This conference seemed to go for longer than usual…not because anything was boring or irrelevant..or too long. It was just I missed my family. Perhaps not travelling with someone compounded that. Anyway, as I sit here in KFC Geelong, awaiting my bus, I have a little time to reflect.

This was a personally challenging and refreshing conference for me. I needed the space, the margin, to think, pray and be spiritually impacted. With so much output, we all need input.

The overall thrust of this conference was Justice. Hillsong have really taken a focus on issues such as poverty and need in the wider world. They have refocused themself and are challenging other churches to do the same.

They use some impacting elements such as drama, spoken word, music and visuals to tell many stories over the past week. I have been quite emotional a number of times as God has spoken to me and challenged me. What an awesome time. I am so thankful to be given the opportunity.

This is the first Hillsong Conference I have come to on my own…and it has some advantages. I miss travelling with my friends, particularly one of my best mates who normally comes with me…but it has given me space to pray and process what I am hearing.

This morning Brian Houston gave a message just for Pastors in the third session. Often when I hear speakers at this conference I am working out how I can utilise some of their teaching in my own…this session was personally challenging for me.

He spoke about how as leaders we need to be bearers of good news. So often the first one to ‘share’ bad news with him is other leaders! He does not want to be the one you hear bad news from first. Of course…bad news needs to be dealt with and confronted. But so often we focus on the negative aspects of a person or their ministry, and are so slow to encourage and bless them, and be positive and joyful about the things God is doing.

This hit me like a rock….I dont want to be a leader who is talking about others….I want to be known as someone who is constantly sharing good news…..

I will post about some of the other things going on as I can…..

Our first service today as Inglewood Community Church. Did not expect that many people! Teething problems with getting enough seats out and with room. Good problems to have.
The young bloke doing the AV was flawless.
The band was a good mix of former members of both churches, and sounded great.

Good fellowship and a real sense of the significance of the day.

In years to come, people will talk about today as the first day of a new and significant work in God’s Kingdom. Lets pray we continue to reach those far from Christ, and in need in a whole raft of ways.

Next week we kick off the childrens ministries with a kids party…woo hoo! Get your kids along.

By the way, my wife makes the best date scones that there have ever been…..

I am pretty blessed. Our church has an excellent producer of web sites……crisp, clean, contemporary…

here is what the front page will look somewhat like…it also links to the splash page which lets you know about the new church.

http://www.bedfordbaptist.org.au/

(The url will not be Bedford Baptist…that church has goneski…but it links there at the moment for those who have not yet caught the news!)

It does not matter what style of church you inhabit, how we organise the environment says so much about us.
Be that from the spectatular job Hillsong do of organising their stage, to the rooms Andrew Jones organises for his emerging groups…..how a place makes us feel, what is either aids or hinders us in our worship of God is something we think of .
Of course there is no one better at this than God…from beautiful mountain tops looking over the ocean, to the detailed instructions He gives to Moses and Solomon regarding the temple…..

Here are some thoughts I have as we prepare to meet for the first time in our temporary facilities…

For us, we need to create anticipation and a positive group climate from day one.

1. We will use countdowns (pre service) and encourage people to be at church early
2. We will always have music playing pre service of some description as people walk into the room. Whether this is the worship team playing or cd music or a Christian music video as people walk in.
3. the way we present the stage is important. What I am thinking is that we will eventually have a stage with props, thematic devices….everything pointing people to Jesus, and our theme for the month.

A lot of Seths suggestions are spot on, and things we should be thinking about as we grow.

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2008/06/how-to-organize.html

I am so looking forward to this Sunday!!

Dont know what it is at the moment, but I seemed to have gotten the last few coffees just right….Nice nutty taste, smooth good aerated milk, right temperature…mmmmm
Brownes Full Cream Milk, Five Senses 24/7 blend.

Aaaaah..its an old art, and one worth learning. Most Wednesdays I cook for the family, and it is normally a roast. No roast worth its salt, particularly one served on a cold wet Perth night, is complete without Yorkshire Puddings. An old favourite, well worth the extra effort.
Cooking Tip: In order to get them just right, make sure mixture is left to stand for a few minutes

in the bowl. Then, oil your muffin tray (generously) and put it into a hot oven to pre-heat it. Then pour the mixture in……mmmmmm….