I am helping organse this years Annual Baptist and Church of Christ Pastors conference/retreat.

We have good number of pastors and their spouses coming. Tim Hanna, formerly of Gateway Baptist Church, and now heading up Compassion, is our guest speaker.
We are also doing little ‘nuggets’ which are mini topics given by a variety of speakers for discussion. One of our intentions is to make this an interactive time. To help with this, we are also doing reflective times when we will have various stations set up, for prayer and reflection.

If you have not heard, or have not registered…and are a Baptist or Church of Christ Pastor…I encourage you to come along, it is a unique and valuable time of community, networking, support, prayer and healing.

I have started uploading my messages to the net again…due to popular demand 🙂

Here is the link to the latest one where I spoke about Moses…how Godly anger and passion got some great things done…..an alternative title might be.. “So you wanna go back to Egypt?”

Bedford Baptist Messages

Pretty gutless mate….brain fade….all I can say is that he looked pretty remorseful in the change rooms at half time…but who knows….
Ironically..if he gets 6 weeks, which many are saying he is…his first game back will be against the weegirls at Subi…round 7. Reckon they might boo him???

Dockers looked flat, from go to whoa…
Tigers young brigade ran and ran.
If it were not for the errant kicking for goal and turnovers…the Tiges would have won by more…

No excuse…but umpire 30 was shocking….
sigh, there is always next week.

I am increasingly convinced that how we want people to think of us….is not always how they do.

example…..I sent a comment to someone via email as a jocular comment on something we had both seen. They were not offended…but sent it onto the person who had produced the material, as they thought I was sincerly offended by it….wooh….

back track big time….send out explanation email…all okay.

But boy….sometimes I presume things about the relationships I have with people….but you need to be careful, especially in the electronic word…and maybe doubly in the Christian world. People can get the wrong idea so quickly.
Its good to have friends who know you, and whom you can say whatever you want to them.

Pastors especially need this, or at least I feel they do…which is only my persective of course. So often, whether we agree with it, or like it…people put us up on display.

I heard a story once about Prince Charles. He deliberatly swears at dinner parties when he meets new people, just so they know that they can relax. It may not be the best option, to swear I mean, but I can understand why he does.

I have had a few conversations this week about having friends in ministry.
What would we do without them?
Seriously.

Over here in WA we are starting to see the emergence of mentors for Pastors. Now as I survey the landscape, those in business find coaches, those in education find seniors to help them and offer advice. We in ministry need people who have gone before us, but are not so far removed from our situation, that they can offer meaningful, pragmatic and reflective advice, counsel and exhortation (re: Kick up the bum if we need it)

Those leaders who have a reasonable capacity for leadership naturally seek out friends, mentors and guides. We ask questions, we listen. While the natural inclination may be to talk, and share about your situation, it is far more valuable to be able to listen and learn, than just off loading.
Also…prayer support. Just having someone who will take time out to pray for you. So often we are the ones praying for others, it is needful to find someone who will pray for us.

I am helping organise the annual pastors conference here in WA….2gether. Looking forward to hearing, networking, listening and praying.

“That has drawn the accusation that Freo “gets up” for the Eagles more than other opposition – a barb Carr says emanates mostly from vanquished West Coast followers.

“It is a big game in this town, but it is definitely not my grand final I can tell you that much. I treat it like I am playing any other game, and I expect to win any other game I play,” Carr said.

“I think mostly it is an excuse from Eagles supporters that we use it as our grand final when they lose them.” (Josh Carr)