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Originally uploaded by dockermark35.

We experienced a really great sense of God’s Spirit in Church this morning. Although there was not a full house of people, I sensed a real hunger to hear from God. It was evidenced in the outward display of worship and enjoyment of things that were being said and done.
I prepared a multi-media presentation (video) using Colin Battersby’s rendition of “It is well”. I did up this video for the Pastors Conference and it told the story of Horatio Spafford. Horatio endured a lot of tradgedy in his life including the loss of his business but far more tragically first the death of his son, then at a later point the death of his three daughters in a shipwreck. His wife survived. On his way to visit her he wrote the well known hymn, “It is well”.

We said a sad goodby to some friends who are moving to NZ, but also said ‘thank God” when some other friends declared God was not calling them to move to QLD, as they previously thought He might be.

Dr Laurence Spencer, the Baptist Union President then brought a word from God which he believed was specifically for our church. The challenge was to take seriously Jesus’ call that, “they will know you are Christians by your love”. He was really well recieved. I think some of that was to do with the combination of a older guy who was a expressive worshipper, wise words and non judgemental challenge. He was sensitive to Gods leading, and interacted really well with our people. The sort of older and wiser guy you would love to have in your church actually!

Consumed
Originally uploaded by dockermark35.

Preparing my message for Sunday week.
Really sense God calling me to revisit a topic I used to speak on a bit few years ago, worship.
Here are some themes flowing through my mind…

No, this is not a spiritual post!

The Melbourne Demons were sent home last night without the chocolates as Freo stormed home to a historical first finals win.

Melinda and I had seats in block 137 and quit frankly, the home crowd was the loudest I have ever heard.
It was extraordinary in fact. Listening to the replay on channel 10 when I got home, Anthony Hudson is heard remarking to Tim Lane, just as they come back from an ad, “Listen to that crowd, that is extraordinary”.
James Hird also commented during the week, “The Fremantle crowd is the loudest and most passionate of any in the league”. High praise indeed.

It was a nervous crowd, a passionate crowd, an exhilirating ride as we watched Freo play once more with confidence and risk. Chris Connolly remarked after the game that after last weeks fairly dissapointing effort, he encouraged the players to get back to the risky confident football that saw us storm into 3rd spot on the ladder. He said that the players were almost playing too risky tonight, which saw some mistakes being made. But quite frankly, I would back our running brigade against any side.

Thank goodness the game against Sydney is being played on the wide expanses of Telstra Stadium, and not the confinement of the SCG. I reckon we are a silly chance to beat the Swans there, and if we do…… I am off to Melbourne.

This is a Pastor of a church who meets in a old church that is now a bar. After the Saturday night drinking and strip club next door, it is transformed into a theatre style church. He puts out tables and chairs and they have discussions about Jesus and life.

His wife prepares a whole heap of multimedia and about 250 people now meet. He started the church off with cell groups which then morphed into a church. Awesome story.

Story

dockers grip
Originally uploaded by dockermark35.

Rodney Eade has come out and said something a lot of footy lovers have known for ages,
the West Coast Eagles have no soul.

They are a corporate identity, franchised and packaged for maximum consumption.
At the derby I was bewildered by the karaoke Eagles theme song at the start. Don’t the fans know the words?
The Dockers song may be accused of being inane, like a dirge, but its fans know the words, and sing them with gusto. Your typical Dockers supporter does not need to be told how to support their team, they just do!

Then the Eagles are given this chant at quarter time over the loudspeaker, “Go Eagles go, SGIO, go Eagle go, SGIO”. Does anyone else not see the problem with this?

The final nail in their coffin is this one.

Many Eagle supporters cannot understand why Dockers supporters…..

a. Support the Dockers at all especially with our lack of success. You dont support a team because they are succesful. There is something about them that just grabs you. Ask Gareth why he supports St Kilda? Or a Richmond supporter why they support that basket case of a team. They cant tell you why, they just do. And it burns within them.

b. Don’t support the Eagles as well
A common line heard is this, “I support both WA teams”. What a joke. What a passionless statement. Imagine if a Victorian supporter of Carlton said, “because Carlton are out of the finals, I will support Collingwood, after all we are both Victorian teams”. Give me a break. Passionate supporters support their own team, and thats it.

Dockers supporters can’t stand the Eagles, its as simple as this. I much prefer a discussion with a passionate Eagles supporter who can’t stand the Dockers, than one whohalf likes them. We understand each other, its nothing personal, we just can’t stand your team. Its much easier to deal with.

And for all you Eagles supporters out there, I might like you, you might even be my friend, but I can’t stand your souless team.

Story

Cant seem to get your neighbours to talk about Jesus?

Being a backyard missionary not working for you?

Attracting people into the church with bells and whistles too much work?

I’ve got it, kidnap them and then pull out your gun and threaten to shoot them if they don’t repent!!!!

Only in America….

A woman and two roommates are accused of holding her brother at gunpoint as she
prayed for his repentance, even firing a shot into the ceiling to keep his
attention. Randy Doss, 46, of Athens said he fled the house when his captors
got distracted and later went to police, who were skeptical at first because his
story was so bizarre. But police said it checked out, including the bullet hole
in the ceiling Story

As a Pastor conflict and people management is probably the key skill you need in developing and transitioning a church from traditional to purpose driven, outward focused and open/charismatic in worship style.

One or two lessons I have learnt, and am still on the journey of learning are these.

1. Be aware of conflict before it happens
2. You don’t have to win the fight, getting what you want is far more important
3. Face and deal with conflict as it happens, not a week later, by then it has festered into something far larger and uglier
4. Be friends when you can with people, even if they disagree with you, they will find it hard to lynch you