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Artie's Blog has moved to artieshepherd.com

2009-07-20T12:50:00.001+10:00

Another 33 Year Old Legend!

2009-07-18T23:23:00.003+10:00

Continuing to make the case that 33 is a significant number (I'm not old OK...I'm 33 and dangerous!!), here's an excerpt from the latest post on The Resurgence.

R. Albert Mohler Jr. was too young to lead the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He thought so. Everyone thought so. But the board was impressed by his youthful vigor and clear plan to restore the seminary’s confessional identity. He was only 33 years old when he assumed the presidency in 1993. Soon thereafter at least 96 percent of the faculty of the largest Protestant denomination’s flagship seminary’s left. Not that the faculty’s many liberals and moderates had much of a choice. Mohler had the audacity to enforce Southern’s Abstract of Principles, derived via the Second London Confession from that landmark Reformed document, the Westminster Confession.

More than 15 years later, Mohler has attracted one of the strongest evangelical faculties in the country. Enrollment has surged to more than 4,300 students—which makes Southern the largest Southern Baptist seminary, and likely the largest U.S. seminary overall.

You can find other significant 33's here in an archived post.

NEW www.artieshepherd.com NOW LIVE

2009-07-18T02:46:00.003+10:00

I'd love you to give me your feedback on my brand new website www.artieshepherd.com

You can download mp3 messages via PayPal as well as some free ones. My blog will now be here, and soon a video blog, plus some written and audio messages by some next-generation leaders.

It's a work in progress, so let me know your thoughts!

The Resurgence: Masculinity

2009-07-06T23:57:00.003+10:00

Here's a portion of a series on rebuilding Biblical masculinity by Joel Virgo, Lead Elder of Christ the King Church, Brighton UK.

You can read the full series on The Resurgence (www.theresurgence.com).

Joel writes:

Corporate Prayer
Do you have a church prayer meeting? Who comes? Are there lots of men? Would you go if you weren't the leader? Often these are attended by women (whose husbands "sent" them), a few faithful men, and a handful of "eccentrics." I am extremely glad for all the women attending our weekly prayer meetings, but I am haunted by Paul's words: "I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarrelling." (1 Timothy 2:8)

A robust prayer meeting is a place to see true masculinity on display. If that seems unlikely go back and read Acts. In fact, I was so eager to aim for this that when it came to launching our Saturday morning prayer meeting a couple of years back, I started with just men. I wanted a manly meeting, so I handpicked some blokes to join me each week at eight o'clock in the morning-about 25 to start with.

For a while it grew unofficially under the radar, like a Gnostic cult (except the pastor was running it). I'd have guys in their twenties trembling and whispering the request, "I have heard about this prayer meeting. Do you, ahem, mind if I join?" I'd say, "Who told YOU about it?!" It felt like the movie Fight Club where the one rule is, "No one talks about Fight Club." Some called the meeting "Prayer Club!"

It was perfect: a testosterone-fuelled and Holy Spirit-filled set up for the weekend, and when we got the momentum we wanted, we knew we were ready to invite the whole church. Now, I am usually confident that guys will take a strong lead, praying for the gospel to be successful every week in our city (we barely ever get knocked off this focus). And if key guys are not vocal, they get mercilessly picked on afterwards!

Intentionally gather guys to seek God. They will rise to it, and the church will follow.

Preaching
Dr D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones was asked publicly why the churches of his day had so few young men in the pews. He instantly shot back, "Because there are so many old women in the pulpits." Preaching should either send men away angry or turn them in heartfelt repentance. The one thing it must not do, but too often does, is dull them.

Jesus gathered men by preaching straight, and so did Chrysostom, Luther, Wesley, Spurgeon, Moody, and Billy Graham. If you want to reach men, follow their example and preach boldly. Men get nauseated by preachers who apologize for every point they make, sharing platitudes and leaving sinful get-out clauses for every application. My favourite encouragements come from guys who spend the first two-thirds of the sermon wanting to hurt me, and then come to repentance before the day is over. It means a great deal more than, "That was a nice talk."

www.artieshepherd.com

Breaking the Islamic Code

2009-06-30T12:56:00.002+10:00

Here's an excerpt from Pastor J.D. Greear's forthcoming book, Breaking the Islam Code: Understanding the Soul Questions of the Muslim Heart, set to be released in February 2010.

If you would like to be notified when the book is released, email your request to pastor@summitchurch.cc.

Preface, Breaking the Islamic Code: Understanding the Soul Questions of the Muslim Heart

The last day I lived in a Muslim country will be forever etched in my memory.

I had spent the morning doing the final preparations to leave the place and the people whom I had learned to love, so that I could come back to finish my schooling in the United States. It was a sad day.

Around noon, a close friend, Ahmed, came over with his brother to visit me. Ahmed had been, for about 2 years, one of my closest friends. He had befriended me at a time in my life when I felt like I had no other friends. We talked, travelled, studied, and fished together.

I had tried a number of times to bring up Jesus to him, but Ahmed, though always polite, seemed eager to leave the subject alone. He was as committed a Muslim as I had ever met. He was kind of like an Islamic “youth pastor,” volunteering his afternoons to serve and love underprivileged Islamic youth. When I would talk about Jesus, he would smile and say, “You are a good man of faith. You were born in a Christian country and you honor the faith of your parents. I was born in Muslim country and I honor the faith of mine. You were born a Christian and will die a Christian. I was born a Muslim and I will die a Muslim.”

Before I left, I knew that I had to have one final conversation with him. How could I call him my friend and not make clear to him what I believed about Jesus Christ?

I told him that, according to the Bible, only those who have believed on Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins can enter God’s Kingdom. For about 15 minutes he sat politely and listened as I poured my heart out to him. When I was finished, he thanked me for my friendship, and left.

I did not see him again until the day I was preparing to return home. When he showed up that day at noon, I could tell something was on his mind, so I asked him about it.

“Our conversation,” he said. “After we talked the other day, I thought about how much I appreciated you for telling me so directly what you believed. But then I didn’t think much of it… ‘You are a Christian, I am a Muslim,’ I thought, ‘that is how each of us was born, and that is how it always will be.’

“But seven days after our conversation I had a dream.” He interrupted himself to say, “After first I thought it was one of those dreams that comes from eating strange fish. But I’ve had those kinds of dreams. This was different… In my ‘dream,’ I was standing on earth and suddenly, open before my feet was the ‘straight and narrow way’ leading to heaven (he used a technical Islamic term for the ‘the straight path’ which applies only to the road to heaven).

“And as I looked up along this pathway to heaven,” he said, “you were on it! You arrived at heaven’s gates, but the way inside was blocked by huge, brass doors. I thought to myself, ‘That is where his journey ends. Who has the power to open those doors?’ But then, as I watched, someone from inside knew you, and they called your name. The doors then swung open wide for you, and you went in… and then my heart broke because I really wanted to go with you. But then, the doors opened again and you came back out, walked back down the path a little ways, and stretched your hand out to me down here on earth. And you pulled me up to heaven with you.”

He then looked at me and said, “What do you think my dream means?”

Now, understand that I was raised in a traditional, Baptist home. Dreams were not a part of our standard religious repertoire. But, not knowing what else to do, I said, “Brother… You are so in luck. Dream interpretation is my spiritual gift!”

For the next hour I walked him through Romans and Acts, showing Him how Jesus had come to earth, lived the life we were supposed to live, died the death we were condemned to die, rose again, and offered salvation to all who would believe.

I would love to tell you that he became a believer. Sadly, he did not, and, to my knowledge, he has not. I think it was still just too much for him.

But what he said next is something I can never, ever forget. He said, “I know why Allah gave me that dream. He was telling me that you were sent here by God to show me the path that leads to heaven. You were to teach me God’s ways and explain to me His Injil (Gospel). But today, my friend, you are going home, and we will probably never see each other again. You are the only Christian that I know. Now who will teach me the ways of God?”

I am writing this book in response to that question.

The fact that you are reading even this prologue is an answer to prayer. You may have picked this book up because you have become friends with a Muslim and you want to talk to them about Jesus but you don’t quite know where to start. Maybe you are preparing to live in a Muslim community and you want to understand how you can best live out Jesus in front of them. Maybe you have picked it up because you feel a strange tugging in your heart whenever you hear about the Muslim world. Maybe you just want to understand.

Whoever you are, I am grateful you are holding this in your hand. You are an answer to prayer. Most of the 1.9 billion “Ahmeds” in the world will never meet a genuine Christian. Most Muslim college students studying abroad in the United States will never, almost without exception, step foot inside of a Christian home while they are in America. Though over 1/3 of all the unbelievers in the world are Muslims, only .05% of all the Christian workers in the world have Muslims as their focus. Most Muslims, like my friend Ahmed, will die without ever having had someone explain the Gospel to them.

For the Muslim you know, you are probably the only Christian they will ever know. I hope this book will help you present Jesus to them well.

Ahmed and I have corresponded several times since I left, but I lost contact with him after many of his family died in the Southeast Asian tsunami of 2004 and he was displaced to a refugee camp. I know that he is still alive, but have not yet been able to locate him. I trust, by God’s grace, one day that I will. Ahmed, my friend, this book is for you. I hope we find you.

We have to. We are your only hope.

Islam: Faith Opportunity or Fearful Obstacle

2009-06-30T12:30:00.003+10:00

Maybe you have received one of the emails or YouTube links doing the rounds at the moment about the rapid growth of Islam across the globe - specifically focussing on the way that laws and cultural norms are changing in the face of pressure from Islamic groups or just sheer weight of numbers.

The most common reaction from many Christians I know is one of fear and helplessness. Others want to block any Muslim from immigrating to our nation. They see Muslims moving to the community as a FEARFUL OBSTACLE.

I wonder if Christians in the Western world, which is experiencing waves of Muslim immigration, have an incredible FAITH OPPORTUNITY. The majority of the Islamic world is very closed to the Gospel and is shrouded in a prevailing culture which is anti-Christian (anti-American). It is extremely difficult to be able to take the Gospel of Jesus to the Muslim world, but the rapid growth of Islam in most Western nations is due to migration and the birth rate - not conversions. Perhaps God is bringing the Muslim world to us?

What a great opportunity to demonstrate the life and love of Jesus to Muslims without fear of reprisals!

Striving To Be The Worst!

2009-06-26T10:35:00.002+10:00

This promotional campaign, by advertising agency KesselsKramer, paints the Hans Brinker budget hotel in Amsterdam as dirty, uncomfortable and lacking basic necessities such as beds. Yet it has been a huge success with travellers. Click here for the full article.

I am intrigued by this thought by Dave Bell, Creative Director and Partner at KesselsKramer. “Everybody is always trying to be the best, but there are merits in being the worst. Maybe more people should strive to be the worst at something. When you’re the worst you have a lot more room to be creative and do your own thing.”

Greear on International Church Planting

2009-06-18T11:21:00.002+10:00

Here's the links to JD Greear's series on International Church Planting from The Resurgence site.

A Short History of Church Planting

2009-06-18T11:13:00.002+10:00

I have just discovered the blog of Ps JD Greear, Senior Pastor of Summit Church, North Carolina.

His church has grown from 600 people to 3000 people in 6 years, including planting several church across the globe. Built into the DNA of Summit Church is a commitment to church planting anywhere and everywhere! Their goal is to plant 1000 churches in 40 years.

Here's a link to a short history of church planting which Greear presented to his church recently, ending with a specific focus on his own church naturally.

Are You In One Of These Valleys?

2009-06-17T12:37:00.002+10:00

I'm writing a sermon series at the moment on the various valleys mentioned in the Bible. Many significant events often took place on mountains and in valleys. Often we celebrate and long for the mountain-tops and despise the valleys - yet greatness and blessing can come from either.

Here's some valleys I've found so far:

1. Valley of Siddim (Pits) - Gen 14:10

2. Valley of Shaveh (Plain, aka the Kings Valley) - Gen 14:17

3. Valley of Gerar (Dragged off or Sojourning) - Gen 26:17

4. Valley of Achor (Trouble) - Josh 7:26

5. Valley of Elah (place of Battle, Challenge, Opportunity) - 1 Sam 17:2

6. Valley of Rephaim (Giants) - 2 Sam 5:18,22

7. Valley of Berakhah (Blessing) - 2 Chro 20:26

8. Valley of the Shadow - Psa 23:4

9. Valley of Weeping (Baca) - Psa 84:6

10. Valley of Vision - Isaiah 22:1

11. Valley of Hell (Gai-Ben-Hinnom, ie Gehenna) - Jer 7:31

12. Valley of Dry Bones - Eze 37

13. Valley of Jezreel (God's Sowing or Saving) - Hos 1:5,11

14. Valley of Decision - Joel 3:14

What Should You Do?

2009-06-11T17:37:00.001+10:00

Have you ever been at a crossroads where you have a choice or decision
to make? One which could radically affect your future? Maybe your
crossroad has multiple options. It's easy to become paralysed with
fear of making the "wrong" choice isn't it?

Here's a brief overview of a simple filtering process I use which
helps me when faced with options and choices - this could relate to
your future, career, relationship, ministry etc.

If the choice is a "no go" ie blocked at any one of these filters then
you don't need to even consider the option any further.

1. Word
Does this option confirm or contradict the Word of God - either the
written Bible or a personal word from God?

2. Witness
Does this option spark a sense of witness or warning in my spirit?

3. Wisdom
Do the trusted voices of wisdom in my life resonate or repel this
option?

4. Way
Does this option move me towards my destiny or distraction?

5. Weight
Does this option sit with the things which burden me (flick my switch)
or bore me (fizz my passion)?

6. Wife
What does my partner think of this option?

7. Want
If the choice is still not clear after going through all these filters
ask yourself "what do I want?"

8. Wait & Welax
If you STILL can't decide which way to go (I've been there...) just
wait and relax. Keep doing what you're doing the best you can and
learn to rest in the goodness of God and the confidence that He is
ordering your steps

This filtering process has helped me many times What do you think?

Stewardship for Dummies

2009-06-05T10:30:00.003+10:00

June every year marks the beginning of Stewardship Month at Kings! Every Sunday 9am in June at Kings Buderim, Ps Steve will be teaching on "Stewardship for Dummies," unlocking practical, Biblical keys to stewarding well what God puts in your hands.

This will all build up to the final Sunday in June when we will again focus on the miracle of destroying the debt on the Champions Centre. Already 39 shields (39 x $5000 = $195,000) have been redeemed. Imagine if we could have 100 shields ($500,000) total by the end of June!

Give God a Year

2009-06-03T09:35:00.003+10:00

Two questions I am often asked - especially by young people:

Q1: Should I go to Bible College?
A1: I don't have to pray with you about whether or not you should go to College. I absolutely believe every young person should "Give God a Year" after high school and do at least one year of Bible, ministry and leadership training to prepare for whatever it is that God has for their future. YES you should go to college!

Q2: Which Bible College should I go to?
A2: Specifically, Kings Leadership College of course! More broadly I like what Dr John Piper says, "Don't take classes; take teachers." In other words don't choose a college based on it's courses, choose the people you want to mould and shape your life. I love KLC and colleges like it because the faculty are practitioners, not theorists - they've got certificates and qualifications but they also have runs on the board in actually doing and living what they teach.
At Kings Leadership College you will be imparted to by people of the highest calibre such as Steve Penny and Marie Cartledge, plus many more.

So what are you waiting for? Give God a Year!

Think Like Your Successor Would

2009-05-26T15:55:00.002+10:00

Here's a great thought from Paul Andrew, Director of The Leadership Coach (www.theleadershipcoach.com)

Think Like Your Successor Would

Posted using ShareThis

Youth Alive: Change

2009-05-22T10:09:00.002+10:00

Dustan Bell and our youth team have been in schools all week promoting Youth Alive rally tomorrow night in Champions Centre. It will go off!

I'll be the grey-haired guy watching with a smile on my face - love seeing young people hot for God and bringing their friends to Jesus.

Special guests Rapture Ruckus, and Dan Lian from City Life Church Melbourne.

Quote of the Day

2009-05-13T12:14:00.001+10:00

Impossibility is the Dogma of Drifters. Possibility is the Catechism of Champions.

John Maxwell Leadership Simulcast at Kings

2009-05-09T21:22:00.006+10:00

Kings Christian Church is hosting John Maxwell's Maximum Impact Leadership Simulcast 2009, featuring Tony Blair (former UK Prime Minister), Jack Nicklaus (champion golfer), plus leading CEO's and leaders. The Simulcast has attracted a massive following from business, community, and church leaders over the past few years in many nations.

The Simulcast will take place on Friday 4th September at the Champions Centre, following the annual Kings Church Planting & Leadership School.

The Simulcast will include pre-recorded and live sessions, plus a live Q&A Panel with Steve Penny and others.

Cost is only $99. Registration info will be posted soon.

Excel 70

2009-05-07T14:14:00.004+10:00

The Excel 70 movement is gathering speed. 70 days of excellence to change your life in 4 key areas was initiated by Steve Penny and Brian Houston. The focus ends on the last day of Hillsong Conference 2009, although the personal commitments are sure to continue.

What can change in your life in 70 days?

Go to www.excel70.com for resources, email subscription, and connection with others.

Exponential Times

2009-05-04T23:28:00.001+10:00

This video was created in Nov 2008 - imagine how much has changed even since then??

Salvation Army's Hollywood

2009-04-26T23:47:00.002+10:00

Just watched a fascinating short doco on ABC called Rewind Moment (Sunday 26 April, 11.30pm). I need to do some more research but here are the basic facts as I remember them:

The Salvation Army in Melbourne in late 1800's started a film studio, called Limelight, primarily to produce an evangelistic film called Soldiers of the Cross - this was before Hollywood began
The film was produced by Joe Perry and Herbert Booth, son of the great William Booth
Herbert Booth had only recently become the head of the Salvation Army, and directed Perry to add film to the organisation, "regardless of the cost," as he saw its potential
The film cost 500 pounds, quite a large sum at the time. On opening night 4000 people attended the screenings, with people crying and even screaming out loud at the confrontational images of martyrs through the ages
At the conclusion of the film Herbert Booth preached a short fire-and-brimstone message with great effect
The film was so successful and effective that they took it on tour, seeing many people respond to the message of living for Jesus
Limelight was an extremely lucrative arm of the church, helping to fund its social work
John Cleary, ABC religious affairs broadcaster (I was interviewed by him once on his national program - he's not particularly pro-Pentecostal!), made the observation that at the time the Salvation Army was "at the centre of society," so much so that it was invited by the government to record the official film of the Federation festivities and ceremony in 1901
He also said that the success of the Salvation Army was largely due to its absolute passion for bringing reform to society at every level
In 1902 Booth resigned from the Salvation Army and took his film on international evangelistic crusades
Unfortunately in 1909, Scotsman James Hey came from the UK as the new head of the Salvation Army in Australia. He declared that cinema was "too frivolous, too risky, and too accommodating of the masses" and shut the department down. He admitted later that it took years for many of the Salvation Army churches to recover from the loss of income

What a great opportunity was lost for the church to have significant, creative influence in Australian society. It reminds me of a story told by Mark Driscoll of the patent for one of the first movie cameras and projectors being offered by Thomas Edison to his local Methodist church - which duly turned it down because of the immorality of films.

Click here for a link to more information from the ABC's Rewind Moments doco on Limelight.

Celebrant or Minister?

2009-04-19T01:32:00.006+10:00

Here's a link to a news.com.au story about couples preferring civil ceremonies over church weddings - because of some churches' restrictions to ceremonies, and requirements to have pre-marriage counselling.

As a Minister of Religion I perform many wedding ceremonies for people who are part of our church, as well as those who aren't. The format of the ceremony is very flexible - I will help the couple design virtually whatever they want. Interestingly I have had many couples who are not particularly religious, and do not attend any church, ask me to do their ceremony with an understanding that there will be some "God stuff" - sometimes to keep parents or grandparents happy, often because there is an underlying desire for "as much help as we can get" going into marriage. As one young guys said to me recently during pre-marriage counselling, "I'm not religious, but there has to be a God. It just makes sense."

Although the ceremony is flexible, I do require the couple to undergo some form of pre-marriage counselling to give them every chance of success. It's amazing how many of the big issues are never really discussed or resolved in the lead-up to the wedding otherwise. Some of the issues become deal breakers - but I want every couple to have their eyes as wide open as possible before they enter what is supposed to be a life-long commitment.

Interesting that the researcher mentions a commitment-free era. Perhaps it seems easier for some couples to not have anyone highlight issues which can become a cause of tension in their particular marriage - after all if it doesn't work out we'll just call it quits. Not so easy though when the cost to children or even their wallet is considered!

Church, garden, beach, minister or celebrant - I don't particularly care. But if a couple is smart they will get some good pre-marriage counselling, and the earlier the better.

Prepare/Enrich is a brilliant tool to help highlight areas for a couple.

What Life Are You Waiting For?

2009-04-18T21:01:00.006+10:00

I listened to a great podcast today (makes mowing the lawn so much more enjoyable!) by Brian Houston called This Is Your Day. It's all about maximising every day for the glory and purposes of God.

It built upon stirring I have particularly felt in the last few days to ensure my life is being maximised instead of just ticking away.

So very quickly, here are some of my thoughts on how to put the X in Maximised:
1. The Xperience of God
Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life." He also said, "I have come that you may have life to the full."
The starting point for a maximised life MUST be via the gateway of experiencing a personal encounter with the God who created you on purpose for a purpose. There is no other starting point.

2. The Xchange of Grace
Once you experience God for yourself, there is only two options:
A) Shrug Him off and walk away
B) Accept the amazing free gift, where He takes your sin, shame, and guilt, and exchanges it with His salvation, regeneration and atonement. Martin Luther called this the Exchange of Grace.
A life shackled and restricted by the weight of sin and the corrupt human nature will always fall short of the potential it was created for.

3. The Xpectation of Good
Two of my life convictions are:
A) God is good and only does good!
B) All things are working together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.
So many people live a half-full life because they are never able to accept the fact that God's desire is toward them for good. This causes them to shrink back from opportunities and faith challenges, or to place limitations upon themselves because of a belief that they are not the favoured beloved of God.
But when you understand that "underneath are the everlasting arms" you can have great confidence to "Expect great things from God, and attempt great things for God" as thegreat pioneer of modern missions, William Carey, once said.

4. The Xhibition of Glory
A maximised life understands that it is on the planet to exhibit the glory of God; to be a wonder to many of the grace, goodness, and glory of God. Jesus said, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matt 5:16)

5. The Xpedition of Greatness
A life lived with a daily Experience of God, revelling in the Exchange of Grace, with a confident Expectation of Good, seeking to present an Exhibition of Glory, is truly an Expedition of Greatness. It is a life which lives beyond dreary subordination to the confines of the mediocre. It is a life which is intent on being a city on a hill. It is a life which leaves an imprint on the planet for the glory of God. It is a life which leaves a deposit in the lives of others. It is a life which is blessed to be a blessing. It is a life spurred by a desire to help as many other people as possible to discover their God-ordained maximised life.

So come on...what life are you waiting for?

Two Men Eat World's Hottest Chilli...and Survive (just)

2009-04-08T11:18:00.002+10:00

My brother-in-law Craig, and I, did the same thing one night but only with half of the chilli each. Nasty!

CLICK HERE to watch two guys eat the insane Naga Jolokia Chilli, thanks to news.com.au

Moving Forward

2009-04-08T09:56:00.002+10:00

I love what Christine Caine wrote on her Twitter today. To paraphrase (if something as short as a tweet can even be paraphrased!)...

"Whenever Abraham left one place/opportunity, the road ahead lengthened and the landscape widened. Keep moving forward!"

It's often not until you actually poke your head out of the place you're in (whether it's a rut or just comfortable and familiar) that you realise what a big wide world lays before you. What are you so consumed by today that is clouding your view of the expansive promises and calling of God for your life?

How or What

2009-04-05T10:08:00.001+10:00

Steve Penny gave this great thought in church this morning:

When you're going through a valley or wilderness don't ask HOW.
Instead ask WHAT.

What did God promise?
What must I do to possess it?

How Can You Get Mad At This?

2009-04-03T14:56:00.003+10:00

Alana just sent me this photo of our daughter Zara's latest portrait...on the wall with pen. It's so good though - how can you possibly get mad? Picasso get out of the way!

Who is the Light of the World?

2009-04-02T15:48:00.003+10:00

Who is the light of the world?
A: Jesus
B: You
C: All of the above

I dare say that most people's first answer would be A: Jesus is the light of the world.

In fact I just read a blog criticising a friend of mine for preaching a sermon and saying that "you can be the light of the world."

"How dare he?" the blogger opined. "Jesus is the light of the world, everyone knows that."

Everyone who doesn't read the Bible, that is. While John 8:12 and 9:5 both quote Jesus as saying, "I am the light of the world..." it is perhaps often overlooked that Jesus himself also said in Matthew 5:14, "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hid..."

So the correct answer therefore is C: All of the above. Jesus is the light that we follow so that we don't walk in darkness, but then we also are commissioned by Him as beacons of light offering the hope and a standard for others to follow.

Paul said let your light shine in the midst of a dark generation. Look around...this is a pretty dark generation, and YOU are the light of the world, so get shining! Shine with righteousness, shine with love, shine with justice, shine with purpose, shine with hope, shine with generosity, shine with compassion, shine with grace.

It's dangerous to be a surface skimmer of the Word of God - especially if you're going to take aim at someone with it!

Mission Accomplished

2009-04-01T08:20:00.002+10:00

This Sunday night will be a bitter-sweet moment for us as we hand over the youth ministry of Kings to Dustan and Sarah Bell.

We have absolutely loved the last 18 months of leading the most phenomenal young people on the planet – literally! You are truly amazing!

However when Ps Steve asked us to take on youth we knew it was only going to be for a short season. Now our mission of getting Empire healthy, strong, and full of great leaders is accomplished. Schools are more open to us than they've been in a long time, our youth band is brilliant, KNECT groups are thriving, finances are healthy, together we pulled off a great i61 Youth Conference, and we are preparing for our first ever Young Adults Retreat!

Now it’s time for us to move into other things for Ps Steve in Kings across the Coast and globally.

We are so happy with what has been achieved, and know that Empire is positioned for greater things than ever in bringing a revolution to youth culture. Dusty and Sarah will do a great job with a quality team, while also continuing to lead our Noosa congregation, Kings Leadership College, and Youth Alive Sunshine Coast.

So, please join us this Sunday night for our last chance to feel like we’re not really 30+!!! We’d love to celebrate with you!

Remember…the Spirit of the Lord is upon you BECAUSE!

Love you heaps

Artie and Alana

Creation

2009-03-29T10:39:00.001+10:00

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" Genesis 1:1

In the beginning God claimed the creation of the 5 elemental building
blocks of the universe:
1. Beginning TIME
2. God POWER
3. Created FORCE (what is done with or by power)
4. Heavens SPACE
5. Earth MATTER

Sent from my iPhone

What do you do when your church seats 1300 people but only 80 show up?

2009-03-29T01:24:00.002+10:00

The Mars Hill Blog | Blog Archive » Final Thoughts From Pastor Mark at 12:37am After the Lowest Sunday in Many Years

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Anyone in church leadership knows the euphoria of a great Sunday, and the despair of a "bad" one. That's why, as Ps Steve always says, you can't judge a church/ministry/leader by one Sunday only.

March on Mars

2009-03-26T12:08:00.001+10:00

March on Mars begins next week.
Click HERE so you can email or write to Mars in your region.
Let's make them follow Cadbury's lead and stop exploiting children.

What do you choose?

2009-03-26T10:09:00.003+10:00

I just had this thought...

Most people see a RISK, choose their FEARS, and bypass an OPPORTUNITY.

Visionaries see an OPPORTUNITY, choose a RISK, and bypass their FEARS.

Language of Values

2009-03-25T22:08:00.001+10:00

Language of Values I like this quote from Barack Obama while discussing the value of values...

“It is the language of values that people use to map their world. It is what can inspire them to take action, and move them beyond their isolation.” (The Audacity of Hope, p.52)

This takes no small measure of wisdom and discernment to be able to connect with the pre-existing values of other people, while expressing and portraying the vision of your preferred values in such a way that it causes others to be drawn to these new values, to inculcate them, and to outwork them in their own lives.

Formula for Fruitfulness

2009-03-22T13:49:00.001+10:00

Formula for Fruitfulness
A attitude +
B beliefs +
C companions +
D doing +
E excellence
=
F fruitfulness

Sent from my iPhone

i61 in the News

2009-03-12T09:16:00.002+10:00

Check out the report on i61 Conference in the Australian Christian Churches ACCENT magazine online

Cadbury's Goes Fair Trade

2009-03-10T09:59:00.003+10:00

After much lobbying by organisations such as Stop The Traffik, Cadbury's has announced it's Dairy Milk Chocolate will be Fair Trade Certified later this year - after initially saying it would be impossible and impractical to do so. This should result in less children being exploited and taken into slavery in cocoa plantations in the Ivory Coast and across West Africa.

Read the full press release from Stop The Traffik here.

Grace is Not Grease

2009-03-09T10:25:00.000+10:00

Great quote from Micaela Elliott's Frantic Five at Empire United last night - "Don't treat grace like grease that slips you out of trouble when you sin."

Holograms and Homiletics

2009-03-07T22:58:00.003+10:00

The next step in multi-site church link-ups is not too far away. Several years ago, Kings pioneered the use of video-conferencing technology to provide live, interactive video links between our congregations. I can't wait until we are pioneering the use of holographs for homiletics (preaching)!

33

2009-03-05T19:46:00.002+10:00

Today I turned 33, and so my attention turned to other notable events surrounding the number 33.

- Jesus performed 33 recorded miracles
- Jesus completed His earthly ministry and died on the cross at 33
- Alexander the Great died at 33
- A ballistic missile would take approx 33 minutes to hit the USA from any of its enemy nations
- 33 was the average life expectancy of the Methodist Circuit Riders in the 1800's
- 33 is the Atomic Number of Arsenic on the Periodic Table

Look out world. 33 is a dangerous number!

WUK-BEF

2009-02-24T13:01:00.004+10:00

WUK-BEF...sounds like a stir fry at your local Jackie Chan's. It's actually the ingredients for something much more potent! I uncovered this little gem in my devotion time today...

Proverbs 24:3 says "Through WISDOM a house is BUILT, and by UNDERSTANDING it is ESTABLISHED; by KNOWLEDGE the rooms are filled..."

A combination of
Wisdom
Understanding, and
Knowledge

produces a taste sensation of

Built
Established
Filled

Many people are great at one, or maybe even two of these elements, but an overflowing life has all three essentials. It's not enough to just build, or even establish something - God wants what we build (marriage, family, ministry, church, business) to also be filled with great value and worth.

If we unpack the original Hebrew words a little further we can gain an even better insight...

1. Wisdom (literally good sense) leads to Built (literally begin to build). Most people can begin to build something. It just takes a little good sense. The challenge is that many people move from the beginnings of one building to the next to the next, never learning how to establish or fill it.

2. Understanding (literally intelligence or a persuasive argument) causes the house to be Established (literally set up, stand tall and straight). When you start to add some intelligence to your initial good idea (by seeking wise counsel, committing to learning and personal development etc), and develop some convictions, you can really begin to establish something which is not easily bent or broken by the winds of circumstance.

3. Knowledge (literally to know by seeing, wittingly ie deliberate, full awareness, consciousness) causes the house to not just be begun or even completed, but to be Filled (which literally means...are you ready?...filled! But filled in the widest application, ie full of every good thing). When you approach your mission to build a great ministry or family with a sense of deliberate intentionality, rather than coasting along accidentally and sub-consciously as most people do, you won't just construct an empty marriage, or a shallow ministry, but something which is full of great blessing for you and those around you. How can you be more deliberate in what you are building with your life?

Ah, I love the Bible!

The Relentless

2009-02-24T12:58:00.001+10:00

Relentless. Radical. Revolutionary.

Sounds great, but what does it actually mean to live this kind of life?

I'd love to hear your thoughts at The Relentless group on Facebook.

What is a Missional Community???

2009-02-23T22:24:00.001+10:00

I like these thoughts from Steve Timmis on Mark Driscoll's Resurgence site...

I hope I’m not being insensitive with this question, but what is the obsession with dead languages? In fact, I reckon it has almost become a hallmark of contemporary, cutting-edge, hardcore gospel movements that we make up new words from languages that no one speaks.

Gospel Communities

Let me explain. The idea of missional communities has become trendy. This enables larger churches to devolve the routine stuff of church life to smaller groups throughout the week while retaining a central teaching session, usually on a Sunday. But why call them “missional” when we have a perfectly good word at our disposal in “gospel”? Gospel communities is exactly what they are: communities that are all about the gospel because they are formed by the gospel and exist for the gospel.

Using a word like gospel also helps us in our evangelism. If non-Christians want to know what a gospel community is, you can take them straight to Mark 1:15-20, where Jesus preached the gospel and formed a community around it. Alternatively, you have Acts 2, where Peter preached the gospel concerning Christ crucified and risen, and a community was formed around that. If the same non-Christians want to know what a missional community is, where will you take them then? A dictionary!

Axiom 11: Build a Boiler Fund

2009-02-16T00:46:00.002+10:00

I have come to believe that every ministry, including the local church, must be profitable
The painful truth is that unless we become consistently profitable, we will not exist to minister another day!
At Willow Creek, a "balanced budget" includes a significant contribution to reserves and substantial "set-asides" for operating contingency funds
A boiler fund is a safety-net surplus because someday, when you least expect it, the "boiler" is going to burst and you want to be able to fix it
If we really believe the local church is the hope of the world, then we should do everything in our power to make sure it can thrive financially into the future

Axiom 10: The Value of a Good Idea

2009-02-16T00:40:00.002+10:00

Leaders traffic in idea creation
The best leaders are ferociously disciplined about seeking ideas, and incredibly committed to stewarding them well
In order to land one good idea - one breakthrough idea that will kick your activity into high gear - you have to allow for hundreds or even thousands of mediocre ideas
Great leaders know which people should be invited to idea-generation meetings - who will work hard and turn up with long lists of ideas already in mind
When planning a meeting sometimes Hybels will say, "Gang, there's nothing really cool about this service. There's not a single point when people will scratch their heads in disbelief thinking, 'How'd they come up with something as creative as that?'"

Axiom 9: The Fair Exchange Value

2009-02-16T00:34:00.003+10:00

And so we return now to our scheduled transmission of thoughts from Bill Hybels' leadership book AXIOM - Powerful leadership Proverbs...

Leaders often want maximum results, maximum effort, and maximum hours, regardless of what a "fair exchange" would warrant
Staff who joyfully work in the early days of pioneering for a third of what they are worth secretly expect that at some point in the future the situation wll change and increasing resources will bring their salaries to appropriate levels

Low Voltage Preaching

2009-01-24T23:37:00.001+10:00

While preaching at i61 last week, I noticed something flashing on the giant video screens behind me. Superimposed over the live footage of me were the flashing words "Low Voltage."

It was an indicator for the central video camera, although I wondered if the media team were making a statement about my preaching!

It made me think though. May the Word of God in my mouth always be so infused with the anointing, so contagious with passion, and so laden with conviction that the words LOW VOLTAGE would never be used to describe it!

Peach Tea Debate

2009-01-21T20:25:00.000+10:00

Ok, let's settle this once and for all!

Is Peach Ice Tea a masculine or feminine drink?

So far the results are in favour of feminine!

Manure = Growth

2009-01-21T20:23:00.000+10:00

Don't be upset if some manure gets thrown on you. It promotes growth!

More thoughts from i61

2009-01-21T20:20:00.001+10:00

Memorable Quotes from Kevin Caldwell:

God isn't looking for movers and shakers. He wants moulders and shapers

Even when Abraham wasn't able to be productive God could still give him a promise

Don't ask for something big. Ask for seed, because in the seed is fruit, more fruit and much frut

Opposition tells you you're heading the right direction

Insignificant people never have significant trouble

Fear is faith in the wrong direction

Do Something

2009-01-18T21:48:00.000+10:00

To find out how you can do something to make a tangible, lasting difference in the lives of children and their families go to
www.compassion.com.au
www.destinyrescue.org

Justice - the new black

2009-01-18T21:45:00.000+10:00

One of our slogans at i61 was "Justice is the New Black" as around the world young people are beginning to take on righting social justice issues as the thing to do.

During i61 we particularly highlighted the work of Compassion Australia in hunger relief and child sponsorship, as well as Destiny Rescue in rescuing children in brothels and child sponsorship.

During i61, young people taking these justice issues to heart resulted in 157 kids having food provided for a month, and approx 20 kids being sponsored.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me BECAUSE!

Burrito too hot for Jesus?

2009-01-18T21:36:00.000+10:00

Two young guys asked me this question at United tonight - "Could Jesus hypothetically heat up a burrito so much that even he couldn't eat it?"

They enjoyed my answer - "In the Book of Revelations Jesus has a flaming sword coming out of his mouth. I reckon he could handle a burrito!"

It was another great night tonight. The band was on fire again, continuing the hot worship from i61, and Alana preached an insightful word on Willing Spirits, Weak Flesh. 7 people said Yes to Jesus!

4 Rules for Preaching

2009-01-16T23:27:00.003+10:00

These 4 rules for preparing a sermon have been passed from Bishop TD Jakes to Chris Hill to Kevin Caldwell to...you!

1. Study yourself full
Read the passage in every available translation
Immerse yourself in the setting and cultural context
Gather as much information as possible about the passage or topic

2. Think yourself clear
Now that you've collated all this information, knowledge, understanding and revelation it needs to be ordered into a framework which is useful
Take time to get clarity and order in your thoughts to form the structure and skeleton of the message

3. Pray yourself hot
Now that you've got the message on paper, it's time to get it in your spirit
Pray, pray, pray, pray, pray
Get the anointing and authority of the Holy Spirit

4. Let yourself go (or Preach yourself empty...if I can be so audacious to alter part of the Bishop's instructions!)
When you deliver your sermon give it EVERYTHING you've got!
Don't walk away from the pulpit and leave anything behind

Delayed or Denied

2009-01-16T23:25:00.001+10:00

My promise may be delayed, but it will not be denied! - Kevin Caldwell

What I Learnt at i61 Pt2

2009-01-16T23:21:00.002+10:00

Kevin Caldwell at Leaders Summit:

Read the Word of God as your lunchbox, not your toolbox - make it your daily sustenance, not just for finding sermons

"Follow Me" is what a rabbi would say to a young man with potential to become a rabbi

Give exposure and experience away from th spotlight to those who want to follow you in leadership so you can begin to shape their life

Set yourself on fire. When you touch someone else they will get set on fire, and when they touch someone else they will get set on fire, and when they...

What I Learnt at i61 Pt1

2009-01-16T22:56:00.002+10:00

From Steve Penny at i61 Leaders Summit (it was an honour to have Ps Steve impart into the youth pastors and leaders on Monday!)

Eph 2:20 literally means I am His workmanship created for workmanship, ie I am created to create things.

Your youth ministry is not just a youth group - it's a leadership training centre, a hub for world domination

There are 3 kinds of vessels (from Jer 18)
1. SOMETHING Vessels
The potter was making something
Everything begins as something
Not hard to produce - doesn't take much time, planning, prayer, preparation, effort
This is the zone of low expectations and excuses
The something level is where attitude gets its first test
Is the vessel willing to be shaped and moulded, maybe even left in the water for a little longer?

2. MARRED Vessels
Imperfections, flaws, and inadequacies start to be revealed
This is the breaking stage
The process of breaking and shaping never stops - it's up to you whether or not you want to go to new levels

3. GOOD Vessels
Carry the glory of God in the House it was created for
You are shaped firstly for the benefit of the House - then the House can promote you

It is our personal responsibility to move from being SOMETHING through MARRED to GOOD.
It is also our personal responsibility to move the vessels we create (ministry, family, marriage, business etc) from being just SOMETHING through MARRED to being a GOOD vessel which carries God's glory.

Broadcast Interruption

2009-01-16T21:25:00.003+10:00

We interrupt the scheduled broadcast of more Axioms by Bill Hybels to bring you an update on the WOW week which was i61 Conference!

I'll post a whole lot of notes, thoughts and comments. Suffice to say for now:
What a week!
What a team!
What a word!
What a response to social justice needs!
What an indescribably power-packed recharge for our young people!

In a word...brilliant.

How You Can Help Make i61 Amazing

2009-01-05T10:44:00.002+10:00

In preparation for i61 Conference starting 12 January, here's some things we need you can do to help make it a brilliant week:

1. This Tuesday at 7.30pm be at Kings for a Prayer Preparation Party! This for all KNECT groups, and for anyone who wants to come. Let's prepare a great platform of faith for God to move at i61

2. If you've got spare time this week, why not come into the Kings offices to help with final mail-outs, registration packs, stage sets and more. Anytime is fine

3. We need a couple of guys to make a roadtrip to St George (5 1/2 hours drive away) this week to pick up the sound system which has been donated to us by Steve Grace to beef up sound for i61. We'll cover your costs - you'll just need a van or ute.

4. You can come for free to i61 if you register as a FULL TIME VOLUNTEER. This means you arrive every day at 7.30am and serve wherever needed. You're also the last to leave. This will be a big job but also a heap of fun.

5. Or just register at the special $50 rate as a delegate (you can still volunteer and get involved with a bit more flexibility)

6. Many people are choosing to serve full time AND pay for registration (that's what we're doing too) because they believe in what we're doing together and want to invest in it

7. Get all your friends to register - it's going to be amazing!

Nelson Mandela said, "Sometimes it falls on a generation to be great. You can be that generation." Let's do something great together and make i61 the most amazing kick-off for the year for Kings but also for all the other youth ministries who are coming from different parts of Australia.

If you've got any questions just ask! Check out www.i61conference.com

Love you guys

Artie and Alana

Axiom 8: Hire Tens

2008-12-31T12:20:00.002+10:00

Bill Hybels "Axiom" continued:
- Using a leadership-effectiveness scale where a Ten is the highest (most effective) and One is the lowest (least effective)

- If a leader doesn't take responsibility for personal growth and development they will stay at whatever level they are currently at

- A leader who is a "Five" on the scale will never attract, motivate or retain people who are higher on the scale than themself

- Fives can recruit, mobilise and retain Fours and below but never higher for any significant period of time

- It is my responsibility to keep progressing on the leadership-effectiveness scale so I can attract leaders of greater capacity and ability

- I also need to surround myself with leaders who are as high on the scale as possible

- It can be so much easier to recruit and retain leaders several levels lower on the scale but this is only detrimental to the health and effectiveness of the organisation. Lower level leaders are typically more easy to manage, and are more easily impressed by your ability, but when the time comes for them to also recruit and train they will in turn look for a lower level leader

- The long-term effect of this cycle is a compromise in the overall effectiveness of the team and organisation

- Always encourage your team to grow their own leadership and then to invite the highest calibre leaders they can to join your cause

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-26T22:38:00.002+10:00

From our family to your's, we pray you have a wonderful Christmas season!

Please click on the image to view a full size Christmas greeting (with some really cute photos...of the kids as well!)

Axiom 7: An Owner or a Hireling

2008-12-23T09:52:00.002+10:00

Bill Hybels "Axiom" continued:
- Leaders have to contend with the idea of how seriously we will pursue our God-given visions

- Paul was willing to die for his vision (Acts 20 + 21)

- Wise leaders understand that the single greatest determinant of whether followers will ever own a vision deeply is the extent to which those followers believe the leader will own it

- Jesus called people who laboured half-heartedly "hirelings"

- Every leader gets a vision from God. They start to carry out that vision and feel extremely privileged to be doing God's work. But then the road forks. One path leads to "hireling" status, the other to that of "owner. "

- Some head down the hireling path and wreak havoc for everyone. The vision becomes more about them, their career, their fame, their success. People say, "You weren't like this before" and one by one start to bail out from following. They have to - the deal has changed

- Owner-leaders settle the issue that they are willing to keep paying the price for the vision entrusted to them. They wake up every day ready to fight on behalf of their God-given visions knowing their commendation will come with "Well done good faithul servant". Followers notice and are inspired to do great things for God's glory

Axiom 6: Bold Move

2008-12-23T09:38:00.002+10:00

Bill Hybels "Axiom" continued:
- A bold move is the label at Willow for a courageous, high-risk plan that God just might use in a major way

- Once you label something in a culture you give it an identity. You legitimize it and increase the likelihood that you'll see that behaviour on an ever increasing basis. Why? Because people become organisational heroes when they exhibit it!

- You will never take big hills without making bold moves

- Make a few bold moves, or you'll breathe your last leadership breath far too soon

Axiom 5: Vision - Paint the Picture Passionately

2008-12-21T18:17:00.003+10:00

Vision is a picture of the future that produces passion in people
Vision and passion are inextricably bound together in the life of a leader
When you have eyes to see the vision that God has given to you, you'll know it because your heart will feel it so deeply that, over time, any lingering uncertainty will vanish
Don't ever apologise for the strength of feeling you have for the vision God has put into your life
Paint your vision as passionately and colourfully as you can, so other people's hearts are stirred enough to shout, "Count me in!"

Axiom 4: Explosive Growth Equals Dramatic Meltdowns

2008-12-21T18:11:00.002+10:00

The temptation for all church leaders being blessed by Gid-given growth is to delight themselves fully in the influx of new people but then forget to plan for how to actually assimilate those people into their ministry
God does His part. Often we just haven't done ours

Axiom 3: You're Always in a Season

2008-12-20T16:16:00.002+10:00

A key responsibility of a leader is to know what season they are in, to name it, and then to communicate the implications of that season to the followers
You might be in:
A season of growth - everything is rosy, healthy, exciting, thriving
A season of consolidation - assimilating and nurturing the results of growth
A season of transition - can be caused by any number of internal and external forces. Discover why, what it means, and how to navigate it
A season of malaise - everything seems somber, stale, and stuck. Needs a shake-up and injection of buzz
A season of reinvention - everything is under the microscope and is a candidate for an overhaul, a face-lift, a funeral, or pruning
Normally people following are unaware of what season the organisation is in unless you tell them

Axiom 2: Make the Big Ask

2008-12-20T16:10:00.003+10:00

Leadership is a lot about asking
People are actually quite flattered to be asked to do significant things for God
They might not always say yes, or can't always say yes, but they are almost always honoured by a wise and well-timed ask
Effective leadership requires growing in the skill of asking
The more confidently you ask, the better off everyone will be
Human beings by nature tend to drift into worse or lower level behaviours. We usually have to be asked to consider stepping up
If you're chasing a bold vision, one of the greatest gifts you can give the people around you is to get in front of them, eyeball-to-eyeball, and ask them to step up and do something great for God

Axiom 1: Language Matters

2008-12-20T16:02:00.004+10:00

My effectiveness as a leader often hinges on something as "inconsequential" as word choice.
Leaders rise and fall by the language they use
Carefully chosen language (jargon or axioms) within a team/church/organisation deepens community, creates clarity and a special sort of solidarity
Wrestle with words until they can communicate your big ideas in a way that captures imagination, catalyzes action, and lifts spirits
Axioms bolster a culture and steady it against the winds of change
Hybels often takes long walks in search of one key word for a leadership message
If you need to have an important discussion with someone, write down your thoughts before you even step into the meeting. The other person is probably going to remember only a few sentences from the conversation, so you want to work hard to select phrases of note

Colin Powell on Leadership

2008-12-19T21:51:00.003+10:00

I am waiting to finish Axiom before I get to The Powell Principles - 24 Lessons from Colin Powell. I've got a pile of books that I'm trying to work through!

But even the contents list of The Powell Principles is food for thought! Here's some of them:

Don't encourage sycophants...Promote a clash of ideas

Don't placate everyone...Be prepared to p- - - people off

Don't establish your authority...Establish trust

Don't pick people with resumes...Pick the right people

Don't lecture...Listen

Don't stick to the big picture...Be vigilant in details

Don't let sleeping dogs lie...Be a disorganiser

Don't follow your ego...Check your ego at the door

Don't chase the trends...Fit no stereotypes

Don't coast...Push the envelope

Don't view people as instruments...View people as partners

Don't trust the inner circle...Trust those in the trenches

Don't take yourself seriously...Have fun in your command

Don't expect camaraderie...Prepare to be lonely

Axiom by Bill Hybels

2008-12-19T21:35:00.006+10:00

On the recommendation of James Macpherson, I grabbed Bill Hybel's latest book Axiom - Powerful Leadership Proverbs from Koorong.

I loved one of Hybel's other leadership books "Courageous Leadership" and am loving Axiom. It's a collection of Hybel's leadership rules-of-thumb developed over 30 years of ministry, with just a page or two summary of each one.

Partly because you may be interested, and partly to help me remember what I glean from the book, I will blog some thoughts from each chapter over the coming days.

This first thought is from the Foreword by Henry Cloud:

"A leader's responsibility, first and foremost, is to cause a vision and mission to have tangible results in the real world. Without a real difference made in real people's lives, a vision is relegated to a pipe dream, a mission to a series of wishes posted on the wall...A leader is also responsible for the experience of his or her followers...Great leaders cultivate an environment where instead of people getting injured, discouraged, and burned out, they are equipped to become what they never thought they could be and achieve things they never thought they could achieve. Great leaders grow not just results, but people too."

How To Create a Recession

2008-12-19T21:04:00.003+10:00

Joe the Architect goes to dinner to celebrate. He has just won a very lucrative contract with a major construction company. While enjoying his entree Joe reads the headline on a newspaper - "Experts Predict a Recession."

Stunned, he calls the restauranteur over and cancels his order of a prime steak and vintage wine. "Why, sir, is something wrong?" asks the concerned waiter. "No, but there is a recession coming, so I really should tighten the belt a bit."

As Joe leaves the restaurant, the restauranteur rings his wife - "Quick honey, please cancel your new dress and my new suit. There's a recession coming."

The restauranteur's wife calls the dress maker first thing in the morning - "I'm so sorry, but I need to cancel our order. There is a recession coming and this is a luxury we really shouldn't spend on at the moment."

The dress maker can't get off the phone quick enough to call her husband. "What do you think we should do about the store renovations? Apparently there's a recession coming." Her husband replies, "I'll call the builder straight away."

He calls the builder and explains they can no longer proceed with their renovations - it wouldn't be wise in times of economic uncertainty and recession.

The builder makes a quick call to Joe the Architect (remember him?). "I'm sorry Joe. There's a recession coming so I'm putting a hold on all my new projects. We're not going to go ahead with the contract."

Joe the Architect shrugs with resignation. After all, the experts said there was a recession coming.

(Adapted from an article by Noel Whittaker, finance columnist in the Courier Mail)

Looking for Hiwot Kebede

2008-12-18T04:24:00.003+10:00

Posted by my mate James Macpherson:

My name is James Macpherson and I'm searching for Hiwot Kebede.

Hiwot Kebede gave birth to twin baby boys in 2005 at Godanaw Rehabilitation Integrated Project in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. My wife and I adopted the boys in October of that same year. I have since travelled to Godanaw in 2008 a bid to find the boys' mother but was informed they had no information concerning her whereabouts. There was the suggestion that she may have gone to Dubai. My wife and I are keen to make contact with Hiwot in order to assure her that her children are happy and healthy. We also want to be able to provide our sons with information about their Ethiopian mother as they grow up. If you have information about Hiwot Kebede from Godanaw, please contact us by email at james.macpherson@calvarycc.org.au or leave a comment and contact details on this blog.

Hallmark of Leadership

2008-12-18T04:10:00.003+10:00

"One of the hallmarks of leadership is to recognise that you will always be disappointing somebody" - Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life

Fortune Cookie Wisdom #3

2008-12-13T21:42:00.000+10:00

Everyone knows how to say nothing. Not everyone knows when.

Fortune Cookie Wisdom #2

2008-12-13T21:41:00.000+10:00

Never use a hatchet to remove a fly from the forehead of your friend.

Fortune Cookie Wisdom #1

2008-12-13T21:40:00.000+10:00

The road to success is always under construction.

The Coolest Young People on Earth

2008-12-06T09:18:00.001+10:00

Last night was our Youth Formal, where we celebrate a great year, dance, laugh and party.

It was a perfect example of the great spirit, sense of fun, and cameraderie in the young people at Kings.

I have never met a more inclusive, happy, encouraging, excellent, hard working, passionate group of young people who love God, love people and love life like they do.

Everyone looked amazing, the dance moves were cool (sometimes hilarious), and the cheers for various people were genuine.

Congratulations to our award winners - some of which were:
Most Passionate Mosher - Micaela Elliott
Serve Til You Drop Award - Mark Richardson
The Mic Lanham Award for Heavy Lifting - Ryan Morrow and Luke Govan
The Who Said You Can Find Love On The Sound Team Award - Ryan Whittington and Kristy Porter
KNECT Attach Award - Emily Morrow's KNECT girls
Serving The Next Generation Award - Steven Strudwick

We've had a great year...the best is yet to come!

Download this...

2008-11-27T16:14:00.002+10:00

Download it, print it, write on it, send it!

Break-Through to Break-In

2008-11-23T01:58:00.000+10:00

Matthew 11:12 “The Kingdom of Heaven is forcefully advancing and forceful people are breaking into it”

What do you need to BREAK THROUGH?

What do you need to BREAK INTO?

· Breakthrough comfort to break into calling

· Breakthrough disappointments to break into divine appointments

· Breakthrough dreads to break into dreams

· Breakthrough fear to break into faith

· Breakthrough your inferiority to break into your identity

· Breakthrough your past to break into your promise

· Breakthrough private battles to break into public blessing

· Breakthrough rejection to break into restoration

· Breakthrough sinfulness to break into significance

97 Years Apart

2008-11-20T14:43:00.002+10:00

On the weekend we flew to Adelaide, along with Shepherds and their derivatives from around the world, for the 100th Birthday of my Nanna. It was a huge family gathering, and Nan looks like she could bat on for a few more runs yet.

It also was my daughter Zara's 3rd birthday on the same day. She said later that she loved her big party!

Jason Hamlin at United this Sunday Night

2008-11-11T20:15:00.000+10:00

He's back! He's a wild, radical, pull-no-punches preacher, evangelist, and humanitarian. Jason Hamlin stirred faith and passion last time he was with us, with accounts of his ministry particularly in the heart-land of religious extremists.

Jason will be preaching at Kings this Sunday morning, with live video link across all congregations in the morning, and then at UNITED 6pm Sunday night. All welcome, kids program provided. Teens can come from 5pm for Empire High, and 18-pluses can stay on after the service for dinner or coffee in The Lounge.

Precious Pressure

2008-11-11T09:36:00.002+10:00

No Pressure = No Diamonds. So don't run from pressure - it just may produce something precious in and through you.

Kevin D. Caldwell on i61

2008-11-09T00:13:00.002+10:00

i61 Conference Promo Video

2008-11-09T00:07:00.002+10:00

Bono on Jesus

2008-11-08T01:21:00.005+10:00

This excerpt from "Bono: In Conversation with Michka Assayas" can be found at Christianity Today and in Timothy Keller's insightful book "The Reason for God."

Assayas: Christ has his rank among the world's great thinkers. But Son of God, isn't that farfetched?

Bono: No, it's not farfetched to me. Look, the secular response to the Christ story always goes like this: he was a great prophet, obviously a very interesting guy, had a lot to say along the lines of other great prophets, be they Elijah, Muhammad, Buddha, or Confucius. But actually Christ doesn't allow you that. He doesn't let you off that hook. Christ says: No. I'm not saying I'm a teacher, don't call me teacher. I'm not saying I'm a prophet. I'm saying: "I'm the Messiah." I'm saying: "I am God incarnate." And people say: No, no, please, just be a prophet. A prophet, we can take. You're a bit eccentric. We've had John the Baptist eating locusts and wild honey, we can handle that. But don't mention the "M" word! Because, you know, we're gonna have to crucify you. And he goes: No, no. I know you're expecting me to come back with an army, and set you free from these creeps, but actually I am the Messiah…So what you're left with is: either Christ was who He said He was—the Messiah—or a complete nutcase. I mean, we're talking nutcase on the level of Charles Manson…The idea that the entire course of civilization for over half of the globe could have its fate changed and turned upside-down by a nutcase, for me, that's farfetched…

United Has Launched

2008-11-07T14:05:00.001+10:00

Wow, how good was last Sunday night!!

From 5pm-6pm the front of the Champions Centre was crowded with teenagers at EMPIRE HIGH hanging out, skating, enjoying some tunes, a BBQ, good friends, slippery mat dodgeball, and generally “chillaxing.”

At 6pm UNITED went into overdrive with over 300 teens and young adults (and a half dozen “older young people” who loved it, like 80 year old Dallas!). The band rocked, the atmosphere was charged, and lots of people said Yes to Jesus.

Afterwards the teens hung out for a bit longer, while THE LOUNGE was packed with 18-pluses enjoying dinner, coffee, the cool sounds of Shae Jackson, and even Rove on the big screen.

Finally the change-over had come, and it was awesome!

Don’t miss the action this Sunday as we do it all over again. Why not come join us from 3pm to help set up too?

City Church Youth Pumping

2008-11-01T01:05:00.002+10:00

Tonight I preached at City Church Brisbane & Logan's first united youth night at the Logan Campus (which used to be Steve Kennedy's church - now both campuses are under the leadership of Wayne Alcorn).

This was a cool night with a great vibe and charged atmosphere as 200+ young people unleashed a RELENTLESS passion for Jesus and changing their world. They were so easy to preach to and around 20 young people said Yes to Jesus.

Kudos to Grant Cunningham, Nathan Bean, and David Bean - three great young guys who are doing an excellent job of leading one youth ministry in two locations. I look forward to seeing even greater increase and influence in the coming year!

Sunday's on the Way

2008-11-01T00:47:00.003+10:00

After months of planning, preparing, pondering and praying it is finally here. This Sunday sees the launch of our new UNITED youth and young adult congregation on Sunday nights at Kings.

With teen hang-time from 5pm-6pm, a UNITED service from 6pm-7.45pm, followed by more teen hang-time for those who can stay on, and The Lounge for young adults with dinner, good coffee and live entertainment, I think we've struck a good balance. Time will tell! Youth Pastors all around the country are saying "I'm so jealous, I would love to move youth to Sunday nights" to which I reply, "Just give us a few months to see if it works first!"

Having said that, I am really excited about the possibilities for Sunday nights, and there is a great anticipation building among our young people. Over the coming months we will have special guests including Jason Hamlin (16 Nov), Christine Caine (7 Dec), Steve Kennedy (4 Jan), and Kevin Caldwell (11 Jan). Plus the Kings Xmas Show, and of course Ps Steve Penny will come as often as he wants as our Senior Pastor. UNITED will showcase a little more of our team's creative flair and unique style, while keeping the same vision and culture.

Super-Class of 2009

2008-10-27T09:14:00.002+10:00

I am so excited at the calibre of students enrolling for Kings Training College for 2009. This will be our best class yet (no offense to current or previous students of course!).

Especially satisfying is the number of our young people who are committing to Give God a Year. I know this will be an impacting and stretching year for all of them - and doing it with a heap of friends will be a blast.

Some previous students are coming back to do the 2nd Year Diploma, which is being re-introduced with some great adjustments to the course.

Where else would you want to do ministry and leadership training??

What a Legend!

2008-10-23T18:44:00.003+10:00

Lashed to vehicle in Afghanistan, wounded SAS soldier fought on.

By Ian McPhedran

DESPITE being shot twice during an ambush in Afghanistan, an SAS soldier lashed himself to the front of his patrol vehicle so he wouldn't be left behind if he passed out from loss of blood and kept on fighting.

The Digger is expected to be recommended for a high level bravery award.

Suffering from serious upper body wounds, the soldier struggled on to the front of his SAS long range patrol vehicle (LRPV) and, under heavy fire, used a rope to attach himself firmly between the vehicle's bull bar and radiator.

Once he was secured, and there was no chance that he would fall off if he fainted, he picked up his rifle and resumed firing at the enemy during a two-hour fighting withdrawal.

SAS troops and their special forces comrades from the Commando Regiment are well aware of the slow and painful death that awaits them if they are captured by the Taliban.

The Digger, who cannot be identified, faded in and out of consciousness, emptying several magazines as volleys of enemy rounds and rocket propelled grenades, rained down around him.

He was finally evacuated from the battle field at high speed still lashed to the front of the LRPV.

Mobilise 1000

2008-10-23T12:41:00.003+10:00

Youth Alive Australia are spear-heading an exciting initiative called Mobilise 1000, to take Australian young people on short mission treks all over the globe in 2009/10. The Aussie church is perfectly poised to influence the nations with our passion, whatever-it-takes spirit, and giant killing faith!

I will be leading the first trip, which will be to the UK and Poland. We will be partnering with Glyn Barrett of Youth Alive UK and Audacious to work with churches across London, Manchester and others; and then blitzing Poland with Zibi Marcek, who leads Radicals Youth Conference and is planting a new generation church in Krakow.

The UK alone has 19 million young people who don't know Jesus - what an opportunity!

Plus there will be some time to explore the sights of Old London Town, Auschwitz concentration camp in Krakow and more.

The trip is from 6-23 June 09. You can register your interest now.

i61 Registrations Flowing In

2008-10-23T12:37:00.003+10:00

Online registration is now active for the i61 Conference in January 2009, and registrations have begun flowing in from youth and young adult ministries from Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.

This will be the best way to kick start 2009 with special guest Kevin D. Caldwell (TD Jakes' Youth Pastor), and more still to be announced.

Everything you need to know is now online at www.i61conference.com, including great accommodation deals (just quote i61 Conference).

Taken...Now What?

2008-10-18T23:41:00.003+10:00

I have just watched the movie TAKEN, featuring Liam Neeson as a father whose daughter is kidnapped by Albanian slave traders in Paris. It is a gripping, confronting portrayal of an issue which is of critical importance.

27 million people are currently held in some form of slave labour - whether in cocoa fields or brothels or any number of other heinous varieties. Half of them are children. 1.2 million children, some as young as 6 months old, are trafficked each year (mostly for sexual exploitation), and the number is growing every year.

The two thoughts I was left with as the credits of Taken rolled up the screen were:

1. Man, Liam Neeson was a hard core dude in that movie

2. What can people do to make a difference in this global crisis - if you're not an ex-CIA trained operative with insane hand-to-hand combat skills who can single-handedly decimate a trafficking ring?

I have been researching this issue a bit in the last few months but have a level of frustration. There are many organisations, websites and blogs dedicated to raising awareness of the issue, but very little in the way of action, that I can find anyway. Everyone wants you to join them, wear the wristband, hold an awareness raising party, and send a donation - but apart from choosing to only buy Fair Trade coffee or chocolate there is a glaring lack of real intervention.

Is that because much of the real work comes down to those who can work with policy-makers to enact legislation which can actually back up the sentiment; or the lightning raid street teams which raid brothels and rescue the victims; or the hard-working, compassionate operators of safe houses to rehabilitate those who have been rescued? All of these are not really the domain of Average Joe, so what does or can he do?

Is it enough to just do what you can in your sphere of influence? Make donations to help those working on the front lines, only buy Fair Trade, add your voice to calls for legislators to give more teeth to law enforcement, help grow a great church that builds people who live in such a way that they change the moral culture of a society? Maybe. I have done and am doing all of these but it just doesn't seem like enough, or at least enough fast enough.

I just know that whenever I see a movie such as this, or read an article in a newspaper, I am stirred to action...and then to a sense of powerlessness because I don't know what to do.

What about you?

At i61 Conference in January 09 we will be including a significant emphasis on raising awareness of global social justice issues, and our partner organisations (listed below) will highlight opportunities for young people to get involved.

Some good sources of information are:

www.humantrafficking.com

www.stopthetraffik.org

www.notforsalecampaign.org

i61 Conference partners include

www.destinyrescue.org

www.thea21campaign.org

www.compassion.com.au

Wisdom from the Little Master

2008-10-18T19:12:00.000+10:00

"Success is a journey. Sometimes along that journey stones are thrown at you. You just need to make them into milestones." - Indian cricket great Sachin Tendulkar after becoming the highest scoring batsman in history

Distractions

2008-10-17T22:22:00.000+10:00

Jazza is a young teenage girl in our youth ministry who has undergone a major life transformation this year since discovering Jesus.

Jazza just preached a brilliant Frantic 5 message at Empire (5 minute sermon). She talked about getting off the school bus one day. She was distracted from her destination (the footpath) by some rubbish in the bus stairwell. She bent down to pick it up and the driver thought she had gotten off - and closed the doors...with Jazza stuck in the doors.

Two of her points that I especially liked were: Don't get distracted from your purpose by things that even seem good (picking up rubbish was a good thing); Don't be waylaid by other people's junk.

Well done Jazza!

Give Me 300

2008-10-14T06:09:00.003+10:00

A few days ago I heard Dr Myles Munroe, from the Bahamas, talking about God's plan for establishing His Kingdom. He said that in the days of the peak of the Roman Empire, Rome would send 300 people to settle in a newly conquered town. Through years of experience in world domination, the Romans discovered that 300 people who all carried the same culture, passion and vision were enough to subdue and influence the existing citizens of a region.

Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church uses a similar M.O. when planting new churches. He asks hundreds of people to leave his main campus and move to a new part of the city, or even a whole new city, to help plant a new church. They get new jobs, buy a new house, change schools so they can start a new church with a critical mass of common culture, strength of resource, and united vision already in place.

I recently preached at Empire about building a committed core of 300 young people. Like any youth ministry, or even wider church, if everyone who calls this their youth ministry turned up at one time the crowd would double! We currently have between 180-250 people on any Friday. I am looking for a committed core of 300 who want to build something which revolutionises youth culture in our region.

I am inspired by the story of Gideon in Judges 7 and 8 who went up against hundreds of thousands with only 300 men.

With this story in mind, I am looking for:

1) 300 WHO AREN’T AFRAID

· Jdg 7:3 “Therefore, tell the people, ‘Whoever is timid or afraid may leave this mountain and go home.’” So 22,000 of them went home, leaving only 10,000 who were willing to fight.”

2) 300 WHO KNOW THEY ARE CHOSEN

· Jdg 7:5-6 “When Gideon took his warriors down to the water, the LORD told him, “Divide the men into two groups. In one group put all those who cup water in their hands and lap it up with their tongues like dogs. In the other group put all those who kneel down and drink with their mouths in the stream.” ⁶Only 300 of the men drank from their hands. All the others got down on their knees and drank with their mouths in the stream.”

· Lots of reasons for why God used this test. Maybe it just got it down to small enough number

3) 300 WHO WILL DO THE RIDICULOUS

· Jdg 7:16 “He divided the 300 men into three groups and gave each man a ram’s horn and a clay jar with a torch in it.”

4) 300 WHO WILL FOLLOW THE LEADER

· Jdg 7:17 “Then he said to them, “Keep your eyes on me. When I come to the edge of the camp, do just as I do. ¹⁸As soon as I and those with me blow the rams’ horns, blow your horns, too, all around the entire camp, and shout, ‘For the LORD and for Gideon!’”

5) 300 WHO WON’T GIVE UP

· Jdg 8:4 “Gideon then crossed the Jordan River with his 300 men, and though exhausted, they continued to chase the enemy.”

· What’s your give up point?

6) 300 WHO WILL ANSWER THE CALL

· Isa 43:1 “I have called you by name…”

The Ridiculousness of Relativism

2008-10-13T08:45:00.004+10:00

A world-view of Relativism (where everything is relative - what is right for you is right for you, and no-one else can tell you otherwise) naturally leads to the most ridiculous contradictions.

Another good (tragic) example can be found on James Macpherson's Blog with an article about the protection of the dignity, future and feelings of PLANT life in Switzerland, at the same time as the Victorian Government is further removing protection for HUMAN life in the womb.

What is a Miracle?

2008-10-13T08:37:00.002+10:00

"A miracle is when SOMEONE WHO CAN intervenes on the behalf of SOMEONE WHO CANNOT" - Steve Kennedy

Leading and Serving

2008-10-09T19:31:00.000+10:00

"You cannot lead what you will not serve" - Wayne Alcorn, City Church Brisbane

The Big Announcement

2008-10-08T20:21:00.002+10:00

EMPIRE IS MOVING TO SUNDAY NIGHTS...

Starting on Sunday 2 November, Sunday nights will be our major Youth & Young Adult God-experience.

5pm-6pm EMPIRE HIGH - for teens only: crazy games, pumping music, mad comps, skate ramps, a multi-media assault on your senses, chill-out zone, free sausage sizzles and more
6pm-7.45pm EMPIRE UNITED - it's a God-experience (church, rally, whatever you want to call it!) for youth and young adults. Hot worship, great preaching, and an encounter with God
8pm-late THE LOUNGE - for 18+ only: dinner, coffee, live entertainment, a cool vibe, and the best place to connect with friends on a Sunday night. First-time visitors receive a Dinner Card for 3 free dinners from the cafe

FAQ's
1. Why Change?
Friday nights have been working well with hundreds of people attending every week, but we just think that Sundays will be even better! It leaves Fridays clear for parties, engagements, 21st Birthdays, school events etc. It also gives us more time to set up and prepare instead of rushing madly on a Friday afternoon. Adults will now have Sunday 9am as their God Experience, leaving Sunday nights free for KNECT and connecting with non-church friends. Many will drop their teens at Empire and then go out for KNECT.

2. Will There Be Anything Happening On Friday Nights?
Yes! Zone Leaders and KNECT Leaders are already planning how to make the most of this new chance to connect on Fridays rather than run another meeting. Many will run their KNECT on Friday nights, so it doesn't affect school nights. They are planning social connections like House Parties, trips up the beach, footy at Mooloolaba, slumber parties etc etc etc - great opportunities to hang out and invite your friends.

3. How Can You Have Teens and Young Adults in Together?
Having "Empire High" and "The Lounge" either side of the United meeting allows for more focussed, relevant hang-times for the two age groups and removes the challenge of balancing elements which appeal to both teens and twenties during the meeting. Who wouldn't love the United service in the middle? It's church for youth and young adults.

4. Are There Still Buses Available?
Yes! Your Zone Leaders will let you know what time the buses will leave on Sundays.

5. Is Empire Still On Until 2nd November?
Yes! Empire will continue on Friday nights as normal, with our last Friday being 24th October.

6. Will There Be a Break for School/Christmas Holidays?
No! Empire United on Sunday nights will run continually - coz it's church for young people!

7. Can Only Young People Go On Sunday Nights?
No! Empire United is a God Experience (church service) aimed at youth and young adults in style - but there will be adults who love it too. It will have all the same elements of any Kings congregation (worship, offerings, preaching, communion).

8. Will There Be a Kids Program on Sunday Nights?
Yes! We want young adults with young children, and teenage mums to be able to enjoy everything about Empire United. Child minding will be provided from 6pm-7.45pm, and a parents room with video link-up for anyone with babies needing attention.

9. Sunday Night is a School Night. My Parents Might Not Let Me Stay Out Late
Teens come for Empire High from 5pm-6pm and Empire United from 6pm-7.45pm. You will leave Kings by 8pm so you'll be home early enough! That's still heaps of time to catch up with all your friends - plus there'll be social stuff happening on most Friday nights too.

10. What About 57's?
57's (for Year 5-7's) will continue to run until Friday 5th December before going on Xmas break. It will recommence early in 2009.

11. OK I'm In! When Does It Start Again?
Sunday 2nd November. See you there!

The Power of Camp Strikes Again

2008-10-08T09:37:00.003+10:00

So many of the pivotal moments in my life, and in the lives of other leaders I know, occurred in the setting of a youth camp. There is something about getting away from everything for a couple of days - without laptops, dvd's, iPods - for a focussed encounter with God.

Empire Camp last weekend reinforced the track record of the power of a youth camp.

The atmosphere was electric in every session as our young people laid hold of all they could in the presence of God. Especially pleasing for me was that many of the young adults who came on camp felt God specifically speak to them about their future and His plan for them. This was no shaving-cream bombs and water fights kind of camp - this was intentionally set up so that young people could connect with God.

There was only one incident on the weekend - some of our young people (as yet nameless) decided it would be fun to ring the church bell in the chapel of the prestigious TSS boarding college...at midnight. The school had several phone calls from confused neighbours wondering if they should be assembling for an unexpected midnight prayer vigil, or celebrating a wedding, or even mourning the loss of a friend at a funeral!

Guest speaker Matt Garner did us great - he carried a timely word for our young people and connected with them brilliantly. "Luke, I am your mother!"

Our young people are so exceptional - so much of Kings rides on their energy, hard work and enthusiasm. Ps Steve was at the church at 3am Sunday morning, and was shocked to see so many of our young people arriving to set media gear and other things up for the 9am service. The rest of the camp woke at 5am to be back at Kings in time for the 9am service. We could've stayed on at camp and returned for the evening service, but I made a commitment to Ps Steve to bring them all back for the morning so that the passion of our young people could be injected into the family worship service. After all, our youth ministry doesn't exist to build itself - it exists to build the church.