No, I am not blogging a gaffe like our serial fluffer Opposition Leader Kim Beazley. I am drawing a connection between the tradgedy of the passing of actress and singer Belinda Emmet, and our own Docker Shaum Mc Manus.

On the Channel Ten report of Belinda’s funeral, there were the wavy blonde locks of Shaun. I thought, only for a brief second, what’s he doing there? Then the connection was clear, Shaun is Rove’s cousin.
How sad, how terribly sad for the humorous lad from Willeton (Rove). Rove has always struck me as a very decent guy, with a strong and loving family. He once said that his sister had achieved far more than him in life because she had two wonderful children. Now Rove will not know that pleasure with his first love, Belinda. Terribly sad for the guy.

Seeing Shaun at the funeral brought home to me the reality of the situation. It is at these times that cousins, friends, people who really care about you gather around you. I wonder if Rove will ever recover? I think with his good humour and energy he will. Not for some time, but there will be hope and humour for him. I pray he finds peace and hope in the midst of his grief.

Bono will appear at Saddleback Church, with Rick Warren, at their World AIDS Day on Dec. 1.

And an up and coming politician Mr. Obama will also appear. He appears to be a strong possibility for the next White House candidate.

Purpose Driven Candidate

I reckon one of the keys to a healthy life is to live a life of thankfulness.
Blessings, peace and joy come from deciding to be thankful. And it is a choice.
I am not subscribing to the ‘name it and claim it’ theology. Thats bunkum .

But think of the analogy God Himself gives us, He is our Father.
What sort of children does a Father love? I know what I am teaching my children, how to say thankyou, and when they say it of their own accord, it blesses me and others.

Most days I try to remember to thank God for my family (boy am I thankful for them!)
my church, yes, especially now,
and my life.

Thanks God too for the beautiful ciabata bread and organic coffee I made for breakfast.

Aaaaah, you were thinking or hoping for a deep theological thought, ah ah, you’ve come to the wrong blog 🙂

If you know who John Mc Arthur is you will either…. laugh out loud, or send me rude emails!!

And as an added bonus, here’s John Pipers take on Michael Jackson’s Bad

Hi all,
I know your all dying for the next exciting installment, here it is

Message Part Two

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There is something very soul building about doing hard work.
It is something we are designed for, from the garden, from the beginning.

As a Pastor, sometimes the work you are doing seems nebulous. There is no hole dug, no cabinet made, no bricks laid, to show for your work.

Leadership, inspiring, counselling, imparting, praying.
All people skills, all having their results in somewhat undefinable areas.

Then there are things like preparation, video and computer work, setting up stages, arranging events, producing brochures. These things are much more definable. Part of making things happen.

As Spiritual Leaders we cannot get away from work, to see a community transformed is difficult. If we expect it to be easy, or to pander to our own laziness, we are in the wrong field.