A fire in my belly

As as a Christian Pastor and church leader I get to attend conferences throughout the year. I do need to be disciplined in what I register for - it is so easy to get sidetracked by talk-fests that promise the world and only provide, at best mutual back-slpping and at worst, distractions from the real stuff. The CROSSWAY CONFERENCE I have just attended with Maz, was way more than a talk-fest. As I reflect on the experience, I realise that what makes this yearly event so strategically significant is that the speakers are not simply theoreticians communcating knowledge that is the result of hours of study that is removed from the real world of grass-roots ministry; the speakers at Crossway conference are are people who have something to say because they have actually done something significant for the cause of the gospel.

I have come away from the conference with not only renewed passion for world evangelisation but also with a strong conviction that God wants to use Maz and me to plant churches in Melbourne and beyond through our leadership at Glen Waverely Anglican Church. Over the last two years God has been fashioning a special work for us to be a church that plants churches. 30 years ago as Maz and I prayed about future ministry and what it would mean for us, we sensed God was asking us to lay down our personal desires for cross-cultural mission and commit ourselves to evangelistic ministry and leadership here in Australia. Our interest in global mission has never lessened but focus of ministry was to be, for the most part, on local mission.

In our call to GWAC, we sensed a growing awareness of God's leading into something new and God continues to move us forward in this new direction - a ministry focused on evangelism - local and global - and one which takes seriously the importance of community transformation.

Well, the fire in the belly just got well and truely fanned into flame. God is opening doors and inviting us to respond - LETS PUSH THESE DOORS OPEN AND WALK ON THORUGH

It's a girl!

Our first grandchild - a girl. Quite amazing really. Let me tell you how it unfolded.

Three sms from Gary, one quick drive to the hospital and we were greeted by proud parents and a beatiful little girl - Kahlia Marie. NOW I realise that in between the various sms a few things happened, a few words were spoke - or should I say screamed - not to mention a late arriving O&G (though he did make it for the significant part) and a very caring midwife (who happened to be a nurse Maz and I trained with 30 years ago) But all that distracts us from the FOCUS of this blog - This beatiful child that was knitted together by a loving creator God, in the womb of my daughter, Chantelle, has been gifted to us to love, nurture and cherish.

Something very special was to take a photo of four generations of girls - Maria (Maz's mum) Maz (actually Marianna) Chantelle Marie and Kahlia Marie. Have not got that photo yet but will post it when it is sent to me.

Our God is an awesome God.

Blessing in Christ

Drew

ABSTAIN TO GAIN

We had a great night of prayer this past week at our church and it was encouraging to see so many people attend - and following the event, we finished with a wonderful supper generously provided by......mmm, actually I don't know who provided it but it was tasty.

So much of what we do in Australia involves food. "Provide food and they will come" could almost be the driving motto of any new event or activity. Interestingly, tonight (just two days later) I am speaking at our IGNITE youth service on "FASTING". I remember many years ago, when working out how we would do the cleaning of the new worship building, we decided to roster all able-bodied people, in groups of 3 families, to do the cleaning. I was soon told via e-mail from one parishioner "I do do cleaning at home and I'm not doing it at church" Sometimes I think many people have the same attitude toward FASTING. Or, if you want to spiritualise it, "Fasting is not my gift".

In Matthew 6, Jesus does not leave room for people to decide whether they will fast or not - he simply says when you do fast, don't make a show of it. I was reading during the week that the New Testament says more about fasting then it does about Baptism. Now I have not checked this out but my guess is the quote is probably correct. Jesus links Fasting, Prayer and Giving and says "When you fast, don't put on a show"

The benefits of fasting are numerous, but there are three I would like to mention in this blog.
FIRST, Fasting provides time and opportunity to seek God in a serious way making time for focused and intentional relational growth. I have heard it said that if Prayer is like calling God on the mobile, then Fasting is like Hanging out with God! Make time intentionally to hang out with God.
SECOND, fasting helps with the discipline of self-control. It helps us put aside human hunger and be disciplined in listening and responding to God. The physical hunger pangs that can come when we fast are a reminder that being self-disciplined in our work for God and relationship with God is important.
THIRD, fasting brings us into solidarity with the poor. I know a person who wraps an elastic band around their finger when they want to remind themselves that they need to do something - they feel the pain of the band restricting blood supply and remember that they had to do something - whether they actually remember exactly WHAT they had to do is another matter all together.

In the pursuit of true servanthood

The importance of a transformed servant heart in the cause of the gospel in vital for healthy development and growth of followers of Jesus Christ. For the past week I have been on study leave, so have not had the responsibility of the day to day leadership of Glen Waverley Anglican Church. During this time I have made some progress on research into what it means for the local church to BE the body of Christ. As part of this, I have been reflecting on how we might better encourage followers of Jesus Christ to give themselves to the service of God and his people.

In GWAC's monthly E-Zine (available online www.gwac.org.au and click GWAC update) I have written concerning the dynamic link between the process of maturation and the mobilisation of believers into active gifted service, so I do not intend to repeat myself here, but I would like to reflect a little more on the link between a servant heart and the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:1-2)

The context of this exhortation for believers to be about the process of "mind-renewing" is Paul's teaching on gift enabled service within and for the Body of Christ. When Paul says "That you may prove what God's will is..."(vs 2) he is speaking of the intimate connection between having a mind that understands Gods will and doing God's will through the use of the gifts he has given to the Body of Christ. Interestingly, between verse 2 (the renewal of your mind) and verse 4 (the introduction of the 'Body' metaphor) Paul exhorts each believer NOT "...to think of him more highly than he ought." Rather, says Paul, the believer (he or she) is to think with sound judgement in keeping with the will of God that has already been spoken of. Elsewhere, Paul develops this theme of the way a believer thinks about himself, by encouraging the believer to have the same attitude as Christ Jesus, and to follow his example of humble service. (Phil 2:1-11)

The renewing of the mind, on the part of each believer, re-positions that believer to be better able to test, authenticate and do the will of God. This good pleasing and acceptable service only accomplished through service that is driven by a servant heart. One of the biggest hindrances to the advance of the gospel of God found in Jesus Christ is the lack of will on the part of the follower of Jesus Christ to have their mind renewed so that individuals are sold out for 'service of the King of Kings'. More on this next week!

Making Life count

I have been on recreational leave for the past 7 days. Such "paid" leave is taken for granted here is Australia but this week I found myself thanking God for the provision of such "re-reation" time. I have been able to get some reading and practical administration done for my work on my doctoral disertation, managed to sleep in till 7.30am on a couple of days, done some shopping on e-bay, (got myself an antique telescope for a bargain) and have even managed to watch a bit of TV. Something else that has been great has been the opportunity for some good time with God in prayer. Don't let me mislead you- it hasn't been hours on my knees or anything like that, but it has been great to spend time in a relaxed way, focusing on God's purpose for me in the here and now.

I have been reminded of the countless opportunities we are given each day to do and say things that impact people for the better and in the process give opportunity for the wonder and love of God to be experienced by those we encounter. Making life count is all about working with God, so that others experience God, and the life saving message of a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Want to know more about Jesus Christ - visit our Church's website at www.gwac.org.au and be encouraged to make life count!

Well done good and faithful servant

Last night I attended the farewell and thanksgiving service for Stephen Hale. Stephen has been Bishop for over seven years in this region of Melbourne and has provided pastoral and strategic leadership, inspiration and enthusiasm in a Diocese that desperately needs it. Stephen indeed does have his detractors. No one is perfect, and Stephen would be (and in fact last night was) the first to admit this. Have I agreed with evreything he has done in the region or in his dealing with people?- certainly not. Nor should I have to and Stephen would not expect me to. Does he have my respect and appreciation? - he certainly does. As was demonstrated last night by those who spoke, Stephen has been a regional leader who faithfully served God and has been fruitful at the same time. He has encouraged and mativated local church leaders regardless of their theological or stylistic focus - if you have a commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ and a desire to see the local church thrive, Stephen has been a great encourager. He has helped release men and women, lay and ordained, into fruitful service of our Lord.

He hands over the pastoral and strategic leadership of this region at a time when the regional churches are very healthy while at the same time the Diocese faces significant challenges. He has demonstrated his commitment to the belief that real gospel ministry through the Anglican church best happens through thriving gospel focused local churches. Stephen has always seen the Diocese as a service agency best functioning as a strategic enabler of ministry at the local level. I have been the recipient of such strategic leadership and by extention, so has the local church I am part of and have the joy of leading.

Thanks Stephen for your faithful leadership and sincere friendship. You have been a Bishop for our time. Thanks Karen for your generous support of Stephen and therefore of those who lead local Anglican churches. James and Kate - thanks for the loan of your dad during these years. To you all as a family, welcome back to the fold of those who count it a joy and honour to lead a local gathering of God's people. Let the scriptures declare the call he has placed upon us. May God's Word rally the faithful for the task at hand. "We proclaim him [Christ], admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ." (Colossians 1:28)

Investing for Life

Last Sunday night, the preacher at GWAC (Glen Waverely Anglican Church - and its an awesome God honouring church) shared with us that he had received an e-mail from someone who had once been a member of Gary's youth group. The person told of the great investment that Gary and Bec had made in her life and spoke of her desire now to help others like they had helped her. The investment we make in the lives of others should never be underestimated.

This caused me to reflect a little on those who have invested in my life. Take Rod. He moved into the house behind us, with his wife, Jeanette. We lived in Howrah in Hobart and although I attended a church with mum and dad, I was far away from any relationship with Jesus. Rod took an interest in me and encouraged me to think more about Jesus. In the process he and Jeanette invited me into their life and home. We cut a gateway into the fence which made it easy to get to their place. When they had their first child, they did something very special and of great life-changing significance for me. They asked me to look after their new baby while they went out to dinner. WOW! Over the two years or so that we lived as neighbours, Rod invested so much in my life. He taught me to memorise Bible texts, encouraged me to pray, became the behind the scenes enabler as I began to share my new found faith with friends. We started a new youth group that met in their home and lots of my friends started attending, and we even got excommunicated from the local Anglican Church because the parish priest did not like the idea of someone else having such an influence with some of the youth from his church, me included. Leave the youth group or leave the Anglican Church was the Priests ultimatum. We left the local Anglican church and the youth group grew and people became followers of Jesus.

A few years later, Rod left his job and went into college to train to be a Pastor. Years later, I did the same thing - not simply because Rod did, but Rod did play a big part in my direction in life. When we left Tassy and moved to Melbourne, my faith in Jesus was strong and my understanding of the significance of mentors in our life was established.

Why not take some time to contact the people who have invested in you and encourage them for encouraging you.