We had our ministry team leaders networking meeting last night.
What an absolute joy it is to work with these guys. So functional, positive, uplifiting.
We are very honest and open with each other, about our joys and struggles. And it is always an encouraging and purposeful time. Mostly because all of these leaders are a joy to work with.

Our structure helps as well, knowing what each of us is to do, what our roles are.

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

The purpose of this brochure is to explain how our church ‘works’.
(a) The role of the Members of the Congregation is stewardship.
(b) The role of the Leadership Team is to establish Guiding Principles for the Senior Pastor’s leadership.
(c) The role of the Senior Pastor is to lead the Church to accomplish its mission.
(d) The role of the Ministry Team is to manage the ministries of the Church, directed by the Pastor.
(e) The role of the Congregation is to serve as the primary ministers of the Church.

With thanks to Craggles for this information

cc: andrew.demetriou@afl.com.au <andrew.demetriou@afl.com.au>; tony.peek@afl.com.au <tony.peek@afl.com.au>; adrian.anderson@afl.com.au <adrian.anderson@afl.com.au>; rod.austin@afl.com.au <rod.austin@afl.com.au>; jeff.gieschen@afl.com.au <jeff.gieschen@afl.com.au>; jill.lindsay@afl.com.au <jill.lindsay@afl.com.au>; ken.wood@afl.com.au <ken.wood@afl.com.au>

Hello all,

Yesterday has gone down as a bad bad day for the AFL. There is a perception over here in Freo that the AFL has a certain bias towards non victoran sides, and yesterday did nothing to dispel that.
Fair justice must prevail, common sense must be followed. Fremantle won the game fair and square, and after all this is what we are talking about, a game.

If indeed you are fair minded, you must do the right thing, despite the pain it might cost you. Fremantle must be given the four points. It is the right thing to do. That is all there is to it.

Pastor Mark Edwards
Bedford Baptist Church

Okay all, I have calmed down. You are not meant to get angry about a stupid game of football, its just a game.

The miners getting found alive is a far more important story to come out of Tasmania from today.

Yet I suppose what most angers me is the injustice of it all. This was not a bad free kick decision like last year, which cost us this game. This was a considered decision, when the umpire was presented the facts from the boundary and emergency umpires, the game has finished, yet in a fit of what can only be described as temporary madness made a calculated decision which was not only wrong, but could cost my team a spot in the finals.

The Derby is next week, with Mc Manus out with a hammy, Hasleby sore still and Farmer possibly under report, we need those four points.

It is time for some honest, openness and ACCOUNTABILITY to be displayed by the politically correct weak as water AFL and umpires. Admit your wrong, do the right thing, and lets all move on.

For those interested, there is a poll at the Herald Sun Website.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy

absolute carp from the umpires
totally unnacceptable disgraceful performance

DISGRACE TO THE AFL

FIX IT DEMETRIOU

Adobe Photoshop is a steep learning curve, but after about 2 hours with it, I think I am getting the hang of it. I know this is nowhere near as good as what I can do with this program, but its a start.
Any tips?
(Blogger wont let me upload this file in its best format due to size restrictions, it does look slightly better in photoshop format)

My first car was a 1973 Corolla Ke 26 not disimilar to this one. It was not in great nick. In fact there was a rusted out hole where the drivers feet go, that was covered up with some carpet. When you had some orange peel to throw out the window (to the birds of course!) you just lifted the carpet up, and dropped the peel through the whole. Eventually we sold it for $200 to some guy who said he was going to use it for parts.
I had some good times in that car, learnt that wet roads and gravel tracks and underpowered rear wheel drive Corollas went hand in hand for learning what a car does when its sliding.
It used to get driven to Scarborough High most school days, when I could afford fuel and prise it off mum.

In the midst of a very interesting topic on Andrews blog, I have been reading in my devotions Psalm 77.

1 I cry out to God without holding back. Oh, that God would listen to me!
2 When I was in deep trouble, I searched for the Lord. All night long I pray, with hands lifted toward heaven, pleading. There can be no joy for me until he acts.
3 I think of God, and I moan, overwhelmed with longing for his help

Life sucks sometimes, and we get mad and angry at God. I love how the NLT puts this.
Without holding back I tell God exactly how I am feeling. As a father, even when my son is mad, I love to hear what he is thinking and feeling. I know he feels a lot better about telling me. The anger somehow is validated, and yet also some of the sting is released.
If ever I am frustrated, angry, upset, depressed about something, I plan to tell God all about it. And you know what? I reckon He can take it. Sometimes he must think I am acting like a young boy again, but I reckon that level of honesty is what He craves in His relationship with me.