There is something unexplainably nice about having a wood fire. Admittedly Perth winters can be cold, but by world standards are hardly severe. Perhaps though the difference is we are not really set up for harsh winters as other countries need to be.

Once or twice a year I take my smallish 14 inch chainsaw, an Echo, off to Jarrahdale and bring back a trailer load of wood. There is something very satisfying about going and getting your own wood.

This tends to do us as a family for a couple of months. We only get the fire going when we know we are all going to be home for the night, or at least most of us, for most of the night. So its generally on three or four times a week.

Our little wood heater heats up our rather large lounge room. Beautiful.

It distresses me a little when I see a hint of ‘bible worship’. You may see this when someone talks about how we hear from God. I was listening to someone the other day talk about how there is only way to hear from God. Read and study the Bible.  They then went on to dismiss all the other ways people may share on how they hear from God.

First a disclaimer. I believe the Bible is our test. It is our guide. It is how we evaluate what we sense God may be saying to us. But it is not the only way God speaks.

People share how God gives them an impression, a word. How the Spirit speaks to their heart, challenges their soul. How a beautiful sunset is profound. How a piece of music pierces their heart. How God leads them to speak to someone they had no intention of speaking to, and they lead that person to Christ.

We need to be careful that we listen for and worship The Living Word, Jesus Christ. He is revealed to us through the Bible, but there are many other ways He inspires, leads, touches and speaks to us.

There is a certain cultural element of Western Christianity which seems to take delight in a ‘fortress’ mentality when it comes to contemporary culture. The sort of attitude perhaps born out of an interpretation of scripture that contemporary life is going to get increasingly worse, like in the days of Noah.

This can lead to a sense that the Church is irrelevant, dying, washed out.

I wonder if sometimes we are like Elijah wailing in the dessert about how he is the only true prophet left. God comes to him and points our the truth. He is alive and working, and there are many on His side, actively working out their faith.

I think rumours of the demise of the church only serve to negate the truth that God is alive and well, and His people are active in even Western Culture. The recent release of Hillsong United album ‘Empires’ is one startling example. What is essentially a worship album with truly biblical lyrics finds itself perched at number one on the Aria Album charts. Second is Daniel Johns (of Silverchair fame) newly released solo album. Daniel has been featured on the round of talk shows and promo invites. Interestingly enough, the Hillsong Team have also found themselves been given opportunities to share of their faith and ministry on such shows as Sevens ‘Sunrise” program.

God is active, as is His Church. His Bride, will far from being perfect, is relevant to a contemporary culture, even a consumerist Western one.

At the start of the 2015 season the West Coast Eagles launched their season with the slogan, “The West is Ours”. It was met with some controversy, admittedly from the Fremantle faithful, who could hardly be expected to greet anything from the mob up the road with praise.

However the slogan in and of itself deserves some examination. Let us break it down.

The West: referring to Western Australia

Is Ours: A term of ownership referring to the West Coast Eagles.

Now there is another team in Western Australia. They reside in Fremantle, not, admittedly wherever West Coast reside. Presumably West Coast find their origins somewhere between Rockeby Road and latte-sipping land.

This is why this slogan is so obviously provocative, inflammatory and derisive of the rich history of the Dockers, who can claim football residence in this state going back to the early 1900’s with the formation of both Fremantle sides in the state league.

At the very least it is willfully ignorant. But more likely it is typical of the arrogance of this club which has always looked on Fremantle with derision.

Recently I visited Delhi to see my good friend who pastors there. I had a wonderful time there ministering and being ministered to. I also visited some work amongst the slums there.

You expect to be confronted in India. Coming from a privileged white middle class background, you know the poverty and struggle is going to confront. Children begging, mothers in anguish, people living in squalor.

What I did not expect was to be confronted by the wealth.

I visited a mall, which had four sections to it. The fourth and most grandoise section would not have been out of place in Paris, London or New York. Seriously.

I could not afford to buy there. Two Bentleys were parked inside, people were sipping on High Tea with silver platters and the aircon was a welcome relief from the heat outside.

Of course once you step outside again you are confronted by the stench and oppressive heat. But what is more confronting is the slum located no more than 200 metres from the entrance.

I love India, and I love the people, the food and even aspects of the wonderful culture.

But seeing such wealth, in contrast to such poverty, was confronting. And causes me to question what is happening in the wider culture.

To give hope, I saw some amazing work Christians and Churches are doing there. Both the work of the local church I was involved with, and an organisation which I visited. Both organisations doing what they can to help.

This retreat was our best one yet.

Every year the Baptist Pastors and Leaders gather from all over Western Australia for a time of refreshing, input and fellowship.

Our team took a much higher responsibility of the organizational details. From the moment you were greeted in the carpark with a happy smile, then a coffee and muffin handed to you on your way in, your were prepped for a great three days.

The speaker this year was Pastor Mark Conner. I have wanted Mark to speak at our retreat for the past five years, but a combination of factors have meant it could not happen. He brought inspiring, confronting and meaningful  talks on ministering for the long haul. How to relate to people and to God. It was obvious that this message was just what so many of our hard working and busy Pastors and leaders needed.  I found one talk in particular really helpful and transferable. Mark gave 5 principles for healthy leadership.

5 habits of a healthy leader
1. Retreat regularly spiritual (spiritual)
Mat 14.23 Luke 6.12 mark 1.35

2. Deal with internal stress (emotional)
Unrealistic expectations
Negative emotions illustration of trolley
Unresolved conflicts

3. Keep growing (mental)
1 Tim 4.12-15

4. Develop healthy friendships (relational)

5. Keep yourselves fit and healthy

What you tolerate you never change

Example of Pharaoh Do it tommorow ex 8.8-10

On the Monday night we had our own Hawkers Market. Two of the hard working staff members at the Baptist Centre organised this and it was fantastic. We had five food stalls with amazing Asian, South American and French food. There were long queues but people had a chance to talk and interact while waiting. And the food was worth it!

We had fun down the beach, spent time together, prayed and shared our hearts.

On the Wednesday in what has really become the highlight of the conference Mark Wilson, our Director of Ministries, shared his heart with us. A very timely message based around the parable of the sower. Mark encouraged us to keep our souls ready for the word, open to the Spirit. As he called for people to come forward for prayer, many came forward with sincere hearts just wanting to express to God where they were at, and wanting a fresh touch from God. It was amazing.

To finish the Retreat we had organised a moving time where each Pastor or leader came forward to place a candle on a map of either Perth or the state of Western Australia. This candle represents where God has called them to, and where they want to see God work. One newly appointed Pastor and his wife starting crying as they realised that they had a place God had called them to. Perhaps the realisation was coming upon them in a profound way. God calls us all….and this calling is not to be trivialised or easily discarded.

Amongst all the other tributes to the man who perhaps is the best example of sports commentary…ever….is one little video which sums up a lesson that goes far beyond sports.

We so often don’t say what is blatantly obvious. And right. And frank.

Because we are polite, afraid, scared of the implications. Concerned about what might happen to us if we upset those who can influence our careers and our lives.

Richie Benaud was already a well established commentator and respected cricketer when the moment came that we bowled an underarm ball to our NZ Cousins…to secure a win.

You have to admire his integrity and courage in speaking up in what was Australian cricket’s deepest moment of embarrassment. Something so ‘unAustralian’ that someone needed to say something.

We apologise for and make allowances for our topline sportspeople. Not Richie. With elegance, sophistication and respect…he shares with us his thoughts, and what is the truth.