My first ever deacons meeting at my present church occured about 10 years ago.
We have come a long way since then.

The then pastor and one of the deacons had a stand up red faced screaming match. I am not going into details, but there were serious issues.

We had our combined Ministry Team Leaders and Leadership team meeting this morning. Now we are facing our issues. Mostly issues to do with growth. We dont have enough money to do all the things God is calling us to. We have to take steps of faith. It is risky and confrontational.
However we have seen God do some amazing things, and we believe together that He will continue to.
My reflection is though that the spirit within our leadership teams is wonderful.
I led them in a devotion from Psalm 20.

4 May he grant your heart’s desire
and fulfill all your plans.
5 May we shout for joy when we
hear of your victory,
flying banners to honor our God.
May the LORD answer all your prayers.

This is what we did this morning, cheer each other on and shout for joy at the victories we see happening. What a transformation. But it has come at a cost. Some good people have left, some others have not been able to see the battle through to the end. The personal cost to my wife and I, and others, has not been inconsiderable. But God chooses to work through Churches. I dont know why, and there are plenty of people who can tell you what is wrong with Churches, and delight to do so. But I am glad to be a part of a church which is doing something about our community. And our focus is on that. I am also glad that I am not in stand up, red faced over the table fights with my church leaders!

Off to pray, meditate, be refreshed and renewed. Few Pastors and myself heading down to Binningup to share and pray together. Draw deep on the water talked about in Psalm One.

Might get some fishing in at night, who knows!

Midnight Oil Productions is a great source for multi media material for churches.
They have some excellent freebies each month as well. Here is their blurb,
“Discover professional quality worship media at price your church can afford at Midnight Oil Productions.”

Thanks to Pat who let Andrew know about who won the ‘date’ with an athiest.

It was a organisation known as “Off the map” and the story is found at their site. It will be interesting to follow this up and see what happens.

Bono recently addressed the US National Prayer Breakfast

I have also been reading Steve Turners book “Walk on” which documents U2’s spiritual journey. Talk about inspiring.

Two quotes from the prayer breakfast.

“I remember how my mother would bring us to chapel on Sundays… and my father used to wait outside. One of the things that I picked up from my father and my mother was the sense that religion often gets in the way of God.”

“Get involved in what God is doing—because it’s already blessed.”

Thats enough for me to think over for a week.

On reflection what is really making my heart sing is not the number of people there on Sunday, but the type.

It seems to me Jesus was not interested in the religious people of his day, in fact he reserved some very harsh words for them. Some commentators even believe he swore at them, such was his anger at their lack of grace and compassion.

The people He was interested in were those on a journey. The needy.

At church at the moment we have a number of folk attending who would not say they are signed up members of the ‘church set’, but they are coming.
It keeps you on your toes, it forces you to be aware of the words you use, and the presumptions you make.

Another key point I am mulling over is this. People generally speaking do not come to Christ at a crusade or key event anymore. They come first to a community, and then grow to faith by being exposed to a community of faith. This is happening in our midst. The ‘face’ of our church has changed.

I am impressed by the power of our community. Everyone doing their part. The big positive changed started with our new structures that were adopted last year. They are bearing fruit. Individual Ministry Team Leaders are really leading, and being innovative and creative, because they can.

I have not been as happy in ministry as I am at this point.

The last three weeks at church have been wonderful.
While numbers are not everything, it is great to have a full house.
This Sunday was our biggest crowd since Christmas.

Showed a great video of Bluff Noll, with some quotes from Genesis. Put together very well by one of our blokes, who is getting into video editing etc.
Quite moving, with a good choice of music.

I was speaking on anger, see a post below for details, and Eliot sung a song from Paul Coleman.
Its tune really stuck in my head, and was a wonderful way to reinforce the message, dont let the sun go down on your anger.

Sundown
By the Paul Colman Trio
” You say you want to be lonely You say you want to be You say you want to be lonely No me no me only you there You say you want to be angry You say you want to be You say you want to be angry That you don’t want to rely on me But we can work this out Leave your gift there at the altar brother yeah Don’t let the sun go down on this today Don’t let the sun go down today Don’t let the sun go down on this today You say you want to tell others You say you want to tell You say you want to tell others All the things you say I’ve done to you But we should work this out Leave your gift there at the altar sister yeah We should work this out I’ll be here listening to your every whisper yeah”