Stuff

a Biblical thought...
The accusers came at him from all sides, but their accusations turned out to be nothing more than arguments about their religion and a dead man named Jesus, who the prisoner claimed was alive. (Acts 25:18)

a Book thought...
As followers of Jesus the fool, we should be at the forefront of offering hospitality to the hungry, to the refugee, to the dispossessed, and to do so requires a poverty of us and our churches. (p132 Frost)

a Dave thought...
This website is sensational! Have a look at http://www.storyofstuff.com/ From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever. By the way if you don't have any intention to change the way you live your life, then watch this at your own peril.

Just a thought.

Celebrity Charity

a Biblical thought...
"But I do freely admit this: In regard to the Way, which they malign as a dead-end street, I serve and worship the very same God served and worshiped by all our ancestors and embrace everything written in all our Scriptures. And I admit to living in hopeful anticipation that God will raise the dead, both the good and the bad. If that's my crime, my accusers are just as guilty as I am. (Acts 24:14-15)

a Book thought...
While ever we are suspicious of others or anxious about defending our own property or status, we can never truly be open to others. (p129 Frost)

a Dave thought... from The Age
But signing up as the face of (insert name of good cause here) has become a symbiotic necessity for the modern entertainer. And hanging with the UN as one of its goodwill ambassadors has become the charitable equivalent of an Oscar, and prone to the same voting anomalies, such as gongs for former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, Puerto Rican
pop singer Ricky Martin, and footballer David Beckham.
You could say the UN has simply recognised the salient fact that celebs and charity go together like weevils and muesli; like hayfever and spring; like motor vehicles and global warming. But it's letting the inmates take over the asylum. Madonna, for instance, was allowed in February to host a fund-raiser for UNICEF and her own charity, Raising Malawi, on the lawn of the UN's New York headquarters, but the bling really hit the fan when it turned out she'd forgotten to mention it was also a promotion for a new Gucci store.
It's the very definition of anomalous that ego-driven celebrities feel equipped to be the appointed representatives of the faceless and powerless. Sure, it can be mildly entertaining when rich and vapid people talk richly and vapidly about complex issues, returning from their "fact-finding missions" to Third World countries offering dewy-eyed pronouncements such as War is Bad; Hitting Women is Wrong; Food is Good.
But we really have no one to blame but ourselves. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon probably isn't the biggest fan of the Spice Girls either, but he's a practical man resigned to some strategic bed-hopping. And, really, without Kidman and Shakira providing the
perfect excuse to run large colour photographs, would last week's campaign announcements have made the paper?
Charities — many of which now employ people known as "celebrity co-ordinators" — are only so fixed on celebrity because we are.

There is a now a web page www.looktothestars.com that tells you what charity 1277 celebrities support. It seems our fascination with famous people in the world, gets more attention when we know they have signed up to something that is not all about themselves, ironic really.

Just a thought.

World-Changers

a Biblical thought...
"We don't find anything wrong with this man! And what if a spirit has spoken to him? Or maybe an angel? What if it turns out we're fighting against God?" (Acts 23:9)

a Book thought...
Those of us who serve God as our true master, and not money, must become acquainted with the poor, for it is among them that we will see Jesus. (p127 Frost)

a Dave thought... http://www.worldchangersresources.com
World-Changers for Christ, LLC, along with the International Bible Society, would like to offer a full church kit for small groups to learn what William Wilberforce and John Newton did to impact their world in a powerful way. The church kit includes:
Amazing Grace DVD
World-Changers: Live to Serve Book (5 week Small Group Discussion Guide Included)
Once Blind: The Life of John Newton Book
Here is an opportunity for churches to become culturally relevant and inspire your members to become the hands and feet of Christ in your community.

This the latest resource to hit the church, and I'm sure it will have appeal. For me it is great to have an outward focused resource rather than another self serving one. I'm sure there is much to be learnt by looking at the lives of Wilberforce & Newton, lets hope it inspires more to action.

Just a thought.

Spurring each other on

a Biblical thought...
'The God of our ancestors has handpicked you to be briefed on his plan of action. You've actually seen the Righteous Innocent and heard him speak. You are to be a key witness to everyone you meet of what you've seen and heard. So what are you waiting for? Get up and get yourself baptized, scrubbed clean of those sins and personally acquainted with God.' (Acts 22:14-16)

a Book thought...
The church can be a way of living together which affirms that no-one is alone with their problems, that no-one has to conceal their disabilities; that there are not some who have all the say and others who have nothing to say; that neither the elderly nor the very young are isolated; that one bears the other, even when it is unpleasant and there is no agreement. In such a place, every member would be rich indeed. (Jurgen Moltmann)

a Dave thought...
Today I preached on Hebrews 10:24 in a couple of our services at Box Hill. As part of 'spurring each other on towards love and good deeds' I showed the Team Hoyt DVD - "I can only imagine" which left many eyes moist http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uulmhtAeGI&feature=related if you have never seen it treat yourself!
But the moment that really impacted me the most was when I asked everyone in the congregation to write down something we could do to help spur each other on. We then had the responses typed onto PowerPoint while I preached, and then we presented the responses and reflected on them as a church at the end of the service. You see for me involving and hearing what God is saying to us rather than just me is what really spurs me on.

Just a thought.

Grandma turns 90

a Biblical thought...
They had a story to tell, too: "And just look at what's been happening here—thousands upon thousands of God-fearing Jews have become believers in Jesus! But there's also a problem because they are more zealous than ever in observing the laws of Moses. (Acts 21:20)

a Book thought...
Jesus reminds us that people are more important than property, power, programs or prestige. (p116 Frost)
a Dave thought...
Yesterday I was at the biggest family function I have ever attended, my Grandma's 90th birthday. Grandma has five children, one of whom is my father Wes, 13 grand children, and 29 great grand children, and in September she will be come a great great grandmother!

But it is not purely the great offspring she will be admired for. Grandma is a beautiful, gentle, humble Christian lady who has always lived an amazingly selfless life. My dad proudly told stories at the party how they were brought up in a loving family that although they had little grandma would all she can to ensure that her children had the best she could offer at all times. Over 50 years ago she held the position of Primary leader at the Redcliffe corps and to this day still attends the Unley corps every Sunday morning. I thank God for such a wonderful grandmother and for the positive example she has been for us all.

Just a thought.

REVOLUTION

a Biblical thought...
Now it's up to you. Be on your toes—both for yourselves and your congregation of sheep. The Holy Spirit has put you in charge of these people—God's people they are—to guard and protect them. God himself thought they were worth dying for. (Acts 20:28)

a Book thought...
The church should not be about winning people like themselves to themselves, but sharing the good news that Jesus has shattered the barriers that divide the human race and has created a new community. (p112 Frost)

a Dave thought...
Well the last 24 hours has certainly been eventful here in Adelaide. After the camp closing early we have continued to hear reports of others vomiting and going down with this Noro virus. My visit certainly hasn't been unproductive as it has been great to spend the past day conversing with Aaron White, Stephen Court, Grant Whitehead & Rowan Castle. The fruit of this camp continues to amaze me as I heard last night that the CO of Ingle Farm has asked for nine A1 forms so campers can follow through with their commitment to become officers of The Salvation Army.
Large focused gatherings of youth continue to be a way God uses to speak to many and challenge us each to live a life completely sold out to Him.

Just a thought.

Revolution Camp

a Biblical thought...
John preached a baptism of radical life-change so that people would be ready to receive the One coming after him, who turned out to be Jesus. If you've been baptized in John's baptism, you're ready now for the real thing, for Jesus. (Acts 19:4)

a Book thought...

Merely to recommend revolution is contemptible. We must make it. (George Scott Railton)

a Dave thought...
Today I am in SA at the Youth Councils with DY Captain Rowan Castle. This year they set up an innovative week long camp based on Revolution the book co-authored by Aaron White & Stephen Court. As they are both here speaking as guests the youth of SA have been in for a radical week.
Unfortunately today the camp had to be closed down 24 hours early due to the Noro virus. It managed to hit 20 youth and leaders who had to head home with gastro and one even ending up in hospital. Amidst all the chaos of a abrupt end due to a visit from the health inspectors some guys got saved and others were called to officership. So in an eventful day God moved despite unusual circumstances, well done also to Rowan for keeping some sense of sanity amidst the confusion.

Just a thought.

Cross Generation Gatherings

a Biblical thought...
Apollos turned out to be a great help to those who had become believers through God's immense generosity. He was particularly effective in public debate with the Jews as he brought out proof after convincing proof from the Scriptures that Jesus was in fact God's Messiah. (Acts 18:28)

a Book thought...
Jesus steadfastly refuses to be drawn as an agent of division or seperation. He is about bringing people together. His is a mission of reconciliation and, while he realises that the radical lifestyle to which he calls his followers may sometimes result in division, he is most concerned about the healing of brokenness and the promotion of goodwill. All theses concerns he shares with God. (p110 Frost)

a Dave thought... from The Age
Playgroups — regular gatherings of parents and their babies, toddlers and preschoolers — are usually held in halls, neighbourhood houses, community centres, primary schools and kindergartens.
But of the 3500 playgroup sessions held in Victoria each week for more than 55,000 children, half-a-dozen sessions are held in aged-care homes.
As well as the Newcomb playgroup (known as Amity Treasures Playgroup), there are similar groups in Altona North, Canterbury, Doncaster, Forest Hill and Preston. A further nine homes are on a Playgroup Victoria waiting list.
In mid-2006, Heather McKibbin, aged-care service manager at Amity, decided the residents needed more stimulation from younger generations than occasional visits from grandchildren, great-grandchildren and students from the local primary school.She contacted Playgroup Victoria, a not-for-profit umbrella group, and in December 2006 the Newcomb home opened its doors to a playgroup of a dozen babies and their parents.
McKibbin has been delighted with the response.
"You see the young spirits within the old bodies," she says. "The playgroup has brought great fun into our home and has helped to break down some of the mystique and stereotypes of aged care."

As I travel around I observe that it is getting harder in our churches for the different generations to meet in the same space. As youth are more and more into video clips, computers, gaming and other recent developments our seniors are not so proficient in these areas so it seems to be getting harder to find common interests. Many long for the day once again when every age comes together in one place every week and finds fulfillment in a Sunday morning meeting.

The Kingdom has no age barrier and if we are living God's kingdom on earth we should be able to be inclusive of all. Unfortunately even worship, which is often music based seems to divide generations as some want hymns, others soft rock & the teens more hype and hard rock. We have got to the place now where worship seems to divide, where as 30 years ago it seemed to unite. What I now see though is the time when we all get together with a common purpose is when we are focused on helping others. The way to bring all generations together is run events or activities focused on reaching outside of our church communities.

So when it comes to generations, worship diversifies but mission unifies.

Just a thought.

Charitableness

a Biblical thought...
The Jews received Paul's message with enthusiasm and met with him daily, examining the Scriptures to see if they supported what he said. A lot of them became believers, including many Greeks who were prominent in the community, women and men of influence. (Acts 17:11-12)

a Book thought...
While ever we keep Christ in the manger, we limit the impact the adult Jesus had on those he encountered. For it was an adult that Jesus modelled for us the sweet, naive, innocent lifestyle of a man who steadfastly refused to be drawn into the conflict and divisions of his time. (p103 Frost)

a Dave thought...
"Charitableness" (the postmodern substitute for charity) is something altogether different. It's a broad-minded, insouciantly tolerant, unrelenting goodwill toward practically every conceivable opinion. Its twin virtue—often labeled "epistemic humility'—is a cool refusal to hold any firm and settled convictions. These cardinal postmodern moral values are both seasoned with blithe indifference to the dangers of heresy.In other words, if you want to be "charitable" by the postmodern definition, you must always leave open the possibility that someone else's truth is equal to if not better than yours. You must never write off other people's beliefs completely. Above all, you must seek to be conciliatory, not confrontive. Bottom line: you pretty much take the position that nothing we believe is ultimately anything more than a personal opinion.Naturally, then, building bridges to non-Christian worldviews is deemed a better tactic than challenging error head on. Winning the admiration of unbelievers becomes vastly more important than demolishing the false ideologies that bind them. As a matter of fact, one of the best ways to gain non-Christians' respect and appreciation is by looking for common ground and then stressing those areas of agreement, rather than pointing out differences between what the non-Christian believes and what the Bible teaches. The more compliments and congratulations you can give to other points of view, the better. And the more your ideological adversaries like you at the end of the dialogue, the more gratified you are entitled to feel.

I have been in several conversations of late regarding diversity in theology. As in all movements
there are many varied opinions and beliefs, but how we accept and listen to one another is always the challenge. We seem to hang out or go and hear certain speakers we see eye to eye with and dismiss others we don't agree with. My personal belief is that that we grow and learn through many varied experiences. Last year I went and heard many speakers from Bishop Spong to Brian Houston, some struggle with this, but I believe as we work out our theology as a movement and as individuals we need to read and listen more to a variety of theologians.

Just a thought.

2020

a Biblical thought...
As they traveled from town to town, they presented the simple guidelines the Jerusalem apostles and leaders had come up with. That turned out to be most helpful. Day after day the congregations became stronger in faith and larger in size. (Acts 16:4-5)

a Book thought...
It is a hard road, being obedient to Jesus without expecting reward in the ordinary sense. It is only with time that it might dawn on us that the sacrifices involved are themselves honouring to the very one we love - to do so gives us its own pleasure. (p100 Frost)

a Dave thought...
Here are the top ten ideas to come out of the 2020 Summit, which occurred out of the weekend. The weekend before a 100 youth engaged in the 2020 Youth Summit and fed their ideas through, the final list is...

* Introduction of an Australian republic with a two-stage, beginning with a plebiscite on the issue, followed by a referendum.

* Creation of "community corps" to allow students to reduce their HECS through volunteer work.

* A national preventative health care agency funded by taxes on cigarettes, alcohol and junk food.

* Increasing the formal and legal recognition of Aborigines, with the possibility of a treaty.

* Contributing 1% of federal funding allocated to each government department to the arts.

* All new buildings to be carbon neutral.

* Bringing regulations for transport and agriculture across states into line.

* Establishment of a new federation commission to review the roles and responsibilities of federal, state and local government.

* A comprehensive reinvigoration of Asian language literacy and a recruitment drive of foreign language teachers.

* A charter of rights and a national action plan.

It would be a worth The Salvation Army engaging in a similar process as often if we are not proactive in creating a better future we are often reactive and wonder why we have ended up in a certain place.

Just a thought.

Rex the Rabbit

a Biblical thought...
"So why are you now trying to out-god God, loading these new believers down with rules that crushed our ancestors and crushed us, too? Don't we believe that we are saved because the Master Jesus amazingly and out of sheer generosity moved to save us just as he did those from beyond our nation? So what are we arguing about?" (Acts 15:10-11)

a Book thought...
Instead of us toiling and labouring for God and him feeling indebted to us for our good service, we have the shocking image that he owes us nothing. We are unworthy servants. We have only done our duty. (p90 Frost)

a Dave thought...
Yesterday was the big day, yes you guessed it the day we purchased our first rabbit. Noah has been wanting one all year so we promised him that once he turned six we would purchase one for him. So we made the trek out to Wantirna and after much deliberation Noah chose 'Snowflake' a six year old dwarf rabbit. In the car on the way home he decided not to disown Snowflakes heritage so named him 'Rex Snowflake Collinson'.
At this stage I can't fault my sons commitment to making Rex a part of the family and he even got a mention in prayers at the meal table last night. So if you are ever wanting to spend $20 that will give you nonstop family entertainment and responsibility I recommend adopting a small furry carrot eater.

Just a thought.

168 Hours

a Biblical thought...
Paul and Barnabas handpicked leaders in each church. After praying— their prayers intensified by fasting—they presented these new leaders to the Master to whom they had entrusted their lives. (Acts 14:23)

a Book thought...
Jesus bluntly suggested that if we are in the game for what we can get out of it, whether that be crowns, mansions or individual blessings here on earth, then we have lost sight of the true value of religion, and the genuine benefit of personal sacrifice. (p89 Frost)
a Dave thought...
We now have our DYs & Youth Workers across the territory committed to bringing 883 youth to INSANE in January. This territorial youth event has the potential to unite our young people and discover what it means to be a Salvo today. There will be opportunities for our youth to be creative, have fun, talk about what it means to be a follower of Jesus, become a follower of Jesus, and also to get out and do something practical for others. To keep this event as cheap as possible we will be sleeping in classrooms at Melbourne High School. We are hoping to run INSANE for 168 hours from 2pm Sunday 11th January through to 2pm Sunday 18th January.

When I look back on my own journey it has been certain camps and events where I have encountered God and my spiritual journey took on a whole new meaning. I'm praying once again that the 168 hours we spend together in January 09 will be a time when God speaks to us each and new commitments will be made.

Just a thought.

The dangers of blogging

a Biblical thought...
When the non-Jewish outsiders heard this, they could hardly believe their good fortune. All who were marked out for real life put their trust in God—they honored God's Word by receiving that life. And this Message of salvation spread like wildfire all through the region. (Acts 13:48-49)

a Book thought...
Jesus the foll has reframed the very way we see the distinction between faithful and faithless, between devotion and ritual, between repentance and religiosity. But it's a hard lesson to learn. (p95 Frost)

a Dave thought... from NY Times
SAN FRANCISCO — They work long hours, often to exhaustion. Many are paid by the piece — not garments, but blog posts. This is the digital-era sweatshop. You may know it by a different name: home.
A growing work force of home-office laborers and entrepreneurs, armed with computers and smartphones and wired to the hilt, are toiling under great physical and emotional stress created by the around-the-clock Internet economy that demands a constant stream of news and comment.
Of course, the bloggers can work elsewhere, and they profess a love of the nonstop action and perhaps the chance to create a global media outlet without a major up-front investment. At the same time, some are starting to wonder if something has gone very wrong. In the last few months, two among their ranks have died suddenly.
Two weeks ago in North Lauderdale, Fla., funeral services were held for Russell Shaw, a prolific blogger on technology subjects who died at 60 of a heart attack. In December, another tech blogger, Marc Orchant, died at 50 of a massive coronary. A third, Om Malik, 41, survived a heart attack in December.
Other bloggers complain of weight loss or gain, sleep disorders, exhaustion and other maladies born of the nonstop strain of producing for a news and information cycle that is as always-on as the Internet.
All that competition puts a premium on staying awake. Matt Buchanan, 22, is the right man for the job. He works for clicks for Gizmodo, a popular Gawker Media site that publishes news about gadgets. Mr. Buchanan lives in a small apartment in Brooklyn, where his bedroom doubles as his office.
He says he sleeps about five hours a night and often does not have time to eat proper meals. But he does stay fueled — by regularly consuming a protein supplement mixed into coffee.
But make no mistake: Mr. Buchanan, a recent graduate of New York University, loves his job. He said he gets paid to write (he will not say how much) while interacting with readers in a global conversation about the latest and greatest products.
“The fact I have a few thousand people a day reading what I write — that’s kind of cool,” he said. And, yes, it is exhausting. Sometimes, he said, “I just want to lie down.”
Sometimes he does rest, inadvertently, falling asleep at the computer.

The blog world has certainly taken off over the last few years, and those that make a living off it certainly have to be obsessed, but to the point of diminishing health? I do like accessing the latest information 24/7 but often don't think someone is paying the price for our demanding up-to-date culture we have created.

Just a thought.

God saved me

a Biblical thought...
It swung open before them on its own, and they were out on the street, free as the breeze. At the first intersection the angel left him, going his own way. That's when Peter realized it was no dream. "I can't believe it—this really happened! The Master sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's vicious little production and the spectacle the Jewish mob was looking forward to." (Acts 12:10-11)

a Book thought...
Daily prayer and Bible study ought to be embraced in response to Go's grace, not to guarentee it. (p83 Frost)
a Dave thought... from The Age
A survivor of the New Zealand canyoning disaster, which claimed seven lives, has told how he jumped into a swollen river and swam to safety, cheered on by schoolmates he would never see alive again.
After a night in Taupo Hospital, Elim Christian College student Kish Proctor, 15 (pictured above), spoke of the tragedy that has plunged a nation into mourning.
Kish told The New Zealand Herald he was trapped in a rocky crevasse by the rising water and volunteered to be the first student to jump into the swollen torrent and swim to safety.
As he leapt, his companions cheered.
It was the last time he saw his six schoolmates and Tony McClean alive.
They died as Kish was swept along by the torrent of water and over a dam.
He prayed to God for help as he tumbled over and over in the raging water. Rocks split his safety helmet and dragged off his boots.
His turbulent journey downstream was halted by a pile of logs and he scrambled ashore to go for help.
He said it was a "supernatural" experience and he thanked God for his survival.
"All I can say is this is my story and this is what happened to me and God saved me," he told the Herald.
Kish said he volunteered to go first and everyone cheered him on but the current swept him out of reach of the instructor.
"I was just gasping for air and I was under the current most of the time. Every time I got up, I just breathed in air and I just called on God's name," he said.
After hitting the logs he called on God for the strength to move, saying he knew if he didn't, he would never get out.
"I just felt it was God telling me, `You have to get up and go, otherwise you're going to die'," he said.
He scrambled out of the water and started walking along the road where two instructors found him and the alarm was raised.
In Taupo Hospital he heard that Mr McClean and his six schoolmates had died.

There is no doubt God still does miracles today, as this story hits the international press many will be intriguiged, some will be cynical, and a few will actually believe young Kish. I am one who believes when a 15 year-old boy prays God hears and answers prayer.

Just a thought.

Noah turns 6

a Biblical thought...
"Then I heard a voice: 'Go to it, Peter—kill and eat.' I said, 'Oh, no, Master. I've never so much as tasted food that wasn't kosher.' The voice spoke again: 'If God says it's okay, it's okay.' This happened three times, and then the blanket was pulled back up into the sky. (Acts 11:7-10)

a Book thought...
Jesus at no point, ever condemns a strict religious lifestyle as long as it is engaged in as a result of an encounter with God. (p81 Frost)

a Dave thought...
On Monday the 14th April we celebrated Noah's 6th birthday. It was a lot of fun with the big bash being at 4pm at the Kew traffic school, where all his friends rode their bikes and scooters around for 2 hours while eating lots of junk food.
It was great to sit around and chat with all the parents and hear stories of starting school, the challenges of parenting, and each others child's interests. As Noah continues to grow up I am realising how quick the years fly by and the importance of valuing everyday with your own children. I certainly don't want to be an absent father as my two boys develop, but it is easy to get caught up in the demands of life and work without realising it.
The best parents I see in action are purely selfless, which is an area I continue to work on. As I continue with this huge responsibility of parenting & mentoring my boys I'll continue to have a lot of fun, and I hope to keep it that way.

Just a thought.

843 plan to go INSANE!

a Biblical thought...
Peter fairly exploded with his good news: "It's God's own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites! It makes no difference who you are or where you're from—if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open. The Message he sent to the children of Israel—that through Jesus Christ everything is being put together again—well, he's doing it everywhere, among everyone. (Acts 10:34-36)

a Book thought...
This is the difference between Jesus, who accepted the prostitute's devotion, and Simon who was reviled by it. The Pharisee desperately needed a reframe. He needed another way of seeing things. The great reframer did just that and in no uncertain terms. (p78 Frost)
a Dave thought...
Yesterday as we concluded our Territorial Youth Workers Gathering we dreamed about the future and we started planning our next gathering in January with many youth from around the territory. Our DYs and youth workers committed to bringing 843 youth from all our divisions to our event which is to be called INSANE!
As we don't want to run just another conference we are beginning to pray and plan what an interactive missional event may look like with so many young people. A distinctly Salvo event where there are opportunities to have fun playing competitive sport, or computer games, but also places to talk about Jesus and other opportunities to even feed the hungry.

Well it may sound like a big ask but we believe we can pull off this INSANE event in January 12-18 at Melbourne High School. So lock it in and either plan to be there or otherwise pray that we God helps us get it right

Just a thought.

The Cult of Leadership

a Biblical thought...
So Ananias went and found the house, placed his hands on blind Saul, and said, "Brother Saul, the Master sent me, the same Jesus you saw on your way here. He sent me so you could see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." No sooner were the words out of his mouth than something like scales fell from Saul's eyes—he could see again! He got to his feet, was baptized, and sat down with them to a hearty meal. (Acts 9:17-19)

a Book thought...
The message of Jesus is that we are beautiful and desired beyond our wildest imagining. (p68 Frost)
a Dave thought...
Dr. John Capper is a man I have a lot of respect for, he was a lecturer of mine at Tabor and has come to the Salvos on a few occasions to preach and has shown a great heart and attitude just by the way he interacted and accepted all who were present.

Yesterday at Forge he spoke on the '"Cult of Leadership" it was a fascinating session as he challenged us to remember the fact that Jesus called us to follow Him and to become disciples. Sadly many of us have changed the great commission into go and make leaders, but Jesus wants us to follow Him and give up all our worldly ambitions.

Just a thought.

Tall Skinny Kiwi

a Biblical thought...
When the apostles in Jerusalem received the report that Samaria had accepted God's Message, they sent Peter and John down to pray for them to receive the Holy Spirit. Up to this point they had only been baptized in the name of the Master Jesus; the Holy Spirit hadn't yet fallen on them. Then the apostles laid their hands on them and they did receive the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8:14-17)

a Book thought...
What Jesus is doing, like any decent satirist, is adopting the mindset of those he is criticising in order to reveal their folly. (p58 Frost)

a Dave thought...
Andrew Jones, known online as Tall Skinny Kiwi (after his blogging identity of ten years), was the guest speaker at last night’s Forge Grassroots Festival in Melbourne, Australia.
Andrew grew up in Orewa, New Zealand, before moving to Perth in Western Australia. Last night we heard about Andrew’s early fundamentalist street evangelism days - the importance of having a go and having encouragement to try things out. Since those days in the early 1980s Andrew has spent time working in and out of the United States, in Prague, in a campervan travelling around continental Europe, and now living in the Orkney Islands, Scotland.

After reading his blog for many years it was great to meet him in person as even he said the best way is still real relationships without any technology involved. http://tallskinnykiwi.typepad.com/tallskinnykiwi/emerging_church/

Just a thought.

Youth Workers Gathering

a Biblical thought...
At that point they went wild, a rioting mob of catcalls and whistles and invective. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, hardly noticed—he only had eyes for God, whom he saw in all his glory with Jesus standing at his side. He said, "Oh! I see heaven wide open and the Son of Man standing at God's side!" (Acts 7:54-56)

a Book thought...
You are beginning to see that calling Jesus a fool actually implies that he had remarkable insight and a radical, unmistakable style. I believe him to have been a man of superior intellect who was able to cloak the impact of his wisdom with a freshness and naivety that disarmed those he encountered. (p54 Frost)
a Dave thought...
Yesterday we began our territorial Youth Workers gathering, we had a great day with 70 leaders present from 5 states. We opened the bible together, discussed how we can do our jobs more effectively, and dreamed about the future. Last night we concluded the day by attending the opening night of the Forge Grassroots Festival where Mike Frost spoke from Hebrews 5 warning us not to suffer from the disease of "dullness of the mind". He challenged us with the thought that unless all our talk ends up with positive action it is pointless. Today we will gather again at 488 Swantson Street and I pray that today we will continue to all grow in wisdom & understanding but most of all it will lead us to Godly action.

Just a thought.

DYs

a Biblical thought...
Stephen, brimming with God's grace and energy, was doing wonderful things among the people, unmistakable signs that God was among them. But then some men from the meeting place whose membership was made up of freed slaves, Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and some others from Cilicia and Asia, went up against him trying to argue him down. But they were no match for his wisdom and spirit when he spoke. (Acts 6:8-10)

a Book thought...
We need new glasses with which to see our world. I believe Jesus became that new vision for us. He showed us another way to see the same old things. (p42 Frost)

a Dave thought...
Yesterday it was great to have the 13 DYs together for the day to pray, dream, and discuss. The role of the DY has certainly changed over the years. It seems in this territory that the less we have valued this role and sometimes not even filled it, the greater the decline of youth in that division. In an era where many young people are leaving denominations in droves we need to more and more be looking for ways to mentor and develop our youth leaders, and provide more experiences outside of their local corps.
In January (12-18) we are going to be gathering 500 youth from across the territory in what we believe will be a landmark occasion. It won't merely be another event, but a time when our young people will know what it means to be a Salvo and have no doubt that they want to be a part of shaping our future.

Just a thought.

YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!

On Sunday April 6 after 15 hours and 9 minutes of continuous exercise it was unbelievable to hear the famous voice of Mike Reilly announce to everyone "Salvation Army Officer, David Collinson - YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!" For me this was the result of 15 months of training, commitment and dedication.

Many have asked why I wanted to put my body through this horrendous event of 3.8km swim, 180.2km bike ride with lots of hills, then a full marathon of 42.2kms. For me I like the challenge and focusing on a coming event that seems impossible for me to achieve, it helps me to work hard and get my body in shape. You learn heaps about yourself when you attempt something new that takes you to different places, asks you to acquire new skills, and learn from and meet people you have not had relationship with before.

I actually really enjoyed the whole experience and the event was so inspiring as 1500 athletes as determined as me put their bodies on the line for the day. I met many fabulous people who inspired me, taught me, and shared with me some of the dreams they hope to achieve in life.

By the way I have booked in again for next year on the 5th April 2009 in Port Macquarie, let me know if you want to join me.

Just a thought.