Starting a new series this month at Inglewood, on Joy. We are looking at the Church in Philippi. Born in Acts 16 when Paul and Silas travel to Philippi and meet with Lydia near a river. She trusts in Jesus, and the rest is history.

Interestingly though that if it had not been for the conflict over Judaizers, and then the issue between Paul and Barnabas over John Mark, the missionary thrust towards Europe may not have happened. Then as Paul writes the book of Philippians, a book about joy in all circumstances, he has to address serious conflict within the Church.

As an aside, this is a passage that we should all take note of…..

“⁵ It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. ¹⁶ They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the Good News. ¹⁷ Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me. ¹⁸ But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice. ¹⁹ For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance.”

Yes…there are plenty who appear to be in the Church ‘business’ for less than good reasons. But what of it. Focus on the gospel, be glad that God will work, despite the frailty of us Christians.

I watched much of the debate that was on today. Not closely. I had the stream on in the background while I was working on other things.

My impression is that Romney interrupted Obama constantly. Obama was polite, reserved but assured. Romney was condescending and at times bordering on ridicule and rudeness.

I don’t really have a opinion on either of the two leaders, but the twitter and facebook streams were definitely favouring Romney for the win. However I wonder if that was as much to do with how people were feeling about the candidate before the debate, than the debate itself. Did they just find things that reinforced their beliefs, rather than look at it objectively?

Its an interesting phenomenon for me, as an Australian Christian, to observe the total distaste many American Christians have for Obama.

Boys weekend with the lads.

Two Rocks Dunes.

Lifted Zook.

Fun.

Meditation, slowing down, focus……faith.

Perhaps the difference between Biblical meditation and other forms of Eastern religion is that Christianity asks you to fill your mind, rather than empty. It is a focused relentless pursuit of God. Focus in on one verse, one word, one story, one attribute….one thought. Let the majesty of it fill your mind. It helps push all the rubbish out. Something really important in our media saturated world.

Speaking on that this week at Church….

The way he came to the club was not good. A heartless Rosich in a duplicitous stroke dispatched the hardworking and likeable Mark Harvey in a move no AFL journalist saw coming, much to their chagrin. So there will be no kudos to him in this article.

However Lyon has proved to be what was needed for the club. Harvey brought in some good players and young players. But he failed to maximise the talent of the list at his disposal. Even with a year choked by injuries, Lyon has seen things Harvey failed to. Clancy Pearce, Ryan Crowley and Michael Johnson had breakout years. Matthew Pavlich is playing in the best form of his career, and the discipline and structure of the team is breathtaking. Players understand and believe in their role. As a observer of many years, I have never been more confident in the team. This does not mean I think they will win every game, but after the disappointment of the first derby against West Coast, Fremantle have not looked back.

The elimination final against Geelong, where they systematically took apart last years Premiers was indeed the best structured game they have ever played. Missing their best defender, in Luke McPharlin, they defended as one unit, including incredible forward pressure from the forwards.

Whatever happens this week against the Crows is perhaps irrelevant. While I would love them to win, and then storm past Hawthorn in the preliminary final, statistics and good sense say that this wont be our year.

But the team Lyon has moulded, and will continue to mould, is looking better than St Kilda of previous years, who made it to two Grand Finals. And that is saying something.

1. You live in Rockingham

2. You wear uggboots.

3. You holiday in Bali

4. Your three year old has a Bintang T-Shirt

5. You think dining flash is ordering the upgrade on your Happy Meal

6. You add ice to your beer and drink wine from the box

7. You drive a Commodore…of any type

8. You live in Rockingham

Every week. Sometimes twice a week. Sometimes more if there are funerals or weddings or special events.

Last week I had to prepare two messages and a short thought for a wedding. The week before it was for a funeral.

I am not the sort of Pastor who can reuse material. It just does not seem to work for me. It needs to be fresh. There is a relentlessness about that. But you know, I am not complaining. One of my friends, a pastor, said that God knows we Pastors need Him to prepare messages. Maybe if I didn’t need God in that way, I might neglect Him. As it is, I have to be devotionally and purposefully reading through the scriptures. I also have to meditate and read what others have said.

Either way, the burden can be burdensome, or it can be a joy.

Here are some helpful thoughts from Francis Chan

1. Am I worried about what people will think of my message or what God thinks?

2. Do I genuinely love these people?

3. Am I accurately presenting this passage?

4. Am I depending on the Holy Spirit’s power or on my own cleverness?

5. Have I applied this message to my own life?

6. Will this message draw attention to me or to God?

7. Do the people really need this message?