What a talented violinist. Positive, fun and joyful.
Love it!

Preached on this Church on Sunday night at our ‘Hub’ evening congregation….

What an amazing Church. No rebuke from Jesus, just gentle encouragement that the Lord is coming…and to keep going. Which they have, even 2000 years ago there is still a church there.

But Polycarp suffered for his faith.He was an early Christian leader in Smyrna who refused to acknowledge ‘Caeser is Lord’ and was thus charged with atheism, and eventually killed for his faith.

“He was escorted to the local proconsul, Statius Quadratus, who interrogated him in front of a crowd of curious onlookers. Polycarp seemed unfazed by the interrogation; he carried on a witty dialogue with Quadratus until Quadratus lost his temper and threatened Polycarp: he’d be thrown to wild beasts, he’d be burned at the stake, and so on. Polycarp just told Quadratus that while the proconsul’s fire lasts but a little while, the fires of judgment (“reserved for the ungodly,” he slyly added) cannot be quenched. Polycarp concluded, “But why do you delay? Come, do what you will.”

Soldiers then grabbed him to nail him to a stake, but Polycarp stopped them: “Leave me as I am. For he who grants me to endure the fire will enable me also to remain on the pyre unmoved, without the security you desire from nails.” He prayed aloud, the fire was lit, and his flesh was consumed. The chronicler of this martyrdom said it was “not as burning flesh but as bread baking or as gold and silver refined in a furnace.”

The account concluded by saying that Polycarp’s death was remembered by “everyone”—”he is even spoken of by the heathen in every place.”  (Source)

You can listen to my message here

Love this from Driscoll. Speaking on this very topic…Ephesians and the Holy Spirit, at Inglewood Community Church this Sunday

At almost the last minute I found myself on a plane bound for MMC Tassie. I was asked to speak at the Friday night session. No pressure said ‘Howie’, but we expect a lot of people there Friday night and we want them to come back on the Saturday!

Unfortunately, in one sense, God dropped a message in my lap which I thought was a strange one to give at a Mens conference. From Numbers 16 where Korah and his cronies confront Moses and Aaron over their leadership. It is a tough passage in many ways. God is in His ‘consuming fire’ mode which we read about in the Old Testament. People are killed, and Moses and Aaron have to ‘stand in the gap’ for them. This despite the fact these people are plotting against him and Aaron.

It went well, a number of blokes came forward for prayer and I had serious conversations with blokes all weekend following on from the message. God moved and I believe honoured the obedience I shakily showed.

But I got so much more from the conference than what I gave. In fact of all the Mighty Mens Conferences, this was right up there. The other one which was significant was 2009 where about 2500 men sung like they meant it (here).

The most significant aspect was meeting blokes passionate and authentic about their faith. Having blokes ask you to pray for them, really pray for them, is humbling and powerful.

Steve Brown, a pastor from Torquay…pray for him and his band of brothers. They will do significant things in their city. Steve preached a passionate and life changing message on Saturday morning.

Brad Patterson from Mukinbudin Church of Christ, a passionate preacher and a bloke with a soft heart for God and others. He preached a great message at the Saturday arvo session and then a message at the Door of Hope Service on the Sunday morning.

Pastor Steve Fitzallen. The Pastor at Door of Hope in Launceston. Steve is a great bloke, and opened up his church for us to use. That was a risk! Having a group come in who he did not really know well. To his credit he opened his heart, and the ministry which took place in his church was telling. We had a great time on Sunday morning when I saw Steve’s heart for his own people, and for the city.

Andrew Howe and Shayne Doyle. Two knockabout blokes from ‘Squad Church’ in Launceston who organised the conference. Spirit filled and amazing blokes. They head up the God Squad in Launceston and the Church associated with that. The only church I have ever preached at with a full bar in the back. (not open on Sundays). They took me to some bikie clubs whose names I can’t mention. Blokes in there were ‘real’ blokes and friendly enough, but troubled souls. In need of the transformation of Jesus. If anyone can reach them, these blokes can, taking Jesus with them into what the devil claims is his territory.

These two blokes are carrying a lot of responsibility with the Mighty Mens Conference in Tassie, but did an excellent job or organising it. I believe I have made mates to partner with in ministry in the future, hopefully around not just Tassie and Perth, but all over Australia. Not the sort of blokes that look like they would fit into many churches, but the sort of blokes Jesus asked to follow him.

Great pick me up….

Bless the lord oh my soul
Oh my soul
Worship his holy name
Sing like never before
Oh my soul
I worship you holy name

The sun comes up
Its a new day dawning
Its time to sing your song again
What ever may pass and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes

Bless the lord oh my soul
Oh my soul
Worship his holy name
Sing like never before
Oh my soul
I worshhip your holy name

You’re rich in love and you’re slow to anger
Your name is great and your heart is kind
For all your goodness i will keep on singing
10,000 reasons for my heart to find

Belss the lord oh my soul
Oh my soul

Worship his holy name
Sing like never before
Oh my soul
I worship your holy name

And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Soon my soul will sing your praise un-ending
10,000 years and there forever more

Bless the lord oh my soul
Oh my soul
Worship his holy name
Sing like never before
Oh my soul
I worship your holy name

Bless the lord oh my soul
Oh my soul
Worship his holy name
Sing like never before
Oh my soul
I worship your holy name (repeat 3x)

Sing like never before
Oh my soul

To say Ross Lyon’s appointment to the Dockers was controversial is like saying that frozen water is called ice. I spoke about it when it first happened (here).

What I said there about Lyon was that he would have to perform well with the heartless Rosich at the wheel. I stick by that.

But putting aside how he got the job for a moment, what sort of a job is he doing?
Well initial results look very pleasing. Not just because the Dockers have a healthy 3-1 win loss record, but also the way those wins have come about. The Geelong game was an exciting but hard game against last years premiers, and we won. The win against Brisbane, while boring, was at least proof that we can think our way through a team which decided to try and slow and restrict the game.
The loss against Sydney was disappointing. We did not turn up to play until the second half. But unlike some other years, the players did not drop their heads, but turned up to play and almost snatched an unlikely victory.
The win against the Saints was particularly meritorious. Freo don’t play the small Edihad at all well, but the Friday Night spotlight did not daunt us this game. A focused and most notably organised Docker outfit turned up…and ground out a win against a quality opposition in the Saints.

We can talk about injuries, the players and what they do. But there are many signs that the coach has made a significant difference to our fitness, desire and game style. All which look like bringing good results.

Just one or two hints Ross. Silvangi is a gun defender. The sooner you get him in the side the better. Dawson…..uugh. I hope he proves me wrong, and his second half on Friday was adequate. But the clangers….Grover is a far better and more reliable defender.

Interesting how God works.
While traveling around Tasmania on my long service leave I had opportunity to speak at the God’s Squad Church in Launceston. Most people will say the last thing a Pastor on long service leave should do is preach at a church. However I spoke to Melinda and she was happy for me to speak, and it sounded like fun.
It turned out to be one of the most enjoyable speaking times I have had. We met together to pray before the service. About 10 real ‘blokey’ blokes covered in tatts, leather jackets and boots….and me…praying together pre-service. A latte sipping tech head pastor from Perth. They prayed…hard and authentic. I had no access to a printer so to compound my persona issues I had to preach from my MacBook. The congregation of about 50 people in a smallish room. Great praise…and a small bar down the back (not open on Sundays).

Fortunately they were a gracious mob…and they encouraged me more than I think I encouraged them. But God worked in our midst.

Having met the blokes and then reconnected at the Mighty Mens Conference in Cuballing, one of the leaders has asked me to speak at their conference in Launceston. Challenging but encouraging. If your in Launceston, drop in on the Friday Night. And if you are the praying type, keep me and the conference in your prayers.

MMC Conference