That game against the Lions proved one thing, this team is different, and it knows how to win.
In years gone by, even if we dominated a game, like we did against Brisbane, if a side had come back, chances are we would have capitulated and lost.

We didn’t. The young exuberance and blatant confidence of the team shone through. These young players are loving the structures, the experience and skill of the older players, and the winning.

Fremantle are the real deal.
I reckon we are going to smash the Pies, and after that, the games we have actually get a little easier.

Wow.

Something that is revving me up at the moment is that this generation of young people coming up are really interested and focused on caring for the less fortunate.

Many of them are spoilt brats, and have been given everything they could ever want.
But for many of them, instead of turning them into consumers…it has meant they are actually bored early by things.

Many of the YP both in our church and on the periphery are more interested in helping out less fortunate people, in a whole raft of ways, instead of just going after the latest thrill.

This is a good time to foster their love for others and for the church to be a place in society where we are known for how we help those less fortunate than ourselves, just as the early church was.

Well a few months in and my Mac Book Pro 13″ has exceeded all my expectations.
I have become what I used to mock, a Apple Evangelist.

Everything just works.
No annoying popups, no asking me if I am really sure I want to do something.

I have come to understand that the basic difference between Mac and PC is that in the PC world, they design the computer around themselves. It is really about them as a company, not you.

The Mac philosophy is that it is about the end user, and what they want.
Truly, until you start to use one, you don’t realise how hard PC makes everything.
Even peripherals that are designed for PC, I have found, work better on my Mac.
Everything syncs up, everything works.

I recently got Macs version of Office, Iwork. The extraordinary thing about it, apart from the fact that it is intiutive and so much better than office, is that it is compatible with Office! If someone sends me a Word, Excel or Powerpoint document, it seamlessly imports them, and then exports them! It actually makes working with documents someone sends me with more ease than a’native’ machine! Incredible.

As well as that, the design and feel of it is just so nice.
I recently was given a ‘Magic Mouse’ for it, and that too is just so nice to use.

I aint ever going back baby!!!!!

Really enjoyed the annual Baptist Pastors Conference

Our speaker this year was Brian Winslade, the National Baptist Union Director.
Brian had some great things to say over the three days that we enjoyed in Mandurah.

1st up he spoke about Church history, how the church was known as the place where love was found, love and charity. He gave some really interesting examples of how the early church of the first 400 years was known as the place where even if society saw you as ‘untouchable’, the church would care for you. Baby girls, because of their gender, were left to die. The church cared for them. People with plagues and diseases were abandoned, the church cared for them.

2ndly he spoke about leadership within the church. In my words, he called us to the radical middle. Where Pastors lead with grace and persuasion and love, and church people love and respect their leaders, and allow them to lead.

Lastly he spoke about learning from failure. Brian spoke about some of his own failures, and how he learnt some serious life long lessons from them. He is a confident and articulate and humorous speaker. But as he explained, natural talent is no substitute for integrity, character and Gods empowerment.

Really enjoyed my time away, catching up with old and new friends, enjoying some time away with my wife, and spiritual refreshment.

Watching this video interview, you cant help but get the picture that Rhyse is very hungry to play, almost nervously saying, I have done everything I can, just want them to select me!
Lets not forget, he did win the Rising Star award, is a incredible player with evasive skills. If he comes in for the Derby, he will be huuuuungry!

This is a really good article.

Millenials are honest on faith

Basis of it is that young people are feeling isolated in their faith, while passionate and connected in their church, outside of church, not many of their friends can relate to their faith.

Mark Driscoll says this,
“Two, young people are committed to churches not built for them but built by them. Around the country young people are flocking to churches that have clear authoritative Bible teaching about real life issues, are lead by authentic leaders, include night services, use online social media, embrace technology, serve the poor and suffering, strive for community, encourage creativity, and allow young leaders to lead at the highest levels.”

This is what we are going to be doing at Inglewood Church as we look to start a second service, but not just as an adjunct, but a church in many aspects all of its own. It will come under our authority, and be resourced by us, but the direction and feel of the church will be driven by the young adults.

4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5For John baptized with[a] water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

6 So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

God really spoke to me through this passage this morning in my devotional time.
Imagine being the disciples. You have spent 3 years following Jesus, you have seen Him be laughed at, suffer and then die.
Finally…you now see He is alive, victorious! All He said would happen…has.
And therefore you legitimately ask, now Jesus? now? Will you restore things now?
But the answer is…no. Not right now, it is not for you to know that. For now, you will receive the Holy Spirit, be empowered…and you need to spread the gospel, the good news.

Its like Jesus is saying, your time of comfort, restoration, everything being right…is not yet! For now, even though you have been through three years of this, your time has not yet come. Why? Because there were so many that needed to hear about Jesus. So many that Jesus wanted to bring into His family.
Their comfort was not important, what was important was the Kingdom!
Challenging.