Midnight Oil Productions is a great source for multi media material for churches.
They have some excellent freebies each month as well. Here is their blurb,
“Discover professional quality worship media at price your church can afford at Midnight Oil Productions.”

Thanks to Pat who let Andrew know about who won the ‘date’ with an athiest.

It was a organisation known as “Off the map” and the story is found at their site. It will be interesting to follow this up and see what happens.

Bono recently addressed the US National Prayer Breakfast

I have also been reading Steve Turners book “Walk on” which documents U2’s spiritual journey. Talk about inspiring.

Two quotes from the prayer breakfast.

“I remember how my mother would bring us to chapel on Sundays… and my father used to wait outside. One of the things that I picked up from my father and my mother was the sense that religion often gets in the way of God.”

“Get involved in what God is doing—because it’s already blessed.”

Thats enough for me to think over for a week.

On reflection what is really making my heart sing is not the number of people there on Sunday, but the type.

It seems to me Jesus was not interested in the religious people of his day, in fact he reserved some very harsh words for them. Some commentators even believe he swore at them, such was his anger at their lack of grace and compassion.

The people He was interested in were those on a journey. The needy.

At church at the moment we have a number of folk attending who would not say they are signed up members of the ‘church set’, but they are coming.
It keeps you on your toes, it forces you to be aware of the words you use, and the presumptions you make.

Another key point I am mulling over is this. People generally speaking do not come to Christ at a crusade or key event anymore. They come first to a community, and then grow to faith by being exposed to a community of faith. This is happening in our midst. The ‘face’ of our church has changed.

I am impressed by the power of our community. Everyone doing their part. The big positive changed started with our new structures that were adopted last year. They are bearing fruit. Individual Ministry Team Leaders are really leading, and being innovative and creative, because they can.

I have not been as happy in ministry as I am at this point.

The last three weeks at church have been wonderful.
While numbers are not everything, it is great to have a full house.
This Sunday was our biggest crowd since Christmas.

Showed a great video of Bluff Noll, with some quotes from Genesis. Put together very well by one of our blokes, who is getting into video editing etc.
Quite moving, with a good choice of music.

I was speaking on anger, see a post below for details, and Eliot sung a song from Paul Coleman.
Its tune really stuck in my head, and was a wonderful way to reinforce the message, dont let the sun go down on your anger.

Sundown
By the Paul Colman Trio
” You say you want to be lonely You say you want to be You say you want to be lonely No me no me only you there You say you want to be angry You say you want to be You say you want to be angry That you don’t want to rely on me But we can work this out Leave your gift there at the altar brother yeah Don’t let the sun go down on this today Don’t let the sun go down today Don’t let the sun go down on this today You say you want to tell others You say you want to tell You say you want to tell others All the things you say I’ve done to you But we should work this out Leave your gift there at the altar sister yeah We should work this out I’ll be here listening to your every whisper yeah”

Sorting through some photo’s, wish I was still there.

I am starting a four week series this week on ‘The Biggest Spiritual Loser’.

It is designed to help us lose those things which hinder our spiritual health.

The Biggest Spiritual Loser
How to lose unhealthy inner baggage, and experience emotional health
Lose bad temper and gain positive boundaries
Lose Anxiousness and gain faith
Lose Approval addiction and gain security
Lose Negativity and gain hope

Should be fun!