing an internship at a Church in Georgia, and you're there to help set up for church... and the reason that there's no one else around is because you're early... YEP he didn't believe me. I thanked God that Chad one of the Pastors eventually came over and bailed me out!!
* Enough Said, time to get home and love on my wife and family!!

Shoutout to Shadowplay

A couple of months ago Matthew and Katie put together a video for us as we prepared to move from Brisbane Queensland Australia over to Cumming Georgia USA. The video was awesome and now I'd just like to shout out to all my Aussie mates and peeps their new website for their business Shadowplay Photography & Video.
Check Matthew and Katie's work out at www.shadowplay.com.au
Their Shadowplay Blog is also awesome and it even has some cool pictures of my four Sisters here.
Matthew and Katie - love you guys!!

Will's first week at School

Will is absolutely loving going to Coal Mountain Elementary School. His summary of his first day was - EXCELLENT Dad!! When asked why he said, "Well for lunch we all went to the cafeteria and I got to choose between Country Fried Steak and Chicken Nuggets!!" And on Tuesday he was disappointed he couldn't have both soft tacos and pizza... Isn't it awesome to have the choice!!
It is fantastic to see the way God has and is pouring out His abundant blessings on us as a family. We are so thankful that Will is loving his new School, it is such a relief to Nerida and I.

Monday Morning Download

Well since Thursday alot has happened.
Thursday night I actually had a run in with the local Law Enforcement. I went down to the Church Office to send some emails at 9.30pm... I put in the pin, opened the door and the alarm unexpectedly went off!! I rang Marie and got the code to turn it off and it seems that the afternoon storm must have flipped the arming time forward from 11pm. Anyway, all was cool until about 10 minutes later I felt a light shine in on me through the office window, and a voice said, "Please stand up and slowly move outside." So I did, really really slowly - I don't want to die for sending an email!! Anyway once I got outside there was this police woman who put me through the drill. Anyway happy to say I'm not bloggin from Jail!!
Friday we did some essential shopping - Fireant killer, new car tyres, Will's School supplies and we had Hotdogs for lunch.
Saturday we relaxed, got some videos out.
Sunday got up at 4.30 to be at Church 'setup' at 5.30am. It was good to get in and help get things sorted for our new series launch - "The Marriage Project." Shawn is working through Ephesians 5:22-33 over five weeks. 2000+ attendance at the six services. Great to be a part of it all and to be able to encourage the volunteers that they are making a difference in reaching and impacting people with the truth of Jesus. We all slept well.