Really enjoyed the annual Baptist Pastors Conference

Our speaker this year was Brian Winslade, the National Baptist Union Director.
Brian had some great things to say over the three days that we enjoyed in Mandurah.

1st up he spoke about Church history, how the church was known as the place where love was found, love and charity. He gave some really interesting examples of how the early church of the first 400 years was known as the place where even if society saw you as ‘untouchable’, the church would care for you. Baby girls, because of their gender, were left to die. The church cared for them. People with plagues and diseases were abandoned, the church cared for them.

2ndly he spoke about leadership within the church. In my words, he called us to the radical middle. Where Pastors lead with grace and persuasion and love, and church people love and respect their leaders, and allow them to lead.

Lastly he spoke about learning from failure. Brian spoke about some of his own failures, and how he learnt some serious life long lessons from them. He is a confident and articulate and humorous speaker. But as he explained, natural talent is no substitute for integrity, character and Gods empowerment.

Really enjoyed my time away, catching up with old and new friends, enjoying some time away with my wife, and spiritual refreshment.

Watching this video interview, you cant help but get the picture that Rhyse is very hungry to play, almost nervously saying, I have done everything I can, just want them to select me!
Lets not forget, he did win the Rising Star award, is a incredible player with evasive skills. If he comes in for the Derby, he will be huuuuungry!

This is a really good article.

Millenials are honest on faith

Basis of it is that young people are feeling isolated in their faith, while passionate and connected in their church, outside of church, not many of their friends can relate to their faith.

Mark Driscoll says this,
“Two, young people are committed to churches not built for them but built by them. Around the country young people are flocking to churches that have clear authoritative Bible teaching about real life issues, are lead by authentic leaders, include night services, use online social media, embrace technology, serve the poor and suffering, strive for community, encourage creativity, and allow young leaders to lead at the highest levels.”

This is what we are going to be doing at Inglewood Church as we look to start a second service, but not just as an adjunct, but a church in many aspects all of its own. It will come under our authority, and be resourced by us, but the direction and feel of the church will be driven by the young adults.

4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5For John baptized with[a] water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

6 So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

God really spoke to me through this passage this morning in my devotional time.
Imagine being the disciples. You have spent 3 years following Jesus, you have seen Him be laughed at, suffer and then die.
Finally…you now see He is alive, victorious! All He said would happen…has.
And therefore you legitimately ask, now Jesus? now? Will you restore things now?
But the answer is…no. Not right now, it is not for you to know that. For now, you will receive the Holy Spirit, be empowered…and you need to spread the gospel, the good news.

Its like Jesus is saying, your time of comfort, restoration, everything being right…is not yet! For now, even though you have been through three years of this, your time has not yet come. Why? Because there were so many that needed to hear about Jesus. So many that Jesus wanted to bring into His family.
Their comfort was not important, what was important was the Kingdom!
Challenging.

I really find these ads offensive as it appears many others do if Twitter is anything to go by.
They play on deep seated emotions in a cynical and somewhat offensive attempt to sign us up to their health care.
Now while health care is important, I think that how they have done these advertisements is almost using something which for many people may be personally very distressing as a way to sell their product.
Quite disgusting in my opinion.
If you live in Western Australia, and while I hesitate to post the link to their ad, you could find it easily enough, so here it is.
Link

This is a truly beautiful moment and song.

This Anzac Day at Inglewood Church we are going reasonably low key.
We have done some bigger services in the past, which has been great.

I have prepared a little media, and we are going to pray for those brave folk who are serving our Country at the moment overseas in conflict situations.