People that i know getting Church Contact

My Sister in Tauranga has been taking her 2 boys to Mainly Music at some church in Tauranga and they really like it there. I pray that this contact with those people will have an effect on Michelle and the boys and can't forget Glenn.

Also today i met my brother in law's Sister at Church, turns out she knows someone else who comes to GBC and she was invited to bring her kids to His Kids. And they want to come back as well so who knows, with a bit of prayer and continued faith, this family could become part of the Christian community whether at GBC or elsewhere.

What is up with our world ?

After seeing the photo in the NZ Herald that goes with the article about the parade in Queen Street yesterday. That photo of all those people taking photos of the ladies on the bikes, made me think just how wrong that is. Has our society become so different that it's seen as ok to take photos of topless women on bikes. Also the other thing that concerned me was the lg turnout to see this parade. So i'm thinking what would Jesus do in this case ? I do think that the mayor was right to take a stand over this event.

I'll be interested to hear what everyone thinks about this.

Is it all about the User Experience ?

After attending TechEd 06 recently, i was thinking about something that was mentioned alot at TechEd. That is UX or User Experience in other words, the IT world ( Well Microsoft at least ) is going down the path that we have to provide a total, rich, customisable user experience. Technology and IT aside, the point i'm trying to get across is that sometimes do we just offer a fun, user customisable version of church. I'm not saying that church can not be fun but are we guilty of just giving the people who come to church a fun time that suits their needs, wants etc but don't get down to the deeper meaning of church.

It's all about going beneath the surface and looking at what church really has to offer us.

Keeping up with the rush of life

I have been thinking the past few days how we often tend to forget about God, reading the Bible ect when life gets busy. I have been really busy at work the past couple of weeks and since we are understaffed, i'm often really tired when i come home. So i must admit that i haven't spent as much time as i would like reading God's Word and praying. It would be great to come home after a busy day of doing whatever and just shut the world out for a time to spend time having a chat with our heavenly Father.

This poem i've had every since i came back from England in '98 has been something i look at occassionally to remind me about taking time out with God regularly.

Close to God ( from a newsletter at the church i attended in England - Retford Baptist )

The traffic's growling slowly by,
A radio blares with it's volume high,
Busy crowds rushing here and there,
Pushing and shoving, does no-one care ?
Shouting and screaming, a fight breaks out,
Self and gain is what it's all about,
Love and concern just can't be found.

Does anyone know there's a God out there ?
They just don't know, they just don't care,
What we've created is greed and gain,
But it's just for this His son was slain,
He can get through, He can be found,
But not in the noise and the rushing around,
We need time to listen to what He says,
Time to hear, and time to praise.

Just walk through the beauty of what He has made,
The rolling hills or a peaceful glade,
Just listen to soft music or meaningful words,
The joy of young children, the singing of birds,
The care and concern of honest, true friends,
The love of a mother as her child she tends,
In the rush of self-gaining all one could,
Just stop, look and listen,
BE CLOSE TO GOD.

Well that's my bit of insight for the day. I hope that as you read these words, they will have a deep meaning as they did to me back then and now.

Often we need to take time out from the world for a short time. For me that means, cellphone and computer off if i'm gonna stay in my room. Otherwise i should ( i say should coz i don't atm ) go out for a walk around my 'hood. Talking about walking around the places where we live, it was a great time just walking and praying around Spinella drive during a recent Youth Leaders retreat. I was thinking about all the lives in these houses and our church at the top of the hill. We have a great opportunity to reach into the lives of those in our community, we just need to take the time to get to know those around us.

More food for thought later ...

Baptism Songs

It's always good to hear your baptism song on occasions. It reminds you of that step you took ( well it does for me ). I always like to look at the words and remind myself why i choose that song, what it meant to me back then and what it means to me right now.

Anyway here it is ( Thanks for the Petra site i got this from http://www.petrarocksmyworld.com/lyrics_alphabetical.html )

Take Me In
Words and music by Dave Browning

Take me past the outer courts
Into the Holy place
Past the brazen altar
Lord I want to see Your face
Pass me by the crowds of people
The priests who sing Your praise
I hunger and thirst for Your righteousness
And it's only found one place

Take me in to the Holy of Holies
Take me in by the blood of the Lamb
Take me in to the Holy of Holies
Take the coal, cleanse my lips, here I am
Take the coal, cleanse my lips, here I am

So this describes where i was then, wanting to be face to face with God in that Holy place and i still want to be in that place. It also says the only way i got into God's family is thru the blood of the Lamb as there is no other way. That line fits in well with the baptism theme of been washed clean by going thru the waters of baptism.

There is a lot of emotion in that song when i hear it as it special to me as any baptism song should be.

Baptism

After just seeing another one of our youth [ Congrats Jade :-)) ] go thru Baptism, which was awesome especially seeing how she is so on fire for God. It was also great seeing lots of her friends and family there for this special occassion. Baptisms always remind me of the time when i was baptised.
This was another one of those emotion loaded events, just seeing young people make this step and doing it in public as well. Usually wet eye time if you know what i mean. It's a great thing to see people take this step especially as one of the youth team and having so much to do with these young people.

Travel And Changes

My parents are setting off on a 4 month trip soon to see places like Scotland ( a gr8 place to visit as i've been there before, France ( a place i would like to visit ), Sweden ( a place i have been to - my 'Swedish Family' live here lol ). I kinda wish i was going on this trip also to meet up with family and old friends who i haven't seen for about 8 or 9 years.
One thing i'm looking forward to on their return is hearing about their trip, the people and seeing the photos. One thing i will get to do while they are away to have more time with my awesome Nephews on my trips to Tauranga. It will be weird going down to my parents place and them not been there - will be really weird. I will miss seeing them in person during their time away especially since we are close but we will be in touch over that time. Yay for emails lol.
Saying bye on Thursday will be kinda hard but that's always the case when loved one's take off overseas - i've been on both sides ie the one leaving and the one staying behind. So i wish them a great time with new experiences etc.

The First Creative Thoughts

HI everyone,

Just a first entry to get everything up and running. No thoughts as yet but they will come and feel free to post here.